Honestly this girl of hers. Roberta clucked at the unconscious figure curled up on the hospital bed and shook her head.
Kensi Blye might not biologically be her daughter but when did piddling things like that matter in the grand scheme of things when it came to people you cared deeply about. She was going to be her daughter anyway if Roberta knew her son at all. Which she did and she knew how he felt about this amazing woman who had been dealt with too many blows recently.
A coma, really? Now, as much as she joked about the two of them being "Secret Agents", Roberta knew that their jobs were dangerous. She just joked around so she didn't dwell on the fact that her son (and now her daughter) could literally die the next day. That was not good for your inner self. She was prepared for injuries, for 'going missing' and being out of contact. What she was not prepared for was her son sobbing over the phone to her because his partner in every sense of the word had to be put into a medical coma for undisclosed reasons.
Of course, as soon as she could Roberta got herself over to the hospital. Several arguments with nurses and stupid hospital admin later, that team lead of theirs got her into Kensi's room. Honestly, did she look like a threat to patients?
She'd been visiting every day since that heart stopping call. Through the coma and now during the days Kensi was getting better. Roberta took great delight in those last words. Because Kensi was. Getting better. See, she told Martin it was all about true love and faith. That's what healed Kensi. It was all just meant to be.
She smiled fondly down at Kensi and fussed with her blankets so she was completely covered. They tended to bunch up around that uncooperative leg over hers. There. Perfect.
It was good to see her sleeping, peacefully too. It took her long enough. Roberta had been here quite a while, chattering away until she drifted off. Not that she minded at all, she got to have Kensi all to herself without the young woman having to dash off somewhere. It was just that Roberta knew Kensi had been trying to force herself to stay awake, very obviously not wanting to go to sleep. Nightmares, Roberta had determined. Which wasn't hard to do if you took into account Kensi's skittish attitude and the dark circles under her eyes.
Well, Roberta knew, from experience, that the best way to get to sleep and avoid nightmares (for at least part of the night) were distractions from your own head. Basically, talking to people. Even if you very obviously didn't want to.
Roberta didn't even feel guilty about using the fact that Kensi was far too nice to tell her to shut up or leave against her. If it got her girl into a peaceful slumber then so be it. Anyway, it was amusing watching the multitude of emotions flickering across her face from amusement to annoyance to bewildered.
All joking aside, she was worried about Kensi. Really worried. Sometimes it was like she didn't want to try anymore. Like she thought that she couldn't get any better than this. A snort almost escaped her. There was no room for bad thoughts in Roberta's world. Though negative feelings kept creeping in. Roberta didn't know how to make this seem better and she did not like feeling helpless. Never had. Especially when a child of hers needed help.
Kensi muttered something in her sleep and scrunched herself up into a tighter ball. Roberta frowned, that couldn't be comfortable, could it? Not that she was going to try and untangle her. Last time she did that she had sent the poor girl into a panic attack, limbs flailing. Humming a lullaby, she had countlessly sung or hummed to Martin as a child, Roberta edged closer to Kensi's bed. Her breathing was easing but her body was still tense. Approaching the head of the bed, Roberta reached a hand out and cautiously stroked Kensi's hair. She frowned. It was a bit of a mess; she'd tell her off about that tomorrow. Still, the stroking seemed to work, tension was leaving her face and her body relaxed.
She took a step back and gave a satisfied nod. Kensi would be okay until the morning now.
"Is she sleeping?" a quiet voice came from behind her.
Roberta jumped and almost fell over.
It was that tiny boss of Kensi's, Hetty. Martin spoke a great deal of her. Mostly highly with a good deal of awe thrown in. It had been nice to meet the woman though Roberta would have preferred if it wasn't in these circumstances.
"Finally," Roberta answered giving the smaller woman a knowing look.
It had been so good that there was a woman smaller than her.
Hetty nodded, the corners of her mouth quirking upwards, and checked the blankets just like Roberta had done.
"I fear Miss Blye has always been a very headstrong and active young woman," Hetty told her, picking up Kensi's chart. "Hmm."
"Don't I know it. Martin is always talking about the hikes they go on and she gave me great tips on exercising," Roberta confided.
"Yes, I don't think she is coping with being bedridden very well," Hetty observed then muttered about getting something or someone.
Roberta snorted. That was stating the obvious. Hetty stared intensely at her, a feeling of uneasiness came over her, and then glanced back at Kensi.
"What?" Roberta asked self-consciously.
"You are a very good mother to her."
"Kensi has a mother. Julia," Roberta felt the need to point out even though she had already mentally claimed Kensi as hers.
She didn't want to supplant Julia but you could never have too many people looking out for you.
"Indeed," Hetty agreed and Roberta couldn't help but feel that she was replying more to what had been left unspoken than spoken. "I've always found that the definition of mother is in a woman's actions not a title or biological relation." Hetty added softly, looking into the distance.
There was something there but even Roberta knew not to pry. Instead, she turned back to Kensi and bit her lip uncertainly. She didn't like being uncertain.
"She'll be okay."
"How do you know that?" Roberta demanded in a fierce whisper.
Kensi moaned and rolled over. Roberta quickly started humming again and she settled down. Hetty smiled warmly at her.
"Because I haven't given her permission to be anything else."
Roberta raised an eyebrow and was about to question what the hell did that mean but then remembered some of what Martin said about this woman. 'Master of the Universe' he had said on multiple occasions.
So, she nodded in acceptance instead.
"Shall we go?" Hetty said, beckoning her towards the door.
That definitely wasn't a suggestion. She was done here anyway. Roberta made her way to the door and pretended not to notice Hetty brushing her hand gently down the side of Kensi's face and smiling.
Two mothers left that room. Both assured that things were going to get better.
