I know

"It's in your reach

Concentrate"

The interior of the restaurant was modern but had an appealing
Caribbean touch to it. Although one could easily see the European
influences here and there the decorations and the plants were
typically Trinidad. A gigantic potted palm tree was placed in the
middle of the room, its canopy reaching to the glass ceiling. All
around its trunk and through its leafs twinkling lights had been
woven.

The bar was made of tarnished wood and the bar top looked like they
had used old stained metall. It made a nice contrast to the
immatricular white walls . Two sides of the room were wall-high glass
windows, which had wooden frames of the same colour as the bar. White
cotton blinds were folded back, so people from the inside could get a
look at the huge porch and the water outside.

Hannibal waited for the waitress at the entrance to look up the
reservation and was guided through the room to the porch outside.
Their table was on the small platform next to the pond, a couple of
stairs leading down from the mainporch. The outer walls next to the
stairs were overgrown with bougainvillea, the blossoms the evening
air.

From the table they would have the most beautiful view over the water,
the vegetation and the lit porch. Next to the decking of the platform
tiki torches spent more light.

He sat down and said that he would wait for his guest before ordering.
Watching the dark-skinned woman retreat to the inside of the
restaurant, he wondered if maybe Will had changed his mind and that
he'd do if the other wouldn't show up. Would he be angry or
disappointed? Hannibal wasn't sure. He wasn't sure what he felt.

Watching Will struggling on it had been clear to Hannibal that things
would progress like he had planned to. It was clear that they were
unable to stay away from each other, so why not try to make the co-
existence a pleasurable one?

His musings were interrupted when the waitress neared the table again
but this time with company. The woman's companion made Hannibal forget
to breath. Will was stunning. Although he wasn't wearing a suit – as
it wasn't requested in the restaturant – he looked elegant in his
`casual' clothes. He was wearing a short-sleeved silken shirt in a
light pewter grey. It wasn't wide but flowed down the man's chest. The
noil silk trousers were of the same pewtergrey as the shirt but had
thin white stripes between thicker grey ones. The final touch were the
orange leather loafers, watch and bracelet he was wearing.

The grey material made the tanned skin glow with warmth and Hannibal
wasn't sure what would feel softer, the light golden top of tousled
hair or the silken shirt. Will's brilliant blue eyes shone with
wakefulness and life, no alcohol clouding them.

The two arrived at the table and Will slowly took his seat, all the
time watching Hannibal's every move. He nodded his thanks to the
waitress and she left to let the two men contemplate their orders.

"Good evening, Will. You look incredible."

Hannibal noticed the way the younger man moved his chair so he could
flee easily should the need arise. Years ago he had provoked him,
telling him that Will stank of fear but that he wasn't a coward.
Tonight proved him right again. It was easy to see that the other was
more than uncomfortable with this dinner but he had come anyway. His
bravery was something that immensly impressed Hannibal.

"How I admire your courage."

Will's chair toppled over, attracting the attention of the neighbour
table, as he jumped back from their table. His eyes had a wild and
nervous look and his breathing had sped up.

"Please, do take your seat, Will. It's rude to remain standing while
the other is sitting."

So Will was rather tightly strung. Hannibal had chosen the words he
had said that fateful night to see what kind of effect they would
have. He had wanted to test the water, find out how foar he would be
able to take things tonight. Apparently not very far at all. This was
soemthing that would take time. Will had yet to relearn trusting him.
Not an easy feat but it was managebale.

"Please, no harm will come to you."

He could see the internal battle the blonde was fighting reflected in
his expressive eyes. Caution, fear, anger and curiousity were fighting
for dominance. In the end it was exhaustion and resignation that won
out and he picked the wooden chair up from the decking, sitting back
down at the table. It was interesting to see though that this time the
chair was moved so Will was sitting right opposite of Hannibal. There
would be no escape made during dinner. The cahnce to win him over was
given.

"Thank you for coming. It's a pleasure to dine with you."

The compliment was answered with a curt nod of the golden head. Would
the other stay silent throughout the whole dinner? Hannibal hoped not.
He knew that he shouldn't become greedy and ask for more than the
former FBI profiler, `his' former FBI profiler could give. But was a
little bit of light conversation too much?

"I hope you had an enjoyable Sunday."

"You know very well how enjoyable it was. I am sure you have been
waching me the whole day."

There was no trace of anger or sarcasm in the voice. It sounded more
like something well rehearsed, bare of any inflections.

"No, actually I stayed away from you to allow you more privacy. I
thought that might be a good idea. I knew I would have you to myself
in the evening after all."

This surprised Will and he looked up, locking his blue with Hannibal's
maroon eyes.

"Does this surprise you? You always knew that manners are of high
priority to me."

"I don't expect you to exhibit manners around me, Hannibal. Killing me
wasn't exactly polite." The blonde leaned on the table, closer to
Hannibal. "Does this mean you'll leave me alone now?"

Hannibal chuckled amused. "Now this is something I can not do, Will. I
offered once to have nice and constructive conversations but you
refused back then. This time we will have those talks."

Will sat back again, casting his eyes on the white table cloth.

"I take it you aren't too enthusiastic about this but believe me Will
you'll change your mind about it."

"Can't you ever leave me alone? You won this battle years ago. You are
free and I have lost my family. See, you are the winner. If you came
here to kill me, get it over with and stop these stupid games."

The younger man's voice was lifeless and his shoulders were hunched
down, his whole posture radiating the defeat he was feeling.

"Ah, so you think I won? Maybe I did but what good is a victory if you
can't celebrate it, hmm?" He waved the waitress to their table and
ordered a bottle of champagne. Once the woman had left to get their
drink he refocused his attention on Will, who was staring out over the
water. He truly was a sight to behold. Hannibal hadn't often felt a
connection with a man but to the blonde he was drawn.

"Why do you think I am here to kill you? I already told you and you
very well know that I have been watching you for some time. If my
intention had been your death, we wouldn't be sitting here now."

Still no reaction from the other.

"Dear Will,.... "

"Don't call me that!"

He hadn't expected that extreme a reaction. Hannibal decided not to
step back but to pursue the matter. "You are very dear to me thoug,
Will. Why shouldn't I call you so then?"

"Just don't, please. If you want this, whatever this is, to work, you
must never call me that."

"Very well then."

The matter was apparently of great importance to the blonde. Will
glanced cautiously at Hannibal why unabashedly watched him. Although
there was still much suspicion and caution in the blue orbs, it was
clear to see that he had the permission to continue with his plans.

"Let us order dinner then."

Will opened the beatuifully crafted menue and after a short glance at
the prices he didn't feel hungry anymore.

"It's very expensive."

"Please, be my guest, Will."

Another second ticked by before the golden head boewd as the younger
man finally settled on deciding about food.

"Everytime I rise I see you falling

Can you find me space inside your bleeding heart"

Food had been excellent and what had it even more enjoyable was that
Will had actually tried to make conversation. In the beginning it had
been a little awkward since the blonde had always stopped when topics
had somehow revolved around happenings in his past but after some
time, their talking had been fluent and amicable.

The waitress brought their bill and Hannibal placed the money under
the serviette on the plate. Raising his eyes, they locked ith two blue
ones who studied every of his moves. He smiled at the younger man and
questioningly raised an eyebrow.

"How is the evening going to continue?"

There was no fear or anger in the voice anymore just genuine interest.

"Since I have a car, I will drive you of course. It would be rude of
me to make you take a taxi when owning a means of transportation." He
got up and moved around the table, helping Will out of his chair.
"Please, follow me."

Without complaint the blonde followed him over the porch and through
the restaurant to the exit. Hannibal felt pleased that Will hadn't
flinched when he had approached him. Things were progressing good so
far. Outside the building they crossed the small bridge to the parking
lot and Hannibal guided him to a silver grey Bentley.

He unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for Will. After the
other had gotten in, he walked round to his side and climbed into the
car. His heart beat quickened slightly as he took in the close
proximity they were sitting in. Their shoulders almost brushing, he
could feel Will's body heat.

Turning the key in the ignition, he started the car and pulled out of
the lot. It was rather dark now and he had to drive slowly since there
were no lanterns lighting the drive back to the street. Even with the
headlights on the sight was rather poor. Once they had reached
Ariapita Avenue there was enough light again and Hannibal sped the car
up.

The drive was spent in comfortable silence with Hannibal enjoying
Will's company. He had thought that it might prove to be more
difficult to get him this far. After the other's initial reaction at
the restaurant it had looked like their pace would have to be much
slower.

The streets were busy and full of life with everybody dashing around,
carrying costumes and decorations. The atmosphere was tense with the
preparations for the festival, bands practicing in every house yard.
The firy music filling the people with even more energy.

Although it was very different from his beloved Florence, Hannibal had
started to appreciate the openess and positive way of life in Latin
America over the years. Since he couldn't reside where he wanted to he
had to settle for second best. Lately second had proved to be first
place though. He would never change the company of the charismatic
blonde for the breath taking view of Florence.

The streets grew more quiet the nearer they got to Will's house. Out
here most of the white lived, the excitement of the preparations was
missing.

Hannibal liked the younger man's neighbourhood though. Nice small
houses with beautifully trimmed well-kept gardens. Everything was
peaceful and he could see himself relax after a long day together with
Will in their own cottage.

They reached their destination and he parked in front of Will's house.
Turning off the motor he got out of the car and went to the passenger
side and open the door before Will could do so himself. Hannibal
wanted the evening to end the perfect way and he still hadn't made his
whole intention clear to the blonde. He knew though how he wanted to
accomplich this.

Will climbed out of the Bentley and led the way up the stairs and onto
the porch where he stopped in front of the door and turned to his
`shadow'. Clearing his throat, he raised his eyes to Hannibal's face
and made to say his goodbye.

"It was a nice evening. Thank you very much, Will."

Hannibal's fingers itched to caress the other's face and this time he
didn't hold back. Slowly he raised his hand and brushed an imaginary
eyelash away. The skin felt even softer than he had expected it to be.
He stepped closer to the blonde and let his hand rest on Will's cheek.
Up close the otehr smelled like sun and coconut.

"Good night."

Turning, Hannibal left a speechless and slightly shocked Will behind.

"It falls apart

Falls apart"