Chapter Nine:
Once they were back at the Duplex Hannibal gave her the new cell phone, his gaze calm as he watched her. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you that you can only use this for contact with me."
She rolled her eyes at him as she pulled everything from the box. "Damn, I guess Crawford will have to go without our nightly phone sex. I don't know how I'll break it to him..."
"Clarice..." Hannibal growled, folding his arms as he leant against the counter top.
"I'm joking Hannibal. I know not to use it for anything else."
He nodded and surreptitiously looked at his watch, the movement caught Clarice's eyes as she looked up and sighed.
"When is your flight?"
He met her gaze, his eyes holding the same reluctance as hers. "In another hour or so."
She bit her lip and nodded, placing the cell back in its box before she extended her hand to Hannibal. "Come and sit with me before you have to go?" He obligingly took her hand and sat with her on the couch; he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, his head resting atop hers as he too sighed.
"You're not going to tell me where you are going, are you?" Clarice asked, muffled by his shoulder.
"No, it is safer for you not to know until the last moment. Then if anything goes wrong you won't be lying for me."
She turned to look at him. "Do you think something will go wrong?"
He stroked his thumb over her lower lip. "I have learnt never to presume too much where the FBI is concerned."
Clarice nodded and shut her eyes, she rested her hand over his chest and breathed deeply; trying to memorise the moment. "I'm going to miss you..."
She felt his hand upon her face and opened her eyes as he tilted her head so he could have access to her mouth. He kissed her slowly and tenderly, so much so that it made her heart ache. "It will not be for long, it just has to be done in such a way as to not cause suspicion."
They both heard Ardelia's car pull up outside the duplex, even before she slammed her car door shut.
"Hey, I'm home. You're all decent aren't you?"
Clarice snorted in amusement as Ardelia cautiously poked her head around the door.
"We're fine Dee, come in."
Ardelia smiled as she sat in the armchair across from them, though the smile gradually fell as she took in Clarice's forlorn expression.
"What's going on?"
Clarice blinked rapidly and cleared her throat, which suddenly seemed to contain an immovable lump. "Hannibal has to go ahead without me for a few weeks; so we don't cause suspicion."
Ardelia looked relieved. "Is that it?"
Clarice frowned. "You're not upset I'm leaving?"
Ardelia rolled her shoulders into a shrug as she took her hair out of its clip, running her hands through the tightly curled locks. "I expected it. He can't stay here, and you aren't about to let him go after 10 years of waiting; are you?"
Clarice shook her head as Hannibal's hand stroked her arm soothingly.
"Exactly, I'm sure you can do without him for a few weeks. You've waited long enough already; a few more weeks won't hurt."
Clarice was glad her friend was there, she always knew what to say to reassure her. Even if it stung slightly; Clarice knew she was right. So she reluctantly kissed Hannibal Lecter goodbye in the hall, refusing to let herself watch him leave again she returned to the lounge to watch trash TV with Ardelia.
As promised he called her every evening, though she had no idea what time zone he was in she still bade him goodnight at the end of each phone call; and he humoured her, even if it was midday where he was. She spoke to him for hours, she dreaded to think what his phone bill would be like, but he seemed as reluctant as she was to hang up the phone at the end of each conversation. They talked about their plans, how she had been talking during her last days at the office of leaving the country; most seemed pleased for her, if not a little envious.
One evening Clarice was just grabbing a coke from her refrigerator as the doorbell rang, Ardelia was out of town for a couple of days job hunting; so she knew it wasn't for her. Upon seeing who was stood on the other side of her door; Clarice sighed and plastered a fake smiled on her face.
"Mr Crawford! What brings you out here?"
"I heard you're leaving us soon, I thought I'd stop by with some pizza..."
Clarice frowned and looked at her watch. "At 8pm, sir?"
He laughed a little nervously and bought a hand up to his neck. "Better late than never, aren't you going to invite me in Starling?"
Reluctantly she opened the door, letting him and his cold pizza through the door. Clarice silently wondered how long he had been stood outside trying to gather up the nerve to knock.
"Put it in the kitchen Mr Crawford, I'm afraid I'm not very hungry as I've already eaten."
He did as she asked obediently and Clarice glanced at the clock and bit her lip. She kept the phone on her at all times, just in case. Now it seemed to be weighing her back pocket down like lead, maybe he'd call later than usual...
They settled down in the lounge, him with a beer and pizza and her with the can of coke she'd had in her hand since she opened the door to him.
"So Clarice, where is it you're thinking of going?"
She thought quickly. "I'm not decided yet, maybe an all round trip to Europe, there are so many places I'd love to see."
"What about Italy?" he asked, seemingly nonchalant though the glances he was throwing her way proved he was anything but.
"I don't know, like I said; I'm undecided."
"I would have thought Italy would have bad memories for you Starling."
"I've never been there sir."
"I didn't mean memories of the country; I meant memories of Lecter's fondness for it."
She shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of her coke, buying time. "I won't hold that against Italy, if anything it's a good advertisement."
He threw her a look that seemed halfway between surprised and disgusted.
"So why the sudden need to get away?"
"Why do you think Jack? All America has been for me is a nightmare, the FBI, my childhood... I just want to start again. A permanent vacation, if you know what I mean."
He grumbled to himself and looked up at her, he seemed to decide to finally get to the point and ask her what he came here for, when a loud buzzing noise interrupted him. Clarice momentarily shut her eyes and sighed, before standing and reaching into her pocket.
"Excuse me sir, but I've got to take this."
"You go ahead Starling, I'll finish this Pizza."
Clarice moved from the room quickly, making sure to pull the door closed behind her.
"Hello?"
"Good evening, Clarice."
She smiled as she heard his voice, her heart calming somewhat as she whispered his name down the phone.
"Hannibal..."
"Are you alright Clarice? You sound distressed."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Though you'll never believe who showed up on my doorstep this evening. Hand in hand with Beer and Pizza; I nearly shut the door on hi-"
Halfway across the world Dr Lecter frowned as the phone went silent, he pulled away slightly to check he still had full signal. Yes; so the problem was at her end.
"Clarice?"
"Sorry, my friend is just in the kitchen making some Coffee, you remember me telling you about Jack Crawford don't you Aunt Patsy?"
Hannibal's grip on the phone tightened as he envisioned Jack Crawford in Clarice's house, being able to be so close to her whilst he was so far away. Clarice carried on, pretending she was having a conversation.
"Yes, that's him. Yes, he is older than I am. Oh no more a paternal bond, aunty. His wife was a lovely woman."
Dr Lecter chuckled down the phone, his voice low as he murmured to her. "Clever girl, Clarice."
He was sure Clarice had just spoken everything that would be worrying Jack Crawford about propositioning her tonight, everything that was making him feel like a dirty old pervert.
"How long has he been there?"
"Not long."
"Is he still in the kitchen with you?"
"Yeah..."
"Act like i just told you some terrible news pertaining to your family."
"Oh no, that's dreadful; is he alright? Do you need anything?"
"You, in my bed Clarice; now that you ask."
"If there is anything i can do, just let me know."
He could hear the strain in her voice and a grin crossed his face; this was entertaining.
"I thought i already had, Clarice."
"Oh, really?"
"Did you not hear what I said about my bed?"
"I don't think that's quite possible right now, perhaps in a few weeks?"
"Perhaps sooner."
"Really?"
"Really Clarice. Get rid of him, I'll ring you again in an hour."
"Alright, thank you for letting me know. Take care now."
"Oh, and Clarice? If he touches you, I'll make sure he can never use his hands again."
"Uh huh, Bye-bye now."
The line went dead and he too hung up the phone, his maroon eyes blazing as he brought a finger up to trace his mouth in thought. Perhaps he needed to remind Clarice just who it was she belonged to, he couldn't have Jacky pissing on his territory; so to speak.
I'm back! I recently bought the Hannibal script, it's been signed by Anthony, Julianne and Gary Oldman so it really inspired me back into this fandom. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.