PAWN

Epilogue

The dead eyes of a weighed down Paul Krendler forever look up toward the surface of the Chesapeake Bay. And to the sky beyond that. An airplane flying overhead cuts through the clouds; heading south towards Buenos Aries.

In first class, third row back on the left, aisle seat, sits Hannibal Lecter. An unopened book gone untouched in his lap. He is content to simply enjoy the weight of Clarice Starling's head resting on his shoulder as she sleeps next to him in the window seat. With a bemused smile, he stairs at her hand; it rests on his in his lap, holding his thumb.

As much as the Doctor had enjoyed his freedom over the last ten years, he realized how lonely he'd been before now. Before his incarceration, even.

Just before leaving the house on the Chesapeake, Clarice had made a single request of him " Let's just get one thing straight," she'd said as they were about to walk out the door. " Just because I'm madly in love with you and we're prancing off into the sunset together," the Doctor smiled at her colorful description "doesn't mean that I want to pick up some of your more exotic eating habits. I'm not going to try and change who you are or what you do, just show me the same courtesy."

"Understood." he agreed. It was a respectable request that he took seriously. And was never again an issue after that day.

In Argentina now, barely settled in the exquisite Beaux Arts building near the French Embassy for more than a few days, Clarice Starling sleeps in the large master bedroom on the top floor of the mansion. In the bed that they share every night, sleeps also Hannibal Lecter. Her hand rests on his hip beneath the covers, her head rests on his chest; face flushed still from their most recent session of insanely delicious sex. For tonight, and the rest of their nights together, she sleeps sweetly, peacefully in the silence of the lambs.

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The End!!!!! I hope everyone liked it!!! I'm toying with the idea of writing a sequel in the future… but not today. I'll have to think on it. I got a few requests for a description of what went on between the Doctor and Mason, so maybe I could try and fit it in there.