Chapter 68:
May 14, 2026- 2am
"Hmmm, Derek stop making so much noise," Meredith mumbled into her pillow as she shuffled a little under the covers, opening her eyes. As she began to wake up, the noise became too familiar.
She sat up immediately and turned to Derek. He was sitting up, hunched over, coughing, just like he had so many nights in the past. "Oh god, Derek, be okay," she whispered between her tears as she tried to help him the best she could.
She let go of him for a moment, remembering that she had placed a bottle of water on her nightstand. She grabbed it as his coughing slowed and handed it to him. When he finally caught his breath and taken a sip of the water, he handed it back to Meredith. She placed it where she had found it and then wrapped her arms around Derek.
His breathing was still a little short and his heartbeat was racing. Meredith didn't want to think about what this could mean. She was a doctor; she knew the possibilities and none of them were good. All she wanted to do in that moment was hold onto Derek, forget the rest of the world, and never let go.
Meredith woke up, happily in Derek's arms. For the first few moments she was awake, she'd completely forgotten all about his coughing fit. She rolled over to shut of the alarm clock and then leaned back into Derek's bare chest. She knew he was awake, as his arms tightened around her, but his eyes stayed closed like he was trying to fight away the day.
"Let's stay in bed today," Derek mumbled into her ear, his hot breath against her skin.
"We can't. We have kids and jobs. Jobs we've been slacking on lately," Meredith said smiling.
"One more day won't hurt anyone," Derek said as he began to kiss her neck.
"No self control," she muttered as he moved his lips over to hers.
Derek laughed a little as he rolled on top of Meredith, continuing to kiss her. Meredith's thoughts of work and kids easily slipped her mind as she felt Derek's body against hers. His arm was working her shirt over her head when he suddenly rolled off of her and began coughing heavily again.
It didn't last as long as it had the night before, but it scared Meredith just as bad. Once he caught his breath, he laid back down on his pillow and Meredith wrapped her arms around him, afraid to let go.
They sat there in silence for a few minutes, completely involved in their own thoughts, until Meredith opened her mouth. Her eyes were empty and weren't focused on any one object. "We have to go to the hospital."
Derek felt a tear roll down her cheek and land on his chest. He gently caressed her back and kissed her forehead. "I know," he whispered quietly.