Sparks In Scrubs | Arizona Robbins X Reader

Price of Control

**Arizona's Perspective**

The hospital cafeteria was buzzing with the usual chaos—voices overlapping, trays clattering, the smell of coffee and cafeteria food lingering in the air. I spotted April and Alex already sitting at a table, and I made my way over, trying to push down the knot that had been tightening in my stomach all day.

Sliding into the seat next to April, I dropped my salad onto the table with a sigh.

"Rough day?" Alex asked, barely looking up from his sandwich.

I shook my head, staring down at my food. It was like I was hoping the answer would just appear there, maybe tucked between the lettuce and the dressing. But it didn't. "It's not work... It's Y/N."

I could feel April's eyes on me, full of concern. "Is she okay? How's the recovery going?"

"That's the thing," I said, running a hand through my hair. "Physically, she's healing. Slowly. But emotionally... I don't know, something's off. She's been spending money like crazy."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "What kind of spending are we talking about?"

I let out a breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "It started off small. She bought a few houseplants. I thought it was a harmless hobby at first. You know, something to keep her occupied while she's stuck at home all day. But then... a week later, our apartment looked like a jungle. There are plants everywhere—on the windowsills, hanging from the ceiling, even in the bathroom."

April smiled, sympathetic but not worried—yet. "That doesn't sound too bad. Plants can be good for mental health, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought too," I admitted, nodding. "But then, a couple of weeks later, I come home and there's this brand-new sofa sitting in the living room. She didn't even tell me she was buying it. Just... there it was, like it had always been part of our furniture."

Alex let out a low whistle. "A whole new couch? That's a big jump from houseplants."

"Exactly," I said, feeling the frustration build again. "I tried talking to her about it, but she just brushed it off, said the old one didn't 'match the vibe' anymore. And now... now she's gone and bought a brand-new car."

April's eyes widened. "A car? But she's not cleared to drive yet, right?"

"Nope." I shook my head, feeling the weight of it all. "Her physical therapist told her she's not ready, but she went ahead and bought it anyway. Her old car was scrapped after the accident, and I get that she feels like she's taking control of something by getting a new one, but... she can't even drive it. It's just sitting there in the parking lot."

Alex leaned back in his chair, thinking it over. "Retail therapy. Sounds like she's trying to fill a void, or regain some sense of control. The plants, the couch, the car... it's all stuff she can control when she can't control her recovery."

I nodded, the truth of his words hitting me hard. "Yeah. That's exactly what it feels like. But it's not healthy, right? I'm worried about her. She's spending more and more, and I don't know how to approach it without making her feel worse."

April reached over, her hand warm on mine. "It's definitely something to be concerned about, but Y/N might not even realize what she's doing. She probably thinks these purchases are harmless distractions, when in reality, they're signs of something deeper."

Alex nodded in agreement. "You've gotta talk to her before it spirals even more. Maybe suggest something else to help her cope—something that doesn't involve spending money."

I smiled weakly, grateful for their support. "Yeah, you're both right. I'll talk to her tonight. I just... I hate seeing her like this. She used to be in control of everything, and now... now she's grasping at anything that makes her feel normal."