They were driving by Jack´s big car, Will was sitting on the front seat, looking out of the window, Hannibal at the back. There were silent, nobody wasn´t pleased by the future prospects of their destination. Except for Hannibal of course. On one hand, he was excited that he would watch Will observing his design prepared for him as a tribute. He intended to display this sight for Will, to show him a continuation of their dinner. On the other hand, he was disappointed and even annoyed, that his action was found so early, that it actually spoiled his dinner with Will. Even thought Hannibal is a very good planner and he is able to anticipate a several lines of action far to future, this one - he has to admit – he just fucked up.

Will didn´t know what to think about the situation at all. Too much has happened, his already disordered life has turned upside down recently and all has started with his growing need of Hannibal´s company. Until this evening he has only little understanding of his feelings or actions toward the psychiatrist, yet what happened made it clearer to him. In fact, he has been drawn to Hannibal from their first meeting in the Jack´s office long time ago. Since that their relationship has evolve just as Will´s personality has been evolving. Their kiss in Hannibal´s kitchen was the last stage, and Will has to admit he wasn´t so opposed to this kind of development as he would ever allow himself thought. He turned up his head and in the rear-view mirror saw the doctor´s reflection. He was looking out of the window, his hair again neatly combed to one side. Will remember ruffling his silver-blond hair by his hand during the kiss. When they separated, a few strands fell in his face. It was the first time he saw him in such an untidy appearance, and he liked it very much. He wondered what his hair would looked like, if the Jack´s arrival hadn´t been interrupted them.

They soon came to the place, lighted by police lamps visible far from distance. They took off the car and came closer to the crime scene. Will stopped himself after few steps in front of the extraordinary view. He was in awe. They were on the edge of a forest, and there was a line of nine corpses crucified on the front trees. Will immediately remembered the corpse mutilated in a similar way from the previous case, the suitor case. However, this was different. This was a masterpiece, a canvas with art. This was an accomplishment, not some layman´s try. Will instantly felt a hand of an experienced master in that. A trained hand of the Chesapeake Ripper.

Will glanced at Hannibal staying after his back. His face was telling nothing as usually, but his eyes were full of curious and joy, Will would say. The brown of his eyes was mesmerizing. Will quickly breathed in and turned around.

"Our lab staff confirmed all known attributes of the Ripper. The victims have their organs removed – being alive. Livers, a spleen, lungs, a heart even from the man on the far right. What do you see, Will?" Jack asked impatiently.

Will parted his lips and bit his lower lip. His eyes were absorbing the situation. The design.

"I can see," he said at last. "I can finally see everything."

He heard a sharp inhale from behind him. Hannibal come close and briefly place a hand on his shoulder. An entirely innocent gesture for the outside world. A psychiatrist helps his patient to gain his stability. But for Will it was completely different.

"What the Ripper wants us to tell? He has never killed so many people at the same time, not even he hasn´t left them in one place. What is the message, Will?"

The message of the place was evident. "It is a courtship."

Jack frowned: "As the one we found recently?"

"No, this is completely different. The last one was somebody new, a layman, without any experience. He killed the man because he wanted to attract somebody´s attention. I would say, he even wanted the Ripper´s attention." Will explained eyes rooted to the spot.

"So now we have two killers running in the world and crucifying innocent people for gain attention of each other?" he said sceptically, "Why they just can´t send each other postcards," Jack gave a sigh.

"This is not meant for that killer, this is for somebody else to receive it. His true…soul mate." Will came closer and walked along the line, "The Ripper is showing his admiration for the receiver, this is an offering." He continued observing the place. "I would say the Ripper wasn´t too pleased by the action of the newbie and I suppose this is him," he pointed on the first man in line. "The Ripper pays his tribute to his real kindred spirit and he starts from the false admirer." Will said with touched voice.

Jack just groaned: "When this comes to an end! I feel I should retire! I have already enough all of this riddles!"

Will left far behind him Jack´s lamentations. He closed his eyes and mentally took off all the people and focused on the act itself. He can see the Ripper came to the place with already dead and eviscerated corpses. He reconstructed his actions, his intentions, and his design. He can see the art in death, the vivid picture of killer´s misery, his doubts expressed towards his admired. Will opened his eyes: "It is a love offer."

Will was moved. He has never felt himself like this in his all life. This is the first time somebody is courting him. The feeling was so strong and overwhelming. His head was just about to explode. However, somebody – it is not accurate, the Ripper – Hannibal - is courting him with nine dead people. Even if he has changed, he has evolved, he was dread. Mildly, but still. Will was right in front of a choice. Let Hannibal to get away with this and join him with everything what it means or reveal him to Jack as the rest of their dinner stayed at the doctor´s home. Will felt a growing headache.

He took his glasses off and rub his eyes. Hannibal was still standing behind him, waiting for Will´s decision. "Yes, Will, you are absolutely right. The killer displayed the corpses as an offering, to be either accepted, or rejected. I would say he might be even afraid of multiple rejection. In Dante´s Inferno is number nine very significant. It presents circles of hell, the ninth is the last one. After that there is no one."

Will has rejected Hannibal ninth times already.

"The Ripper shows his recipient, that this is the final offer. Final proof of his feeling and if he will be rejected, there will be no other chance. He also states that he is not caring for someone else – that is why the false suitor is in the line as well." Will said quietly.

"Yes, that would be correct." Hannibal said with a stone face looking on Will.

One employee of the behavioural team approached them. "Jack, we have a match. Actually, we have a match for all of the victims. What I mean, everyone from this group is either a convinced criminal, or a suspect in some criminal case. It seems the Ripper has made retraining for a vigilante. Or he is starting to be sentimental."

"What?" Will ask and frowned. "Does that mean, that all of them are guilty?"

"They are not innocent, it seems. It is rather strange for the Ripper, as he doesn´t distinguish these things. He more or less sees all his victims as pigs. This is a significant change in his pattern, if it really is the ripper." The employee stated.

"It is," Will said. "And there is definitely change in the pattern." Will looked at Hannibal staying on his right side. His profile was still without any visible emotions, but Will can see, can feel that everything is boiling inside the man. He lay all of his inside on display for Will to see, to finally accept him. After this new information, Will finally has come to his decision. He can see clearly his past life, present and most importantly the future one.

As Will was more and more clear about it all, Jack was the more confused: "Does it mean, that we are about to find another set of – as you stated it – courtship from the admired to the Ripper?"

Will slightly smiled: "No, these are the last victims of the Chesapeake Ripper. He will not kill anymore, at least like this."

"Why is that?" Jack shook his head.

"Because this is his last stand, his offer and if accepted, then also a goodbye for his former life. The crucifixion symbolizes the end and after the end comes resurrection. The Ripper will rebirth to a new life," Will looked into Hannibal´s eyes, "because his admired has accepted him."

Hannibal´s expression of face for the first time in a public has become openly and definitely enamoured.