Disclaimer: I don't own Perception or the episode "Shadow."
Prompt #6: Rexford - No way would she let him go through that alone. Never again.
Words: 653
"Can someone please give me a ride?"
Kate felt her heart shatter when she heard his voice. The sheer amount of defeat and heartbreak revealed just how broken Daniel had become during this ordeal. She cursed herself for not checking in on him sooner, for letting him be by himself for two whole days, for leaving him and focusing on the job.
Stop it, she scolded herself. Hating yourself for what's already done is pointless.
"I'll take you, Doc," Lewicki said.
Kate stepped forward as well. "I'll come with you."
Daniel instantly started to dissuade her. "No Kate, y-you don't have to..."
"I'm coming with you." Daniel needed her now despite his denial, and she wasn't going to let him go back to the psych ward without her. She strode over to the wall hook and picked up his coat and scarf. "No arguments," she added when he opened his mouth to speak again.
Meekly he donned his coat, and Kate stepped forward to wrap his scarf around his neck. She forced herself to be clinical, to not let her hands linger on the blue fabric or slide up to cup his cheeks. Daniel was vulnerable now, and coddling would only make him retreat further inside his bitter shell. His pride needed no more beatings.
The drive to the hospital was silent. Kate rode shotgun and Lewicki drove, giving Daniel his space in the backseat. Occasionally Kate would notice movement in the rearview mirror, but she kept her eyes on the road and mentally prepared herself for what was about to happen.
They arrived at the hospital, and Kate quickly moved to stand by Daniel's left side. He wrapped his arms around his torso protectively, took a short breath, and calmly walked through the parking lot and to the automatic doors at the entrance. With each step, Kate felt herself growing colder.
The last time he'd gone to a hospital, he'd been alone. She'd been in D.C., and he'd been taken into a strange new place alone.
Daniel's eyes fastened on the reception desk, and he hesitated. For the slightest second, he drew away from it. Then Lewicki tried to lead him in, and aggravation overrode his fear. Daniel uncrossed his arms and shooed both Kate and his TA back silently.
Kate made her move then, lacing her fingers with his and holding on tightly. He looked down at their intertwined hands in shock, then up at her. So many emotions flashed through his eyes - surprise, gratitude, fear, affection. She squeezed his hand and smiled gently, giving him a small nod.
I'll be here when you come back. I won't give up on you, she tried to say without actually speaking. He must've understood, because he gave his own nod back. Then he let go of her hand and walked up to the receptionist.
The woman on duty gave a small smile and asked very politely, "Can I help you?"
"My name is Dr. Daniel Pierce. I'm a paranoid schizophrenic..." His shoulders shrugged in discomfort at the admission, but he plowed on, "and I need to be admitted."
Kate closed her eyes and fought the urge to rush up and hug him. She held herself together as the receptionist gave Daniel some forms to fill out. She waited as the doctor came out and spoke with Daniel regarding his past hospital stays, his most recent break from reality, and anything else relevant to his condition. She kept it all in until Daniel was finally led back into the ward and the doors slammed shut behind him.
Then, brushing away the tears in her eyes, she turned on her heel and headed back to the car. She'd go back to the FBI and crawl through every inch of cyberspace, every sheet of records in the city of Chicago. She would exhaust every avenue she had to prove without a shadow of a doubt that Wesley Sumpter existed or not.
She owed it to Daniel to prove that he hadn't made up Wesley.
Kate introspective tag to "Shadow." Yes, I'm back!
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