Chapter Six: Surprises
Thursday March 22nd '07, 2:30 p.m.

During the week

Over the next week Gabrielle and Dr. Lecter fell into a pattern. In the morning Dr. Lecter would take Gabrielle sight-seeing till lunch time. Some times, if they were in a small and quiet town, they would eat lunch at a resturant. If they were in a city or noisy suburb they would go back Dr. Lecter's house and he would teach her how to make a new dish. After they had eaten, they cleaned up and went into the living room where they would continue Gabrielle's sessions. The sessions would go up until six-thirty and then Dr. Lecter would take her back to her hotel.

Gabrielle's chaperone, Mrs. Mathews, stopped waiting for Gabrielle's return for dinner because she knew she would be back on time. Becky gave up on trying to provoke Gabrielle, and even started ignoring her completely. Gabrielle would write in her required journal and call her mother every night after dinner and tell her about her day. Her mother was glad she had found a psychiatrist and was dealing with with her "stuff" from her father.

Dr. Lecter was pleased with Gabrielle's therapy sessions. It had only been about a week since Gabrielle had started her sessions but she was making real progress. Dr. Lecter was surprized at how numb Gabrielle had made herself when it came to her father. She had started to break down some walls, but Dr. Lecter noticed there were walls she didn't want to break down and she was determined not to. Dr. Lecter came to the conclusion that the walls she didn't want to break down were built around the memories she had not yet managed to numb herself to, and he knew he would have to fight with Gabrielle to break these walls down.

Present

Gabrielle and Dr. Lecter walked into the living room and sat down. They had gotten back to Dr. Lecter's house later than usual because of a small acident on a rotery. The pillow Gabrielle had become accustomed to screaming into was on the couch she sat on. Gabrielle took her shoes off and crossed her legs "indian style" while Dr. Lecter poured their water. Dr. Lecter looked at Gabrielle when he was finished pouring the water. Gabrielle looked up to meet his gaze and noticed a color change.

"Dr. Williamson?" Gabrielle said as she tilted her head slightly.

"Yes, Ms. Helfire." Dr. Williamson responded, amused by her head tilt.

"Are you wearing contacts?" Gabrielle asked.

"No, why do ask that?" Dr. Williamson replied smiling to himself, he'd had no doubt she would notice him not wearing his contacts.

"Because they're a completely different color than yesturday. They were blue yesturday, and today the look almost maroon." Gabrielle said as she straightened her head.

"This is my natural eye color. I usually were the blue contacts when I go out because my natural eye color tends to scare people." Dr. Williamson said and then asked, "Does it scare you, Ms. Helfire?"

"Oh no, I just wanted to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, thats all." Gabrielle said with a small smile, "I like your natural eye color."

"Thank you." Dr. Williamson replied.

He had given no explination as to why he wasn't wearing them today, but Gabrielle didn't care. She had been modest when she said she liked the maroon. The truth was that she loved his natural eye color, it was almost intoxicating. She knew she shouldn't be thinking that way about him but she couldn't help it, his gaze made her whole body tingle. Gabrielle took a sip of water and forced her body to relax.

"Alright, when was the first time you saw your father get violent when he was drunk?" asked Dr. Williamson getting right to work, he no longer saw the need to ease Gabrielle into her harder memories.

"Umm... I think it would have to be when I was nine." Gabrielle answered, "My step-mother had put my half-brother and I to bed and my father came home about an hour later. I hadn't been able to fall asleep and was thirsty, so I got out of bed to go down stairs. Dad came in the front door right before I got to the stairs and I could tell by the way he had shut the door that he wasn't happy. I got down on my stomach and looked around the corner and down the stairs. When my step-mother asked what was wrong he started screaming about how he had lost a hundred and fifty bucks playing poker. When our dog came up to him looking for some attention my father hit him hard in the head then kicked him out onto the porch, in the litteral sence too, he actually kicked the dog. Gabrielle shook her head It scared the crap out of me. On top of that, my father's yelling had woken my brother. He was only two at the time so he was too young to understand what was going on. He wanted to go see dad, but I didn't think it would be safe for either of us to go see him. I told my brother that dad was mad and needed his space so we should wait till morning to see him."

Gabrielle paused to take a sip of water the continued, "Luckily my brother was only half awake so it was easy to get him back into his room and back into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately and I went back into my room and got back into bed. About a half an hour later my father came up stairs and into my room. I wasn't asleep but I pretended to be so he'd leave me alone. When he kissed my cheek I could smell the alcohol on his breath and when he left my room I could still smell it on my cheek. I quietly reached under my bed and grabbed the baby wipes I had hidden under it. I wiped my whole face down to get rid of the smell. After I was sure the smell was gone I threw out the wipe, put the baby wipes back under my bed, and fell asleep."

Gabrielle let out a small sigh as she leaned back. She felt like a small, minuscule weight had been taken off her chest. She usually felt that happen when she told Dr. Williamson another mild memory, but the weight of her worst memories still felt like they were trying to suffocate her. She was beginning to recognize what fears were from memories and which fears were her own.

Gabrielle brought her eyes up to meet Dr. Williamson's waiting for his next question and saw a look on his face that she had never seen before. The expression wasn't on his face, it was in his eyes. Gabrielle had noticed that when his facial expressions changed his eyes usually stayed emotionless, but this time it was the other way around.

"Doctor are you alright?" Gabrielle asked as she sat forward.

"Hmmm... oh yes, I fine. Why do you ask?" Dr. Williamson replied.

"Well, you seem kind of distant. Is today not a good day for a session?" Gabrielle asked with concern.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to seem distant. But there is something I've been meaning to ask you." Dr. Williamson said as he sat forward.

'It's now or never. A play is not something to see alone.' Dr. Lecter thought to himself as he took a sip of his water.

Gabrielle wasn't sure what to expect. Had she done something wrong? Did he not want to be her psychologist anymore? Was he sick of the morning tours or teaching her to cook? Or did he think she like him romantically and was trying to let her down easy? She knew she didn't like him like that, at least she didn't think she did, but wondered if she had done anything to suggest she did. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop the sessions because he thought she wanted more.

"Have I done anything to offend you Doctor." Gabrielle asked uncertain.

"Oh no, no no no. You haven't offended me at all. This has nothing to do with your sessions. I've trully enjoyed showing you around France and teaching you how to make new dishes as well." Dr. Williamson replied as he refilled his glass.

'Why the hell am I so nervous? She's a young adult, she loves the theater, it's a guaranteed yes.' Dr. Lecter thought as he refilled Gabrielle's empty glass.

"Then watsup?" Gabrielle asked gently as she tilted her head.

Dr. Lecter smiled to himself, Gabrielle was such an interesting young lady. For every similarity he found between her and Clarice he found at least two that made her nothing like Clarice. For example; Clarice told him intimate details about herself but that was because it was the only way he would give her the information she wanted. Gabrielle gave him details freely. She needed him, not because it was the only way to save some politician's kid, but because she was stuck in an emotional termoil and wanted to move on away from her past, she trully needed his help. Which was why he was willing to help her. Clarice was his experiment, Gabrielle was his charge.

"Well,... as you know the opera house has a special showing for those who are on their VIP list the Saturday after a play opens." Dr. Williamson replied hoping Gabrielle would know where he was going with this, "I'm on that VIP list...Gabrielle's eyes went wide... and I was wondering if you would accompany me to the play on Saturday."

Gabrielle couldn't believe what she was hearing. Dr. Williamson has asked to take her places, but that was because it was historical or artistic, sometimes both. What he was asking now was on a personal level. He wanted her to be his date! To be seen in public with her on his arm! Gabrielle was honored and flattered, but part of her wondered if he was just asking because he knew she was dissapointed she hadn't gotten her ticket the first time she was at the opera house. She decided it didn't matter why he had asked her, the fact that he had asked her instead of finding some one else was enough for her.

"I would be honored Dr. Williamson, ...thank you." Gabrielle replied with a smile.

"Wonderful." Dr. Williamson replied with a smile, "I've had the tickets since last Wednesday. I waited so long to ask because I thought it would be inappropriate to ask three days after meeting you."

Ever the gentleman he is Gabrielle thought to herself as she took a sip of water.

"It requires a formal outfit right?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes it does." Dr. Williamson answered.

"Okay,...I'm not trying to get too personal or anything, but what color tie are you wearing?" Gabrielle asked, "I would like to know so I can match."

"I thought it was the guy who was the one who had to do the matching." Dr. Williamson replied with a small chuckle.

"It usually is, but you're the one on the guest list, not me. I'm just the guest of the guest, there for I should be the one matching you." Gabrielle said with a small smile.

"Alright, well in that case I will be wearing my favorite shade of red, blood red." Dr. Williamson said and he saw Gabrielle raise an eyebrow.

That will bring out the red in his eye color, unless he's planning to wear his contacts. Gabrielle thought to herself.

"That happens to be my favorite shade as well." Gabrielle said as she sat back.

Blood red had been Gabrielle's favorite color for as long as she could remember. It wasn't because of where the shade's name came from though. It was because it is a deep and rich color. Deep shades of red, green, blue, and purple had always looked really good on her and they made her feel as pretty as her mother would say she was.

Dr. Lecter knew they had gotten off track and it was his fault, but he had sensed it was the right time to ask. Now that she had accepted his invitation he didn't think he should push her through hard memories. The memories she had gone through over the past week were mild but they had taken a lot out of Gabrielle and he wanted her to be well rested for they play so she wouldn't miss anything, though he doubted she would anyway. Dr. Lecter did think she deserved a break though.

"The play starts after seven on Saturday, is you teacher going to have a problem with you leaving after final check in?" Dr. Williamson asked.

"She shouldn't,...She loves the theater like 'Narsissus' loves his own relfection, so I don't think she'd be able to say 'no' even if she wanted too." Gabrielle said with a laugh.

Dr. Williamson chuckled and sat back. The past two weeks with Gabrielle had been quite enjoyable for him. He didn't normaly keep company with the younger generation because he found them to be too wrapped up in themselves and wanted nothing to do with anything that happend before they were born, but not Gabrielle. She was very mature for her age, and very interested in history.

Gabrielle sensed they were not going to continue her session today but she didn't mind. They had been having sessions every day this week, which normaly people only had one therapy session a week, so she was glad for the break. She covered her mouth as she yauned slightly. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night, she had dreamt of her father again and it wasn't a pleasant dream. Gabrielle hoped that the therapy would help her get rid of the upleasant dreams of her father.

"Did you not sleep well last night?" Dr. Williamson asked.

"I had that dream about my father again, the one I told you about on Monday." Gabrielle answered, "The one variation this time was that he was caught right before I woke up."

"I see" said Dr. Williamson, "Maybe the dream will change more as the sessions go on, like a 'Picture of Dorian Grey' kind of thing only it changes for the better instead of the worst."

"I hope so, after I wake up from that dream I feel like a lead weight. I hate it." Gabrielle said and then a smile appeared on her face as she said, "French news is very interesting."

"Is it now? Why do you say that?" Dr. Williamson asked as he sat forward.

"Well I had turned the TV on this morning because I hate being in a silent room and I'm getting sick of my music. I put the news on 'cause I couldn't find else that was interesting." Gabrielle laughed lightly as she said, "The top story was about how someone suposedly spotted Dr. Lecter in Portugal two days ago."

'Interesting indeed, to think I would be in Portugal this time of year. I wonder if they showed a picture of me.' Dr. Lecter thought to himself.

"Really?...Why do you laugh? He's a dangerouse man." Dr. Williamson asked intrigued.

"Every summer we have to read one book for English and one for History and they give us a list of books we can choose from. We get tested on the books we read at the beginning of the next school year. For history I read a book on the top ten serial killers in America, and Dr. Lecter was listed as the number one most wanted." Gabrielle answered, "They had put one of his more fruitfull interviews in the book, and when he was asked 'Why Venice' he answered 'Because it is never cold and almost never humid'. Portugal is almost always humid, so it stands to reason he wouldn't go there. I didn't get to see the picture they showed of him when they asked for people to keep their eyes pealed 'cause I was drying my hair."

"The story will probably be on again tonight, so if you want to see it you'll be able to." Dr. Williamson said, "It doesn't bother you that a cannibal roams free?"

Dr. Lecter couldn't believe he had just handed Gabrielle his actual identity. What would she do if she saw the picture and put two and two together? Would she turn him in? Or would he get lucky and she wouldn't recognize his picture on the news at all? He was hoping for the latter of the three. But there was also the very slim possibility that she would recognise him and not care who he was and they could continue with the pattern they had fallen into.

Gabrielle shook her head as she said, "I've already heard the story so it would be boring to watch it. Its like reading a book then starting the book all over again the next day. You zip through, skipping ten or twenty pages at a time, and you don't even enjoy it the second time around. As for the picture, the one they're showing is probably the one they took when he was arrested, and that was before I was born so there's a good chance it's not even accurate."

"You're not worried he might be in France? That he might deside to prey on you and your classmates?" Dr. Williamson asked.

Gabrielle shook her head again and said, "If he was following us I'm not sure I'd be worried. I don't think I've given any reason for him to prey on me. The people I'd be worried about are my teachers and maybe some of my classmates, but there are a couple handfuls of people I wouldn't mind if he got rid of."

There was a dark smile on Gabrielle's face and Dr. Lecter found it both interesting and refreshing. The one thing Dr. Lecter disliked more than sarcasm or rudeness was fake people. He had encountered his fair share of those kind of people in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane and even with his "circles of friends" in the many countries he resided in. They were the ones who would act a certain way to impress someone. They were the ones who would tell you what you wanted to hear just to get what they wanted and gave no thought to how it affected others.

Gabrielle was straight forward and told you what she thought without holding back. She had the control to know when and where it was appropriate to say things and she didn't just say anything for the sake of hearing her own voice. It was one of the things that made her more mature than others in her generation.

"And even if he was in France, there are a lot of cities and towns he could be in here. Thats assuming he is actualy in France." Gabrielle continued after she took a sip of her water.

"True,...quite true. Then technicaly we have nothing to worry about. Other than the sighting were there any other interesting stories you saw?" Dr. Williamson asked.

"No, that was the 'top' story and unfortunately the only story. I sortof remember them telling about the good Doctor from the time he stabbed a mister...Graham I think it was... up untill his first escape. Then they talked about when he came back to America and was captured by one of his victims and his second escape. " Gabrielle replied.

'Time to change the subject. Talking about myself while acting as another person is easy, but talking about Clarice...I can't take the risk and Will, although he died three years ago still manages to make my blood boil.' Dr. Lecter though to himself.

"I must admit though, I do feel bad for Dr. Lecter." Gabrielle said.

"You do?" Dr. Williamson asked surprised.

"Yeah, actually. They talked about an Agent Clarice Starling. According to the news he helped her with a big case and there are people who used to work at the hospital the doctor was being held in that think Dr. Lecter may have become attached to the woman. They say she died five years ago in the line of duty. No one knows if he had actually become attached to her but if he did it must suck to not have someone he cared about around. Hell I balled my eyes out when my dog, that was at my father's house and I hadn't seen in three years, had to be put down and that was a pet." Gabrielle replied, "I know my world lost a little colour when my dog was put down."

Gabrielle was right, Dr. Lecter's world had lost some of it's colour when he found out that Clarice had been killed in the line of duty. Over the years that colour had started to come back but it still wasn't as bright as it had once been, and he wondered if it would ever be that bright again.

"So,... where are we going tomorrow Doctor?" Gabrielle asked.

Gabrielle didn't want to think of her dog, it brought back memories of her father she wasn't ready to face just yet. Plus thinking about how there was a cannibal was a little unsettling though for some reason she felt that if he was in France she was safest with Dr. Williamson, why was that? She would have to think about it later.

"All good things come to those who wait, Ms. Helfire." Dr. Williamson said with a grin that could have scared the wool off a sheep.

'This is the third time he has done this to me.' Gabrielle thought to herself, 'I wonder what the surprise is this time.'

Dr. Lecter could hear, smell, and see the curiosity coming from Gabrielle as she asked, "Another surprise Doctor?"

"It keeps life interesting don't you think?" Dr. Williamson asked amused.

"Yes it does..." Gabrielle started.

From three to four-thirty they talked. At four-thirty Dr. Lecter brought Gabrielle back to her hotel. When she asked why they were leaving early he told her truthfully that he had some last minute things to do to get tommorrows surprise ready. When she asked if she was going to need anything, he just told her to wear something she could sit cross-legged in and to bring one of the books she had bought last Friday. Dr. Lecter could see the gears turning in Gabrielle's head as she started to try to think of reasons she wear such clothing as they said good-bye.

When Gabrielle got up to her room she had given up trying to figure out what he was planning. She knew it was garunteed she would get it wrong and if she did keep trying to figure out what he was planning she would give herself a headache like the last time. So instead of causing herself such pain she decided to get into a comfy pair of swetpants and a big shirt, call room service for some snacks and to a movie. When she was changing she had the sudden urge to watch a "Celtic Woman" concert. Lucky for her the hotel had all of them, so...she asked for all of them. She wrote in her journal while she waited for the movies and snacks.

When Dr. Lecter got home he went to work making sure everything was ready for tomorrow. They would be eating "on location" tomorrow so he had to make sure he had everything he needed to keep their meal fresh until they ate. They he went to his library (not to be confused with his study. The study has medical books lining the shelves, his library holds stories both fiction and nonfiction alike that had caught his attention) and picked out a book for tomorrow. When that was done Dr. Lecter called Gabrielle's hotel and confirmed the spa appointment he had schedualed for Gabrielle for Saturday, the only thing was that she has no idea about it yet. He loved surprises in surprises...

See! I told you I'd get the next chapter up soon!!! Please review!!!