Ladies and gentlemen! Hello and welcome to Chapter 12 of His Beating Heart. I know I promised another update before Halloween, but I ended up being incredibly exhausted and I've had a lot going on this past couple of weeks. I had a trip to Brighton to visit one of my best friends and spent far too much money. But it was worth it - I got new boots! I've had a lot going on since I got back, but I've been writing daily and prepping this chapter for you lovely readers!

I hope you all had a fantastic Halloween!

Bon Appetit!

It had all happened so fast. Hannibal knew something was wrong the moment he was joined in the lanes. The unknown swimmer became his captor and intended executioner. But he had been lucky…saved by the head of the behavioural analysis unit. How ironic that he should be saved by a federal agent who had no idea that he was saving a serial killer and cannibal. Following Jack Crawford's arrival, Hannibal had been supported and cut free by Alana while Jack supported his weight to stop him from choking. As the rope snapped, Hannibal was barely lowered to the floor before gasping for breath, Alana and Jack using towels to keep him warm while dealing with the restraints that had cut deeply into his wrists.

'An ambulance is on its way Hannibal, it's okay. You're safe now,' Alana assured him, holding onto his hand while Jack pulled him up and put his heavy coat around Hannibal's shoulders.

'How did this happen?' Jack asked him, listening to Hannibal recount it mechanically, his mind elsewhere as he considered whether they would have already searched his home.

'Hannibal,' Alana repeated, bringing him from his distracted state, 'did he say anything to you?'

'He told me that Will Graham had sent him…' he answered sombrely, not meeting Alana's gaze as he was helped to his feet as the paramedics arrived.

'I'll go and get your belongings,' she said quietly, leaving Jack to join Hannibal in the ambulance with Alana following behind.

'You don't have to do this Jack...' he said as the paramedics quietly worked to stop any bleeding.

'You saved Bella's life. I am indebted to you...' Jack responded, making his intentions to Hannibal completely clear. Feeling the tension loosen in his shoulders, Hannibal finally slumped backwards at the paramedics request. They had not found her.

Once at the hospital, Hannibal was reminded of several memories from an area of his memory long since passed. The smell of antiseptic brought with it a lot of familiarity. Watching as the nurses and doctors tended to his bloodied wounds, Hannibal felt the dull ache in his arms and back from his restraints. Knowing he would need stitches, Hannibal remained perfectly still and thought only of getting home. Though he would have to find a suitable way to deal with Will Graham. After all, he had compromised Abigail's safety and that, was unacceptable. It angered him more than he believed it would and for the first time in several weeks, Hannibal was grateful that Will was incarcerated for his sake.

'Hannibal?'

Hearing Alana's voice as he came from his thoughts, Hannibal regarded her with a kind smile as she walked around the curtain and handed him his belongings.

'The doctors said you are refusing to stay overnight...'

'I would much prefer to be in my own bed tonight,' Hannibal admitted honestly.

'There are other patients that require care much more than myself,'

'Promise me you're being smart about this Hannibal. Don't push yourself...you've had a traumatic experience.'

'I promise you Alana...I will call you if there is any need to,' he assured her, placing his hand on hers and looking into her eyes with certainty.

'Okay...well I'll leave you to get dressed,' she said finally, still looking unconvinced as she left him alone.

Breathing a sigh, Hannibal managed to pull his shirt on and dress himself, though his body was starting to feel the strain from all it had endured. The pain medication had barely taken effect, but he was determined to get home. Wincing in pain as he buttoned up his shirt, Hannibal slipped on his shoes and ran a hand through his damp hair. Finding Jack waiting for him as he went back into the main hallway, Hannibal noticed that Alana had left.

'You are more than welcome to stay with Bella and I tonight,' he offered.

'Thank you my friend, but I think I just want to rest in my own home,' Hannibal answered graciously. 'I take it you have sent Alana home.'

'She is very distressed right now,' he nodded, walking with Hannibal to the car. 'I don't think she wants to believe that Will would do such a thing…to be honest, I don't either.'

'It is a sad turn of events,' Hannibal agreed, getting into the car and breathing in the cold air. His muscles were tense…he ached and struggled to maintain an air of normality as Jack drove him home. This was another one of those moments that he was thankful that Jack was not the most perceptive man; as he was driven home, ensuring that arrangements were made for his car that had been left abandoned following the incident.

Getting home, Hannibal was supported through the door by Jack, who reluctantly, bade him goodnight and closed the door behind him. Though no sooner had Jack left him alone, did Abigail come down the stairs in a fleeting manner, worry etched on her face as Hannibal staggered to the stairs.

'Hannibal!'

Pushing herself beneath his right arm and shouldering some of his weight, Abigail looked over his wounds with concern as she helped him onto the stairs.

'Alana called and left messages, I heard them all and I was so worried that something had happened to you, I didn't know-'

'I know,' he said soothingly, keen to settle her nerves. 'It's okay Abigail, I'm going to be alright, I just need to rest.'

Helping him up the stairs, Abigail didn't speak for a few minutes, though Hannibal could see the thoughts that raced through her mind. She had been afraid for him? The thought made him feel somewhat content as she eased him into his bedroom.

'Is there anything I can get for you? I can heat up the soup I made for dinner, get you some tea? Medication?' she suggested, running through all that she could think of as she helped him to sit on the bed, propping up some pillows to help him sit up straight.

'Abigail,' he uttered, stopping her in her tracks as he took her pale hand and encouraged his doe to sit beside him. 'Breathe…'

Looking into his calm eyes, Abigail obeyed and sat on the edge of the bed, obliging his request, Abigail blinked back the tears as she continued to hold his hand within hers.

'I'm sorry…' she whispered. 'Is this because of me?'

'No,' he assured her, 'it's not. This is my past catching up with me. As long as you're safe, I will be fine. I made you a promise, and I cannot keep my word if I die.'

Thinking that Abigail might break at any moment, Hannibal extended his arms to her, feeling her welcoming warmth and smelling the sweet aroma of honeysuckle in her hair. Breathing her in, Hannibal was able to shut out the smell of chlorine and blood that had been tainting his senses since the ambulance arrived.

'I should take a shower,' he said after allowing himself to indulge in her close proximity for a few minutes.

'You can barely stand on your own,' Abigail fretted, looking at him as she considered his situation. 'Let me run you a bath?'

Nodding in agreement, Abigail finally moved from his arms, albeit reluctantly so and walked into his bathroom and out of sight, though Hannibal continued to watch the space where she had last been standing. The air still held an essence of her fragrance. Smiling to himself as he heard the water begin to flow, Hannibal lay back and considered the irony that Abigail would now be looking after him.

Recalling that first day when he consciously decided that he would save her from the pursuit of the FBI, he remembered her words to him as she drifted from consciousness.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

'Please…if it's the last thing I can ever say to you…don't let go…'

Those words had filled Hannibal with a fierce determination as he watched the blood seep from the wound he had created. Time was of course, of the essence, but he would not endanger her life. Complete control was something that Hannibal had always maintained. He would not let that slip now. Cradling her pale form, Hannibal did what was necessary to ensure that her death would be presumed by those who found the pool of blood left in her family's kitchen. Once certain it was enough, Hannibal removed a small container from his pocket and carefully placed the ear within it that had now been severed from Abigail's face. Pushing her hair away from the wound so that it would not matt with blood, Hannibal lifted her lifeless form easily in his arms and, wrapping his coat around her, carried her from her home for the last time.

Taking her the short distance to his car, Hannibal was careful in stopping the bleeding and supporting her with his body as he worked quickly to close the wound, careful in his work so as to avoid any scarring. Hearing her weak breath, Hannibal looked to his medical kit and injected her with a combination of pain management and anaesthetics to take her through the worst of the pain. Lying her gently on an array of blankets, Hannibal ensured she was wrapped warmly to prevent her body going into shock and knelt beside her face. Pressing his palm softly against her cheek, Hannibal felt a pang of remorse as he leant his forehead against hers.

'I'm so sorry Abigail…I hope you will forgive my actions…' he whispered, allowing himself a moment longer before closing the door and heading back for the Hobb's household. He had a few more things to take care of. But time was short. Ensuring that every handle was wiped clean, Hannibal found Will staggering towards the back of the house, his apparent unconsciousness evident in his lifeless expression as he fell to his knees. Meeting him partway, Hannibal checked his watch and dealt with matters within eight minutes exactly.

Once everything was taken care of, Hannibal removed his gloves as he got into the car and looked back over Abigail, checking her vitals and ensuring she was sufficiently warm before he began the drive back to his home. They were not out of danger yet and these next few hours would impact largely on Abigail's chances at recovering quickly.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

While Abigail ran Hannibal a bath; she used the time to regain her composure. It had been such a numbing two hours while she waited to find out if Hannibal were safe. She just wished there had been more that she could do. It was the first time that being presumed dead had left her feeling so helpless…Drying her eyes after turning off the silver faucet, Abigail went back to the bedroom and found Hannibal's eyes upon her as he rested wearily on the bed. There was such a show of appreciation in his dark eyes that she couldn't help but feel the warmth and affection that radiated from them.

'It's ready,' she breathed softly, meeting Hannibal's gaze as he studied her flushed cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

Reaching out to her, Hannibal brushed his thumb against her cheek, his dark eyes boring into hers as he then tried to sit up.

'Ah...I can't,' he sighed weakly, Abigail looking at him with concern and deciding to help in anyway she could. Sitting beside him, Abigail hesitantly reached for the buttons of his shirt and began to carefully undo each one.

'This is quite a role reversal,' he admitted with a slight smile. Seeing Abigail blush as she parted his open shirt, Abigail told him to use her for support as she helped him to sit up. As she helped to ease him out of his shirt, with one hand gently curved around the contours of his toned stomach, Abigail tried to ignore the incredible heat that she felt in her cheeks, doing her best not to meet his gaze.

Running her hands over his shoulders as she aided him, Abigail helped him to stand after a few moments and guided him into the bathroom.

'I'll be right in here if you need any help,' Abigail assured him, with worry evident in her eyes as she gently moved back.

'Thank you,' he breathed, cupping the side of her face with one hand and leaning his forehead against hers. His breathing was unsteady, but he supported himself well, not realising just how much he had made her worry. Looking at the dressings on his arms, Abigail ran her fingers over them as delicately as she could.

'Abigail…' he began softly, trying to recapture her gaze when she caught him by surprise. Wrapping her arms around his bare waist, Abigail rested her head against his chest, feeling the rhythmic beating of his heart and feeling somewhat settled by it.

At first Hannibal was unsure at how to react to such an act of affection. No one had shown him such kindness and concern since Lady Murasaki…but the difference between them was so evident. Abigail knew what Hannibal was, and here she stood…unmoving and unafraid. Placing his arms around her slender frame, Hannibal had a slight intake of breath as he became overwhelmed with his feelings for this fragile creature that he held so closely. He lost track of how long he stood there, inhaling the fragrant scent that laced through her dark hair. He didn't care, he wanted to savour every moment so that it would remain forever imprinted in his memory palace.

'I'm sorry,' Abigail started after a while, leaning back to free herself from his arms. 'You should get in the bath, I'll be right outside,' she repeated, blushing as Hannibal brushed her hair off her face.

'Beautiful…' he commented quietly, losing all sense of rationality as he became drawn into her innocent blue eyes.

Leaning down to her level, Hannibal took her face in his hands as though she were a delicate piece of glass and captured her lips with his own. Closing her eyes and losing herself in the moment, Abigail returned the gesture with love and desire, feeling enveloped in his warmth, her hands on his bare chest as she surrendered all the feelings she had been holding onto so tightly.

Finally parting; Abigail looked into his eyes and saw something there she had never seen before. Such affection…

'I- um,' she stammered, finding herself unable to coherently speak, though it only made Hannibal chuckle.

'It's okay,' he whispered, seeing her nod slightly in response, though she continued to blush deeply, making him smile as he told her to go and stay warm while he bathed. As he slipped into the warm water, Hannibal felt his muscles easing, leaning his head back enough to rinse the chlorine from his hair and leant back, his eyes closing as he repeated his moment with Abigail over in his mind. Her lips were so tender, soft...she was nervous, but her taste was so inviting. It was like a rare delicacy.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Upon getting Abigail home, Hannibal carried her easily inside from the garage, heading upstairs with her held close to his chest as he headed for the room he had prepared for her. Striding past the bed and into the bathroom, Hannibal gently set her down on the mats he had prepared and quickly began to tend to her wounds. Applying his medical knowledge and techniques, Hannibal delicately cleaned the wound and dressed it, ensuring to prevent any bleeding. As he ran a bowl of warm water, he then proceeded to gently wash the blood from her hair, while ensuring that he removed her blood stained clothes ready to be cleaned. Once he had given her a comprehensive check and ensured she was stable, Hannibal finally put her to bed, arranging the pillows to support her neck before beginning his vigil that would span over two days.

While he cared for her and nursed her, Hannibal felt that she looked so peaceful in her deep slumber. With her fair skin and dark hair spilling over the pillows, Hannibal stayed at her said, even when he lost the fight with exhaustion, he remained slumped in his chair. She had spent weeks without a place to call home…without anyone who cared for her beyond their job description. He would not allow her to feel those feelings of loneliness again. Not now. He had experienced such isolation. This would be her home until the time came for them to relocate. He would protect her with every ounce of strength he possessed, even if it took time for her to come to terms with who he was…he would earn her trust.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

As Abigail waited patiently for Hannibal to return, she felt relieved to hear the occasionally rippling of the water from within the next room and reflected on Alana's messages that had been left for Hannibal. She knew it was Will who had orchestrated the whole affair. She didn't want to believe that Will could be responsible for such a thing. But even Hannibal had not eluded as to who was responsible for the horrendous attack. It weighed heavily on her mind to know that Will would attempt to have Hannibal murdered. Would he have acted differently if he knew she were alive? Would he forgive Hannibal as she had done…?

Seeing a silhouette out of the corner of her eye; Abigail exhaled as Hannibal returned, settling on the edge of the bed, though his hair was still soaked through.

'Let me…' she intervened, getting a towel and gently soaking up some of the moisture with it, noting that he remained shirtless and seeing the shallow wounds that traced his back. Hannibal had not given her many details of his experience and she was reluctant to pry, though he had assured her that the culprit had been taken care of. That was enough for now. With black silk trousers hanging from his waist, Abigail remained focused on the task at hand, hearing Hannibal hum a low note in appreciation as she finished.

'Why now?' she asked finally, knowing that Hannibal was aware of what she was referring too and waiting patiently for his answer.

'I always believed that when I die, it would be a moment of accepting my fate. It has never been something that I have openly feared. But I realised tonight that I felt regret. I understood that I have undergone a change and that change has been influenced by you, Abigail. I don't know what it feels to both love and be loved. Before you I had no interest in such a thing. It seemed so trivial…so fragile. Yet with you, I desire to find answers to those questions. That is; if you can accept a man like me… I make no illusion. I have done things for honour, I have done them out of curiosity and many would deem me a monster. But no matter what you choose, I will always be there to protect you from the monsters that inhabit this world.'

Placing her hand on his, Abigail looked into his eyes with sincerity, feeling his fingers intertwine with hers as she laced a hand in his hair, leaning her forehead against his as he brushed his lips softly against hers, stealing another kiss.

'Stay,' he whispered, Abigail helping to ease him back onto the bed as she finally curled up beside him, her body still trembling a little with apprehension and panic from the past few hours. Feeling his palm rub against her back in a circular motion, Abigail began to feel the tension ease. Leaning into Hannibal's body, Abigail rested her head shyly against his bare chest. Enjoying the simple gesture of holding her close, Hannibal closed his eyes and breathed her in, finding that his focus on Abigail was helping to distract him from the pain of his injuries.

'I'm glad you're safe…'

Her words had surprised him as she drifted slowly into a slumber, but the warmth that he felt from the gentle soul that lived within his doe was an unfamiliar feeling, if not a little unsettling. He had allowed himself to get in too deep, but somewhere inside, he had known that the moment he saved her life and took her hand in his…

I absolutely LOVED writing this chapter. I always find it difficult when I know I've hit the moment that two characters are going to come together. I always want to get the setting just right to fit the characters personalities and how I could envision it. But I think it's come along quite well! There will DEFINITELY be another chapter update this month. I am currently working on a few one shots, and updating another fanfic AND working on my new book. So it's a busy month! But I will not neglect any of my lovely readers and look forward to working on the next chapter!

Goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x