"Jack this is a bad-"
"No, Will, you had one job and you haven't done it."
"He's a traumatized little boy, Jack. He's finally opening up to me and this will only set him back."
Jack and Will squared off in Will's kitchen with Alana standing off to the side. Progress in getting Hannibal to talk was at a stand still, and the killer had yet to show back up. Will, in Jack's opinion, wasn't getting information fast enough.
"Dr. Bloom has years of practice in this sort of thing, Will. She'll be able to get Hannibal to talk."
"Hannibal's finally stopped having nightmares every night. Moving him to a new home will only make it worse."
"Will," Alana spoke up for the first time since the argument started. "This is for the best."
Will remained silent and looked at Alana's black shoes in anger. Jack opened his mouth to say something but Alana cut him off. "Where is Hannibal?"
"In his room. He always runs up there when Jack comes over." Will sent the man a look before drawing away. "This is a bad idea."
"I don't care what you think at this moment." Jack snapped. "Just bring him down."
Hannibal was still as he watched Will pack up a small bag with some clothes and toys. Will didn't like the intense look he was giving him and how tightly he hugged the doll.
"Everything's going to be okay, Hannibal. I have a friend I would like you to meet. She's really nice."
Hannibal didn't move, and when Will went to hold his hand he drew away. "Hannibal..."
The boy shook his head and pointed at the bag. Will couldn't bring himself to tell the boy he was leaving. He picked up the bag and went to the door, holding it open and looking at Hannibal expectantly.
"We'll talk about it down stairs while we eat lunch."
Hannibal shook his head again, but he slowly walked over to Will and held the offered hand. Together they went downstairs to meet up with the others. At the sight of Jack and Alana, Hannibal drew back behind Will, clutching at his leg. Will put a hand on his head to comfort him before continuing to walk forward.
"Hannibal, I would like you to meet my friend Alana. She's a doctor." Will said, telling half the truth. He didn't want to scare Hannibal more by letting him know she was like the doctors at the hospital that tried to probe and dig deep into his mind, trying to coax words and memories of the night of his family's death.
Hannibal peeked around Will's legs, but he tried to stay out of sight. Alana knelt down to his level, a cheerful smile on her face.
"Hello, Hannibal. It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard all about you."
Hannibal didn't respond. His face had gone blank, similar to when he was at the hospital. Will didn't like it.
Alana continued on. "What do you have there?" She asked, gesturing at the doll. "Is that your doll? Did Will give you that?"
It took a moment, but Hannibal finally nodded, a small smile flitting to his face as he brought both the doll and Will closer to him.
"That's nice of him," Alana smiled. "I hope we can get to know each other better, Hannibal."
The boy's smile disappeared, and Will knew that any assumptions the boy made with the bag were connecting. He suddenly scowled and completely latched onto Will to the point of pain.
"Hannibal."
The boy shook his head.
"Hannibal, it will be okay."
But Hannibal thought differently. He let go of Will, dropping the doll in the process as well, and started to run back toward the stairs. Jack grabbed Hannibal's hand, and the boy turned quickly and bit into his finger. The man yelped and let go allowing Hannibal to flee from the kitchen. Will ran after him but was too late to stop him from shutting and locking the door.
"Hannibal, Hannibal, let me in, please."
There was no response except for soft sobbing.
"Hannibal, please." Will begged, gently rapping on the door. He heard footsteps and turned right as Alana rushed to his side. He motioned for her to be quiet as he knocked again. "Let's talk, Hannibal. Just the two of us. No Jack. No Alana. Just you and me." When there was no movement Will added, "You want your doll don't you? She'll be really sad if you don't hug her."
Will could see Alana didn't approve of his methods of bribing, but he didn't care. All that mattered was the crying little boy on the other side.
"Please, Hannibal."
He waited. And waited. And waited. Until finally the flick of a lock sounded. Will sighed in relief before stepping inside. He shut the door behind him, hoping Alana would stay outside. Hannibal had made his way back to the bed and clutched his pillow. He didn't hesitate to grab the doll when it was offered, crushing it between him and the pillow. Will sat next to the boy, taking in his reddened face which still had tears streaking down. He gently wiped them away with a tissue.
"Hannibal, I'm sorry," he said softly, stroking the boy's cheek. "I don't want you to go, either, but I have little choice in the matter." The boy finally looked up at those words, seeing Will's sad expression. "Alana… Alana is a good person. She can help you where I can't. She knows how to help those who have gone through a traumatic experience. I don't."
I can just offer you an escape, Will thought. An escape from those experiences. I can't help you.
Slowly, Hannibal let go of the pillow, his doll still clutched to his chest, and he wrapped his free arm around Will's neck, hugging him as close as he could. Will hugged him back, tears coming to his own eyes.
"Don't…make me leave," Will gasped as Hannibal spoke, his words soft and hoarse. "Please."
Will sighed and held him close, knowing he couldn't keep Hannibal here. He spent his last minutes with him in his arms, rocking him gently until his hold became limp and his breathing evened out. Knowing he couldn't prevent the inevitable any longer, Will carried the sleeping boy to where Alana was waiting. Alana gave him a sad, sympathetic smile before holding her arms out to take Hannibal. At the last minute, Will turned.
"I'll carry him," he said. "I don't want him to wake up."
Alana nodded, but Will knew she understood his alternative reasons.
They went to meet back up with Jack, who Will was surprised didn't follow them upstairs to take his wrath out on Will. They both discovered that the agent was on the phone, silently listening to the other speaker.
Finally he said "I'll let him know" before hanging up. He turned to Will and Alana, a dark glower on his face. "Alana, stay here with Hannibal. Will, I need you to come with me. The killer has struck again."