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NIGHTMARES

Hannibal wrapped himself in his bathrobe and followed Clarice into the bedroom. She was already under the covers and Hannibal was unsure of what to do. He stood quietly and waited for her to react to his presence.

Clarice glanced over her shoulder and saw her husband standing in the doorway. She watched him for a moment to assess his mood. He didn't appear angry or aggressive instead he appeared wounded. Not physically…mentally.

Though she was nervous she wasn't afraid. He would never hurt me.

"H…have you gotten a handle on it?" she questioned firmly, "I need to know that you know who the hell you're getting in bed with."

"I'm fine Clarice. The shower with you triggered an intrusion of thoughts…memories. I did not expect nor was I prepared for that intrusion. I am prepared for it now…it will not happen again."

Clarice flipped the quilt back from the bed offering Hannibal entrance. He climbed in and quickly scooted his body to spoon against her. They rested together for a few minutes, each without speaking. Hannibal stroked his hand along her thigh but did not seek to escalate the contact. There was comfort only in his touch.

"Are you okay, H?" Clarice questioned, concerned about her husband's state of mind.

"I am…distracted and having some difficulty adjusting. It was a trying few days," he spoke softly in her ear, "I suspect the wounds I incurred are not all visible."

He is Pain.

Clarice pushed him gently away from her body allowing her room to face him.

As she turned over and met his gaze Hannibal raised an eyebrow of concern. Clarice's motivations were never clear to him. Very often, he would expect one outcome and his wife would surprise him by responding in a completely different fashion. He was usually taken quite by surprise. This instance would be no different.

She was, as usual, very direct in her approach, "I know you don't want to talk about this but, after tonight…I want some answers. I think I'm entitled."

Hannibal's heart rate was raised just slightly. He remained outwardly very calm though his insides were tied up in knots.

Drawing in a long deep breath the nervous husband answered very quietly, the calm in his voice masking the anxiety he was feeling, "Have I ever denied you that? Though I may not wish to discuss a particular topic I have never refused answers to your questions Clarice. If you have concerns pose them and I will address each of them honestly."

Clarice laced her fingers through the hair on her husband's chest. She didn't want Hannibal to mistake her questions for jealousy. She asked as calmly and as delicately as possible, "I saw where you slept…there were chains mounted to the bed? You were secured to the bed as you slept?"

His eyes were fixed on hers looking for a sign of her intention. Being unable to ascertain her intention he answered simply, "Yes."

Clarice was careful to reveal no emotion in her questioning. She continued her thought, "Nico slept in the front bedroom?"

Again, Hannibal's eyes searched. He could sense no hostility in her countenance. His nostrils flared almost imperceptibly as he searched the air for a change in her scent, she remained impassive. Confused, he continued to answer honestly, wondering what she was on about, "I did not see where he slept…I would assume you are correct."

Hannibal followed the line of questioning; she would want to know one more thing.

Here it comes…Hannibal dreaded.

She was already fairly convinced that she understood what had happened. The curiosity in Clarice's voice was tinged with trepidation, "So H…where did Emilia sleep?"

Hannibal took a deep breath and spoke quietly, "She slept on the bed beside me."

He did not want to answer that question so he was certain not to elaborate further.

Clarice nodded her head and continued to twirl a finger in the hair on his chest. She did not react with the jealously Hannibal expected. He had prepared for her wrath…her rage about the situation. She remained eerily calm and he found that worrisome, expecting her to explode at any moment.

Hannibal's wife continued to surprise him with her calm questioning, "I know you would never make love to her but I also know that there is a distinction for you and it's that distinction that has me concerned."

Hannibal was fully thrown off by that statement. He quickly flipped through all of the possible points she might consider but couldn't determine what she was referencing. He pursued her thought, "I would be happy to address the topic though I am quite honestly unsure as to precisely what this distinction could be."

His wife's voice became slightly more authoritative as she was obviously quite concerned, "I am speaking about the distinction you have made between making love and having sex. I need to know."

Not a foolish man, Hannibal was not going to offer any extraneous information, therefore he questioned her further, "I need to know precisely what information you are seeking Clarice. Please be as direct as you would like but may I ask you to please be as specific in your questioning as you would like me to be in the answer."

"I just need you to be honest and tell me…you didn't do anything sexual with her did you?" she continued, unsure of how to word her question, "When she touched you in that cemetery…you…responded…physically. I know you would never make love to her but…I need to know whether or not you had sex with her. What went on at night H?"

"Nothing went on Clarice. I did not have sex with her nor did I make love to her because, as you put it, I made every effort not to respond physically."

Clarice rested her head on his chest. "I'm so sorry H…I won't press the point. I know you don't want to talk about this. Not yet anyway. It's just…you killed her in the shower."

"Yes." He watched her eyes. She lowered her face and kissed his chest. She is distracting me with physical contact as she questions me…Clarice you are brilliant, my clever, clever girl.

"It's just that…I've never known you to shower with clothing on."

Here we go… "No."

Clarice ran her hand along Hannibal's abdomen causing a slight shudder from him at the contact. "Why did you kill her then? Why at that precise moment and why there in the shower of all places?"

Hannibal traced tiny infinity signs all over her back and shoulders, his indirect way of telling her he would love her forever. He had come to the realization that he would have to tell her that Emilia was making an advance. He could not lie to her, she would sense the deception.

Hannibal spoke very directly, "She wanted to touch me and I did not want to be touched. I am yours and yours alone, Clarice."

Clarice paused for a moment and considered his response. Satisfied with the answer she closed her eyes, "Okay H, that's enough for now. You know that I love you, right?"

"Yes, I love you as well Clarice." Hannibal gathered his wife to him as if pulling a shield to his body.

Clarice hugged him carefully certain not to put pressure on his healing body. She had placed a down pillow against his body and rested gently against him. Within minutes, both were sleeping quite peacefully.

It was sometime during the night that Clarice shifted and ended up on her side away from Hannibal. Hannibal remained on his back his years of incarceration trained his body to remain still at rest.

An hour, perhaps two hours into their sleep Hannibal began to uncharacteristically shift enough so that Clarice stirred awake and sat up. Confused by the movement and believing Hannibal to be in pain she moved away from his body assuming she had come in contact with his wounds. She watched him carefully to be certain she had not damaged him in some way.

Clarice soon realized that Hannibal was in the throes of a nightmare.

In the dream he should have been a boy as he had been in Lithuania when the events originally occurred, he was however his current self though he was filled with the same loneliness and utter despair that at that time had crushed his youthful heart.

Stumbling through the snow…his exhausted body aching in pain Hannibal searched desperately for help, the chains on his body continually catching along the snow, grasping at him and digging deep bloody gashes into his flesh.

Hannibal reached the crest of a large snow covered hill and collapsed exhausted, waist deep in snow with his chest heaving from his efforts. Dragging himself to his feet, he teetered on weakened legs and slowly regaining his balance he stood and carefully righted himself.

Suddenly the chain around his neck was snapped taut and Hannibal was yanked back off his feet, his body slammed onto an unforgiving patch of ice. As Hannibal's body hit the frozen field and knocked the wind from his lungs he gasped for air, his mouth clutching at the cold for oxygen.

Slowly regaining his composure, he rested for a moment on his back, staring up at the grey sky, the clouds threatening to open upon him. The chain around his throat was continuously being tugged. It was being yanked at so violently and continually that Hannibal reached for the end to halt the pressure and allow him breath. He flipped onto his hands and knees struggling to see what had captured the chain and had been the cause of his anguish.

Looking forward, Hannibal sighted Nico on horseback with his back to Hannibal unmercifully dragging him by the chain. Emilia had her arms around Nico and rode on back of the horse, tossing her head back and laughing hysterically.

Choking, Hannibal reached up desperate to breathe, desperate to relieve the pressure building behind his eyes. He gripped the chain digging his heels into the snow as he prepared to pull back. Emilia looked him in the eye, dragged her tongue in a circle along the inside of her lips and slapped the backside of the horse.

Hannibal closed his eyes and braced himself to be dragged as the horse bolted. The chain stretched, twisting to the limits until he was pulled violently from his feet. Hannibal's neck snapped, his near lifeless body bouncing and twisting along the snow.

Reacting in his sleep to the dream his was experiencing Hannibal twisted on the bed and clawed at the imaginary chain encircling his neck. His body lurched violently forward as he gasped for breath. He was mute with terror, his frame trembling from the perceived lack of oxygen.

Clarice grabbed him and held him close against her body, "H…H! It was only a dream…it was only a dream."

Slowly, Hannibal focused on the room and on his wife's voice. His breathing took several minutes to return to normal.

As Clarice held her husband, his chest heaving and his body still trembling from the experience she came to the realization that as brilliant a man as her husband was, he was a man and even with all his gifts, Hannibal had needs as well. The road to recovery would be a long and tumultuous one and one that for the first time in his life, Hannibal would not be forced to travel alone.

Thanks for your patience and your loyalty. Many thanks to my friends who continue to offer words of support and encouragement! You know the drill! Review and tell me what you think and drop me a pm to say hi!

Until the next chapter my friends!

LH