I took a different road to and from work today. Thinking it would make me feel less anxious, but my hands still shook when I drove.

After feeding, changing, and playing with children all day I was exhausted. I sat in my car and closed my eyes and practiced my breathing.

Ring Ring Ring

I snapped my eyes open and scrambled to pick up my phone.

"Hi" I answered when adjusting the phone against my ear.

"(y/n), hi. How are you doing?"

"Oh, hi Will. I'm doing ok. Why'd you call?" I pinched my thigh hoping it was not related to that gruesome murder.

"I have some questions about the crime scene and how you found it."

"What do you mean? You were there and the police took pictures. Why would you need my help?" I bit my lip nervously.

"There's just some stuff I want you to confirm." Will casually said.

"Oh. ok." I hesitated.

"Ok great I'll be over at your house in 30 minutes, Hannibal is coming to."

"Wait Will-" He hung up before I could finish. I sighed and took my time driving home.

Hannibal and Will were waiting for me at my doorstep.

"Sorry to bother you (y/n)" Hannibal offered his hand to guid me to the door.

"It's ok" I told him. I unlocked the door and walked to the kitchen to put my purse on the counter.

"Would you both like something to drink?" I asked trying to be a good host but when really I just wanted to kick them out and go to bed.

"I'll have whatever kind of tea you recommend" Hannibal said.

"I'll have a coffee please." Will said while setting up pictures on the kitchen table.

While I was making their drinks, Will threw a line, "How was work?"

It was obviously futile small talk but I miss futile small talk. Now it's just been Hey how are you feeling after seeing a dead body? I just crave normalcy.

"It was chaotic but good." I smile as I pour hot water into a mug.

"Why chaotic?" Hannibal let a small smile show.

"Well if you just turn around for a second you'll come back to toddlers with paint all over their faces, that's on a good day." I giggled.

"Your passion for taking care of children is admirable." Hannibal's stiff posture always seems to soften when he speaks to me.

I handed both of them their drinks. "Well I always wanted children of my own." I said as I looked at Hannibal.

Will bluntly broke up the conversation, "(y/n), can you please take a look at these pictures." He motioned to the kitchen table.

I bit my lip and squeezed my hands. "Do I have to?" I broke eye contact.

"It would be very helpful if you did." Will pushed a sympathetic smile.

"It'll be ok, I'll be here if you need me." Hannibal softly said.

I nodded and walked closer to the table. Displayed across the table was up close shots of the car, blood splatters, and the dead man. His foggy eyes stared into the camera lens. I flinched and turned away. Hannibal gently touched my arm. I turned back towards the images.

"Did you touch the crime scene before authorities arrived?" Will dragged a picture closer to me. It was of a cracked windshield, it looked like something was stick in it but later pulled out.

"No, but why did you take a picture of the windshield like this, without the knife?" My finger pointed to the photograph.

"What do you mean?" He turned his body towards me and had a quizzical look on his face.

"There was a knife stuck in the windshield. You didn't know?" I looked at him confused. Shouldn't he know this?

"This is exactly how the crime scene was found when we got there." He had an intense look. He was thinking.

"I swear I didn't imagine it. I have anxiety not psychosis." I dryly chuckled.

"I believe you" Will rubbed his forehead and stared at the photo. "It just doesn't make sense. If another civilian found the crime scene they would have no motive to take the knife. And why even take the knife?"

"So what does that mean?" I looked up at Hannibal.

"It means the ripper returned to the scene." Hannibal answered.

The color drained from my face. "He was t-there w-w-when I was t-there?" My voice quivered.

"Yes." Will said matter of factly.

"W-why?" I squeezed my hands and my legs started to shake.

"It's reckless and illogical. Which goes against his calculated and precise style. He did it for a reason." His tone was serious. Will walked towards the window with his hands in his pockets.

"Perhaps the ripper wanted to catch someone's attention? He removed the knife to signal his presence." Hannibal suggested.

"His goal wasn't to catch the FBI's attention, he already has that." But then he suddenly turned around and his gaze landed on mine. "He wanted (y/n)'s attention."

"W-what?!" I froze.

"The ripper wanted you to know his interest in you. No, fascination with you." Will said.

"W-why would h-he be f-fascinated with me?!" My whole body was shaking. My knees gave in. Hannibal grabbed my waist preventing me from hitting the floor. He guided me to the chair.

"I'm not exactly sure why." Will looked at me with sympathy.

My chest started to constrict. The ripper is watching me. He's going to kill me. "Hannibal h-help." I gasped and clutched his tie.

"I'm right here." He rubbed my back and pulled my face to his chest. I buried my face into his suit. "Copy my breathing." Hannibal whispered.

I inhaled when his chest rose and I exhaled when his chest fell. My balled up fists holding onto his suit jacket loosened.

"Very good." Hannibal's hand glided down my head.

"I'll call this in to Jack, he'll know what to do from there. Hannibal can you please stay here to protect (y/n)." Will pulled out his phone and started to walk towards the door.

My breathing relaxed. I looked up at Hannibal. He stroked my hair as he held me in his arms.

I tried to stand up but my legs threaten to drop me. Hannibal let me lean on him as he brought me to the couch. He rested a blanket on me. My tired eyes watched him. A few strands of hair were out of place and his eyebrows furrowed. He seemed concerned. The emotion was so different from his normal detached expression.

"Let me get you a better pillow" Hannibal walked off. Moments later I heard a loud thud it sounded like it came from outside. I jumped up from the couch, the blanket slid to the floor. I peered out the window searching for any indication of what caused the noise.

"What are you doing?" Hannibal came up behind me putting his hand on my shoulder.

"I heard something." I looked up at him.

"Do you want to investigate it?"

I nodded. My footsteps followed him to the front door in the other room. He led the way behind the house. I started to shiver. The wind bite my arms and face.

"Wear this." Hannibal took off his suit jacket revealing his tightly fitted button up shirt.

"Thank you." I forced a small smile. He held open his coat, allowing me slide my arms in. His jacket fell to my upper thighs. His built was much larger than mine.

We continued to walk around the house until I spotted something, I walked closer. That's when I saw it. A knife was lodged into the side of the house. It was the same knife I saw at the crime scene. The one the Ripper took with him.

My shaky hands swung to my mouth in horror. I stepped back and dropped to my knees.

"I'll call Jack Crawford." Hannibal reached into his pocket for his phone.

I just sat there, paralyzed. I could hear Hannibal on the phone but his words were muffled. Everything around me was muffled. All my body allowed me to do was stare at the knife. Even my organs felt paralyzed. I tried to breathe but no air would come in or out. I tried and tried. The lack of oxygen caused my eyelids to flicker. I desperately tried to stay awake but my head met the ground. And my vision blurred.

~~~

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