I woke up to the touch of something on my back. I groggily opened my eyes and saw Alana sitting next to me with her soothing hand on my back. She would do that when something was wrong.

"Hey. How did you sleep?" Her lips pressed tightly together as she smiled.

I yawned "I slept ok." I rubbed my eyes. "Why did you come here?" I asked.

"I came to check on you. I heard what happened yesterday." She gave a sympathetic smile.

"It's ok. I'm fine now." I said.

"You should be because we caught the Ripper." She didn't seem too relieved.

I shot out of bed. "What?! Who?!"

Alana looked down at her hands. "It's Will."

I froze in disbelief. "No that's not possible. It's not him."

"(y/n), He was covered in blood and had souvenirs from all the other Ripper victims. We found him this morning. Hannibal is at the Chesapeake Hospital for the Criminally Insane with him right now."

"It's not him." I slowly raised my head. "I don't know how to explain it but it's not him. I just know." I looked at her with wide eyes.

Alana held my shoulders to calm me down. "I know everything must be so confusing right now with all that happened. I don't want to believe it either but it's Will. They found hair, teeth, and skin from all the other Ripper victims in his house." She pulled me into her chest and wrapped her arms around me. "You're safe now."

I didn't know what to feel. I should be relieved but for some reason I wasn't.

"Hannibal suggested for you to stay here. Just for a little while longer. I thought it was a good idea."

"But I thought I was only suppose to be here until the Ripper was caught?"

"Hannibal is a great doctor and constant access to his help can really manage your anxiety disorder."

"I can manage my problems just fine."

"(y/n), in the past 3 days you had at least 5 panic attacks. That's not managing. Plus coming across that crime scene... you need to process it. Here with Hannibal is a safe place to do so. Please just stay for a couple of days. We can see how you feel then."

"Alana, you can't force me to stay."

"you're right, I can't. But I'm asking you to stay because I love you and hate to see you like this." She peeled open my fists to reveal my palms. There were nail marks from constantly squeezing my hands when I got nervous.

"I'm asking because the next step is involuntarily admitting you in a psych hospital. I know how this goes (y/n). If you don't get help now than you'll end up hurting yourself or someone else."

I bit the inside of my cheek and squeezed my fists. It felt like a lump of coal was inside my throat. It hurt to talk. "Fine. I'll stay" I looked away from her. How could she say she'll make me go to a psych ward? I felt betrayal. I walked into the bathroom.

"Thank you." I heard her voice fade as the bathroom door snapped shut.

Alana left to talk to Will and Hannibal returned to the house. He further explained the situation to me.

"Will is very sick" He held my hand as we sat on the couch. "He's a criminal profiler, he must think like a killer. It's no surprise he became one."

"But I've known Will for a very long time. I don't think it's him."

"Abigail Hobbs' blood was found all over Will, He also ingested her ear."

"Then why now? Why now does he get caught? When he was so careful before."

"The answer to that only Will knows."

"I want to believe it's him but I just can't." My head fell in my lap. I wanted to cry. I wanted to disappear. I was so frustrated.

Hannibal knelt down in front of me and lift my head from my hands. "Regardless if Will is the Ripper or not, You are safe with me." His hand cupped my cheek. I leaned into his touch and closed my eyes. We stayed like that for a little while. Hannibal made me feel so safe. Maybe it won't be so bad if I stay here a little longer.

"Let's go on a walk." He stood up and held his hand out for me.

"Ok." I stood up. "Wait, I don't have a coat. Everything is at home."

"That's ok you can wear one of mine. I'll have Alana drop off your belongings later." Hannibal helped me put on one of his coat, which was way too big.

"Thank you." I smiled at him.

"It's my pleasure"

He took me outside. He held my hand as we walked down the stairs. Once my boots hit the gravel, I stole a deep inhale. It was a foggy day. the air smelt wet. There was a lot of empty land. No neighbors nearby and a lot of woods.

I followed Hannibal down the driveway.

"Do we still have to do the twice a week therapy sessions?" I groaned playfully.

"I suppose not." He chuckled.

I smiled and kicked a rock that sat in front of my path.

"Alana said I'll be staying here for a while?" I looked at him then down at my feet.

"Your anxiety disorder has crept into your daily life, Alana said. She thinks that you are very close to hospitalization."

"Is that was you think?" My question lacked emotion.

"What do you think?"

"I think I'm fine and don't need help."

"Then there'll be no harm of you staying here to monitor your anxiety for a couple of days."

"I guess." I bit the inside of my cheek.

"Don't do that..." He said. I looked up at him, about to speak but felt blood trickle down my lips. Hannibal wiped it up with his handkerchief. "...Because you'll bleed." He finished his sentence with an 'I told you so' look. I nudged him playfully.

"Think about it. If you stay I'll teach you how to cook."

"Deal!" I smiled, he chuckled.

We continued down the path and carried on with our conversation. "Why did you choose to go into psychiatry anyways?" I looked up at him with my hands in my pockets.

"Well I worked as a surgeon before a psychiatrist. I got tired of treating wounds outside of the body. I wanted to treat the ones in here." He pointed to my head. "Why did you choose child care?" He asked.

"Children are so impressionable. The slightest thing you do or say can alter their personality for good or worse. So I want to make a positive impression on them. I want to help them be good people." I kicked another rock. I haven't really talked about this kind of stuff.

"You remind me of the sister I once had." Hannibal looked away from me.

"How so?"

"She always saw the good in people."

I smiled. "Thank you." I readjusted my coat. "You said a sister that you once had. What happened, if you don't mind me asking."

Hannibal was quite for a little bit. "If only someone like you raised the men who killed my sister. Then maybe she would still be here." Hannibal was distance. It was strange to see his normal calm demeanor faultier.

I stopped walking on the gravel path. Hannibal did too. I held both his arms and stared at him. "Hannibal, I am so sorry."

He tucked some of my hair behind my ear "'You can only lose what you cling to.'"

I gave him a tight hug. He smiled.

"What was her name?" I asked. My hands still lingered on his arms.

"Mischa"

"That's a beautiful name." Our gaze locked as our bodies were so close to each other and his hands were still on my waist. His eyes became more hooded and he seemed to lean in a little.

But then I noticed something. "Look!" I gasped and pointed to a doe and her fawn sleeping in the grass close by. I gushed over the adorable sight.

Hannibal quickly let go of me. He paused and then bent down to pick something off the ground. My gaze followed him. "It matches the spots on the fawn's back." He held up a small white flower.

"No I think it matches your hair." I lift his hand with the flower to his head and laughed. He belted a deep laugh. I leaned into him while giggling.

"It's getting late. I should start preparing dinner." Hannibal said as he still held onto his smile.

"Ok but you're letting me help you in the kitchen. You promised" I chuckled. Our feet crunched on top of the gravel on our way back.

"Very well."

~~~

I felt bad about making you guys wait a whole week for another chapter. Especially since you seem to enjoy this series so much. Which I'm very thankful for! So I posted this extra chapter.