It was a few days since the incident with the mushroom garden killer. Abigail Hobbs had been moved to a more secure psychiatric facility for her safety and only authorized personnel with clearance was allowed to see her.
So, when young Abigail woke up for the first time after days, the doctors were quick to call the FBI. The first to arrive at the hospital, ironically being the one whose house was closer...was Rana.
She didn't hesitate to go and check up on the girl, mostly to hear what the doctors have to say to her. Jack would, in the meantime, inform Will to visit as well because they needed to find out the rest of the bodies.
Will, however, hesitated and for that, Alana had decided to visit him in hopes of making him understand why he should visit young Abigail.
At the same time, Rana was in the psychiatric hospital, talking with the doctor responsible for Abigail and the two nurses monitoring her. She had her hands folded in front of her chest, nodding as they kept filling her in about the girl's mental & physical condition.
That was until the door to the room opened and a weak Abigail popped her head out. Her attention went to the nurses and the newcomer, for a moment that face being too familiar to her. One of the nurses noticed her when Rana's attention went to the girl but before she could say or do something, the FBI agent placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Allow me to talk to her," she said, her tone making it clear that she would not take a No for an answer.
The nurse hesitated but gave a nod, letting the young woman head towards Abigail, who had retreated into her room; closing the door behind her. Amused faintly, Rana stopped behind the closed door and knocked thrice.
Eventually, after a moment of silence, Abigail's voice reached her ears for the first time. "Come in"
Rana grabbed the handle and turned it, allowing herself to step into the simple bare room. She closed the door behind her, eyes landing on the form of the 19-year-old girl sitting on the bed. "You didn't have to knock" the girl added, studying the newcomer.
"Felt like it was right to do so," Rana said, taking a chair and sitting on it, being a good but respectable distance away from the bed. "I am agent Rana Stones. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Abigail" she said, extending her hand to the girl.
Abigail did not return the gesture and instead frowned faintly as she took in the details of the woman's face and that voice..." You...I remember you...back there in the kitchen..." faintly memories flashed from that terrifying day. Her laying on the floor, struggling to breathe and a beautiful woman with dirty blond her and red eyes standing above her, pressuring her wound to stop the bleeding. "And your voice...It's familiar..."
Rana was surprised the girl remembered her from the day of the incident, considering that the doctors had told her that Abigail could not remember. She also wondered how much she remembered, considering her father was similar to her and she hadn't hidden her eyes back then. Perhaps, it was the reason why Garett Hobbs had shown his...
"Yes. I have been visiting you, talking to you mostly. Thought you would have liked some company" she admitted.
Abigail did not reply instantly, but deep down she already had an answer. She had heard people talking, and only two female voices ever reached her. One was Rana's, who was busy talking to her and had offered, subconsciously, some comfort to her while she was trapped in that nightmare. The other, was a woman that was reading her a book, most likely the one resting by her nightstand.
"What happened to my parents, are they dead?" Abigail asked, making Rana leave out a sigh.
She remained silent for a few seconds, hands being rubbed against one another as she leaned slightly forward. "I am afraid, I am not the one that can give you the answer. There is another woman, that will come after me that is more of her expertise"
Truth be told, Rana could say the truth but felt it was not her place to do so. Considering she was the one with the gun, who had taken two shots at her father...she chose to let Alana handle it better since family and child trauma were more of her expertise.
The Wolfskin was not exactly sure how to approach Abigail, having very little touch with kids in general. It was more complicated for her, considering she mostly dealt with adults and murderers.
"Right..." Abigail commented, clearly not happy as she looked around the empty room, legs in a lotus position.
"I can answer some other questions of yours if you want to. And I promise next time I will visit, I will bring something as well. My visit today was unplanned, hence why I came empty-handed"
This amused Abigail faintly. "Can you bring at least some good food? Since I woke up, had been given this bad gel thing"
Her lips formed a small smile, looking at the girl with interest. "Well, rules do not truly allow it but..." she tapped on her badge hanging by her neck. "Guess I can find a way to sneak something in...anything particular you crave?"
Abigail was now intrigued, turning her full attention to Rana and then to her badge. The woman seem to understand as she took it off and handed it to her, allowing the teenage girl to observe it all while thinking about what food she wanted to it. Perhaps, Rana was not as bad as Abigail had thought she would be.
The next day morning, Rana was called into Jack's office along with Alana and Hannibal. The female agent greeted both of them differently. She was more professional with Hannibal and more friendly with Alana.
The two women had met quite some time ago and worked together during some cases. They had also gone for a cup of coffee once in a while but they never came too close in terms of what one would call a friendship. They were quite different and Rana, generally, did not do that well when it came to socialising, outside of work.
However, she respected Alana for her courage and smart thinking, saying what she wanted while also taking advantage that Jack would never shout at her. Rana, as his former protégé, would hear it but it was never too much. Jack, one would say, had a soft spot for her and his temper would never flare too much with her. That was because of something more personal, something only those two knew...for now.
Jack sat on his chair behind his desk, across from him, the two doctors were occupying the other chairs. Rana, as per usual, was leaning against the wall next to the desk, right next to Alana and with a full view of Hannibal.
" I have 7 families waiting, let me rephrase, demanding that we find whatever's left of their daughters. Abigail Hobbs is the only person I can ask who might know the truth" Jack said, bringing up the reason why he had gathered them in the first place.
Alana was the one to speak first, not afraid to voice her opinion and argue. "You can't ask her right now. We have to create a safe place for her first or you won't get any answers." She turned to look at Rana, already knowing that she had visited the girl. "Back me up here. You met her, do you think she is ready?"
Rana bit the inside of her cheek, not truly wanting to voice her opinion or choose a side at that moment.
Jack, thankfully, interfered. "I respect your sympathy for her, Doctor Bloom. One day I hope you'll appreciate my lack of it and please, do not bring Agent Stones into this. She is not a psychiatrist"
The female psychiatrist scoffed faintly. "I have some appreciation"
Jack continued. "Only body we found is the one Hobbs didn't eat. 7 bodies. 7 girls"
Hannibal, who had been listening and observing, decided to speak too and join this lovely conversation. "7 sisters, in Abigail's mind. When she learns of her father's crimes.
"May already know about them. Her DNA's all over his slaughterhouse"
"You think Abigail helped her father kill those girls?" Alana asked, connecting the dots.
"It is one possibility that needs to be ruled out. If she didn't help her father, she may know who did"
Hannibal, once again, chose the perfect time to interfere by turning his attention to Rana. "You were the first to see her. How was Abigail?"
All eyes turned on the female agent, who if she was affected by them, did not show it at all. "Calm...calmer than I expected. She didn't want to speak until it was of interest to her. She is more aware than she let the doctors believe"
This made Hannibal hum faintly, taking in what Rana said and what she had observed during her visit. Truth be told, he wanted to study Rana's interaction with Abigail, closer and more privately. He wanted and needed to see how the girl was reacting to the woman's presence and if anything was triggered.
Not wanting to expose his inner thinking, he looked at Alana, asking her the same question.
"Surprisingly practical." She said.
"Suspiciously practical?" Jack repeated, already getting an idea in his mind.
Hannibal, however, read right through him and decided to speak before he could form any theories that would revolve more around the idea that Abigail was connected to the murders. I would suggest she can be practical without being a murderer"
Thankfully, Alana continued. "I think she's hiding something."
"It may simply be her trauma" Rana commented, making the other woman glace at her above her shoulder.
"Yes. Could also be more. She has a penchant for manipulation and withheld information to gain information. She demonstrated only enough emotions to prove she had them"
Her words only seem to feed Jack's ego and the need to be right. "Appreciating my lack of sympathy?"
"Providing psychological evaluation."
The other man in the room was amused and got each chance to study everyone, his eyes mostly falling on Rana, who was listening and passively tensed a muscle in her body in response to whether to agree or not.
It was fascinating, the ways she had found to silently express herself to ensure she wouldn't snap or get affected by her primary instincts and strong emotions that may surface under certain conditions.
As per usual, he spoke his part. "You agreed with Agent's Stone theory and you did say that it may be more than trauma yet you question her involvement in the murders her father committed."
Alana took that slightly personally, not liking that her words were being twisted. "What I'm questioning is her state of mind. She repeated something I said when she was... unconscious."
"Leading you to believe she wasn't," Jack concluded, rushing to yet another conclusion that suited his needs.
"Leading me to believe it was odd"
Hannibal looked at Rana again, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "It is odd, but not unheard of for the comatose or anaesthetized to recall word-for-word conversations that took place in their presence. I believe Agent Stones agrees with me, isn't that right?"
Rana's nostrils flared slightly as Hannibal, passively exposed the fact that she was speaking to Abigail when she was unconscious and of course, bringing up her idea that people in such a state can still listen and understand.
Jack gave her that look, which she knew it meant. He wanted her to start speaking and start speaking now, without hiding anything. She exhaled some air from her nose, shoulders tense. "I mean...I did speak to her when she was unconscious and she did say she recognised my voice...and I have heard of that theory before. What Dr Lecter brought up"
Eventually, getting tired of his game, Jack decided to move to the next step. "I want Will Graham to talk to her"
Alana, as per usual, did not agree at all. "Jack. Not yet"
"Doctor Bloom, you're not Will's psychiatrist. Doctor Lecter is"
Everyone turned to look at Hannibal, who was unfazed by everything and kept his cool demeanour and aura of perfection. "For intents and purposes, yes, but I'm not entirely objective on this." He paused for a moment, eyes locking with Rana's. "Agent Stones, Will and I share a compassion for Abigail Hobbs, we saved her life."
This made the female wolfskin shift the weight from one leg to the other, not sure how to feel about it. Jack did not want them to get involved and attached to suspects or witnesses, for it clouded their judgement when the final decision had to be taken. It was why she had not brought up her visits before Abigail's awakening.
However, at that moment, Jack needed answers. "Then who better to create a safe place for her to answer questions."
A few hours later after Hannibal persuaded Will to join, the three supernatural individuals made their way to the Psychiatric Facility where Abigail was being, temporarily, staying. Hannibal had offered to drive all three of them, winning them time instead of taking separate cars.
Rana, was not that fond of the idea, considering Hannibal's scent was all over. It also made Will slightly uneasy but the Alpha male seemed to enjoy it. Eventually, they arrived at their destination...after what felt like hours for the two of the three individuals.
Once there, they were informed of the latest visitor that was still in Abigail's room. Names were not needed for Rana to pick up that familiar scent of cheap perfume that made a vein pop at the side of her neck. She led the two males towards Abigail's room and the closer they approached, the clearer their sensitive hearing picked up the conversation taking place behind the closed door.
"You better start caring, Abigail. What you remember, what you tell everyone, is going to define the rest of your life. Let me help you"
"Help me what?"
"Carve a path in this world so you can survive what your father did. And not be held accountable"
"How did they catch him?"
"A man named Will Graham. Works for the FBI but isn't FBI. He catches insane men because he can think like them. Because he is insane"
Before more could be said, the door was forced open by Rana, who stood with each man by her side and two hospital orderlies that she had asked to come.
"Would you excuse us please?" Will said, trying to keep his temper in check.
He was not in the mood to hear more of her comments and her accusations when he was still being hunted by his action.
"I'm not leaving you alone with her" Freddie argued but soon regretted it when she spotted that sadistic smirk appearing on Rana's lips.
"You can and you will. For I have a paper right here" she held a folded paper held between her two fingers. "Signed by a judge that says only clarified individuals may visit Abigail. One more misstep and I can put you behind bars for breaking a federal court order" made the journalist pale, realising she was being cornered.
Worse was the fact that Rana barely glanced at the two Orderlies before they flanked the intruder.
At the same time, Will had moved further into the room. "I'm Special Agent Will Graham"
Freddie, however, needed to have the last word. "Special Agent, he means not an Agent. He didn't get past the screening process. Too unstable."
Now, even Hannibal had started to have his patience tested and that was a big accomplishment considering how good he was at being patient with others. "I must insist you leave the room. "
Before leaving, Freddie tried to offer Abigail a business card. "If you want to talk –" before she could continue, Will snatched the card without saying a word.
Freddie gave up and let the two Orderlies escort her out, the door closing and leaving the trio with the 19-year-old girl.
Rana, decided to speak first, having the most communication with her between the three of them. "Abigail, this is Doctor Lecter... Do you remember them?"
A small scene replays in the girl's mind. She was laying there, her head on someone's lap. She was bleeding, gasping and feeling terrified. Bright red eyes looked at her, as two pairs of hands tried to stop the bleeding and save her.
The second pair belonged to Will, yellow bright eyes like the ones her father had and only showed her in secret, away from everyone else.
Then...there was Hannibal, who eventually joined and helped Rana to apply proper pressure on the wound. Rana...her eyes were a bright red, a colour Abigail had never seen before...only the yellow of her father...the same yellow that Will had.
She gave a simple nod but didn't say anything else, eyes going to the window outside. Hannibal was the first to understand and get the idea.
"You've been in a bed for too long, Abigail. Why don't we have a walk?"
