Roses Under Cypresses

Chapter 13

Will's eyes opened, near identical to Harry's in nearly all ways…Will's eyes were caerulean, Harry's was viridescent but when he was angry it was more of a sea green. Quite apt really, for both Harry and Will were as untameable as the sea, immovable as the very foundation in which people stood. They had received that principle from their mother's side of the family, the Evans side. Will blanched a little, at someone being so close to him while he was in bed, vulnerable, but soon orientated himself, and realized it wasn't a stranger. Will was by no means the tallest guy in the world, but it was weird that Harry was towering over him, for Will himself was actually a little taller than Harry.

He was about to say something, when he realized something. His mind…was crystal clear, he felt…unburdened, as if his mind was his own for the first time in years. The sweet freedom of his own thoughts and feelings almost had Will buckling under the expectancy of so many emotions. He blinked, tears building up but never falling, as the overwhelming gratitude suffused him. Oh, it was unlike anything he'd ever felt, he could feel abstractly what Harry was, but that was merely in his peripherals.

Harry knelt beside the bed, careful not to lean on or against any of the dogs, "Are you alright?" he didn't need to be an empath to see that Will was overwhelmed. Absently petting at one, he wasn't sure what their name was, he couldn't recall this one the last time he was here. He had taken a calming draught; it was still in effect. Still, there was no doubt Will could feel his anticipation and excitement. He informed Will of the date and time and where they were. It was something that helped him when he was disorientated and Will would be disorientated.

Grunting a little, as one of the dog's realized Will was awake and barrelled past Harry to get to Will. Luckily, he was sturdy enough to catch himself, and prevent him falling over entirely. Rolling his eyes with a huff, he sat back down, watching Will pet each of his dogs, who followed Winston's lead, Will's excitement and happiness to see them again out in full force.

That excitement and happiness didn't last long, as he noticed that their nails were longer than he ever permitted them. Noticed that they had gained a lot of weight – for them – Will always kept them in very good condition. To add insult to injury he noticed that their coat was rough and brittle. He pursed his lips in displeasure, very unhappy to see them this way, but could say nothing. Alana had been doing him a favour after all, his critical gaze roving over all of them. she had kept his dogs for him. They would have been put in the animal shelter if she hadn't taken them. Adopted if they were lucky enough, or worse still stuck there when he got out.

There was no doubt Alana had been buying cheap dog meat and kibble, for his dogs. Which was unacceptable, he hated that mass produced stuff. He would need to go shopping and get new food for them, it was expensive to feed seven dogs, but he always got good bargains by bulk buying. He rarely touched his savings, having no need for it except occasionally, he could live off of the interest alone.

God, he felt like he could run for miles, it felt so good to be out of BSHCI and it looked like his pack could use a good walk. Shed off the pounds they'd put on, and there was no time like the present. Scooting off the bed, finding it as easy as breathing, he was so used to doing it, and avoiding bumping into his seven dogs, but a clearing of a throat had him nearly jumping sky high with a high-pitched noise leaving his lips, one he'd deny until his dying breath.

Harry snorted in amusement, "Smooth," sniggering under his breathe, trying for impassivity just seeing Will properly again – when it wasn't clinical with him taking care of him – he'd need to control his reactions or he was in for some serious trouble. Will hadn't figured it out the last time, but he had a whole lot less serial killers in his mind now, as in, none at all, so he might click on.

Will gave him a good-natured glare, absently petting at Winston, he knew them all by the texture and length of their hair. "How long are you staying?"

"Want rid of me already?" Harry asked wryly, grinning in amusement knowing that wasn't the reason. Will would never be a sociable creature. He preferred his home and his dogs, if he didn't know he'd die of boredom without something to do, he would be content not to work too.

Will gave a small sound that was neither an agreement or disagreement with Harry's words. Then disappeared off up the stairs, the pattering of seven dogs following him. He was gone barely three minutes, before he returned fully dressed, with his fishing gear. "You coming?" it took an hour to get to the stream at the bottom of his property.

Harry smiled, not really surprised that Will wanted to get out of the house and fish. He'd been trapped in BSHCI for far too long. If he wanted to go and actually be able to fish, then who was he to stop him? "I'd like that." He agreed, it had been such a long time, neither knew how to be brothers, Will didn't know how to socialise not even with him, but the calmer and more content he was…the easier Will found it.

During the trek Will did some basic training with the dogs, making sure they remembered all the training he'd given them. It was rigorous, but with seven dogs, it was needed. The more he acquired though, the less he needed to train them, they followed the others examples. He was very pleased to see, that despite his absence, that they all remembered his training without any signs that it took them a few moments to remember.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked, once there was a lull in Will's full attention being on the dogs. Harry didn't mind, if he should have been able to see Hedwig again…he would have been savouring every possible second with her. These dogs were just Will's familiar, his companion. He wasn't a wizard, but he still had his own personal brand of magic.

"Good, how exactly did you get me out?" Will wanted to know, he wanted to know everything. He knew a little bit, but not everything.

"As I told you before, I made a deal with Hannibal," Harry explained, climbing over a fallen log, the seven dogs bounding through the vast expanse of space that was Will's property. "It was the only way to get you out."

Will eyed Harry for a moment, dubious, "But that's not true, is it?" glancing briefly at Harry's hidden wand holster, or where he assumed it to be. Things might have changed, truth was, Harry had two wand holsters, a cheap basic one he'd bought for the tournament with what was left over of his money, and a second more durable wrist wand holster.

"It is, unless it's a real emergency, and even then, I'd have become a wanted wizard for messing with people's minds." Harry said, moving with Will, who knew the way like he did the back of his hand.

Will threw a befuddled glance Harry's way, "What do you mean?"

"Magic users infiltrate everywhere, there would be people that remember, this way you and I are free legally and able to enjoy it." Harry explained pensively, staring out at the lush expanse of grass and trees in the distance. His hearing picked up the sound of water in the distance, splashing, one of the dogs had already found it.

That one splash followed by a few more, yes, the dogs had found the water.

"Look at me," Harry asked of his brother, waiting until Will blinked and registered his words, and caerulean met viridescent, "If it came to it, I would have done it, Will," Harry vowed, and this way Will knew he was telling the truth. His empathy was at its strongest when he was looking at others. But every minute of every day, he was capable of recreating events that have happened.

"Did you keep the diaries?" Will asked, as they emerged through the greenery to see the stream, the dogs were parading around in it, much to Will's half-hearted exasperation. They had without a doubt scared away most if not all the fish. Yet he couldn't be mad, he was just too exhilarated to see his dogs again.

Harry started at the question, "I did," he revealed, he wouldn't have gotten rid of their mother's diaries, not for anything, not even if he didn't like her. Which wasn't the case, she'd died for him, regardless of what had happened in her life. Truth of it was, that he felt so sorry for her. She'd loved Bill Graham, adored her son, she'd known her fate, known she'd have a child with James who would defeat Voldemort. She'd died a broken-hearted woman, never getting to see either of her children grow older than a year, never said goodbye to the man she loved. "Do you want to read them?" he asked his brother, as he set up the fishing gear, handing Harry one.

"Maybe," Will murmured, casting a line away from the dogs, most of them had already made their way out, and were sprawled out, tongue lolled out panting happily. Glancing to his side when he felt Harry sit next to him, pressing against his side. A silent 'I'm here for you' without being too overwhelming, the only touches he'd received were harsh clinical ones in BSHCI.

Dogs were so incredibly excited that their human was back that even lying down relaxing their tails were still wagging.

Harry watched Will close his eyes, and just sink into a content headspace, he'd never seen Will look so at peace. He smiled, quite happy himself. He didn't even think to chide Will for not reading the book, for setting it aside and not thinking on it again. There was no doubt that the personalities he'd absorbed was too proud, conceited, and always thought they were right. All those personalities he's observed, the 'Alpha-male' kind, the serial killer kind…not to forget the Chesapeake Ripper to boot while his mind fried. "Let's see how many we can get." Making it sound like a challenge, he had a freezer to refill after all.

"Alright," Harry agreed, and that sounded like an agreement to a challenge.

It took half an hour for any of the fish to bite, although, given the dogs had probably scared off every fish in the vicinity it was a surprise. Will lobbed the fish into the empty bucket he'd brought with him, only…it wasn't empty. There were at least four other fish in there. Glancing exasperatedly up at Harry.

Harry just gazed innocently back at him. "What?" honestly, he may well have had a halo he looked so angelic and innocent.

"No magic," he told Harry shaking his head, amused despite himself.

"You didn't say how we had to catch them," Harry replied wryly, as another fish magically plopped into the bucket.

Will inhaled, "I keep expecting Jack or Hannibal to pop up," more suspicious than bothered by the fact they both used him. He couldn't really blame Hannibal for protecting himself, he'd been getting too close. It was in the nature of the beast to strike when it sensed weakness be it human or animal. Will had been both a threat and weakened by an illness, of course Hannibal would choose then to strike.

"You'll find Hannibal is too busy to do much of anything right now," Harry said, at least until he got himself a child minder that he trusted anyway. He didn't trust anyone, let alone a stranger with his sister. Ergo he would be seeing to her every single need himself. "That and I've made him promise to keep you out of his games. He will keep his promise, Will, he's many things but he doesn't outright lie, but he would if he had to in order to prevent himself from being arrested." Which was the only incident he could see Hannibal lying, he was so very good at twisting the truth as it was anyway.

Will stared at the water, which was so calm and peaceful, with only two lines breaking the water's surface. He found himself strangely disappointed by that, but he honestly didn't think Hannibal would give up that easily. Yes, Hannibal had fun winding him up and watching him go…but he hadn't come out unscathed. He had ended up caring, because Harry was right, there was no way Hannibal would have let him live otherwise. He really did want a friend.

He wanted to be seen. To be understood.

It was a very lonely life sitting atop of the pyramid.

A smile began to curl at the edges of his mouth, as he cast the line again, oh, he didn't need to worry, Hannibal would be back again…probably sooner than even he – Will – anticipated.

Over half an hour later of silence before Harry spoke again, absently, "As for Jack…you leave him to me." Showing more teeth than was polite. Lobbing a fish into the bucket – which he'd caught the normal way, by the way – and casting his reel, he'd still beating Will anyway.

Will snorted, it would be amusing to see a pissing contest between Jack and Harry, given the ones he'd already seen, and Jack actually backing down…he'd never forget that. "Jack is…more determined than you think, he will come at you from every angle he can. He'll never give up; he hasn't stopped working even when knowing his wife is dying." Straightening up when he felt the line pull, another fish caught in his lure.

Harry grimaced, imagine choosing work over your own significant other, it was utterly detestable. He could never conceive doing that to someone he loved. He'd very much rather die. Then he recalled that American's have to pay extortionate amounts of money for medical. Sure, there were insurances, and everything like that, but just living was expensive. He was so very lucky and grateful that he wouldn't ever have to worry about such a reality.

Still, he knew the FBI, they would let him get time off, compassionate leave, and then some, they wouldn't want to lose such an asset. They'd want him to return, he had quite a success rate, that had a rapid rise in closed cases these past years. Naturally, all to do with Will, he could make jumps before the evidence which allows them the time needed to capture them. Those at the top didn't really care who took care of it, unless it caught the publics interest, then the awards come out in droves. Good press was hard to come by, and so they made sure to capitalise it where they could.

They believe Jack's team was the best, and thus wouldn't want to lose him to his grief and would do anything to ensure his long-term contentment with the FBI.

He wondered if the offer would still be there when there is a decline in solved cases. Likely, Jack had closed quite a few cases in his time. He wasn't stupid…he'd just gotten lazy, used Will like a Merlin damned magic Eightball. He wouldn't be surprised if Blaise dug into everyone in Will's life, including Jack.

He wondered what he would find.

"Did I eat chicken soup?" Will asked, turning to face Harry who laughed a little.

"Yes, Alana and Hannibal came by when you were sleeping after taking the potion," Harry explained, especially realizing that Will didn't remember. "It was rather late." And he didn't get back to sleep either.

Will grimaced a little at the thought of the pair of them together, it turned his stomach, made him feel sour as the creeping feeling of jealousy and gluttonous envy. Will so good at understanding the emotions of others…didn't really understand his own responses. No, it wasn't that he didn't understand, he was just good at ignoring his own emotions. Too used to them inevitably not being his, it would take a lot of getting used to. "Must have been working on a case." it left their schedules pretty hectic, and Jack rarely let anyone go until he was satisfied.

Whether the envy was aimed at Hannibal or Alana was anyone's guess.

The rumbling of Will's stomach spelled the end of Harry indulging his brother. "Alright, let's head back, you need breakfast, do you want to Apparate or walk?" helping Will up and taking the fishing gear giving him a look when he made a noise of protest, he wasn't going to let Will talk him out of it. He should have made sure Will ate before leaving, but truthfully, he'd been beyond happy to see him up and about. He'd thought for sure Will would take a day or so to recover.

Then again at this point, he was used to the symptoms.

"I'm fine," Will complained, genuinely uncomfortable with being taken care of, he'd felt that way when Harry first appeared too. Nobody except his dad had cared enough to take care of him. Jack, Hannibal and Alana had all used him for their own ends. Whether it was to assuage some guilt, wind him up or use him to solve Baltimore's serial killings. "I'm fine, stop fussing." Which the hidden part of him definitely didn't want.

However, Will was so used to not getting things he wanted that it had all but been muted for the past decade.

"Let's go," Harry said, inclining his head towards home, bending over to get the fish.

Harry turned around when Will was suspiciously silent, his face was flushed red paler than he'd seen him all morning.

"See, you've pushed yourself too hard," Harry said, deeply concerned, "I'll Apparate us, Kreacher?"

Will said nothing, which made Harry even more concerned, Will always fought tooth and nail.

"Yes, Master Harry?" the proud House-Elf asked.

"Walk the dog's home for us please," Harry said kindly, before he Apparated both of them back home, or as close to home as he could get. He'd warded the house itself, so the shed was as close as he could get them. When he secured the property, he meant against everything, and didn't make it so he was exempt.

Harry had a tight grip of Will around his back and ribcage, and one of his arms around his neck, keeping a good grip of him. Will however, was able to walk just fine, and seemed coherent enough, perhaps just a dizzy spell due to hunger? He hadn't eaten breakfast. Neither had he come to that, but he hadn't just been consuming potions, and truthfully? Used to only eaten sparingly, the chicken had been filling enough that he still didn't feel particularly hungry.

Will froze, automatically going for a gun that he did not possess, and hadn't since he was arrested.

Harry squinted, staring at the figure in the distance, "What on earth are you doing here?" he called out rather loudly to the figure dressed in black. "Don't worry he's not a danger." To either of them.

The figure whirled around, before a lazy smirk appeared on his face, leaning against the porch and watch them advance. He was most definitely not going to holler back even if this place was pretty secluded.

"Who is he?" Will asked, deeply uncomfortable with the thought of a stranger near his home, his sanctuary.

"Robin Walker," Harry told Will, causing him to startle, and he said, "Yes, that Robin Walker." Before Will could open his mouth to ask. "He's a squib." In fact, it's the cousin that Ron was so embarrassed to talk about, and he wasn't an accountant while pulling himself through school, he was high up the goddamned FBI. He also had more money than the entire family had put together. He'd changed his name from Weasley to Walker. Which fair enough, why have a constant reminder of a family that didn't care about you?

A/N – so would you like to see Harry introduce Hannibal and Will to MACUSA maybe Portkey to England for the day? And yes, I know I think the cousin actually was named, Barnaby maybe? 😉 but I think that's another cousin…so I just created this one and hoped for the best 😊 it's fun anyway, and what will Harry do when Abigail is brought back into the story? Obliviated or taking the rap for the crimes she actually helped perpetrate for? As you'll have noticed 😉 Will hasn't thought about her without Hobbs obsessive thoughts in Wills mind 😉 will Will go back to working for Jack or will we see something else entirely play out? R&R please