Aftermatch ✔️

Part 16

"Bailey said you don't have to come in but as soon as you get an asthma attack or anything else worsens I'll have to bring you in. So, you really have to be honest about how you're feeling, can you do that?" he asked as he sat back down in front of her.

"I will, I promise." She reassured him from under her blanket mountain.

"Also, Bailey will send an intern to bring an oxygen tank and some more rapid tests just in case something happens and that I can take a test as well." He added.

"I'm scared, that something will happen. The first time I was okay in the beginning too." She admitted, looking up at him. "But the last time you also didn't stay in bed and walked around or did CPR on other patients." He said, trying to calm her a little.

"I took an oath Andrew I didn't have another choice." She said, vindicating for herself. "But here at home you don't have anything to worry about so as long as you don't walk around and get enough sleep I hope you'll be fine." He said, not trying to reassure her but also himself.

"Why did I have to get it again?! Stupid universe!" she said, making him smile at her sadly. "I don't know, I don't even know how you managed to get it again I mean, every time I came home from work I showered and sanitized everything, I don't understand how this could happen." He said.

"Don't blame yourself it's not your fault. I probably got it when you took me to the hospital because of my stupid ear infection." She said, trying to stop him from beating himself up over this.

"Remember that ear infection was my fault?" he said, trying to smile a little, but failing horribly. "Andrew." She sighed, grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer. "If you continue to blame yourself I'm afraid I'll have to punch you." She said, trying to sound serious but she couldn't prevent herself from smiling through the mask.

"I'm terrified now." He said, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Don't leave me alone okay?" she asked a little vulnerable all of a sudden. "I won't leave you out of my sight for a single second don't worry." He replied. "Good." She said, her hand still clutching his shirt before she closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep. He didn't say anything but just continued to stroke her hair and look at her small form in front of him.

__________

Meredith continued to sleep the rest of the day with Andrew just sitting with her, trying to get some work done but not really able to stop worrying. He kept looking at her from time to time. She was pale, extremely pale and she had bags under her eyes, probably from being awake the whole night.

The day passed and Meredith woke up just one single time and only for a few minutes. He had stood up once to get her heart monitor and had attached her once again to it to make sure her heart rate was stable. Schmidt had came by to bring a few more rapid tests and the oxygen tank and it turned out that Andrew had covid as well. But somehow, other than Meredith, he didn't experience any symptoms. No fatigue, no body aches and no fever. He had told her about his test results within the few minutes she had been awake after the doorbell had woken her up and Andrew had taken the test. And after knowing that he had it too, she finally agreed to take off her mask. 

In the evening he carefully picked her up and carried her into their bedroom, laying her down on his side of the bed since she had ripped of the covers on her side the previous night. He tucked her in and made sure she was warm, placing the monitor on the nightstand before walking out again to get her sheets and pillows and rearranging them on her bedside, before laying down. It felt weird to lay on Meredith's side but he didn't want to risk her waking up since she was sleeping so peacefully.

He turned around to look at her. She had been so scared to get it again and now she was sick. How did this happen? He had tested positive too but he didn't feel any symptoms and wasn't tired at all. This wasn't fair. She deserved to be happy.