A/N: So I've taken a super long break from fanfiction. I haven't updated my fics since May, so it's probably not the best idea to start a new one. But, I've wanted to write another Johnny and Elizabeth story since I finished Let Love In. I can't promise that I'll be updating often due to school, but I'm going to attempt to update once a week. It might be awhile until I update this again because I haven't finished the outline yet, but I wanted to get the first chapter out there to see if there's any interest. Anyways, here's The Dawn. Oh, and all chapter titles are inspired by songs by the band Courrier. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, just the storyline.

"Your heart decides who it likes and who it doesn't. You can't tell your heart what to do, it does it on its own when you least expect it, or even if you don't want it to…"

Chapter 1

The Dawn

As if this day can't get any worse, Elizabeth thinks to herself once the rain starts pouring down in the pitch black of the night. Turning on her windshield wipers, Elizabeth struggles to see through the torrential downpour. After working a double shift, all she wanted to do was get home, curl up with her boys and a glass of wine on the couch.

But Fate seemed to have a different idea.

Feeling a bump beneath her and a hiss coming from outside, Elizabeth groans and slams her hands against the steering wheel once the car starts to slow down. Pulling over to the side of the deserted road, Elizabeth looks out to see that she's about ten minutes from home and her boys were waiting at home for her, along with the babysitter.

"Well, I guess I have to go check," Elizabeth grumpily says to herself. Not bothering with her umbrella, she quickly opens her door and checks the front left tire. Even though she struggled to see in the drizzle and dark, she could see that it was she suspected. The tire was flat and she was stranded ten minutes from home. "You could have waited ten more minutes," Elizabeth exasperatedly cries out as she kicks the useless tire.

Diving back into her car and closing the door shut, she pushes the wet hair out of her eyes and reaches over the consul of her small Toyota. Fishing for her cell phone in her purse, she groans once again to see that there's conveniently no cell service. "Of course! Of course there's no cell service. Why is my life feeling like a horror movie?"

Sighing, Elizabeth darkly chuckles when she realizes that she was resigned to talking to herself. Looking up and down the unlit road, she recalls that she hadn't seen a car pass by since she stopped. Elizabeth contemplates whether walking home or waiting for a car. If she waits, dinner would be ruined, plus she knew Cameron would be worried if she was late. She hated putting any stress on her eldest son, knowing that he hadn't been doing well since Jake passed away.

Determined not to think about her little boy that been ripped away from her, Elizabeth goes through her other options. If she walks, it would take her about thirty minutes, plus she didn't trust these roads at night. Figuring that she'd take the safe bet, she closes her door and locks the car.

Settling into the front seat and turning off the car to save gas and the battery, Elizabeth checks her phone periodically as well as watching for yellow headlight in either direction. Feeling her eyes drooping as she starts to nod off, Elizabeth sits ram rod straight when she hears a tap on her window, but there's no one there.

Feeling the fear starting to consume her, Elizabeth takes a deep breath and counts to ten. Trying not to go back to that dark place, Elizabeth opens her eyes and checks her purse for her mace as well as checking for cell service again.

There's another tap, and Elizabeth debates on unlocking her door. "Oh come on, Lizzie, you've seen your fair share of horror movies not to walk outside to check a strange noise." Shaking her head, she knows her curiosity is about to get the best of her. It always had, ever since she was a little girl and it often led her to trouble.

Hearing another tap on her, Elizabeth grabs her mace. "Alright, that's it." Unlocking her door with the cap off her spray, Elizabeth jumps out of her car with her mace can up and other hand fisted and swinging. Surprisingly, she feels her fist connect with skin and bone, so she had failed to see the headlight earlier.

"Lady, what the…hell-OW THAT BURNS," a man's voice yells at her. Elizabeth squints in the darkness, not able to identify the man. He's bent over, covering his face and letting out a string of expletive words. Grabbing her phone, Elizabeth shines the light on the man's face.

"Johnny? Johnny Zacchara," Elizabeth dubiously asked. If someone had told her that she would have been stranded on the side of the road and rescued by Johnny Zacchara later that night, she would have laughed in his or her face. Nurse mode kicks in once the surprise and confusion wears off. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I thought you were an ax murderer and I can't apologize enough. Are you okay? Of course you're not, I just sprayed mace into your eyes."

Moving closer to him, Elizabeth tries to see if there's any real damage to his face. Johnny finally stands to his full height, managing to still tower over her. She had forgotten how tall he was, seeing as how she hadn't seen him face to face in five years. "Elizabeth? Is that you?" He rubs his eyes, blinking rapidly to help soothe the burning.

"Yes, it's me, Elizabeth Webber. Can you see me?" She moves her wet hair out of her face, struggling to see in the rain and darkness.

"Barely. I'm sorry for scaring you. I just wanted to make sure whoever was inside the car was all right. These roads are dangerous at night." Finally opening his eyes, Johnny takes a slow breath, the fire starting to subside. Rubbing a hand through his wet hair, he can see the concern in the woman's eyes.

Elizabeth nervously laughs. "You're telling me. My car had a flat tire and I was stranded out here without any cell service."

Johnny nods his head. "Are you sure you're okay? I hope I didn't frighten you."

"Yes, but I know my boys are probably worried that I'm not home yet." Elizabeth gestures to her flat tire and Johnny squats down beside it.

"I'm pretty good with cars. Mind if I take a look?"

Elizabeth nods her head and Johnny pulls out a small flashlight, running his hands over the tire with the flashlight in his teeth. His right hand stops and he stands up. "Well, its definitely a flat tire-"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out." Elizabeth places a hand over her mouth, not believing what she just said. Johnny gives her a look and Elizabeth sheepishly grins. "I'm sorry. I have this horrible foot-in-mouth disease. Don't worry, it's not contagious."

He stares at her a moment longer, his brown eyes boring in her sapphire ones, before the ends of his mouth curves up slightly. "As I was saying, it's definitely a flat tire, and there's a small hole in the side. Do you have a spare?"

Elizabeth shakes her head. "It's a reliable car and I've never had the use for a spare tire."

Johnny crosses his arms. "I can fix it for you, but I would have to go back to my garage to grab a tire."

Elizabeth waves it away. "That's too much to ask for a stranger. I'm perfectly fine walking home. It's only a few miles from here."

He chuckles. "You're not a compete stranger. We've said what, five words to one another? Besides I can't let a woman walk home by herself in the dark and pouring down rain."

Placing her hands on hips, Elizabeth's previous smile recedes to a thin line at his remark. "I'm perfectly fine walking home by myself. I can protect myself. Anyways, I have my handy can of mace. It turns out that it's pretty effective. Who knew?"

Johnny physically cringes, whether from the fresh memory of getting maced or the scary look Elizabeth was giving to him for apparently offending her. "I meant no offense. If I said anything wrong, I'm sorry."

She groans and leans against her car, hands running down her face. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I didn't mean to snap at you, it's just been a long day and I just want to get home to my boys and worry about my car in the morning."

Johnny nods his head in understanding. "I can give you a ride." He gestures to his Zacchara Automotive truck behind him.

"That's too much trouble and I'm sure that I'm out of your way."

He shakes his head. "It's the least I could do for scaring you and being a presumptuous jerk."

Elizabeth nervously grins. "Again, I'm really sorry for spraying you in the face."

Johnny chuckles, placing his hands on his hips. "I insist and I can even tow your car in the morning." You don't give up, do you, Elizabeth thought to herself. "I won't take no for an answer."

She raises her hands in surrender. Leading her over to his truck, he opens the door for her. Directing him on where to turn, they were quiet for the most part. They had never said more than five words to one another.

Pulling into her driveway, Johnny unlocks the doors so she can get out. "Can you wait a moment," she quickly asks and doesn't give him a choice to answer when she runs inside. She's gone for about a minute before she reappears. Walking up to his window, Elizabeth hands him a piece of paper and a foil covered paper plate. "This is my home phone number. You can just call me when my car's ready to be picked up. I also want you to go to the hospital tomorrow to get your eyes checked out. And this is a plate of my homemade brownies. Don't worry, the rest of my cooking may be bad, but my boys swear that they're the best brownies they've ever had."

Taking the proffered plate, Johnny confusedly smiles. "Thanks."

"Take them as part of my apology. I sorry for all the trouble I've put you through tonight. Trust me, it was not on my to-do list."

He opens his mouth to correct her, but instead he graciously accepts the brownies. "I'll you in the morning. And go to the hospital," he quickly added from the look she was giving him.

"Thanks again for helping me out in a tough situation."

Johnny nods his head and puts his truck in reverse.

"Anytime."

A/N: Yay or nay? Let me know what you thought in a review. This story is a slow burner, but we'll get down to the mystery aspect of it in a few chapters.