Author's Note: Hello all! This chapter is rated R for sexuality and
language so if you're under 17, don't read it (yeah right)!! Well,
consider yourselves warned! This is the last chapter that I will post
under the story's current rating and I know I should change the rating
based on this chapter but I did not warn y'all last time so you'd know
where to look for it on FanFiction. **Rambling** Anyway, as I stated,
you've been warned as to content and that's about all I can do. MC - thank
you so much, you're so awesome!
Chapter 14: Day of Reckoning
The night was clear and cool. A light breeze scuttled the dead autumn leaves briskly up the street and past the Jaguar. Hannibal Lecter, sitting inside, was beside himself with anger. Zachary Matthews had betrayed him. After all he had done for the boy, after all he had given him, after all he had taught him, he had grown impatient and acted rashly. The boy's rash behavior had led the FBI, most certainly led by Clarice and Will, right to their home.
Lecter clenched his teeth as he recalled earlier in the evening. He had been on his way home to shower and change before heading over to Clarice's office for his usual nocturnal observance of her and to be sure that Will was continuing to act like a gentleman. Lecter had seen the news and realized Zachary's lapse in judgment and its implications had him fuming already but he had decided to not speak with the boy about it until tomorrow when he had calmed down some. Unlike his protégé, he did not want to act too rashly. He knew he would have to decide what to do with Zachary but for tonight, he just needed to see Clarice.
He had approached his street and was about to turn onto it when he had spied a white Ford Crown Victoria, one of the FBI's standard issues, parked near the corner with two gentlemen inside. Lecter's brow had furrowed and he had driven past the street and circled around to the other end of his block, trying not to think the worst. Surely the FBI could not be on to them already, it was much too fast. At the other end of the street as he had driven by, he had observed another white Crown Victoria also with two occupants and at that moment he had known that he and Zachary had been discovered and that their home had been invaded.
Lecter had not stopped but had continued driving, seething with anger at Zachary's insolence. Everything he had worked for over the last five years had vanished in the blink of an eye. His quest for a sense of normalcy was now even further out of his reach. His hope that one day soon he could convince Clarice of her true feelings for him now disappeared in an instant. He would have to begin back at square one with everything again. He had driven around for hours aimlessly, hands tightly clenched on the steering wheel, until he had managed to calm down somewhat. During that time his mind had worked frantically as he had devised a new course of action for his life and it had saddened him tremendously.
It was now almost 2 am and he sat in his Jaguar just down the street from Clarice's home. He had been sitting for only a short time, his eyes flicking back and forth around the neighborhood and her home to see if he could detect anyone observing him or anything out of the ordinary. He was afraid the FBI might now be on to him and his activities. But he sensed nothing. The neighborhood was comatose in the late hour.
Lecter sighed, leaned his head back against the headrest, closed his eyes, and his thoughts drifted back into melancholy. He thought of all he had lost today. The only things he had left were his Clarice and his freedom but if he was not careful, he would lose that as well. But he was not ready to be on the move again, he was tired of running.
'Damn that boy,' he thought bitterly and now leaned forward placing his head against the steering wheel. 'Damn, damn, damn.'
Dr. Lecter's heart was broken. The boy he had put faith, trust, time, money and energy into had failed him and failed him immensely. Now his simple, routine life had once again been turned upside down and he knew he must once again start over. For now, Lecter had decided the best thing to do would be to forego his plans for Will and just leave the country. He would do that first thing in the morning. As far as his fun with Will Graham was concerned, Lecter decided he would be patient and bide his time.
'All good things to those who wait,' he repeated his own advice. "But God help him if he touches my Clarice," he said aloud in the still of the night, her name rolling smoothly off his tongue.
For tonight, for one last time before he left, he had to see her. He ached to see her. He ached to watch her chest rise and fall slowly as she breathed. He ached to smell her hair. He ached to softly touch her skin. He ached to whisper so softly of his undying love. He ached to soothe his weary broken soul and the sight of Clarice always did just that.
Dr. Lecter lifted his head, opened his eyes and glanced again at Clarice's home. He knew the incredible risk he was taking but he had to take it. He must see her one last time if he possibly could. Just to see her as she slept would help heal his broken heart. Her home was dark, just as it usually was this time of night. But he knew that she could be in there, sitting in the dark, gun held lightly in her lap, surrounded by twenty five other agents including Will Graham, awaiting his entry.
Slowly, like a panther on the prowl, Lecter stepped out of his car and made his way across the street toward her home, his eyes, ears, nose, and internal radar working like mad to detect the slightest sense of danger. His coat tails flapped lightly in the breeze. He crept up to her front porch and crouched beneath her windows, eyes darting every which way. Very slowly he lifted his head and peeked in. Through the thin curtains he saw nothing out of the ordinary, certainly no federal agents. He slunk to the front door, bypassing a clump of dead leaves, and quietly unlocked it. He stuck his head in slowly, searching for danger. He sensed none. He slowly opened the door and stepped into her comfortable living room.
The first thing he noticed was the change of scent within it. His sensitive nose instantly detected that her home carried a different scent than the usual smell of cleanser, the combined scents of her perfume and lotion, and the sweet smell of vanilla from the air freshener. He sniffed the air and detected the scent of burning candles, although they were burning no longer as he also detected the pungent scent of smoke that permeates the air once a candle is extinguished. He sniffed again and detected another, very subtle underlying scent as well. It was the tangy scent of sex.
"No," Lecter hissed and his eyes grew wide. He shook his head. "No." He repeated.
That is when he noticed the second change within her home. Instead of the rhythmic sound of her breathing he now heard the sound of lovemaking. Then he heard Clarice moan softly. He could make out the sound of faint but urgent whispers, hers and a man's, coming from her bedroom and the gentle, quiet squeak of bedsprings as the mattress gave way under the lovers.
Lecter closed his eyes and a feeling unlike any he had ever felt before flared within him. In all his life he had never wanted to kill someone so badly, not even when he had captured Dr. Frederick Chilton, not even in the midst of one of his strongest sociopathic urgings. It took every ounce of strength he had to not walk into her room and tear Will limb from limb. What did the man think he was doing? Lecter had specifically warned him, hell, he had spelled it right out for him the consequences he would suffer if he crossed the line with Clarice.
'Maybe it's not Will,' his fevered mind spoke fervently. 'Just go wait in your car until he leaves and then see who it is.'
"No," Lecter grumbled again.
Despite his obsession with politeness, Dr. Lecter had to know who the man was now. He had never before violated Clarice's trust by spying on her during any intimate moments, whether she was changing her clothes, or showering, or even making love, but he could not stand the thought that Will Graham could be in bed with HIS Clarice right now. He could not stand the thought that Will Graham could have his mouth on her, his hands on her, and be the one making her moan in pleasure like that.
Lecter moved quietly to the hall and inched slowly toward her room. As he got closer, he could better make out the fevered whisperings. It was a man's voice now but he was unable to discern if it was Will's or not. Then he heard Clarice moan again, "Oh God", her southern drawl husky.
He slunk down the hall with his back to the wall as he neared the door to her room and he sank to his knees on the soft carpet. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing himself not to look. It would scar him eternally to see her making love to any man, but worst of all to Will Graham.
'For my own sake, but especially for his, don't let it be Will,' Lecter thought fervently. 'Don't let it be Will.'
On his knees with his eyes clenched tightly closed, Dr. Lecter resembled a devout religious man in the throes of repentance to his Lord and his persistent deliberations were indeed as pious as a sinner's pleas. He re- opened his eyes, and slowly peered into Clarice's room. Lecter's breath caught in his chest. It was as if the Lord had shunned the sinner for his repeated indiscretions.
Indeed, he saw his beloved, his Clarice, straddling Will. Her body was slick with a light sheen of sweat and the moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her. Her chestnut hair was tousled and fell around her face. His hands roamed from her thighs to the grooves of her ribs and up to her breasts. He squeezed them gently and she threw her head back, moaning in pleasure. As Dr. Lecter watched, Will sat up, kissing her breasts, her shoulders, her neck, he lifted her up slightly, laid her back down gently on the bed, and she wrapped her legs around his back. He held her arms above her head against the mattress for a few moments with one hand, dominating her, while his other hand roamed her body. He gazed into her eyes for a moment before letting her arms go. He whispered something in her ear and she kissed him deeply on the mouth, their tongues intertwining. Lecter heard Clarice moan again, "My God, oh my God" and he watched as she dug her nails into Will's back. He groaned in pleasure and gently nibbled her shoulder. Then, as he watched, Will did the very thing that Lecter himself had fantasized about doing; he leaned down and slowly licked the sweat from her neck, causing Clarice to gasp in pleasure.
Lecter could stand no more. He turned away, tears rolling slowly down his cheeks. His heart was broken for a second time that night and he felt as if he had now indeed lost everything. Utter despair gripped his heart. Even his will to live was absent in that moment. All he could do was sit there and listen to their lovemaking finishing. He heard Clarice whisper ever so softly, "Oh, Will", and the sound of her whispering his name was like a thousand needles piercing Lecter's heart at once.
'She should whisper my name,' his mind cried.
He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands, the image of them burned into his brain. As he sat there, disparaged, a new plan suddenly began to take shape within his mind. As it coalesced he wiped his eyes and managed a small smile. His grin in the darkened hallway would have made their blood run cold had they seen it. He would make both of them, Clarice and Will whisper his name in turn. Indeed, Clarice would whisper it in pleasure, and Will would whisper it in pain.
Satisfied that the day of reckoning would soon come, Lecter leaned his head back against the wall and listened to them talking now.
"God, you're so beautiful," Will said softly and Lecter heard him kiss her.
"Thank you," Clarice responded quietly and Lecter could hear the smile in her voice. "My God, Will, four times already. Not bad for an old man," she teased.
"Now you're making me feel like a cradle robber," he smiled.
"Mmmm," she said and kissed him. "You know we'll have to watch ourselves at work, we can't let on that we're sleeping together."
"Mental note: cancel plans to ravage Clarice in the lunch room," Will laughed.
"You're terrible," Clarice laughed.
They were silent for a while. Lecter peered carefully back into the room. Clarice's head lay on Will's chest and she was running her fingers absently back and forth along the scar that he himself had given Will. Will's hands ran through her hair and he kissed her head lightly.
"I think we blew it, Will," she said softly. "We blew our chance at catching him. Seth was right, he's long gone by now and we'll probably never see him again. Damn that Kendra!" she said vehemently. "This time she went too far."
"Don't worry about that right now, Clarice." He said softly and paused. "Listen, I was thinking, maybe you should go stay at the safehouse for awhile."
Clarice lifted her head and looked at him. "You mean our safehouse? The Quantico safehouse? Why?"
"I just think you'll be safer there for awhile." He said softly and stroked her cheek. "There's something I have to do and I don't want you getting mixed up in it."
"What is it?"
He paused and closed his eyes, swallowing the lump of fear that rose up in his throat. "I have to face Lecter. I highly doubt he's gone. In fact, he's probably very near."
Clarice propped herself up on one elbow so she could see his face better. "What are you talking about Will? What do you mean you have to face him? How are you going to do that when we don't know where he is now?"
"He'll find me," Will said simply.
Clarice's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Will sighed and sat up. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pulled on his boxers. He stood up and moved to where his pants lay in a heap on the floor. He rummaged in the back pocket and pulled out a single sheet of paper. He held it out to her and she took it. She sat up and clutched the sheet around her.
"The letter that I got earlier today," he said softly. "I should have told you the truth from the beginning but I was attempting to protect you and I guess I also didn't want to believe its implications. I'm sorry." He shrugged.
Clarice looked at him for a moment, then opened the letter and read it. As she read, her eyes grew wider and she put her hand over her mouth. Will sat on the edge of the bed and watched her read it. She finished and looked up at him.
"Oh my God, Will," she said, her voice rising. "You should have told me. You've got to get out of here." She threw off the sheet, got out of bed, and pulled her panties on. "If he discovers you're here..."
"He probably already knows," Will interrupted softly.
Clarice walked around to where Will sat. He took her hands and pulled her toward him. She sat on his lap and put her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. He held her close, caressing her bare back.
"Oh shit," she said desperately into his neck. "Oh God, what are we gonna do?"
Will kissed her forehead. "You are going to go to the safehouse and.."
Clarice sat up. "No," she interrupted. I'm not going to the safehouse. I'm staying here with you, we will draw him out together and we will capture him together."
In the hallway Lecter smiled. He'd heard enough and he'd certainly seen more than he'd wanted to. It was time to finalize his plans. He stood up slowly and began to make his way back up the hallway. He reached the living room and made his way for the front door. He opened it quietly to make his way out and as he did, a gust of autumn wind blew in and knocked over a vase on the coffee table. It hit the floor and shattered.
In the bedroom, Clarice and Will looked up instantly. Will stood up, sliding Clarice off him onto the bed. He pulled on his shoes hurriedly and plucked his .45 off the floor. He checked to be sure it was loaded, cocked it, and made his way toward the bedroom door, gun outstretched before him. Clarice got up, pulled a tee-shirt out of her closet, and slipped it on gingerly because of her shoulder. She found her gun, cocked it, and followed after him. Will reached the door, looked at Clarice and shook his head.
"Stay in the hallway in case he doubles back for the front door," Will said quietly.
Clarice nodded.
Holding his gun in both hands out in front of him, Will methodically turned on every light as he went slowly through the house checking every closet, door, and corner. He saw the shattered vase on the floor of the living room, but there was no sign of Lecter himself. Both doors were locked and all the windows were closed and locked. He found nothing.
"Shit," Will muttered and lowered his gun. He sighed shakily and ran his hand through his hair. "Clarice," he called.
"All clear back here, Will," she called back. "Nothing."
"He's not here."
Clarice came out into the living room, holding her gun at her side. She looked at the broken vase on the floor and her brow furrowed. Will looked out the window into her front yard and saw a shadow move. In the blink of an eye, he held his gun back up, went to the front door, unlocked it quietly, and burst outside.
"Will?" Clarice called after him.
The bitter night air hit him square in the face and took his breath away for an instant. He walked slowly around the exterior of the house, gun raised, breathing hard, heart pounding in his chest as if it would explode, trying to look everywhere at once. "I know you're here you son of a bitch," he whispered. "Come out and face me like a man."
But there was no one. Will walked slowly out the front gate and looked up and down the street. There were a few cars parked along the side of the road, but he saw no one. Leaves continued to swirl up the street in the wind. Clarice bounded out the door and came to stand beside him. She clutched her long cardigan sweater tightly around her and shivered. Her legs were still bare.
"Will, it's freezing," her teeth began to chatter. "Come inside. He's not here."
Will turned a circle in the street, scanning the neighborhood, gun still outstretched before him. He began to shiver in the chill of the night and remembered he was only clad in his boxers. Clarice took his arm and pulled him in the direction of her house.
"Get in the house before we freeze to death." She said. "Thank God the neighbors are asleep otherwise we'd be givin' them a peep show."
He allowed her to lead him inside. She hugged him tightly and he squeezed her close. He kissed the top of her head and sighed.
"He was here, Clarice, I know he was." Will paused and shook his head slowly. "Shit, he probably watched me make love to you. I should have seen this sooner than now but I didn't..he watches you, Clarice. I thought it was just an admiration from afar because of all the notes and gifts, but I was wrong." He paused and looked into her eyes. "Remember when I said that his notes contain an urgent longing to them? Perhaps the reason they do is because he is around you everyday..he sees you everyday and that has caused his desire to be with you grow more intense. Dammit, why didn't I see this until now?"
"I don't think so, Will," she said softly. "If he did watch me, I'd know it. I'd feel it..I'd feel him."
"Clarice, you've told me that you feel like he's near you most often at night. How often do you feel that way?"
"Quite a bit. But that's just because I feel this sadistic connection with him. I allowed him inside my head and shared intimate details about myself with him. Plus, I've been working this case so long. I've been living, breathing, and sleeping him..he's in my psyche, that's why I feel him near. It isn't because he actually follows me."
Will nodded. "Yes it is, Clarice. You just don't want to admit it to yourself."
Clarice looked at him with fearful eyes, realization dawning on her face. She shook her head slowly. "No," she whispered, fearful.
"Yes," Will said softly. "Think about it, every time you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Every time you feel like you're being watched. Every time you spot a stranger and do a double take. Every time you think you can feel him in the very room with you. Every time, Clarice, it's him. I know it is."
She pulled away and looked at him. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered involuntarily. The very thought of Hannibal Lecter following her, observing her in her own home, watching her and Will tonight as they made love unnerved her. "God how creepy." She paused and a pained look crossed her face. "Oh fuck," she groaned and put her head in her hands. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," she said loudly. She shook her head to clear away her sudden case of the willies. "Okay, but if he was in here tonight and saw us, don't you think he would've gone nuts and tried to kill you?"
"I don't think he'd do it in front of you."
"So he'd have to wait until you were alone."
Will nodded solemnly.
"Well," Clarice wrapped her arms around his waist. "I just can't let you leave my sight then." She grinned for a moment before growing serious again. "You think he was here the entire time?"
"I really hope not," Will smiled and pulled her closer. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Especially when I did..well..that one thing you really liked."
Clarice grinned. "Which 'one thing' do you mean?"
He smiled down at her and planted a kiss on her cheek then let her go. "We need to get out of here," he said and moved down the hallway toward the bedroom.
"And go where?" She followed him into the bedroom.
"We can stay at a hotel tonight and figure out tomorrow if we're gonna stay there or what we're going to do. We just need to be sure we're not being followed. I would just feel safer knowing that he didn't know where we actually are." Will smiled grimly. "Now come pack a bag."
To be continued. Please review!
Hey faithful readers: As many of you probably know, there have been some problems on FanFiction regarding reviews. Most of your names showed up on the email reviews I received but did not show up on the site. For those whose names did not show up, you are designated with "0". I apologize but I'm just not sure who reviewed since there was no name on either the email or the web site. Maybe in the future, we should all take Kurt's advice and sign our name at the end of our reviews at least until when and if the problem is taken care of on FF.
Mel: Ah, it's good to see you review again! I'm so glad that you are enjoying this story. LOL - as far as the GD not killing Will, you'll just have to stay tuned! My lips are sealed! Hey I have to have something to keep everyone coming back right! Thanks again so much for reading and reviewing.
Nan: LOL, yes, the GD was none too pleased as we read in this chapter! I'm glad that Will and Clarice work well for you and thanks as always to your wonderful reviews!
Kurt: LMAO Grand High Poobah!! I loved your review! I hope this chapter contained the right level of Will/Clarice moosh for you! LOL! There's more in store for Zachary although I'm not sure how much more in this story. But I definitely plan on doing a sequel with him, most everyone seems to be intrigued by him. So we will see him again. Thanks for your continued reading and reviewing.
0: LOL, well if steam came out of the computer on the last chapter, I can only imagine what happened with this one! Thank you so much for your great review.
0: Thank you for your nice review. It is always a compliment when I get a Hannibal/Clarice fan telling me they are enjoying the Will/Clarice "moosh" (as Kurt says). Yes, you're right. I did not take the time to delve into Zachary's past much in this fic but I will definitely in the sequel. Thanks so much again for reading and reviewing.
0: I hope this chapter was worth the wait! I agree with you on the Will/Clarice fling giving the story a unique and intriguing angle, there's so much Hannibal/Clarice romance but rarely are other possibilities for Clarice ever explored. I'm so glad you like the story. Thanks so much again for your review.
0: ****high fives you back**** LOL, I'm so happy you like the chapter. Thank you for your kudos on Will. I've worked very hard on his characterization to make all the anti-Will fanatics maybe like him a little! See you next chapter!
Morbid: I'm not sure if you've read all the way up to this chapter since your review was for chapter 1. I'm so glad you liked the 'Devil Incarnate' nickname. I've had some bosses and teachers that fit that description myself. An actual skeleton is in her closet?? Yikes, that's scary! As far as Seth Williams' first name is concerned, LOL, yes, in Star Wars, the individuals on the dark side of the Force are called 'Sith' and no, I did not name him for them! I named him Seth because I absolutely LOVE that name for a man. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
luna: LOL! Well, the ending to this story may or may not be 'happy' for you but I will say no more! Zachary may not show up again in this story, I'm not sure yet. But as I said above, look for a sequel with him when this story is done. Thank you so much for your great review.
Shattered Mug (AKA Faithful Reviewer and Price of Infamy Junkie!!): As always, your review had me rolling with laughter! Now, my one comment is this; if you think Will is a 'dirty old man' what does that make Hannibal who is older than he? LOL! I'm really glad you love this story! And I'm glad you don't hate me for making you love it! I hope the GD's reactions in this chapter were okay. Believe me, there's much more from him to come!!
Zechs Merquise: Hi and thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I'm pleased that you find the story well written and that you are enjoying it. Yes, I'm sorry for ending Chapter 13 there but I do enjoy torturing my readers! Hopefully this chapter gave you a little more to enjoy! Thanks again for reading and reviewing.
Desanera: Thank you for the review. While I understand your feelings regarding Hannibal/Clarice, I do appreciate the fact that you can look past that and see the story for its strengths. Thanks again.
GUTB: There is so much I could say in reply to your flaming review but I'll leave it at this: since you seem to have a major superiority complex, 'Super Genius', perhaps you would do well to keep in mind that the rest of us are mere mortals when you read our stories. And one other thing, considering you have only posted ONE story with ONE chapter (and it isn't even a 'Hannibal' or 'SOTL' story), I do not think you have much room to belittle others' efforts too harshly.
Kaitlyn: Thank you so much for your review. Actually, I really didn't receive *any* whiners about Hannibal and Clarice. At least, not bad ones anyway! LOL, thanks again for reading and reviewing.
LittleMy: LOL, I'm glad you liked this chapter. As far as your homework is concerned, when I'm writing these chaps, I usually have homework I should be doing as well but this is just so much more interesting! No, Zachary is not going to die, he's far too intriguing. Thanks so much for reviewing.
Schrander: Thank you so much for your great review. I'm glad that someone picked up on the scar contrast between Will and Clarice at the hands of the GD. Thanks so much again.
guber: If I told you the outcome of the story, then it would not be a surprise. I cannot tell you if Clarice ends up with Hannibal or not, you have to keep reading. I am pleased that you do like the story regardless. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.
Chapter 14: Day of Reckoning
The night was clear and cool. A light breeze scuttled the dead autumn leaves briskly up the street and past the Jaguar. Hannibal Lecter, sitting inside, was beside himself with anger. Zachary Matthews had betrayed him. After all he had done for the boy, after all he had given him, after all he had taught him, he had grown impatient and acted rashly. The boy's rash behavior had led the FBI, most certainly led by Clarice and Will, right to their home.
Lecter clenched his teeth as he recalled earlier in the evening. He had been on his way home to shower and change before heading over to Clarice's office for his usual nocturnal observance of her and to be sure that Will was continuing to act like a gentleman. Lecter had seen the news and realized Zachary's lapse in judgment and its implications had him fuming already but he had decided to not speak with the boy about it until tomorrow when he had calmed down some. Unlike his protégé, he did not want to act too rashly. He knew he would have to decide what to do with Zachary but for tonight, he just needed to see Clarice.
He had approached his street and was about to turn onto it when he had spied a white Ford Crown Victoria, one of the FBI's standard issues, parked near the corner with two gentlemen inside. Lecter's brow had furrowed and he had driven past the street and circled around to the other end of his block, trying not to think the worst. Surely the FBI could not be on to them already, it was much too fast. At the other end of the street as he had driven by, he had observed another white Crown Victoria also with two occupants and at that moment he had known that he and Zachary had been discovered and that their home had been invaded.
Lecter had not stopped but had continued driving, seething with anger at Zachary's insolence. Everything he had worked for over the last five years had vanished in the blink of an eye. His quest for a sense of normalcy was now even further out of his reach. His hope that one day soon he could convince Clarice of her true feelings for him now disappeared in an instant. He would have to begin back at square one with everything again. He had driven around for hours aimlessly, hands tightly clenched on the steering wheel, until he had managed to calm down somewhat. During that time his mind had worked frantically as he had devised a new course of action for his life and it had saddened him tremendously.
It was now almost 2 am and he sat in his Jaguar just down the street from Clarice's home. He had been sitting for only a short time, his eyes flicking back and forth around the neighborhood and her home to see if he could detect anyone observing him or anything out of the ordinary. He was afraid the FBI might now be on to him and his activities. But he sensed nothing. The neighborhood was comatose in the late hour.
Lecter sighed, leaned his head back against the headrest, closed his eyes, and his thoughts drifted back into melancholy. He thought of all he had lost today. The only things he had left were his Clarice and his freedom but if he was not careful, he would lose that as well. But he was not ready to be on the move again, he was tired of running.
'Damn that boy,' he thought bitterly and now leaned forward placing his head against the steering wheel. 'Damn, damn, damn.'
Dr. Lecter's heart was broken. The boy he had put faith, trust, time, money and energy into had failed him and failed him immensely. Now his simple, routine life had once again been turned upside down and he knew he must once again start over. For now, Lecter had decided the best thing to do would be to forego his plans for Will and just leave the country. He would do that first thing in the morning. As far as his fun with Will Graham was concerned, Lecter decided he would be patient and bide his time.
'All good things to those who wait,' he repeated his own advice. "But God help him if he touches my Clarice," he said aloud in the still of the night, her name rolling smoothly off his tongue.
For tonight, for one last time before he left, he had to see her. He ached to see her. He ached to watch her chest rise and fall slowly as she breathed. He ached to smell her hair. He ached to softly touch her skin. He ached to whisper so softly of his undying love. He ached to soothe his weary broken soul and the sight of Clarice always did just that.
Dr. Lecter lifted his head, opened his eyes and glanced again at Clarice's home. He knew the incredible risk he was taking but he had to take it. He must see her one last time if he possibly could. Just to see her as she slept would help heal his broken heart. Her home was dark, just as it usually was this time of night. But he knew that she could be in there, sitting in the dark, gun held lightly in her lap, surrounded by twenty five other agents including Will Graham, awaiting his entry.
Slowly, like a panther on the prowl, Lecter stepped out of his car and made his way across the street toward her home, his eyes, ears, nose, and internal radar working like mad to detect the slightest sense of danger. His coat tails flapped lightly in the breeze. He crept up to her front porch and crouched beneath her windows, eyes darting every which way. Very slowly he lifted his head and peeked in. Through the thin curtains he saw nothing out of the ordinary, certainly no federal agents. He slunk to the front door, bypassing a clump of dead leaves, and quietly unlocked it. He stuck his head in slowly, searching for danger. He sensed none. He slowly opened the door and stepped into her comfortable living room.
The first thing he noticed was the change of scent within it. His sensitive nose instantly detected that her home carried a different scent than the usual smell of cleanser, the combined scents of her perfume and lotion, and the sweet smell of vanilla from the air freshener. He sniffed the air and detected the scent of burning candles, although they were burning no longer as he also detected the pungent scent of smoke that permeates the air once a candle is extinguished. He sniffed again and detected another, very subtle underlying scent as well. It was the tangy scent of sex.
"No," Lecter hissed and his eyes grew wide. He shook his head. "No." He repeated.
That is when he noticed the second change within her home. Instead of the rhythmic sound of her breathing he now heard the sound of lovemaking. Then he heard Clarice moan softly. He could make out the sound of faint but urgent whispers, hers and a man's, coming from her bedroom and the gentle, quiet squeak of bedsprings as the mattress gave way under the lovers.
Lecter closed his eyes and a feeling unlike any he had ever felt before flared within him. In all his life he had never wanted to kill someone so badly, not even when he had captured Dr. Frederick Chilton, not even in the midst of one of his strongest sociopathic urgings. It took every ounce of strength he had to not walk into her room and tear Will limb from limb. What did the man think he was doing? Lecter had specifically warned him, hell, he had spelled it right out for him the consequences he would suffer if he crossed the line with Clarice.
'Maybe it's not Will,' his fevered mind spoke fervently. 'Just go wait in your car until he leaves and then see who it is.'
"No," Lecter grumbled again.
Despite his obsession with politeness, Dr. Lecter had to know who the man was now. He had never before violated Clarice's trust by spying on her during any intimate moments, whether she was changing her clothes, or showering, or even making love, but he could not stand the thought that Will Graham could be in bed with HIS Clarice right now. He could not stand the thought that Will Graham could have his mouth on her, his hands on her, and be the one making her moan in pleasure like that.
Lecter moved quietly to the hall and inched slowly toward her room. As he got closer, he could better make out the fevered whisperings. It was a man's voice now but he was unable to discern if it was Will's or not. Then he heard Clarice moan again, "Oh God", her southern drawl husky.
He slunk down the hall with his back to the wall as he neared the door to her room and he sank to his knees on the soft carpet. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing himself not to look. It would scar him eternally to see her making love to any man, but worst of all to Will Graham.
'For my own sake, but especially for his, don't let it be Will,' Lecter thought fervently. 'Don't let it be Will.'
On his knees with his eyes clenched tightly closed, Dr. Lecter resembled a devout religious man in the throes of repentance to his Lord and his persistent deliberations were indeed as pious as a sinner's pleas. He re- opened his eyes, and slowly peered into Clarice's room. Lecter's breath caught in his chest. It was as if the Lord had shunned the sinner for his repeated indiscretions.
Indeed, he saw his beloved, his Clarice, straddling Will. Her body was slick with a light sheen of sweat and the moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her. Her chestnut hair was tousled and fell around her face. His hands roamed from her thighs to the grooves of her ribs and up to her breasts. He squeezed them gently and she threw her head back, moaning in pleasure. As Dr. Lecter watched, Will sat up, kissing her breasts, her shoulders, her neck, he lifted her up slightly, laid her back down gently on the bed, and she wrapped her legs around his back. He held her arms above her head against the mattress for a few moments with one hand, dominating her, while his other hand roamed her body. He gazed into her eyes for a moment before letting her arms go. He whispered something in her ear and she kissed him deeply on the mouth, their tongues intertwining. Lecter heard Clarice moan again, "My God, oh my God" and he watched as she dug her nails into Will's back. He groaned in pleasure and gently nibbled her shoulder. Then, as he watched, Will did the very thing that Lecter himself had fantasized about doing; he leaned down and slowly licked the sweat from her neck, causing Clarice to gasp in pleasure.
Lecter could stand no more. He turned away, tears rolling slowly down his cheeks. His heart was broken for a second time that night and he felt as if he had now indeed lost everything. Utter despair gripped his heart. Even his will to live was absent in that moment. All he could do was sit there and listen to their lovemaking finishing. He heard Clarice whisper ever so softly, "Oh, Will", and the sound of her whispering his name was like a thousand needles piercing Lecter's heart at once.
'She should whisper my name,' his mind cried.
He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands, the image of them burned into his brain. As he sat there, disparaged, a new plan suddenly began to take shape within his mind. As it coalesced he wiped his eyes and managed a small smile. His grin in the darkened hallway would have made their blood run cold had they seen it. He would make both of them, Clarice and Will whisper his name in turn. Indeed, Clarice would whisper it in pleasure, and Will would whisper it in pain.
Satisfied that the day of reckoning would soon come, Lecter leaned his head back against the wall and listened to them talking now.
"God, you're so beautiful," Will said softly and Lecter heard him kiss her.
"Thank you," Clarice responded quietly and Lecter could hear the smile in her voice. "My God, Will, four times already. Not bad for an old man," she teased.
"Now you're making me feel like a cradle robber," he smiled.
"Mmmm," she said and kissed him. "You know we'll have to watch ourselves at work, we can't let on that we're sleeping together."
"Mental note: cancel plans to ravage Clarice in the lunch room," Will laughed.
"You're terrible," Clarice laughed.
They were silent for a while. Lecter peered carefully back into the room. Clarice's head lay on Will's chest and she was running her fingers absently back and forth along the scar that he himself had given Will. Will's hands ran through her hair and he kissed her head lightly.
"I think we blew it, Will," she said softly. "We blew our chance at catching him. Seth was right, he's long gone by now and we'll probably never see him again. Damn that Kendra!" she said vehemently. "This time she went too far."
"Don't worry about that right now, Clarice." He said softly and paused. "Listen, I was thinking, maybe you should go stay at the safehouse for awhile."
Clarice lifted her head and looked at him. "You mean our safehouse? The Quantico safehouse? Why?"
"I just think you'll be safer there for awhile." He said softly and stroked her cheek. "There's something I have to do and I don't want you getting mixed up in it."
"What is it?"
He paused and closed his eyes, swallowing the lump of fear that rose up in his throat. "I have to face Lecter. I highly doubt he's gone. In fact, he's probably very near."
Clarice propped herself up on one elbow so she could see his face better. "What are you talking about Will? What do you mean you have to face him? How are you going to do that when we don't know where he is now?"
"He'll find me," Will said simply.
Clarice's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Will sighed and sat up. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pulled on his boxers. He stood up and moved to where his pants lay in a heap on the floor. He rummaged in the back pocket and pulled out a single sheet of paper. He held it out to her and she took it. She sat up and clutched the sheet around her.
"The letter that I got earlier today," he said softly. "I should have told you the truth from the beginning but I was attempting to protect you and I guess I also didn't want to believe its implications. I'm sorry." He shrugged.
Clarice looked at him for a moment, then opened the letter and read it. As she read, her eyes grew wider and she put her hand over her mouth. Will sat on the edge of the bed and watched her read it. She finished and looked up at him.
"Oh my God, Will," she said, her voice rising. "You should have told me. You've got to get out of here." She threw off the sheet, got out of bed, and pulled her panties on. "If he discovers you're here..."
"He probably already knows," Will interrupted softly.
Clarice walked around to where Will sat. He took her hands and pulled her toward him. She sat on his lap and put her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. He held her close, caressing her bare back.
"Oh shit," she said desperately into his neck. "Oh God, what are we gonna do?"
Will kissed her forehead. "You are going to go to the safehouse and.."
Clarice sat up. "No," she interrupted. I'm not going to the safehouse. I'm staying here with you, we will draw him out together and we will capture him together."
In the hallway Lecter smiled. He'd heard enough and he'd certainly seen more than he'd wanted to. It was time to finalize his plans. He stood up slowly and began to make his way back up the hallway. He reached the living room and made his way for the front door. He opened it quietly to make his way out and as he did, a gust of autumn wind blew in and knocked over a vase on the coffee table. It hit the floor and shattered.
In the bedroom, Clarice and Will looked up instantly. Will stood up, sliding Clarice off him onto the bed. He pulled on his shoes hurriedly and plucked his .45 off the floor. He checked to be sure it was loaded, cocked it, and made his way toward the bedroom door, gun outstretched before him. Clarice got up, pulled a tee-shirt out of her closet, and slipped it on gingerly because of her shoulder. She found her gun, cocked it, and followed after him. Will reached the door, looked at Clarice and shook his head.
"Stay in the hallway in case he doubles back for the front door," Will said quietly.
Clarice nodded.
Holding his gun in both hands out in front of him, Will methodically turned on every light as he went slowly through the house checking every closet, door, and corner. He saw the shattered vase on the floor of the living room, but there was no sign of Lecter himself. Both doors were locked and all the windows were closed and locked. He found nothing.
"Shit," Will muttered and lowered his gun. He sighed shakily and ran his hand through his hair. "Clarice," he called.
"All clear back here, Will," she called back. "Nothing."
"He's not here."
Clarice came out into the living room, holding her gun at her side. She looked at the broken vase on the floor and her brow furrowed. Will looked out the window into her front yard and saw a shadow move. In the blink of an eye, he held his gun back up, went to the front door, unlocked it quietly, and burst outside.
"Will?" Clarice called after him.
The bitter night air hit him square in the face and took his breath away for an instant. He walked slowly around the exterior of the house, gun raised, breathing hard, heart pounding in his chest as if it would explode, trying to look everywhere at once. "I know you're here you son of a bitch," he whispered. "Come out and face me like a man."
But there was no one. Will walked slowly out the front gate and looked up and down the street. There were a few cars parked along the side of the road, but he saw no one. Leaves continued to swirl up the street in the wind. Clarice bounded out the door and came to stand beside him. She clutched her long cardigan sweater tightly around her and shivered. Her legs were still bare.
"Will, it's freezing," her teeth began to chatter. "Come inside. He's not here."
Will turned a circle in the street, scanning the neighborhood, gun still outstretched before him. He began to shiver in the chill of the night and remembered he was only clad in his boxers. Clarice took his arm and pulled him in the direction of her house.
"Get in the house before we freeze to death." She said. "Thank God the neighbors are asleep otherwise we'd be givin' them a peep show."
He allowed her to lead him inside. She hugged him tightly and he squeezed her close. He kissed the top of her head and sighed.
"He was here, Clarice, I know he was." Will paused and shook his head slowly. "Shit, he probably watched me make love to you. I should have seen this sooner than now but I didn't..he watches you, Clarice. I thought it was just an admiration from afar because of all the notes and gifts, but I was wrong." He paused and looked into her eyes. "Remember when I said that his notes contain an urgent longing to them? Perhaps the reason they do is because he is around you everyday..he sees you everyday and that has caused his desire to be with you grow more intense. Dammit, why didn't I see this until now?"
"I don't think so, Will," she said softly. "If he did watch me, I'd know it. I'd feel it..I'd feel him."
"Clarice, you've told me that you feel like he's near you most often at night. How often do you feel that way?"
"Quite a bit. But that's just because I feel this sadistic connection with him. I allowed him inside my head and shared intimate details about myself with him. Plus, I've been working this case so long. I've been living, breathing, and sleeping him..he's in my psyche, that's why I feel him near. It isn't because he actually follows me."
Will nodded. "Yes it is, Clarice. You just don't want to admit it to yourself."
Clarice looked at him with fearful eyes, realization dawning on her face. She shook her head slowly. "No," she whispered, fearful.
"Yes," Will said softly. "Think about it, every time you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Every time you feel like you're being watched. Every time you spot a stranger and do a double take. Every time you think you can feel him in the very room with you. Every time, Clarice, it's him. I know it is."
She pulled away and looked at him. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered involuntarily. The very thought of Hannibal Lecter following her, observing her in her own home, watching her and Will tonight as they made love unnerved her. "God how creepy." She paused and a pained look crossed her face. "Oh fuck," she groaned and put her head in her hands. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," she said loudly. She shook her head to clear away her sudden case of the willies. "Okay, but if he was in here tonight and saw us, don't you think he would've gone nuts and tried to kill you?"
"I don't think he'd do it in front of you."
"So he'd have to wait until you were alone."
Will nodded solemnly.
"Well," Clarice wrapped her arms around his waist. "I just can't let you leave my sight then." She grinned for a moment before growing serious again. "You think he was here the entire time?"
"I really hope not," Will smiled and pulled her closer. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Especially when I did..well..that one thing you really liked."
Clarice grinned. "Which 'one thing' do you mean?"
He smiled down at her and planted a kiss on her cheek then let her go. "We need to get out of here," he said and moved down the hallway toward the bedroom.
"And go where?" She followed him into the bedroom.
"We can stay at a hotel tonight and figure out tomorrow if we're gonna stay there or what we're going to do. We just need to be sure we're not being followed. I would just feel safer knowing that he didn't know where we actually are." Will smiled grimly. "Now come pack a bag."
To be continued. Please review!
Hey faithful readers: As many of you probably know, there have been some problems on FanFiction regarding reviews. Most of your names showed up on the email reviews I received but did not show up on the site. For those whose names did not show up, you are designated with "0". I apologize but I'm just not sure who reviewed since there was no name on either the email or the web site. Maybe in the future, we should all take Kurt's advice and sign our name at the end of our reviews at least until when and if the problem is taken care of on FF.
Mel: Ah, it's good to see you review again! I'm so glad that you are enjoying this story. LOL - as far as the GD not killing Will, you'll just have to stay tuned! My lips are sealed! Hey I have to have something to keep everyone coming back right! Thanks again so much for reading and reviewing.
Nan: LOL, yes, the GD was none too pleased as we read in this chapter! I'm glad that Will and Clarice work well for you and thanks as always to your wonderful reviews!
Kurt: LMAO Grand High Poobah!! I loved your review! I hope this chapter contained the right level of Will/Clarice moosh for you! LOL! There's more in store for Zachary although I'm not sure how much more in this story. But I definitely plan on doing a sequel with him, most everyone seems to be intrigued by him. So we will see him again. Thanks for your continued reading and reviewing.
0: LOL, well if steam came out of the computer on the last chapter, I can only imagine what happened with this one! Thank you so much for your great review.
0: Thank you for your nice review. It is always a compliment when I get a Hannibal/Clarice fan telling me they are enjoying the Will/Clarice "moosh" (as Kurt says). Yes, you're right. I did not take the time to delve into Zachary's past much in this fic but I will definitely in the sequel. Thanks so much again for reading and reviewing.
0: I hope this chapter was worth the wait! I agree with you on the Will/Clarice fling giving the story a unique and intriguing angle, there's so much Hannibal/Clarice romance but rarely are other possibilities for Clarice ever explored. I'm so glad you like the story. Thanks so much again for your review.
0: ****high fives you back**** LOL, I'm so happy you like the chapter. Thank you for your kudos on Will. I've worked very hard on his characterization to make all the anti-Will fanatics maybe like him a little! See you next chapter!
Morbid: I'm not sure if you've read all the way up to this chapter since your review was for chapter 1. I'm so glad you liked the 'Devil Incarnate' nickname. I've had some bosses and teachers that fit that description myself. An actual skeleton is in her closet?? Yikes, that's scary! As far as Seth Williams' first name is concerned, LOL, yes, in Star Wars, the individuals on the dark side of the Force are called 'Sith' and no, I did not name him for them! I named him Seth because I absolutely LOVE that name for a man. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
luna: LOL! Well, the ending to this story may or may not be 'happy' for you but I will say no more! Zachary may not show up again in this story, I'm not sure yet. But as I said above, look for a sequel with him when this story is done. Thank you so much for your great review.
Shattered Mug (AKA Faithful Reviewer and Price of Infamy Junkie!!): As always, your review had me rolling with laughter! Now, my one comment is this; if you think Will is a 'dirty old man' what does that make Hannibal who is older than he? LOL! I'm really glad you love this story! And I'm glad you don't hate me for making you love it! I hope the GD's reactions in this chapter were okay. Believe me, there's much more from him to come!!
Zechs Merquise: Hi and thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I'm pleased that you find the story well written and that you are enjoying it. Yes, I'm sorry for ending Chapter 13 there but I do enjoy torturing my readers! Hopefully this chapter gave you a little more to enjoy! Thanks again for reading and reviewing.
Desanera: Thank you for the review. While I understand your feelings regarding Hannibal/Clarice, I do appreciate the fact that you can look past that and see the story for its strengths. Thanks again.
GUTB: There is so much I could say in reply to your flaming review but I'll leave it at this: since you seem to have a major superiority complex, 'Super Genius', perhaps you would do well to keep in mind that the rest of us are mere mortals when you read our stories. And one other thing, considering you have only posted ONE story with ONE chapter (and it isn't even a 'Hannibal' or 'SOTL' story), I do not think you have much room to belittle others' efforts too harshly.
Kaitlyn: Thank you so much for your review. Actually, I really didn't receive *any* whiners about Hannibal and Clarice. At least, not bad ones anyway! LOL, thanks again for reading and reviewing.
LittleMy: LOL, I'm glad you liked this chapter. As far as your homework is concerned, when I'm writing these chaps, I usually have homework I should be doing as well but this is just so much more interesting! No, Zachary is not going to die, he's far too intriguing. Thanks so much for reviewing.
Schrander: Thank you so much for your great review. I'm glad that someone picked up on the scar contrast between Will and Clarice at the hands of the GD. Thanks so much again.
guber: If I told you the outcome of the story, then it would not be a surprise. I cannot tell you if Clarice ends up with Hannibal or not, you have to keep reading. I am pleased that you do like the story regardless. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.
