AN- Sorbet continues- this chapter is short because the tone doesn't fit in with the next part, but I thought it was too funny to leave out.

Sidenote, I'm sorry for lashing out in the last chapter. That being said, I'm going to leave it up because as a reader, you have to understand that your actions have consequences. I'm a person, not a machine or a servant. We all come here for some sort of escape so please keep that in mind if you decide to leave a comment. Not asking for them. Not that kind of writer. Be kind. If you can't be kind, just leave me alone, and go read something else. I'm here for my own amusement, and no one else's.

oOo

Hannibal wasn't typically one for profanities, but one word sprang to mind as soon as he opened the door to allow Franklin to finally leave.

Shit.

"Oh, hey there, buddy!" Will said as the profiler fake met them out in the hallway. "I was hoping I would run into you again before the shindig."

Hannibal didn't know where even to begin with that sentence, Will falling back into his Southern accent to give some "good ole boy" appeal to it. While what Franklin yearned for most wasn't exactly sexual, feelings of being recognized and being included were.

"Franklin was just leaving. I'm afraid I have another patient immediately after him." Which was why Will was here Hannibal suddenly realized.

"Damn, must have slipped my mind. You know when you have those days you don't know if you're coming or going, amirite?" Will joshed as he playfully nudged Franklin with his elbow like they were old childhood school chums, making sure to keep the man feeling ever so included. Franklin had the look of a person who just gotten one of those huge lotto checks.

"I feel ya, brother." Franklin went for it. He realized he might have been a little too hasty to whip out the "brother" part, but it seemed to be landing well if Special Officier Graham's answering grin was anything to go by.

"See? That's a man who gets it." Will using classic mirroring techniques. "He's feeling it."

"You said you were hoping to run into me?" Franklin ask hesitantly, his damnable hope peeked.

"Yes. Yes, I did, Mr. Froideveaux...Can I call you Franklin? Or do you prefer Frank?" Will leaned into his act, every bit of it appearing effortless and genuine. Hannibal would have applauded the effort if it were not for Franklin's benefit.

"I prefer whatever you want." Franklin all but swooned.

"Franklin it is then. Frank is much too blue collar for the likes of you." Will flattered, keeping as much an eye on Hannibal's reactions as he was gauging Franklin's own. "You being a man of finer things while still managing to be relatable as salt of the earth kin."

"I have always thought that about myself too." Franklin nodded excitedly. If Hannibal believed in prayer, he would be speaking fervently to a higher power about Franklin's instant demise.

"As you should." Will said leaning in closer as if to say something in secret. "You see, it's about the doc here." He stage whispered, dramatically thumbing over at Hannibal, "I need your help."

"What's about me?" Hannibal was not here for this. No good would come of this folly.

"What's about him?" Franklin was beyond on board for the folly.

"He loves wine, real wine. Personally, I think boxed wine is the modern equivalent of wine skins, but I digress. Yes, I know. I'm a heathen when it comes to the grapes." Will said, "Franklin, can you tell me what goes well with wine?"

"Cheese!" Someone looked ready to drop dead from sudden happiness, Franklin spewing the word out like an excited teakettle.

"Yup, they sure do." Will nodded, "And since I have all this time to kill because gosh darn it, I totally forgot about Hannibal's next appointment, Franklin, would you terribly mind if I picked your brain about cheese?"

"I'll tell you everything I know." And Hannibal knew that this sentiment pertained well beyond cheese.

"Franklin is my patient. I don't know how ethical that would be." Hannibal tried to intervene, and if Will were other people, it might have worked.

"And it might be unethical if I were your patient too, but I'm not. I'll also a highly trained profiler who works for the FBI so I'm not going to be giving a patient of yours any personal details about either of us." Will shut that down. "But if Franklin wants to tell me everything he knows about cheese, he's more than welcome to do so. Too bad you gotta work. Maybe next time."

"Next time..." Hannibal's perceptive mind taking him down all sorts of avenues, none of them to his liking.

"Next time?!" Franklin squeaked, making Hannibal inwardly wince from the pitch of it.

"Franklin, are you really going to try and tell me that it will only take a few mere couple of hours for you to teach me all you know about cheese divination?" Will said in what appeared to be all seriousness, "C'mon man, don't try to bullshit a bullshitter. I mean the difference between the properties between Swiss and baby Swiss alone has got to be huge alone."

"You're cheese folk as well!" Franklin was actually tearing up. Hannibal was beginning to know how Dante felt while traveling through the various rings of Hell.

"More like a humble newcomer in the presence of cheese masters." Will doing a funny little bow that hit its mark perfectly in the "aw shucks" kinda easy category. "Time's a wasting'. Franklin, you in?"

"I'll drive!" Franklin was already fumbling for his keys, dropping them twice from excitement.

"Don't wait up, Hanny!" Will smirked before taking his leave.

"Hanny?!" Franklin squeaked, going wide eyed. Hannibal decided to break Franklin's neck if he ever was stupid enough to use that ridiculous name.

"Oops, that just slipped out. It's just my little pet name for him." Will chuckled, throwing a wide, cat-on-crack grin over his shoulder at Hanny.

Shit.