The holiday was only a cover. Molly to be in a safe place but did Lestrade have an agenda behind it? He'd always found her beautiful but the woman was under the spell of Sherlock Holmes so he never thought about it really. The DI had never had a shot before - not until now. They had spent a week with each other and tonight would be their last chance to exploit it. Lestrade had it all planned out: take her out to an Italian, talk about the highlights of the holiday and then he'd tell her how he felt. It was a simple plan.

As he walks through the chaotic road of London and into the warm Italian restaurant, Lestrade's eyes fix onto - his new obstacle - Molly sitting with two Americans. The tourists had practically invited themselves to this intimate dinner and the one with the curly, dark hair was definitely competition for Molly's affections.

The three had just finished ordering when they greeted the middle aged man warmly. "Sorry Greg," Molly apologised, "We should've waited for you before we ordered." The DI took the seat next to the man wearing the hoodie, sitting opposite from Molly. "Nah, it's alright. I'll catch up by dessert." Lestrade said while he looked across the menu. He'd probably just order something safe like a pizza with pepperoni.

"I'm Hannibal Lecter by the way," the gentlemen announced in the progress of making conversation, "Miss Hooper says that the restaurant was your choice?" This effort was wasted on Lestrade.

"Did you say your name is…Hannibal?" The adult whispered in amazement and pronounced the syllables of the name as if they were a tongue-twister. "Like cannibal?" Tension tiptoed above the table on a weak safety line.

Will's glass drops from his hands but he doesn't seem to notice. His eyes explode with amazement. What jumps out of his mouth sends a siren across the room. "It frickin' rhymes!"

The majority of the restaurant turned in British disgust while the rest concentrated on their own business. Molly quickly sent Lestrade a kick under the table and a warning look. She then helped Will collect his spilt whisky that had crossed to her side of the table. The glass hadn't broken luckily. Hearing a sound like a kettle, she looks at Will who's actually trying to hold his giggling through his teeth.

How could he not have noticed this before? Will had known his psychiatrist for about a year now and had met him when he was investigating the cannibal, Garret Jacob Hobbs. Hannibal looks so pale and shocked too. It was as if America had this bubble around the rhyme and was popped by none other than Lestrade. Will didn't want to start laughing and was feeling guilty just by giggling.

A young waiter came to the table and offered to refill Will's glass and take Lestrade's order. Although stunned at the apparent outburst he remained friendly to the customers. "May I ask what rhymed, sir?" the amateur waiter asked Lestrade after he finished his order.

By this time Hannibal had regained his composure. At first he felt like grabbing a knife and stabbing it into Lestrade's brain repeatedly. Because of obvious reasons he couldn't, not yet anyway. He'd visit London again when it suited him and hunt him down, humiliate him, feed him to the apple of his eye and get away with it. Hannibal could feel something gnawing at the back of his mind. He didn't know what though.

Lestrade only glanced at Hannibal quickly but he could feel his predator eyes and didn't want to offend him further. "Nah, you don't want to know."

*

"You two aren't in a relationship," It's a statement.

"No," Molly replies anyway, "Just friends."

Lestrade wanted to dig himself a hole. Even though Will seemed like the problem at the beginning, he couldn't help but feel Hannibal's hostility. "An ex of Molly's appeared out of the blue so I thought 'why not take her on holiday with the girls'."

"Is he trouble?" Will asked Molly. He could see someone taking advantage of her good nature. The woman didn't seem too troubled though.

"It's nothing. We only went out three times," Molly said before she drank her water. Hannibal could tell she was leaving something important out but he wasn't surprised, just curious. "A short courtship and him appearing 'out of the blue' is reason enough for a holiday, must be a fascinating man?"

This made Molly and Greg both laugh. The subject did make the former on the nervous side though and she thought better to change it. "Have you guys heard of Sherlock Holmes?" It was a question she had wanted to ask all night.

Will and Hannibal took their time answering. Both of them had actually heard of the infamous detective. Hannibal spoke first, "I remember hearing about him on the news a couple of years ago perhaps. He had jumped off a building?" When hearing it on the news, the man intrigued him on the potential of his deducing abilities. The doctor searched on the internet for more information and was up to date on the man's return. Hannibal was curious if Holmes could figure out his secret although now found it disturbing that his own name basically gave the game away. It left a caustic taste in his mouth.

Will on the other hand didn't really watch the news. Will became aware of Sherlock when he was told that he was going to step in for him. A Consulting Detective, thought Will, does London police really have that? He had a quick look at a blog written by John Watson, a close friend of the detective who wrote about their cases. The stories seemed bonkers but it certainly encouraged Will to travel this far. He hadn't read as far back as Sherlock's fake suicide being mentioned though and was left puzzled by Hannibal's question. "I think I've heard of him," Will said simply.

Molly explained how Sherlock had faked his suicide years ago to outsmart an evil businessman. Lestrade added in quickly that Miss Hooper had helped with disguising a corpse as Sherlock. "He needed my help and I was happy to oblige," she stuttered in embarrassment, "Lestrade works with Sherlock - he's a Detective Inspector!" She said, dragging her companion down with her in the limelight.

Fate showed itself as Will and Hannibal realised they'd be working with this Cockney and, by the sound of things, Lestrade knew nothing of Will. Did his superiors not tell him because he was on holiday? The two locals seemed to genuinely like Sherlock too. Will was suddenly scared if they'd think he would be a mediocre replacement. Not only that but he lied to them. Trust was always a struggle with him but it was essential for colleagues. He wanted to bury his face using his sweating hands but instead tried to pull a fake smile.

"It was a pleasure to dine with you two, Molly Hooper and Greg Lestrade, but I'm afraid I need an early night. I hope Will doesn't mind if I drag him along with me." Hannibal rose from his seat gracefully. Although he wanted to indulge on Lestrade's ignorance, Hannibal could see that Will's mood had taken a turn for the worse and knew his friend needed to escape. If they didn't do it now, Will might turn rude.

"But you've hardly touched your lasagna a-a-and Will hasn't discussed his job as a psychiatrist," Molly fished, not wanting these new acquaintances to leave so soon and to never be seen of again, "Tell him Lestrade, they can't leave before dessert."

Now Hannibal wasn't sure whether to be disappointed that Will had lied or to be flattered that he'd thought of him for his lie. Lying is rude but Will was often the exception to the rule. He didn't have the self-discipline to hold his tongue but made up for it with his puppy like traits. It was also a blessing for them to leave in some ways: Lestrade had terrible table manners, the food wasn't cooked to perfection and Hannibal could still feel the mysterious void that bothered him at the back of his mind. "Sorry Miss Hooper but our friend needs his beauty sleep," Hannibal said thinking of Jack Crawford.