The characters all belong to Thomas Harris, as usual. I'm still having fun writing about them, and there is no profit derived from the endeavor.

I hope you like the way is going. Thanks, again to all of you who follow this story with such enthusiasm.

Chapter 14
News and Good News

Hannibal put his arms around her and held her until she calmed down.
"Here is the plan, Clarice; we will keep him in a controlled environment and continue to hydrate him. Adam is in a category by himself and there is no data regarding babies gestated entirely in a glass jar such as he was. Still the fact remains that he is a strong baby and will respond to the basics."

After a few minutes, Clarice began to relax visibly and the Doctor released his hold on her to search for the hydration packs.

When morning came, Dr. Lecter drove to Newark, 4 miles away, to purchase four large size humidifiers. Clarice, though still shaky by the new developments, let him go without displaying any hesitation.

The Doctor was back in less than one hour; checked on Adam and proceeded to set up the humidifiers as planned, in the bedroom, kitchen, adjacent living room/dinning room and family room. He closed off the other rooms, thus limiting their occupancy the humidified environment.

During the hours that followed, Clarice kept Adam in the sling, resting comfortably against her chest, while one of her hands rested protectively on him at all times, aware that he was not as active as usual, but still seemed alert if not as interested the world around him, which generally fascinated him.
The Doctor kept a tight vigil.
Neither of them ate anything until mid morning when Hannibal silently brought out a platter with thick slices of cheese and fresh bread that he had picked up on his trip to town.
They continued to re-hydrate Adam regularly, as the diarrhea continued apparently undiminished.

After watching their baby around the clock for the remaining of the day, they retired early and took turns watching him during the night.

At 4 AM, in view that Adam refused to take the bottle and feed as much as he should on the dehydration pack solution, Hannibal examined his tiny belly, pressing gently to check for resistance, then checked his reflexes, and started him on an IV. It looked awful but it was the best thing for the baby.
Hannibal Lecter then sat, silently and watched the Adam for the remaining of the nigh.

When morning came, he explained to Clarice the reason for the IV.
In a weak voice she asked "is he going to bounce back?"

They took turns showering and then between the two of them, managed to move both Adam and the entire IV contraption to the kitchen and placed him in the downstairs bassinet.
Neither of them was in a mood to eat, but coffee was a must.
They were on their second cup when CNN announced the unexpected Newsbreak.

A new's breaking report of some magnitude is developing in Washington with the arrest of the Director of the FBI Gabriel Turberry. The charges are still undisclosed but the arrest seems to be directly related to the research project that involved the un-authorized cloning of the infamous Chesapeake Serial Killer, Dr. Hannibal the Cannibal Lecter.

The cloning appears to have been the focus of a top secret project, allegedly aimed to further the development of Criminal Profiling.

Undisclosed sources have suggested that Congress, mislead by Tunberry as to the true nature of the program, had granted the Director the 2 billion dollars budget he requested. The undisclosed source claims that the late Dr. Janice Duncan, the chief technical advisor of the program, who died a few weeks ago as a result of a now overly suspicious "hit and run"; apparently objecting to the nature of the program and clearly fearing for her life, had made arrangements whereupon in case of her death, the evidence of the cloning along with a copy of all the records of the project, be delivered to by her attorneys to Congressman Thomas Wilbur from Maryland, Jeffrey Clayton from Virginia, and her own husband Congressman Joseph Duncan from Virginia.

All three, immediately set up an investigation of both the program and the "accidental" death of Dr. Duncan..

Evidence seems to indicate that the program was dismantled right after the birth of the clone some three or four weeks ago, and the infant adopted by a yet unnamed individual, whom this reporter suspects could very well be former FBI special Agent Clarice Starling, of Hannibal Lecter fame, who coincidentally, suddenly resigned last some weeks ago and could not be reached for questioning.

Unnamed medical sources are stressing the fact that the child is in fact the first cloned human being and that scientists don't know what to expect. They stress that he needs to be returned immediately to a major health care facility for further checking. His health, even his life could be at risk.

Here is Congressman Wilbur now, stepping out of his office. "Congressman, should the child be recovered, what would be his legal status. Was he legally adopted before release?
Can the Estate of the late Hannibal Lecter's, through his lawyer file to assign custody of the child?"

The congressman gave a friendly "folksy" response,
"We are groping at straws here. There is every indication that the child does indeed exist. The fact that former special Agent Clarice Starling is recorded as the mother of a baby boy, born some weeks ago, at about the same time as the clone, may be coincidental, and her child could well be his an Lecter's natural offspring. We don't know if we are talking about one child here or two."

We can only suggest that Ms Starling step forward with her child to help us sort out he situation and for the safety of the cloned infant.

There is a possibility, however, that she might, have left the country after the birth, to avoid publicity. Ms. Starling might be concerned about her safety, in view of the untimely demise of both her former superiors, Section Chief Pearsall, and Assistant director Noonan. All the more reason for her to come forward and seek protection."

They both watched in silence, mystified by the report.

"This is bullshit!" Clarice said, pouring herself a glass of water, while Lecter nodded, and quietly grinned at her outburst.

"Do they really think I'm going to just drive in there, baby and all, and place myself at their mercy?...Might as well stand blindfolded in front of a firing squad." She chuckled bitterly. Then turned to Hannibal,

"And you let me hang around these people for all these years?" she mockingly accused.
"I'm sorry, I just thought you enjoyed their treatment?" he retorted in mockery.

During the last commercial after the news, they gave up on breakfast and moved themselves and the basinets to the family room and sat, side by side on one of the couches, the Doctor, threw one arm around Clarice's shoulders, and she rested her head on his chest while they watched the related Special Program, that followed immediately after the news. A Media produced panel to discuss the legal rights of Baby Lecter as they called him.
Some panelists insisted that the baby should be raised in captivity because everyone knew what he was going to turn out to be. Others, probably parents themselves, argued that he was a brand new person and it was illegal to deprive him of his rights just in account of his DNA.

One woman said that if she were Starling she would pick up the child and run as fast as she could away from this madness. While another yet suggested that whether Starling's baby was her own and Lecter's or Lecter's clone, they were both at risk and she should NEVER resurface regardless of the bait.

Hannibal Lecter snorted.
Clarice got up and stood by the basinet looking at Adam, she rubbed his head with one finger and the baby opened his eyes and looked at her, suddenly he seemed to light up and gurgled one of his daahs and gahs. His eyes seemed bright end perky again and Clarice turned to the Doctor.

"Hannibal, come," she reached her hand out for him. "Suddenly Adam seems to look much better, listen to him Hannibal, he is carrying on a whole conversation!"

Lecter joined her swiftly, and watched while the baby's babble grew more animated.

"The worse is over, Clarice" he announced with evident relief, "He is going to be fine."

"Are you going to remove the IV, so we can pick him up and cuddle him?"

The Doctor stroked the baby's cheek gently with one finger and Adam greedily turned his head and opened his mouth seeking for the bottle, then he made the little noises that they identified as a sign that he was hungry.
"That is called the Rooting reflex" Lecter informed, while he began to remove the IV "it was very mild, almost none existent when I place him on IV, whereas now it is rather enthusiastic, this is the breakthrough we were aiming for."

"Well, then, lets warm up a bottle" Clarice left for the kitchen while Hannibal warned.
"Get a bottle of the glucose solution," his voice raised to reach her, "he is not ready for formula yet!"
"Right!" she chirped.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter, there will be a next, short one posted in the next few days.

Let me know if you prefer them short like this one. Does it make the reading easier?

C