A/N: It's been a few days, and I have struggled with this chapter. It's on it's fourth re-write, and I think it's what it should be.

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I stood quietly looking out the window, watching as the city prepared for the new day. The sky was a rainbow of purples and reds, the clouds thin and sun not yet risen. I had woken to a empty bed, my arm reaching for my lover to find he had left me in the night after an amazing round of sex. Half of my heart hurt, finding myself alone, the other half worried. My BlackBerry rang softly near the bed, reluctantly I left the window, and answered it.

"Grey," I said, and even I can hear how off my voice is.

"Ms. Grey, I didn't disturb you, did I?" I smiled, glad to hear Diana on the other end.

"No, no, not at all. What can I do for you," I asked, glad that my mind can focus on work and not on my empty bed.

"Ma'am, a certain package has arrived with it's escorts, but I was unsure if you want it here, or should I send it to your location?" Christian's birthday present, I thought, a smile on my lips. "I am not in Seattle right now, but it should be... Do the escorts need to have me there, to accept it, or can they hand it over to my security?"

"One moment, I will find out, Ma'am." I wait, patiently, in my mind seeing the scene unfurl as I give him his gift. "Ma'am? Their orders are to hand it to you personally. They also have to be filmed, both video and stills, of handing it off." I nod, rather impressed.

"Very well. Send them here. If they approve, they can ride on one of the jets coming out here today."

"Yes Ma'am." I ended the call, and went back to the window to watch the sun rise.
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When the sun rises in the desert, the Sin City is dusted with the beams of light, and the city sparkles like diamonds. Windows, neon, vehicles, they all allow the light to grace their surfaces and return it to shine as if in greeting. As I watched the glitter below, I felt warm hands wrap around my body, feeling Gideon as he brought my body to his. His lips laid upon my shoulder for a moment in a lingering kiss and I sighed, leaning back into him.

"Morning," he said, his voice thick with desire.

"Morning," I replied, smiling. "I missed you this morning, when I woke up," I said, sighing softly.

"I'm sorry Baby," he said, his arms tightening their grip on me and I know I heard sadness in his voice. "I just... I need to keep you safe."

"I know," I said, my voice soft.

"Baby, what's wrong?" I almost replied that there wasn't anything wrong, but he knew better. He knew it before I realized that something was wrong. There is something unsettling in the air, and we both can feel it.

"I don't know, but I think today may not be a good day," I murmured. He pulled me closer to him, his head nodded on my shoulder.

"What's your thoughts," He asked, his lips kissing my shoulder in between each word. I exhaled a heavy breath, shrugging.

"I don't know. Today would be a horrible day to have shit hit the fan, which means the chances of it happening are about one hundred percent.

"Shana, I believe the universe is knocking on your door, throwing down the gauntlet. Are you willing to take up the challenge?" I turned around to face him, running my hands up his chest, my eyes caressing his bright blue ones.

"Mr. Cross, is that a dare?" He grinned at me, laying a soft kiss on my lips. The kiss last longer then I thought, and it became hotter and heavier, I moaned, releasing my body to his fingers. He cupped my head, tilting my chin up as he moved his kiss down the line of my throat. I turned, facing him, leaning my body into his, his need calling to me.

"Ahem," I exhaled an aggravated sigh, Gideon, not moving his lips from my throat, growled at Angus who stood in the doorway. He was turned away from us, but there all the same.

"The next words out of your mouth better be worth your life," he growled. I sighed, and regained my footing. The moment was lost, but it would come again. It was that foreboding feeling of dread that lingered that bothered me more then Angus at the door.

"It's your brother, sir." That sentence struck me, and I turned immediately, fear gripping my heart. Gideon, always keen to my moods, wrapped a arm around me, holding me close.

"Baby, are you okay?" I looked at him, my mind running a thousand miles a second, thoughts, ideas, images, all throwing themselves back and forth, and I felt him grip me, hold me tighter. "Angus, get me some ice water. Now. Baby? I'm here. Shana, what's wrong?"

I didn't know. I didn't know and my heart was gripped tightly by the cold hand of fate. He ushered me over to the side of the bed, kneeling in front of me, running his hand through my hair. I don't know what the hell was going on, but I was suddenly and terribly afraid. I felt something against my lips, but I didn't want it. I had to figure out what was going on. What was terrorizing me. "Drink it," I heard, feeling a hand on the back of my head. I blinked, seeing a glass in front of me, and over the rim, the deepest pools of sapphire blue, concern pouring from them.

I sipped, the liquid within was cold and refreshing, and it snapped away some of the fear that has come to me. The glass left my lips, and I felt Gideon's strong arms wrap tightly around me. He was hushing me, and we were rocking softly. Whatever had just gripped me, it freaked him out as well.

"Sorry," I stuttered, trying to regain my calm.

"What was it? What's wrong?"

I shook my head. I had no answer and no reason to explain it. "I don't know. I just don't know."

"We'll reschedule the meetings for tomorrow. You need rest. I'll call a doctor, make sure you are okay," he said, and I smiled. Listening to his list grow, his fear and concern showing how much this man cared about me.

"No," I said, pausing him. He stopped mid-sentence, his mouth frozen on a word. "I have to be back in Seattle tomorrow. Everyone is flying in this morning, so, the day will go on as planned."

"Shana. I don't... " I nodded.

"I know, but business carries on. I woke with a bad feeling. I thought it was because you weren't there. It's something different though. Whatever it is, we will battle through." He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine, wrapping his fingers around my head, holding me close.

"I don't like this," he said. I nodded, understanding. I didn't like it either. Whatever the hell it was, it scared the shit out of me.

"Gideon, you fucking cock-sucker! Get your ass out here and face me" A voice called from the main room. Gideon's grip on my head tightened for a fraction of a second before he exhaled a powerful breath.

"Damn bastard," he said, releasing my head. He sat down next to me, wrapping his arms around me, kissing my neck, and I knew he was doing all he could to not face his brother. "I should have had them install a panic room in these suites so we could hide."

"Oh honey, hiding will do no good."

"It will keep him alive," he mumbled, and I had to giggle at that. "Fucker doesn't get it. He's a lazy shit that takes everything he thinks he's entitled to, and demands more." His eyes opened wide, his gaze taking all of me in. "Stay away from him," he said. His voice was low and controlled, and for a moment, I was unsure what he said, or how he meant it. "He tries to take everything that is mine. Shana, I don't want him near you."

I raised my hand, the back of my knuckles caressing up his jawline. "Baby, do you really think that he even has a snowball's chance in hell of even drawing my attention, let alone distracting me from you?" He ground his teeth, the motion vibrating in my hand. He slowly shook his head no, but I could still see the fear of the possibility in his eyes. I kissed him softly on his cheek, then rested my forehead against his temple. "Go, deal with the rat. I am going to go throw some cold water on my face, try to get rid of this feeling. Then, we can do breakfast?" He smiled at me then, nodding. I stood and let him go, watching him leave. I knew he didn't want to deal with his brother.

I went into the en suite, grabbed a hand towel from the shelf next to the sink, and turned the cold water on. As it poured into the basin, I thought over the difference between his family and mine.

Mine is full, and happy, everyone content with each other, and despite our individual issues, we have done well, and love and care for each other. Should a need arise, I know that they would be there for me, as I have come when they had a need. Gideon... he has a teenage half-sister, who is a sweet kind of kid, and who, hopefully, she will become more like him and not like the others. His mother, a rich socialite who can't focus on anything unless the spot light is on her. I know, that sounds cruel, but I call 'em as I see 'em.

His father? Long gone, a victim of suicide, a side effect of greed, theft and lies. He died when Gideon was a child, his mother married her current husband not long after. All of this, historic fact, easily found after two seconds on the internet. Information on his half-brother... That's a bit different. Christopher, the ass in the room now, he is... something else. And I don't mean that in any good way. He's a greedy, lecherous piece of crap that tries to keep close tabs on his brother. Apparently he managed to finally track him down to Las Vegas, or, maybe he was here coincidentally. Big sandbox to play in, girls galore, and gambling, yeah, he was probably here before we were.

Everything, and I mean absolutely everything that Gideon does, or touches, Christopher tries to corrupt and/or take from him.

Stay away from him. He tries to take everything that is mine. Shana, I don't want him near you.

A warning to me.

A warning I don't need.

Gideon doesn't know Christopher and I have already had words.

I run more cold water over the towel, and squeeze out the excess, and then softly put it against my face. I pat it, inhaling the cool air from beneath it. I lowered it, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I leaned closer to the mirror, seeing the very first of "laugh lines" at the corner of my eyes. I rolled my eyes, muttering about time. Exhaling a deep sigh I close my eyes and think back to the feelings that had overcome me such a short time ago. A shiver runs through me, making my hands shake. Maybe it was Christopher. Maybe that's all it was. I nod at my reflection, making myself believe that that had to be the truth.

I brushed my teeth and ran a hairbrush through my hair before tying it up into a pony tail. I kept telling myself, "It was only because of Christopher."

"What was," a husky voice asked. I jumped, turning to find Gideon leaning against the doorframe, having changed from his pajamas into a well worn pair of jeans and a black tee shirt. Damn he looked hot, the tee shirt only enhancing his well cared for physique. Oh god what I could do to this man... if only there was time.

"The dread from earlier. It had to be because of him." He cocked his head to the side, looking up to the ceiling as he ran his thumb over his delectable bottom lip. A lip that was begging to be bit. Stop it! Work first! "That could be," he said after a moment. "What... are you looking at," he asked, his eyes darkening.

I approached him, a small smile pinching the side of my lips. "Mr. Cross, you look downright fuckable," I said as he lowered his lips, taking mine, I groaned into his mouth as he kissed me deeply before pulling back.

"We have a busy day," he mumbled. I nodded, wishing I could be in two bodies, Business Bitch and Sexy Shana. "I will make the day worth the wait," he said as he pulled my body into a glorious hug, his arms wrapped tightly around me. God, this man could destroy me.