Kensi stared at her mom's front door, unsure of what to do. She'd almost been killed here today, not that it mattered now. She thought of going back, but she couldn't bring herself to it. She knocked on the door, still hoping no one was there home. A few moments later, her mom opened the door. Both women stared at each other for a few seconds, Kensi shifted uncomfortably. Julia was now bear-hugging her daughter, and both of them were blinking out tears from their eyes.
Kensi muttered, "I'm so sorry," quietly and the hug broke. Julia fondly looked at Kensi, proud of what her little Kensi had become. She and Don had always known that this day was coming; Kensi had always wanted to be a hero like her Daddy.
"Would you- like to stay for dinner?" Julia asked her daughter. She wasn't sure yet if her daughter had forgiven her. Maybe she'd just come as a formality.
Kensi noticed the uncertainness in her mother's voice, as if she expected her to go back. "Of course," she said, stepping inside, away from the cold winds.
Kensi quietly ate her mashed potatoes and gravy. She didn't know what to say to her mother. Heck, they hadn't seen each other in 15 years. What would she say? Seen the last episode of Top Model?
Julia sensed the tension and tried to loosen it up. "I can't believe you've grown up so much. Last I saw you, you were dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle." For some reason, Kensi laughed way more than she should have at that. She immediately clutched her side.
"What happened?"Julia asked immediately.
"Urggh..." Kensi felt her torso, the area in which she'd been shot. Crap. "I think I've... burst my bandage." A slight trickle of blood came out.
"Honey, why didn't you tell me you were injured?! I'll get the first aid kit." Julia rushed to the kitchen to bring the first aid kit.
Kensi stumbled towards the kitchen following her, but Julia blocked her. "You need to sit," she said, with command in her voice.
"Mom, it's nothing." Kensi said, even though she was complying with her mother.
Julia snorted. "Yeah, right. Roll up your T-shirt." She said with some bandage ready in her hands.
Kensi rolled up her T-shirt, slowly, insecure. She was more ready to give Deeks a look at her wound than her own mother. She found that slightly disturbing. Her mother reapplied her bandage with steady hands.
"I didn't know you could do first aid." Kensi said, actually surprised.
"Well, you got hurt a lot as a kid." Julia said simply. She bit her lip. Kensi sensed that there was something her mother wanted to tell her.
"What is it?" Kensi asked, staring her mother down.
Julia sighed. "Kensi, I don't know what else I've missed. You're a cop, a federal agent- and I only know of that today. I've missed 15 entire years of your life. I didn't see you graduate. I wasn't there for most of your milestones. Your father gave you the talk."
"Well, to be fair, he didn't give me the talk either. I just sort of... figured it out by myself. And I'm sorry. I didn't trust you. I made you the bad guy."
"Kensi, it was all my fault. I made me the bad guy. Don't blame yourself."
"Well, now I know where I get my undercover genes from."
"I've missed you." Julia enveloped her daughter in a warm gaze.
"Me too."