Summary: Danny tries nursing a sick Ember back to health after finding her unconscious in Amity Park. A two-shot based on a WingsofMorphius pic. Minor DxE

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CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE ROCKER'S SOUL

Ahhhh… Ahhhhhhh….

Ah-CHHOOOOOO!!!

Piercing the relative silence of the ghost-zone was a good way to get noticed by the multitude of dangerous ecto-creatures that inhabited it; for Ember McClain that had never been a problem. Being one of the more powerful ghosts, she'd never had trouble keeping the weak little ecto-beings in line. She was also one of the few ghosts strong enough to make it into the living world. But ever since she'd caught an ecto-flu, things hadn't been going so well.

"Back-OFF!!" She screamed hoarsely, swinging her guitar in the air at the little green ghost that had been pestering her for hours. "I swear when I get better I'm gonna… gonnaaAhhh-CHOO!!"

"Haha!" The tiny thing cackled, whacking her on the back of the head as she recovered from her sneeze.

Spinning around quickly, she whapped the creature hard with the front of her guitar, sending it flying. After watching to make sure it was gone she promptly collapsed in exhaustion.

"Stupid flu, can't even use my guitar as anything except a mallet anymore." Unfortunately, the power in her guitar was linked with her voice which had gotten so bad it now only came out as a hoarse whisper. Many of her other ghost powers were also acting chaotic, plus just using them drained her considerably.

Walking slowly along a floating walkway, which twisted its way around through the ghost zones many realms; Ember couldn't help remembering back to when she had been alive and her mother made her chicken soup whenever she got sick. She didn't have many memories of her past life; they seemed to drift in and out of her mind from time to time, but were never clear enough for her to care about. She couldn't remember what her mother looked like, only that the soup always seemed to help when she was sick.

Her arms and legs felt heavy, the flu was getting progressively worse and she could feel the eyes of many ghosts focused on her from afar. Catching her eye up ahead, further down the path, was a dark green swirling portal.

"I've got… to get… out've here…" she said faintly. In the world of the living she could wait until her flu passed, rather then stay and be a target.

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Danny Fenton, alter ego of the towns famed ghost protector Danny Phantom, was just getting ready for bed when a jet of blue mist escaped his lips.

"Uh… why can't ghosts sleep like everyone else?" He looked over at his clock, "11:30, great. By the time I finish stuffing the Box Ghost into the Fenton Thermos It'll probably be morning." Two glowing rings formed around his waist and ran along his body, turning his pajamas into the tight jump-suit of Danny Phantom.

Turning intangible, Danny flew through the ceiling and into the night sky; Looking down at the dark homes of Amity Park. It didn't take long for him to spot the ghost, floating down the street only a block from his house.

"Ember!? Jeez now I wish it was the box ghost, I'll be fighting her all night!"

As Ember made her way into an alleyway, he flew down to get a closer look. Almost immediately he noticed something was wrong. She drifted slowly, seemingly unaware of her surroundings; when she landed, she swayed unsteadily on her feet bracing herself against a wall.

He heard coughing followed by a loud sneeze that scared several stray cats out of the alley. He could hear her muttering in a raspy voice that sounded strange coming from her. "…stupid flu… can't even fly…"

"Flu? Ghosts could get the flu?" He guessed that this meant Ember probably wasn't here to fight. He couldn't help at feel concerned as he watched her fall forward against a garbage can before sliding slowly along-side a wall for support, he wondered if she would be alright.

'Why should I even care?' He stopped himself there, realizing what he was saying. 'It's that kind of thinking that keeps Valerie from ever trusting me. I should help her, even if we're enemies.' He looked back at her and noticed her eyes were closed; she didn't seem to be awake.

'…or alive.' He knew he didn't have to worry about that at least.

Making his way slowly down the alley Danny realized he may be able to catch ghost flu in ghost form. He decided it would be best to change back into his human form; Danny Fenton now approached Embers ghostly form.

Standing so close to Ember while not in ghost form was a surreal experience; he felt vulnerable without his powers and had to fight the involuntary urge to go ghost. When he knelt down next to her it became apparent she was out cold; he reached forward and lifted her arm, watching it dangle limply. Her skin was warm to the touch, especially for a ghost. Sam had commented before that his skin was very cool, and he knew other ghosts were near subzero.

"Ghosts must heat up when they get sick." He let go of her arm; feeling uncomfortably like a kid poking a dead animal with a stick. "At least I know she's not faking"

"I got to get her out of this alley, and then… to Fenton works" he sighed, realizing how this could all go very wrong, very easily.

Carrying things had become so much easier since Danny got his ghost powers, in his ghost form he felt at least five to ten times stronger then normal; but not wanting to catch whatever Ember had, Danny resorted to carrying her without his powers.

"Nngghh!...Huughh… How could something made of ecto-energy weigh so much!" he cried.

The streets were empty of cars or pedestrians. Danny realised how strange he'd look to a passer-by, carrying former pop idol Ember McClain's body down a dark street in the dead of night. Though he was more worried of what would happen if she were to regain consciousness in his arms.

'At least the house has an arsenal of ecto-weapons.' though he knew the odds of her posing much of a threat was low.

Groan

Danny nearly dropped her right there, as he felt his heart beating a mile a minute in his chest. Looking down at her head dangling over his left arm, he didn't see any signs of her waking up. He lifted her closer to his chest, letting her head rest on his shoulder to prevent it from lolling around anymore. But as he did that she let out a sigh and curled up more in his arms; her right arm draping itself around his neck while her head pressed against his. She let out a less pained sigh.

Danny's gut twisted uncomfortably. Blushing in embarrassment, he hurried down the block a little quicker; finally arriving at his front door.

'Now to sneak quietly inside and up to the Ops-center' He thought, walking across the dark living room towards the kitchen.

Creeeeek

He froze, 'uhhhh… that wasn't me'

"Danny!" said an urgent whisper from the recliner in the shadows, a sliver of red hair illuminated from the streetlight outside.

Click! the lamp next to the chair flicked on.

"What did I tell you about late night ghost fighi- Oh My God!"

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Please R & R, interested to here what you think before I start the second part.