Disclaimer: Usual applies.
A/N: I haven't done this yet, but I just wanted to thank everyone who reviewed this story. I was amazed that so many people reviewed it, and I thank you all. Not sure how long this will run, but look for a sequel to this story, coming.... eventually! I love you all (and Dr. Lecter!), and now, here is chapter 11!
Chapter 11: Goodbye Agent Starling
Clarice hummed quietly as she proceeded back into the plane. She wasn't sure yet what she was going to do, but knew SOMETHING must be done before the plane landed. She walked through the coach section, closing her ears to the whining children and disgruntled salesmen. In the very back on the right, she saw the bathrooms. She cast a casual glance and noted that the both bathrooms were unoccupied. But that was not her destination; across from the bathrooms, she went to the flight attendant quarters.
Clarice pulled the curtain to the side to see a tiny room full of attendants, bustling to make arrangements for their prompt landing. Not a one noticed her as she walked up to Stephan, who busied himself turning off coffee-makers.
"Stephan?"
Stephan turned with a flair, putting his hand on his hip. Clearly startled, he greeted her anxiously. "Miss Starling? Dear God you scared me! You can't be back here, please go fasten your seatbelt now, we are preparing to land."
Clarice tilted her head feign her ignorance. "I can't be back here? Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you, the man I was sitting with? You remember? Well, he told me that he wanted to see you real quick."
Stephan perked up, his expression a cross between a hopeful dog and the late Dr. Chilton. "Did he? You can tell him I will see him when the plane lands."
Clarice giggled. "No, Stephan. He wants to see you now... in the bathroom. I wouldn't keep him waiting if I were you." With a lovely bright smile, Clarice slipped out from the curtain.
And the smile widened as she entered the men's restroom.
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Hannibal checked his watch, becoming apprehensive. Clarice had been gone almost ten minutes, and he worried that young Stephan had caused her some kind of trouble. The doctor audibly sighed as he opened the case file for the umpteenth time, now actually reading over the material.
As Hannibal read, certain questions filtered through his mind. Why had she worn the necklace, instead of turning it over? She already told him that, she was the proper authority, and she liked it. Why hadn't she wanted to talk about her case? Hmmm.... Why did she taste so different now than before, and what had she been dreaming? It was as if he was meeting her for the first time. Not that it was unwelcome or unwanted, but he needed, longed to know what had happened to her.
Then it occurred to him: someone had reserved the seat next to her. Clarice knew it, knew the person. She must have had someone on the case with her. Jack Crawford was dense, but not so much that he would send his Death Angel out alone on a case. Even if the other agent couldn't have gone, someone else would have taken his or her place. But... what did this mean?
Hannibal studied the pictures of the Washington victims: a young boy, a businesswoman. An amateur but knowledgeable attempt at copying his crimes. Why did Clarice let the FBI think he was this killer?
A flash of light in Hannibal's mind. It was there all the time. He should have known. The clues were right before him, and so obvious to his trained mind.
Hannibal unfastened his seatbelt and went to fetch Clarice.... because now he understood where she went.
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Hannibal entered the male bathroom just as Clarice was finishing. She was bent over Stephan's body clad only in her undergarments, her shirt, jeans and sandals in the bowl of the sink. The blood coated her body as she carved into the young man's skin with a bit of sharp plastic. Without turning, she stood and said, "It's about damn time you figured it out."
Hannibal removed her clothing from the sink as Clarice turned on the water. Always the gentleman, he turned his head away as she stripped off her soaking bra and panties, throwing them in the toilet. She grabbed her clothing hurriedly, pulling on her her clothes and drenching herself in L'air du temps. Only when she gave the word did he turn his head to her again. She was smiling.
"Let's discuss this later, Hannibal. By my watch, the plane is landing now."
She reached for his hand as she opened the door. She pulled him along as he glanced back to the now unrecognizable Stephan to see what Clarice had carved.
It said, "Goodbye Agent Starling. Hello Clarice..."
A/N: Sorry this is so short, but I needed a short one to tie up loose ends. This is not the end by far!
A/N: I haven't done this yet, but I just wanted to thank everyone who reviewed this story. I was amazed that so many people reviewed it, and I thank you all. Not sure how long this will run, but look for a sequel to this story, coming.... eventually! I love you all (and Dr. Lecter!), and now, here is chapter 11!
Chapter 11: Goodbye Agent Starling
Clarice hummed quietly as she proceeded back into the plane. She wasn't sure yet what she was going to do, but knew SOMETHING must be done before the plane landed. She walked through the coach section, closing her ears to the whining children and disgruntled salesmen. In the very back on the right, she saw the bathrooms. She cast a casual glance and noted that the both bathrooms were unoccupied. But that was not her destination; across from the bathrooms, she went to the flight attendant quarters.
Clarice pulled the curtain to the side to see a tiny room full of attendants, bustling to make arrangements for their prompt landing. Not a one noticed her as she walked up to Stephan, who busied himself turning off coffee-makers.
"Stephan?"
Stephan turned with a flair, putting his hand on his hip. Clearly startled, he greeted her anxiously. "Miss Starling? Dear God you scared me! You can't be back here, please go fasten your seatbelt now, we are preparing to land."
Clarice tilted her head feign her ignorance. "I can't be back here? Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you, the man I was sitting with? You remember? Well, he told me that he wanted to see you real quick."
Stephan perked up, his expression a cross between a hopeful dog and the late Dr. Chilton. "Did he? You can tell him I will see him when the plane lands."
Clarice giggled. "No, Stephan. He wants to see you now... in the bathroom. I wouldn't keep him waiting if I were you." With a lovely bright smile, Clarice slipped out from the curtain.
And the smile widened as she entered the men's restroom.
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Hannibal checked his watch, becoming apprehensive. Clarice had been gone almost ten minutes, and he worried that young Stephan had caused her some kind of trouble. The doctor audibly sighed as he opened the case file for the umpteenth time, now actually reading over the material.
As Hannibal read, certain questions filtered through his mind. Why had she worn the necklace, instead of turning it over? She already told him that, she was the proper authority, and she liked it. Why hadn't she wanted to talk about her case? Hmmm.... Why did she taste so different now than before, and what had she been dreaming? It was as if he was meeting her for the first time. Not that it was unwelcome or unwanted, but he needed, longed to know what had happened to her.
Then it occurred to him: someone had reserved the seat next to her. Clarice knew it, knew the person. She must have had someone on the case with her. Jack Crawford was dense, but not so much that he would send his Death Angel out alone on a case. Even if the other agent couldn't have gone, someone else would have taken his or her place. But... what did this mean?
Hannibal studied the pictures of the Washington victims: a young boy, a businesswoman. An amateur but knowledgeable attempt at copying his crimes. Why did Clarice let the FBI think he was this killer?
A flash of light in Hannibal's mind. It was there all the time. He should have known. The clues were right before him, and so obvious to his trained mind.
Hannibal unfastened his seatbelt and went to fetch Clarice.... because now he understood where she went.
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Hannibal entered the male bathroom just as Clarice was finishing. She was bent over Stephan's body clad only in her undergarments, her shirt, jeans and sandals in the bowl of the sink. The blood coated her body as she carved into the young man's skin with a bit of sharp plastic. Without turning, she stood and said, "It's about damn time you figured it out."
Hannibal removed her clothing from the sink as Clarice turned on the water. Always the gentleman, he turned his head away as she stripped off her soaking bra and panties, throwing them in the toilet. She grabbed her clothing hurriedly, pulling on her her clothes and drenching herself in L'air du temps. Only when she gave the word did he turn his head to her again. She was smiling.
"Let's discuss this later, Hannibal. By my watch, the plane is landing now."
She reached for his hand as she opened the door. She pulled him along as he glanced back to the now unrecognizable Stephan to see what Clarice had carved.
It said, "Goodbye Agent Starling. Hello Clarice..."
A/N: Sorry this is so short, but I needed a short one to tie up loose ends. This is not the end by far!
