Prepared
Ever since Robin started dating Don, she had been forced to accept the fact that Don would, time to time, get hurt. There were too many times he had come home with a black eye, a broken rib, a bullet graze. Too many times. Still, it was inevitable.
This was a bitter pill for her to swallow.
Robin decided that when anything worse happened, she wouldn't lose control. She wouldn't become hysterical or panic, but she would be calm and reassuring, the perfect mask of an Assistant US Attorney.
This was not what happened.
After preparing as best she could, tragedy hit her and caught her off guard.
When Don first woke up in the hospital days after she had come back from her conference in Portland, she had been terrified. When the nurse came to tell them that he was awake, she froze. What if he looked horrible? What if he was in pain? The what if's filled her head. A gentle nudge from Alan was all she needed to break out of her trance.
She walked with Alan, through the hallways. Alan pulled her along, firmly squeezing his hand, supporting her. With every step, she became more anxious.
When they finally reached Don, he was sitting up in bed with a welcoming smile, his eyes crinkling.
She burst into tears.
Just like Alan had said so wisely days before, when they stood in front of the ICU gazing at Don: there wasn't a way to prepare.
He was right.