I do not own anything related to Hannibal, either thru television, or written books. Everything belongs to Thomas Harris and Bryan Fuller. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Hannibal is a gritty, provocative, seductive, murderous bloody show. My chapters contain scenes of violence, sex, drugs, language, triggers and sometimes hard to stomach scenes. This story is rated M.

Chapter Six

Song(s): No Promises (Icehouse Digital Visions Re-Edit), Piangero La Sorte Mia (George Handel), L'Extase De La Vierge (Measha Brueggergosman)

October 26th, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA…

Tucked away in the far back corner of the lecture hall, Oliveah twirled her pen around in her fingers as trainees around her typed furiously on their laptops. Though the room was dark for the screen projection, about eleven or twelve laptop screens glowed and framed the dark faces that struggled to take in all of Will Graham's words.

"The Chesapeake Ripper kills in sounders of three. He did his first victims in nine days, Annapolis, Essex, and Baltimore. He didn't kill again for eighteen months then there was another sounder of three…"

Watching the screen projection, Oliveah found herself curious about a set of five human tongues that were displayed on a wooden cutting board.

Tongues power speech; speech can be positive and or negative. Words can have many meanings, words can be rude.

Putting her pen to paper, she wrote a single word and underlined it.

Rudeness

"I use the term sounders because it refers to a small group of pigs. That's how he sees his victims; not as people, not as prey, but simply as pigs" Graham emphasized as someone tried to stifle a dry cough from somewhere across the room.

Frowning, Oliveah brought to mind the image of a pig, one that she had seen recently on the board of the meat counter at Whole Foods. The swine had been labeled numbers one through seventeen and her eyes had fallen upon picnic shoulder, snout, fat back, brains, kidney, and tongue.

Tongue…

Parts of the body that a person could eat

The Chesapeake Ripper is eating pieces of the human "pig."

Scribbling her thoughts down in her notebook, she tuned out of Will's words and felt a stranger pair of eyes on her furious pen writing. Turing her head, she caught the eyes of a male trainee who started to slide a scrap of paper over to her via his thumb.

What is this grade school?

Staring at the folded paper, Oliveah shook her head and mouthed a 'no thank you' as the young man looked down to his laptop screen trying to swallow his pride. Sorry trainee but I don't have time for you and your need for sloppy sex Oliveah noted as her eyes fell upon on a dead man in a white dress shirt with both of his arms ripped off laying to rest on the table in front of him. Hearing the click of slides, she looked down from her high seat and watched as Graham remained calm with the impaled bodies flashing by on the screen.

"Every tool on the peg board where they hung was used against him and as with previous murders, organs were removed. Removal of organs and the abdominal mutilations may suggest someone with anatomical knowledge and know-how" Will added, clicking to his final slide.

Lass, Miriam R.

Straightening up in her seat, Oliveah felt a shiver run down her spine as the face of the terrified voice she had heard played on Agent Crawford's recorder finally came to light...

I was so wrong. I was so wrong.

Please…Jack…Please…

"An FBI Trainee named Miriam Lass was investigating private medical records of all the known victims when she disappeared. She's believed to be the Ripper's ninth, but no trace of her was found until recently…" Hearing muttering from beside her, Oliveah picked up only fragments of words as a severed arm holding a cell phone flashed on the projector screen.

"It was only found because the Ripper wanted it to be found."

If you don't want to end up like her you need to be smart about all of this

Shaking her head, Oliveah closed her notebook just as the auditorium lights switched on to reveal Will Graham standing as still as glass, intently starting right at her.

Cafeteria, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA

Taking the lid off her styrofoam coffee cup, Oliveah grabbed two creamers and emptied them into the dark steaming liquid without stirring. Watching Will take the lid off his own drink, he took a large sip before setting it back on the two seat table top.

"You must have an iron stomach."

Raising a curious eye, he focused on Oliveah's face as she nodded to the coffee cup.

"Black coffee."

"Well, it's not like it's going to keep me awake at night" he breathed, taking off his glasses and tossing them on the table. Setting her cup down, Oliveah stared hard at the floppy haired man who sat directly in front of her as he rubbed his eyes.

"Mr. Graham, are you having trouble sleeping?"

"Will, and aside from headaches, I think I may have slept for a few minutes last night or maybe an hour I don't know."

"Have you had any hallucinations?"

"Are you suddenly a medical doctor?"

Catching the spite in his voice, Graham laid a hand out on the table and flexed his fingers.

"I'm sorry Oliveah, it's just been a long time since there has been someone that has been interested in my well being. Aside from my psychiatrist" he added as a group of light blue shirted female trainees moved past the table with a few curious eyes passing over the handsome blue eyed instructor.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter

"Is Dr. Lecter a conventional therapist?" she questioned

"So far."

"You're a grown man Will and I know I don't have to say this, but maybe you should see a medical Doctor? You said you're not sleeping well, you had a seizure the first night I met you and you look really worn out."

Chuckling, Will tapped his fingers on the table "Worn out? Like a used up baseball glove?"

"Like a professional who is constantly over stimulated in his work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation"

Tracing a finger around the plastic lid of the coffee cup that sat on the table, Graham smiled awkwardly.

"Well Oliveah, I seem to have this ability to see what others fail. It's been extremely helpful to Jack Crawford in catching his criminals" he educated as Oliveah frowned.

"It sounds like it is putting your health at risk to the end of no return."

Rubbing his eyes once more, he replaced his eyeglasses back on the bridge of his nose. "I have to go teach another class in about ten minutes"

Nodding her head Oliveah gathered up her trash before spying Will's hand gesturing for her trash. Allowing him to take her cup, she watched as he tossed it in a bucket behind him before turning back to face her.

"I appreciate your concern Oliveah, and if Doctor Lecter suggests the hospital I will remember that it was you who suggested it first" he spoke watching as the young woman in front of him closed the distance between them and laid a soft kiss on his scruffy cheek.

"Thank you for letting me sit in on your lecture, and if you need someone to talk to Will, I'll be your friend." Gathering her bag, she could feel his eyes trained on her back as she rounded the corner and left the cafeteria.

Oh my god, I just kissed Will Graham on the cheek.

Shit shit shit!

"Ms. Adler?"

Hearing her name, Oliveah turned around and came face to face with a group of uniformed students clutching laptops and black binders. "Sorry, excuse me." Stepping to the edge of the corridor, she strained her neck to see who had said her name praying it wasn't Graham and was surprised to see Jack Crawford pushing through the student bodies.

"Good afternoon Mr. Crawford" she spoke with a shaky breath.

Feeling Crawford bumping into her arm as he finally made it to her side of the corridor; Oliveah held out her hand for him to shake and thought nothing of it when he ignored it.

"May I ask what you are doing here?" he asked, noticing the visitors badge clipped to her white dress shirt.

"I was in attendance to Mr. Graham's lecture with his permission" she added as Crawford frowned.

"The one summing up the Chesapeake Ripper?'

"Yes."

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Crawford shook his head and seemed to loom like a dark presence over her as the hallway quickly emptied of bodies. "I thought I made myself clear last week with you in my office that it was not a good idea to get personally interested in the Ripper?"

Swallowing, Oliveah straightened her back and unclipped her badge.

"My thesis concerns Nature vs Nurture Mr. Crawford, who would be a better study than the Chesapeake Ripper as a profile and a model?" she spoke, watching as Crawford leaned towards her.

"I will be mentioning this to Doctor Bloom Ms. Adler, for your own safety."

Shit. If she thinks I am a risk, she may let me go

"Mr. Crawford, you can't deny that one can't help but be interested in a serial killer who is keeping close to home. Passing men on the street, I'm sure a lot of people are asking themselves if they are the Chesapeake Ripper."

"Ms. Adler, you know that my trainee got too close and disappeared. Miriam Lass was an inquisitive, smart woman very much like yourself, and I gave you words of warning to be smart."

"I understand Mr. Crawford, I will take care." It was all she said as Crawford nodded his head and took out his mobile phone.

"Leave the Chesapeake Ripper to law enforcement Ms. Adler and don't forget to hand in your badge downstairs."

Stepping out into the cool late October afternoon air, Oliveah strode with purpose towards the parking lot, keeping her head down as she passed men and women with badges swinging widely off their chests. Tossing her bag onto the passenger seat of her black Honda Civic, Oliveah slumped down in her seat and slammed the door shut. Silence enveloped around her as she stared out the windshield of the vehicle.

"I'm not stupid to try and seek out the Chesapeake Ripper Agent Crawford I am a psychology student after all" she spoke out loud before starting the engine.

Pulling out of the lot, she turned onto the I-95 and kept the radio off for her entire drive back to Baltimore.

October 30th, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall …

It was a one night gig for a solid two hundred dollars.

Cash, paid under the table.

(Flashback)

"The company will pay cash at the end of the night. They are always short bodies and as long as you are clean and can remain in the background they will take you. I can give you the phone number"…

Carefully arranging the champagne flutes on the silver tray, Oliveah felt a bump against her elbow as she looked into the face of another female server her age.

"You know, if I close my eyes, I can almost pretend that I am a part of the rich upper twit crowds, all pithy and philanthropist like" the girl spoke as Oliveah grinned and stood back to admire her arrangement.

"Not that anyone is going to notice the care" she muttered, as other black tied servers started to crowd around the room.

"Alright people listen up!"

Turning her eyes towards the front of the room, she spied a badly box dyed red head clapping her hands together as a fellow black tie server took his place next to her. "This is easy money. All you have to do is walk around slowly holding out your tray so the guests can take a champagne flute. Once your tray is empty, you come back here and take another tray that will be pre-loaded then you start all over again. So simple, a dog could do this job. Some rules for you all to follow: Number one, don't make conversation. You are not being paid to socialize; you are being paid to supply an endless stream of alcohol. Rule number two, stay in the background. If I or my assistant here see you lingering too long I will throw your sorry ass out. There is a reason they are in there and you all are in server uniforms."

Jesus, why not just come out and say that we are the poor fledglings of the earth, lower than pigs in shit? Oliveah thought as she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from piping up and telling the supervisor off.

You need this money, just keep your mouth shut and think of the money

"Right, put your gloves on and do up your ties."

"God, it's noise; just noise!"

Keeping her eyes closed, Oliveah leaned against the tightly closed door and soaked in the soprano's high pitched notes as she sang along with a solo organ. "It's amazing how the human body can produce such a sound" Oliveah whispered as she rubbed her gloved thumb against her eyebrow feeling the sheer power of the Canadian soprano.

I wish I was out there

"Did you know that it takes about ten years to fully train as an opera singer?" she added, feeling a light hand on her shoulder.

"Alright, so she's got a better range than Britney Spears, but that's all I am admitting. She's not even singing in English" her fellow server moaned as Oliveah peaked out the tiny door window and caught a glimpse of the elegantly attired crowd standing to their feet.

She's singing in Italian.

Straightening up her black tie, she picked up her silver tray and said a silent prayer that she would be spared the embarrassment of dropping a tray full of glass. Watching the double doors open, her eyes fell onto a crowd of men in black tuxedos and women in various styles of off the shoulder and strapless dresses.

Alright girl, let's just make it through the next two hours

Eyes on the prize

"It's been too long since you've properly cooked for us Hannibal."

Standing in front of Romila Komeda, Hannibal rubbed his index finger against his champagne flute as the anemic looking woman began her verbal assault.

"Come over and I will cook for you" Lecter offered as the woman saddled her black swan gloved hands on her boney hips.

"I said properly means dinner and a show, have you seen him cook? It's an entire performance. He used to throw such exquisite dinner parties" she began, spying the floating trays of champagne coming her way.

"You heard me, use to." Accentuating her final words, Hannibal brought his eyes to rest on her sunken cheek bones, feeling irritation starting to grow.

"And I will again, once inspiration strikes. You cannot force a feast; the feast must present itself."

"It's a dinner party not a unicorn…" ignoring her words Hannibal's eyes caught sight of a young dark haired woman across the room carrying a tray.

"Hannibal, I believe this young man is trying to get your attention."

Turning around, Lecter nearly sneered as Franklin Froideveaux stood smiling in a tuxedo that awkwardly framed his overweight face.

"Hi, so good to see you, this is my friend Tobias."

Offering his hand to shake, Hannibal felt the man's firm grip as Romila inched closer.

"How do you two know each other?"

"There should remain some mystery to my life outside the opera" Hannibal began as his eyes confirmed the identity of the young dark haired female server to his right.

Oliveah Adler

"I'm one of his patients."

Hearing Franklin's confession, Hannibal was about to excuse himself just as Oliveah found her way into their group.

"Champagne?"

"Ms. Adler?"

Hearing her name, Oliveah slowly turned around and found herself face to face with Hannibal Lecter.

Well of course he would be here

This is his playground.

Clearing her throat, she steadied her tray just as Franklin reached across Hannibal's path and took a glass.

"I'll take another one of those as well" Romila spoke haphazardly as she whisked one off the tray, nearly sending the rest of the flutes crashing to the ground.

"Damn" Oliveah muttered as she re-steadied her tray only to have another hand upend the whole balance and send the remaining champagne filled flutes flying into the pristine tuxedo suited chest of Doctor Hannibal Lecter.

"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!"

Hearing a scathing voice at her side, Oliveah found her arm being roughly pulled as she barely had time to register what was happening. Dropping her tray, she heard it clatter to the ground as the red headed supervisor half dragged her out of the foyer and into the back kitchen prep area.

"I don't fucking believe it! You just dumped a whole tray of champagne onto one of the Board Members! You are beyond fired, you are fucking gone!" the woman spat as she raised a finger.

"Get her the fuck out of here, she doesn't get paid either. Her pay can go towards that man's dry cleaning bill."

Feeling the rage growing in her throat, Oliveah's eyes fell upon a lone stainless steel chef's knife that lay on the counter in front of her.

Losing your tongue might not be so bad

"Excuse me?"

Spinning around, Oliveah found herself face to face with Doctor Lecter as the strong smell of champagne hit her nostrils.

"Sir, I am so sorry at what happened tonight. The company will absolutely pay for your suit. Kyle? Kyle give me one of our business cards."

Ignoring the card the woman held out, Hannibal stared at Oliveah's pale face before his eyes fell onto the chef's knife.

Your own eyes wandered onto that knife Oliveah, what were going to do with it?

"Our card Sir and you can be sure that there will be no more careless acts tonight. Kyle? Let her out the back door."

Oliveah said not a word nor did she offer a glance as she passed Hannibal Lecter. Following the assistant towards the back entrance of the kitchen, she promised herself that she would not show emotion.

She was a hell of a lot better than all this.

Loosening her black tie, Oliveah tossed it on the floor near an empty wooden barrel and fished her keys out of her purse as the night air hit her cheeks. A few days ago there had been snowflakes and tonight the cooler air threatened to leave a layer of white on the ground.

Unlocking her car, she slid into the driver's seat and without putting on her seatbelt, drove off into the night.

"Again Sir, I am so sorry."

Hearing the red head's apology once more, Hannibal turned to face her and took the business card.

"Might I ask for your name as well?"

10:41am, the next day…

"So I heard about your fuck up last night"

Pulling the covers up over her head, Oliveah muttered something incoherent as Tyler took a seat on the edge of her bed.

"Don't want to talk about it in case the blankets over my head didn't give it away" Oliveah moaned as Tyler patted her leg.

"I know you're short on money, so let me take you out for a boozy brunch to take your cares away. Andrew has class, so it'll just be us."

"I just want to live under these blankets for the day Tyler."

"Not an option. Get in the shower, put on pants, and let's go."

Red Emma's Bookstore and Coffee House, 30 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD…

Removing her sunglasses, Oliveah sat down at a vacant table as Tyler collapsed heavily onto the opposite chair.

"Jesus, this place has gone downhill since last year, but their classic bánh mì washed down with a flying dog keeps me coming back and elbowing the hipsters" he spoke as Oliveah scanned the menu. The vegetarian restaurant was not her favorite place to eat, but she humored her roommate with his love of local craft beers.

"A beer with breakfast, wherever could you go wrong?" she teased as Tyler took off his beige fedora hat and hung it off the back of his chair.

"I'd ask you if you wanted to split a bottle of white wine, but I'd be afraid you'd have some kind of Vietnam style flashback from yesterday and I'd get banned from ever setting foot in here again" he grinned as Oliveah sighed.

"I'm not a basket case Tyler. I fucked up carrying a tray of thin glass flutes in a crowd and unfortunately those full flutes destroyed a tuxedo" she spoke, leaving out that the tuxedo dressed man had been Hannibal Lecter.

"Poor twit, I'm sure he has another and another expensive suit to wear to the ball" Tyler smiled as Oliveah felt sick in her stomach.

I'm sure Hannibal Lecter's wardrobe costs more than my tuition at Hopkins

"Yeah, well my money has been garnished. New clothes are overrated anyways" she added as a flannel clad young man wearing a pageboy cap took their orders.

"I'll just have the fruit and whipped cream waffle with a coffee."

"No alcohol?"

"Hmm, not in the mood."

Downing the dregs of her coffee, Oliveah caught their server's eye for a re-fill just as her mobile began to vibrate. Pulling it out of her pocket, she frowned as she didn't recognize the number.

Unknown Name

"I've had telemarketers call me as early as six in the morning on weekends trying to get me to switch banks or buy financial stocks" Tyler spoke as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Doctor Bloom's number always comes up and I doubt she would call me on a Saturday unless something horrific has happened.

Like Abel Gideon murdering an innocent nurse in the infirmary while telling everyone who would listen that he was the infamous Chesapeake Ripper she thought as she hit the call button and brought her mobile up to her ear.

"Hello?"

At first there was silence, followed by a deep male voice.

"May I speak to Oliveah Adler please?"

Jesus Christ, fucking telemarketers

"I don't have time for useless idiots who have nothing better to do than call people on a Saturday morning. In fact, why don't you just quit your shitty job and go to hell."

Hearing the dial tone from the other end, Hannibal pulled the portable phone away from his ear and ran his tongue along his sharp canine tooth before hitting the redial button.

"Again! Unknown number," Oliveah spat as Tyler held out his hand. "Give me the phone, I'll unleash one hell of a rant that will make them blush in whatever country they are in," he smiled as Oliveah waved him off and swiped to answer the call.

"Alright listen, I am going to…"

"Ms. Adler, if you would be so kind as to call back my office and ask for Doctor Hannibal Lecter? I'm sure you have the number with you."

Feeling the blood drain from her face, Oliveah stared at her phone as the call promptly ended and was amazed that she laid it down on the tabletop without a bang.

"This can't be happening."

Not again

Looking to Oliveah, Tyler swallowed the last of his coffee as he noticed the paleness of her face.

"Jesus, did the telemarketer get to you first?"

"It was Doctor Lecter."

Letting out a roaring laugh, Oliveah felt her breakfast in her throat as Tyler nearly fell off his chair with all eyes of the café on them.

"I'm going to throw myself out in front of a bus when we leave."

"Like hell you are, he's going to eat you alive Olive" Tyler winked as he threw down a few bills to cover their breakfast.

Rising from her seat, Oliveah grabbed her bag and started for the washroom. "Give me five minutes."

"Andrew's going be so pissed he missed this" Tyler smiled as he grabbed his hat and headed for the doors.

Walking to the washroom, Oliveah leaned back against the hallway wall and took a deep breath.

I don't believe this

It was true that she had his office number. Hell, she had it memorized just like his office address.

Why did it his office number come up as unknown?

Dialing the numbers on her phone, she held the phone to her ear and hoped to God that it went to voicemail or something.

Idiot, he just called you, he's going to be expecting your call

Closing her eyes, she heard the line click and immediately started to apologize.

"Doctor Lecter, I can't even begin to…"

"I accept your apology Ms. Adler."

Well that was easy.

Is he letting me off easy because of last night?

"I would like to invite you to dinner at my home in two nights time Ms. Adler if you are not preoccupied with your thesis."

Dinner?

"I…would like to accept that invitation. Doctor Lecter, may I ask why?"

"An apology for the events of last night and for a discussion" he began as Oliveah opened her mouth to speak.

"None of that was your fault Doctor. It was mine and that so called supervisor who fired me" she spoke as Tyler waved his hand from across the café.

"I'll expect you for eight o'clock Ms. Adler."

It was all he spoke as Oliveah ended the call and slipped her mobile into her bag. Meeting up with Tyler outside the café, he stared hard at her as she replaced her sunglasses and fastened the top button of her peacoat.

"And?"

"And, I've been invited to dinner."

"A one on one dinner?"

Smirking, Oliveah stepped out of the way of a double child stroller as Tyler kept his eyes trained on her.

"I imagine Doctor Bloom will be there. I can't image why she wouldn't be."

October 28th, Chase Court Wedding Venue, 1112 Saint Paul St, Baltimore, MD…

His dark eyes watched as the last Biddle server exited out of the red door to the left of the hall kitchen. Watching him loosening his black tie as he strode down the red brick walkway, Hannibal held his breath as the college aged blond whistled a pop tune all the while never noticing a presence standing perfectly still in the tall bushes beside him. The server was free to go about his night, for it was a particular red head that was to be the focus of his attention.

"FUCK SAKES!"

Hearing a loud cuss, Hannibal swung his eyes onto the bent over body of Sara-Lynn Vassar as she struggled with two full black garbage bags and a third that had exploded onto the stone steps.

"Sure, everyone else can go home, but I get that extra dollar an hour to make sure there are no left-over beer bottles or food mashed into the floorboards or condoms shoved in the bushes" she muttered as she grabbed the first two garbage bags and made her way down the walkway. Passing the tall bushes, her eyes were busy searching out the dumpster around the alleyway as Hannibal stepped out of the bushes and made his way towards the open red door of the Church.

Brushing her hands against the sides of her black dress pants, Sara-Lynn squinted her eyes as the night began to close in around her.

"One last bag then…"

Stopping abruptly in the middle of the walkway, her eyes searched for the third garbage bag that she had left on the stone steps.

It was gone.

"Where in the hell…"

"Good evening Ms. Vassar."

Hearing a rich accented voice from her right, she turned slightly and felt her heart in her chest starting to beat rapidly.

"Can I help you Sir?"

Staring at his face, she felt her pulse leveling out as she recognized him as the patron and board member that was the target of one of her former server's tray of champagne. "I recognize you Sir, and as I said the other night, we will absolutely pay for the dry cleaning of your suit, the contact information was on the business card that my assistant gave to you" she spoke, her voice wavering slightly at being almost crowded into the corner of the building and the wall.

"I don't appreciate rude people Ms. Vassar, and you were very rude to a certain young lady," Lecter spoke, stone faced as the young woman took a step backwards towards the wall.

"I don't understand, that girl knows you? Is this some kind of fraud to get money?" she questioned nervously as Hannibal took his hands out of his jacket pockets, flexing his fingers for what was to come.

"I want more than your business card" Hannibal growled as he stepped forward and clamped a wet cloth over the woman's mouth. Feeling her struggle in his arms, he let her fall roughly and awkwardly down the stone steps ignoring the painful positioning of her arm as she came to rest on the walkway.

"I see pieces of your flesh roasted to perfection in rosemary with a red wine sauce" he tasted as he lifted up her head and easily snapped her neck. Taking out a handkerchief from his peacoat pocket, the Doctor walked up the stone steps and gently opened the red door, concealing his fingertips.

"You will make a special meal for a very special young lady" he spoke, roughly gathering her up and carrying her into the bushes.

"And we will enjoy eating you."

November 2nd, Dr. Hannibal Lecter's Residence, 51 Springlake Way, Baltimore, MD…

"Jesus, look at this house!"

Pulling into the large driveway, Oliveah shut off the engine of the Honda Civic and checked her reflection in the mirror.

"Wearing a thirty-nine dollar dress from Sears to the home of a world renowned Doctor, the little match stick girl of Baltimore I am," she muttered as she took a deep breath and threw open her car door. Standing at the door, she rang the bell and waited almost expecting a butler or a footman to answer.

Watching the heavy door open, her eyes fell on Hannibal's white dress shirted chest, red tie, and dark blue suit jacket as he held the door open for her.

"Good evening Ms. Adler please, come in."

Stepping inside the foyer, her eyes took in the grey marble floors as her black high heels made clicking sounds. Standing behind her, Lecter closed his eyes as the scent of lilies invaded his senses.

"May I take your coat?"

Shrugging off her black peacoat, she still had not said a word as her eyes fell on a hand drawn sketch in a frame hanging on the far wall.

"Beautiful sketch" she nodded, her eyes taking in the delicate lines and shading of charcoal.

"My Aunt was a very beautiful woman; I drew her from memory almost twenty-five years since I last saw her" Lecter spoke as he hung up Oliveah's coat.

"Was she Asian?"

Coming to stand beside her, Hannibal nodded his head and shoved his hands in his pant pockets.

"She was Japanese. Lady Murasaki Lecter, the wife of my late uncle Count Robert" he spoke, sounding slightly sad.

Lady? Count Lecter? He is from nobility?

"Twenty-five years is a long time to not see her, does she ever visit Baltimore?"

Tucking his chin into his chest, Hannibal lowered his eyes from the framed drawing and cleared his throat with gruffness.

"She died, when I was a young man in medical school."

It was all he said as Oliveah felt a sore spot.

Way to go Oliveah. You've not been in his home for five minutes and you've already hit the nail on the head.

"I'm…sorry."

Shaking his head, he ushered out a hand towards the open hallway.

"Would you care for a tour of the house?"

A tour of his house?

Feeling Hannibal's hand guiding her elbow as they began to walk down the hallway and into the first room on the right, Oliveah's eyes settled on more books, beautiful paintings, and charcoal sketches in various states of completion.

"You have a very beautiful home Doctor," she offered, hearing Hannibal's chuckle from her side.

"This is just the office. There are many other rooms to this house."

Many rooms…

Including a bedroom

"Shall we?"

Stepping into a dark wooden paneled room, Oliveah stood alongside the elegantly dressed table and spied only two place settings. "No one else is coming to dinner?" she questioned with surprise as Hannibal halted in his steps towards the kitchen.

"This dinner is just for you Oliveah."

Just for me

Hearing her given name sounding off his lips for only the second time, Oliveah walked slowly towards the double glass patio doors that led out to a small backyard.

No shed, no barbeque, no table or chairs.

He keeps everything inside this gorgeous house

"Please, have a seat" Lecter's voice broke out through her thoughts as she turned and watched him pull out a chair, standing behind with his hands resting on the wood. Nodding her head, she took the offered seat and thought it strange that being so close to him, she could not detect a smell of aftershave or cologne.

He has no scent to warn of his presence

Sitting quietly at the dining table, Oliveah stared at the bouquets of pink, purple, and blood red flowers that sat from one end to the other. Keeping her fingers interlaced in her lap, she held her breath as footsteps began to near from what she guessed was the kitchen.

Bending low beside her, a hand sat down a small white plate of perfectly arranged frisee and greens topped with strips of meat and yoke eggs.

"Frisee salad lyonnaise" Lecter spoke as he sat his own plate down.

"I smell… sherry vinegar?" Oliveah spoke as Hannibal nodded his head.

"You are correct."

Pulling out his chair, the Doctor unfastened his suit jacket button before taking a seat and unfolding his napkin. "I understand that you are nervous Ms. Adler being here alone without Doctor Bloom but I can assure you, tonight is not a session." he spoke, catching her eye as she laid her fingertips gently on the edge of the table.

Jesus Christ, he is just so formidable even his own dining room.

Observing the young woman seated across the table, Hannibal remained expressionless as he searched her face for a hint of fear.

There was none.

"Of course not," she replied hoping to hell that her face was not betraying her.

"Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"

He's just as human as you are Oliveah, and he's invited you to a home cooked gorgeous dinner to apologize for someone else's rudeness. He is being decent and the perfect gentleman, and you can't even fucking look across the table and make small talk?

Placing his napkin on the table, Hannibal stood up and took off his suit jacket draping it over the high back of his chair. Unfastening the three buttons of his vest he shed that equally to the back of the chair before unfastening his tie and releasing the top two buttons of his white dress shirt. Retaking his seat, he grabbed his napkin and laid it back in his lap before holding out his hands palms up.

She couldn't help but smile as she finally picked up her fork and gathered up greens and a piece of meat.

Holding his own fork, his eyes were fixed intently as he waited for her to take the first bite. Watching her slender fingers picking up the silver utensil, he watched as she gathered equal pieces of greens and meat before opening her mouth. Feeling his inner cheeks starting to salivate, Lecter smiled as she began to chew a piece of the recently harvested liver.

"How do you like it?"

Chewing a bit more, she swallowed and nodded her head.

"It's the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. This food, the décor, the flowers are just so beautiful" Oliveah spoke as Lecter gave a slight nod of his head. Satisfied that she had swallowed the piece of Sara-Lynn Vassar's liver did he cut off a small piece for himself and chewed.

"Is this chicken?"

Hearing her question, Hannibal shook his head.

"Locally harvested liver."

Taking another bit, Oliveah reached for her glass of white wine. "I've never had liver before."

Smiling, Hannibal took his own wine glass and gave it a small swirl. "I hope it will not be the last time" he spoke, taking a small sip.

Seated alone once more at the dining table, Oliveah could hear the faint notes of a mezzo soprano coming from somewhere to her left.

This is going well.

Hearing footsteps, Oliveah watched as Lecter rolled out a stainless steel heating pan with a lid. Even with a seal tight lid, she could smell the mouth watering garlic and rosemary.

"For our main course, I present a garlic and rosemary leg of lamb with locally grown potatoes and green and yellow beans" he spoke as he lifted the metal lid to a wave of steam and to die for savory scents.

"My god, that smells amazing" Oliveah blurted out as Hannibal smiled.

"You haven't tried it yet" he taunted as he began to cut the catering supervisor's thigh meat off the bone and onto a larger white plate.

Shall we give thanks to Ms. Vassar for her bodily contribution to tonight's dinner? Hannibal thought as he brought the first plate to Oliveah. Setting it down in front of her, he allowed his finger to brush alongside her hand and smiled internally as she stiffened in her chair.

She was not afraid of him, that he was sure, but she did react to him.

Taking his place once more, Hannibal cleared his throat. "You still have not brought me your thesis Ms. Adler."

Swallowing her mouthful, Oliveah sat her knife and fork down against the plate and touched the stem of her wine glass. "Truth be told, I have not had a lot of time to work on it. Assisting Doctor Bloom has been more time consuming than I thought. She is working with Abigail, but we also spoke with Abel Gideon at the hospital who claims to be the Chesapeake Ripper."

"I see, and you don't believe that he is the Chesapeake Ripper?"

Catching Lecter's eye, Oliveah shook her head.

"Call it a gut reaction, but no I don't think he is. I think it was suggested to him, and he was pushed into it by someone looking to cash in on it" she spoke as Lecter easily finished his wine.

"Psychic driving are the words you are looking for. You have met Doctor Chilton I presume?"

Hearing Chilton's name put a taste in the back of her mouth that would probably need its own bottle of wine to remove.

"Doctor Chilton I am not a fan of. I find him arrogant and self-obsessed."

"Do you believe he could persuade Doctor Gideon to believe that he is the Chesapeake Ripper? Lecter questioned as Oliveah nodded her head almost immediately.

"Definitely."

"Can I help with dessert?"

Pausing in his steps, Hannibal turned around and stood aside.

"If you'd like."

Following him into his kitchen, she felt her stomach drop as her eyes took in the enormous space that was full of stainless steel expensive looking appliances. Walking up to the granite countertop island, Oliveah rested her fingertips on the counter as she watched Lecter move to the refrigerator.

"Coffee crème brulee with ouzo pistachio tuile" he spoke, the accented words rolling easy off his tongue and lips.

It's going to be so hard going back to kraft dinner after tonight Oliveah thought as Hannibal brought out a small blow torch.

"I have to say, between tonight's dinner with you and dinner with Will, this wins hands down" she spoke as Hannibal raised his curious eyes onto her face.

"You've had dinner with Will Graham?"

Damn. I shouldn't have said anything. Could this get me in trouble with Doctor Bloom?

"Um, I had to bring him papers as Doctor Bloom was meeting with Doctor Chilton about Abel Gideon, and he had just caught some fish from the lake. He asked me to stay" she began as Hannibal fired up the torch. Daring to steel a look to Hannibal's face, she could see that he was in perfect concentration with a hint of…

Jealousy?

"Have you given anymore thought to my offer of a private session?"

Watching Lecter's fingertips as they grazed over the hardened sugar, Oliveah took a deep breath as two silver spoons appeared from a drawer to the right of the island. "You think all the work I am doing with Doctor Bloom is getting to me Doctor?" she challenged as Lecter sat aside the torch and began refastening the top buttons of his dress shirt.

"Your eyes were intently focused on a butcher's knife in the kitchen of the Meyerhoff three nights past; I wonder what you would have done with the knife Oliveah if I hadn't appeared."

Holding her breath, Oliveah suddenly felt the night's wine swelling up in her head.

Peering into her face, Hannibal reached a hand out and tilted Oliveah's chin up to meet his eyes. "I'll tell you what you would have done Oliveah; you would have plunged it deep into her chest and I think you would have enjoyed it."

Hearing the Doctor's words, Oliveah roughly took a step backwards and clenched her fists.

"You, you have no idea what I would have done Doctor Lecter."

"My observations and thoughts are that you are more than you seem Ms. Adler. I believe you have thoughts deep inside of you that would utterly terrify the good citizens of Maryland," he purred as Oliveah felt light headed.

I need to get the fuck out of here

"I think I should be going Doctor Lecter if you don't mind."

Slipping her arms through the peacoat that the Doctor held, Oliveah flipped her dark brown hair over the collars and fished out her car keys. "Thank you for dinner Doctor Lecter" she spoke, not offering her hand out as Hannibal opened his front door.

"Sleep well Ms. Adler" he offered as she stepped out into the dark night.

Watching her disappear into the night, Hannibal licked his lips as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, taking in the lingering scent of lilies and wishing that he could have had a small taste of her.

….

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