Roses Under Cypresses

Oh my gosh this chapter's been next to impossible! I've deleted up to 2K twice! I suppose the upside is that the chapter won't be deleted and re-written if I'm satisfied with it!

Chapter 8

It took them two and a half hours to get home, not only had they stopped for some food – seafood surprise, surprise crawfish and crab chips which weren't actually so bad – and they hit rush hour traffic which was unfortunate. The ride home was quiet but comfortable. The rush coming with freedom will no doubt be affecting Will, along with Crawford's sheer incredulous nerve.

"He won't give up," Will said, staring out the window, tired but pensive. It would be good to sleep in his own bed tonight. Maybe he'd actually get some sleep for once.

"No, not easily," Harry agreed, glancing at Will briefly, "Do you truly enjoy working for the FBI as a criminal profiler and professor?" probably something best to ask him after the potion had purged him of all foreign emotion. "Being out in the field?"

"You know it's all I wanted to do," Will said turning to face Harry, wondering at what his brother was getting at. "Unfortunately, as the saying goes, those who can, do; those that can't, teach."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Bullshit," he declared, changing gears, slowing down as they were met with yet more traffic. How was it a saying from a 1903 drama series could become so well known? "I know so many people who can do their profession and teach…in fact, quite a few sucked at teaching as a matter of fact." Thinking of Severus, he was prodigious at Potions, but absolutely sucked at teaching.

"You know I didn't pass the psyche eval to go back into the field," Will said, he didn't even sound angry, just resigned.

"Because you're too empathic, absorbing everyone's emotions isn't good for you, Will," Harry said soothingly, "Without that affecting you, you could pass your psyche eval and get back into the field." He couldn't guarantee Will that unfortunately, but he'd bet his fortune on it.

Will just snorted, evidently not believing him.

"What do you prefer doing being a cop or examining crime scenes?" Harry asked, changing the subject a little. When Will wakes up free for the first time in a long time, he'd see what he meant. Until then Will would just have to endure everything for a little while longer.

Will shrugged, "I liked both," both were significantly better than being a teacher, he hadn't gone through all that training just to be relegated to the background. Part of him would always be grateful to Jack for getting him back into the field. He loved doing what he did…he just…he'd just wished Jack hadn't done what he had and then abandoned him in the very place he feared ending up in.

The conversation they had earlier though? That had made his fury at the agent even more prevalent.

-0Flashback0-

Harry smiled, feeling more content than he had in such a long time. Since the last time he was here as a matter of fact. Part of him regretted leaving, Merlin only knows what his vulnerable brother had been through since then. Yet, he couldn't regret getting the scum off the street. The Death Eaters had been a continued threat to him, to Will, to the public, and it wasn't something he could bear. It had been a long, long few years, but it was over now. He could get on with his life without looking over his shoulder. At least for the Death Eaters at any rate.

"We can go through the back if you want," Harry said, tightening his hold on his brother, who still hadn't been purged of all those people's emotions. He reckoned considering how much he trailed after his boss, that his boss had the strongest grip on him. Made sense since he spent the most amount of time with him. That and Hannibal, he wondered what he'd think of them once all the emotions had been purged from him.

"No, I have to face him sometime, best get it over with," Will said, but he honestly would have preferred to take the back route. Unfortunately, he'd never been a coward, antisocial, yes, but never a coward, he wasn't about to start now.

Harry hummed, shrugging his shoulders, it was up to Will. Plus, he'd be there, stop Crawford from getting his claws into him regardless. "Come on then," opening the gate, the very last one holding Will 'hostage' the next door he'd be met with would be the front doors. "We'll get some food before we head back."

"I can feed myself," Will grumbled, almost on the side of defensiveness. He wasn't used to 'family' and he honestly didn't understand what family was or what it meant. He felt detached, like there was a window between him and them and he was just looking in. That was with a mind full of Empathy.

"Really? Who would have guessed," Harry sassed right back, not at all insulted, and giving back as good as he got as he'd always done far back as he could remember. "Here I thought you'd eventually be found half eaten by dogs having starved yourself to death."

Will ducked his face down, and grinned, out of sheer habit. Keeping his amusement to himself, correcting the glasses when they slid down his nose. Unlike Harry, he didn't really need glasses. Not that Harry had any on now, but when he'd been here last, he'd talked about getting corrective surgery on them.

To no surprise, as they rounded the corner, they found Crawford leaning against the bannister waiting impatiently. Chilton had disappeared at one point, neither had been paying any attention to him. which was probably intolerable to the attention hogging idiot, that he was.

Harry chuckled at the look on Crawford's face when he was spotted. Oh, he wasn't happy in the slightest. Will glanced at him, just as amused, also pissed off with him to the extreme. Just recalling what he'd attempted to pull off, trying to get him out to crime scenes. Crawford had never ever even suggested that he thought Will was innocent, hadn't visited to state as such or even express his disappointment. He just strolled up to use him some more. If not for Harry…he might have ended up stuck in BSHCI.

"Agent Potter," Crawford stated, jaw clenched unpleasantly. He'd tried to actually dig up more information on the man. He hadn't had much luck, he knew the man was a war hero, had more awards and medals than he'd ever be able to fit on a jacket. Most of his work was redacted, and was very well liked as far up the command chain that he could do pretty much whatever he liked.

He still couldn't figure out just how Will and Potter had met or knew each other. It didn't seem like they could have crossed paths. Then again, it wasn't easy tracking Will into childhood, he and his father moved around too much for him to be able to easily do that. Regardless, it didn't matter, Potter had been born in England, once he reached eleven information became impossible to obtain. Ergo, they hadn't been childhood friends.

"Crawford," Harry inclined his head, making no effort to hide his shit eating grin.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Crawford asked Will, "Privately." A bite coming to his tone.

"Anything you've got to say, you can say here," Will said tightly, shifting awkwardly.

"I'm sorry," Crawford ground out, "I thought I pushed you too far."

"If you had your forensic team do their job properly, Will would never have been arrested," Harry retorted immediately, "What was it you found on the lures?" stiff and furious. DNA from the fresh kills that Hannibal had done in order to get Will freed as part of the bargain. Making them realize that there was no 'copycat killer' but the Chesapeake ripper toying with them.

"We need your help to catch the Chesapeake Ripper," Crawford said, ignoring what the Agent said, mostly due to the fact he had absolutely no comeback. "He's killing again." By 'he' he meant suspect, they didn't have a particular one, he didn't suspect Hannibal despite Will's attempts to tell him. Especially considering Will had seemed very confused himself. He had no evidence no real understanding of why he'd believe that.

"How many?" Will asked.

Crawford's eyes gleamed with triumph, "Five that we've found so far," he knew Will wouldn't be able to resist temptation. He just had to wait, dangle bait and he'd come crawling.

Harry remained silent, allowing Will to do as he pleased, it was up to him at the end of the day. The sooner they got them home though, the quicker he could give him the potion to reverse the damage his idiot of a brother did to himself.

"Then you're got one chance to catch him, he kills in Sounders," Will pointed out the obvious, everyone knew the Chesapeake Ripper killed in rounds of threes. Or rather, everyone that was either interested in serial killers or law enforcement.

"I've got?" Crawford stated, smart enough to get the underlying statement. "You're not still under the impression that Hannibal is the Chesapeake Ripper, Will!" his tone exasperated.

Harry made a small strained noise, glancing down at his watch, "We should go, we've got shopping to do and it's going to take at least two hours to get home…we'll be met with rush hour traffic."

"Will…" Crawford warned, whatever else he was going to say was cut off as he gaped incredulously.

"Good luck finding out who it is," Will said, only to grunt as Harry grabbed his head again, "Gerroff! My hair's bad enough!" swatting Harry's hands away, only for Harry to grab his chin and make him look in the direction of Crawford and he had to look away, shoulders shaking. "You're doing it on purpose." He managed through a mouthful of wheezes as Harry guided him towards the doors.

Jack Crawford was staring agog, hands dropped to his side, staring at the pair like they'd grown tentacles before his eyes. All that was missing was him rubbing his eyes to make sure he actually saw what he had.

"Course I did," Harry chortled, "Did you see his face?"

Jack just watched them go, his mind reeling, never had he seen Will allow anyone to touch him without flinching a mile. Let alone so casually without bite and anger sent their way. He could remember the glare Will sent him and all he'd done was slid his glasses back into his face trying to gauge his reaction.

"I wasn't aware it could contort that way," Will admitted, it was a cross between disbelief, shocked incredulity and indignant anger. As they stepped outside, Will couldn't help but close his eyes and inhale sharply, the crisp fresh air blasting him in the face.

"The car is this way," gesturing to round the side of the building.

"Why the earlier warning?" Will asked, it was almost as if Harry didn't want him to warn Jack. "Are you seriously asking me to keep the fact Hannibal is the Chesapeake Ripper from Jack?"

Harry whirled around, "Would he believe you?" giving Will an expectant look, "What's the point in wasting your breath? Seriously? Plus…I may have made a deal with him."

Will remained silent, not sure what to think about Harry making deals with the devil. Plus, exhaustion was beginning to cripple him. Knowing his freedom was so close, and that Harry was absent…he'd not come to visit the last two day's he'd been worried. "What happened to you?"

Harry knew what he was talking about, "Ah, that, later." He'd tell him what happened later. Right now, they needed to focus on Will and getting him better. They had all the time in the world for discussions. Plus, he had no idea what Will would remember of this conversation…the oncoming days were bound to be stressful.

-0End Flashback0-

"He'll be expecting me," Will said still distracted about Lecter, "I think that's what my next move would be." If Harry wasn't there, if he got out, he reckoned he would have gone after him.

Harry frowned, "Crawford?" expecting him what? To show up for work?

"Lecter," Will said, unable to call him anything but right now, swallowing thickly, recalling Abigail's ear being forced down his throat by the man.

"I can see it," Harry nodded, "The Bravery of all those fools in the academy bleeding into you. The sooner I get that potion down your throat the better." shuddering, he wanted his brother back. Right this very minute, his brother was more liable to get sorted into Gryffindor when he was pragmatic enough that he was a Slytherin through and through.

Silence descended between them again, as Will finished what was left of the crap chips. Or rather crisps as he would call them, he hadn't been entirely Americanised yet despite his years here. He still called the faucet a tap, still called chips crisps and everything else in-between.

"Where is Abigail?" Will asked, his tone sleepy, the lull of the car and his own lack of sleep and a full belly and the feeling of safety easing him, "Is she still alive, is she alright?" what would Lecter do to her? Was she in danger from him? Or was she going along with everything he did? Did she approve of it?

"Yes, she's alive," Harry murmured quietly, "Rest, I'll wake you up when we get there, shouldn't be too long now." He was getting way to used to driving, it was such a massive waste of time to him. Especially when he had the ability to just Apparate wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Should have just got the food, shrunk the car and Apparated them home…it wouldn't be the first time he'd Apparated with his brother…who knew all about magic.

Harry glanced over at Will, slightly disturbed by his fascination with Abigail Hobbs. Just how deeply was he entrenched in the lives of those he absorbed into him? Was it a genuine fascination of his own creation or that of the serial killer Hobbs? Every time he visited Will asked if she was still alive, it was bordering on obsessive.

Harry couldn't have been gladder to see what was becoming a rather rapidly familiar street, albeit very long since the nearest neighbours Wolf trap had was miles away. The second the car stopped, the door opened and the dogs sprung out as if they knew their Owner was here. "Kreacher has let the dogs out," he said, nudging Will, "Come on, lets get you inside." Opening the car door, making sure none of the dogs got inside the car.

Laughing softly, as they all followed him, his shoulders relaxing, contentment rolling off him. He was glad to be getting Will back home so quickly, without having to endure a trial or worse using magic to circumvent the whole thing.

Which in his opinion would have made it easier, but oh well, he was home now.

"Did you say Kreacher?" Will frowned, blinking blearily at Harry, he needed a drink and sleep, in that order.

"My house-elf," Harry confirmed as the dogs continued to vie for Will's attention.

Winston, bless him, was waiting at the side patiently, not pawing all over to get to Will. So sure, that he'd get his turn sooner or later. Which was true enough, his tail was swinging back and forth, wiping some of the smaller dogs faces as he did so.

Harry whistled sharply, "Go on," he told them all, before helping his brother out of the car, "When was the last time you slept?" he huffed, Will might be thin but he was still a heavy weight to carry.

"At the hospital," Will said, grateful for the support, he would have gotten into the house sooner or later. Hell, sick as fuck he'd managed to get from Wolf trap to Baltimore loads of times.

Harry pursed his lips, not really surprised to hear that. "The potion will likely make you sleep a lot for the next few days," Harry told him, as they both made their way inside, Harry keeping an eye on Will when he wavered a bit but other than that, made it under his own power.

Will blanched when he saw the creature in his house, that was Kreacher? He was expecting someone tall, with pointy ears and long white hair. Then again, Harry had never actually described them…for good reason it seemed.

"What can Kreacher get for Master Harry and Master Will?" Kreacher asked, gazing at Will just as curiously as Will was staring at the diminutive creature in his sitting room.

"Orange juice, and the potion if its available yet?" Harry said, guiding Will to his bed, which actually had a bed frame, so he was easily able to sit down without falling all the way down.

"Yes Sir!" Kreacher said, doing as Harry bid.

"The dogs…"

"They're be back in don't worry they can't get off the property," Harry reassured him, "Drink up," Harry handed over the orange juice, he was gratified to see instructions with the potion Kreacher handed him. Considering what he'd paid for it and how rare it was, he shouldn't have been surprised.

He read the instructions, along with the list of side affects and what to expect. It was pretty standard, and he nodded absently, exactly what he was expecting.

"I'd rather have my Whiskey," Will said, handing him the full glass of orange juice back, moving to stand to get it himself.

Harry laughed, "That cheap stuff is gone," and he wasn't about to tell him where the good stuff could be found. Not until the potion had done its job. "Plus, you can't take this potion with alcohol, you're not really supposed to take any potions with alcohol." Except one or two that were specifically designed so, sober up draught and the hangover cure.

Will scowled, glaring at Harry unimpressed, why had he wanted his brother here again? He couldn't quite recall…he might be first born but technically Harry was older than him. His younger brother was older than him. Yeah, that had taken him a while to swallow, now he needed that damn drink.

He was not pouting damn it.

A/N – Abigail Yes or No? Only chance before the plot begins to unravel fully, I know a lot of people like her and I know a lot of people cannot stand her character and I wonder which way you people swing, I probably should just put it to a vote on Facebook group poll but I love hearing your thoughts here too 😊 a Poll just answers there's no explanation which I'd love to hear! Will Hannibal come to Wolf trap? Will he still continue to do Will's job? Or will like last time Will go to him? Of course, things are going to veer away from the series here it's never going to be a repeat of it with Harry there for him, that would just be boring, I think! Do you want to see or rather read Harry taking care of Will? Will Harry and Will ever reveal they're related to anyone? Will Hannibal guess? What about Katz…is she still alive? :P :P will we make her friends with Will or will she end up screwing that up? Or Alana? And Skeeter…oops I meant Lounds :P hope they two never meet up 😉 R&R