Chapter Text
All the caffeine in the world right now wouldn’t lift her from the pit of exhaustion she had found herself in. Besides, every time she had caught a whiff of someone else’s coffee, it had taken everything in her not to bring back up the minimal food she had managed to swallow down at breakfast. Jet lag was kicking her ass, and she just generally felt like crap – thanks to this sickness bug she had managed to pick up.
Meredith grabbed her suitcase, her hand going to her stomach as the weight pushed another wave of nausea through her stomach. A slight wince whistled through her clenched teeth as a sharp pain simultaneously made itself present in her forehead.
She couldn’t wait to get back to her bed and curl up under the blankets, to sleep this dreaded thing off. She lowered her sunglasses over her eyes, glancing around the airport shops see if there was anywhere that would be selling ginger ale. Ginger ale, quiet, and sleep. That’s what would help her through this.
The sun shone through the glass walls of the airport as she made her way toward the exit for the car park. She stopped suddenly as she heard her name being called, confusion striking her as she looked around.
Her face softened into a smile as she saw the curly, brown-haired girl waving her arms in the air a short way in front of her. The young girl started running towards her, the father training after her in exasperation.
“Mer’dith!” Maddie called again, grinning when she realised Meredith had seen her.
“What are you guys doing here?” Meredith asked, unable to keep the grin off her face, despite her poor health.
“Really, really missed you,” Maddie mumbled as her arms wrapped around Meredith’s legs.
“Hey,” Derek greeted her with a smile. “We figured we’d come and pick you up, save you getting a taxi, and we can go and grab some breakfast.”
“Daddy said we can get pancakes!” Maddie grinned up at her with excitement. Her grip tightened, becoming a little too much for Meredith. She swallowed against the small amount of bile the rose in her throat.
“Are you okay?” Derek asked with a slight frown, stepping forward to kiss her cheek and gently rub her arm. He took her suitcase from her.
“Not feeling great,” she murmured, shaking her head a little.
She crouched carefully, Maddie’s arms instantly circling her neck. She returned the hug with a soft laugh, kissing the side of her head. “Hi, Maddie, I missed you too.”
“Up, Mer! Gotta get pancakes,” Maddie’s over excitement was a little too much.
“Maddie, I can’t carry you today, I’m sorry, I don’t feel too good.”
“Sick?” Maddie mumbled, burying her face in Meredith’s neck.
“Yeah, I think I have a tummy bug.”
Something about having Maddie in her arms made her feel better, and she squeezed her a little closer, kissing the top of her head. Maddie lifted her head to kiss Meredith’s cheek with a giggle.
“When I’m sick, stay in bed and watch movies, and chicken soup. Daddy, make Mer chicken soup and we can watch movies,” she looked to Derek with a definite nod, having decided it was going to happen.
“That sounds like an amazing idea,” Meredith said as she stood, slowly, but taking a hold of Maddie’s hand, taking the offer of Derek’s arm to steady herself.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his arm moving around her waist as she leaned against him, and he pressed a kiss against the side of her head.
“I need to lie down,” she whispered, leaning into him a moment longer.
“Daddy?” Maddie asked, looking up at them and keeping hold of Meredith’s hand.
“Pancakes tomorrow, got to get Mer home for chicken soup!”
“Are you sure? I promised you pancakes.”
“We can stop and pick them up on the way, princess,” Meredith suggested, squeezing Maddie’s hand gently.
“Wanted panckaes with you, Mer,” Maddie shook her head, gently pulling on her hand. “We can go tomorrow. Home now!”
“You heard her,” Meredith laughed softly, grinning as she pulled away from Derek’s hold and let Maddie lead her outside.
Derek stayed close to them, pulling Meredith’s suitcase along for her and taking her bag off her shoulder. Maddie started chatting away as she tried to catch up Meredith on things that she had missed. She tried to follow along, but could feel herself getting progressively worse as they headed towards the car. It was a good thing Maddie was okay with waiting until tomorrow for pancakes.
Derek put the bags in the trunk before helping Maddie get in the car, meanwhile Meredith getting herself fastened into the passenger seat, leaning her head against the cold window. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She had to admit, having them pick her up was miles better than getting a cab and going back to her empty apartment alone. She should probably consider this in the future when he offered.
“Sleep,” Derek’s murmur roused her slightly, his hand gently squeezing her shoulder.
“Hmm,” she nodded, settling again, letting her mind drift.
She woke suddenly with a jolt, not even realising she’d fallen asleep. The car has just jerked, Derek cursing slightly under his breath. She grabbed at his hand that rested on her thigh.
“Derek, pull over,” she spoke between gritted teeth.
“Shit, sorry,” he swore, pulling over on the grass verge.
She swung the door open, managing to unfasten her seatbelt and practically fall out of the car. Her hand pressed against the side of the car balanced her as she started retching into the grass, anything that might’ve been left over in her stomach spilling out onto the ground.
Meredith felt Derek’s hand rubbing her back before she could realise that he had left the car and joined her. She leaned back against his touch, groaning slightly.
“I’m sorry, crap,” he muttered, gently brushing loose strands of her hair back.
“It’s not your fault, I’d rather vomit than you crash into the car in front of us,” she laughed humourlessly.
He pressed a kiss against the side of her head with a soft chuckle. “Let’s get you home.”
“Wait, Maddie, is she…” Meredith started, pulling herseld out of his hold slightly to look into the backseat of the car.
“She’s fast asleep,” he reassured her, gently squeezing her shoulder. “She was up really early this morning, too excited because she knew you were coming back today.”
“I feel terrible,” she groaned, her forehead falling against his shoulder. “I’ve missed her, and you, and would’ve loved breakfast normally. And she doesn’t need to see me like this, you can take me back to yours, you don’t have to look after me.”
“Hush, she’s happy being able to spend time with you, even if it’s just lying on the couch watching TV,” he chuckled, his lips finding the top of her head. “Apparently, I just don’t understand girls.”
“She’s right,” she smiled a little, looking back up at him. His words worked wonders in making her feel better about her guilt, if only they could do the same for this sickness. “I should be okay now; I just want to lie down and sleep.”
“Okay. I missed you too, by the way,” he smiled, kissing her cheek.
“I’d kiss you properly, but I taste like vomit,” she spoke quietly as he helped her back in to her seat, making sure she was fastened in. “Stop fussing.”
“I’ll fuss all I like, and as soon as you brush your teeth, I’ll kiss you as many times as you want,” he grinned, before closing her door. She watched as he walked around the car and got back into his own seat, fastening himself in. He leant over to kiss her cheek again. “I promise there’ll be at least two kisses.”
“I promise there’ll be at least three,” she gave him a weak smirk, but the exhaustion hit her again.
“Try to get some more sleep,” he murmured, resting his hand on her thigh again.
She covered his hand with her own as she nodded, turning to glance back at Maddie. The young girl was fast asleep in her car seat, cuddling her favourite teddy against her. Satisfied that Maddie hadn’t been disturbed, she leant against the window, allowing the cool glass try to settle the fever she felt rising up, and let herself drift off to sleep.
The next time she woke, she was utterly confused. Beyond confused. She definitely wasn’t in the car anymore. Wherever she was, it was comfy, and she could feel the weight of a blanket wrapped around her. She could hear the mixture of a soft noise from the television, and a quiet giggle beside her. Blinking a few times as she came to, she groaned slightly at the awful taste she realised was in her mouth.
Soon realising she was lay on Derek’s L-shaped couch, she smiled as she saw them sat not too far away from her. Maddie was in Derek’s lap, giggling at her favourite cartoon that was playing quietly on the television.
She closed her eyes again, taking a few deep breaths as she mustered up the energy to pull herself up. She needed water, and to brush her teeth, but she could feel the shakiness in her extremities from the weakness in her body.
She let out an audible breath before opening her eyes, using her hands against the cushion beneath her to push herself up into a sitting position against the pillows.
“Hey, take it easy,” Derek was beside her in an instant, helping her sit up. “What do you need?”
“Water,” her voice came out as a croak, scratching against the inside of her throat. She covered her mouth as she coughed a little, then swallowed. “Maybe a toothbrush.’
“Here,” he passed her a glass of water, that she assumed he’d prepared earlier, and she took it from him, taking small sips as he brushed hair out of her face. “Feeling any better?”
“Less nauseous,” she nodded a little, still taking a few more small sips. “Still a bit tired, but I feel gross.”
“How about a bath? Or a shower?” He offered, taking the now half empty glass of water.
“Sounds good, first job is to brush my teeth though,” she gave him a small smile, looking over his shoulder at Maddie, who sat quietly, watching them. “Come here, bug.”
Maddie crawled over Derek’s lap to be closer to Meredith’s side, hesitating slightly. She glanced up at Derek, who only frowned in confusion.
“What’s wrong, Mads?” Meredith frowned as well, brushing her fingers over Maddie’s soft curls.
“Being good because you’re sick,” Maddie nodded, smiling at Meredith’s touch.
“Do I get a cuddle if you’re being good? I missed my favourite girl,” Meredith helf her arm out for Maddie.
“Daddy said we got to let you sleep,” Maddie said as she curled into Meredith’s side.
“Well, I’m awake now,” she said, holding her close. “We can cuddle and rest together. I just need to take a shower and get dressed, and then we can watch some movies together, or keep watching your cartoons.”
“Why don’t we all put our pyjamas on?” Derek suggested, a light air to his tone. Meredith met his eyes, seeing the joy in them as he focused on her with Maddie.
“Jama day!” Maddie nodded, pressing a kiss to Meredith’s cheek. “I gonna get my jamas and be back.”
“Okay,” Meredith laughed softly, watching her climb off the couch.
“You can help me with lunch while Mer takes a quick shower, angel,” Derek said, gently ruffling Maddie’s hair.
She giggled and nodded, “Gotcha, daddy!” Before rushing off upstairs.
Meredith tried to move, get herself up off the couch, but she couldn’t hold back the slight groan with the ache of her entire body. Derek moved closer, his arm going around her back. “Let me help you.”
Reluctantly, she leant against him for support, finding comfort in his warmth as she stood. He pressed a kiss against the side of her head, and her small frown turned into a smile.
“I’ve put your suitcase on the bed, and I’ve washed one of my hoodies for you,” he told her, keeping hold of her for a moment longer.
“Thank you,” she turned her head to kiss his cheek.
“Go and brush your teeth and get that shower, and then I can give you a proper,” Derek chuckled as he returned the kiss to her cheek. “There should be clean towels in my bathroom. Yell if you need me.”
After reluctantly pulling away from him, and thanking him again only to be waved off, she made her way up to his bedroom, her head still pounding slightly. She took notice of all the blinds in the house being drawn closed, keeping out the rare Seattle sun. Her first task once she got to his room was to grab her wash bag and brush her teeth, before getting into the shower to wash off the ick that felt. Not only had she felt gross from flying, but from obviously sweating while she’d been asleep. The grime on her body felt uncomfortable, and finally washing it off was a pleasurable release. It made her feel a million times better already, and hopefully this was just a twenty-four-hour bug.
She dressed in a pair of her own pyjama pants, but pulled on the Bowdoin hoodie he’d left out for her, smiling at the familiarity of it. She’d never admit it to anyone else, but she loved wearing his clothes, she didn’t know why. She towel dried her hair and gathered it up into a loose bun out of the way as she headed back downstairs.
Derek appeared as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs to catch her breath. He walked toward her and immediately slid his arms around her waist, supporting some of her weight. As he pulled her closer, she felt fleetingly better, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Apparently, he was also joining in on pyjama day, and she briefly wondered whether he had changed in the room while she had showered. She was in no state to think about them. Both being naked, but a room apart, though it did fill her mind with happy thoughts.
“You look much comfier,” he noted, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“I definitely feel more human after showering,” she laughed softly.
“Good,” his lips connected to hers for a moment, capturing them in a short, but meaningful kiss. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she pressed a second kiss against his lips. “Is Maddie back down?”
“She’s waiting for you on the couch. I’ve warmed up some chicken soup and there’s a few slices of toast as well.”
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I shouldn’t keep her waiting.”
“One second, I believe I was promised three kisses,” Derek grinned, cupping her cheek.
“I said maybe,” a small smirk flashed across her lips as she raised an eyebrow.
“Hm, you’re definitely feeling better,” he chuckled, shaking his head a little before kissing her again, a little more intensely than the last two.
Happily, she returned his kiss, one hand sliding into his hair and tangling her fingers in the soft locks as her lips parted on his. His arm around her waist brought her closer against him, only from them to be interrupted by Maddie shouting for Meredith. They parted, the two of them breathing a little heavier.
“We can finish that later,” Meredith’s voice was a whisper, placing a soft peck on his lips before pulling out of his hold, and walking around him into the living room. “You shouted, Maddie?”
“Lunch ready, Mer! Come on!” Maddie insisted, grinning up at her in her favourite pink onesie.
“I’m right here, bug,” she laughed softly, sitting beside her. “Let’s eat.”