The ride home, usually a long one, seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. On the floor of the passenger seat was the box of porcelain shards. Will still wasn't entirely sure why he was doing this. He had felt ridiculous as soon as he'd asked to take the shattered cup with him, but there was no way that he was going to go back on it once his request was out in the open. To waffle on it was to show weakness.
Hannibal had seen enough of his weakness to last a lifetime.
Will scooped up the box, locked his car, and climbed the porch stairs to his front door. His dogs started barking in anticipation. He opened the front door and let them out; they poured out around his ankles like water flowing from a dam. He felt a lot like a dam lately, moving desperately to moor up any cracks or weak spots before everything he was holding back worked themselves free. He didn't trust his ability to put it all away again if the dam broke.
He cleared away a spot on his desk to set down the box and lit a fire in the fireplace to chase away the creeping late autumnal chill. Then he poured himself a very generous glass of whiskey and stood on the front porch, watching his dogs poke and sniff around in the dark. By the time he ushered his dogs back inside and wiped off their paws, it was too late at night and he was too buzzed to occupy himself with the teacup. Will stripped down to his undershirt and boxers and slid into bed.
His dreams were a melting kaleidoscope of blood, broken porcelain, and Abigail gasping desperately for air as he failed to hold her shattered pieces together.
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On the Mend (Hannibal Fanfiction)
FanfictionWill finds Hannibal glaring at a broken teacup. Knowing all too well that time can't reverse, Will picks up the shattered pieces and shows Hannibal that there are other ways for a teacup to come back together. A story told in seven pieces. Hannigram...
