It was Clarice's goal to think like the Doctor – Will she succeed?
Post Hannibal Movie the alternative ending – to a certain extent. (You can find it on youtube if you look hard enough. Basically Clarice never had any handcuffs on her after dinner)
Great Minds Think Alike
"Enemies, as well as lovers, come to resemble each other over a period of time."
- Sydney J. Harris
The white hospital walls were unnerving to Clarice as she sat on a bed, her conscious mind barely noticing the gentle probing of a nurse. She felt numb, everything was a blur, she remembered seeing the boat and then the fireworks, in her mind she heard her own voice calling, 'I am Clarice Starling!'. She felt her tears well and the hospital walls blurred together, it stayed like that for some time, until she saw a figure looming in front of her. Blinking she cleared her vision, the man looked like a psych. and his words were lost on her. This same man led her from the hospital, Clarice found herself nodding, this must have pleased the man because he smiled and handed her into a taxi. Clarice remembered him saying something about sleep before she dropped into another blackened void.
Clarice came from the depths of her mind in the early hours of the next morning, the curtains were open and soft sunlight spilled over her, Claire squinted in the new light but did not shut her eyes. She felt better, less numb, but still not completely human. Rising from the bed she took off the dress that she was still wearing and walked to the shower. The sharp jets of hot water felt good on Clarice's skin and the sensation seemed to open her mind. The numbness that disappeared allowed Clarice to see the events of last night better than she had done before. She remembered clearly what had been forgotten last night; the blurred kitchen came back into focus, the feel of the Doctor's lips on hers, definite. She watched it happen all over again; Lecter departed from her, the ferocious struggle with the refrigerator to free her hair, then the police, the ambulance, the hospital. Life as it seemed, was back to normal.
Drying her tears along with the water already on her face Clarice fell back into a slight daze. She dressed and continued her morning ritual to the phone to check for messages, there was one, from the offices at the FBI. The message simply stated that she had been placed on leave until her psychological status could be confirmed as satisfactory. Clarice snorted at this, if she wasn't allowed to come into work she was just going to have to do it here, it was time to finish what she had started.
Ignoring the hunger pains that stabbed at her stomach Clarice turned on the TV, in the five minutes that she sat watching it she gained everything she needed. The FBI had tabs on every way out of the state; they had issued a statement saying "... There is no way that Hannibal Lecter could have left this state ... We strongly advise that all citizens be aware of who this man is and do not approach him in any situation ...".
Clarice smiled, all they knew at the FBI was that he hadn't left the state, "If they knew any more," she mused, "They would have him already."
Fortunately for her, Clarice had one up on her fellows at the FBI, she knew the Doctor better than any of them. She let another smile play across her lips at the thought of road bocks, there was no way that the Doctor, in his right mind, would drive away from Paul's. There was one other option, Clarice thought, a bike. The simplicity of the option was perfect for the Doctor, after all, who would be interested someone on a bike when they are after a madman?
Clarice's next move was quick and thorough; she turned on her computer, started the internet and searched for rental properties within a five mile radius of Paul's lake house. Her search was successful turning up a total of nine houses, one being Paul's. That left eight, Clarice did not have the man power to search them all so it was up to her to pin point the exact one.
Narrowing down the houses was not as difficult as Clarice first thought it would be, she went on what she knew to begin with, the Doctor liked his views, especially ones involving water, her number dropped from eight to five. Size was the next variable on her list, the house needed to be large, four bedroom two bathroom at the very least, this left only two houses. Clarice smiled to herself when she saw their status; one was vacant, the other occupied. "Ready for some company Doctor?" she thought.
Getting out of the foreign four wheel drive Clarice tipped its driver and watched the vehicle disappear into the distance. Now that she could not put it off any longer she turned and faced the long driveway that snaked it's way through thick bush to the German's rental house that was not quite visible trough the trees. Sighing she began to walk, unsure as to what she planned to do once she reached the front door.
The lengthy walk to the German's door was filled with Clarice's thoughts, before she left her house Clarice had been fuelled by anger and frustration. Now that nothing more could really be done these emotions began to dissipate, Clarice was left with anticipation and 'I should haves'. She stopped short, only meters from the front door, and questioned herself. She was standing here, alone, in the front yard of a serial killer's residence with no backup on the way. Why had she been so stubborn not to call the bureau and tell them what she knew? Giving up trying to find and answer Clarice stepped up to the porch.
The door opened before Clarice had time to knock, she did not jump and there was a serious lack of fear within her when she looked up into the face of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The pair stood looking into each others eyes unmoving for some time and their exchange was only broken when, silently, Hannibal stepped aside and invited Clarice over the threshold. When Clarice was in the hall Hannibal closed the door, it clicked shut, Clarice did not turn around. Taking advantage, Hannibal walked up behind her and savoured her sent before directing her to the living room.
The metallic voice, only inches behind her, sent shivers up Clarice's spine, obediently she continued down the hall and into the living room. He followed soon after carrying tea on a try, he set it down on the coffee table but did not offer it. Clarice's eyes, that had been making their way around the room, moved to rest on Dr. Lecter as he sat opposite her. It was he that broke the silence that had begun once again.
"Didn't take you long, did it Clarice?"
"No Doctor." Was all she could say.
"Mmm, so why are you here Clarice, would you like some tea?"
"To finish what I started, black no sugar, thankyou."
"And what is it exactly, that you 'started' Clarice?"
"You, this case, this whole situation." Clarice had been fighting to keep her composure, she felt it slip now.
"We shall see about that one Clarice, biscuits?"
Clarice nodded and watched the Doctor's retreating form. Why the hell wasn't she arresting him? She was sitting here having God damned tea with the man the world called a monster. Her sanity, she figured must have been lost somewhere between Paul's house and her own. Her morals, everything she believed was right seemed to disappear with every minute she spent here, oddly enough, Clarice didn't seem to care.
Dr. Lecter was returning, "I am terribly sorry about the distasteful biscuits on offer Clarice but the pantry here is very under stocked. I am afraid that all I have to offer is a packet of assorted creams, do forgive me. Why do you feel that is was you that started this 'whole situation' as you put it?"
"Well of course Doctor, I honestly don't mind. Who else did start it if it wasn't me?"
"Now Clarice there is no need to ruin the fun by skirting around the truth. If you are going to take that attitude you may as well leave."
"I will then!" Clarice was irritated, more with herself than Dr. Lecter, but she did not get up.
"Now Clarice, don't be rude. Think back, who introduced you to me, hmm?"
"Crawford." The acidity that dripped from the name surprised even Dr. Lecter. Clarice's eyes grew wide with the realisation of what she had said. "No, wait I didn't mean it like that! It's just, you asked, and he was the one who sent me down to see you."
"Yes, yes he did, do you feel as if he created this mess?"
"No." Clarice was frank, Dr. Lecter knew not to push it, from now on it was up to Clarice.
"He told me; 'Don't ever tell Dr. Lecter anything personal, the last thing you want is him in you head.' I didn't listen."
"It wouldn't have mattered Clarice, if I wanted to get inside your head I would have, the nice thing was you gave me permission."
Clarice didn't know how to feel about the Doctor's last statement so remained silent until he spoke again.
"Who else Clarice? Who pushed the ball once Crawford set it rolling?"
"Chilton?"
"Don't answer me with a question Clarice."
"Chilton." She said once more, the statement lacking resolve.
"That's better. Well yes I suppose you could say Chilton was a player, if he had stayed out of our business we wouldn't be sitting here today. But Chilton is merely a fly on the wall, I meant someone ... a little larger."
"Hmm," Clarice smiled, "We dined with him recently, you may remember, Paul Krendler? He fucked up my life pretty bad."
"There is absolutely no need for that language Clarice, but yes you are right, Paul is exactly who I was meaning. Do you feel that Paul has paid for what he did to you?"
Clarice snicked, "Eating his own perverted, self righteous brain? I think so." She laughed now, "I think it is safe to say that he ate his words for once."
Hannibal smiled, "Hmm, do you think that Crawford has paid for what he sent you to do?"
"No."
"Do you think he should?"
"No."
"Why is that Clarice? Hmm? You know your Daddy never paid for what he did to you either."
"No! You won't speak about my daddy like that! He was a good man."
"No Clarice, that wasn't my question, why don't you want to punish Crawford? You agreed to punish Paul."
Tears were now steaming down Clarice's face, her eyes were wild with anger and frustration, she couldn't see the answer. It was up to her good Doctor to show her where it was.
"Let me rephrase the question Clarice, how is Crawford different from Paul?"
"He is, well, nice, I suppose."
Hannibal raised an eyebrow and Clarice continued, "He–" She hesitated, "He cared for me I think. Not in any kind of romantic way, I think it was more of a friendly way, wanting to know I was safe. Do you know what I mean?"
Hannibal nodded slightly, "Mm, is this why you are so willing to let him off the hook, along with your daddy?"
"I, I don't think so."
"Then why Clarice? Why do you forgive Crawford for sending you down to me? Your daddy, for getting shot?"
"Crawford sent me down to ask for help."
"But he is not selfish."
"No, he thought it would help me in some way."
"Yes." Hannibal smiled and hoped that Clarice would last just a little longer. The sedative he had administered her was beginning to kick in.
"I suppose," Clarice said, her eyes slowly fluttering shut, "He only wanted what was best for me." She smiled weakly and her conscious was lost.
Satisfied with the turn of events Hannibal stood and lifted Clarice's sleeping form from the couch. With ease he carried her up stairs and laid her softly on a bed, standing at the doorway Hannibal watched her for a while, memorising every part of her. After an untold amount of time he left her. Dr. Lecter mused over the days evens as he prepared dinner, he smiled; Clarice had willingly come to him alone. He did not recognise it, but a small part of Hannibal hoped that she would choose to follow him in his journeys.
AN: Reviewed, revised and newly edited, hopefully it is better than the original. Reviews would be greatly appreciated.