So who's Deb's baby's father? Let's take a look at the possible candidates...

1. Dave. They spent an awful lot of time together last season and seemed to have a lot of fiery disagreements, a surefire sign that they want to get it on. Maybe.

2. Frank "Rambo" Bacon. Remember the nurse from upstairs that Deb was drooling over as she was examining him in Under Control last season? She said to Dave "I'm going to go visit him later" after he was taken upstairs. Apparently the visit was quite lenghty and involved a little extra intensive care. (I think this is the most likely candidate)

3. Carter. He is her friend, they hang out one night and he shoots up with all kinds of drugs. Next morning she's gone and he doesn't remember.

4. Benton. Hey I used to have a teacher who I was attracted to in college. If a few years went by and I was suddenly working with her again, it would set up one of those "this is wrong, you used to be my teacher" one night stands. But this is highly unlikely since Benton is dating Cleo (for some reason).

5. Mark. Too busy taking care of his dying dad, then having Corday give him a rash on vacation.

6. Luka. Might this be the woman Luka is rumored to be involved with this season (although obvious signs point to Abby)?

7. Rocket Romano. He said he wanted to get down in the trenches with some of the little people. Maybe he got down AND DIRTY! It would be the funniest of all possible candidates. I will hold out hope.

8. Jerry! Please oh please let it be him my sweet lord Jesus! This would set up his return!!!!!

9. Doug Ross. Hate to spoil the happy ending here, but maybe Doug was visiting Chicago and realized he was still a womanizer.

10. Abby's ex. Does Deb get out to the driving range much?

11. Kerry Weaver via inveto fertilization via David Crosby. Perhaps the disappointed look on her face was only because it's not going to be a girl. And we all have heard the Kerry rumours.

So what do you think?

-- Chris Bragg (cdbragg@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000

Answers

Whoever it is, she sure didn't seem happy about being pregnant. It was cool seeing Dr. Coburn though.

-- Lisa (lisayas@yahoo.com), October 13, 2000.

I'm going with Romano being the Dad, which would explain why she's so unhappy about the pregnancy, having a little Rocket growing inside her and all! :) When Romano came down to the ER and complained because he'd been called AND paged, I wondered for a second if one had come from Deb. Maybe they had a tryst and now...

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), October 13, 2000.

I'm thinking it's Romano as well. I wish she would talk to someone already, too bad Carol's no longer there. She would be great at helping her at a difficult time. She should talk to Liz. Or even Abby. Whatever she does she needs to talk to someone. I felt bad for her last night. Where was Luka? Remember when Lucy was upset and he went to comfort her? I thought Luka would have done that for Deb.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), October 13, 2000.

I'm hoping it's none of the above. There's been enough love/sex in the hospital as it is. But, if it has to be any one of them, hopefully it'll be Rambo Nurse. I'd love to see him again.

As for Deb-Jing Mei looking upset, it's probably because her parents are not going to be too happy about this. In the Asian culture out of wedlock pregnancy is frowned similarly to what it was in the American culture 50+ years ago. Tradition is very important to Asians; they still do alot of arranged marriages. Having a child will automatically cut her from the prime candidates for a husband as far as her family is concerned. Alot of times a pregnant young lady is thrown out of the house/disinherited by her parents.

-- AmyE (roamyn@aol.com), October 13, 2000.

I really have no idea...no one at the hospital makes much sense, though it would be interesting if it were Malucchi. I hope it's not Romano, I don't think it would be. I did not like that all she did during the whole show was look sad, worried, etc. Not that I don't think that she should, but I wish they'd given her more for this show. But I guess we''ll see more of her later.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000.

If it was Romano's we would see the tail in the ultrasound... althought the horns wouldnt come out until the baby is actually born

-- jules (jules@operamail.com), October 13, 2000.

About the horns and tail -- depends on whether Romano Syndrome is dominant or recessive, doesn't it? Chen is probably half Romano-ish and half human, so anything is possible.

-- Driad (driad@mailcity.com), October 13, 2000.

I don't think it would be Carter. Carter and Chen would have had to have sex sometime after his stabbing, and I highly doubt that Carter would have been interested in doing that...too many other things on his mind. I hope it's not someone on the show; too much inter- department/inter-hospital relationships going on. Plus, remember that eppy when Chen was wearing that really sexy black dress? Dave asked if she was going on a date, so it's possible that she could have other male interests in her life.

-- samira (matb_west@chickmail.com), October 13, 2000.

I really hope it is not someone from the show either. The only one I would like to see it be would be Rambo. I don't know about anyone else, but when Deb ran through that riot I thought for sure she was going to get kicked or hit in the stomach and her secret would come our right then and there. Also, I thought Benton was going to comfort her there for a moment when he was heading out to get Carter and I thought "what is up with that". That would have been weird.

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), October 13, 2000.

There is speculation that Deb was raped. It would make a great storyline but somehow, i think it would be unrealistic because if Deb was raped during last season (april-may) then she sure didn't show much emotion esp. after such a trama. Unless it happened over the summer, then that is realistic.

Anyways, please please don't let the father be Romano. I can't imagine anyone (at least not anyone from the hospital) wanting to get involve with him..

-- lanina (nc3@postmark.net), October 13, 2000.

I'm kind of surprised that so many people are assuming it's a cast member. My guess is that Deb was raped. For her to not let on or not even tell anyone might be very in character for her -- someone who's supposed to be strong and successful and self-reliant, a career woman, etc, might not be able to deal with that or tell anyone. And maybe her cultural background comes into play, maybe there is a sense of shame about it from her family.

I can certainly see where she might want to give up her baby for adoption if she was raped. Just the whole emotional thing about it.

-- Tracy (bankybooda@aol.com), October 13, 2000.

Gee Driad, you got me there...I keep forgeting about recesive genes, maybe you can help me...in a case like this would there be a 666 thing tatooed in the babys forehead or backhead? ;) I really wouldnt like to see a rape argument, if such a thing had happened, isnt it common procedure to report it? she is a doctor, she knows that under those circumstances she could get an illness or pregnant, she MUST (at least for the sake of setting an example) report it to the police and she would have received the propper medical attention. If it had been a rape, then these doctors should start doing as they preech...

-- jules (jules@operamail.com), October 13, 2000.

Seriously, I hope they come up with a plausible reason for her not having an abortion. If this were a totally unwanted pregnancy, Chen seems like the kind of woman who would make that choice, to end it. She couldn't do it in a snap, it would be a tough decision to make...but if she were raped, that decision would be somewhat easier. Based on what we know of her, she's strong and opinionated and competitive, and a baby would interfere with her career. Hmmm.

I doubt that it's a cast member myself--and I have seen a spoiler from a reliable person indicating who the father definitely is NOT, but this doesn't seem like the place to mention that. :)

Unfortunately, I have such indifference towards Chen that I don't find myself caring who the father is, really. I really wish that she'd just fade into the background.

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000.

Whoops.

BTW, if JLS is lurking, got any more news?

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000.

The person who mentioned rape might be right. At first I thought that was impossible because I thought that the viewers would be able to tell. However, date rape is the most common form of rape, and I could really see Deb not telling anyone if she had been the victim of date rape. Also if this occured just after Carter left for rehab in May, she could have just become more and more withdrawn from her co- workers (which would have occured off screen). Now she has found out she is going to have a baby, she has to come up with some story. It would be an interesting twist on the whole baby plot anyway. And could be a great opportunity for a story line for Jing-Mei. Now I've said that I'd still vote for the idea that Deb got pregnant by accident with someone from outside of the ER.

-- Emma (webbef@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that she is pregnant in real life so I doubt she's getting an abortion on the show?

-- amy (_acooper1@excite.com), October 13, 2000.

Why? The character and the actress are two separate entities. We all know that Alex Kingston is pregnant, but they haven't (yet) written that into the show, so why couldn't Deb's pregnancy be written out? I'm not saying an abortion would be the best way to go, but I don't see why it couldn't happen.

More than likely, she won't be keeping the baby, even if she does choose to give birth. I still think she'll either give it up for adoption or it will die for some reason. A baby just doesn't fit into Deb's life, as far as I can tell. Unless she's gone through some serious character changes that we weren't priveleged to see, that is...

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000.

I hope/think that TPTB will end up having Chen give the baby up for adoption, and that somehow her culture will come into play. Either that or having the baby not survive. (I hope the dad is someone from outside the ER.) It just wouldn't be in character for her to have an abortion, or for her to keep the baby, as she is too career driven. I also don't think that Jing-Mei would put herself in a situation as dangerous as rape. Based on her confused behavior last night, it's obvious that this wasn't a planned pregnancy.

I noticed last night that they were hiding her stomach, such as behind the admit desk or a gurney. Just how far along in the pregnancy is Ming-Na?

-- Roybal (jroybal33@excite.com), October 13, 2000.

I read in "People" magazine a that she is due next month. But I'm not certain on that. I thought she still had a xouple of months left when I saw her at the Emmys.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), October 13, 2000.

I howled over the speculation of the daddy's i.d. Especially the vicious stabs at Romano. I don't think she was raped but it's obvious she's not happy. Maybe a one-night stand or blind date? Probably it's not a regular e.r. staff. It doesn't strike me that way anyway. I think in real life she is due in November. How far along do you think she is on the show? the Ob doc said she couldn't hide it for much longer. At least 4 months or so? That would coincide with supernurse Frank's appearance I believe.

-- Laura Clemente (laurelc@wincom.net), October 13, 2000.

Roybal wrote:

"It just wouldn't be in character for her to have an abortion"

I realize that a lot of people think that, but I'm curious as to why. Yes, she's career-driven and competitive, but where have we seen her take any stance against abortion? She's always struck me as a person who wouldn't let something like a pregnancy interfere with her career. Unless Chen is actually in love with the father (and that would be pretty unbelievable too, no matter who it turns out to be), I wouldn't think she'd be against abortion. Why do other people feel it would be out of character for her?

(I'm not trying to get into "the abortion issue" here, I'm just talking about the character. Not myself, or anyone here, just Chen.)

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 13, 2000.

What disturbed me more was Roybal's comment: "I also don't think that Jing-Mei would put herself in a situation as dangerous as rape." What's that supposed to mean? No one sets out looking to be raped. Yes, there are a few things a woman can do to minimize the possibility of rape (for example, in the case of date rape, not going out alone with a person she doesn't know well, or meeting the person in a crowded setting; not getting intoxicated in the prsence of someone she doesn't trust not to take advantage of her; etc., but none of these things is foolproof).

-- Jaime (jaimej78@hotmail.com), October 14, 2000.

And even if you don't take ANY "precautions," it still is not the woman's fault if she's raped. Just in case anyone's confused on that issue.

Still, on the baby topic, I'm curious about why folks think Chen wouldn't have an abortion.

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 14, 2000.

Chen strikes me as the type of person who would have considered having an abortion. She is very career driven at this point in her life and I can see her feeling that a baby would get in the way. However, we really know nothing about her religious beliefs or what the Chinese cultural beliefs are. The only time we have seen her champion a cause about babies was when she tried to get Romano to do that genetic test on all newborns. I don't think that tells us enough to know about what she would feel about abortion.

I don't think she will have an abortion now. She is too far along and I think seeing that ultra sound and finding out is a boy would have pushed any abortion thoughts out of her head. I really hope they go with the adoption storyline. There are so many unwanted babies in this world and so many people who want to adopt that any exposure ER could give to adoption would be good IMO.

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), October 14, 2000.

Maybe Roybal meant because Deb has been traditionally so concerned about her patients, especially babies like the one at the end of last season who could have been okay with genetic testing.

But I don't know that you can say she, or just about anyone else, is the type who would seem like she would or wouldn't consider an abortion without knowing all the circumstances, which we don't. Since there have been ***spoilers*** that she'll consider adoption, and since she's far enough along to have the ultrasound and know the gender of the baby, and since the actress is really pregnant, I don't think abortion will be a consideration in Deb's situation anyway.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), October 14, 2000.

Another question re: rape possibility. Even if she hid the fact of being raped, wouldn't she at least think about preventing pregnancy and take the morning after pill? She is a doctor and that would definitely enter her mind if that's what happened.

-- Laura (laurelc@wincom.net), October 14, 2000.

It IS important to remember that she's a doctor. That being the case, she'd not only take contraceptive precautions after a rape, but she'd also be very much aware of her situation long before she started showing. (I doubt very much that she simply "didn't notice" a few missing menstrual periods.) So the possibility of her having an abortion would have crossed her mind long since, and I'd have to admit it looks like she just opted not to go that way. Still...anything's possible. Right?

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 14, 2000.

Jaime, Cecelia, et al: I'd like to apoligize for my previous comments. After I reread them before posting, I didn't see it that way, but now that it has been mentioned, I completely see your point. In *NO WAY* was I trying to imply that the woman is EVER responsible for her rape (precautions or not), nor do I believe that women go out looking to be raped, and put herself in that situation. My comments came out wrong. (I'm trying not to turn this into a debate about rape or abortion.) But please hear me out and try to understand my *opinions*.

The only thing I was trying to say is that I see Jing-Mei Chen becoming involved with men who are like herself; that is professional, intelligent, mature, etc. Not someone who would do that. (And I realize that there are exceptions to that.) If she was indeed raped, I don't see her holding it in for so long, for four or five months, I don't remember. I would think that she was have done something about it, whether taken the day after pill, or simply told someone about it. These *opinions* are based on the responsible, mature, wise, and careful characteristics we have seen Chen demonstrate.

Once again, please accept my apologies for any offense this may have caused.

Roybal

-- Roybal (jroybal33@excite.com), October 15, 2000.

Don't mention it, Roybal. I'm not offended -- I just took your comment the wrong way. :) I agree that Deb almost certainly would've sought medical attention sooner if she were raped, but for what it's worth, I think someone said that the "Star" had gotten the story wrong, and that it's "Chicago Hope" (or one of the other hospital dramas) doing the rape storyline.

-- Jaime (jaimej78@hotmail.com), October 17, 2000.

"City Of Angels" is doing the rape story line. "Chicago Hope" was cancelled. I think "Star" screwed up that one by saying it would be on "ER".

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), October 17, 2000.

I think the reason that people think Chen won't have an abortion because she is pregnant in real life is that I have read that a lot of actors are really superstitious about this. For example (and believe me--I'm embarassed to say I watched this but I started in college) Jennie Garth on 90210 was incensed when she was pregnant in real life and the writers made her character have a miscarriage. The general things I've read is that actors prefer to have it written in or not acknowledged at all--not to have a miscarriage or an abortion. For what it's worth....

-- Barbara Sirois Doyle (barbara@sirois.com), October 18, 2000.

I'm leaning more towards someone that we don't know to be the father...I just can't see any of the other guys mentioned being a good story line. We've already seen Carol struggling to be a single mom, so I don't think TPTB will take that approach...I'm betting she has a miscarriage, just have a feeling about that.

-- Joy (joijoy@webtv.net), October 20, 2000.

Since we found out tonight that she's only 22 weeks along, abortion could still be an option...though I'm pretty confused by her inaction. Sure, I can understand her being frightened and confused, but letting 8 weeks turn to 12 to 20...? Sure, her family may be unsupportive of the situation, but doesn't she have friends? Sheesh.

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), October 20, 2000.

SPOILER

SPACE

I

GUESS

INCASE

I

NEED

IT

*

*

*

She won't miscarry. She won't have an abortion. She carries the baby to term.

-- JLS (ewwhatevr@aol.com), October 20, 2000.

I've said if before, but I really hope (and think) they will go the adoption route. I think it would be great for ER to show a woman stuggling with that decision. I really felt sorry for Jing Mei last night. Delivering that baby must have made her situation so much more real. Kerry was so great to her. And I love the fact that she is worried about what her parents will think. I am anxious to see how the storyline plays out. I have always liked Ming Na and really hope this will give her more story time.

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), October 20, 2000.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who considers Romano a candidate for Baby Chen's sperm donor. Yes, it is sick, sick, sick, and even though Chen would have had to be either plastered or otherwise impaired, I think he is the most likely candidate if the father is a cast member. My rationale: why did Chen feel the need to ask him not to tell her parents that she was pregnant? It seemed to me like there was an underlying meaning to that little exchange, almost as if she had hoped for more to transpire. It might also explain some of her evident unhappiness with the situation and her unwillingness to tell anyone who the father is -- I certainly wouldn't admit it. Also, remember the scene between Romano and Elizabeth when he asked her how much she would pay for his sperm? He obviously doesn't have any qualms about "dispersing his seed," so to speak. I agree that it would be frightening to imagine Chen with (gulp) Romano, of all beasts, but something tells me that the producers wouldn't miss out on the chance to do something so blatantly discomfiting to the sensibilities of viewers.

-- Abigail Prescott (abigailprescott@hotmail.com), November 01, 2000.

The identity of the father of Deb's baby is no longer a secret, thanks to TV Guide's online listing for the upcoming Nov. 16 episode. I'm not going to tell you who it is, but for all of the theorizing, it's pretty much a no-brainer as to the identity of the daddy. Let's just say, I wasn't at all surprised.

-- Tracy (bankybooda@aol.com), November 01, 2000.

Can you either say who it is or provide the address for the article, as I can't seem to find it on TVguide online. Thanks in advance.

-- Roybal (jroybal33@excite.com), November 01, 2000.

Roybal,

go to ER Daily: http://home.twcny.rr.com/edgerton/er/index.html and at the bottom there is a small article with the TV Guide preview. by reading the guest list, you should be able to figure it out. hope this helps

Laura

-- Laura (laura_b@looksmart.com.au), November 02, 2000.