As we all know the characters belong to T. Harris. All disclaimers apply. There is no profit involved.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Exchanges XXV
The Good Samaritans
Barney began his recollection looking directly at Clarice.
"He arrived about nine forty at night, I had just gotten home from the Hospital, and was still in my scrubs. The doctor was barely conscious from the loss of blood, and I suppose from the intense pain, and was probably in shock. He had a plastic container in his right hand, and was leaning against the doorframe. His left hand was wrapped in paper towels now soaked in blood and he kept it straight up at eye level. For an instant I didn't recognize him, he knew it and said 'Hello Barney.'… No matter how much he changed his appearance, the voice was unmistakable.
I helped him in and started first aid right away; I always kept a good stock of medical supplies, and they came handy. Eventually I managed to control the bleeding, but he had lost a lot of blood. Before he allowed himself to pass out Dr. Lecter asked me to call Margot Verger. He said she would help.
I did; I called Margot. She and I are buddies, we go back a long way, and the Doctor knew that.
We couldn't discuss much on the phone because we were both paranoid that the line was bugged, so I asked her to come to my apartment right away. Didn't explain anything but she figured it out, I guess in view of the news, and was on her way immediately. "
Barney was talking very slow, choosing the words to keep the descriptions lean and clear; and his high pitched voice sounded lower than usual.
"When she saw the condition of the doctor she got very upset; said she had seen the whole report in the news and was angry, 'If that woman Starling should call asking if he came here for help, don't tell her anything,' she admonished -as if I would have… " He shrugged, "She told me to stay put, she knew some of the best neurosurgeons on the East Coast who had operated on Mason during the early days.
She left then, and called a few hours later, we were always mindful that her phones might be taped but she said she was calling from Judy's phone which meant it was safe. She just said all was arranged and that she'd pick us up by helicopter in the usual spot. She has a pilot license and often pilots the helicopter herself so that was not unusual.
I knew were the spot was and drove us there. Dr. Lecter needed blood badly and kept himself conscious on sheer will power.
I was very nervous because I figured the Verger Estate might be crawling with FBI agents.
What I didn't know was that after Mason got hurt, their father kept him in the hospital only until he managed to build a small but well equipped operating room an intensive care unit, patient care and living facilities in a far wing of the mansion.
A few years later, when it became clear that Mason would live. The senior Verger decided to build a wing with the most advanced modern technology to suit Mason's need, and which became Mason's permanent quarters for the rest of his life.
Due to his delicate condition, Mason was prone to all kinds of complications, specially respiratory infection and was VERY sensitive to dust, hence, the new quarters had to be built as far as possible from the ones he occupied so the dust from the remodeling wouldn't reach him.
Margot called the old quarters The Hospital; she said the servants only went there to clean about once a month, and every six month some technicians came over to check the equipment, but other than that, no one went there. Now, she intended to put that unit to good use.
Margot landed the helicopter at the very far end of the Estate and drove us from there to the mansion in a station wagon she had left there for that purpose; by then it was about 3AM and we sneaked right into The Hospital totally unnoticed.
While in the wagon, where we finally could talk freely, Margot confided that she had contracted the same team of surgeons that her father contracted for Mason years before; she offered them five million dollars in cash -which for the doctors was unreported tax free money; to perform the surgery at the Verger Mansion in complete secrecy. They would use local anesthesia, but if for some reason they would need to switch to general, then the anesthesiologist -and only the anesthesiologist, would see the patients face, if so, the anesthesiologist would get an additional million to forget who the patient was. I told Margot that was one million she would save because Dr. Lecter would never go voluntarily under general anesthesia.
Margot said that, ironically, 5 mil was the amount that Mason had promised to contribute to Krendlers political campaign; she felt there was some kind of beauty in it. Poetic justice, she called it.
She figured once they accepted, the surgeons couldn't very well report anything to the FBI without compromising themselves in more ways than one. Besides she said, 'somehow doctors stick together'."
"Not always," Hannibal commented dryly.
"Anyway, I asked Margot what we would do if the FBI came with a warrant. But she said before the made it from the front door she'd have the doctor hidden so well, they'd never find him. 'I grew up here' she said as a way of an explanation, and I let it go at that.
The surgery started less than 18 hrs after Dr. Lector got injured; which was excellent because the chances of success decrease as time goes by.
Is a good thing that both Margot and I have the same type of blood as the doctor's so we were both able to donate for him. We started the transfusions as soon as we arrived. In addition, he got plasma during the surgery, which the doctors had brought along, anticipating the need. The transfusions were very important; without them he wouldn't have survived the surgery because he had lost too much blood and was very weak; yet managed to stay conscious at all times, which was no small feat. Occasionally he'd make some suggestions as to the procedures but placed himself in our hands otherwise. Once the surgeons arrived, the doctor didn't say a word. They never head his voice."
Clarice listened intently, her eyes fixed on Barney's face, she never let go of her lover's left hand, after Barney's last sentence, she unconsciously brought the finger in question to her mouth and placed it between her teeth and her lips. Her action reflected such degree of intimacy that Barney couldn't help to notice, although he was otherwise completely immersed in his recollection.
He went on
"The team took off immediately after the surgery, leaving instruction, medication and antibiotics.
The place was fit with a small, but well equipped kitchen, so the meals were no problem because Margot brought groceries. Immediately after the surgery, Margot made this incredible chicken soup, which the doctor enjoyed and his stomach was able to tolerate. The first day after the surgery was touch and go, he was still very weak and I feared infection would set in and he'd be a goner. But the doctor seemed unconcerned, and seemed to be willing himself to heal.
Barney made a pause and locked eyes with Clarice as he went on with his account.
"In the meantime we continued to watch the news and read the stories in the papers. We watched on the news when they read your statement that he had chopped off his own hand, above the wrist you said. Dr. Lecter made no comments, whereas Margo and conjectured that you might have said that to mislead the authorities, so they would be in the lookout for a man with a missing hand. That you probably mislead them intentionally to protect the doctor because you felt bad about the whole thing. Margot said you felt guilty and it served you right. Came handy with the surgeons though. Especially because the whole surgery was done under local and they never saw Dr. Lecter's face.
In a few days the doctor bounced back and less than two weeks after the incident, he was on his way to some undisclosed destination. Puff, gone! I thought I'd never hear from him again and it made me sad. I knew I'd miss him."
The doctor smiled warmly and interjected. "I had placed both of you in too much risk as it was. I fully intended to get in touch with you later on, when things quieted down and it became safer."
He chuckled, "remind me to play the piano for you, Barney. It will strengthen your faith in physical therapy. After I left, I worked endlessly for six weeks to regaining control of the thumb, and it paid off. I still work on it." He winked at Barney and nudged Clarice's head with his lip while murmuring, "all is well that ends well!"
"Were did you go?" She asked, daring for the first time to dig deeper into the subject. "Where did you go when you left the Verger Mansion?"
"To Switzerland," he said simply. "Everyone thought I was in Brazil, but I was in Switzerland all along."
"I'm so sorry, that I caused you such pain" she murmured, still stunned by Barney's narrative.
"Don't be, it was my choice. I could have thrown you over my shoulder and taken you with me" he teased mischievously. "I just found it easier to chop my thumb off."
Clarice shivered and Hannibal Lecter, always the gentleman, offered to go and fetch a sweater. Clarice reminded him that the seamstress would be arriving in a few minutes for the first and only fitting of her wedding gown, and she'd need to freshen up for the fitting. She said she'd get the sweater then. She took his injured hand between hers and looked deep into his eyes, then let go of his hand and stood up.
Before leaving the room, Clarice turned to Barney, "you must be exhausted, Barney." She commented, "I'm sure by now you could use a good nap, we are having sort of a special dinner tonight, just the three of us and you might like to rest a bit before that. "
Once Clarice left the room and was out of earshot Barney whispered, " Mrs Rosencranz met me at the airport. She rode the limo to the helicopter with me just to give me two parcels for you. One is in my pocket." He reached in the inside pocket of his jacket for a small package and handed it over to the doctor. "She said to make sure to give it to you when Starling was not nearby."
"Thank you, Barney, did she tell you what's inside."
"No," said Barney, "she just said is a surprise"
The doctor began to unwrap the package and turned to Barney nodded and winked, "let me show you."
Exchanges © Chapter XXV, uploaded by Clariz 1/25/04
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Well, I hope you liked this one. I'd appreciate if you let me know. Especially because of Barney's presence and the way he's portrayed.
Comments are always welcome. Another chapter will follow in two weeks [or so].
Clariz
