Cleo and Julius, "Thanks for taking care of him."
;-;
~~~
After another round of tests, Julius finishes up by taking some more blood and leaving a bottle of apple juice next to Hannibal’s cot. He leaves the medical lab somber. (Every day looks worse and worse for Hannibal. He’s putting up a good fight, but he’s losing. That can’t be denied.)
He isn’t entirely prepared to deal with Cleo when he finds her sitting in the laboratory, but he stops next to the table she’s waiting at. Thankfully, she’s left her drama at the door, and the smile she gives him is small, sad, and genuine.
“Thank you for taking care of him.” She says, softly.
“No need to thank me.” Julius returns. “I’ve been doing it since before we even met you. It’s just a part of my life.”
“All the same.”
“You’re welcome, Cleo.”
“What are you going to do with your life when he’s gone?”
“Take care of you, I suspect.”
“Oh, no need, I have Tiffany.”
"...Are we going to talk about her?”
Tiffany gives him the respect of considering it, then she shakes her head ever so slightly.
“I’m not ready.” She says.
“All right. When you are, I’d like to listen. I’d just like to understand.” He touches her shoulder, lightly. Always, he is careful of touching her. Careful to not show more than he means.
He’s had her heart broken by her once, and he won’t let it happen again. They will always be friends, but he’ll never, ever, open the door for anything more again.
But they are friends.
“Thank you.” Cleo stands up, and his hand falls to his side. “But for now, focus on healing my husband, won’t you?”
“Naturally. Find anything interesting today?”
“Oh, little old me?” She bats her eye lashes at him. “Darling, I can barely read the things these geniuses put out.”
Julius bursts into laughter, and Cleo laughs with him. Then she shakes her head.
“Nothing to help us. But I’ll keep looking.”
“So will I.” Julius promises. “So will I.”
