indigo_angels

Phase two was a little more complicated. It involved waiting until they were just about ready to turn in for the night and then triggering his ring tone when Face was in the bathroom, making sure the kid could hear just enough of his ’conversation’ to make what he was going to say to him believable.

When he came back into the bedroom, Face was longing on the bed in a pair of cut off sweats, the disappointment in his eyes obvious, “He pulled our leave then?” he asked, one arm curled under his head as a pillow.

“Yes and no,” Hannibal lied, chucking his phone on the bedside table and crawling up the bed to rest at Face’s side, fingers just grazing his ribs. “He’s got a few things he needs from me, will only take a couple of days, can’t see why I won’t be done by Friday.”

“Okay,” Face put on a brave smile, “so we’ll still get a week out there then? That’ll be fine.”

“Well,” Hannibal watched his fingers as they trailed up and down that taut flesh, “It’s only me Russ wants, he was adamant you still get all your leave.”

The look on his lieutenant’s face was priceless, “Without you?! Hannibal, what the fuck use would that be?”

Smiling at his indignation, Hannibal traced a finger over his pout, “It would only be for a few days, kid. I’ll be with you Friday evening.”

“But even so,” Face was far from convinced, “what I am supposed to do out there on my own?”

Hannibal laughed, “There is more to life than sex you know! You could swim, suntan, read, sleep, watch that kick ass wide screen TV,” the humour was evident on his face, “it would be a good idea to maybe to do some thinking you know, as well, get all this straight in your head.”

“All this?” Face looked at him suspiciously.

“Wanting to leave,” Hannibal supplied calmly. “It’s a big decision kid, one of the biggest you’ll ever have to make. Once it’s done you can’t undo it.”

For a second he thought Face was just going to tell him there was nothing to think over, that his decision was made, that it was all sorted, but to his relief he nodded, his brow furrowing slightly, “I suppose so,” he relented looking back up at Hannibal, “but, hell, boss, I don’t want to leave you – I only just got you back!”

Hannibal’s hands were instantly on the sides of his face, holding him, making sure he could see right into his own blue eyes, “Face,” he whispered, “you haven’t just got me back, you never lost me, and you never will. Understand?”

A nod was the only answer he got, and he could see from the moisture swimming in the kid’s eyes that it was the only one he was going to get as well, so he pulled him in instead, just loving the way they always fitted together, like two pieces of a jigsaw, perfectly matched. They held on tightly just for a minute and then Face pulled back, swiping surreptitiously across his eyes with the back of his hand as he reached into the pocket of his sweats, “Got something for you,” he whispered, his voice think and rough and pulled out a closed fist.

Bringing his hand up, palm out, to meet Face’s, Hannibal gave him a mock frown, “You don’t need to get me anything...”

Face smiled and pressed his fist into Hannibal’s palm, opening his fingers as he did so, “S’okay, boss, it’s just something I found anyway.”

He moved his hand away and Hannibal felt his breath catch in his chest as he looked at the paracord bracelet nestled in his palm, “Oh,” he whispered, “I left it as a marker, I thought it was lost.”

“I found it again,” Face murmured in reply, his fingers shaking slightly as he picked it up and unfastened it, winding it back around the boss’ wrist, and securing it in place, “just like I found you.”

For a second they both lay still looking at the bracelet on the boss’ wrist, the sounds of the washing machine downstairs gloriously mundane, but then Hannibal moved, looping his hand around Face’s wrist in imitation of the bracelet and drawing him closer, “Want you,” he whispered, the need and the desire so obvious in his voice, “right now.”

There were no complaints from Face.

Phase two? Complete.

________________________

Phase three started early the next morning as Hannibal helped Face to load the boot up with his still packed bags. The kid had been wavering all night about whether he wanted to go over without Hannibal or not, but eventually the boss had convinced him. It was still with a long face, however, that the lieutenant leaned against the car door and held tight onto Hannibal’s wrist, fingers tucked into the bracelet.

“Three nights,” Hannibal whispered bringing his free hand up to stroke Face cheek, “that’s all. I’ll be over Friday evening, soon as I can.”

“Yeah,” Face looked so morose that Hannibal wondered if he was doing the right thing here.

“You’ll be fine,” that hand turned over and he rubbed his knuckles over a lightly stubbled chin. “Have a swim, get some sun, do some thinking about what you really want to do and we’ll talk about your decisions when I get over.” A glum nod was all he got in reply. “Oh! And get some groceries in,” Hannibal prompted him, “Lots of groceries, I don't intend going out at all over the weekend...”

That at least got Face’s attention, “Just the weekend, boss?” he queried, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, “what about the rest of the vacation?”

“Well, once Murdock and BA arrive, I suppose we’ll have to show our faces from time to time. Plus you know how much BA eats!”

Face’s expression dropped like a stone and Hannibal frowned. Oh. Hadn’t he mentioned that bit of the vacation plans? Shit.

“The others are coming over?” Face asked tightly.

“Yeah!” Hannibal’s voice was oddly cheerful. “That okay? I thought it might be an idea to have some down time together, you know, as a team.”

Face smiled but Hannibal could see how empty it was, “Sounds great, boss, just peachy...” and Hannibal frowned, that emptiness was something he intended getting to the bottom of this very morning.

Taking Hannibal’s hand from his chin, Face kissed each of the knuckles, and with a longing glance that almost caved in Hannibal’s last enclave of resistance, he climbed into the car and shut the door, sticking his head straight out of the open window. “So, Friday then?” he clarified, fingers hovering over the ignition.

“Friday,” Hannibal confirmed, “soon as I possibly can.”

Face nodded, and with a tight smile, started the engine and slipped the car into drive, pulling smoothly out of the garage. Taking a step after him, Hannibal watched him go, a heavy weight in his chest. Phase three had hurt.

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