I do not own anything related to Hannibal, either thru television, or written books. Everything belongs to Thomas Harris and Bryan Fuller. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 37
Song(s): Familiar (Agnes Obel), Bad Blood (Alison Mosshart & Eric Arjes)
Will Graham's Residence, Wolf Trap, Virginia…
7:13pm
Turning the lights off in the car, Oliveah sat behind the wheel and stared up at the lit farmhouse through the windshield.
For some reason, she was nervous to see him.
Throwing open the door, she reached over to the passenger seat and picked up the boxed apple pie before inching out into the evening air.
Hearing the muffled barks of the dogs from inside the house, Oliveah smiled as she climbed the porch steps.
"Enough…ENOUGH!"
Hearing Will's authoritative shouting, she stood at the glass door and managed a small wave as he meandered through the canines.
"Hi."
Feeling the warmth of the foyer and living room spilling out onto the porch, Oliveah stepped inside and laid eyes on an unknown dog.
"Who is this?"
Catching her eye as he reached out for the pie, Will nodded slowly.
"Her name is Abigail" he spoke quietly, watching Oliveah taking a knee. Running her fingers around the black labrador's ears, she scratched and smiled as the hound licked her face.
"Hello Abigail." Feeling Buster and Winston trying to nuzzle their way in, she sat back and allowed herself to be overtaken as Will leaned against the wall beside the door.
"Where did you find her?"
Shifting his weight, Will cradled the pie box as he watched her ease.
"Just the other night. The night of Hannibal's dinner party" he spoke, watching Winston jump in excitement.
The night before Jack found me in Hannibal's house, half dressed
"They never forget a face" he offered, walking across the room and disappearing around the corner towards the kitchen.
Leaving the dogs as she moved to the fireplace, Oliveah tossed in a single log before wiping her hands on her jeans. Making her way to the kitchen, she heard the clatter of pots as she watched him take a roasted chicken out of the oven.
Chicken
Feeling the tension from earlier in the day releasing over her shoulders, Oliveah took in a deep breath as she smelled rosemary and sage before hearing a pot on the stove overflowing onto the burner.
"Shit!"
Feeling her lips pulling into a smile as she watched Will fluster about, she couldn't help but see both men in front of her and immediately, their differences in the culinary arts.
You say you can see yourself living in this farmhouse with Will, yet you also see yourself in Hannibal's company
"I love you both."
Hearing Oliveah's words, Will pulled the boiling carrots off the stove and quickly laid a hand towel over a freshly baked loaf of bread, still resting in its tin.
"When I was about ten years old, my class went on a field trip to a place called Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg Ontario. It was a village set up to reflect life in the 1860's, simple living, home cooked meals, and farming. Just seeing you and smelling all of this brings back those memories" she spoke, watching as Will handed her two plates.
Setting the table as he brought the food over, Oliveah took a seat and felt her shoulders relaxing even more.
"I take it everything went well in your meeting with Alana and the department?"
"If coming out still fired, and having more Hopkins professionals aware that I am sleeping with Hannibal Lecter counts out as well" she spoke, tearing off a piece of the homemade bread.
"I was talking about the plagiarism accusation" Will spoke, cutting a piece of his chicken.
"Turns out, there is some power behind Hannibal's name and reputation. Enough to silence Alana and make her look like a complete fool" she smiled, as Will stared at her from across the table.
"I'm going to resume my therapy with Dr. Lecter."
Coughing up her mouthful of food, Oliveah reached for her glass of water as Will did the same.
"Why would you want to do that Will?" she questioned, watching him lean back in his chair.
"I…remember him forcing Abigail's ear down my throat. I remember it clearly Oliveah, and I need to keep him close, to protect myself and to protect you." He spoke, catching her eye as watched her pushed her plate aside.
"Please don't resume your therapy with him" she whispered.
"You want to warn me, but you won't answer why you are with him. Why you are now in an intimate relationship with him. Why Oliveah?"
Closing her mouth, she emptied her glass of water before standing to her feet.
"Hannibal sees what is inside of me, what I am capable of" she spoke, keeping Will's eye as she took her plate to the counter.
"You are not a killer Oliveah, Hannibal is insane…"
Frowning as she dumped the contents of her plate into the trash, she strode over to the table and took up Will's plate and cutlery.
"You don't know anything about me Will Graham. You don't know what I went through with my mother and step-father. You don't know what I've done" she breathed, feeling Will's hand on hers.
"What has he made you do Oliveah?"
Shaking her head, she pulled her hand away as Will rose to his feet.
"All my experiences in life so far have had a hand in shaping who I am, what I feel, and have pushed the boundaries of what I believe I myself am capable of" she noted, watching as Will approached her.
Moving away from his outstretched hand, Oliveah stared into his eyes as she saw the pain.
"Maybe Will, there are some people in this world who deserve to meet the Ripper."
Watching his hand fall to his side, she watched his back straighten as he narrowed his eyes.
"Did I deserve it?"
Trying to shake some sense into her head as Will spoke, Oliveah fought in vain of what she should say next, but came up with nothing.
"Did Abigail fucking deserve it?"
She's alive Will
She's alive
"Will…"
"Leave Oliveah, and I would seriously give some thought to how you want to survive all of this if you continue to put yourself in Hannibal's close reach."
…
Jack Crawford's Office, BSU, FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia…
Shoving a stack of papers into his briefcase, Jack Crawford snapped the locks shut just as Jimmy Price flew into the office.
"Price, I'm going home to my wife" Jack announced as Jimmy slammed his hands down on the desk.
"Jack…Miriam Lass has been found" he breathed, trying to steady his shaking fingers.
…
(Flashback)
Aukstaitija, Lithiania
Clamping his hand over his young sister's mouth to muffle her cry, Hannibal pulled her closer into his chest as they listened to the sounds of approaching heavy boots.
"Mischa…quiet" the young boy hissed as he felt her tears falling against his hand. Whispering into her ear to close her eyes, Hannibal bit down hard on his lip as three sets of boots appeared in his vision from under the bed.
"This will do nicely" a man's growl sounded as Hannibal heard his mother's whimpers.
"Please…don't do this!"
Hearing his mother's cries as she was thrown heavily onto the mattress above them, Hannibal felt his lips quivering as more weight fell onto the bed above.
Hearing Simonette Sforza -Lecter's cries as the mattress above started to shake, Hannibal tasted the salt of his own tears as the sounds of low grunting met his ears. Closing his eyes, he tried to tuck Mischa more under his own body to shield her from the sounds of their mother's torture just as laughter erupted from the other two booted men.
Feeling Mischa's teeth digging into the flesh of his hand as he refused to let her speak, Hannibal felt the rage growing deep within his chest as he stared intently at the dirty boots of the men.
Finishing with the woman laying beneath him, Vladis Grutas threw his hands out and wrapped them tightly around her neck as he chocked the life out of her.
"Anyone else want a turn?" he growled, smiling widely before cocking his ear.
Going silent, he moved his eyes to the mantle of the fireplace and spied three framed photographs.
Growling loudly, Grutas roughly shoved Simonette's body off the edge of the bed before standing to his feet. Ripping the mattress off the frame, he grabbed the bedpost and upturned the heavy wooden piece of furniture before staring down at the two small bodies laying still.
"Hello children…"
Throwing his eyes open, Hannibal Lecter sat straight up in the darkness of his bedroom, breathing heavy before throwing his eyes towards the moon lit window. Rotating his left arm as he ran a finger along the thin narrow scar, he groaned as the doorbell sounded from downstairs.
…
Pressing her thumb hard against the doorbell, Oliveah took a step back and raised her eyes onto the dark bedroom windows before she heard the lock turning.
Feeling the warmth of the foyer spilling out, Oliveah stared into Hannibal's face as he narrowed his eyes.
"Good evening Hannibal."
Taking a step back to allow her access, Hannibal ran a hand through his hair as he felt her hand pressing against the front of his bathrobe.
"Good morning, Oliveah" he corrected, glancing at the grandfather clock against the wall before shutting the door and twisting the lock.
"This is unexpected" he began as Oliveah turned around to face him.
"I was at Will's earlier this evening. I drove out to Wolf Trap right after my meeting with Alana and the other professors of the department" she spoke, watching Hannibal slipping his hands into the pockets of his dark green bathrobe.
"I know you don't want to hear me talking about Will, but what I want to talk about concerns him."
Running the tip of his tongue against his front teeth, Hannibal took in a deep breath before nodding his head.
"At this hour, I would suggest coffee" he muttered, moving down the hall towards the kitchen. Passing the staircase as she walked behind him, Oliveah moved her eyes to the darkened doorway of the study as she saw herself standing before Jack and Hannibal…
"Anyone other than yourself that can verify you were here all-night Dr. Lecter?"
Parting his lips slightly, his dark eyes caught the slight movement from the doorway as Crawford slowly turned around.
"Good morning Agent Crawford."
Standing tall, Oliveah relaxed her shoulders as she watched the surprise flash over Jack Crawford's eyes as he looked her over, his lips pursing.
"What are you accusing him of Agent Crawford?"
Clamping his mouth shut as he was taken aback at her boldness, Jack rolled his shoulders and gave her a stern stare.
"I'm not accusing him of anything Ms. Adler. Only asking his whereabouts last night" he confessed lightly, speaking over his shoulder as he turned to Hannibal.
"Agent Crawford?"
Watching the man's eyes as he focused on her, Oliveah balled her fists as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Hannibal is the Chesapeake Ripper."
Hearing her words, she watched as the Federal Agent slowly turned back around as the Doctor lunged towards his desk, taking up the letter opener and slicing the air in front of him, feeling the contact with Jack's exposed throat.
Darting around the kneeling body of Jack Crawford as Hannibal plunged the letter opener once more into the man's throat, Oliveah avoided Hannibal's arm as she tore out of the study. Feeling the cold floor boards beneath her feet as she ran towards the foyer, she slammed against the front door, yanking off the chain before reaching for the lock. Pulling open the door, she heard the steps behind her just as Hannibal slammed both hands hard against the door, roughly grabbing her arms before slamming her back up against the door.
Bringing the bloody letter opener up to her throat, Hannibal stared into her eyes as she held her breath.
"You've placed my own life in jeopardy, and for that I will kill you…"
Standing at the mouth of the dark kitchen, she listened to his steps as he switched on the overhead stove lamp, bathing the kitchen in soft light. Pulling open the cupboard on his immediate right, Hannibal withdrew a glass french press as Oliveah took the stainless-steel kettle over to the sink.
Watching the water flowing from the faucet, she capped the kettle and turned around to find Hannibal standing directly in front of her.
Feeling his fingers tracing along her jaw, she waited for his lips until he pulled away, returning to his task.
He's not impressed
I wouldn't be either showing up at two in the morning announcing that I had been hanging around at another man's house
"Had you been sleeping long?"
Running a hand over his jaw, Hannibal leaned forward and poured two cups of coffee ignoring the cream, sugar, and milk as he slid one close to Oliveah's fingers.
"I woke up not long before you ran my doorbell" he spoke, taking a deep sip as Oliveah felt the warm of the cup in her hands.
"I had a nightmare."
Moving her eyes onto Hannibal's face, she felt her mouth dropping as she caught for the first time, a vulnerable look on his face.
"The last time I remember having a nightmare was the first night I arrived in Etampes, at the home of my Aunt and Uncle" he began, taking a sip from his cup.
"What was your nightmare about?"
Hearing her whispered question, Hannibal steadied his eyes before giving his head a small shake.
"It is late Oliveah, what did you wish to talk to me about?"
Watching him close down, she was thankful for the brief hint of humanity as she sat her cup down on the table at her elbow.
"Um, like I said, I saw Will this evening and he…told me he was going to resume his therapy with you"
"Patient-Doctor confidentiality Oliveah."
Raising an eye, she couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth as he refilled her cup.
"I was not aware of his intentions to resume therapy."
"He sent Matthew Brown to kill you Hannibal, and from what I know of you, you are not going to let that go."
Clearing his throat as the clock in the study let out three chimes, the Doctor stared into the darkened fireplace as he registered her words.
"You are correct in thinking that" he growled, glancing down at the slowly healing scars along the lengths of his left and right wrists just peeking out from the cuffs of his sleeves.
"Please don't kill him."
Feeling his upper lip twitching, he lightly flexed his fingers before turning towards her.
"I rarely give second chances to anyone Oliveah, you should be aware of that."
"Will isn't stupid Hannibal, he'll be expecting you to do something" she spoke, trying to keep her voice steady as she watched him rise to his feet.
"Then let him expect."
Downing the last of her black coffee, she rose to her feet and unzipped her jacket as Hannibal spoke out.
"I have an early appointment in the morning Oliveah, so I will wish you a good night."
Feeling the coldness in his words as he brushed her off, she scoffed before shrugging her coat back on.
Fine then. The hell with both of you.
Nodding her head, she walked out of the study without a word and rounded the stairs, heading towards the foyer taking her keys out of her pocket. Twisting the lock on the door, she wretched it open before slamming it shut behind her.
Throwing open the door to her Honda Civic, Oliveah Adler slammed the palm of her hand hard against the wheel as she threw the car into reverse. Catching the light going dark in the study, she swore under her breath as she made her way back towards the Johns Hopkins campus.
"I can't even call that place home" she muttered, driving in silence as she turned south for the twenty-five-minute drive. Gripping the steering wheel tight, her eyes scanned the roadways as she slowed down for a red light.
"What am I going to do with my life?"
Watching the light turn green, she drove until she found herself in the downtown core before pulling off to the side of the road.
"I have to figure my life out, I can't keep doing this" she whispered to herself as she threw the car into gear. Driving down the familiar streets, she rounded onto North Clinton and slowed down to a crawl as she moved her eyes onto the darkened red brick townhouses.
The street was quiet.
Standing on the sidewalk, Oliveah looked up at the front of the house and blinked as she took in the front door that was now painted white from its original dark blue. Spying the closed-up windows of the basement, she laid a hand on the brick corner of the house and brought her eyes up onto her old bedroom window. Looking down the alleyway, she listened to the sound of her boots crunching over the pavement as she walked the length of the townhouse.
"I was happy here, for a time" she spoke out loud, remembering the good times she had shared with Tyler and Andrew in their rundown student rental.
Pizza's, movies, friends over, late nights writing papers and research…
"And then I met Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham."
Hearing her words, she had a flashback of the previous September that made her stand still and close her eyes…
"Jack, I mentioned to you that I was going to hire an Assistant from the department to help me and this is Oliveah Adler. She is a second year Masters student and she is helping me with Abigail Hobbs. She was with me this morning for our first meeting..."
"Damn the both of you" she swore, turning around and marching back towards the street. Giving a final glance towards the darkened townhouse, her eyes fell on the number one that now stood out so prominently on the white door.
"Good-bye innocence."
…
Jack Crawford's Office, Behavioral Science Unit, FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia…
"Miriam, does the name Hannibal Lecter ring any bells?"
Staring at the green cactus plant on the long desk against the far wall, the young blonde woman sat motionless as she massaged the fleshy stump of her missing arm.
"That plant hasn't been moved since the last time I was in your office" Miriam noted, quickly looking down before rising to her feet. Walking over to the desk, she reached two fingers out and gently ran a fingernail along the sharp spine.
"She hasn't died" she spoke quietly, touching the dried-out soil in the small pot.
"No, she hasn't."
Hearing Jack's words, the former officer cadet swallowed hard before turning around.
"No, it doesn't. Should it?"
Feeling the hum along the back of his dried throat, Agent Crawford rubbed a hand over his tired eyes.
"He got inside my head you know? But somehow, I wasn't afraid. I don't think I could feel afraid, all I could think of was seeing the light the few times he opened the drum lid."
Jesus, Miriam
"I should let you sleep. We can talk in the morning."
Taking a small step forward, Miriam scratched nervously at her neck as she thought about her next question.
"This, Hannibal Lecter, is he is the Ripper?"
Giving a slight shake of his head as he stood, Jack shoved his hands into his dress pant pockets.
"We aren't sure yet Miriam."
Feeling cold as his words struck her heart, Miriam swallowed before taking a seat back in her chair, feeling lightheaded.
"You aren't sure because…you haven't caught the Chesapeake Ripper Jack?"
Remaining silent as he watched her fingers flexing, Crawford kept his eyes steady on her own.
"You found him once Miriam, we need you to help us find him again."
"I found him by accident Jack, if I had known one percent when I left your office that afternoon, I would never have gone alone" she spat staring down at his feet.
Letting his office fall silent, Jack laid a soft hand on his former trainee's shoulder as she rested her head against his arm.
"I couldn't see his face, all I heard was his voice. It was soothing, and he told me what he he had planned for me. He told me he was going to take my arm and give it to you…did he?"
Bringing her eyes up onto his face, Jack took a deep breath and squeezed her shoulder hard.
"We never stopped looking for you" he spoke steadily, watching her head nod.
"I appreciate that Agent Crawford."
Shutting the door behind him, his dark eyes watched her confident walk down the carpeted Academy hallway as Miriam gripped the tied excess fabric of her shirt sleeve.
"Miriam, Officer Richards here is going to escort you to your hotel room and stay on post. He will bring you back here tomorrow morning and we can begin, but…if you need a few days…" he began watching the young woman stop dead in her tracks before turning around to face him.
"I'll help you find him Jack, but I can't promise you that if I find him first, I won't kill him."
…
Rubbing his tired eyes as he listened to Bella hanging up the phone, Jack breathed out heavily as Zellers knocked softly on the office door.
"We need to keep her rescue close to our chests Z. I don't want Frederick Chilton or Hannibal Lecter to know that Miriam Lass has been found alive."
Nodding his head as he crossed his arms across his chest, Brian Zellers took a seat in one of the empty fabric chairs.
"Has she said anything that can help us identify the Ripper?"
"We need to tread very carefully on this, Miriam is the only one who has been in his presence to provide concreate details, things that have died with the other Ripper victims" Jack spoke as Zellers coughed.
"Miriam may want to talk to someone other than you Jack."
"I had thought of that, I've already called Alana Bloom and she is on her way here. I had also thought to call Oliveah Adler to come in for tomorrow morning" he spoke as Zellers raised a curious eye.
"Why her?"
"She is sleeping with Hannibal Lecter, and I am convinced that she knows more than she lets on regarding Gideon's disappearance and Abigail's death. I want to see how she reacts when we bring Hannibal in for questioning."
…
Interview Room 3B, BSU, FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia…
7:31am
Covering her mouth to shield her tired yawn, Oliveah Adler rose to her feet as the door to her left opened, to reveal a petite framed, blonde woman with a short ponytail.
Miriam Lass
She is so much smaller than I had pictured
"Miriam, this is a friend of mine Oliveah Adler who works with Dr. Bloom, whom you met this morning" Jack spoke as Oliveah bit her tongue.
We are not friends Agent Crawford, and worked is more appropriate since you opened your mouth and I was fired.
Offering her hand out for a shake, she was surprised at the woman's strong grip as she quickly released.
"Hello Oliveah, I appreciate you being here."
She's trying hard to show her control over her situation Oliveah noted as she thanked the former FBI cadet for allowing her to be there.
Moving her eyes onto Jack Crawford as he closed the room door behind him, she caught the small screen of the television connection to closed captioning flickering on over his shoulder as he walked by her, not offering a word.
Why in the hell ask me to come here and help you?
Why would you want me anywhere near Miriam Lass when you know I am with Hannibal Lecter? Of whom you haven't completely ruled out as a suspect?
Folding her hands behind her back Oliveah scanned her eyes over the cold looking, dark grey interview room beyond the two-way glass mirror as she noted a desk that was probably nailed down somehow to the concreate floor.
Taking a step backwards to allow Miriam an uninterrupted view of the window, she couldn't help but glance down at the excess fabric tired in a knot. She had seen the Federal Trainee's cut off arm in Will's slide show clutching a mobile phone, and as she glanced out of the corner of her eye, she watched as the woman absentmindedly touched the knot with the fingers of her other hand.
"This is Dr. Bloom, you met her last night" Jack reminded as Oliveah focused her attention once more on the room. Feeling the distaste in her mouth as she chewed on her tongue, she took in the thin woman's blue checkered dress and heels as she took a seat at the desk, her back and long loose hair to the glass.
"She is the Doctor you wanted me to talk to later this afternoon?" Miriam questioned as Jack laid a light hand on her shoulder.
"Like I said, only if you feel up for it."
You are tender with her Agent Crawford because you feel like it was your fault she fell into the Ripper's hands
Feeling the hum in the back of her throat, Oliveah shifted her weight and wished she had brought her bottle of water in from the car as she took a deep breath.
If they are going to bring Will in to rule him out by Miriam, he should be arriving momentarily she thought as she glanced up to the small closed caption television on the wall. Feeling her mouth falling open as the interview room door opened, Oliveah nearly did a double take as she watched a three-piece suited Hannibal Lecter enter the room with his tan peacoat folded neatly over his arm.
"What…"
Hearing Oliveah's low whisper, Miriam shot her a questioning look before returning her eyes to the glass.
Pulling out the chair opposite Alana, Hannibal laid his coat on the edge of the table as he took a light seat, adjusting the vistor's badge attached to his lapel.
Folding her hands in front of her on the table top in an effort to look professional, Alana narrowed her eyes as she stared straight into Hannibal's face.
"She was my student Hannibal."
Leaning back in his chair, the Doctor focused his dark eyes onto Alana's without a look of guilt or remorse, but more with a look of disappointment at having his private affairs being spoken out loud.
"This seems like petty revenge on your part Alana, and it does not become you" he growled, settling his hands in his lap.
Straightening her shoulders back as she opened the file folder in front of her, Bloom tapped her index finger against the paper as she spoke once more.
"Well, she is fired, and still has to defend her thesis in front of me."
Pursing his lips as he stared into her eyes, he watched as she lowered her gaze before re-folding her hands.
"That is very unfortunate."
"What is she talking about, what student?"
Hearing the confusion in Miriam's voice as she looked to Jack Crawford, Oliveah blinked quickly before slowly looking to Crawford who stood less than five feet from her in distance.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, Dr. Lecter is Ms. Adler's boyfriend."
So that is why I am really here. Jack wants to see how I react to Hannibal being questioned
"They found a witness. A survivor, the only victim of the Chesapeake Ripper who lived to tell."
Staring straight at Hannibal through the glass mirror, Oliveah tucked her chin into her chest as she listened to Bloom's words.
You're wrong Alana Bloom. Will Graham survived him and I am surviving him
If anyone ever knew, would they think I was ever a victim?
"Is…this witness watching me now?"
Looking over to Miriam, she kept her eyes steady as the woman stared without blinking, hard in concentration.
"Yes."
"Seems I am the usual suspect."
Catching Hannibal's annoyance as she watched him on the small closed caption screen, she watched him settle back defensively in his seat, staring hard at the woman seated in front of him.
"I…keep having angry, imaginary conversations with Jack Crawford about that. I wish I could tell you why this is happening" she whispered with pleading eyes.
I know why this is happening Alana and you'd do well to distance yourself though I know you won't
Letting a low hum out of his throat, he slowly looked around the grey room and took a deep breath.
"This witness must not be able to identify the Ripper by sight," he spoke, slowly rising to his feet. "Jack wants them to hear my voice, otherwise I would be in here alone" he added, rounding the corner of the table before looking down into Alana's face.
"Right?"
Feeling the irritation radiating from his eyes, Alana said nothing as she slowly nodded her head.
"Still, I appreciate your company."
Hearing his appreciation to Alana, Oliveah winced as she watched the Doctor slowly approaching the long two-way mirror. Scanning his eyes over the glass as he stood still, Oliveah swallowed hard as she felt his eyes piercing into her own.
He can't see me
He doesn't know I am even here
"It's not him."
Throwing her eyes onto Miriam, Oliveah felt her mouth going dry as the petite blonde shook her head.
"Miriam, why don't you…"
"I said, it's not him Jack."
Clearing his throat as he stared down into his trainee's face, he held back his anger before lowering his voice.
"Are you sure?"
Refusing to give another look to the man standing before the glass mirror, Miriam shook her head.
"Yes, he's not the Ripper."
Running her hand over her mouth, Oliveah watched as Miriam Lass massaged her arm, bringing her eyes up onto hers.
"Guess you're lucky to hear that your boyfriend is not a psychopathic serial killer"
…
Walking steadily through the Academy visitor parking lot, she kept her eyes focused as she ignored others walking around her.
Just get to the car….just get to the car…
Spying her license plate, she jabbed her key into the lock of her door and wretched it open as she took a heavy seat. Feeling the lurch in her stomach, she messily gathered her hair up in her hand as she puked outside her door, watching it splatter on the ground.
"God damn it" she breathed, reaching for the bottle of water in the holder. Downing the entire bottle, Oliveah slammed her door shut and leaned her head against the headrest, closing her eyes.
"This was his early morning appointment" she spoke out loud, staring up at the roof interior of her car.
I thought I was there for Miriam, but Crawford only wanted me to see his brief power over Hannibal
He wanted to see if I showed any emotion or concern
"He wants to know what I know about Hannibal…"
Running her fingers through her hair, she threw the car into gear and pulled out of the parking lot before feeling her stomach lurching again.
"This can't be stress" she breathed as she pulled over to the side of the road. Throwing open her door, she puked once more before hearing Andrew's voice in her head…
"Ahem, pregnancy can alter one's eating habits"
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Oliveah felt her head spinning as she let out a nervous laugh.
"Never missed a period, never been late, always bled for five days" she muttered, spying a CVS Pharmacy in a strip mall to her right.
If I really thought I was pregnant, I would feel panicked
"But I don't" she breathed, pulling into the mall parking lot. Throwing the Honda into park, she grabbed her wallet and tucked her Blackberry into the console before opening her door. Walking on steady feet, she entered the pharmacy and looked around for any hint of where the pregnancy tests were kept.
"Can I help you find something?"
Turning around, Oliveah nodded her head as her eyes found a sign labelled feminine care.
"Actually, I found it myself."
Standing in front of four shelves packed with an assortment of pregnancy tests, she felt her vision blurring before grabbing the first one within reach.
"Do you have a washroom?"
Pocketing her change as the cashier frowned, Oliveah looked behind her and spied a sign as she carried the box with her.
Slamming the door to her stall, her eyes read over the First Response instructions as she twisted off the plastic cap to the water bottle she had added at last minute. Downing half the bottle, she sat on the toilet and tore into the box, letting the ripped packaging fall to the floor.
"Remove cap, urinate on strip, wait three minutes for yes or no" she breathed, dropping the cap on the ground as she felt her bladder release.
Setting the test on top of the toilet dispenser, she closed her eyes and brought up Hannibal, standing in front of the two-way mirror.
His eyes were searching along the glass like a predatorial hunter, inching around for a scent, for blood…
Taking in a deep breath as she reached for the test, she held it flat in her palm, as she opened her eyes.
…
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