Chapter Eight:

He had gone…

First back to his hotel to get his belongings and then he said he would pick up a cell phone for her, apparently it was best all round for him to leave as soon as possible, Clarice disagreed with him but she knew if he stayed any longer she would be hard pushed to let him leave again.

She was sat out on the front step, still looking down the street where his car had disappeared. She couldn't believe it, she really was going to be happy, and they were going to be together.
Now she was practically anticipating something to come along and ruin it all, the FBI, Ardelia even Hannibal himself. She knew she had trust issues but now when everything seemed to be fitting together so perfectly, the only thing left to happen would be for it to all go horribly wrong.

She shook herself mentally and stood up; it was a good morning for a run and she needed to get rid of the nervous energy cruising around her body. She ran back inside to change and grabbed her cell phone and car keys, she had found a nice new spot to run in, it was a big forest area, it smelt of leaves and fresh air, it reminded her of when she was a little girl. The trees were old and huge, perfect for climbing in, or making a tire swing, that's what she would have done back then, but now she was content to run and take in the nature around her.

What Clarice hadn't known was that the hotel he had been staying in was practically around the corner, it had taken him twenty minutes to get there, get his belongings and check out, he was back at Clarice's within the hour after buying her a cell phone from the nearest store. After finding her car gone he decided he would drive around to see if he could spot her, he had seen her visit a woodland area nearby on occasion when he had been 'observing' her, perhaps she had gone running there.

Clarice breathed a deep sigh of relief, letting the fresh air pass through her, this was better, she felt calmer here. She looked at her watch checking the time and then set off, she had always loved running, it gave her a different sort of release from all the pent up emotions that lay within her, building up each day.

Her feet didn't fight the ground as she ran, her ponytail bouncing behind her. She had forgotten to bring her music player with her, so instead she listened to the noise of nature around her, the birds twittering away above her, her feet landing softly on the earth, her steady breathing… it was so peaceful.

She had been running steadily for 10 minutes according to her watch when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and a shiver go down her spine, the sort of feeling you get when someone is watching you…

She slowed down her pace gradually until it was a fast walk/ slow jog and looked behind her; she could see nothing but the dense forest around her and the thin path leading through it.

Suddenly above her a bird squawked loudly and flew out of a tree above her making plenty of noise as its wings beat, Clarice glanced up catching sight of its tail feathers as it disappeared into another tree. She looked behind her again, now stood still, and seeing nothing, she turned around and found herself face to face with a broad shirt and jacket clad chest...

Clarice jumped back shocked and covered her thundering heart with her hand.

"Jesus Christ! What are you trying to do Hannibal? Give me a heart attack?"

Clarice leant back against a particularly old looking tree to catch her breath and slow her heart rate down, when she had re-gained some modicum of composure she turned her head to glare at him and he smiled at her.

"I am sorry for startling you, Clarice"

She looked at him and snorted in amusement.

"Yeah right, I bet you are, what are you anyway, part feline? I didn't even hear you!"

He smirked at her lazily and moved closer towards her and held out his hand, she took it and let him help pull her from her position leant against the tree. His hand was strong and warm as he pulled her to him, his eyes were following a small bead of sweat sliding down her neck, and he lifted his finger and followed its path. Once he reached her collar-bone he placed his entire hand flat along her neck, shoulder and chest, feeling her heartbeat beneath his palm.

"My, my, little starling, how your heart hums to me…"

Clarice's breathing increased as he lifted his hand slightly, not much, just slightly so she could still feel the heat from his palm and he, her heart pounded wildly. Her breathing had increased and was heavier now than it had been during her running, his hand followed the rise and fall of her chest, never fully touching her and always too far away.

He lifted his eyes to meet hers and she held her breath, stilling his hovering hand unintentionally, they stayed like that. Clarice's heart was pounding, begging for the oxygen she was refusing it. His eyes watched her intently; first holding a heat within them and now a small amount of curiosity, she had been holding her breath for half a minute. He could practically hear her heart thumping and imagined he could feel the vibrations through his hand, although he was no longer touching her.

Clarice didn't know why she was holding her breath; partly because it was a challenge, who would submit first? She knew she could hold her breath for a relatively long time, running had helped by giving her lungs a bigger breathing capacity that therefore meant being able to hold more oxygen for longer. She could see the curiosity in his eyes growing as he acknowledged her challenge, his hand lowered slightly, but still not enough.

Her heart was slowing slightly, still pounding her ribcage but slightly slower now; Clarice would take a guess at having held her breath for 45 seconds so far. Hannibal could see the pulse point in her neck jumping as her blood rushed through her veins, he was so tempted to place his hand there and feel it again, his eyes met hers again, the determination in them not surprising him. Clarice Starling was nothing if not stubborn; she would most likely make herself faint rather than admitting defeat.

50 seconds…

She blinked and gulped, trying not to acknowledge her body's desperate need to breathe in the fresh air around them, her chest jumped slightly as it tried to take in more oxygen.

62 seconds…

His head had tilted slightly as he regarded her, his eyes moving lazily from her pulse point to his hovering hand to her eyes and back again. He would twitch his hand slightly making her think he would lower it to her heartbeat, and then it would remain a scarce centimeter from her chest.

79 seconds…

Her chest heaved again as her body fought to get the needed oxygen in and she swallowed again, shutting her eyes slightly to suppress it.

84 seconds…

Her eyelids fluttered over her ocean blue eyes, a small sound escaped her throat without her permission. He was right, she would rather faint than succumb to him completely. This was her way of letting him know, without awkward words and excuses.

Clarice Starling was and always would be her own woman, did she love him? Unconditionally. But would she let him rule over her, make every decision for her, turn her from fully independent and answering only to herself, into a passive woman, always seeking his approval? Hell no, and that would not be what he wanted, he was enthralled by this wonderful, beautiful, independent, intelligent woman who was his equal in almost every aspect. Every now and then he would need to succumb to her will, to her want…

And so he did.

90 seconds…

Just when Clarice thought she could hold it no longer he laid his hand down over her pounding heart and met her eyes, Clarice let the air escape her lungs and breathe the needed oxygen in a loud gasp, she internally breathed a sigh of relief, he had understood.

As her breathing regained its usual pace Hannibal bent his head and kissed her pulse point feeling her still erratic heartbeat beneath his lips. He held out his hand to her in invitation and she took it walking next to him down the path.

There was the sound of cracking twigs up ahead as a middle aged man in jeans and a t-shirt walked past with a dog on his heels, he looked at Clarice and smiled, then at Hannibal and nodded his head; only frowning slightly as he walked past.

When they had passed Clarice turned her head slightly to observe Hannibal and smiled when she realised why the man with the dog had frowned at him.

"Hannibal?" She leant and whispered conspiratorially as if she had some amazing secret to tell him.

"Yes Clarice?" He asked dryly not bothering to whisper back or even lower his speaking tone.

"You are wearing Armani."

He looked at her and raised his eyebrow.

"Hannibal, we are in a muddy forest, where animals live, most people come here wearing old clothes that don't matter if they get dirty, you however have come here wearing Armani. God knows how expensive that suit is…"

Hannibal smirked at her.

"You need not fret about the state of my financial affairs Clarice; I am perfectly able to afford several more Armani suits without feeling the pinch as it were, besides I have no intention of getting dirt on my suit."

Clarice smirked slightly and changed their direction so they were no longer on the path; but now in a small clearing where there was a circular fenced off area, with two benches nearby. Clarice released his hand and beckoned him forward as she climbed over the short wooden fence and sat at the edge of a large pond of water. He stood over the other side leaning up against the fence, watching her.

"This is called the dew pond, it's been here for years apparently, when the rain falls it fills this up even more, it's full of wildlife. Frogs, tadpoles, I think I have even seen the occasional newt."

She turned to look at him to find him merely leaning against the fence not inside as she had hoped, she frowned at him.

"Clarice, it is just an observation but, have you ever considered that there may be a reason that this is fenced off?"

She rolled her eyes at him.

"It is just a small pond Hannibal, I promise, no alligators." She smirked at him; he smiled slightly but still didn't move.

"Don't tell me the famous Dr Lecter is frightened of a small pond? Or maybe it's not that, so what is it? Do you have some deep irrational fear of frogs?"

She had been looking forward at the pond as she had been playfully 'mocking' him so she didn't see or hear him climb over the fence and crouch down behind her to whisper in her ear.

"No Clarice I am not afraid of frogs, more what you have planned to do to my defenseless suit."

She jumped slightly, her heart rate increasing somewhat yet again. She had realised he probably knew what she was up to as soon as she had steered them off the path.

"Ok, ok. Talk about busted, I promise I won't intentionally get your suit dirty." She mumbled slightly disheartened.

"Clarice, I would not be here were I worried about my suit, I have plenty more."

She was surprised when he sat down next to her, on the grass and the dry, cracked mud, it would almost certainly leave dust all over his pants. She watched as he removed his jacket and folded it over his arm and laid it on the ground next to them, and then rolled up his white shirt sleeves to his elbows. The smile she sent his way was enchanting; he was sitting in mud in a Giorgio Armani suit, for her. Clarice moved closer to him leaning her head on his shoulder as she shut her eyes and breathed deeply, two of her favourite scents in the entire world combined, Hannibal's spicy aftershave and the forest and fresh air around them, she moved closer when he lifted his arm to encircle her shoulders.

"So…" She said by way of starting their conversation.

"How much did this suit cost you?"

He looked down at her briefly before returning his eyes to the large Dragon flies skimming over the muddy water.

"That isn't important, Clarice."

"Oh I know, but I was just curious how much money you are practically throwing away by getting it covered in dirt for me. Go on Hannibal, how much?"

"$1,795.00"

Hannibal was fully aware what her reaction would be, but he enjoyed living the fine life, he could afford it, he watched as her mouth fell open in shock. Then suddenly she jumped up and grabbed the jacket from the floor holding it gently in the crook of her arm, she then pulled him off the floor and turned him around.

An amused smirk covered his face as she brushed the dust off of his pants gently.

"What were you thinking? $1,795.00! On one suit and then you go and sit in the mud!"

He said nothing and let her continue rambling as he watched an old couple make their way out from the trees, they were heading over to the benches and watching them curiously.

"Clarice –"

"Shush, we are going back to mine and we are going to see if I can get this dirt off without ruining your suit, honestly sometimes I cannot believe you!"

"Clarice, you are the one who wanted me to sit in the dirt if I recall I-"

He paused as her hand brushed his backside, spending and overly large amount of time brushing the 'dirt' off of his pants.

"Clarice" He growled

"Hmm?" She hummed innocently

"If you wanted to grope me Clarice, all you had to do is ask, but I am afraid public viewings are not my thing."

He waited for his words to take effect as her hand froze, he turned to face her and nodded behind her indicating the couple sat on the bench, Clarice turned her head saw them both, trying to politely pretend they hadn't seen anything. Clarice cleared her throat and grabbed his hand pulling him along behind her. She climbed over the fence and watched as he did the same, still managing to look graceful.

Hannibal thought the blush that painted her cheeks as she walked past the elderly couple and mumbled a small "Hello." to them was particularly endearing, Hannibal couldn't help smiling and offering a greeting.

"Wonderful day isn't it?"

As they passed them, the old man smiled and winked at him whilst the old lady sat next to him smacked him on the arm gently.

"George!" he heard her mutter amused at him as they walked away.

"What?" The elderly man said, Dr Lecter identified his accent as English. "He's a lucky bugger that one, pretty young lass like that…" He couldn't hear the rest as they were out of hearing distance.

He looked at Clarice again lifting his hand to tuck some stray hair behind her ear and let himself think. 'I know I am George, I know.'