Welcome back my very dear fan fic friends! Enjoy! LH

A Pound of Flesh

Hannibal and Clarice finished dinner the air thick with rich stew and freshly baked bread. Together husband and wife had cleaned the kitchen. Hannibal was preparing the leftover stew for Clarice to deliver to the neighbors. Clarice was busy pouring espresso when the doorbell rang.

"Allow me Clarice," the devoted husband brushed a hand across the small of her back as he passed.

Hannibal, apron still tied fast around his waist, answered the door. He was obviously pleased to see Graham and extended his hand.

"Greetings Will. Please come in."

With an arm swept open in welcome Hannibal sidestepped gracefully and allowed Graham entrance.

Will Graham couldn't help himself. Whenever Hannibal was within what he considered striking distance, he was skittish. This time was no different as his voice shook slightly, "Thank you, Doctor Lecter."

A knowing smile crossed Hannibal's face as fear clung to Graham's body like a rain soaked shirt.

Hannibal inhaled the wisp of air as Graham passed, and breathing deeply enough to engage his taste buds, savored the flood of fear.

Heartened by the man's willingness to push past his own discomfort to help him Hannibal spoke kindly, "It was my understanding that we had evolved beyond titles my friend."

Graham's face flushed red, obviously embarrassed, "Sorry. It might take me a while to get used to this…Hannibal."

The good doctor smiled, slightly amused at Graham's discomfort and how awkwardly he wrapped his lips around Hannibal's name the way a young boy would around newly installed braces. There being no comfort in it.

"No apologies are necessary, Will. Let me inform Clarice of your arrival and we will retreat to the study."

Hannibal removed the apron protecting his impeccable suit as he walked to the kitchen to check in with Clarice. Graham followed at what he determined was a safe distance, maintaining a four step separation between them.

Hannibal leaned around the doorway of the kitchen and quickly tossed his apron on the counter.

"Will has just now arrived Clarice. We'll be in the study should you need anything. If you would like to join us you would be most welcome."

Clarice was finishing an espresso at the breakfast bar. She had fixed a tray with the rich Italian coffee and placed it in a carafe with some of the homemade sfogliatelle Hannibal had prepared earlier.

"Nah, I'll take a rain check, H. I'll bring the dinner over to the neighbors then I think I'm going to go shopping with Ardelia. There are a few things I need to get for the baby. I want to have everything ready. Take the tray with you so won't have to stop your meeting to prepare a snack."

Hannibal moved beside Clarice and rubbed his hand across her shoulders, traveling up and down her back to relax her muscles. Having just now closed the distance, Graham reached the doorway waiting patiently as he watched their interaction.

Hannibal leaned over her shoulder and spoke softly, "As you wish, Clarice. I have the black card in my wallet and would like you to take it."

Hannibal began to grip her shoulders and her deltoids, pressing and releasing, kneading her tired muscles. A prolonged and breathy sigh escaped Clarice as she melted against her husband's body. Hannibal's heart beat faster, the enamored husband suddenly disappointed that he and Clarice were not alone.

"I don't know, H. People look at you funny when you bust out that card. Most of the salespeople have never seen one." Clarice stretched her shoulders and arched her back enjoying the massage.

"It is more likely my name on the card puts them on edge more than the card itself. I don't want you walking around with excessive cash. It isn't prudent."

She leaned into his hands and allowed her head to drop back looking up at her husband. Her eyes were wide and she spoke plainly, that being one of the things Hannibal loved so much about her.

"H…who the hell is going to bother me? Let's put aside that I'm an ex-FBI agent. For Christ's sake…I'm Hannibal Lecter's wife."

"She's got a point." Will commented with a bemused smile on his face.

Clarice relented, "Okay, thinking about it…I'll take the card, if only because Ardelia's never seen one. She'll probably get a kick out of it."

"Take care of Ardelia's purchases as well, Clarice. I would enjoy treating you both to an evening of shopping."

Clarice tossed back the last of her espresso as if throwing back a shot of whiskey and stood. "Thanks, H…When I tell her she'll have a heart attack." She slipped her hand in Hannibal's back pants pocket.

She obviously grabbed a firm handful of more than wallet. Hannibal flinched at the contact plainly more from surprise than discomfort.

"That is not where I keep my wallet, Clarice."

Clarice leaned in flirtatiously, her body fully pressed against Hannibal's with her hand still firmly planted on his backside. "I know that. Your wallet is in your inside left breast pocket."

"If you are aware of the location of my wallet, why is your hand in the rear pocket my trousers?"

"Because I wanted to touch you and reaching into the front pocket of your trousers with Will here would be a little too…forward."

Graham, realizing that Hannibal Lecter had been fully taken by surprise was shocked and more than a little impressed by Clarice. The pair seemed to have an extremely loving relationship. Their ease around one another was disarming and this relationship was one that Graham would never have assumed Hannibal would be capable of.

You had…disadvantages…You're insane.

Smiling at his wife's flirtation Hannibal teased in return. Opening his jacket as if baring his chest he revealed the pocket encouraging his wife to retrieve it. Clarice smoothed a hand across his well-muscled pectorals and reached with her remaining hand into his jacket. Very seductively she pulled out his wallet.

Clarice slipped the card from the billfold and replaced the wallet.

Hannibal tipped his wife's face upward and kissed her tenderly. As they separated she playfully nipped at his chin and slapped him on the backside.

She whispered in his ear though it was still loud enough to be heard by Graham, "I'll see you later, Handsome."

Hannibal picked up the tray and carried it out of the kitchen. He spoke over his shoulder as he moved past his wife, "Rest assured you will see all of me later, my Love."

As Will Graham followed Hannibal nervously to the study, Clarice had a brief revelatory moment and called after them.

"H! Wait!"

Surprised at the urgent sound of her voice, Hannibal and Graham turned.

"I'm sorry...Hannibal, can I see Will for just a moment?"

Hannibal's eyebrow arched his head tilted in confusion. He did not ask the nature of the request. "Hannibal is it? Has the conversation taking a serious turn, my Love?"

"Just a professional courtesy, one ex-agent to another…would you mind?"

"Certainly not, I'll leave you to your business. I shall be in the study. Join me at your leisure, Will." Carrying the tray, Hannibal moved quietly down the hallway.

Graham approached Clarice with a quizzical look in his eyes, "Clarice? What's up?"

Clarice spoke softly, "My plans are only tentative. If you don't want to be totally alone with him believe me I would understand. I'll stick around here if you would feel more comfortable. I won't tell him why."

Graham smiled, "Even if you didn't tell him, he'd know why. No, I'm okay. I'll probably have a panic attack or two but I'll live. I know he won't hurt me."

"I know he won't but how do you know? What made you decide that for yourself?"

Graham made eye contact with Clarice. His voice was firm, that confident was he in his assessment of Hannibal, "I didn't believe it until I saw you together. I see love in his eyes. If he hurt me he would get caught and that would take him away from you. I think losing you would be the only thing that could break him."

The statement rang true and though she knew it would never happen, the thought of Hannibal's anguish injured Clarice. She assented, "Okay, if you're sure."

Graham shuffled a foot along the ground. "Yeah…I'm positive. What should I tell your husband? He'll be curious."

Clarice reached for her purse, pulled out her wallet and slipped the black card within. She then carried the food for the neighbors to the foyer and set it on the entryway table to put on her coat.

"That depends on whether or not you want him to know. If you aren't self-conscious you can just tell him the truth."

Graham stuffed his fists in his pockets. He spoke in a whisper as if Hannibal could overhear, "And if I am self-conscious?"

Clarice took her coat out of the closet and readied herself as she advised, "Then tell him nothing. Trust me he won't ask. He would think it…rude."

Graham pondered his next move, "Okay…thanks Clarice."

Clarice began to put on her coat. "No problem. Just relax. He doesn't bite…anymore." She laughed playfully.

Will walked a few steps and stopped. Curiosity overtaking him he returned to Clarice. "Clarice, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure…I've got no secrets."

Will took Clarice's coat, allowed her to put her arms in it, and slipped it over her shoulders. Although Clarice seemed casual about Will's curiosity he was tentative in the questioning, "So, not to offend but he's…normal now?"

Clarice couldn't help but laugh, "No…he'll never be normal. He's an absolutely singular being."

"And he doesn't ever make you feel…afraid?"

Clarice affirmed as she buttoned the front of her coat, "You may find this impossible to believe but I've never felt safer in my life than I do in his arms. He is the absolute love of my life."

"Well…he seems different, calmer than he used to be. He was so much more like a machine than a man before but even at that…he always seemed to be wound a little tight. He seems so relaxed...at ease."

Wrapping a scarf around her neck to ward off the winter air she assessed, "I guess he's different now because he isn't threatened. He knows he's loved and he has nothing to hide. He can be himself and we can openly live together. It's a real gift. A tremendous burden has been lifted from his shoulders."

Graham nodded. "Yeah…I guess that's it. Well, I'd better get back before he thinks I've chickened out and I'm heading back to Marathon or something. Thanks Clarice."

She picked up the food for the neighbors and headed out, "Sure…glad I could help."

Will Graham walked down the hall to the study where he and Hannibal had met several times for professional consultations and the one time they attempted to kill one another.

For his part Hannibal was unconcerned about the interaction between Clarice and Will Graham. He sat at his desk in his comfortable leather chair with his eyes closed. A satisfied smile crossed his face as he imagined the warmth of his cheek as it rested on Clarice's hip. He inhaled deeply and summoned to him the scent of her following their lovemaking. He could feel her quickened pulsed ticking against his face.

Will entered the room and seeing Hannibal steeped in silence, did not announce himself instead sitting silently. He was certain Hannibal was aware of his presence.

Hannibal's eyelids lifted slowly like great curtains rising before a performance.

Tucking the image of Clarice away to be enjoyed at a later time Hannibal set a demitasse on it's saucer, poured the espresso and placed it in front of Will.

"Your business with Clarice is concluded I take it?"

Graham accepted the aromatic offering and responded simply, "Yes."

Clarice was right. He didn't ask.

"Hannibal?"

"Yes?" Hannibal responded while passively sipping his espresso.

"Aren't you concerned or curious about what your wife wanted?"

Hannibal set a dish with the homemade pastry in front of Graham. "Yes, of course I am curious. Concerned? Not even remotely. I trust Clarice implicitly."

Hannibal gestured for Graham to taste the dessert. Will took a bite of the crispy pastry and ruminated while chewing. Should he or should he not tell Hannibal the details of the conversation? After swallowing his third large bite, he readily volunteered the information believing it illustrated trust.

"She was concerned that I might be afraid to be left alone with you. She offered to change her plans."

Hannibal assumed Clarice was concerned about Will Graham's comfort and was pleased that his assumption had been correct.

"How very thoughtful of her. I myself hadn't considered you might be. Perhaps I was being less than receptive to your emotional needs."

"No...really, I'm fine. I told her to go. It was nice of her to offer, though. She's very thoughtful."

"Yes…she is everything I had ever dreamed of in a woman but something I never dared to hope I would have."

"You really are in love with her aren't you?" Graham asked, hoping Hannibal wouldn't think him too forward.

"Yes. Hopelessly."

As Graham watched Hannibal he was becoming convinced that the good doctor had entered a new chapter in his life. Not only was Clarice a tremendously stable influence but she knew what her husband was and was not only accepting of it, she embraced it. It was obvious that she was a good wife and would be a good mother. Graham now dared to believe that Hannibal Lecter, former serial killer, was now an obviously attentive and loving husband. It seemed he could be a good father as well. Believing he was truly making the right decision, he began to relate the results of his meeting with Bloom.

"Bloom knows you are far too sophisticated to sit down and answer questionnaires without guiding the outcome of them so he is going to start the meeting tomorrow by asking you several questions. He's going to attempt to line up the questions with the checklist by Hares."

"The PCL Revised?"

"Yes."

"So he is using the survey to frame his own assessment? He will originate the questions? What does he plan on doing with that blunt little tool he calls a mind?"

"He's attempting to assign a numerical rating to prove either your psychopathy or your high threat of recidivism."

Hannibal deliberated briefly before his summation, "That is ridiculous. Does he believe he can reduce my pathology to a mere twenty questions?"

Graham was enjoying the pastry and swallowed quickly before answering, careful not to allow the powdered sugar dusting the treat to get on the furniture.

"I don't think he's concerned with your true pathology. I believe he is more concerned about whether or not he can attach a number to you and what that number will prove. I think that's a pretty fair assessment of his intentions. At least you know what test he is basing his questions on."

Hannibal steepled his fingers and tapped them against his lip pensively.

"How far do you believe he is willing to take this?" he asked, somewhat concerned about the answer.

Graham finished the pastry and spoke with a hand over his mouth as he chewed the last bite.

"As far as he has to, he thinks he has the moral high ground. I'm not getting any sense that he has boundaries in his mind and no compunction about pursuing this case. He is single minded about it."

Hannibal used a palm to smooth his hair back from his forehead. He was visibly disturbed, his voice deepening with the intensity of his thoughts he agonized over the assessment.

"He is hell bent on removing my child from me? My first born…my son…He will take him from me…from Clarice?"

Graham's heart raced as Hannibal hung his mighty head. He wished he could offer words of comfort but knew there were none. He dreaded speaking the next sentence.

"No, Hannibal. Not take the baby from Clarice… I believe he wants to remove you."

Incredulous, Hannibal agonized, "Remove me…To where?"

Hannibal Lecter was normally a blank slate to Will Graham so the ex-agent was amazed at the amount of emotion he could read in Hannibal's eyes. The glowing maroon of his irises radiated as if the intensity of the topic charged them providing terrifying luminosity.

Graham shifted uncomfortably, "Not a prison. He thinks you're sick. He'd love to get you to Chicago or have them relocate him here. He wants to treat you, personally."

Hannibal covered his mouth briefly as if he were nauseous. He swallowed hard against the emetic event.

"No. He does not want to treat me. He wants to do precisely the same thing to me as Emilia and Nico with one difference. He wants to wrap it in a blanket of intellectual pursuit and public safety. Remember Will…the dungeon where I was forced to spend more than eight years was not a prison. It was a hospital for the criminally insane. I was remanded there for treatment though I would have fared better in prison."

"Nico and Emilia…they are the couple who tortured you?"

Absentmindedly Hannibal moved his hand to his side. He reached under his suit jacket and over the shirt as he bumped his fingertips across the keloids where so much of his flesh had been removed.

"They were not ashamed to be direct about their sadistic tendencies or misuse of my person for their own self-gratification. When my flesh was excised it was stripped from my body without explanation or apology. As much as it was a cruel act, if an act itself can be assessed as such, it was an honest act one might argue a pure act. Bloom has neither the self-awareness or the testicular volume to admit that if I was indeed ill and if I am now healed I may again begin to publish in our chosen field of study. He believes that somehow through the natural order of things that as I become relevant he, by extension, becomes irrelevant. If I become More Than he feels he must become Less Than."

Graham found himself nodding in agreement, "I hadn't thought of it like that. I don't think Bloom would intentionally sabotage you, at least not consciously, but he is definitely going into this interview with an agenda aside from the one Pearsall has approved and his boundaries are limited. Do you want me to discuss it with Clint? Tell him what Bloom told me?"

"No. Thank you for offering to intercede but if we were to tip him off I would be unable to counter his accusations. No, I shall face be forced to face him. I must warn you Will, that if this man moves to take me from my family my response will not be measured. It will be swift and if need be it will be merciless. The last man who attempted to do so felt my hand reach into his chest and tear out his heart. If I am to be taken against my will from my wife whom I love more than my own life, and my son whom I would die to protect, I will gladly forfeit all I have become and will again embrace all that I was. Rest assured before they take me... I shall excise my pound of flesh."

Graham sat in the chair gripped with fear as he gripped the armrest. For the quickest flash he saw deep within the eyes of his friend the good doctor's previous self, Hannibal the Cannibal.

Bloom would arrive several hours from now. Graham would be there as well and he hoped Hannibal would show restraint. Will Graham had decided the only safe course of action when dealing with the collision of Hannibal Lecter and Alan Bloom.

He would make sure that Clarice stayed at home tomorrow.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review and tell me what you think then PM and say Hi!

Until the next chapter my friends!

LH