Daughter
Prologue: The Call
Disclaimer: I do not own Perception of its characters. This story is for pure entertainment purposes and no profit is being made.
A/N: An idea I've been toying with for a while. My idea of how the fourth season of Perception might have started and a brief glimpse back at how I think the third season might end. I hope you enjoy. And as always reviews are much appreciated.
A/N2: I started writing this story before "Romeo" aired.
When the phone rang at two thirty in the morning Doctor Daniel Pierce found himself irritated to say the least. Well that was his initial reaction to being awakened by the shrill ringing. His second reaction was desperation, desperation to reach the phone before Max did. His assistant had made it clear that if it was Kate then he would hang up on her.
It had been nearly three months since Kate had called off her wedding to Donnie, literally at the last second when Daniel had gotten up the courage to object to the marriage. Since then the fledgling relationship between the neuroscientist and the FBI agent had blossomed. In spite of the fact that working with the DA's office on cases now was something of a chore, Daniel and Kate managed and they were happy.
Given the change in their relationship, Kate felt more free to contact Daniel at odd hours. Sometimes she called to ask for Daniel's input on a case but more often she called just to talk. For his part Daniel did nothing to discourage this behavior. Max had finally put his foot down and in hopes of breaking the new couple of their late night chat habit, had sworn if he heard the phone ring after midnight that Kate had better pray that Daniel got to it first.
After a few moments of fumbling Daniel was able to grasp the cordless "Hello?" he answered.
"Doctor Pierce?" the voice, while female, did not belong to Kate. It was a thickly accented voice. French, Daniel's mind still a tad foggy with sleep, placed it easily.
"Yes..." Daniel replied a bit hesitantly.
"I am Detective Inspector Louisa Charbonneau of the police department of Paris," the woman introduced "My apologies, I know it is an ungodly hour in the States but this is a matter of some importance."
"Of course," Daniel forced himself to sound agreeable "How can I help you Inspector Charbonneau?"
"It concerns a miss Miranda Stiles," the Detective Inspector continued.
Now there was a name Daniel had been trying to forget. It had been a learning experience, he'd tried to tell himself, finding out that Miranda felt she wasn't strong enough to cope with him when he was in the throes of a psychotic break. The revelation had stung for months after Daniel had proven that at least in that case he hadn't lost his mind. Hearing her name again brought back the devastation. Despite the emotional anguish Daniel was able to ask "Is she alright?"
There was a long pause on the other end of the line "I am sorry Doctor Pierce but Ms. Stiles has been murdered."
Hearing Miranda's name had made Daniel feel like he'd had the wind knocked out of him. Learning that she had been killed made him feel as though the ground had opened up and he was plummeting towards the Earth's core. What was yet to come would leave him feeling as though gravity no longer tethered him to the planet.
"How can I help?" His voice sounded unnatural in his ears when he spoke, his throat felt dry.
"Are you aware that Ms. Stile had a daughter?"
"No," Daniel replied. Miranda had told him that she had no children.
"The baby's birth certificate lists you as the father," and with those words Daniel Pierce's life was forever changed.