Thank you all for the support and reviews to the last chapter!

I know I'm a little late in posting this one, but what can I say...I'm on vacation and the weather is hot, so sitting inside with my laptop didn't appeal to me as much as sitting outside with a cold drink! As for content, well, there is the matter of Gareth's death to deal with, along with a bit of Derek's backstory, and oh yes...some MerDer contact for those of you weeping for more. :o)

Chapter Five
Sensing the Darkness

At the end of the evening, after the last of his staff had left, Derek set the alarm codes and closed up the restaurant, before heading for his car. The painting was still safely locked up in his office, until he figured out his plan of action. He supposed the proper thing to do would be to hand it over to Det. Hunt and let him deal with it, after all it wasn't like he stole the damn thing. It was evidence in his brother's death, if nothing else.

He stopped alongside his Porsche, and was about to push the remote to unlock it, when he noticed something tucked under the windshield wiper. "Damn flyers," he muttered, ready to toss it aside without looking at it, when he realized it was an envelope with his name in block letters on it. He frowned as he picked it up carefully, inspecting it for a moment. Getting into the car, he started it to take off the chill in the air, before he undid the flap. A folded paper was inside, along with one of his onyx cufflinks. "What the hell?" he muttered, and his pulse sped up as he scanned the note quickly.

Derek, I trust you have taken the time to read this and not throw it away.

Your brother is dead because of something he took, something that I hired him to steal, and want to get my hands on rather badly. He seemed to have a change of heart, and stashed it somewhere before I was able to take it from him. In fact, he was rather difficult when I tried to get the information from him about what he'd done with it. After I'd agreed to pay him quite well for it. However, it does give me some leverage with you. I'm sure you know what he's done with it, and unless you turn it over to me, I'll make sure you're blamed for his death. I think the fact I have your other cufflink in my possession should be enough to convince you. I have my ways of getting what I want.

On the other hand, if you give me the painting, I'll be sure to give some eyewitness testimony to the cops and tell them I saw who killed Gareth. Someone that's not you. Then we'll go our separate ways and this will be all over.

Don't talk to anyone about this, and I'll be in touch with you again soon. Trust me, Derek, I know you and I know all about your past, so don't take too long to find that painting. I'm sure Detective Hunt would be thrilled to know what you did before, and it would only add to the scandal if everything came to light. I'm sure you don't want your new life to come crashing down around you!

Oh, and check the papers tomorrow…that pretty little reporter should have a new story and pictures. Just as a teaser to fan the flames of gossip LOL….

Derek turned the note over, it was plain paper, the words typed using some generic word processing program. "Damnit!" he swore, slamming his hand against the steering wheel. "Who the hell is doing this?" He was going to have to get in touch with some of the people from his past, people who might know who Gareth had been dealing with. Maybe he could figure out who was blackmailing him and turn him over to Hunt before the killer got away his plan. Fortunately, he already had the painting, which should buy him some time. He turned the cufflink over in his fingers, thinking about the life he had left behind and was going to have to deal with again.

Carolyn Shepherd had been left alone with two young boys after her husband had been killed in a car accident. While there had been some life insurance, it didn't go far to pay some of the debts she had been left with, and money was always stretched thin. She was a talented artist, and sold some of her paintings for a modest price, while working at a local art gallery to make ends meet. She did her best to provide her sons with a good home, but they didn't always have the extra things that lots of kids took for granted.

Derek and Gareth grew up in the company of creative people that Carolyn liked to be involved with. They spent some of their spare time working in the back of the gallery, helping out with some of the packaging and shipping of goods, and they learned the value of paintings early on. It soon became apparent that Derek would need to do something to help his mother pay some of the bills, and he found he had a talent for theft. He was quick witted and light on his feet, and could steal a painting out its frame in no time at all.

The owner of the gallery caught him one day in the act of rolling up a painting from the back of the shop, and rather than turn Derek in to the police, he became a mentor. He taught both brothers, but Derek proved to be more adept. Still, by the time they were in their early twenties, they could easily tell the difference between authentic and forgeries, and they developed their skills at breaking and entering to leave no trace behind. Their mentor, Richard Webber, paid them well for the stolen goods, and he had a lucrative side business that wasn't reflected in his regular bookkeeping.

From the start, Derek had been ambitious, saving most of the money he'd earned, while helping his mother with cash that she questioned, but accepted his assurance he was working another job. Either she was being naïve, or she turned a blind eye, he never knew. Gareth, on the other hand, had a weakness for gambling and no ambition to do anything legitimate. Carolyn indulged him, as the younger son, and he sailed through life without any consequences, spending his cash as fast as he got paid.

Over the years, Derek had formed alliances with other art dealers who were willing to buy paintings without asking questions. He grew up street smart, tough and self-reliant. He learned how to fight to defend himself with his fists when he had to, or charm his way out of a situation if that worked better. Gareth had been less driven, but just as savvy. But Derek always maintained his ambition of making more of himself, and he had been able to leave that life behind and move up in the world. It hadn't been easy, and he always lived with the reality that his past would someday come back and haunt him.

Derek shook his head. Unfortunately, it appeared that someday had come. He knew he'd made a few enemies in the business, and there were women he'd charmed and left behind. Now he would have to do whatever it took to make sure no one discovered the darkness that was his past life.

In the early light of the morning, the papers were dropped off at the newsstand, and the Seattle Enquirer was the only one with the picture of Derek and his brother on the front page. Several copies were snatched up quickly, and a sly grin crossed the lips of one of the people reading. "Oh, this is priceless…"

Shepherd vs Shepherd
Byline: Meredith Grey

All of us have experience with family problems; we have had our share of feuds and arguments, similar to what is evidenced by this photo. Families fight, and that's normal, but in the case of the Shepherd brothers, one of them is now deceased. These two men argued, about something, it's clear to see. Did that argument lead to his death? Or is there something more sinister going on?

While Derek Shepherd is often written up in the society pages, or gossip pages, or the fine dining pages, little is known of his past or his relationship with his brother. We do know the two brothers were left some inheritance after their mother passed away a few years ago, and that Ravish was opened not long after that. Derek also owns a fabulous home near Eliot Bay, along with several luxury vehicles. He's donated artwork worth a small fortune to the museum, and he throws fabulous parties that include the cream of Seattle society. All of this is funded somehow.

Gareth, on the other hand, was a troubled man from what we know of his criminal records. His apartment was also paid for by his brother, and he had no luxury vehicles at his disposal. Is it possible he was trying to extort more cash from Derek? Or was there just bad blood between the two of them?

Digging into their past, we find that their mother was an artist of some repute – Carolyn Shepherd was well known for her watercolor depictions of Seattle. She may have passed along this love of artwork to her sons, but neither of them has become artists. Still, it may explain the donation Derek made to the museum. If Carolyn were alive today, what would she have to say about this situation? To pit brother against brother is a story as old as time – I'm sure we all remember the tale of Cain and Abel?

Seattle police are not at liberty to discuss the ongoing investigation, of course. Detective Hunt assures me, however, that all is being done to bring the murderer to justice. In the meantime, the funeral for Gareth Shepherd is to be held this coming Friday, at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

"Can she get away with this?" Derek demanded, speaking to his lawyer on the phone. He had the paper open on his desk, the offending article in front of him. "She's all but accused me of killing Gareth!"

"We can take out a restraining order to them, but seriously, just ignore it," Addison encouraged him. "The less said the better. You'll just add fuel to the flames if you start to speak up."

Derek rubbed the bridge of his nose, thinking that if he were the type of person prone to migraines this would certainly bring one on. As it was, he was only angry again. "Do it anyway, Addison. It'll give me the satisfaction of knowing she can't slander me again."

"Fine, you're the client."

"And I pay you very well," he reminded her. "So, I need to ask you a hypothetical question...if a person has a stolen item in their possession that someone else wants and is threatening to blackmail said person over it...is it a good idea to go along with that? Or just turn the stolen item over to the police?"

"Holy shit, Derek, what are you talking about?"

"It's just hypothetical."

"I don't need to think about it. Turn it over to the police and let them handle it."

"But what if the stolen item could be returned to the rightful owner first?"

"Derek, this doesn't make sense. Are you involved in something criminal?" Addison asked quietly. "I've known you a long time, and I realize you may not have always been the charismatic businessman you are today, but..."

"You're right, Addi, you've known me a long time, but don't start asking me questions you don't want the answers to, all right?" Derek pushed the newspaper away. Addison Forbes Montgomery was completely professional, competent and relentless when she wanted information. He had hired her before starting the restaurant, while he was still dealing with his mother's death, and still involved in stealing paintings. He had always been clever enough to avoid being caught and wanted to keep that part of his life away from his current one. "Look, I've got to go. Just take care of Ms Grey. I don't want to deal with her anymore."

"Sure, I'll get on it right away. And Derek, maybe you just need to get away for awhile, once the funeral is over."

"I can't, not until they find who killed Gareth. And I'm sure that Hunt wouldn't want me to fly away somewhere anyway. He might just believe what he reads in the papers."

Derek set the phone aside. Addison was a perceptive lawyer, he wouldn't be surprised if she had her suspicions about his past. But he wasn't ready to share that with her if he didn't have to.

The rain was coming down steadily later in the afternoon, when Derek swung into the parking lot of the florist shop. He needed to confirm the details of the floral arrangements to be sent to the funeral home; he didn't feel right leaving that to someone else. He dashed through the rain, nearly colliding with someone leaving the store. Putting his hand out to steady himself, he started to apologize, when he looked down and found himself staring into Meredith's eyes. "You again?" he muttered, his hand still at her upper arm. "What are you doing here? You can't possibly have known I was coming here!"

She held up a bouquet wrapped in paper. "What does anyone do at a florist shop, Mr. Shepherd? Are you getting paranoid?"

Derek frowned, realizing that he was still holding onto her upper arm. He could smell the fragrance in her hair, mingled with the female essence he couldn't miss. He let her go slowly, and scrubbed his hand over his face to keep his emotions in check. "Maybe I am," he replied. "It's just that I don't seem to bump into you unless it's by design, Ms Grey. Forgive me if that makes me paranoid."

Then he pulled her aside, under the shop's striped awning, out of the rain. "So you believe me when I tell you I had no idea you'd be here?" she asked, eying him carefully. He was wearing one of his usual perfectly tailored suits, and a black overcoat that reached his knees. Water glistened on the coat, and dampened his hair.

"You're capable of anything, including making up crap that's only meant to sell papers. You should write novels," he said evenly. "I warned you before, but trust me, you'll be hearing from my lawyer now. You've pushed me far enough."

"Then why are you talking to me now, if you think I'm so terrible?" she asked sweetly. "Or do you want to search me for recording devices?"

Derek hesitated for a second, having a sudden image of running his hands along her body, wondering how she would feel under his touch. Then suddenly a kid on a skateboard barreled down the sidewalk under the awning, and Derek instinctively moved towards Meredith. He closed the space between them, sliding his arm around her waist. He only meant, or so he thought, to keep her from stumbling. But she seemed to melt into him, and the scent of her was like flowers. His hand slid up her back, and along her neck, and she didn't resist. Instead, she lifted her face and her eyes invited him to do more, and in a heartbeat, he lowered his head and kissed her. He fully expected her to back away, but she met his mouth without hesitation. It made no sense, and yet, he couldn't back away either, and he claimed her lips, slow and deliberate. The kiss was deep and full of erotic promise that sent heat through both of them.

Meredith lifted up on her toes to kiss him back, melting into the warmth of his body. There was no denying the desire that had been hovering between them from the moment they'd met, and he kissed just the way she'd imagined he would. She made an involuntary little sound of pleasure, and it seemed to break the moment. Derek lifted his head, and stepped back, letting her go slowly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he said. "This was a mistake."

"Oh, really...it seemed like a good idea to me," Meredith murmured, her voice a little teasing, a little aroused yet.

"Then that's where we differ, Ms Grey."

"Mr Shepherd, we might differ on a lot of things, but trust me, I'm quite sure you were enjoying that just as much as I did." Meredith's green eyes were knowing, as she tapped his chest with the flowers she was holding. "I'm sure we'll bump into each other again soon. Take care." The she winked at him, and turned to walk away. Leaving him standing under the awning with a bemused expression on his face.