Numb, Will had to be dragged from the room, which probably looked quite good for the cameras. He could only image what his expression must be. He felt rather sick. His heart hammering in his chest. He almost didn't notice that he wasn't being taken back to his quarters. He was instead boarded onto a ship and stuffed into a little room. He did not resist. There wasn't much he could do. He only protested when they took his medication away. They took it anyway, dooming him to time with too much sensation.

Will laid back listlessly on the bed. He was going to be used by the Cardassians and Hannibal was a liar. Hannibal was a liar. Will's mind resisted even thinking about it. But he forced himself to focus while his mind was still his own.

Hannibal was the Batal Ripper. He had said he was innocent of the Ripper's crimes and that was false. It brought a hysterical laugh to his lips. It actually made a lot of sense if he put that into context.

If Hannibal had murdered all of those people at Batal, then in all likelihood he had also murdered all those people on the station as well. That made his body count around forty-five. That was a lot of people to murder under closely monitored circumstances. So, Hannibal was a merderous, narcissistic psychopath. Unfortunately, he was the only person with which Will apparently had the capability to feel content.

And how was he supposed to feel about that?

Then there was also the transmission Garret Jacob Hobbs had received. He and Hannibal had been separated at that time. And he had suspected the Ripper of being a cannibal. Hannibal had a particular taste for meat and those skeletons had been completely stripped. If he had taken the meat he wanted and placed the rest in the matter recycler... Will felt his stomach flop and rushed toward the bathroom.

XxxX

Hannibal came to with a very sore neck. They hadn't bothered to heal him after faking his death. Chilton sat at his bedside, waiting patiently.

"Ah, Doctor, you are awake. Wonderful."

"Why exactly am I here?" Hannibal glanced around, still trying to shake his sleep.

"You refused our invitation by turning our messenger over to Section 31. Your loyalties have come into question, what did you expect?" Chilton rolled his eyes.

"Well, I couldn't exactly accept his invitation without being suspicious, could I?" Hannibal pointed out.

"You didn't have to do what you did."

"True," Hannibal nodded, "but I did not want to leave the station, although not because my loyalties have shifted."

"You have an interest in Will Graham."

"As do you."

"He could be very useful."

"Indeed, very useful."

"But I need to know that your interest in him will not cloud you judgment."

Hannibal attempted a scoff, "I assure you, it will not."

"Could you interrogate him?"

"To what end?"

"I'm sure he's heard all sorts of things with his particular talent. I want whatever he has."

"Very well. I assume you will want me interrogated as well, which I assure you is unnecessary because I will tell you everything I know."

"Unfortunately, I cannot take your word on that. You will interrogate Will Graham and then we will deal with you."

"How long has it been since he's not taken his medication?" He assumed that by now they had taken it away to see what he might do.

"Only a few hours, but we can nullify the effects as soon as needed."

"Let me do it."

"Very well."

"Might I have this healed?" Hannibal gestured to his damaged throat.

"No. He seemed pretty upset by your execution, I think it would be beneficial for him to see the damage. Might evoke an emotional response."

"Very well, shall I go now?"

"I'll have my guards escort you."

Hannibal was curious to see how Will would react to him, given so little time to process everything that had happened. Interrogations were not recorded because the Order officially did not exist, but there would likely be others listening closely to what was going on. It would not be great if Will accused him of being the Ripper, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

Hannibal was gifted a hypospray and led to Will's quarters. He walked through the door casually.

Will was laying on his side, curled up away from the door. Hannibal approached the bed.

"I told you it would not be the last time we saw one another," he said.

"We can't see each other if I don't look at you," Will said.

Hannibal sighed, "It would be best for you to cooperate, Will."

"Are you going to torture me?"

"My loyalty is in question, Will, it's not as if I want to."

"I have no way of knowing if that's true. You are shielding yourself more heavily than usual. You could just be trying to get into my head."

"I could be, but I am not."

"If you really weren't then you wouldn't say that you were."

"I can say whatever I like, we aren't being recorded."

"I find that hard to believe."

"No evidence."

"I still don't want to look at you," Will spat.

"But we had such a touching departure." Hannibal smiled.

"You spoiled it with the truth."

"And I apologize for that, Will, but I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do so."

"So that you would have a captive audience?"

"Perhaps. All I wish is that you listen to what I have to say."

"So that you can manipulate me into sympathizing with you."

"I simply think we could work well together. I think you can understand me, and I think I can understand you."

"I can understand anyone."

"But not everyone can understand you. You should be more relaxed with yourself, Will. You have the capacity to be happy if you let it happen and I have seen it happen."

"Aren't you supposed to be torturing me right about now?"

Hannibal sighed, "Very well, but know that I would really rather not be doing this." He stuck Will with the hypospray. Will went rigid with shock, turning to look at Hannibal.

The emotions were quickly bubbling to the surface. It wasn't as bad as it could be. A majority of the ship's occupants were cardassians with very well shielded minds. Unfortunately, the other occupants were in various pained states through various methods of intense pressure interrogation.

Will tried not to feel too betrayed but it was rather difficult.

"Will," Hannibal's voice was far away, "I need you to talk."

And he did talk. He talking about all of the things the other captives were hiding. There wasn't any point in trying to hide it. It wasn't like he really cared he didn't really even know if it was valuable information. He just blathered on and on.

Hannibal was there all the while Will babbled. He absorbed the information, his mind turning quietly. When will had covered all of that, he moved on to what he could read from the other Cardassians. It was exhausting and painful. Will paused for a moment, his mind feeling liquid.

"How are you feeling Will?"

"Horrible."

"I am sorry for that."

Will felt him move closer, sitting at Will's side, beside his chest. Will let his eyes open to look at him. He'd forgotten that he'd promised himself he wouldn't do that. It was too much effort to try for anger now.

Hannibal set one hand on the center of his chest. Will tried to form a response but was cut off when Hannibal's mind opened up for him.

Will had never had a proper look at a Cardassian mind, not like this, they were of course difficult to read. It was compartmentalized rather like a Vulcans' mind, but the emotions were not separated, they were just largely missing. The intelligence was also vast. Hannibal was very very clever and he seemed to know all the answers to questions that had yet to be asked.

Will knew that he was staring, he could see it through Hannibal's eyes. There was genuine warmth when he looked at him but it was a hot, sticky, possessive sort of warmth. A frightening sort of warmth, sweet like drowning in maple syrup.

"I want you to understand," the Cardassian said evenly, the words echoing through Will's mind. It seemed as if all there was was Hannibal. Will wondered if this was what a Vulcan mind meld felt like. Probably not, a mind meld went both ways. This was just Hannibal overwhelming him.

Will took in a sharp breath and saw.

It was cold and he was small and his sister was clinging to him. His parents were dead, their bodies were buried in the snow, but maybe that was for the best. Misha was sick, that was not good. If they didn't get help then she would die. They didn't get help and she died before the illness could take her, murdered for food and eaten. Hannibal had eaten her too, he was so hungry and he hadn't known. Or maybe he'd just told himself he hadn't known. Pain, so much pain. Thinking about it now still brought anger but it was controlled. Will couldn't breath.

Another memory. Full of children. Cruel little creatures. No one wanted them, no one wanted him either. They wanted a reaction, Hannibal showed them physical reaction rather than verbal. They were afraid of him, as they should have been. One particularly cruel boy went missing and they didn't find him until the spring after Hannibal had run, when the ground had thawed and the snow had uncovered him.

His aunt and uncle were supportive. His aunt mostly. He learned many things staying with them, but he only stayed for a year before joining the military as most boys his age did.

He excelled there. All superior officers looked to him as a proper soldier. He advanced quickly through the ranks. Then he became an Order member and was wonderful at that as well. He did ever so much enjoy torturing criminals.

On a shore leave he'd gone back to his childhood home and killed the men who had killed his sister. It didn't make him feel better about the event but now they had been punished.

He killed other people too. He enjoyed it and was really very good at it. Obviously, he had to have some criteria, so he killed those he found rude. He found many individuals rude at Batal, it had been his least favorite assignment. So, in effect he left the Order to become a double agent on a federation station where he'd met the most amazing individual named William Graham. And suddenly he realized how empty his life before that had been.

Will was gasping for air, all his wires were crossed. He felt too much. He clutched the hand Hannibal had on his chest like a lifeline. Hannibal had only let Will see the top layer, there was so, so much more. He wanted to see all of it. Everything there was to Hannibal, Will wanted to witness it. Hannibal lead a very lonely existence and at that moment, Will wanted to fill up all his empty space. It was obvious that Hannibal was infatuated with him, dangerously so. Hannibal also had a plan to get them off this ship. He just had to wait for the opportunity to arise. Hannibal was exceedingly good at improvising after all.

Hannibal allowed Will to clutch his hand as he stroked a thumb over his cheek.

"Will, I'm sorry but I'll have to be going now," Hannibal said, knowing that Chilton would want results as soon as possible. Hannibal would only feed him the secrets he deemed fit but still.

Will tensed, but he released Hannibal's hand in favor of clutching his own head.

"They will probably want me to hurt you when I come back. They wonder if I'm not soft on you."

"You are," Will whispered, wanting to draw Hannibal in closer. Part of his brain was telling him that this really wasn't what he wanted, it was just Hannibal manipulating him, but he wasn't sure if that he was trying to convince himself of this or it was a legitimate thing that was happening.

Hannibal hummed softly and stepped back. "I must go, my dear. I apologize in advance for my return."

Hannibal relayed all important information to Chilton in as disinterested a tone as he could managed.

"He was shockingly cooperative," Hannibal said.

"He didn't give us anything on the federation though. I think you will be having to dial up the intensity of your talks a bit."

"Agreed, but I was wondering if I might have some equipment with which to do that."

Chilton raised an eyebrow, "And what would you like?"

"A scalpel and a dermal regenerator."

"You're going to flay him?" Chilton let out a dry laugh.

"I think it would be most encouraging, don't you?"

"Very well." He motioned for one of his guards to get him the supplies and Hannibal soon had them in hand.

He quickly made his way back to Will's room, props in hand. Will was curled up on his side toward the door this time, clutching his head. He opened his hazy eyes when Hannibal walked in. He opened his mouth and tried to speak but words failed him.

Hannibal began to disassemble the dermal regenerator. It was not difficult to do if you knew how they worked.

"What are you doing?" Will managed.

"I am going to overload the computer system."

"With only a dermal regenerator?"

"Yes."

"Oh god, explain it to me later. I can't focus on anything right now."

Hannibal worked quickly to transform his device. He was going to overcharge the regenerator with energy and plug it into the computer causing an overload. It would only take down part of the computer system and probably explode, but it would get them out of the room and Hannibal knew from design they the escape pods were just down a few halls.

The plan went off without a hitch. Well, the regenerator did explode, but Hannibal had taken care to place both him and Will behind the bed, so they were both undamaged.

Will could not walk, so Hannibal scooped him up and began to run down the hall, scalpel clutched firmly in his hand.

They were quickly pursued but they managed to make it to the escape pods. Hannibal overrode the safety locks on the release for the pods as he used Will for a shield from any phaser fire. Fortunately they were only using the stun setting but Will was out like a light.

Locks overruled, Hannibal threw the two of them into the pod and pressed the release.

He did not wait for the pod to speed up, he immediately jumped to warp. The pods were meant to move quickly from the ship in cases of invasion, they were meant to be untraceable. The two of them were on course back to the station.

At such a distance from any other life forms, Will was coming back into his own mind and he was panicking. He was stuck in a tiny escape pod with the Batal Ripper. A man who wanted nothing short of everything Will had to offer. As soon as they met back up with Jack, Will would have to turn him in. He would have to. But there was no way that Hannibal would allow that.

"So, what now?" Will asked, his tongue feeling thick and slow in his mouth as Hannibal set the coordinates on the pod.

"We send out two transmissions. One to the station and one directly to Jack. They will be here within the next few days to rescue us."

"What do you mean, the next few days? We're probably about a day at most from Jack and he'll probably double the recommended speed so he can start up a fight with the cardassians for what they did."

"They will have to locate us first. I've sent out a distress call now, but we will be continuing on our way a bit."

Will's heart seemed to stutter. "You're going to force us into spending more time together."

"Yes, I think you need time to accept what has happened, Will." Hannibal said, "I want us to function together and as it stands now, you feel compelled to flee from me."

"Well, geez, I wonder why." Will spat, "I could try to stop you. Stab you or smash you over your head or something."

"True, but I don't think you will."

Will let out a long breath. "You're right, I don't want to."

Hannibal let his mind open a bit allowing warmed to flow over Will's consciousness.

"Positive reinforcement?" Will scoffed.

"I just want you to know how you make me feel, Will," Hannibal smiled allowed more affection to pour over him.

"And how do you feel, doctor?"

"Irrational," the word was spoken matter-o-factly, "This entire situation is irrational and yet I cannot bring myself to pull away. It's honestly rather inconvenient."

"Well, I'm sorry but I can't help but feel I have the short end of the stick here. I obviously have the better moral compass and I've just discovered that a cannibalistic murderer is infatuated with me."

"I'm not the only cannibal here, Will."

Will swallowed, "I was afraid you might say that. How did you manage to get away with all those murders on the station?"

"Well, I would tell you but I'd have to kill you."

"You're hilarious."

"Mm, when we make it back to the station it will be good to have someone else who understands my secret cannibalism references. They aren't as fun when no one else appreciates them."

"Well, I certainly can't wait for that," Will rolled his eyes. "What are you going to do about that copy cat?"

"Ah, well, it is not as if I can hunt him down through cardassian space, I will have to have faith that he will attempt to seek me out."

"The Federation will probably give him the credit even if you did end up killing him."

"Then perhaps the Ripper would have to make a comeback."

Will snorted, "Despite the obvious danger of that, somehow I imaged you'd still get away with it."

"But of course," Hannibal smiled.

Will opened his mouth to say something more when the ship gave a horrible lurch and the red alert began sounding.

"What the hell happened?" Will asked.

"We hit a projectile," Hannibal said easily.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"Yes, we will crash land on a nearby M class planet and await our rescue."

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?"

"I may or may not be aware."

The ship had a rather graceful fall to the surface. It was not destroyed, but there was no way that it was going to be able to reach escape velocity and leave the planet as it was. They were stuck.

At least the planet did not seem entirely unpleasant. They had landed in a sort of valley surrounded by tall billowy trees, it was really quite beautiful. Will had to admit that he was a bit too annoyed to admire it very much. It was just hard not to be upset at the moment.

As soon as they touched down, Will went to see what the damage to the ship was. It wasn't too bad, but bad enough not to fly, and the transmitter had been completely destroyed. Will wondered if that was on purpose. Probably. It seemed a bit too convenient not to be.

Hannibal did not attempt to approach him. Will worked on the ship until he was exhausted and starving. The sun hadn't even reach up halfway through the sky. The planet probably had a long day night cycle.

"Will, you must eat something," Hannibal finally said, appearing at Will's shoulder and startling him.

"I really don't want to eat anything you're offering me right now," Will glared.

"Will, don't be difficult. Food is food and this is only a portion of cardassian rations. Not the most pleasant of dishes, but food none the less."

"I'm not eating anything coming from you," Will spat, pushing away the food.

A dark look passed over Hannibal's face. "I will only ask one more time. Will you please eat, William?"

Will did not falter, "I will never eat another thing you offer me as long as we both live."

And Hannibal let down the shields to his mind. He was thinking of all the dishes he'd provided for Will. Of the people they were made from. How each of them died. Their murders played out slowly for Will, sweet and savory and the sensation of the meal was entirely satisfying. Hannibal's memory was painfully detailed and completely overwhelming. In the physical world, Will let out a shuttering breath as something touched his lips. He knew it was the food and he opened his mouth to accept it.

Will swayed slightly, so Hannibal pushed him into a seat and continued to feed him. Will glare as best he could. When the food was gone, Hannibal chose to run his fingers through Will's soft hair. Things were proceeding wonderfully, Hannibal thought as he lulled Will to sleep with violent, murder filled dreams.

XxxX

Altogether, they spent the equivalent of four standard days on the planet before their rescue. Only one and a half days passed for the planet.

By the end Will felt entirely ensnared and he wasn't sure if that was good thing or a bad thing. His rational mind told him it was horrible, but the emotional part felt at ease. In those days, Hannibal had replayed for him every murder he'd ever committed while brushing cool fingers over Will's aching head. He chased away all of Will's hallucinations with his own brand of darkness. He spoke in low tones about things he'd never let pass his lips before and leant painful pictures with his mind to illustrate. It became increasingly difficult to stay angry with him when he was so gentle, as he put his full trust in Will.

He spoke of his little sister, of his time at the orphanage, of his time in the military, in the Order, in the Federation, of the time he'd first laid eyes on Will. And as he did this he let calming affection wash over the half-betazoid. Most of the time when he started talking like this, Will ended up gravitating toward him until Hannibal initiated some sort of physical contact into which he would melt.

It tore him apart how peaceful he felt with Hannibal, he'd never felt better than when Hannibal was whispering secrets into his ear. It was very difficult to remember that nearly all of what Hannibal spoke of was horrendously illegal and monstrously taboo. Still, Will couldn't help but feel he was being quickly desensitized. He desperately wanted to be selfish and keep Hannibal close, despite the obvious issues with that.

"So, Will, what will it be?" Hannibal asked when they both knew help was imminent.

"I think we should wait to see how it goes," Will said as they watched the blip in the sky that was their rescue ship. "I'll do the selfish thing for once in my life and let you make me feel good. At least for a little while."

Hannibal's gratitude washed over him and Will felt compelled to do something silly like holding his hand, but pushed the feeling aside.

"Well, if you grow tired of me, I think I'd like a heads up before you send the authorities after me."

Will hummed his agreement as their rescue close in.

XxxX

The trip back to the station was filled by a long and very thorough interrogation by means of Jack. Hannibal relayed all the information Will had spilled while in his mentally strenuous state. Will had reverted to a similar state on this trip as well, huddled up as far from everyone as he could get. The ship was not stocked with his medication.

When they were finally dismissed, Hannibal had to half carry him to his quarters. Will managed to unlock the door and Hannibal brought them inside. Winston ran forward, wiggling happily at the return of his owner. Someone must have been in to keep a watch on him while they were gone.

Instead of immediately going to use Will's medication, Hannibal retrieved a hypospray and took a seat on the couch. Winston jumped up beside him. The cardassian let Will's head rest in his lap as he brushed all other minds away in favor of his own. From the content sigh he received, it was apparent Will was grateful.

XxxX

Will floated in and out of sleep. When he fully woke up, he was back in his bed and his mind was his own. Hannibal must have given him the injection at some point. He looked around and found nothing out of place. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Winston ran into the room and jumped up onto the bed.

Letting out a shaky laugh, he proceeded to hug his dog. Moments later Hannibal passed through the door with a plate in hand.

"I assume you've been using my kitchen," Will observed the plate of what appeared to be sausage and egg. People sausage, Will guessed.

"I have. I made you a good breakfast."

"I can't help but feel this is a test," Will sighed.

"Oh, it is," Hannibal smiled.

"Ah, well, you'd best hand it over then."

"With pleasure." The dish was placed in Will's waiting hands.

Hannibal watched fixedly as Will forked a sausage and brought it to his mouth. He looked Hannibal directly in the eyes as he took that first bite. He chewed casually and swallowed. Hannibal's face had gone blank, he made some move toward Will.

"Not now, Hannibal, I'm eating," Will said taking another bite. Hannibal watched him eat all of his breakfast with the utmost intensity.

As soon as Will had swallowed his last bite Hannibal was in his face. He sat on the edge of the bed pressing their foreheads together. Which was a little weird with all the ridges on Hannibal's forehead but his hands were smooth against the sides of his face. "Good?" He asked.

Will smiled back, "Very good."

Hannibal gave a content sigh, lips curved ever so slightly upward. They remained like that for a moment longer before Will pulled back slightly, "I don't think this is what Jack had in mind when he made you may casual psychiatrist."

"No, I think not."

"I don't think I ever had this in mind for myself either."

"Well, it would be a strangely specific fantasy."

"I suppose it would be."

"Well, now that that's settled, would you like to go visit Abigail? She is rather anxious to see you. To see both of us actually."

"I feel like we skipped around a lot in establishing this relationship. You were kind of my doctor, we were friends, we had a daughter, then we got married, then you told me you were a narcissistic sociopath, and now we are treading into the territory of being intimately involved."

"Is that what we're doing?"

"I think it is."

"Well, you just do things a little differently, Will."

"The coming from the man whose favorite way to deal with people is to cook them up and eat them."

"Come along, Will, our daughter, as you put it, is eager to see us."

XxxX

A/N: I don't like Hannibal's creepy relationship with his aunt. I just thought it was weird when I first watched Hannibal Rising. It still weirds me out.

I don't like this chapter, I feel like you can tell I just wanted to get it done.

And I think the most dickish thing I thing Hannibal has done thus far has been using Will as a living shield XD

Thanks