Bloodlust: A Hannibal AU

Chapter Four

Beatrice was woken up by the sharp sound of her cell phone ringing. Her beloved, Cujo, came rushing at her on the bed. "Whoa, baby, it's okay, I'm up." Cujo whined as Beatrice used one hand to scratch her ears and the other to answer the phone. "Detective Carver."

"Trixie?" Will's voice sounded shrill on the other line.

"Will, what's going on?" Beatrice stood.

"I think there's someone outside my house." He whispered into the phone.

"I'm on my way, and I'm calling Jack." Trixie didn't bother to changed out of her silky black nightgown. She only grabbed her trench coat, keys, and gun, and ran out the door, dialing up Jack as she did. He answered with an exhausted tone. "Jack, Will says there's someone outside his house. I'm on my way there now, can you meet me?"

"I'll be there in 15."

Beatrice pulled into the driveway, turning off her headlights. The freshly fallen snow still lay in a blanket of white around the house. Trixie held out her gun in front of her as she approached. She spied the boot prints that stopped at each window and retreated into the forest beyond. "Shit." Trixie banged on the door. "Will, it's me." The door opened so fast it startled her. Will grabbed onto her jacket and pulled her in, shutting and locking the door behind her.

"Did you see him?" Will's eyes were wild with fear.

"Will there's no one out there, not now." She placed her gun on the kitchen table. Will rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her. She did the same. He was shaking in her arms. His phone plingged loudly from the other room. Before they could answer the notification, there was another knock at the door. Will took a breath and tried to compose himself. Beatrice walked over to the door and unlocked it. She opened it to find Jack, gun raised, and Hannibal standing behind him. His arms were placed behind his back. Trixie felt uncomfortable as Hannibal eyed her nightgown under her open trench coat. She pulled it closed.

"Everything okay?" Jack asked, lowering his weapon.

"Boot prints at each window, looks like they left. I'll bet its our guy." Jack and Hannibal entered the house. Will came in from the bedroom with his phone in his hand. He handed it to Jack.

"Great. We're on." Jack handed the phone to Beatrice as he started to call in back up. She read the message from the dating app.

'Good evening, James. I'd like you to meet me tonight on the Gardenia Trail at 3am. Call it a date.' The message was from a GoldenBoyLover13.

"A little on the nose, don't you think?" Beatrice asked. Hannibal stood behind her and read the text message from her shoulder. She turned to look at him, and he did the same. Hannibal licked his lips as he stared at hers. She quickly walked away from him and handed Will his phone back. "You ready?"

Will pulled on a pair of jeans and buttoned them. Beatrice tried not to watch him, but felt a compulsion to watch him dress. His eyes met hers as he zipped up his coat. "Let's go."

---

Will sat silently in the passenger seat of the car. He scratched at the wig on top of his head. Beatrice looked down at her nightgown and started to laugh. Will turned to her. She looked at him and giggled again. "Blonde is not a good color for you." She said.

"Black is a great color on you." He turned back to the window as Beatrice turned red.

"Funny, never thought I'd catch a killer in my pajamas."

"Never thought I'd wear a wig."

The car pulled into the lot for the trailhead. Behind it, a van pulled up, quietly with its headlights off. Will exited first, followed by everyone else.

Will followed the Gardenia Trail. He tripped over a stone in his nervousness. He stopped for a moment and looked at the stars above. His breath left a cloud in the air. There was a twig snap by a tall tree. Will approached with caution. A man came out from behind it, his hands in his pockets. Will's eyes looked toward the base of the tree. He saw the bag, and his heart skipped a beat in fear. The man came toward him, a smile on his face. He outstretched his hand to Will's face. "James Stewart. That's a nice name."

"Thank you," Will said, his voice quivered. Without another word, the man kissed Will hard. Will went stiff and uncomfortable. Then his mind flashed to Beatrice, and he softened, kissing him back. He felt the man grasp at his wig and pull. It flew into the snow nearby. Will's eyes shot open and he pushed away. The man raised a hand from his pocket. He held a large hunting knife. A shot rang through the night air and the man collapsed, gripping onto his shoulder. Will turned and saw Trixie holding the smoking gun. He breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of the backup came running up to grab the man and placed handcuffs on him. He started screaming and crying.

"He lied to me, what was I supposed to do?" His tears sent a chill down Beatrice's back. She went up to Will with a shock blanket.

She led him out of the woods. "That was some kiss, Will." He nodded without uttering a sound.

Will sat at the back of the van, Hannibal fussing around him checking his dilation with a light and asking him tons of questions. Jack came up behind Trixie as she stared at Will and Hannibal. He put his hands on her shoulders. "I was going to wait to ask you this until tomorrow, but I've been given the go ahead. We want you on the Behavioral Sciences team."

"Really?" Beatrice turned and hugged him. "How did you swing that?"

"Well, it was Will that stood up to the plate for you. He said he knew you would catch this guy." Beatrice turned back to Will.

"I accept." She said. Will pulled his blanket closer around him.

Hannibal searched around himself, and his gaze stopped on Trixie. He nodded to her. She felt that chill run through her, and she couldn't help but enjoy it.