Main Hannibal Fan Fiction page | new stories page | Will/Hannibal slash page | other pairings page | gen stories page

Title: Paid in Full
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Will Graham/Everett Hobbs (Original Character)
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1drabble
Prompt: 34, Innocence
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.

***

"Will Graham is innocent. He's being set free."

Jack Crawford's words were soft, but they might as well have been shouted through a megaphone.

Everett put down the papers in his hands and stared at Jack, unable to believe what he had just heard. "What? You're letting Will go? Just like that?"

Jack nodded, a small smile on his lips. "We've found irrefutable evidence that Will couldn't have killed all of those people. He's not the Chesapeake Ripper, and I'm ashamed to say that I ever believed he was. He's my friend. I should have had more faith in him."

"And do you suddenly know who the Ripper is?" Everett asked, his brows raised. "Now that you have such proof of Will's innocence, that is."

Jack scowled, shaking his head. "No. We don't. But we will."

Everett wanted to stand up and scream at Jack, to tell this man that he knew who the Ripper was, that he'd always known. He wanted to throw the truth in his face.

Hannibal Lecter was the Chesapeake Ripper. He was responsible not only for those deaths, but for so many others. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands. But if Crawford hadn't believed Will when he'd told him point-blank about Lecter, then he wouldn't believe Everett, either.

Everett tried to calm himself, taking a deep breath and flexing his fingers so that they didn't curl into fists. Anger would get him nowhere.

At least Will's innocence had been proven -- though he didn't know how. "Am I going to be allowed to see this evidence that proved Will's innocence so conclusively?"

Jack nodded, sounding relieved, as though Everett's words had been what he'd wanted to hear. "Of course you will. You're his lawyer, aren't you? You're allowed to see anything that pertains to his case. Though I suppose you'll be going back to England now."

Slowly, Everett shook his head. "No, I won't. I'll be taking some time off. I need a rest after all of this, and Wolf Trap seems as good as place as any to take that vacation."

He couldn't not take notice of the slight smirk on Jack's face.

So, Jack knew that he was interested in Will. That was apparent from the look on his face. Well, Everett didn't care if he knew. He didn't care if the whole world knew.

Technically, Will was no longer his client, now that he was being released from jail. They could be involved if they wanted to be; there were no professional ethics to hold him back now. He couldn't care less what any of the people around them might think.

"Will was innocent all along, and the FBI tried to throw him under the bus," he said, looking directly into Jack's eyes. "Neither of us owes them anything. The debts are paid in full."

With that, Everett turned his attention back to his papers, ignoring the other man.

He didn't look up when the door closed.

***