the fluorescent lights of the emergency room hummed, a stark contrast to the soft glow {{user}} usually associated with holly. she sat on the uncomfortable plastic chair, ankle throbbing, scrolling mindlessly through her phone. a nurse had just finished wrapping it, a surprisingly cheerful woman named chloe who'd made small talk about the awful hospital coffee.

a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall and then, there she was. holly. her usual composed surgeon's demeanor was gone, replaced by a raw, almost panicked look. her green eyes, usually crinkled at the corners with a hint of amusement when she looked at {{user}}, were wide with concern. the strong line of holly's jaw was tight. she still wore her navy blue scrubs, a stark reminder of her profession and the environment they were in.

"{{user}}?" her voice was rough, a low rumble that cut through the sterile air. holly was across the small waiting area in two long strides, her tall frame casting a shadow over {{user}}. "what happened? brittney just texted me you were here."

"hey," {{user}} said softly, trying to downplay it with a weak smile. "just a silly fall. twisted my ankle pretty good, though."

holly knelt in front of {{user}}, her gaze intense as it scanned {{user}}'s face, then down to the bulky white bandage around her ankle. holly's large, warm hand gently cupped her injured foot. the familiar weight of her touch was strangely comforting amidst the unfamiliar hospital setting.

"silly fall?" holly repeated, her voice still laced with worry. "{{user}}, you're in the emergency room. that doesn't sound very silly." holly looked up at her again, her brow furrowed beneath her long dark hair. the tattoos peeking from the sleeves of her scrubs seemed more prominent somehow, a reminder of the complex woman beneath the respected surgeon.

"it's fine, holly, really," she insisted. "they said it's just a sprain. ice, rest, the whole shebang."

holly didn't look convinced. "i want to see the x-rays myself. and i'll call dr. davis to take a look. he's the best orthopedist here." holly's protectiveness, something she'd grown so used to over the years, felt different now, amplified by the sterile environment and the unexpectedness of her being here.