My first Ballykissangel story! I wanted to bring something new to the fandom and chose Danny. I'm adding my own OC, but in future wouldn't mind writing a Danny/Emma fic!

The age difference between Danny and my OC is the same of he and Emma in the show.

Please Review!

Danny Byrne arrived in BallyK in the dead of the night.

On horseback.

From Dublin.

All he wanted was a hot shower, and a place to board Razor for the night. Unfortunately, he wasn't likely to get either. His muscles cried out for relief. It had been a long road. He closed his eyes and leaned against the tree he'd decided to bed down under. Not just a long road from Dublin. A long road in life.

At twenty-two years old he was supposed to have life figured out by now. Far from it. All he had was this horse. When the authorities tried to take Razor, well, that was the last of it. He knew just where to go. His uncle Eamon's place. Not that he was particularly happy about it, but hopefully Razor would thrive.

It was freezing cold. Danny pulled his coat tighter around his shoulders, and shivered. The night was silent. Until it wasn't. He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but the loud and very close bark of a dog disturbed his rest. He sat straight up, on high alert.

Then, the warmth breath and excited pawing of a dog overwhelmed him.

"Dotty!" A faint cry reached Danny's ears, and that of the dog who seemingly ignored its master's call.

"Dotty? Is that you?" Danny said quietly to the dog who was now laying in his lap.

He stood, leaving the dog to circle his feet, and resume his barking at Razor.

"Dotty!" The voice came closer, and Danny decided it was definitely female.

He checked his watch. What girl on earth would be out at this hour searching for a mutt? He tilted his head in thought. He'd do the same for Razor.

"Hello," Danny called. "I think I've found your dog."

A flashlight beam came over the hill and Danny waved. The light bounced wildly as its bearer scurried down the hill as best she could. However, not good enough. Danny watched as the light fell and landed at the bottom of the hill. Then he heard a soft cry. The poor girl had fallen.

He ran towards the sounds of her cries, and found her there on the ground.

"Stay still. Are you badly hurt?" He raked a hand through his jet-black hair, in a mild panic.

Her voice trembled, "My knee. I don't know what I've done," Truth be told, her whole body was aching. The knee is just the first thing she noticed.

"Can you stand?"

Silence.

"I could give you a hand," he offered.

"Thanks,"

She reached out and slipped her hand into his. He helped her stand, and caught her when it became apparent that her knee was no good. He could smell her hair, and despite the fall through the mud, it smelled wonderful.

"I got 'cha,"

Dotty the dog came to see about her master.

"You should feel guilty!" The girl told her pet.

Danny smiled. He liked her spirit. She tried to steady herself against him. "I live just over the hill a ways. Is there any way you could help me get back?"

Danny turned to look at Razor and sighed. "Sure."

In moment he'd hoisted her onto Razor and climbed on behind her. He lead the horse around the hill, the long way with Dotty following behind.

"I'm Danny, by the way," he said into her ear as they rode.

His breath was hot against her ear, but it sent shivers down her spine. In the darkness she had no idea what he looked like, and she chalked her reaction up to adrenaline.

"I'm Beth,"

They rode quietly until Danny saw lights from a small cottage.

"That's it there,"

Every light was on in the house, but no one came out as they rode up. Danny dismounted and carefully helped Beth down. He held her steady, and his arms were still wrapped around her as she looked up into his eyes. The porch light illuminated his face for the first time. Her breath hitched.

"Are ya alright?" he asked.

Suddenly, he was looking down at her with the darkest, most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. Deep pools framed by silky raven lashes.

"Y-yes. I'll be okay,"

In the light, Beth wasn't the only one making discoveries. Danny could see that his new friend was very beautiful. Not the model type, or even the girl next door type. He couldn't explain it. He also noticed-for the first time- that she was wearing a school uniform. Well, there went any hope of seeing her again.

Her parents wouldn't allow it. Not in a backwards place like Ballykissangel. He mentally slapped himself. He was getting way ahead.

"Do you need help inside?" he asked.

"No, you're alright. I think I can manage."

"I'd be very surprised at that," Danny blurted out.

"Would you now?" Beth wanted to laugh, but it hurt.

"Should I get your parents? Or call a doc?"

"No. My parents are out of town. I don't need a doctor."

He looked her over. His gaze landed on her knee. "You're bleedin'!"

Blood trickled down her leg and stained her white sock.

"What? You think I was faking it?" She pushed her front door open and ordered Dotty to go inside. Limping through the doorway, she turned back to Danny. "Thank you,"

"Sure. I'll come by tomorrow to check on ya. Make sure you're not stranded on the floor or something,"

Beth dared herself to look back up into his eyes. "That's kind."

Danny waved before mounting Razor in one lithe effort and disappearing into the night. Bath sighed, closed the door, and locked it. Dotty was curled up by the fire where she should have been in the first place. Beth hated to admit it, but she was scared out of her mind to stay alone.

Every time her parents went away she sat terrified for days, or weeks until they came back. That's why she needed Dotty. Until the crazy dog went haywire earlier and she had to face her fear tumbling around in the dark. Beth shrugged. It had lead her to Danny, though. So maybe not all bad after all.