Clarice stood, planted to the ground, watching him go. She stared at his disappearing figure until she could see it no more. She decided that she should probably go back to Jack. As she approached the table, Jack jumped from his seat and rounded the table, pulling out her chair. Clarice sat down and thanked him. She quickly turned away, not wanting him to see the tears springing into her eyes. Jack reached across the table and took Clarice's hand. She was numb, completely unfeeling. It took all she had to make small talk with him for the rest of the evening.
As the evening progressed, Jack could tell that something was simply not right with Clarice. "Clarice," he said gently, "is something bothering you?" She turned to face him, and he looked into her eyes, hoping for some clue as to her unhappiness. Clarice sighed heavily.
"No, Jack. I'm fine," she replied with a half-smile. He was unsatisfied with this answer, and he pressed on.
"Clarice, something is wrong with you. I'm only trying to help. Now, what is "
"It's nothing!" Clarice shouted louder than she'd wanted. She suddenly noticed other couples turning around to look and felt her cheeks flush. She continued in a quieter tone. "There is nothing wrong, Jack. Now please, do yourself a favor and stop."
A defeated sigh came from Jack's throat. "Alright," he said harshly. Then he looked at Clarice, who was once again lost in her own world. His expression and manor became softer. "I tell you what, how about we get out of here?" Clarice simply looked at him, and he continued. "We'll go back to my place for a while. Does that sound a little better?" To Clarice, nothing sounded better than just staying put, hoping against hope that Dr. Lecter would be back. And what was this about going back to Jack's house? She decided not to question it.
"Okay. That sounds fine." Jack stood up and helped Clarice out of her chair. She pushed a strand of hair out of her face and suddenly froze. Her hands flew to her ears. She gasped and felt a sharp pain in her stomach. "Oh my gosh!"
"What?" Jack nearly screamed.
"My earrings. My sapphire earrings. They're gone. I had them on earlier this evening because I remember putting them on right before you came and I looked in the mirror," she spoke very fast, nearly incoherently. Her sentences ran on, as in a badly written story. Eyes filling with tears, Clarice bit her bottom lip to keep the tears from spilling over the barrier of her eyelids. "I can't believe it. I just can't believe it." She scanned the floor with every step she took. Jack placed his hands gently on her shoulders and guided her out the door.
He just couldn't understand the significance of those sapphire earrings. Certainly, losing a piece of expensive jewelry could have a grand effect on someone's day, but Clarice? She didn't care about things like that. That brought another question to mind: where in the world would she have gotten those earrings? She didn't make purchases like that for herself. He would have explored the thought further had Clarice not fallen limp in his arms. Jack had to scramble to make sure that he was able to catch Clarice.
"Clarice?" She'd blacked out. "Clarice!" Jack began to panic. "Clarice, answer " Her eyes fluttered open. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and pulled her very close. As they stood at Jack's car, he kissed her forehead and helped her in. "I hope you know that I'm not going to let you go home alone tonight. Since we were already going to go by my house, you can just stay there for the night." She looked at him.
"No, now Jack, that's just ridiculous. I'll be fine at home."
"There's not going to be any more discussion, understand? I don't want you to be at home alone after what just happened. You're going to come home with me so I can take care of you tonight." Something in his voice told Clarice that he needed it more than she did. Because of this, as well as the fact that she felt too weak to argue, she said no more.
The car ride was silent, and Clarice slept a bit of the way. As they arrived at Jack's home, the jerking sensation of the halting car woke her from her slumber. Jack got out of the car and walked to her door. Upon opening it, he carefully picked her up into his arms and carried her into the house. As he carried her through the hallways and down what seemed to Clarice twisting corridors, she thought of something. The way Jack carried her reminded her of NO! She wouldn't think these thoughts now. She wouldn't think these thoughts later, if she had anything to do with it.
Jack laid her on his bed. "Clarice, you're going to sleep here. I'm going to be on the couch, okay? If you need anything, anything at all, just call me." He paused. "Oh, that reminds me I've got to run to the store for a couple of things since you're going to be here. You know, aspirin, something for you to eat for breakfast, that kind of thing. Now Clarice, I'm really uncomfortable about leaving you here, alone, in the condition you're in."
"Condition? What condition? I just passed out, Jack. I'm not going to die."
"Well, I know, Clarice, but I just worry about you sometimes. You just seem so sad lately. What's bothering you?" Jack sat down on the bed, preparing for a longer conversation. "Is this something about Hannibal Lecter again?" As he spoke that name, Clarice felt a pain in her heart. A small noise escaped her throat. Jack noticed. A look of understanding came across his face and he pulled her close to him. "Oh, Clarice." She pulled away.
"What?"
"I should never have sent you down to him. I might as well have been sentencing you to a lifetime of torment. That's basically what I did. I will never forgive myself for doing this to you, Clarice."
"Jack, you didn't do anything. You were helping me by giving me a taste of what was to come, that's all."
"I think I'm going to run on to the store before it gets much later," Jack said, looking at his watch. He placed a cordless telephone on the bedside table. "Clarice, if you need anything at all, call me. My cell is on. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I'll be back in a minute." Jack leaned over her, then hesitantly kissed her forehead. He paused to watch her, but only for a moment, as he wanted to leave and return as soon as possible. Clarice lay on the bed, listening to Jack close the front door.
"Well, at least he's gone for now." Clarice drifted to sleep but was awakened soon after by something . . . .
Okay, starting the next chapter right now!