Bedelia answered the phone on the fourth ring.
"Hello?"
"Bedelia. I'm so glad I reached you."
"Well good morning to you too, Hannibal." Her voice was laced with sarcasm. "You know, after I saved your friend's life I figured I'd be hearing from you on his progress. But I guess no news is good news, right?"
"Yes, he is doing well, thank you… Now I need-"
"How come the only reason you ever contact me is when you need something?"
"Well I could ask the same of you, my dear. Tell me, when was the last time you made a social call, hmmm? As I recall the last time you called me, you needed a certain Alpha of yours institutionalized…"
"Alright… fair enough. What do you want?"
Bedelia's initial abrasiveness was part of her personality; she always had to give me shit before actually becoming helpful.
"I need three hundred milligrams of Althriazapam, fifty micrograms of Deriphradol, and an injectable reversing agent for both. Bonus points for some low dose arsenic. Do you have any?"
"What the fuck, Hannibal? You trying to kill somebody?"
"Actually, yes. That's exactly what I'm trying to do."
...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...
The hospital was a couple mile walk, and it felt good to be out in the sunshine; what little made it through the boggy atmosphere, that is.
I passed by several small greenhouses growing potatoes, peanuts, and corn. The greenhouses were small, and the UV lights mounted on the sides were powered by compost generators, making it the one of the most putrid neighborhoods to walk through. Sewage was gathered from different collection points and poured directly into the compost generators. The feces and other types of waste decomposed in a chamber, and the resulting gases were used as a natural fuel.
The city also used wind turbines to produce energy, in concert with the compost. They were both solutions to the expensive and carbon-heavy alternative, which was coal, of course. But the city had no shortage of wind and shit; that much was certain.
...XoXoXo...
The hospital was inordinately busy when I arrived, and I had to wriggle my way through throngs of Alphas, Betas and claimed Omegas waiting in line to speak with the receptionist, who doubled as an ER triage nurse.
"Excuse me… pardon me… I work here, excuse me…" I lied my way into budging through the line, and luckily no one called my bluff; if I worked there, why didn't I use the employee entrance out back?
God only knew that my lucky streak needed to continue for the next two days, if all of this was going to work out; if I was going to find myself anywhere else but a mass grave or prison by the end of it.
"Excuse me…" I said one last time before I finally found myself at the ER receptionist station. But bulletproof glass was hardly the only thing that stood between me and where I needed to be; I had Matilda, the sassy African-American Beta to contend with.
"Matilda. Good morning."
"Hannibal Lecter, if you think I'm letting you in, you've got another thing comin'." She said loudly enough for five or six people in line to hear her just fine.
"Hey, I thought you said you work here?" A voice groused from the waiting line. I ignored it, and so did Matilda, thankfully.
"I've got a meeting with Bedelia. Please. She said you'd let me in."
"I'm sure she did. Thing is, I'm not supposed to let anyone back there who don't belong."
"Alright… Well… I guess then you'll have no problem with me telling your supervisor about your little habit, hmm? Stealing coffee from the board room, Matilda, really…."
I nodded pointedly at the cup of dark colored liquid sitting on her cluttered desk. What could I say? Blackmail came second nature to me.
The nurse threw up her hands in a supplicant gesture and quickly slid a manila folder overtop the mug to hide it.
"Fine… I'm not lookin'…" She turned her back to me, pressing the release button on the underside edge of the desk to allow me access.
"I one you one, Matilda. Thank you."
"Mmmmhhhhmmmm…." Came her disapproving reply.
...XoXoXo...
If the entryway to the hospital's ER was crowded, then the ER itself would be considered a zoo. Nurses and doctors were scurrying left and right, up and down. Patients were sitting on the floor along the walls, on countertops, wheeling aimlessly across the bullpen, you name it. It was discord personified. It reminded me, marginally, of the time when the war started; when the nuclear bombings first took place. Tens of thousands of people had been killed and injured back then, and countless others affected by the nuclear fallout. Then came a short nuclear winter in the most heavily affected locations. And as soon as that cleared up, the most toxic cities, such as New York, were closed off for pollution, mutation and infection containment.
My brain filled with images of those fateful first days: trying to help people; putting pressure on as many wounds as I could, performing necessary amputations in the hospital hallway without access to anesthetics or meds… It was the craziest time in human history, without a shadow of a doubt. And I was right there, for all of it.
"Hannibal." Bedelia found me standing in the middle of the hallway, looking like a psych patient, no doubt.
"Yes. Sorry Bedelia, it's good to see you."
"You look like you just saw a ghost. Do you need to sit down?"
"No, I'm just… a little overwhelemed. It's been a while since I've been to a hospital, I guess and… It's bringing back a lot of memories."
"Oh. right… I'm sorry…"
"Thank you, Bedelia, but apology is not necessary, I was just... getting caught up in my own head. Now… did you get the stuff I asked for?"
"Yes, I did." She reached into her nurse scrub pockets and pulled out a small foil package.
"It's all in there. Some clean needles too. Now are you going to tell me what the fuck this is all about?"
Bedelia said in a very low tone. We were standing in a dirty linen disposal room, where no one would suspect a conspiracy conversation to be taking place, surely. The sound of the industrial washers covered most of the noise anyway.
"I am in the process of getting Gragon out of prison. My friends and I are making an escape; soon."
Bedelia's eyes went wide as the ocean.
"I hope you know what you're doing. After all these years in isolation, I doubt your friend is as he used to be. It's been a decade, Hannibal."
"I am fully aware of how long it's been." I said a little impatiently.
Just as Bedelia was about to bite back with something quite smart, I'm sure, a young man in plain brown scrubs walked into the room.
"Oh, hey." He said uncaringly as he walked towards the trash bin holding a piece of electronic equipment.
"What's that?" I asked nonchalantly, hoping that the young man was as unsuspecting as he looked. I already knew what was in his hand, I was really wondering what he was going to do with it.
"Oh, this? Oh it's a broken EKG. Doesn't pick up any electrical activity, doc says. He told me to throw it away; no one around here knows how to fix 'em."
"I… actually have a knack for things like that." I volunteered quickly. "I'll fix it for you."
"Gee thanks." The nurse said without a hint of genuine sentiment, and he all but tossed the thing at me.
I had to hold back my grin for as long as I could until he was completely gone. I simply could not believe my luck that morning… Things were really looking up for my plans.
"Jesus, Hannibal. You look like the cat that got the cream. What the hell do you need a broken EKG for?"
"Oh… Bedelia… just trust me. This little device has just saved me a whole world of trouble."
"Right… okay. And by the way, I didn't get the chance to congratulate you yet."
"Hmm? About what?"
A smirk came across her otherwise flat, uninteresting features.
"About your little mate. I can smell that Omega on you from a mile away. He's obviously smitten, Nurse Nightingale."
My grin morphed into a smirk upon hearing her comment.
"He and I are not mates, Bedelia. But things are looking well, in that direction. So thank you."
"You're welcome. And… good luck, with your plan."
I nodded my gratitude to my friend before beginning to take my leave.
And just as I was going to exit through the back door, I heard Bedelia call out,
"And for God's sake, be careful."
...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...
Progress seemed to escape me that day at work. My memory and attention seemed non-existent, my eyes not really reading any of the files I put in front of my face. All of my nervous energy made me feel completely useless, and I ended up staying in my office for most of the day to avoid anyone seeing me in such a state.
Paperwork that I'd ignored for weeks finally got filled out however; that much I could do.
Once I'd thought through my plan a hundred times, I finally calmed myself enough to leave my office. I made a beeline to Cell Block C, where I would find an integral piece of my plan: Prisoner 21ADC-21924; also known as Alana.
"Alana. I have good news."
The dark haired little girl hoisted herself off the springy cot in her cell and walked toward me, a wary look in her eye.
"Yeah? Finally fit me into your schedule?"
"Now now, is that any way to talk to someone who's about to give you what you wish? A way out of here?"
Alana scoffed. "Yeah? How?"
"Just as you said; you're going out in the laundry cart."
...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...
That night I found Will in Jakov's apartment, furiously typing away on one of the many computers in my friend's 'dungeon.' The least surprising was by far the sight of Barbara wrapped loosely around Jakov's shoulders as he watched Will work.
"That's it! How the hell did you figure that out? I've been working on that hard drive for months!"
"You had the correct decrypting key all along, but you forgot to install it from the repository. It's an easy mistake to make."
Jakov looked across the room at me, his head shaking with disbelief.
"Where'd you say you got this kid again?"
"Smart isn't he?" I avoided answering the question. "Jakov, I've got some things I'd like to discuss with you; over dinner, perhaps?"
"Awww shucks… 'been a long while since I've been on a date; with an Alpha no less. Can I bring the snake?" The Beta mocked in jest.
Will smiled upon hearing the joke and he got up to leave with me.
"I missed you." He said quietly once he'd gotten close enough that only I would hear it. I put my arm around him and he turned it into a short embrace before turning back to Jakov.
"Supper's in an hour. I'm making mashed potatoes and gravy."
I was a bit surprised at Will's increasing assertiveness. It was a pleasant surprise, of course. It was good to see Will coming out his shell a little and making his own decisions.
...XoXoXo...
Once inside my apartment (which was quickly becoming our apartment) Will and I set to work making the potatoes.
"How was work?" He asked while lighting the gas burner with a match.
"Fairly uneventful, all things considered. I fully plan on facilitating a jail break tomorrow, however. So that ought to be interesting, in the very least."
Will's countenance changed a little, from confident to uneasy in a split second.
"Are you… are you confident you can get away with it? I mean… what if something happens to you?"
"Your concern means a lot to me, Will, but all will be fine. You and Jakov will stay here and execute the remote-access portion of the plan, while I get Gragon out of the prison. Then we'll regroup at a hotel north of here, and plan our escape from the city."
"How are you going to get him out?" I could tell Will was becoming quite stressed and worried at the thought of all the ramifications our plan entailed.
I took his hand in mine for a moment, and got him to look me in the eyes.
"Will, please do not burden yourself… I've been preparing for this moment for a long time. I know how the system works and I've behaved myself long enough that I am far off the radar of suspicion. My superiors will be running around like birds without heads, completely clueless, and in that time we will be leaving the city to a place far, far away where they cannot get to us."
Will nodded, obviously trying to believe my words of assurance, but not fully capable of doing so due to his trust issues.
"I still don't like it. It's not that I don't want to trust you, I just… I can't lose you."
My heart skipped a beat upon hearing my sweet Omega say that.
"You won't, my dearest. We'll get through this just fine, and when we are rid of this filthy city I have every intention of courting you."
"I would like that." Summoning a bit of boldness Will scooted up to his tip-toes and planted a kiss on my cheek. It was much longer than a simple kiss, and the close proximity to Will's warm body and sweet scent caused arousal to spike within me.
"Will, I… I think I should focus on cutting these potatoes now… Jakov will be here soon."
I attempted to shift my attention to the task at hand, but Will was having none of it.
His small frame squeezed in between me and the counter, his back facing me. He began to grind the small of his back against my crotch, intentionally stirring my arousal further.
The scent of aroused Omega filled my kitchen and it mingled with my own. I was so tempted to sweep this Omega off his feet and to just take him; right there on my countertop. My mind was already envisioning the potatoes rolling every which way as I had my way with the Omega bent in half, being split open on my enormous cock. But I couldn't. I had to be delicate with Will. I had to treat him with the love and respect he deserved.
But it seemed like his hormones were telling me another story.
"Will…" I backed up a little, trying indicate that he should stop grinding his clothed ass against my fully hard, aching cock.
"I think you greatly underestimate what your scent… what you do to me, sweet one." I took a shaky breath to ground myself.
"I… I need you. Please… fuck me."
A shudder of lust rang through me, shaking me to my very core.
"W-We need to be careful, if I am to behave myself around you."
My Omega turned and smirked up at me.
"What if I don't want you to behave?"
I gulped, realizing that Will was most likely experiencing a drastic hormone shift; it often happened after an unsuccessful Omega birth; the body produced sex pheromones and desires to satiate the mate, so the Alpha would not be as upset about losing pups. Although Will would not be fertile for a few months yet, it was a way for mates to strengthen their bond after a loss, and to prepare for the next fertility cycle. I had to look at it from a scientific standpoint, I knew. Or else this was going to go downhill very, very quickly.
"As much as I would love to be inside you; make love to you, and even claim you, I cannot. The biggest reason is that you are still healing." I referred as delicately as I could to the condition Will's body was in after giving birth such a short time ago. I knew better than to bring up the information about the sex drive hormones compensating for loss. Omegas rarely liked Alphas saying anything about an Omega's bodily functions; it was a well-known point of contention between typical mates.
Will looked down, almost ashamedly, and I took his chin in my hand, carefully tilting his head upwards so that he would look at me.
"I do not wish for you to be embarrassed, nor ashamed. But I want our first time to be perfect, and painless. I don't want to hurt you, my angel. I would never forgive myself. And… before you came along, I have not been with anyone, sexually or romantically, for a very, very long time. And as an Alpha I am afraid of what I may do to you if I get too excited. Do you understand?"
Will nodded, though a little sadly.
"I am sorry. But it has to be that way."
He turned away from me, and it was with a dose of both relief and sadness that I noticed his aroused scent fading away.
...XoXoXo...
Later, at the dinner table, Jakov and Will got lost in conversation about hacking, and technology, while I struggled to even appear as though I was keeping up with it. The things that boy knew… It really made me wonder the same thing Jakov verbalized earlier: where did Will come from?
...XoXoXo...XoXoXo...
After dinner, Jakov and I discussed our plans briefly, focusing mostly on his end of the plan. I made sure not to mention the name 'Alana' in any point of our conversation, lest the wide-eyed Omega sitting next to me become worried about one more thing that he needn't burden himself over.
Jakov left late, and I was very tired. But I could tell from Will's scent that he was still feeling sexually frustrated. He'd excused himself to shower earlier, and I could still hear the water running in the bathroom. My cock twitched a little at the idea of joining Will in the shower for a quick round of frottage; something quick and pleasurable to take the edge off for the both of us.
I tapped on the bathroom door, hoping Will would allow me to join him in the shower.
"Come in…" came the muffled reply and I didn't miss a beat before opening the door and shucking off my clothing.
Will had seen me naked before, of course, so I didn't think he would mind seeing it again.
Just as I was about to peel back the shower curtain, however, my sensitive nose caught whiff of the sharp tang of distress mixed in Will's scent.
"Will? Are you alright?" I asked before moving an inch.
A heard a light sob; it was almost drowned out by the sound of the cascading water.
"Will, darling? Can I… Can I come in?"
I first listened for any objections and hearing none, I ventured inside the cast iron bathtub, closing the shower curtain behind me.
"Will, what is the matter?" I asked upon finding a curled up Omega on the floor of the tub. He looked cold, his lips blue and quivering.
"I… I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm not good enough for you… I… should have never have tried to run away from those Alphas. They told me I could stay with them as long as I kept bearing pups. I.. I ran away because they wouldn't stop hurting me! If I hadn't been so stupid… If I'd just been braver - tougher - I wouldn't be in this mess. I would be with my Alphas and… They would use me like real Alphas are supposed to! They would keep me full of pups, and happy."
"Oh… Will…" Despite the fact that this was the last thing I expected to see Will doing in the shower, I instantly felt sympathy for him. I knelt down and scooped him up from the cold tub's floor and let the warm water and my body heat bring up his temperature some. Then I turned off the water and stepped out, carrying my beautiful boy with me. I wrapped him in towels and set him on my bed, tucking him in with plenty of blankets as I'd done many a time when we first met.
"My sweet Will… You are the most perfect Omega an Alpha could ask for… You are smart; brilliant in fact, and you are worth so much more to me than just a vessel to carry pups. If that is what you would like, later, I respect that decision, of course. But that is hardly all you are good for, my sweet. Please, I need you to know that."
Will sniffed and nodded. Tears were still pouring down his face and I did my best to wipe them away with a gentle swipe of a finger across his velvety cheek.
"Why… why are you so good to me? I've never had anyone… an Alpha no less… treat me like you do. The other Alphas treated me like a toy; like their bitch. They would… use my hole whenever they wanted, even when I was sleeping. They would keep me knotted almost constantly, taking turns on me and they would… hit me, break my bones just for fun. Why… why are you so nice to me? I… must be so ugly to you… I don't deserve it."
My heart broke upon hearing my precious Omega say those things. Hearing details about what only my imagination had barely dared to fathom made my stomach churn.
"Will… My sweet, perfect, beautiful Will… I care very deeply for you, and I have since the moment I found you. You mean so much to me, and I'm very sorry that what those monsters did made you think that you are unworthy of love or praise, or kindness. Those thoughts couldn't be further from the truth."
Will smiled a little, but the tears just kept falling.
"Please, Will… please do not let the monsters define you. You are an angel, ripped from the sky and tormented by demons. But they didn't break your wings, darling. You can still fly."
Another sniff came from Will, and an even bigger smile this time.
"That was… most definitely cheesy, Hannibal...But… but thank you. You mean a lot to me too…and I… I think I might be falling in love with you."
"That is good to hear, because I think I may be falling in love with you as well."
I placed a small, chaste kiss on Will's unsuspecting lips. He froze, initially, but he soon tried to reciprocate and I had to end it before it became heated. Fuck, the things that boy did to me….
"Let's get some sleep, Will. Tomorrow is a new day, and it promises to be full of excitement. It will all be fine. And you'll stay here and look after Jakov, yes? Make sure he sticks to the plan."
I gave Will another little kiss, this time on the cheek, but he was already falling asleep.
That night I had a very difficult time falling asleep. My mind was full of not only the next day's plans, but also images of the awful, unspeakable abuse my Omega went through. My stomach felt uneasy most of the night as my subconscious fretted over the horrible things done to Will in the past. He'd been beaten and raped countless times, and yet he was still so innocent; so good natured and even trusting, taking into consideration all the ill-will shown towards him by other Alphas.
All I knew for sure was that no further harm was ever to come to my sweet Will. Not even if there were risk for my own life; not even over my own dead body.