Chapter five

Starling discovered that even an otherwise boring three hours long drive could be pleasant when the company was right – and the company of Doctor Lecter was shockingly just that. Starling had started to quietly sing along the songs she knew after 20 minutes into the drive, without much embarrassment, and after another 10 minutes, Lecter had joined in, humming. She had found the sound of his voice to have a very calming effect on her. Not that she needed to be calmed… Much. Her thoughts were rather scattered once she was inside the car, and she was mentally going through all the procedures she would need to follow.

"Is this your first official assignment, Agent?"

"Is it so obvious?"

"As collected and confident as you usually are, I've detected some nervousness about you. You, my dear, are fidgety."

"Don't tell anybody." She whispered and winked, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She well remembered how she had disliked this man only a few days ago – and now?

Friendly with Lecter? Crawford would be mortified. Yet Startling found the whole strange situation comfortable, and as the minutes passed by, natural. The doctor had managed in a few short hours something that had taken Dee three months, eight movie nights and lots of popcorn. He had gotten close to her – right under her skin like a splinter in the flesh of her palm. What was even more disturbing was the fact that Starling's mind accepted it so easily, accepted him so easily.

"Sure." Lecter imitated her accent yet again, his eyes never leaving the road, but she was certain he saw her annoyed expression and that was the reason why he started to grin smugly.

Except for singing, there wasn't much to do in the car but observing each other and she could not help it and glance again at one of his hands – he did have six fingers on his left one. Starling found herself fascinated with it and just could not stop staring when the opportunity arose. Not like last night, or in the morning, when she was focused on different things. There was nothing else to occupy her mind but the doctor.

His long fingers tapped on the steering wheel and his eyes flickered to the outside mirror.

"So we share a dangerous secret now, don't we, Agent?"

Starling watched him as he observed the traffic situation. The slow blue car in from of them was making the good doctor impatient, and really, she could understand that well. With a car such as his, it was almost impossible to drive slowly.

"Very dangerous, it could ruin my career if somebody knew."

"Hmm, very intriguing. What are you willing to do to keep it a secret?"

Silence followed and then, without any regret, Starling gave in to her urge to softly hit Doctor Lecter's shoulder and murmured, "Smartass."

He didn't even flinch and his voice became cold. "Now, this is something not many would dare to do."

"Are you offended?" Starling focused her gaze straight ahead. Their stations in life were quite different – the age difference alone was enough to earn him some respect. Not so long ago, Starling would have been only too happy to offer it, adhere to the expectations of social norms. But she was smarter now, not a naïve trainee anymore. Respect was something people had to earn from her these days.

She had thought that the doctor had been trying to make her more comfortable in his presence this morning. Hadn't he? She had thought that… Starling didn't think that she had been wrong. Why the cold tone, Doc?

"I very well might be. You are not only cheeky but aggressive towards my person. What am I supposed to make of it?" Hurt entered Doctor's voice now. Starling turned slightly to watch him from the corner of her eye and saw the amused glint in his. She smirked when Lecter settled comfortably in his seat, and pushed the car over the speed limit, passing the blue snail.

"Nice try, but you don't have to distract me when you break traffic rules."

"Ah." Lecter glanced at her and then conceded. "You are too perceptive for your own good."

"You should know I'm kind of fond of fast driving myself." Starling's tone was conspiratorial but the doctor had seen her car, hadn't he? It surely didn't come as a surprise.

"Somehow, I thought you would say that."

"Somehow, I knew you thought that."

It should be scary, shouldn't it? Strangely, it was not. It felt like they had somehow managed to clear the air between them and could be less wary around each other. The idea was far less disturbing than Starling expected, it was almost pleasant.

"Okey dokey, then," he said lightly. "Note to myself: only distract Agent Starling when committing serious offenses."

"So that's why you've agreed to play nice with the Bureau."

Doctor Lecter winked at her and Starling was almost positive that she saw something like fondness in his eyes. "Please, do not tell on me. It would surely hurt Uncle Jack's feelings."

The drive continued in the same spirit of light conversation and teasing. Starling found herself enjoying Lecter's sense of humor – it strangely matched hers, even though the doctor's was less blunt and more biting.

After arriving at their destination, Starling was ready to go straight to the local police department, but the good doctor insisted on light lunch. If there was one thing Starling was not ever willing to do, it was to get in between Doctor Lecter and his culinary experiences. If he wanted to eat first, she knew he would not let the matter drop until things went his way.

He navigated the small fishing town with expert ease and found the nicest restaurant in the whole neighborhood in a matter of minutes. Starling wondered how the hell he knew where to drive but then she remembered that the doctor had had this trip planned – and he was very thorough in his plans.

Her suspicions were only confirmed when Lecter asked for their reservation. They were promptly seated at a corner table in the back. It was a place Starling would have chosen herself – they could talk privately, they both could look out of the windows, they both had a good view at the front door and they both had a wall behind their backs.

Doctor Lecter seemed awfully smug when Starling was noting all those things and then he offered a small smile.

"Does it meet your approval?"

"It's perfect."

The staff was professional and efficient, Starling observed next as she watched the waiter's back. The doctor was perusing the menu carefully for a few minutes and then he reached for the wine list.

Starling's eyebrow rose and her lips twitched in amusement. "You do know that we shouldn't drink on the job, right?"

"Right," he agreed and she didn't even bother to react to the way he was mimicking her accent – not anymore. "A glass of good wine would go wonderfully with my meal but you are free to order sparkling water – or perhaps a diet Coke, hmm?"

Starling shook her head and focused on the menu instead of answering. Their lunch was spent in a quiet discussion of their plans for the rest of the day. Starling needed to meet with the local cops, Lecter wanted to talk with acquaintances of the victim. A trip to the crime scene was in order. However, the good doctor wanted to check into their hotel right after lunch. The whole idea didn't sit well with her. It was bad enough that Lecter had paid for their lunch – she sure as hell didn't want him to pay for the accommodation.

"I don't really understand why we have to spend a night here, Doctor Lecter." She remarked when he had pulled up in the parking lot. "We'll wrap it up in the afternoon."

"I like to be prepared, Agent Starling. Don't tell me you don't find this fishing town diverting, such sights! Come now, let me take your bag."

As it had been already stated, arguing with Lecter was pretty much useless. He would do as he pleased, and he didn't fancy the thought of six hours spent in a car on the same day.

Well, I can understand that. She gave him her bag and then watched as he managed to move gracefully despite luggage in both of his hands. He was so light on his feet – like a dancer or a predator. Yeah, he did remind her of a big cat.

With the air of superiority, Lecter marched inside the lobby and right to the front desk. Starling followed closely and rolled her eyes as she observed her surroundings. It was a nice hotel but not quite up to his standards, she supposed. The doctor still stood out a mile as someone from an entirely different league, as if he was an aristocracy among peasants.

Now, that was an interesting thought. Doctor Lecter with his old-fashioned manners and expensive tastes reeked of old money and good breeding. But how could that be? Starling had read up on him and the doctor had seemingly popped up into the existence one fine day, starting his studies in Baltimore. There were no available records on his early life but she knew that his childhood hadn't been all sunshine and roses, he hadn't been raised as a privileged little prince. No, the man had been taught some brutal lessons – that was the only explanation to the darkness lurking just under the surface.

Starling frowned as she watched him. His demeanor hadn't changed at all from the way he was behaving towards her, she noted, but it had a much greater effect on the hotel staff. They just catered to his every whim and judging by his reputation, Starling guessed that it was the usual norm of behavior for most people – they just sucked up to Doctor Lecter like there's no tomorrow.

I must be so getting on his nerves. She grinned to herself and in the exact moment, Lecter turned and his eyes immediately found hers, as if it was the most natural thing for him to do. There was no hesitation – he had just looked up, knowing where she standing was in the lobby.

His face was displeased, though, and Starling made her way towards him.

"What's the problem, Doctor Lecter?"

He was at a loss of words, which was probably the first and only time such a phenomenon had occurred. She watched, fascinated, as he pursed his lips together and then clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"There was an incident," he said slowly as if he disliked the words coming out of his mouth. Starling's heart started to beat faster, adrenaline unexplainably flooding her bloodstream. His eyes were burning and the sight evoked in her a strong fight or flight response. Starling had to force herself to listen to him as Doctor Lecter continued, "The plumbing of this place obviously predates the Great War. Two-thirds of the hotel have been flooded. The remaining rooms are already taken, except for the very last one."

That's what upset him? Starling blinked, trying to calm her heartbeat. She didn't doubt that he noticed it, judging by the way his eyes focused on her pulse point briefly.

"Sounds like bad luck, Doctor."

"You probably didn't understand me. There is only one room available." He used his forefinger to emphasize the fact. Starling blinked again, glancing momentarily at the long digit before looking up into his face with a slight frown. She didn't know what the fuss was about.

"We are forced to share, Agent Starling!" Lecter pointed out prickly. The fury in his eyes dissipated, turning into displeasure – perhaps at her lack of reaction.

"I got it the first time around." She shrugged her shoulders and found his expression to be hilarious. Doctor Lecter was actually agitated and Starling was enjoying it. The idea of sharing a room was not particularly a pleasant one, but Starling was used to it. As an orphan, she had spent many nights sharing her bedroom with other unfortunate kids and was pretty good at dealing with it. It just meant that she would not be sleeping tonight because there was no way she would be able to fall asleep with a stranger in the same room. However, Doctor Lecter was very uncomfortable with the idea.

"You believe it is acceptable for us, two individuals who only met four days ago, to be forced into a situation in which we will ultimately have to become rather intimately familiar with each other?"

Oh my, so many big words in one sentence? His reaction alone was enough to compensate for the slight discomfort of a sleepless night. Starling could manage – there had been times when she had gone without sleep during particularly grueling exams.

"You are prudish, you know. It's not like the world is ending. And you already did see me naked, didn't you?" She raised her eyebrows questioningly. Karma is a bitch, Doc.

"That's- It's-" the good doctor sputtered and fisted his hands around the straps of their luggage. "There was nothing personal, or sexual, and you know it."

"There won't be either, right?" She said innocently and she meant it. The doctor's answer was immediate.

"Of course, Agent Starling!"

"See? So where is the problem? I won't tell that you wear pink striped boxers under those fancy clothes of yours." She joked – that was for that nightgown – and was glad that the tension left Lecter's body, though his eyes remained guarded and anger still radiated from his entire being.

"I would have to kill you otherwise," he said and a shiver ran down Starling's spine. Looking at his dark expression, she wasn't entirely sure that he had been joking. Suggesting now to just drive back to Washington was probably out of question, too. She had already said that she had no problem with sharing a room with him. Backing out now would give the wrong impression, wouldn't it?

Lecter did not understand how Agent Starling could find amusement in their current situation. They deposited their luggage in the room and the good doctor spent entirely too much time inspecting it. The longer he looked around, the more obvious his distaste became for the birdie tried to placate him.

"It's a very nice room, Doctor Lecter."

"Our understanding of the word differs, Agent Starling." The king-sized bed took most of the space under the window, there was a miniature desk and no sofa. He would have to spend the night on the floor because as a gentleman, he couldn't accept anything else. Also, the cheap watercolor reproductions on the walls were irritating and tasteless. Lecter pursed his lips and poked his head into the bathroom, switching the light on. His scoff reverberated in the depressingly small space.

Hearing that, Starling offered, "Come on, Doctor, it's not that bad."

Releasing a sigh, he supposed that she was right. It certainly was 'nice' according to her standards – he would need to work on them. That thought made him smile inwardly. With her cheap shoes and good bag and clothes as fine as an underpaid government employee could afford, there was nothing particularly bad about Starling's standards. She just didn't know better, couldn't know better. It was a pity – such a rare creature deserved so much more.

It would be Lecter's delight to introduce her to all the finer things life had to offer.

He also detested the fact that Agent Starling was unquestionably amused by his reaction to a said situation which probably made him unreasonably prejudiced against their accommodation. The birdie had teased him about it and undoubtedly had reached the wrong conclusions about why Doctor Lecter disliked the very idea of sharing a room.

He was hardly as prudish as his outburst would suggest. While it was unseemly for two unmarried people who were not in any way romantically involved to share a bed, a part of him was even looking forward to seeing Starling asleep again. It was pleasant to look at her asleep. She was quite beautiful. The doctor was going to enjoy those moments of peace and lock it safely into his memory palace.

Lecter did, however, hate the very idea of being forced to share his personal space with another let alone with someone so dangerous to him. It would leave him vulnerable should he doze off. Lecter was frankly shocked that Starling was comfortable with the fact that she would be letting him see her asleep. He would have expected her to be just as unsettled as he was – she had hated the idea of him going through her car only this morning. Knowing that he was in the same room why she was asleep surely must be upsetting for her.

So why aren't you upset, my little cub? The answer excited him and Lecter finally shed the last remains of his agitation at the sorry state of their sleeping arrangements. Her trust was a precious thing and he would not betray it if Starling would not betray him first. The longer they spent assessing each other, getting to know each other, the more Lecter was certain than he could avoid that outcome.

The little birdie was responding to him in ways he found exhilarating. She wouldn't break as poor Will had. No. If Lecter pushed her too much, Starling would not crumble, she would push back. The more he knew about her, the more he wanted to know. Perhaps building a wing in his palace just for Agent Starling was prudent. There were simply too many details about her that he wanted to keep within his treasuries that a single room would soon be insufficient.

If only he could… The doctor's line of thought ended abruptly and he startled at the fierce yearning which had accompanied it. He glanced at her. Starling was watching him with exasperated affection, waiting for another sign of his displeasure as if they had been through the same procedure a million times before.

He could visualize scenarios of their future field trips. Starling's amused snorts of laughter and her teasing in that drawl of hers: "Come on, Doc, I know it's in a plastic cup but it's still caffeine. Let's get going." Or: "The food's not poisoned, eating it won't kill you." His favorite would be something like this: "See those sloppy cuts, Doc? We're dealing with an amateur here."

She had, after all, complimented his knife work and Lecter was not going to forget that. He couldn't entirely predict her, of course, but he was sure that his imagination wasn't too far from reality. In his mind, he could hear the words echo in her voice, he could visualize them not only on field trips like this one. Oh, and how pleasingly whimsical the other scenarios were!

Nurturing her tastes, seeing to broadening her horizons… Perhaps she would find pleasure in opera and classical music and they could share that enjoyment. Or perhaps not. There was always food and Starling was intelligent enough to keep up with him in other areas of Lecter's interests dealing with their professional careers if nothing else.

"Is there something you want to say, little Starling?" he asked her. Her eyes sparkled but she shrugged. There was plenty she had to say to him, the doctor had no doubt.

"Come on, Doctor, let's get going. It will take your mind off this."

Ah, that was almost perfect. He had captured the intonation just right. The thought pleased him and Lecter nodded, gesturing for Starling to precede him through the door. The good doctor took care to breathe her in deeply. There was no need to do so, she wasn't distressed, she hadn't reapplied her perfume or changed clothes. He simply found pleasure in the mixture of her natural, relaxing scent and the cosmetics she used.

Doctor Lecter found a great amount of pleasure in Clarice Starling – his little lion cub, his witty little birdie, his dear wolf clothed in the skin of dumb, tedious sheep. Will you shed it, my precious cub? Or will I have to cut it off for you?

A/N: No, your eyes don't deceive you, I updated this story after almost six years. I would like to apologize for my long absence but life is life. I have no idea if anyone is still interested in this story but I finally have some free time to come out of my writing retirement... and here we are. Hope you had fun ;)