Here I Am
Clarice stood in the middle of the aisle holding her daughter's hand as she stared into his eyes slowly feeling herself being drawn in to those depthless eyes like most times she looked into his eyes. She also knew it was there lay his soul, in those penetrating eyes that both fascinated her and frightened her. It was like diving into an abyss. For a moment, she felt as though she was being flown back in time to the first time she met him in the dark corridors on the dungeons.
Hannibal stared into her eyes knowing that she was slowly losing herself in her memories. Although he would never show it on his cool reserved face, he smiled inwardly. Just like old times. Soon he felt her entering their shared room in his palace and curiously followed her down the path into the past.
… Doctor we have a problem in psychological profiling and I'd like to ask for your help.
'We', being the behavioral science unit at Quantico…
… You know what you look like to me with your good bag and cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste…
"Good Morning, Clarice"
The metallic voice snapped Clarice out of her reverie. Before her stood Dr. Hannibal Lecter, escaped madman, renowned psychiatrist, the list went on. He was dressed finely in rich clothes that seem to define him; the prison parlor of the dungeon days seemed was well gone now as it had been ten years ago. It occurred to her that he was dressed as he would have dressed before his incarceration. She took in everything about him like a woman parched of water, noticing out of the corner of her eye that he tilted his head in a familiar manner of curiosity. Slowly a grin tugged at his lips while his eyes glint amusement. Smug bastard. Still love your games don't you doctor?
For the first time in such a long time, Clarice had no idea what to say briefly forgetting the rudeness of no response to his greeting. This seemed to only amuse him even more and could not resist provoking her.
"What's wrong, Clarice? Cat got your tongue?"
The reaction he received was amusing also. Whereas she would have retorted with scathing reply she now only clenched her jaw in an attempt to contain her ire but to Dr. Lecter her ire was a fascinating phenomenon. Just like watch the flames flicker in the dark.
Marie watched on as she looked between the two with a curious query. It was apparent to her that they knew each other very well and had met more on one occasion. Though how much was unclear to her. It puzzled her that her mother hadn't said a word and it irritated her also knowing it was quite rude not to return a hello. But it seemed that Dr. Lawners didn't mind the lack of response, in fact he seemed quite amused by it. She watched as her mother clenched her jaw, she had never seen her mother angry and was fascinated by it like Dr. Lecter.
He gazed at Clarice a few more moments in obvious amusement which only fueled her ire even more before focusing his penetrating gaze upon Marie taking her in. It was then she remembered what her mother had said days ago about Dr. Lawners being her father, recalling that her mother had been sure that Marie hadn't heard that. She was wrong.
There were signs of crow's feet around his eyes, evidence to a fondness of smiling and Marie thought it pleasing to know she had a father that smiled and enjoyed life evidently. The fact of he looked like he could be her grandfather did not go unnoticed by Marie though found that she didn't care. She tilted her head as she took in his face, coming to the conclusion that he would have looked very striking in his younger days. Pleased with her results, Marie let out a soft giggle with a soft smile reminding Dr. Lecter of Clarice in a miniature size.
Dr. Lecter seemed to be quite taken with Marie and gave her a smile before returning his gaze to Clarice who still seemed a bit dazed as unshed tears filled her eyes.
"You have a lovely daughter, Clarice. I wonder how you came to the decision on Marie?" his gaze revealing nothing as he showed no signs of noticing her tear filled eyes.
Then something broke inside of Clarice like a trigger and for a moment she became paranoid that he knew but it seemed highly improbable. Trying to hold on to her resolve she kept mouth shut as tears dropped onto her cheeks rolling downward. All the years of pent up emotion came in a flood in one moment. Fighting the urge to sob as her shoulders shook with the effort.
Marie looked at her mother in shock as a whimper escaped her mouth, witnessing the scene of her mother crying who always seemed to be so strong.
Meanwhile Dr. Lecter watched on the scene in front of him.
Clarice, now freely sobbing as tears flowed unbridled, lost her sense of reason in her despair and embraced the doctor tightly. He patted her shoulders on reassurance as she sobbed freely on him. Wrapping her arms around him, she clutched his shoulders as she sobbed.
Marie was now flabbergasted, she had never seen her mother break down before and it frightened her to no end.
Now composed again, Clarice watched the scenery pass by as the car drove on to her home. She looked to her left and watched as Dr. Lecter drive towards her home while she sat in the passenger seat with Marie asleep in the back. She had no idea why she agreed to letting Dr. Lecter drive her home after her breakdown but supposed that he was right in driving her home. It seemed he was always right. Clarice looked out the window again as they arrived at her house.
Both doors opened and both parties came out of the car and faced each other to close their doors but catch the other's eyes and held it. The only word to describe the gaze was intense. Finally, Clarice turned away to open the front door. As Clarice went to go open the front door, Dr. Lecter opened the back door and took Marie in his arms gently so he wouldn't disturb the child.
He had to admit, Clarice had changed since he had last seen her though she was still as incorruptible as ever in her own morals. That was how he saw her, sort of like fine wine, she blossomed with age. He expected that the child would be like this later in life also.
Dr. Lecter climbed the steps and calmly waited for Clarice to open the door who was having some difficulty opening the door. She was lightly swearing under her breath as she fumbled with the keys. This amused the doctor to no end. Once they were inside her home, Clarice led him to her room upstairs though she still felt slightly whimsical about the idea of Hannibal Lecter in her house but it also occurred to her that he has been in her house before. The memory sent tingling and chills down her spine, though she wasn't sure of the reason why.
A whisper of a touch by her face and she felt in her sleep her hair brushed away from her face. In the early morning lights she woke from her sleep as the phone rang. "Hello?" "The battery on that phone is low Clarice. I would have changed it but I didn't want to wake you…"
As they came to the bed Dr. Lecter placed Marie on the bed gently, it wouldn't do to have the child be in the middle of the conversation he had in mind. Softly, pulling the silk bed covers up to cover her. The two of them stared down upon the sleeping child watching her chest fall in even patterns. They both thought the child looked or acted so much like the other. However, only one of them was unaware of the parentage of the child.
Dr. Lecter was the first to break the silence.
"I'll say again, Clarice. You have a lovely daughter"
It's now or never.
"She's your daughter too"
Okay, in case you're wondering why I faded out on the scene of the store. It's because I couldn't decide what to put next and all the scenarios were good but I just couldn't choose. So I ended up deciding that the readers could picture whatever they want as to what happen in between the store and driving Clarice home. Hope u like it.
