VI. Wata. (綿)

Jack Crawford Residence - Baltimore, Maryland.

"What's wrong?" Curious Bella asked her husband. Jack, who had his stare on one point in the room, reacted as he felt her wife's hand on his arm and a "mh" came from his throat. "Something has happened?"

"Something...?" He replied puzzled. "You've been very serious these days, has something happened?" She insisted.

Jack gave a half smile and took her wife's hand.

"A few days ago, a case came along, somewhat complicated."

"Complicated?" He affirmed squeezing her hand tightly. "In all these years, I have been surrounded by murder cases and have known several types of cold murderers, but a case came that made me think about many things."

Bella was attentive and she in the same way that he squeezed her hand.

"Tell me ..." she begged.

"In this case is involved a girl who is seven years old and deaf."

Bella's face was covered with grief and anguish, Jack accompanied her feelings and told her what the girl and the mother had suffered

"It can't be…!" She exclaimed with tremendous regret.

"Yes," he said with a terrible sigh. "The little girl has suffered a lot."

"How is it possible that her own father ...?" Bella stopped, and felt disgust just remembering it. "Why do people like that exist?"

"Sometimes I ask myself the same thing, too." He sighed and looked at his wife. "I can only think that my duty is to imprison all those kinds of people, if I can call them that. For now, I must find that guy and made pay for everything."

"I know you'll do it." Jack smiled slightly. "Bella, I want to tell you something else."

"Yes?"
"As I told you, Dr. Lecter is running a temporary tutorial on the girl. He tell me that I can support him with some clothes for the girl. You want to help me?"

"Sure," she smiled gladly. "What do you think, if we do those shopping tomorrow? If you are not busy, of course."

"Sounds perfect to me," he said as he kissed her. "Thank you."

John Hopkins Hospital - Baltimore, Maryland.

A knock on his door brought Marlène Gardner to her senses. She turned around scared and observed a familiar person.

"Will?!" She questioned in surprise.

"Hello," he greeted as he entered the room. "How do you feel?"

"Good," she said as she settled herself with difficulty on the bed. Will sat next to her, "sore but fine."

"I see you're recovering fast."

"Yes, I want to get out of this freaking place..."

"I understand," he mentioned with a slight smile, she still showed one. "Marlène, I'm here to talk about your husband." She groaned. "Are you handling the case?" the woman asked, in little pain. "Because an agent and a doctor came yesterday."

Will changed his face, he knew they had already made progress on this.

"That's right, I'm involved," he lied, though it wasn't entirely a lie. "You came to my house asking for help and that's what I'm doing."

"I don't remember coming to your house," she mumbled, somewhat confused.

"Your husband hurt you and you were in shock, it is normal that you feel this way. It was a miracle that you were able to drive."

Marlène put one of her hands on her forehead, tried to remember it but her mind was covered in a smokescreen.

"The good thing is that I was able to get there. When Alan attacked me, all I thought about was you, getting to you ... In anyway, but getting there."

"And you did it," he replied, taking her free hand. She shuddered. "Will, really, thanks for helping us ... I don't know what would have happened if ..." She stopped, felt a lump in her throat and her eyes covered with tears.

"Don't thank me yet, Marlène. For now, you need to recover so you can see Elisa." She nodded as she tried to control herself. "Thank you..."

And he smiled.

"Marlène, I need you to tell me, what did you talk to the people who came to see you?"

"Didn't they inform you?"

"Not at the moment, that's why I came to hear the story from your own lips. I need you to tell me everything to find Alan and put him in jail."

The young woman felt a terrible emptiness inside her, she remembered all again and made her feel miserable, the worst mother and woman in the world. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly without releasing Will's hand. Marlène began to tell how she had discovered the truth and Will felt revulsion at what she told him.

"Marlène, did you hurt Alan with a gun?" He asked, afterwards part of the story finished.

"Yes," she stated. "He had locked himself in Elisa's room, she was still there. I heard how my daughter was crying. I tried to knock down the door but I couldn't and I remembered the revolver he had. I went for the gun, reloaded it, and got to the room, with a shot I broke the knob and when I entered…" Marlène paused, tears wanting to come out. "He was on top of her, Will. I just thought about killing him, I wanted to see him dead. When he saw me with the gun, he made fun of me, he said that I was not going to be able to shoot him but I saw my girl crying, screaming. She asked me for help and what I did was pull the trigger. I wanted to shoot him in the face, between his eyes, but I failed. I shoot him on the shoulder and he fell to the ground. I dropped the gun, I went straight to Elisa and I was going to carry her when I felt a strong pain in my belly..."

"It was when he attacked you," Will interrupted. She raised her head, tears began to fall.

"I have no memory of the rest."

"Okay, just relax."

Will showed a comfort smile, at no time released Marlène's hand, and she thanked it from the depths of her heart and soul.

"Will, can I ask you for something?"

"Sure."

"Could you take care of Elisa?"

"Well ... I tried to take care of her but ..."

"I know the Doctor who came to see me is taking care of her."

"Yes, Doctor Hannibal Lecter. I think he is taking good care of her."

"I don't doubt it, but I don't trust him." Will was surprised at it. "Why? Well, I know Doctor Lecter, he's a somewhat eccentric and brutally honest man, but he's not a bad person."

She smiled.

"Believe me, I noticed all of this in him, even so, I don't trust him. Please Will, I want you to take care of my daughter if anything happens to me."

"What can happen to you?" He asked, somewhat gullible.

"Maybe Alan will look for me. I told the agent and Doctor Lecter where he work and they may have gone looking for him."

"Where does Alan work?"

"At Owings Mills, on the Verger farms." Will was thoughtful and Marlène looked at him curiously. "Do you know that place?"

"The Verger family are the richest in Baltimore," she nodded. "What's Alan doing there?"

"He is a foreman. But Will, please promise to take care of Elisa."

She put her other hand on Will's and watched her and paid attention to her face. Marlène had not lost her beauty but her brilliance, when he looked at her closely that spring afternoon, she was a beautiful woman full of life and Will felt peace in him, something he hadn't dealt with in a long time. Now he saw Marlène broken, disappointed finished and he didn't like seeing her like this.

"I promise Marlène," he replied with a frank smile.

"Thanks Will, really thanks... I don't know how to pay you for what you do for us."

"You still owe me a dinner," he said, seeking to liven up the atmosphere. And she gave a slight laugh. "It is true..."

"When this is all over, I want you and Elisa to come over to my house and make that dinner."

"Of course, Will. It is a promise."

They both smiled, never released their hands and an electric sensation ran through their bodies. As they both looked at each other a slight knock interrupted their moment, they both released their hands and, under the door frame, was Doctor Lecter.

"Good morning, Mrs. Gardner, Will," he greeted the latter, somewhat surprised.

"Doctor," said Marlène. Will was serious.

"Am I interrupting something?" He asked, with some intrigue.

"No," they replied together. Hannibal didn't believe them and went into the room.

"What a surprise to see you here, Will."

"Same thing Doctor," he said, and got up from the bed. "Are you coming to talk to Marlène?"

"I'm afraid so."

The woman looked uneasily at both men.

"Nice!" He exclaimed with a smile, while he kept his hands in his pants pockets. "Go Ahead."

Will stepped aside and sat on a small sofa in there. Hannibal did not take his annoyed gaze away but sought to control himself.

"I'd like to speak to Mrs. Gardner, in private," emphasized.

"Dr. Lecter, I am also part of this case, please do not limit yourself."

Hannibal sighed bitterly, looked away from him, took a chair and sat down next to the bed.

"How are you feeling, Mrs. Gardner?

"Much better, thanks. And my daughter?"

"Your daughter is fine, Mrs. Gardner." She smiled, without encouragement. "I'll bring her to see you soon."

Will rolled his eyes and a teasing chuckle erupted from his lips. Hannibal looked at him out of the corner of his eye, annoyed by that thoughtless attitude.

"Thank you..."

"Mrs., the reason for my visit is for you to confirm something regarding your husband."

Marlène exhaled exhausted, she didn't want to talk about that bastard anymore.

"Yes?"

"We investigated her husband's work, he hasn't stepped on the place in over a week, but the owners told us that he often frequents a bar outside of Baltimore. Is the name of Heaven's Night familiar to you?

The young woman opened her eyes, was surprised by it, and slowly denied. Will carved that name into his head knowing that this place would be his next priority.

"I'm sorry. He never told me about that bar, however, I never knew where he was going to get lost."

"Thank you, Mrs. Gardner," Hannibal said with a subtle smile.

The two said goodbye to her and left the room. Already being in the hallway, Hannibal observed Will severely and he could not avoid the weight of that look.

"What?" He demanded furiously.

"You shouldn't have come," he snapped. Young Graham rolled his eyes again.

"Neither you nor Alana are my babysitters."

"It's true, but what we do is for your well-being."

"If they really cared about my well-being, they'd let me finish this and find Alan Gardner."

"We need you to be stable for it."

"I already am."

"No," Lecter said dryly. Will opened his mouth, then closed it and looked demoralized at Hannibal. "They won't take me away from this and you know it."

Doctor Lecter stood firm and let the young man's safety fall slowly. Will did not resist, turned around and walked away from him, trying to ignore what had happened. The figure of Will disappeared in the elevator and Hannibal returned to the room of Marlène who, surprised, looked at him.

"Is something wrong?" She questioned terrified. "I need to speak to you, Marlène."

The young woman's body began to tremble. Doctor Lecter's voice was deep, serious and gloomy.

"Yes?" She asked terrified.

Hannibal entered the room and returned to his place, she did not blink at any time.

"What I want to talk to you about, I couldn't tell you in front of Will Graham," she swallowed hard. "You know what I mean, don't you?"

"About killing Alan?" She asked nervously. Hannibal nodded softly. "Were your being serious?"

"I don't like lies, Marlène. My words were and are sincere." She was petrified. "You failed, let me finish what you started."

"B-but h-how do you ...?"

"What I will tell you, will be alone between you and me. If, for some reason, you were to tell anyone about this, I will find myself needing to kill you too." The blood that flowed in Marlène's body was frozen at those words; her skin paled and her nerves consumed her terribly. "Marlène," he continued to see her like this, "people like your husband disown me and what he did to Elisa, is unforgivable. So he doesn't deserve to be alive, does he? "She nodded slowly." So?

"I-I heard you," she replied with terror.

Hannibal politely said goodbye to Marlène and she did not respond. He left the room, ignoring the woman's impoliteness and looked at the time. Your next consultation would be soon.

When feeling the silence shelter in that small room, Marlène began to cry and pray, something that she had not done since she was a child, with great joy. She didn't know what to think of Hannibal Lecter. Was it an angel or the devil himself? If he followed through on what he had said and how he would do it, she didn't care about that. Alan would pay for what he did to Elisa, not with jail, but with the same death.

Hannibal Lecter's office - Baltimore, Maryland.

Elisa looked at the figure of the deer and it was incredible how it caught her full attention. An arms wrapped around her shoulders, shuddered and turned to look at Dr. Bloom. She smiled at her and, perceiving the tone of his voice slightly, said: "Come on honey, Doctor Lecter and I want to talk to you."

The little girl obeyed, followed her and they took a seat in the huge chair. Hannibal was in front of them, a smile adorned his face and generated a confidence in Elisa. The session had started.

Over the course of it Elisa looked a little more cooperative that the first time, but the issue of her father and the Verger farm was engulfed in tension. She remained reluctant.

"Ask her about the animals, if she ever saw a death or anything," Alana suggested. Hannibal obeyed and questioned her, in a somewhat rough tone and that Alana did not understand, about the animals on the Verger farm. Elisa was slow to respond.

"So?"

"She says she never saw anything, but she's lying."

And it was true. The little girl took refuge in her own shield of lies, but her actions gave her away. She had seen terrible things in that place.

"Mention the drawings to her, tell her you don't believe her for what she does."

Hannibal questioned the girl and she froze at what he revealed to her.

"Then why your drawings, Elisa? "

"My drawings?" The girl asked feigning curiosity.

"Your drawings say the opposite. You've seen horrible things where your dad works. I want you to tell me, what have you seen? "

The girl looked down and Alana was surprised.

"What's going on?"

"Elisa," Hannibal called, in a severe tone. The girl looked up a little. "Don't lie," he ordered.

"Hannibal?!" Alana questioned, holding Elisa to her chest. "What did we say about roughness?" He looked at his colleague, and through his gaze revealed a terrible annoyance.

"We didn't agree on anything, Alana."

"Well, I don't want you to treat her like that. Elisa, "she spoke as she took her face to look at her", precious, don't answer if you're not ready yet.

Hannibal sighed bitterly and the therapy went aimlessly.

Alana left after Elisa's hour ended. Both were left alone. Hannibal was at his desk making notes regarding today while Elisa continued to look at the deer figure. At times Hannibal paid attention to the girl and was curious how she felt about that figure. He finished his paperwork, got up from his chair, and walked over to her. Elisa felt his presence and looked at him, somewhat fearful.

"Do you like it?" He asked, as he moved his hands. Elisa affirmed. "It is a deer."

"Deer." She repeated.

"Correct."

"It's cute"

"Do you love animals?" She affirmed again. "What animals do you like?" The girl did not answer. "Do you like deer?"

"Dogs." She let go. "And cottons."

Hannibal was surprised at that last word.

"The cotton is not an animal." Elisa nodded. "How is that animal?" He asked curiously.

"Small and white. He is my best friend."

At that time Hannibal thought he related what the girl had told him with the lambs in her drawings.

"Would you tell me about your friend?" She quickly denied. "Why not?" Elisa blinked for a moment and looked back at the figure. Lecter was stunned at little girl's attitude whom he kept looking. "Elisa," he called and seemed to ignore him, "you can trust me. Everything you have to say, I will not tell anyone else, it will be between you and me."

The girl looked back at him.

"No one?"

"Just you and me," he stated.

"He told me that if I said something, cotton would go to heaven." Elisa formed, with too much fear.

Hannibal hunkered down, to be more at the child's height, and looked her in the eye.

"Who told you that? Your dad?" The girl cocked her head. "Wasn't it just your dad?" Now she denied. "Who else told you that?"

"I ... can't ..." he spoke hard.

"I need you to tell me, Elisa. I won't be able to help cotton, if you don't tell me."

Elisa's lips began to tremble, her eyes were covered in tears and, little by little, they rolled down her cheeks. The girl hugged Hannibal, who for a few moments was static about it, reacted and welcomed the little girl to comfort her.

"My little one ..." he whispered, aching for not being able to help her as he really wanted.

A/N:

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