UNCONTROLLABLE AND INSTANTANEOUS
~insanity and co~
"There is strong shadow where there is much light." ~ Johann Wolfang von Goethe.
There had been so much improvement in just the past month alone. She was laughing, she joked, she poked fun at Alana for a misspoken phrase. Abigail Hobbs was recovering wonderfully, by the prideful tone in Will Graham's voice. A meeting between friends had morphed into a session, each sitting in their respective chairs and Hannibal watching Will with hawk-like perception.
"She's like a miracle, and she isn't even mine." The man himself sat across from Hannibal, legs loosely crossed and lounging back with his fingers laced behind his head; a stark contrast to Hannibal's own composure. A small smile pulled at the corner of Will's mouth; tight and small but not forced...which was a vast improvement in and of itself.
"I went with Alana to the psychiatric hospital yesterday. Abigail wanted to leave and get some fresh air, so we signed her out and got burgers and fries." Will stopped short and after a pause was gently prompted by Hannibal to voice the concern that darkened Will's face. "It's odd." A half-laugh escaped him in a sharp bark, insane to the ears of those not trained to look for irritated ticks.
"What do you find odd?"
His words were chosen carefully, spoken slowly, and his shoulders drew together...all unconscious and uncontrollable to Will but watched with a hint of amusement. "We have to check a human being out, like a book out of the library. And it has to be returned at a certain time."
"It is for everyone's safety that the doctors know where Abigail is at all times while she is still considered to be a patient. But it is an insightful comparison," Hannibal added.
"She seemed happy to have food that wasn't from the cafeteria, but the shakes were horrible." Hannibal allowed a short laugh, putting Will in a small amount of ease, giving their session a hint of friendliness. Will leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers in front of him. "There's a light there."
"A new light?"
"I don't know if it's new, or if it had just dimmed after Garret- After everything she's been through. Can a light can be extinguished completely and come back?" Will's head tipped up, just enough to look at the man across from him with uneasy eyes. His hands clenched together and relaxed. "She was close to flickering out for a long time."
"And thanks to the people around her, she's returning to us." Hannibal smiled, a tight-lipped grin returned by Will across the space between them. "A bright light to cast away the shadows behind her."
Hannibal couldn't help but think that with such bright light, there comes an unyielding shadow of darkness. It was behind her - behind the light - but bubbling just under the surface. It was hidden from the sights of Will and Alana and all of the doctors that Abigail spoke with and those that studied her.
But that shadow did not go unnoticed by all.
And it would not be suppressed by the light for long.
Author's Note: Thank you to my beta, Queen of the Beasties for going over this chapter and the last one!