"I want you to see a therapist, Will."
Will paused in his examination of the crime board. His body tensed, the words and images blurring before his eyes as anger began to boil beneath his skin. Closing his eyes, Will inhaled, held his breath for the count of six then exhaled. He turned to face Jack. The man sat behind his desk, looking for all the world like the arrogant asshole that he was. Not that the man would ever realize that about himself.
"Excuse me?"
"I want you to see a therapist. It is not up for debate. I have already found you one that meets the requirements of the FBI and my personal preferences. Your first appointment is tonight." Jack held out a hand, a small yellow sticky note held between two fingers.
"What the fuck is this shit, Jack?!"
Jack glared at him. "I need to be sure that I am not sending an agent with a broken mind into the field. I can't have you having another break down, especially at a crime scene or in front of the media. Freddie Lounds was all over you and the FBI last time. I won't have you making a mockery out of the FBI again Will."
"Isn't Freddie Lounds out of the journalism world?"
"No. She is back at it. Seems that lawsuit you filed against her didn't teach her a damn thing."
Will chuckled without any humor. "She and quite a few doctors and nurses had to pay me a shitload of money for violation of my medical rights and HIPAA laws."
"Didn't even phase that harpy of a woman."
"Jack, why did you even want me back if you felt I would just be a liability to you and the FBI?"
"You know why. I can protect you eighty percent of the way. The rest is on you and this doctor Will."
"Fine, I'll go see this damn doctor. You will have that heavily needed beauty sleep, Jack."
*HANNIBAL AND WILL*
Those blue eyes made him feel as if he were drowning.
Will Graham was a grumpy man just an inch or two shorter than him. He wore his chocolate curls free and natural, a good choice for him as it softened his gruffness. His choice in cloths could use some improvement however. Khaki colored pants with a green plaid shirt and brown suit jacket. The outfit was a total disaster in Hannibal's eyes. Yet there was something pulling him to the younger man.
"Mr. Graham, please come in and have a seat." Hannibal stood to the side of the office door. One arm out in a polite invitation to enter the room. The man was silent as made his way from the waiting room, the scent of upset and displeasure following him.
"May I take your coat?"
Will stilled, his blue eyes taking in Hannibal. Time seemed to come to a standstill in Hannibal's world. "Sure." Hannibal's world sped back up, reaching normal once again. Will shrugged off his coat as well as his offensive suit jacket. Hannibal took both, holding them tightly to his body. He had to resist the urge to bring them up to his nose and inhale the other man's intoxicating scent. Applauding his strength of will and berating himself for the odd urges, Hannibal managed to hang up the items in his office closet.
Hannibal picked up a new leather-bound journal from the top of his desk before settling into the chair across from Will. "Evening Mr. Graham. I am Doctor Hannibal Lecter. I have been asked by your boss; an Agent Jack Crawford, Head of the BAU Department of the FBI; to be your therapist."
"Are you always so long winded, doctor?"
Hannibal chose to ignore his new patient's rudeness. It would not do to kill a FBI agent in his office. "You do not seem to be very pleased to be here Mr. Graham. Is it do to being forced by Agent Crawford or a general dislike of therapy?"
Will sniffed at the air, a smirk tipping his lips up to one side. "Normally I would say both. However, I believe it is the stench of cat that I smell that has me in such a foul mood."
Hannibal's facial muscles ticked ever so slightly. Most people would not notice the lack of control of his body, Will Graham however. The full smile and hidden laugh in his eyes, let Hannibal know that Will had not missed anything. Hannibal pursed his lips, contemplating his options. Kill the rude man or not to kill the rude man?
"Rude Mr. Graham, very rude indeed." Not to kill then
Will laughed heartily. Tears slipped from his eyes and he reached up to wipe them away. After a moment or two, Will calmed and settled back into his chair. The scent of upset about the man had faded, leaving behind nothing but pleasure in its wake. "Please; call me Will, doctor. After all, we'll be seeing one another quite often from now on."
*HANNIBAL AND WILL*
"You're smiling."
"I have never been able to see behind the scenes of an FBI investigation before. I must say it is a very exciting opportunity for me to learn the ropes, as it were."
Will hummed his understanding. He turned off the car engine, turning to look out the windshield at the yellow trailer sitting on the edge of the construction site. He had not been pleased to be roused from his peaceful slumber at the ungodly hour of six in the morning by the doctor at his motel room door.
Yesterday, Jack had taken it upon himself to cancel all of Will's classes so he could send Will off to look into steel workers around the Minnesota area. Will was not pleased at the sudden decision. It threw off his system and routine, not to mention the fact that he would need find someone to dog-sit. Thankfully he had good friends in Beverly and Alana. Within an hour, Will found himself packed off to Minnesota without a single item of clothing. "Thanks Jack." Will grumbled internally.
To find his therapist standing outside his motel door had only angered him more. He had allowed the man into his room but had not bothered to dress, remaining in his old white t-shirt and boxers. The man had brought a protein scramble for them to share for breakfast. It had been so delicious that Will could not keep the thought to himself and had blurted it out loud. Much to his therapist's delight, though the man had tried to be humble in his acceptance of the compliment. The coffee though. That had been just what the doctor had ordered. It was enough to make Doctor Lecter welcome at Will's door at any time of day.
It was not enough to make Will happy that the doctor had been requested to accompany Will. Ignoring the doctor, Will left the car and headed for the trailer housing the worksite office. He knocked and was quickly greeted by a woman in her late thirties with brown hair and eyes.
"May I help you?"
"Hello, I am Agent Will Graham with the FBI." Will held out his credentials for the woman to read. He gestured to the doctor, who had finally managed to catch up with him. "This is Doctor Hannibal Lecter. We are here looking into steel workers and was wondering if you would provide us with your employee records."
"Um... please come in and take a seat. I will notify my boss that you are here."
Will settled into one, hard plastic chair; his eyes taking in everything in the office and about the woman. Everything was examined and filed according to what he found within his brain. Beside him, he noted that Hannibal was doing the same thing. It did not shock him to see the doctor to be every bit aware of the world around him as Will was. Will had noted before just how observant the other man was during their first meeting.
Dr. Lecter was defiantly not all that he seemed to be. His speech was smooth but it could not hide his word games from Will, nor his general air of superiority that the man always seemed too wear. Was it a cat thing, or was it something more sinister? It was hard to say, yet Will found it all endearing all the same. He had to bite a laugh when the image of Hannibal rolling on the floor of his office, dressed in his expensive and well-tailored clothing, chasing a mouse or perhaps having a bit too much kitty nip; appeared in his mind. It was an enticing image and Will desperately wanted to see it come true.
Will's thoughts were brought to an abrupt end when the woman set the phone down and spoke to them. "My boss says you can take anything that you want, but you do need to return it in a timely manner. No longer than a month he says.
*HANNIBAL AND WILL*
"That was far easier than I had anticipated. Is it always so easy to get the information that you want?"
"No. That was unusual. It may be best to look into the company as well. Doctor, call Jack will you and pass on the information, will you?" Will pulled his seatbelt across his body, locking it into place. "Can't talk on the phone and drive at the same time, you know. It's dangerous." Will gave Hannibal a big shit eating grin.
Hannibal did not look all that pleased to be regulated to Will's messenger boy. However, he gave a nod and pulled his phone from his coat's pocket. His eyes met Will's. Without looking, the doctor dialed Jack's office number.
"Crawford." Jack barked into the phone.
"Hello Agent Crawford, this is Dr. Lecter."
"Oh, hello doctor." Jack's tone softened as much as a man like Jack could manage. "Is everything alright?"
Hannibal continued to look into Will's eyes. "Yes, it is. Will and I just conducted an interview, the company let us take the employee records without a problem. Will thought their co-operation was suspicious and that it would be wise to look into the company themselves as well as the employees."
"Alright. Is there anything else."
"No, that is all. Goodbye Agent Crawford." Hannibal ended the call without waiting for a parting from Jack.
Will reached over to Hannibal, his fingers softly tracing the other man's face. His fingers slid beneath Hannibal's chin, giving a gentle scratch. "Such a good little kitty, kitty."