Let me love you | Merluca

15 - hug

1 week later

...

Andrew was back at work, this week on Dr. Shepherds service. But because of their case they were operating with Dr. Pierce and Meredith. Car accident. Male with severe brain bleeding and abdominal wounds. And even without the worried looks of Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Pierce, he could see that this case was getting to them, and was especially hard for Meredith.

Dr. Shepherd was just about to close after they were able to stop the bleeding, at least for now, when she turned towards Meredith.

"Are you okay?" She asked her.

"I'm okay, but I could use another pair of hands here." Meredith answered, and he could see how she looked up at them.

"I can stay." Andrew offered, receiving a small smile from Meredith. "If that's okay, of course." He turned towards Dr. Shepherd.

"Sure."

"Are you okay, Amelia?" Dr. Pierce asked, Amelia gave her a nod and then left the room.

They kept trying to save this man's live. Dr. Pierce finished her part of the surgery some time later, and after Meredith reassured her that she didn't need her to stay, she left as well, leaving them alone in the room.

And here he was, questioning whether he should ask how she was or just let it be. He had noticed that she didn't necessarily need the help. It was an amazing opportunity for him to learn more, but she was good enough to handle this case herself. She didn't want to be alone. And he knew that something was wrong.

"I don't want to talk about it." She must've noticed him staring at her for some moments. "But-" She took a deep breath before she added a little softer "Thank you for staying."

"Of course." He tried to give her an encouraging smile.

A few moments later they had to finish the surgery, hoping that what they did was enough to save their patient, but not able to put him through more in that moment, his body just too weak for them to continue.

They were scrubbing out as Andrew once again was looking at Meredith, seeing that she wasn't okay. He might not know her for a long time yet, but he knew her good enough to know that something was going on.

When he couldn't take it anymore to see her like this, he went the few steps towards her and brought her in his embrace. He felt how she took a few shaky breaths before she relaxed in his embrace, letting herself lean against him.

"You don't even know what's wrong..." She pulled away after a moment, laughing slightly while a tear rolled down her cheek.

"You said you didn't want to talk, but you seemed like you could use a hug." He gave her a small smile as he brought his hand up to her cheek, carefully wiping away her tear.

"Thank you." Meredith whispered "Seems like I have some baggage from my past as well." She added, chuckling slightly through her tears, trying to lighten the mood, but Andrew noticed what she did. Trying to hide behind that facade. It's not like he hasn't done it himself multiple times.

"Meredith..." He sighed, trying to find her eyes "I can see that you're not okay..."

He could see how she looked up at the ceiling, avoiding his eyes, but at the same time she didn't make any move to leave his embrace. Instead he felt her leaning against him a little more, making him tighten his embrace around her.

They kept standing like this for some moments before he felt Meredith pulling away a little getting out of his embrace. She looked up at the ceiling and then took a deep breath before she started quietly "My husband died three years ago. In a car accident."

"I'm sorry."

"The kids... They miss him every day."

"Do you want me to talk to the mother?"

"No... Just..." She sighed, not sure what she wanted right now.

"Do you want me to stay for a moment?"

"You don't need to..."

"But I want to..." Andrew took a step closer again, taking her hand in his, letting his thump caress over the back of it "...if you let me."

"Thank you."

He took her into his embrace again, feeling how she slowly let her head rest on his shoulder.

...