CH 1: Longing

He'd been watching her for twelve days. Twelve long, agonizing days of observation, but no contact. He couldn't allow himself the pleasure. Not yet. If he immersed himself in her life, he would be at the very top of the Bureau's list of suspects. He'd been in the field long enough to know that.

So now, as he stood peering at Abigail through the slots of a library shelf, Will tongued the corner of his mouth and watched her flip through a book – a battered, dog-eared mystery novel, from the looks of it. You are what you read.

Smiling thinly, Will's eyes fell to Abigail's sweater and the large, flirty cut-out between her shoulder blades, the design baring the straps of her camisole that she wore underneath. It was impractical for winter – wholly intoxicating, too. With her pale flesh came the memories of his own kills, all made in her honor. Hobbs had been right to revere her.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Will stiffened, immediately pretending to peruse the shelves.

Abigail looked up and smiled, now talking quietly to a librarian. He supposed his time for observation was over.

"You've been preoccupied lately, Will. Are you sure you're alright?"

Will absently clutched the armrests of his chair, his right foot jiggling as he peered back into Alana Bloom's kind, concerned blue eyes. "I'm fine," he said. "Really."

"Well, there must've been some reason why you asked for me instead of Dr. Lecter… What couldn't he fix?"

"Dr. Lecter wasn't a good fit," Will shortly said, his shoulders lifting. Or more aptly put, he could sense his own kind in Hannibal. It wouldn't be wise for the two of them to interact. Deep down, he couldn't help but wonder if Hannibal had sensed it too.

"Besides, wasn't it you who said association with Abigail Hobbs wasn't a good idea? I believe it's the same for Dr. Lecter, seeing how we were both there that day."

"Trauma bonding can be healthy," Alana hesitantly allowed, "but Abigail doesn't seem well enough for certain stimuli."

Will sighed through his nose. "I guess you're right. I don't want to cause an unexpected breakdown, so I'll just…I'll stay away."

"A wise decision." Crossing her legs, Alana added, "Are you still having nightmares?"

"A little."

"Would you like to discuss them?"

Will gazed at a nameless point of interest over Alana's shoulder, his mouth twisting as he shifted in his seat. "Each time I dream, I can't save her… Abigail always bleeds out before I can get my hands around her throat."

Alana folded her own hands. "That's a perfectly normal response, Will. It's just your mind's way of processing what did and what could have happened."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Find something new to fixate yourself on – learn a new hobby, perhaps. Just whatever you do, don't visit Abigail Hobbs. You need to hold off on that for both your sakes."

Will's lips curled into a lopsided smile. "Consider it done."

Abigail had jumped the wall again. Even though she usually stayed close to Port Haven, she found herself wandering aimlessly that afternoon, her hands in her pockets as her mind buzzed with the inevitable: you're alone. You're worthless. You're a monster.

At the end of the block, Abigail reached a small, locally-run flower shop with an array of lilies and roses perched tantalizingly by the front door.

Always a fan of nature – God, she missed the woods – Abigail immediately drew toward it with several quick, even strides. With her hands outstretched, she cupped the nearest bloom and breathed in the fresh scent. It smelled like heaven compared to the sterile, overwhelming smells from the hospital.

"They're pretty, aren't they?"

She jerked, shooting upright and beholding Will's wry, reassuring smile.

"It's you," she gasped, staggering back despite the recognition. "I…w-what are you doing here?" Fearful, she quickly added, "I swear I'm going back to Port Haven, I just…I-I needed-"

"Say no more," he assured her. "If you want my inexpert opinion, I don't think being cooped up in one place is healthy. You need these sorts of outside stimuli."

Abigail's posture relaxed and she crossed her arms. "I never got to thank you, you know. Everyone else involved in my accident came around, but you never did. Not that I blame you… I hate hospitals." And you killed my dad. She assumed that was the biggest reason why he hadn't visited, but she had (mostly) forgiven him by now.

"I was actually going to stop by today," Will lied. "In fact, I was just about to pick some of these out for you."

"Really?" Skeptical and uncertain, Abigail shook her head and squirmed beneath his gaze. "You don't need to do that."

"Why not? Hospitals are drab and prison-like, so you might as well add a splash of color to lift your spirits." Will nodded to the flowers. "Go ahead and pick something out."

"Oh, um…w-well, I've always liked snapdragons."

"Snapdragons it is then."

Unable to help it, Abigail's face lit up with a smile.

With the snapdragons in hand, Abigail followed Will through the streets with a lighter bounce to her step. "I hope you're not being nice because you think you have to be," she said. "I hate pity."

Will smiled. "I can assure you, I'm only interested in getting to know you – the real you, and not the girl the media likes to portray."

Souring, Abigail lowered her gaze and brushed her fingers along the soft, vibrant flower petals. "I don't care what they think."

"And why should you?" he countered. "We don't owe them any explanation."

"We?"

"I've been a target, too."

"Oh, right…Freddie Lounds." Suddenly leery, Abigail added, "She says you're crazy…that you're able to think like insane men because you are insane."

Will cocked his head. "And do you believe that?"

"I don't really know… This is my first time ever speaking to you." With a ghost of a smile, she lowly teased, "But how crazy can you be? When I asked for snapdragons, you not only knew what they were, but where to find them. My father used to buy these for me…I had a little garden behind our house."

I know, Will thought. He recalled peeking in through her bedroom window, nearly stepping on said flowers as she set about her nightly routine.

"Did you want me to drive you back? I'd hate for you to walk all that way."

Abigail shrugged, appearing indifferent. "I like to walk."

Alright, time for a different approach. "How about some pie then? I know a great diner, and I have a feeling you don't get treated too often."

Arching a brow, Abigail's mouth quirked slightly. "Make it a fudge brownie sundae, and you've got yourself a deal."

Will grinned. Gotcha. "My car's up this way, so it's not much farther."

Following his gaze, her smile slowly faded. "Why did you park in an alley?"

"Is that truly so odd?"

"I guess not…" Shrugging, she re-adjusted the flowers in her arms. "So where are we going? Someplace local?"

Allowing himself to fall a step behind her, Will remained oddly silent in his gait.

She turned her head. "Mr. Graham?"

All at once, he wrapped his strong arms around her neck and began to squeeze. Abigail cried out, but he was quick to clap a hand over her gasping mouth.

"Shh-shh," he crooned, pressing a kiss to her temple. "It'll all be over soon."

Abigail flailed and thrashed in his grip, but it wasn't long before she sagged against him in defeat, unconscious and unmoving. The snapdragons laid forlornly scattered at their feet.

Now whistling a chipper tune, Will opened his trunk and lifted Abigail's small, limp body into his arms, careful and almost tender as he gently laid her inside and shut the lid.

A/N: So I decided to write an AU based off a dark!Abigram fan vid I made (it can be found by searching "KendraLuehr" on YouTube under the name "Dark!Will Graham x Abigail Hobbs: break me down". Keep in mind that it won't be EXACTLY like this, but the basic premise is the same. In this AU, Will has been watching Abigail prior to Hobbs' death, because he figured out who the Shrike was long before the Bureau did. That will be addressed in later chapters.

Anyway, this is going to be dark and more than likely disturbing, so I hope everyone is aware of that before continuing. I don't normally like dark AUs, but I guess I've exhausted all my happy/chipper ones by now. If you don't mind disturbing content, I hope you enjoy! :) Comments are love!