Sparks In Scrubs | Arizona Robbins X Reader

Bridges and boundaries

**Y/N's perspective**

The fluorescent lights of the on-call room buzzed softly, a constant reminder of the hospital's unending hum. I woke up alone, the thin mattress offering little comfort after the night I'd had. My mind had replayed the events of the previous day over and over, each iteration bringing a fresh wave of regret and frustration. The patient's death, the argument with Eliza, and the way I treated Arizona-all of it weighed heavily on me.

I barely got any sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the boy's lifeless body and the resident's trembling hands. The echo of the heart monitor flatlining haunted me. I finally gave up trying to sleep and got up, tying my hair up into a messy bun. The exhaustion tugged at me, but I pushed it aside. There was too much to do, too much to atone for.

I walked to the attending lounge, each step feeling heavier than the last. I needed my lab coat, a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos in my mind. As I reached for it, I heard familiar voices and turned to see Meredith and Alex chatting near the coffee machine.

"Morning, Y/N," Meredith greeted, her eyes scanning my face. "Rough night?"

"Yeah," I replied, pulling the lab coat on. "Rough doesn't even begin to cover it."

Alex gave me a sympathetic nod. "We heard about the patient. That's tough."

"It was more than tough," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "It was..." everything went wrong."

Meredith stepped closer, her expression softening. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "It's just... handing over that procedure to a resident. It was a mistake. I knew it was risky, and I let it happen anyway. And Eliza... she insisted on it. She kept pushing, and I..."

Alex cut in, his tone firm but kind. "You were trying to balance teaching and patient care. Sometimes, it doesn't go the way we want it to."

"But it shouldn't have happened at all," I insisted, the frustration bubbling up again. "That boy should be alive."

Meredith placed a hand on my arm. "Y/N, you can't carry this alone. We all make decisions in the heat of the moment that we regret later. You did what you thought was right at the time."

"I guess," I muttered, not entirely convinced. "I just can't stop thinking about it. And then there's Arizona..."

"Arizona?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "What happened with her?"

"I was terrible to her," I admitted, feeling a fresh wave of guilt. "I lashed out, and she didn't deserve it."

Meredith gave me a reassuring smile. "You'll talk to her. She'll understand. Just give it time."

I nodded, hoping she was right. As much as I dreaded the conversation, I knew it was necessary. I had to face the fallout of my actions, both professionally and personally. And maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to make things right.

As I was talking with Meredith and Alex about yesterday's incident, a page came through, summoning all board members to an emergency meeting. Meredith glanced at her pager and sighed. "Speaking of the accident, I think this is what the meeting is about."

We headed to the conference room together, the tension palpable. Everyone was already seated, waiting for Bailey to begin. Chief Bailey stood at the front, her expression serious.

"Yesterday's incident was a stark reminder of the importance of patient safety and the critical need for clear communication in the OR. We lost a patient, and we need to address how and why this happened to prevent future occurrences."

Bailey continued, outlining new protocols for resident supervision and emphasizing the necessity of following established procedures. The room was silent, everyone absorbing the gravity of the situation.

After the meeting ended, I saw Arizona walking out of the conference room. Summoning my courage, I walked up to her and gently grabbed her hand. "Can we talk somewhere private?"

She looked at me, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes, and nodded. We found an empty supply closet and slipped inside, the door clicking shut behind us.

After the meeting, Arizona and I slipped into an empty supply closet, seeking a private space. I closed the door behind us and turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Arizona, I'm so sorry for yesterday," I began, my voice trembling with emotion. "The way I acted was completely out of line. I was overwhelmed, and I let my frustration get the best of me. I value you and our relationship more than anything, and I deeply regret how I behaved."

Arizona's eyes softened as she listened. I reached out, gently placing a hand on her face and rubbing her cheek with my thumb, hoping to convey the depth of my remorse. "I promise I'll explain everything about what happened with Eliza, but I can't right now. Please understand that I truly value you and everything we share."

She leaned into my touch, her expression shifting from tension to understanding. "Thank you for apologizing," she said quietly. "I appreciate that you're willing to explain when you're ready. That's enough for now."

Just then, the door creaked open, and Eliza walked in, her gaze shifting between Arizona and me. "Am I interrupting something?" she asked, her tone casual but with a hint of curiosity.

Arizona turned to face her, and I reluctantly withdrew my hand from her face. "You're not interrupting anything," Arizona replied, her voice calm.

Eliza glanced at me before turning her attention back to Arizona. "Okay. I just came to return this," she said, holding out Arizona's purse. "You left it in my car after I gave you a lift home last night."

Arizona took her purse, offering a polite smile. "Thanks, Eliza."

Eliza's eyes briefly flickered with a smirk before she left the room, leaving me with a puzzled expression. As soon as she was gone, I turned to Arizona, still confused. "Why would Eliza have your purse?"

Arizona sighed, her frustration evident. "She gave me a ride home after everything that happened yesterday. I didn't realize she'd kept it."

I felt a pang of regret. "I could have given you a lift," I said softly, wishing I had offered. "I should have been there for you."

Arizona shook her head. "You were on call last night, Y/N. You clearly needed time alone after the hostile interaction in the OR. It was okay."

Understanding dawned on me, and I nodded, feeling a mix of empathy and frustration we walked out of the supply closet.