I'd like to thank those who took the time to post a review and I hope you'll like this chapter.

Disclaimer : Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling are the intellectual property of Thomas Harris. I'm just borrowing them.

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Chapter 6 : Clarice's choice

Clarice remained a long time her eyes on the dining room's door where he had left. She had to think about what had just happened and get her thoughts in order. Since she had awoken this morning, she had felt many emotions and she didn't know how to feel any more.

And there was the doctor's look when he had left her a few moments ago. Never had a man looked at her like that. She had seen in his eyes the great desire to make her happy, as if nothing in the world were more important for him than her wellbeing and her happiness. It was an incredible feeling to know that somebody cared for her, even if this person was a cannibal...

Doctor Lecter had always been there in the difficult times and never had he rejected her. Even after the events on Chesapeake Bay, he had forgiven her. When she needed to speak, he had listened patiently. In the beginning, in Baltimore, he had been hard with her but she had quickly found in him a patient and understanding interlocutor.

Their discussion in Memphis would remain engraved forever in her memory. The doctor hadn't laughed at her when she had told him about her childhood at the ranch, on the contrary he had thanked her at the end of their conversation. He had always been interested in her and, now that she thought of it, this attention warmed her.

Clarice sat down on the steps which led to the garden. In fact, she didn't remember any occasion where the doctor had been unpleasant with her. He had never raised his hand to her nor had he threaten her.

Without thinking, Clarice had placed her hand on her left shoulder. The scar had nearly disappeared. When she had been shot at Muskraft Farm, he had taken care of her. She remembered the face of the doctor when he has leaned above her. Was it concern she had read on his face ?

When she was with him, she felt alive.

She felt unique.

She felt... loved...

Clarice was destabilized a little with this conclusion. How can a man who had made so many horrible things love somebody ? Then, by reconsidering all the things he had done for her - when he had risked his life for her by coming back to the USA for example - all the questions and the doubts disappeared.

''It's incredible'' she thought. ''Hannibal Lecter is in love with me, an FBI agent. At least, that explains many things.''

And the first one was that he was going to surrender himself to the police so that Clarice found her place in the FBI. She had tears in her eyes again. He was ready to sacrifice his life and his freedom for her.

''Tell me Clarice, would you ever say to me, stop ? If you loved me, you'd stop ?''

She heard the words of the doctor in her head. He had declared his love to her that evening, but she had rejected him and yet he was still here today to support and help her. It remained a question she had to answer. Did she love him back ?

She had to listen to her heart to find the answer. The same heart which had beaten so quickly when she had seen the doctor naked in the bedroom a few moments ago or when he had kissed her at Krendler's home. She couldn't deny that she felt something for him, but was it only physical attraction or more ? Was she able to risk her life for him ?

When Clarice had seen the Sardinians kidnapped the doctor on the Union Station's parking lot, her stomach had tightened. She had done everything to find him, even at the expense of her career. She had done it, officially to avoid a murder but her actions have a very different mean. Deep in her heart, she didn't want to lose him, she didn't want to see him dead.

No, it was impossible. She couldn't love a man like him. He had committed murders and he ate the flesh of his victims. He was a psychopath, a monster... Clarice shook her head.

''I would never see him this way. He would never be a monster for me. All his actions are unspeakable. No word can describe them and yet...'' She turned her head towards the house. ''He can be so affectionate. I would like so much to spend an evening with him...''

Clarice rose and went up on the second floor of the villa. When she arrived at the top of the stairs, she heard the water of the shower and also... She approached the bathroom. She hadn't dreamed, the doctor sang or rather hummed a melody that Clarice didn't know but it was very beautiful. She leaned against the door frame and contemplated the scene.

Behind the panes of the shower, Clarice could distinguish the silhouette of the doctor who continued to hum the soft melody. She imagined how could be the life with him. She saw herself in a great restaurant, dressed in a splendid blue dress with a low neckline that let appear a beautiful diamonds necklace. The doctor sat opposite her in a black tuxedo. The colour of his shirt matched with the colour of her dress. The dinner was perfect... She also imagined her at his side at the theatre or the opera.

Clarice sighed. ''I think that you stole my heart, Hannibal.'' She straightened up. ''When did he become Hannibal ?'' After a short moment, she whispered, a smile on her lips : ''Since I understood the nature of my feelings.''

She entered his bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. She slowly stroked the sheets. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't heard that the water of the shower had stopped. Hannibal was soon going to enter here. Clarice initially decided to await him in the dining room but she had another idea...

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To be continued...

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Lecter-in-love.