Let me love you | Merluca

16 - feel

2 weeks later

...

Once again Andrew saw Dr. Webber talking to Meredith. This time in the hallway. He wasn't sure what to read into the situation, except that it seemed serious enough to leave Meredith uncomfortable.

A few moments later he saw her walking away in his direction towards the nurses' station.

"Are you okay?" He asked after she handed some papers to a nurse.

"I- I don't know..." She sighed before they went a few steps further away.

"You want some company?"

"You are still at work." She answered with a smile, raising an eyebrow, covering her inner feelings.

"You know I'm on your service, right?" He gave her an almost amused smile "And... Sometimes even super doctors need a little break." He added more sincerely.

"Super doctors?!"

"Wonder woman?"

"Andrew!" Meredith tried to reprimand him, but wasn't able to stay serious, having to chuckle.

"My offer is still standing." He started more softly trying to find her eyes. He liked to see her smile and laugh, but he knew that whatever bothered her was still there.

"I would like that company." She answered after taking a deep breath, finding a small but this time true smile on her lips.

"Okay."

They made their way to the next unoccupied room they could find, a small on-call room at the end of the floor. He joined Meredith who sat down on one of the beds, sitting down next to her. He saw her staring through the room, trying to take a few deep breath, seeming like she wanted to push all the thoughts in her head away. As he noticed how tense she was and saw her closing her eyes for a moment, he brought her in his embrace, feeling her lean against him more and more.

"My father... He is sick... And-" Meredith started, taking another deep breath before she continued "I have no idea how to feel about it."

"I'm sorry, Mer."

"I- It's exhausting... All the memories of him... All the times he hasn't been there..."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Can you just stay for a while?"

"Of course. Come here." He motioned her to lay down on the bed they were sitting on. He saw her hesitating for a short moment, but going along with it as he laid down as well.

She was with her back towards him, laying on her side, as he started caressing her arm for some time before he embraced her. All he wanted was to give her some comfort, to be there for her as long as she let him.

He leaned a little closer, pressing a small kiss into her hair, feeling her tense a little.

"Andrew." Meredith whispered.

"I'm sorry." He answered quietly, pulling the slightest bit away, but continued to caress her arm, feeling how she relaxed again. They kept laying like this for some moments before he felt Meredith turning around in his arms, so she was facing him now.

They kept looking at each other for some time before Meredith was carefully leaning in closer putting the smallest of a kiss onto his cheek.

"Mer." This time it was Andrew whispering her name.

"Don't be sorry." She pressed another small kiss onto his cheek ever so carefully. "You're also allowed to be loved again." She added as she put a little more distance between them again.

"Mer."

"Andrew."

"I can't." He whispered.

"You deserve so much more."

"You too." Andrew replied as he put a small strand of hair behind her ear, stroking her cheek for a short moment.

They kept laying like this for some time, neither wanting to leave, until they fell asleep only waking up as Maggie walked in, looking for Meredith.

...