DISCLAIMER: The usual applies – I don't own them, wish I did, please don't
sue, I don't have much money, etc.
AUTHER'S NOTE: Ok, this is another attempt at a Hannibal fic. I'm not sure where this story is going yet, so please be patient with me. I might not write very fast because I only get the time on weekends. Thanks.
SUMMARY: Lecter is in prison and Starling comes to visit him… but he has only days left to live!
Déjà Vu
By Jane
1 PART 2: Face to Face
She waited a long moment for him to respond and could feel the guilt building up inside her. It was all her fault he was locked away, waiting to die now… "Dr. Lecter… please…" her voice was more pleading than the last time.
"Poor Clarice…" his voice softly hummed in the still air and he paused for a moment, "did you really think they would give me fair trial? And that just because it has the word "fair" in it, it would actually be right or just? I admit I've done some things that they think are worthy of death but you know why I did them, don't you?"
"Yes," her voice became quiet.
"Come closer, Clarice" She wondered whether or not she should trust him. She didn't know if he was angry with her, and even though he didn't show any signs of it, she couldn't be sure. This time there wasn't a glass barrier between them, but simply metal bars. That moment of hesitation didn't go unnoticed by the doctor. "Déjà vu Clarice, just like old times. Are you still afraid to get near me? I assure you I could've killed you long ago…"
That was enough for her. Even if her life ended here, she probably deserved it for listening to her superiors rather than her conscience. She ventured closer a few steps, all the while trying to spot the slightest sight of him in the dark cell. She stopped right before the reaching the bars. After a brief moment, his well-built form appeared from the shadows right in front of her.
She wasn't prepared for this closeness and his eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul. Something inside her kept Clarice where she was – she didn't want to leave. Suddenly it dawned on her. There was so little time. And she felt the appetizer of what was to come – a tug of guilt. Another memory became vivid before she could stop it:
Clarice was following him in the crowd. All the people at the market created an ocean, which threatened to put him out of sight any second. His elegant, light coat swayed in the wind as he walked steadily through the crowds. She was sure he could sense she was there, but he didn't seem to disappear like he had done so many times before.
"I got the suspect in sight," she said quietly into the button-sized radio on the collar of her shirt. She felt like she was betraying him, but Clarice really hadn't been given an awful lot of choice in the matter. After their last encounter, she hadn't been given any cases to handle, and was treated like a trainee with heaps of paperwork.
Suddenly she lost sight of him and struggled to make her way past the people who were blocking her view. Her eyes scanned the vast area frantically as she tried to spot any sight of him.
"Agent Starling, report your location," one of the agents in hideout was saying into his radio, "Agent Starling, are you there?"
She couldn't work with all that distraction and took the earpiece out and threw it in a fountain. If she was going to catch him, she could at least make an attempt to deserve it. She would have to work alone. Looking around the square again, as the crowd cleared up, she thought she saw someone enter an old cathedral out of the corner of her eye.
It was a long shot, but there wasn't any sign of him as far as she could see, so Clarice followed her hunch and walked quickly towards the old building. Opening the squeaky door she was glad of the cool air that greeted her from inside and taking off her sunglasses, she entered.
'Moment of truth…' she thought to herself. She looked over the interior of the cathedral and slowly walking forward wondered where he could be.
"Good morning, Clarice…" his calming voice echoed softly off the ancient walls.
Slowly turning to face him standing behind her, with his arms by his sides, she answered, "Good morning, doctor"
"You look well… considering all those tedious tasks you were made to carry out, I'm surprised you managed to get out of that basement office… You really should get more fun out of life, you know…"
The microphone! She forgot to take it off along with the earpiece! They probably knew where she was and were on their way over here right now. Hundreds of quick thoughts ran through her mind, and suddenly feeling an urge not to be the one to take away his freedom, she couldn't decide what she should say or do next. Could she really let him go and lose whatever was left of her career? Even if she wanted to, there was no way to tell him without them hearing too.
"What are you doing here, Dr Lecter?" she asked at last.
"Why I came to check up on you, from what I've seen, you're not doing terribly well…" he looked down at the decorative badge on her collar, which concealed the microphone, "though I'm guessing that might change…" He knew. His eyes were once again level with hers, and refused to let go of her gaze. "I also came for the other half of the answer you owe me…"
'Would you ever say to me stop? If you loved me you'd stop?' flashed through her mind and as she opened her mouth to speak he told her, "don't give me something you can't take back" and she was quiet again. What could she tell him?
They both heard hushed voices giving quick orders just beyond the doors and didn't have time to blink as the team of FBI agents burst onto the scene, surrounding them completely. Dr. Lecter stood calmly and whatever was going through his mind didn't betray his tranquil pose. Clarice looked at him and wished she hadn't been so stupid. May be all of this would never have happened. He still had a chance to make some kind of escape but he didn't make a move…
"Clarice…" the rasp of his voice woke her back into reality and she looked at him in his cell like she did before he got captured. She couldn't take anything back now.
"Why didn't you run doctor?" It was the only question circling her mind.
"Don't tell me your career hasn't improved since we last met"
"It hasn't," she answered, trying to keep her face emotionless.
"Ah, what a pity," he looked amused all of a sudden. Did he know something she didn't?
"I know there's something else," she tried again, "you could've easily made an escape – you knew about the microphone…" her accent was becoming more evident.
"Why wouldn't you ever tell me to stop, Clarice?" he questioned moving another inch closer to the heavy bars separating them. She wasn't hesitant anymore.
Clarice decided there was no point in lying to him, especially now. "I didn't think you would…" her voice trailed off and realization suddenly dawned on her. He'd given up his freedom for her. He has stopped… for her? Why did she ever agree to this capture? Why?
"There is another reason for me to be here, Clarice, but I don't think it's time for me to tell you yet, so just think about what I said…" With this he turned around and disappeared once again in the darkness. She didn't want to leave so soon. She couldn't lose any more time, but slowly she started to walk home. There was something else she needed to figure out and it had to be done soon. She only had two days.
-------------------------------------------
Okay, you may have to wait a little bit for the next chapter, but that's why I made this one longer! Hope you like it! And thank you very much for all the reviews and encouragement! No need for the matches either, DianaLecter, I'll try to hurry! Lol! About the ending? You'll just have to wait and see… he he! – Jane:)
AUTHER'S NOTE: Ok, this is another attempt at a Hannibal fic. I'm not sure where this story is going yet, so please be patient with me. I might not write very fast because I only get the time on weekends. Thanks.
SUMMARY: Lecter is in prison and Starling comes to visit him… but he has only days left to live!
Déjà Vu
By Jane
1 PART 2: Face to Face
She waited a long moment for him to respond and could feel the guilt building up inside her. It was all her fault he was locked away, waiting to die now… "Dr. Lecter… please…" her voice was more pleading than the last time.
"Poor Clarice…" his voice softly hummed in the still air and he paused for a moment, "did you really think they would give me fair trial? And that just because it has the word "fair" in it, it would actually be right or just? I admit I've done some things that they think are worthy of death but you know why I did them, don't you?"
"Yes," her voice became quiet.
"Come closer, Clarice" She wondered whether or not she should trust him. She didn't know if he was angry with her, and even though he didn't show any signs of it, she couldn't be sure. This time there wasn't a glass barrier between them, but simply metal bars. That moment of hesitation didn't go unnoticed by the doctor. "Déjà vu Clarice, just like old times. Are you still afraid to get near me? I assure you I could've killed you long ago…"
That was enough for her. Even if her life ended here, she probably deserved it for listening to her superiors rather than her conscience. She ventured closer a few steps, all the while trying to spot the slightest sight of him in the dark cell. She stopped right before the reaching the bars. After a brief moment, his well-built form appeared from the shadows right in front of her.
She wasn't prepared for this closeness and his eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul. Something inside her kept Clarice where she was – she didn't want to leave. Suddenly it dawned on her. There was so little time. And she felt the appetizer of what was to come – a tug of guilt. Another memory became vivid before she could stop it:
Clarice was following him in the crowd. All the people at the market created an ocean, which threatened to put him out of sight any second. His elegant, light coat swayed in the wind as he walked steadily through the crowds. She was sure he could sense she was there, but he didn't seem to disappear like he had done so many times before.
"I got the suspect in sight," she said quietly into the button-sized radio on the collar of her shirt. She felt like she was betraying him, but Clarice really hadn't been given an awful lot of choice in the matter. After their last encounter, she hadn't been given any cases to handle, and was treated like a trainee with heaps of paperwork.
Suddenly she lost sight of him and struggled to make her way past the people who were blocking her view. Her eyes scanned the vast area frantically as she tried to spot any sight of him.
"Agent Starling, report your location," one of the agents in hideout was saying into his radio, "Agent Starling, are you there?"
She couldn't work with all that distraction and took the earpiece out and threw it in a fountain. If she was going to catch him, she could at least make an attempt to deserve it. She would have to work alone. Looking around the square again, as the crowd cleared up, she thought she saw someone enter an old cathedral out of the corner of her eye.
It was a long shot, but there wasn't any sign of him as far as she could see, so Clarice followed her hunch and walked quickly towards the old building. Opening the squeaky door she was glad of the cool air that greeted her from inside and taking off her sunglasses, she entered.
'Moment of truth…' she thought to herself. She looked over the interior of the cathedral and slowly walking forward wondered where he could be.
"Good morning, Clarice…" his calming voice echoed softly off the ancient walls.
Slowly turning to face him standing behind her, with his arms by his sides, she answered, "Good morning, doctor"
"You look well… considering all those tedious tasks you were made to carry out, I'm surprised you managed to get out of that basement office… You really should get more fun out of life, you know…"
The microphone! She forgot to take it off along with the earpiece! They probably knew where she was and were on their way over here right now. Hundreds of quick thoughts ran through her mind, and suddenly feeling an urge not to be the one to take away his freedom, she couldn't decide what she should say or do next. Could she really let him go and lose whatever was left of her career? Even if she wanted to, there was no way to tell him without them hearing too.
"What are you doing here, Dr Lecter?" she asked at last.
"Why I came to check up on you, from what I've seen, you're not doing terribly well…" he looked down at the decorative badge on her collar, which concealed the microphone, "though I'm guessing that might change…" He knew. His eyes were once again level with hers, and refused to let go of her gaze. "I also came for the other half of the answer you owe me…"
'Would you ever say to me stop? If you loved me you'd stop?' flashed through her mind and as she opened her mouth to speak he told her, "don't give me something you can't take back" and she was quiet again. What could she tell him?
They both heard hushed voices giving quick orders just beyond the doors and didn't have time to blink as the team of FBI agents burst onto the scene, surrounding them completely. Dr. Lecter stood calmly and whatever was going through his mind didn't betray his tranquil pose. Clarice looked at him and wished she hadn't been so stupid. May be all of this would never have happened. He still had a chance to make some kind of escape but he didn't make a move…
"Clarice…" the rasp of his voice woke her back into reality and she looked at him in his cell like she did before he got captured. She couldn't take anything back now.
"Why didn't you run doctor?" It was the only question circling her mind.
"Don't tell me your career hasn't improved since we last met"
"It hasn't," she answered, trying to keep her face emotionless.
"Ah, what a pity," he looked amused all of a sudden. Did he know something she didn't?
"I know there's something else," she tried again, "you could've easily made an escape – you knew about the microphone…" her accent was becoming more evident.
"Why wouldn't you ever tell me to stop, Clarice?" he questioned moving another inch closer to the heavy bars separating them. She wasn't hesitant anymore.
Clarice decided there was no point in lying to him, especially now. "I didn't think you would…" her voice trailed off and realization suddenly dawned on her. He'd given up his freedom for her. He has stopped… for her? Why did she ever agree to this capture? Why?
"There is another reason for me to be here, Clarice, but I don't think it's time for me to tell you yet, so just think about what I said…" With this he turned around and disappeared once again in the darkness. She didn't want to leave so soon. She couldn't lose any more time, but slowly she started to walk home. There was something else she needed to figure out and it had to be done soon. She only had two days.
-------------------------------------------
Okay, you may have to wait a little bit for the next chapter, but that's why I made this one longer! Hope you like it! And thank you very much for all the reviews and encouragement! No need for the matches either, DianaLecter, I'll try to hurry! Lol! About the ending? You'll just have to wait and see… he he! – Jane:)