II. Kata (型 )

Audiology Consulting in Pediatrics - Baltimore, Maryland.

"She was born with sensorineural hearing loss, this was due to an untreated infection in the mother during her pregnancy. She is between 71 and 80 decibels, this refers she only perceiving loud sounds. An example would be the sound of a vacuum cleaner or a train; if we refer to speech they have to be close to the ear but, despite using headphone, the girl is guided a lot by sign language," The doctor observed Elisa who was sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, beside her Jack Crawford was sitting and behind her chair was Hannibal Lecter. "Did she carry her devices?"

Bewildered Jack looked at Hannibal who was displaying enviable serenity. The agent sighed bitterly and looked back at the girl's doctor. "No, she didn't have them" he answered. "I see… Another thing," the doctor continued, "I don't know if you have noticed, but the little girl is also guided a lot by the movement of the lips."

"Does the girl have extensive verbal knowledge?" Hannibal asked curiously. "Can be. The mother used to take her to a special school here in Baltimore since she was two years old. But this last year she could not afford it and raised her at home."

"So Elisa knows how to pronounce words?" Jack questioned a little confused. "Very basic vocabulary, see it as a preschool level. Words like: mom, dad, house, dog, the colors and so on. Sometimes she speaks but she doesn't know how to express and she mix it with sign language." Elisa leaned on the desk and began to touch the figure of a big ear with an ear canal. "And to remake another pair of devices, how long would it take?" Hannibal consulted. "About two or three days. I just need to do some auditory studies, things that the little girl is already used to."

"Already used to?" repeated Jack. The doctor exhaled terribly and he spread his arms on the desk. He closed his hands and eagerly saw both men. "Is it useful to tell you that the devices always disappeared?"

"Always?" Hannibal snapped. "That's what the mother used to say. She said that the girl used to take them off, lose them or break them. I never believed her."

"If you never believed her, why didn't you opt for a complaint?"
"Many times I tried to make it, agent, but the mother refused. She never blamed her husband. She said that the girl was restless." At that moment the doctor laid his gaze on her. "But I know that this little angel is not like that to make her devices disappear or break." Elisa smiled and rose to look at Jack and Hannibal, who responded with subtlety. "Your duty was to make a complaint, doctor," Jack said furiously. The doctor sighed and shook his head slightly. "I know and I regret not doing it," He said as he rose. "I hope you can find that man."

"Be assured for that."

Hannibal gently frowned and, having observed the doctor methodically, he approached to rest his hands on the back of the chair in where Elisa was. The little girl noticed such an action and gently touched the back of one of his hands. Impressed by it, he looked at her.

"My ears are like that," she said and in the end she pointed to the figure and smiled.

"I know," he replied while a soft and effusive smile sheltered his face.

Gardner's Residence - Wolf Trap, Virginia.

Will Graham knocked open the door to Elisa's room and looked the place.

"Marlène discovered what I was doing with Elisa" he bellowed and walked to the bed. As he approached he bent down and looked at the scary girl; the woman entered the room and did not stop screaming. He stretched her arm, took the girl and pulled her out of hiding. "But I wasn't going to let her keep me from being close to her," Will turned around and struck hard in her face. "This is my design."

He approached to her and took her from the straps of her nightgown and pulled her out of the room, closed the door and looked at the frightened girl. He took the buckle from his belt and began to take it off as he approached her. Will didn't resist. He opened his eyes and visualized the lonely and careless room.

Outside the residence, the young Graham observed at the lonely terrain while looking to undo those images of his head. This event had become distressing for him and, adding to the stress and madness that was the events of Garret Jacob-Hobbs, Will knew that he would need to extend his therapy with Hannibal Lecter. At the thought he exhaled in anguish.

"I never imagined you had neighbors," Beverly Katz interrupted, bringing Will back to reality. He turned to see the young agent. "It's the good thing about Wolf Trap, the grounds are gigantic," Beverly gave a slight laugh. "What happened in there?" she questioned as she crossed her arms. Will remained silent and could only shake his head. "I see..."

"Alan Gardner," he spoke, "is not a murderer, but he is a damn bastard who deserves to be, not imprisoned, but murdered."

"People as he repudiates me. When I was in high school, I had a partner into which her father abused of her. She never said it but when we realized, it was too late." Will watched Katz curiously. "What happened next?"

"She killed her father and went to prison." Will raised his eyebrows a little bit. "At least here, the mother realized..."

"Late, but she did" he said with a sigh, he turned around and headed for the house but Beverly called him. "Will are you ok? I know it's a stupid question considering none of us can possibly be ok doing what we do but, are you ok?" He let out a breath of air, thinking of an answer according to the moment but he knew it was impossible. He looked back at her and with a melancholy smile replied: "I've been worse."

And he entered the Gardner residence. Beverly let out a sigh and followed in Will's footsteps.

"I feel weird to be here." Brian Zeller declared awkwardly as he took pictures of little Gardner's bed, in which Jimmy Price pass an ultraviolet light. "We are not used to these types of cases... Ours are homicides."

"There is always a first time for everything," Beverly said, who appeared at the door. "Any evidence?"

"As you have no idea..." Jimmy said as the light went out. "The guy will rot in prison, there's no doubt about that."

Will, who stayed on the sidelines, leaned on the door frame and dedicated to listening to the team.

"Wow..." Beverly snapped with terrible bitterness and began to study the place. She watched until she found a small drawer in which there was an ornament of a carousel. She was surprised; she approached and touched it with her fingertips and it began to turn and produce a musical piece. Everyone present shivered at the music of the object.

"Why does it have music?" Brian asked confused.

"The girl is deaf, isn't?" Jimmy assumed. "That's right," Will said angrily as he entered the room.

"Then, why have a musical box?"

"Listen to the melody," Beverly interrupted. Everyone kept silent and obeyed. Moments later they identified the tune. "Fur Elise, by Beethoven" Will replied. "That's right..." Beverly said. The carousel stopped and she took it. The object was a piece of porcelain that looked old worn out in its painting and its fragility made it vulnerable but managed to be undefeated at many moments. Beverly noticed, in the ornaments of horses, slight drops of blood. "This will serve for evidence," she said as he pulled out a bag of samples.

The boys looked at her and returned to their work while Will lost himself in his thoughts, concluding the dreadful moments in this room.

During the tests on the girl, Jack and Hannibal were admired by the patience she showed before them. Both had attested to what the doctor said: Elisa was already used to it.

Heading to Crawford's office, he was driving and next to him he was Hannibal.

"What will happen now?" The Doctor asked, hiding his anxiety. "I do not know. We've searched for relatives, but nothing has come up," Hannibal nodded softly. "And I'm not sure to send her to a temporary home."

"You do well to question yourself, Jack."

"What do you suggest?"

"Due to her condition, it is not the most appropriate."

"Ah!" He sighed. "I can't leave her forever at the station, even though..."

"Even though?"

"Will offered to take care of her."

"Will already bears the burden of Abigail Hobbs and now adding Elisa, it would be turning it into a time bomb." At those words Jack bit his lower lip.

"You're right" he replied, almost distressed and looked at the girl through the rearview mirror. She was contemplating the landscape with great astonishment and noticing that expression, it implied that she had never seen it. Jack felt a pang of pity on his chest. He sighed and decided to spit an idea that he had inside him: "I confess that I thought of you as her guardian, since you handles sign language but you also carries the Hobbs girl over your shoulders."

Hannibal smiled to himself at the revelation. For first time, in all his time working alongside Crawford, he heard something logical, coherent and that rejoices him in jubilation.

"It's true, I also manage Abigail's tutoring. Although, hoping not sound misheard, I am not a bomb about to explode." Jack let out a slight but sarcastic smile. "But two would be a great burden."

"Abigail knows how to take care of herself, there is a huge advantage."

"Yes, but Elisa is a girl with a disability and you have to be aware her the twenty-four by seven. Would that not affect your routine?"

Now Hannibal gazed at the girl. He hated to recognize it but Jack was right, Elisa involved being taken care of with suspicion and that would affect many aspects of his life, mainly his most precious hobby. "What about Dr. Bloom?" Jack confessed. Hannibal moved his confused look. "Alana?"

"The girl follows her a lot."

"It is probable that the girl looks for a maternal figure, in which her mother wakes up, but Alana is dedicating herself to assert her doctorate and a stable life." Jack shrugged. "I feel that she is a good option."

"You would need to ask her, but because of her condition, Alana will subtly decline you." Another sigh was present and they made Jack Crawford feel stressed. A silence had formed and, to avoid it, a question came to Hannibal's mind that although he was going to hate to suggest it but he had to ask it: "What about you and your wife?" Somewhat surprised Jack looked back at him. "Bella and me?" He asked, more for himself than for Hannibal. "Wow… n...no... I hadn't questioned me."

"You are a good option too. You are a stable person."

"Well..." he continued as he scratched his neck, "I'd have to talk to Bella, ah ... you know? In all these years of marriage, we have never had children and..."

"Talk to her" Lecter interrupted, avoiding that story without interest. "I'll do that but... I couldn't take the girl with me. Not today."

"If it helps, I can take her to my house, for a few days, in what you talk to your wife" he said, hiding hope. "Really?"

"Of course. If it doesn't happen, I'll take the tutoring."

"Are you sure Doctor?"

"I've never been so sure" he said with a smile. Jack watched him curiously and then on the road. After a few moments, he accepted the offer. "It's okay." Hannibal smiled. "Don't worry, Jack. I will take good care of Elisa."

"I know, as I said, you are also a good candidate. I trust you."

Hannibal look away to the amused girl who, feeling that weight in the look, she turned to looked those eyes. Elisa smiled at him and Hannibal responded in the same way.

Hannibal Lecter's Residence - Baltimore, Maryland.

At first Elisa was reluctant to go with Hannibal. She had asked about her mother, three days had passed, she had not seen her and nobody bothered to find an explanation for her absence. Tears bathed her face but Hannibal managed to calm her down, promising that she would soon see her mother and where they would go, she would meet a very special person. Little Elisa, controlling her crying, trusted in Hannibal as odd as this seemed. She trusted him completely. Perhaps her confidence was because he was the only person with whom she could communicate, in the absence of her mother. Elisa took Hannibal's hand and they both left Crawford's office.

The road was quickly and calm. Elisa no longer cried and she was amazed by the city view. Upon arriving at the Lecter house, the girl was surprised by how huge it looked, before her childish eyes the exterior facade was like the castles of her coloring books. Hannibal noticed his expression and, as if he was reading her mind, he sensed that Elisa under his roof would feel in a castle. Hannibal helped Elisa unfasten her belt, offered her a hand and led her to her abode.

Inside Lecter's house, Elisa's impression increased when she saw how extravagant and exotic the interior was. On the walls lay the most colorful tapestry that her innocent eyes had seen; adorned with too many and explicit paintings that she could not understand, due to her age. The main room was huge and placed by the finest and most exuberant furniture. Elisa turned to see Hannibal, who kept the two suitcases with things from the girl in a closet, she came over and stretched the sleeve of his coat.

"You live in a castle!" She expressed with great enthusiasm. Hannibal smiled, perhaps for her innocence, and he finished keeping the suitcases. "It is not," he replied. "Before, I used to live in one."

Elisa saw him amazed as if it were a king and as that moment passed Hannibal perceived a sound coming from his kitchen.

"Do you remember the special person I told you about?" He asked. Elisa affirmed. "Let's go for you to meet her." Hannibal extended his arm and opened his hand so that the little girl will take him, she obeyed and they both headed to the kitchen.

Inside the room the young Abigail Hobbs was sitting with her hands on her face, feeling tired of remorse her conscience with all the events that arose around her.

"Good afternoon, Abigail" she heard behind of her. Frightened she turned and looked at Doctor Lecter. "Good afternoon" she replied dismissively. Hannibal seemed bothered by the tone which the young woman had responded, but he let it pass and she tried to control her nerves. Abigail analyzed his tutor and notice something behind him.

"What does you bring with you?" She asked strangely. Hannibal moved his head and observed how scary the girl was. "I take with me a person whom you can get along very well" he said. He stepped aside and exposed little Elisa. Abigail showed no surprise, rather, a curiosity about what her eyes saw. "It's a girl?" she said suspiciously. "Her name is Elisa. She is deaf" he cited. The young Hobbs raised both eyebrows. "Deaf?"

"So is. Elisa" he called her. The girl, just as surprised, kept seeing Abigail until she noticed Hannibal's insistence. "Elisa, she is Abigail. Both can be very good friends."

Elisa smiled and looked back at her; she raised one of his hands and moved it. "What did she said?" She asked curiously. "She said hello."

Abigail smiled suspiciously and waved her hand in greeting. Hannibal spoke to the girl again, telling her that the young woman, for the moment, could not speak like her but that soon she would and Elisa showed a hopeful smile. "What did you say to her?" Abigail insist.

Hannibal ignored her. He led Elisa along with Abigail and decided to prepare something to eat. The young Hobbs could not avoid her prying eyes towards the girl and she also looked at her peculiarly, especially to the scarf that covered her neck. Hannibal prepared the utensils but he also prepared to watch, with some fascination, both girls.

"Elisa will be here a couple of days," he spoke and Abigail looked up. "Why and what happened?"

"You and she have a lot in common."

"About what?" she asked sarcastically. "In that your parents were mean beings." Abigail swallowed hard. "Did her father kill young girls too?"

"No" he replied as he pulled some fruits from the refrigerator. "Elisa's father abused of her." The teenager could only move her gaze to the girl, who was seeing the place fascinated. "Why does she look so calm?"

"It's in a period of acute stress," he said, as he placed a couple of strawberries on the cutting board. "It may at any time enter post-traumatic stress and affect her stability."

"And you are going to be her Doctor?"

"I am," he corrected, "next to Dr. Bloom."

"Interesting" she sounded confused. Hannibal looked at the young woman and seemed to show no shock, rather, she looked thoughtful. "Something wrong?"

"No" she exclaimed with a quiet smile. He continued to cut the strawberries, his gaze fell on the little girl who looked a little careless on her face and hair. "Do me a favor, Abigail."

"Yes?"

"Help Elisa to take a bath, in which I prepare the snack."

"Oh ... and how is she supposed to hear me? Shouldn't she use some devices in her ears?

"Elisa can read the lips, you won't have much trouble. I'll help you to understand sign language." She nodded softly. "And respect to her devices, the day after tomorrow they will be ready." Abigail accepted the words Lecter said and she obeyed him. She touched the girl's shoulder and she looked at her. "Come," she said in a rough and leisurely tone, "accompany me." Abigail raised her hand and Elisa accepted it without hesitation. "Her clothes are in the closet of the living room," Hannibal said as he watched them retreat. "Perfect!" Abigail obeyed and they went to the bathroom on the second floor.

The young Hobbs spoke in calm tones and Elisa seemed to understand her perfectly. The girl was inside the bathtub, she looked cheerful and funny while Abigail's head thought like she was now a babysitter. She took the shampoo bottle and opened it to clean the girl's long light brown hair.

"Do not. Gonna. Move." she said. Elisa stood still and observed as she poured a generous amount liquid into the palm of her hand. Abigail passed the liquid over her head and began to carve gently. "Be calm…"

Elisa felt some suddenness in her movements but she let her continue, and in the meantime rubbing the foam was growing and from it bubbles began to emerge. The little girl snooped around her and impressed discovered the bubbles. She screamed with happiness but Abigail had been frightened by that action. She felt that she had done something wrong, but seeing how a smile illuminated the girl's face, she was stunned for a few seconds. Elisa began to play with the bubbles and a shining laugh covered the dazzling and at the same time gloomy home. Hannibal kept an eye on what he prepared: Dorayaki; A sweet Japanese recipe. While making the mixture, the laughter came to the kitchen interrupting his concentration. For a moment he thought that Abigail had done something wrong, but after sharpening his ear, he perceived the laughter. A child laughter that he had forgotten many years ago. Hannibal felt his memories collapse again and he no longer wanted to remember. Not yet, but it was late. Within the palace of his memories came a long-awaited moment of his beloved Mischa. Oh, his little Mischa!

He set aside the utensils and leaned on the bar to avoid another blow from his childhood memories, but little Elisa's laughter remained cruel.

"Not now ... Not now ..." He thought.

Hannibal squeezed the table tightly. The veins of his hands and arms were highlighted and began to throb violently. Mischa was dead, yes. But now Mischa was here. His laughter covered his house. Mischa was back. His little sister had returned in a different mold.

A/N:

Thanks so much for reading. I will be deeply grateful with any comments, constructive criticism, opinions and / or suggestions :3

I forgot to tell, when the characters speak into sign languages it will be representing in cursive letter also the characters thoughts. :)