Preconceptions

This story starts by finishing a conversation between Carter and Deb from the Season 10 episode Just a Touch which aired on 4/22/2004.

Carter is seated at a table in the break room trying to decide on a nursery theme when Deb comes in. As they talk about nursery colors, Carter realizes that it may be a painful subject for her. She tells him she been thinking about her baby a lot, ever since her mom died and her dad got really sick. She's afraid of being alone when he dies. The last of the conversation we see goes like this:

Carter: Have you ever gone to see him?

Deb: shakes her head no

Carter: Maybe you should.

Deb: Maybe I should have kept him. I'm mean, he is 3 years old now.

"Why don't you go see him?"

She drew a breath. "Part of the adoption agreement is that I don't, not until he's 18 and wants to see me."

"Sounds like you need to get busy" Carter said with resolve.

"Busy?"

"Finding that great guy that's out there for you" his tone low and sweet.

Deb let out a pop of air through her nose in somewhat of a disheartened chuckle.

"He's there" Carter compassionately insisted.

She shook her head "I don't think so, I think that opportunity has passed me by."

"Deb" he countered.

"No John, really. Look at me. I'm 34 years old. Never been married, Never been engaged. Never been…" She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "I think I'm more likely to be struck by lightning."

Carter rose from his seated position at the table and walked over to her. Putting his hand on her arm, he compassionately told her it would happen for her.

She painfully searched the floor, shaking her head from side to side. "I'll never have a family in a traditional sense."

"It'll happen Deb." Carter did his best to be reassuring.

She looked up into his eyes. "You should let your baby call me Aunt Deb."

Rather surprised by the comment, Carter replied as if it were a joke. "Well, I'll have to run that by Kem".

"I'm serious John. When my dad dies, you'll be the closest thing I have to family."

He looked into her eyes and saw the emptiness she was feeling. He recognized it because he'd felt it too. That is, before he met Kem. He put his arms around her and gently pulled her to himself and whispered in her ear "you'll have children of your own someday Deb. I promise".

The break room door swung open and Chuny appeared. Seeing the look on her face, the hug was mutually ended and both fumbled an explanation of concern for her father's health. Chuny nodded "Carter there's a guy out there, says he's a notary".

"Yeah, I've got papers to sign, can you send him in?"

"You got it" Chuny said as she left the room.

"They should have my dad settled in his room by now, I'm going…" her voice trailed off. The more her father's health declined, the greater her fear of being alone grew.

Carter watched her leave, wondering what he could do to help her out.