‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Recap: Meredith Admits Not Being Able To Be With Derek Is ‘Torture’

The doctors mourned Deluca's death during the March 18 episode of 'Grey's Anatomy,' while Meredith continued to stay on the beach with Derek.

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March 18, 2021 10:45PM EDT
Ellen Pompeo
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Everyone is reeling from Deluca’s tragic death. Owen is cleaning out his locker, and the rest of the staff is grieving. Meredith is improving and Teddy may try to wean her off the vent. When Teddy turns around, she sees Deluca’s face. But it’s not Deluca, it’s Cormac. Meanwhile, Meredith is still on the beach. Derek is there with her and fishing this time around.

“This is torture!” Meredith yells to Derek. He’s so close, but she can’t ever reach him. Derek quips that Meredith has a knack for torturing herself. Meredith says that she’s gotten better at not doing that. Their conversation segues to talk about Ellis. Meredith wishes that Derek had gotten to know his daughter. However, Derek has in his own way. Derek is well aware that Ellis is just like her mother. As for Zola, Derek knows that Zola writes letters to him in her journals.

Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo on ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ (ABC)

Winston hits it off with Zola, Ellis, and Bailey. He steps in when Maggie needs a moment to grieve Deluca’s death. Bailey has decided to get Deluca’s autopsy report. She wants to know definitively if there was something that could have been done to save him.

Link and Amelia get into a bit of a fight when she finds out he’s been secretly drinking. Link decides to leave the house for a bit to let the tension air out. “Just so we’re clear, I’m coming back,” he stresses to Amelia. He heads to Jo’s place where he gets drunk with her and Jackson.

Richard admits he’s struggling with his faith at the moment. He says he “cannot see any wisdom in this” when it comes to Deluca’s death. Katherine takes a moment to reveal that her latest scan came back clean. In the midst of such a dark time, Katherine tells Richard to look for the beauty, the grace, and the miracle.

Kim Raver
Kim Raver stars as Teddy. (ABC)
Bailey is still determined to investigate Deluca’s death. Richard urges Bailey to let everyone grieve. He stresses that no mistakes were made. The suggestion that there was possibly a mistake is a pain Richard wouldn’t put on anyone.
Taking Meredith off the vent doesn’t work. Cormac pleads with Meredith to fight. He even shows up on the beach. Meredith admits she doesn’t know if she can fight anymore. “There’s no pain here,” Meredith says about the beach. However, Derek tells her that it’s OK to fight. He’ll be right here when she’s ready.
The doctors hold a memorial for Deluca. Bailey tells Richard that she needs to take time off, and she doesn’t know how long she is. The memorial features Deluca’s residency application for Grey Sloan. He had so much to give.
Chris Carmack
Chris Carmack stars as Link. (ABC)
The episode ends with Meredith and Derek still on the beach. Link comes home to Amelia. Amelia doesn’t want any secrets between them. “I want to really know you,” Amelia says. Owen finds Teddy sitting in the parking lot alone. He picks her up and takes her home.