An: I should probably tell you all that my vision of Abigail isn't the actress who plays her but Emma Watson. I don't know why but I always thought she would be a better choice than the actress picked.
-o-
Abigail slowly walked to her mirror and looked herself over. It had been five days and she was being released into the care of Hannibal. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. There were so many things about Hannibal that she didn't know. But there was one thing she did know, he had no problem hiding a body or making a rapist doctor disappear. She had wanted to ask Hannibal what he had done but Will had been at his side the whole time. She heard a knock and jumped before turning to the door.
"Come in." she called.
"Good morning." Hannibal said walking in with a warm smile.
"Morning." She said with a small wave and it made Hannibal smile more. She had become more relaxed upon finding out she would be moving in with him.
"I had what little items you had moved to your new room at my house, well our house now." She smiled softly.
"Thank you, that was very kind of you."
"I didn't want you to have to go back there, I hope the room is to your liking, Alana helped me with the décor." He said as he looked over his cufflinks to make sure they were straight.
"Is it pink?"
"Of course not." He said and she laughed softly.
"That's good." She said with a soft expression.
"Here…" He held out a box and she walked over with a small smile.
"What's this?" She inquired looking over the white box which was wrapped in a blue ribbon.
"A house warming gift." He said and she smiled softly as she walked over to her bed and pulled the ribbon. It was in that moment as he watched her undo the ribbon that he noticed how long and slender her fingers were. She set the ribbon aside after folding it delicately and opened the box. She smiled softly at a beautiful blood red scarf that rested inside.
"Oh it's stunning…" She said with a bright smile as her fingers touched it. "It's so soft…"
"I wanted it to be as to not irritate your neck." He said with a smile as he picked up the scarf. She smiled as he slowly and carefully draped it around her neck. "It's a lovely shade on you with your red hair." He said with a smile.
"Thank you Hannibal."
"Of course. I have three others waiting for you at home… A green, Blue, and Purple one."
"That's very kind."
"It's the least I can do as your guardian, so are you ready to see your new home?" She nodded with a smile. "Shall we be off then?"
"Yes…" She followed him to the door and froze. "Oh wait." She ran to her bedside and picked up her book. "Okay I'm ready now." He smiled and held open the door for her. "Where's Dr. Bloom and Will?" She asked.
"They are with Jack at the institution…" he said.
"Yes, I heard you told them the names-."
"Not all of them…" he said with a smile as he held open another door for her.
"I heard that Dr. Clarkson disappeared…" she said softly as they walked into the parking lot.
"I wish I could say what a shame but not after what he did to you." He said holding open the door of his car for her. She slowly snuck in and he closed the door. She took a breath and watched him walk around to the drivers side and slip in.
"Why did he disappear?" She asked.
"Because of what he did to you…" he said as he revved the engine. "If those other men get off, which I doubt, or if they are ever released, I will make them disappear as well… I'm sorry I couldn't take care of all of them." She looked to him.
"It would have been too suspicious…" She said and he nodded with a smile. "Can I ask another question?" He nodded. "Why did you choose Dr. Clarkson out of all of them?"
"He abused his station, and your trust, besides he was the one most likely to get off… Even if he did what he did to you many times, his connections would have made it easier for him to get off on all the charges…"
"What a fair world…" She muttered looking out the window. "Thank you for delivering me justice…" he looked to her and smiled softly before looking back out onto the open road.
"May I ask you a question now?"
"Anything."
"Why did you try to kill yourself?" her jaw clenched.
"You're just like my mom." She said with a smile. "She'd get me onto the road in the car with no escape to ask me the hard questions…"
"The oldest trick in the book I wish I could do it with my patients."
"Am I patient?"
"No but nice deflection." He said with a smile. "You said I could ask you anything, so why did you try and kill yourself?"
"It will sound cliché…"
"Try me." He said.
"I was in agony." He sat up. In all his time in therapy he had never heard it put in such a way. "I just wanted it to stop…"
"That's not cliché at all… In fact I have never heard it put in such a way…"
"Want to hear something horrible?" She asked softly.
"Only if you wish to say something horrible…"
"Nothing has made me want to end my life more than everyone's reaction to me trying to commit suicide… They keep giving me these looks like how could you do such a thing… Like it's some big crime… The way I see it it's my life I can do what I want with it, even ending it…"
"I hope for my sake you won't try to again…" He said and she slowly looked down at her mitted hands.
"There's no point… You've already proven that if you wish so you can keep me here alive…" She admitted softly.
"Don't forget it." She slowly looked to him. "Are you still in agony?"
"Not as much as before…" She replied. "But I'm hopped up on pain pills so I expect I'll be feeling good until late spring…" He smiled. "I'm sorry…" he looked to her. "I shouldn't have put you in in the position I did."
"Did you know I would be waiting in the woods?"
"No." She said. "I went to the lake to write my confession amongst my drawings, but nothing was coming out right, then you showed up… I figured who better to deliver my note but a therapist."
"Opportunity knocked." He said.
"And I just had to open the door… Still I'm sorry it wasn't right of me to use you like that."
"Thank you Abigail." He nodded. "Very adult of you to apologize." She smiled softly.
-o-
Abigail smiled as they pulled into his home. He got out of the car and opened the door for her. She smiled softly as she slipped out her eyes looking over the house. It was massive. Huge, and she wondered if he ever got lonely living in such a big home. They walked up the drive way together and Hannibal held out a key for her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Your key." He said. "This is your home you can come and go as you want I just ask that you lock the door when you leave, and to not stay out passed seven." She raised an eyebrow and he smiled. "Seven thirty." She quirked the other eyebrow. "Fine nine." She smiled as she gingerly took the key in hand. "Go ahead and unlock the door." She smiled as she put the key in and with a loud click the door opened up.
"Oh wow…" She said with a soft expression as she walked in the key firmly held in hand. She had imagined his house to be just like his office and she was right. Still with the crisp silver walls and black wood flooring. "Your home is beautiful."
"Our home." He corrected. "Can I take your coat?"
"Oh uhm yes thank you." She said as she unbuttoned the pea coat and he helped her shrug out of it. She slowly moved forward and looked around the living room which was walled in books and one sitting chair. It was definitely a bachelor pad. Meant for one person, and she wondered how she was going to fit in.
"Want to see your bedroom?" he asked.
"Of course uhm where is it?" she asked.
"Here…" he pushed on a wall and she took a step back as she watched it swing and reveal a stair well.
"I was wondering where the stairs were." She said with a smile.
"I like my entertaining space to be separate from my living space." He said with a smile and she nodded as she headed up the stairs. They walked down a long hallway and she tilted her head seeing the walls covered with art, instead of photographs of family and friends like her last homes hallways were lined with.
"My room is at the other side of the hallway." He said pointing to it. "Yours is at the other end I wanted to give you as much privacy as I could." He said with a smile as he opened a door. "I hope the room is to your liking." The room was much different than the rest of the house. It had crisp white floors and sage green walls. She smiled at a huge queen sized bed covered in an Emerald green bed spread. She smiled softly at the corner of the room filled with an empty book case and a small white chair by a wall that was made of glass and led out onto a balcony. Hannibal watched and for a moment he was nervous as she looked around the room. Worried that she didn't like what he had done.
"This is so perfect." She said with a smile as she turned to look at him. "It's wonderful thank you so much." He smiled.
"It has a bathroom connected." He said walking over to a door. "And a walk in closet." He opened another and she laughed. "You'll have to fill this of course so I'm having Alana take you shopping for some new clothes, some more fitting to my life style."
"Life style?" She asked.
"As my charge you will accompany me to fellow therapist's houses for dinner, symphonies, art galleries…"
"And I can't where skinny jeans and studded boots to things like that." She said with a smile.
"No you cannot." He said with a smile.
"I hope I don't embarrass you."
"You don't have to worry about that at all." He said with a smile. "You are a very polite young lady." She smiled. "Well why don't you get settled in and then you can help me start preparing dinner, Will and Alana will be joining us."
"I'm settled in." she said with a smile.
"Well then let's get started you can help me pick out what we're going to eat tonight." She smiled as she followed him out of her room and down the stairs. They walked through the house and Abigail smiled as they entered the kitchen.
"Wow this kitchen is huge…"
"I do a lot of entertaining." He said with a smile.
"You're into cooking? I think I remember Alana mentioning that now that I think about it."
"Do you like to cook?" Hannibal asked.
"Mom did all the cooking, I'd help sometimes, but she always said the kitchen was a one woman realm and there wasn't room… You saw the kitchen though it was pretty tiny. I'd like to learn though."
"Well tonight we'll start learning." He said with a smile as he motioned for her to come over to the counter. "This is my recipe box." He said as she walked around the counter and stood at his side. "Choose an appetizer, a dinner, and a dessert."
"Me? Choose?"
"Yes It's your dinner so, go ahead and choose." She smiled as she looked down at the recipe box and opened it up.
"Okay…" She moved through the recipes and he watched her look at nearly each one before smiling and going back to choose what she wanted. "Are these okay?" she asked setting them out.
"Twice baked Brie..." he read. "Good choice." She smiled. "Carre d'Agneau…. Another good choice… Croquembouche for dessert."
"I chose it because I liked the name." He smiled.
"Crème puffs a favorite of Alanas… Go to the cupboard and find as many of the ingredients as you can and put them in order of which course they go into."
"Right." She said before looking around to see there were hardly any cup boards. "Uhm."
"Oh here." He walked over to a wall and pushed on it to reveal the cupboard.
"This house may be a little tricky to learn." She said with a smile as she walked over with the appetizer recipe. "I like that everything isn't what it seems though."
"It's what drew me to the house." He said with a smile before the phone rang as he opened his freezer and saw the packs of precious meat.
"That's probably Alana checking up on you, the phone is in the living room." He said "Go ahead and answer it." She set the things down on the counter before running out of the kitchen in the way only a young girl could run. He smiled softly before looking back at the meat a new fond memory flooding into his mind as he did.
Hannibal smiled as he watched the car behind him slowly fall behind. He drove a little ways before stopping and reversing back. He smiled more seeing Dr. Clarkson get out of his car and walk to his tire. Hannibal got out as he put his leather gloves on.
"Car trouble?" He asked as he walked to Dr. Clarkson who was kneeling by his front tire.
"Yep looks like I've got a flat." He said.
"Too bad." Hannibal said. Dr. Clarkson jumped as Hannibal put him in a standard choke hold. He smiled as he watched the man struggle in his grasp before falling limp. It was fitting he'd stop fighting for his life so soon. At first he though the man was just scum, now he knew him to be a coward. Abigail's friend Marissa had fought for her life longer then this man had.
"Hannibal?" he turned and looked to Abigail who was smiling. "Alana wants to talk to you."
"I'll be right back then." He said pulling the meat and setting it down on the counter before heading to the phone in the living room.
"Hannibal?" He heard Alanas voice come through the phone.
"Dr. Bloom." He greeted.
"I spoke to Abigail she sounds much better."
"She's helping me cook dinner for tonight." He said.
"Must be nice to have someone to cook with."
"Well not so much cook with, I'm afraid she doesn't know her way around a kitchen, but she's willing to learn."
"I'm sure you'll be a great teacher… Hannibal, has she mentioned anything about the… Well the rapes?"
"No not at all not since she told me the names why?"
"Well Jack was searching Dr. Clarksons room since he disappeared, for clues."
"And?" he asked.
"He… He found tapes."
"Tapes?" Hannibal asked tilting his head as he looked into the kitchen to see Abigail placing items on the counter.
"It seems that Dr. Clarkson was abusing his power… He had been molesting and sexually abusing many of the female patients here… There's a tape with Abigails name on it and according to Jack there are numerous liaisons with her…"
"Liaison would suggest it was consensual."
"Well… According to Jack she really didn't fight him off…"
"Yes but as we remember Jack isn't fond of Abigail."
"That's what Will said."
"Well Will would be right… Maybe you should watch the tape."
"Maybe… Well maybe you can question her about it."
"Today is a day to welcome her home and get her settled in, I'm sorry but I won't talk of rape on this day… See you at six." He hung up the phone and turned to see Abigail walking in.
"The crème puffs call for vanilla but all I can find is vanilla bean." She said.
"I must have run out." He said with a smile.
"Do you have bourbon?" she asked.
"I do." He said. "But I will not offer you a drink." She smiled.
"I wasn't asking you too. I can make vanilla with the bourbon, my mom used to make it and sell fresh vanilla at the farmers market near my old house."
"Alright then let me get the bourbon." She nodded with a smile before heading into the kitchen. Hannibal pulled the bottle from a secure cabinet and brought it over to a cutting board.
"I need a really small sharp knife." She said.
"That would be called a pantilla knife or pairing knife." He said handing it over.
"Pantilla…" She said.
"Here…" he took her hand and wrapped it around the knife properly. "Now curl your knuckles and pin the bean down that way if you slip you hit your knuckle and not risk cutting a finger tip off."
"That's always good." She said with a smile as she did what he said. "Like this?"
"Perfect." He said with an approving smile. As he worked over the meant he watched as she carefully cut open the vanilla bean and scrape out the contents inside into the bourbon before curling up the left over bean and sticking it inside.
"If you have something to keep this in it'll get better and better as time goes on." She said.
"In the cupboard I have pickling jars." He said and she nodded as she walked over and took one in hand. She put the contents of the bowl into the jar and closed it up before setting it aside. Without Hannibal even having to ask she immediately started to clean. "Here Alana told me all teenage girls were messy."
"Most of them are, my mom says I was a rarity, then again she gave me a toy vacuum when I was four so maybe she just programmed me to be that way." She said with a smile. When she was done she walked to his side. "You package your own meat?" She asked and he looked to her.
"What makes you say that?"
"These are standard vacuum bags, my dad used to use them with dear meat…" She said before looking over his hands. "You don't hunt your own meat… At least not with a gun…" She said quietly before looking to the packaged meat. "This…" she picked up one of the bags and tilted her head. Hannibal watched her carefully as her jaw clenched. "Hannibal where did you get this meat?" She asked softly.
"Would you believe me if I said I got it from a farmers market?"
"Is that what you want me to believe?" she asked looking to him and he smiled. "Farmers market it is." She said before setting it down. "They're not ever going to find Dr. Clarkson again are they?"
"When I told you, you didn't have to worry about him, I meant it." Hannibal watched as she stared at the meat.
"I guess I'm going to know what revenge tastes like." She said before walking away and Hannibal watched her with a smile. She leaned against the counter and faced him as she watched him slice up the meat like a pro. "Where'd you learn to cook?"
"Here and there."
"Where's here and there?"
"Mostly there not here." She laughed softly the first time he had heard her do so.
"You're funny." He smiled as he looked down at the meat. It was the first time he had ever heard anyone say such a thing about him. "Funny ha ha not like funny fool ha."
"You have an interesting way of explaining things."
"Interesting like you can't understand me or interesting in a quirky endearing makes complete sense kind of way?"
"Interesting in a run on sentence kind of way." She smiled.
"In a quirky endearing run on sentence kind of way?" He laughed and she smiled. "That's the first time I've ever heard you laugh." She said and he looked to her. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone, I know you have a staunch tailored persona to uphold."
"You think me staunch?" He asked.
"You make it sound like it's a bad word to describe you or insulting, the definition of staunch though is a person who is loyal and committed in attitude…" He looked to her. "That doesn't sound so bad to me."
"Guess not." He said with a smile before continuing to slice the meat. "Why don't you start on the sauce for our main course Abigail, then I want you to go upstairs and get ready for dinner."
"Aye aye chef captain man." She said and he smiled more.
-o-
Hannibal walked into the dining room and stopped seeing Abigail smiling as she looked over the table she had set. She had a very accomplished look and he could understand why. After all it was a beautiful setting with freshly cut flowers she had arranged herself. There was definitely a more feminine feel to the room then before, and Hannibal didn't so much mind.
"I did this and it's perfect." She said with a smile and Hannibal nodded.
"The forks are in the wrong place." He said with a smile.
"I did this and it was nearly perfect." She said and he smiled again as she quickly re did the silverware.
"You'll catch on." He said with a smile.
"I have a feeling living with you I'm going to become one amazing entertainer."
"I imagine you will." The door bell rang.
"Should I get it?"
"It's your house too." He said and she smiled as she walked past him. Hannibal bowed his head as her scent hit him. She never wore perfume yet she had a naturally sweet smell to her. Like clover honey, he hoped she would never mask that scent with perfume.
"Look at you, you look adorable." He heard Alana said. Hannibal had bought her a dress for that night. It was emerald green with a fitted bodice and lace skirt that flared out from the waist which had a skinny black belt resting around her. To top it off she had a black sweater covering her arms and black ballet flats.
"It's a pretty dress." Will said his jaw clenching as he looked all around.
"Hannibal got it for me… He's spoiling me I think he's trying to win me over." She whispered to Alana who smiled. "He doesn't know he has but I'm going to let him continue to spoil me for a while."
"Is that so?" Hannibal asked and she snapped her fingers.
"I've been found out I'll have to kill him now and assume all his assets." Hannibal smiled even more as he looked her over while Alana laughed.
"Could probably happen…" Will said and Abigail moved forward.
"Come on Will come see my amazing attempt at table setting." She said wrapping an arm around his and leading him off.
"She smiled." Alana said and Hannibal looked to her. "She has never smiled in my presence."
"This was a good change."
"I guess so…" She said feeling slightly like a failure.
"Shall we?" he asked.
"Yes of course." She said following him to the dining room. "So Abigail I have some good news."
"Yeah?" She asked standing at Wills side.
"They caught those boys and they cracked under interrogation, we expect them to plead guilty…"
"That's good… How long will they get?" She asked.
"We won't know until the trial."
"Am I going to have to testify?" She asked.
"Not if they plead guilty." Hannibal said.
"Well good I'm glad they cracked under the pressure…" She said.
"So Abigail…" Alana began. "You heard about Dr. Clarkson right?" Her jaw clenched at Alana's question.
"Yeah he uhm disappeared while changing a tire or something?" She asked taking a sip of water. "I think Will mentioned it."
"I did." He said with a nod.
"Well Jack was going through his things and… He found some tapes…" Alana said.
"Tapes?" She asked.
"Alana…" Hannibal said his jaw clenching. "Not tonight…"
"What not tonight?" She asked and Hannibal was surprised at how genuine her question was.
"They found tapes of his sessions." Will said. "Of… Girls…"
"Girls?" she asked. "Like us patients?" Alana and Will nodded as they looked her over. "Isn't it like normal for Therapists to tape their sessions?" She asked looking to Hannibal. "I think I saw that in a movie or something…"
"These weren't Audio tapes like Therapists sometimes use Abigail… It was video." Alana said.
"That's rude, don't you need permission to video tape someone?" She asked her jaw clenching as she thumbed her water glass.
"Yes, yes you do." Alana said as she cleared her throat. "Any idea what was on those tapes?"
"I'm guessing our sessions?" She asked with a blank look. "Which honestly are a bit fuzzy now that I'm thinking about it."
"Fuzzy?" Alana asked.
"Yeah uhm… It's strange I don't remember much…" She knitted her brow and Hannibal felt like applauding her acting. "It's all kind of… Slow…" He tilted his head, she was telling the truth just then.
"Slow?" Will asked.
"Yeah like flashes… I don't really want to talk about this anymore." She said quickly. "I don't mean to be rude but Dr. Lecter worked really hard on preparing a meal and I feel like this discussion is putting a damper on the evening…"
"I quite agree." Hannibal said. "Very politely put." Abigail smiled softy as a ding sounded. "That would be the brie."
"I'll bring it out." Abigail said with a smile.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yeah you've been on your feet all day cooking…" She walked to the kitchen and as soon as the door closed she leaned against the counter and took a shaky breath.
"Was that needed?" Will asked Alana before Hannibal could. "That wasn't okay."
"We just got valuable information…" Alana said. "From what it sounds like she was drugged it would be why she didn't fight back…"
"Which would get Jack off her back." Will said.
"Maybe that's not so bad then…" Hannibal said. Abigail backed up into the room and carried the brie over and set it down.
"Smells wonderful." Alana said.
"I'll be right back with the baguette." She said with a smile before heading into the kitchen.
"I must insist we not talk about this anymore to her." Hannibal said.
"Agreed…" Alana said. "I'm sorry I just so want Jack to lay off of her… She's been through enough now she doesn't need an FBI agent on her back."
"Agreed." Abigail said walking in with the warm pieces of sliced bread. "Thanks for your concern Dr. Bloom I really do appreciate it."
"Well… You're welcome Abigail." She said with a smile.
-o-
"Look how beautiful this is…" Alana said looking down at her plate.
"What is this?" Will asked loving the smell.
"Carre d'Agneau… Roasted rack of lamb served over garlic rosemary demi-grace garnished with flageolet beans…" Hannibal said. "Abigail picked it out and made the sauce."
"I feel quite accomplished." She said with a smile as Alana laughed softly. She was seeing a new side to the teen and she had to admit she quite liked it. Hannibal watched as they all cut in his eyes more focused on Abigail. He smiled more when he watched her take a bite of the meat.
"So…" Hannibal said and she looked to him. "How does it taste?"
"I find it tastes sweet… I like it." Hannibal smiled as he started to eat himself.
So revenge really does taste sweet… He took a bite and smiled to himself.
"It does taste sweet…" He said and Abigail smiled to herself.
"I don't get that at all…" Alana said and Abigail laughed softly. The door bell sounded and Abigail sat up.
"Are we expecting company?" Will asked.
"No." Hannibal said looking confused.
"I'll go see who it is…" Abigail said heading off. Hannibal sat quietly as he listened. Abigail walked to the door and opened it up slowly before seeing Jack. "Mr. Crawford." She said slightly surprised.
"Would you mind stepping outside for a moment Abigail?" he asked.
"Okay…" She knew to listen to him things went easier that way. When she stepped out she jumped as a man rushed at her from the side. Form the dining room Hannibal heard a sound of pain and leapt to his feet before rushing out Alana and Will following.
"Don't touch me!" They watched as a police officer went to grab Abigail. She parried his hand away before slapping the other one.
"Now you've done it." Jack said with a smile. "Abigail Hobbs you are now under arrest for assaulting a police officer."
"What do you expect her to do she's a rape victim!" Alana said. "You can't just have men reach at her like that!"
"What is the meaning of this?" Hannibal asked. He stayed still as he watched officer throw Abigail against the wall her cheek smacking against it as he did. "Is that force necessary?"
"Well you tell me she just assaulted a police officer…" Jack said as she was led off to a police car.
"Abigail don't worry just cooperate!" Hannibal called as she sent him a pleading look.
"Where are they taking her?" Will asked.
"To the station for questioning about the disappearance of Dr. Clarkson." Jack said.
"You're stretching now." Will said.
"Alana here's Abigail's key please shut down my kitchen and close up I'm going to the station." Hannibal said grabbing his car keys and running to his car.
-o-
Abigail sat in the dimly lit room her hands held in her lap. She felt like she had been there for hours. Her head ached and so did her cheek thanks to the officer who had thrown her against the wall. She didn't mean to fight back but the second that police officer had approached her she had felt the panic she had with her assaults.
Jack had come in and out of the room over a hundred times. Each time asking a question. When he didn't like her answer he'd leave her there alone. It was starting to wear thin, and she was admittedly getting very tired. She jumped as Jack walked into the room the door slamming against the wall as he did.
"I'm sorry did I wake you up?" He asked.
"No." She said. "You just startled me."
"Now that's interesting… You getting startled after everything you've done."
"What exactly have I done?" She asked before yawning.
"God she's exhausted…" Alana said with a soft expression from the viewing room.
"Why hasn't she asked for a lawyer it's been five hours?" Will asked.
"I think she's trying to show Jack her cooperation." Hannibal said.
"You know what you've done." Jack said.
"Clearly I don't…" Abigail said. "Mr. Crawford as much as you'd like me to be I'm not my father, I'm Abigail… I'm seventeen years old, I like to read paint and draw…" He got up and started to leave and she stood up. "And I don't kill people!" She shouted as he left the room. "God damn it." She said as she sat back down.
"How long are you going to keep this up?" Alana asked.
"Until she tells the truth." Jack said.
"Hannibal you're her guardian you have rights too rights that allow you to protect hers." Alana said and Hannibal bowed his head.
"I would but… Clearly Abigail doesn't want that."
"It's not about what she wants."
"Can I at least get another bandage for my neck!? I have to change mine out ever three hours and it's been more than that!" she called. "I think…" She muttered looking off to the side with a hopeless look.
"Get her that bandage or I will call my lawyer." Hannibal said and Jack slowly walked off to get the first aid kit. After a few minutes he walked back in and Abigail perked up. Hannibal could see the surprise on her face seeing Jack holding the first aid kit. He sat down and slid it over to her.
"Thank you…" She said with a genuine look.
"Did you open your wound back up because of the rapes or because of the guilt?" He asked as she pulled a bandage out.
"Would it be strange for me to say that I didn't do it because of the assaults?" she asked quietly as she changed her bandage out over her neck.
"So it was because of the guilt…" Jack said with a smile figuring he had a confession on the horizon.
"I kept having this dream…" She said looking to him. "I didn't tell Dr. Bloom or Dr. Lecter about it… But uhm…" She shifted in her seat. "I would be in group talking about what my dad did." He nodded. "And when I looked up at the group it was made up of the girls my dad killed and they all kept shouting at me that they deserved to live more… And after a while I started to believe them…" She bowed her head. "I still… Kind of believe them… I do believe them." Jack looked her over she was being completely genuine. "I wish I could bring closure to the families… I wish I knew what my dad did with them."
"You do know though." Jack said.
"No I don't, I mean I have ideas, Will said my dad would honor every part of them like he honored the deer he killed, I figure he must have found a way to use the girls the same way… Like I don't know stuffing pillows with their hair or something…" She shuddered with a disgusted look. "Or you know making putty out of teeth…" Jack looked her over. "Or…" her voice trailed off.
"Or?" he asked.
"No you've already looked there."
"Looked where?" He asked.
"The freezer."
"Yes in the basement it was emptied you all had… Eaten whatever was left."
"No the other freezer." She said with an obvious look.
"What other freezer?" He asked sitting forward.
"You're serious?" She inquired blinking.
"What other freezer Abigail?!" he yelled and she jumped.
"The one he had at the local hunting cabin." She said quickly.
"No way…" Alana said softly.
"His cabin?" Jack asked.
"No the hunting cabin is a place in the woods where you could get ammo, uhm, arrows whatever you like but for avid hunters they rented out large freezers… They only had five mind you but dad had a standing rental on it…" She shifted in her seat. "He and mom used to fight about it all the time."
"We didn't see a rental slip in his financials." Jack said.
"Well he had one, I can tell you the number and everything…"
"Was it month to month?" he asked.
"Yeah but he paid it all upfront, big bills and everything." She said.
"He paid cash?" Jack asked.
"I guess so yeah…"
"That's why it wasn't in his financials." Jack said. "We'll look into it." She nodded slowly.
"Sorry I never mentioned it, I thought you guys would have found it…" She said and he slowly nodded.
"No paper trail no finding." He said.
"Didn't know there wasn't a paper trail…" She said. "You hate me even more now don't you?"
"I don't hate you."
"Clearly you do, you come at me all the time…" she shook her head. "Sorry that was rude."
"Did you like Dr. Clarkson?" Jack asked and the question caught her off guard.
"Uhm I don't know he was okay I guess." She said with a shrug.
"Okay?" he asked.
"Yeah I mean… A little weird…"
"Weird how?" He asked.
"He would kind of…" She looked up in thought. "Lurk I guess is the word."
"Lurk?"
"Yeah like around the girls rooms and stuff… I hated going to his sessions…"
"Why?"
"Because I never left feeling right… Actually I don't even remember leaving." She shook her head. "Do I have to talk about this?"
"I think we do…" He said. "We found tapes…"
"That's what Will and Dr. Bloom said."
"Know what's on them?" He asked.
"I would guess our sessions."
"What happened during your sessions?"
"Oh you know the…" Her voice trailed off as she looked up in thought. "The… Usual I guess…"
"She looks completely confused…" Alana said softly.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked.
"Uhm nothing… I just can't remember really what I said to him… Just hello and then… flashes…"
"Flashes?" Jack asked. "Flashes of what?" She took a deep breath.
"I want Dr. Lecter…" She said and Jack stiffened. "I want Dr. Lecter, my guardian now… I know my rights and I'm allowed to consult a parent or guardian when in the presence of a law enforcement agent…"
"Wow…" Alana said blinking. "She got defensive fast."
"Think she's remembering?" Will asked.
"I think she doesn't want to talk about what she is remembering." Hannibal said as Jack walked in.
"You can take her home." Jack said with a heavy sigh.
"You're releasing her?" Hannibal asked.
"I think I may know what's going on…" Jack said.
"What about the charges?" Will asked.
"I'm dropping them." He said his jaw clenching. Hannibal walked into the interrogation room and Abigail sat up.
"I've come to liberate you, you're free to go, let's go home." He said and she gave a shaky sigh of relief. When they got to the car Hannibal looked her over. "You were very good in there." He said.
"I really can't believe they didn't find that other freezer…" She said.
"I meant about Dr. Clarkson… You looked like you really didn't know…"
"The first few times I didn't then I started having the flashes..." She said. "I slowly started to realize what was happening… I tried to figure out how he was drugging me, from the water he handed me when I walked in to the mints that he offered, but I never did figure it out…"
"You seem detached from what has happened to you…"
"I have more important things to deal with then that." She said and he glanced at her as he drove. His eyes went over her cheek to see a light bruise and cut. "How is your cheek?"
"Stings a bit…" She muttered. "Do you think Jack trusts me yet?"
"No." He said.
"Is he ever going to get off my back?"
"No."
"So I'm going to have an FBI agent on my ass for the rest of my life?"
"Language, and no… For the rest of his life…" he watched her eyes flash. "You can't kill him."
"I wasn't going to…"
"You were thinking about it…"
"Everyone thinks of killing someone at some point…" She muttered.
"Yes but very few of the capability of doing so."
"I wouldn't kill Crawford…"
"Why not?"
"He hasn't done anything to deserve it…" she buried her hands into her face. "I should have just turned my dad in when I found out about him and what he was doing…" she sat back in her seat.
"Why didn't you?"
"I had my reasons…" She muttered.
"Like?" he watched her jaw clench. "Maybe later…"
"Maybe…" she muttered quietly.
"You must be tired, it's midnight after all and you were sitting in that room for hours."
"I'm a little tired…" She said.
"I was surprised you didn't crack."
"He's not ever going to crack me… He'll get the information I want him to have." Hannibal smiled. She was impressing him more and more.
"Tomorrow I have patients all day, I don't want to leave you at home knowing Jack has it out for you… I don't want him to come arrest you once more when I'm not there… So I was wondering if you might like a job…"
"A Job?" she asked.
"I have been without a receptionist for many months now… It would be easy for you, you would greet my patients and offer them water, you could bring your laptop or books to pass the time, would you be interested in that?"
"Sure." She said with a smile. "But could I volunteer?" She asked. "I need an internship for some credits."
"Yes that could work." He said with a smile.
-o-
When they got to the house Abigail sighed and walked to the dining room. The dinner was still sitting there all but ruined. She tilted her head at her plate and shrugged.
"At least I got a tiny taste of revenge."
"There will be more opportunities." He said and she smiled softly.
"Well I'll clean up."
"Let me you must be tired." He said.
"No, you cooked I clean."
"Abigail as your guardian I am ordering you to go up to bed." He said and she smiled.
"Well as your teenage charge I will jut out my jaw and ignore that order." She said before moving past him and grabbing a few plates. Hannibal smiled to himself before slowly grabbing a platter and following her out.