The evident nonchalance that Gideon wielded so easily forced a snarl out of Chilton. It was agonizing, to watch his former patient adapt to the constant existential crises that Chilton himself had provoked upon the man. Two years of dedicated work and two separate occasions of traumatic revenge suffered, and all for what? Hannibal's undesired cannibalistic attention? A constant, unbridled fear of prophesied humiliation? Nothing?

Gideon might not know precisely who he was, but knowing who he was not nevertheless provided a springboard. He was working a long process of elimination.

"Physician, heal thyself," muttered Chilton.

Gideon was not a romantic. He was not prone to jealousy. He was not an extrovert. He did not need people, not like Chilton did. Gideon was a man at ease with his loneliness, now that his ability to trust was forever compromised.

"Should we leave Will Graham to him?"

Abrupt change of topic, mostly to distract Chilton from this train of thought. There was no need to clarify the him.