Chapter Text
Will could hardly remember the beginning of the car ride. He can just barely remember the distant sound of Hannibal’s voice calming Abigail. He watched Vonye as they drove away, did he even wave goodbye? It was likely the last time they would see her.
What he did remember clearly was the way the fishing line shined in the sun as he swung the hook vigorously around the air like a baton before casting it away in the river. He had locked himself away in his head, fading into the peaceful surroundings, forgetting reality. At least attempting to.
Sinking into the vision until eventually he could feel himself drifting away in the passenger seat of his car.
“Will,” A whisper shook him awake. Will quickly flipped around, met with a concerned looking Hannibal.
He sighed, “Yeah?”
Hannibal reached into his pocket and pulled out a small rag. He held it near Will’s head, gesturing for his consent. Will didn’t realize he was drenched in sweat before Hannibal made the remark. Will nodded slow. Hannibal gently pressed the rag to Will’s forehead, dabbing around his face.
“You looked like you were having unpleasant dreams,” Hannibal’s eyes stayed trained on where he placed the rag, as he dabbed it along Will’s cheekbones.
Will shrugged, “Don’t remember.” He tried his hardest not to flinch under Hannibal’s touch. This felt unnatural.. in a way he couldn’t quite find words to explain.
Will picked back up his words, “I was starting to think you weren’t human,” he scoffed.
Hannibal tilted his head, “Pardon?”
“Back at Port Haven, when you saw that bitter.. the look in your eye. That was the first time I’ve ever seen you express anything to that degree.” Will turned towards Hannibal, giving him easier access to the other side of his face. Why did he do that? This was not a pleasant experience, being patted down with a rag. Yet he’s indulging it nonetheless.
“Hm,” Hannibal muttered. Leaving it at that.
Will tilted his head, “When you we’re being attacked by that man at your home, you weren’t afraid. When I bashed his skull, you didn’t even flinch. I was a mess, you we’re calm and composed like this was a common occurrence for you.”
Will peered into Hannibal’s eyes, though he didn’t reciprocate. Will drew his brows together slightly, “Was that a common occurrence for you?”
Hannibal dragged the rag along Will’s jawline, etching down his neck. Will licked his lips, restraining himself from leaning closer, “What don’t I know about you, Doctor Lecter?”
Hannibal smiled, “Keep speaking, you might just be on to something, agent.” He pressed the rag down further, running down from Will’s neck to his collarbones.
Will let out a short gasp. What am I doing!? Will caught Hannibal’s wrist, “I can get it from here.” Hannibal nodded, slipping the rag into Will’s hands with a slight unintentional finger brush.
The sound of quiet sniffles broke out from the back seat. Abigail laid asleep there, slightly stirring.
Hannibal whispered to Will, keeping his eyes fixed on Abigail, “It appears she’s also plagued with unpleasant dreams.”
Will nodded, jamming the sweat ridden rag into the cup holder on the passenger side door. “It’s hard not to be.”
Hannibal anchored his attention to Will, “Are you still experiencing hallucinations, Will?”
Will paused for a moment. To be honest he wasn’t really sure. If he woke up right now, and someone told him all of this has been a dream, he would believe it. Honesty is a dangerous thing.
“I’m.. not sure.” But he was still honest in spite of his hesitation.
All the strange sounds and horrific images that regularly emerged from Will’s head was melding with reality. It was becoming difficult for him to decipher what was real and what wasn’t.
Hannibal nodded, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were. These are very stressful times.”
Will stared out the window. “Hallucinations is not a normal stress response.”
“It’s not common but it’s possible. I still believe that is the reason for your struggles.”
Will scoffed, “Well, there’s no reason to drag me away from Jack Crawford anymore. He’s probably already dead.”
“Will,” Hannibal’s tone shifted from analytical to soft and calming. Not like calming an animal, like he’s been attempting all night. But, consoling a friend. “You are speaking as if the world has already ended.”
“Has it not?”
“We are still alive. You and me, and Abigail. The impossible is proving itself the ladder, but we are still breathing,” Hannibal paused. He stared somberly at Will’s tear filled eyes in the reflection of the window. “The world hasn’t ended until you stop fighting.”
Will didn’t respond. He continued the look out onto the oddly peaceful silence of the abandoned building they were parked at.
Hannibal turned back to the wheel, “Rest. I will continue our drive to Wolf Trap.”
Will silently shifted facing the drivers seat, he did his best not to look up at him as he spoke softly, “Thank you.. Hannibal.”
Hannibal’s mouth fell agape at the use of his first name. He quickly pulled himself together, turning the keys in the ignition and continued the one hour drive.
**
When they pulled into the driveway, Will shook awake instinctively. He quickly sprung out of the vehicle, Hannibal following close behind. Abigail remained asleep in the back.
As Will approached the front door, he paused. The front door was swung wide open.
He quickly jolted to the door.
“Will, wait!” Hannibal shouted after him.
Blood as smeared everywhere, completely dried. Gurgling groans echoed from further back in the house.
Will’s heart dropped. The bloodied, half eaten corpses of his dogs, no, his family laid spread out on the floorboards.
Will stumbled forward. He felt sick. His eyes widened as a bitter staggered forward. His foggy eyes held no remorse, and his stomach was exposed and distended. Will reached for the gun, frantically patting around his belt, remembering he had left the gun in the car.
Swiftly and silently, Hannibal stepped forward, aiming the gun at the horrific limping creature. Instead of gunning it down himself, he reached for Will’s trembling hand, dragging it up to level with his own, he slid the gun into his open palm.
Will’ hands fumbled around the trigger as Hannibal held his wrist steady. The bitter hobbled forward, slow.
Hannibal released Will, stepping back and observing the look on his face.
Will’s expression shifted from dread to rage in a second before he pulled the trigger. It was a captivating show. The quick stop in the shaking of his hands, it seemed like he became a different person just for one moment before the gun shot.
Will lowed the gun. His sickness drew back in.
“The s-shot most definitely w-woke Abigail,” He turned to Hannibal, Will’s shuttering lips filled him with sorrow.
Will wanted to stay collected, he wanted to calmly tell Hannibal, to go check on Abigail. To give him space to breathe for a moment. He wanted to be alone. He needed to be alone.
Hannibal stepped back, “I will check on her.”
Will nodded, unable to keep his bottom lip from quivering.
As soon as Hannibal was presumably out of ears range, Will dropped the gun and followed it to his knees. He cradled his stomach leaning his forehead into the blood stained wooden floors.
They’re gone. They’re all gone. I made us drive an hour away from safety for a load of corpses..
Tears streamed profusely. Will bit his tongue to keep from wailing.
Now..
A sob slipped from his mouth.
Now we’re all going to die. Because I made us turn back. It’s my fault.. I’m.. I’m worse than the killers I catch. I’m worse than the mindless killing dead. I am a killer. I am-
He hadn’t heard Hannibal come back inside until his arms were around him. He felt different hands slip under his limp arm, clinging to his side. Abigail.
Hannibal knelt down at his side, one arm draped around his shoulder, the other running down his near arm.
Abigail linked with Will’s other arm, laying her head down on his shoulder.
For some odd reason, between the two of them, Will didn’t feel trapped. He hated touch. It was like a prison, made him feel enclosed.
In this moment, Will felt like he could drift away without worry of drowning; they would hold him afloat.
Hannibal turned his head, “It’s okay to fall apart, Will,” he spoke softly into his ear, at a volume only Will could hear.
He let Hannibal’s voice be the only one flooded in his head.
Will let his tears fall. He released his hold on his tongue and let himself unravel.