Hello. It's been two years. I am still working on my stories but this idea has entertained me for the past few months. Another Silence of the Lambs/X-Files crossover, I've decided to return to my head canon roots. Scully and Clarice are best friends, no relation *insert Tiny Toons reference* in this story. There is a fake dating plot involving Clarice and Scully at Mulder's expense but I couldn't resist. This is my first 'ship' fic for Clarice and Scully and I have to give credit to the fic One Small Thing by surefinewhatever23 on AO3. Prior to reading it, I never saw them as a couple that story opened my eyes.

Check it out if you want to, however, it has some smut fair warning but those parts are skippable. It's also been on hiatus. I don't own Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal or The X-Files. They belong to their respective creators. Clarice and Scully are 34 and the fic is AU. It borrows from the NBC Hannibal cannon. Lecter still has his office and Will is consulting with him.

I hope you enjoy this shot in the dark endeavor. Rated M just in case. Set during the 'Diana arc' I have a lot of unresolved issues with how Mulder acted.

Clarice/Scully

Mulder/Scully

And maybe Clarice/Scully/Mulder depending on how the story plays out. Enjoy chapter 1 ~SerriaSpell23.


Ch.1-

Impulse

Scully hunched over the desk in the basement; a dossier pillowed under her head. Blinking her eyes, Scully cut off her yawn with a stretch. Tracing the file, she shuddered and wiped the dried tears from her face.

Skinner knocked before glancing inside the office. "Scully? Oh, are you okay?"

Manufactured smile: emotions faked; Scully sighed. "What is it, sir? If it's Mulder or Diana and Mulder, save it. I've had enough."

"Someone called on you, said she knows you."

Scully met Skinner's gaze. "Who?"

"A woman around your age. Brownish-red hair, blue eyes, a bit of an accent, BSU."

Scully grinned a contagious grin. "Clarice? She didn't tell me she was visiting. Where is she?"

"At a café. I'll give you the address and you can see her on your break."

Scooping her coat over her arm, Scully nodded. "I'll take it now, Skinner. I can't be here anymore."

Scribbling the info on a notepad and tearing the paper free, Skinner handed it to Scully. "Go have a nice chat with your friend and forget about Mulder. That's an order. That's the first smile I've seen from you since Diana disrupted our groove."

"Clarice and I have known each other for years. Her ability to assess me, my mood, and pinpoint what occurred to cause me strife is uncanny. She'll know something is up. I can't fib around her."

Skinner raised his brow. "Not even trivial lies? You've withheld details from Mulder before, including your personal life. I gather he's informed of yours and Agent Starling's friendship, or have you not shared that?"

Scully smirked. "Course Mulder is; however, he knows if Clarice visits, we'll be glued at the hip. Once I confide in Clarice of the 'Diana situation' and Mulder's coldness toward me she'll want to shoot him on my behalf."

Skinner chuckled as he patted Scully's shoulder. "Just make certain she doesn't. I wouldn't desire her to get written up."

"I promise, sir. I'll see you later."


At a café not too far from the J Edgar Hoover building, Clarice Starling drank her coffee. She'd chosen an outside table to enjoy the weather. The breeze rustled her hair as she snuggled in her grey blazer. Her eyes skimmed the paper. Putting the mug onto the table, Clarice sighed.

Scully snuck behind Clarice and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Clarice, I'm glad you're here."

Rotating her body in the chair, Clarice reciprocated the clumsy hug. "Dana, darling. What's the matter?"

"Damn it! I told Skinner you'd know as soon as I arrived. Mulder."

"What this time?"

"His ex is working at the X-Files."

"Is she a bitch?"

"Yes," Scully replied, rubbing her raw cheeks. "I can handle her, but Mulder shut me out."

"He's a jackass. I'll give him a talking to if you want. Or the quicker alternative is to shoot him or tell Diana to fuck off!"

Scully giggled. "Clarice, no. I swore to Skinner you wouldn't go vigilante for me. Mulder refuses to listen to my repeated worries about Diana. The ones unfueled by jealousy. I don't trust her."

"I've yet to meet her but I hate her." Clarice elbowed her coffee closer to Scully. "You need it more than I, my sparrow."

"Did you drink it? How did you land on sparrow as a pet name?" Scully said, turning the cup to avoid Clarice's lipstick print, a pale red that highlighted her wind-chapped complexion.

"Barely. I'm not sick only stressed. It's keeping with the naming theme of our surnames. I'd call you Starbuck, dear, however, it was yours and your father's thing. You deserve to have that."

Scully clasped her friend's hand in the middle of the table. "Can't catch what you're afflicted with, Clarice. Thanks for consulting me and not calling me Starbuck out of the blue. I like sparrow; you call me by my given name so this extra."

"Something not even Mulder will be able to. You ready to head back?"

"Yeah." Clarice shivered as she stood waiting for Scully to finish the coffee. Glancing at her, Scully shook her head. "Where's your coat?"

"I rushed out to see you. I'm not cold, Dana."

Shrugging out of her coat, Scully motioned Clarice against her. "We can share it's not far."


Meanwhile, Mulder stood in the doorway of the basement office. Skinner paused organizing the case materials.

"Where's Scully?"

"She's on a coffee date with a friend."

"Do I know them, Skinner?"

"Mulder, worrying is unfounded. Scully is with another agent. She's secure."

Mulder pinched his nose. "Who is she having coffee with?"

"Starling. Doesn't Diana need you?" Skinner answered, his voice short.

The air left Mulder's lungs and he clutched the door. "Clarice Starling? Shit! She's going to kill me if Scully tells her anything."

Skinner bit his tongue to muffle his instinctive screams of exasperation. "Mulder, you don't think you're blameless in Scully's anguish, do you? You have condescended to her since Diana wrapped you around her finger."

"Skinner, that's out of context."


"The hell it is, Mulder! Dana, doesn't lie."

"Oh Fuck." Mulder turned around. "Clarice, hi. How are you?"

Clarice swept Scully's bangs from her eyes and readjusted the hood. She hugged the other woman to her, arm at her waist. "Mulder, cut the BS! I have no patience."

"Why are you sharing a coat? Why are you and Scully so close?"

Scully sighed loudly and burrowed her cheek into Clarice's collarbone. "Christ, Mulder, grow up! It is blustery and cold. Clarice forgot hers."

"On purpose?"

Feeling her face blush despite the situation's innocence, Clarice seethed. She undid the hood, pushed back it mere inches, and mouthed an inaudible sentence to Scully. Mulder saw Scully nod. Clarice ducked close and kissed her drawing the hood again.

With jaw-dropping, Mulder crossed his arms. Skinner only chuckled.

Clarice pulled from the kiss and studied Scully. "Are you okay, dear? Sorry if I scared you."

Scully's hand stayed on her friend's face. "Yeah. You never told me you were a stellar kisser," Scully whispered.

"You never asked. The number of mundane conversations we have is slim."

Scully looked toward Skinner. "Sir, can I have the day off? I'm compromised right now."

"Sure, Scully."

Turning to the door again, Clarice and Scully left the office. They paused within earshot.

Mulder laughed. "This is an X-Files on its own."

Clarice fumed. Fidgeting with her side of the coat, she played with its zipper. Scully seized her hand. "Clarice, please. I understand, being my best friend, you're trying to go to bat for me, but Mulder is a jerk. He doesn't mean his cruelness."

Clarice nodded. She called over her shoulder in lieu of confrontation. She needed to spare them both. "It isn't, Mulder! However, we'll go wouldn't want brains to expire!"

Giggling, Scully leaned on Clarice. "Do not give Mulder any easy ammo, dear. Let's go to my apartment."

"Fine. I want to call Will. Crawford's having him consult with Lecter on a case."

"He didn't ask you to?" Scully said, yanking Clarice to a stop. Hugging her to prevent eavesdropping, Scully's voice lowered. "Did you want to? You okay?"

Focusing on her friend's embrace, Clarice sighed. "No, I didn't. I needed a break. Dana, I'm worried about Will. I have secrets Lecter would and could exploit. Will isn't savvy enough to resist."

Scully smirked. "You weren't either at the beginning."

"Shut up!" Clarice rested the back of her hand on her forehead. "Point. I don't want him to hurt like I do."

"C'mon, Clarice. Let's go home."


Back in the basement office, Mulder paced. He wrung his hands. "Do you think Scully and Clarice are together?"

"I don't think so, Mulder. Scully seemed surprised by the kiss. You're leading her on by heeding Diana more than her. Take Starling's advice."

"Scully failed to pull away, Skinner. If she was so bothered why didn't she resist?"

Skinner chewed his lip. "Mulder, I could tell from my vantage point that the kiss didn't 'bother' Scully; stunned, Starling's head's up aside but not bothered. And if she can kiss like Scully says she can perhaps you should be jealous."

Groaning, Mulder played with a pencil that hadn't become a ceiling decoration. "Please. Isn't Lecter taking up Clarice's time? One kiss won't alter that."

"You can admit you're petrified to lose Scully — even to Starling. She's your steepest competition; also, the easiest to lose Scully to. Starling would protect her regardless of the sacrifices she must exchange. Her loyalty is unyielding."

"I get it," Mulder grumbled. "What do I do?"

Skinner shrugged. "I've reached my limit. Figure it out."


At Scully's apartment, Clarice showered, her instincts dulled from her fight-or-flight protectiveness of jumping to Scully's defense. Sighing, she banged her head into the wall.

"Fuck! Dana, I'm mortified. I put you in a position I shouldn't have. For what because I was pissed at Mulder? Jealous, annoyed? Goddamn, my impulsive nature bites me in the ass!"

Scully giggled. She beckoned Clarice to the sofa and passed her the phone. "You did surprise me. The look on Mulder's face." Scully smirked. "Worth it."

"Your giggle has he heard it?"

"No. Call Will, you're tense."

Clarice keyed Will's number into the phone. She tapped her slipper on the floor. Scully rubbed her hand. "Breathe, dear."

"Doctor Lecter, it's late isn't it?"

"How late does he call you, Will?" Clarice said, her 'big sister' tone adopted.

"Christ! Starling, it's not…" The bullshit lie died in his mouth. He paused and his nostrils flared. Starling had firsthand experience of Lecter's magnetism. The spinning of delusion damn close to romantic; the unwinnable game, and demented need to be around him.

"Will, I know Lecter's irresistible. Don't fall in love. You'll have trouble differentiating if it's real."

Will exhaled. "You were in love with him?"

Scully stole a glance at Clarice. Letting her eyebrows answer for her, Clarice elevated them and seemed like she was hiding tears. "He used me, Will. I'm not free. Do not expose yourself. Goodnight."

Clarice sobbed into dead air. "I think I made things worse."

Scully stroked her damp hair. "You did love Lecter regardless of your better judgment."

"Attracted yes, intellectually yes, romantically, maybe, any other way no, and I'm not positive my infatuation wasn't a side effect of his manipulation. I've never loved anyone — or no one has me more like."

"Our friendship has withstood years — Lecter and the X-Files included. One person does. Don't think so low of yourself, dear."

"Lecter is an ass. Talking myself out of negative self-talk loops is great. Dana, I'll shut up you don't need me moping."

"Clarice, you're drowsy. Share my bed? It'll stave off the night demons."

She nodded. "Sleeping next to you versus the cold sofa. Tough decision."

"You'll feel better in the morning."

"I should say that to you, Dana. The person I love hasn't treated me like shit for months."

"Clarice," — Scully gathered the other woman in her arms she had half a mind to pick her up. Her anxiety paralysis wouldn't budge if not — "Will you allow me to carry you?"

Clarice's wearied and confused gaze settled on Scully's face. "I'm sorry, sparrow. I'm no good like this."

Scully blushed at the newly-minted term of endearment. "You don't have to overcompensate. Let's sleep. Did you brush your teeth?"

"Yes."

"Do you have pajamas under your robe?"

"Of course, I do, Dana. I won't seduce you yet. Thanks for the detour to my place to fetch an overnight bag."

"Unless you wanted to wear my nightclothes and use my toothbrush it was necessary."

Clarice stroked Scully's arm. "Wearing your pajamas is an attractive notion. I've always liked them."

"A roundabout manner of disclosing you think I'm sexy in them, dear."

"I'm rusty. I date when my mental state isn't in complete tatters aka not often. Explaining to someone fresh about Lecter is taxing."

Scully nodded. She rose from the sofa. "Permit me to reiterate my question. Do you want me to carry you, Clarice?"

"Yes." Her legs trembled and she gripped Scully's waist. Kissing her wet hair — which the water darkened to brown, the shades of red hidden — Scully lifted Clarice into her arms.


Entering the bedroom, Clarice nuzzled her face into Scully's collarbone. "My robe is remaining on; I'm cold and it helps me sleep."

Scully chuckled. "All right, dear."

"Are you gonna speak to Mulder tomorrow? Freezing him out too would be petty. That's not you."

"It's you, Clarice. You kissed me. The motivation was petty as hell to get back at Mulder."

"I'll offer an apology, but I'd prefer to propose a strategy."

"Shoot."

How do you feel about messing with Mulder's head? A fake relationship between us to gauge his reaction."

"Make him jealous? Fat chance. I've never seen him that way because of me."

"He's intimidated by me; afraid of losing you to me. This attempt might hold water." Glancing into Scully's eyes, Clarice cocked her head. "You can say no."

Scully set her best friend on her bed. "I don't want to."

"Don't want to say no, or pretend we're in a relationship, darling?"

Blushing, Scully sank onto the mattress beside Clarice; a smirk filling out her mouth. "Say no. Might be easier with you; I am tired of dealing with Mulder's whiplash. Don't expect monumental results he's thick."

"Yes, he is. He works beside you for six years and steps out on you for Diana —not noting your heartbreak. If you were my partner I would have. You're gorgeous, Dana. Mulder is so stupid. She has nothing on you."

Scully laid her head down. Gesturing Clarice to follow, she pressed her cheek to hers. "Thanks. You and Mulder disagree."

Clarice rolled her eyes. "I'll brand him a moron as much as it takes. He cannot make you underappreciated while I'm around."