Final Chapter

The usual applies; I own no one or nothing pertaining to this story.

Chapter 6 Good Doctor, Bad Doctor

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Dr. Cole was standing at the corner of the house where the side and backyard met. He couldn't make up his mind on how to proceed next. He knew he would have to get into the house but this wasn't his area of expertise. He settled for trying to pick the lock on the back door.

With his decision, made, he took one step toward the door when a voice from behind said, "Good evening." Cole spun around only to have a cloth stuck in his face by a very strong hand, the other grasping him tightly behind the neck.

Dr. Cole fought only a moment before the drug took effect.

As Cole passed out, Dr. Lecter allowed the body to drape over his shoulder. He then carried the unconscious man to the truck. It was a slight struggle getting the bigger man into the truck, bouncing Cole's head off the entrance to the passenger side a couple of times Dr. Lecter said, "That's gonna leave a mark."

His search of Dr. Cole reveled an ice pick, wrapped in a zip-lock bag in his jacket pocket with the word: F I F T H, carved into the handle. The anger that washed over Dr. Lecter at that instant was almost frightening, even to him. If he had not been here, he shuttered to think of what could have happened.

Regaining his composure, he shut the passenger door, walking around and getting in the driver's side of the truck. As he started the truck an idea came to him. He smiled wickedly as he drove off.

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Clarice woke up early. She had packed a suitcase last night in the event she still planned on excepting Dr. Lecter's invitation. She took a deep breath and looked at her suitcase.

"What else do you have to do Starling? Not a damn thing," she answered herself.

With that, she made sure everything was in order. She called Ardelia and told her she was taking a vacation so she wouldn't worry.

Grabbing her suitcase and the ticket, she got into her car and aimed it toward the airport.

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Once inside the airport, Clarice checked to make sure her flight was on time, it was.

She had about thirty minutes to kill, so she got a cup of coffee and sat down with a magazine, she picked up in the gift shop. As she looked over the new fall fashions for the year, her body tensed as someone put their hands on her shoulders. Before she could turn she heard,

"Good morning, Clarice."

She took a deep breath and smiled as her body once again relaxed. "Good morning Dr. Lecter, I should have known you would show up. He chuckled as he came around to face her, then taking a seat next to her. "Are you going somewhere?" He asked, innocently.

Looking at him with a smug expression she said, "Why yes, Doctor. A very nice looking gentleman has requested my presence in Paris. It would have been a shame to disappoint him, don't you think?"

"Quite a shame indeed." was his reply.

At that point, an announcement came over the PA. Their flight was now ready to board.

As they rose, Starling's cell phone rang.

Looking to the phone, "Great, it's Pearsall. I wonder what he wants?" She said, obviously agitated by the interruption.

"Better answer it. You never know, it might be good news," he said with a grin.

Looking at Dr. Lecter inquisitively she answered the call. "Starling."

"Starling it's Pearsall."

"Yes, Mr. Pearsall, I'm really busy so can we make this quick?"

"Starling, I'm glad your o.k. When I couldn't reach you at home. I got worried.

"Why would you be worried, Mr. Pearsall?"

Putting her question on hold he said, "The Ice Pick killer is dead."

"Dead, how, who?

"An Agent coming in this morning found him in his truck in the parking lot."

"Parking lot, what parking lot?"

"The lot here, at the office Starling."

"The F.B.I. parking lot?"

"Yes Starling, the F.B.I parking lot. It's Dr. Cole, Starling. The Ice Pick killer was Dr. Cole. He was sitting in the truck with an ice pick sticking out of his head, just like the victims. When we searched the truck, we found a piece of paper, stuck in between the seat with your address and the number 5 circled on it"

She stood dumbstruck, trying to comprehend what he was telling her. Remembering Cole asking her to dinner gave her that same shiver. I new there was a reason he creeped me out. I should have seen it sooner. Her thoughts were running wild in her head.

Finally she asked, "So who killed the killer?"

"We don't know Starling. The handle on the ice pick has been altered."

"Altered how," she asked.

"It was carved, just like the others, with the word: F I F T H, but that was neatly crossed out, and the word: L A S T, carved on the back."

Starling stared at Dr. Lecter, raising one eyebrow and whispered, "Last?"

The Doctor met her stare and winked.

With her focus still on Dr. Lecter, she grinned and slightly shaking her head, she thanked Pearsall for the call and turned off the cell, tossing it the trash can next to her seat.

"Last?" she said again. "It seemed appropriate," he responded. "So when were you going to tell me?" She inquired. "You know how much I do enjoy surprises," he said as he proffered his arm. "We should be going." She agreed, wrapping her arm around his.

After taking their seats on the plane, Clarice turned her head toward the Doctor, just taking in the sight of him. As he returned the favor she asked, "How did you know it was Cole?"

"Quite frankly, I didn't know, until he attempted to pay you a visit last night." He said as he carefully monitored her response, as she was still unaware of the events that had transpired the night before.

"That bastard was at my house?" She screamed, drawing some unwanted glances from the other passengers.

"Calm yourself Clarice, It all worked out for the best."

"But what if…." he interrupted her, "If what, Clarice?

"What if you hadn't of been there?"

"There's no doubt in my mind, Clarice, if I hadn't been there, the only difference it would have made to Dr. Cole is that he would have a gunshot wound instead of an ice pick inside his head," he said as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

She took his hand, gently clasping it between both of hers and said, "Thank you, Dr. Lecter."

He raised both eyebrows and said, "Former Special Agent Starling?"

She got the hint, "Thank you, Hannibal."

"Your quite welcome, Clarice."

"So now what?" she asked.

"Now, I believe, it's time to get some long awaited fun out of life, wouldn't you agree?"

"Definitely," she said, smiling at the thoughts, that statement provoked.

She rested her head comfortably on his shoulder, still holding his hand she said, "Let me know when you want this back," giving his hand a slight squeeze.

He looked to their entwined hands before speaking,

"It's right where it should be Clarice, where it will always be, now and forever."

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First, thanks to Obiwan for explaining to me that a serial killer has to have three names,

or he's not a true serial killer. lol Second, I wish all of you could truly understand how much your reviews have meant to me. Let's just say, your all on my Christmas card list.

Thank you so very much!

Fondest Regards,

Steel