"I wouldn't move if I were you"
There was no surprise, just a sigh and the man turned around to face John Brigham. When the agent recognized the man's face, his hold on his gun tightened.
"Good afternoon, Special Agent Brigham," said the man in an even tone, as if there wasn't a gun pointed at him.
"Drop any weapons you have on you," the agent ordered.
"Now why would I do that?"
"So I don't shoot your sorry ass, that's why"
The good doctor smirked. "I take you believe you can arrest me, Agent Brigham"
John narrowed his eyes. "I have not a single doubt of it, Lecter"
"I think you'd like to know that the only reason why you're not dead on the floor right now, Officer Brigham, is because I believe it would make Agent Starling very upset. You weren't exactly discreet on your way in, anxious to please your master?" the doctor sneered.
"Starling never said you talked this much" Brigham smirked half amused, his hold on his gun never wavering. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"That is a matter to be discussed with our common acquaintance, Agent"
"Please, tell me you weren't going through her underwear or something like that"
"Is that a confession?"
"Hell no"
"Good. Put the gun down, Agent Brigham, you'd have used it by now if you really intended to"
"Can't do it"
"This will be a bit more interesting then…" Lecter muttered.
Before Brigham could question his words, the front door opened almost hitting the agent and Starling entered the room taking a moment before catching up with the scene.
"What the…?" she whispered before tensing and her eyes met Lecter's.
John watched as emotions passed through her face before she finally cast a mask over her expression, one Brigham had seen a few times before.
"Good afternoon, Agent Starling" the good doctor's greeting came in an all too amused tone. Starling wasn't looking at him.
"Good afternoon, Doctor," she replied in a calm tone. "You shouldn't be here"
"And miss the opportunity to pay you a visit? I wouldn't dare to"
"Should I make the arrest, Starling?" Brigham asked in a serious tone, eyes on Lecter. His words got the attention of both Starling and Lecter but neither of them looked his way, actually, they were focused on each other.
There was a hint of hurt in Starling's expression, hurt or disappointment.
"He'll kill you before you manage to," she told the other agent.
"Smart girl," Lecter said with a proud smile on his lips.
"Why do you put up with him, Starling? The guy is a smart ass" Brigham questioned with a half smirk on his lips.
"You haven't seen half of it. Put the gun down, John"
That surprised the agent, he hesitated watching her intently, searching for something in her expression.
"You have permission to shoot him if he attacks, now put the gun down, it won't do any of us any good"
John complied but he didn't put the gun away.
"I appreciate it, Agents," Lecter said.
"You've put us in a difficult position, Doctor"
"I hardly believe that, Agent Starling. Your partner here has no doubt in his mind of what he should do, it is you who is having doubts"
Brigham observed Starling with curiosity and confusion in his eyes.
"What is he talking about, Starling?" he was tempted to pull the gun up again.
"Don't do this, Doctor," she said, dismissing John's question.
"Should I lie? Why won't you just take your gun and help your partner make the arrest, Special Agent Starling?"
"You told me you wouldn't call on me, what are you doing here?"
"You know better than to expect me to cause you harm, Clarice"
Brigham was puzzled by such interaction.
"It's not me I'm concerned about"
"I'm glad to see that was correct about my assumptions regarding agent Brigham. You're a big girl, my dear, you shouldn't be playing among the cubs, someone might get hurt."
"I'm fine, Doctor"
"Tsc, tsc, tsc. What have we discussed about lies, Agent Starling?"
"Starling…" the other agent tried.
"Tell me, Agent Brigham, have you ever found a curious collection of magazines around this place?"
John took a moment before answering. "Yes, why?"
"And have you ever wondered why such interesting pieces would be under Agent Starling's possession?"
"A bit, what is your point?"
"Can you see my point, Clarice? What do you think about the pieces, Mr. Brigham?"
"Odd, I never thought of Starling as someone who would be interested in them"
"Well, Clarice? How can someone so close to you know so little of you?" Lecter questioned.
She swallowed down, her expression hard.
"He is a good man, Clarice, why won't you allow him to be close to you?"
"That's none of your business" Brigham growled.
"Isn't it?" Lecter provoked. "Isn't it, my dear? You date a man and you don't allow him to truly know you, why? Is there something you don't want him to see? Something he could never understand?"
"I don't have to"
"Oh, but that's where you're mistaken, Agent Brigham. There is a curious delight in being seen, isn't there, Clarice?"
"Why have you come here, Dr. Lecter?" Starling questioned.
"I've come to see you, dear, and you know that"
Brigham saw the world differently then, observing Starling and then Lecter he saw creatures of the same kind.
Hannibal smirked. "Ah, I sense epiphany"
"Leave him alone," she said.
"Whatever you desire"
"He is right, isn't he?" John questioned and saw Clarice tense in the corner of his vision. "I would never truly know you"
She didn't answer but the sadness that she felt was quite telling.
"You should go," the man said, making her turn to him, Lecter shot him an intrigued gaze. "Go before it kills you"
"I might have misinterpreted you, Agent Brigham"
Brigham shook his head. "Leave it, Lecter. Go, Starling, leave while you can, they'll have you burned at the stake before you notice if you stay"
Her eyes were wide and her expression frozen. Finally, she faced Lecter who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Go, I'll buy some time"
She finally moved towards Lecter as if her legs had a mind of their own.
"I'm sorry, John"
"Don't think about it. Go. And, Lecter, if you harm her in any way, I kill you"
Hannibal smiled, amused and pleased. "Have a good day, Agent Brigham," he took Starling's hand as soon as she was within his reach.
They watched as John left the room.
He would never see Starling again and would only ever wonder if he would someday be able to understand her, only to find it was hopeless, no one would ever know her like Lecter. They were two of the same kind, two big cats, a couple of lions.
Brigham prayed they would never be seen again, for everyone's sake.