Author's Note: I just want to thank everyone who's reading this story. I have most of it written out but I just have to find the time to type and upload it. I'm actually graduating from high school tomorrow so I'm going to be very busy! Thanks especially to ar-men66 for the review. I really appreciate them guys!

Chapter Four: Compromise

Clarice Starling woke up late in the morning. Judging by the light coming from the shutters, she thought it could be ten o'clock. She could smell bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen. Doctor Lecter's fedora was still on her desk. She felt relaxed and well rested from sleep. She saw her .45 colt on the desk, too. Her cell phone was right next to it. For a minute she stood there wondering what to do. Doctor Lecter was not in sight. She could call the police and if she had time, notify the FBI. She thought of the pay raise and fame she would get. She thought of how the men of her department might start to respect her. Then she thought of Doctor Lecter.

"If given the chance would you deny me my life?"

"No."

"My freedom then..."

She shook her head. That night would never leave her. She made up her mind. Fuck the FBI. What did they ever do for me? She made her bed and then pulled out a pair of jeans and a black shirt. She got clean underclothes also and made her way to her bathroom. She took a quick shower, brushed her teeth and hair, and got dressed. She put on a pair of black boots she had lying in her closet and walked downstairs. She could hear the bacon sizzling on the pan.

When she walked into the kitchen she saw that the table had been set for two. A bouquet of flowers in a vase was placed in the middle of it. She saw that someone had made eggs, bacon, and toast. The coffee pot was full. A small can of creamer stood next to it.

"Good morning."

Clarice nearly jumped out of her skin. She didn't hear Doctor Lecter walk up behind her. He was so close she could feel his breath on her neck. She turned to face him and nearly lost her balance had it not been for his arms catching her around the waist. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest from the fright he gave her and the closeness of his body. She held onto his arms as she stood up straight against him. She tried to pull away slowly but he wouldn't let her go.

"Does this give you the feeling of deja vu, Clarice?" he whispered.

"Yes. Now will you unhand me, Doctor?"

"Certainly."

He stepped back and gave her space. She looked at him with narrow eyes and began to think that leaving her gun on her desk was a bad idea. She decided she would never call the police though.

"Come and sit down, Clarice. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of cooking and going through your kitchen. You should look into getting a wider selection of foods if I might add."

Doctor Lecter pulled out a chair for her and when she was seated, pushed it in. He served her a good helping of everything with a cup of coffee. He settled himself at the other end and waited for her to start. The food was delicious. Clarice thought about that the last time she ate this good and found out that she couldn't remember.

"Thank you, Doctor Lecter."

"Hannibal."

"Sorry?"

"Hannibal, Clarice. I think we can dispense with all the formalities don't you? We've know each other almost ten years now." he said.

"If you insist," she answered. She sat quietly for a moment before she went on. "I believe it is my turn, Doc- I mean, Hannibal."

Doctor Lecter looked up from his meal with a ghost of a smile on his face. He nodded to her and took a sip of his coffee. In his mind, he applauded himself for finishing one of his many tasks...

"Why does the killer pose his victims after their dead?"

Doctor Lecter dabbed his mouth with a paper napkin. He set it down on the table and stared at Clarice, thinking of what he should tell her.

"The killer feels he needs to please his mentors or should I say the heros that came before him. Have you heard the expression, 'imitation is the best form of flattery?' That's what he's doing Clarice. That's exactly what he's doing."

She felt a chill go up her back. This killer was even more deranged and dangerous than she expected. The killer knows how to destroy evidence and not be seen or noticed. And another thought came to her.

"He knows what he's doing is wrong," she said. "He can't help it now though. His first victim was probably an accident. The second a kind of 'test drive.' Now he's got a real taste for it."

Doctor Lecter smiled widely. 'She might be able to catch him yet,' he thought. He needed to distract her from this case for a moment though.

"So, Special Agent Starling, have you thought about what you are going to do with me? Are you going to call the police when you have no further use of me? Will you call your superiors and tell them you've caught the infamous Doctor Lecter and he's here at your house? I wonder what the National Tattler would think of that... Probably think of some story full of sexual innuendos and nights of torture..."

She looked at him seriously.

"Well I have thought about it and have decided not to turn you in at all. The FBI need never know that you helped me at all on this case. They don't even know you are in the country. I need help though, Doctor, and in turn for that, I will extend you the courtesy of leaving you be."

He nodded.

"There is one small problem though..." he said.

"What?" asked Clarice.

"There are two agents that have been following you and keeping tabs on you ever since I arrived here. I noticed them the first night I cam here. They haven't seen me though."

"Shit." Clarice looked out her window nonchalantly and tried to see if she could catch the glare of a scope or binocular. When she turned back to the table, Doctor Lecter was still smiling.

"He's hiding in the brush about a quarter mile from here. Look out the window around two o'clock this afternoon and you will see the glare from a scope he has. Have you thought of the new problem they have created for us?"

Starling shook her head, not really knowing what he was talking about.

"I won't be able to leave the house until the change of the next shift. You will have to be careful of what you say on the phone because they have it tapped. Your mail has been searched through also."

Clarice was fuming. This was outrageous. The FBI didn't trust her at all and this was a major invasion of privacy! She hung her head in her hands and after a moment stood up.

"Your welcome to stay here as long as you like, Doctor. I need to work on a couple of things at the office and go for a run. I'll likely be back around six o'clock tonight."

She ran up to her room and got ready for work. There were somethings she needed to find out. She also needed to cool down. When she returned downstairs, Doctor Lecter was waiting by the front door with her car keys.

"Have a good day, Special Agent Starling," he said with a slight sneer.

"Good bye." She took the keys from him and walked outside.