Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who've been reviewing! I really appreciate it. Now on to the next chapter!

Chapter Eleven: Almost Home

Michael got off the plane and stretched. It felt good to be in Austria again. It was easier for him to cross the border here and not be noticed. No one had recognized him so far. The air smelled fresher to him here. The sky was a lovely light gray, totally covered in clouds. The air was cool and crisp. He made it through the Austrian costumes alright and went in search of a hotel to stay in. He only hoped it would be better then the one in London.

Clarice woke up to the sound of Hannibal's voice. She turned over in bed to see him with a cell phone in his hand. She assumed he was speaking German or some other harsh dialect to the person on the other end. She just laid there and watched him. He said one more word and closed his phone. He reached over and put it on the dresser next to the bed and then turned back to Clarice. He had never seen a more splendid vision. The sheets and comforter of the bed were tucked under her arms, only exposing her arms and shoulders. Her hair was fanned out like a golden halo around her head. She looked back at him, her eyes shining in the morning sunlight.

"Good morning."

Clarice turned on her side to get a better view of him. Dr. Lecter mirrored her movements.

"Who were you talking to?" she asked.

"A friend who owes me a favor," he replied. "I need a way to get back into Europe and so I called him because he has his own private plane."

"Oh."

She looked pensive for a moment. Her beauty mark was unusually dark in this light. Dr. Lecter brought his hand to her cheek and traced the outline of it with his finger.

"What are you thinking about, Clarice?"

"I thinking about the Crusader," she answered vaguely.

She had a nagging feeling like she had forgotten something. She couldn't place her mind on it. The Crusader was traveling fast, she knew that. How was he getting around? His physical description had been sent to every major airport in the world. 'Simplicity...' He wasn't using the major airlines. He was probably going by some of the lesser known ones or on private commuters like the one Dr. Lecter was going to use. How was he going to get to Latvia or wherever he was going?

"What is the easiest way to get into a country like Lithuania or Latvia without flying into it?" she asked him.

He thought for a moment.

"I would probably take a small flight to somewhere south of those countries and make my way into one of them by crossing the border with a rental car. The border patrols do not fuss over security as much as the officers in costumes. A flight to Warsaw would be a good one to take. If he was being overly careful, he might go as far south as Vienna and then travel north again."

Clarice nodded. Her cell phone rang and began to vibrate on the dresser next to her. 'Oh shit,' she thought. She answered the phone.

"Starling."

"Where the hell are you, Starling! I've been trying to reach you at the hotel and none of the staff could answer whether you came in last night or not! The maid who fixes up your room said you hadn't slept there last night. I've even called your cell twice but no answer! I've been worried sick about you! That's all I need is for you to go missing and have it leaked out into the press! What would the director say or think, huh?"

Clarice rolled her eyes.

"You still haven't answered my questions, Starling!" he said loudly.

She could hear his breath on the phone. She didn't know what to really say but she just went on instinct.

"I didn't go back to the hotel last night, sir. I was too pissed off at the Crusader. I got rip-roarin' drunk and didn't know what I was doing so now I'm at a hotel with a person I don't know or don't recall ever meeting. As to what the director would say or think, I don't really give a flying fuck what he says to me or what he thinks. I wasn't officially on duty last night so I decided to spend the time my own way. I just want to catch that asshole and get on with my life. I'm handing in my resignation after this case. I'm tired of all the bullshit and bureaucracy."

The sarcasm and resentment of years wasted dripped into every word she said. There was a very pregnant pause after her outburst.

"If that's how you feel, Starling... I'll pull you right off this case right now if you tell me to."

"No. I want to catch this guy."

"Fine. You will adhere to the policies we've always implemented though, Starling. All we need is the press and paparazzi to see and photograph you in such a state. Get back to your hotel room fast. I've managed to get you a flight to Munich which leaves in two hours. I'm also sending reinforcements for the sake of the bureau. Agent Deming is in route already and should meet you up there. No fucking up this time, Starling. We need to get this man quickly. Washington has already notified us of the consequences if we're not able to."

"Right, sir. I will catch him."

"I hope so for your sake."

She hung up the phone. She laid back on the pillow. Her face showed her frustration.

"I got rip-roarin' drunk and have slept with a man I do not know or ever recall meeting," she heard Dr. Lecter say in a perfect West Virginian drawl. She looked at him with narrowed eyes. His showed his amusement.

"What was I supposed to say? 'Hello, Agent Pearsall. I'm sorry I was not at the hotel. I spent the night at the Ritz with Dr. Hannibal Lecter having a wonderful time and am currently lying next to him.'"

Both laughed at that and got up and dressed.

Clarice went to the Novotel and quickly packed all her belongings. The maid had already come in and given her the airline ticket. One of the agents from Scotland Yard picked her up and escorted her to the airport. She thanked him and went in search of her terminal. She found it after walking around for twenty minutes. They were already boarding people. She put her bags next to her and gave the flight attendant her ticket. They let her on and she slept all the way to Munich. She had not, after all, gotten much sleep the night before.

"Special Agent Starling, I presume?"

Clarice had gotten off the plane and heard her a voice speak to her. The man was fairly short; he only looked to be about 5'6. He had sandy blond hair with green eyes. He was very stocky and looked strong. He held out his badge and I.D.

"Nice to meet you, Agent Deming."

She shook his hand, feeling callouses and noting a few scars. He showed her to a black, unmarked car and helped her with her luggage.

"We're going to the hotel so you could brief me and two other officers on the Crusader. We were able to get one of the conference rooms so we could have more space. We also brought copies of the case file you have managed to transcribe so you wouldn't have to explain everything."

She nodded, only half listening to him. She had a bad feeling about him. She wasn't comfortable at all that their would be three agents around all the time now.