' I don't like needles though. ' Tanner didn't care HOW many stickers the Doctor promised, he wasn't going into that room. Daddy said the needles didn't hurt too...daddy was wrong. Sitting resolutely on the chair, the small boy's feet swung. ' I think I'll stay here. ' - (special guest) Tanner.
"Who does?" Carter challenged, sparing the boy a lopsided little smile. "I mean, maybe my gamma does -- she's fond of cross-stitching samplers -- but most people don't like needles. You're not alone there, kiddo."
Dragging his stethoscope back and forth across his shoulders, he listened to Frank's son nervously explain himself. It wasn't uncommon. In fact, it was quite expected for young children to be averse to shots, but thus far, Tanner was proving well above the usual means of manipulation. Time to pull out the big gưns.
"I'll stay here with you," Carter offered. Sinking onto the chair across from the boy, he crossed his legs at the ankles and leaned back in his seat. "You know, when I was around your age, I was terrified of getting my flư shot -- any shot, really." He lifted his shoulders. "To try and cope, I'd always pretend I was Steve Austîn, the Six Mîllion Dollaṛ Man. Have you ever heard of that show?"
It was absurd, but true. Carter often found that a personal touch helped with his patients, and leaning forward as if he possessed some great secret, he looked to Tanner and explained, "Steve Austîn underwent a surgery to become superhuman. And anytime I watched that show as a kid, I envied his strength and speed...and somehow, I liked to pretend that these shots would give me those powers. But you're much braver than I am, so you probably don't need that."
Leaning back, Carter added, "To be honest, I'm still a little scared sometimes. Maybe we should get ours together." Here, he held out his hand. "Can you help me out here, pal? I don't want to get mine all by myself. And if you're good -- if we can both be brave -- then I'll see about getting us some ice cream from the cafeteria." He winked. "I won't tell your dad if you won't."
