Margot's voice came back on through the speakers, this time more demanding. "Give me one good reason why I should let you in."

"Come on, Margot. You wouldn't open the door even for an old friend?"

"We aren't friends."

"Don't forget what I know too, Margot."

"Was that a threat Doctor?"

"No, not at all. Threats are just empty words, I am making you a promise."

"How dare you show up like this and just expect me to let you in. Seems very rude of you."

"I asked you once nicely. Do not tempt me Margot. I am not in the mood right now. Let me in and we will talk."

"Fine. My wife and child are a sleep. So be quiet."

The iron bar gates opened up slowly. Hannibal drove the ambulance through the gate and down the private road. The gardens surrounded it full of roses and daisies. Hannibal parked it in the driveway and went to the other side of the car. The medicine he got for Clarice was just what was in the ambulance and she would still need some medical attention. He lifted her up into his arms and she sighed. Her head was leaning against his bandaged chest. He carried her in and a waiting them at the door was Margot.

"I didn't know you brought company. And what the hell happened to you."

"Please Margot watch your language. There is no need for it. And if you don't mind Ms. Starling is in need of medical attention. Do you still have a private staff?"

"You know I do, otherwise, you wouldn't have come here."

Margot showed Hannibal to one of the small bedrooms. It looked like something you would find in a hotel. The carpet was soft and the beds were large. A small desk was beside the bed it had one lamp on it. The full moon shown through the large window on the opposite side. He set her down gently and turned to Margot.

"Now then explain to me again why I should help?"

"Because I know you threatened your brother by taking those videos of him molesting children to court. You knew he had money, but you had the evidence. You framed him to get his sperm, and thus, your child."

"Not bad Doctor. All that from just knowing Judy and I live together in this mansion."

"It wasn't too hard. I knew Mason would never just give this to you. He was never forgiving, your brother."

"He is dead isn't he?"

"Yes. What did the news have to say."

"Well the bloody mess over there caused a lot of confusion. Him being eaten by pigs and all. But enough over that bastard. What makes you think the courts will believe the likes of you?"

"Me? Oh they wouldn't know it was from me, but an anonymous tip might just be sent their way."

"You wouldn't.""Believe me Margot. At this point all that we have been through in the last two weeks. I am willing to do whatever it takes."

"Fine. But I want you out immediately after."

"Thank you, Margot. Also, if you try to contact the police…"

"You can stop there. I know very well what you are capable of and I am not stupid enough to do that. I suppose for killing my brother… think of it as an IOU."

"Thanks agai-"

Hannibal started staggering. She caught his arm. He stood up straight again, and she got a good look at him then. His body was well decorated in bruises and cuts. The deep wound in his stomach hadn't completely healed either, probably from moving around so much.

"Ok, ok, you need some help to apparently. Just sleep I will keep an eye out for now."

She walked him to another room just opposite of Clarice's. She had two members of her medical staff come in and take a look at them. They were both rather scrawny. One was name Dr. Stevens and the other Dr. Marcus. Dr. Stevens was treating Clarice. He discovered that she did have a pretty serious flu, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with some medicine and a few nights of rest. As for Hannibal, he needed some new stitches on his stomach and the rest of his body needed to be bandaged and have the bleeding stop. He didn't want to rest despite what the doctor had to say to him. He wanted to sit next to Clarice and just watch her for a while. He walked over to her room and found her sleeping with both her hands on her chest. He sat down in the chair next to the bed and held her hand. She opened her eyes.

"Where are we?" Clarice's voice was still sleepy.

"Safe. I am watching over you, I promise."

"Hannibal you do know why I chose you don't you?"

Hannibal was intrigued by what she had to say in this matter.

"Enlighten me."

"You risked everything just to see me. You risked the things most important to you and you got caught. You stayed by my side when I was shot down. The FBI never once offered support. They always shot me down whenever possible and were quick to send me away. You were the one person I could always trust. I felt like I knew you and at the same time I didn't. I studied everything about you. I was quick to stand up for your actions even when I was getting lectured in the office. You only ever harmed the people you deemed unworthy. True your methods can be brutal and unthinkable. But you never once showed that to me. You were always kind, and the lambs can finally stop screaming in my dreams. All I hear is your voice now. I think about you for at least thirty seconds of everyday after you left. I couldn't let those bastards do that to you. I couldn't stand the thought of you dying. I said it over and over again and it made me sick thinking about it. You gone from this world. I couldn't let them kill you like that."

"Clarice I will always be here for you. Rest now."

He took his other hand and ran it through her hair a few times. She slowly drifted back into a long sleep. Hannibal got up and walked back into his room. Margot was waiting for him there. "Dr. Stevens, and Marcus say you two are recovering pretty quickly. They say you should be back on your feet tomorrow."

"Good. We will need to leave by then. How are things with your family?"

"They are fine and don't worry Judy will keep things quiet. Just sleep and relax."

Hannibal went to his bed and covered up. The bed was soft and he could finally drift into his own sleep. He tried not to worry about things. He knew he needed to rest for now. The house was pretty quiet the rest of the night. Dr. Stevens came in occasionally to check on them. He was rather nice and polite. He was an older man. He had a small moustache and blue eyes. His hair was kept short for the most part. Margot enjoyed his company, because he always gave the best advice with his wisdom. Dr. Marcus came out of med school about two years ago. His hair was kind of long and his eyes were bright green. He was studying under Dr. Stevens for a while. They both were well paid by Margot. She never wanted to attract too much attention to the outside world so she kept most of the necessities at home. The Doctors on staff would work on call whenever she needed them. Since they were both single they stayed in the mansion one the east corner where most of the stay at home staff stayed. Margot wasn't lazy she just had some people to help her around the house. She had the doctors, gardeners, and a babysitter when they were busy. The staff members enjoyed Margot's company, not just because she paid them a considerate amount, but also because she didn't just treat them like common servants. The night was still young, but all ready everyone was asleep. The morning came many hours later. The sun brought some early showers along with it. The clouds were few so the sun could still be seen through small openings in the sky. The rain hit the window lightly and the soft noise woke Clarice from her sleep. It was 9:30. She sat up a little bit. She felt much better than she had the night before. The dizziness had went away and she observed the large room around her. She vaguely remembered having a conversation with Hannibal, but how she got here was still fuzzy. She passed out after the hospital break out. She remembered someone carrying her, then the next thing she remembered was talking to him about why she left the FBI for him. But where was he? Margot came to the door sweaty with a towel around her neck. Apparently she had gotten back from morning workouts. She usually lifted weights and went biking.

"Hello Ms. Starling. I heard so much about you. It is nice to finally meet you when your awake. My name is-"

"Margot? I read about you when I was researching your brother. He gave you a generous donation of money."

"You really do your reading. So how are you feeling this morning?"

"Fine actually."

"Where is Hannibal?"

"No need to worry he is in the other room sleeping still. Lazy ass."

Clarice smiled at that. "Can I see him?"

"Sure. And when your done breakfast is downstairs, to the left and in the kitchen."

Clarice nodded her head and got up out of bed. She waked next door where Margot showed her the door. She opened the door softly, and sure enough he was still asleep. She went over to the bed and gently woke him up. There was no outside change in his appearance.

"You really should be resting as much as possible, dear."

"I thought I would come to check in on you. Are you feeling all right?"

"I will be fine."

She gently brought her hand up to his chest and moved some of the bandages away to look a the wound. It had stopped bleeding and was healing nicely. Even the bruises and cuts were clearing up.

"See, I told you."

She leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

"You are probably the most arrogant man I ever met."

"Thank you."

"It wasn't a compliment smart ass."

She kissed him again on the lips. "It is just like you said last night. I am not going to leave you."

Hannibal got up and Margot walked through the door again.

"So you are up now? Well listen I don't know if they are going to fit but Dr. Marcus might be the same size as you, and Clarice, July was pretty small herself before she got pregnant. So try these on you two."

She tossed some clothes onto the bed and Clarice and Hannibal thanked her. The doctor's clothes fit Hannibal pretty well. He put on a button up shirt and some black trousers. Clarice just put on a t-shirt and some jogging pants. They fit her fine too. They started to descend down the steps and Hannibal found Margot in the kitchen and began talking to her again. Clarice sat down and ate in what seemed like a minor eternity.

"We will be out in just an hour."

"Listen take my car to the airport. I don't suppose you won't to drive that big ambulance there."

"That is too much, Margot."

"No. Thank of it as a repayment for being an ass to you yesterday. You supported me through my brother even when everyone else pointed and laughed. I questioned you rudely and consider this my final thank you and goodbye."

"Thanks Margot, for everything. And there is no need to apologize you know very well what I am capable of. I can see why trust is a hard thing on your part."

"Will you be ok from here?"

"Yes. Nothing will stand in our way. From this point, I will do whatever it takes to see to our freedom, even if it takes a life or two. The FBI are rather careless and scatter brained. They will not catch us off guard again like that."

It was then Clarice's thoughts drifted back to Ardelia. Her friend sacrificed herself for the two of them. Clarice tried to push the idea out of her mind. Ardelia would never be forgotten, and to Clarice, she was the best friend she could ever wish for. Now Hannibal and Clarice were finally together waiting for their next big move. The time was almost right.

A/N: So thanks to all the people who keep reviewing and reading. I am trying to expand my writing a little more. Truthfully one of my fears for doing so is because I am scared they might end up extremely out of character. But I am slowly starting to get more comfortable with writing. So please keep reviewing I have plenty more to come. Thanks again.

Kanan