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Title: A Place of Safety
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Will Graham/Everett Hobbs (Original Character)
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Everett's face is Benedict Cumberbatch.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Will Graham or Lee Fallon, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

It felt strange to be leaving his house.

Will paused and looked around him, taking a deep breath. He knew that he was doing the right thing; getting away from here for a while would do him good.

But it still felt like a wrench, leaving the place that had been his home, his safe haven, for the entire time he'd made a life for himself here in Wolf Trap.

Still, it wasn't a safe haven any more. Hannibal had been here, in this house. Hannibal knew where he lived, and he could easily gain entrance to the house. The dogs wouldn't try to stop him; they had long looked at that monster as a friend.

That was the entire problem, Will thought with a grimace. For far too long, he himself had considered Hannibal a friend, as well.

Well, that had been his mistake, and one that he now intended to correct. He knew very well that Hannibal had never been a friend, only a nemesis.

He wished that he'd known that before Hannibal had framed him for murder.

He was sure that between the two of them, he and Everett would manage to find proof that Hannibal was the Chesapeake Ripper, that he was an unrepentant murderer.

At least he himself had been cleared of all suspicion, Will told himself, taking another deep breath. And now, he was getting away from Wolf Trap, at least for a while. He would be spending some time in London with Everett, and he was looking forward to it.

Winston, and one of his other dogs, Max, the Husky, were going with them. The other dogs were being taken care of by friends who were glad to have them around.

He would miss them, but he'd see them again.

This wasn't an exile, Will reminded himself. He would be back here again. He wasn't leaving Wolf Trap for good. He wasn't taking everything with him, packing up and fleeing.

He was sure that he and Everett would come back here, for a few days here and there. They would probably need to. There was a lot to be done, clues to search for.

But they had done all that they could for the moment, at least in this setting. He needed to get away from here, to go to a place where he could feel safe. Though he couldn't help but wonder if any place would ever feel safe to him again.

It would be all too easy for Hannibal to cancel therapy sessions and get on a plane to London, to follow him with murderous intentions.

He'd killed so many times before. It would be easy for him to do it again.

The thought sent a shiver down Will's spine. Knowing that he had been an intended victim, probably more than once, was frightening. After all the times that he had been inside Hannibal's mind at crime scenes, he knew that his enemy was remorseless -- and ruthless.

Of course, he hadn't known that it was Hannibal's mind at the time, he told himself. But he should have. It should have felt familiar to him.

Resolutely, he pushed that thought aside. He knew now that Hannibal was the Chesapeake Ripper, even if no one here would believe that fact.

Everett believed him, and that was all that mattered. Together, they would unravel any clues that Hannibal had left behind, and they would prove that he was a murderer and a cannibal. They would put Hannibal behind bars for good, and then get on with their lives together.

And then, only then, would he feel safe.

Will shivered again, wondering if that was true. Even behind bars, he had the feeling that Hannibal would be a formidable enemy to have.

There was no telling how far his reach might go. Though Will was sure that he worked alone, there might be people who would be willing to help him carry out any evil plans he might make. It was terrifying to think that he might be able to kill even from prison.

At least once he was behind bars, his reach could only extend so far. That was what they hoped, anyway. Will wanted desperately to believe those words.

But were they true? Would Hannibal still be able to continue his reign of evil from a prison cell? Will hoped not; that was the last thing he needed to deal with.

He just wanted all of this to be over, for Hannibal to be brought to justice.

How long would it take for that to happen? he asked himself with a soft sigh. It didn't seem that it was going to be possible at any time in the near future.

He couldn't let himself think that way, Will told himself sternly. If he let himself believe that they were defeated already, then it could turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. No, he had to stay optimistic; he had to believe that the two of them could bring Hannibal down.

Going to London would be good for him. He needed to be somewhere far away from his nemesis, some place where he could concentrate on finding the clues to vanquish Hannibal for good.

He'd feel a lot better once that goal had been accomplished.

For now, he was leaving Wolf Trap, though not for good, and starting a new chapter of his life. A chapter that would include Everett.

His heart rate sped up at the thought of the other man, and his lips quirked in a smile. Going to London was just what they needed to move their relationship along.

Everett hadn't been involved with anyone since Hannibal had brutally murdered his fiancé, and Will had never been with anyone. So they were both caught in a sort of time warp, just waiting to meet the person who would free them, almost like Sleeping Beauty's kiss from a handsome prince.

Was Everett his prince? Will supposed that he would find out in time. It seemed as though he was -- and if that were the case, then Will wouldn't turn him away.

Though of course, their time in London would be twofold. They wouldn't just be try to move their relationship forward -- they would be searching for clues to Hannibal's past.

And they would be actively trying to orchestrate his downfall.

They would manage it, somehow. Will took yet another deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. There was a way. And between the two of them, they would find it.

Will straightened his shoulders, gathering his courage. He had already packed two suitcases; he was ready to go, and even though he didn't know how long he would be in London, he had a feeling that going there was the best thing he could do for himself at this point in time.

He needed to get away from Wolf Trap, away from the place where he'd spent time with Hannibal. Maybe in a new place, he could look at all of this with fresh eyes.

And maybe he would find the clue he needed to win this cat-and-mouse game.

He hoped so. Because he had the distinct feeling that if they didn't find that clue soon, he and Everett would be in more danger than they could have ever imagined.

That thought sent a shiver down his spine, one that he tried to ignore. He and Everett would come out on top in this game. They had no choice but to triumph over Hannibal.

If they didn't, Hannibal's evil would continue to run rampant.

They couldn't allow that to happen. And they wouldn't. Will ran a hand through his tousled curls, leaning down to pick up his suitcases.

Only a few more hours, and he, Everett, and the two dogs would be on a plane bound for London. His new life would begin in earnest once they were at Everett's home.

He would welcome that life, a place of safety, with open arms.

But first, he had to get away from here. He had to leave his old life behind.

Will made his way down the stairs, determined to do just that.

***