A/N: This story's dedicated to the awesome Eden, who's birthday it was yesterday. I wanted to upload this on her birthday, but my internet had other ideas. This is her birthday present, not just the chapter but the whole story. Also, this story was inspired by Michael Jackson's song 'Smooth Criminal', because I was listening to it and thought it might make a good story. Anyway, enough of my rambling: onto the story!

Disclaimer: Yeah, not mine. Actually, you're glad it's not mine. Because if it was, I'd have too much fun playing with the characters instead of making episodes.

Lisbon gave her niece one last hug and turned towards the door.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" she asked for what must have been the fiftieth time. Her niece sighed, but her smile counteracted her pretend annoyance.
"Yes, Aunt Teresa, I'll be fine," she emphasized on the last word. "Grace will be here any minute. I know you have to leave, so get going. Unless you wanna take me with you?"

Lisbon let out a chuckle. Of course Annie would sneak in yet another request to come to work with her.

"No, Annie, and you know that," Lisbon's voice still held laughter.

"Alright," Annie made a show of drooping her shoulders and acting depressed. Lisbon crossed the room, enveloped her niece in a hug, then turned to leave for good.

"See you later Annie. Remember to call me when Grace gets here."

"Okay Aunt Reese. Bye."

Lisbon strolled down her driveway quickly, flung open the door to her SUV and climbed in. Of course there had to be a new case on one of the only nights she gets to spend alone with her niece. And of course it had to happen at a 21 and over club. Lisbon shivered as she pulled out of her driveway and onto the road. She hoped Van Pelt would get to her house soon, she hated leaving her now sixteen-year-old niece home alone. She also hated keeping Van Pelt off field work, but she had no other choice. Van Pelt only lived a couple of minutes away from Lisbon, so she'd been the best choice and Annie wouldn't have to stay home alone for too long.

Lisbon pulled into the crime scene after about ten minutes, and stepped out of the car. She managed to flash a smile to Jane as she strode past him, and he returned it as he fell into step beside her.

"Missing Annie already?" he queried as they peered at the dead body.

"You could say that." Lisbon brushed him off, but he persisted.

"It's okay Lisbon, I'll solve this one quickly so you can get back to her. I know you don't get to spend much time with your favourite niece," he said with a smile, and his blue eyes flashed.

"Thanks," Lisbon said, quite sincerely. She really did want to spend time with Annie. She smiled at him, stood up and began to talk to the coroner about the dead body. About halfway through the conversation, Jane came and stood beside her.

"Yes?" she turned to him.

"Mother. Recently lost her child. Kid was about seven, eight years old. Daughter," he rattled off to her.

"Oh, is that so?" she asked him. She was so not in the mood for his antics tonight.

"Yes, that is so," he said, and she noticed something flare in his eyes. Not anger, but something a little different. Like hurt. Of course, she realized. He can relate to the victim.

Lisbon put on her best relaxing smile.

"Jane- " she began, but was interrupted by her pocket vibrating. Or, more specifically, her phone in her pocket vibrating. She pulled it out, curious. Surely it couldn't be Wainwright, he'd know she was at the crime scene already. The local PD already knew she was here, and she was within eyesight of the rest of her team, excluding Van Pelt of course. She pressed the little button with the tiny green phone on it, and brought the phone to her ear.

xxx

Van Pelt got into her car and flicked the engine. Her car purred to life, shattering the silence of her street. Despite it being only eight o'clock at night, her street was eerily quiet, and she felt like she was waking everyone up. The thought made her laugh a little. She pulled her car out of the driveway and onto the road. Driving off, she couldn't help but feel a little left out from the team. Sure, she loved Annie, but she'd worked hard to be allowed to work in the field and she was always getting left behind. But, she should be happy with this. She didn't often spend time with Lisbon's niece, whom she loved. She pulled into Lisbon's driveway after a short drive, and wondered how long Lisbon had been gone. Maybe ten, fifteen minutes? She wondered what Annie had been up to in that time. Well, Annie and Lisbon had probably been about to watch a movie, so there'd be popcorn set out and a DVD in the player. Van Pelt hoped Annie wouldn't mind that she was spending the night with her instead of her aunt.

She turned into Lisbon's driveway and killed the ignition. Climbing out of the car, she realized how quiet Lisbon's house seemed. It was almost as if Annie wasn't even inside, despite the lights being on. Van Pelt walked up the few stairs to the front door, lifted her hand and knocked. There was no answer, so Van Pelt called out, "Annie, it's me, Grace." After knocking again, Van Pelt decided to try the knob. To her utter surprise, it was unlocked. She slid the door open slightly, noticing the lack of protest. Van Pelt froze. From the times she'd been at Lisbon's, the door had always been incredibly loud, announcing one's arrival as soon as the door was opened in the slightest. Van Pelt continued into Lisbon's living room, her suspicions adequately aroused.

"Annie?" she called loudly. No answer. Van Pelt pulled out her gun from its holster as she crossed the threshold into the kitchen. No sign of Annie. There was popcorn on the bench, as she'd expected, but no sign of the bubbly sixteen-year-old. After thoroughly searching the bottom floor and finding nothing, she ascended the staircase, her heart pounding violently. What on earth would Lisbon say if she found out something had happened to Annie?

Van Pelt pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as she reached the landing at the top of the staircase. Her gun held firmly in front of her, she stood there for a moment nervously.

"Annie?" she called out again, but, like the other times, her call was met with silence. Van Pelt opened the door closest to her, and stepped into the bathroom. Still nothing. She was seriously getting worried about Annie now. She checked Lisbon's room, but there was nothing there either. Annie was not exactly the best behaved kid (she'd been hanging out with Jane a little too much, at least that's what Lisbon thought), but she certainly wouldn't run away. Or would she? Van Pelt second-guessed herself.

Crossing the landing, she moved to the one room she hadn't been in yet; the guest room. She slowly turned the knob, still clutching the gun in one hand, and the door swung open. She saw the smiley face before she saw Annie.

Stifling a scream, Van Pelt raced over to the limp body sprawled on the bed. "Annie! Annie are you ok? Are you ok, Annie?" she called loudly, sure her attempts were futile. She placed a shaking hand on Annie's neck, feeling for a pulse. A tear slowly made its way down her face and splattered on her arm. This couldn't be happening. Not to Annie. She looked up at the menacing face grinning down at her from the wall and swore under her breath. Then, all of a sudden, one of the most amazing feelings ever coursed through Van Pelt's body as Annie's pulse jumped under her finger. She waited a moment to see if it was just her imagination, but sure enough, Annie's pulse tapped against her fingertips again.

"Annie? Can you hear me Annie? Show me you can hear me!" Van Pelt called, but she didn't respond. Van Pelt didn't care anymore, she was still alive. Now that she established that, Van Pelt looked around at the small room. Annie was still alive, which was strange for a Red John victim, and the face looked rushed, messy. Coming to her senses, she realized that she needed to call Lisbon, and fast. With fumbling fingers, she yanked her phone from her pocket and dialed Lisbon. After the third try, she managed to get the right number in, and she placed the phone to her ear. She caressed Annie's face and pushed her hair off her forehead as the phone rang in her ear. Stupidly, the only thing running through her mind while she listened to the constant ringing was the lyrics to 'Smooth Criminal'.

Annie, are you ok?
Would you tell us, that you're ok?
There's a sign in the window
That he struck you, a crescendo Annie
Her came into your apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet
So you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down
It was your doom Annie!

So, what did you think? Was it as good as I thought it would be?

Happy birthday Eden!