Hey everyone! I know it has been a while since I came out with another story. I do have every intention of finishing my old one I have just had this in my head a while and really wanted to start writing before it left my head. So here it goes…

People were pacing around the mall, not knowing who was amongst them. Some people were shuffling along ignoring the tall, wiry built man standing next to the carousel. From just a glance of anyone they would probably describe him as a perfectly normal man, but not from one woman. One woman named Clarice Starling knew this was definitely no ordinary man. Most people of society, by speak of his name, would describe him as a monster but not Starling. She did not see a monster like everyone else did. She saw a very intelligent and terrifying man all in one. He had asked her to follow him and she blindly went looking for this man armed only with a pair of handcuffs and a gun, that she had no intentions of using. But what he didn't know would work to her advantage. She was looking for Dr. Hannibal Lecter. He was leading her around on a wild goose chase and she knew it. But Starling had to catch him here and now before Verger's men got to him. Clarice had investigated the Lecter case for months now, always looking at him through the pictures and videos all posted in the basement commonly named by her fellow agents, Hannibal's House. It had been ten years since last she had a face to face encounter with the Doctor. She was stronger now though and she had every intention of using her new found strength to save Lecter from his demise. However, Agent Starling could not shake this feeling that she was leading Dr. Lecter into his demise in a different way. Sure she was saving him from Verger's men, but she was leading him into the arms of her superiors at the FBI. She didn't want to see him die, so if he was caught would the FBI finally sentence him to the death penalty. She shook her head of that thought as Dr. Lecter finished his statement.

"You are having difficulties paying attention to my words my dear. Having second thoughts about how you are going to arrest me?"

"Don't think you can avoid me forever."

"I have no intention of avoiding you. I am quite comfortable observing you from where I am right now."

At that Clarice looked around knowing by now he had probably already changed his location to move out of sight.

"Clarice you are so close, and almost within reach…and yet so far."

"Not for much longer Doctor. With Verger's men all around you will get discovered before too long. I would prefer you leave with me as to them."

"Making suggestions now?"

"You know what I meant."

"Very well But I unfortunately cannot walk out in the open when so many people are after me, it might end very messy."

She covered her hand over her mouth hoping she would only have to say this once quietly.

"Please Doctor, I don't want you to be killed by them."

"Hhmm, now that is interesting Clarice. And who might I ask is 'them'? Were you referring to Mason and his men, or perhaps the FBI you so dutifully serve? Maybe it was both then, because I do want you to know if I were recaptured I would be at the top of the list on the death penalty."

"I would make it a point to go in for you. Your insight on to future cases would help your cause."

"And if I refused? I will not be caged again, never. And while I appreciate the offer my dear, I am not sure your newly appointed position would help me much. EXspecial Agent Starling."

Clarice sighed and continued to look around. She had turned around and noticed a man turning a corner. She paced much faster hoping to catch the man. When she made it around the corner he was gone.

The Sards were just a few paces behind pretending to shop for sunglasses. One of them shook their head.

"This is hopeless the Doctor may play games with this woman all day. I am losing my damn patience."

"What do you want to do then? We have to pursue until he slips up, and he will eventually. He isn't flawless."

"I don't care, the problem isn't him slipping up the problem is catching him in the act of slipping up."

Carlo stared long and hard at the agent wandering around. A smile began to tug at the corner of his mouth. He had an idea that may just work. He had read all about the Lecter/Starling relationship from the moment he accepted to work with Mason. Carlo needed to know exactly what he was dealing with and so he studied Lecter and his case files. Starling, he found, was the most appealing of all of the cases. He strongly believed there was something between the two. Not a love relationship more of how a rabid animal chases its prey. He believed Lecter would not stop until he had what he wanted.

"I am going to make a phone call, keep your eye on the woman."

Carlo pulled out his cell phone and called Mason.

"Do you have him?""Not yet.""Then why bother calling me? Do not disappoint me or there will be no money.""That is not it Mr. Verger. I don't think this is going anywhere but I do have an idea of how to draw the man himself out."

Mason was quiet for a long while, "Go on, you have me interested."

"The woman. As you yourself said that he is drawn to her in distress. What if he saw it first hand?"

"And what if it doesn't? Then I have a dead FBI agent on my hands and no Lecter for the taking."

"That son of a bitch killed my brother. Believe you me he will not escape with or without the help of the Special Agent."

"Do it."

The phone line went dead. Carlo hung up and walked back to the stand where his two friends were. Clarice was walking very slowly away from them to the exit.

Carlo was curious, "She hasn't moved very much."

"I think she knew we were getting closer. She hasn't done much and now she is leaving."

"After her, we have orders."

The Sards paced a little quicker. Agent Starling was too focused in on one thing now to care about Mason's men. She had heard a familiar noise on the other end of the phone while Lecter was speaking. She remembered the voice from the greeter near the entrance. She hurried over.

"Leaving so soon Doctor?"

"Very good Clarice, Mason's men are closing in on us my dear. I would rather avoid any conflicts to arise here. Do not think I am leaving you I would like very much to resume our conversations in private."

"Now look who is making suggestions." She was almost outside now.

"Perhaps. Well I will see you soon Clarice."

"No Doctor please don't go yet."

The line wasn't dead but the Doctor remained very quiet. Clarice had made it outside and she looked around then directly in front of her. A little ways across the parking lot was Dr. Lecter. He glanced back in her direction his eyes staring right at her. She paused momentarily, noting this was the first moment she had seen him in over ten years. She had him now. She ran across the parking lot and just as she had passed two large vans a man jumped out and put his arm around her neck while another one came out to assist. She kicked the man in front of her and then the man holding her flung her to the ground.

Lecter watched from a distance and anger soon flooded his thoughts. He wasn't about to let Starling be killed because of him.

The man who threw her to the ground pulled out his knife and brought it above his head. Starling attempted to gain her footing when the man started to bring his arm down. A strong hand grasped the Sard's. It halted the blade and he heard a whisper from behind him.

"Now that is just rude. And Clarice can tell you I do hate rude people."

The Sard was then disarmed and hit in the back with Lecter's own knife. He was then pushed into the other Sard and they both collapsed on the ground. Hannibal stood in between Clarice who was sitting on the ground and the two men who were struggling to get back up.

"My dear, you should really try and get back up, unless you intend to apprehend all of us lying down."

At that Starling's eyes widened. It was a challenge to her. And she was a little in shock that in the past two minutes she had gone from almost being kidnapped to Lecter standing in between her and the two men, almost like her own protector. She was astonished because Dr. Lecter has now revealed himself and thrown his own freedom on the line for what? Why had he done this for her? Her thoughts seized when she realized there were only two men. She knew she had seen three originally.

"Doctor there should be three watch out!"

Just then Carlo came from the side and Lecter caught his arm and brought out his knife again. Then the other man jumped up and knocked his arm out of the way. Lecter then turned his attention to the other man and grabbed him by the throat. Then Lecter punched Carlo away. Dr. Lecter was doing fine until the third man, the one who was stabbed came up. This time instead of aiming for Dr. Lecter made his way for Clarice. He pulled out a much larger knife he was hiding within his coat. Clarice by now had gotten back up and started to reach for her gun in her purse. She noticed the large man running at her and started to get her gun out but a fourth man came out and grabbed her from behind. Clarice's thoughts were racing. There was a fourth man? Of course, the driver probably stayed in the car in case of an emergency getaway. How stupid she was. Lecter turned and saw Clarice in struggle, and the man approaching.

Just then Dr. Lecter made a decision he would not have made for anyone else. But with Starling he wasn't always his reasonable self. He had no time to stop the larger man and instead bolted for the easiest way to halt the blades path…by stepping in between it and its target. Dr. Lecter was stabbed in the back. Lecter was facing Clarice and he was smiling. Clarice was shocked as she elbowed the man holding her. He released her grasping his stomach. The man who stabbed Lecter withdrew his large knife. He took a couple of steps back. Carlo and the other man stood still for a minute, watching. Dr. Lecter's vision started fading, he whispered Clarice's name. She reached to catch him. He landed in her arms. She was on the verge of tears by this point.

"Please don't die Doctor. Please, come on stay awake keep your eyes open!"

Even though Lecter was stabbed from behind it didn't matter the damage was still dealt. The blade was long enough to hit any vital organs even from the back. Although which organ was struck could not be certain. Lecter's eyes remained open, but his breathing was quieter. The Sards grabbed Lecter from Clarice and hit her across the back of the head, she was on the ground unconscious. Lecter was thrown into the back of the van as Carlo smacked his accomplice across the face.

"You dumbass we may lose him!"

"I was aiming for the girl."

"Drive, drive. As fast as you can we need to get to Verger's place now!"

The car sped off and nearby people who happened to witness what went on behind the two vans had already called the police. They would be there in about five more minutes. And all they would find when the got there is Clarice Starling laying unconscious on the ground with a single tear going down her cheek.

A/N: It has been so long since I wrote anything. I do apologize for that, but I have been pretty busy lately. I have had this idea in my head for quite a while and finally decided to do it. I know I haven't finished the other story yet, but I have every intention of doing so. I just really wanted to get this one out here. So I will hopefully have a little more time but please have patience I hope to get some more writing done soon. So please read and review. All criticisms and comments appreciated because they improve my writing. Thanks to all!

Kanan