Dark & Dangerous Chapter 2, a walking dead fanfic

A/N Welcome back! Thank you for the follows, favors and comments, I appreciate you so much.

There's going to be some interaction between our couple this chapter and we're going to discover a little about what each is thinking and feeling. We also learn quite a bit about Beth, what she does and why she's living in a factory building.

It was crazy but that didn't mean it wasn't true. He'd sensed it the minute he saw her and he wanted what she had. Her lightness and her warmth. He wanted so badly to believe there were people in this world like the person he perceived her to be. A person full of goodness and without guile. She was like a beacon of light that had unexpectedly come into his dark world. He wanted to grab onto that light. Everything was so strange, it made no sense at all, but he felt it so powerfully. She was what he'd always searched for, she was a light in the darkness.

But he had to be so careful, he had to protect her.

She wasn't letting herself get down over this but she just didn't get it. She didn't get him. She was a person who got along well with others. She liked people and they seemed to like her, she made friends easily. She'd grown up in a family that socialized and she consider herself a social person. The fact that the landlord wouldn't give her so much as the time of day was a little upsetting.

Really, if a person thought about it there was no reason to be upset. He certainly wasn't required to be friendly. Just because they shared a building and lived right next door to one another that didn't mean it was a rule they had to be friends. It just seemed that it would be so much more pleasant if they were. If they chatted when they ran into each other in the backyard. Little things like that.

Apparently though that wasn't the way the "Dark One" saw things. Oh he was polite enough. If barely nodding his head in recognition of her existence on the planet could be called friendly then yes, he was a real pal. But never had he so much as inquired about her well-being. Would it really be so tough to say, "Good morning, how are you today?"

That was pretty everyday vanilla stuff right there. And when she asked it of him it was like it was all he could do to shrug and grunt "Good." Then he was off doing whatever it was he did. It had been nearly a week of that and she'd pretty much resigned herself to thinking it was the way it would always be.

Then there had been the little accident. It was a small and seemingly inconsequential every day sort of mishap. It was just plain carelessness and clumsiness on her part really. But it was his reaction that took her so completely by surprise. She saw something come from someplace deep inside him and it felt like fear. She didn't know and she didn't ask.

He was out there in the yard over at his giant pickup truck. The hood was up and he was doing whatever it was people do when they're looking under the hoods of vehicles, tools in their hands and shop rags hanging from their back pockets. Whatever it was she tried very hard not to notice that he was quite attractive doing it. Besides, she'd already made up her mind she wasn't worrying about him today. She had a little project of her own to tend to. She had a plan to do a bit of beautifying to her outdoor space. The space was a constant work in progress and she was enjoying it more and more, never missing an opportunity to add a "little something."

She'd found an old bamboo garden trellis Mama or Daddy had abandoned at the farm and she rescued it for herself. She had it leaning up against the wall close to her backdoor. It was going to look so pretty with sweet peas climbing all over it, just the thought of the pretty flowers made her feel happy. The more greenery and color she could get in this asphalt space the nicer it would be. She just needed to make sure it was secure, a good breeze would blow the lightweight trellis right over. Her Dad had given her a couple of brick clips and some good wire to get the job done. There was nothing to it, no tools required. There was just one slight problem, she wasn't quite tall enough so she went back inside for the kitchen chair.

Yes she knew the asphalt was slightly sloped to allow for runoff, the surface was just a bit uneven. And yes she knew she didn't have anything to hold onto to help her balance. But it was such a quick and simple task. Get on the chair, secure the brick clips and fasten the trellis to them with the wire. Easy peasy.

That wasn't quite how it worked out though.

She had the clips and the wire in her right hand as she held onto the back of the chair with her left hand. She set her left foot on the seat of the chair and was just hoisting her right leg up when she and the chair both toppled over.

Startled she let out a scream but it wouldn't have had to be loud for him to respond. He was already halfway to his door and he witnessed the incident unfold. He was there with her in a matter of seconds.

He was down on one knee and he'd slipped his arm under her. He had her upper body cradled in that strong arm as he lifted her head and back off the asphalt. His tone was full of both anger and distress, "What the fuck girl! Ya okay? What the hell did ya think you was tryin' ta do? Lemme see, lemme make sure you're alright."

It might have been kind of sexy the way he was holding her if he hadn't been so upset as he checked every inch of her skin. When he seemed satisfied she wasn't bleeding to death he made her move her wrists and her ankles, he seemed concerned something may be broken or sprained. Never had a simple fall felt like such a big deal.

She was embarrassed by her clumsy foolishness and she kept trying to reassure him, "I'm fine really, I'm fine. It's just a few scrapes and some wounded pride. That's all, really." She was the one who'd been hurt and yet it was him she was worried about.

Then he was cupping her face in his hands, holding it steady and looking in her eyes so intently it took her aback. "Don't ya ever do nuthin' like that again. If you're gonna be around me ya gotta be careful. You can't take no chances. If you need sumthin' like that done ask me to do it. Hear? I can't have ya hurt. I can't allow it to happen. Please."

It was odd the incident should cause him so much distress and yet his voice was so strong and sounded so in control. It just seemed like the thing to do for some reason, to assure him again and to apologize, "I'm sorry it was just something simple, I didn't think it would be a problem. I won't do it again, I promise. I'm sorry really."

He simply nodded his head while he chewed at his bottom lip, "A'ight, ya go on in now, get ya a cool drink an rest. I'll take care a this."

Mister Dark and Dangerous had just succeeded in making her feel like an eight year old child and yet she didn't mind. She didn't think he meant it quite that way. This man. This man. What the heck was he all about?

He knew he'd overreacted but he couldn't help himself. He was afraid it was starting and he didn't want to see her hurt. He should have paid closer attention to what she was doing. He should have stopped her before it ever started and just done it for her. That was his trouble, he was always too late.

Beth

Her fascination with adornment went as far back as she could remember. From playing dress-up with her mother's costume jewelry to making floral head wreaths for the cows and the barn cats. Her horse got something really special, a collar of wildflowers.

From those early beginnings she branched out. Her interest in adornment continued to grow, but something else grew right along with it. She now had a fascination for repurposing the old and the discarded into the new and the desirable. The eyes and the heart of an artist gave her the vision of what things could be.

In grade school she used the leather from old tack to make braided bracelets and cuffs, hair ties, necklaces and braid laces. By middle school she was begging her mother to stop in the secondhand stores and antique shops whenever they were out in the car. She'd look for small items she could turn into unique adornments. A favorite was recycling copper that she pounded, bent, twisted, shaped and then combined with crystals, stones, or vintage objects as enhancements. Old drawer keys, bits she took from old costume jewelry, anything that could be reimagined became part of necklaces, earrings, bracelets or anklets. Even the parts of an old pocket watch and the leather of old clothing could be turned into a piece of jewelry.

Beth left the farm right after high school for Atlanta. Maggie was in college there and Beth stayed with her for a few months. That's when she took a course in silversmithing and it fueled her enthusiasm. Especially her passion to reimagine and to recreate. Rather than toss aside the old why not simply recraft it? It could become a new thing of beauty that brought pleasure.

After silversmithing she took a course in fine-jewelry making and finally a coarse in gemology. Because she wanted to learn everything she could she then went to work in a high production gold factory. It wasn't the type of jewelry making she was interested in but during her time working there she honed her skills and she learned so much that she'd be able to use in her craft.

With new skills and new excitement for her art she moved back home to the farm. Her folks, her siblings, her brother in law, they were all incredibly supportive. She couldn't have asked for any more than what they'd given her. Without them she could never have begun her business.

She had no interest in selling to the big jewelry store chains just as she knew they would have no interest in buying from her. Her pieces weren't the kind a young couple might walk in the jewelry store at the mall to admire and to buy. She understood that, her pieces were unique, handmade and one-of-a-kind. Definitely not to everyone's taste. Hers would be a niche market.

Her brother and her Dad built her a small shop right there in the barn and she began to manufacture all the pieces she could. She worked at it for two years straight. She knew she'd have to build a large inventory if she really wanted to get her business started.

After those two years of work she felt she finally had enough pieces to venture into the next phase of her dream. She called on her sister's husband Glenn. He was a computer wizard and he was instrumental in getting her business up and running. He built her a beautiful, artistic and maybe most important a user-friendly web site.

He and Maggie were also accomplished amateur photographers and they took hundreds of photos of her creations. Just before they launched the site she took a little trip. She planned to visit the places in the state where her unique creations might do well. Places with high concentrations of tourists, college students and young professionals.

She visited shops in Atlanta she was familiar with and showed the owners some pieces from her sample case. From there she traveled due east to Augusta, then south to Savannah where she did the same.

She considered it a successful trip, a good start. A week after she left she was back on the farm and she and Glenn launched her site.

She got a big break when a couple visiting from New York saw a few of her pieces in an artsy little shop in Savannah. They contacted her immediately. They wanted to sell her distinctive creations in their stores in Greenwich Village, Mid-Town Manhattan, Hartford, Connecticut and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her first big business deal turned into a little goldmine of its own, and in the meantime other orders were coming in daily.

She was 26 years old and still living at home with her folks. Now that she had a little money and the business was growing, it was time. She needed her own place.

She hoped to find a place that she could set up as her one-woman factory and also use as a residence. That would save rent money. She was looking for something away from the retail scene, somewhere more industrial where she wouldn't have the distractions of foot traffic and window shoppers.

She contacted a listing agent and Maggie accompanied her when they visited properties. They'd been looking all morning and Beth was losing her enthusiasm. The first few places they saw were a total bust, but then they pulled up to the Dixon building. The feeling that came over her was so strong, without even seeing the interior she knew it was going to be perfect, this was where she belonged.

It was a single-story brick building with two units side by side, each with it's own entry door and two big windows facing the street. The inside was simply one large open rectangular space, concrete floors and brick walls. There was another window on the far back wall along with a backdoor. The big empty space was ready for her to do her thing.

There was a small bathroom and when she saw it she remembered the agent telling her the previous renter was a tile setter. It was obvious the man had spent some time fixing it up. The bathroom floor was nicely tiled, as were the vanity top and small stall shower. It was just right.

There was a big steel door in the center of the common wall but she had a bolt and crossbar on her side so she knew no one was wandering in from the other unit. The space was both super clean and a clean slate and she was ready. She paid her deposit and signed the lease.

She spent two weeks making it her own and again she realized how fortunate she was to have everyone's help and support. Shawn and Glenn got her work tools and benches, her desk, the stock and equipment all moved in and set up in the front half of the unit.

She felt the need to have a dividing line between her work space and her living space so she and Maggie hung a heavy drape between the two areas. On the off chance a client came to call they'd never see the back half of her unit, the half she'd call home.

There was a sturdy work table with drawers and a good-sized cabinet built-in near the back wall. It was nicely stained and the top was tiled. She decided it would be her kitchen area, she just needed a few more things. They all got in Shawn's pickup and went to one of those big box home stores. She bought a premade lower cabinet with the countertop and hardware all included, it even had a built-in sink. Glenn and Shawn installed it next to the other cabinet and she called a plumber to run the lines to her new kitchen sink and a utility sink in her work area.

She had a small apartment sized range with oven and a fridge no bigger than a bar fridge. She thought the small appliances were just fine for her simple needs. Shawn installed a couple of open shelves above the counter for her dishes, and she purchased and painted a small secondhand dinette set. Just like that she had a kitchen.

She also bought a sofa and easy chair at the secondhand store and Mama made slip covers for them. Other than those things she had her bed, a dresser and a freestanding rack for her hanging clothes. She'd gotten floor and table lamps so she wouldn't have to turn on the overhead fluorescent factory lighting when she was "home." The finishing touch was a huge area rug.

It had been just one big open space but now it had all the furnishings of a small apartment. She joked with the other's, "It's my great room." It was everything she needed and just what she preferred, simplicity. It was home.

The back door of her unit opened to what was really nothing more than an oversized parking lot. The upside was it was private, the entire thing was walled in. The entrance from the alley was through a big wooden gate. She was entitled to half the big lot and she only had a compact car and her bicycle. She decided to create a nice outdoor space right outside her backdoor.

Again she counted on the secondhand shop to provide what she needed. She rescued a small chair that turned out to be one of her best purchases. The wicker was in good shape, it was just a bit worn and faded. Some cleaning and a coat of sunflower yellow paint had fixed that right up. She'd made bright floral seat and back cushions for it and Voila! It was the perfect backyard reading chair.

Next to it was another purchase from the same secondhand shop. It was meant to be a plant stand but she'd painted it a bright aqua and was using it as a tiny side table. It kept her glass of sweet tea nice and handy while she sat curled up in her chair reading or sketching.

She took one of her Dad's old workbenches from the barn and painted it to match her chair, then covered the top of it with plants in brightly painted pots. She bought an old tapestry and laid it out on the asphalt and an outdoor umbrella for shade.

She was happy, she felt proud she'd been able to give a factory building and a parking lot such a nice homey feel. She loved her new shop, her new little home and her peaceful outdoor space.

Once he'd sent her inside she'd gone right to the bathroom cabinet and got the Bactine out. She did have a couple of nasty scrapes on her arms and one on her right leg. She hadn't wanted to tell him it hurt and she knew she'd probably start feeling bruised and sore soon. She'd just finished cleaning up the scrapes and applying the medicine when she heard the knock on the backdoor.

She felt herself draw in a deep breath when she saw it was him. She never expected to see him at her door and he seemed uncomfortable to be there, but he spoke calmly and confidently, "Hey, I'm just lettin' ya know I got that trellis up for ya and it's good to go."

"Thank you for helping me Daryl. I'm sorry I caused so much trouble."

"Nah, it's fine. I'm sorry if I yelled it's just, shit. Ya gotta be careful. Ya can't take no chances. Like I said, you ask me. I'll do whatever ya need done. K?"

"Yes, okay I will, I'll ask."

With that he gave a quick nod of his head and walked over to his unit, disappearing inside.

She'd felt it again and so strongly, the danger. He saw himself as dangerous. Not in what he did but in something he brought. Or so it seemed. She really had no idea but she hoped to find out soon just what was going on with Mr. Dark and Dangerous.

For now at least, maybe her accident had broken the ice just a little.

A/N Thank you so much for reading along, I'd appreciate you leaving a comment / review. The chapter photo has some pics of Beth's creations and you can see it on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. In next week's chapter we'll learn about Daryl and just what it is he does. I thank you again and I hope to see you back here next week for more of Dark & Dangerous. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee