I heard this song and immediately thought of Danny Phantom. Isn't it rather pathetic that my thought life is ruled by cartoons? Anyway, this really won't follow the song, but the song 'Check Yes or No' gets credit because it was the inspiration.
Is the age when Danny, Sam and Tucker met given in the series? If anyone knows, please tell me, but I'm pretty sure it has never been said in the series itself. If they do say, consider this a cute little AU written for your amusement.
Disclaimer- I don't own Danny Phantom, or the song by George Strait.
Dedication- This is for Shawn and Matt, because I was the Sam of the playground as a kid and caused those two more than enough damage during our daily rounds of tag. Here's to good times!
I'll Protect You by Ransomed Heart
"Ha-Ha! What's wrong, Fenton? Are you scared?"
"Leave me alone, Dash," Danny squeaked back from his position on the rocks that surrounded the playground, covered in dust and looking miserable.
"Aw, does the little baby want his mommy? Are you gonna go cry now, Fenton?" The blond boy hovered over Danny, laughing evilly while his other cronies closed in from the sides. The eight year old curled up, hugging his knees.
"Hey, leave him alone!" They bullies' focus shifted from their victim on the ground to the source of the voice.
Eight year old Samantha Manson stood with her ands on her hips, giving Dash a death glare through amethyst eyes. Her black polka-dotted purple sundress swirled around her, giving her a more intimidating look, despite the fact that they boys were all taller than she.
"Are you deaf? I said back off," she snapped as though Dash and his friends were stupid.
This earned her a disdainful snort. "Look, Fenton had girls sticking up for him now," one jeered.
"I bet he has her cooties," another added.
"Yuck, girl cooties," a third one echoed.
"Boys are the ones with cooties," Sam shot back. "You must be, because you're so mean!"
"Run along and play, girlie," Dash mocked.
Suddenly Dash was on the ground, squealing madly as Sam tackled him and rolling around to try to throw her off.
When he finally wrestled free, he had a bruised knee and a scraped elbow that was bleeding slightly. Sam's ponytail was coming loose and her black scrunchie had fallen out, but she did look pleased.
"She's crazy," Dash shouted as his cronies helped him back to his feet. "Run!"
The boys took off across the playground, scrambling back over to the jungle gym, which served as their base of operations most days.
Sam crossed her arms and glared at their retreating backs. "Stupid bullies. they won't try that again anytime soon." A sniffle from below drew her attention.
Danny was staring at his leg, where a bruise was beginning to form from one of the other boys kicking him. He wasn't crying yet, but he looked ready to start.
"You don't have to cry, it'll be gone in a couple days anyway," she told him matter-of-factly. "Geez, why do you let them beat you up?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. I just can't stop them." Her snort told him that she found that answer pathetic.
"That's pretty sad. You can't even stick up for yourself." Sam sighed, shaking her head, and stuck out a hand to lift the dejected boy up off of the dusty rocks.
"You seem to do a pretty good job of that," Danny argued back.
Sam sighed. "Fine. Tell you what, from now on, I'll protect you."
His blue eyes shone. "Really? You will? Forever?"
Sam nodded. "Forever. C'mon, let's go play on the swings."
Ah, to be in third grade again...the good old days. That was pathetically short, but at least it is no longer inside of my brain, ne?
