1 Chapter 4



Clarice drove home after her outing with Ardelia. On her dashboard she had the card he had given her. She knew her feelings for him, but still she was hesitant. What if this was another mind game, as we all know how much our doctor loves his mind games. If she were to allow herself to give in, what would he do? Laugh at her? Or even worse, kill her because of he naivety? She sighed as she looked over to the innocent looking card.

When she arrived home she picked up her bag and the card and walked into the house. Walking over to the couch she dumped her bag and headed for the bottle of Jack Daniels. Pouring herself a glass, she walked over to the chair and sat down, trying to decide whether or not to phone the number on the card.

After about 3 more glasses of alcohol, she finally got the nerve to pick up the receiver of the phone. Looking at the number she dialed it with shaking hands. When she heard the ringing tone, she knew there was no going back. Her heart stopped beating when she heard his voice, "Hello Clarice. I trust that you have come to a decision."

"I have Dr. Lecter, but I'd rather talk to you in person, if that's alright?"

"Of course my dear, I shall meet you in the car park of the place you run every morning." She then heard the dull tone, as he had hung up on her.

* * * *

At the end of that conversation I let myself begin to hope. I hoped that she had seen sense and realized that I wasn't a monster; that we could actually be together. I drove to the car park and sat and waited patiently. After about 10 minutes I saw her car make its way to my position. She pulled up beside me and just sat there.

I waited for her, giving her all the time she needed. After a couple of minutes I heard her door open and close. Then she walked over towards me and opened the door and sat in the passenger seat.

"So, what will it be Clarice? Are you going to allow yourself some happiness, or are you going to go back to your beloved F.B.I?" I said that ghastly title, I let it draw out, as I had all those years ago.

Clarice just turned and stared at me. After what seemed like an eternity she began to speak, "I have been thinking about what you said all day. I just need to know the truth, before I even consider the question you asked me earlier."

"What's that?"

"Are you being serious? I need to know whether this is just some game to you, because if I do accept this, then I will be risking everything, but you'll not have to change anything at all. So, is this just a game doctor?"

"No Clarice, this is not a game. I love you, I have loved you for quite a while, I can assure you. Now all we need to do is find out your true feelings."

"I do love you doctor," I interrupted her hear.

"I think that you can now call me Hannibal."

"Ok, I do love you…. Hannibal, but I can't just leave my job. I am working on a case, I need to at least stay until it is closed."

The sound of my name was just too much to bear. I couldn't look at her in fear of what I might do. "Then you must stay, and I will stay with you."

"What? You can't do that! What if someone finds out that you're here? If they do, they'll take you to prison and I'll lose my job!"

"Trust me, no one will find me, I promise you." I looked at her then. I saw her face and it was all too much. I leaned in to kiss her. Lifting my left hand I cupped her face with it and stroked her cheek. The our lips met for the first time. Even though it was a soft and gentle kiss, I could feel the passion underlying it.

I pulled away after a few minutes but still stayed close to her face. I just whispered, "Trust me, everything will turn out alright if you just trust me."

At this she smiled, "I'll always trust you Hannibal, until the day I die." She then leaned in and kissed me again, this time letting her passion show through, I responded in kind.





Well, here's another chapter, I know it's not that good, but the ones to come will be better!