See previous chapters for disclaimer.

A/n: Next chapter will be the last I'm afraid, and it should be up before Monday. Hope you enjoy this one, reviews would be considered most kind xxxxxxxxxx











8.00pm





Clarice looked around as much as her body would let her when she again roused from her sleep. Experimentally flexing the muscles on her back, she was surprised to find it didn't hurt anywhere near as much as it had before. The room was now almost completely dark, with only the gentle light from a small lamp on the bedside table offering any comfort. The thick blankets that covered her body where beginning to suffocate her and she threw them back, the chill of the room quickly eating away the warmth that was once there. Looking down she could see she was wearing an oversized t-shirt with a thick pair of socks. Gripping the edge of the mattress she tried to sit up, but quickly abandoned the effort when she felt an all too familiar pain shoot through her. Panting slightly through effort she simply lay still, slowly running a hand under her t-shirt, feeling the thick bandage that was wrapped tightly around her.

" Feeling better?"

She grimaced as she jumped, quickly grabbing the edge of the discarded blankets that still partly covered her legs and dragging them up and over her. Looking to the dark corner from where she thought his voice had come from, she still couldn't see anything. Reaching a hand out in his direction she held it there in invitation, listening intently for any noise. He emerged like a ghost from the shadows, his movement silent and precise as he approached the bed. She smiled at him when he stood at the side of the mattress and patted the bed next to her. He seemed to hesitate a moment but eventually sat, his hand taking her offered one, his thumb running circles over her knuckles.

" Where are we?"

He was glad to hear her voice sounded a little stronger since the last time they spoke.

" Safe. At least for a while anyway."

Nodding her head she watched his thumb as he continued to massage her hand.

" I'm thirsty. And hungry."

Patting her hand he quickly stood and walked around the bed, speaking as he did so.

" I'm not surprised, you haven't eaten all day. Always a good sign."

Disappearing momentarily into the darkness, he quickly returned holding a tray, the contents she couldn't see from her currant position. She watched as he placed it on the bedside table and sat once again by her side, reaching over and pouring a glass of water from the pitcher. Helping her sit a little higher on the bed, he fussed for a moment with pillows before finally handing over the ice-cold glass. He watched as she drained the glass in one go, panting slightly when she finished.

" More?"

Re-filling the glass he again handed it to her and was glad when she simply sipped at it. Returning his attention to the tray, he picked up the cracker and held it in front of her.

Clarice looked from the cracker to Dr Lecter and back again, her raised eyebrow making him chuckle.

" I know it isn't exactly caviar Clarice, but I'm afraid it's all you can have at the moment. With the numerous drugs in your system anything else could cause numerous symptoms including nausea, stomach cramps, Irregular bo…."

" Ok, ok ,ok, I get the idea"

Still mumbling under her breath she hesitantly took the cracker from his hand and nibbled at it, making a face but continuing to eat none the less. Once finished she snuggled deeper into the bed, the simple act of eating and drinking making her feel once again weak.

" Why do I feel so tired?" she mumbled sleepily.

Smoothing her hair he was glad when she didn't flinch. His voice was quiet and slightly gravely when he spoke, making her shiver under the blankets.

" A combination of the post-op drugs and shock. Both perfectly normal reactions and nothing to worry about."

Watching as her eyes fluttered closed he made to stand up, but a firm grasp on his wrist stopped him.

" Stay with me?"

Feeling her grip loosen as she slipped back into sleep he stood to his full height and looked down on her, his head tilting slightly to better hear her soft breathing. Slowly walking around the bed he sat on the opposite side, his hand reaching out to softly stroke her cheek. They were not twenty miles from where they had been discovered only a few hours before, but he didn't worry. The last place the F.B.I would think to look would be apartments within the local vicinity, they would assume they where on the run to the nearest port or airport to flee the country no doubt. They was no rush to leave this safe haven, and he was glad. Clarice was in no fit state to travel and he was in no rush to spoil this time together.

Slipping his shoes off and placing them neatly at the side of the bed, he brought his legs up and gently reclined, careful not to disturb the sleeping bundle next to him. Lying on his side, his head propped up with his hand he gazed down on her face, taking in every line, every slight crease and feature. As if disturbed by this silent scrutiny Clarice shifted in her sleep and turned to face him, her head coming in contact with his chest and snuggling into the heat, her hand lifting momentarily and draping over his waist. Seemingly happy with this new position she sighed contently and stilled once more. Hannibal closed his eyes to this new intimacy and stored it all to memory, his own arm holding her to him securely, and his head resting on the same pillow. It would be hours before either stirred again.





1.00am





Clarice could feel something stinging her back and irritably tried to swat it away, not willing to loose the slight hold sleep still had over her by opening her eyes to investigate. When she felt two warm hands touch her skin she was on instant alert, her legs automatically kicking the intruder while her hands groped for the gun that should have been under the pillow.

" SShhhh Clarice, calm down."

The strong voice made her freeze, her ragged breathing the only sound to be heard in the room. Slowly turning her body around she could see him standing at the edge of the bed, his face unreadable as always. Falling back to the mattress she groaned into the pillow, her breathing coming back under control.

" You scared the crap out of me," she said, her voice muffled by the material.

This time when he went back to changing her bandages she didn't jump nor kick he was happy to see, and he quickly finished cleaning the wound.

" I'm sorry for startling you Clarice it wasn't the intention I assure you. Your wound must be cleaned every few hours to avoid any infection, more so in our currant environment."

She noticed in sudden embarrassment that her t-shirt was gone and silently cringed, her mind repeating over and over that he was merely a physician doing his job and not someone she had just declared her love to. Turning her head to the side to avoid suffocation she could see his face slightly and was glad he didn't look up at her own.

" What time is it?" she asked

" 1.05am." he reported without looking at his watch

Closing her eyes she thought about the hours that had passed and couldn't stop the breathy chuckle that escaped her lips.

" Care to share the joke Clarice?" he asked without taking his eyes away from the job at hand.

" I just can't believe how much has happened today. I mean when I woke up this morning.."

" Yesterday morning"

" You know what I mean. When I woke up Yesterday morning I expected to jog, eat, work, eat, work and then a TV dinner. And what do I get? A cat and mouse game, the love of a serial killer and shot. Just seems kind of funny now."

" All done"

Straining her head to look over her shoulder she could see the bandages where gone replaced with a thick white gauze pad. Stretching the muscles on her back she could feel the sting as she pulled the incision but nothing too painful. Before he stood he replaced the thick blankets over her shoulders and she quickly turned from her stomach to her back, tucking the covers under her arms to hold them over her chest. Looking around the room for the first time with the lights on, she was impressed. It wasn't lavishly decorated but one could tell the person had good taste. She didn't have a chance to look around long before her body suddenly remembered it had been hours since she had been to the bathroom. The sudden pressure caused her eyes to quickly dart around the room in search for a door that could lead to a bathroom, any bathroom.

" Dr.."

As if reading her thoughts he made his way to the side of the bed after clearing away his supply's and opened a small drawer on the bedside cabinet, removing a fresh t-shirt and slipping it over her head, leaving her to arrange it herself. When finished she slipped from the bed while his back was turned and stood a little shakily on her feet, her body swaying slightly causing her to groan. He was quickly at her side, a hand around her waist.

" Take your time Clarice."

Standing a few seconds she could feel her balance centring again and felt confident enough to walk. With him still holding her they where soon in the adjoining bathroom, and after making sure she would be ok to be herself he left and closed the door behind him.

Once back in bed, she watched as took his place in the armchair that sat next to the bedside cabinet. Both sat in silence regarding one another, his voice eventually breaking it.

" How are you feeling?"

" A little nervous I suppose, scared and relieved is in there somewhere too." She answered honestly.

A moment passed.

" I was referring to you injury" he said matter of factly, watching as she flushed red and flustered.

" Oh! Emmm, it's fine, well not fine but it feels a whole lot better than it did, a little sore when I.."

" Clarice I would have thought after spending so long in an institution consisting mainly of men you would have learned how to take a joke." He smiled.

Her face went from embarrassment to amusement in a spit second and she shook her head.

" I suppose I'm not used to you making jokes." She whispered, her eyes seeking and finding his.

" Why are you nervous?"

Looking to the ceiling she sunk a little deeper into the mattress, trying to formulate an appropriate answer.

" The future mainly. What it holds for me, for you, for us."

" A mind that is anxious about the future is a miserable one Clarice. No good can come from letting your imagination form wild ideas and scenarios. Your time would be best spent thinking of the present. Why relieved?"

Taking a moment to absorb some of what he had said for later thought she continued.

" Because it's over. The chase, the denial, the sleepless nights."

Nodding his head in understanding he could see her tense in anticipation of the next question.

" And scared? I'll admit to being curious of your answer Clarice."

" All of it. All of what I said. I'm scared of me, you and us. I'm scared that the chase is over and there's nothing left but you and me. I'm scared that it's not enough."

Rising from the chair he made his way to the edge of the bed and sat, his body leaning closer as he spoke,

" The heart has reasons that reason itself does not understand. What does your heart tell you Clarice?"

His voice was but a whisper, his breath coming as a light caress across her face. She could feel herself becoming lost in his eyes and didn't bother trying to fight it.

" That I love you," she whispered just as quietly

Without saying anything further he quickly closed the distance, his lips pressing her into the pillow.









Last chapter up soon……