IX. Erreur.

Hannibal attended the desperate knock on his door late at night and he surprised to see Will Graham under the threshold of his door. He looked agitated, disheveled and the aroma of alcohol was too potent for Lecter's fine nose. He appreciated the young man's right hand, it was swollen and bloody.

"He got away," he said with a terrible anguish stuck in his throat.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Alan Gardner. I had him in front of me and let him go..."

Hannibal did not mention a word, he took young Graham off his shoulders and admitted him into his home. He sat him in one of the chairs of his distinguished dining room, noticing that he was trembling and a sweat covered his face.

"I'll get you a towel and something warm."

"No!" He bellowed. Hannibal stopped and watched him sensitive. "No. I was this close to catching him."

Will hid his face in his hands and Hannibal noticed some slight sobbing.

"I'll call Jack," he said in a dry tone.

"I saw Garret Jacob-Hobbs. I saw him on Alan's face." Hannibal without moving analyzed him. "He mocked me... Of all... When I reacted, he had already fled."

"I understand," he mentioned hiding his indolence. He turned around and went to make the call to Crawford.

Will wouldn't stop shaking, he felt an icy breeze sweeping the place and he sensed the pain in his hand. It had not bothered him at any time and he remembered the beating he had given Alan Gardner. He slowly moved his hands and, through his fingers, observed little Elisa looking at him uneasy. Will took his hands off his face and they both looked at each other.

Hannibal picked up his phone and dialed Crawford's house, waited patiently and after the fifth bell a half-asleep Jack answered.

"Yes?"

"Jack, good night."

"Doctor Lecter?" He questioned oddly.

"Sorry to break in on your dream, but I need you to come to my house."

"What had happened?"

"Will came to my house, he's drunk and hallucinating. He says he tried to capture Alan Gardner but didn't make it."

"But how the hell...?"

"If I'm honest with you," he interrupted, "I worry about Will's emotional state. And I fear for Elisa."

"I understand Doctor Lecter, give me about 20 minutes and I'll be with you."

"Thank you Crawford," and he hung up.

Elisa approached Will who tried to walk away thoughtlessly. The little girl was frightened to see his attitude, but in it, she placed her gaze on the young man's right hand, it was swollen and with some blood. Elisa aimed and then moved her hands.

"Sorry. I don't understand you."

Elisa insisted but quickly gave up. She pointed at the hand and he looked at it worried. Will noticed the blood, the pain mattered little. Throughout his journey his mind was troubled with the image of Garret Jacob-Hobbs; he forgot that he had struck Alan, forgot that he had fired a gun and placed his healthy hand on his face and conceived the cold of his sweat. He breathed heavily, sought to control himself, but it was impossible until he felt a warmth upon his aching hand.

He moved his eyes, Elisa had laid her little hands on his own, seemed to console him.

"I appreciate it."

Elisa smiled and Will felt a little peace in his chaotic internality.

Hannibal arrived at the dining room and to his terrible surprise he looked at that scene. For seconds he froze, then walked, approached them and Will looked at him. Elisa turned and Hannibal took her off her shoulders.

"What are you doing awake?" He asked annoyed and worried.

"Nightmare", she replied with regret.

"What's going on?" Will asked. Hannibal ignored him.

"Go back to bed," he ordered.

Elisa denied, turned to see Will and then to him and worried moved her hands.

"What did she say?" He insisted.

"She's frightened by your condition."

"T-tell her I'm O-okay," he mentioned with a distressing smile.

Odious for that reason Hannibal listened to the words of young Graham and told Elisa that he was all right and she should not to be afraid of anything. The little girl's face was covered with anguish and sorrow. She looked at Will, unconvinced by that terrible smile. Will made his best effort to look good, his face expressed despair and drowning. Elisa looked back at Hannibal, she said some things and he bent down to carry her. Will witnessed that scene in surprise.

"She says she's not sleepy," he responded, looking at him. Will nodded. "Crawford is on his way."

The young man placed his arms on the table and leaned his face on them; Elisa laid her head on Hannibal's shoulder seeing Will sadly and allowed time to pass. Hannibal was walking around the room trying to put Elisa to sleep; she fell asleep but at times she woke up and looked at Hannibal and he asked what was going on. Elisa looked at Will, it seemed that he had fallen into Morfeo's arms, his breathing was trembling and certain babbles were emerging.

"Ma... Marlène... forgive me..."

Hannibal placed his hand on the girl's head and leaned it in his shoulder, trying to stop her seeing Will.

"He'll be fine," he falsely promised.

The bell rang and Hannibal, without letting Elisa go, went to the door.

"Thank you for coming, Crawford," he greeted, once the door was open.

"Where's Will?" he demanded with annoyance.

"Come in," Jack obeyed and Hannibal closed his door. "I think Will is half-asleep in the dining room. He keeps mentioning Alan and Marlène."

"Is the girl all right?" he asked, looking at the little one in Lecter's arms.

"Perfectly. She woke up due to a nightmare and looked at Will, fortunately nothing happened."

"I'm glad," he said quietly.

Hannibal gave him the pass and invited Jack into the dining room. Will's breath echoed in the place, the cold seemed to disappear but in his mind the images of Garret Jacobs and Abigail Hobbs; Alan, Marlène and Elisa Gardner hit him horribly. One hand perched on his shoulder, Will exalted and rose from the chair. Next to him was Jack and did not look kindly on him.

"Hey, hi," he greeted with a nervous laugh.

"Doctor Lecter called me."

"I know... and you already know it."

"I heard about a shooting report at Heaven's Night," he said. Hannibal raised his eyebrows at it. "Was it you?"

"Yes," he said. "But I didn't hurt anyone."

"I know, but you fired a gun in a public place."

"We were just outside."

"You and who?"

"Alan Gardner and I. I hit him," he said, showing his fist, "twice. I broke his nose and teeth the second time."

"And what else happened?" He questioned as if it were a concerned parent.

"Then I saw the face of Garret Jacobs-Hobbs. It was captured on Alan's face. And I don't remember anything anymore."

Jack looked at Hannibal and he pretended to be worried.

"Is he all right, Doctor?"

"Because of the Hobbs incident, this has become commonplace in him. I have tried to eradicate it but the process has been slow."

"I'm fine," Will said, as he stood up from the chair. "I just want to catch that wretch."

"And you'll do, Will," Hannibal argued. "But you need not take cases so personal."

"I don't take them personally..."

"Yes you do," Jack said. And this one looked at him. "At least the Hobbs and Gardner case."

Will swallowed hard and looked at the time on the clock that hung on the wall.

"It's late... Elisa has to sleep."

"We all have to sleep," Jack said.

The young man tilted his head and sought to leave the room. Jack and Hannibal followed him slowly.

"Do you really think he's okay?" Crawford insisted.

"I can't tell you exactly, Jack. I've got the hallucinations on record but they've overdone it. I'd need to check it out as soon as possible."

"You have an appointment tomorrow, don't you?"

"Of course."

"As soon as the session is over, give me a report."

"You'll get it right away, Jack."

"Thank you, Doctor Lecter."

And Hannibal tilted his head in response mode.

Will and Crawford left the residence, Hannibal and Elisa observed them until they both withdrew. The girl raised her hand saying goodbye, but thanks to the darkness she did not notice that they had both responded. Lecter closed the door and looked at the girl.

"We must sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."

She nodded over his shoulder in search of the beloved dream.

Hannibal Lecter's office - Baltimore, Maryland.

"Do you want to talk?" Hannibal questioned as he stared hard at Will.

The young man's eyes riveted on the ground, he wet his lips and his body trembled.

"I have to, don't I?"

"You know it's not an obligation, but it would be good to do it."

"And what do you want me to say?"

"Let's talk about what happened last night."

Will raised his head and rested himself on the chair. A slight, severe smile covering his face.

"From Heaven's Night?"

"From Alan Gardner," he corrected.

"Last night I said it. I don't know what else you want me to say."

Hannibal crossed his legs and looked at Will.

"While you slept in my dining room, you kept saying Marlène's name." Will frowned. "How about we talk about her?"

"Why?" he asked with a nervous smile.

"I know you're attracted to her, Will. That day at the hospital you made that very clear."

"I did not affirm anything."

"But you didn't deny it either. There's nothing wrong with feeling that way. I must admit, Marlène is a very beautiful woman."

Graham felt his blood boil at those words.

"Do you like her?" He demanded, without hiding anger in his words.

"No," Hannibal argued. "But I will not deny something that is true."

"It's true, Marlène Gardner is very attractive."

"You see?" He inquired sarcastically.

"But beyond that, she's got something else."

"What you mean?" He questioned.

"It has something that attracts me..."

"What are you attracted to?"

"I can't describe it..." he mentioned, letting out a smirk.

"You have to."

"She's..." stopped and swallowed hard. "She's like an angel," to which Hannibal arched an eyebrow and hid his smile. "Yes, an angel. It's like a light, in my life..."

"Angels are beings of purity, destined for the protection of the human being. But they are also mere fiction."

Will smiled like a fool.

"Marlène is not fiction."

"What do you imagine with her, Will?"

"Imagine?" He questioned, curious. "Do you mean...?"

"Of course I'm not talking in that way. I'm talking about a future."

"I... I've imagined things, yes... maybe, a family..."

"Family?"

"Y-yes. Marlène, Elisa and Abigail," Hannibal looked at him suspiciously. "It's a craziness," he continued, tilting his head.

"It's not," he said.

"I have that idea, for a long time... I would like a family, I feel that they are that family."

Hannibal placed one of his hands under his chin and analytically observed Will.

"And for that you hit Alan Gardner?"

"Excuse me?" He came to.

"That's why you hit Alan. You felt so personal that you couldn't resist attacking him."

"Yes," Will confirmed, with a satisfying air. "Having him in front of me, I felt I could make him pay... I felt I could avenge Marlène and Elisa, but everything happened so quickly... I just wanted to do the right thing..."

A silence covered the place and they both looked at each other waiting for someone to say a word.

"You can do it, if you behave the way Jack requires."

"Sometimes it's hard... but you know it too, Alan Gardner deserves more than a few punches in the face."

"It's true. He deserves to die."

Port Haven Psychiatric Facility - Baltimore, Maryland.

"I had already told you that you cannot pluck the flowers," Abigail mentioned as she held Elisa by her hands. The girl stared at the young woman in anger. "Even if you get angry. You can't and it's over," the latter warned her as she moved her hands.

Elisa threw a tantrum, folded her arms and got upset with Abigail. Young Hobbs was tired of taking care of the child; sometimes she became so unbearable that she despaired, but she knew she had to put up with it and she looked forward to the child's mentoring being withdrawn from Doctor Lecter as soon as possible.

"I wanted to give you one!" she mentioned.

"But I already told you, you can't pull them out!" Elisa stuck her tongue out and Abigail was perplexed. "You're a stubborn..."

"Abigail," they called behind her back.

The girl turned a bit frightened and to her surprise, she came upon Freddie Lounds.

"What are you doing here?"

"I come to talk to you, about what we discussed the other day. Would you like to go out for a coffee?" In it, she looked at the girl. "You can take your little friend with you," The redhead finished with a smile.

All three were in a cafe near the psychiatric, Freddie got a special permit to take out Abigail for a couple of hours and it was an advantage of meeting the director of the place. Abigail watched their cup of sparkling coffee as Elisa ate a slice of cake; Freddie watched them with impudence.

"A book," Abigail marveled.

"Uh-huh. A book that tells your truth."

"Is it narrating everything that's happened to me?"

"Without omitting any detail."

"Does it include my tutors?"

"Especially to Will Graham."

The young woman raised a suspicious gaze.

"I know you talk about him in your column."

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Have you read it?"

"Tattle-Crime has become a gossip all over Baltimore."

"I'm glad to know," she snickered as she took a drink to her coffee. "But back to the topic, how do you like the idea?"

Abigail looked down again and focused her gaze on Elisa, who observed her in surprise.

"Will there be money?"

"The morbidness sells. So take it for granted."

"I'm interested," she conceded, turning his attention back to the redhead.

"Excellent," Lounds concluded with a toast.

Abigail noticed a chill in her body. She laid her eyes on Elisa and seemed to judge her, despite not understanding what had just happened. Young Hobbs drank from her coffee and was grateful that the heat from it would control her chills but she had a feeling that none of this would work out. As nice as that sounds.

As her body was comforted by the heat, Abigail moved her eyes out into the street. In front of the store, she noticed a man with a wandering appearance and his arm in a sling. She was surprised and Freddie Lounds noticed and was looking for what the young lady saw. The subject turned around and began to walk unaware of the moment that just passed.

"Do you know him?" Lounds questioned. Abigail denied.

"He was just looking at us."

Abigail took Elisa's hand and squeezed it tightly, she didn't know why, but that man didn't give her a good feeling.

Freddie returned the girls back in the psychiatric and she was perky because Abigail was going take her offer. As she walked down the street, she sensed someone was after her. Deep down, she wasn't surprise about that, Lounds knew she had the police and her rivals on her tail, but an impulse made her turned around and found out who was following her wasn't the guys she was used to dealing with. She kept pace until the sound of the boots became closer. Freddie reached into her purse and pulled out a pocket knife, ready for whatever was going on. She felt herself pushed into an alley, her thin body shook against the concrete wall, causing her to drop her knife and young Lounds stood in front of a guy she'd already seen on the news.

"Alan Gardner?" She questioned. He didn't respond. "Wow!" Lounds smiled despot. "A homicidal and child abuser... I'm sorry but you're not my type."

"What's the name of the girl you were with?"

"For what? Does it appeal to you?"

"What's her name?!" He exploded in a tone that will not attract attention.

"Abigail Hobbs," she snapped.

"Hobbs?" He questioned. "The daughter of The Minnesota Shrike?"

"Correctly."

"What the fuck is my daughter doing with her?!"

"I don't know. Why don't you go and ask her guardians?"

"Who are they?"

"Will Graham and Doctor Hannibal Lecter."

"And where are they?"

"Port Haven Psychiatric Facility."

Alan released the redhead and took the knife that Lounds dropped. She was about to retire, but took up her place with Lounds and, with her free hand, struck her face, leaving her lying on the ground.

"Thank you, Miss Lounds," he thanked as a goodbye and with an unseemly smile.

Freddie placed her hands to her face and felt a thread of blood gush out of her nose, when she looked up Gardner was gone.

Hannibal and Will arrived at the psychiatric. Abigail and Elisa were putting together a puzzle, it was the best they could do. The young woman, seeing her guardians, confessed to the offer Freddie Lounds had made to her also she accepted without their consent. Will and Hannibal did not receive this news with a joy, especially Lecter. The Doctor could not conceive the act of the young woman, he killed her with his eyes and he knew that it put at risk his work, his life and his most precious secret.

"Why did you accept something like that from that woman?" Will cried, without even stopping his tremble.

"I want money," she replied as she asked Elisa for a piece of the puzzle.

"And you're going to have it, Abigail," Lecter continued, "but not this way."

"You cannot force me to say that I can or cannot do."

"Yes, we can. We are your guardians," Hannibal said.

"So, I' already accepted it."

"Well, we'll talk to Freddie Lounds before you open your mouth," Will continued.

Abigail had eyes full of anger at Will, rose from the chair and all three looked at her.

"You have no right over me."

Graham was paralyzed and Hannibal sighed exhausted.

"Abigail," the latter call her.

The young woman took the girl by her hand and she was surprised, stood up and looked at all those present.

"None!" she snapped.

And Abigail began to walk, Elisa followed her step and she keep seeing a distressed Will and still upset Hannibal.

They both went out into the garden. Abigail sat on a bench, let go of the girl's hand and placed hers on her face. Some laments arose from her and Elisa could appreciate them; the girl walked over a bush and cut off one of the flowers there, approached Abigail and placed it on her brown hair. The young woman trembled for that and distinguished the flower she had given her.

"I told you that..."

"I know. But it will cheer you up." The little one interrupted with a sweet smile.

Abigail sighed, tucked the flower in her hair and looked at Elisa.

"Does it look pretty?"

Elisa nodded.

"Abigail Hobbs!" A masculine voice cried out.

She panicked at the call, got up off the bench and started looking for the caller. It wasn't Will or Doctor Lecter, he looked straight ahead and saw that man he'd seen earlier at the cafe.

"Who are you?" She demanded nervously.

He came closer and having a better vision Elisa trembled in terror. The girl hid behind Abigail, who felt the fear radiate from the little girl.

"Give me that child," he ordered.

"Who the hell are you?" She ordered.

"It doesn't matter, just give me the girl."

Abigail placed her arm on Elisa and she clung to her.

"No," Hobbs clarified.

Alan took out the knife and pointed it at Abigail.

"If you value your life give her to me."

"No... Abi," the girl screamed.

"Are you her father?" She asked at the moment she saw Elisa. "Right?"

"Listen, I know what it's like to take care of a deaf girl. It is tedious and tiring and needs full attention," Abigail heard intently but never let go of Elisa. "Do yourself a favor and give her to me. You save yourself a lot of trouble," she denied and Alan sighed.

"If you don't leave, I'll scream."

"And who will come, your guardians? Do you think they will come for you? Of course not, they will come for Elisa. You will be ignored."

"Leave now," she mentioned in a husky voice.

"Abigail, if you give me the child you won't have to suffer for her. Come on, I know you want to give her to me," he said, reaching out his hand.

Elisa began to cry and did not stop to pronounce "Abi", becoming a plea for her. Abigail began to debate herself mentally; Alan had a reason, she was tired of taking care of her and of Lecter paying more attention to the child than she was, but she looking at the panic that Elisa instilled. And Abigail was questioning about Alan's words, becoming in a horribly tortured to her.

"Doctor Lecter, Will!" She cried out to Alan's surprise.

Gardner approached Abigail and Elisa screamed. In the visiting room, both men heard Hobbs' call and the girl's cry, exited the place in panic and watched in the distance to Alan Gardner strike Abigail over her head. They both ran, Hannibal more terrified than Will himself, and as Alan carried Elisa he started running. The rage took hold of them both. Elisa shed her tears, struck her father's hands and cried out to Abigail. As Hannibal and Will approached the young woman, she shouted again something that was not understood at the time, but her father covered her mouth.

"Shut the fuck up!"

Will took Abigail in his arms and Hannibal kept running after Alan.

"Are you okay?!" He called worried. He looked at a blood trail from Abigail's forehead and she nodded slightly. Will lifted her up and sat her on one of the benches. "Wait here."

Will pulled his gun and went after Hannibal to help him.

Alan came to the back door of the Psychiatric Facility, which is where he had come in, and from the sidelines he noticed Hannibal approaching him and quickly crossed the threshold of the door. Alan walked down the street, feeling Lecter's heels on him, but to his surprise, a gunshot next to him disturbed him. Will had stunned him with his gun and begged Hannibal to go after that asshole. Without wasting time, Lecter approached him and looked at Elisa, who kept beating her father with her weak, infantile hands.

In those moments Hannibal remembered his childhood, the memories of his little sister being cornered by those men, hungry and exhausted, by the fireplace of his home. Those memories made him bewildered.

"Mischa, Mischa!" his young version shrieked.

Alan recovered from the stunned gunshot, Will started running and Hannibal, feeling the agent's presence, came to his senses and managed to hold Alan from his jacket. He tried to break away and Will held Elisa away from the man's arms but Alan, despite being wounded, had great strength. Alan drove his knee upward to Hannibal's stomach, then with the knife in hand, slashed Will's chest and left the two down for the fight. Alan set out to run and Elisa's cry became an echo that gradually diminished. Both were lost in the crowd of people and both looked with terror, mainly Hannibal whose look of hatred emanated from the error that had been made.

A/N:

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