Emilia walked up the steps to large brick building that looked like it was once a townhouse though it now served as an office building. She pushed open the front door and found herself between a long hallway and a set of stairs leading to the second floor. Removing her scarf and peacoat, she hung them both over her arm as she started up the stairs. It was incredibly quiet, no sound coming from anywhere other than her boot heels on the wooden steps. At the top of the stairs were two chairs tucked against the wall to be right, and a large oak door behind them. Overtop of the chairs was a plack that read 'Dr. Hannibal Lecter - Psychiatrist'. Emilia stood in front of the door and rapped her knuckles gently against the wood. After a moment she heard movement on the other side.

The office door opened and the familiar scent of rosemary with cedar filled her nose. A tall man with high cheekbone and deep maroon eyes smiled back at her.

"Ms. Monroe, right on time."

The young woman smiled back, "I was actually here a couple minutes early but I didn't want to disturb you if you had a patient. I imagine your time is very valuable, Dr. Lecter. I am very grateful you made the time to see me."

Dr. Lecter let out a small chuckle as he took her coat and scarf from her and placed them on the rack behind the door. "Well I wanted to make the time. I have come to enjoy the small times we have spent together thus far."

Emilia tried to hide the heat that rushed to her cheeks by turning to survey the office. What was with her? She had to remember why she was here, and she couldn't get distracted by Dr. Lecter. She tried to clear her thoughts and focus, but they simply turned from the butterflies in her stomach to the impressive office before we her. The room was large with a two story ceiling. A balcony lined the walls, housing shelf upon shelf of books. There was a large redwood desk by off to the side with a large fireplace behind it. In the centre of the room where two leather chairs facing each other, no doubt where Dr. Lecter held his sessions. The woman let out a low 'wow' under her breath, which earned a chuckle from the man behind her.

"Your office is beautiful" she said a bit louder.

"Thank you" Dr. Lecter replied. "I enjoy many of the arts and they help clear my mind. I like to have them easily accessible, be it books or music. May I offer you a glass of wine?"

Emilia nodded. The doctor walked over the a small wine fridge hidden against the wall and asked her whether she preferred red or white. She told him white in a somewhat absentminded voice, her eyes never stopping their journey to soak up the room before her. Dr. Lecter returned to her with the two glasses, and they gently clicked them together after she took hers. There was only a moments pause before he spoke.

"While I'd like to think you asked to see me for general conversation, I feel there is a reason behind your visit Ms Monroe."

Emilia smiled, trying to push down the anxiety bubbling in her stomach. "Perhaps one day, Dr. Lecter. But you're right, I wanted to discuss something specific with you."

Dr. Lecter sat in one of the leather chairs and leaned back. "Well I look forward to that day. Now, let's discuss what brought you here today?"

The brunette slowly lowered herself into the opposing chair and turned her eyes onto the doctor.

"I want you to tell me what happened with Nicholas Boyle's body."

Dr Lecter remained silent, only offering a small eyebrow raise as acknowledgement to her request. Emilia pressed on. "Before I passed out I saw Abigail stab him. I saw his body drop to the floor. I know the look of a dead body when I see one, on the verge of black out or not. Boyle was dead. He didn't escape through the back door, he didn't leave the Hobbs house alive."

A pause stretched out over the air and Emilia never let her gaze falter from the strong maroon one.

"I'm curious as to why you think I possess the answer to you question, Ms. Monroe." Dr. Lecter's voice was calm as he spoke, never giving away that his mind was playing out how he could dispose of the young woman if her questions persisted.

Emilia continued. "Will Graham was with Jack in the Cabin, which leaves you and Dr. Bloom. Now I don't know Dr. Bloom well, but I think I know her character enough to know she wouldn't help hide a body. Abigail also doesn't trust her, so I doubt she'd seek any help from her. That leaves you, Dr Lecter."

At that moment, the very air in the room felt thicker. The smile had dropped slightly on the man's face, but the thoughtful look in his eyes completely disappeared.. Emilia felt like she was looking into the eyes of a predator, right before he attacked his prey. His voice remained ever steady as he spoke, but all lightness was gone from it.

"Are you asking for Jack Crawford, or for yourself?"

Emilia took a deep breath. She would not back down. Abigail Hobbs had gone through enough already. "Jack doesn't know I'm here. He can't help me with these concerns anyway. He's made up his mind about Abigail and I can't change that. I don't believe he has her best interests at heart."

"And what are your concerns?" Dr Lecter asked in a voice that send a cold shiver down the woman's back.

The agent chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm not going to let someone else take advantage of Abigail Hobbs or her situation. The girl is just starting to try and piece back a new life, I won't let her be pulled down another rabbit hole. So, if you please, what did you do with the body? And why?"

Dr. Lecter placed his glass on the small table beside his chair and leaned forward. "Abigail asked for my help. She said it was in self defense, but you saw what she did. No one would believe her. I offered her an option to keep her out of her father's shadow. As for the body, you needn't worry about the FBI find it any time soon."

Hazel eyes narrowed. "Why are you helping her? You're a renowned psychiatrist, consulting for the FBI... why help a potential suspect get away with a potential murder? You could lose your practice over this, you could go to jail."

"I could ask you the same question. This isn't the first time you went behind Jack Crawford's back regarding Abigail Hobbs. Given how much he trusts you this obviously isn't a habit. So why are you helping Abigail, Ms Monroe? Why risk your position in the FBI?" Dr. Lecter seemed more calm than he did a moment ago, as the conversation had taken a welcoming turn unbeknownst to the young woman. He was intrigued with the determination in the young woman's voice, and how she held her ground despite the risk.

"Abigail Hobbs is a smart girl with so much potential. Her life hit a speed bump, but that doesn't mean she's off the course. I just want to help her move on and eventually live a somewhat normal life."

The answer wasn't good enough for the doctor. He pressed further. "I don't believe that's it. I highly doubt you show this much personal interest in every victim of every case that comes through you doors. So, why Abigail Hobbs?

Hazel eyes narrowed. It was none of Dr. Lecter's business to know about Ashley or to know about Emilia's dark secret about how she failed her sister, but if giving him a little bit would help her protect Abigail then she would do just that.

"Because I knew someone just like her, and I wasn't able to help them. So I'm going to do what I can to help Abigail Hobbs get over through this because I couldn't help someone last time. That's why I'm helping her, Dr. Lecter."

The man smiled a bit wider. "Understood. Now, I promise you I have no ill will towards Abigail Hobbs. I merely want to help her, as you do. So, why don't we help Abigail together? She desires a family unit to make up for the one she just lost."

Emilia nodded. "Yes, I suppose that's true."

Dr. Lecter held out his glass, "to protecting Abigail."

The brunette brought her glass to the Doctor's before swallowed the rest of her wine. She couldn't help but feel there was more Dr. Lecter wasn't telling her, but nevertheless she was starting to realize she couldn't help Abigail alone. There were too many pieces, too many parties she couldn't always keep on top of. While she knew she couldn't trust Jack to put the girl's best interest forward, Will Graham and Alan Bloom were wild cards. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have someone else in her corner...


The Doctor stared across the room at the young girl looking back at him with her glossy blue eyes.

"I'll keep you secret" Hannibal said lowly.

Abigail replied in a shaky voice. "And I'll keep yours."

Turning back to his desk, Hannibal spoke without looking back at the girl.

"You and Nicolas Boyle have been quite the topic of conversation, Abigail. I had a visit earlier that revolved around this very topic."

When he turned, he could see the fear in the widened blue eyes of Abigail Hobbs. The man smiled. "Ms. Emilia Monroe was in here not an hour before you, very eager to discuss what happened at your home in Minnesota."

The fear slowly started to be replaced by a hopefulness. How interesting that the two young woman seemed to bond so quickly. Emilia must have said or shown Abigail something to get her to open up. Alana had years of training and even she was not yet successful with the Hobbs girl.

"She knows Boyle is dead, by your hand."

"You told her?!" Abigail whispered frantically.

Hannibal slowly shook his head, the thin smile never leaving his lips. "I did not. She admitted to seeing you stab the young man, followed by him collapsing to the floor. The interesting thing is, that that was not her concern." He paused to enjoy the helplessness in the girl's eyes. He had complete control over the situation. He could easily break the bond the two young woman shared or strengthen it, the decision was completely up to him. Hannibal wanted to test Emilia, but not regarding her relationship with Abigail. No, that would be far more beneficial in earning her trust. He wanted to see how far he could bring her to him, just like Will Graham. Jack would sadly lose two agents by the time the doctor was done, but Hannibal wasn't yet sure of whether he would end up with dinner or a dinner guest.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Hannibal continue. "You'll be surprised. She came here to ask if I'd helped you dispose of the body, and if I had any malicious intentions towards gaining a favour from you. You've made quite the mark on the young agent, though I suspect she had on you aswell. "

The young girl looked to her shoes as she nodded slowly. "I can trust her. She wants to help me... if she knows about Nicolas Boyle, then both our secrets are still safe."

Hannibal couldn't help but feed into his curiosity, "why do you trust Ms. Monroe, Abigail? What has she done to earn your favour more than Jack Crawford or Alana Bloom."

Abigail frowned. "Agent Crawford thinks I helped my dad. I can see it in his eyes. He had his opinion of me every since the day my parents died."

"And Alana?"

"Dr. Bloom thinks I'm crazy, or mentally unbalanced, or something. She doesn't actually want to help me. She wants to analyze me, fix me. She wants to be the one who cured the Shrike's daughter," Abigail sneered.

The doctor nodded to the young girl, offering her acknowledgment of her opinion. Both young women were proving to be quite interesting, and Hannibal couldn't wait to see what he could unleash in them.