Disclaimer: No one, especially me do not own Hannibal Lector or Clarice Starling. I don't own the song Clarice sings in this chapter and I don't own a nightclub called Shadowfax, though I wouldn't mind if I did at all.

Note: Your reviews for my first chapter were rather suprising. To have such grand reviews from fans of Dr. Lector must be rare. You are all supposed to be harder critics then Phantom Phans. Well thank you Lector fans, I hope you enjoy and keep your shiny harpy's in your pockets and i'll keep these chapters coming more frequently.

song in italics : Clarice's Thoughts:

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Shadowfax was not what anyone would call a karaoke bar. The only reason Clarice had dubbed the rather elite restaurant that was the owner let her sing whenever she damned well pleased on the small stage usually reserved for guest singers.

The moment she left her house she felt rather then saw a figure detach itself from the shadows and follow her. She worked on calming her breathing down and tried not to falter in step. Clarice just wanted to make it to the restaurant without a premature meeting.

She hailed a taxi, never thinking that he would give up because she was traveling on wheels now. A shadow flickered in the rearview mirror and she couldn't help but gasp. He was not trying to hide his presence deliberately. For a moment she feared he would enter the taxi without giving her chance to do what she needed to.

Maybe someday Clarice we can make all your worries go away and the lambs to stop screaming once and for all. Wouldn't that be nice?

The words from his letter jumped out at her and Clarice felt her body shiver as if he had actually whispered the words into her ear. She made sure she was alone in the back seat of the taxi and almost laughed at herself.

:Your going to do this and your afraid of the thought that he may be next to you? Come on Starling this is ridiculous:

For once the thoughts in her head were her own. No distant voice from her past or present had ridiculed her. : I want him here, but i'm afraid of finally giving in.:

Soon the taxi came to Shadowfax and Clarice was waved in the door by Derrick the usual receptionist. She stopped and described Hannibal to the sturdy man and asked that the Doctor be shown in on her tab and given one of their best tables. The receptionist smiled and nodded. " No problem Clarice. Guess this means your off the market huh?" Derrick asked with a look of mock hurt. He was nice and asked her out once, he hadn't taken her rejection personally and was now a good friend.

Clarice thought for a moment about Derrick's question and smiled. " You can say that." And she went in. She had a ghost of a smile on her face when she thought of Hannibal's suprise at the fact that his arrival had been prepared.

Gavin Maralis, the restaurant owner met her at the bar. He was a middle aged man with salt and pepper hair and baby blue eyes. A very kind gentlemen that Clarice was sure Dr. Lector would enjoy talking to. Gavin always had a smile for Clarice, a smile that one reserved for the person that has saved their life more then once and acknowledges the debt due for it. Gavin's restaurant used to be the favorite meeting place for a very dangerous drug ring of nicely dressed street hustlers. He had been smart enough to call the FBI and inform them of the nightly guests while Clarice had still been helping the DEA. Unlike her dealings with Evelda, this drug raid was clean and the drug dealers went without much of a fight when they were surrounded by twenty SWAT members with automatics.

Clarice's help was in making Gavin's business drug free was only part of the reason he let her sing at Shadowfax, so he said. Gavin also said it was because she had a charming voice that his customers enjoyed hearing during their meal. Clarice accepted these compliments with a polite smile but never really believed them to be true. Tonight she hoped that Gavin hadn't been lying to her all along.

" There you are Clarice, its been weeks since you came down. Its so good to see you." He said and kissed Clarice's left then right cheek in greeting. She had learned how to return the gesture without fumbling some time ago and secretly thought she was slightly more sophisticated then before for mastering it. But Clarice Starling had learned most of her sophistication through Hannibal, at least when she had been chasing him last time she had learned through his old habits. When she had still been trying to figure him out through research.

" Its nice to see you too Gavin. I was wondering if I could by any chance borrow your stage tonight?" She asked politely though she already knew the answer.

" Of course." Gavin said. " And Derrick tells me you have a special guest tonight. He said it was your boyfriend."

Clarice had to joke down unlady like laughter for a moment. The thought that Hannibal Lector would ever be labeled as a 'boyfriend' was completely hilarious to her. There was a scoff from directly behind Clarice that sounded like someone was agreeing with her and she stiffened. When she turned around no one was there, but his undeniable presence was.

" Well he's not exactly my boyfriend." Clarice said the word with a small chuckle knowing the Doctor wouldn't approve of such nicknames. " But he is someone special i'd like to sing for tonight." She spoke sincerely when she said it. Gavin smiled and patted Clarice's cheek as if she were a sweet little girl.

" No problem, lets get you up there then. No man could possibly wait very long before your on stage." He said with a laugh. Clarice inwardly smiled herself. : He waited for eleven years, I hope he'll wait just a few minutes longer:

Gavin pulled her onto the little stage and took up the mike never letting go of her hand. " Good evening my darling people. Miss Clarice Starling has decided to grace us with her voice tonight." He said and the announcement was met with honest applause and cheering from the regulars who had heard her sing before.

Clarice stepped up to the microphone and almost immediately felt his eyes on her. Feeling his stare burning over the bare flesh of her back and the daring plunge of the dresses neckline. She mentally steadied herself, willing herself to speak. " Listen to the things in between." It was all she said before she gave Gavin the silent cue to start the song. Clarice knew it well and let her voice ease into it.

Just like the sea

No one possesses you

And no one can go down to

The deepest side of you.

'Except for me' she thought. :I've seen more then anyone. But your still past my grasp. :

Just like a tree

Decades and memories

Articulate and seal

Everyone of your dreams

She remembered the memory palace Hannibal had built in his mind and faintly wondered if she was somewhere in there. Stored away with all the other memories of his life. She could feel him stir, listening more to what she said then he had before. : Please listen: She silently pleaded.

When I need you I secretly sing you this part of my soul.

Yeliel, my angel

Know that I can hear you

And every word you speak is holy wind caressing me

Yeliel, my angel

Know that I can feel you

And when I fall I feel your arms around my destiny

Protecting me.

Clarice sang and wrapped an arm around her shoulder like it was him holding her. She took a breathe and reached out with longing arms to the people in front of her, though she only directed the gesture to one person who lurked in the shadows somewhere.

I do believe

Some things are mysteries

The simple fact that we

Stand alive, that we breathe

Why do I love?

Why do I hate and die?

Where do these things all lie?

I don't know why I cry

But she did know why she cried. The question was did Hannibal know? She wanted him desperately to tell her why.

When I need you I secretly sing you this part of my soul.

Yeliel, my angel

Know that I can hear you

And every word you speak is holy wind caressing me

Yeliel, my angel

Know that I can feel you

And when I fall I feel you arms around my destiny

Protecting me.

Hannibal Lector had always stood off to the side, watching and protecting her when she thought she would fall. Clarice would hear his voice in her sleep and feel his presence when he was near. But she rarely saw him, and her eyes were hungry for the sight of him again. She managed to gasp out the last part of the song, putting a piece of her soul into the words that he could either catch or let shatter on the ground.

Why do I love...?

Why do I hate and die?

Where do these things all lie?

I don't know why I...cry

When I need you I secretly sing you this part of my soul...

Clarice let the last note die, leaving the chorus out. She had said what she needed to, the next step was his. They were his rules, she only played by them. The diners gave a wonderful applause for her song and Clarice had to force a smile to her lips. She was worried now, the waiting game had begun. It was time to leave.

Clarice went over to Gavin and told him she had to get home early. He seemed disappointed but kissed her goodbye anyway.

It was too late for a cab so Clarice had to walk home. She knew he had followed her out of the restaurant and was tailing her. Though it was risky, if Clarice turned she might see him. She wasn't afraid, walking home in the dress she was wearing. Hannibal wouldn't let harm come to her.

As steps became audible behind Clarice, she realized with some suprise that the waiting game wouldn't be that long.

Author's Note: I know, you guys are probably angry about the ending of this chapter. But Hannibal will make his awaited appearance in the next chapter. The song Clarice sings is called 'Yeliel' by Lara Fabian. I thought it fit the way Hannibal was always near but never really physically there in Clarice's life. I love music so I had to fit some in this story somehow.

I have to be careful with the humor I usually use in my other stories, it doesn't fit in this category. But since i'm using the Hannibal film cannon my Lector has the charming humor that Anthony Hopkins gives him. So expect that kind of dry humor in the next chapter. But I won't continue unless I get some reviews.