Open Case File [COMPLETED]

A Step Forward

"Hey Kenny," he greeted her. She smiled at him, patting his face with pure enthusiasm. Not one to be left out, Harrison held up his hands.

Before Danny could try and juggle two kids, Steve stepped over and lifted Harrison up.

"So which one won the bet?" he asked, gazing around the collected group.

"Technically," Carter said. "Kennedy did, cause we have a timestamp and Harrison doesn't. But we're going to call it a tie. To Mason, Kennedy won and I get money."

Steve laughed and bounced Harrison up and down.

"All right, let's see this amazing feat."

He set Harrison down as Danny did the same with Kennedy. The two toddlers took to their tasks with unabashed happiness. When they eventually collapsed back to the ground, the room broke out in cheers. Maggie took command of Kennedy, beaming at her while Danny opted for Harrison this time.

"When are you going to have another kid?" he asked. "I want a real nephew."

Carter and Donovan exchanged a glance, her heart squeezing with pain. The news they held between them was one Carter never wanted to share. It felt too heavy to give to everyone else. Tied to it was a memory that she didn't want to drag back into the light.

Donovan smiled as he focused back on the waiting circle, seeing her unspoken need.

"Kennedy is going to be the only kid we have," he said.

He said it like that had been their choice when they had been given no choice at all.

"Why not?" Danny asked.

Carter laced her fingers together, a rock dropping into her stomach, weighing her down. Across the way, her father met her gaze, seeing the storm inside her.

"We're happy we have Kennedy then," Steve said, diverting his son's attention.

"Anyone hungry?" Maggie asked. "I'm sure we can whip something together."

"We can indeed," Maddy said, standing up. "You boys watch the kids, we'll get something going."

Maggie handed Kennedy off to Donovan. As she did, Steve cut over to Carter. Without saying a word, they left the living room, stepping out onto the balcony. Carter glanced back, seeing Donovan nod to her.

Around them were spread apartment buildings alight with snapshots of other homes. Below a constant stream of traffic crowded the roads, the loud honks of horns broken by the distance. The air was warm and brushed across Carter's arms as she leaned on the railing. Her father took the spot beside her, quiet and steady. For a long while, they said nothing, sitting in each other's presence.

"What is it?" he finally asked.

Carter stared down at her hands, unable to look at him.

"Kennedy is a miracle," she said.

Her father smiled. "I know."

Carter shook her head. "No, she really is. It's amazing that I was able to have her."

Steve frowned but said nothing. Carter continued to stare into her palms as if seeing scars that weren't there.

"When I was taken by the Castello family..." She sucked in a breath, keeping the memories trapped down. "What they did..." Her father gripped her shoulder keeping her grounded to the present. "It left permanent internal damage. We didn't know how permanent until I was pregnant with Kennedy. The doctor said it was amazing I got pregnant at all. And afterward...he said the chances of it happening again..." She shook her head, fighting back tears. "Like I said she's our miracle."