"It's eight-twenty-six, I'm in Doctor Lector's office, and my name is Will Graham." Will droned monotonously as he fell into his regular chair at the request of his non-therapist with a huff.

Glancing up Will found the doctor seated in the exact same chair as Will's, opposite his own, as though they were a perfect reflection of each other; Will the pinnacle of all things unstable, while the doctor seemed to have an everlasting control over everything around him, gazing at the twitchy male across from him with a calm demeanor.

"Very good Will, however you are well over an hour late. May I inquire as to the reason why?"

The man before Will kept his voice even though Will could see the annoyance, or perhaps concern, over his unknown whereabouts and though the question was politely phrased, it was a clear demand merely masked in kindness.

"S-sorry, I was in class, and after everyone left I...I just lost track of time."

Without a moment's hesitation the doctor rose from his seat to check Will over, holding his wrist to check his pulse while laying the other hand against Will's cheek.

"What do you remember Will?" The doctor whispered, his attention completely tuned on what Will would say and, while finding his pulse to be erratic but not troubling, continued his hold on the empath's wrist and cheek.

"It wasn't like I lost time…. I just st-tarted thinking about the ripper and I saw it again, the Stag I mean." Will responded, intriguing the doctor greatly. "It was-sn't like before, I mean it didn't feel…. malicious."

"You weren't afraid anymore, and what were you afraid it would do in its malicious moments?" The doctor finally leaned back as Will twitched uncomfortably, though it was more to do with his own stuttering than the steady pulse of his not-doctor's grip.

"I don't know, it wasn't really so much that I'm afraid of what it would do, I know what it does." Will shivered in disgust, allowing the doctor's mouth to twitch into a dark smile as he went to get a glass of Will's favourite brandy.

"Thanks Doctor." Will spoke as he eyed the drink and nearly snatched it from the doctor's hands, making the other quite proud of the empath's restraint, however little it may have seemed, as he refrained from immediately bottoming out the glass. It was almost as though Will was attempting to seem even remotely sane before him, a useless if adorable attempt the doctor appreciated.

"Hm, you are welcome Will. So if you are not afraid of the Stag's capabilities than perhaps it is your own that troubles you."

"Yeah, I gu-uess doc." Will's eyes remained on the small amount of brandy left in the no doubt expensive glass twirling in his shaky hands as he spoke uncommitedly.

"Will." Doctor Lector inquired in a way he could not refuse, which left Will finding it to be an unbelievably polite command for his attention. He gave it, but only after drinking the last gulp of brandy and putting the cup on the table before him.

"Yes Doctor Lector?" He asked, eyes twitching as he struggled to maintain eye contact with the other and shocked at the smile that greeted his sight.

"I have told you many a time, as these are simply conversations, that you may call me Hannibal. Such titles are far too formal for a relationship like our own." Hannibal's smile twitched into a smirk as Will looked away, a blush on his face in a hew that Hannibal felt he would not be able to recreate with all the time and utensils in the world at his disposal.

"I-I….I mean sure, uhm Hannibal." Will stammered out.

"You were saying, Will." Hannibal gently urged the nervous male onward.

"Well, I don't know, I think it just didn't expect me to do anyth-hing and just wanted t-to see me." Will ran his fingers around the glass as he sat forward, his back arched uncomfortably though he barely noticed as he focused all his efforts on ceasing his jittery speech.

Hannibal walked back to the cupboard to pull out the full jar of brandy and a bottle of Italian wine for himself, refilling Will's glass if only to earn that grateful smile in return.

"Why did it wish to do that Will?" Hannibal questioned.

"I don't know." Will whispered as he gulped his brandy and lay back on the chair.

"Yes you do." The Doctor responded, seeing through the weak facade of comfort easily.

"It…." Will scrunched his face up, adorably so in Hannibal's opinion. "It licked me."

"Ah, it showed affection for you, perhaps reaffirming that it will not let you lose yourself. That is your greatest fear after all." Hannibal reasoned gently, though it still cut through Will like a knife at being left so bare so easily by the Doctor.

"Well, yeah probably…" Will responded to ignore the pain.

"But that is not all it did." Hannibal spoke, reading the empath's hesitance with ease.

"No." Will sunk his head and accepted he was truly incapable of hiding anything from the man in front of him.

"And what else did it do Will?" Hannibal 'politely demanded' again.

"It tugged at my wrist." Will responded, looking at the cuff of the sweater he was wearing and running his fingers over the fabric, his eyes glazed and mind far away. "It was trying to lead me somewhere."

"Where Will." Hannibal spoke, unintentionally forgoing his own facade at questioning as he watched Wills eyes swirl in blood and flesh with deep fascination and endearment, especially as those lush green orbs rose up to make certain the Stag was nowhere near before the male answered.

"Somewhere, well nowhere but somewhere in my mind. It wants something from me but I just d-don't know what." Will spoke in a hushed tone, hands reaching to hold his curls in a vice grip as he once again cursed his 'gift'. "To do something for it. No." Will thought for a moment before grimacing, "…with it."

"Will." Hannibal whispered, his voice suddenly right in front of the unsteady male.

As Will attempted to leap back and over the chair out of surprise and scheer panic the doctor suddenly placed a firm grip on the male's shoulders, keeping him in place and staring deeply into green eyes to assure Will's full attention was on him before continuing.

"Will. The stag was affectionate, it did not force you to follow and does not intrude upon you here. It wants you to trust it Will. To trust it will not lead you astray and that it cares for you. You know where it would lead you if you so chose, you know what it does, are you afraid of the Stag Will?" Hannibal asked, the soft voice and cool gaze returning to sooth his empath.

Wills eyes had flickered a few moments after the doctor had begun talking, though with nowhere to be able to run he was forced to focus on the calm tenor of Hannibal's voice, thinking about the question before briefly gazing into the larger male's sanguine eyes.

"I'm afraid of what it wants me do." Will whispered. "I'm afraid of what I'll do."

"That is not what I asked." Hannibal nudged gently. "Will, are you afraid."

Wills hands twitched for the half full glass upon the table before him, Hannibal clearly not willing to move nor loosen his strong yet loose grip until his 'non-query' was answered.

"No." Will finally huffed out, the doctor releasing him a moment later, leaning back from essentially covering Will's body for his reward of more mind numbing brandy. One hand reached out to roam through Wills curls as the man finished the last of his glass and gently rubbed at droopy, torn at curls in an attempt in vain to undo Wills rough treatment as the doctor thought out his options, all the while finishing his own glass of wine in slow sips.

Hannibal quickly came to a decision, removing the glass from Wills loose grip and placing it and his own empty wine glass back in the cupboard along with the bottles of wine and brandy before Will simply began chugging the liquid from the bottle itself, the thought clearly running through the empath's head if his wandering eyes were any suggestion. He then returned to his own seat, watching Will in his slight daze and waiting patiently for him to arise from it himself, the blood filled eyes returning, no doubt along with thoughts of the Stag. Hannibal would have drawn the male if his movement would not have startled the poor deer, so skittish of any and all noise as it attempted to move without being seen, having no idea it was being stalked and lured exactly where its predator wished.

Finally Wills eyes brightened, though only slightly thanks to the alcohol as he rose from his chair, believing his session to be over.

"Well I guess I'll see you next week Doctor Lector."

"Hannibal." The man reminded fondly.

"Right, Hannibal. See you next week." Will started again as his wrist was grabbed, the doctor moving swiftly and silently though his grip was gentle.

"Will. I believe you are far too intoxicated to drive." Hannibal gave a slight smile as he gently led the other by the wrist out the door of his office, into the waiting room where he pulled Wills coat up for him and, as the alcohol left Will far too vulnerable for him to resist, deeply inhaled at the nape of the male's neck as he helped the empath into his jacket.

"My dogs." Will attempted at a rebuttal of whatever the doctor would offer and insist he take.

"Hmm. Yes. I will take care of it Will." The sanguine eyed male jumped in before Will could make another protest, quickly pulling on his own coat, and draping his scarf over Will, the man too intoxicated or deep in thought or both to care. He then proceeded to lead Will, with his hand once more upon Wills wrist out into the cool night air and to his car, the other spending most of this time staring at his wrist now in the doctor's firm yet gentle grip, mind a thousand miles away.

"I will take care of everything."