The short drive to Wills was one she knew well. It was one she had taken time and time again, but never once had she ever felt so nervous.
"Good morning." she smiled. A swarm of dogs came out onto the porch all different shapes and sizes and she knelt down petting them.
"Oomf." she grunted falling back onto her butt a big black fluffy dog in her face. It was Godfrey. Molly wrapped her arms around the dog, hugging him like someone would do any other person.
"He seems happy to see you." Will laughed.
"I sure am happy to see him." she chuckled petting is soft fur.
"He's gotten so big!" she said glancing up at Will. He nodded holding out a hand to help her up.
"And he was so small when we found him." he said. Molly accepted his hand with some bit of trepidation, timidness perhaps.
"You've taken in so many all strays?" she said eyeing her hand in his. Neither of them made a move to retreat.
"Yeah, you know I have a softspot for them." he said sheepishly. His gaze averted, and he cleared his throat and drew his hand back to his side awkwardly.
"Would you like something to drink?" he offered. Molly nodded, following him inside, the herd of dogs in tow. Looking around she couldn't help but smile. Everything looked exactly the same as she remembered. That homey place that she always felt most comfortable at. Molly's own house was in town, but Will's, how secluded it was, reminded her much of where she grew up.
"Sweet tea?" Will asked from the fridge, peeking over from his shoulder. He knew iced sweet tea was always her favorite.
"That'd be great." she said taking a seat at the kitchen table. Moments later he returned. Sitting down across from her he slid a glass to her.
"Thanks." she said taking a sip.
"Shame that iced sweet tea's strictly a southern thing." Molly commented, just making some small talk.
"True. It's not something you can ask for in restaurant around here." he said with a chuckle. Small talk, painfully awkward small talk. It seemed so strange considering just how close they were at one time that here they were now talking about tea of all things. They once talked to each other about anything and every no matter the topic and now here they were struggling to make conversation.
"Have you thought anymore about seeing a psychiatrist?" he added, the subject taking a more serious turn. Margaret drew in a deep breath exhaling slowly, her tracing tracing over the glass.
"No, I haven't. It's not something I'd care to put much thought into." she said shifting in her seat.
"I'd really feel a lot better if you did. I think you'd like my psychiatrist, Hannibal Lecter." Will rambled on. The young woman's gaze snapped up recognizing the name.
"Hannibal Lecter?" she repeated thinking back to the man she'd just met days before. Will nodded shuffling around for something.
"Here, I'll give you his number..." he said scribbling down on a piece of paper. Will slid it across the tabletop to her.
"Thanks." Molly said taking it into her hands. For a moment she stared down at the digits before stowing the slip away in her bag.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" she asked glancing up to him for a response.
"Not yet." he replied. Molly smiled standing up from her seat.
"I'll make something then. You haven't moved anything around have you?" she asked stalking off towards the kitchen.
"Nothing's changed here." he said in almost a sad tone. Molly paused and a frown found it's way to her face and with it a regretful feeling came onto her strongly, but she pushed it aside. Pulling the refrigerator door open she peeked inside grabbing this and that. He was right, nothing here had changed, not even in the least, and for whatever reason she found this to be comforting. While things were moving so quickly around her as to leave a blur in their wake Will was here the entire time. He'd always been there she supposed.
"Nothing special, just bacon and eggs." she said placing the plates on the table.
"That's about all that was in there. I haven't been grocery shopping for a while." he said coming back into the room.
"I got a call earlier. It was from Hannibal... I mentioned you. He set up an appointment for you-" Will started in a careful tone. Molly sat down her fork calmly, and licked her lips.
"You did what?" she questioned cutting him off.
"He was very happy to work you in later today. You told me you weren't busy so-" he began only to be cut off once more.
"So you went ahead without asking me? I told you I'd think about it." she said sharply.
"You and I both know how 'I'll think about it' usually ends up for you." Will said visibly becoming flustered as well.
"Why are you so adamant about me seeing a therapist!?" Molly snapped. Will flinched at the tone and drew back a bit.
"Your co-workers contacted me. They told me about what had happened in Iran- they were all very concerned. Then when I saw you the other day I could see something new in you as well. I also care about you." Will explained. This time she had no retorts and no snappy remarks, all she could do was sit there and take in the extent of his words. The two sat in a silence for some time that only seemed to drag on.
"I'll go, but it's up to me whether I continue with the sessions." she finally said.
"Please, come in." Hannibal said from the doorway where he held the door open allowing his next patient entrance. His eyes flickered to her, a glimmer of recognition coming over him.
"Ah, Ms. Margaret Leonas. We've met before." he went onto say.
"It's good to see you again Doctor Lecter." she smiled walking on into the vast office. Like the man himself it was very baroque. High ceiling were lined with bookshelves filled to the brim with book. It made her wonder what sort of novels they were. The room itself was elegant with lavish art and other decor. This office wasn't like most. An office was usually and impersonal thing that one didn't put any of their self into, but his seemed to mirror him directly.
"Please sit down." he offered, and so she did. Once again she felt the full affect of his intense gaze, but this time was unlike before. This time she was sitting here as a patient, her mind laid out before him for his scrutinization, and that caused for some discomfort.
"You've seen psychiatrists before." it was both a statement and a question. Dr. Lecter's words were laced with a lovely accent from his foreign tongue.
"Yes." she said plainly.
"You stopped seeing each of them on your own terms, why?" he asked shifting in his seat. The man was finally groomed from head to toe decked in an expensive suit not a hair out of place.
"None of them were any help to me, I didn't like seeing them." Molly said. He nodded slowly and he pursed his lips as if carefully choosing his words.
"Is it because they were truly of no help or that you wouldn't let them help you?"
"I-I've never really thought about it, but none of them have ever been able to find the right words to help me."
"Is that because you already have a predetermined idea of what you want to hear- something you yearn to hear."
"Its because they say just what I expect to hear." Molly said. The man across from her cocked his head to the side. It was a thoughtful notion that beckoned her to continue.
"Meaningless, empty words. They mean well, but that's their job. Everyone is the same- people- they're all so predictable. They walk around going about their daily lives- their lives- but they all stick with the conformities laid out by society." she finished. For a brief moment she could have swore she saw some flicker in his eye, just a little glimmer that faded just as soon as it had appeared, but it was something. It was the first she had seen since coming in there. Usually Margaret had a knack for reading people, but when it came to him so far she was only able to draw blanks. There was nothing aside from his prominent exterior of fine linens and an air of elegance he expelled. It was a strange realization that peaked her interest.
"There is a difference between what you want to hear and what you expect to hear. One can only hope that they will be the same." he pointed out.
"I hope you come to enjoy seeing me." he added his lips curling up into a smile. Even so his expression was empty.
"that would be nice." Molly agreed.
"I'll see you next week." he said pulling himself up from his chair. The young woman nodded and followed suit. Like the gentlemen he was Hannibal pulled the door open and stepped aside.
"Goodbye, Margaret. Have a good evening." he said. Once again she nodded an awkward smile coming to her face.
"Thank you..." she murmured stepping through the doorway. "And you too." she added before exiting through the waiting room.