Patience, Patient (Erik)
Hannibal stood at the threshold of Erik's elaborate palace, waiting for the attendants that would grant his admittance. It was a routine that they had established over the past while, him having to wait on them, them knowing he would arrive, but not knowing when. He supposed that it would have made it easier for the staff if he'd set a schedule, but he was testing his charge with the surprise visits for a reason.
While he stood still, awaiting the response to his summons, he turned himself inward, wandering the halls of his Mind Palace. A place bigger than even Erik could have ever created. Not for the first time, he maneuvered his way to the room of Erik's surgery, decorated with a steel door, unlike the normal warm wooden ones he typically chose. Inside, the scene was set for the day that he had worked on the operatic genius' heart.
"The surgery is going to take a little longer than I originally told you, due to the wear you have placed on yourself since we spoke about it. Had you been in the health of that day, this wouldn't be so complicated. As it is, I enjoy a challenge." He had secreted Erik out of the Opera House and through a back door to the hospital. While Erik had not wanted to stay in one, Hannibal insisted that the operation itself take place in one. It was the only way he could be certain that he would have everything he could possibly need for every possible issue that might arise. He did, however, operate alone, not even bringing in a nurse to assist.
Hannibal's hands had been deft, his mind on his work and on the instruments around him at the same time. He was careful, sure, but quick. He needed to have Erik healed and out before anybody could question why a room was not booked for his recovery.
He had seen, before leaving the office, Erik's masterpiece, and the vial of morphine that sat beside it. His mind had worked over things very quickly, and had been confirmed at the sight of Erik's arm once the anesthetic took hold. Hannibal knew that he could not give Erik morphine for his recovery. He opted for the derivative, Hydromorphone. It would help Erik's pain, and perhaps even wean him off the actual morphine.
With precise cuts, he opened Erik's chest. Needing to do much work, he had to use a rib spreader instead of the more fancy laparoscopic techniques that would have saved much recovery time. It was a procedure that he would have had to do anyway, no matter if Erik had taken better care of himself, or worse. The man's heart was heavily scarred. It took Hannibal's careful hand a long time to cut away the damaged tissue and stitch together that which could be saved. And as he worked, he kept having one thought. One thing that kept returning to him.
Erik was a man that Hannibal admired. He respected him. Erik was many things, including intelligent, capable, headstrong, and talented. Hannibal had seen the darker side lingering where Erik tried to keep it hidden from the rest of the world. But like called to like, and it could not hide from the monster's adept red eyes. This continued to occur to him as he worked, and as he removed the last piece of damage, before he sewed up the last bit before he could begin to close the wound he had created in Erik's chest, Hannibal's blade bit into the muscle one last time. The piece was small, nothing that would be missed, but substantial enough for the doctor's desires.
He lifted it from the table with great care, eyes carefully on it, his decision made. Hannibal's movements had been steady enough that not even a single drop of blood fell from the section as he brought it closer...
Hannibal shifted his attention to the staff member that arrived and opened the way for him. There was a small nod in thanks and he passed through rooms and hallways, all decorated by Christine for the holiday season, without needing to be shown the way. After his first visit, it had all been mapped in his mind, and while some of the staff still tried to lead him, the smart ones left him to himself.
He stopped at Erik's door, knocking briefly to announce himself before opening it. Glad to see his patient in bed, where he should be. The bed rest would take more time than either man was happy with, but it was, again, Erik's own doing.