"Give her time," Nico counselled. "Kensi's been through a horrible ordeal, she's in pain and she's gone from being so happy to feeling incredibly low. You need to just give her some space."
"I know all that. In case you hadn't noticed, I've been through just about all that right alongside her every step of the way. And you know what - maybe I need something as well?"
"What do you need?"
Marty leaned forward so that his forehead rested against the two-way mirror. "I need to be with Kensi, to hear her say that it's alright, she understands why I made the decision and that she still loves me." The glass felt cool and soothing. "Only that's not going to happen."
"You don't know that, Mikey."
He turned around to look at her. "Actually, I do. I know Kensi – she pushes and she pushes. And she's pushed me as far as she can. It's like we're sitting across a table from one another, both holding loaded guns and daring each other to fire. She's never going to forgive me for this. She's never going to forgive for loving her so much I was willing to sacrifice anything to keep her alive. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it."
"How old were we when we first met?" Nico asked. "Seven? Eight years old tops. And you call Kensi stubborn? Mikey – I know you as well as anyone alive, and I'm here to tell you that under that sweet-tempered façade you're the most obstinate man I've ever met. And I still love you despite that. But you've got to stop moping around feeling sorry for yourself. You and Kensi both need to learn the meaning of the word "compromise". Should I go buy you a dictionary?"
"I'm not stubborn, I'm single-minded," he muttered, trying not to smile. "You want to do any more character assassination on me or is that your quota for today?" Turning around, he held his arms open wide. "Anyone ever tell you how wonderful you are?"
"Too many to count." She rested her head against his chest. "So – are you going back to the hospital later on?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
He sighed and kissed her cheek. "That's what I thought. So yes, I'll go over and I tell her I love her and maybe she'll shout or throw something at me. And her Mom will give me the evil eye."
"Make like you're Michael Brandel – brush your hair and wear a suit. That might win her round. Mrs Blye, that is. I'm not sure what would work for Kensi."
"How about a hair shirt?" Despite himself, he couldn't suppress a smile at that image. "But seriously, thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you, Nico. Sometimes it seems like you're the only person who can kick sense into me."
"That's because I've been kicking your butt since we were children. You were such a scrawny little kid. And I know you too well to put up with your crap!" And then Nico stopped laughing and turned serious. "Did you ever wonder why we never got together, Mikey? Or what it would have been like? What we would have been like together?"
"No. Never," he lied, and crossed his fingers behind her back, just in case.