Chapter 17.
Hannibal and Horatio were sitting in a police car when Horatio turned to Lecter and said, "So you are the one that not only have killed people on my beach but have taken my girl as well."
"I didn't take her, you dumped her and she came to me," said Hannibal.
"And then you both suddenly fell in love, you are toying with her as you were with Starling, you are not capable of loving anything, you are a monster, a horrible killer," said Horatio.
"What is your point?" said Hannibal still calm.
"Why would you led her on like that when you know you will end up dead, she will be crushed," said Horatio.
"You already did that. In her eyes you are the monster. Tell me what bothers you the most: that you can't have her or that someone you never approve of makes her happy and cares for her more than you ever did. You call me a monster, but I am sure that you have killed plenty of people, too. So tell me what does that make you, Lieutenant Caine?" Hannibal replied.
"I did that in the line of duty since I didn't have a choice," he said.
"You always have a choice," said Hannibal.
"And you feel like eating people is the right thing to do?" said Horatio.
"We all do what we can to survive," said Hannibal.
"And tell me what was your big plan, marry her and raise the child when you know you will be captured and sentenced to death or taken away from them sooner or later," said Horatio.
"What I have given her is only happiness, I have never harmed her in any way, now why is what I have done to her a crime?" he asked.
Horatio went silent as he couldn't reply since he knew Lecter was right as he never before had seen Calleigh as happy as she was with Lecter, and it bugged him, was he really that bad of a boyfriend when he was with her, and he was right about what he said about harming her too, she had a few bite marks now and again, but he knew they weren't caused by pain at all.
Lecter looked at the younger man that sat opposite to him, his blue eyes looked puzzled and he looked sad, not angry anymore.
Then Horatio did something weird, he took the handcuffs of Lecter's hands and said, "Go."
Now it was Hannibal's turn to look confused and he asked, "Why would you let me go when it is your job to lock me up?"
"You make her happy, now go before I change my mind," he said.
Hannibal quickly got out of the car and walked back up to the main entrance of the crime lab where he saw Calleigh before they left. Horatio just sat in the car watching them disappear thinking.
"You let him go, why on earth did you do that, I'll have you fired for it," said Stetler angrily a moment later.
"You can always try and I can also capture him later," said Horatio.
"You had him and let him go, he's a maniac and you let him go free to kill again," said Rick.
"Would you quit bugging me and get lost," said Horatio annoyed.
"I'll have you for this Caine," said Rick and left as Clarice entered.
"Why did you let him go, you had wanted to capture him for months and you know Rick is right," she said.
"Because I can't ruin her happiness, that would make me the monster," he said and looked down.
"You're not a monster, and you can't only have her in consideration, what about the people of Miami because I can almost assure you he will kill again," she said.
"I know," he said still not looking up.
"So you honestly want a cannibal to raise you child?" she asked.
"Not really, but I don't want her to be crushed forever because I was the one that sentenced him to death either," he said.
"Well in theory you wouldn't do that, the city of Miami and wherever else he would kill would and Calleigh knows that, she knew that was the risk when she started to date him because of what he has done," said Clarice calmly.
"But still it's harsh I mean I don't I ever seen her this happy and to take that away, I mean he has a good point since we kill people in the line of duty, why are we different?" he asked.
"Horatio don't let him into your mind," she said and gave him a soft kiss.
"It's hard not to, do you think he could stop eating people all together," he said.
"He managed for a while, but then he started again, why do you ask?" she replied.
"Because if he could maybe he could stay with her I mean really he's old, he probably would die of natural causes sooner or later either way," said Horatio.
"Horatio, you are aware of what you are saying?" she said.
"I am, but you after all run away with him," he replied.
"I did, but I also know that he deserves to be punished for what he did," she said.
"Give me a moment," he said.
Clarice nodded and left him alone and Horatio picked up his phone called Calleigh, but all he got was her voicemail so he said, "Calleigh I really need to talk to you can you please call me or stop by as soon as possible. And oh never mind."
Text: Horatio something wrong? You sounded a bit of on the phone, and Hannibal said you looked a little sad in the car. Calleigh. End Text.
Text: I know this is a stupid question, but would you consider spending the night with me, since I really wanted to, I miss, I'm not gonna do anything and I'm not gonna send anyone for Hannibal. H. End Text.
Text: Hanni would you mind and awful lot if I spent the night at Horatio's, he seems real sad. Lamb-chop. End Text.
Text: Of course not sweetheart, so when will I see you tomorrow because I have a surprise for you. HL. End Text.
Text: I'll come over round sixish. Calleigh. End Text.
Text: After work so round 4.30 or 5 Pm, oh a surprise, can hardly wait, love you so much Hanni. Calleigh. End Text.
Text: I love you to and I'm gonna miss you like crazy tonight. End Text.
Text: I'm gonna miss you to oh and will you cuddle with my little Angel End Text.
Text: I will, in fact I'll have her as company in bed so I won't be so lonely. End Text.
Text: 3 3 3 4ever Calli. End Text.
Text: You are 4ever in my 3 Hanni. End Text.
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