Hannibal smiled as he watched Abigail walk into the kitchen. Her hair rolled around her in perfect tossed waves. She was wearing an emerald green lace dress with a dropped ribbon lined pleated skirt that rested just above her thigh. She finished it up with her emerald green flats.
"Does this look casual but still dressy enough for a nice dinner?" She asked.
"You look lovely, as always." He said as he grabbed the slab of shoulder from the fridge and unpackaged it.
"Are you going to tenderize it?" She asked.
"You have to with this cut… Want to learn?" He asked and she smiled instantly.
"Please." She said walking over her apron now secured around her waist. She moved in front of the counter and set her hands on the meat. "So how do I do this?" she asked and she smiled softly as Hannibal set his big hands on hers and began to guide them over the meat.
"Grip onto the meat and begin to roll it across the board…"
"Like this?"
"Very good Abigail." He said with a smile as he looked her over. "Very good…" Abigail took a deep breath feeling Hannibal move up behind her closer, there was no space between their bodies anymore.
Will put on his coat as he walked up the driveway of Hannibal's house. He had called Hannibal to tell him he was coming earlier having been close by while investigating the grisly murder of the reporter at the docks. He was told by Hannibal to just go ahead and walk in seeing as he and Abigail would be busy cooking. So that's what he did. He walked right into the house. Instantly he heard a laugh and came to a stop. It was Abigail's. Abigail was laughing. He slowly walked to the doorway of the kitchen and stopped.
Hannibal was standing behind Abigail. His hands over hers as he slowly helped her kneed a slab of meat. He watched the way Hannibal set his chin down on her shoulder making him hunch over her body. She laughed softly as he whispered something in her ear. She looked up at Hannibal and smiled and Will watched as Hannibal smiled back down at her.
"Definitely a good cut…" Abigail said and Hannibal laughed quietly as he inadvertently nuzzled her hair, allowed her sweet scent to fill his senses. Then a second scent hit him, a sick scent. He looked down at Abigail instantly concerned for her health. The second he realized it wasn't coming from her he moved back away from Abigail while smiling and looked to the door.
"Oh, hello Will." He said and Abigail looked up.
"Will." She said with a bright smile. He slowly walked in and nodded.
"Abigail, how are you?" he asked.
"I'm okay." She said with a smile. "Hannibal is trying to teach me how to tenderize meat." She said as she continued to kneed the cut of shoulder.
"That's a big slab I'm guessing we're celebrating…" Will said as he eyed Hannibal.
"No just having a nice dinner to discuss whatever kind of book Miss Lounds wishes to write about me."
"What about the clearing of your name?" Will asked. "Is that not something to celebrate?" Her jaw clenched and she merely shrugged. "Because if it wasn't, I would feel silly for getting you this…" he said pulling a present from his messenger bag.
"Will you didn't have to do that." She said with a smile moving away from the meat to clean her hands.
"Of course I did… After the hell the FBI has put you through you definitely deserve something…" Hannibal watched as Abigail abandoned the meat to go to Will. He knew he shouldn't feel aggravated. After all what Abigail did was the polite thing to do. Drop everything to receive Wills gift.
"Thank you so much, may I open it now?"
"Please do…" he said. "I thought this might come in handy for when we go fishing." She smiled as she brought it over to the counter and meticulously undid the wrapping. She brought out a leather case and slowly opened it up. "Oh hey…" She said with a bright smile. "This is a fly making kit."
"I'm surprised you know what this is." Will said walking to her side.
"My dad used to take me to the hunters lodge to get supplies, the owner Mr. Mason…" She smiled looking to him. "He made the most beautiful flys, so beautiful no one ever bought them because no one wanted to ruin them. He'd get so angry… I saved up my allowance for a whole six months to buy the prettiest one…" Will smiled at the way her eyes lit up.
"What happened to it?" he asked.
"It's probably still at the house…" She said looking over all the fine feathers and silk strings. "This is going to be awesome…" She said with a smile. "After dinner if it's not too late will you show me how to get one started?" She asked.
"Sure, if you want I can head up to your room and get everything set up for you."
"No way I want to learn." She said with a smile and he nodded. "Maybe I can make us some lucky flys for when we fish."
"That's the dream, I'm having no luck with me." He said nudging her she turned and hugged him.
"Thank you so much this is so amazing." She said. "I'm going to take it up to my room… I'll be right back." Will watched her walk out of the room and Hannibal tilted his head.
"You look taken aback Will." Hannibal said as he continued to kneed the meat. Will slowly looked to him.
"I'm not used to people hugging me."
"I suspected as much. I'm surprised you didn't reject it outright."
"I don't seem to mind shows of affection from Abigail…" He said walking over to the counter. "Has she mentioned anything about the interrogation by Jack, her confession?"
"She broke down for a little while right after we left the FBI, then she was fine."
"Fine?" He asked and Hannibal looked up at him. "How could she be fine after having that shoved in her face?"
"She's not…" Hannibal said simply. "Abigail has a survivor's mentality. She has the extraordinary ability to compartmentalize things. She takes things that upset her and pack them away deep inside her mind… Puts on a pretty smile, holds her head high, and keeps going like nothing has happened… She's brave through and through… Too brave." Will looked to him.
"You think she'll snap?" Will asked.
"Like when she tried to kill herself?" he asked. "No I don't think she would do that to us again… After all when Abigail did that it was because she was like that of a wounded animal, cornered, with no other choices but death… She has other choices now… Still I am worried what will happen if she continues to bury her true emotions."
"Instead of talking about worries you have about to one another why not discuss them with me?" She asked walking into the room.
"It's rude to evesdrop." Hannibal said.
"It's rude to talk about someone behind their back." She said with a smile.
"Good point." Will said.
"You guys forget I talk about my deep seeded issues with my psychologist Dr. Bloom, not with you too."
"Another good point." Will said. "You would tell us if you were going-."
"To kill myself?" she asked and he nodded. "Probably not… People who really want to commit suicide don't talk about doing it first... Or at least that's how I see things. But I can honestly say I have no plans to kill myself, I'm too busy trying to get into Yale." She grabbed a stack of plates while Hannibal smiled.
"Yale?" Will asked.
"Didn't Hannibal tell you I want to be a forensic psychiatrist, so I can become a profiler for the FBI… Just like you." She said as she walked past him.
"You can't let her be like me." Will instantly said to Hannibal who couldn't help but laugh.
"She doesn't have your empathy disorder Will… She'll be fine. She's stronger than most think."
"Damn skippy, I'm almost a titan." She said nudging Will who laughed as she grabbed four wine glasses and heading back out into the dining room.
"She seems happier than before even if she's had a rough time as of late…" Will looked to Hannibal. "You… Seem happy too." Hannibal looked up at him.
"I am… She's fulfilled a part of my life that I never knew needed fulfillment."
"A parental fulfillment?" Will asked and Hannibal took a long look at him. He could see it. Suspicion deep in Wills eyes.
"Of course…" He said and Will slowly nodded looking off. "So how is investigating the murder of that reporter?"
"All we've found out so far is what he was working on at the time of his death. Interestingly enough he was writing an article about Abigail."
"Who isn't?" she asked and Will laughed lightly.
"He had in his notes that he met with you actually…"
"I don't think so, the only reporter I've met with is Freddie Lounds." She said grabbing another stack of plates.
"You're sure."
"I'm very sure and to be honest I didn't so much meet her as she was sitting beside my bed when I woke up and I haven't been able to shake her since."
"You haven't been confronted by any other Reporters?"
"Sure lots." She said. "But I haven't had any meetings with any other reporters then Miss Lounds." She said looking to him. "I thought you were asking if I had meetings with reporters not just bumping into them which happens a lot…"
"Any that stick out in your mind?" He asked.
"First one that comes up was this ass…" Her voice trailed off as Hannibal sent her a look.
"Language…" he said.
"This very not nice man who was basically the embodiment of the backside of a donkey." Abigail said.
"Better." Hannibal said and she just smiled.
"Do you remember his name?" Will asked.
"Uhm…" She looked up in thought. "No… But he gave me his card. Or no he handed it to Hannibal."
"I threw it away I'm afraid." Hannibal said. "He wasn't very nice to her. Threatened her. Called into her question and innocence quite loudly in the middle of the music halls lobby… Drew a bit of attention."
"Do you remember his name?" Will asked.
"No I'm…" he looked off his jaw clenching. "Till… The mans name was Till… I'm so sorry Will I never made the connection."
"What's going on?" She asked.
"This reporter Till is dead, and if you two didn't have a good meeting it now means that in the eyes of Jack you're most likely a suspect."
"Jesus Christ." She muttered. "Told you it wouldn't last." She couldn't help but laugh. "I wonder if there will ever be a time in my life where people won't think I'm killing people…"
"Where were you between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am on the 21st?" he asked.
"I was probably here with Hannibal in the study drawing or well… Studying."
"She was." Hannibal said.
"A rock solid alibi now no one will think you murdered someone."
"Yay, I'm clear for tonight!" she said. "Wait until tomorrow when someone else I accidently bumped into on the street ends up dead I'll be right in the same pool I always am." She said with a smile.
-o-
Hannibal walked up to the door and opened it up with a smile. He tried to keep it straight as he stared at the flamboyant Miss Lounds who gave him the fakest smile possible. She tilted her head with a sweet expression as she let her eyes shoot past him to no doubt look for Abigail.
"Dr. Lecter. Nice to see you again." She said putting her hand out.
"Miss Lounds, welcome to my home." He said shaking her hand.
"It's such a lovely house." She said walking in.
"Thank you, may I take your coat?"
"Yes please." She said and he removed the stark red pea coat to reveal a tight ruby red dress that clashed horribly with her red hair. At least his Abigail knew how to dress herself. "Thank you so much." She said and he nodded as he showed her the way to the dining room. "Abigail sweetie." She said instantly and Abigail stood as Freddie walked up to her.
"Miss Lounds." She said as Freddie hugged her tightly.
"Congratulations on your win with the FBI." She said.
"Oh uhm… Thank you. Again I'm sorry I didn't contact you I didn't know they were going to hold a press conference…"
"Not at all. Not at all. As long as I still get to help you tell your story."
"Of course." She said. "Miss Lounds this is one of my mentors Will Grahm… I think you two know one another."
"Mentor, I'm a mentor?" He asked Hannibal who smiled before walking to Lounds.
"Yes we've met."
"Over a particularly nasty article she wrote about me…" Will muttered and Abigail smiled as she looked to Hannibal who just smiled back.
"Why don't you two take a seat and Abigail and I will serve the first round…" Hannibal suggested as he and Abigail headed to the kitchen.
"Maybe it wasn't a good idea to have them in the same room together."
"No but it should be entertaining." Hannibal said and Abigail eyed him before laughing softly.
"You have a wicked sense of Humor Hannibal." She said as she grabbed a platter.
"Some would say deadly." She laughed before following him out of the kitchen.
"Oh… Uhm…" Freddie smiled as she looked over the sausage wrapped in puff pastry. "I'm afraid I don't eat meat…" Hannibal and Abigail looked to one another.
"That's all we made tonight…" Abigail said. "Miss Lounds I'm so sorry I didn't even think of asking if you were a vegetarian." She said.
"Vegan actually, completely." Freddie said and Abigail tilted her head as she looked her over. The woman was wearing silk. How could she be a true vegan if she were wearing silk. Hannibal smiled practically reading Abigail's mind.
"But you're wearing Silk." Will said and Hannibal watched as Abigail stifled a laugh and quickly turned.
"I'll go make a salad." She said quickly before walking out.
"I will help her, I have a fantastic vinaigrette recipe I picked up in France." Hannibal said before walking into the kitchen. Hannibal smiled seeing Abigail trying to quiet her laughter. They both looked to one another and laughed.
"Shh she'll hear." Hannibal said grabbing a bowl to mix up some fresh dressing. Abigail smiled as she cut up some spinach.
"Vegan actually… Completely." Abigail mimicked perfectly and Hannibal laughed. "Wait." She looked up and Hannibal looked to her. "Did you really just leave those two alone?" He just shrugged with a wicked look. "Hannibal they'll kill each other and the last thing we need is the FBI coming to the house to investigate homicide."
"Good point, I'll take over the salad you keep the peace."
"Sounds like a plan." She said before practically skipping out of the kitchen. Abigail came to a stop. Will was glaring daggers into Freddie who just sat there with a sweet smile her hands in her lap. "Sooo… Uhm Miss Lounds how was your day today?" Abigail asked trying to get to a happy subject.
"Spent eagerly awaiting this dinner." She said with a smile as Abigail sat down next to her.
"I'm so sorry I didn't know you were Vegan."
"More Vegetarian then Vegan…" Will muttered and Freddie just smirked.
"Not at all I should have mentioned it."
"We don't eat a lot of greens in this house truth be told." Abigail said.
"With your slight frame I thought for sure you were a fellow Vegan."
"Or vegetarian…" Will said and Abigail nudged him underneath the table. He just smirked and she smiled at him.
"No I was raised on meat and I don't think I'll ever be able to turn away from it."
"Not even after discovering that the meat you had long been eating wasn't chuck, roast, or Venison but was really the flesh and muscle of your fathers victims?" her jaw clench as she stared forward.
"No..." she said. "Besides, I had known the whole time." Freddie looked to her quickly. "It's how I was found innocent of the crimes. I confessed to knowing about my fathers crimes, because I helped him…"
"You helped him kill those girls?"
"I never killed them but I am the reason they're dead." She said. "I baited them, and then failed in rescuing them… All of them… And when my dad had killed them I helped him carve them up and place them on the dinner table… I really didn't have a choice in any of it… The only choice I did have was helping them escape and I failed every single time I tried."
"Jack believed this?" Freddie asked.
"He had to it was all caught on tape…" Will said and Freddie looked to him.
"Tape?" She asked. "I never saw a camera."
"Neither did I..." Abigail said with a soft expression. "I hope you won't write about what I just disclosed to you… Not until the book that is."
"Of course." She said. "I thought we had an amazing story before but it seems we may just have a bester seller on our hands… I can already see the fighting that will go over the movie rights."
"I'm not doing this for the money, I'm doing it so the families will know what truly happened to their daughters…"
"Of course… But the money helps…"
"Have you thought of a title for this book?" Will asked.
"I was thinking of calling it the Last Victim, but there's already a book about a serial killer named the last Victim…" She said. "Maybe we should call it The Survivor."
"No…" Abigail said.
"What would you like to call it?" Freddie asked and Abigail looked up in thought.
"Her truth…" She said and Freddie looked off.
"Her truth, the story of Abigail Hobbs." Freddie said. "I like it." Abigail smiled softly.
"Miss Lounds, I'm so sorry." Hannibal said walking in with a plate. "It never occurred to me you may be Vegetarian."
"Vegan." Freddie said and Abigail just smiled. "There is a difference…"
"Like wearing silk…" Will muttered.
"Let it go Will…" Abigail said quietly and Will just smiled cheekily.
"I did a story on meat factories when I was an undergrad. Let's just say research delivers benefits." She said before taking a bite of salad.
"If it contradicts a good story, well hey, let's publish it anyways, right miss Lounds?" Will asked and Abigail looked to him nervously before looking to Hannibal who just smiled at her. Freddie had taken Abigail's usual spot, and truth be told Hannibal didn't like how far away she was now. Not to mention instead of smelling Abigail's sweet calming natural scent he was now inhaling Freddies awful Chanel number 12, a scent he'd never been a fan of.
"Mr. Graham…" Freddie said with a smile. "You're not still cross with me about that article."
"The one where you called me insane?" He asked.
"The Libel laws are clear…" She stated and Abigail sighed nervously before taking her first bite of dinner. Hannibal watched eagerly as she let the meat move over her palate before smiling. She looked to Hannibal and nodded telling him she loved the meal and he smiled instantly.
"Well insinuation it's such a grey area isn't it Miss Lounds?"
"It definitely isn't black or white." She said and Abigail took a sip of water. Their talk was ruining her ability to enjoy her meal. "Well we are all pathological in our own way aren't we Dr. Lecter?" He looked up surprised he had been brought into their argument.
Like children… If only I could telling them stop bickering or I'd turn this dinner around and go back home…
"It has nothing to do with that. You choose a version of the truth that suits your articles the best Miss Lounds. Then again when you have that version of the truth you go after it near pathologically."
"Do you need more dressing?" Abigail asked Freddie trying to change the subject and Hannibal smiled into his wine glass. "You look like you could use more dressing…"
"Everybody decides their own version of their truths Mr. Graham. No I'm fine on the dressing… I'm here because I want to tell Abigails version of the Truth." She said turning to her and Abigail took on a soft expression.
"Well… I no longer have anything to hide so…"
"Oh now Abigail everyone has something they need to hide, whether it be a bad weave, or a closet full of bodies and skeletons."
"Which is yours?" Will asked and Freddie glared at him. "Both?"
"Speaking of the book… I have my concerns…" Hannibal said and Abigail looked to him. "I care, we care…" he said motioning to Will who nodded. "About Abigail quite deeply. Our only thought is too protect her."
"Well that can happen when you save her life and shoot her father."
"That's not fair." Abigail instantly said and Freddie looked to her. "If will hadn't shot down my dad he would have finished the job he started by slitting my throat… Right before Will took him down my dad was ready to stab me when he realized he hadn't cut all the way through my carotid artery… I'm very thankful to him for what he did for me that day…" Will took on a soft expression as he looked over Abigail. "Never feel wrong about it Will…" He slowly nodded. "More wine?" she asked.
"Please." He said and she smiled as she took the bottle of wine and walked around the table to pour it for him.
"We'll make sure to add his heroics to the book…" Freddie said.
"The book needs to be tasteful and done in such a way that her privacy is upheld." Hannibal said.
"Her privacy thus far has caused silence." Freddie said as Abigail topped her wine glass off as well. "And in so doing her silence has been taken for guilt… Now her name may have been cleared by the FBI but I put up a pole on Crime Tattler and 47 percent of the readership still thinks her guilty."
"I am guilty even if no one is moving forward with a prosecution." She said and Freddie looked to her.
"A sympathetic guilty survivor…" She commented. "You're a gold mine kiddo…"
"Uhm… Thanks?" Abigail asked.
"Look as much as you want to protect Abigail." She said looking from Hannibal and then to Will. "So do I… I want Abigail to have a future and this book is the way to go in securing that future… Even if it's just financially."
"Well at least we all know now that we want what's best for Abigail…" Hannibal said with a smile.
"Indeed…" Will said looking over Abigail who smiled softly at him.
"You know…" Freddie said. "This is possibly the finest salad I have ever had the pleasure of eating in my life…" Hannibal nodded. "What a shame to ruin it with all that meat…" His jaw clenched and Abigail looked off.
Yep… We're going to eat her soon… I can feel it…
-o-
"What a wonderful evening it was." Miss Lounds said as she walked with Abigail to the door. "When should we meet to start discussing the book?"
"Uhm this coming Friday?" she asked. "We could meet here and discuss it in the parlor if you wanted…"
"Sounds lovely." She said. "Oh and before I forget, a little congratulations present I got you." She said reaching into her bag and taking out a small wrapped present box.
"Oh you didn't have to do this, thank you so much." She said with a smile.
"Not at all." She said with a smile. "I'll see you this Saturday." She said before hugging her and heading off.
"Have a safe trip home." Abigail said.
"I will, thank you!" Freddie called from her car before Abigail closed the door.
"So you solved the totem pole murder…" Hannibal said as he dried the last of the dishes.
"I did, but then again it was easy considering the murderer wanted to be caught…"
"I imagine so…" Hannibal said.
"She's gone." Abigail said walking in with a smile. "Which means… Fly making tutorial." Will smiled.
"Lead the way." He said and Hannibal smiled as he watched Abigail take Wills hand in hers and lead him off. They walked up to her room and Will smiled as Abigail abandoned a small present on her dresser before rushing towards the fly fishing kit set up on her desk complete with magnifying glass. She seemed truly happy and it made him happy to know he had caused such a reaction.
"Look at all the different colored feathers…" she said taking a seat and Will nodded as he dragged another over and sat down next to her. "So… How do we begin?"
"First we start with a hook, now be carful you don't cut yourself on it because the point is quite sharp." He said and she nodded watching him set it down in a mini vice before the magnifying glass. "Now we'll wrap the body with some thread what color do you want it?"
"Mmmm… Brown… No, green."
"Green it is." He said.
-o-
Hannibal slowly headed up the stairs hearing Abigail laugh. She and Will had been upstairs for near two hours working on Flies. He walked down the hallway and stopped just at the door before peaking in to see Will sitting closely with Abigail his arm draped over the back of her chair.
"Like this?" Abigail asked as she wrapped some green thread around an orange and black feather stem to keep it pinned in place.
"Perfect and now for the knot…" she did it and he shook his head.
"No like this." He took her hands in his and guided her fingers to make the knot.
"Oh I see now…" she said before laughing. "Oh god this doesn't look good does it?"
"I think it looks wonderful for your first time."
"Such a polite way to say it looks like crap…" He laughed and as did she. "I'll get better."
"You will, sometime I'll show you the first one I made."
"You still have it?"
"You never use your first fly. It's bad luck. You won't catch any fish if you use your first fly."
"No using of the first fly, check." She said adding another feather.
"How is living with Hannibal going?" Will asked and Hannibal quirked an eyebrow at the question.
"Better then living anywhere else I've lived… Then again I have lived with a serial killer, a distant mother, and in an insane asylum where I was constantly raped by the administrator…. So compared to those places this is heaven…" Will looked at her for a long moment and she slowly glanced at him. "Sorry things like that kind of just spill out of my mouth sometimes… I'm working on it."
"No it's fine." He said. "Things spill out of my mouth all the time." She smiled softly.
"Truth is though living here with Hannibal really is kind of like heaven… I mean even if I hadn't been in all of those awful situations I would still feel the same way…"
"So he's good to you?"
"Yeah he's amazing." She said. "He's very kind to me, kinder then most people care to be considering everything I've done… You're the same way though… You're kind to me when others simply can't be…"
"So is Alana."
"No." she said. "Alana she… examines me… Puts me under a microscope. She doesn't accept or care about me…"
"She cares about you Abigail."
"She doesn't accept me not like you and Hannibal do…"
"You seem closer to Hannibal then you do to me."
"Well I'd be closer to you then I would to him if we lived together." He smiled. "It's true though I don't see you as much as I did then when I was in the insane asylum."
"Truth be told I didn't think you wanted to see me… Because of what I did to your father."
"I meant what I said downstairs… You killing my dad was the best thing you could have done for me. Will, I'm alive because you shot him…"
"You're alive because Hannibal tended to you as quickly as he could."
"You both saved me there's no denying that I just don't want you to ever think less of what you did for me because until the day I die I'll always remember you not as the man who killed my father but the man who saved my life." He smiled as he looked her over. "And as a token of my thank you…" she un latched her ugly fishing fly for him. "I bestow this to you… Keep it safe and unused for me." He smiled as he took it in hand.
"It's lovely." She laughed while he smiled.
"Now I'll start on a new one tomorrow and when I'm finished we can go fishing, I've always wanted to fish… seems so calming in the movies."
"It is." He said. "I'll talk to Hannibal about when I can have you over seeing as our last plans fell through."
"We'll have a fish fry." She said and he smiled.
"Hannibal will be disgusted."
"We'll find a way to make it more upscale for him…"
"Or you can bring the fish back to me and I can cook it for us very upscale." Hannibal said and they smiled as they turned to look at him.
"We'll fish and Hannibal will cook a delicious meal sounds like a plan to me…" She said with a bright smile.
"I'd say Saturday but that's your birthday." Will said.
"Sunday then? Or will you be sick of me by Sunday?"
"Impossible to get sick of you Abigail." He said and she smiled. "Well I should be heading home I've got dogs to feed." He said as he stood and stretched.
"I'll walk you to the door." Abigail said leading Will out of her room. Hannibal followed them out and from the stairwell watched as Will hugged Abigail goodnight.
"Good night Abigail."
"Night Will, Drive home safe." He smiled as he looked her over. "What is it?"
"You… Look very happy Abigail."
"I am." She said with a smile.
"You don't even hide your scar anymore…" he reached up and let his thumb slowly drag across it.
"To hide something is to not accept it." She said and pulled his hand away. "Good night Will…"
"Night Abigail." He said before walking out. Abigail smiled as she closed the door. She turned and spotted Hannibal holding up the present Freddie had given her.
"Didn't open it yet?"
"I completely forgot." She said taking it and walking with it to the kitchen. She didn't open it up as carefully as she had the gift Will had given her. "Oh it's perfume. Channel number 5." Hannibal instantly took it from her hand and threw it in the trash. "Hannibal hey!"
"I will not have you pollute your natural scent with that trash or any perfume for that matter." He said before looking to her.
"Kind of rude Hannibal…" She said with a smile.
"I don't want you ever wearing perfume."
"Fine you don't have to convince me, I'm allergic anyways." He tilted his head. "I tried wearing perfume when I was 13 and my mom had to rush me to the ER…" she said tossing the wrapping paper away. "You know, I've always wondered if I smell plain because I can't wear perfume… So many women wear it after all…"
"You don't smell plain at all…" he said.
"No?" she asked as he walked to her.
"No in fact you smell like cherries and almonds… It reminds me of a dessert I once had in France…"
"Are you going to make me dessert Hannibal?" She asked and he knew what she was inquiring.
"No… You'd be far too sweet for my palate."
"Better sweet then bitter…" She said with a smile. "Freddie is meeting me here on Friday to talk about the book… To get started on it." She said walking past him.
"Are you ready to talk about all you went through?"
"No." she said. "But if I don't tell it someone else will try and get everything wrong…" She said as she walked into the study and grabbed a book. Hannibal tilted his head as he walked over and took the book back. "Hey now." She said and he took a hold of her hand and led her over to the couch.
"We're going to talk."
"About?" she asked as they sat down.
"Your story…" She shifted and looked off. "I think it unfair you wish to tell Freddie your story but you're unwilling to tell me your story… I don't want to read it in a book Abigail. I want to hear it from you."
"Why should I tell you my story when I don't know yours?" She asked and he slowly nodded as he looked off. "You know so much about me but I feel as though I hardly know anything about you…" He looked back at her. "This past week we've gotten closer than we've ever been… We've crossed some lines…" He nodded.
"We have." He said.
"I can see that we're probably going to cross more lines that were going to uhm…"
"Start a relationship."
"Yes." She said quietly.
"We already have Abigail." He watched as she smiled and looked off.
"I thought it would be rude to assume."
"Does it make you happy that we've started a relationship?"
"You see you're good at that." She said looking to him.
"Good at what?"
"Changing the subject… But yes it makes me happy."
"You're happy with me?"
"Hannibal-."
"Answer the question." He said with a tone she couldn't ignore. One that had an underlining tone of dominance.
"Of course you make me happy. Happier than anything or anyone ever has."
"No… That wasn't the question…" she looked him over and he could tell she was confused. "Are you happy with me? Who I am." She took on a soft expression.
"Of course I am… There's nothing wrong with you Hannibal." He cupped her cheek in his hand and allowed his thumb to brush over a light blush. He was looking at her intensely and Abigail smiled softly. "What is it?" she asked. He didn't say anything, instead he moved forward and captured her lips with his in a slowly heated kiss. Abigail's eyes drifted close at the sensation. Truth be told she never thought she'd ever be able to do this again with anyone after all that had happened to her at the asylum. She trusted Hannibal more than anyone, so it would make sense that she would be able to allow him to kiss her and allow herself to kiss him back. Her eyes snapped open and she set her hands on his chest pushing him back.
"Sorry-."
"You should be, you changed the subject again." She said and he smiled glad it was because of that, that she had pushed him back.
"Why do you want to know my story?"
"Why do you want to know mine?" She asked with a smile.
"Because I am your guardian, your mentor, and now something more, and I wish to know what plagues your mind." She tilted her head.
"See I don't want to know your story because it plagues your mind, because I don't think it does…" He tilted his head. "I want to know your story because it's your story."
"Maybe you won't like it." She tilted her head with a soft expression.
"It's not about liking it Hannibal… It's about accepting it… Accepting you."
"Maybe you won't accept it."
"Hannibal in the time I have known you, you've helped me hide a body, kidnaped and mutilated a man who abused me, snapped a mans neck in front of me, fed me people, and helped me kill a man by gutting him… I've accepted all those things what would make you think I wouldn't accept anything else you've done?"
"How any people do you think I've killed Abigail?" he asked.
"Many more then my father killed… Then I've killed, or probably will ever kill." He tilted his head. "I do know you've probably killed as many people as…" She took a deep breath. "The Chesapeake ripper."
"That man in the insane asylum?" He asked.
"We both know the ripper isn't Dr. Able Giddeon... He may have been near intelligent enough to be the ripper, but he wasn't artistic enough… The Chesapeake Ripper screams artistry…" He took on a soft expression. She was far more intelligent than he had ever dreamed. "You scream artistry Hannibal…"
"The last person who made the connection between the Chesapeake Ripper and I ended up hung in my cellar screaming as I took her apart piece by piece."
"You won't do that to me." Abigail took a deep breath as Hannibal suddenly moved forward and climbed on top of her. He used one hand to grip onto both her wrist and push them far above her head stretching out her body for him to see as he pinned her down. She didn't even jump as his other hand shot to her throat. His thumb pressed into the center of her through as his fingers clamped down roughly. It wasn't enough pressure to really choke her, but enough to make her uncomfortable. "If you're trying to prove you can hurt me I already know that." She said staring up at him. "The point I'm trying to make is you won't."
"No?" he asked and he gripped onto her throat harder than before as his other hand clenched down on her wrists making her hiss in pain.
"Hannibal-."
"Everyone is expendable to me Abigail."
"I trust you Hannibal." She said and her voice was strained thanks to the pressure around her throat. He tilted his head and slowly let go of her wrists. Instead of completely pulling away from her though he let his other hand join its partner upon her neck. Her eyes shut us the pressure became tighter. She didn't fight him, something that intrigued him instantly.
"Can you feel that?" he asked and her eyes opened as she stared up at him. "I'm slowly cutting your air off." She tried to take in a breath and it wheezed. "It's getting harder for you to breathe now… Soon you'll gain tunnel vision… Then you'll black out… Then you'll die… I suggest you stop me." She just continued to stare up at him. "I'm going to kill you Abigail… So stop me." He said pressing down on her throat harder and she made a pained noise. "Abigail I will kill you."
Her hands gripped at the couch to keep her from reaching for his hands or to push him away. She knew that if she fought him that would be a sign to Hannibal that she didn't truly trust him. She tried to take in a breath and her eyes shut tight when she found no air would come.
"There it is you can't breathe…" Hannibal said and her eyes opened. She stared up at him with a soft expression as her lips began to lose their natural red tint. "Your brain is now being depleted of oxygen… I bet you already have the tunnel vision." She tried not to shake at his words. "What kind of dish shall I make out of you when you die?" he asked and a tear instantly fell in such a haunting manner it caught Hannibal's gaze. "Scared?" she didn't make any expression saying if she was or wasn't. "You can stop this Abigail… All you have to do is give me a touch… One little touch and I won't kill you." He clenched down harder and another pained noise escaped her as she went to gasp for air. Hannibal watched as her eyes slowly shut, more tears falling as she was slowly whisked away into a permanent darkness. His eyes went to her hands which went from gripping onto the couch to going limp at her sides. He kept his grip on her for a long moment before slowly pulling away his hands and staring down at the harsh red marks around her neck I the shape of his hands. "Abigail?" he asked.
She didn't say anything just continued laying still, pale, with shades of blue underlining her skin. Hannibal moved forward and placed his mouth against hers. Instantly he breathed into her mouth. When nothing happened he pumped his hands against her chest before moving forward and breathing into her once more. Abigail gasped as her hands shot to her throat and she started to cough violently. The sound coming out hoarse and labored. Hannibal moved off of her and instantly she rolled off the couch and fell to the floor.
He couldn't believe she had allowed him to do such a thing. He couldn't believe Abigail had allowed him to kill her. She hadn't even put up a fight. She had just trusted him completely that he truly wouldn't hurt her. How had he repaid her though? With death. Abigail slowly looked over her shoulder at him as another tear fell.
"I trust you." She said softly as her hand went to her throat. "I trust you Hannibal." She watched as he instantly stood and walked out of the room. Abigail bowed her head forward, wondering if she hadn't done the right thing. Hannibal came back much to her surprise and she smiled softly as she watched him bring her to her feet. He sat her down on the couch and moved to her side before raising a cloth full of ice to her neck. "I'm okay…"
"I will tend to you." He said and she slowly nodded. "Here drink this…" he handed her a glass of water and she slowly took a sip. She winced at the pain that filled her throat instantly. "I have hit you and choked you, and now killed you. Yet you stay."
"You brought me back." She said softly.
"If I hadn't?"
"I would have been dead."
"You shouldn't have allowed me to do that to you." She didn't look to him.
"I was just trying to show you my allegiance."
"By letting me choke you to death?" She slowly nodded. "I think you may be a masochist." Hannibal said and she looked to him quickly.
"I don't like it when you hurt me."
"You seem drawn to me when I do."
"I was just trying to show you that I trusted you with my very life."
"How did I repay you?" He asked and she looked off. He watched as a great amount of sadness flashed across her features. "How did I repay you Abigail?" she stared down into her water glass her jaw clenched as she did. He took a hold of her chin and made her look to him. "How did I repay you Abigail?" he asked in the same dominant tone as before. She took a shaky breath her jaw clenching instantly.
"You let me die."
"No I killed you. There is a difference." Hannibal said. "I hurt you Abigail."
"I'm fine-." He gripped onto her face making her jump.
"Don't lie to me." He ordered and he saw defiance raise into her eyes.
"I don't understand you… One second we can be having a lovely time, getting along famously, and the next second you're deliberately trying to hurt me. Why?"
"Because you shouldn't want to get to know me Abigail." He said. She shook her head her jaw clenching.
"That's great so you'll always know about me but I'll know nothing about you." Before she could run out Hannibal took a hold of her hand and pulled her from the room. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"You trust me?" he asked.
"Yes." She said as he pulled her into the kitchen.
"You're not scared of me at all?"
"No…" His jaw clenched. He wasn't sure why but that truly upset him.
"We'll see." Abigail's eyes grew wide as she watched him grab his favorite knife.
"Hannibal." He spun on her and she took a huge step back only to be stopped by him holding her hand.
"Scared?" he asked and she slowly shook her head. His jaw clenched before he pulled her down into the cellar. He was acting like he was out of control, but he was never not in control. He just wanted to push the limits and see how far Abigail was willing to go to prove her trust in him. He pushed her back against the counter and motioned the knife at her. "Dress off." He said and she shifted on her feet.
"Hannibal…"
"You don't trust me with a knife in my hand to look over your lingerie clad body?" He asked.
"It's not that…" She said softly. "It's-."
"Think I'm going to rape you like the doctors or those boys?"
"No." she said instantly.
"Afraid I might butcher you right here?"
"Of course not."
"Then take your dress off." He watched emotion slowly raise into her eyes.
"Hannibal-."
"Off." Her jaw clenched as she slowly looked down to the floor before reaching behind her to unzip her garment. "Eyes on mine Abigail…" her jaw clenched further and slowly she brought her gaze to meet his. "Dress off." As she locked eyes with him she slowly unzipped the back of her dress before letting it fall and pool on the floor at her feet. He tilted his head letting his eyes roam over her perfect porcelain body. She wasn't completely naked she wore pink lace boy shorts and a pink lace sheer bra and cupped her ample breasts for him to see. "Turn around." She made a small noise. One he could only make as one of fear. Her hands balled at her sides and he tilted his head. "No?" he asked walking to her. "You don't trust me enough to put your back to me."
"Hannibal please… It's not that."
"Then turn around."
"Hannibal-."
"You can stop this any time."
"If I do-."
"It means you don't trust me completely. I need your full trust Abigail." A tear slowly roamed down her cheek.
"Hannibal…" She said her voice quivering. "Please-."
"Fine… You went as far as you could." Her eyes shut tightly and slowly she turned around. Her hands gripped onto the counter as she put her back to him.
Hannibal instantly tiled his head. Her porcelain skin wasn't as perfect as he had first thought. Across her back were jagged angry looking scars. The most profound were that of perfectly round scars in uneven positions on her back. His mind snapped with realization instantly. He put the knife down and slowly reached out. Abigail shook as his fingers came in contact with one of them.
"He put you on display…" He said softly. "On antlers." Her head bowed forward. "He flogged you…" his hands slowly moved across the long jagged scars. "He tortured you…" he took a deep breath. "This is why you didn't want to put your back to me because I'd see these…" She slowly looked to see her dress being held out for her. "I'm sorry Abigail. This was cruel of me." She wiped a tear away before slowly taking the garment in hand and putting it back on. Before she could reach behind herself to zip it Hannibal did it for her. She turned to the side making him face her profile. Her hair fell into her face so he couldn't see her expression.
"Can I go to bed?" she asked sofltly and her tone of voice sounded near broken. Hannibal slowly picked her up in his arms and she so much fight him. She laid her head on his chest as he carried her to the secret stairs well before heading up. Instead of taking her to her own bedroom, he took her to his and instantly laid her down. He rested beside her his arms pulling her to his body.
"I was born in Lithuania." Abigail slowly looked up at him to see he was looking down at her. "I was born in Lithuania." He repeated and she knew that was the most she would get out of him this night. She smiled softly before laying her head on his chest.
"Is Lithuania nice?" She asked and he smiled as he looked up at the ceiling.
"The country its self is pleasant enough. The memories however are not." She only nodded and he liked that she wasn't pressuring him. "You may ask me one question tonight about my past and I will answer honestly."
"Who was your first kill?" he smiled, she hadn't disappointed.
"A butcher… He insulted my Aunt."
"How rude."
"Indeed… My aunt was a lovely person and deserved no ill words sent her way."
"If you liked her she must have been lovely. In every way." He smiled to himself.
"She was." He slowly looked down at Abigail who was playing with the hem of his tie. "What I did was very wrong." She slowly looked up at him. "Choking you, making you strip." She averted her eyes.
"I wasn't completely naked."
"It must have felt that way though. How can I make it up to you?" She only shrugged.
"Can I stay here tonight?" She asked. He looked up in thought.
"This isn't your bed Abigail." She slowly nodded. "But if you happened to fall asleep here it would be rude of me to move you and risk waking you. You must try not to fall asleep though."
"What?" she asked.
"I said you must try not to fall asleep."
"I'm sorry I can't hear you I'm sleeping." He smiled as he looked down to see her eyes were closed.
"Guess I can't move you then."
"As you said it would be rude… You know what we do to rude people." He smiled. As his arms moved forward her.
"Yes we know what we do to rude people." He said with a soft expression. "Before you do actually fall asleep…"
"Yes?"
"Don't think I haven't forgotten that you didn't tell me anything about the story you will tell Freddie Lounds on Friday."
"Don't think I haven't forgotten that all you've told me of your past is the butcher and Lithuania." He smiled, she could be very quick sometimes.
"Good night Abigail."
"Good night Hannibal."
-o-
AN: Long chapter Long lapse between updates so sorry guys. BUT WHOSE EXCITED FOR SEASON 2 HUH!? You don't have to review but please drop one anyways telling me just how excited for season 2 you actually are lol because me myself am freaking the fuck out.