Chapter One

"I came all this way to watch you run, Clarice. Now let me run." His eyes stared into hers. Searching. Searching. Perhaps for something that was not there. But something that he wished with all his heart, though some might argue that he had none, to be there. He had her pinned against the refrigerator; her hair caught in the door. The handle snapped off and lying useless on the floor just out of reach.

"Tell me Clarice. Would you ever say to me, 'Stop. If you loved me you'd stop?'" He asked her. His voice was low and husky. He stared deeper into her eyes as they widened in shock then he saw something else within those eyes change.

"Never in a thousand years." She answered in a voice just barely above a whisper.

"Never in a thousand years?" Hannibal repeated her words back to her. He leaned forward and nipped at her lips. Then whispered into her ear. "That's my girl." She shivered at his words and then he kissed her.

Clarice hadn't expected the kiss. She thought she must be dreaming when she saw his lips descend upon hers. It must have been the morphine messing with her head. That had to be it. But her thoughts were ceased when those lips. HIS lips. Met hers. She melted. She didn't think as she pulled the handcuffs from the back of her dress, slipped one cuff around her wrist and the other around his.

He pulled away, despite her moan of protest. He raised his arm and stared at the handcuffs for a moment. They both could hear the helicopters and sirens of the FBI and local police force. "Now, this is very interesting." Hannibal started, amused but also irritated. "But I am pressed for time. Where is the key?" When she didn't answer he asked again. "Where is the key, Clarice?" When his question was yet again met without an answer he turned and searched the counter behind him.

He picked up the meat cleaver and slammed her hand down upon the counter. "What shall it be, my dear, above or below the wrist?" He asked as pointed to each with the knife. "Ah, no preference? Fine I will choose for you…this is going to hurt…" he said. She saw a tear fall from his eyes as he raised the meat cleaver. And just as he started to bring the knife down she blurted…

"Take me with you!"

Hannibal stared at her in shock. "What?" he asked.

Clarice took a deep breath then repeated herself. "Take me with you…" she paused. "away from here… wherever you go… take me with you."

He was silent for a long moment. The sirens were closer than ever. The helicopters even closer. "Are you sure?" He asked. "If you leave with me now, there is no turning back…"

She looked into his eyes. Deep into those maroon colored eyes. Then with both her hands she cupped his face and kissed him gently. "I know."

He didn't wait any longer, didn't say a word, just grabbed her hand and together they ran out the back door.

A/N: so whatcha think? Please let me know…