To my dear readers and reviewers. I appreciate all of the comments and reviews. I read all of them and sometimes take inspiration from what to write next. As stated previously, this story is broken up into multiple parts. This next section is Part 2. This part will focus and center more on the Good Doctor and Clarice. This will show more of their character development and growth. There will still be some things going on in the background I will keep writing about, but very little emphasis will be placed on that. Most of it will be centered around our dynamic duo. So please continue to read and leave reviews. You all encourage me to keep writing.
Enjoy!
Doctor Lecter and Clarice Starling had fled the country together. They had traveled to Ireland for a time deciding to reside in Galway. Their house Dr. Lecter had acquired for them was very luxurious. Clarice blushed for the first time in their trip with Hannibal Lecter had introduced her as his wife. He smiled when she did not correct him. They had been in each other's company for 3 days now. They hardly spoke a word to each other. Both of them were trying to give the other space and comfort to readjust. Hannibal had been alone almost his entire life, even before his incarceration, he preferred being alone. Clarice had her roommate and a few friends at the FBI, but she herself was also used to being alone. She also had no clue what to expect from the Doctor, but on this morning the Doctor had chosen to initiate the conversation over breakfast. Clarice had come down the steps in khaki slacks and a cashmere top that held a green hue to it. She had her hair pulled back in a relaxed pony tail. The Doctor was dressed in a white shirt with grey pants. He was preparing eggs with sausage. Clarice smiled at his choice and thought that his selection was to please her and it did. He placed their meals on the table and began to eat.
"Clarice, how certain are you about doing this?"
She glanced up at him, "About being in your company, or about the therapy sessions?"
He blinked twice, "Perhaps a bit of both."
"Well…" She took a drink of her orange juice, "You have been nothing except a gentleman to me this entire trip. As for the therapy, I think that is necessary in order to better understand myself."
Dr. Lecter looked her in the eyes and held her there for a moment. She didn't falter or look away. She only stared into his maroon depths. "What have you done recently Clarice that has caused you to feel this way. It wasn't just the night at the Chesapeake."
"I killed a man."
Dr. Lecter paused and placed his hands under his chin, "Aside from the police officer that night?"
"Yes."
"Show me."
Clarice pulled out her phone and searched for the article covering the story and slid the phone to the Doctor. Hannibal read the article in full and slid the phone back to Clarice.
"I would like to hear your take on the matter little Starling."
"That man was trying to rape that woman Doctor, I did what I felt like was necessary."
Hannibal smirked, "Do your actions frighten you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Before I couldn't imagine pulling the trigger so quickly, I needed time to think. But I didn't that night. I just executed and…."
She paused and started tearing up.
"And what Clarice?"
"I thought back to Mason Verger's and how, had I not rescued you, you wouldn't be alive. I thought back to when I killed that police officer taking me in and had I not done that, I might be in jail. I thought back to that shootout at the fish market, and had I just made the right move, maybe Brigham would still be alive. I thought back to when my dad was shot, and I thought that maybe if he just would have called it in, he would still be alive. I am tired of living a life of what if's and regrets. I wanted to take action into my own hands. And I did…and now two people are dead. But that woman is still alive, I am still alive, and you are still alive."
"Clarice, if you keep reflecting on the past, it will only pull you in closer and closer. If you are to confront these problems, I will assist you. However, I feel it is necessary to break your therapy up into multiple sessions so that I may pull you out when necessary. I don't want you lingering too long there. Your future is what is ahead of you Clarice. That you may alter and change how you see fit. But if you believe it is necessary to first face the past then I shall help you. I believe there are more things locked away in that brain of yours. Some things you may have forgotten. Some things that will be painful and some pleasurable. But never the less, know that no matter what happens, I will be here watching over you. Do you understand?"
"Yes Doctor."
"Follow me."
He guided her into the drawing room. He closed all the curtains and flipped off the lights. He then lit three candles and set them on the table. He fetched from the kitchen a silver spoon and placed it in front of the candles.
Dr. Lecter looked at Clarice, "Therefore behoveth him a full long spoon that shall eat with a fiend."
"What does that mean Doctor?"
"Nothing, just a thought. Now then Clarice, what I am about to show you may be unsettling. But I believe it's time we unlocked some of those dark corridors of your mind. No part of your mind should be left unexplored. By exploring each and every aspect, you may create doors and walls. You can build a castle, you can create open halls and rooms. Right now, your mind is like an untamed jungle. Which means there are unknown parts which can haunt you. While you are exploring the depths of your mind I shall keep a close watch on you. If I see you panic, I shall pull you out. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes. What is the spoon for?"
"An object of your concentration. See how the light plays upon the spoon and shimmers. Did your father's badge shimmer like that Clarice?"
"Yes."
"Focus on that Clarice look toward the spoon and remember that little girl who grew up in West Virginia."
Clarice glanced at the spoon almost in a daze. She sat on a couch that was large and overstuffed which made it very comfortable. The Doctor kneeled down beside her and watched her eyes. She had fierce fire in them. She was determined. Once he was sure of her resolve, he slid the needle in her arm. It stung only a little and Clarice barely noticed. Her eyes glazed over and she began drifting to sleep. Dr. Lecter caught her and laid her back on the couch covering her with a blanket.
"Be careful my dear. There are parts of even your jungle that are dangerous to enter."
Clarice awoke in a bed that was familiar to her, yet seemed distant. She yawned and looked around and recognized her surroundings to be her old room in her house in West Virginia. She stood up and looked at what she was wearing. She had on her pajama bottoms and top, but her body looked small. She glanced in the mirror above her desk and saw herself. She was very small, and her hair was short. She looked like a child again. She marveled at what was going on. She went toward her bedroom door and opened it. Her father was sitting in the living room on the couch eating orange slices.
She smiled, "Daddy!"
Clarice's father looked over, "Hey baby girl! Are you finally awake?"
She ran into his arms and he picked her up and held her, "Daddy, I am so happy to see you again!"
"What are you talking about sugar? I have been right here this whole time."
He placed Clarice on the couch beside him. "You have gotten so strong Clarice. You are growing up so quick on me." He handed her an orange slice and she took it.
"I wanted to grow up to be big and strong like you Daddy."
"Oh Clarice that is mighty flattering, but you are already much stronger than Daddy will ever be."
Clarice could hear the birds chirping outside. She glanced at the calendar on the wall and frowned. Today was the day of her father's death. She glanced back at her dad. He sat peacefully eating his orange slice.
"Dad…maybe you shouldn't go to work today."
He looked back at his daughter who was fidgeting with her pajama top, "Why not sugar?"
"I don't feel good today. Maybe you should just stay home and take care of me."
He smiled, "You already have someone watching over you while you sleep sugar. You don't need me for that."
"Who?"
"We both know who it is darling. Don't be silly."
"Dad, what if I were to tell you something bad is gonna happen if you go?"
"Well I reckon I would say a lot of bad things happen in this world darling. Sometimes that is what is meant to be."
"But we could fix that."
"Now Clarice, you can't go around fixing everything and everybody. We can try our best Clarice, but sometimes that's just the way things go."
"But…"
"Sometimes Clarice things happen we don't understand, but we find those people in our lives that do understand us and we help complete them just like they help complete us. Things aren't always fair, but we do the best we can with what time we are given."
Clarice started to cry, "But you left me."
He hugged her, "Clarice, if you ever need me, I am right here." He placed his hand over her heart. I am not going anywhere darling."
"I just wanted to see you. I…"
"I know Clarice. I have been watching you. I am so proud of the woman you have become. I am so proud of you. Never forget that."
He set Clarice back down on the couch beside him, patted her head, and kissed her cheek. Then he put on his hat and walked out the door. Clarice sat on the couch and cried and cried. Then she felt something. A warm hand on her cheek but no one was around. She heard her name being called.
"Clarice."
She opened her eyes and Doctor Lecter was standing over top of her with his hand on her cheek. She had tears running down her face.
"Sorry my dear. I would have let you stay longer, but I think that is enough for the first day. We can resume again tomo-"
Clarice sat up and hugged the Doctor as tight as she could. He remained silent and just let her hold him for a while.
"Thank you Doctor. Yes that's enough for today. Let's continue tomorrow."
"Therefore behoveth him a full long spoon that shall eat with a fiend." Is a quote from a work by Geoffrey Chaucer.