DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.

A/N: There is always so much about Jane's past and Red John being written that I wanted to try something that dealt full force with Lisbon's own personal demons and her past. It's rated T for now, but will most likely get higher. THIS IS A JISBON FIC. WARNING: This story will contain child abuse. Another small note: I know only two of Lisbon's brothers' names so I made up the third one, Christopher. Also, I'm finishing up my last multi-chapter fic "Blood Red Idol" and that should be wrapped up soon.

Whiskey, the heavy and all too familiar stench hung in the air.

Teresa was backed into the corner of the small living room, clutching her youngest brother Tommy to her. The little boy was crying, his small body shaking, and Teresa gripped his shoulders more securely.

"Shh." She whispered into his ear. "It's gonna be okay Tommy."

She heard Tommy sniffle, but despite her words Teresa was terrified. She wouldn't allow herself to show it. She had to be strong for Tommy, for James, for Christopher, and she had to be strong for herself.

Her father took another long swig from the bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand and wiped his mouth off with his arm. He was far past just being drunk and teetering on the edge of blacking out.

"Where the hell are those boys?" He shouted, his words slurring. He pointed his blurry gaze on Teresa and she clutched Tommy even tighter out of sheer instinct. "I asked you a question!"

"J-J-J-James... he had football practice, dad, and Chris said he was staying late at school to study for a test." Teresa managed to stammer out through her fear. "They're probably just running a little late."

"And the little shits don't even have the common decency to pick up a phone and call!"

"I'm sure they'll be home any minute dad."

He was taking another long pull from the bottle when his daughter's words hit him. Slowly putting the bottle down he turned to face Teresa and Tommy. He stumbled forward a few steps, the irrational drunken rage emanating in waves off of him.

"What, are you all keeping a little secret from me? Is that it? Huh!"

"No dad." Teresa pleaded, knowing what was about to come.

"You are, aren't you." He lumbered forward and grabbed Tommy by his t-shirt lifting the small boy off of the ground. "I work my ass off to keep you fed, to keep a roof over your ungrateful heads and all you little bastards ever do is undermine me and sneak around behind my back." He shook Tommy violently causing him to let out a cry.

"Stop!" Teresa yelled out. "Please, dad, stop. You're hurting him."

He dropped Tommy to the floor with a loud thud and Teresa watched as Tommy crawled away as fast as he could.

"Trust me angel, you and your good for nothing brothers know nothing about hurt ."

Teresa felt a sudden sting burn across her cheek. After a moment she managed to push herself off of the wall and her long dark brown hair fell away from her face as she touched her hand to her cheek. Sucking in her lower lip she tasted the metallic tang of blood. He raised his hand again and brought it back down with such force that she fell to the ground in a heap. He began to undo his belt from around his waist.

"Daddy! Stop! Please! Don't hurt her!" Tommy cried out.

"Tommy go!" Teresa yelled to her little brother, her big green eyes begging him. He didn't need to see this.

Tommy hesitated before scrambling out of the room and running to the bedroom he shared with his two older brothers. He hid in the closet and squeezed his eyes shut tight, blocking his ears, trying to drown out the sound of the belt and his sister's cries of pain.

...

Teresa bolted upright in bed. Her breathing was ragged and a film of cold sweat covered her body. She closed her eyes for a minute, collecting her thoughts before opening them again. It was just a nightmare, a faded memory that for some reason decided to claw itself out of the box she kept it securely locked away in.

It took her a second to realize that her cell phone was vibrating on her bedside table. She sucked in a lungful of air and tried her best to calm her frazzled nerves as she reached out in the semi dark room for her phone.

"Lisbon." She answered, swinging her legs around until she was sitting on the edge of her bed, shrugging the football jersey over her head as she balanced her cell phone against her ear. "Yeah... okay... I'll be in, in 20 minutes." Lisbon ended the call and tossed her phone to the side heading towards her bathroom. Maybe a hot shower would wash away the remnants of the nightmare. She fingered the cross pendant around her neck and prayed silently to herself.

...

Two hours later, Teresa Lisbon found herself pulling up to a crime scene in the town of Davis. The SUV came to a stop behind a few squad cars. She and Cho hopped out of the car and flashed their badges at the officers as they ducked under the yellow tape.

Laura Evans was 38-years-old. She was a loving wife and mother of two and now she was lying lifeless on the pavement of a grocery store parking lot in the hot sun, brutally beaten to death.

Lisbon glanced over her shoulder as Van Pelt pulled up and the red head got out of the driver's side of the SUV followed by Rigsby and Jane. She watched as her incorrigible consultant observed the area, his blue eyes taking in everything at once, cataloging every little detail.

A cold feeling in the pit of Lisbon's stomach warned her of something she couldn't exactly place, but she pushed it aside.

There was work to be done.

TBC