I'm telling you, writing this authors note even before writing the document, this is going to be a dialogue based chapter. But it's also probably really important, not only to Celest's character, but her relationships.

"Fuck." I wake up, gasping, clutching my chest. I keep having that violent dream, where I'm hurting the others. I haven't had those dreams since I was sixteen, what the fuck is making them come back?

I wake up to my phone on its final ring. Rubbing my eyes, I look to the window. Oh shit, its dark outside. I literally slept all day long. Before I can even stand, my phone starts ringing and vibrating again, the happy tune filling my ears. I drag it off the coffee table, looking at the screen. It was Will… I sent him to voicemail, looking through my other calls.

Two missed calls from Will… and five from Hannibal? What the fuck is going on? I do the logical thing and call my friend first. The phone doesn't even ring twice before he picks up.

"You really know how to scare a guy, eh 'Lest?" Will's voice, heavy with rare worry yet light with comedic relief fills my ear

"I fell asleep," I rub my eyes, pulling the blanket on my couch over my chilly body ", why didn't you just come over? You got a damn key." You know, I could probably keep sleeping all night too. I yawn, trying to keep myself awake long enough for this phone call to be over

"He told me he was worried about you, over something fairly serious sounding… I know you've got your own thing with him going on right now, but it sounded urgent." If it wasn't Will who was doing it, I'd be pissed off right now. But he'd do anything to keep Alana, Hannibal, and myself safe. So I can't really get mad at him.

"If it was so serious, you could've come over." I laugh, hearing him sigh on the other end of the phone.

"Well, Hannibal didn't tell me exactly what the situation was. But I was going to if you didn't pick up this time. Please call Hannibal?"

"Fine, fine. Bye." So Hannibal didn't even tell Will…

I hang up and pinch the bridge of my nose. I had intended to call Hannibal before I fell asleep anyway. I dial his number, setting the phone on speaker. I put it back on the table, hearing it ring.

"Hello?" Hannibal's cultured voice greets me unknowingly.

"Hey." I grumble, and before I can even tell him who it is, I hear him let out a great breath.

"Will and I have been calling. Why haven't you answered one of us?" His tone is stern and it really pisses me off. I don't owe this motherfucker shit, especially not to pick up the phone whenever he pleases.

"I'm not obligated to answer anyone's phone calls, Hannibal." I know what he's trying to do, I've seen it before. This is prime controlling behavior. I've been in an abusive relationship before, I know these dirty tricks.

"When two people who obviously care for you are calling non-stop, perhaps you are. We've been worried." I can practically taste the malice in that statement. It makes my stomach churn… something dark resides in this man, not like I didn't suspect that already.

"Over what, Hannibal? Jesus, does this have something to do with last night?" I figured it did, but I didn't think he'd tell me. But it won't hurt to ask.

"It does." Now, I have to let that sink in for a moment.

"So, you knew about this situation that would cause worry and you just refused to tell me."

"I should have told you, but I didn't see it as an immense issue at the time. I can be there in twenty minutes, I'll take you out to dinner and we can talk about it."

"Hannibal," I scoff, laughing lightly in disbelief at him ", you're fucking joking. I'm not going anywhere with you. I would have in a heartbeat if you would have been honest yesterday, but you told me not to worry." I feel like I'm scolding a child, my voice heavy with exasperation on each syllable.

"I didn't mean to betray you, if that's how you feel. But my care and worry for you should exceed those feeling for right now. Let me take you out and you can stay with me tonight."

"No, I'm not going anywhere with you Hannibal."

"Celest, I'm not a man lesser of begging. I will beg for you to come with me if I must, especially if it's what you want from me."

"Oh, you're a real people pleaser. I won't go anywhere with you, Hannibal. I refuse to go anywhere with you. You see, I know what you're up to, I know you're fucking game, man. Quite frankly, I think it's a sick little thing you're doing." He suspends a silence on the other line, and after a moment, I hear him give a relieved sigh.

"Celest, I… I'm not quite sure how you found out, but I had the intention to tell you soon."

"What? That you're a controlling asshole? You know, you don't need a lot of experience in the field to psychologically profile people. Your degree doesn't make you special. Men like you love control. A normal person would tell me what was worrying them, because it clearly has a correlation with me and if I know, I can better protect myself. But you don't want that, do you? You want me to remain blind so I have no control over the situation, you want to protect me and care for me. But I'm not weak and I'm too smart for this."

Hannibal clears his throat, but stays quiet. Good, that means I'm right.

"I was really starting to warm up to you. You freaked me out with the sense of smell, and even though I noticed your controlling behavior with your little comments about my clothing and whatnot, I put it aside. Because you know, I figured as a therapist, you'd be different than the boys I dig. But fuck, Hannibal, this situation can't be easily overlooked. I know that my behavior, the swearing and shit, isn't something you'd typically like-"

"Obviously, you're special." His voice is so soft and torn, it almost makes me feel bad I'm digging into him right now. But whatever feels that I still have for him, I push aside. I know I can't do this anymore.

"But why, Hannibal? What makes me so special? Nothing makes sense here, I just can't handle that kind of shit anymore. I'm too old. You know, I know Will didn't tell you where I worked."

"He told you? That's fine, I'll admit I did some research on you. I wanted to get to know you as a human being. I meant nothing malicious, and clearly no harm, or else you'd already be harmed. I've had access to you for weeks now."

"No, you wanted to get to know me on some fucked up Christian Grey level. If you wanted to know where I work, why didn't you ask? I would have told you. You clearly know shit about me that you shouldn't know without having spoken to me first."

"I don't know about your elementary years." I want to tell him to shove his own dick up his ass, but I just lose all interest to argue with him. I'm tired, I want a nap, and I'm sick of this shit.

"I'm done with this conversation now, Hannibal."

"I won't stop trying to contact you, whether you want me too or not."

"And you can't stop me from ignoring every phone call and knock at my door."

"For now, Celest."

"Goodbye, Doctor Lecter."

I hang up, letting myself calm down after that enraging phone call. I think back to his words after I told him the jig was up on his game. 'I'm not quite sure how you found out, but I had the intention to tell you soon'… what does that mean? That wasn't about his controlling behavior, that doesn't even make sense in context. That was about something else entirely, something that's clearly a secret.

Before I snuggle back onto my couch, I check my house for any worrisome behavior. All the doors and windows are locked, nothing in the closets. I'm, sure I'm safe anyway; I wouldn't be surprised if Hannibal or Will was staked out in the driveway across from my home.

I snuggle back in and flick on the television, letting my mind relax for now. But I really just can't let go of how Hannibal let out a sigh that sounded like a huge weight was lifted from his chest tied with those words.

Again, another short chapter in comparison to what you or I is used to. But you know, dat relationship drama.

PS; Pretty sure he was going to tell Celest that he's a cat person. Nothing to do with the fact that everYTHING IS PEOPLE

xoxoPN