Jack sat at his desk earlier than was necessary one particular, crispy morning. He was raiding recent reports on murders and attempted murders and he was disappointed by all of them, all of them being so futile – one's that the FBI could solve without his help, ones that he wished he could be called for anyway.
The day before, looking at the second man having been displayed in a gruesome, manky, some-parts-missing sort of way; Jack had admitted to himself, admitted just how badly he wished that were true, that JUST once, he'd be called upon to solve futility. Maybe one day but this day - these days! Were for the ripper.
Hannibal waltzed the area in his beautiful suit and tie covered only by an expensive coat and two blue gloves, no less, in support of the cause - one would assume. He bent over every now and then with a frown and then he'd get up and drift elegantly over to a different part of the scene and do the same. Jack watched him acutely, comparing him without intention, to Will Graham. His conclusion was that Hannibal was damn near just as good if not…the same.
"What's your thinking, doctor?" Jack asked, having seen enough of the scene head on. He couldn't take his eyes off the head before him and as it would appear, the head couldn't take its eyes off Jack either.
Hannibal made his way back around the display to stand beside Jack,
"An offering,"
"Of what?"
"Good faith,"
Jack looked at Hannibal with a gaze deader than that of the head before them,
"He's mocking me,"
"Well," Hannibal turned his own gaze to the body and then surveyed the team around them, "Not just you,"
Jack had never felt such rage at his own loss. Loss…he was lost now but he refused to admit that as he read through all the reports. His wife was terminally ill, his best friend was incarcerated, his other close friend was being accused by the convicted and Jack had now brought in a new doctor who he was unsure of anyway and yet felt an equally as strong urge to talk to her about his issues as he did when he first started to speak to Dr Lecter on casual terms.
He had also yet to tell Dr Lecter of his intended, extra visitor. How very rude of him. He considered it a distraction and launched out of his chair, eager to escape his desk which was feeling more and more like his own prison. It didn't take him long before he got to Lecter's office and knocked on the door, to which the good doctor answered with a slight look of surprise,
"Jack - good to see you…Come in,"
Jack walked in with a deep breath and turned to face the doctor whence he heard the door click,
"I'm sorry to impose on you so early, Doctor,"
"No need to be. Please," he gestured to the seat opposite his own. Jack declined, knowing that if he sat down, the chances of his getting up were slim,
"How can I help you, Jack? Is there something wrong?"
"No, none at all," a lie, he and Lecter both knew it, "I came to ask your permission on something with regards to your dinner party tomorrow evening and an extra guest. I apologise for it being such a late request but every time I thought to ask, something more pressing came up,"
"And who is this guest?"
"An old acquaintance of Alana Bloom. She, by the request of Will Graham, is our outsider. We need a more thorough investigation,"
"I'm being investigated,"
Hannibal Lecter looked genuinely hurt but Jack, in such circumstances couldn't give a shit less as to what other people felt about his being thorough with his job. The Chesapeake Ripper was the most wanted man in the country, the problem being that nobody knew who the fuck he was and those who did were dead. If there was any chance of the Ripper being right in front of his eyes, he was not going to miss it despite how much he might want to, given the circumstances that could potentially unfold.
"Strategic reasons but tomorrow won't be an investigation. I just want you to meet her and visa versa. Get a feel for each other. I don't want to do it any more than you but I do just want this whole thing done. And soon,"
Lecter dropped his head as if guilty of feeling hurt by Jack seemingly doing his job. He nodded, quick and curt,
"If it helps you, then by all means, but please, no proper investigation tomorrow. Tomorrow evening is for us to forget the outside world for once,"
Jack agreed sullenly though he felt that if he were to forget the outside world, he'd have to forget Hannibal, his dinner parties, Will Graham and his job and start fresh. The crimes that were starting up again had gotten them all involved in one chaotic mess from which there was no escape and as Jack had so loudly told Alana, there was no one to place complete trust in.
He was on the precipice of Nowhere Land, where to take a step over the edge would be to fall into turmoil with no direction and to take a step back would be…nothing.
Jack regarded Hannibal with his hands in his pockets and his eyes narrowed.
"Feels like there's no one out there," he finally said and he left, alone, closing the door behind him with Hannibal staring after him in a mild stupor.
OoOoOoO
Hannibal was preparing his house for the dinner; his delicacies deserved the best presentation he could offer it. He enjoyed the moments before the people arrived, marvelling at all he had achieved; with his life, with his house, his manipulations…his person-suit. He had done well in covering up the monstrosities that lay in plain sight. Alana was a plus too, he had been waiting for years, that woman was hard to catch but was she not the one to kiss him first at the end of the day? If he weren't defined by class and elegance, Hannibal may have hi-fived himself but alas, his fine art was unravelling at the seams. He had underestimated Will's and Jack Crawford's relationship, initially dismissing it as merely professional and easily let go of but seeing as how Jack had heeded Will's plea for a more thorough investigation posed a more challenging prospect. If Jack truly believed Will to be the murderer Hannibal had gotten him accused of, then Jack wouldn't bother, the challenging prospect being made worse having Dr Artz brought into the picture. He had been wondering when Jack might bring her up.
It was a complex web he had gotten everyone roped in to, he had quite stupidly forgotten that if someone were smart enough to follow the web back to his fingertips, all would go pear shaped and he would have no control over the situation. Artz already knew that these webs were his; she only needed to get Jack and the rest of them to follow her to him then again, her sudden re-involvement was a fluke. He needed a plan.
"Meeting" her that night would be a fine way to well and truly start their game; dancing together in the lion's pit. He smiled as the doorbell rang; there was a lot at stake for both of them. Who would get there first?
"Alana!"
Alana stepped gracefully through his door in a stunning blue dress which he admired gratefully, especially the way it clung to her petite frame. Hannibal Lecter MD may well be an elegant, intelligent psychiatrist who enjoyed the beauty of life and death immensely but he was also a mere man. Hungry for more than the immaculate…
"Hello Hannibal,"
"Is it just you?"
"I was hoping you'd be my date?"
"I would have arrived with you but…"
Alana smiled, suppressing a laugh that would be an 'at' more than a 'with'. Bad joke, Hannibal didn't like jokes much, not that he didn't like smiling or laughing, but jokes were often another word for sarcastic wit which Hannibal had no taste for. Funny, as that was what Will Graham seemed to exist on. Ah, Will Graham.
One guest, two guest, three guest, four, five guests, six guests, seven guests more until at last he opened the door and there stood Jack Crawford and company but Hannibal looked straight past him at Artz whose eyes glinted in the half-light just beyond his door-frame.
"Please come in,"
"Thank you! Doctor Lecter, this is Doctor Guido Artz," Jack stepped aside to allow the two doctors to shake hands - the pact being made, the rules being set; no foul play.
"Doctor Artz, good to meet you,"
Artz hesitated a moment, her words getting stuck at the back of her throat,
"…yeah,"
Jack obviously misread the situation and chimed in with a knowing,
"He has that effect on people," and he gave a most unsubtle nod towards Alana Bloom who raised her eyebrows at him. Hannibal glanced at Jack and then at Alana who shook her head at him while Artz looked equally as taken aback by Jack's raw comment as the rest of them.
In that particular moment, the three of them were a team, all bewildered and left in a slightly awkward state as Jack moved off to survey, Hannibal could only assume. It didn't take him long to find Chilton. That would be another tough one…Chilton was a slimy one and he wasn't stupid.
Alana wound her way over to them soon too, them being Lecter and Artz,
"Hello Doctor Artz," she smiled warmly as Artz smiled back, "How are you? Did you get your marking done?"
Artz shook her head sullenly,
"No, after you left I had a fall out with…" she paused and Hannibal waited to hear who she had a fall out with, wondering if she'd be so bold as to bring up their meeting and put him in the spotlight so soon, "The coffee matron,"
Alana laughed while Hannibal felt rather amused, himself. Artz looked altogether ashamed and he admired how she still found a way to be light hearted despite being in his company. They had gotten on well together once, he might have even called her friend but that was before she found out about him. That was before he tried to kill her, before he found out she was still alive and found a way to threaten her without seeing her, should she tell anyone – he'd find a way to come for her. And as a fair player, he had to respect her for she was still playing by the rules. Technically she was not going to tell anyone about him, their meeting had confirmed that, but she was going to urge the people that mattered to find out for themselves with her discreet help.
"Really? The coffee matron?" Alana was still giggling.
"…yes," Alana and Artz shared their own moment there with Hannibal's permission of course.
"So, Doctor Artz," Hannibal slipped in, Artz turned her attention to him as did Alana, "Your name is clearly not of local origin,"
"No, Doctor Lecter, it is not,"
"Europe,"
"Yes,"
"Germany?"
"Yes,"
"Why move?"
"Same as most,"
"Ah,"
"What are most people's reasons may I ask?" that was Alana, "I'm original, I don't know why people would come here? Baltimore for God's Sake,"
"Well, Baltimore was the land of opportunity once,"
"Once? I'm quite happy here," Hannibal challenged at which Alana sighed,
"Yeah, well given everything that's happened, I wouldn't mind being somewhere else,"
"Take a holiday, I would recommend Bosnia,"
Alana looked at Artz incredulously,
"Bosnia,"
Artz shrugged but then she took in a short, sharp breath,
"Doctor Lecter, you seem like a well-travelled man, where have you been?"
Subtle, Doctor Artz Hannibal thought, mildly annoyed as Alana looked curiously at him. Hannibal had indeed been travelling but that was because people started catching on in other places too. Baltimore was where he ran too – for personal and criminal reasons. Doctor Artz knew that from digging,
"I've been many places,"
"Where and why the look?" He knew Alana would ask, then again, who wouldn't but he'd hoped he had contained enough 'I don't want to talk about it' in his expression to sway her to do otherwise but Alana wouldn't be Alana if she abided by those expressions…nor would she be she if she did not call him out for them.
"All over Europe, a part of Asia and then I came here," he smiled hoping it would be enough and it was about to not be but then his chance to pay back Artz appeared on a silver platter and Hannibal was quick to drive their topic of conversation towards the tasting of his food.
"Ah, Dr Artz, Alana, won't you try some?"
Alana was quick to oblige, popping whatever it was in her mouth without question and closing her eyes to the taste during which Hannibal turned his smug eyes to Artz who was, for lack of a better explanation, stuck. He could see her mind racing, she knew full well what it was or what she thought it was.
"I'm vegetarian, Doctor, became one only six years ago. Had an incident with a bad discovery about the origins of the meat I was eating,"
Hannibal narrowed his eyes and Alana came too,
"That's a shame because this is beautiful,"
"Not too much of a shame actually," Hannibal said as if it were a matter of fact, "This is a vegetarian starter although I advise to stay away from the rest,"
"Really?"
"Yes," he turned his attention back to Alana who looked suspicious and Hannibal had no doubt Artz was appreciative of the support but Dr Lecter knew his food,
"Yes, soya mince," and he smiled, "Good for your body,"
All eyes were on Artz now and Hannibal revelled in her defeat as she glanced at the very obviously, meaty dish before her. She smiled, accepting her cheeky defeat and picked up a skewer and put in her mouth and thanked Hannibal and his waiter for it.
"Good?"
She looked at him again, her eyes hardening, don't push me. To which he responded with an equally as hard, don't test me.
It was a futile defence but at least he could tell her later that he warned her.
"It's grand, Dr Lecter," she mocked and he felt a twang of annoyance, she thanked him and he expected her to say it with a wee bit of malice but so non-chelate was almost infuriating.
The night wore on and it was just them for most of it, the three of them conversing while Dr Artz and Dr Lecter had their little digs at each other. A knew sort of pun and a very different innuendo. Hannibal was tiring of the conversations, however and he was contemplating making that clear but then the opportunity presented itself again,
"That's just like Jack to do that to someone," Alana scowled, her face conveying her distaste for Jack Crawford's behaviour on the subject of Will and Hannibal's relationship. She was referring to Jack's investigating Hannibal. Indiscreetly. Twice.
"I'm sure he's got his reasons,"
"What exactly is your purpose, Dr Artz?" Hannibal asked rather pointedly,
"To help the FBI in their deciphering of code, if you will,"
"So you are investigating me,"
"What do you think?"
Suddenly Alana was gone, silent in the sudden head-on collision,
"You know what I think but I would like to know the truth. I'm a strange character; I feel I'll have to hold some things in check if it's for my benefit,"
"Don't do that…or do if you have something to hide,"
"Absolutely nothing, it would be for your protection,"
"I appreciate but I don't think you know what I'm capable of, Dr Lecter, I don't need protecting anymore,"
"Nor you, me, Dr Artz and if that is the way you feel then I shall do my best to help you,"
"Hang on," Alana had stopped gaping and burst in, "Did I just miss something because that conversation was quite suddenly severe,"
"Oh no," Dr Artz flashed a smile at Alana who looked hesitant, "No, Dr Lecter and I appear to have an understanding of one another,"
Hannibal nodded and looked side on at Alana.
OoOoOoO
Alana felt like an outsider in that moment, the way Artz and Hannibal looked at her, almost leaning into each other's personal space, the look of a mismatched team again. Only Alana was suddenly eliminated and now was confused out of her mind with regards to what had so quickly taken place – in a blink.
Something had happened and they sure did have an understanding of one another but it wasn't a clean one; the sudden, unsettling feeling that she was once again in the company of not one, but two doctors who knew more than they let on. She excused herself then and departed and made for Jack with haste she tried to hide,
"Jack,"
Jack Crawford turned to her from Chilton who nodded like a duck and moved off, the word,
"Darwinism," slipping from his lips as he did so, making Jack smile ironically.
"Alana," said he,
"What is Artz's purpose?"
"What do you mean? You know full well what –"
"Jack, Hannibal and Artz have some sort of history; I can…feel it,"
"You feel it? Alana, Dr Artz assures me that she doesn't know him at all. Granted his name doesn't count,"
"You're sure?"
"…No,"
Alana could only convey her bewilderment in her face,
"But," he carried on, "Does it matter, if she knows him or not? Will, will either have someone on his side and we'll have someone to catch or we'll have someone to dismiss and we can all relax on that front,"
"Hannibal is not the killer, Jack,"
"You know this?"
"You don't?!"
"Alana we can't have this conversation here,"
Alana was infuriated and she knew it was starting to show on her fair skin but Jack was right, having a conversation about Hannibal's being or not being the Ripper in Hannibal's house was not wise and not to mention rude.
She turned to leave Jack and retreat back to Artz and Lecter only Artz had abandoned Lecter with an expression that would appear to be more annoyed than Alana thought her own face might look; Hannibal gazing after her with a distracted distance and then smiling when his eyes met Alana's. Despite her suspicion of them both, her heart leapt at that smile.
"Are you alright, Dr Artz,"
"Don't you worry, Dr Bloom, we've had a minor disagreement but it'll be over in five minutes," she looked amused at herself, "But that being said, I've still got to mark those papers so I'll be moving on. It was good seeing you,"
"And you. Good luck with the marking,"
She tried to smile but she felt confused and disconcerted, finally making it to Hannibal with that expression firmly in place,
"What is it?"
"What did you and Dr Artz disagree on? She looked put out, what did you say?"
Hannibal looked up from Alana to find Dr Artz having just arrived at Jack Crawford's side. Yes, what had they disagreed on?
"The effects of trauma,"
"Real doctor talk, huh?"
"Yes," Hannibal felt amused.
OoOoOoO
Jack watched Artz stalk towards him with a frown. She looked irritated, put-out, annoyed. What did you do, Hannibal?
She arrived and finally smiled and tried to ease the tension from her face but her lips were still taught and her eyes didn't crinkle,
"Well, he's interesting,"
"He is, isn't he?" Jack narrowed his eyes cautiously. She caught him and her face dropped and true warmth suddenly radiated,
"He is, Agent Crawford. Listen, I've still got to mark some of my essays so if you'd be so kind,"
"By all means! Thank you for coming, Dr Artz, I appreciate it,"
"No problem at all, I'll see you soon, probably,"
"Tomorrow at 12?"
Guido nodded with a small smile, as if a tiny bit of her regretted getting involved. Jack felt amused.
"12 it is, good night, Agent Crawford,"
"Good night,"
But it wasn't quite the end and as she started moving Jack heard her mutter,
"I would check the food, Jack,"
And then she was by the door, throwing a curt nod to Dr Lecter who toasted her and then left. Jack felt suddenly all too aware of the people about him and the food that was before him and the food that was in him, aware of his host. The potential…he was in FBI mode and he needed to do what needed to be done and with that he decided to give it a few before telling Hannibal that he'd be on his way too and that it would be wonderful if he could take some food to go.
When he looked up from his thoughts, Hannibal Lecter was gazing at him thoughtfully.
