Disclaimer: Don't own the show.

A/N: So, this is my first attempt at writing a tag for an episode. The idea comes from a suggestion by Donnamour1969, who is an amazing writer. Also thanks to those who beta the story for me.

The Stars Above Us.

"Why now?"

Those were the words that keep Lisbon awake at night for the most of the last six months. Getting out of bed, she headed to the window; opened the blinds and looked up at the stars. She wanted to hate him for so many reasons, but mostly because he hadn't allowed her to reach out to him after he had been fired. But, she knew that deep down she couldn't, because he had become more than a partner to her. She missed him and that was it. Everything that she had once hated about him, she had come to love about him.

On nights like these, she wondered if he was alive and not doing anything that might bring him to death. She had tried to track him down, but the only thing that she had come to find out, was that he was in Vegas. Other than that, she hadn't been able to get any on information on how he was doing. She wanted to go to Vegas and bring him back for a much needed talk, but something had stopped her every time.

Looking up at the stars once again, she said a silent pray for his safety before heading back to bed. Laying down, she thought back to a time in which she had told him that she had been sleeping better, because he wasn't there every day to bother her. How she wished she could go back to saying that.


He pulled his car into the middle of the desert and got out. He was far enough from the lights and the sounds of Vegas to enjoy the stars above him. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the desert air and lean back against the door of the car. His mind drifted to the last time he had seen her; the sadness in her eyes and in her voice, as the elevator door closed and he rejected all her help.

He hated himself for that look, but if it meant getting the man that had caused all his problems, then it would be somewhat worth it. He should have told her about everything and accepted her help when she offered it, but he knew Red John wouldn't take the bait if he did. And Red John was watching him, waiting to see if he would break down and call her.

He needed her more than he had thought he would, when he had first come up with this plan on his. He knew he would hurt her, but he hadn't expected to hurt himself so much. He missed her more than he would openly admit, but he knew deep down that she had become more than a friend to him over the years. She had become the one person that he respected, believed in, and trusted.

With one last glance at the stars above him, he got back into his car and drove back to the city. Red John would sooner or later, send a message to him asking him if he was really giving up. After that, he could find her and explain everything...well almost everything. But until then, he would need to keep up his charade, which meant conning a few more people before the evening was over.