Welcome back my friends!

Author's note:

I received many complimentary pm's asking how I came up with the intaglio reference in a previous chapter. For those of you who may have visited my profile page I am an artist. One of my specialties is Lithography. I utilize intaglio, the process of carving an image into a metal plate, place the metal sheet in an acid bath and burn the image directly onto that plate. The plate is then used to create the actual Lithographic print. I used this process of creating artistic imagery as the physical representation of the emotional scars we all accumulate. Hope that's clear and thanks for your curiosity!

The Only True Torture

Clarice laughed at Hannibal's response and relayed it to Ardelia, "Yup…he agrees...definitely."

Ardelia listened to Clarice. She was smiling widely seeing her uncomfortable companion writhing with embarrassment and couldn't help but giggle. Thinking the answer might relieve some of Graham's discomfort she quickly passed the message along with an amused lilt to her voice, "No worries, Will. Hannibal agrees with you."

"Seriously Ardelia…I'll never be able to face that man again," Will mumbled miserably.

She waved Graham off, "Oh come on, man up, and don't be such a baby. He's not going to roast you on a spit- he's got a sense of humor!" Ardelia turned her attention back to Clarice, "Sorry Clarice, poor Graham is freaking out here. So…when and where do you want to do this?"

"Tell him to relax Hannibal isn't upset with him. I think he actually likes Will. Tell the poor guy we will expect him here tomorrow at one. Hannibal's making lunch and tell the man he isn't on the menu for Christ's sake."

"Good one! I think that's what he's worried about." Ardelia whispered into the phone, adding to Graham's paranoia.

Clarice was equally amused, "You want to come? It might make Graham feel better if an active agent was on the premises and we can hang out while H and Will do their thing."

"Sure sounds like fun. Logan's working anyway I've got nothing going on. See you then."

Ardelia closed her cell phone and looked over to see her companion still in distress.

"Jesus, Graham you look like you're gonna be sick."

Will covered his face with his hands appearing almost nauseous. His voice wavered slightly though he made every effort to fortify it with increased volume, "I can't believe this. It's so…surreal. You just had Clarice Starling ask Hannibal Lecter is he was pussy whipped and he answered you? He actually lets you taunt him like that?"

"First of all you'd better call her by her name. She's Clarice Lecter now and damn proud of it so leave that Starling crap behind before you show up to meet with them. Second, I wasn't taunting him, I was teasing him. He likes to tease his friends and if he's going dish it out, he'd sure as shit better be able to take it. Third, you should know that I really like Hannibal so don't talk shit about him. He's got a really witty and twisted sense of humor, he says what's on his mind, he's insanely loyal to his wife and his friends and I find it…refreshing."

"His friends?"

"Will you are really starting to piss me off. I get that you're freaked out about this but you're going to have to get your mind out of that dungeon because he's not like that anymore. He's mellowed with age but he's still Hannibal Lecter. He loves his wife, he's not a raving lunatic but he's not about to kiss your ass or anyone else so get your head on straight or he'll pick you the hell apart just for the fun of it."

Will put some food in his mouth and chewed on it as if the motion would help him process the paradigm shift he was undergoing. "Mellowed…he was mellow right up to the moment he almost gutted me with a goddamned linoleum knife. He's about as mellow as a grizzly bear."

Ardelia lifted her coffee cup over her head and held it there, her signal that she wanted a refill. She continued talking while the waitress filled it and brought the cup to her mouth as soon as the waitress moved away with the pot. "He may be a grizzly bear but Clarice keeps his claws in. He only shows them when he needs to. Clarice just told me he really likes you so don't give him a reason not to."

Will leaned in, the topic too sensitive to be overheard, "He killed that woman in the shower. Not what I would describe as mellow."

Ardelia stuffed a forkful of food In her mouth and pointed the fork at Graham accusingly, "Hey, if that was the place where she was stupid enough to let her guard down then that's where she was going to die. Do you think a man in that situation is going to care whether or not he's in the shower?"

"Clarice knows about it?" he whispered.

Ardelia's irritation was beginning to show. She put her fork down and pushed her plate away, folding her hands on the table in front of her as if trying to contain her emotions within her grasp. Her voice was steady, "Yeah, of course she knows about it. They don't have any secrets from each other. Again, do you think she cares? He was able to get away from them before they killed him. She put the final bullets in the other son of a bitch. She would have killed them both if it brought H back to her."

"H?"

"Yeah…she calls him H."

"Like I said before…surreal…Do you think they wanted to kill him? I've read about that woman…she was obsessed with him…physically…sexually."

"What are you getting at Will?"

"What I 'm getting at his Doctor Lecter probably wasn't in mortal danger but he killed anyway."

"Trust me Graham…I was there and I saw the wounds on Hannibal's body when they were bloody and raw. He was absolutely in mortal danger. That crazy bastard torturing him was relentless. Hannibal is a powerful man but he is a man and he isn't a young man. He had reached his breaking point and had to stop them or that crazy fuck Nico would have gotten to Clarice. I imagine if you are dealing with the F.B.I. that you have been briefed. You read my report? You know what they did to Hannibal?"

Graham nodded his head, his voice conceding the point, "Yeah, I know. They brutalized him."

"I talked to him about it before I finished the report and I asked him what the worst of it was. Out of all that torture do you know what he said was the hardest to take?"

"I would guess the skinning."

Ardelia looked him straight in the eye so there would be no confusion. "He told me it was the pending threat to Clarice. He could handle the physical pain. He couldn't handle the thought that Clarice would be next. He considered that threat, the threat to his wife, the only true torture."

"Don't you think it's interesting that he could deal with that level of physical abuse but the psychological threat was what tormented him? I didn't think anything would shake that man up least of all the threat of pain to someone else."

Ardelia shook her head, "If you really knew him, that wouldn't surprise you in the least."

Graham looked away his unfocused eyes filled with past torment, "Everything about him surprises me."

Ardelia nodded. That she understood, "Well get ready to be surprised some more because he wants to meet with you… tomorrow at one."

Seeing an opportunity to secure his family's safety, Graham's eyes brightened, "Where?"

"Their home in Baltimore…you know the one. You shot him there."

"Great…not many bad memories there," he answered sarcastically.

Do you dream much, Will?

"Not to worry you won't be alone with him. I'll be there with Clarice so you there's nothing for you to freak out about. Clarice thought you might feel better if you had an active agent on the premises with you. Make you feel safer."

"Are you kidding me? I've been next to him while he was in leg chains, hands cuffed behind his back tethered to a steel cable with snipers guarding him and I felt exposed."

"Well, I'll be there to add moral support okay? You want to ride in together or do you want to meet me in front of their house so you don't have to go in on your own?"

Graham considered the offer for a couple of seconds. Tempting as it was, shaking his head he dismissed it, "No…I don't want Lecter thinking I need someone to hold my hand so I'll drive myself. You get there whenever you want. He'll lose what little respect he has for me if I don't have the balls to face him man to man. No matter how nervous I seem now I know he isn't a stupid man…I'll be fine."

"He won't bite…don't worry," she teased as she went back to her breakfast, content with the arrangements.

Will Graham was not as confident. He sat quietly, again redecorating his plate with his food. The only thing now being consumed would be his peace of mind. Nerves would be his battle for the next twenty–four hours and food would not touch his lips until lunch with Hannibal Lecter. Will Graham would not sleep tonight.

Meeting Hannibal

Ardelia arrived fifteen minutes before Will Graham. Partly because she wanted to see if Clarice or Hannibal needed any help preparing for the meeting. Mainly though, it was because she really wanted to see the expression on Graham's face when Hannibal and Clarice welcomed him into their home.

Ardelia and Clarice were sitting at the breakfast counter watching Hannibal put the finishing touches on lunch when the doorbell rang. Clarice smiled and looked to Hannibal for guidance, "Hey…this is your party, H...Are you answering the door or am I?"

Hannibal picked up a towel and wiped his hands. He removed the apron from around his waist placed it on the granite counter and smiled, "I shall get the door, Clarice. I wouldn't want Ex-Special Agent Graham to think me an ungracious host."

Clarice laughed, "Oh, yeah…that's what he's worried about…your hosting skills. I'm sure he was up all night worrying about it!"

Ardelia chimed in, equally amused, "Are you kidding me? That poor S.O.B. still thinks he may be the main course on the menu! He was all but shitting himself when I met with him. I give him credit though he sucked it up and came here all by his lonesome."

"Young Will may be overly cautious but he is not a coward. He has always been willing to face me, even though it makes him…uncomfortable."

Hannibal Lecter moved quietly remembering the last time he welcomed then Special Agent Graham. He opened the door and faced the man. Hannibal could smell the fear simmering on Graham's skin perspiring with anxiety.

"Good afternoon Will…so good of you to come."

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me Doctor Lecter."

"Not at all, it is my pleasure. Please, come in. We have much to talk about, I think."

Will Graham entered the home, his thoughts of the ambulance ride that ended their last encounter.

Hannibal Lecter led the man into his home once again. Hannibal's memory now filled with the remembered scent of Graham's fear as it mixed with the metallic scent of warm, newly spilled blood. The good doctor believed he could feel serum as it pulsed from Will's wounds the memory of which brought him immense pleasure.

Will blurted out his purpose immediately, "I have some information that might help you to protect your son."

Hannibal, now understanding the topic of conversation held a hand up to silence Will temporarily, "Join me in my study, Will. I do not wish my wife to overhear this conversation."

The pair bypassed the women in the kitchen and went directly to the study. As soon as the door closed, the doctor directed Will to sit across from the large burled walnut desk.

Hannibal tilted his head to the side silently considering the implications of the previously made statement. "And what are you asking in return for this information?"

"My family…Doctor? I am seeking your word. Your assurance that my son…that my family will not be a target of your…attentions…ever."

Hannibal was deadly serious in his reply, "You have my word…your family is forever safe."

"It's Bloom. He wants your son."

Hannibal Lecter, hands clasped firmly behind his back, paced back and forth in front of the large bookcase assessing the situation. His voice was firm though it showed little emotion other than the steely resolve glowing within his maroon eyes, "He wishes to take my son from me? That would not only be unwise, it would be quite dangerous. Suffice it to say it would be better for him had he not been born."

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Until the next chapter my friends!

LH