"Um excuse me…Dr Sheppard"
"Yes Hilda" he replied, looking at her over his magnifying surgery glasses
"I think someone is trying to get your attention" the scrub nurse smiled indicating the observation window
When he looked up he saw Meredith's solitary figure standing up against the glass, watching over him. She waved slightly then put her hands together to form a pillow, resting her head on them. He pulled down his mask mouthing 'Night' up to her, knowing her shift must have finished and she was heading home 'love you' he silently continued. He couldn't help but smile under his mask as she blew him a kiss before turning and walking out of sight.
Seeing the smiling faces of the nurses in the OR he stated "different shifts all month" knowing they understood that he and Meredith hadn't seen much of each other in a while. Then regaining control of the OR he asked for the scalpel, proceeding to begin the operation.
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Later that week….
Meredith sleepily nuzzled into Derek's neck as he squeezed into the cot beside her, she had eight hours left, as he curled around her sleeping form he thanked the hour or so they had to just be together. However, ten minutes later she struggled from his arms when her beeper went off, calling her back to a patient.
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The next evening when he checks his phone he sighs reading a message from her;
My bed doesn't smell like you anymore.
I miss you. Love your Mer
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Curled up in bed and hugging his pillow at the end of his shift he tosses and turns trying to sleep. After an eighteen hour shift he should be tied, rolling over again he looks at the pillow in his arms, he knows the reason he can't sleep, she isn't in his arms-he misses her and he needs her.
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Finally the week comes to an end, bringing with it the end of the current shift rotation. Her shift is meant to be over in three hours, his in nine, but then a four car pile-up comes crashing through the emergency room doors, meaning that when they do both finally fall into bed neither can keep their eyes open.
"Meredith" he asks, as she curls into him
"Hmm" she grumbles back, struggling to stay awake
"I think we should move in together" he suggests
"Sure" she mumbles, however he knows she isn't listening-just agreeing so he will be quiet.
"Meredith, pay attention" he says, poking her "You listening?"
"Yes! What?" she asks, turning slightly to face him, eyes still closed
"I think we should move in together" he states again
"What?" she asks again, eyes shooting open
"Thank-you for listening" he jokes getting comfortable as she moves to look him in the eye "So what do you think?" he asks when she goes quiet
"I think we already do live together" she replied "think about it, minus for work, when was the last night we didn't sleep together?"
"No I mean we make it more official?" he said
Pausing to look at him for a minute before replying "so what like actually live in one house full time? No going back to the other…"
"No…not exactly, I know you don't want to sell your house and I don't want to sell my land but I was thinking we could make it more official"
"More official how? We have already swapped keys, or do you mean Mondays through to Thursdays we spend at mine and Fridays to Sundays we stay at yours" she asked, not quite grasping the concept
"No…I mean we clear space in our closets for each other, make space in the bathroom, don't take bags every time we are going to stay over and have a house warming party" he said, whispering the last part "Just think about it" he added, giving her space to back out of it
She looked him in the eye for a second "Ok" she smiled, "let's move in together"
"You sure? I mean you don't want to think about it some more…" he asked, surprised by her quick response
"Positive" she smiled "I love you Derek and I love people knowing about us" she smiled "But now"
"We sleep" he finished
"Yes…we sleep. I love you but I'm exhausted" she mumbled curling into his arms once again, squeezing his hands in hers as his arms wrapped around her "Maybe we can start moving some stuff tomorrow" she said quietly before dozing off
"Definitely" he smiled, cuddling her tighter and falling asleep straight away.
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