Hannibal and Clarice, belong to T. Harris, along with the other characters you recognize from the novels. I am making no money from this story but the fun I have writing it is priceless
Once again, I want to thank the readers for following this story, specially the ones who, with their comments, encourage me to go on. I'm honored.
Chapter 13
Adam Trouble
After breakfast the next morning, the doctor called Margo. As soon as they got past the brief greetings and salutation, he went right to the point.
"I have one question, Margot"
"Shoot."
"Have you heard from your congressman lately?"
"Nope," she appeared to be at the verge of saying something else, but hesitated and paused; then continued in even tone. "Everything was quiet today, too quiet, after all the brouhaha of the last few days. All of Starling's former bosses are getting murdered, it makes one wonder."
"Well, I'm curious regarding any other murders in the area. Can you recall anything of significance that may have been reported only locally, something we might be missing from out of State?"
There was a short pause, clearly while Margot still debated what to let on.
"No, why, is there something that I need to know?"
"No, Margot, just trying to piece everything together, if you should talk to your congressman, try to find what he makes of the deaths of Pearsall and Noonan." The doctor was aware of Margot hesitation and waited patiently for her characteristic straightforwardness to kick in.
"There is something, except that if I told you I'd be revealing the identity of my source…" she trailed off as if tossing between two loyalties; then went ahead. "My source's wife was one of the key medical people in the cloning project and was conveniently killed a few days ago by a suspicious hit and run."
"Janice Duncan?...well that certainly explains volumes." Hannibal Lecter could feel his mind leaping forward and grasping the details that had eluded him. "For instance, we can fairly assume that she was then the one who leaked the details of the project. She might have discussed her concerns with her husband and together they decided to expose project for the sham it was."
"Do you realize the magnitude of this whole thing, the web of corruption it unravels?" Margot's voice went up a couple of decibels.
"Never underestimate the corruption of those above suspicion." He chuckled "Thank you, Margot. You have been of great help. Let's talk in a couple of days and see what develops, if anything."
"Will do. Better keep this conversation short and sweet, just in case…."
"All right then, I'll be in touch. Ta ta."
"Until then…give my regards to your lady."
Hannibal Lecter turned to Clarice, who was cooing at the baby, cuddled in the carry-on pouch across her chest, and reported the last developments.
She stared at him, immobile for a few beats, and then threw one arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. It felt safe there.
For a while, they were silent.
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"I'm puzzled about the unreported deaths." He commented out of the blue
"I find it rather chilling, that "they" managed keep them from the News." She planted tiny kisses on Adams head her hair falling around him and gave him the chance to grab it. "You are quick, Adam" she commented laughing.
"Did you ever read the entire transcripts of my trial, Clarice"
They were both laying on their stomach on the king size bed in the master bedroom playing with Adam, who laid between them on his portable changing pad. Gurgling and smiling and kicking his tiny feet, delighting them both with his daily progress, far beyond that of an infant his age.
"I read absolutely everything contained in the FBI records, court records, medical files, background reports, medical school records and everything else I could get my hands on." Clarice chuckled, "You can safely say that I'm a true expert in all things Hannibal Lecter." She leaned over to kiss him.
"Did you see any reference to my own analyst"
"You were treated by a psychiatrist?"
"Well sure, the law requires that a practicing psychiatrist or psychologist, for that matter, undergoes ongoing therapy"
"I knew that, but I never thought you complied. How come he wasn't mentioned in any of the documentation?"
"She," he corrected, "she was not mentioned because they didn't find any evidence of her function as my spychiatrist.
My attorney knew about her but suggested that she was not mentioned unless the prosecution found out and they never did. In line with the doctor/patient confidentiality she didn't have to step forward."
"So, where is she?"
"After the trial she moved to Broome County, NY, up until a few months ago she ran a mental health clinic there as well as a small hospital adjacent to the clinic. Now she is semi retired, lives in a small horse ranch that she recently acquired near Lexington, Kentucky and runs a clinic in her town, where she practices general medicine in a limited basis."
"You were in touch with her all along, then?"
"On and off, we went to Medical school together, on the night of the Chesapeake, after I left Krendler's house I went to Barney. The amputated finger was more than he could handle, so he kept it properly packed, placed it in a cooler, and drove me and the cooler to her Clinic in Broome county. That is where the finger was reattached, then with her help, a few days later I flew to Honk Kong, to another old schoolmate and colleague, Dr Chen Zhongwei who is one of the world pioneers on limb reattachment. He performed the adjustments and the followup"
"What is the name of this wonderful woman?"
"Marian Kratzen, I hope one day the two of you met, you are going to like her. She had many issues with what happened, but now she is fine."
"I'd love to meet her. "
He smiled in agreement, picked up Adam holding him around the chest with both hands, placing an index and finger on each side of the baby's head for support, and raised him high up on the air.
"How is that, big boy?" he cooed.
The baby gurgled agreeably, and the doctor placed him back on the basinet.
"Come back here Hannibal and hold me" Clarice reached out for him, and he gladly complied.
She cuddled against him and closed her eyes "This is where I belong, here in your arms, feeling your warmth, touching you in a manner I didn't dare to dream about. I feel literally overwhelmed by both the sense of fulfillment and the need to touch you."
He held her closer, buried his head in her hair and inhaled her scent, quietly amazed by the ever increasing intensity of his feelings for her; he remembered how, during the few hours that they slept, Clarice had stirred often, reaching out for him and quieting down as soon as he held her closer, Hannibal Lecter kissed her hair then, cupped her face with one hand and sought her lips.
"My feelings for you, Clarice, surpass and go beyond any I've experienced."
"And Adam?" she asked softly
"I have strong feelings for Adam, I'll protect him with my life if I have to, but nothing compares to what I feel for you. Nothing ever will ."
They enjoyed their proximity in silence for a few minutes, then Clarice ran he hand over his chest, slow and purposely. His response exceeded her expectations.
During the quiet weeks that followed, there were gourmet meals, good wine, and good music, the doctor often played the piano and they enjoyed talking about literature, music, and their orphaned childhoods, there was frequent lovemaking, little sleep, and midnight feedings.
The doctor displayed undisguised affection for Adam, and delighted in his progress, which was, in his words, beyond compare.
For the first time in their adult life they had a family and they clearly appreciated it.
At the end of the second week in Ohio, when Adam was already three and a half weeks old, visibly growing and maturing at a rate beyond that one any baby his age, seemingly as healthy as a horse, one night, right before the midnight feeding, totally unexpectedly, the diarrhea started. When Clarice picked him up to change him, and noticed he was overly wet and her suspicious were confirmed when she opened his diaper.
"Hannibal," she whispered softly.
"Hmm,"
"Adam has diarrhea, you better check him" her voice was tight, and it didn't take a Lecter to realize she making an effort to sound calm and controlled…
She had removed the dirty diaper, wiped his bottom, and held his tiny body possessively against her chest. The baby very quiet in her arms, half clad on a fresh pair of one piece pajamas fastened from neck to waist. The bottom part still opened.
The doctor noticed Clarice's the unmistakably protective stance and reached out softly
"I would like to check him, Clarice."
She handled him the infant. He face resembled the old impenetrable mask he remembered from the kitchen at the Chesapeake.
Hannibal Lecter felt the child's belly, checked his pupils, and further examined some of his reflexes, then diapered him swiftly, finished dressing him and handed him back to Clarice.
"We have plenty of packs of pediatric oral rehydration solution, and we'll start him on it now. In addition, it will be a good idea to keep him in a room with a humidifier. So, as soon as the stores open, I'll have to go out and get a few, three at least."
He paused to give her a chance to protest, but she didn't.
"We are going to feed him the glucose solution for 24 hrs and if he improves, gradually reintroduce a lactose free formula –the one we bought recently just in case. If he doesn't show signs of improvement within 24 hours then we'll keep him in glucose solution until he does, and then start the formula. I'd say that if examined, his stool would reveal particles of rotavirus."
"How did he get it?"
"Oh, is generally transmitted by asymptomatic adults, either of us could be a unsuspecting carriers, Clarice, we can't blame it just on his lack of immunity at birth. Diarrhea is not uncommon in newborns. The good news is that it will accelerate the development of his natural immune system."
"If he lives." She answered bitterly
The doctor placed one hand on each of her shoulders and looked straight in her eyes,
"Try to have a little faith, Clarice. I've seen plenty of babies born with no immunity at the emergency room of Mary Immanculate, and none died from diarrhea. And that was before the rehydration packs were readily available, or we knew as much as we do now about auto immune deficiencies."
She lowered her head, realizing she was just lashing blindly
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried…he suddenly looks much tinier and vulnerable…."
"He is tiny and vulnerable, but we are here for him, we'll do everything in our power to protect him."
She leaned against his chest, and began to weep.
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Please let me know how I'm doing here. Comments are more than welcomed
Clariz