I turned my neck side to side in attempts to rid it of the crick that had refused to vacate after my night on the uncomfortable couch in Meredith's room. Lexie had paged me while I was on rounds, telling me Meredith was awake. I had wanted to be there when she woke up but I was saving my rather meager amount of vacation days for when she was released from the hospital. Plus I had tomorrow off which I fully planned on spending with her. After we had finished rounding on my final patient, I had a chance to glance at my watch. I had two hours before I had to be in surgery which meant I had an hour and a half to be with Meredith. I quickly made my way to Meredith's room. I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face when I heard soft snoring as I opened the door.
"Hey." I whispered to Lexie. "You can go check on Thatcher. I'll be here " Lexie nodded and immediately scurried out of the room. I sat down in the chair beside Meredith's bed and began to sign off on charts, absentmindedly rubbing her arm. It wasn't long before Meredith began to stir. I closed the chart in my hand and placed it on the floor.I turned back to her right as her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey" She whispered, her voice hoarse with exhaustion.
"Good morning sleepyhead." I smiled grabbing her hand and stroking her knuckles with my thumb.
"You try staying awake with half a liver." She teased lightly.
"I'll pass thanks." I chuckled."How are you feeling?"
"Mmm sore and tired." She said closing her eyes for a second, then yawning.
"That's normal." I said more for my own benefit than hers.
"I don't care. I don't like it." She mumbled, opening her eyes to glare at me.
"Well then." I stood up and wiggled out of my labcoat. "Let me make it a little more bearable." I kicked my shoes off, as she slid over in bed. I climbed in, settling in the little space provided in the uncomfortable hospital bed.
"Mmm Dr. Shepherd. Do you do this with all your patients?" She whispered settling her head on my chest, as I carefully laid my arm across her chest.
"No just the really pretty ones." I whispered. She opened her mouth to protest but instead of words, came a yawn. "Shh go to sleep" I told her, running my fingers through her hair. And she did. I knew that I really wouldn't want to move in an hour but in that moment it didn't matter.