Missing Scene from Ep 11x14, The Distance
He waits four minutes and thirty-seven seconds, calmly watching Edwards close before edging himself out of his seat and slipping from the viewing gallery. He throws his feet in the direction of the emergency stairs not thinking twice about using them. There's only one thing he cares about right now which is getting to Shepherd and making sure she's okay.
He takes the steps two at a time sliding his hand down the banister for support so he doesn't trip. When he breaks through to the level below he checks both ways for any sign of her. There's none. The corridor is virtually empty and he starts down the labyrinth of halls heading towards the operating room, cracking his knuckles to try and relive some of the tension.
A set of double doors swing open ahead of him revealing a nurse on shift and he catches a flash of sea-blue scrubs on the ground behind her, straining his neck to see if it's Shepherd. The doors bang closed obstructing his view and his heart jumps to throat, his feet hit the ground faster in order to reach her. He bumps into the nurse muttering an apology as he pushes past her.
He palms the metal panel on the door, leaning his weight and trying not to stumble through as they part again. She's so engrossed her head doesn't even lift from her knees and the shake of her shoulders goes hand in hand with her uneven breathing. She's crying, not loudly or aggressively but softly... like she's letting the last seventeen hours of stress evaporate from her body and he doesn't say a word as he crouches down beside her.
He starts with a single hand against her back, a measure of how much further he should go and when she instinctively curls towards his chest he follows through encircling her with both his arms and shielding her from questions and prying eyes. He's just watched her be strong, watched her achieve the impossible and the hospital, he owes her this moment.
She starts to pull herself together and he reluctantly loosens his hold, keeping one hand on her shoulder and draping the other across her knee as she lifts her gaze up to meet him. Her eyes are a bright icy blue almost grey color and they draw him in setting off his own emotions. He could have lost her. When she exposed herself to the radiation she could have done serious, if not permanent damage and the fear is still alive and curdling in the pit of his stomach.
He opens his mouth to say something, tell her she was reckless, stupid, wonderful and amazing but all that comes out is a hesitant noise that catches in the back of his throat. She's still looking at him with wide, curious eyes and even though he shouldn't -really shouldn't- he leans in, pressing his lips to hers and expressing everything that he can't find the words to say. It's a tentative kiss, timid almost... but her small hand finds its way to his forearm and with an encouraging squeeze he adds more pressure sending his emotions into a frenzy. He wants everything from her -all at once- but it's not the time or place and he reluctantly pulls himself back.
Her mouth curves in a smile and he returns the gesture letting the moment wash over him. They need to go, get up and step back into reality. She's exhausted, needs rest and he needs to deal with the flurry her success has created."Come on... you should crash here for a few hours, then I'll take you home."
It's the smart thing to do. She's in no condition to drive herself and even though he could call a cab or arrange for someone else to give her a lift he wants her nearby, just in-case. There's still a chance she could show mild symptoms from the radiation exposure or that she'll need someone to talk to and home she has nobody.
Here she has an abundance of people to look out for her, she has him.
She doesn't argue as he helps her up, no doubt she's too emotionally and physically drained and he doesn't waver in his support. If people want to question his support fine, they can. He cares about her and he's not going to deny that to anyone who asks.
She's found her way into his life and wherever that's going, whatever it means he'll deal with it like everything else.
One day at a time.