AN: So my computer has been on the fritz for months. First the key board popped out of place, and then there was a problem with the Operating System but it's fixed which means… UPDATES! LET'S DO THIS! I hope to get the fic caught up to speed by the season three premier of Hannibal this summer. PS. Anyone see that new sneak peak? Whew! It looks amazing!
-o-
"Hannibal?" Abigail asked as she walked into the house. It was still lit up, an indication he hadn't fallen asleep yet. She tilted her head as she shrugged out of her coat and slipped out of her boots. She put the items in their proper place before closing the door and looking over the house. "Hannibal?" she asked as she walked to his study. As she did she didn't hear the door open up behind her, or see Hannibal slip in quietly like a specter in the night.
Abigail peaked into Hannibals study to find it empty. She tilted her head and took a deep breath as she felt a rush of cold air move up behind her. She turned quickly as she gasped and looked to the door to see it was wide open.
"Hannibal?" She asked softly before slowly moving forward.
Hannibal smiled as he moved from his drawing room into the study. He had loved the sound her voice had taken when she had realized the door was wide open. He figured she now knew she wasn't alone now, or suspected it. He heard the door close and peeked out of his study to see Abigails hands planted against the door.
"Hannibal?" she asked louder and he ducked back into his study. He heard a loud click and instantly knew she had locked the door this time. "I'm being paranoid." He heard her laugh. "And I'm talking to myself… that's not good…" he watched from his study as she headed past him. He reached out and let his fingers roam through her hair as she moved by. She gasped and spun around, but before she could spot him he was gone into the drawing room. "Hannibal it's not funny." He heard her say with a panicked tone and he smiled as he peeked out of the drawing room.
"You called?" he asked and she took a deep breath realizing instantly that he had been messing with her.
"You startled me." she said.
"Had to have a bit of fun."
"That was fun?" she asked as he waltzed up to her. He smiled as he looked her over before setting a hand on her cheek. It was still cold from the night outside, and he found he wanted to see how much more of her body was just as cold.
"Did you think my joke cruel?" he asked.
"I didn't think it was funny." She said her jaw clenching. Hannibal set his hand on her hip as he took a step towards her. She didn't move back, and he was pleased she had stayed her ground. He let his eyes close and his jaw clench.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly feeling his demeanor change in an instant. His hand slowly moved through her hair. It halted at the back of her neck and she slowly gazed up at him to see he was staring down at her. "Hannibal?"
"You smell of Clair De Lune… Not your scent."
"No… It's not… It's Margots… I told you I'd be spending the day with her. Remember?" She asked surprised he didn't recall. "I even called you told you how it was going."
"Your covered in her scent…" her cheeks flared as she stared up at him. She was caught. He knew. He knew just by her scent that she had been intimate with Margot. It frightened her more than she could say.
"You knew it-." she took a deep breath trying to regain some ground. "You knew it border lined on a date."
"Did something happen between you two?" she turned and walked away.
"I don't think I can have this discussion with you I'm sorry…"
"Please don't turn your back on me when we're speaking. It's very Rude Abigail." She instantly came to a stop.
"It's not easy for me…" she said.
"Speaking of ones sexuality never is." She turned instantly. "Did you two have relations?"
"No." she said instantly, and she had almost sounded offended at the suggestion. She shifted on her feet as she took a deep breath. "I mean we…" her jaw clenched as she looked off. "We uhm… Kissed…"
"Once?" she looked to him to see a vacant expression.
"A few times… Why are you asking?"
"You're my charge. It's my job to inquire-."
"I hate when you talk about me like that…"
"Like what?"
"Like I'm… Disposable or something." He walked up to her and set a hand on her cheek.
"You're not disposable to me Abigail… You're quite the opposite." He smiled as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I have such plans for you…" he moved forward and kissed the top of her head. "Hot cocoa?"
"No… Thank you…" she said softly. There was something in his eyes, and a tone to his voice that had scared her. What plans did he have for her exactly? She slowly turned and faced Hannibal her jaw clenching as she did.
"Do you care about me?" he stopped mid step into the kitchen and turned to look at her.
"Of course." He said. "I care about you, yes." She shifted on her feet as she looked him over and he was very aware in that moment that she was sizing him up. He wondered if her night of romance with Margot had swayed her feeling for him.
Can't have that… Hannibal smiled and walked up to her. He took her hands in his and bent over slightly so he came more level to her eyes.
"Abigail what's wrong?" He asked and she smiled softly before shrugging.
"I think I'm just tired."
"I know you better than that…" he said. "Come now what is it? Don't shut me out now… Not after everything…" her expression softened at his beckoning and he knew he was slowly winning her over once more.
"It's hard for me to trust people."
"You don't trust me."
"Of course I do but… I-."
"There is no but…" He said standing up straight, his presence fully looming over her. "Either you trust me Abigail or you don't."
"Sometimes I feel like you're just using me."
"How do I use you Abigail?" he asked. "I give you everything. The clothes on your back, the food in your stomach, the roof over your head."
"And I'm so grateful."
"You don't sound grateful… You sound suspect. Of me." She stared up at him doe eyed and he knew in that instant he still had a hold of her.
"No." She said instantly as she shook her head and her eyes narrowed on him.
"You do use me, and that's okay. Everyone uses everyone."
"Explain how I use you."
"You use me to hide who you are. You use me to make the world think that you are just as much a care taker as you are a connoisseur of the arts…" her jaw clenched. "You took me, a country bumpkin-."
"Stop."
"A young woman going nowhere."
"Abigail…"
"The daughter of a serial killer, committed to an asylum and brought me into your own home. You taught me how to walk, how to talk, how to dress like a lady and you presented me to Baltimore society as such. As your student, your protégé… Your little lady in wait." She looked him over. "You were my very own Henry Higgins…" his jaw clenched as he looked her over. "Everyone saw me, and they thought Abigail Hobbs poor little victim, Everyone saw you and they thought Hannibal Lecter the great savior. You used me, you use me every day to conceal who you really are…" his jaw clenched so loud she heard it pop. "You manipulate me into thinking this is wrong, that in fact I'm using you and in some ways I am but never forget who initiated the using. But the using and the manipulation Hannibal it makes me wonder if you really care about or if I'm just some china doll you hide behind."
"One date with this Margot and you question our relationship completely."
"What relationship?" she asked. "What are we Hannibal? Are we partners in literal crime?" he looked off. "Are we friends? Are we mentor and student? Are we-."
"Lovers?" he asked looking down at her and her jaw instantly clenched.
"Now that I know we're not."
"We've kissed." He said as if it were evidence to a grand affair.
"It didn't feel like it did with Margot."
"I'm a man she's a woman it's bound to be different."
"It didn't feel how it felt with Marissa." Hannibal tilted his head.
"You and Marissa?" he asked looking her over his hands slipped into his pockets. "You never told me."
"You never asked."
"This isn't the army Abigail." He said.
"You're angry…"
"If you wouldn't even tell me your sexual orientation, then what else haven't you told me?"
"I didn't tell you because I'm not clear what my sexual orientation is." He slowly nodded as he took a deep breath.
"Of course." He said. "Very understandable. That's not an easy thing to figure out."
"I think I'm Bi if it helps… I think." She said
"Well at least you have an idea." She smiled softly as Hannibal walked up to her. "I now understand why you were so concerned with whether or not I killed Marrissa or not… Because you were in love with her." Her jaw clenched and he could tell his words had brought her a sting of pain.
"I don't know if I loved her but… She loved me… No one had ever loved me before. No one. What hurts is the loss of what could have been…" she gave a cynical laugh. "I thought after dad was found out, after I was suspected that everyone had abandoned me but then she showed up that day…" Hannibal nodded remembering how rude the girl was to her mother. "She still cared about me, after everything everyone said she still loved me… And then Nicholas Boil happened." Her jaw clenched as she looked off and she smiled fondly. "He put her on display and I in turn gutted him like the pig he was." Hannibal smiled as he looked her over.
"You really did enjoy it."
"It was a nice change of subject." She said looking to him. "Turning us on the topic of Marissa… And now I'm left wondering again where we stand, what we are."
"What would you like us to be?" her jaw clenched before she shook her head.
"Why don't you think about the answer to that for a few days and then we'll talk…" With that she turned and walked away.
"What do you want from me Abigail?" he asked.
"Honesty." She said as she disappeared up the stairs. "Simple honesty…" she said softly.
-o-
Margot headed down the hallway of the manor towards her bedroom. Her heels were held in hand, her bag in the other. Many would think it normal for a person to not wear their own shoes in their own home. But the truth of the matter was Margot would kill, literally kill, to be able to wear her own shoes in her own home. Shoes made noise though. Noise that could be followed and traced back to her by her brother. She rounded a corner and instantly came to a stop seeing Mason.
"Brother dear." She greeted.
"Have a nice night with your summer peach?" He asked looking over the mentioned fruit in hand.
"Still insinuating there's something there?" she asked. "You seem to forget she took a shining to you."
"That seems to irritate you."
"She's my friend not yours." Margot said heading past him. Mason took a hold of her arm in his grasp and slammed her up against the wall with such force Margot couldn't help but make a sound of pain as her shoulder cracked against the old wood paneling.
"Nothing is yours, sister dear…" he said his mouth against her ear. "Nothing…" he pulled back and as he did he kissed her cheek. "Remember?" he asked with a sweet smile. She always wondered how her brother, with the face of an angel, was such a devil down deep. "Sleep tight." He kissed the tip of her nose before walking off.
As soon as his back turned she reached for her door handle and backed herself into her room quickly before shutting the door. She went to lock the five deadbolts but froze to see they were lying dismantled on the ground. She heard a maniacally laugh and took a shaky breath as she set her chair in front of her door and walked to her bathroom. She closed and locked the door before heading to her closet and getting inside the room which held the family jewelry.
The only thing truly left to her in the will. She closed the door and put the safety locks in place. They were meant to keep the Jewels safe but tonight they would keep her safe. She took another shaking deep breath before opening up a closet and seeing a comforter and pillow folded up inside. At the sight of her makeshift bed, the one she used most nights, she felt emotion rise in her chest and pain flood her heart. Before she could let out a scream of anguish, frustration, and pain she heard a buzz and looked down at her purse in hand. She slowly reached in and took out her phone.
"Abigail…" she said softly seeing she was calling. She went to answer but stopped and caught the sight of herself in the mirror. Tears were rolling down her face, her mascara had run. Her cheeks were puffy. Her chest was heaving. She was in distress and she knew if she tried to speak her voice would only shake in pain and panic. She let it go to voice mail before crawling into the closet and getting into her makeshift bed. Just as she settled another buzz sounded and she looked down surprised to see Abigail had left a Voicemail.
"I hope this doesn't wake you." Her voice flooded into her ear and Margot felt herself calm down instantly at her tone. "But I got home and already I couldn't wait to talk to you." Margot smiled. "As soon as I said goodbye to you tonight. As soon as we weren't talking anymore, I missed the sound of your voice. Maybe I hoped to hear it again even groggily… Sounds stupid as I say it. I don't know… I just got the overwhelming feeling like I should call you…" Margot smiled softly. "I sound needy now…" Margot shook her head while laughing. "Anyways. I can't wait to go whale watching with you this weekend and uhm stay hungry that day because I'm going to make us a picnic. Stupid and hokey I know but you have to admit pretty romantic and as I said… You deserve romance Margot… Good night…" it clicked off and Margot instantly played it over and over and over again. She played it until Abigail's voice lulled her to sleep.
-o-
Frederick Chilton sat in his office with a smug look stamped on his face. He had received an old email from an old with a very satisfying request held inside. A request that would gain him access to not only one very high profile serial killer suspect, but one FBI profiler as well. He laughed in small triumph as he waved the printed out email in hand. He cleared his throat before taking his feet off his desk and moving forward in his chair and reached for his phone. He suddenly smiled and shook his head.
No… Not over of the phone. He thought with smile before getting up and heading to get his coat.
-o-
Abigail grabbed her coat and bag as she opened the door to her bedroom. She gasped when she moved forward and ran straight into Hannibal.
"Oh-."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you I was just about to knock." He said.
"Am I running too late?" She asked checking the time. "No… I was quick this morning. What's wrong?" she turned back to look at him and stopped seeing A single chrysanthemum held before her. She Smiled instantly and Hannibal tilted his head. No matter how complicated or dark the woman, hold a flower before her face her lips would form a smile.
"I wanted to give you this… For your room. To bring a little light in… I saw it early this morning, when I was picking a few items up from the farmers market. It reminded me of you. I will say the florist did a terrible job of trimming it so I had to intervene but I think it will do…"
"It does." She moved forward and went to kiss his cheek. Hannibal instead caught her lips. Abigail was caught off guard. Though she thought she would have pulled away from his embrace she found herself melting into it. Hannibal helped this by wrapping an arm around her waist and brining her in close. Hannibal pulled back, but only slightly. He rested his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes.
"You question my feelings and my intentions. I-."
"No-."
"Yes." He said with a stern tone, one she knew not to fight with. "Yes you do…" he said dragging his knuckles across her cheek slowly, lightly, and methodically. The movement would intimidate most, but Abigail found the body language enticing. "I don't blame you for having doubts about me… I know I can't win you over immediately and I also know I'm in a race against many suitors."
"Not many."
"There are others you haven't noticed…" He said with a smile as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I have. I just wanted you to know I'm going to try and fulfill your needs more." She smiled softly.
"I'm… I'm going to go find a nice place for this."
"And I'll meet you down stairs…" he kissed her cheek before heading down the hallway. Hannibal headed down the stairs, confident that he and Abigail were back on track. He had wanted to take Abigail to a nice breakfast somewhere before patients but had gotten a call from Will pertaining to a psychologically disturbed female criminal currently being held at a nearby hospital. So instead of breakfast he would be dropping Abigail off at the office to prepare things for him while He ran to the hospital as a favor to Will. He did a lot of favors for Will. But what were friends for? Hannibal heard a noise and turned to see Abigail closing and locking the front door. Hannibal moved to the passenger side of the car and opened it for her.
"Abigail?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"Today… You might receive a call from one Dr. Frederick Chilton…" She looked to him.
"I've met him…"
"Yes… Well it seems my old colleague the dean of Johns Hopkins is also an old Colleague of Frederick… Your soon to be Dean has asked Chilton for a second opinion on you… Or more so the board of the college has…"
"Am I not going to college?" She asked and Hannibal shook his head.
"I won't let that happen." He said with a reassuring smile. "Now get in if you will I have to fill you in on something's…"
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine our schedule will just be a little different today, I won't be joining you for the first few hours at the office." She nodded in understanding as she slipped into the car and Hannibal closed the door. Her eyes set forward instantly. She hoped Chilton wouldn't call her today to set up a session. She wanted time to do some research on him. She wanted to have the upper hand of a conversation with him.
-o-
Abigail smiled as she did her last look over of Hannibal's office. Normally he prepared his office for patients himself. But seeing as he was with Will at the hospital on consultation, she would have to do it herself. She let her eyes dart over every nook and cranny, and after a long moment had passed she smiled in pure satisfaction.
"Not bad…" She heard the clicking of a door and turning to stare through the threshold of Hannibals office. Her stomach seemed to go into free fall as she spotted one Dr. Chilton walking into the main office. She took a deep breath and put on a pleasant smile before moving forward.
"Dr. Chilton." He turned to her and smiled in greeting.
"Miss Hobbs, hello." He said.
"I'm sorry I don't have you on my appointment book… Did I make a grave mistake?" she asked.
She sounds like a mini Hannibal… Chilton thought as he tilted his head, his eyes locking with hers, a clever smirk in the place of his lips.
Abigail had a feeling her college psych evaluation had just begun.
"No I was making a professional curtesy call to Hannibal but I see he isn't in."
"I'm afraid not he's out on a private consultation." She tilted her head and smiled. "Dr. Chilton can I be forward with you?"
"Please." He said his hand slipping into his pocket as he looked her over.
"Does this have anything to do with the Evaluation the Dean of Johns Hopkins asked you to perform on me?" if he was surprised he didn't show it and Abigail instantly knew swinging this interview was going to be harder then she thought.
"It might." He said and she slowly nodded.
"Well Dr. Lecter won't be back for a while and there are no patients until two if you have time we can start the evaluation now."
"Eager to prove yourself." He remarked with a smile as he looked around Hannibals grand office. Chilton wondered if Private practice had been the way to go rather than a Government funded practice.
"This is a much nicer setting than my office. You'd probably be more comfortable talking here."
"Not at all, I can talk here, or your office. Truthfully I've been thinking of begging Dr. Lecter to give you a call."
"Me a call?" he asked and she nodded. "For a session?"
"Oh no I have a phycologist already." She said with a laugh and he nodded with an amused look. "I find Criminal Phycology fascinating."
"It would make sense giving your history."
"And the fact I hope to become a profiler someday." Chilton kept himself calm. Though inside he was ecstatic, she had basically brought up the discussion of Will Graham on her own.
"Like Will Graham the man who killed your father."
"The man who saved me..." her jaw clenched realizing how very telling that remark must have been.
"Indeed." He said telling her the remark had in fact been telling. "Would you like to sit?"
"First would you like some water? Or I could take your coat…"
"Both would be lovely." She helped him shrug out of his coat, and as she moved around his body he caught the scent of oatmeal and honey. As she passed by him, coat folded over arm, her crimson hair waved elegantly around her.
Frederick sat down in a nearby chair, his eyes following Abigail's movements closely. She hardly looked 18, she certainly didn't carry herself like an 18 year old. His jaw clenched instantly. Realizing he had heard certain comments coming from the mouths of rapists and pedophiles in his hospital. Still, under the guiding hand of Hannibal Abigail Hobbs had gone from confused, terrified, testy teenager, to what Chilton believed was a calculating, confidant, manipulative young woman. Still he found her enticing, in the forbidden way. After all he was a criminal psychologist and she was almost certainly a deranged criminal.
Most likely more Deranged then Criminal… After all The FBI dropped all charges…
Chilton watched as she hung up his coat, smoothing out the shoulders on the hanger, before moving towards a mini refrigerator. She bent down, her pencil skirt pulling over her hips and synching around her already tiny waist as she reached in and grabbed a French bottle of water. She poured into a glass before grabbing a napkin and walking back in wish a smile.
"Hannibal has you acting as a waitress as well as
"Not at all." She said as she handed him the glass of water and took a seat in what was normally Hannibal's chair. She smiled, Chilton without realizing it had already given her the upper hand. In Hannibals chair she felt confidant, powerful, near untouchable. Only near.
"Now I want you to know that this is just a discussion Miss Hobbs." Frederick said setting his glass down on the table next to him.
"Of course Dr. Chilton, and please call me Abigail." He nodded with a smile as he sat back in his chair and looked her over, he tilted his head when instantly she smirked at his action. It seemed that while he was making a study of her, she was making a study of him. Not unusual for a person with aspirations of a psychological field, but also not unusual for a psychopath.
"So Abigail how are you doing?" She laughed, and the sound was intoxicating. "I said something funny? Already?" he asked with a smile.
"I'm sorry." She said genuinely. "It's just you said we were just having a discussion but you completely just sounded like a shrink there." He laughed as he looked to the tall windows to his left.
"Yes I suppose I did."
"Dr. Chilton if I may, if you want to have a clinical discussion with me I'm fine with it…"
"Would you be honest?" She merely smiled and he slowly nodded. "You know…" he said picking some lint off his knee. "If you think of it that sly smile you just gave me was incredibly honest." She thought about it.
"I guess I was." She said with a girlish smile as she held her hands in her lap. "You know…" she said looking to him. "I don't think I'd lie so much as deflect…"
"Do you see a difference in the two?"
"Well… I mean… Everyone hides something don't they?" She asked and he nodded.
"Yes, I suppose they do." He said after thinking on it for a moment.
"Do you mind if I get a drink of water too?"
"Not at all." He said and she got up quickly.
"I'm sorry I should have grabbed one."
"Not at all." Chilton said as he watched her grab her own glass.
She's nervous. Her mouth is going dry. An indicator that she's hiding something… Then again this discussion does determine her whole future. She is also under a tremendous amount of stress… If I want to dissect her, if I want to use her to get to Graham I need her to relax… I need her to be with me how she is with Hannibal…
"Okay I'm back." She said sitting down and taking a sip of water. "Again my deepest apologies."
"Not at all." He said watching her set the water glass down.
"Are you nervous?"
"My mom used to say I was a Nervous like an Alley Cat. She used to say uh…" She laughed in her nostalgia. "She used to say she should named me Ally or Cat." Chilton smiled.
"Do you miss your mother?" her eyes darted to her hands which rested in her lap, a sign of remorse, and grief to Chilton.
"I keep going back to…" Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. "it doesn't matter… I speak too freely."
"It's just a discussion Abigail…" she looked to him.
"Dr. Chilton if I can speak plainly here…"
"Please do." He said sitting forward.
"I came from nothing… The man who raised me who he was… People think what they think of me despite the FBI absolving me of all charges… Without Jons Hopkins I'm going nowhere." He kept his eyes on her thought he wanted to avert in mild shame. It was true. He could destroy her future if he wanted. Hell he could put her away in his hospital for the rest of her days. The truth was the idea of doing such was tempting. "This isn't just a discussion… This…" she said motioning to them. "Is everything. At least to me."
"Abigail I don't want to drive your future into the ground… I'm not going to drive your future into the ground…"
"A lot of people think I should be going into the field of chosen because of my background."
"Some of the most damaged people I met are in this field…" she smiled softly. "Myself included… You'll be amongst friends Abigail… In fact I'm sure colleagues will flock to you just because of your past."
"It seems everyone does these days… Either flock or run… Sprint actually, they sprint. It's quite upsetting." He genuinely laughed at the joke as she smiled feeling more relaxed. "I feel like I can finish that sentence now." Frederick smiled.
"Please do…"
"I've told Dr. Bloom and Dr. Lecter this… But… I keep going back to that day the FBI came to the house." He nodded feeling naked without a pen and paper to scribble notes on. He was glad for the recorder in his pocket. "We were in the kitchen making breakfast."
"What were you having?" he asked and she looked to him for a long moment. He could instantly tell his question had thrown her. Suddenly the reason came rushing to the forefront of his mind.
"Pancakes and what dad called Venison…"
"But what was really…"
"The girls… Yeah." She said her coloring instantly draining as her eyes watered. It was quiet for a long moment and she Frederick could see she was reverting back into a victim persona. It was fascinating to witness. Every day he dealt with serial killers, rapists, and pedophiles… Rarely did he ever get to evaluate a victim. "Everything was quiet… not the good kind of quiet… not even the calm kind of quiet… Just quiet. Dad was in a good place and mom and I wanted to keep him there. We wanted to make sure breakfast went without a hitch."
"Clearly your father was a cruel man, but most think that though he was a serial killer outside the home, inside the home he was a loving man… Am I to take from your words that, that's not so."
"There's a reason all charges were dropped and the reason was the amount of cruelty my father showed towards me."
"He was Abusive?" her jaw clenched and her eyes welled up more, making her sapphire eyes glisten under the dim lights of the office.
"Yes." She said and he could tell it took an incredible amount of courage to admit so.
"Physically?" she nodded. "Emotionally?" She nodded. "Sexually?"
"No." she said instantly. "Never." He tilted his head. "He wasn't like that. I mean there was a… twisted sort of love he had for me… That I don't think a father should have for a daughter but I don't think it was ever driven by romance or desire." He was impressed by her articulation. "Besides I know what that kind of abuse feels like and it didn't feel like that with him."
"You're speaking of the Asylum."
"I'm not speaking on it, that's an open investigation… I'm just touching base on it." He nodded.
"Smart…" he said with a smirk.
"Thank you." She said so humbly he thought she might have never heard the compliment before. He knew that couldn't be true though. He had gotten a look at her records after all. She was an outstanding student. Valedictorian in high school on the fast track to doing the same in College. She was bright. Nearing genius levels in math and sciences, but it seemed she also excelled at the arts. She used both sides of her brain, she was by every definition of the word Exceptional. She was also by every definition of the word damaged. Frederick thought it a shame. He wondered were Miss Hobbs life may have taken her, if her father hadn't been a cannibalizing lunatic.
"You said before you keep thinking about the day the FBI came, but we got off topic and you never said why…"
"It's my mother." She said and he nodded. "Dad got this phone call and he just snapped… He grabbed a knife from the block and grabbed mom… He never grabbed mom."
"Never?" Frederick asked and she shook her head.
"Not once." She said. "He'd yell sometimes, curse, call her stupid, but he never hurt physically… not in front of me at least."
"What happened after he grabbed her?" She looked at him for a long moment.
"I can't remember…"
"You can't remember?"
"It's what I can't stop thinking about… I can't remember my mother that day. I remember the breakfast, the phone call, I remember him grabbing her, but I don't remember what she was wearing, what she looked like, what she said to me, I just can't remember her that day. Everything else is clear but her." He tilted his head.
"It's not unusual for-."
"Memory loss to arise from Trauma I know…" She said. "Dr. Bloom said the same thing… But it really bothers me. Of all the things to forget that day, why her?"
"Because you loved her." She shook her head.
"We… We didn't have a good relationship… but I guess yeah… I loved her… Despite it all."
"Despite her allowing her husband to do what he did to you."
"Yes." She said.
"So you miss your mother?" Her jaw clenched and she merely nodded, he suspected she couldn't get the words out. "Do you miss your father?" She crossed her legs and Frederick smiled. "That's off topic I see." Abigail looked down at herself.
"You… You ready body language?" she asked her interest peaked instantly as she sat forward.
"It comes in handy when dealing with criminals who… well-." He laughed. "Seem to lie as much as they breathe."
"Does it come in handy?"
"It does, it's not an exact science though."
"Where did you learn it?" He merely smiled and Abigail laughed.
"Well played."
"If you want, I can talk to Hannibal. See if he'll let me teach you a few things. The techniques I could show you could come in handy for school." He offered and Abigail smiled at the chance to get closer to the clinical phycologist.
"I would appreciate it if you offered such to him."
"I will then." He said glad he had his in into spending more time with her. After all the closer he got to Abigail the closer he got to the buffet of psychological issues that was Will Graham. A paper on Graham was just what he needed to boost his reputation in the Psychological community. "A nice change of subject by the way from your father to my talents."
"You caught that huh?" she asked with a smile, her blue eyes lighting up in pure amusement.
"Just narrowly…"
"Now's probably the time to tell you…" She said hearing Hannibals key enter the office door. "Garrett Jacob Hobbs wasn't my biological father."
Frederick felt his pulse quicken, and a surge of adrenaline move through his body. Before he could ask her what she was talking about the door to the main office opened and Hannibal walked in. He looked to Abigail to see she looked just as surprised.
"Seems he's back early…" She stood and grabbed her water glass. "Dr. Lecter look who came to call." She said and he smiled instantly as he took his gloves off.
"Frederick, couldn't wait for your interview with my charge?" Hannibal asked.
"I actually came to give you a professional heads up about it but it seemed someone had already done that."
"I received an email from our old Colleague last night."
"Abigail why don't you excuse Dr. Chilton and I? I actually have something I'd like to discuss with him."
"Of course, before I take my leave can I grab either of you anything?" She inquired.
"I'm fine, but thank you for offering Abigail." Frederick said and Hannibal looked to him. He wondered when exactly the two had gotten on a first name basis.
"Dr. Lecter?" He looked to Abigail. "Anything I can get you?"
"I'm quite content for the moment Abigail, but thank you." She nodded with a smile before excusing herself. Hannibal watched the door closed and felt his tongue flick against his front teeth in irritation.
"You should have called first…" He said.
"I was going to but I thought I could catch you hear at the office."
"Catch me or Abigail?" He turned and looked to Frederick who instantly smiled.
"Hannibal, I was expecting to see you first." He said with a tone that told Hannibal he was being foolish. Hannibal kept a smile on his lips as he imagined what parts of his body would make the best meals.
"Abigail… She's very special to me… I see her as more than a charge I see her as-."
"Not a daughter." Hannibal looked at him for a long moment. Frederick smiled as he walked up to him, his hand deep in his pocket. "She certainly doesn't see you as a father…"
"Frederick-."
"Say no more." He said putting a hand up and Hannibal looked him over.
"I will say more… I will say this." Hannibal said. "Your impression of Abigail and what you tell her soon to be Dean could either make or break her future…"
"Hannibal." Frederick said with a smile. "She's a lovely girl I have nothing but a five star review to send in. In fact Hannibal under your mentoring she's become a chip off the old block. Very promising for our field. Very promising." Hannibal smiled. "She's not very subtle when she's reading you but…"
"No I've been working with her on it." Hannibal said with a small laugh.
"I would like to help if I could." Hannibal eyed him. "Abigail noticed that I could read body language, she wishes to learn, and it could come in handy for her schooling… She wanted me to ask you."
"She did?" Hannibal asked.
"That's right." Frederick answered.
"Well if Abigail has an interest in something it's my job as her guardian to encourage that interest…"
"She also expressed some interest in seeing my facility."
"Yes she expressed that desire to me as well." Hannibal said.
"I could get her a visitors pass… Easily. In fact the earliest I could set up a tour for her would be tomorrow."
"Tomorrow…" Hannibal said thinking about it. He slowly nodded before walking to the door and opening it up. "Abigail?"
"Yes Dr. Lecter?" she asked standing instantly and Frederick couldn't help but tilt his head.
My, my, my how he has her trained… It's near Domestic.
How would you like to take a tour of Dr. Chiltons facility tomorrow?" She looked to Frederick.
"Really?" She asked. "You could get me a pass that quick?"
"There a perks to being Chief Of Staff." He said with a smile. "So what do you say?"
"Yes. I say yes."
"Well why don't we just make a day of it? I'll pick you up at manor Lecter." Abigail laughed and Frederick smiled at his own charm while Hannibal tried to keep his eyes from rolling in response. "We'll go to the facility, take a tour, I'll show you how things run, introduce you to a few people-."
"Patients?" she asked.
"No, no, dear. But I like your enthusiasm." He said and she smiled.
"I know." Hannibal said making the two break eye contact and look to him. "How about you bring her back to the house around Five and I'll have a delicious meal prepared."
"Fantastic." Frederick said.
"Thank you so much for allowing me to visit your Facility."
"Not at all dear." He said as she handed him his coat "I'll see you tomorrow morning, your house, at 10."
"I will be ready with bells on."
"Ooh better leave the bells at home, they rile the patients." He said with a wink making her smiling as he headed out. When the door closed Abigail looked to Hannibal.
"He thinks he's very charming." He said.
"He was nice…" She said and he looked to her. She was pulling more and more away from him. "Besides I need to start making connections in this field now if I'm going to be as well connected as you are by the time you retire from private practice…" He smiled, maybe she wasn't pulling away from him after all. "I have to start working now if I'm going to be able to look after you as you have me." he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You don't have to worry for me…"
"If I said that to you what would you say?"
"I'd say you don't have to feel like you're alone anymore."
"I say the same to you then."
"Then I need you to do something for me Abigial…" Hannibal said wanting to test her loyalty.
"Okay." She said as he tilted her chin up.
"Get close to Frederick."
"I'm trying." He looked at her for a long moment and she slowly nodded. "Closer." He smiled before taking a step back.
"Unless you're uncomfortable."
"Not at all."
"I think he suspects Will, The closer he gets to Will-."
"The closer he gets to us…" She said. "I understand… This won't be an issue. You can count on me." Hannibal smile as he moved towards her.
"I knew I could."
"So how was the hospital?" She asked trying to keep herself from jumping in glee at Hannibal's vote of confidence.
"Fine, a poor case I'm afraid."
"Really?"
"The poor woman suffers from a condition that makes her believe she's dead."
"Really?" Abigail asked. Hannibal turned and before he could continue on the subject the door to the office opened and a paitent appeared.
"Someone is early." Hannibal said. "How terrible rude…"
"I'll take note of their name for the future." Abigail said quietly and Hannibal smiled as he watched her take her leave.
AN: Anyone still reading this?