As ever, I apologise for the long wait! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I know mine was hectic. I wish you all a Happy new year and I promise I'll try and update quicker. x

The knife dropped to the ground, blood pooling around him as he knelt next to the body; a look of disgust and realisation twisting onto his face.

What had he done? It had only meant to be self defence. He looked over the many stab wounds he had inflicted. It looked like he'd murdered the man in cold blood.

Suddenly coming over dazed and nauseous he made an attempt to crawl away from the body, falling to the side as he slipped in blood.

His breathing picked up pace as panic started to take over him. He crawled and slipped more, trying to get to the other side of the kitchen, away from what he'd done.

Leaving a trail of blood behind him, he brought his knees to his chest as he leant back against some cupboards.

It felt like an hour or more before he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen was slightly cracked from the fight, but it worked.

He called the first person he thought of.

"Will?" A familiar voice answered.

Will took a moment to answer, as he tried to compose himself. "Hannibal…."

10 hours earlier.

The room slowly came into vision as he blinked his eyes and willed away his drowsiness. Looking at the clock, he realised that it was only 5:15am. Scrunching his nose Will nuzzled his face back into the pillow.

He'd forgotten where he was until he felt someone move next to him, the weight across his waist that he'd disregarded, sliding off him.

Turning his head, he looked as Hannibal sat up. "Sorry… Did I wake you?"

Hannibal ran a hand through his own hair, flattening any bits of hair that were sticking up. "As a light sleeper, even the slightest rustle wakes me." He smiled slightly at Will. "I was getting up soon, so you have not to worry, Will."

Will looked up at the older man, unflinching as he allowed him to run a hand through his hair.

"Go back to sleep. The shock of last night must still be in your system." Hannibal said. Pulling his hand away and getting up from the bed.

Will watched as Hannibal stretched slightly, he could see the muscles of the mans back flexing under his pajama top.

In truth, Will had forgotten about last night. His dreamless sleep had been enough to calm his inner turmoils. He frowned and gritted his teeth together, he felt no guilt or remorse for Freddie Lounds, and that's what bothered him the most.

"I'm still coming back to work today." Will said. Hannibal halting in his movements to look round at Will, though he said nothing.

"It will keep me distracted." He sat up in bed, running a hand through his messy hair before continuing.

"Besides, it's boring and frustrating just sitting around, feeling unproductive as I do nothing, all day, everyday."

Hannibal smiled a little at that and removed his bathrobe from the en suite door. "It is your decision, Will. I would be jubilant to welcome you to work, back by my side."

Silence settled between the two, Hannibal turning toward the bathroom.

"Rest, Will. I will wake you when breakfast is ready." Hannibal said. Making sure the brunette laid back down before going into the en suite and closing the door.

Will was sitting up to the kitchen island, eating, when members of the crew started to turn up. Most welcomed Will back, which made him happy and immensely relieved.

"Look who's back!" He heard a familiar voice from behind him, a small smile tilting the corners of his mouth.

"Morning Bev." He said. Playfully jabbing at her with his fork, as she stole a piece of sausage from his plate.

"Hey, sharing is caring! Besides, you're the only one he cooks for, gotta grab a taste when I can."

Will didn't say much to that, and continued to eat. Trying to finish his food so that he could move out of the way.

"See, you've even started making yourself at home." She pointed at his shoeless feet, smiling at him in her usual know-it-all way.

"Well…." Will wiggled his toes a little. "I've had to move back in with Hannibal, for a short amount of time. Some issues came up at my own home."

He didn't say what, he didn't dare. Some crew members already thought that he was strange and untrustworthy.

"You really don't have much luck, do you?" She ruffled his already messy hair. "I better go and attend to Mr. L, don't want to keep his lordship waiting." She said as she turned and started walking away.

Will chuckled lightly, he was really glad to be back at work. The change of atmosphere helped a great deal.

The doorbell rang, echoing through the empty house. Will frowned slightly, placing his mug down onto the kitchen side as he walked down the hall, to the front door.

Opening it, he was welcomed by the sight of a stranger. "Hello?"

"Hey, sorry to bother you. This is Hannibal Lecters house right?" The man asked, he smiled up at Will.

"Yes…And who's asking?" He raised a brow, looking the man up and down, he was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and some sneakers.

"Oh, right. I'm Matthew, I work with the station. I'm working on set with one of the crew from here, for another show. But he's lost a bit of equipment." Matthew said. Continuing to smile up at Will, from the bottom step.

"He wasn't sure if he left here, or back at the station. So I volunteered to come and look. I can leave though, if I'm disturbing anything."

Will shook his head slightly, and stepped to the side; letting Matthew in.

"It's fine, you weren't disturbing anything. The item you are looking for could be upstairs in the spare bedroom, or the kitchen."

Closing the door behind Matthew, he led the way through to the kitchen.

"Wow, the rest of the house really is as grand and elegant as I've heard." Matthew said, as he followed Will. His eyes burning into the back of the brunettes head.

"That sums up Hannibal, his house and his way of life." Will chuckled a little. He'd been oddly chipper the whole day, considering a body had been left in his apartment the previous night.

"What is it you're looking for?" Will turned to look at the other man, welcomed by a gun in his face.

"You."

A chill of excitement ran down Hannibals spine as he looked upon the sight in front of him. He had swiftly come home, cancelling his appointment, after receiving a panicked and distressed call from Will.

But this was more than he'd expected to come home to, much more.

He didn't speak as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen, eyes scanning over the many of its contents, scattered across the floor or broken. Removing a glove from his hand, he stepped forward, careful to avoid any of the blood that pooled on his kitchen floor.

Bending and reaching out a hand, he pulled Wills face to look up at him. The brunettes pale face, dotted with blood, looked like art to him.

Smiling a little he stroked a stubbled cheek with his thumb. "This will be our secret." He said, continuing to stroke the cheek.

"I..." Will was cut short, as Hannibal placed a finger against his own lips.

With hushed silence between them, Hannibal crouched and started unbuttoning Wills shirt.

"I'm going to need you to leave these bloody clothes here, you need to go upstairs and bathe, Will."

Will was beyond arguing at this point. Following orders, he slowly and shakily removed his clothes. Trying to hide his crotch, in an attempt to keep some dignity.

Hannibal was still smiling, he felt oddly amused and excited at all this. Supporting Will on the small of his back, he guided and walked with him, leading him to the en-suite.

Seating Will on the side of the bath, he leant over and started to run the water. Making sure the temperature was right and adding a splash of bubble bath.

Once filled, Hannibal helped Will lower into the bath tub. The brunettes legs were still shaking violently.

"Would you like me to help you wash, Will?" Hannibal asked. Seating himself on the edge of the bath.

Receiving no reply, he ran his fingers through the water and up the brunettes back.

"I didn't mean to… I don't know what came over me." Will finally choked out, his voice somewhat shaking as he broke the silence.

Looking at the blood as it washed of his hands, he continued.

"I managed to get the gun off him, but I chose to stab him… Why did I stab him?" Will mainly asked himself this question. Confusion and a hint of pain had etched itself into his face.

Hannibal said nothing as he continued to run his fingers up and down Wills back. He was enjoying the details, he had a look of contentedness on his face.

"It felt too good, the look on his face… It made me want to do it over and over and over again. There was blood everywhere….So much blood."

Will started to shake more, not out of fear but out of remembrance. His body had enjoyed killing Matthew Brown, and that shocked him.

It was silent between them for a while, until Will turned his head to look up at Hannibal.

"Why are you helping me?" Will asked.

"Because you're my friend, Will." Hannibal said. Gripping the younger males chin, he ran his thumb over his lips. "We need each other, more than you know."

Will could feel his breath hitch as they locked eyes, the words Hannibal had spoken, stinging with a ring of truth. Without realising, he'd gripped the front of Hannibals coat, that he still wore.

He felt like he had to grab onto this man and not let go.

Hannibal smirked a little, softly removing Wills hands from his coat and standing. "Wash yourself up and then get into bed. You must not worry about a thing, my dear Will."

Will descended the stairs, his legs shaking, unstable pillars beneath him. One hand gripped the banister while the other clenched the dressing gown that Hannibal had lent to him.

Reaching the bottom, he stopped for a moment, trying to compose himself before he met with the all knowing Jack Crawford. And to his slight horror, they were waiting for him in the kitchen.

"Will, sorry for making you get out of bed, when you're sick." Jack said as Will walked into the kitchen.

He felt his stomach lurch slightly, noticing the agent was standing in the pool of blood that he could not unsee.

"That's fine…"He said. And moved to sit at the breakfast bar, he didn't think he could support himself on his legs much longer.

Jack looked him over before continuing. "I received a call in the early hours of this morning, from your home."

Will frowned a little, but said nothing; letting the other man continue.

"Your home is still apart of the investigation, I have a parol in that area every hour."

"I haven't been back to that house, Jack. If that's what you're trying to insinuate." Will said. He had a feeling he knew what was coming, but he had to keep up the act.

Crawford said nothing for a minute, a look of consideration on his face as he thought something over.

"Another body was found in your home, Will." Crawford said. The breath caught in Wills throat, he felt Hannibals eyes burning into his back, drinking up his reaction.

Jack continued. "We believe it's the work of The Ripper. The victim, Will….We identified as a Matthew Brown, do you know him?"

Will clenched at the dressing gown with a hand, trying with all his might not to break down and panic like an insane man in front of the FBI agent.

"No….I'm sorry, are you saying The Ripper left a body in my home? Why?" He said, albeit shakily.

"I went to Matthew Brown's apartment, before coming here. We found many pictures, old and new newspaper cut outs… All of you. We think Matthew Brown was the copycat murderer, and your stalker."

Will didn't say a thing, only looked down at his knees. He knew all of this already, he knew because he'd been the one to end Matthew Brown's life.

"Do you have a picture of the crime scene?" Will asked. He felt like he needed to see it, no matter how sick it made him feel.

Jack looked Will over, unsure as to whether he should show him. The younger man looked very unwell.

"Do you think that's a good idea, Will?"

"We both know you didn't come here just to tell me about what was left at my home, Jack. You want me to help."

Jack looked at him seriously for a moment, before sighing lightly and opening up the briefcase he was holding. He removed a folder and handed it to the brunette.

Will licked at his dry lips and took the folder, his heart sped up in his chest as he anticipated what was inside.

Turning in his seat, he placed the thin folder onto the breakfast counter. Allowing himself to glance at Hannibal as he opened it.

Will noticed the mans lips curl into a small smirk and looked down at the pictures.

His stomach lurched and a small chill ran up his spine. He didn't know if he felt sick, thrilled or excited.

Mathews chest had been opened, the cavity filled to the brim, bursting with colour and elegance; as flowers upon flowers bloomed from where his organs had once lived.

Running a finger over a picture, Will swallowed and composed himself.

"Were the organs taken?" He asked.

"Yes. A note was also left…" Jack said. Pulling an evidence bag from his briefcase, he handed it to Will. A small, perfectly rectangular piece of paper sat inside the bag, upon which was written, 'Do you feel what I feel?'

Will said nothing, his heart beating so fast he thought it would rip its way through his chest at any moment.

Hannibal had done all of this? He frowned slightly as he looked over the pictures again. He didn't want to believe the man that he was currently residing with, was the famous murderer that the FBI had been trying to catch for years.

"Do you know what these flowers mean?" He asked, hoping his voice hadn't sounded shaky.

Jack shook his head. "It's being looked into as we speak. Do you think the flowers are significant?"

"I think I'm looking at a gift... " Will answered. Side glancing at Hannibal again, the older man hadn't taken his eyes off of Will.

"I'm sure you've given your wife flowers before. They're usually given as gifts, they're a sign of affection….Or in some circumstances, they've been signs of warning and threat. Depending on the flower that is. "

Will took one last look at everything before slipping it all back into the folder and handing it to Jack.

"Are you telling me that The Ripper has left a gift for you, Will?"

Will said nothing as he looked back at Jack, his pale and expressionless face answering for him.

Hearing the movement of Hannibal behind him, Will felt a chill down his spine. Gritting his teeth as the man slid a hand onto the younger mans shoulder and gripped it tightly.

"Will can stay here as long as it takes, Agent Crawford. Feel rest assured that he will come to no harm while he's with me."

"And I trust you wholeheartedly. I will ask for a parol to keep an eye on the area regardless though." Jack put the file into his briefcase.

"I need to get back to the office, I will contact you if I have anymore information, Will. And get some more rest, you look like crap."

Will managed a smile and nodded, shaking Jacks hand in parting.

Unmoving, Will stayed sitting up to the breakfast bar while Hannibal saw Jack off at the door. Turning his back on the kitchen door, he ran a hand through his knotted locks. His mind was in turmoil, it was a ship in angry seas.

What should he do? Was he staying with death himself? He couldn't think straight, lack of sleep and the events of yesterday clouded his thoughts and judgement.

Will sucked in a breath from slight shock as a hand stroked it's way up his back, he hadn't heard Hannibal come back.

He wanted to ask questions, but a small voice at the back of his head told him not to. He had no choice but to go along with it, for now.

"Would you like something to eat, Will?" Hannibal asked quietly. His mouth a little too close to Wills ear.

The younger man looked back at Hannibal, Maroon tinted eyes meeting blue. The more he stared, the more he felt himself being sucked into the depths.

Is this what people saw before they died? Before he killed them? Is this what Abigail saw last?

He pulled his eyes away quickly at the thought of Abigail, he'd forgotten about her, so much had been happening to him.

"Will?" Hannibal said again. Sliding the hand from Wills back, to the back of his neck, gripping it a little.

He didn't feel like he should refuse, not as he was now. Nodding his head, he looked back again, avoiding eye contact this time.

"Yes...Please."

The corner of Hannibals mouth curled as he smirked like usual when he found something amusing.

"Wonderful."