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THE PRESS CONFERENCE: part one

Clarice casually hooked her arm through Hannibal's and grasped the inside of his forearm holding him close. She elegantly moved beside him keeping fairly in step. He glanced down for just a moment to assess a comfortable gait in relation to his wife's and moved to adjust the length of each step to mirror hers. A flash of recognition and an amused, almost impish smirk crossed his face.

"I do not recognize your shoes Clarice...Gucci?" He whispered quietly in her ear leaning much closer than her hearing dictated.

"I'm a big girl now, H. I am capable of picking out my own wardrobe…shoes included. And for your information they're Prada."

"Well I must say they have caught up nicely with your bag, though I had no doubt they would."

Clarice swatted him playfully with the purse she clutched but was quickly taken aback when a crush of photographers surged forward. Flashes from the many cameras illuminated the darkened sky as the ravenous journalists fought each climbing over another to capture the intimate moment.

"Doctor Lecter! Doctor Lecter!" the reporters called out as if one voice they pressed forward en masse.

The troopers assigned to security were overmatched in comparison to the zeal of the crowd. They quickly moved to protect by extending their arms to form a wall in a valiant effort to restrain the bodies that pressed forward. The relentless surge was such that the officers on duty could not prevent the mainstream and tabloid journalists, much less the aggressive paparazzi from physically accessing the couple.

Their protectors were forced back and found just to the rear of the building, a corner where the brickwork of an addition caused a ninety degree angle thus forming a man-made barrier. The officers directed the couple to the safety of the architectural element. The officers stood their ground but were almost fully backed against Clarice and Hannibal. Additional officers moved in to hurry the questioning crowd back away from the pair.

Hannibal seemed unaffected by the potential dangers. He had assessed the intention of those in attendance and had found excitement and curiosity but no outward hostility. Feeling quite safe despite the confusion he moved closer to Clarice and with an air of seduction very slowly ran his hand beneath the drape of her hair and brushed aside an errant strand. He kissed her gently as he swept it back over her ear.

Hannibal leaned into his adoring wife and nuzzled his nose tickling and nibbling his way along the skin of her neck reaching back beneath her hair seeking her ear. His breath hot compared to the crisp winter air his lips sought her earlobe. He took it in his mouth and nibbled on it, whispering huskily, "Thank God we're alone…wanna have some fun?"

Clarice was amused at Hannibal's faux southern drawl, his constant effort to tease her about her lesser station at birth. She pushed him back in false display of rejection and looking around shook her head at the absurdity of the event. "This is crazy! It's like you're a goddamned rock star or something!"

"Or something," Hannibal joked.

The chief of police addressed the crowd, "Okay people we've got a potentially dangerous situation here. Everyone with a press pass or some form of journalistic credentials line up to have your identification verified and we will allow you into the building a few at a time. If you are not here by invitation please leave the area."

The chief craned his neck to search over the tops of heads for the crew escorting Hannibal and Clarice. When his eyes fell upon them, he called out to the security detail, "Would the officers escorting Dr. and Mrs. Lecter please bring them through the side entrance so that we can secure their safety and move this process along."

The officers followed orders and immediately began to herd the couple around the outside of the building away from the crowd.

Clarice looked to Hannibal, "Jesus…and you wanted this? It's like a feeding frenzy for Christ's sake."

Hannibal placed an arm around her waist and pulled her close to assure they would not be separated in the event some members of the press breached security. His conversation was lighthearted as he focused her attention on the amusement of the situation instead the trepidation she was experiencing.

"You have no one to blame but yourself, Clarice. It was after all your assault to my person that initiated the premature activity. Perhaps you should refrain from beating me with your accessories until we return home. Lord only knows what the caption under that photograph with read."

"It will read, 'Hannibal the Cannibal is beaten with a Prada purse moments before his hormonal wife stabs him to death with his own Harpy. Thank God her shoes were a fine match!' That's how it's going to read."

As they followed the lead of the security team Clarice reached around Hannibal's body, under his suit jacket and slipped her hand into the back pocket of his slacks. She rested her hand on the curve of his backside.

Hannibal was touched by the affection and kissed the top of her head. He laughed aloud heartily over her comments as he found her acerbic humor to be both charming and amusing, "You cannot stab me with my Harpy. You don't have it. I do."

She stopped him in his tracks and grasped his forearm looking directly into his deep set maroon eyes with absolute incredulity, "No. Tell me you do not have that thing with you!"

"Yes I do…why wouldn't I?"

"Why do you insist so much on tempting fate?"

"I do not tempt fate Clarice…I dare it!" He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek as they waited patiently to enter the building.

Again the flashes illuminated the night sky. Clarice blinked back the glare and held a hand briefly over her face to block the brightness until her eyes could readjust. She was not comfortable and was very concerned.

"I've just got a bad feeling about this, too many variables that we can't control."

Though her relaxed physicality belied her anxiety, her emotions were well known to her husband.

"The beauty of life is that it is full of variables, a virtual tornado of activity. It is riding the wave of that utter confusion and chaos that makes it worth living. It is in the rush of adrenalin, the tripping of the heart that truly transcends our existence. It is how we approach the height of our God."

"It always amuses me when you mention God."

"Why is that I wonder, Clarice?" Hannibal tilted his head slightly, curious of her answer.

"Maybe it's because you have spent most of your life at war with him."

"That is precisely the point, Clarice. One cannot be at war with something they do not acknowledge exists. It may not be an anthropomorphic being. It may be the fabric of knowledge and power that wraps itself within and throughout our existence. I cannot pretend to grasp the concept. Though I have long felt his absence I had not felt his presence until you shared your life with me."

"That's why I love you H…you are not what anyone expects. You are much more than anyone knows."

Hannibal kissed her hand, "As are you Clarice."

The troopers were finally able to clear the area and move the journalists into the building. Hannibal and Clarice followed to the alternate entrance

Clarice carried herself with grace, and elegance.

Hannibal was struck by the quiet dignity with which she carried herself. As they reached the building's entrance he stopped momentarily, embraced her and whispered, "I have never been more proud to have a woman on my arm than I am at this moment Clarice. I had no right to expect you by my side but I do want you to know how much it means to me that you are. In my eyes and in my heart you have no equal."

Clarice did not reply verbally. The back of her hand stroking his cheek and the look of love in her eyes said all.

Hannibal was now ready. There was anticipation, as if he were cresting the highest peak on a roller coaster and joyfully preparing for the drop. He reached for the door.

"Okie Dokie Clarice, hold on…here we go!"

THE GATE CRASHERS

Two men had been waiting outside and had heard where the pair would enter the building. They had moved quickly through the crowd. They had visited the building earlier in the day to familiarize themselves with the layout. They walked past the chief of police who nodded a respectful hello to the taller of the two men. The pair strode with purpose through the main entrance intent on intercepting Hannibal at the doorway on the side of the building.

"What do you think he will do?" the smaller man questioned nervously.

The taller man shrugged his shoulders, "I don't think he'll be upset to see me…as for you? I don't know. I guess the only way to find out is to approach him and see. There is one fairly strong indicator."

"And what would that be?"

"I'm on his annual Christmas card list…are you?"

OPENING THE DOOR

Hannibal smiled and moved to open the door for his wife and was obviously very excited to move the process forward. He believed this to be his first fatherly task and was determined that it be a success.

As soon as his hand pressed the handle to open the door Hannibal's eyes widened and his body froze completely. He did not move the large door open, instead he leaned in very slightly and inhaled deeply. As his nostrils flared, Clarice watched him very carefully. She recognized the intense flash of danger in his eyes and she immediately moved her hand along his torso feeling for the Harpy. Hannibal quickly grasped her hand.

"There is no need, Clarice…I am fine."

"I know that look H and it isn't the 'I'm fine' look. It's the 'I'm going to rip someone's heart out' look. Where is it? I want it H and I want it now!"

Hannibal reached up the sleeve of his jacket into the neatly folded material of his French cuffed shirt and slipped the Harpy from safety. He passed the knife to Clarice making absolutely no effort to disguise what he was giving her. She tucked it safely in her Prada bag. The officers guarding him were shocked to see him pass the weapon but made drew no attention to it deeming it no longer a threat.

One of the officers stepped forward. "Are you aware of a threat Doctor Lecter? If there is something you're worried about I'll be first through the door."

Hannibal's demeanor quieted, "No thank you officer, I am quite fine. I can handle this quite well on my own."

Hannibal pushed the door open and swung it widely, "After you my Love," he spoke quietly, "There is no need for worry."

Clarice entered the hallway and saw no one. "There's no one here, H."

"They will be along presently," Hannibal directed as he looked down the long hallway, "The scent is moving toward us and is quite distinctive."

Clarice watched the long corridor with anticipation.

Hannibal stood in the center of the hallway, anticipating, unmoving. As the larger man turned the corner he jumped back, surprised to see Hannibal had obviously already detected his presence. The smaller man rounded the corner as well though with much less authority than his station would indicate.

"Ex- Special Agent Graham, what a pleasant surprise. I see you brought your small pet along."

A shudder ran through Will Graham's body, as if Death had passed him by. "Good afternoon Doctor Lecter. It's a pleasure to see you. I'm certain you remember Doctor Bloom."

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Until the next Chapter my wonderful fan fic friends!

LH