When she finally opens her door it is one thirty, not sure exactly what to do she cleans up, Abigail notices that she is a much more ordered and clean person since being under Hannibal's wing, hardly any dust or disorder plagues her small apartment, paid for with part of a monthly stipend from the government much like a member of WIT-SEC The little that there is to clean is done quickly and again she is left with nothing to do.
Groaning she flops down onto her freshly made bed and lays, eyes focused on the ceiling before slowly drifting closed. A small smile lights her lips as her hand travels down her body, slowing over her breasts before continuing down. Her hand slides along the zipper of her pants and on toward her crotch, her mind's eye imagining what Will would look like touching himself, touching her but the image is shattered in an instant when her father appears, her mind showing him butchering a girl, butchering her. Screaming she sits bolt upright and clutches her chest, desperate to catch the breath that threatens to flee her shaking body. Looking to her bedside she furrows her brow. It was all a dream, a horrible dream, she realizes noticing that her hands had never left her chest in a pose similar to an Egyptian mummy. Seven o'clock, she decides to change yet again and start driving the hour to Will's house, hoping he will be home, hoping he won't mind her showing up. He has been avoiding her, she knows he has been trying to. It's worse than the last time, he must know, in her heart she knows he knows.
By eight o'clock she is changed, her hair and makeup redone and her car pulling out of her parking spot. Her eyes flicker to the side of her apartment, the stark word CANNIBAL painted in fresh red, that hadn't been there when she got home earlier. It seems some people refuse to let her father's sins die with him even now. "Text Dr. Bloom: they tagged my place again, what should I do?" She dictates to her phone's software before her mind goes back to Will. For someone who has pointedly avoided her she is surprised that he had offered his help in finding her a job earlier but she smiles. Will has his charm. He doesn't sugar coat anything, he hands her a jagged little pill and watches for her reaction in a way she has only noticed Hannibal do as well. For all the tact in the world the two men in her life don't seem to use it with her, at least as far as she can tell though sometimes it almost feels as if that is all Hannibal uses with her is tact and specialized, perfectly chosen wording.
Before she knows it Abigail is pulling up to a house, she hadn't noticed herself checking the directions or even that Alana had responded to her. After cutting her engine she glances at her phone reading the doctor's words that she supposes is meant as comfort before replying with a quick thanks and saying that she is tired so is going to bed, ending with a good night she shuts her phone off, pulling the battery out and leaving it in the car before reaching over to grab a brown bag.
The walk to the house is short and she finds the key right where Hannibal said it would be, sliding it easily into the lock she opens the door to find a hoard of dogs ready to greet her. "Hey there puppies" She says quietly but enthusiastically before pulling a package of bologna out of the bag, ripping pieces up and tossing it to the dogs. Closing the door she removes her shoes and walks with socked feet to keep the noise down though the sounds of claw tipped toes was sure to mask her movements anyway. She stops, the dogs mimicking her as a wail comes from another room, all heads tilt to the side before she steps forward again, slower, more hesitantly than before. The wail again but this time she doesn't stop and a low growl comes from the same room as the wail. Still Abigail doesn't stop, not until a brown head peeks out from the room, white teeth nearly glowing in the faint light of the house, the growl getting louder. That is when Abigail stops, she stands still and furrows her brow "Is Will alright? Is it the nightmares again?"
She isn't sure why she speaks to the dog, to sooth him or herself but the others move forward and mill about their brother before some return to her, nuzzling against her hands and legs. Pulling the last of the bologna out she kneels down and holds it out to the brown dog who hesitantly steps forward, sniffs it and then takes it from her before retreating quickly. When Will wails again, followed by groaning Winston lets her pass though follows warily behind. Abigail pauses when she sees the man sweat-soaked and tangled in sheets, suffering from nightmares herself she hesitates in moving forward again. His sleep seems to be deep as well as tormented, most would have woken from her presence but his body is already overloaded with sensations so she does not register. Softly she climbs into the bed, wary of his thrashing limbs until she can take his face between her hands "Will. Stop." She commands in a tone reminiscent of Hannibal, full of authority and it works, Will snaps awake though the terror in his eyes as he lurches back and onto the floor reveals that he is not sure that he is awake. "Will, it's me, it's Abigail. You were having a nightmare." The feral look on his face so similar to the snarl his dog had exhibited moments earlier makes her voice break, afraid that he will attack her but Winston senses that and nips Will's hand sending a signal to Will that he is awake before sitting and pressing his head against Will's bare thigh, the most comfort that the dog can provide while his friend remains standing. "Will?" Abigail asks quietly, the fear evident in her voice, to her surprise his voice is cold, cutting through the darkness like a scalpel. "What are you doing here Abigail? In my house." His voice is a growl that sends goosebumps up her arms. "In my bed?"
When she doesn't speak he step forward and Abigail whimpers "I...I wanted to thank you, for earlier. Will..." she stops as the phone rings, the sound makes Will shake as if shivering of a layer of snow before entering a house, he stands more slumped than a moment before, his entire demeanor changing with that simple sound "Stay here" He orders her before retreating.
The empath lifts the phone off of the cradle and puts it to his ear, grunting an affirmation before falling silent again and listening. "She is here, no. I don't know why she said she was going to sleep, I invited her over to watch a movie. I don't know, maybe she was just self conscious or something, I empathize with criminals not teenage girls...no, you are right, sorry for snapping it has just been a long day. Do you mind if we get back to the movie? I could really use a cinematographic distraction about now. What? no, we aren't dri-why would I let a teenager fresh out of a hospital drink, I'm not exactly the image of parental supervision now am I? Good night Alana, I will make sure she is home in time for her appointment with you tomorrow, I don't want her out driving at night, we know better than anyone what goes bump in the night. Good night." With that Will hangs up with Alana, once again finding himself covering for the teenager despite his instincts, not sure why. When he returns to the room she is sitting on his bed, surrounded by his dogs and showing each of them the same affection that he shows them which makes him smile, it reminds him that her whole life isn't dark. Unlike himself she can heal, all but one scar will fade with the proper therapy. "You can't be sneaking into my house Abigail. It is rude, it is...it's not okay, okay?" Nothing is left of the voice he had summoned upon waking up with her touching his face. "I had another nightmare, in my dream I watched my father kill a girl, I couldn't stop him, I was afraid that if I tried he would kill me too, the only thing I could do was wake up" she whispers, staring down at the little tan chihuahua-terrier curled up in her lap. He doesn't feel the need to ask where she got his address, there is only one person ingrained into their lives enough to have been the glue between them. Will sits at the foot of his bed so that there is ample space between the two of them, taking a deep breath. "Abigail, I know your secret, I talked to Hannibal about it, he convinced me not to tell Jack." He doesn't see but Abigail's eyes flash with betrayal as she looks down at the small dog and strokes it's wiry fur "I will keep your secret Abigail, I won't tell anyone about Boyle, it's between you, me and Dr. Lecter now. You have to understand that if anyone else finds out, or even has the slightest hint that you killed Boyle both Lecter and I will go down with you, accessories after the fact, among other charges. We will lose our careers, our credibility and will serve sentences for obstructing justice. Can you promise me that you won't tell anyone, not your diary, not Dr. bloom, not even your goldfish"
Abigail nods, relief in her heart, relief that he does not know about the girls, relief that he doesn't hate her for killing Boyle. "Thank you Will. For everything." she sits still, she wants to hug him but she knows better. "Is that why you usually avoid me when you can?" He shakes his head "Not really, it is a few things really. Nothing against you Abigail, really. I am just...not good with people." He covers his face after realizing that he /really/ sounded like a teenager himself, he might as well have repeated the word 'like' and wave around some pom poms. "Are you hungry?" He asks suddenly as he feels his stomach grumble. "I could use some coffee and food" He looks down "and pants" He remembers that he is wearing only his boxer-briefs and a sweat stained tee-shirt. "and a shower" He grumbles as the list seems to continue on and on, ending with him standing and going to a drawer to get fresh clothes. "I'm going to shower and then I will be right out, do you mind waiting in the living room?" He asks her, holding his new clothes before him, covering his groin as she nods and stands to walk out, the pack following her out to settle around her on the couch where she resumes petting the tiniest of the dogs.
Will groans as he shuts the restroom door behind himself, setting down the clothes only to reveal what is obviously an erection, one that refuses to go away. He worries that she had noticed it but there isn't much he can do about that now really so he starts up the water and gets in to relieve and clean himself as quickly and quietly as possible. Only ten minuets later he mentally berates himself for being so quick on the draw but exits the bathroom fully clothed and calmed down in every sense of the word. "So I take it you don't feel like sleeping tonight? Want a cup of coffee? We can..i don't know really. I don't usually have guests over, as I am sure you can tell by the mess." She nods about the coffee and listens to Will speak as he starts a pot, smiling whenever his back is turned "Maybe after the coffee we can go for a walk? It's only like ten thirty but you're right, I don't think I could sleep even if I wanted to." She falls silent for a moment before her lip starts quivering "Do you hate me will? Do you think I'm ugly for what I did?"
It takes Will a moment to will himself to look her in the eyes "No, I don't. I am glad that you are alive, even if you broke into my house. I just wish it hadn't come to that. You deserve better" Hannibal's words ring in his ears as he speaks to her. In another uncharacteristic move he reaches over and wipes a tear from her face, he doesn't however expect the way she leans into his touch and closes her eyes. He isn't sure how exactly how to describe the feeling he has in that moment but it is far from paternal as he feels his jeans tighten slightly at the sight of the beautiful, broken young woman in his kitchen. In that moment the coffee machine beeps and he pulls back slowly before turning to fix a couple mugs "Coffee? Cream?" He asks her, receiving a nod for both.
Abigail hadn't intended to break down, nor had she expected to cry or have Will wipe the tears away. The night seems in the mood for surprises and her young heart beats a little differently as she wonders if this is how normal eighteen year-olds feel. When they are alone with a boy, no, a man. No boy had ever stood a candle to how she feels right now, how could an average small town boy ever when compared to a jaded, scruffy faced man, like her more animal than exactly human but in a different way. She is a wolf, soft and always thinking, predatory and self-preserving. He is a dog, loyal despite being beaten down. He can read the wolf, imitate the wolf, but his drive is to protect. Sitting around two mugs of coffee are the young wolf and the world-wary wolfhound. She smiles softly and looks away, blushing "I'm sorry. For being so...creepy? I should have called, I shouldn't have cri-"
Will cuts her off "Don't apologize for crying, not for that. I forgive you for breaking in but never ask forgiveness for being human. Crying is normal, it is not weak, it is human. To be able to cry in front of someone, that denotes trust. Do you see me as a friend, Abigail?" She nods and he smiles back "Good, I could use another friend"
-A.N.-
Okay so this update took a little lot longer to get up than I thought it would and to be completely honest I am like half asleep but COULD NOT sleep until I posted this so I hope it is not too horrible.
Thank you all for your wonderful reviews, I am glad that you like my story so far and I am happy to see where your minds are taking you with this fic because I have it completely mapped out in my head and I love being able to redirect readers and play with all your beautiful minds *muah* okay before I pass out on my keyboard I will hit upload and see you all soon. Much love
WOOT! Abigail has finally been added to FF's character filter. Yay for us!
Kendra- I love you. lol you are so awesome, my lovely Doctah. I know NO french whatsoever. I just did a synonym search and happneed to come across a french word that fit perfectly
Abigill fan- I really hate to break it to you but in the flashback Hannibal did a switch-a-roo, that's why he sent her to get the aprons, he put the deer away and grabbed some human. 3
SweetFaith06- Thank you, I am so happy to hear that so many people love my description of his house. I just realized that one thing I described about his shower seemed a little more dramatic then I meant it but I am a lazy bones so I don't plan to update and swap the old for a revision. At this stage I see Will as more gentlemanly, he isn't as jaded as in the the RD book so I feel that he wanted to look at her but is just so dang polite and lovable lol. ad no, you weren't driving me crazy I love reviews they are like crack haha. Hannibal is very aware that he is playing matchmaker. I loves last ep where he said that he and Will will protect her but I obviously ship Abigill so I am interpreting it more like daddy Hanni making sure that his new daughter ends up with the best of the best that he has hand picked for her.
Merrylex - YAY I am so excited that this feels like an episode to you because I naturally write in script format where you literally tell people what to see in hopes that the director will see things more clearly from your POV so writing novel format is really hard for me the last few years. I am glad that I bland it well enough. Thank you
And to my non-reviewers. Thank you for taking the time out to read my fic, it is so exciting to see all the countries that my story is being read in. Thank you, thank you.
oookkkaayyyy, seriously off to bed now. g'night yall