Hey! This chapter takes place during the episode "Turf". I've tweaked th3 events in the episode to fit my story!

I do not own Ballykissangel. Obviously.

Enjoy!

A week went by with no word from Danny. Beth was beginning to think maybe she'd imagined their whole encounter. Being alone for weeks on end had that effect on you. Her parents had rang last night to check on her, and to tell her they weren't coming home for at least three more weeks.

It was the day of the annual horse race on the beach. Beth didn't want to be stuck at home any longer so she walked into town and caught a ride with her teacher to the race. It wasn't that far from her house, but her parents didn't allow her to go to events without an adult. Just when she thought she couldn't feel any lower, some girls from school saw her getting out of the teacher's car.

Already labeled as a teacher's pet, this was only going to make it worse. She tried to brush it off, but tears of frustration welled up in her eyes. All she wanted was for her parents to come home. To love her like they did their work. She wanted to have an actual family. Not to be all alone at a town function. She looked around at all the families, and was heartbroken and jealous. A sudden bout of self pity seized her.

As her eyes scanned scanned crowd she spotted Eamon Byrne. Her heart sped up. Was Danny with him? Was he going to race Razor? She didn't see him anywhere, and the uppity girls from school were still laughing at her so she decided to take a walk.

Then she spotted him. Behind a horse trailer. Short black hair and his denim jacket gave him away. He was on his knees. Beth squinted as she got closer. He was bleeding! She sprinted towards him.

"Danny!"

His eyes met hers as his head snapped up at the sound of her voice. He didn't want her to see him like this. It really was a cruel world, he thought.

"Beth. What are ya doing here?"

He tried to stand. Tried to turn away from her.

"What happened to you?" She demanded as she finally reached him.

"None of yer business," he grunted.

He was trying to pull himself to his feet. Beth wrapped an arm around his stomach to help him stand.

"I don't need help!"

"Danny, stop! Let me help you."

With her face so close to his body she could smell the blood. His nose was bleeding for sure, and his mouth. He was holding his arm close to his body.

"Who did this?" She asked.

He ignored her. "If you wanna help just give me a hand getting on Razor."

Still with his arm around her shoulders she turned her face towards him.

"What? Danny, that's crazy. You can't race him."

"Are ya gonna help or not?" He turned to her with a fire in his eyes.

Beth swallowed and let go of him so he could climb on Razor.

She tried to help him hoist himself onto the horse to no avail. He fell to the ground muttering a stream of colorful curses. Beth bent down, cringing as her still somewhat sore knee met the ground. She knelt next to Danny in the grass.

"I'm sorry," She offered.

Although she didn't know Danny that well, or at all, she could tell that her curiosity about the situation would have to wait. The man was in no mood to discuss it.

"Yeah well...it is what it is I suppose." He took a few deep breaths. "Help me up, would ya?"

Beth stood, dusted off her knees and gave her hand to Danny. He grabbed it and she pulled until he was on his feet. It took some doing. He was broad across the chest and Beth wasn't sure if she'd be able to help. But then, he was on his feet looking down at her.

She took ahold of Razor's lead. "Let me help you get home,"

"No," he said suddenly.

"No?"

"I don't want uncle Eamon to see me like this."

Beth's eyes darted around nervously. "We can go to my house. If you want. It's not far."

"Nah. You're alright."

She walked ahead of him. Still holding onto Razor's lead. "Come on. No one is home and you'll be able to clean up."

Beth's chestnut colored ponytail swayed down her back as Danny watched her lead Razor away. He had no choice but to follow. Even so, he would have chosen to go where she lead. He was tired, and hurting much more than he wanted to admit.

She looked over her shoulder to see Danny silently following her and gave him a reassuring smile. He didn't let on, he never would, but his stomach did a funny thing when she looked at him like that.

Not good, fella.

When they arrived at her house he attached Razor to the fencepost while she unlocked the door. Then, he followed her inside.

"Here, follow me,"

She lead him down the hall to a bathroom.

"You can take a shower and clean yourself up. I'll see if I can find you a clean shirt of my da's."

There they stood in the tiny bathroom. Almost chest to chest. Blood caked and dried all over his face, in his hair, and down his neck. She reached up, without thinking, and brushed the hair out of his eyes.

"Thank you, Beth." He said slowly.

"You're welcome. I'll...leave you to it."

While Danny showered Beth went outside and walked Razor around back to the small barn they had. When she came back inside she could hear the shower still running. She raced upstairs and found a never worn t-shirt of her father's, fetched a towel from the linen closet and knocked on the bathroom door.

When he didn't answer, she dared to crack the door.

"Danny? I'm leaving a shirt and a towel on the counter."

Before she could step back out he peaked his head out from behind the shower curtain. The blood was gone, and even through the bruises that were darkening he was still the most handsome man she'd ever seen.

"Thanks," he told her.

The fact that behind that curtain he was completely nude did not escape Beth. Heat flashed in her cheeks. She'd never been alone with a naked man before. She'd never really been alone with a man. Or boy.

She managed a nod before closing the door and trying to catch her breath.