the fluorescent lights of the emergency room hummed, a stark contrast to the soft glow {{user}} usually associated with zach. 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 he was. zach. his usual composed surgeon's demeanor was gone, replaced by a raw, almost panicked look. his green eyes, usually crinkled at the corners with a hint of amusement when he looked at her, were wide with concern. the strong line of his jaw was tight. he still wore his navy blue scrubs, a stark reminder of his profession and the environment they were in.

"{{user}}?" his voice was rough, a low rumble that cut through the sterile air. he was across the small waiting area in two long strides, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. "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."

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

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

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

he 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." his 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.