"Special Agent Starling, can you hear me? Clarice?"

Starling stirred and moved her head up and down slowly. She then had a flash of her last memories before her vision failed. Lecter being lifted up blood coming from him pouring onto the Sard carrying him. He was thrown across the man's shoulder like a piece of meet ready for slaughter and it became too much. She jerked up from the ground making her dizzy.

"Easy Starling it's me, Pearsell, how do you feel?"

"Like shit...how long have I been out?"

"I said take it easy. An ambulance is going to take you to the hospital to do a checkup."

Starling looked into her bosses eyes, face completely serious, "How long?"

Pearsell only sighed, "30 minutes, why?"

Clarice stood up then slower this time so she didn't fall back down, "I have to go."

"Where?'

"They have Doctor Lecter, I can't let Mason get away with this."

"Wait Mason, are you still on this Starling, you were put on suspension."

"Didn't you hear a word I just said? Verger has Dr. Lecter I am leaving now."

She started to walk away, "Don't even think about it Starling. You do that and Mason will threaten a law suit and it will be the end of you. Don't forget he bailed you out once. Even if he does have Lecter by this point there is nothing we can do."

Clarice turned around to face her superior at that, "So you are just going to leave him to be slaughtered? Where the hell is your since of duty?"

"STARLNG! Enough, I have had enough with your mouth. I will send someone to investigate if you will just calm down and let the ambulance take you to the hospital."

Clarice stared. She knew what send someone to investigate meant. It meant getting a warrant driving down to Verger's house and searching around his home. By then it would be too late all ready. Starling had one other idea in mind and it made her stomach churn, but if it could save Dr. Lecter she was willing to give it a try.

"Fine I will go with the ambulance send someone over in a hurry though all right?"

Clarice heard a voice come from behind her, "I will go Pearsell."

Starling could recognize that tone from anywhere, and without even turning around she replied, "And what makes you so eager to come to Dr. Lecter's rescue, Krendler?"

Paul Krendler walked in stride in his best suit with a smirk on his face. "And why not me Starling? I have been your supervisor over this case for a while now. Plus I have personally been to his estate, and seen the layout of the place. So I think I should be the first choice to go in order to rescue your cannibalistic lover."

He smiled again and Clarice felt like she could smack him. Pearsell knew Krendler was just trying to get under Clarice's skin, that was probably one of the only things he was good at around the bureau. "That is enough Paul, Clarice is without conviction until further investigation. Go Krendler, you report everything back to me immediately now go!"

Krendler walked away straightening his jacket as he walked back to his vehicle. He sped off in a hurry. Eager to collect your payment aren't you, you bastard.

"Starling. Listen I know he is a corrupted, sick man. But he does know Mr. Verger so he could probably get in easier without any complications."

"Sir, what if I am right? What if he is in on all of this?"

"Clarice I will send two more men along with him. They will search the entire place. Now I have heard plenty of accusations thrown everywhere so just keep your mouth shut. I understand you are just trying to prevent as many deaths as possible, but would this one man's life mean anything to anyone?"

Clarice stared at him long and hard. He was serious about his question and Clarice had realized, now more than ever, the bureau had changed…she had changed. Who was someone like Clint Pearsell to determine whether a human being should live or die?

"Sir, it means something to me. I want him to come out of this alive."

Pearsell just shook his head and about that time a young man walked over to the two of them. "Excuse me Special Agent Starling. I will be taking you over to the hospital. So could you please get in the ambulance so we can get going."

Pearsell nodded and turned around heading back to speak with some eye witnesses. Clarice walked along side the man and got into the back of the ambulance. Her plan B would be set into motion soon. In truthfulness she felt guilty for what she was about to do, but Dr. Lecter needed help, her help. She felt worse that it was her fault more than anything that he even got captured.

The younger man got into the back with her and he shut the back doors and motioned to the driver they were good to go. He flipped on the sirens and took off. The younger man turned to her, "Do you feel any pain anywhere?"

Starling decided in order for this to work she would have to lay it on thick to start off with, "Actually the back of my head is throbbing. I think I can feel my heart beating there." She brought her hand up to her head and rubbed it. She bent over and placed her other hand across her stomach. The younger man leaned in closer. Pearsell took my weapons up at the bureau, but he forgot about John Brigham's gun that he left to me. Clarice grabbed the man around the neck and brought the gun up to his face. His eyes grew wide.

"Now listen here and no one gets hurt got it?" He nodded.

The driver spoke up, "What's going on back there?", he glanced through the mirror to see Starling with the gun. "What are you doing?"

Clarice turned her head in the direction of the driver, "Pull over now and I won't shoot. And I mean NOW."

"Ok, ok clam down. I am pulling over now." Once they were on the shoulder on the interstate he pulled the car into park.

"Keep your hands on the steering wheel." She turned her attention back to the younger man. "Get out. And keep your hands raised where I can see them."

The younger man stood and kept his hands level with his face then unlocked the door. He raised them again and stepped out. Clarice followed close and shut the back doors, locking them. She constantly kept her eye on the driver, but he hadn't moved. She walked over to him and placed the gun against his head. "Now its your turn to step out." He raised his hands opened the door and stepped out as well. Clarice shut the door this time locking it up completely. Then Starling sped off down the busy interstate leaving the two men on the shoulder of the road. She kept the sirens on most of the way until she thought they might give warning. Clarice could feel her eyes begin to water, please just don't die on me!