"Decision? What decision?"
"You can either get out and go inside the hospital. Afterwards, you can go to your old life. Or you can come with me."
Clarice looked over at his face, and she could tell he was giving her an out. A way to escape.
"I don't want you to think I am keeping you prisoner after this, Clarice."
"I don't think that, and I want to go with you."
Dr. Lecter smiled and nodded his head. He started the car and left the hospital to go back to his place. When they arrived Clarice jumped out and ran to the other side to offer Dr. Lecter some assistance. He thanked her but declined her offer. He was shaking in his steps. He opened the door and once inside he went to the kitchen and pulled out medical supplies from underneath the counter. He sat down on a stool and began to remove the bullet.
"Need a hand?"
"No thank you Clarice. Would you like to go to the bathroom or anything?"
"Sure."
"Down the hall second door on the right."
"Thank you."
She stepped out and went to the bathroom. She washed up for a little bit and took some time to think. Dr. Lecter, I want to know you. You are not the monster that people call you…so what are you? No, not what, who? I have these feelings for you that I don't quite understand. Back at the farm, the kiss we shared was wonderful. Clarice took a deep breath and went out the door and back to the kitchen. He was applying stitches to the wound and the bloody bullet lay in a tray on the counter.
"Thank you, Doctor Lecter."
He sewed up the last little bit and looked up at her. He reached for the bandages and she walked over to him. She took the bandages from his hand brushing hers against his.
"Let me."
She took the bandages and began placing them over the wound on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Clarice."
She finished and Dr. Lecter put the things away. He turned to face her again and said, "You can stay as long as you like. Oh, and are you hungry?"
She smiled, "Yeah, actually I am."
"If you would like I could make us something."
"Sounds great."
"Good. I am going to go upstairs and change, and I will show you your room."
The two ascended the stairs and he showed her room to her. He left to go to his own and change. She saw on the bed was a dress. She went over to it and read the card that came with it.
Dear Clarice,
Happy Birthday.
H.
Clarice knew he had not planned for all of this to happen, but she knew he planned on meeting her sometime soon. Her birthday is actually today. Looks like Mason disrupted the Doctor's own plans. She glanced at the clock, 5:30. She would prepare for the Doctor's dinner and see where it took them. She was more than concerned about Mason however and his men. Would they be after them soon. As nicely concealed as this place is, it would take him at least 5-6 days. But she was still worried. She got dressed and came out of the room. She smelled cooking and went downstairs. Once in the kitchen she noticed Dr. Lecter in a suit with black tie. Dr. Lecter looked up amazed at once.
"I see you found my gift."
"Yes, thank you. Dr. Lecter I don't mean to drift to a bad subject but Mason is still out there."
"Not necessarily. The reason it took me so long to get back to you is because I went back into the pin and took the only bullet I had left and put it through Mason's skull. He was helpless.""And the men that followed?"
"That does not matter now because their money is gone. But I did open the pig pin to try and scare them off. So do you feel safer?""Yes."
"Even with me around?"
"Yes."
"How very interesting. But going back to more pleasant matters have a seat I will get you some wine."
She sat at the table. He came around and gave her the glass. She took it graciously. It did not take him long to prepare the meal. And he served Clarice first then himself. He sat down across from her so they were face to face. They talked while they dined. Clarice asked him many personal questions and some about his past. Some he took longer to answer, but Clarice felt she knew him a little bit better. She had studied his history and likings at Hannibal's House, but it meant more coming from him. She was going to enjoy staying with him at this place. Their first meeting together with no bars or restrictions went well.
-Hope you all are enjoying it so far. I redid the last chapter, because there was one part in it I decided I didn't like. So I just changed it to where Starling's shot killed Krendler instead of injuring him. A small detail but it will save myself further confusion of what he was going to do. Because right now I want to focus on Dr. Lecter and Starling together, and I did not want anything messing that up.
Thanks for the reviews!