Less than an hour later and Rana had made herself comfortable by sitting on Hannibal's couch, in his home. A cup of warm and strong coffee was handed to her by the generous host, who took his own and chose to seat next to her but gave her a part of personal space and gap between them; something she was always thankful for.

She was not sure why Hannibal had asked to see her so early but a part of her suspected that it was not a social call. Instead, it was something else and deep down she knew it. She said nothing other than a 'thank you' for the coffee and waited for him to explain.

Hannibal took a sip of his coffee before facing her. "Will visited me last night" he started, his choice of words, not the best to start the day between them but she let it pass; for now. "He found out that Abigail killed Nick Boyle. I told him the truth and how we both got involved and why" he continued, her attention fully at him. She parted her lips to say something but he interrupted her. "He will not tell anyone, there is no need to worry"

Rana took a big sip of her coffee and glanced to the other side of the lavish living room, one leg crossed over the other. "I had no doubt...It is a relief that he knows but I am more worried about Abigail. There was a lot of pressure from both Jack and us yesterday" she voiced out her thoughts, since both of them cared about Abigail and it was the one topic both chose to have equal ground. "I plan to visit her before work, check up on her" she confessed.

The male Alpha was silent for a moment, watching her. He had another plan in mind and he was thinking how to bring it up but she served him the way on a silver platter.

"Speaking of Abigail" he started, making her look at him. "I have a plan for dinner tonight. It should be her, me, Will, you and Freddie Lounds"

The moment he spoke the journalist's name, Rana's muscles stiffened. She turned her body sideways to have him better in her line of vision and it was clear that she immediately disagreed with his idea.

The way her jaw was clenched and how her eyes were narrowed, was all subconscious reactions that she always had when she disagreed or disliked an idea. Sometimes, Hannibal felt that it was too easy to read her.

"This is a bad idea and I know you know it, Hannibal. I accept the dinner idea with us together but Freddie? The last thing we need is to give her any scrap of information that she can turn against us" she said, her fingers tightening their grip around the cup.

Hannibal was amused and always enjoyed watching how she reacted to things, mostly because it posed him with a nice challenge. Can he calm her down and change her mind? Mostly, the answer to that question was a clear yes.

His hand went on top of hers that was holding the mug, his grip strong but also reassuring; never too much. His eyes glowed red and he moved his body faintly to tower her just slightly, his back straight and his cup held calmly in his other hand.

"I understand your hate towards her, Rana" he started and helped her lower her cup on the coffee table before she broke it by mistake. "However, I need you to trust me on this one. Do you trust me?" he asked, his tone slightly changing as if he was passively warning her to choose her answer carefully.

Rana looked back at him with her own red eyes, her chest heaving slightly. She stared deeply into those red orbs that had the colour of blood, her neck craned ever so faintly to have him fully in her field of vision as his hand still held hers to the side in a securing grip.

That question sounded like a trap and her mind did consider it one, for a moment. Was she truly trusting him?

That was one question that she kept asking herself again and again but never mustered the courage to make up an answer for it.

There were parts of her mind that did not trust him, for she knew so little of him. He was also another Alpha, entering her life and influencing her Beta and friend; not willing to fully bow the head.

But there were parts of her that remembered the times he was present in her life, supporting her when he did not have to. He had stepped down the first time they had met, apologising even for his actions.

He had helped her without asking anything in return and he had offered her comfort that no other man could ever fill, no matter how hard she tried. Because simply, her true nature was asking something else and Hannibal seemed to be the most fitting candidate for that.

Realizing that she could no longer escape that question, she let out a sigh and did something she had never done to anyone before. She bowed her head ever so faintly and gave a few nods with her head. "I do"

His response was not something she expected as the moment her mouth muttered those two words, his lips fell upon hers in a gentle but slightly exciting peck. He withdrew them before she could fully enjoy them, a part of her wanting more of his lips and him in general.

He brought his free hand and rested it on her cheek, his thumb caressing her skin. "Good Girl" was his response, his voice coming so husky that she was thankful she did not hold the cup, for she might have dropped it by reflex.

Gaining control of her body, she cleared her throat and grabbed her cup again to drink some coffee as his eyes turned back to normal."However, let me warn you. I do not promise that I will behave if she becomes too much"

Hannibal was amused, going as far as to faintly chuckle; something that was so rare it shocked her. "I expected nothing less of you," he said and withdrew his hand, his smirk evident on his lips.


The very same night, the mood in Hannibal's house was not the usual festive or comforting one. There was this tension in the air and this awkwardness roaming around in the room as our heroes and Freddie Lounds eat dinner or at least tried to.

Hannibal sat at the head of the table, his eyes moving across his guests but occasionally falling on Will. By his right, at the place of the lady of the house, sat Rana and across from her was Abigail; her head down and her focus on the juicy freshly and well-done cooked meal.

Next to Rana was Will and across from him, right beside Abigail, was Freddie. While Rana did not fully like how they were sat, she realized it was the wisest choice to ensure Will was away enough from the nosy reporter and so was Rana.

Everyone was eating meat, except Freddie; for she was a vegetarian. It was a fact that Rana never saw coming and didn't expect that from her either, but it did amuse her greatly when Hannibal brought out his dishes and all were meat based; with the exception of a simple but also elegant salad.

"I feel terrible, Miss Lounds. Never entered my head that you might be a vegetarian. A lapse on my behalf." Hannibal said, acting as the saint he portrayed to everyone.

Rana hid her smirk behind her glass of red wine, her eyes momentarily glancing at Hannibal and noticing the smirk he hid so well.

"Or a subtle way to set the power dynamic for this little soiree. Research always delivers benefits." Freddie Lounds said.

Surprisingly, the next person to talk to was Will. "And if it contradicts a good story, hell, just publish it anyway?"

"Are you still angry because I called you insane? The libel laws are clear, Mr Graham." Her words ticked Rana, who tried her best to contain her temper and her tongue; to a certain degree.

"Insinuation is such a grey area." The female Alpha commented, wiping her mouth from the blood with a napkin, eyes looking at her and challenging her to continue the topic.

Of course, Freddie would not miss an opportunity to get under their skin and draw any reaction and word she could use. "Insane isn't really black and white, is it? We're all pathological in our own ways."

Will quickly continued, his temper in check but the question was, for how long?

"You decide on the version of the truth that suits you and then pursue it pathologically."

"Everybody decides their own versions of the truth. I'm here because I want to tell Abigail's version of the truth."

"See that you do."

Finally, since the topic was brought back to the main concern; everyone could address the elephant in the room.

The very first person to do that, was none other than Abigail as she lifted her head faintly. "I don't have anything to hide"

Freddie looked at her. "Everybody has something to hide, but I'm not going to write about anything you don't want me to"

Will looked at her and bit his tongue, feeling the need to comment on such an obvious and blunt lie.

Rana's breath was almost fully hitched in her throat and the hand that held the knife tightened its grip all of a sudden. No word escaped her mouth but no move was done either, for Hannibal once again placed his hand on her lap.

"You must understand our concerns. We care about Abigail. Our only thought is to protect her." Hannibal said, his one hand remaining under the table and on Rana's lap as the other grabbed his glass and took a sip of wine.

"She's already exposed. Her silence until now has been taken as guilt. This book is about her innocence. I want Abigail to have a future."

"That's what we all want," Rana added as Hannibal withdrew his hand and a part of her was already missing his touch.

Surprisingly, Freddie smiled at the FBI agent. "Then we aren't so different after all, Agent Stones"

This sudden act of friendliness left a sour aftertaste in her mouth and made her guts turn in the wrong way. Thankfully, Hannibal had picked up how odd everyone felt and decided to comment once again; since he was the one with the best control.

"We all want what's best for Abigail," he said and smiled at each one of them.

Will immediately cast his eyes down, while Abigail never took hers from her place. Rana only managed to give the smallest of smiles and it wasn't her best either, but she did try; for their sake.

Freddie was the only one unaffected as she leaned back on her chair. "This is possibly the finest salad I've ever eaten in my life. Shame to ruin it with all that meat."


After Dinner was over, Freddie would leave and our heroes would have a moment to breathe. However, because they did not wish for Freddie to suspect anything; there was a change of plans.

Most specifically, Rana would drive Will back home and then return to hers, choosing not to stay with Hannibal and risk exposure to the noisy reporter whatever the two of them had been building in secret.

Only Abigail would reside for the night and would return to the Psychiatric Hospital the next morning.

Once all the guests had left, Hannibal and Abigail worked together to wash and clean all the pots and dishes that had been left behind. It allowed the two of them to have a heart-to-heart talk, mostly for Hannibal to inform Abigail that Will knew the truth but that he would also keep her secret.

After all that pressure and realization dawned on her, Abigail could not take it anymore.

"I helped him." She whispered her confession, leaving the last dish in the sink.

Hannibal, being almost next to her, heard her loud and clear but he knew better that this would not lead to her true and full confession.

"I can't hear you," he said and waited.

Suddenly, a loud sob escaped Abigail's lips as the control of her emotions was slowly disappearing. "I helped him" she confessed, this time louder before started trying; letting out a strong wave of self-loathing and pent-up fear. "I knew what my father was. I knew what he did. I knew..." her voice dropped down an octave. "I was the one who met the girls and talked to them. Laughed and joked. Found out where they lived, and where they were going when they'd be alone. Girls who looked like me. They could have been my friends." She found the courage to look up at him, her eyes red and puffy. "I couldn't tell him no...I knew... I knew it was them or me."

She looked at Hannibal, pleading, raw and broken. That was the look he enjoyed seeing in her eyes, feeling truly like a God. She was a loyal follower, a lost little lamp that begged for forgiveness and safety by kneeling in front of the statue.

Praying hard to be heard and saved, forgiven for all that she did. That was how she felt and that was what Hannibal found truly enjoying.

Now that he had gotten exactly what he wanted, he went as far as to hold her in his arms and stroke her hair gently. "I wondered when you'd tell me."

His words shocked Abigail, who hid her face in his arms. "How long have you –"

"I always suspected."

She held back another sob. "I'm a monster"

"No. I know what monsters are... you're a victim and Will Graham and Rana and I, we're going to protect you..." he whispered to her, finally seeing her looking into his red eyes as he made a promise; a comforting and so perfect promise that Abigail would never suspect it would never hold.