Disclaimer: I don't own anyone you recognize. All fiction!

Author's Note: I know, like I really need another WIP right now...but I can't help it. I've been wanting to do this one for a while now, so I finally just went ahead and did it!

Author's Note II: Loosely based on Britney Spears' "Criminal"

Chapter One – He's a Sucker With a Gun

Renee sits down on the park bench, setting her camera down beside her, and her bag on the ground by her feet. She shifts enough to be able to lean down and go through her bag to find her phone. It's been a long, but great day. She'd gotten all of the pictures she set out to get and then some. She could have never imagined that this place would give her so many beautiful shots. Sitting up, she goes to grab her camera again to flip the pictures, only to find the camera missing.

"What…?" She looks around but doesn't see anyone. This isn't good. She can't lose this camera; it's her entire life. What is she supposed to do without it? How could she be so stupid? She's just about to stand up to look around when a man sits down on her other side, causing her the jump. She frowns when he holds her camera out to her.

"Should never leave something like this laying around for anyone to take," he says.

Renee frowns at him as she takes her camera. "You shouldn't have taken it. I should report you."

The man chuckles as he runs a hand through his unruly, sandy blond hair. "And tell them what? That I gave you your camera back?" He watches her closely.

She sighs as she looks down at her hands. "Well… thank you for giving it back then." She looks at the man again. "Why'd you take it if you were just gonna give it back?" She combs her fingers through her blonde hair as she watches him closely.

"Just wanted you to see how easy it is for someone to steal it." He flashes a bright smile.

"Oh, well, I don't normally let it go like that." She sighs. "Thank you, though. I'm Renee. Renee Young." Why did she just introduce herself to this man? What is she thinking? She's not; that's the problem.

"Dean Ambrose." He shakes her outstretched hand. He smirks before standing up again. "Watch yourself, Renee Young." He gives her a small wave before walking away.

Renee frowns as she watches Dean walk away. What on earth just happened? She looks at the camera again, but she's unable to concentrate on her task at hand. Instead, all she continues to think about is Dean. She's not even sure why. It's not like he actually got away with her camera. But… She chews on her bottom lip as she looks over to where he had walked toward just moments ago. Why would he want to prove a point like this to someone he doesn't know?

Renee follows her best friend into a house. She wrinkles her nose at the size of the place. "And who lives here?" Renee asks as she slips her arm through Summer's.

Summer smiles at her. "Nick," she answers. "The guy I've been seeing. He's a lawyer."

"Apparently a damn good one." Renee laughs softly as they walk into the room where multiple people are standing around. She really isn't sure why she even agreed to come to the party; she's never been a partier. But she knew Summer wouldn't have come if she didn't. She couldn't let Summer down with this. She knows how much Summer likes Nick.

As the night goes on, Renee loosens up and actually starts enjoying herself. She has to think it's because she likely won't see anyone from here after tonight. Okay, Nick, if it lasts with Summer. After grabbing another drink, she decides to take a little walk. Mainly, she just needs to get away from the crowd. She turns down a hallway and starts looking into open doors. She steps into what she figures is Nick's home office, gasping when she sees someone ransacking through the desk. The perpetrator looks up quickly, pointing his gun directly at Renee. She jumps back and holds her hands up.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" the man asks.

The moment he speaks, Renee knows who it is. How couldn't she? It's the voice that she's been playing back in her mind over and over again. "Dean?"

Dean lowers the gun, finally looking at the woman before him. "Fuck." This isn't good. If she was going to run and tell people, he needed to hurry. He frowns, however, when he realizes she isn't running.

Renee glances behind her before closing the door. "What are you doing?" She steps closer to the desk. "You're robbing him?"

"I guess it depends on how you look at it." Dean smirks as he opens the next drawer.

"What's that mean?"

"Look, I really can't be talking right now. I'm a little busy trying not to get caught by that jackass in there. If you really want to chit chat, we can do it another time."

"But…"

"Renee? Where'd you go?"

Renee turns and looks at the door; Summer. She'd forgotten about what was even going on outside of this room. She chews her lip as she looks at Dean again.

"Fuck," Dean mutters.

"Renee! Don't make me go psycho on you."

Renee watches as Dean grips his gun tighter again. "Put that away." She walks over to the door and steps into the hall. "Hey, Summer."

Summer spins around and giggles when she falls into the wall. "Hi. What are you doing in there?"

"Nothing. I just needed to get away from the crowd." Renee glances at the door. "I'm fine. Go on back to Nick."

"You sure?" Summer hugs Renee. "He's sexy."

"I noticed. Go on. I'll be back out soon. I just need a break from everyone."

"Okay."

Renee waits until Summer has disappeared before walking back into the office. She jumps back a little when Dean lifts his gun again. "I told you to put that away."

"What the fuck are you doing?" Dean sighs and shoves the gun into the waistband of his jeans again. "Go back to the party. Or call the cops. Do something."

"I um…" She what? What could she possibly say right now? She's standing in a room with a man she doesn't know who happens to have a gun. "What are you doing?"

Dean moves over to the bookshelves and starts rummaging through some of the books. "Come on. I know you're here."

Renee frowns. Why is she standing here? Why isn't she running and telling someone that there's some crazy man in the house? "What are you looking for?" Renee, what are you doing?

Dean looks over. "What are you still doing in here?"

"I don't know." Okay, well at least she can admit that. She approaches Dean slowly, not surprised when she sees him tense. "Do you want me to go?" She chews on her lip as she watches him turn toward her.

"I want you to stop talking before you get me caught."

Renee frowns as she watches him move to the next book shelf. "What are you looking for?"

"Don't worry about it." He growls quietly when he reaches the end of the shelf and still no luck. "Listen, I'm a little busy here. If you really wanna talk about what I'm doing, we can meet up somewhere and talk. But for now, you should go back to the party."

She nods. "Okay." She turns and starts toward the door. She glances back at Dean before walking out of the room. She leans against the wall and lets out a heavy breath. What is she doing? Why didn't she try to stop him?