Disclaimer: i think we all know...I don't own ANYTHING!...well, anything thats not of my own creation...sobs quietly in corner
Chapter Seven: Out of Character
Friday March 23rd '07, 8:00 a.m.
Gabrielle awoke to the sound of her wake-up call.
"Damn it!!!...Why does this always happen?" Gabrielle cursed as she sat up and picked up the phone, "Hello?...this is she...thank you...you as well"
As Gabrielle hung up the phone she felt excitement course through her body, and a smile crossed her face.
"Another surprise..." Gabrielle said to herself as she got out of bed.
As she got in the shower Gabrielle thought about the dream she was having before she was awoken...
)))))Dream(((((
Again she was riding her horse through an open field. Once again she came across the forest and entered it. This time she led her horse instead of riding her through the forest. She found the cabin again rather quickly and looked around. The sun was high and was warm on her face. Smoke was rising form the chimney, and then about a minute later the front door opened.
Gabrielle gasped. She was, for some reason, very eager to know who the occupant was. She had come to the conclusion that the occupant was male the last time she had the dream. She had also noticed that he was a well built man. For this reason and this reason alone she knew this man was not her father. He had been built at one time, but he let himself go when he married her mother.
As the man started to step out of the house a shadow crept up from his feet. When the shadow got to his chest Gabrielle felt herself being pulled out of the dream. She faught it as hard as she could and tried to take a step forward. Gabrielle found as she tried to move it was harder to keep herself in the dream. Just as the light was comming up to the man's face, Gabrielle was pulled fully out of the dream.
)))))End of Dream(((((
Gabrielle stepped out of the shower and put on her bathrobe and put her hair up in a towel. She then went to her closet and started to look for something to wear. She remembered Dr. Williamson telling her to wear something she could sit cross-legged and to bring a book so she had deduced that if they sat they wouldn't be sitting in chairs. The only pants she had that weren't snug around her when she sat cross-legged were her sweatpants. Some how she felt that her sweatpants would be too casual for what ever the doctor was planning.
Gabrielle decided on a flowy, light brown skirt that went to just below her ankles. She also chose a cream colored, semi low cut, semi form fitting, three-quarter sleave shirt. For shoes she chose a pair of cream colored pumps. Gabrielle had just finished drying her hair with her straightener when she heard a knock at the door. Gabrielle looked through the peep hole and opened the door when she saw it was room service she opened the door.
"Good morning Ms. Helfire." said the bellhop as she entered the room with breakfast.
"Good morning Claire." Gabrielle replied with a smile.
"My, don't we look nice today. Who's the lucky boy?" Claire asked with a huge smile.
"There's no lucky boy, a friend has a surprise for me today and by the few clues I was given this seems the most appropriate. Thank you for the compliment though" Gabrielle replied feeling a little better about how she looked.
"Uh hu,..." Claire said her smile turning into a sly grin.
"I'm serious!!!" Gabrielle said as Claire was leaving the room.
Claire chuckled and said, "Alright,...alright. No need to get defensive"
"I'm sorry." Gabrielle apologized, "I guess I'm a little nervous. I got some bad surprises when I was younger." "Is this the first surprise you've gotten from this person?" Claire asked lightly.
"No, no it's not." Gabrielle said as she shook her head.
"Was the last surprise a good one?" Claire asked.
"Yes, yes it was." Gabrielle answered.
"Then what is there to worry about?" Claire said, "If this person has given you a good surprise before, you shouldn't need to worry about a bad surprise now." "Good point,...thank you." Gabrielle said as she nodded her head.
"You're welcome. Have a good day miss." Claire said and she turned to go.
"You too." Gabrielle said and then she shut the door.
After the door was shut Gabrielle leaned against it and sighed. It was true, she was nervous, but not for the reason she had given Claire. She hadn't lied to the woman. She has had some bad surprises, but they weren't so bad as to scar her for life. She was nervously excited, (if that makes sense) she loved surprises. Adrenaline always ran thick in her blood when she knew she was getting a surprise, no matter who she got it from.
Gabrielle ate her breakfast, then finished getting ready. When she was sure her makeup was perfect she went to her dresser and opened the right, middle drawer. She didn't have enough clothes to fill the dresser because they only thing she didn't hang was her under-garments, her pj's, and her "bum around" clothes, and all that barely took up half the dresser. She had decided to put the books she had bought about a week ago on the other side of the dresser.
They all fit nicely in one drawer, with their spines up so Gabrielle could easily read the titles. She had organised them in the order in which she wanted to read them first. She quickly grabbed the first book and shut the drawer. Gabrielle flipped to the back of the book to check how many pages there were.
'Three-hundred and twenty pages' Gabrielle thought to her self as she walked over to her night stand and took her phone and Ipod off their chargers, 'That should take me at least a day to read, if I can keep myself from speed reading'
Gabrielle had a habit of speed reading when she was really into a book. As a result she usually had to read the book twice to be able to enjoy it. She didn't want to speed through the book and then have nothing to do afterward, so she would have to get herself to slow down while she read. It would be a challenge, but she loved challenges so there was no problem.
Gabrielle tucked the book under her arm and looked through her purse to make sure she had everything. Once she was satisfied, she put her phone in the side pocket. She then put hear left head phone in her ear and turned her Ipod on. She picked up her purse and, like always, pulled the breakfast cart behid her as she left the room and left it in front of her door.
Gabrielle checked the clock above the main desk as she walked to the front doors.
'Nine twenty.' Gabrielle thought to herself as she sat on the bench outside the main doors, 'Ten minutes, I both love and hate being early. It's better than being late but at the same time the anticipation can get to be too much. I'm glad Rebeca isn't around, it would make waiting worse'
Just as Gabrielle had finished her thought Rebeca came walking out of the hotel.
'Shit...I though too soon. Well at least she's alone, for now anyways, and she has been ignoring me the last couple of days. Let's hope she keeps ignoring me. It is quite peaceful without her talking my ear off, whether it be compliments or insults.' Gabrielle thought as she put her other head phone in her ear and looked out into the street for Dr. Williamson's Jag.
Rebeca sat on the bench on the other side of the doors and stared into space. She said nothing to Gabrielle and when Carla and the others came out they didn't acknowlage her presence. They stood around Rebeca, only Carla sat next to her on the bench. It seemed to Gabrielle that Rebeca was the "Queen Bee" of the group, and wondered how that had happened because Carla had always been a control freak.
Gabrielle had become fidgety, and didn't want to sit any longer. She glanced around to see if there was anything interesting in front of the hotel. There was, thank goodness. A small, decrative pond was to her left. She decided to get up and see if there were any fish in it. When she leaned on the rail protecting it she could see clown fish, "rainbow" fish (as her step father called them), and she thought she saw a couple of shrimp walking on the bottom.
As she watched the fish she thought they looked like they were playing with each other. A couple fish seemed to be hiding in the plant life that was also in the pond and it reminded Gabrielle of hide 'n seek. Gabrielle chuckled as the ones who had been hidding were found and they fled to find a new hiding spot. With her back to the street Gabrielle had not seen Dr. Lector pull up to the hotel.
Dr. Lecter got out of the car and looked around. He noticed Gabrielle's former friend Ms. Perry sitting off to his left, and a young woman leaning on a rail to his right. Dr. Lecter inhaled deeply and was quickly able to identify the young woman leaning on the rail to be Gabrielle. A smile came to his face, Gabrielle was always early. She was usually sitting on the bench, lost in her music when he pulled up. Today something had caught her attention, and he was interested to see what it was.
As he walked towards Gabrielle, Dr. Lecter saw the other girls raise an eyebrow and chuckled to himself. The past week the other girls had been showing off, trying to make Gabrielle curious and jealous and it hadn't been working. Today, Gabrielle was the one making people curious and jealous, and the best part was that she wasn't even aware of it.
As Dr. Lecter got closer to Gabrielle he could see she was looking into a pond watching the fish. She chuckled once and shook her head. As she did this Dr. Lecter noticed her right head phone fall out of her ear, and she made no atempt to put it back. This gave him an idea and he hoped she wouldn't be offended by it.
Dr. Lecter walked up behind Gabrielle and cupped his hands over her eyes, being careful not to smudge the makeup he was sure she was wearing, and whispered in her ear, "Guess who, you've got three shots and the first two don't count"
Gabrielle became frightened when she saw the hands come over her eyes, but relaxed when she heard Dr. Williamson's voice in her ear.
"Hmmm...let me think." Gabrielle said as she put her finger to her chin and pretended she had no idea who it was, "Are you my step father"
"Nooooo." Dr. Williamson replied with a chuckle.
"Are you...myyyyy... godfather?" Gabrielle asked with a huge smile.
"Mmmm...Nooooo" replied Dr. Williamson.
"Hmmmmm...Well then you just have to be... my friend, slash tour guide, slash psychiatrist, Dr. Williamson." Gabrielle said and she laughed.
"You are correct!" Dr. Williamson said with a laugh as he took his hands away from Gabrielle's eyes and threw them in the air like he was surrendering.
Gabrielle turned around and laughed at the sight before her. Their laughs could be heard by Rebeca and the others, and when they heard them they all rolled their eyes. Dr. Williamson put down his hands and offered Gabrielle his arm. She accepted without question and he lead her to the Jag. Rebeca watched, her eyes burned with anger, as the two walked to the car. When they got to the passenger side, Dr. Williamson opened the door and waited for Gabrielle to be fully in the car before shutting the door and getting into the driver seat. Neither one of them had acknowleged the other girls were there. Dr. Williamson started the car and pulled away from the hotel. The last thing Rebeca saw Gabrielle do, as the jag pulled away from the hotel, was throw her head back and laugh.
"Do I get any other clues to my surprise, other than what you told me yesturday?" Gabrielle asked with a smile.
"Nothing other than tody is a day to relax." Dr. Williamson said returning the smile, "We won't be talking about anything stressfull or upsetting, it's not allowed"
"Ok,... so there is to be no therapy session today is what you're saying." Gabrielle said.
"Precisely." Dr. Williamsonsaid with a nod.
Gabrielle knew by the shortness of Dr. Williamson's answer that she wasn't going to get any more clues from him. They sat in silence as they headed out of the city. When they were half way to their destination Dr. Lecter pulled the car over and parked.
"Is this...?" Gabrielle started to ask confused.
"No, we're not there yet." Dr. Williamson replied shaking his head.
"Then why have we stopped?" Gabrielle asked even more confused.
"It's part of the surprise." Dr. Williamson replied, "Do you trust me"
"Would I be here if I didn't?" Gabrielle said with a little more force than she had intened.
"Point taken..." Dr. Williamson said as he reached into his pants pocket then said, "In order to not give the surprise away immediately I must ask if I can put this on you"
Dr. Williamson held up a blindfold. Gabrielle, who had gone rigid when the doctor had asked his trust question, relaxed once more. It was just another part of the surprise.
"Alright." Gabrielle said as she unbuckled her seat belt.
When Gabrielle had turner her back to Dr. Williamson, he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned forward. The doctor gently placed the blindfold over Gabrielle's eyes and tied it around the back of her head. He made sure it wasn't too tight, but tight enough that it wouldn't fall off. When he was finished they both sat back in their seats and buckled up. Dr. WIlliamson put the Jag in drive and continued the journey towards the surprise.
"I'm sorry if I worried you." Dr. Williamson said after a minute or two, "That wasn't my intention"
"It's alright, I understand it's part of the surprise." Gabrielle said as she turned and smiled.
Dr. Williamson shook his head and wished there was more he could say. He felt his aproach to the blindfold thing had seemed a lot better in his head. She may not have been able to see the doctor's face but Gabrielle could sense he was still worried.
"Doctor, it's time for you to stop worrying. I'm not angry or frightened, it makes the surprise more interesting." Gabrielle said and then chuckled, "So turn that frown upside-down, smile and be happy damit"
Dr. Williamson chuckled and said, "How do you...can you see through that? I thought it would be thick enough, there's five layers of black fabric there"
"I can't see through the blindfold but that doesn't mean my other senses don't work. I could feel you worrying from here." Gabrielle said as she chuckled again, "I told you, I wouldn't be in the car if I didn't trust you, never mind let you blindfold me. So please stop worrying, after all it was you who said today is a day to relax." "Touche..." Dr. Williamson said with a chuckle.
They drove for about another half hour. Though she had the blind fold on, Gabrielle knew they were out of the forest. The scent she smelled now was clean and crisp, the scent from the forest was thick and musky. As Gabrielle felt the car slow down and pull to her right she sat up and reached for her seatbelt buckle.
"Let me help you out." Dr. Williamson said as he shut off the Jag, "The ground right around the car is a little rocky, and I don't want you to fall before the surpise"
"Alright." Gabrielle said as she released her seatbelt.
Gabrielle rerached down between her feet and found her purse as she heard Dr. Williamson walk around to her side of the car. When she sensed her door was open she swung herself around and put her feet on the ground.
"Give me your hand." Dr. Williamson said gently.
Gabrielle extended her hand blindly into the air infront of her. Dr. Williamson took her hand and gently pulled her from the car, and when she was clear of the door he shut it. As Dr. Williamson led her, he had her left hand in his left hand his right hand rested lightly on the small of her back.
Gabrielle was glad she had chosen her lower pumps. It would have been much harder to walk through the grass in anything than her one inch heels. After about three minutes of walking, Dr. Williamson stopped and let go of Gabrielle.
"Hold on a moment please." said Dr. Wiliamson.
Gabrielle felt Dr. Williamson leaver her side. After about five minutes she sensed more than heard him return. She heard something being set on the ground then the slight squeak of a hinge.
"Here, please sit." Dr. Williamson said as he led Gabrielle to the chair he had just set up, "Just a moment more, then I'll take the blindfold off"
"Alright, there's no hurry." Gabrielle said quietly as Dr. Williamson helped her sit.
Dr. Lecter stared at Gabrielle for a moment. The tone of her voice had sent a small shiver down his spine. The small effect she had on him made him curious. There was only one other woman he had known who had any kind of effect on him, and that was his Clarice, but she no longer walked this earth.
As Gabrielle sat waiting, she listened. She was listening for any sound that might give her any idea as to what the doctor was doing. All she could hear were his steps in the grass and a thump here and there. As she listened to the background noise, she heard birds and crickets. She could also hear kids playing far off in the distance. She quessed they may be somewhere near a public park.
After about five minutes Gabrielle heard Dr. Williamson come towards her as he said, "Okay, are you ready"
"Yes, doctor." Gabrielle replied as she nodded her head.
"Good,... Give me your hand again." said Dr. Williamson.
Once again Gabrielle extended her hand out blindly infront of her. Dr. Williamson took her hand and led her from the chair. After a few steps he stopped and postitioned her so her back was to him.
Dr. Williamson the put his hands lightly on her shoulders and said with his mouth close to her ear, "This surprise is a reward for the great progress you have made over the last week. It may not feel like it but you have made great progress... Okay, here we go"
Gabrielle felt the doctor untie the knot that held the cloth over her eyes. She kept her eyes shut to allow them to adjust to the change in light. She felt the doctor move from behind her to next to her, and when she was ready she opened her eyes. A small smile crossed Dr. Lecter's face when he heard Gabrielle's breath catch in her throat. He had decided to give her the one thing she had wanted to do with her mother and step-father, but never had time for, a picknick.
Gabrielle was speachless for a good five minutes. Her head was spinning, a picknick was the one thing she had not expected. Sure she had taken a good hour to talk about how she had never gone on a picknick with her parents. She talked about how she had gone on one with a friend, but whenever she asked her parent to take her they were always too busy.
When Gabrielle finnaly found her voice, she spoke bairly above a whisper as she said, "Doctor...You...I...Wow, thank you"
"You're very welcome." Dr. Williamson said with a smile as he motioned to the blanket.
As Gabrielle moved towards the blanket she noticed how large it was. It looked to be at least a nine foot by nine foot blanket. The blanket was set at the base of a large tree, and there was a large basket next to the tree.
Gabrielle decided to sit near the bottom of the blanket, where the sun wasn't blocked by the branches of the tree. She put her book and purse near the corner of the blanket to her left. Dr. Lecter watched as Gabrielle closed her eyes and turned her face up toward the sun. He would have been content to sit in the chair she had waited in and watched her, but today that would have been rude and possibly made her uncomfortable.
As Dr. Lecter walked onto the blanket, Gabrielle opened her eyes and took off her shoes and put them with her purse. Dr. Lecter sat with his back against the tree and removed his shoes as well, putting them next to the tree, but on the side that the basket wasn't on. Gabrielle took a minute to look the tree over. The branches were a good thickness and length. there were a couple of braches low enough for her to reach, if she wanted to climb. When Gabrielle looked back to Dr. Williamson she found he was watching her, and flushed slightly.
"I used to climb trees all the time when I was younger." Gabrielle said and she looked back up at the tree, "It looks like a strong tree"
"I don't think I'd be able to picture you as the 'tomboy' type." Dr. Williamson said as he tilted his head slightly.
Gabrielle chuckled and shook her head as she said, "The only time you could get me in a dress when I was younger was if I was going to something formal. As I got older I started weraing more skirts and dresses. Now I love them! If I'm not wearing a skirt or dress I'm wearing dress pants. The only time I wear sweats or jeans is when I'm doing yard work, in gym class, or working out"
Dr. Lecter had no doubt Gabrielle rarely wore jeans or sweats. Even when they went on their "sight seeing" trips, and jeans would have been acceptable, she wore dress pants or skirts. He had yet to see her in jeans, and didn't think he ever would. He had to admit, for someone her age, she did have a good sense of taste and style.
"Interesting...Tell me, when was the lastime you climbed a tree?" Dr. Williamson asked.
"Ummm...I think I was about ten or eleven. I stopped when my brother got to the age where he wanted to do everything I did." Gabrielle answered.
"You never climb trees at your mother's house?" asked Dr. Williamson.
"Most of the trees at my house are either too small or their lowest branches are too high up." Gabrielle answered as she shook her head slightly.
Just then Gabrielle's phone rang. She gave her purse a glare then looked back at Dr. Williamson with an appologetic smile.
"I'm so sorry doctor, I ment to shut it off when I first got in the car." Gabrielle said and she reached for her purse.
Gabrielle pulled out her phone and looked at the number. Her expression immediately became and icy glare. Dr. Lecter guessed it was either her father or her ex-bestfriend. Gabrielle was tempted to shut her phone off before it was done ringing, but thought better of it. Only after it stopped ringing and there was no sign of a voice mail did she hut it off and put it back into her purse.
"It was Rebeca." Gabrielle said as she put her purse back with her book and shoes, "She didn't bother to leave a voice mail"
'Why am I not surprised' Gabrielle thought to herself as she looked back at the good doctor.
"Has she started talking to you again?" Dr. Williamson asked.
"No, she probably called to see if I'd pick up and yell at her." Gabrielle answered, "She used to do it to Carla when she was mad at her. If she has anything imortant to say, she'll leave a message." "I see,..." Dr. Williamson said and Gabrielle saw he was somewhat lost in thought.
"Did you ever climb trees as a kid doctor?" Gabrielle asked as she looked again at the tree.
Dr. Lecter was thown into a memory. He could see himself climbing a tree to gain an advantage over an unsuspecting, and unaware victim. The last man who had eaten a peice of his sister, Mischa.
"Sometimes, but probably not as often as you did." Dr. Williamson answered.
Gabrielle sensed it was a sensitive subject for the doctor so she didn't ask any more on the subject. She grabbed her purse and took out her bookmark. Then she put her purse back and grabbed her book. She then layed down on her stomach and opened her book. Dr. Lecter watched Gabrielle with an eyebrow slightly raised. Every time he though he had figured her out she managed to do something that would throw him way off course. Dr. Lecter shook his head and took his book out of the basket.
Gabrielle's book only held her attention for about an hour and a half. It was too nice out, in her opinion, to sit still. She wanted to play, but what do you when the only other person near you is at least three time older than you and you're to old to resort to immaginary friends? Gabrielle read the same sentence five time before she finaly shut her book.
Gabrielle sat up and crossed her legs. The wind was blowing lightly, and Gabrielle turned herself so she was facing into it. Gabrielle closed her eyes and tried to meditate. The feel of the wind blowing softly through her hair was normaly calming, but not today. No, today it only made her more restless. Dr. Lector had stopped reading the minute Gabrielle had shut her book. He kept his open and pretended to read to disguise the fact that he was watching her. He could tell she was restless, and was trying to find something she could do by herself without desturbing him. He was amused by her determination to stay "out of the way.
Gabrielle was glad she had decided to wear her knee high nylons today, it meant she could take them off. And take them off she did, but she made sure her back was to the doctor before she did so. She put her nylons in her shoes and put her feet into the grass right off the edge of the blanket.
Dr. Lecter watched as Gabrielle stood up, and made her way around the field they were in. He had noticed, the second or third day after they had met, that she had a slight bounce in her step. He had also noticed that the amount of bounce in her step varied with the hight of the heel she was wearing. Now as she walked barefoot he saw her steps were more fluid. She looked like she was just gliding over the grass, he thought she seemed so at home here.
Gabrielle loved the feeling of the cool ground under her feet. She loved nature above almost anything else in the world. Gabrielle was a spiritual person, she tried to meditate everyday, and the feel of the earth on her bare feet made her feel connected to the life around her. She was almost always outside, even when it is raining. She has a computer but it's mainly used for home work and emailing friends who live too far away, and she only watches about an hour of TV a week.
Gabrielle has never had an obsessive need for technology. The only things she probably couldn't live without would have to be her stereo and her MP3 player. Gabrielle hates absolute silence, and music fills her with emotion while helping her to stay in control. Gabrielle spread her arms out wide, closed her eyes, lifted her face to the sun, and started to twirl slowly. Dr. Lecter shut his book and watched as she did so and a small smile crossed his face. The sight reminded him of Mischa before all the madness came into their life and took her from him. He watched as slowly Gabrielle started to spin faster and faster, and she pulled her arms in trying to gain speed. Then suddenly Gabrielle lost her balance and fell backwards with a squeal.
Dr. Lecter put his shoes back on, rose to his feet and walked towards her, concerned she had hurt herself. Gabrielle broke out into laughter as she shook her left hand. She ended up laughing so hard she threw herself backward into the grass. Dr. Lecter stopped to watch her, quite amused. As her laughter died down and stopped, Gabrielle lay there on her back, the warmth of the sun covering her. Dr. Lecter couldn't really see her after she layed down because the grass was quite long, but he could hear her humming.
As Dr. Lecter continued walk toward Gabrielle he recognised the song she was humming to be "All the little Ponies", and he was again reminded of Mischa. Gabrielle never even heard him come up next to her and crouch. He made sure he stopped before his shadow hit her face, and he had crouched to be more at her level.
"I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself miss Helfire." Dr. Lecter said in a soft and gentle tone.
Gabrielle squealed and sat up like a bat out of hell, she had completely forgot about him.
"Doctor Williamson!" Gabrielle said, "My goodness you scared me"
"I'm sorry that wasn't my intension." Dr. Williamson appologised, "I saw you fall and came to see if you were alright"
"Oh, I'm fine. I may have a bruise on my hip in the morning, and my wrist is a little sore, but other than that I'm fine." Gabrielle replied as she held up her left hand for emphasis, "Thank you though"
"May I check your wrist?" Dr. Williamson asked as he held out his hand, "Just to make sure you haven't sprained anything, you hit the ground pretty hard." "Okay." Gabrielle replied and she stood up and held out her hand.
Dr. Williamson stood up from his crouch and took a step toward Gabrielle taking her wrist in his hand. Gabrielle was surprised at how warm his hands were, and watched as he checked up the length of her forearm to her elbow. When he was saticfide nothing was sprained or broken Dr. Williamson let go of her arm. When he had taken her arm, Gabrielle felt her heart beat quicken slightly and she hoped to god he didn't notice.
It wasn't the fact that it was him, that made her heart skip a beat. Her last boyfriend had been kinda old fashion. When they were together, he used to take her hand and kiss it lightly. It had always mad her feel special. Once in an attempt to make her first ex (who wanted her back and was always following her) jealous he took her hand and kissed all the way up her arm and neck finally kissing her on the mouth while he dipped her. It was one of those feelings she couldn't control, no matter how hard she tried.
"Good, I'm glad to see you aren't hurt." Dr. Williamson said as he nodded, "But what about your clothes"
"Ummm..." Gabrielle replied as she checked herself over, "There surprisingly fine. Not a grass stain on them. (then feeling kinda childish and playfull she added) Go me"
Dr. Lecter chuckled and shook his head, closing his eye slightly as he did so. Gabrielle saw an opertunity when the doctor closed his eyes, and when he opened them she was no longer infront of him.
Just as he was going to look around he felt a tap on the back of his shoulder and heard Gabrielle say, "Tag! You're it"
Dr. Lecter turned around in time to see Gabrielle run off towards the trees that surounded the field as she said again, "The blanket is baaaaaaaase"
'This could be fun!' Dr. Lecter thought to himself, 'Alright if she wants to play, we'll play. After all this day is for her'
Dr. Lecter ran off in the direction Gabrielle had run off in. He caught up enough to see her run into the trees and a huge smile crossed his face.
'Hide and seek tag huh?" the doctor thought to himself, 'This is definately going to be fun'
'I can't believe I just did that! What the hell has gotten into me?!?' Gabrielle asked herself as she leaned against a tree trying to catch her breath.
Gabrielle held her breath when she heard a twig snap some distance away. She let it out slowly and tried to breath as quietly as she could. He had followed, that was a good sign. At least she hadn't made an ass out of herself. As she heard him comming closer she looked on the ground in front of her and found a rock. As she looked around she saw a tree to her right that she could easily climb but had enough leaves to hide her from anyone looking at it from a distance.
Gabrielle threw the rock to her left and as he luck would have it she had she ended up scaring a deer that she hadn't seen before. As it ran from the rock she heard the doctor follow it.
'He must of taken the color of the deer for my skirt' Gabrielle thought to herself, 'Point one for Gabrielle'
Gabrielle bolted for the tree she had decided to hide in. She pulled herself into the tree with relative ease, even for being in a skirt. She climbed quickly, and with little effort till she was in the middle of the tree. Gabrielle sat on the branch like she was ridding a horse, crossing he ankles under it so she wouldn't fall off. For where she was sitting she could see between the leaves, and she looked for the doctor. She spotted him, he was walking in her direction. Gabrielle didn't think he could see her but she decided it would be better if she left the tree. The branches were pretty thick so when she got to her feet the braches made no obvious movement. The trunk itself was very large, at least twice her width, which made Gabrielle very happy.
Gabrielle climbed her way to the otherside of the tree, making sure she didn't shake the braches too much. Gabrielle decended and when she got to the lowest branch she wrapped her self loosely around it and let her body weight pull her down and swing her under it, making her look like a sloth. She then unwrapped her legs till she swung vertically and dropped silently onto the ground.
She brushed herself off and faught her curiosity to look around the tree to see where the doctor was. Thats how she always lost when she had played with her cousins. She ran from the tree and hid behind a tree about twenty yards away. Then and only then did she carefully look for the doctor.
'Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!' Gabrielle thought to herself and faught back a laugh.
When Gabrielle didn't see the doctor she ran behind another tree, making her way to the edge of the field. She did this about three more times, everytime looking for the doctor before running to the next tree. She was about another two trees a way from the edge of the field when she saw him. He was walking around the tree she had climbed. When he looked up into it she bolted for the next tree. Her luck ran out when she tried to look around the tree she had just hidden behind. When she took a small step to see around the tree, she stepped on a stick that had been hidden by dead leaves. The doctor swung around at an amazing speed and met her gazed, a smile forming on his face.
'Damnit!' Gabrielle thought when he saw her.
'I see you!!!' Dr. Lecter thought to himself.
When the doctor started to run at her Gabrielle thought, 'Oh shit! Time to go'
Gabrielle bolted from behind the tree into the field. She could hear him running after her and pushed herself to run as fast as she could. The sudden sprint made her sides hurt, but she wasn't about to loose the game she had started, so she kept running. She was about twenty feet from the blanket and was confident she had won, when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and pick her up.
"Meeeeep!" Gabrielle squealed.
'Damnit! I was soooo close too!' she thought to herself.
Dr. Williamson swung her around a few times then gently put her down. Gabrielle was dizzy from being swung around, and between that and laughing she couldn't keep her balance. Dr. Williamson held onto her arm as she steadied herself, laughing as well.
"You have...to be...the most unpredictable...and spontaneos person...I've ever met." Dr. Williamson said between laughs.
"Are you kidding!!!!"Gabrielle said laughing and panting, "You can't have a picknick without some kind of game!" Gabrielle felt so happy she felt like doing a backflip, so thats what she did. She yelled "Yahoooo!" as she did a cartwheel, going into a round-off, into five back handsprings, and ending with a backflip, landing it pefectly. Dr. Lecter laughed when he heard her yell, "I feel so happy I feel like Gumby"
He watched her as she did some more cartwheels and back handsprings. She was laughing the whole time, and only stopped her gymnastics when she felt her arms would no longer hold her body weight. When Dr. Lecter saw that she was walking back he went over to the basket and pulled out the water bottle he had packed for her.
"Thank you doctor." Gabrielle said when he tossed her the bottle.
"You're welcome." Dr. Williamson said as he sat down in the middle of the blanket.
Gabrielle drank half of it then sat down on the blanket as well. She felt so alive, she hadn't felt like this in years. She felt so light and was almost afraid she might float away. She wished she could feel like this forever. Gabrielle's game had actualy been fun for the doctor. It had felt good to be on some kind of hunt again. He wondered what it would have felt like if they played that game when Gabrielle knew who he really was.
"It's amazing!" Gabrielle said as she stood and looked herself over again.
"What is?" Dr. Williamson asked.
"Whenever I wear knew clothes and I try my best not to ruin them they are always ruined somehow anyway. Yet when I wear good clothes and pay NO attention to them theres not a spot or rip on them!" Gabrielle answered, "Look at me! I swung around a tree branch like a Sloth or Kawala and not a single rip or stain! It's not right!!!"
Dr. Williamson laughed at the exasperated look on Gabrielle's face. There were times when she acted like tomboy, like in the game they had just played. Then there were times when she acted like the teenage girl she was. The way she was reacting now was a little of both, but it was a little more of the teenager in her.
"What, you think it's funny?!?!" Gabrielle asked trying to sound mad but failing miserably which made Dr. williamson laugh harder.
"Oh, you're gonna get it!!!" Gabrielle yelled with a laugh and she dove at him.
Before Dr. Lecter had time to realize what was going on Gabrielle pounced on him. He fell back and instinctively rolled her off of him over his head. Gabrielle was quicker than he thought she was. The doctor only had time to sit upright before she jumped him again, this time from behind. This time the doctor bent forward with the attack and rolled her off his shoulder so she landed in front of him with her head right in front of his lap.
Again Gabrielle gave him no time to react. She rolled over and lunged at him again and managed to keep herself from being thrown again and was able to pin him to the ground. Gabrielle saw surprise in the doctor's and he saw it in her's. They were both amazed that she had pinned him. Her victory was short lived though, because the Doctor quickly regained the upperhand.
Gabrielle squealed and her eyes went wide as he flipped them over so the roles were reversed. Gabrielle noticed he wasn't even breathing hard which made her curious. The doctor had her hands pinned to the ground above her head, it wasn't so tight as to be painfull but when Gabrielle tried to free them she found she couldn't move them at all.
'No! I will be the one to win this game! Not him!' Gabrielle thought and she chuckled outloud.
Dr. Lecter tilted his in inquiry and Gabrielle felt his grip slacken a fraction. Noticing her opertunity, Gabrielle threw all her body weight into rolling him. It worked! She once again had him pinned, but what to do with him? Hitting him was the right thing to do and would be extremely rude. Tickling him? She had no idea if he was even ticklish and it seemed very innapropriate considering the age difference. Then it was the doctor's turn to laugh.
"What?!?" Gabrielle asked as she titled her head as he had done, but making sure her grip didn't falter like his had.
The doctor didn't answer, he just kept laughing.
"What!?!?!" Gabrielle asked and she stood abruptly, "You didn't think I was strong enough to pin you, did you!?!? Well let me tell you"
Gabrielle never got to finish her sentence. This time it was Dr. Lecter who pounced. When Gabrielle hit the ground she managed to roll him off her like he had done the first time she jumped him. She got up and was in the middle of pouncing when the doctor caught one of her arms and twisted it around her back, but not enough to hurt her.
Dr. Lecter put his mouth by her ear and said, "I would never underestimate you miss Helfire"
'Alway the gentleman, calling me by my last name.' Gabrielle thought to herself, 'I think it's time to change that'
"Good." Gabrielle said shortly.
Then without warning she swung her leg behind her and pushed him back so she wouldn't get squished under him. When he let go of her, Gabrielle turned around and when he lay on his back she pounced again.
"Also,..." Gabrielle said as she pinned his hands above his head, "Could you stop calling me by my last name, please? You may be my psychiatrist, but your also my friend and it feels a little weird."
"Alright Gabrielle." Dr. Williamson answered trying to move.
"Thank you doctor." Gabrielle said with a smile and then asked, "Would you like to be able to get up now"
"Yes, that would be very much appriciated. I think I'm on a rock." Dr. Williamson answered.
"Heh, well, you wouldn't be down there if you hadn't jumped me when I stood up!" Gabrielle said as she stood and offered her hand, "You brought that on yourself."
"I am aware of that. But the fun can't be one way now can it?" Dr. Williamson said with a chuckle, as he took Gabrielle's hand and got to his feet.
Both Dr. Williamson and Gabrielle heard her stomach grumble and they laughed. Dr. Williamson looked at his watch and smiled.
"Perfect timing." Dr. Williamson chuckled, "It's already twelve-ten"
"Wow!" Gabrielle said, "Where did the day go?!?" "Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?" "Guess so,...So may I ask what's for lunch?" "Yes you can ask. It doesn't mean you're going to get an answer." "Oy...Gabrielle chuckled...how did I know that was coming"
"If you knew it was coming, Dr. Williamson chuckled as well why did you ask"
"Ehh...for some reason I thought I'd get lucky this time"
"Really...well then I guess today is just not your day"
Gabrielle laughed as they sat on the blanket. Dr. Williamson grabbed the basket from next to the tree and set it next to him. He then proceeded to pull out plates and silverware.
Gabrielle sat on the second lowest branch of the tree their blanket was under, finaly calm enough to read the book she had brought. She let herself speed read at will, seeings how she hadn't read most of the morning. She finished the book by four-thirty, and when she was done she closed the book with a quiet sigh, content with the way things turned out in the end of it. She noticed the doctor was still ready so she slipped quietly out of the tree and put the book back with her purse. She the grabbed her cellphone and climbed back into the tree, this time climbing about half way up.
She turned it on and checked her messages. She noticed she had about five missed calls from Becky and one from Mrs. Mathews. Becky had left no voice message but Mrs. Mathews had and she seemed very happy. When the message was done she called her teacher as she had been instructed.
"Hello? Mrs. Mathews?..." Gabrielle said, "Yes I got your message, what's the good news?...You're kidding right?...no way! Oh that's awsome!...Of course, have I ever been late?...Okay, see you then...buh bye..." Gabrielle hung up the phone and climbed down to the lowest branch.
She tossed it into her open purse and smiled when it made it in. As she turned to climb back up the tree she saw the doctor looking at her.
"I'm sorry, did I disturb you?" she asked.
"No, I just wanted to see where you were when you threw that." He answered, "You were pretty high up earlier, I was just curious"
"Oh, oky doky." Gabrielle said then she started climbing the tree again.
This time she climbed up about three-quarters of the tree. She wanted to sit in the sun. When she got comfortable and was sure she wouldn't fall, Gabrielle closed her eyes and meditated. While she meditated, she thought. She thought about all the new things Dr. Williamson had shown her and taught her. She thought about all the memories and feelings she had delt with in his therapy sessions. She also thought about Becky. The fact that she had called was interesting in and of itself, but the fact that se had called five times made Gabrielle rather curious. She knew there was a good possibility that is was a set up, but part of her wished Becky had called because she actually wanted to talk to her.
Not to make fun of her or critcize her, but to talk to her like she used to when they were best friends. She missed that side of Becky, not the bitchy "queen bee" she had become. Slowly Gabrielle let all the things she had been thinking of go. One by one they floated of into the darkness, and as each one left she felt lighter and lighter. When the last one was gone she slowly brought herself out of her meditateive state. When she was once again aware of her suroundings she took a deep breath to completely clear her head. She was surprised to feel that the sun was still on her face. She has no sense of time while meditating, but she thought it would have taken longer than it obviously had.
"Are you ok?" She heard Dr. Williamson ask.
Gabrielle's eyes flew open, and if she hadn't been so well balanced she would have fallen out of the tree because she was so startled. There he was in the tree with her! What the hell was he doing in the tree?!?
"Doctor!" Gabrielle almost yelled, "What are you doing up here"
"Well, I called you four times earlier and you didn't answer." He said with a smile, "So I climbed up here to see if you were ok. I almost thought you were sleeping, but your breathing was way to even. So I figured you were in some kind of meditation and decided to wait up here patiently till you were done. Sorry to have startled you." "It's ok, you called me?" she asked.
"Yes, your teacher called me about ten minutes ago. She would like me to bring you 'home' a little early today." he answered, "She moved dinner up a couple of hours because I guess she's taking you and your fellow classmates out tonight"
"Interesting. When I called her she told me she wanted to take some of us girls out to a club tonight. I didn't think she wanted to go so bad as to move up dinner. Heh...there's still a lot I have to learn about Mrs. Mathews." Gabrielle said as she ran her hand over her face, "Do we have to leave now"
"Unfortunately, yes." Dr. Williamson answered, "I've got everything but your stuff loaded into the car"
"Okay." Gabrielle said as the doctor started to climb down.
She waited till he was almost to the bottom of the tree before she started climbing down. She jumped out of the tree and went over to her stuff. She put her nylons and shoes back on, grabbed her purse and book and started walking to the car. By the time she got to the car the doctor was already there and had her door open for her. She got in and buckled up as he shut her door and got in his side.
See I told you it was WAY out of character for the good doctor!!! I hope you like it!!! Please review!!!!