Please note anything in Italics are internal thoughts. Happy reading!

Chapter 2

Starling stood there for a moment just staring, her hands holding the gun were shaking, and she released a breath she did not realize she was holding in.

"Doctor?"

Dr. Lecter smiled ever so slightly and reached out a hand toward her. It was covered in blood. The same hand he had cut off instead of hers was now reaching for her, with a scar wrapped around the wrist.

Clarice wasn't sure what came over her. A part of her thought about calling the police, another part of her thought of calling an ambulance, but she did neither of those things. Instead, she lowered the gun and ran to his side taking his hand in hers. She began tugging at the button up shirt he was wearing to see where the blood was coming from. She noticed a very angry slice across his abdomen that was bleeding profusely. She then glanced up the steps and noticed blood along the walls and stairs.

"Shit Doctor, this is a lot of blood…..do you have any other wounds than this one? I need you to tell me as best you can."

Doctor Lecter nodded and unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt revealing a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

Time froze for Clarice for a moment as she processed everything going on, and contemplated about calling an ambulance for him. However, she feared he would bleed out before they arrived. Not to mention, she worried that once they realized who it is, that perhaps they would just let him bleed out.

It was ironic in a way, but it seemed as though Doctor Lecter knew exactly what she was thinking at the time so he squeezed her hand and spoke, "Please….Clarice…."

All doubt left her mind and, in that moment, her training kicked into overdrive. She grabbed his good shoulder and placed his arm around her neck and spoke, "I need you to stand with me. I need to get you on the couch ok?"

Lecter nodded and leaned partially on Clarice and his other hand pressed against the wall for support. She carefully carried him over the short distance to the couch and helped guide him down onto his back. She propped his head with a few throw pillows then immediately went to retrieve some supplies: alcohol, scissors, med kit, towels, and some water. She came back to the couch and propped him up some more by rolling towels under his neck and head. She carefully unbuttoned the shirt revealing the wounds. Clarice told him to roll up onto his side for a moment so she could inspect the gunshot wound. She noticed it had gone clean through, and so she surmised the abdominal injury took priority since it was bleeding the most.

"Doctor Lecter, I may need your help for a moment ok? I have training in medical areas for being a field agent….but I am not a doctor."

Her hands were shaking, Doctor Lecter reached up toward her and grabbed her hand, "I believe…..in…you Starling." He was straining at this point.

Clarice quickly disinfected the wound as best she could, put on some gloves and grabbed the needle and threading. Luckily, Lecter was able to guide her on the proper steps while she stitched him up. She also wrapped bandages around his abdomen to help keep pressure on the wound. The wound itself was rather deep, and it went from just above his belly button and wrapped around almost to his left side. She then began working on his shoulder next. Trying to patch it up as best she could.

"This is a lot of blood Doctor, I don't even know how you are still alive."

"It….isn't all mine….Clarice."

Clarice looked into Doctor Lecter's blue eyes, "What? Is someone else in this house?"

Lecter shook his head, "Not anymore." His voice had a deep rasp and he gave a smile.

Clarice finished the job with his shoulder as best she could then bandaged his arm up as well. She gave him some water, "Thank you Clarice."

"I am going upstairs Doctor, but before I do, care to explain what exactly is going on?"

Doctor Lecter sat up briefly trying to be mindful of the stitching, "It is a rather long story I'm afraid. I believe we should depart soon. I don't think it will be safe here for much longer." His breathing was still very labored. She could tell he was very weak.

Clarice knew it would take time for him to recover to full strength, and she also knew that if she wanted to turn him in, now was the perfect time. He wouldn't be able to get far on his own and he wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight, but something bothered her. What was going on? What did he mean we need to depart soon? What did he mean by 'not anymore'?

She sighed, "Doctor Lecter, what exactly would I find upstairs?"

He sat there on the couch quietly for a time observing her. He finally broke the silence, "There are three men upstairs, dead…They were waiting for you here until you came home from work. I knew about these plans, so I intercepted them. Unfortunately, they were well armed, and they managed to do some damage before I was able to incapacitate them."

Clarice's eyes widened, "Excuse me? There were people in my house waiting on me? How did you know? What is going on here Doctor?"

Clarice noticed Doctor Lecter's eyes unfocused, he held onto his side where the bandage was in place and so she stood by him, and helped ease him back to lying down on the couch, "Forget it Doctor, we can save this conversation for another time."

Clarice sat beside him for a while, her mind running through so many choices. Perhaps she should get the authorities involved. Whatever was going on seemed so much bigger than just her and Doctor Lecter. However, if what he said was true and he has never lied to her before, then he was injured because he intercepted people that were after her.

Damn the authorities, Starling thought, he helped me, this is the least I can do for now.

She heard the doorbell ring suddenly. She shot up and glanced at Doctor Lecter who tried sitting back up. Clarice reached for his shoulders to steady him and prevent him from standing, "No Doctor, let me handle this."

She pulled out her gun and walked slowly toward the door and glanced through the peephole and saw none other than Ethan.

"Ethan?" Starling said through the door, "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Claire! Sorry! I know it's late, but I just wanted to talk. I was worried about you with the way you hung up the phone earlier….I don't know..sorry….mind if I come in?"

Clarice rolled her eyes, "Right now isn't the best time. Can't we talk tomorrow? I am really tired and I think I just need to get to bed."

"Come on Claire, I drove all this way. Can't you give me just a few minutes please?"

'No sorry, not tonight. But I promise we can talk tomorrow ok?"

"This is important. It really can't wait."

There was silence on the other side of the door. Clarice sensed something didn't feel quite right. The timing of everything seemed off. Ethan had always been good friends with her, but he would never just show up to her door in the middle of the night like this. This was not normal. She glanced back trough the peephole and noticed Ethan reaching for the gun in his holster.

Clarice held her breath for a moment, "Sure Ethan, but I just got out of the shower. Give me a minute to throw on some clothes alright?"

"Sure, I can give you a minute."

She retreated back and helped get Doctor Lecter to a standing position, "Change of plans Doctor, you were right. We need to get out of here. Let me help you to the garage." She helped him stand and they quickly shuffled to the back door that lead to the garage. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Starling heard the muffled gunshot from the front door, most likely he was using a silencer. Then she heard the door being kicked in. She hid Doctor Lecter behind the doorway and shoved her car keys in his hand, "Take the car and go Doctor. I don't know what's going on, but you have to get out of here. I will stall and give you some time."

Doctor Lecter looked at her surprised.

She went back into the house and left Doctor Lecter alone in the garage. Clarice crossed the threshold into the kitchen with her gun raised and saw Ethan standing in the living room gun raised to Starling as well.

Ethan smiled, "House is a little dirty Claire. Don't you ever clean up around here? I mean look at all the blood."

Clarice glared at him, "Ethan, what the fuck is going on here?"

"You mean you don't know? What so did the Doc die in the exchange? If he did, it is much easier work for me. But either way it doesn't matter. I need to confirm the kill since we haven't heard from our boys in a while. So where is he?"

"Who?"

Ethan's smile faded into a frown, "Don't start this bullshit Starling really. You know who. Doctor Lecter. Is he dead or not? I am here ton confirm it and if not, I am here to finish him off myself. So where did he run off to? You hiding him or something?"

Clarice shouted; "Ethan, lower your gun and turn around and walk away now"

"No, I don't think I will. But you can put your gun down, and maybe, I can let you live."

"Bullshit, there isn't a single scenario where you let me walk out of this alive." Clarice widened her stance readying herself for whatever Ethan had up his sleeve. Unfortunately for Clarice, another man appeared behind Ethan with gun drawn as well. This was a man that Clarice did not recognize.

"You are outnumbered Clarice. It's over. Lower your gun now! It is the only chance we are giving you."

There was a long pause, then Clarice heard the garage door open and a car starting up. The sounds caused Ethan's attention to shift focus and Clarice fired her weapon hitting Ethan in the chest. Ethan gasped and fell to the ground. The man that stood behind Ethan fired his gun and the bullet struck Clarice in the thigh as she dove behind the kitchen island. Clarice winced at the burning pain in her leg. She stayed low and kept her gun close to her.

The man approached slowly and Clarice was trying to think of the next move she needed to make. Thanks to the gunshot wound to her leg, her mobility was severely limited. She heard footsteps getting closer so she readied herself for the next exchange. But the footsteps stopped abruptly and Clarice could hear muffled, grumbling sounds. She shot up straight with gun aimed, ready to fire.

She was stunned. Doctor Lecter stood behind the man covering the mystery man's mouth with one hand and the other held his harpy. Lecter sliced the man's throat open. Blood spilled across the kitchen.

"Dr. Lecter? But the garage…I thought-"

"Merely a diversion Clarice. I started the car and opened the garage door. After that, I came around through the front door. I hope you would not seriously think that I would leave you behind like that." He was breathing heavy again as he spoke, "I am sorry I couldn't make it around faster to prevent that." He pointed to the gunshot wound in her leg.

"Forget it, for what you have suffered through tonight, I can handle this." Starling limped her way over to the couch and, with the help of Doctor Lecter, applied a tight bandage to her leg, "This will have to do for now, let's get out of here."

Lecter nodded and they both got into her car and drove off. Starling insisted she drive and Lecter obliged.

Once they got onto the highway, Starling began asking questions again, "Doctor Lecter….what was all of that?"

He glanced oved at Clarice, "Turn right in three more miles."

Clarice was becoming agitated, "Are you seriously ignoring me now?"

"Now is not the time."

Clarice shook her head, "Give me something to go off of here Doctor."

Lecter sighed, "I was told of a plot to abduct you from your home on this date. As I told you in the house, I intercepted the men upstairs and killed them. However, I was injured during the process. I tried to make my way back downstairs to leave, but unfortunately, I didn't have the strength to do so….make a left at the next light."

"Do you know who the person is who is after you and I?"

"No, not yet."

"How did you know about the plan to abduct me?"

"With a captivated audience, I have been known to be rather persuasive." Lecter gave a devilish smile.

Clarice was silent for a moment, But then….why did you come for me Doctor? Why did their plan work? Why would you fall for what is clearly a trap? Was it all…just for-NO! Clarice, stop, now is not the time to think like that. Focus!

"Clarice…"

Starling glanced over to him; "Yes?"

Their eyes connected for a moment, "Next left."

"Yes, sorry Doctor.".

Doctor Lecter kept his gaze fixated on her, "If there is something else you wish to ask, then ask."

Clarice blushed, "There isn't anything else to ask right now."

"That is a lie, clearly something is bothering you. I thought I told you in the dungeon all those years ago to never lie to me or I'll know."

Clarice fumbled with her words for a moment, "Why did their plan work Doctor? Why did you come for me? You could have just left me for dead and carried on."

Doctor Lecter's gaze softened just a micron, "Yes, I could have."

Clarice's grip on the steering wheel tightened, until she heard Lecter's voice again, "But I would never let that happen."

"Why?"

"I don't think you are ready to hear the answer to that Clarice. After all, I could ask you the same thing." Lecter retorted.

"What does that mean?" Clarice asked.

"Why did you not arrest me, shoot me, or call the authorities when you saw me there bleeding at the base of your staircase? It would have been so easy for you."

Clarice felt flush all of a sudden and her heartbeat felt faster, "There is a simple explanation for that."

Lecter leaned in very close to Starling, "Do tell, Clarice."

"Because you asked, and you said please. I couldn't just leave you there to-"

"Tsk…tsk…tsk….a rather lame excuse is it not? Couldn't leave me there to what? Die? Why not?"

Clarice sighed, "I don't think that….I…."

"Clarice." Doctor Lecter interrupted.

"Yes?"

"Next left and we are here." The Doctor sat back in the seat of the car and relaxed a bit.

Starling shook her head and pulled up to a brick house. They both helped guide each other to the front door through their injuries.

"Where are we Doctor?'

"Visiting an old friend." Lecter smiled.

Doctor Lecter gave three knocks and waited a moment. They both heard footsteps approaching.

Starling was stunned when the door opened, and none other than Barney Matthews stood there greeting them.