Title: In Harm's Way
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: Alphabet Challenge, tv_universe
Prompt: H - Harm
Author's Note: Sequel to "Quiet Resolution."
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Hannibal Lecter or Will Graham, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.
***
Okay, so maybe putting himself in harm's way hadn't been the best solution.Will ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he collapsed onto his living room couch. That was probably the best way to look at his failed plan to catch this killer, though he couldn't help feeling resentful and even angry that it hadn't turned out well.
The killer was still out there. No, he hadn't killed any more young men, but he hadn't been caught, either. And Will was convinced that he would kill again.
it worried him that, for some reason, he couldn't quite touch this killer's mind.
That shouldn't be something to worry about, he told himself with an inward snort. That should be a cause for relief. This was one mind he didn't want to get too close to -- especially since it seemed to be so focused on him as a potential victim.
Still, if that was the case, then why hadn't the man shown himself in some way in the seven days that Will had put himself out there as a target?
There hadn't been anyone who could have been the killer. No one could hide themselves that well, or be so innocuous; if anyone had focused on Will, the agents who were around to protect him would have noticed. But there had been no one.
Seven days, and Jack had shut down the operation.
Will didn't blame him for doing so; the plan obviously wasn't working, and he was almost sorry that he'd been so insistent on carrying it out. But at least no other men had died during that week; maybe that was something he could feel proud of.
He was certainly grateful for that fact. He didn't want to feel that he'd caused the killer to focus on anyone else; he didn't want to be responsible for anyone's death.
But he was, wasn't he? As long as he let this go on without catching the bastard, then he was indirectly responsible for what was happening. He couldn't deny that, as much as he might want to. This man would keep killing until he got what he wanted.
And the killer wanted him.
A shudder through Will's body at the thought; he wasn't going to simply turn himself over to a killer, that was for certain, but it might be the only way to resolve this and catch the man. He couldn't do something like that on his own, though, and Jack wouldn't agree to it.
No, he'd already botched up one plan. Jack wasn't going to give him the opportunity to do it again. He had used up his one chance to implement a course of action.
He should have thought things through more, he berated himself. He should have considered all of the angles, instead of simply rushing into things head first. He should have realized that making himself the bait in a trap would be far too obvious.
Well, it was done now, and it was too late to turn back the clock.
As much as he might want to change what had already happened, he couldn't. He would simply have to live with the fact that his plan had failed.
Still, he had been so sure that the killer would take the bait. Will frowned, going back over the last week in his mind. It had seemed so perfect. The killer wanted him, so they would give him what he wanted -- and they would catch him.
Why hadn't it worked?
He didn't know why. Maybe he would never knew, Will told himself, sighing softly. But it was obvious that the killer was one step ahead of them, maybe even several steps. He'd been too smart to take such obvious bait; they'd underestimated him.
He should have known that would happen. He should have realized that putting himself in harm's way wasn't the answer, and that they would need to be far more sneaky, more insidious. He hadn't gotten far enough into this killer's mind; he needed to delve deeper.
That was something he didn't particularly want to do. But he had no choice.
He might have to put himself in harm's way again, but he hoped that wouldn't happen. He hoped that he could catch this killer just by getting more deeply into his mind.
Somehow, Will knew that it would be the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.
***
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