Abigail looked to the clock on her desk. The last patient was scheduled to have left by now. She wouldn't head into the office just yet she was waiting for the sound of the lock to click. A sign from Hannibal that it was okay to venture inside. She smiled softly when the click sounded. Instantly she got up and headed to the door. She slowly opened it up and peeked in.
"You can come in." He said as he walked over to his desk. Abigail watched him for a long moment. Since the night before when he had choked her to death, and then brought her back. He had been very quiet. She knew it was partly due to what had transpired. But she also knew it was because he still felt like she wasn't being honest with him. Abigail took a deep breath and slowly closed the door to the office.
"Hannibal. You have one last patient they've been waiting all day to see you."
"What?" he asked turning to look to her. He watched with a tilted head as she walked over to the patients chair and sat down.
"You're not a patient of mine Abigail… But if you want to talk, I'm willing to listen." He said and she nodded.
"I want to talk." She said. She watched him walk to a plant and pull out from behind it a tape recorder. He clicked it off before walking over to his chair. They sat in silence for a long moment and Abigail laughed nervously.
"So uhm how does this work?" she asked.
"You just start talking." He said.
"About what happened?"
"About anything you like."
"But you want me to talk about what happened to me. To tell you what I went through before I tell Freddie…"
"It's not about what I want-."
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I want to tell you but I just don't know how or even where to start."
"Why don't we start with the scars on your back?" her jaw clenched and she looked off.
"I wasn't going to tell Freddie about them… I was of course going to touch on some of the abuse sustained but not… Not my back." She looked towards the windows and took a deep breath. "Have those curtains always been grey and red?" He smiled and she laughed softly before looking to him. "I… Keep thinking that Agent Crawford knows."
"Jack?" he asked. "Why?"
"Because of the DVDs." She said. "I mean it seems like dad was always recording… So the camera must have caught what he did to me… Jack wouldn't have just watched some of the DVDs but all of them… And if dad was recording all the time then that means Agent Crawford must have seen what he did to me."
"And what did he do?"
"Just as you said last night…" She said softly.
"It would be better if you said it."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I don't think you've faced it."
"It's hard to face something that's on your back… Because you never… see it…" She laughed to herself and looked down at her hands while he smiled. "Bad joke." She muttered to herself.
"You seem to rely on your wit when you can't handle things."
"Sometimes if I made dad laugh he wouldn't hurt me." She said looking to him. "If I could crack even just a ghost of a smile in him he'd let me go… I don't know why… I couldn't always make him laugh though, he had a rotten sense of humor." She added quietly. "I've read Wills report on my dad, not my dad, I keep forgetting…" She shook her head. "I've read wills report of Garett Jacob Hobbs… His profile of him. In it he says that my dad was a lover of women. That he didn't want to cause them unwarranted pain."
"You disagree."
"No I agree… But only when it comes to his victims. When it came to me, he loved to hurt me. He thrived in doing so. Any chance he got to inflict any sort of agony on me he did. He may have loved other women but he hated me… All these years I wondered why and now I know… Because I wasn't his."
"Was he always so cruel to you?" Hannibal asked.
"When I was really little we lived in a house that was two stories. One day, I'm like five years old, dad calls me out of my room. I'm still not wary of him. I still don't understand what animosity is or know that he truly has any ill will towards me. I walk out of my room willingly and he's standing at the top of the stairs. He said Abby honey come here daddy has a gift for you. I instantly run over and he takes my hand in his. I look down the stairs and at the bottom is this tiny kitten…" She laughed. "I went to run down stairs to hold it and my dad grabbed me by the back of the neck… He asked me Abby honey you want the kitten? I said yes immediately. He said well if you want it go get it. So I went to run again and he held me back. He knelt before me and gave me this look…" she had a haunted expression. "He said Abby honey how many times do I have to tell you to not run up and down the stairs? I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I was petrified by that dark look in his eyes. He asked me do you know what happens to little girls who run down the stairs. I didn't say anything and he smiled at me and said they trip. He threw me down the stairs." Hannibal's jaw clenched. "I lifted my head when I got to the bottom and there was blood everywhere. My arm had snapped and the bone was sticking out of it. I could hear my dad laughing above me at the top of the stairs. I started crying… But it wasn't because he was laughing, or because I had broken my arm and I was in pain…" Her voice shook. "It was because I quickly realized the kitten he had given me was dead. It had been dead the whole time."
"That was very wrong of him…" She looked down at her hands. "Did you ever tell your mother about what your dad had been doing to you?"
"She came out of the kitchen that day and saw the bone sticking out of my arm and asked me why I had made my dad throw me down the stairs…"
"So neither of your parents were kind to you."
"It wasn't that my mom wasn't kind to me, it was just that she didn't really care about me." She said with a dismissive shrug.
"You don't seem to really care that your mom didn't care about you…" She only nodded. "You do seem to care though that Garett Jacob Hobbs was so cruel to you. Why is that?"
"I don't know… I mean he was always cruel. Sometimes he was really really nice to me… Like a dad should be… After we had put that first girl on display. We took her downstairs to butcher her. Dad had me gut her, at that point I no longer saw her as a person I could save but just a slab of meat. A vessel that had once held the thoughts, dreams, and secrets of a young woman. But a vessel all the same. An… Empty china doll." Hannibal tilted his head as he looked her over. "He was angry with me at first, of course he was I tried to free her after all. But after I gutted her he was so proud. He was laughing and hugging me, kissing my forehead. He even said he loved me and that he was proud of me. For near two months after it was like I had a normal dad and then one morning I came into the kitchen and he gave me that same look he did when I was little and on the top of those stairs."
"He had grown restless." He said and she nodded. "You knew how much it made your father happy to have you help him in his killing and yet every time you tried to save the women he kidnapped, yet after you had no problem gutting them why is that?"
"Because when they were breathing they were me… When they were dead they were-."
"China dolls." He said and she nodded. "You tried to save yourself by saving those girls."
"And I failed every time. What does that say about me?" She asked.
"I think it says that your father was a wolf, and you were just a lamb. A lamb who tried her hardest to save the other little lambs."
"Not a lamb anymore though am I?"
"No. You're not. But you're also not a wolf just yet."
"When will I be?" He only smiled and she sat back in her chair. "Do you think I'm ugly?"
"You've never been concerned with your looks…" He said tilting his head surprised at the random question.
"I mean my back."
"I don't think they're ugly." He said.
"I only catch glimpses of them in the mirror." She said. "I honestly don't know the full damage of my back."
"Have you ever tried to look?" She shook her head. "I want you to try and look at them after you take a shower."
"What good will that do?" She asked.
"By not facing your scars your refusing to face your past the abuse you sustained." She shook her head. "How about we make a deal." She looked to him. "If you manage to be able to stare at the scars on your back for five minutes I will take you to a plastic surgeon to look into fading and or covering your scars." She smiled softly.
"You'd do that for me?"
"I care about you Abigail. All I want is for you to be Happy. It's clear these scars make you upset. I don't wish you to be upset. So, do we have a deal?" She nodded with a smile.
"Good…" He said. "I think that's enough for today." She smiled softly. "Very proud of you Abigail. Now how about we go visit that baker to see about a cake?"
"I told you, you didn't have to get me a cake."
"We're having a birthday dinner, people will expect it."
"Then let's make something."
"We'll be far too busy with the main courses."
"How many people are coming? Just Alana, Freddie, and Will?"
"I invited Jack and his Wife."
"Crawford?" she asked.
"We must allow him to get close to you Abigail. The closer he is the less likely he will be to turn on you again. Besides you'll need an in to the FBI in the future."
"Always thinking ahead."
"People like us need to do so." Hannibal said and she nodded with a smile as she grabbed her coat.
-o-
"What about this one?" Hannibal asked pointing to a sampling of cake. It was a white pound cake with a raspberry mascarpone filling.
"It's really good." Abigail said. "It's just-."
"Too heavy to finish off a meal with? Yes I think so too."
"No, well yes." She said and he looked to her. "It's just so fancy you know? I mean I'm turning eighteen not getting married. These are wedding cakes."
"Yes but they'll be made to look more like a proper birthday cake. Only two tiers I promise." He said and she nodded.
"I like the Lemon infused white cake with the raspberry filling…"
"I do as well…" He said. "I'll go talk with the pastry chef to talk about toning down the look." She nodded with a smile and watched him walk over to the counter. She looked out the window and spotted a young man a cup of coffee in hand. He was looking right at her. She nodded at him and instantly he averted his eyes. Abigail shifted and looked down at her glass of water which had been brought with the samples. She heard a ding and looked up to see the same young man walking towards her. She smiled instantly recognizing him.
"David." She said and he smiled.
"I didn't think you'd recognize me." He said with a smile. "You know outside my stock boy apron. Mind if I sit?"
"Not at all." She said and he slowly did so. He had been there the day Hannibal had visited Tobias's music shop, and she had gone to start the shopping without him. He slowly sat down and looked around.
"Uhm… Getting married?" She laughed softly and the sound pulled Hannibals attention. He tilted his head seeing a young man sitting before Abigail. He was smiling as he let his eyes drift over her.
"No…" she said.
"Are you sure? Because this is a wedding cake shop?" He asked.
"No I swear I'm not getting married. My 18th birthday is coming up and I'm getting a fancy cake for it."
"My mom did the same thing for me. Your dad must be the same way thinking it's a special birthday there for warranting a special cake."
"Oh Hannibal isn't my dad." Abigail said instantly.
"Oh… Uhm who is he then?" he asked and Abigail shifted. Who was Hannibal to her now? She smiled softly.
"He's my guardian. He takes care of me." She said.
"Oh uhm… Your uncle or-."
"No just a Guardian."
"Where's your family?" She shifted and looked down at her water glass. "Sorry." He said instantly.
"No it's uhm…"She cleared her throat and shrugged. "They're gone now is all."
"Recent?" he asked and she nodded. "My mum died about six months ago." She looked to him. "Right after my eighteenth birthday."
"I'm so sorry David…"
"It's the cancer that should be sorry not you... How did your parents pass?"
"Uhm…"
"Abigail?" she turned, exposing her neck as she did to look at Hannibal who was walking towards them.
"Whoa… What happened to your neck?" Abigail turned quickly and covered her scar with her hand. "Wait…" he said and she saw his eyes snap with realizing. "You're Abigail Hobbs."
"I'm sorry." She said instantly and she wasn't sure why.
"Why are you sorry?" he asked with a soft expression.
"Everything alright?" Hannibal asked feeling as though he had missed something.
"Uhm no… I think." Abigail said.
"Everything is fine sir." David said standing and Abigail did so as well. "I just recognized Abigail here from the newspapers and I think I gave her a start. Something I did not intend to do. We've never formally introduced I'm David Linshter." He put his hand out and Hannibal slowly shook it.
"From the Grocery store." He said.
"Yes sir." He said with a pleasant enough look.
"Well it was good to see you David." Hannibal said.
"You too sir… I was wondering…" He laughed nervously. "Would it be okay if I maybe asked for your charges phone number? I think she's the most beautiful woman I've ever met and I'd very much like to get to know her better." Hannibal shifted as Abigail looked to him quickly.
"How old are you?"
"Eighteen." He said.
"Maybe when she's also eighteen you can ask again. Come along Abigail."
"It was nice seeing you again David." Abigail said quietly before following Hannibal out of the store. When they got into the car Abigail watched as David waved to her. She smiled and nodded at him before Hannibal drove off.
"Do you have interest in that young man?" Hannibal asked and she shifted.
"I probably should…" She said as she buckled her seat belt.
"You were flattered by him."
"I was." She said. "I mean he's nice to me when most aren't, and also after he figured out who I was he didn't shy away from me or instantly became mean."
"No he instantly gained more interest in you."
"He gained interest in my because of who I was?" She asked looking to him and he nodded. "Why would he do that? People don't want to get near me because of who I am."
"There are some people out there who will want to because of your morbid celebrity status."
"Like you?" She asked.
"No… I want to get near you because we are like minded individuals." She nodded and looked off. "He wants to get near you because it will bring him some notoriety to do so. Can you imagine if someone photographed you two out on a date, the headlines that would follow?"
"Cannibals daughter finds next meal?" she asked and he smiled.
"Exactly." He said.
"What if someone finds out about us?" She asked turning to look at him.
"We will be careful that they don't." He said and she nodded. "Unless you want people to find out."
"No." she said instantly. "If anyone found out about us, even though we really haven't engaged in anything immoral, it wouldn't be good for you. They would judge you because of who I am, how I'm charged to you, and my age. To go public would run the chance of getting you in legal trouble and having your professionalism and your ability to be relied on called into question."
"You've thought about this…"
"In depth." She said. "People like us have to…" He smiled glad she was taking in his words.
"Then maybe you should go on a date with this David." She looked to him quickly. "It's something teenage girls do… Go on dates."
"I don't want to be a headline." She said softly before looking to the road.
"You could invite him over for your birthday or-."
"No." she said and Hannibal looked to her for a moment.
"He's a fine looking young man."
"He's okay."
"You mentioned he was nice to you-."
"I don't want to be a headline Hannibal."
"There are places you could go… You'd arrive separate, leave separate. Like movie theatres, the play theaters, you could invite him over to our house or-."
"No." she said and he tilted his head as he looked her over.
"Why not?"
"I just don't want to." She said her jaw clenching.
"You're afraid of him." She looked to him quickly and he nodded as he looked back to the rode. "It would make sense considering what you've been through. The rapes would have-."
"I really need you to stop talking." She said and he tilted his head before looking to her. She had gone pale. Completely so. He slowly nodded and looked back to the road.
"I'm sorry Abigail. I shouldn't talk about those things in such a flippant way with you." She didn't say anything just kept staring out the window. When they got to the house Abigail walked away from the car, and didn't so much look back at him. Hannibal sighed. He had done wrong, he knew it. Still he hated that he had upset her when just a few hours before she had open up in a way to him that she never had before. He walked into the house and watched her disappear up the hidden stairwell. He himself went to the kitchen to make a dinner that he hoped would lift her spirits.
He figured pasta. She loved pasta, and he hadn't made it in sometime. Not since she had first moved in. He thought he'd use some left over shoulder to grind up and make into bolognaise for it. He immediately put his apron on and got to work.
After grinding up the meat, he started on the vegetables. He had decided on a sweet basil sauce. Having no crème to make Vodka sauce which was one of Abigail's favorites. He grabbed some fresh basil and began to put it through a rough chop. Just as he was about to heat up a pan he heard his doorbell. He tilted his head before washing his hands and heading to the front foray where the front door resonated. He opened it up and tilted his head the other way.
"Alana." He said surprised. "Did we have plans?"
"Abigail called me." She said. "May I come in?"
"Of course, of course." He stepped aside and she slowly walked in.
"Cooking?" she inquired.
"Am I not always?" he asked with a smile as he took her coat.
"Thank you so much…" She said. "You seem surprised that I'm here…"
"I am Abigail didn't tell me she had called you."
"She seemed… A little rushed on the phone… How has she been today?"
"She got quiet this afternoon. Something I said I'm afraid."
"Would you mind if I used your study to talk to her?"
"Not at all…" The door to the secret stairwell opened and Abigail smiled softly.
"He doc." She said and Alana smiled.
"Abigail, wanna talk?"
"Yes." She said with a nod. She walked passed Hannibal and together they headed to the study. Hannibal tilted his head as he watched the door close before walking to the kitchen to prepare a meal for three.
"So… How are you Abigail?" Alana inquired as she sat down on the couch.
"First I'm sorry I called you so out of the blue."
"I told you, you could. Besides I had nothing going on today." Abigail slowly nodded. "Everything alright? Hannibal seems to think something he said set you off?"
"I was approached by this guy named David. He works at the specialty grocery store we frequent." She nodded. "He's really nice and… Cute." Alana smiled. "He asked Hannibal if it was okay to call me, he asked me this after he recognized me from the paper."
"I see."
"Hannibal said no because he's over eighteen and Hannibal wants me to be eighteen as well."
"Smart of him." She said. "If not a little overprotective seeing as your eighteen at the end of the week. Is that what set you off him saying no?"
"No… When we got in the car he reconsidered. He said that maybe I should go out with him… I said no because can you imagine the headlines if someone snapped a photo of me on a date?"
"Cannibals daughter finds next meal?" She asked.
"That's what I said." She said quietly. "That's what I said." Abigail walked and sat beside her on the couch facing her. "He said though that maybe it would be alright. He started suggesting these places David and I could go that we wouldn't be seen together. Where we could leave and arrive separate. I said no and he said that I was scared of him… that it was natural for me to be so because of what had happened to me… My rapes. He said it so flippant and he said sorry that he had but I can't get over his tone of voice and how…" her voice shook. "He knows better than anyone how I feel about what happened to me and in that moment it was like-."
"He didn't care."
"Yes…"
"So you're more upset that he didn't care then having what happened to you brought up."
"No I called you because now I can't stop thinking about what happened to me… I can't stop thinking that he's right and that I am scared of David. Who I shouldn't be scared of at all…" Alana watched rare emotion raise into the eyes of Abigail as she looked to her. "Alana…" her voice broke. "I can't look at a man without thinking about him raping me…" There was a scared tone to her voice and Alana took a deep breath. "I see a man and I'm scared."
"Every man?" Alana asked and Abigail wiped a tear away.
"Not Hannibal and Will. They would never hurt me. They saved me after all. Why would they save me to just hurt me?" She nodded.
"A safe assumption."
"I'm never going to ever be with anyone am I? I'm never going to have a normal loving relationship?"
"You will as long as you keep working on yourself… You have to get over that type of thinking though first. You have to be able to recognize the fear you have and then move past it." She nodded. "It's going to take time though." She nodded. "Abigail I want you to be careful though. Because of this fear you have and the fact you lack it when it comes to Will and Hannibal. I don't want you to misinterpret that lack of fear you have for them as love."
"I do love them though." She said blinking.
"You do?"
"Yeah I mean they're kind of family. Just like you are." Alana smiled relaxing anyways.
"You love us as you would family."
"Yeah I would never love Hannibal and Will like… You know… Love them. In a way that's… Romantic."
"Of course not." Alana said quickly.
"If I ever do though you'll be getting a more frantic phone call then the one today."
"Good." Alana said with a smile. Abigail looked off as her knee bounced.
"Do you want to talk about what happened to you in the facility?" Abigail smiled softly before looking to her.
"You're the only one who calls it the facility everyone else calls it the asylum. Which makes me think of it as less of a facility and more of a crazy house to take in the mentally ill which is a kind way of saying nuts."
"You weren't there because you were mentally ill Abigail you were there because we had nowhere else to put you…."
"You don't think I'm mentally ill?"
"No I think you've been put through some trauma and you're struggling to get past that as any other normal human being would." She slowly nodded. "So… Do you want to talk about what happened to you at the facility?" Abigail shook her head
"Not yet." She said. "I talked to Hannibal a bit about it and that was enough to last me a while…"
"Did you feel better after you talked?"
"No." She said and Alana nodded.
"That's normal."
"Nothing in my life feels normal." She said quietly. "Sometimes…" She shook her head. "Never mind."
"Sometimes what Abigail?"
"First let me say… I love Hannibal." She said looking to her. "He's nicer to me than anyone else. I mean he took me in when he wasn't obligated to do so." Alana nodded. "He takes care of me and will continue to do so just because he wants to." Alana smiled. "He's the greatest man that I have ever come into contact with… But sometimes…" She took a deep breath. "Sometimes I just want to sneak off in the middle of the night, buy a bus ticket with what little money I have, and go somewhere far away. Dye my hair. Change my name. Disappear into the underground."
"What would your new name be?" Abigail instantly smiled.
"Something classic like… Emma… Or I don't know Victoria… Maybe Elizabeth I always liked the name Elizabeth."
"Last name?" Abigail went to say Lecter but stopped.
"I guess maybe…" She shrugged. "Something kind of exotic sounding like Shadrow… So Emma Shadrow…"
"Pretty name." Alana said with a smile. "Mine was always Stevie Burns."
"Stevie?"
"Like Stevie Nicks."
"No I got the reference." Abigail said and they shared a laugh. "Can I ask you a favor?"
"Anything."
"Would you be with me when I tell my story to Freddie?" Alana smiled relieved she had asked.
"Of course I will." She said and a knock sounded.
"I don't mean to interrupt but dinner is ready." Hannibal said through the door. Abigail smiled softly.
"He will have made you something."
"Good because I was looking forward to take out tonight." Alana said.
Hannibal tilted his head hearing laughter coming from inside his study. He quickly walked away and headed into the dining room where he had set everything up. A few seconds later Abigail and Alana came walking in. He nodded at them with a smile as he poured himself and Alana a glass of wine. Abigail headed to the kitchen to get some water.
"How is she?" Hannibal asked Alana quietly.
"Fine now… We uhm…" Alana smiled. "We had kind of a break through tonight."
"Good." Hannibal instantly said. "That's good." Alana nodded glad he was pleased. "So Abigail?"
"Yes Stevie?" She asked and Alana laughed softly.
"Shall we tell Hannibal your plans for your Freddie Lounds book interviews?"
"Oh Alana has agreed to sit in on them. It may be selfish of me but I hope Alana will become a buffer of sorts when it comes to Miss Lounds."
"You need one with her… She can be… Overbearing." Alana said.
"A very polite way to put it, Will would use different words." Hannibal said.
"You should have seen them at dinner a few nights ago." Abigail said as they sat down. "They were throttling one another verbally." Alana laughed softly.
"I may get to see for myself this Saturday for your birthday, Freddie is invited of course."
"She is." Hannibal said before looking to Abigail who started eating quietly. She hadn't looked to him yet, and he was starting to worry just upset she was with him.
"Sweet basil." She said. "My favorite." She smiled and looked to him "Thank you Dr. Lecter." He nodded with a smile.
-o-
"Thank you for coming on such short notice." Hannibal said.
"Of course." Alana said as they walked to the door. "I'm glad she called. She really opened up to me today… She actually uhm… Showed emotion. Not for the sake of me but just because it was there. It was extraordinary…" She looked off and Hannibal tilted his head.
"Alana?" he asked.
"I have to apologize to you Hannibal."
"To me?"
"You months ago talked about having her move in with you and I told you it wasn't for the best… I'm sorry I didn't let you go with your instincts… If I had we could have avoided much of the trauma she's struggling with now. I shouldn't have written you off so quickly-." Hannibal walked her out of the house and closed the door so Abigail wouldn't hear them.
"Alana you shouldn't be struggling with any guilt over the things that happened to Abigail." Alana laughed to herself before looking off.
"I'm not your patient Hannibal."
"No but you are my friend and colleague." She looked to him. "As a friend and colleague can't I be worried?"
"If I hadn't written you off though-."
"Dr. Clarkson was already abusing her."
"The gang rape wouldn't have happened."
"But rape would have already occurred… You should have no guilt. This was out of your control. You thought she was in a safe place. We all thought she was in a safe place…" She nodded.
"I don't know what I would have done if she had managed to kill herself. It's good you were there for her."
"It's good you were here for her today." Alana smiled softly as she nodded.
"You know when I first met Abigail… I thought her cold, and manipulative…" He nodded. "Now though I see she is a kind, genuine, traumatized girl who only wants to not be afraid… She still has manipulative tendencies of course but that's a part of her survival instinct."
"She's extraordinary." Hannibal said.
"Yes she really is…" Alana said with a smile. "See you on Friday."
"See you then." He said with a nod as he watched her head to her car, her coat flaring out behind her as she moved. He walked back into his house and closed the door. He tilted his head hearing clinking dishes. Abigail had already started cleaning. He headed to the doorway and came to a stop seeing her standing at the sink. He watched as she slipped out of one of her heels while shrugging her shoulders and craning her neck. She seemed uncomfortable. He silently walked up behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. She didn't even jump and he smiled. She was the only one who didn't jump when he snuck up behind them. Most the time though she knew he was there.
"You seem uncomfortable." He said as she slipped back into her heel.
"I am… I've got this nagging feeling in my neck." She said as pulled the stopper in the sink. Her eyes drifted closed as his hands began to kneed at the sore spots in her neck and shoulders. She leaned back into him and he smiled.
"I'm sorry for bringing up your assaults." Her eyes slowly opened as she felt his arms go around her before bringing her back to rest against his chest.
"It's fine."
"No it was very wrong of me." He said as he bowed his head forward burying his nose in her hair to breathe in her sweet scent. "I was just taken aback…"
"By?" she asked her hands resting on his wrists before her, his arms still wrapped around her body.
"The fact you were scared of that boy, and not of me. After everything you've seen, and everything I have done to you…"
"You would never hurt me… And if you did, there must have been good reason for it." He looked her over as he took a deep breath.
"Good reason?" he asked.
"Maybe to protect yourself." She offered.
"If I did would you have ill will towards me-."
"No." she said instantly. He turned her in his arms and set his hand against her throat lightly as he looked her over.
"If I had to kill you to protect myself, you would have no ill will towards me?"
"You wouldn't get the chance… I'd end it before you had to."
"You care about me so much you'd give up your life for mine?"
"I would." She said.
"That sounds like love." She didn't say anything and he gently pushed her back against the counter. "Do you love me Abigail?" She averted her eyes and slowly nodded. He smiled at her shyness, and innocence. "As what exactly?" she slowly looked to him.
"As everything." She said softly.
"As a Father?" he asked as he set his hand on her left hip. She nodded slowly as he moved closer to her. "As a Friend?" he set his other hand on her right hip. Abigail nodded again as she noted a dark look in his eyes. "As a Lover?" He inquired as he pressed his body against hers. She took a deep breath, the sound of which allured Hannibal in a way.
"Yes…" she said softly. Hannibal gripped onto her hips as he moved forward and captured her mouth with his. Abigails eyes slowly drifted closed as his arms wrapped around her waist bringing her closer. She set her hands on his chest as she stood on her tip toes to better reach him. His hand slowly moved through her hair as his tongue moved across her bottom lip. She instantly granted him access and their tongues began to move together in perfect harmony. There was a hunger to his embrace one that was intoxicating. She loved how he handled her. When she was in his arms she didn't have to think of anything. She could just float away as her body was taken care of by Hannibal. Hannibal cupped her cheek in hand as he pulled away, his forehead resting against hers. His eyes were shut as his other hand gripped on her hip. Abigail wondered if he was truly struggling with himself or if he just wanted her to think such.
"Play me something…" he said and she nodded before slowly walking away from him. Hannibal rested his hands on the counter as he watched Abigail walk out of the kitchen. There was a pull to Abigail. One he hadn't felt for someone since his youth. The truth was that the feelings he had for Abigail were far more intense then the feelings he had for that one woman all those years ago. After all his aunt may have trained him, but never did she truly relish in his… talents. Abigail did. In fact she not only relished in them, she flourished within the shadow of his dark side. Still she was young, and he was a gentleman. He would wait to have her. To make her his own in every way possible.
He heard the piano begin to play and slowly straightened out his clothes before heading into his study. He leaned against the door frame as he watched Abigails fingers dance across the keys. He couldn't believe Garrett Jacob Hobbs had tried to suppress her talents. He watched as her cover up slipped exposing one of her shoulders and the lace bra strap of her most intimate apparel.
Hannibal slowly walked over and set his hand on her bare shoulder. He smiled feeling the heat of her skin rise into his fingertips. His eyes danced over her neck as he watched her pulse quicken. His hand slid up, his fingers resting against her pulse. He smiled at the way it pounded within her. If he were to say he didn't like how even a single touch from him could affect her. He'd be lying. He loved that her body bent to his hand so easily. He had completely control over her when it came to that aspect. He moved her hair over one shoulder and he tilted his head seeing the bruise marks from his fingertips planted across the back of her neck. He pressed into one and she hissed in pain as she stopped playing.
"I'm sorry." He said and she only nodded before slowly beginning to play again. Hannibal slowly moved and sat down beside her at the piano. "I was talking to an old school chum of mine… He's now the Dean at John Hopkins University."
"Here in Baltimore?" she asked and he nodded.
"I told him all about you and your aspirations to be a forensic psychiatrist with the FBI… He wants to have a meeting with you."
"Meeting with me?" she asked instantly stopping her playing. "Like to decide if I'm going to be a student there or not?" He smiled.
"It's pretty much set in stone he just has to meet you for the sake of the board."
"Wait, set in stone?" she asked with a smile.
"It's 97 percent done that you will attend John Hopkins in the fall." She laughed and moved forward hugging him tightly. Hannibal laugh as he returned the embrace.
"Wait, wait, wait." She said pulling back. "What about Yale?"
"It was too far for me." She said and she smiled softly before moving forward and hugging him tightly.
"Thank you so much Hannibal." She said and he smiled. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" She asked.
"I was waiting for the right moment." He said as she pulled back.
"How am I going to ever repay you?"
"Normally I would say don't think on such a thing… But there is something you can do for me as payment for pulling these strings."
"Anything."
"Don't live in a dorm…" he said. "Stay here. With me." She smiled softly.
"Oh no… And I was so looking forward to Dorm life… With the crazy parties, and the coed showers, and the messy roommates and what not…" She said sarcastically and he smiled. "Of course I'll stay with you. I'm so glad you asked me to do so…"
"There's one more thing you can do for me."
"Anything."
"Keep playing…" She smiled softly as her hands returned to the keys. Hannibal took on a soft expression as he let his eyes move over her. "Beautiful…" he said and she smiled softly at his words thinking he was speaking of her playing, never even thinking he may be talking about her. "So beautiful."