(A/N: Sorry about the long delay in getting this up, was having computer problems for a while. Anyways, here's chapter 16 for your reading pleasure!)

Family Blood

Chapter 16: Playing Possum

Back at Dr. Lecter's and Clarice's hotel room, the dwindling group of five stayed silent as they tried to take in the night's events so far. Jadis was resting on the bed wide awake, a few bandages covering her body. She hadn't taken as much damage as they had first though she did, but it was enough it keep her immobile for an hour or so.

Matthew looked over at the young woman, a small hint of worry still in his heart. He had been scared for her when she had landed in her father's arms after her what could have been fatal fall to the ground. The thought that he might have lost her frightened him. Since settling into the car at the parking lot at the mall, he hadn't left her side.

'I can't believe this,' Matthew thought at the back of his weary mind. 'I'm falling for a cannibal's daughter! If only Paul could see me now...' He had to fight back a smirk at the look that might have been on his deceased brother's face if he knew what was going through Matthew's mind.

The silence was driving Clarice nuts. A little louder than she had expected, she finally asked, "How the hell didn't we know about Parker's involvement? We should have seen it right from the beginning!"

"The bitch was always manipulative C," Ardelia responded. "You would have been amazed at what she had been able to get away with in the Bureau by using anyone she needed to."

Dr. Lecter spoke up. "I must admit, this does explain a lot about this entire situation. I only wonder how long she has been helping them."

Jadis quietly said, "A little too late to find that out now, seeing as how Matt blew her head off." A slight smirk was playing on her features.

Matthew felt his face redden slightly at Jadis' comment.

Clarice was about to say something more when the telephone came alive, its ringing calling out to the group in the room. Looking at the caller ID, Dr. Lecter put whoever was on the other end on speaker phone while signaling to the rest of the group to stay silent.

"Who am I speaking to?" he asked into the phone.

The male voice on the other end gave off a slight chuckle. "Really Hannibal, I never thought you could be that direct," Silversted's mocking voice responded. "But given the circumstances, I guess you can't be blamed. After all, it's not everyday that you lose your only child. You have my sincerest condolences."

With an angry comeback at the tip of her tongue, Jadis was ready to give him a piece of his mind when Dr. Lecter indicated to her to keep her mouth shut. Grudgingly, his daughter complied.

"Thank you for your condolences Richard," Dr. Lecter's voice sounded a little more forced, hints of anger showing through. "However, you know as well as I do that I can't leave her death unpaid."

The group shot him a look, but the doctor ignored it. They got the message instantly. No need to let Silversted and Crawford know that Jadis had survived. The less they knew, the better.

Silversted sounded a little more irritated when he spoke next. "I thought that we were even when your daughter's boyfriend there killed our associate. An eye for an eye, as some would say. We take one of yours, you take one of ours."

Dr. Lecter made his voice go up in volume slightly. "Maybe so you little piece of shit, but it would be much more appropriate for you to die. Parker just got in our way."

The group had to fight to not laugh at how easily the man on the other end of the line was falling for the act the doctor was putting on. But no matter how tempting it was, none of them could fall out of character for now. Their role was to appear beaten down and humiliated, not applauding at their companions' acting skills.   

As predicted, Silversted fell for it all the way. "Now now Hannibal, if you want to see me again that badly, you just need to ask. Oh and if Clarice is there, tell her that Jack says hi. Maybe she would like to see him as well."

Clarice muttered underneath her breath, "Damn right you son of a bitch."

Dr. Lecter showed no sign that he heard Clarice's comment. "Only if Jack wants to die as well, tell him that Clarice would be more than happy to see him as well."

Another mocking chuckle at the other end. "Let's not keep Agents Mapp and Krendler out of this, tell them that they can come along as well. Come to the storage facility on the outskirts of the city, the one called 'Johnny's Discount Storage'. You'll know it when you see it. Park outside of the front doors; we'll meet you all there. You bring no weapons, we'll bring no weapons. Deal?"

"Deal," Dr. Lecter replied instantly.

"Good. See you guys soon then." A click then he was gone.

"Does anyone know where that is?" Clarice asked eagerly.

Ardelia nodded. "I drive by it almost everyday on my way to Quantico. It's not that far from here, maybe a ten minute drive or so."

Dr. Lecter nodded. "Jadis, you'll have to carry a few weapons since the rest of us can't. We'll also need to figure out a way for you to follow us without being noticed."

"That should be easy enough," Jadis said. "I could just go ahead of you guys and park a mile or so up the road. I'll walk off the road from there, just in case they're watching the highway too."

"Okay then," Clarice spoke up. "Are we all ready to get going with this?" She was visibly eager to face off with Crawford once more, wanting revenge for earlier that night.

"Just let me get the weapons," Jadis said while standing up, finally getting the strength to move around on her own a little bit. "Matt, could you come with me? I'm still going to need some help with walking upright for a while."

Matthew was at her side almost instantly. As the two moved into Jadis' empty room, he made sure that she wouldn't fall flat on her face.

"Okay, I'm fine," Jadis told him while steadying herself on the dresser. "I should be alright in a few minutes. Could you pass me those guns on the other dresser over there?"

"Yeah, sure," Matthew promptly complied, handing her the two small guns one by one. She tucked them away into her holster and jacket pockets.

Matthew looked over at her and asked, "Are you sure that you're going to be okay? You're still not one hundred percent."

Jadis gave him a slight grin, "I'm close enough to hundred to survive Matt, don't worry." She paused for a second to regain her balance enough to walk upright on her own. Once that was accomplished the said, "One more thing Matthew..."

Walking over to the man, she had to steady herself on the bed a couple times to keep from falling. Matthew swallowed, not sure of what was coming next. He enjoyed being around her and all, but at the back of his mind the remaining fact was that she was still a Lecter and he a Krendler. Lecters and Krendlers didn't have a good history together.

However, what she did next came as a shock to him. Wrapping her arms around Matthew's neck, Jadis pulled him into a kiss. The man was very surprised at her action, but quickly found himself responding to her. Pulling away, Jadis had a grin planted on her face.

"Consider that a thank you," she said. "Thanks for helping us out with this. And thank you for not turning out like your brother."

Matthew, who was still recovering from the shock, managed to get out, "Well, um, you're welcome then." Inside he mentally kicked himself for the cheesy response.

Still grinning, Jadis pulled him into another quick kiss and said, "And that one was just for the pleasure of it."

Matthew found himself smiling and sharing a small chuckle with her. "We should get going now," he eventually said, "You still need to ask Ardelia for the directions too."

Nodding, Jadis agreed with him as the two made their way out the door to join with the rest of their group.

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(A/N: Hmm, didn't turn out as good as I thought it would. Ah well, it's alright for now I guess. Oh and I apologize for the minimal Clarice and GD interaction these last few chapters. I've been having a very hard time in doing that in this story, but I promise that you'll see a lot more of them in upcoming chapters (besides, you honestly didn't think that I've forgotten about Nathan Chilton, did you? *evil grin*) Anyways, I'm feeling a little burnt out right now so the next chapter might take a while. And as always, thank you for all the great reviews!)

-SP/NC