They spent the whole day in the hospital.
Being poked with needles...
Stranger hands touching her; examining...
Going through machines after machines for imaging and scans...
Why do people pay to be violated like this? her thoughts asked.
She already knew the answer to her own question of course; Diagnosis and Treatment, what else!?
Luna figured she's just extraordinarily tired today.
It's probably due to the discomfort of not being allowed to bathe.
The most ridiculous order she's ever gotten from someone.
Had the order come from someone else she would have ignored it.
Then again she doesn't have that many trump cards with Hannibal anymore.
God she's not even sure if she has any left.
"I'm sorry Luna, i know you are tired" Alana came up beside her holding paper works.
"It's okay, i know they just want to make sure nothing's wrong" Luna responded.
"It's nice to finally see you... you are beautiful"
"And so are you..." Alana returned the compliment.
It was already 15 minutes after 5:00 p.m.
She appreciates the fact that Alana made time for her; The doctor had quite a busy day.
"Well, Good news is the tests are done so now we just have to wait.
I'm heading back to school for my night class" Alana said tucking one of Luna's curls behind her ear.
She hugged Luna goodbye and left.
That was Hannibal's cue to settle the bills; so they can both go home.
Luna went straight to the bathroom after dinner was over.
The meal was heavenly as usual.
She rummaged through the bag Will left for her.
She placed the clothes she planned to don on the bed.
The wanting to be in her own room and lay on her own bed hit her again.
She missed her solidarity.
She used to see it as a curse but not it would really be a blessing to have her own privacy.
Not that the doctor doesn't give her any; he does... he really does.
But there's still that feeling of being a stranger in someones else's home.
Technically she's a patient in someone's house.
Luna prepared her shower essentials.
Tested the water; Not too hot nor too cold... just perfect.
She disrobed herself.
Slowly, she slid into the tub.
Savoring the cleansing sensation of the warm water as it inched higher while she dipped lower into the bath.
She lathered her skin with soap; scrubbed and lathered some more.
Then a silent scream caught in her throat when she felt a sting between her legs.
What the hell was that?
Did she do something extra vigorous today?
Did she get an infection for not bathing?
She tried to put two and two together.
And gradually, a memory came back.
Was she in bed with the doctor? Oh my!
Luna stood up and quickly turned on the shower to shampoo and rinse.
Another painful sensation hit home; she touched the back of her head and felt the stitches.
The horrible flashbacks started... all of it this time.
The Fear she felt, the terrible thing the fear made her do, and losing herself with the doctor... or is it Hannibal now?
Maybe it's not real...
Maybe it's just a dream...
She endured the pain and finished the bath.
She stood in front of the mirror; staring at the dark circles around her eyes.
Her orbs look dead; she might as well be dead.
If all were true; she might as well melt into the ground she was standing on.
Then a crawling sensation from her head down to her nape disrupted her thoughts.
Her hand went to check the back of her head by instinct.
She looked at it and saw blood.
Hannibal ran upstairs.
Realizing he forgot to remind Luna about not taking a bath again.
Knowing Luna she probably did already.
He knocked "Luna? May i come in?" she did not respond.
"Please put something on if you are not decent... I'm coming in" he announced.
He opened the door to an undisturbed bed.
He went straight for the bath and found a freshly showered Luna standing in front of the mirror.
He came closer to check what got her attention locked.
She was staring at the blood on her fingers.
He transferred his examining eyes to the back of her head and just as he expected the gash reopened.
I have to fix this Luna he stated as he lead her back to the room and sat her on the bed.
Luna did not protest; she just remained quiet and disconnected.
He opened his med kit.
Sterilized the wound and pinned her hair to expose the gash.
"This will hurt" he informed her
"I'm injecting the sides of the gash with anesthetic.
I need you to acknowledge that you understand." He said as Luna stared at him
"You are not allowed to make any sudden movements, agree?" Luna nodded.
He carried on with suturing Luna's wounds.
Hannibal cleaned up as usual.
Luna laid on the bed with her back to him.
"Are you okay Luna" he asked. Luna's shoulders shrugged in answer.
Hannibal tried to bear it through her silence.
It became too much that after a few minutes he decided to leave the room.
Just as he was about to close the door behind him he heard her ask a question.
"Did i really hurt someone?"
Hannibal entered the room again and sat on the bed.
"Yes you killed someone" he answered trying to gauge her reaction.
"He did die then" she said as if repeating it will make it sound less gruesome.
He felt her uneasiness under the blanket...
The thing he waited for the most all day.
She's embarrassed for sure, maybe he should open the topic himself.
"Where we intimate last night" she asked uninhibited.
Her boldness really catches him off guard sometimes.
"Yes we were..." he answered then paused
"Does it bother you Luna?" hoping she'd answer No
"Do you want to change doctors?" hoping for a No again.
She remained quiet through all of his questions though.
"Luna?" Hannibal realized she fell asleep.
He grazed her cheek with the back of his hand.
Wait... she's warm...
He's sure the integrity of the stitches were not compromised.
Could it be conversion disorder? Fever? he doesn't think so, he'll have to observe.
"It's cold" Luna said in a shaking voice.
Hannibal walked towards the regulator to increase the temperature.
He got Luna a thicker blanket and wrapped her in it.
"You'll be okay" he whispered in her ear as he kissed her goodnight.
"Goodnight Hannibal" she said.
Hannibal smiled, finally he was Hannibal to her.
"Sweet dreams Luna"