Hello! Does anybody watch American Idol? No? Team Angie! Tonight they all floundered. I leave for Disney World in twelve days. Meaning, I must write some amazingly magical fantastic tantalizing chapters to make up for a lost week, right? So let's get this thing going! I love all followers, reviews, and favorites! I own torn little An-na, but no Hannibal characters.
-M
"Let me see her, now."
"An-na is very weak, Lily. She needs rest-"
Words were lost as the door suddenly slammed in. Bright eyes surveyed the room to find the small form within the bed, barely on the verge of consciousness. Will Graham, Crawford, and Alana were slow to follow, passing Dr. Lecter.
Lily Astor finally came to a halt, pale. While Anna's skin was kissed with bruises, she otherwise seemed in tact. A flesh-colored bandage was on the corner of her eye. Fear faded when Anna's matching eyes opened, both as clear as before.
"Aunt Anna," Lily murmured. The woman breathed in her first conscious breath, stretching slightly. With her movement Hannibal flinched, ready to assist her at a moment's notice. Graham nearly smirked at the sudden, obvious caring streak in his psychoanalyst.
"How are you?" Crawford was all business. Dr. Astor took her sweet time in sitting up, leaving blankets up to her waist. "Just peachy."
"Hannibal told us where he found you, unconscious. What's the first and last thing you remember?"
"I left the restaurant. The hotel was in sight when I was stabbed-" She felt her shoulder, the new rise of skin as a scab, "-and took a blow to the face. I don't remember anything after that up until riding in a car with Hannibal. He said he found me in a…Cemetery?"
"In the nearby woods, yes," Will clarified. Anna's frowning face turned between them.
"Were they trying to bury me?"
"It appears they attempting to kill you and dumped your body on the side of a highway. It's a miracle Hannibal found you at all."
A soft brown head nodded. Anna looked up to Hannibal. "Thank you,"
"I am just glad you are safe, An-na" With the lick of her lips Lily brought over a glass, filled with water. Anna downed it, wiping her mouth. "May we go home now? If I was dumped, then there's probably no way of tracking him down."
"Him?" Crawford's attention caught. Anna backtracked.
"When I was attacked, there was only one man. I merely assumed he was working alone."
"Don't you want this man caught?"
"I just want to forget it and go home," Crawford's mouth opened, ready for reply, when a monstrous gurgling echoed the room.
Anna Astor pinked, covering her stomach. Even Crawford had to crack a smile.
"Hungry?"
"I don't understand why you're wearing a belt. No one cares if your figure looks…What did she say? Boxy?"
"Baggy," Hannibal corrected. Anna scoffed at the two, continuing to fill her mouth with sausage and eggs. The two fought off grins as she stole food from their plates, sticky fruit juice dribbling at a corner of her mouth.
"It's not even that tight. I made it loose, just because I knew you two hens would be up my crawl about it."
Up your crawl? An-na, my dear, have I brought back the wrong woman?"
Sitting in a loose, forest green dress, tied at the waist with a thin, double-bound belt, Anna Astor stopped eating. She swallowed her last bolus, staring hard at the table.
"Perhaps I've just grown to trust you two. And maybe I don't feel the need to pretend anymore. To be someone I'm not. It's really tiring, and I'm already so tired." Will blinked in surprise. Anna rose a worried gaze to first him, and then Hannibal. "Is that…okay?"
"Yeah, that's…That's great." A curly-headed agent professed. Maybe I won't constantly fear you ripping me open and eating my insides. A small smile answered before Anna looked to the wise doctor. Wrinkles about his eyes and mouth pulled with a nod.
"Great! I can't promise it'll be a drastic change, but it's good to think you two have my back."
"You need us," Will commented, beginning a lopsided smile once more, "Otherwise where would you find your meals?"
Anna Astor shoved the agent, trying not to grin. Dr. Lecter watched them both, relaxed.
They helped her up, so attentive. One on either side, hands wavering near her waist.
She was their partner, but more importantly, their weakness.
Jack Crawford breathed in deeply. The woman had already been abducted, right under their noses. And now, seeing Graham and Lecter actually smiling at her,
Now something must be done to protect Anna Astor.
"You want me to what?"
"Just temporarily, Anna. Until we're sure you will be safe."
Jack Crawford's dream team sat before him, one furious, tight-faced woman glaring daggers. He remained adamant in his decision.
"Until further notice, you cannot work at the Regions Hospital. You may be a target. It would be best for you to be in the presence of Dr. Lecter, myself, or Will for the time being-"
"Because they can protect me? If you haven't noticed, they were within walking distance when I was attacked," The brunette hissed.
It had been nearly four days since their arrival home. Lily tucked safely away in France while Abigail had been asked to remain at the hospital for a few more weeks, much to the girls' distaste. Anna was slightly intoxicated on drugs, abdomen re-stitched with a minor surgery. Her doctors seemed quite impressed with the job Hannibal had done. The cut in the corner of her eye would scar, they said. It was just another daily reminder of what she almost ended up as.
"In their defense, Anna, you stormed out into a busy city, by yourself. Perhaps you could teach with Graham. And, if I recall, Dr. Lecter is in need of a secretary."
Hannibal remained impervious to Anna's sudden glare. "Did you set him up to this?"
"I hold no whims over Agent Crawford. This is his decision, not mine. Though you would make quite an efficient secretary. We all simply want peace of mind, knowing you are safe." Anna sighed.
If I did succumb to this plan, I could work side-by-side with Hannibal. It would make it a lot easier, sneaking out.
"And this is 'just temporary'?"
"Yes."
"Will I be taking self-defense courses?"
"You may take some required classes for being an agent, if that would help," Crawford answered slowly. "It would make it easier for us to call upon your expertise."
"If you give me the textbooks, I can pass all written exams by the end of the month. I get the book-knowledge, just not hands-on experience."
Crawford laughed, nodded. If there was one thing Anna Astor was, it was full of herself.
"Very well then. I'll pull some strings. In the meantime, where will you live?"
Anna stared at him, as if he were stupid. "I will live in my house."
"Did you not hear a word I've just said? I want you in the company of-"
"Cecelia lives with me. She can take care of me."
"You know that's not what I meant."
Pink lips puckered. There is no way in hell I'm abandoning my home just so Crawford can sleep pretty at night.
"Fine. One of them can stay at my house. Will that make you happy, Jack?
"Yes it would. Thank you."
She hadn't expected him to agree.
A minor setback.
Blue eyes looked to Hannibal, Will. Her expression flattened.
"Sorry, William, but you have dogs. I have a cat. We're just not meant to be." Anna turned to smile at Hannibal. "Unless you refuse to move in as well. Then-"
"I do not mind staying at your home for a few days. I am quite interested in your décor," Hannibal cordially smiled down to her. Anna fought off a flushed pout.
"Great. Will, I would like a word with you." Crawford stood up, ushering Graham to follow. With a slight wave the agent did indeed do so, leaving the two doctors.
Anna stared at Hannibal pointedly.
"I swear upon my life, I did not put him up to it,"
"Mmm."
The doctor was ever calm and patient, enduring the woman's sulking. He held the door open and she ushered no more than a thank you. Anna stopped, unsure of what to do next. An eyebrow raised at her.
"I have a doctor's appointment."
"I will drive you there."
"Don't you have work?"
"It is nothing I cannot push back."
She was still too thin.
Brown eyes watched every move, kicking legs back and forth from a hospital bed. Blue eyes caught his stare, head tilting, "What?"
Anna Astor was clothed in a dress of navy blue, sweetheart top covered with a sheer material up and over her shoulders. A deep cream belt was wrapped and tied around her waist, continuously slipping. She had already retied it twice, muttering under her breath.
"Your clothes hang limp against your body, now. I'm afraid I must fatten you up."
Anna's eyes widened with Hannibal Lecter's smirk. Before a witty remark could be made, there came a knock at the door.
"Hello, hello," Dr. Bedell greeted, staring at charts while walking in. The woman was middle-aged and tall, with bottle-fed blonde hair and kind eyes. She reminded Anna much of her mother. It was exactly why she chose her.
"Your eye and shoulder are healing nicely. It should only be a few more days until you can remove the bandages," Her voice sounded falsetto, as if a deep weight was pushing them down. Anna watched her with hard eyes. Dr. Bedell sat on her swivel stool, tall enough to place both feet firmly before her. The doctor put weight on her knees, fingers meshing together.
"But?" Anna asked, softly. The frown wearing Bedell's lips was not a favored sign. She bit her lip before gaining professionalism, averting to Anna's chart.
"The wound to your abdomen created some…Complications. Being over thirty, your egg count has already decreased. With the wound, however, it seems that number has been cut dramatically."
"What are you saying," It wasn't even a question. Just a quiet statement from a placid mouth. Dr. Bedell glanced at the paling woman. It was the one part of her job she really hated. Seeing the sudden fear in a patient's eyes.
Knowing she was going to say exactly what they didn't want to hear.
"The chances of you ever becoming pregnant are less than ten percent."
For the first time, Hannibal Lecter felt he truly didn't belong somewhere with Anna.
An intruder in the night, caught in an intimate moment. Anna sat motionless, mouth open to breathe. Dr. Bedell seemed so sympathetic, reaching out to pat the woman's hand.
Anna pulled away before Bedell had a chance. With one slow blink, chest rising and deflating, the damaged woman ducked her head. Anna rose with a forced smile, sliding off the examining bed.
"Thank you so much, Dr. Bedell. Please, have a good day."
She was thrown off by Anna's sudden dismissal, stepping back to let the woman pass.
A man she hadn't even noticed followed, closing the door behind him quietly.
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