I do not own Hannibal.
Her first night in the hospital was fine, her throat hurt but they gave her something for the pain. They asked if she had anyone they could contact, she told them Doctor Chilton to tell him that she wouldn't be in for her first day. Beyond that, she had no one.
"Miss Shaw?" There was a knock on the door, a police officer stepping inside. "I'm here to question you on what happened, if you feel up to it."
"No time like the present…" She rasped out, sitting up. Better to get it over with and prove her innocence.
"So, walk me through it." He sat, flipping out a notepad and pen.
"It's simple… I came home from grocery shopping, unlocked my front door and stepped inside…" She frowned to herself. "I heard him speak and he threatened me. He had a gun."
"And when did you kill him?" The officer asked quietly, watching her face.
"I… After our struggle. Something snapped in me, I just… Lost it and killed him after he attacked me. But it was after, it was self-defense." Eliana said simply, coughing and reaching for her glass of water.
"Something snapped in you. Could you elaborate?"
"I don't know." She scowled. "I have mental issues, who doesn't anymore? It was either me or him and I chose myself. I don't like the fact that I killed him but it happened. I can't just change that. I don't think I would change that even if I could." She was staring at him. "It will be counted as self defense, won't it?"
"So far, all the evidence and your statement points to that… So, it's likely, yes." He frowned. "Have you ever considered professional help? For your mental issues, I mean. It's not any of my business, but some officers might be less forgiving of that kind of wording."
She gave a slight laugh. "The ironic thing is, I was supposed to start working for Doctor Chilton at the Baltimore State Hospital For the Criminally Insane. It might be inappropriate for me to ask him to be my psychiatrist. I can't really afford one right now."
"Try looking it up online when you get a chance… I'm sure there's something within your budget. That's all I need to hear, Miss Shaw. I hope you feel better soon."
"A moment, please." He stopped, turning back to her. "Was he alone? Will it be alright for me to return home?"
"As far as we can tell, yes. Once you're discharged, you should be alright to collect your cat and return home. Have a good night, Miss." He stepped out.
She exhaled, tilting her head back. Professional help was an option, it's true. She hadn't lied, her budget was tight and these hospital bills weren't going to help anything. She supposed she could look it up when she was discharged.
Hannibal sat in his office, scrolling through his iPad as he tended to do. Weather, sports… Dull… His eyes lingered on the news headline. 'Man killed, self-defense or murder?'. He took notice that a hastily snapped photograph featured the woman he had met in the grocery store being put in the back of a police cruiser. It wasn't notable enough for Freddy Lounds to be involved, there was nothing on Tattle-Crime. Still, the woman was a cripple. She had seemed timid, the idea of her being capable of killing someone, self-defense or not, seemed unlikely. And yet it was something that had occurred. Everyone contained that potential, of course, of setting themselves free and seeing the world in its proper light.
"Eliana Shaw… Perhaps fate will have us meet again." He mused to himself.
It was about four days before the hospital decided she was alright to be discharged. She no longer spoke with a rasp, the most she had was bruising and the occasional cough. She requested she be dropped off at her home, she had no money on hand for a bus ticket.
"Thank you." She spoke to the driver, stepping out and shutting the door. She held her cane in her hand, they had given it back soon after deciding that she had killed that man in self-defense. As the car pulled out of her driveway, she approached the door, unlocking it and stepping inside. She didn't know what she expected. Perhaps part of her expected the smell of blood to still be present, her wood floors stained. They weren't. Everything was remarkably clean, her cat figurine she had used as a weapon was gone. Most likely still in evidence… Hopefully she got that back eventually. It was one of her favorites. She grabbed her keys from her dish, her next stop was the cat shelter. During the drive, her mind kept repeating the scene. She hadn't thought about it much in the hospital, being home now was somewhat of… Well, a shock, in a way. While at a red light, she slid her phone out, dialing the Baltimore State Hospital.
"Front desk, how may I help you?" A bored voice answered.
"Doctor Chilton, please. Tell him it's Eliana Shaw." She answered, holding her phone with one hand and driving.
"Just a moment please." The receptionist answered, followed by the hold sound.
What should she tell him? He knew, she had the hospital call him to let her know. Did she still have a job? She hoped so. After all of this, she needed that certainty at least.
"Miss Shaw. What a surprise." Chilton said in a curious, amused tone. "What can I do for you?"
"I simply wanted to call to ask if I still had a job as your secretary." She replied, the light turning green as she returned to driving. "Since I missed my first day."
"Ah, yes… You were busy killing someone in self-defense, that's what the papers are saying. Is it true? Or should I prepare a room for you?" Chilton sounded condescending.
"So do I have a job or should I start looking?" She asked, trying to keep her voice level. She was too tired for that right now.
"Yes, you do. Just be on time tomorrow. Good day, Miss Shaw." He hung the phone up.
Eliana sighed to herself, parking outside the shelter. God damn it all to hell.
She woke up the next morning early, showering and wrapping herself in her robe. She was sitting at her desk and sipping coffee, scrolling through a list of psychiatrists in the Baltimore area. Chilton was mentioned, merely as Chief of Staff, of course… She couldn't afford it but she would be working around criminals and Chilton with his condescending attitude. The last thing she needed was to slide into madness. Such a dramatic way of viewing things… As she was scrolling through, she paused at the name of a man with good reviews. Doctor Hannibal Lecter. She eyed the name and number before grabbing her phone, dialing the number. She half hoped he didn't pick up. Ring… Ring…
"Hello?" A voice responded once the call picked up.
"Hi, is this the office of Doctor Lecter?" She asked a bit hesitantly, taking another sip of coffee.
"This is indeed, and this is he. How may I help you?" He sounded pleasant enough.
"My name is Eliana Shaw, I was hoping to schedule a consult. Interview? Whatever you want to call it." She gave a nervous laugh.
"Of course. What time were you thinking, Miss Shaw?" He replied.
"I… Hadn't really thought that far ahead. I hadn't thought you would pick up with it being so early." She hesitated. "Sorry about that."
"You're in luck, I was in my office early today." Doctor Lecter replied. "I had a cancellation tonight, around five, if that would work for you?"
So soon? Fuck. She bit back a groan. "That would be great, thank you." She replied. Could he hear the dread in her voice?
"I will put you down then and see you tonight. Have a good day, Miss Shaw."
"You as well." She hesitated before hanging up.
As she stepped into her little room for work, her badge clipped to her blouse, Chilton was waiting for her.
"Miss Shaw, good morning." He nodded. "The files on your desk need organizing, preferably alphabetical order, please, answer any calls that may come through… Nothing terribly difficult." He was studying her.
"If you're going to ask me about the incident, please… Just get it over with now, Doctor Chilton." She struggled to make her tone polite.
"Was it self defense?" He asked immediately.
"Yes. He had broken into my home and I defended myself… Even with my… Condition." She glanced down at her cane.
"And how did that make you feel?" He was staring directly at her, maintaining eye contact.
"It made me feel guilty." She replied in a soft voice, sitting down at her desk. "If I may get to work now, Doctor Chilton, I imagine I have catching up to do."
"Yes, yes. Of course." He gazed at her a moment longer before exiting the room.
She lightly exhaled once the door was closed. Was this going to be her life now? Asked about this… Was it a crime? An event? It was hardly something to mention at a dinner party. Regardless, she busied herself with going through Chilton's files. They were all about patients of his, criminals. Criminally insane… It would be so easy to crack open a file and take a peek inside. Just a glimpse into the mind of the mind of the insane. But she was frightened of what she would find, so she carried on with her organizing.