I do not own any of the Dr. Hannibal Lecter series or movie collection.

Please do not expect more.

Caller Two: Second Ending

He shook his head and she grinned victoriously. "Ah, as I was asking before; where are you, Special Agent Starling?"

"I'm at home Dr. Lecter." She watched as his shoulders shook in delight. Clarice let a small giggle out, breathy and light. Her office was cleaned out. Early on this morning she had been called in on the account that she had killed someone. Again. Only issue is, while normally it would be cut and dry defense, Clarice had forgone her standard issue hand gun and had taken their life into her own hands. Literally. The unsub was waiting outside the motel she had been stationed in before she could look at the newest body put there by the man waiting. He had been skinning young girls around the age of 10 in front of their mothers. Stapling the mothers eyes open and strapping them down to force them to watch as he mutilated and raped the girls. Suffice to say, he was dead the second she was put on the case. Last night was a long night and she was ordered to get a psych evaluation and a leave of absence. She still heard his screams, remembered the blood as it ran from his mouth, throat, and chest. Crawford had come at her call to see her drenched and slightly battered. Eyes, pulverized and gouged, mouth still drippling blood, throat ripped with teeth and nails, chest stabbed and gutted. Starling... busted lip, bruising around the neck and holding her side. She was tired, but they were going to keep this as much under wraps as possible.

"Back to lying, are we?" Clarice backed up and slowly sat on the hood of his truck, gently reveling in its warmth from the sun. It felt good against her slightly bruised ribs.

"I'm not lying, I am at home. Though, I will also admit, I also know why you think I am not." He took a sip of the wine before answering. Casting unassuming glances at the corners of the room he sat in, as if he hadn't already checked for cameras.

"Is that so? And why is that? Are you going to amaze me with tales of stalkers and having your house watched? That you get a call if someone even approaches the neighborhood?" She chuckled silently and examined the white-grey clouds above her.

"That theory, my good Doctor, has two problems."

"Oh, really?" Starling nodded to nobody before smirking softly.

"Yes. One being that you have been on the phone with me since I left my office." She glanced into his car and smirked at the irony at seeing another phone, innocently on the console. He hummed through the phone.

"Indeed."

She felt boredom set in and sighed. "I wonder, what is your favorite color, Dr. Lecter?"

He too sighed deeply before answering the seemingly pointless question. "That depends on my mood, Special Agent Starling. At this moment, I would say cerulean. What is the second imperfection?" The color of the sweater she had left on her chair that sat across from him. What a closet sap. She let a sweet sensation settle into her center.

Clarice turned her body to facing her house. "Doctor, I'll admit, I am not in my house."

"I know." She could hear his smile and see his wandering eyes as they traced patterns on her ceiling as hers often did. She wanted to see him. Hear his voice in the same room. Feel his breath fan against her. She misses his unblinking gaze, so focused on her. "Did you attempt to quit smoking, Special Agent Starling?"

"Not even a little, Doctor Hannibal Lector. Does the smell bother you?" She heard him sigh in pleasure at his full name.

"So close, little Starling. Why the resistance?"

Clarice flushed at his tone. Low and tinged with something she held her breath for. Desire. Passion. Want. "Does the smell bother you?"

"Not when mixed with your natural scent... mouth watering." There was a seriousness behind the thin pun. Her laugh was brief and left her aching. She couldn't wait anymore.

"Are you near a window?"

"Yes."

"Humor me and look out of it, would you?"

She saw his black shadow play across her windows. "My pleasure, you do have a rather nice neighborhood."

"Just like how you have a rather impeccable taste in trucks... Hannibal." The sharp intake of breath was sweet to the ears as was the fire that lit in her belly at the sight of him.

She watched him moved to leave the house before she could click the phone shut. She waited no more than a few moments in the sun, eyes shut, before his scent surrounded her. "Enjoying yourself, Clarice?"

She opened her eyes to meet shocking red and seductive purple. She reached up and softly placed her hand on his cheek. Magical maroon with a dark twist of danger.

"All good things to those who wait."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

heh yeah, adorbs