Surprise

Disclaimer: Same as the last chapter.

Hey, sorry for the delay with this chapter…I've just had trouble getting motivated, plus I've had to revise for exams, and while I'd prefer to write fan fiction, I would actually like to get through college, lol. This is the third and final chapter, enjoy :o)

Mapp was the first to speak. "Ok…what the FUCK is going on here?" The question was directed at Clarice, but her eyes remained fixed on Dr. Lecter, making sure he wasn't going to try anything.

Clarice cleared her throat. "Delia…put the gun down." She began to move towards her, but stopped when her friend trained the gun on her.

"FREEZE! Don't come any closer!"

Clarice shook her head. "Delia, we're friends…you can't-"

"Don't fucking test me! Clarice, what the hell is going on?"

Dr. Lecter was watching the interaction with an amused expression on his face.

"I thought that was quite obvious. That is, until we were so rudely interrupted. Honestly, Agent Mapp. I think your manners need some fine tuning...you do know how I feel about the rude…"

Mapp narrowed her eyes at him, aiming the gun back in his direction. "I don't think you're in a position to do anything, are you? Now just shut up! Clarice…" She turned to her friend, the gun switching between the two people in front of her. "…What is this? How could you be…?" She trailed off, shaking her head.

Clarice swallowed hard, her voice coming out a lot stronger and surer than she felt inside, much to her relief. "We're going to be leaving now. Please don't try and stop us."

Mapp tightened her grip on the gun, and trained it on Lecter. "I don't think so. I have to take him in…seeing as you don't seem to be doing anything!"

"Delia, please…"

"Just…shut up!"

"Agent Mapp…I must confess, I am curious of the way in which you intend to handle this situation. You intend to arrest me, whilst simultaneously calling for backup, and keeping watch over Agent Starling? Your capability astounds." As he was mocking Ardelia, his arm slipped around Clarice, and she discreetly accepted her gun, which had been concealed in his pocket until now.

"Move away from each other right now! I'm warning you, don't test me!"

Smiling, Lecter obeyed, raising his hands, showing he was unarmed. He took a side step away from Clarice, and lowered his arms. Still smiling, and as swift as a fox, he ducked sideways, and Mapp swung the gun after him. "FREEZE!"

The shot was deafening as she pulled the trigger, narrowly missing him, as he ducked behind the sofa, giving Clarice the perfect opportunity to close the distance between herself and Ardelia.

Mapp inhaled deeply, trying to remain calm as she felt the barrel of the gun pressed against her temple.

"Delia, give me the gun. Don't try anything." She reached over her friend's shoulder and held out her hand.

Without a choice, Mapp handed over her weapon. Clarice took it from her, pocketing it with her free hand.

Dr. Lecter re-appeared. "Well done, Clarice. I see at least you recognised that manoeuvre for what it was; a distraction."

Mapp glared at him, declining to comment. Clarice simply nodded acknowledgement.

Clarice cleared her throat. "Ok, Ardelia…I'm going to back away from you now. The gun will still be pointed at you, so don't get any ideas, alright? Then I want you to do what I ask, ok?"

Mapp spat her response. "Like I have a choice!"

Clarice took three careful steps backwards, and was joined by Dr. Lecter, who stood by her side.

"Alright. I want you to slowly turn to face me."

Ardelia obeyed, and the two were once again face to face, this time on different ends of a gun. A hardened dark brown gaze reflected in deep blue.

Ardelia glared at the two of them. "Why are you doing this, Clarice? He's a fucking serial killer! A cannibal, for chrissakes!"

Clarice didn't miss a beat when she answered. "I love him. And he loves me."

"Bullshit!"

"Ardelia…I want to be happy. We will be happy…I don't care what he has done…I can see past that, to what he is…I've killed more people than he has…why is that any different, just because of a badge and a pledge? We both have our reasons."

Her friend shook her head violently, and when their eyes met again, Clarice saw anger, and disgust. "Clarice! Think what you're saying!"

"I am. I'm finally thinking for myself…Delia, you're my friend…I don't-"

Mapp's eyes were ablaze with rage. "No! You're not the same Clarice I know…knew! He's fucking brainwashed you! Don't bring our friendship into this, because there isn't one! You're insane!"

Clarice blinked. Once. Twice. That one had cut deeply. "Delia…I don't expect you to understand…but can't you just accept that I want to be happy…and I can be happy now…?"

"You'll never get away with this! You'll be hunted down, now you've dragged yourself into the shit he's in! You can't be happy with him…how could you be happy with a fucking maniac?!"

("You would deny me my life?"

"Not your life."

"My freedom then, just that?")

Oh, how history repeats itself. Clarice's thoughts of the past, now seen from a new perspective.

Clarice's eyes shone with unshed tears. "Delia…I…I can't let you go…you…I can't let you put us in danger…"

Mapp glared back at her, taking quick, shallow breaths. "They'll find you…you won't get away…"

Her finger shook as it found the trigger. "I love you, Delia. I'm sorry…"

The shot echoed around the room for what seemed like an eternity. It accompanied Ardelia Mapp, almost like music, as she fell to the ground, seemingly in slow motion. She hit the floor at the same time as a tear, shed by a woman who had lost a great friend, in more than one way.

Clarice stared down at the body, tears blurring the shape.

F.B.I. to the end, weren't you, Delia?

She looks down at her friend, and sees herself – what she would have become if she hadn't finally woken from the nightmare.

A woman stands on the moonlit terrace of a grand house in Buenos Aires. The cool night breeze whips her auburn hair around her face as she stares off into the distance. Tears sting at the corners of her eyes, but she will not cry.

A hand gently comes to rest on her shoulder. She slowly turns to him, and the lovers embrace.

It has been several months since Clarice Starling left her old life behind, yet she still misses her old friend. She refuses to think of their last few moments together.

Hannibal Lecter gently kisses her cheek, and beckons for her to come back into the house before she catches a chill. Clarice nods, and tells him she will be inside in a minute. He respects her privacy, and leaves her alone.

Her hand comes to rest on her stomach, sensing the new life growing within her. Her hand bears a gold ring with a deep emerald atop it.

Not knowing why, when she looks at it, she remembers the good times she and her friend had in the past. She knows that wherever Ardelia is, she will learn to be happy for her, in some way.

Smiling to herself, she walks back into the house.

Fin