Note: As a strange sort of celebration, to mark my first anniversary as a fanfic writer (yay!), I'm debuting three new Hannibal fics today. This one catches up with Hannibal, after he leaves the U.S. following Lessons, another will follow Clarice, and the last will be the story of Lilia Derevko. This could be interesting…or very confusing! Also…contains spoilers of Hannibal and Lessons. As always.

A HOLE IN THE HEAD

a Hannibal fanfic by JetNoir

part one of two

Sydney

"Give it up Doctor Lecter," the voice shouted, "there's nowhere to run. We have you surrounded!"

"Come now, Agent Slater. Do you honestly believe I would give up so easily? Or you Special Agent Irons? Have you forgotten the brief time we spent together? I saved your life. I could have killed you…and yet I didn't. Is this any way to repay me?"

"Dr Lecter," said Elias Irons, formerly of the Revenant Taskforce, "I know of what you did, and your part in saving Agent Starlings life…but you must face reality. You are a mass-murderer who has been a fugitive for over a decade. Surrender, and you'll get through this alive."

"One thing I must ask," said Lecter, "for I'm quite curious. However did you find me?"

"It's really was quite simple," said Agent Slater, who was slowly raising his pistol upwards, aiming at the small patch of Dr Lecter's head that was visible from the door he was hiding behind, "you made some very fundamental, basic, careless…and dare I say stupid mistakes."

Calmly he pulled the trigger, and the gun exploded with a roar.

Lecter fell limp and lifeless towards the floor.

48 hours earlier

Washington D.C.

Office of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Clarice Starling fidgeted nervously, as she waited for Director Tunberry to look up. She wasn't normally like this, but after being finally released from the hospital, close to a month since her kidnapping at the hands of former colleague Dr Lilia Derevko. She was dead. Her friend. Her friend was dead. Yet had it always been this way?

How could she have been so blind? It almost seemed obvious, and in retrospect – with the clarity of hindsight – it was. But this was no time for regrets. Not now. Not yet.

"The Bureau would like you to take some leave," said Tunberry, slowly and methodically," paid of course. We can book you into a very nice hotel suite…say: Chicago?"

"With all due respect sir," said Starling, "I don't need leave. What I need is to get on with the task at hand. I need to be doing something. Sir…I can't just leave now. We've been compromised, by a serial killer of all people! And how did Dr Lecter know all he did?"

"Clarice, I didn't want to be rude but…I'm not giving you any choice in the matter. You're distressed, it's understandable. I can't let you go on as you are. I'm going to put it simply, Special Agent Starling. If I see you, in the next week, I will fire you. Understand?"

"Sir!"

"Understand?"

"Yes sir," muttered Clarice, head drooping slightly, defeated. She turned and walked towards the door, which was unceremoniously thrust into her face by Special Agent Slater.

"Sorry," he muttered to Starling, breathlessly, then ran to Tunberry's desk, "we've found him."

"Found who," cried Clarice, "Lecter?"

"Yes Lecter," said Slater, but before he could say another word, Clarice twisted back into the office:

"Who are you sending? Where is he?"

"Agent Starling. Clarice," said Tunberry, "I'm not going, or rather Agent Slater isn't going to tell you, as you will be on the first plane there. What I will do, is hold you in reserve, in Chicago, and if we need you, I swear I will fly you there myself. Understand!"

"Yes sir, thank-you sir."

"Dismissed, Agent Starling."

She left. When sure she was out of earshot, Slater continued.

"He's in Sydney. It's going to take us the better part of a day just to get there. I need authorisation."

"Granted," said Tunberry, "but I want him alive! No more dead bodies, alive. Who are you taking with you?"

"Special Agent Elias Irons, and a few grunts…sorry, Special Weapons and Tactics."

"Sensible. What about Matt Ito?"

"Too old. He could put the operation in jeopardy."

"Very well, you have a go. By the way…however did you find him?"

"We tracked his ticket."

Sydney

The sun was a lovely change as Dr Hannibal Lecter; excuse me, Matthew Reeves sat, sipping a light Shiraz, reading.

The recent events had put little strain on him, and for now, he was simply content to sit and relax.

For now, at least.

London

Headquarters (Northern Hemisphere)

It is known simply as The Organisation.

Started as a trust between powerful politicians throughout the world, but evolved into an order dedicated to the acquisition of wealth and power for its select membership, as well as its secondary purpose, the collection of intelligence – often hired out by civilian, corporate and military groups. It was unaffiliated to any world government, because it consisted of the most powerful of all the worlds' governments. The governments themselves just didn't know it.

Less than a month ago, Dr Hannibal Lecter murdered a leading member, and his associate, while they were searching, in a rogue operation, for the serial killer called Revenant, otherwise known as Dr Lilia Derevko.

The Organisation looks after it's own. Takes revenge for it's own.

"Was the information we provided you with helpful," said The Man.

"Yes," replied the other man, linked by a connection, halfway around the world, "he's in Sydney."

"Good," said The Man, "then I have your instructions. Dr Lecter is to die. He must be found dead. I don't care how you do it, just make sure that it is done."

PAN AM Flight #03048

somewhere over the South Pacific Ocean – approaching Australia

"Yes," said Special Agent Slater, in his cellular phone, speaking in the locked toilet – as so not to be discovered, "yes…Dr Lecter will soon be dead."

To Be Continued

Note: Hope you enjoyed that, and as always, please review!

Disclaimer: Hannibal is copyright to Thomas Harris; and the story, plus original characters, to me. This story has been written on the understanding that you may read it and print it out; but you may not pass it off as your own, hire it out, or sell it for money. You also may not put it on your own or any other web page without my express written permission. Thankyou!

JetNoir