A/N: All characters, cases, and locations belong to Bruno Heller, CBS, and affiliates. Please review.
Grace Van Pelt nervously smoothed her silver dress as she observed the room. The CBI headquarters was covered from head to toe in Christmas decorations. Mistletoe and tinsel hung from the ceilings and the windows, wreathes and bows were strung from door to door. The different departments socialized with one another over drinks and Christmas music.
She had spent several hours on her appearance, trying to make sure it was perfectly in place and appropriate for her first office Christmas party since joining the CBI which was supposedly a big deal in the CBI office; something everyone looked forward to all year.
She had not been working with the team for sixth months before the event and she realized it was the first time she would see them out of the work element. That alone made her dizzy with excitement to finally see some of her more mysterious colleagues in a different light.
As the invitation indicated, she dressed formally for the occasion, even spending money on a new dress and matching shoes. She went for the silver look with matching long earrings and a simple necklace. She braided her hair elegantly out of her face. For the Christmas spirit she even added a red Poinsettia to the end of her braid. She then spent half an hour fluidly applying smoky makeup to enhance her brown eyes, trying to make them stand out more than normal.
She smiled falsely at Lankins from Narcotics as she felt slightly disgusted at the way he looked her up and down as if she were on display. He seemed to be approaching towards her and she felt dread creep into her stomach.
"Later Lankins," a deep voice rumbled from behind Van Pelt.
She exhaled in relief as Kimball Cho came to stand next to her. He was dressed stoically in black and red. His shoulder brushed hers warmly. His face was expressionless other than a slight glare in his dark eyes.
Lankins quietly backed off, but not without a frown. Grace turned to her teammate. "Thanks," she said with a small smile. Cho inclined his head slightly.
"Where is Rigsby and the others?"
"I'm here."
Van Pelt turned to smile at Rigsby who was looking dapper in a black suit and red and green tie. He had his hands shoved awkwardly in his pockets and stood tall next to her. His hair was slicked back and his smelled faintly of aftershave and cologne.
"Wow…" he broke off, shooting a smile at her. She blushed under his scrutiny. "Grace, you look…"
"Amazing. Ravishing. Elegant. Classy. Nice?" Cho listed off, looking straight ahead at the dancers on the floor.
"Yeah."
Cho snorted heavily and moved to talk to someone near the food table. "Thanks, Wayne. You look rather dashing yourself." She didn't miss his embarrassed smile. "Where are Jane and Lisbon? I haven't seen them around yet," Grace asked eagerly, wanting to see what her mysterious boss and the elusive consultant were sporting for the party.
"Uh, Jane always likes to be fashionable late, you know how he is, and he probably picked up Lisbon. I'm sure they're on their way," Rigsby said with a shrug, eyeing the food table.
"Oh?" Grace said in interest, allowing him to escort her to the table where she accepted a cup of punch with a nod of thanks.
Most of the time it seemed like the two couldn't stand each other, but after only a few weeks, the newbie noticed just how close the Senior Agent and her consultant were. Sometimes during their banter, however sarcastic and brusque it was, there was a moment where their eyes expressed something different than what their words said.
During those hard cases where Jane seemed to trail behind Lisbon, always making sure he was there for her to lean on, showed he did care. His little actions, bringing her coffee in the morning or making sure she didn't skip meals. Grace watched Lisbon's silent comfort for Jane when Red John struck again and again and how he brushed her hand for security when they failed again and again to catch him.
"There they are."
Van Pelt immediately looked up to the entrance where the two people occupying her thoughts had walked in. Van Pelt felt her jaw drop. The two were stunning.
Lisbon's dress was white and long. The gossamer silks linked and spun around her thin and lithe figure, outlining her figure modestly, but enough to make most of the males turn to look at her. Lace and sheer fabrics made their way around her torso, creating a beautiful and soft allusion of moving white ripples.
She wore her usual cross on her collarbone and plain gold earrings to match. Her hair was down, curly around her shoulders. She wore minimal make up, but her brilliant emerald eyes were highlight with a thin line of black and gold eyeliner around them, making the orbs even more noticeable from afar.
Jane had slipped in a black slick tuxedo and white undershirt. He wore a creased bow tie. His golden hair was thrown back like it normally was and a bored, but amused expression lit up his face.
His blue eyes scanned the room, analyzing everything, catching onto Grace's gaze. He smiled slightly at her and inclined his head in a hello. She blushed, being caught, and dropped his gaze.
As the two progressed into the room, Grace noticed as the two caught the attention of many of the others in the room. Lisbon was caught by Bosco. Jane looked him up and down before leaning into Lisbon's ear, whispering something and sauntering away towards them.
"Nice tie, Rigsby," he greeted the two. Rigsby snorted and rolled his eyes annoying. Jane smirked and turned to Grace. "You look lovely as always Grace."
Van Pelt smiled brightly. "You too, Jane! We were getting worried you wouldn't come."
"Ah, well, Lisbon made me drive the speed limit all the way here," as he spoke her name, he glanced over to Lisbon and Bosco's forms engaged in a conversation.
"You are an officer of the law, man," Rigsby jeered, handing him a glass of red wine.
"Meh."
The music slowed to songs more suitable for dancing and she spent a great deal of time allowing Wayne to escort her around the floor. She even danced once with the Deputy AG, an attractive but older man and Jane, who was surprisingly a very good dance partner.
"All right everyone, before this night carries on any longer and the wine runs dry, it's time for the CBI annual Christmas awards," Minelli announced coming to stand in front of the DJ and the dance floors.
The crowd cheered and hooted.
"So let's get this over with as quickly and painless as possible, if you would all assemble back into your teams please."
The Special Agent in Charge wore a slightly too small suit and reindeer ears that he obviously had not put on himself. He had a glass of wine in one hand and a crinkled sheet of paper in the other hand.
Cho and Lisbon came to stand in the back with the rest of the team. Grace noted how Jane moved to stand next to Lisbon, his hand almost touching hers.
"All right, first off, we have the Governor's Appreciation award…"
The awards went in a similar fashion until they neared the end. "Best up and coming agent—Grace Van Pelt, Serious Crimes." A look of disbelief flood the red heads face as she turned to face Lisbon who smiled and nodded towards Minelli. She blushed and walked up to the Director, accepting her small plaque with a happy smile on her face.
"And for the final award…we have the most crimes solved." The room immediately quieted down. "As you remember last year, there was a wager made by the Gang Unit that they would do all they could to unseat SCU from their twelve year reign. Now it's the moment of truth…"
A silence huddled for a moment and Minelli read his note again before looking up towards the crowd.
"This year, Lisbon and her team solved one hundred and twenty three cases." There were shouts and hoots heard all around. "And the Hernandez and Gang Unit solved ninety three cases. SCU wins!"
Van Pelt cheered loudly as Lisbon was pushed forward and laughed even harder when she returned to view with a plastic crown on her head. There was celebration all around and even Jane looked slightly embarrassed at all the attention. Handshakes and claps on the back were dueled out and even Cho smiled.
"Long live the queen!"
Similar shouts echoed around the building and the music was switched back on. It took several minutes of congratulations before Lisbon and her team made it back together, slightly breathless.
"Shows them," Rigsby said, smirking in the Gang Unit's direction and Jane chuckled under his breath.
"Now, now, Rigsby," Jane said with a raised eyebrow, "let's not be sore winners. That's no way to be profession."
"Right 'cause you're the epitome of profession," Lisbon jabbed sarcastically.
Jane turned to face the other agents who were glaring pointedly at him and stuck his tongue out. Satisfied he turned back to the ground, taking Lisbon by the hand and leading her to the dance floor.
"Wha- but he just…"
Rigsby glared over at the consultant who was paying attention as he swung Lisbon elaborate on the dance floor, with her plastic gold crown in her hair.
They looked different, Van Pelt decided, more relaxed, more themselves. Lisbon seemed to have no problem allowing Jane to swing her around the floor, clearly showing up the rest of the dance partners. Jane smiled broadly as he led around the small, but mighty agent.
Lisbon was smirking, and trying not to laugh, as Jane twirled her extravagantly as the song ended and then escorted her off the impromptu dance floor.
"Drink, your highness?"
Lisbon rolled her eyes, but accepted the wine glass from Jane. "Did you hear about the case O'Malley's team got last week?"
Lisbon shook her head, but before Cho could continue, Lisbon's phone rang shrilly, startling some of the nearby party guests. She had it up to her ear before the second ring.
"Lisbon."
"Not a murder? It's almost Christmas," Grace whispered, discouraged. She sat down next to Rigsby and Cho, watching Lisbon's face as she spoke to the person on the other end.
"Murder doesn't take a holiday."
Van Pelt shot a glare at Cho. "It's so sad. That poor family."
Lisbon's eye grew and her hand found the window pane to steady herself.
"Something's not right," Jane said with a frown as he moved forward towards the Senior Agent.
"What?" Lisbon snapped, suddenly alert. "No, stay calm. Don't panic. Have them text me the hospital details when you get there. No, you stay there. Pack a bag for you and Karen and don't leave the hospital once you get there. Don't tell anyone where you're going. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Boss?"
Lisbon ignored Rigsby's question and purposefully walked across the room towards Minelli. They spoke a short, but tense conversation and Jane followed her.
"Lisbon?"
He frowned.
"Lisbon, talk to me. What's happened?"
"Family emergency, Jane," she said shortly, grabbing her jacket from the pile on one of the spare couches. "Stay out of trouble until I get back."
"Boss, it everything okay?" Cho voiced the other's concerns as they watched the dark hair woman prepare for her departure from the party.
"Everything will be fine. I've…just gotta take care something. I call you with the detail later. Keep Jane from getting arrested until I'm back."
She shoved her phone and keys into her pocket and was out the door before Grace could wish her a "Merry Christmas."