Part 4: Discovery

It's now been a month and a half since I'd moved to London and classes had been going better than the first month. I would probably say it was because I had two amazing men taking care of me every day.

We hadn't moved along any further with the investigation because we couldn't. I knew who Hannibal was but Will still had no idea and it was almost as if Hannibal had dropped off the planet.

He had though… in a sense. He hadn't killed anyone since the night I'd told him I knew who he was and in a way I was very happy. It disturbed me just a little that I was dating… was I dating?... a cannibal.

But now that we hadn't made any progress on the case, Crawford had flown himself to London and was going over everything we'd found. Will was with him right now going over things in Crawford's hotel room and I was stuck in class wondering what they would discover together.

There was a small tap on my shoulder and I jerked out of my thoughts to find myself face to face with Hannibal. I frowned and looked around but found that my Counseling Methods class was over and everyone had left.

I blushed and looked back at Hannibal. "I guess I spaced out?"

Hannibal straightened back up, his hands brushing across his suit to smooth out all of the none-existent wrinkles. "Are you ok, Midnight? You've been out of it since this morning."

I started putting my books into my backpack and avoided looking Hannibal in the eyes. "Everything is alright."

Hannibal's hand captured mine, stopping me from putting my last book into my bag. "Liar."

I let out a small sigh and sat back in my chair. "Crawford arrived this morning and he's looking over everything with Will."

"Oh." Hannibal moved over to the desk beside me and sat down in the chair. "I guess that would be something to be distracted over."

"I'm afraid with Crawford here Will might find something that will tie… you… to the case."

"You don't have to fear that."

I stood up and knelt down in front of Hannibal, taking his hands into mine. I rubbed my thumbs along his knuckles. "You're acting like the possibility of you being found out isn't a possibility at all."

"I know it's a possibility but I'm not afraid. I find it… intriguing. It's like a game of cat and mouse; to see who the better hunter is."

I bit my lip to hold back my anger. Instead, I let Hannibal's hands go and stood up, turning to place my last book into my bag. Without a further word to him I walked out of the classroom.

"Midnight."

I stopped but refused to look back at him. "It would hurt me to lose you." I slowly turned to face him and allowed him to see the pain in my eyes. "I've already lost so much in my life and when I finally have something…" I took a small step back towards him. "Someone…"

Hannibal moved quickly towards me, grabbing my hand. He didn't say anything as he pulled me behind him through the flow of students heading to their next class or going home.

When we got to his office he let go of my hand and quickly unlocked it. He jerked me inside and closed the door behind us, locking it before slamming me back against the wall.

He slid my backpack off of my shoulder and dropped it to the floor.

His hands slid into my hair and fisted tightly, craning my neck back so that his lips could devour mine. I whimpered as his hands slid from my hair and down along my arms, pressing against my hips, grabbing ahold of my skirt. He jerked the fabric up until his hands could find my bare thighs.

He pulled back from the kiss as he fisted my panties and ripped them off without a second thought, jerking me forward against him. "You're mine, Midnight. Mine. And I don't give up what is mine that easily."

I reached down to unbuckle Hannibal's belt but he slapped my hands away as he slid one of his legs in between mine, pressing against my tender swollen flesh. He made quick work of his belt and pants before reaching into his briefs, freeing himself. He was as hard as he'd ever been and I could see the small pearl of precum forming at the tip of him. I slowly reached down and slid my finger gently against it, enjoying the sound of his heavy breathing as I moved to grip him tightly.

I looked up at his face to enjoy the look of pure ecstasy that crossed it. "I'll protect you, Hannibal. I promise."

"I know."

Hannibal slid his hands behind my thighs and picked me up without any trouble. I quickly wrapped my legs around his waist as he reached in between us and guided himself into me. With a quick thrust upwards and a sharp gasp from me, he started fucking me against the wall. He buried his face against my chest as moved. I dug my nails into the fabric of his suit jacket and bit my lips so that I wouldn't moan out loud.

It wasn't long before I started to clinch tightly around him as he pumped in and out, my orgasm building one second and then bursting in the next. I allowed my head to fall back against the wall with a thump as his body thrust over and over until finally, with a deep growl against my throat, he released himself deep inside of me.

His teeth found my shoulder and he bit down, breaking skin. The pain pushed me into another orgasm. I let out a small squeak and tightened my legs around Hannibal's waist as we both slid down the wall. Hannibal's knees cushioned my ass and my legs dangled out behind us.

"Fucking shit." I tried to catch my breath.

Hannibal slowly released his teeth from my skin and his tongue brushed against the ragged cuts, cleaning away the blood. His hair was all over the place and his voice rough when he spoke. "I could eat you up, Midnight. That's how delicious you are. You blood, your essence. I crave it."

I let out a nervous laugh and reached up, burying my hand into his silky hair so that I could pull his face away from my shoulder. His eyes were almost black again. "It would be… unadvisable to eat me…"

His eyes bore into mine, dark and haunting. "Tell me you love me, Midnight."

I let go of Hannibal's hair and gently traced my fingers down the arch of his nose, slowly, over and over until he closed his beautiful eyes and sighed softly.

I leaned forward and pressed a kiss against each of his eyelids. "I love you." I kissed the tip of his nose. "I love you." I greedily kissed his lips, tasting my own blood on them. "I love you."

[Will]

"We're stuck, Crawford. I don't know what to do. There hasn't been another murder since the last one and no signs of Lecter at all. There are no records of his previously used fake names being used here in London. I can't feel him. I can't see him." I ran my hands through my hair and let out a frustrated breath. "It's like he's left."

Crawford stood up and walked over to the window, pushing back the heavy curtains so that he could see the autumn leaves starting to change colour. "Lecter isn't a man who is easily frightened away. I think he's still here. He's right under our noses and he's probably laughing at us."

I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. I could feel a headache coming on. I walked over to where my jacket was hanging over the room's chair and dug in my pocket for my handy bottle of aspirin. I opened it and popped four of them into my mouth, dry swallowing them. "There's something bothering me about this case right now but I can't put a finger on it… I feel like I'm looking over something… missing the vital clue."

Crawford walked over to me and grabbed my shoulder, turning me to face him. He shoved my glasses back up the bridge of my nose and squeezed my shoulder in a sort of comforting way… in his own manner at least. "Go home, Will. If you stress out any more tonight I'm going to have to send you to the hospital. I don't need you in the hospital. I need your mind, Will."

I let out a small laugh. "My mind isn't what it used to be, Crawford. You should know that more than anyone at the BAU."

"I know." Crawford sighed and pushed me toward the door, tossing my jacket after me. "Go home, Will. Get some rest and we'll start again tomorrow."

I didn't argue. I pulled my jacket on and walked down to the lobby of the hotel, exiting into the parking garage. I slid into my car and laid my head against the steering wheel for a minute while I tried to gather my thoughts. Midnight would probably be home by now so I figured I'd go see her.

I sat up and started the car, putting in into gear and pulling out.

It only took me a short fifteen minutes to get from Crawford's hotel to Midnight's house. The lights were on and I could see the silhouette of Midnight in the front window. It looked like she was dancing.

I turned the car off and got out, heading up the driveway. I pulled out the spare keys she'd given me and quietly unlocked the door.

As I opened it I was greeted by the sound of a beautiful song. I slipped in and gently closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I watched her sway back and forth, her eyes closed and her body relaxed.

"Can I pry your fingers from everything I, I say and do. And I just can't forget you; and your heart of stone. I can breathe. I can breathe. Water. Water. I can breathe. I can breathe. Water. Water. I can breathe. I can breathe. Water. Water. I can breathe. I can breathe. Water. When you're here with me, you're not here with me."

She was beautiful. I slowly walked towards her and gently touched her arm.

She stopped singing and whirled around, her beautiful green eyes wide as an innocent doe. "Will!"

I gave her a small smile. "You have a beautiful voice, Midnight."

Midnight blushed and hid behind her hair, a habit she still hasn't broken. "You surprised me… I… I didn't think you would be by tonight. I was just singing…" She lifted her iPod up to show me. "It's one of my favourite songs on my iPod."

I reached out and gently touched her blushing cheek. "What's next?"

She swallowed nervously and looked down at her iPod. "A Thousand Years by Christina Perri."

I took the remaining steps toward her until I could slide my hand down her arm. I took her iPod out of her hand and unplugged the headphones. I turned away from her and walked over to her stereo system. I searched around for a few seconds before I found the iPod jack. I slid it into its little cradle and restarted the song.

I turned the volume up on the stereo system and turned, holding my hand out to Midnight as the sound of the piano, guitar, and cello played. "Will you dance with me, Midnight?"

She looked at me silently for a few seconds before slipping her hand into mine. She allowed me to pull her close against my body as Christina Perri started to sing. I swayed back and forth with her, stepping in beat with the song. I could feel Midnight's body tremble against mine and I just pulled her tighter against mine.

She started singing softly for me. "I have died every day waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more."

I twirled her out away from me and pulled her back. Her eyes had small tears in them and I leaned down, kissing them away. "Don't cry, beautiful. You'll break my heart."

She gave a small shrug and refused to look at me. "I'm sorry."

I wrapped my arms around her and laid my chin on the top of her head as she fit perfectly against my body. I never thought I'd love anyone as much as I did her.

She was broken but she was perfect; strong but a small child at heart.

I swayed her back and forth and started to softly sing the new song that had started to play. "When I see your face. There's not a thing that I would change, 'cause you're amazing, just the way you are." I pulled away from her and smiled down at her. "And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while because girl, you're amazing just the way you are."

She let out a loud laugh and pushed all the way away from me so that she could sit down on the couch. "You don't sound too bad, Mr. Will Graham. Maybe you should make a CD."

I rolled my eyes and walked over, plopping down beside her and sprawling out in a comfortable position. "I know when someone's making fun of me, I hope you know."

She laughed again and leaned back so that she could curl up against my side. I draped an arm around her shoulder. "Whatever you say."

I chuckled and closed my eyes, breathing deeply of Midnight's amazing shampoo. It was cherry blossom and I was addicted to it. She snuggled a little closer and wrapped her arm around my chest, hugging me to her. I felt her breath even out and her body relax.

I opened my eyes one last time to watch her fall asleep for a second before following behind her.

I always felt relaxed around her and right now I just needed sleep.

[The Next Day]

I knew something. I knew there was something I was over looking as I reviewed all of the case files of Lecter's murders.

I'd woken up early, from a dream… or something, and I'd gone straight to the case files. I knew something; I could feel I knew something. There was some small face I'd seen in my dream that led me to believe this.

Lecter had met with each victim once outside of him killing them. I just had to connect the dots.

-Marian Frankus-

I opened the file of one of the few female victim of Hannibal Lecter and stared down at her picture. She was a beautiful woman, bearing a stern and strong look. She had been a travel agent, so she was probably connected to him in that she helped him get here and settle in.

Reading further into the case notes allowed me to take note that she hadn't been liked very much by those who worked with her because she didn't play nice when it came to getting what she wanted.

Hannibal Lecter had probably killed her because of that… after meeting with her several times to get what he could out of her. He just wasn't in her records… or he had altered himself enough to elude us once again - despite the cannibal killings telling us he was in London.

I slammed my fist against the table and shuffled the pictures of the crime scene around, staring at them intently.

The only thing that struck me wrong was the bite mark that she had on her thigh. Something about that sparked something in my memories.

Bite mark. Bite mark. Bite mark.

Teeth.

Bite marks….

Why would he leave bite marks on her thigh? She was clearly Hannibal Lecter's victim, but why the bite?

Bite mark. Bite mark. Bite mark…

Why would someone leave bite marks on a person's thigh? Most would think sexual, sure, but could that be the case here? Hannibal Lecter had never bitten anyone before in a sexual manner…

… except…

I closed my eyes and thought back to the time before Hannibal Lecter had tried to kill me. I thought back to his relationship with Alanna Bloom. They had both had a sexual relationship with each other, which had surprised everyone at the FBI when it was discovered that Lecter was our cannibal.

I clenched my fist, crumpling one of Marian's pictures with the action. I had fallen in love with Hannibal Lecter sometime during our time working together… or had felt something like love at least… so I'd been upset finding they'd been together.

What I'd felt for Lecter had been wrong.

And Hannibal Lecter had tried to kill Alanna Bloom despite their sexual relationship.

One of the things she'd confessed after the fact was that he had bitten her several times, as a form of possession.

Bite marks. Possession. Love. Bite marks…

Midnight had bite marks from our love-making with Hann. I also had gotten bite marks after our love-making with Hann.

I swallowed roughly and got up, heading into the bedroom where I had carried Midnight last night after we'd both fell asleep and then me waking up an hour later.

She was still sleeping. I stared down at her and at observed how peaceful she slept.

Kneeling down I pushed her head to the side and touched the bite mark marring her bare shoulder. It was fresher than the previous marks spaced across her neck and shoulders, all fading slowly. I could clearly see the teeth marks that had ripped open her skin and I knew she'd bled.

As I traced across the bumps and scabbing I remembered the mold the FBI techs had made of the bite mark on Marian's thigh.

I could see it now.

I stood quickly and stumbled back, hitting the edge of the bedside table and knocking the lamp off. The crashing sound caused Midnight to sit upright, clutching the blanket to her chest, her eyes wide.

I stared blankly at her as she focused on me.

"Will? What's wrong, Will?"

I turned away and headed back into the dining room where I had all of the files and boxes of evidence spread out. I grabbed the closest box and started digging for the bite mark mold.

I heard Midnight walk into the dining room but I refused to acknowledge her presence.

"Will?"

Finally in the second box I started digging in I found it and pulled it out. I ran my finger along it, feeling the marks both physically in my hand and a few moments ago when I traced across them on Whisper's shoulder.

"No."

I shook my head and slammed my fists down onto the table, sending photos and papers flying everywhere as I did it over and over again.

"NO!"

Midnight's scared voice behind me called my name once again. "Will. What's wrong? Did…" She was silent for a moment and I turned slowly to face her. She swallowed nervously as she looked up at me. "Did you find something?"

I could see clearly now.

Hann Mathiasen was Hannibal Lecter.

I dropped the bite mold and stepped forward quickly, grabbing Whisper's arms tightly, giving her a shake. "You know, don't you?!"

Her brows furrowed and her voice shook. With fear? With horror? I didn't care to know, I just wanted answers.

"Know what, Will? You're scaring me."

I growled and quickly shoved her back against the kitchen wall roughly. I kept one hand on her arm and the other I placed around her neck, tightening slightly in warning. "Don't lie to me, Midnight. Please don't lie to me. All I want is to know if you knew who he was this whole time?"

"I…"

I tightened my fingers a little. "Midnight. I know you know. You are a profiler like me, so you must have pieced it together as well. Right? Right, Midnight?"

I felt her swallow before she spoke. "Will… I…" She refused to look away from me as her voice steadied and her body stopped shaking. "Yes, I pieced it together, Will. I found out who Hannibal Lecter was."

I frowned and looked her pleadingly in the eyes. "When? Why didn't you say anything? Did he threaten to kill you if you told me?"

Her eyes never faltered as she stared up at me. "No, he never threatened me. And I found out several weeks ago. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want… I didn't want us to break apart. You. Me. Hannibal. I wanted us to stay together for as long as we could."

I felt sick.

"You… even after… even after finding out he is a cannibal? After I told you how he tried to kill me after using me? You wanted us to stay together?!"

I brought my other hand up and wrapped it around her neck before starting to tighten both of them, cutting off her air. My rage and hurt poured through me. But despite the fact that I was choking her, Midnight didn't try to stop me. She just stared up at me as her eyes began to water and her lips opened to try and suck in air.

Her hands were gentle as they wrapped around my wrists, refusing to pull my hands away from her throat.

I couldn't kill her even if she was willing to let me.

I screamed and released her neck, slamming my fists into the wall behind her head over and over until the skin split and blood stained the edges of the holes in the wall.

Midnight just stood there, sucking in air, watching me.

She waited until I finally stopped screaming.

She reached up and touched my cheek, even though I flinched away. "I love you, Will. I love you both, as fucked up as it may seem."

I shook my head and stepped away from her. I had to get Crawford. I had to get to Hannibal before he escaped again… before he tried to kill Midnight just like he tried to kill me.

"I have to go. I need to get Crawford. He has to know."

Midnight's eyes widened and she finally grabbed me to stop me. "No, Will. You can't!"

I slapped her hands away and turned to grab my jacket, slipping it on before grabbing my gun and doing the same. "Tell him I'm coming for him, Midnight. I won't let him escape from me again. I won't let him to corrupt and murder anyone else."

Before Midnight could say anything else I made my way to the door, quickly unlocking all of her locks, and left. I could hear her calling after me but I refused to listen.

Catching Hannibal Lecter was my duty. I didn't care if I loved him or if he was just using me. He needed to be stopped.