Special thanks to my fan fic friends who contributed questions to the press conference! I believe I fit most of them in! Enjoy!

THE PRESS CONFERENCE: QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Hannibal leaned on the rostrum and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My remarks will be brief. Let me begin by saying Officer Peterson and I have discussed yesterday's misunderstanding at length. Pleasantries were exchanged and all is well. There is no need for the conversation to be repeated as it is a private matter between men of good will. Although this situation has played out in a very public forum the officer's heartfelt regrets will not be made as such.

Before I turn this back to the mayor please allow me the indulgence of thanking my wife, Clarice and Officer Peterson's wife Angela for their love and support. It has been a difficult twenty-four hours for all concerned. The support of our spouses has proven invaluable. Thank you."

Hannibal turned from the podium, reached for Clarice and escorted her to their seats. The seating placements had been fitted with a microphone fixed to the table in front of each participant. Instead of utilizing the microphone available at his seat the mayor, enjoying the limelight returned to the podium. He waved, hand signaling someone in the audience to move forward. There was an attractive young girl, obviously a representative from the mayor's office with a microphone. She walked nervously to the front of the auditorium and stood just to the right of the stage.

"We will now take questions. The intern with the microphone will come to you so if you have a question, raise your hand. You were briefed in the memo sent to your respective employers so remember the ground rules people. If you ask a question that is off limits or out of bounds, you will be denied further questions. Doctor Lecter and his wife are very private people but have generously agreed to this so you can mark my words people…if I hear the 'C' word…you're outta here!"

Clarice knitted her eyebrows together in confusion and turned to Hannibal, "The 'C' word?"

Hannibal flashed his small white teeth with a Cheshire cat grin, "Cannibalism…Clarice."

"Ohhh…That 'C' word," she smiled rolling her eye to accent the sarcasm.

A reporter in the front row stood and the young girl with the microphone hurried over, "My question is for Officer Peterson, Officer what did you think when you saw Doctor Lecter leaning over the woman with that knife?"

Peterson's face was pouring with sweat, "I don't know…it was all a blur. Doctor Lecter tried to tell me that he was helping her…I don't know…I was terrified… I have no excuses."

Hannibal leaned into his microphone. He didn't want the officer to be grilled endlessly as that would defeat his purpose. He spoke very clearly and gently.

"Let me expedite this process, ladies and gentleman. We are all aware of my past. Keeping that in mind Officer Peterson is a victim in this situation as well. I had a knife in my hand and although I did not brandish it in a threatening way, when one considers my history with that knife, the perception may be that the blade becomes less a tool and more a weapon. That image, combined with the lurid stories associated with my so-called crimes can be quite terrifying and more than a little intimidating."

A tall, thin woman in the second row stood and again the girl with the microphone hurried across the room. Her question was direct and one that Hannibal had hoped would come up.

"Does that perception anger you in any way, Doctor Lecter?"

Hannibal softened his voice, certain that it would be smooth and non-threatening, "No, I haven't the right to be angry at the situation. Nor do I have the right to be indignant if someone reacts with trepidation to that sight. It is their perception. It is their reality. It is my responsibility to live a life that changes that perception. It is my responsibility to work to earn trust."

A hand in the back went up sending the young intern jogging to the rear of the auditorium.

The questioning woman was rather large and breathed heavily from the effort of standing, "Do you think that will be a quick process?" she asked as she reached for her seat.

"I understand that will take time. I am more than willing to accept that protracted effort as a consequence of my past and, for the sake of my wife and my unborn child I will work very hard prove that fact to all of you."

Another hand meant another quick jog for the young girl. "Hello Doctor Lecter…your wife…Clarice was a former FBI agent?"

"Yes, she was an agent. That is correct."

"How'd you land her if you don't mind me asking?"

"I am a fortunate man. She is quite exceptional in that she saw past my situation and judged me based on our interactions and not on how I am perceived by others. She is quite intuitive and intelligent. In our relationship, Clarice is the seat of power. We are fortunate. She and I have a very special relationship."

"And Clarice is pregnant? With your child?"

"Don't even go there!" Clarice interrupted.

Hannibal leaned slightly forward, "Yes, I am indeed the father and the baby is due in April."

The man continued, "Are you looking forward to fatherhood Sir? Will you be planning more children?"

Hannibal didn't shift his eyes toward Clarice but he could feel her eyes upon him. Hannibal smiled widely and spoke very clearly, "I am looking forward to fatherhood very much and if given my way, my lovely wife will give birth to several children. I have decided that I would like a rather large family. She may have a different response however. We have not had an opportunity to discuss the subject."

Clarice leaned into the microphone, "Why don't we take this one baby at a time, H…okay?"

Hannibal laughed, "Yes of course, Clarice. Still…there would be lots of love to go around… big family…brothers and sisters for Junior."

"One baby at a time, H!" she teased.

The man with the question pursued the topic, "Junior…is it a boy Doctor?"

Hannibal smiled proudly, "Yes, we are indeed expecting a son."

Flashes went off as Hannibal leaned over and kissed Clarice. She returned the kiss momentarily, though when Hannibal pursued her, she pushed him back playfully. "There's a time and a place, H."

A woman standing off to the side away from the group raised her hand and called for the microphone. When the intern obliged she questioned, "Doctor Lecter, how do you intend to support your family? Would you ever consider returning to medicine? No doubt you would be an asset to any hospital or clinic?"

"I have no desire to return to medicine though if I did…the background check might prove…troublesome."

The audience laughed collectively at Hannibal's self-deprecating humor.

"As to supporting my wife and any future children, I am the only surviving member of my family, thus the only heir. Both my parents were killed during the Second World War. Years later I was able to recover the bulk of the financial assets and several of their properties and funds reverted to me. I have no need of additional income."

The pretty intern with her hair pulled back trotted across the front of the auditorium to reach another journalist. Hannibal watched her as she bounded from one person to the next and was reminded just how much he liked ponytails. Clarice watched him as he tracked her across the room and nudged him with her elbow.

"You can look, but don't ever think about touching." she teased playfully with her hand over the microphone.

"Never my Love."

The intern finally reached her target, a small round headed man with perspiration on his lip. As she held the microphone in front of him he firmly gripped her wrist, more to steady himself than to assist her in any way. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"Doctor Lecter? You were recently held hostage for several days and were treated quite brutally. There have been reports you murdered one or both of the assailants. What do you think that says about you?"

"I do not believe self-defense is classified as murder, is it Doctor Bloom?"

"And the fact that you have killed again…should this be cause for the public's concern."

"I cannot see why it would be. Charges were not brought against me. Due to the rather sensitive facts of that case the situation was never made public therefore I am unsure as to why you yourself are aware of them but be that as it may let us address the situation directly. I was held and was being tortured by two very deviant and dangerous individuals. I had reached the limits of my body's ability to withstand the punishment. I was informed by my captors that my wife would be taken in my stead had I reached the limits of my endurance. Believing as I did that they would move on Clarice, I chose to fight back. What do I think that says about me? It says that I will not allow anyone to harm the woman I love. It makes me the husband of a remarkable woman who I would do anything to protect. That makes me a man, Alan…nothing more…nothing less."

Clarice's eyes welled and the tears spilled unabated. She hadn't known the entire story and had no idea Hannibal had sacrificed so much to protect her. Clarice reached for his hands, his fingers tightly interlaced and white knuckled before him. She left the hand resting on his and sought his gaze. He would not shift from Bloom. She could feel his body trembling.

Clarice moved closer, "H…H…I had no idea."

"Not now, Clarice…Please."

Clarice put her arms around Hannibal and choked back the tears. He turned to her, wrapped his arms around her and held her. He tucked his face along the side of her neck and kissed her. He could feel the tears spilling.

"I'm so sorry, H…I didn't know…I didn't know."

"Clarice…please, there is no need for this. We are together... I am fine."

"I almost lost you…I almost lost you."

The microphones were uncovered. Hannibal and Clarice did not realize this intimate exchange was being picked up by the news feeds live.

Bloom not realizing how unsympathetic he was coming across, continued to pursue Hannibal verbally, "Doctor, do you ever wonder what happened to the Doctor who disappeared in the Bimini… Doctor Chilton?"

Hannibal pulled away from Clarice and smoothed his hands up and down her arms. When he was certain she had calmed he turned to Bloom and smiled a wicked smile.

"Wonder about him? No. Though I am reminded of the words of Mark Twain, 'I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.' Rest assured I found his death to be quite pleasurable."

The assemblage laughed at the gallows humor.

The mayor stepped in. "That's enough Doctor Bloom you've had your say."

Clarice spoke quietly into her microphone.

"I'd like to say something. My husband is the most honorable and principled man I have ever met. He is attentive and loving and when those vicious people took him they savaged his body. I wish I could have spared him that. He is a man…he is a good man…he's my man and he willingly suffered inhuman levels of physical abuse for me. I don't see why I should allow him to suffer your abuse as well, Doctor Bloom. Not for your entertainment or your personal agenda. You've long considered Hannibal your rival. That's laughable because you aren't in his intellectual league. You stand to gain by damaging him. I won't allow him to suffer your indignities any longer."

She turned to Hannibal, "No more questions, H…no more. You're through."

"Very well, Clarice."

Hannibal's neighbor reached for Clarice's hand and leaned into his microphone.

"I would like to say that Doctor Hannibal Lecter has been a good friend to my wife and I. He cooks food and brings it to the house. He sits and visits with us. He comes over on holidays to celebrate with us. He has become like the son we lost so many years ago. If he were not our neighbor…If he had not been there for us…my wife would be dead and I would be alone." The old gentleman stood and approached Hannibal.

Hannibal stood and extended his hand. The old man took his hand and shook it. He reached up with his free hand and patted Hannibal on his face. Hannibal smiled.

"Like my wife says to you all of the time…your mother would be proud of you Hannibal. You are a good man."

The mayor took the opportunity, "That concludes the press conference. Thank you all for coming."

Hannibal left the dais and moved quickly through the audience. Doctor Bloom saw him approach and attempted to leave. He was interrupted by the flow of traffic as the participants left their seats simultaneously. Hannibal caught up to him.

"Doctor Bloom? A word please?"

Bloom turned to face Hannibal. Hannibal smoothed a hand over Bloom's overcoat as if fixing the lapels. He felt a small protuberance and reached quickly into the breast pocket. He retrieved the camera.

"Thank you for holding this for me Doctor Bloom. I appreciate your assistance."

Bloom was upset but could not respond, "Not a problem, it was my pleasure Doctor Lecter."

Hannibal returned to Clarice and handed her the camera. She slipped it in her purse. "You are amazing."

"You are as well Clarice." Hannibal turned to his neighbor, "Are you returning to your home tonight?"

"Yes, the mayor said he will get a cab for me."

"You are welcome to ride with us. You may want your little dog to keep you company until your wife is able to return home. He has missed you tremendously."

Clarice followed Hannibal's lead, "Please it would be no trouble."

"Thank you…that would be wonderful."

As Clarice and Hannibal walked side by side with their neighbor Hannibal spoke quietly, "Bloom knew the facts about my capture. As I know none of our friends would have divulged that information, one person remains."

"Pearsall?"

"Pearsall."

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review and let me know what you think, then pm and say hi!

Until the next chapter my friends!

LH