A/N: Hello, all! After some strange dreams I'm back with a new adventure featuring Will Graham and Hannibal Lector. This one is gonna get gory (and probably pretty sexy?), hence the M rating. This was definitely influenced by my seeing Happy Death Day so, yes, there's going to be time stuff going on. If you have the time, please rate and review and lemme know what you liked and what you didn't!

"'You need this vacation,' they said, 'You need to relax,' they said. Fan-fucking-tastic." Exasperation and exertion tempered the words of the FBI consultant who had had it just about up to here with the shenanigans aboard this ship. And as he mumbled to himself, upside down, covered in dust and fiddling with wires he knew very little about, Will Graham found himself contemplating how it was, exactly, he had come to be where he was. Trapped on a cruise liner, in the middle of what he was calling the Bermuda Square, with someone (or more accurately, something) gunning for his life. He grimaced as his hunting knife slipped, the tip slicing the pad of his forefinger, but kept his grip as he continued stripping the wire in his hand.

"And who cares if I electrocute myself down here? It's not like I've tried raising the alarm, or radioing for help, or tried to leave this damn boat or anything so it's not like-shit!" It turns out fiddling with wires and trying to restart a downed engine were not as easy as he had hoped, as evidenced now by the tingling in his still bleeding finger. It took all of his self-control to keep from throwing the knife and himself around like a toddler having a temper tantrum as the engine remained dead and silent and dark around him. He'd be lying if he said he even knew what he was looking at. Frustrated, furious, and certain now that he was going insane, Will crawled out from beneath the wiring and leaned against the nearby wall. His finger throbbed and absently he popped it in his mouth, sucking gently on the still weeping wound. Getting the engine going had been one of the options left for him and now it seemed as fruitless and as impossible as the multitude of things he'd tried. Still, his mind whirled in thought as he wondered how the hell he could make it all stop.

Time passed as well as it was able to. And as it did, he remembered.

OoOoOoO

"A cruise, Jack?"

"Yes, Will, a cruise. Complete with late night bingo, parties after ten, and all the shuffleboard you can play."

"What about my dogs?"

"Alana has graciously agreed to watch over your entire pack for the two-week duration."

"Two weeks?! What about my classes, and what about you guys? Crime isn't going to stop while I'm gone, Jack."

"You're right, Will, crime isn't going to stop. Which means that it will still be here when you get back. And come on, you don't really think I'm so out of the loop that I don't know this is spring break?"

Will sat silently across from Jack in his office, fingers nervously drumming against the arms of the chair. Excuses raced through his mind, one after the other, as he tried to figure out how he could avoid getting on that damn boat. Not that he was afraid of boats or the open water; but the thought of the confined space, of dealing with people in a way that was intimate and oppressive, was not something he wanted to put himself through. His frustration and irritation must have been showing because Jack sighed and leaned back in his chair suddenly.

"Listen, Will," he said. "Dr. Bloom is under the assumption that we are pushing you too hard. She believes that we are going to break you if we don't force you to take some kind of vacation. A sabbatical, I believe is what she called it." He smirked and offered up a small shrug even as Will opened his mouth to disagree.

"I know you may not think it ideal…but there are two options here, as far as I can see them. Either you take this opportunity for an all-expenses-paid vacation, enjoy it, come back refreshed and ready to take on crime again. Or you can fight, and scratch, and bite, and argue with me until I have to suspend you indefinitely from FBI headquarters."

"You guys need me."

"You're right, which is why you're going to go on this damn cruise."

"Jesus, Jack, you're really not going to drop this, are you?"

"Nope."

"Fine." The exhausted empath of the FBI had given in. The argument was circuitous, and Will could tell that there would be no winning this. He was going on the ship and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

"Great. You leave in two days." Will's jaw dropped, a fresh wave of refusal bubbling to the surface as he considered just how little time he had to prepare.

"How the hell am I supposed to-,"

"I already told you, Will, that we have everything covered. Literally the only thing you need to take care of is packing. Go home and pack; that's not a suggestion, Will." Huffing, Will ran his hand anxiously through his hair, grinding his teeth and gritting his jaw and admitting finally to himself that there was no way out of this. Truthfully, he was a little relieved. The last couple of months had been overwhelmingly exhausting and his nightmares were getting out of control. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept through the night, let alone been able to hold a conversation for longer than a couple minutes. Even facing away from him, Will could feel Jack staring holes into the back of his head. They were worried. All of them. And he couldn't say it wasn't warranted.

Not trusting himself to say anything else, lest he try to start another argument, Will could only nod and offer up something like a half-hearted wave in Jack's direction before turning to leave.

"Oh and…one more thing, Will," Will paused, hand on the door frame at Jack's voice.

"Just…try to have some fun, okay? Two weeks. Just relax and play shuffleboard and get drunk and maybe meet a nice woman…or man…just let go for two weeks. That's an order, Will. Let go." Will's jaw worked for a moment, cheeks flushed and unsure how to handle the comment regarding his apparently cautiously wavering sexuality, before he was able to speak.

"I'll try, Jack."

OoOoOoO

"Winston is going to try and get extra treats, and more food whenever you feed them. He always acts like he's starving."

"Will."

"You don't necessarily have to walk them, either. But if you just wander around outside with them for a bit and maybe throw a ball for them they would love that."

"Will."

"They also get a little lonely. At night, I mean. They tend to sleep in the same room with me but if you aren't going to stay here just make sure you give them some-,"

"Will. Seriously. Stop." Will paused in what was slowly but surely becoming a rant and huffed himself into silence. Agitation had him gnawing at his lower lip even as Alana Bloom slowly reached out for his forearms. He flinched, and she slowed but did not stop reaching for him. Her hands lit on his arms gently, delicately, and after a moment he calmed and allowed the contact to happen.

"Listen. I'm going to stay here with all of them. I was hoping that wouldn't be too forward? But they seem pretty used to having your presence around, and I was hoping to help them, and you, by staying here to watch them. Is that going to be okay?" Will nodded, not trusting himself to speak past the lump in his throat. He had been concerned in Jack's office, worried about leaving his animals alone for two weeks, but seeing them was something else. Realizing that he wouldn't be able to see them, and that he would essentially be without them, for two weeks. Two and a half if he considered the flight times and hotels before the cruise.

"Will?"

"No. No, Alana, that would be fine. I just, I haven't been separated from them since…,"

"Since you first brought them home, I know. And I understand how much they mean to you. I won't let anything happen. And just think! By the time you get back, they're going to have missed you so much you won't be able to calm them down no matter how many times you throw that old ball of yours." He stifled a laugh and managed a smile. Alana was right. And while he still felt a little betrayed, a little upset that she was the one that had pushed Jack into starting this whole thing, he knew deep down that she was right. He sighed, oblivious to how he leaned into her touch or how he swayed on his feet as they talked.

"Good. Now that that's settled, get packing. I'm also here to make sure you don't pack an entire suitcase full of underwear." He nodded and, together, they found his suitcase and helped him pack and prepare for his vacation.

OoOoOoO

Two Days Later

"Alright group B! Gather around my dulcet, charming voice and get ready for the cruise of your lives!" Will grimaced but joined the rest of group B as they congregated around an extremely tall, extremely handsome African American man with probably the cleanest and most well-kept uniform Will had ever laid eyes on. The flight had gone well, the hotel he had stayed in was average and he had been given permission to order as many tiny treats as he wanted from room service but being separated from his baggage and having no idea what he was getting into set him off and made him uncomfortable. He tried to relax as the rest of group B congregated around him, jostling him and brushing against his back and arms and legs and-

"So I'm sure you all saw group A, acting superior and super excited because they're the first group on the ship, but what THEY don't know is that the best snacks aren't out on the welcome table until after 10 and would you look at that, it's 9:45." Scattered laughter and Will felt himself relax ever so slightly; there was something vaguely enchanting about the crewmember who was currently leading them up what he was excitedly calling the "gangplank." He took in the enormity and overall majesty that was the cruise liner; he'd been informed that they were going to the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean which meant that he would be given a wonderful, beautiful break from the icy weather they'd been experiencing. As he chewed on his lip, listening vaguely as the crew member (whose name seemed to be Arnold) described the origins of the liner and began outlining and detailing the safety precautions that the crew of Liner 685 had laid out for them.

"And last but not least, the lifeboats. Unlike the Titanic, we have plenty of lifeboats, more lifeboats than we know what to do with. So rest easy, incredibly attractive young, scruffy man with the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen who has neither spoken a word nor laughed at a single joke I've made the entire time I've been up here. No harm shall come to a single hair upon thy brow." Will felt himself flushing as the man's words fully hit home. The group around him tittered, tiny whispers filtering through the ranks around them. Will's smile was genuine and nervous and cute but he was not aware of any of this as he anxiously scratched at his hair and tried not to meet the glittering eyes of Arnold. It would have been a lie to say Will was not flattered.

"In any case! Treats are now officially available on the veranda and you can find me near the chocolate fountain. We will be setting sail in roughly an hour and at that point I suggest you head to the bow, the front of the ship in fancy ship speak, to see us set off." Arnold found Will's eyes, offered a wolfish grin and a hopeful wink and sauntered off to join the small group of crewmen who were chatting after having finished their own tours. Will caught the eyes of a few of the other passengers, the majority of whom were still grinning and giggling at him, before he quickly made his way to the least populated area of deck. Even on a good day being surrounded by people was something he did his best to avoid; he was already reaching his limits on human interaction for the day. Leaning against the guardrail, staring absently out at the dock and at the passengers and crew as they busied themselves preparing the ship and themselves to set sail.

Will wasn't sure how long he stood there, staring out at nothing and wondering how his puppies were getting along without him, when he felt a shift in the breeze and the presence of another person beside him.

"I hope you didn't mind my little bit of fun back there." Ah, Arnold had found him. Will chuckled and shook his head, leaning his chin into his upturned palm.

"No, no. It's fine." Play it cool, right?

"Oh good," Movement drew Will's eye and he turned just enough to catch Arnold leaning casually against the railing beside him, facing the deck rather than the ocean.

"Then hopefully I'll see you around; after all, we'll be sharing the same ship for two weeks. Maybe we…can get some drinks sometime?"

"Yeah, I dunno. I'm not one really one for social interactions."

"Mmmm, but are you one for drinks?" Will laughed and shrugged; the man was persistent, that much was true at least.

"No promises, Arnold." Arnold laughed and clapped his hands together.

"Better than a no! I'll see you around, then; we're about to set sail." With a wink and a loose salute, Arnold pushed off the railing leaving Will to his own devices. Again, time passed and the world faded until an announcement overhead suggested that everybody head below deck to meet in the dining area. Will turned to find himself alone and, with a sigh, headed below deck to join the others.

OoOoOoO

Will had to admit, as they entered tropical waters and shed winter like an icy coat for warm weather and sunny skies, that maybe this had been a good idea. They'd been at sea for nearly a week and had made port once and were on their way to the second one as he basked in the sun. He was paler than he'd thought but apparently more in shape than he'd previously believed as was evidenced by the somewhat consistent, always uncomfortable, approaches by random cruise-goers as he lay in the sun. Eventually he managed to find a relatively safe sunning spot, away from the noise and loudness of his fellow travelers and peaceful enough where he could read one of his many books or work on one of his many crosswords in silence. Most of the time he just doodled, aimlessly wondering how his dogs were and whether anything new or violent was happening back home. Slowly his pale skin gained a warmish glow, his nose always pink with a little bit of sunburn.

He sighed and pushed himself up from the lounge, wondering if he could still get a late lunch from the buffet inside. He had yet to run into Arnold again in a way that would allow drinks to occur and he was surprised to find himself disappointed with this development.

He wandered.

His sleep schedule had normalized somewhat, after his body acclimated to the constant rocking of the ship. He rose early, ate breakfast before the majority of people were awake, then spent enough time wandering the ship and mapping the layout for the sun to fully have risen. He sunbathed, napped, and generally did what he could to keep his mind from thinking too much about home. It was difficult, but people watching and dozing had an overall calming effect on the worn empath's mind.

Lunch was decent (baked chicken, Caesar salad, and a chocolate chip cookie that the woman watching over the food had kept aside for him; it turned out that being genuinely nice to people tended to result in positive things) but before long he felt himself growing restless and again set out to wander the ship. Though the crew were always busy, many of them had grown used to seeing him, scruffy and bleary-eyed at 4 AM wandering the ship, and most said nothing other than offering a loose wave. The anxiety he felt being trapped on a ship in the middle of the ocean had dissipated only slightly and walking kept himself calm. Occasionally he would sit in for a hand of poker or watch a movie when it was a classic or the mood struck him, but for the most part Will felt himself content to wander.

Until the ship ground to a halt.

Will stumbled in the hallway, tripping over his own feet and slamming into the nearest wall. Shouts of dismay and surprise rang out from the nearby bar as drinks sloshed and glasses broke. Panic rose, quick and sharp, as he righted himself and looked around. This was a first; not only were they not set to dock for another day and a half at the nearest port, but each time they had it had been gentle and slow, the only tell an almost imperceptible jolt as the ship came to a full stop. The hairs along the back of his neck began to rise, muscles tensed and alert as he listened for some sort of announcement or alert that they had run aground or hit something. Around him, passenger began to appear, muttering and mumbling about the noise and the sudden stopping of the ship. Others complained about ruined pants and lost drinks nearby and still others demanded that someone tell them what was going on. Realizing that he had been standing, frozen, in the hallway for nearly five full minutes now Will regained his equilibrium and turned to head to the top of deck. Regardless of where he was he would hear the announcement loud and clear and he hoped that if he got free of the ship he would stop feeling so suddenly claustrophobic.

Others seemed to share his sentiments and with little more than a nod in any one direction, Will and a handful of other passengers made their way to the deck. Just as they reached the surface the loudspeakers crackled to life around them.

"Attention. Attention passengers. We appear to be having some technical difficulties; the engine has overheated and has shut itself down via safety protocol. We expect it to be up and running a couple of hours. We will continue to update you as we continue. Thank you." Will braced himself for panic and chaos as they fanned out across the deck but was surprised to find the overwhelming majority laughing and joking about the free drinks they would most certainly have to hand out to compensate for the schedule being thrown off. He made his way to the railing and watched as the sun began its descent below the horizon. As he watched the explosion of colors paint the sky Will could not quite seem to find a reason why his stomach churned and his jaw clenched. Around him came the grumbles of those on a vacation frustrated to be waylaid but overall still delighted to be in the middle of the ocean and away from their responsibilities. Before him was spread a seemingly endless sea, waves and water lapping delicately against the hull of the ship.

Movement caught his eye and he whirled, heart racing, to find the deck nearly empty. He must have lost track of time because the sun had set and night was upon him. His hands maintained their grip on the railing behind him and though his heart palpitated in his chest he could see no reason why that should be. Sweat began to bead on his brow and he was having trouble maintaining a calm breath. He paused, detecting what he thought was movement in the shadows against the doorframe where obviously he could see there now stood a man-

He blinked and there was nothing.

Will frowned and sighed and pushed free from the railing rubbing at his eyes as he made his way back inside the ship and slowly ambled towards his room. His hands shook as adrenaline ebbed free of his system. Whether the sudden shock of the ship stopping or his loss of time (he thought he'd been getting better but apparently, he was not not), Will Graham was suddenly exhausted and could think of nothing better than sleep. As he fumbled his keycard against the door and stumbled inside his room, Will ran through the names of his dogs in his head. He considered each one for a long while, bringing to mind their faces and names as he kicked his shoes off and quickly stripped for bed. By the time he was ready to crawl in between the covers his heart rate had slowed and the sweat had dried from his face. He was asleep nearly the moment his head touched the pillow.

OoOoOoO

Just outside Will's room two men stood side by side with another, taller gentleman, whose poise and refinement could be sensed simply by looking at him.

"I told you he was interesting, sir," Arnold's voice lilted just above a whisper in the quiet din of the hallway. "There's something wholly unique about him; like he's been here before. I've only ever sensed this when…well, when you first joined us."

From the man beside him there was no comment. Only the slow, lazy unfurling of a smile that held more than mischief in its' depths.

A/N: As I said in the beginning, reviews and critiques are loved and welcomed. I hope together we can get this show on the road!