Title: Dubious

Author: mavjade

Fandom: Dexter

Characters: Dexter, Deb

Genre: Episode based, Dialogue only (internal and spoken).

Timeline: Season Three-- when Deb finds out about Harry cheating.

Summary: Dexter and Deb's conversation regarding Harry's infidelity goes a little differently.

Notes: I just discovered Dexter and I wonder how I missed such an amazing show for so long! I watched the first three seasons in less than two weeks. So here is my first exploration into writing Dexter. It's just a little ditty, but I wanted some feed back on if I got the characters right before I launch into something longer!

Dexter's thoughts are in italics.

~*~*~

Should I tell her and ruin Harry for her as well? Does she want to know the truth? "Everyone has secrets, even dad." Why was I so naive to think he didn't? At least not from me.

"He didn't keep big things from us Dexter, dad always wanted truth. He wouldn't keep things from us, he just wouldn't. Whatever it is you think you know, you don't."

She doesn't want to know. She wants to keep on believing in him, believing he could do no wrong. I could destroy that thought, but why? It would serve no purpose other than to hurt her.

Soon she'll be looking into things, trying to figure out what the truth is, and she won't like it.

~*~*~*~

"Tell me what you know, Dex."

I knew she'd be back, I just didn't expect her so soon. "I thought you didn't want to know." She doesn't, but she can't help herself.

"I have to know. It couldn't have been something too bad, he didn't kill anyone or steal anything. God, it's not like he cheated on mom."

I find it best in these situations to not say anything.

"No, no way. No Dexter."

My face must have given it away, she's getting better at that.

"Dad loved mom. Dexter, he wouldn't sleep around."

"No one's perfect, Deb, not even dad." Especially not dad.

"I don't believe it."

And she won't, until she realizes it's true.

"Why do you always do this, huh? You just have to know everything, don't you?"

"I was just as surprised and you." Probably more so given that he was sleeping with my mother.

"Who was she Dex? Was it another cop?"

"No, not a cop." Should I tell her the truth?

"Thank god for that. The last thing we would need was for everyone around here to know that but us. So then who was she?"

My mother. "I think just some woman he knew from a case." Technically it isn't a lie.

"I think you know more. Talk brother."

If I tell her she'll look into it and she might find out about Brian. If I don't tell her she will look into it. "Can we not talk about this here?"

"Yeah, tonight though, okay?"

Tonight, "Yeah, sure." I'll tell her something. I just wish I knew what.

~*~*~*~

Maybe if I distract her she'll forget. "So, how's the case coming?"

"Fine, now talk."

So much for distraction. That used to be so much easier. "I told you, it was a woman he met on a case."

"There's more to it than that, so spill."

Maybe if I tell her the truth she'll feel bad for me and leave it alone. Harry always said to stick close to the truth. Makes it easier to keep things straight. "I think..." But can I get this close without her seeing further in?

"You think what? Come on, tell me."

Here goes. "I think she was my mother." She looks confused. "My real mother."

"What! How is that possible? You mean dad really is your dad? What about that other guy?"

"No, Harr... dad wasn't my dad. At least not biologically, but I think he slept with my mother." Please don't ask for details.

"Wha... How did he know her?"

"She was a CI." And it got her killed, made me the monster I am. "I think something went wrong and she got killed. That's when he took me in."

"Did he love her?"

Of course she would ask that. Still, at least it's not other details that I can't give.

"I don't know, Deb. That's all I know." And that he left my brother there, left him to be eaten by the system.

"He loved mom, he couldn't have loved her. How did you figure this out?"

"Camilla told me. She said she thought I should know."

"Have you looked up her file?"

"Can't, it went missing years ago." Though I don't know if Harry thought to get rid of her CI file. I should look into that.

"That sucks, brother. Dad never told you anything about her?"

"No, nothing." He didn't want me to doubt him.

"Well if you want to know more, I'll help you look."

"Thanks but I don't think I will. The past should stay in the past." Sometimes it stirs up things you wish you never knew.

"Yeah, I'm starting to think it should."

Good to know she feels that way. Still, I think I'll see if I can find my mother's CI file, just in case the past should try and become the future.

~Fin