"I don't know if I can do this…," Amelia groaned as her husband parked the car in the Bloomington coroner's parking lot.
"You have to. You're the only family that's left," Mark sneered.
"So you're assuming Abby won't make it? How encouraging of you," she snapped.
"This whole situation is embarrassing to us, but mostly me. Now we're going to be known as the people related to cannibals."
"Garett was my step-dad, not my biological father, you know that. You obviously just want to bitch and moan because we had to make a trip out here."
Mark let it be. Amelia began to sob.
"... I'm sorry, alright? This situation is stressful for both of us."
"Do you not understand that I'm devastated by all this? My sister could be on her deathbed for all we know, and my mother is dead. Don't act like this is equally affecting us."
"Fine, whatever."
Amelia gathered up her purse and slammed the door shut on her way out of the car. She made her way into the building and walked up to the reception area.
"Hello, I'm here to claim the bodies of Garret and Louise Hobbs."
The woman gave her a sympathetic look.
"Of course; here's your visitor's pass. Go to room seven and they'll instruct you what to do from there. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," she replied with a tight smile.
Amelia walked slowly down the hall, wanting to mentally prepare herself for what she was about to see.
I can do this. I can do this.
She came upon room seven quicker than she would have liked, and paused outside the stainless steel door. She took a deep breath and pulled the door open. Inside were two men; one had an FBI badge and the other was the coroner.
"Mrs. Pruitt?"
Amelia nodded a "yes" to the coroner. The FBI agent addresses her.
"I'm sorry for your loss. We'll make this quick for you. Are you ready?"
Amelia stared at the bodies covered by white sheets.
"Not really, but go ahead."
Garrett was the first one they exposed her to. She felt frozen as she looked at the lifeless face of her step-father; a barely present smirk quipping his lips. She slightly reeled back at the initial shock.
She nodded for them to continue after a few moments. They raised the sheet that concealed her mother's body. Amelia felt faint as Louise's face came into view; the shocked and terrified look still on her face from just before Garrett slit her throat.
A steady stream of tears began to flood her face as she looked at her mother for the last time.
"I've seen enough. My mother wanted to be cremated and he wanted to be buried. Can the cremation be done here? And soon?"
"Yes, ma'am; not a problem."
"Good. And… HIM… put HIM in a pauper's grave for all I care. It's more than he deserves."
The two men winced at the harshness of her words, but told her they would dispose of him quickly.
"There is also the matter of your sister, Mrs. Pruitt; she's being taken to the Port Haven Psychiatric Hospital in Baltimore since we need her for the investigation. She's in a coma. Would you be able to come out for a few days when she wakes up so she has someone familiar close by?"
"Certainly, agent…?"
"Crawford, ma'am. Jack Crawford."
"I'll be waiting for your call."
She turned on her heels and walked out the door. She made it halfway down the hall when she paused, the full magnitude of the situation setting in. She ran to the closest bathroom and hurriedly threw the door open, bee-lining for a stall. She crashed to her knees in front of the toilet, her stomach emptying itself in a severe wave of nausea. She tried to take a deep breath, only to begin sobbing hysterically.
Be thankful you're dead Garrett… If you survived this ordeal, I would finish you, she thought bitterly.
She was eventually able to compose herself and went back to the car.
"That took a long time."
"It was a lot to take in. They want me to come out to Baltimore when Abby wakes out of her coma. I assume you would prefer to stay here."
"Yes."
"I figured."
They rode back to their apartment in silence, neither of them sure what to say to one another.
ONE WEEK LATER_
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Pruitt? This is Jack Crawford from the FBI."
"You have news about Abigail?"
"Yes, She's woken up and is quite shaken by what's happened. Could you come out to Baltimore on the next flight?"
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Thank you for the update."
"My pleasure, Mrs. Pruitt. Have a nice evening."
"I assume you're leaving for Baltimore," Mark asked with a bitter tone.
"I am. I just need to pack, and I'll be on the next flight."
Mark rolled his eyes and sighs.
"What?"
"I don't know if I can handle this humiliation. The looks we get just doing mundane, everyday errands enrages me."
"You think it's any easier on me? I have you being completely unsupportive, my family is having a crisis, and I have to deal with apathy from people as well. You're not making this easier at all."
"Maybe we need some time apart," Mark grumbled in a low voice.
"Maybe we do."
Amelia marched to their room and began packing a suitcase. As she started tossing random pieces of clothing into her luggage, her eye wandered to a mounted picture of Louise, Abigail, and her at the zoo.
We all looked so happy… What went wrong?
She felt fresh tears well up in the corners of her eyes. She remembered the last time she spoke to Abigail before all this happened.
"Amy?"
"Yes, Abby?"
"I feel like things aren't right between me and dad… He's been acting strange since I got accepted into college."
"In what way?"
"He… he seems to be very upset that I'm leaving. I notice He's become infatuated with girls who look like me and are close to my age."
"Abby… That's a huge red flag!"
"I know, I know, and I don't know what to do. He's actually stalking some of them as well."
"Had he harmed any of them?"
"Not yet that I know of."
"Then just keep an eye on him until you leave. If he keeps it up, go to the cops. I'm sure he's harmless, he's just dealing with you leaving in an unhealthy way."
Boy, what an idiot I was.
She shook the memory away, trying to stay strong for Abigail's sake. There would be time for being consumed by grief and guilt later.
She took out her phone and booked the first flight to Baltimore, which left in about two hours. She left the house without a word to Mark and began the drive to the airport.
Just enough time to stop at Starbucks.
She pulled into the airport parking lot and scurried to the pre-check line. She slugged to her terminal and grabbed a macchiato while she waited for them to begin boarding. Time seemed to pass at a snail's pace until she heard them announce that they were accepting passengers.
She absent-mindedly showed her ticket and took her seat in business class.
I'm coming, Abby; I'll protect you.
That was the last thought she had as she closed her eyes for a short nap before landing.
A/N:
I've decided to take a stab at a Hannibal story; this has been an ongoing plan for the last year while I wrote my other two stories. I couldn't wait anymore ':) I apologize to the super fans, as I have limited knowledge in the deep lore of the show and books, but Mads was ~SO~ irresistible as Hannibal :D I hope you enjoy my attempt at writing for such iconic characters, but if you have any suggestions or constructive criticism, please reach out!