HANNIBAL HELD

Hannibal, now for the most part neutralized, allowed the relieved officers to secure him. The lead Agent waved a two man team into the area pushing the hand truck they would use to transport Lecter. Clarice clung to him as if her very existence hinged on his presence. Hannibal whispered in her ear.

"Do not give them this satisfaction, my Love."

Fixed on her eyes he nodded his pride as he watched the weakness leave them. Resolved, she stepped back from him and he smiled.

"Brave Clarice... I fear the lambs may return while I am in the presence of the wolves. Make an effort to keep them at bay…for the sake of the child."

"I will H."

Hannibal stepped onto the narrow platform of the gurney and waited patiently as the officers secured him to the frame. He could feel their heartbeats in the pit of his stomach. He could smell the fear, the pungent flavor of it writhing over his taste buds as he inhaled deeply. So pleased was Hannibal with this reaction to him that he could not suppress the voice within him that said.

Do it.

When the agents were closest, both mere inches from him, distracted as they checked the placement of the restraint mask, Hannibal, for his own pleasure, lunged at the closest man. He bared his teeth and hissed the sound that chilled Clarice to the core upon their first meeting.

Thhht thhht thhht thhht thht thhht thhhht!

The man closest to Lecter stumbled back in panic and fell in a heap. Terrorized, he scuttled backward along the cement floor as if the sound itself could wound mortally.

Clarice smiled. At that moment she saw a switch flip in her husband. He chose Power. He did not have it within him to choose Victim.

"Special Agent Marley?" Lecter called to Logan.

Logan ran to Hannibal's side. "What can I do for you Doc? Name it and it's done."

"Please ask Miss Mapp to care for Clarice while I am indisposed. If you would attend to that for me I would be tremendously grateful to you, Logan."

"Don't worry, Doc. We'll take care of Clarice and the baby. You tell them what they want to know so we can get you both out of here."

The Agents disregarded the conversation between Logan and Lecter and began to move the gurney. Logan pushed one man back and grabbed the shirt of the other, twisting the fabric and lifting the agent to the tips of his toes.

"That was very, very rude. If I were you I would be much more polite when you handle my good friend here. He hates rude people."

"Unless accompanied by a balsamic reduction and an understated Montrachet…that would do rather nicely." The Doctor added, staring the men down with a wicked smile.

The reference to cannibalism adjusted the attitudes of the Agents in question. They paused and let Logan finish speaking.

"As I was saying Doc…no worries, Clarice will be taken care of. I'll see to it myself."

"Thank you Logan." Hannibal next turned to Clarice.

"Your friend has the information, Clarice. Mind that you follow my instructions. It may seem contrary to your intuition but there is method to my madness…understood?"

"Yes, H."

Hannibal nodded to the Agents. Politely taking his cue they wheeled him up a ramp and into an unmarked commercial vehicle. He winked at Clarice as they closed the doors.

She wouldn't break eye contact until the doors were fully closed. She wouldn't break down until she saw Ardelia.

Hannibal wouldn't break.

INTAKE

Hannibal had not been strip searched in years. He had vivid memories regarding the intrusive nature of the examination but treated it as exactly that, an examination. He was wholly unaffected by what others would describe as the shame of the procedure. Hannibal felt no shame. The more degrading the process, the more regal was his bearing as if the indignity of the experience was being redirected from Hannibal to those asking it of him.

The correctional officer placed in charge of his intake was dignified and considerate.

"Doctor Lecter, if you would allow me to remove this straight jacket?"

Hannibal nodded.

"And the mask?"

Hannibal nodded again.

"Can I ask you Sir, as a gentleman for your word that I may trust you without use of these restraints? I understand that you are in our care for an evaluation. As such, I am considering you a guest at our facility and not an inmate. I would like your word that you will behave as such, though unfortunately the search procedure will have to remain the same.

Hannibal nodded and to his surprise, the officer removed the jacket and the mask.

"Please disrobe Doctor."

Hannibal removed his clothing and stood facing the officer.

"Open your mouth and move your tongue from side to side…underneath."

The officer checked Hannibal's mouth to be certain no objects had been placed along his gum line.

"Thank you Doctor, now if you would, please show me your hands, and your feet by lifting them."

Hannibal complied.

"Thank you Doctor…if you would please squat down, lift and cough."

Again, very calmly, Hannibal complied.

"Please redress yourself in the clothing provided. Thank you for your cooperation, Doctor."

After donning his prison uniform, Hannibal was moved in cuffs and leg chains from the intake area to an administrative segregation cell. He was kept very far from the general population, for the safety of the other inmates. That meant no contact for twenty three of twenty four hours per day.

Well, no matter. It isn't as if I'm here to make friends.

At no point during this process did Lecter speak. He was alert and polite, nodding yes or shaking his head no if a direct question was asked him. Other than that, he had no need to make conversation. This was a business arrangement, Quid pro quo.

He was released into his ten by twelve foot cell at just after ten in the evening. Lecter stood beside the metal table, next to the metal chair, across from the metal toilet. He paced back and forth for a moment, his mind flashing back to Baltimore. He could imagine himself as he was then. Bored, and listless, a dangerous and unpredictable being, until she came into his life. He would do anything to protect her, to protect their child. He walked to the bed and rested his tired body on the thin mattress covering the concrete slab that would be his nightly accommodation, yet in all this, Hannibal smiled.

Well, with Chilton gone…at least I have a toilet seat. He closed his eyes and thought of Clarice.

CLARICE ALONE

Clarice didn't speak the entire ride back from the hangar to the duplex she had shared with Ardelia.

Bowman and Logan sat as if they were at a funeral. They didn't speak or turn toward each other. Logan dropped Bowman off with a nod. When they were a respectable distance from Bowman's residence Logan spoke up.

"Clarice…it's my fault they have Hannibal. I clicked on the link and accidentally showed Lloyd that video. I'm really sorry. It's my fault."

"It's not your fault Logan. I don't know why, but Hannibal wanted to do this. No one forced him into it. As a matter of fact, I tried desperately to stop him…he wouldn't listen."

"Yeah, well I think he'd be a pretty tough guy to argue with…I guess if his mind is made up…that's it."

"Exactly."

Clarice looked out the window at the trees passing by and remembered the ride back from Verger's Farm, the bullet from the Sardinian still in her body. She looked over at Hannibal and wondered what would become of her. That was until she caught sight of his flashing maroon eyes, burning with concern for her. Knowing by his expression that she was indeed safe, she allowed herself to sink against his body as he carried her into the house.

Dizzy from blood loss she could only listen as he hurried from room to room, assembling what he needed for her surgery. She could smell his cologne as he leaned over her to check the wound. She could remember the delicate pressure of his gentle touch as he checked her vital signs. She closed her eyes, unafraid.

Ardelia was waiting in the doorway as Logan pulled up in front of the house. Clarice assumed Bowman called ahead. Logan ran around the car to let Clarice out. She stepped out of the vehicle and began walking toward her old residence. It seemed so foreign to her.

"Welcome home, Clarice." Ardelia exclaimed, as friendly and welcoming as she could manage.

Clarice couldn't even force a fake smile. This isn't home…Hannibal is home.

She was emotionally and physically exhausted.

"Hey Dee..." That was all Clarice could manage.

"Hey, Girl…you okay? I heard it was rough."

"It was beyond rough…it was fucking hell. I can't even imagine what he's going through…he's all alone."

Logan put an arm on her shoulder to comfort her. "Clarice…he's not alone…he has you now and the baby. He'll never be alone again."

MORNING

Morning found Hannibal Lecter in much the same position he had assumed when first he closed his eyes. The noise was the most disconcerting aspect of the return to prison thus far. Inmates continued to yell obscenities and hurl objects for the better part of the night. Hannibal placed his mind elsewhere, waiting patiently for the psychological evaluation he assumed would begin today.

They won't waste time. They can't afford to take the chance that he might hurt the girl.

He could smell them walking the row.

A combination of Aqua Velva and fear… Pearsall. The correctional officer who helped during the intake process was present and another man…unknown…possibly the father.

Hannibal stood in the center of the cell and waited. The door was solid steel with no way of seeing the individual on the outside. The food tray was unlocked and the correctional officer spoke through the opening.

"Excuse me, Doctor Lecter. There are two gentlemen here who wish to speak with you. I will accompany you to an interview room. When they are finished, there will be a psychiatrist arriving to interview you. Would you please approach the food port and cuff up?"

"Yes, of course, Officer." Hannibal walked quietly to the opening, turned and offered his wrists. The officer cuffed him securely and attached a sort of leash to the cuffs to allow the door to be opened.

"Thank you, Doctor."

The officer was an older man, large, exceedingly polite and well-mannered. Hannibal guessed that was the reason this man had been assigned to him. He didn't look as though he rattled easily.

As Hannibal stepped out onto the tier Pearsall appeared nervous. The other gentleman was smiling.

Pearsall spoke first. "Doctor Lecter, this is Prime Minister Bashandi. Prime Minister…Doctor Hannibal Lecter."

Lecter nodded and smiled politely. "Please forgive me, Prime Minister…I am unable to shake your hand. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Bashandi set his hand on Hannibal's shoulder, a gesture of gratitude and trust.

"Doctor Lecter I cannot tell you how thankful I am for your cooperation. I fear my daughter is in tremendous jeopardy. Your help is my only hope."

"Not at all, Prime Minister, I am all to glad to assist you. I promise that your daughter will be returned to you very soon."

As the group moved through the prison, the guard's eyes did not leave Hannibal.

Hannibal's eyes were everywhere.

Pearsall directed the Prime Minister to enter the conference room first, then followed him into the room. There was a metal table bolted to the floor in the center of the room. The correctional officer unhooked the leash from the cuffs.

"Doctor Lecter do you see the circular metal fixture welded to the table?"

"Yes Officer, I can see it."

"I am going to release your cuffs and attach them to the table. I would like to ask you give me your word that you will allow this procedure."

"Certainly Officer."

The Officer unhooked the cuffs and paused.

"Would you like a moment to allow the circulation to return to your hands?"

Hannibal considered the offer and was pleased at the level of trust this officer showed.

"Thank you, that won't be necessary. I wouldn't want Director Pearsall to feel uncomfortable."

"I am charged with your comfort, Sir. Not Mr. Pearsall's. Please take a moment and check your wrists. I am concerned that the handcuffs may cause discomfort to your left arm. I see that you have had a very significant injury and I don't wish to exacerbate your condition."

Hannibal tilted his head, considering the situation. He rubbed his wrists and checked the site of his reattachment. It took Lecter less than a minute to process the situation and make a correct assessment.

"There has been no damage to the surgical site. I thank you for your concern and please, offer my dear friend Barney my very best wishes when next you speak."

The guard smiled as he proceeded to link Hannibal's cuffs to the welded mount on the table, shocked that from that limited interaction, Lecter had picked up on that friendship.

"You are a remarkable man, Doctor Lecter. I will indeed pass your good wishes along."

The officer stepped out of the room and closed the door, but remained just outside and watched from the window, more for Hannibal's protection than the other gentleman.

Pearsall spoke as he passed a folder across the table to Hannibal. "Doctor Lecter this is a copy of the order of commutation. It directly commutes every charge of which you have been convicted. You have been assigned an attorney and will be afforded the opportunity to speak with him after the psych profile has been completed, unless you would like to consult with him prior to the testing."

"I have no need of the attorney at this time. I trust that you will hold up your end of the bargain."

Bashandi spoke up, agitated that the process was taking too long.

"Doctor Lecter? Could you please identify the man known as the Chesapeake Ripper Reincarnate? Anything you could offer to us would help my daughter. I am concerned that all of the bureaucrats I have spoken to are more worried about paperwork or political agendas than saving the life of my daughter. Are you a father, Doctor Lecter?"

"Not yet, Prime Minister…soon. My wife is pregnant with our child."

Pearsall's eyes shot over to Hannibal. "Did you just say that Starling is pregnant with your child?"

"Yes, Deputy Director. My wife is pregnant and it is my child."

"She said you would never rape her."

"She is my wife! Why would I need to rape her? Did you rape your wife to produce your daughter?"

"Don't you talk about my wife or my daughter you goddamned animal!"

"But you may feel free to accuse me of a crime against the woman I love?" Hannibal was livid and wanted nothing more than to reach across the table and choke the life out of Pearsall.

Bashandi verbally stepped between them. "Please, gentlemen this is about my daughter."

He turned to Lecter. "As a new father you understand what I would do to protect her. If you know the name of the man…please, I beg of you tell me."

Hannibal folded his cuffed hands and calmly answered. "His name is Miggs…Stuart Miggs."

Until the next chapter, my friends!

LH