WELCOME BACK MY FAITHFUL FRIENDS

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Clarice woke conspicuously early the morning of Hannibal's meeting with Pearsall.

Hannibal didn't question her leaving the bed as she often got up to use the bathroom. The baby seemed to find the most inopportune times to situate directly on her bladder therefore early morning bathroom trips were becoming the norm. He became concerned when Clarice did not return to bed. He showered, dressed and followed the scent of brewing tea to the kitchen.

Hannibal entered to see Clarice sitting at the table sipping a cup of chamomile. He moved behind his wife and bent to kiss her. After placing the gentlest of kisses on her cheek he whispered softly in her ear, "I grew worried when you did not return to our bed, Clarice. Are you ill?"

Clarice trilled a teaspoon nervously against the china tea cup, "No… I'm okay, H. Sorry to worry you. I'm just…pent up."

Without speaking Hannibal pulled his wife against his body and stretched her back allowing her spine to pop and crack releasing the tension gripping her.

"Oh, H…that's awesome…mmmm," she responded with near breathless appreciation as she shrugged and rolled her shoulders to work out the kinks.

Feeling the tension Hannibal massaged her deltoids drawing his thumbs upward in small circles to knead her weary body. His touch was firm as he sought to work the knots and strains from her muscles. It was his most fervent desire to care for his wife. Stubborn and independent she rarely pampered herself therefore he often found it necessary to attend to her needs knowing she was neglectful.

"May I prepare your breakfast? I can make an egg white omelet with some fresh vegetables perhaps."

Clarice set the spoon aside and leaned her body into his, resting her shoulders against his stomach. She tilted her head upward to make eye contact, "I don't really feel like eating."

Hannibal leaned over and kissed her forehead. His voice was smooth and gentle, "You may not my Love, but the child requires it."

Clarice sighed as she reluctantly conceded to her husband, "Fine. Do we at least have broccoli?"

"Yes, of course. Eggs whites and fresh broccoli…would you like me to add a bit of cheese?"

"That would be great. Cheddar if we have it." Appreciating his attention Clarice reached back and rubbed her hands up and down Hannibal's legs. "It's so sweet how much you worry about me. I want you to know that it means a lot to me."

"You mean everything to me Clarice. I will do any and all to insure your health and that of our child." He bowed his body, kissed her forehead and after smoothing his palms across her shoulders left her reluctantly to prepare her food.

Clarice studied Hannibal's demeanor as he moved about the kitchen. He seemed confident and relaxed; the antithesis of her current emotional state. She coveted his calm.

Adoring her husband more each day Clarice smiled at his tranquil demeanor, "How the hell do you do it, H?"

Hannibal was heating a pan and assembling his ingredients. He listened to Clarice but attended to the job at hand. He questioned while cracking and separating the eggs, "Are you referring to my meal preparation or do you have something else on your mind?"

"I'm referring to the fact that we have a meeting in four hours with Pearsall. He'll be judging you…he'll be making decisions that affect our future. If he thinks you're a couple of fries short of a happy meal they're going to try and get an arrest warrant on the deaths of Nico and that bitch you took out in the shower."

Hannibal cracked the eggs, separated the yolks into a different bowl and whisked the egg whites quickly with a fork. With a flourish he added salt and pepper to the mixture.

Given the contentious nature of the subject Hannibal spoke with an exceptionally eerie calm, "They may arrest me. They may imprison me but I can assure you with all confidence that the odds of a conviction would be miniscule. The physical damage I endured before I had been able to free myself was far too extensive. It would be obvious to any and all, especially given my age, that it would not have been long before my body succumbed to the injuries. An attorney with even the most limited skills would prevail."

Clarice watched as Hannibal tossed the pan sending small pieces of fresh broccoli tumbling in the air and into the pan repeatedly.

"H they don't need a conviction. They only need to convince a judge that you're a flight risk in order to hold you without bond. With all of the property you own around the world it wouldn't take much convincing. How well do you think you'd do if they tossed you in prison again?"

Hannibal added the eggs and swirled the pan assuring they cooked evenly. He tilted the pan flipped the broccoli into the center, added cheese and folded the eggs. All the while he continued to talk about a possible incarceration as if discussing the weather.

"If I were certain of your safety my status would be of little consequence to me. It matters little where my body is held as I am able to place my mind elsewhere. It would be inconvenient but temporary."

"How long do you think it would be before you cracked? How long could you take it?"

"Indefinitely though I would not fare well knowing that you were alone. I would become quite agitated if the birth of the child approached and the circumstances had not been resolved. Bloom would know that I am exceedingly patient and would not recommend they attempt to wait me out. The odds are much more likely that they would attempt to draw me into a physical conflict."

Hannibal plated the omelet and carried it to Clarice. He then moved to slice and juice oranges.

Clarice picked up the fork to take a bite but paused as she processed Hannibal's last comment, "Why would they do that?"

Hannibal smiled as he walked across the room and placed a glass of the juice in front of her. He seemed almost amused as if the answer was something that should have naturally occurred to her, "Because Clarice that would give them enough reason to kill me."

Clarice reached back and smacked his backside, "Jesus Christ, H that isn't funny! Don't say that!"

Standing quietly beside her as yet unconcerned he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Saying a thing or not saying a thing will not alter the outcome. Whatever is to happen, will happen."

Clarice waved her fork at Hannibal before returning to her omelet, "Don't give me that Que sera sera crap!"

"Call it what you will your angst does not modify the situation. You must realize that no matter how much emotion you heap on a subject you will not affect the outcome. You are carrying our baby Clarice. Do not let outside influences affect your emotions. Trust that I will protect our family. You must as well."

"I know you'll protect us H and of course I trust you. I just don't get how you stay so unemotional."

Hannibal sat beside his wife and answered her dispassionately, "I am quite emotional. I just do not see the point in becoming overly emotional. Nor do I feel the need to illuminate my emotional state as if it were a neon sign on constant display."

Clarice chugged the orange juice and placed the glass on the table as if she had just tossed back a shot accenting her words, "Yeah well we don't all have your epic self-control."

"Not to worry Clarice. Allow me to will run a bath for you. After you have had a bit of time to relax we will ready ourselves for the meeting with Deputy Director Pearsall. Perhaps if we put our heads together we can decide together on an acceptable course of action."

Clarice mumbled sarcastically as she stuffed another bite in her mouth, "I was thinking the Harpy would handle that nicely."

"Do not tempt me my Love. It has been quite some time since I exercised that particular pleasure. I would find it most satisfying to clean Pearsall's blood from that blade."

"Better save it for Bloom," she answered finishing the last forkful of her breakfast.

Hannibal replied with a wink, "As you wish, Clarice…As you wish."

THE MEETING

Clarice and Hannibal waited in a small reception area waiting for Ardelia, Logan and Bowman. Barney had to work a double shift at the hospital so he provided a detailed affidavit attesting to everything he witnessed.

Ardelia and Clarice had spent quite a lot of time with Barney to be certain all of their descriptions were identical. Barney then went to a notary public and after providing identification, signed the paperwork and had the detailed account of Hannibal's torment certified.

"Hey is this where the party is?" Logan boomed as he entered the room.

"Oh yea…if by party you mean goddamned inquisition," Clarice commented with ample helpings of sarcasm.

"Make an effort not to be tedious Clarice…" Hannibal spoke quietly, "…defensive behavior denotes guilt. We have no need of it here."

Ardelia and Bowman followed. Ardelia put an arm around her best friend, "Hey, y'all ready for the meeting?"

"Ready as we'll ever be," Clarice answered, looking to Hannibal for moral support.

Hannibal's voice was solid. He hoped to inspire his wife's confidence, "Yes…we are quite prepared."

Logan dropped unceremoniously onto the sofa, "This is a bunch of bullshit isn't it? What do you think Bowmeister… a freaking steaming pile of bullshit right?"

Lloyd nodded, "Massive bullshit!"

Logan continued, "So…what the hell are we all doing here anyway. A goddamned blind man could see it was a case of self-defense. Why all the jumping through freaking hoops?"

"Because two dead bodies in the company of a known serial killer are cause for concern," Pearsall chimed in as he entered the room.

"Are you fucking kidding me with that serial killer crap?" Clarice raged.

"Get over yourself Starling. It's not like it isn't true."

Hannibal stepped defensively in front of Clarice and quickly closed the distance between he and Pearsall. His instantaneous proximity engaged Pearsall's sweat glands.

"Please mind your manners, Sir. I would ask that you remember my wife, Mrs. Lecter, is now seven months pregnant with our child. Be assured that I will take offense if she is made to be upset in any way."

Hannibal's eyes were sparking as if flames licked the edges of the pupils. His simmering rage was obvious, the evidence of which was now the immediate cause of Pearsall's regret.

The hair on Pearsall's neck stood on end. He was in danger and he knew it.

Hannibal processed the incoming stimuli. He could smell the fear pouring from Pearsall. His mind quickly measured the distance between himself and the offensive deputy director. Hannibal assessed that he was within striking distance so he rubbed the cuff of his hand against his hip and felt the shape of the Harpy.

The security guard who wanded Hannibal at the checkpoint did not discover the small knife, falsely assuming Hannibal's ornate cufflinks had set off the metal detector.

Hannibal found security knowing he could access the weapon. He stood uncommonly still and waited for Pearsall's next move. Hannibal decided that if Pearsall chose to insult Clarice again that would be a mistake and it would be Pearsall's last.

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Until the next chapter my friends!

LH