(Most characters are from the Perception universe.)

PERCEPTION

Letters

Chapter 1

"Lewicki!"

From the living room, Daniel called out to his assistant. Footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs and Max appeared. He took a glance in the living room and could see Daniel pacing back and forth with a worried look on his face.

"Yeah, Doc?" Max questioned, as he watched Daniel going back and forth.

Daniel momentarily stopped when he spotted Max.

"Didn't you hear the knocking? Someone is at the door," Daniel informed him.

Daniel then continued his frantic pacing in the living room, a white envelope secured in his hand. Lewicki breathed a sigh of relief as he headed for the entryway.

Kate is here at last and not a moment too soon! Max thought, as he rushed to open the door.

As expected, Kate Moretti stood there, a slight smile on her lips.

"Hi Max," she greeted, " I got your message to come o-" she never got to finish her sentence, for Lewicki had reached out, grabbed her by the arm, and yanked her inside.

Stunned, Kate watched him with large eyes, "Max, what is it?"

"Ssssh! Keep your voice down!" Lewicki whispered, desperation heard in his voice, "Doc is in the next room!"

Kate huddled close to Lewicki, "You didn't tell Daniel I was coming?" she whispered back, "Why?"

"Because...Doc received a letter today," Lewicki claimed in a low voice.

"A letter?" Kate whispered back, "What kind of letter?"

"Not a letter… a 'let-ter'!" Lewicki emphasized in a hushed tone.

Daniel's voice could be heard coming from the other room, "Lewicki, who is it?"

Lewicki turned his head towards the living room and yelled back, "We'll be right with you, Doc!"

"What?" Kate had a confused look as she addressed Max, "Not a letter, but 'a let-ter'? I don't get-"

"Just listen, Kate, because we don't have much time..." Lewicki explained very quickly now, "I need you to help calm the Doc down...he's been agitated all morning because of that letter!"

There was a slight smile to her lips, "You mean more agitated than usual? How can you tell?" she jested. But her smile disappeared when she saw the look of concern on Lewicki's face.

So this was serious.

They stopped talking down as they heard footsteps approaching the foyer. Daniel now appeared, still holding the white envelope in his hand.

"Lewicki, I need you to-" Daniel paused at the sight of Kate.

Kate's eyes lit up at seeing Daniel. She had been working on a separate case that did not require his assistance and she had not seen him in two weeks. Seeing him now made something flutter inside of her There was always something so lost yet so earnest about him. It was one of his more endearing qualities.

Daniel always felt that Kate was like a breath of fresh air. Today she was casually dressed, her leather jacket tossed over a casual top and jeans along with wearing tennis shoes, and her hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Kate... you're here?" he asked skeptically, wanting to touch her, to make sure she was real.

Lewicki interjected, acting as though Kate had come on her own accord, "Yeah, Doc, look who's just showed up unexpectedly…it's Kate."

"Hello, Daniel," Kate smiled assuredly, "It's good to see you on a Sunday afternoon."

A look of relief crossed Daniel's face with the realization that Kate was a reality. Lewicki had then left to get some refreshments. Daniel and Kate walked into the living room as Kate took a seat on the long sofa while Daniel remained standing.

"Please tell you're here because you have a case for me," Daniel almost pleaded, "I've been going crazy the last two weeks."

Kate lightly smiled, "Sorry to say, but no. The case I'm working on now concerns money laundering across state lines. Nothing that needs psychological analysis, I'm afraid."

"Then there's another reason why you're here?" Daniel wondered, as his brows furrowed questionably. Kate didn't want to tell him that Lewicki had called her, concerned about Daniel's erratic behavior.

"It being such a beautiful day and all," Kate improvised, pointing towards the outside, "I came over to see if you were interested in taking a walk outside."

The sparkle in Daniel's eyes faded a bit as he shook his head, "No, I'd rather not go outside today, Kate."

Her expression darkened, "Daniel, something is wrong… what is it?"

Daniel looked off to the side, he couldn't look directly at her, "Nothing. It's nothing Kate. Forget it."

"Daniel," she pleaded gently, "You can tell me, please..." Kate now pointed to the white envelope Daniel was holding, "does it concern that envelope you have in your hand?"

He had forgotten he had even been holding it as he now hid it behind his back, "No."

"Oh, is it a love note, then?" she teased.

Daniel's eyes had become round, almost with fear. Her smile vanished at his strange reaction.

"Daniel," Kate questioned, "What is going on here? You're obviously upset. Let me see that envelope!"

She held out her hand and waited. He reluctantly gave in. From behind his back he produced the envelope and trustingly handed it over to her.

Kate scowled as she read the front of it. The name "Dr. Daniel Pierce" was typed in capital letters. It had no stamp, no return address so it had not been mailed to him. Kate opened the envelope and from inside, took out a single sheet of eight-and-a-half-by-eleven inch white paper folded in thirds.

Carefully she unfolded it. A large red letter 'H' had obviously been cut from a magazine and was pasted in the center of the page. She turned it over. Nothing. That was it.

A letter. Literally. Exactly what Lewicki had stated. A single letter.

"What is this? What does this mean?" Kate looked puzzled, holding up the paper with the letter. Daniel shrugged.

"It was shoved under my door this morning," Daniel said, "and I have no idea what it means."

He looked nervous as he ran his fingers through his hair. Kate knew she needed to reassure him that it was nothing to worry about.

"It looks harmless enough, but if you want, I can run it for fingerprints," Kate suggested, trying to soothe him.

"I doubt you'll have success," Daniel said, as he once more began pacing again.

"I agree that nothing will probably come of it, but Daniel, you're working yourself in a frenzy," Kate insisted, "It's probably...probably some prank that someone from the college fraternity initiated...in fact, I'm sure that's what this is!"

Daniel stopped his pacing, "There's more, "he said.

Kate tilted her head, "Oh? More letters?"

"No...It's just..." his voice faltered as he considered whether to continue.

"It's just what, Daniel?" Kate encouraged him. She patted the area on the sofa next to her, "Come sit down and tell me."

He looked at the patted spot and then sat next to her on the long couch. She had a way of calming him down. At first it seemed as if Daniel was not going to say anything. But when he turned to look in her eyes, he could see Kate's steel determination and knew she would not let up until he told her.

"It's just...I think someone is stalking me!" he blurted out at last. Kate could see how Daniel's entire body stiffened as he continued, " No! Forget I ever said anything, Kate...You probably think I'm just being paranoid!"

He had started to get up from the sofa, but Kate had reached out and touched his upper arm to stop him. Instantly they both felt a jolt at contact. Stunned, Kate's hand immediately fell away from him. Instead, she tried to give him a reassuring smile.

"Daniel," Kate wisely pointed out, "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that someone is not following you!"

At her voice of reason, Daniel felt better and turned to face her, "It's just..." he steadied his voice because he really wanted to make her understand, "...every other time I look out the window, I see the same woman in the same car watching the front of my house..." He stopped and looked down, embarrassed to even be saying that much.

"Oh?" Kate asked, curiously, as she stood up and walked over to the front window. Pushing a small area of the curtain aside, she peered out.

Daniel hated the idea that his imaginings seemed to be getting more vivid. And he hated it even more that he was admitting these hallucinations to Kate. He really should be taking his meds, but they always ended up making him feel not like himself. Daniel hated the idea that she'll probably say no one is out there and he has nothing to worry about.

"I'm not saying she's out there now," Daniel brooded from the sofa, "I-I'm just saying sometimes I see her!"

"And when you do see her, Daniel," Kate asked, as she stood by the window, "do you think you're having an episode?"

"I don't know...maybe," Daniel murmured.

"Hmmm.., " Kate considered, as she looked out again "are you referring to the red-headed woman parked outside in the green sedan?"

Daniel jerked his head up and he quickly dashed to the window to join her.

"What? You actually see her out there, too?" Daniel excitedly questioned Kate as he also peered out. And sure enough, she was there. The same woman in the same green car.

"Of course, I see her," Kate verified. She let go of the curtains and turned back to look at Daniel directly, "But it doesn't mean she's stalking you, Daniel. It's just... there's a red-headed woman sitting outside in a green sedan in front of your residence."

At least it wasn't a hallucination. That woman is really out there. There was a look of gratitude in Daniel's eyes as he gazed into Kate's eyes. She couldn't seem to look away as they exchanged gazes longer than was necessary.

"Ahem."

Lewicki cleared his throat as he entered the room, carrying a teapot and two teacups on a tray. Putting the tray down, he immediately began pouring the tea into the cups.

"Something interesting out there?" Lewicki asked as he noted how Daniel and Kate were viewing something out the front window.

In response, Kate's voice was calm and even.

"There's a red-haired woman sitting in a green sedan out there. Daniel says she's out there frequently and thinks she is watching him. Or at least his place."

Lewicki looked puzzled when he was done pouring. This was the first time he had heard about the woman outside. He had only known about the letter 'H' in the envelope.

"Do you think it's something we should be concern about?" Lewicki asked Kate, looking concerned.

Kate gave a quick glance to Daniel. It was best not to make a big deal about either the letter in the envelope or the lady in the green sedan.

"I don't think so, Max. For now, everything is fine," Kate stated to Lewicki but she was actually trying to reassure Daniel.

However, her professional instincts told her that everything did not FEEL fine.

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(A/N: Hello! I'm so glad to be back! I had actually written this story first before my other two posted stories. I started it after watching the third episode in season 1 and then got sidetracked by "Undeclared" and then "Hazy". During the season break, I reread it and decided this story may be worth keeping so I decided to complete this one. Truthfully, I have some doubts about the strength of this story, so I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that you will like it! :D)

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