Disclaimer: I don't own "Hannibal" or any of the books by Thomas Harris. I don't own the characters such as Hannibal nor Clarice (but I have them in my closet /grins/)
A/N That was so hard to write this chapter! My sister is writing her diploma thesis and my whole room is full with her books and papers. Eh horrible! But I finished this chapter at last. And I read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince :) Screw the ending it was horrible /sniff sniff/ But never mind. Please review guys I need your support! (feed me feeed meee :)
Chapter 11: The Preparations
The girl was smiling sheepishly at the doctor. He smiled at her and touched her pretty face speaking to himself knowing that she wouldn't hear him.
" My little butterfly. You are such a big and brave girl now. It's time for you to go away and be on your own. You don't need us anymore little one. I'm just too old for those games. It's your turn to fight. Maybe I can be your prize"
This thought cheered him up. He kissed her brow gently and left her sweet scent.
When he returned dr. Brown was already talking about God knows what. Not really paying attention to his words dr. Lecter interrupted him in his metallic voice. He decided to play.
" I don't have too much time nor will to busy myself with you. Your posture and fake tone of voice is trying to cover your lack of knowledge. Which school did you graduate? You don't have to answer. You had enough money to pass all the exams you wanted to. Did your parents force you to be a psychiatrist? You never wanted to disappoint them, did you? Now you find yourself a "professional". It doesn't matter if you are a psychiatrist or a gynecologist. You still can call yourself a "doctor" and that only matters. But still you despise all your patients. What is your life worth of? Go back to your books boy and maybe one day you would be good enough to call yourself a nurse. I still doubt it."
Small tears forming in dr. Brown's eyes didn't stop the Good Doctor.
"You came here quite proud of yourself and your little suggestion. By the way, have you got any idea how many bacteria have you inhaled right now? How many viruses are now attacking your body? Those little monsters crawling under your skin, drinking your blood like a juice. This usual soap you used won't help you, you know. "
Dr. Brows fell on his knees and started to rub furiously his forearm. Felt the blood and the hypnotizing gaze of dr. Lecter.
"Get them off me… get those motherfuckers off me!" he screamed in passion.
" It's too late. They attacked your brain. Eating every cell they will find. Can you feel them? This pain? Listen to me. At midnight you will die. Your body is too weak to resist. You'll become numb and then your lungs will stop giving you oxygen. The pain, strangling and then death. Live your last day wisely and tell my daughter that if she wants something from me, I'm waiting for her. "
Finally FBI opened the door after a long procedure. They had to hurry. Dr. Brown's life was depending on them. They found him mumbling on the floor and bleeding but he wasn't injured too badly. Dr. Lecter was lying on his bunk in peace. Far away from his cell and the rush. He was now playing the piano for the little girl with happy eyes.
Far away from dr. Lecter's room were other, more common cells with bars. When you come down the stairs through all the corridors and metal doors you would see cells for women. They were cleaner and less aggressive than men. In one of those cells was sitting a woman. Her hair was sticking to her sweating face. An hour ago she was doing push-ups. Now all her muscles were sore. When a lawyer stood next to her bars slightly frightened at her sight, she looked at him surprised. Everything was set so what did he want?
" Good afternoon Mrs. Starling. You are probably wondering why I am here. FBI wants your execution to go swiftly so no guests are invited. No victim's families , no reporters, no media at all. Just a doctor, few FBI agents, and me. But maybe you want somebody special to be there? It's just a suggestion."
She eyed him curiously. That was quite an unusual offer for her but she thought that maybe it is normal indeed. She never has been in such a situation so she had no idea. But still it was odd.
" Did somebody asked you .." she started but he stopped her.
" Mrs. Starling, don't think I do this as a favor. It's my duty. FBI don't care about your feelings but they want no problems with the execution, no.. rows.. if you know what I mean. "
" The problem is that I do not know what do you mean." she said bitterly.
" Do you want your children to be there?" he asked quickly.
Clarice closed her eyes and saw them again. Her little son playing the piano with his father. She saw her daughter helping her in the garden when the girl was eight years old. She blinked away the tears and firmly answered the lawyer.
"No. I want to remember them as happy kids."
The lawyer just nodded and left her in a hurry. He was quite busy that day. All the files, signatures, meetings. And Mathew still wasn't answering the phone. He had a rough time so that wasn't a surprise to anybody. The girl. Her time was out. Dr. Brown would take care of her. Just few more days and all the problems would be solved by two injections. "God bless the judicial system in the United States of America." whispered the lawyer and smiled to himself. He considered phoning to little miss O'Connor but he changed his mind after remembering her victims. No, that definitely wasn't the best idea.
Meanwhile Trevor brought Mel some better food than the hospital trash they gave her. She ate everything with great appetite. It was only some bread with some ham and tomatoes but she was practically starving. All the pills and bitter syrups made her sick to her stomach.
" So, let me recap it all. You want us to free your parents from the most secure place in the USA on the day of their execution? I don't have to mention that FBI says that they are the most wanted criminals ever. Am I correct?" asked the red headed boy.
"Quite correct" said the girl and smiled widely. He scolded her with his gaze so she made a fake serious face.
" And you want me to help you because …?" he started but she kissed his chick and said
"Because I'm your little Mel and you love me " she beamed at his sudden embarrassment . Mentally she was very surprised at her actions. "What kind of pills they gave me anyway!" she thought but that made her only more cheerful. This was right. She was much more composed but less focused. She knew about her current position but she didn't care. However, she clearly felt that if she tried hard enough she could wake up again and be focused but she liked her state. Trevor jus looked at her unnatural big pupils and faintly smiled. "Well, well, well. Melissa O'Connor on drugs. Regretfully I don't have a camera".
"Right. Now just eat your sandwich and be careful. Brown suppose to be back any minute now. I have to leave you for some time. And for God's sake pretend to be swallowing those pills." And with this words he left her. He couldn't be spotted with her or near her room 'cause they would grow suspicious. Pretending to be only carrying the dirty sheets he managed to avoid all the eyes and leave the hospital unnoticed or simply ignored. His car was waiting for him. Frustrated he slammed the door roughly and laid his head on a steering wheel. Too many thoughts were interrupting him so he just started the car. Quick ride was easing for his nerves. After few minutes he reached his destiny. It was a cheap hotel not far away from dr. Brown's mental institution. There was a dark-haired girl with a tattoo on her back waiting for him. She was trembling slightly because of the cool afternoon wind. Trevor hugged her and they both get to their room. While she was making some tea, he levered a loosen floorboard ,picked up a big sheet of paper underneath and laid it on a table. When the girl came back she gave him a mug filled with warm lemon-flavored liquid.
"Thank you Holly" he thanked her absently while scanning the paper. It was a plan of a building. The girl looked very concerned.
"Trevor , you look like a zombie. You need some rest."
"No, I have no time. You should see that hospital. It's horrible! We must take Mel out of there quick!"
"But maybe she needs their help." she whispered . Trevor nearly slapped her.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" he yelled at her.
"Calm down. I was just saying that maybe she just needs a quite place to feel safe and forget about those things. Maybe she just needs some medicine or something."
"A MEDICINE FOR WHAT?"
The cup in his hand was shaking violently. Why was he reacting so emotionally? He didn't knew. Mel was always only his best friend and nothing more. But Holly suppose to mean more for him. She was his girlfriend after all. But after Melissa's disappearing something cracked between them.
"You know what she did." she said in small voice but he heard every single word of her statement. The steel in his voice was making her shiver.
"She could die there. She had no choice but to fight with those bastards. If I were in her shoes I would probably do the same. Fight for my life. No matter how. "
She simply nodded sadly and avoided his gaze. The silence was unbearable so she broke it.
"How is she anyway?"
"They drugged her. I suppose it's better for her. Some of us would appreciate good stuff too." he answered grimly and sipped his tea. Trevor wanted so much to get his needle and heroine but he knew that was impossible because of his fake job in dr. Brown's "sanctuary".
"Do you have a plan of escaping? I was trying to think something out but to be honest I'm not too good with maps. This seems quite complicated" she mentioned to the paper on the table "Too many corridors and rooms without specified destiny."
"Well, it's good for us, isn't it? I'm more worried about those guards. Today after midnight Andy's old friend will keep watch. With his help Andy got his job. Maybe it's a chance for us. "
"You think he would help us?" Holly asked hopefully.
"I've seen him only once. I said to the guards that I was sent by Andy and most of them didn't believe me but he put in a good word for me so I could pass without any complications. Probably Andy told him to do so but I know that he wouldn't help us. He would be too afraid to lose his work. I don't know what to do." he sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm curious about her brother. I never expected him to be such an asshole." she spat.
"God, I want to strangle him so much. But what do you care about this son of the bitch?" her sudden interest made him curious.
"Well, he sold out all his family but I'm sure he didn't want to hurt his sister. Don't take me wrong. I just heard a lot about him from Mel and I'm pretty sure that he truly loved her despite his attitude. And now he is completely alone. Thinking about it all. Maybe even regretting. The pain that cannot be eased."
"How do you know that?" he asked her skeptically.
"I felt the same way" she whispered and showed him her wrists full of scars.