LOGAN'S RULES

CLARICE

Clarice woke with a renewed purpose. She decided that no matter what else happened, she would see her husband today. She called the duplex to talk to Ardelia. Logan answered.

"Logan's whore house, first served first come!"

Clarice was not surprised at Logan's salutation. He always answered the phone with one ridiculous joke or another. It was his own unique brand of rhetorical stupidity but his creativity always made her laugh as she responded, "Hey, Logan, is Dee home?"

"Nope, she got called in last minute. What's up?"

Clarice paced the kitchen as she spoke and was actually relieved Ardelia was not there to talk her out of her idea. She believed Logan might be more amenable after all he always wanted to see Hannibal. "Nothing much…I wanted to see Hannibal and I hoped she might help out. I'm not allowed to drive yet so I'd need a ride. If the prison denies me, maybe Pearsall could get me in."

"Fuck Pearsall. You want to see my buddy, I'll pick you up and I'll get you in but you gotta follow my rules if I'm bringing you in. Hannibal will have my ass in a sling if you don't. I can't take chances with you and that baby. My buddy will gut me if anything happens to you on my watch."

Clarice leaned against the counter. She was agreeable as long as his conditions weren't unreasonable. She was halfway there. Her heart raced as she asked, "What rules?"

"You go in a wheel chair. No walking at all. Got it?"

Clarice spoke softly into the phone as she attempted to verbally nudge him from his suggestion. She appealed to his masculine pride, "Logan come on, a wheelchair? It can't be that far to walk and you'll be with me."

Logan was unusually adamant, "Wheelchair or no Hannibal, that's my only offer. Take it or leave it?"

Clarice grumbled, "Of course I'll take it."

"Okay I'll go pick up a wheelchair at the medical supply company and I'll put a call in to the prison to give them the heads up that I'm bringing you in. Give me two hours."

Clarice sat at the table and leaned her head on her palm, the weight of her next question burdening her, "What if they say no at the prison?"

Logan's voice lost its usual playfulness and took on an authoritative tone, "I'm not asking them if I can bring you in. I'm telling them I am bringing you in. Where you and Hannibal are concerned…I'm not taking no for an answer. You get ready and trust me…I've got this, Clarice."

"Thanks Logan, I really appreciate it."

"No thanks necessary, Clarice," Logan laughed nervously as he considered the covert operation they were planning. He predicted Hannibal's reaction with a combination of amusement and playful foreboding.

"He's gonna be pissed at us both, you know that, right?"

Clarice tempered his concern, "He'll only be pissed for a minute then he'll be happy to see me. Don't worry, he won't blame you. H knows how I can be when I want to see him."

Logan shrugged off his worry, "Whatever…he'll get over it. I'll text you as soon as I'm outside."

"You can't. Barney took my phone and my laptop. Just pull up and hit the horn. I'll come right out."`

"Was he trying to keep you off the internet?"

"I guess that was his intention."

"Did he remember Hannibal's laptop?"

"Nope."

"Barney is a great guy but he isn't devious enough to keep up with the likes of us. See you soon, Clarice."

"Yeah he's too trusting. Thanks Logan."

Logan made a few calls and soon had the warden on the phone. He explained he would be bringing Clarice in for a special visitation and asked that arrangements be made for a private room.

The warden was agreeable thinking something should be done about Hannibal's treatment but assumed it was beyond his own pay grade.

The warden spoke directly, "Being that Doctor Lecter is not an inmate he is not subject to the same procedures as a prisoner would be. If Mrs. Lecter wants to see her husband, I'm all for it. It's that crazy fucking psychiatrist that I have no control over. You'll have to handle him when you get here. Doctor Bloom will probably have Hannibal in treatment at that time. I'll just go pull him out."

Logan wasn't worried, "Don't concern yourself with that freak show I can handle him. Hell, I'll kick down a door and break his twisted little spine if I have to."

"Trust me, Agent Marley, I'd pay to see that. When you get here we can direct Mrs. Lecter to a waiting room where she can meet with her husband. I won't let you bring her to him because that sick little son of a bitch who calls himself a doctor has some really fucked up ideas about what constitutes therapy. I don't think she should see any of that. Don't worry. I'll handle Doctor Bloom."

"Yeah…I appreciate that, thanks."

It didn't take Logan long to arrive in front of Clarice and Hannibal's home.

Clarice ran outside as soon as she saw Logan's pickup in front of the house. True to his word, lashed securely on the bed of the pickup, was a brand new wheelchair.

Logan, knowing Hannibal would never let Clarice enter a vehicle unassisted, jumped out of the driver's side and ran around to the passenger side of the truck.

"Allow me, Mrs. Lecter," he bowed graciously at the waist as he opened the door and helped her in.

Clarice took his hand and laughed as she climbed in, "Logan, I swear you are such an ass!"

"Hey, my buddy would kick my ass if I let you get in my truck and I didn't help you. It'd be an insult to him. I don't respect a hell of a lot of people but I respect the hell out of him."

"Thanks, Logan. You've always been a great friend to us both."

"You be sure to remind him of that later 'cuz I know he's gonna be plenty pissed that I'm bringing you in. Even though it was never actually specified not to bring you in, we all just assumed we shouldn't."

They drove to the prison with Clarice pumping Logan for every bit of information she could think to ask. Logan told her what he could but the FBI was being kept out of the loop.

"Bloom's really freelancing with this, Clarice. Pearsall's got no clue. He just got called to a meeting at the White House and he's shitting kittens over it. Nobody can do a thing because of the court order. Bloom's got your husband for another ten days and there's nothing anyone can do because Hannibal fired the first one and refused to call another attorney."

Clarice knew this decision was more deliberate than stubborn, "H wants to be cleared so he doesn't have to go through this again and he doesn't want anybody to say a lawyer got him off. I get all of that I just think Hannibal hates the man so much he's going to real extremes here with Bloom. He's letting him get away with too much. That little shit didn't need this much encouragement." Clarice didn't mean to let on as much as she did. She was just so nervous about seeing Hannibal she was talking out loud and didn't consider Logan's presence.

"What do you mean he didn't need encouragement? It's not like Hannibal planned it. Bloom's the one taking things to the extreme, not Hannibal."

"No, I meant Bloom. That man is just crazy is all." Clarice couldn't let on that Hannibal was influencing Bloom's behavior.

Watch what you say, Clarice. A wrong word and you ruin everything Hannibal is sacrificing for.

Pulling up next to the prison, they parked and Logan got the wheelchair out. He opened the passenger door and helped Clarice into the chair. He then wheeled her up to the entrance. Both were surprised when they were swarmed by reporters.

"Clarice! Clarice! What do you think about the videos of your husband? Have you seen what they're doing to him in there?"

Clarice nodded, "I've seen it. That's why I'm here."

Another reporter edged out the first, "Mrs. Lecter…do you think your husband is insane or is this some kind of a conspiracy against him?"

Clarice maintained her outward calm though it was becoming difficult, "My husband is the without any doubt the most sane man I have ever met. He is handling himself with grace and dignity and I'm very proud to be his wife."

The first reporter, from a very well-known national cable news channel, barked another question, "Clarice…Hannibal is becoming somewhat of a celebrity…the videos online are getting millions of views. What do you think about that?"

Logan pointed to the microphone and then the camera and calmly asked the reporter, "Hey…is this news feed going out live?"

"Yes, it's live." When the reporter turned the microphone to Clarice, Logan ripped it from the reporter's hand, turned and spoke very directly into the camera.

"Hey all of you lazy bastards sitting on your backsides watching my friend's torment and not doing anything about it, why the hell don't you come down here with a couple of signs and tell the government what you think. It's your goddamned tax money paying for it. He's being tortured on your dime and you are all watching it from the safety of your homes and forwarding it to your friends? You should be fucking ashamed of yourselves!"

Logan shoved the microphone back at the reporter, "Now get the fuck out of my way so my friend can see her husband."

Logan shoved the wheelchair past the astonished journalists and directly into the entrance of the prison.

"Thanks, Logan…H will laugh his ass off if that makes the news."

"Hell, it's the least I could do. They're such fucking bloodsuckers! I'd kick the shit out of them if I didn't think Dee would kill me."

They entered the building and when the officials saw it was Clarice, Logan was immediately directed to bring her to a private room normally designated for attorneys to meet with their clients. There was a table in the center of the room bolted to the floor. The table had two chair welded to the base.

HANNIBAL

Bloom was questioning Hannibal when the warden of the prison interrupted.

"Excuse me Doctor Bloom but Doctor Lecter has a scheduled interview with an agent from the FBI. We will need to escort him to a private room for the meeting."

"Doctor Lecter is not entitled to private meetings," Bloom complained.

"Although Doctor Lecter is not an actual inmate he is a resident in my prison and as such I will decide what he is and is not entitled to. I agreed to host you because I am aware Doctor Lecter's celebrity and his past status presents certain…challenges, but if you attempt to interrupt the process I will have you removed immediately. The Agent in question was very adamant and I'm sure would take your attempts to obstruct his interview very seriously."

Bloom huffed and waved his arm dismissing the warden, "Fine, I was finished with him anyway! Take him wherever you want. I have no need of him now."

Hannibal was confused by the interruption but said nothing as they lead him from the room. They walked briskly to the same meeting room where Hannibal fired his attorney. The warden pointed, directing the guards to remove Hannibal's handcuffs.

Hannibal raised an eyebrow as if questioning the action. The warden explained, "You have a guest, Doctor Lecter, whom I believe you would like to face without restraint."

Hannibal's nostrils flared. It can't be…she wouldn't.

The warden opened the door. Hannibal rubbed his wrists to return the circulation and craned his neck to see within the room. He spotted Logan, and though he believed he could smell Clarice he assumed his senses were being affected by his want to see her. He guessed that Logan was his visitor and extended a hand in greeting, "Hello, my friend. To what do I owe the visit?"

"I played chauffeur for the day. I hope you don't mind." Logan stepped to the side and allowed Hannibal to pass him and fully enter the room.

As Hannibal moved into the room unrestricted, the members of the camera crew, already aware of what was happening, jockeyed for position.

Hannibal stood stock still in the center of the room with his back to Clarice. Without first turning to face her he smiled widely, "Hello, my Love."

Clarice was relieved to hear the warmth in his voice, "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I have never been better, Clarice."

"Don't you lie to me H…I've seen some things."

"I wish you had not," he commented as he rushed to her side and took a knee in front of her. Hannibal wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her burgeoning belly. As was his custom when he wanted to tease Clarice Hannibal bent close and spoke to the baby.

"Hello Little One, mother should be home in bed waiting you to arrive. Instead she has convinced your Uncle Logan to drag her down her to see me. She worries too much for me and not enough for herself."

Logan smiled at the familial appellation given him.

"Hey, Uncle Logan does what he's told. Clarice wants to visit, Uncle Logan makes it happen."

Hannibal, still kneeling before her, kissed her belly. He then reached up and whispered to her, "I've seen your medical file. My diagnosis was correct. You should be home resting."

"Don't be upset, H…I needed to see you. I've missed you. I'd ask about your treatment but I've seen it firsthand."

"We spoke of this…You understand, do you not? This is precisely what I expected."

"Knowing you expected that abuse doesn't make it any easier to watch, H."

"I imagine not. Please know that it is nothing I cannot handle, Clarice."

"I've seen it all…it would kill most men."

"I am not most men."

"I know and I love you for it."

"I love you as well."

Hannibal turned to the warden. "Sir, I am unfamiliar with the protocol of a contact visit. My previous incarceration disallowed it. May I hold my wife? May I kiss her?"

Logan shot a quick look at the warden, "You know what your answer better be, right?"

"The agent assures me that you are not a security risk, Doctor Lecter. You may feel free."

Hannibal glanced at the cameras, turned and locked eyes with Clarice, "My apologies that this is so…public, my Love." He held out a hand helping her to stand.

She rushed into his embrace and rested her head on his chest, "I don't care if the whole world watches, H, I needed to feel you. I needed to be sure you were okay."

"Now that you are here, I am much more than okay."

Hannibal wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her tightly to him. She reached up and smoothed her hands up and down his arms, across his chest, over his shoulders up and down his back.

Hannibal smiled, "Are you checking me for injuries or is this romantic in nature?"

"Is there some reason it can't be both?"

"Hmmm, I suppose not."

Hannibal cupped her face in his hands and began to kiss his wife very tenderly. As the kiss deepened, Hannibal suddenly pulled back.

"What's wrong, H?"

"I do not wish to disrespect you, Clarice…the cameras."

Logan took the cue and began waving his arms and herding people toward the door.

"Okay, Doctor Lecter has shared just about enough with the world up to this point so I think from this point on he can handle his wife without benefit of an audience." Logan shoved people through the doorway until everyone was gone but the warden. Logan poked him in the shoulder and ushered him toward the door.

"You too, my friend, there's no other exit out of this room and he isn't going to hurt his wife so we can just give him a little space. I'll guard the door. Everyone else can wait until they've had a bit of privacy."

Logan turned to Hannibal and spoke softly, "You take your time in there. There are no cameras and there are no listening devices. Trust me when I say no one is coming through this door if they want to keep breathing, so you enjoy a little quiet time together. When you want me to open it, knock three times and I'll let you out."

Hannibal placed a grateful hand on Logan's shoulder, "Thank you, Logan."

Logan closed the door and stepped in front of it folding his huge arms proudly across his chest.

A wide smile stretched across his face as he announced boastfully, "Now let's see just who is dumb enough to fuck with Uncle Logan."

Just as Logan settled against the door, Doctor Bloom came storming around the corner.

Logan flexed his muscles and smiled, "Oh, please…please give me a reason you son of a bitch!"

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Happy New Year to all of my fan fic friends!

Until the next chapter, my friends!

LH