All That Matters

"Baby, it's Callen and Sam! They don't care how you look!" Deeks protested as Kensi shuffled herself to the edge of her bed, using her good hand to drag her legs over, dropping them over the bed. She scowled as she bent to unvelcro her shoes and kick them onto the floor.

"And Hetty! Why are you so fired up over me wanting to look nice?" she snapped at him, sitting up and scowling at him.

"I'm just saying, I don't think it's a good idea for you to wear jeans right now, not with your cut," Deeks gestured at Kensi's thigh where a line of stitches was concealed beneath her sweatpants. "And it's just easier if you stay in loose clothes. Better for range of motion," Deeks said, shoving his hands in his pockets as Kensi began to wiggle out of her sweatpants.

"Whatever. One day won't hurt. Did you bring my jeans? And boots?" Kensi asked, kicking her sweatpants off and onto the floor. Deeks sighed and retrieved a black backpack setting on the floor near the closed door, unzipping it and pulling out a few articles of clothing.

"Yep," Deeks replied, popping the 'p.' He tossed the familiar pair of worn, black lace-up combat boots on the floor beneath her feet, then pulled out a few pairs of jeans, unfolding them and tossing them on the bed beside his girl. "Upon further inspection of your closet, I found some jeans that are bigger than your little size 2! I brought those."

"Those are too big, Deeks," Kensi replied with a frown, kicking her feet in exasperation.

"Exactly. These will be looser." Deeks grabbed a pair, glancing at the label in the back of the waistband. "You want Daytrip?" Deeks grabbed the others and glanced at the brand. "Or Wallflower? Hydraulic? Gosh, what are these brands? What happened to Wrangler and Levi's?" he asked with a grimace. Kensi rolled her eyes with an exasperated grin and gestured at the jeans closest to her. "Daytrip it is," Deeks proclaimed, shoving the other pairs back into the backpack. "You know what? I'm going to wrap up that gash, I don't want these jeans to rub on it." He ran a gentle finger over the ugly line of red skin and black stitches on her thigh. He quickly popped out of the room and returned a minute later with a roll of white gauze he had nicked from a nurse's cart.

Kensi frowned as Deeks wrapped the bandage snugly around her leg. She still couldn't feel anything in that leg. Deeks quickly finished, taping off the end with two pieces of medical tape.

"Thanks," she murmured as Deeks reached for the jeans she had picked, gently sliding them on one leg at a time. He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her up enough to slide the waistband over her bottom before setting her back down on the bed. Kensi let out the breath she had been holding, then went to button her jeans with her good hand.

She then unzipped her jacket and shrugged it off while Deeks pulled out a white tank top and a blue plaid three-quarter button-up.

"I only brought you one shirt, you don't get to pick this time. This is my favorite shirt that you wear," Deeks said happily as he placed it on the bed beside her. That got a little smile out of Kensi as he smiled at her, eyes shining.

"Thanks," she whispered as she tugged off her loose fitting t-shirt and allowed Deeks to stretch the form-fitting tank top over her head and guide her bad hand through the arm-opening. He reached for the button-up to help her into it.

"Wait, let me," Kensi insisted, taking the shirt into her hand, flipping it around and guiding her bad hand through the sleeve. putting on the shirt was easy enough. Buttoning the shirt was another story. She finally allowed Deeks to button it for her, albeit reluctantly.

She then reached for the hairbrush resting on the bedside table, brushing out days-old snarls, pausing every so often to put the brush down and move different chunks of hair over her shoulder or behind her back. She finally got it to how she wanted it, falling in natural waves around her shoulders, refusing Deeks' offer to help.

He picked up her pale blue socks and black boots instead, kneeling down to slip them over her toes.

"This is so frustrating!" Kensi spat vehemently, pounding her fist on the mattress as Deeks laced up and tied off her boots. "I can't do anything!" she said for the umpteenth time.

"Baby," Deeks soothed, rubbing a hand up and down her leg. "That's not true. And you'll get better. It's going to take time," he repeated the same words he told her everyday, the ones Kensi refused to believe. Kensi took a shuddering breath, trying to keep her composure as tears threatened to spill.

"I'm so sick of this," she muttered. "The hospital, the not feeling anything, the bad hand, the crying," she explained, choking back a sob that threatened to escape.

"Baby, you're going to get better. And every day you're making steps. Little steps, bit they're still there! You put your shirt on all by yourself today!" Deeks stood up and sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Even if you never get back to 100%, you're alive, and you're awake, and that's all that matters, alright?" he asked, pulling her close, tucking her head under his chin.

Kensi, too emotional to disagree, nodded, leaning into him with a sigh.

"You ready to go now?" he asked, glancing down at her. Kensi sat back up and nodded, scrubbing at the salty tear tracks drying on her face.

"Yeah," she said with a nod. Deeks helped her into her wheelchair, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her head.

"All that matters," Kensi murmured to herself as Deeks pushed her out of the room.

...

I don't know where I was going with this, so I hope it was satisfactory. I'm now accepting prompts!