Chapter 11

Normal

Hannibal sat up in bed, hearing the ringing of the phone, wondering curiously who would be calling him so early in the morning. Until he realized that it was indeed very early, and that someone would only be calling if someone was in trouble. The fact that Clarice came to his mind first surprised him as his hand reached out and took the phone steadily in his hand.

"Hello?" Hannibal said calmly into the receiver.

"Forgive me for calling so early doctor" Jack Crawford said "But there's been a situation."

Hannibal heard Crawford's voice, but the only thing that got through was the fact that Clarice had come within inches of harm. He would never wish that on her, and immediately felt the need to go and retrieve her from Will Graham, despite his friendship. Will was a entertaining companion, but the territorial desire to have Clarice in his own home sent Hannibal almost over the edge to end his friend.

"Doctor I think Clarice would do good with having another session with you" Crawford said finally that got Hannibal's attention.

"Yes I think so" Hannibal said "Whenever she is readily available I will be waiting for her."

"I'll phone Will and let him know then" Crawford said "Last I heard Clarice finally fell asleep around six this morning."

"That's good" Hannibal gritted out though on the phone it sounded genuine that he was happy. He hadn't felt this amount of rage in some time as he hung up the phone. It interested him that his body functioned without his control whenever the subject of Clarice Starling came up, his hormones and body going against everything his mind tried to hold back. He felt like a adolescent again, waving and pulling like the waves of the sea, always crashing against each other. It was almost maddening.

But knowing Clarice would be at his office soon, Hannibal decided to get up and get ready for her arrival.

It was around eight in the morning when Clarice arrived at Hannibal's office, her hair pulled back in a ponytail as her eyes probably sported heavy dark circles. She had slept, but barely as Will had told her most of her dreamless sleep consisted of her shaking and jerking around. Her body was exhausted, and her mind empty as Will promised to find a lead to where Jame was going so that Clarice would not have to endure any more right now.

Hannibal opened the door and took one look at Clarice, his eyes alarmed at her presence and the way her body sloped down, almost defeated.

"Please" Clarice said holding up her hand "Don't comment on my appearance. You know as well as anybody this is not my normal state."

"That is why it alarms me" Hannibal said opening the door "Please come in, I've made you breakfast."

"You didn't have to" Clarice said shaking her head.

"It's the least I can do" Hannibal said taking her jacket as Clarice walked slowly over to the windows, her arms tucked up in her chest as she stared blankly out from the glass.

"Clarice?" Hannibal said watching her.

"He's going to pick his next victim" Clarice said "And I don't know if I'm going to be able to stop it this time. I'm so tired Hannibal...so tired from waking up screaming every night. I don't know how much more I can take..."

"I understand your need to stop what is happening" Hannibal said "I only wish to help you see clearly on what you need to do next."

"How can I see clearly when all I think about is the darkness" Clarice said "The only light I had has gone out."

"Then you must simply wait" Hannibal said drawing close to her "Wait like you waited in the pit. The light will soon fall, and you will be able to climb out, and when you climb, you will climb with the girls safely in your grasp."

"You have a lot of confidence in me doctor" Clarice said finally looking at him "Why?"

"I sense a fire in you" Hannibal said honestly "One that will not be easily put out. I admire that greatly."

Clarice wanted to thank him, but the words left her as she caught the stare his eyes flicked at her for a moment. There was something deep within Hannibal that was dark, a darkness that she knew was not like the pit, but worse. But somehow...she knew the darkness would never turn it's ugly head towards her.

"Shall we eat?" Hannibal said motioning to the dining room.

"That sounds good" Clarice said with a weak smile, following Hannibal shyly.

Clarice sat down as Hannibal presented her with steak, eggs, and home made hash browns, all cooked to perfection in such a beautiful manner that Clarice felt like she couldn't possibly eat such a work of art. Hannibal poured her orange juice in a fine glass before sitting down himself, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I feel rude" Clarice said "Like I should have helped you cook this."

"The culinary arts is one of my passions" Hannibal said "And it is an honor to cook for you."

"I don't know how many times I can say thank you in a day" Clarice said shaking her head.

"No thanks are needed" Hannibal said taking a bit "You do more than you realize Clarice."

Clarice watched him for a moment before getting back to her breakfast. They ate in silence, glancing at one another every now and then, Hannibal always keeping Clarice's glass full. He liked watching her eat, liked the savage delight in every bite she took. He also didn't mind this worn look of hers, she looked comfortable, like she had just awoken from their bed and was joining him for breakfast like any other day.

If Hannibal had grown up normal, he might consider this moment something mundane, but as fate would have it, Hannibal thought the normal exchange between eating breakfast with Clarice was possibly the most fascinating thing he had ever done.

They both finished and Clarice got up to get Hannibal's plate. Hannibal grabbed her wrist quickly, feeling the smoothness of her skin in his.

"Please" he said "I will get them myself."

"No" Clarice said flat out "I'm sorry doctor but you have a lady in your house even if she doesn't look like it, and I was raised that if someone cooks for you, you do the dishes."

Hannibal felt himself smile as his thumb gently stroked the inside skin of Clarice's wrist "If you insist" he said amused as he let go, letting Clarice grab the dishes and dart into the kitchen. Clarice felt the tingle of her skin where Hannibal had caressed her, and strangely she wanted him to touch her again. He was gently, almost too gently, as if she were a fresh blooming flower that he didn't want to spoil by his hand.

Clarice washed the dishes, setting them aside to dry as Hannibal came in and watched her closely, making sure she didn't snoop where she wasn't supposed to. But Clarice only did as she said, cleaning the dishes and stacking them to dry, her eyes never wandering anywhere but her task.

When she finished though, Hannibal watched her dry her hands and move past him into the office. Hannibal quietly did a look through to make sure nothing was disturbed until he went and joined her again in the office. Clarice had trailed upward, looking at the various books Hannibal kept on his shelves.

"Have you really read all of these?" Clarice said without looking at him.

"In time, yes" Hannibal said still watching her closely.

"You have a lot of my favorites" Clarice said smiling to herself.

"Care to tell me some of them?" Hannibal said sitting down at his desk.

"The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice" Clarice said looking down at Hannibal "Which honestly surprises me."

"I admire her workmanship as an author" Hannibal said smiling back at Clarice.

"You even have Paradise Lost" Clarice said fingering the book.

"I find it intriguing" Hannibal said.

"Is is strange Lucifer was actually my favorite character?" Clarice said finally stepping away from the books.

"He is classified as the first real anti-hero" Hannibal said "You are supposed to not like him, but end up understanding him and therefore liking him."

"I guess I have a weakness for anti-heroes" Clarice said smiling down at Hannibal.

Hannibal smiled and looked away, knowing that he himself was not an anti-hero, he was Lucifer himself, but if she allowed it, he would be her Lucifer.

Clarice walked down and stepped towards Hannibal's desk her eyes trailing over everything except him. She finally rested on the clock and simply said "We've gone past your usual hour."

"That we have" Hannibal said still looking at her with those intense eyes.

"Do you think I should leave?" Clarice said.

"Only if you want to" Hannibal said, his voice growing soft.

Clarice still stood though her body didn't motion for the door "I would like to really thank you" she said "These few hours were probably the best thing that could happen to me right now. You know... doing normal things with someone I'm comfortable with."

"I'm glad you can be normal around me Clarice" Hannibal said.

"I have to ask though" Clarice said moving a little closer to the desk "I know it's very blunt of me, and I hope you won't find it rude, but I need to know before I walk out of this room."

Hannibal stood quietly his eyes fixed on Clarice "Go ahead."

"Is there something between us?" Clarice said looking at him with wide eyes, scared to know the answer.

Hannibal walked over to her, his eyes focused on hers as if he were trying to hypnotize her. He got within inches of her, his hand slowly touching her arm as Clarice shuddered out loud. He bent his head close to hers, his breathe sweet against her skin as Clarice closed her eyes.

"Only if you want" he said softly.

The ringing of the office phone broke the string that was looping around them tightly as Clarice felt her head move away from Hannibal's. The doctor cleared his throat and moved towards the phone, his body vibrating for action.

"Yes?" Hannibal said almost impatiently when suddenly his face quickly looked to Clarice "Yes, we will be right there."

Clarice looked over at him startled when Hannibal said the words she feared the most.

"They found the last victim" he said.