Someone on AO3 wanted an update so I broke through my writer's block to post this. As always its un-beta'd, please R&R, don't hate the plot bunny and don't throw spoons at the writers, it scares us.

Vlad had one more idea, it was crazy and bound to fail but what else could he do. He slowly got off the floor and carried Danny's limp body out of the lab, up the stairs and back to his bedroom. He gently placed Danny on the bed tucking a few strands of hair behind his ear before stepping back.

"I can't do this, this is wrong." he muttered to himself, the little voice in the back of his head, that oddly sounded like Plasmius responded 'It may work, at this point it won't do any harm, if it does, deal with the consequences after you help him get better.'

Vlad sighed and pulled his tie off. He took one last look at Danny's still form before sniffing and standing up straight. It had to work. Before he thought much more he unbuttoned his shirt, laying it on the chair beside the bed he paused. Was he really doing this? For the slim chance? Yes. He needed to. He quickly popped the button on his pants and pulled them over his hips leaving him in his silk boxers. He folded them carefully, placed them on the chair, he turned to the bed and paused. 'Do it you weakling' there was Plasmius again. Vlad nodded and slid in bed beside Danny. Pulling the boy into his arms he sniffled again but shook his head.

"This will work." He moved so he was curled around Danny. If it was any other situation he would have laughed at the fact he was spooning Daniel. But this was no laughing matter. He pulled the boy closer and closed his eyes willing his core to expand. He felt a push from the other side and opened his eyes to see Plasmius laying on the other side of the bed.

"Go away. I didn't call you out."

Plasmius chuckled. "No you didn't call me out, I'm here on my own. You may want the human-half back but I want the ghost-half. We need them. I need Phantom and you need Daniel. Without Phantom, Danny is just a human child, a shell. Phantom can bring him back."

Vlad growled and clutched Danny tighter but it made sense if it wasn't for Plasmius or Phantom this...this Thing wouldn't have happened. Closing his eyes he pushed out his core again but didn't relent when he felt the push from the other side. When they met finally a shot of pure molten lava went through Vlad, he had to grit his teeth not to scream. He could take it. He could take it for Danny. After what seemed like hours Vlad was exhausted and fading. With one last push, he faded to black.

He woke slowly, there was an unfamiliar weight in his arms. Opening his eyes he saw Danny in the exact same position they were in before, the boy was ashen and still not breathing. It had failed. He pulled himself from his bed to stare at the still form still occupying it.

"I'm so sorry Daniel. This is all my fault." He redressed slowly but left off his tie and jacket. Biting his lip he looked at Daniel once more before leaving the room. He called the police saying he had been Letting Daniel stay at his home over the break, he came home after a business trip to find the boy dead, he didn't know for how long since when he came in he had assumed the boy to be sleeping. The police came out, Vlad made sure to be more than helpful. After many hours and a few possessions later the police left, the coroner would "find" that Danny had died peacefully in his sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition.

After the last few hours, the silence was too much, it made it to real. He had given all the staff time off to deal with the loss so the house was even more empty than normal. Deciding he couldn't stand the silence anymore he went to the garage and chose a car at random. A drive would get him away from their house, that's right, their house. It wasn't HIS house anymore it was THEIR house. The house he had shared with Danny, the house he could see them together in, Their house!

Vlad felt the back tires break loose on the dirt around a turn, he briefly glanced at the speedometer, 107, before letting off the gas letting the car slow itself. He briefly thought about how quick it would be if he decided to wrap his car around one of the many trees. Would he suffer as Danny suffered? No, his luck was just enough that he would die on impact. He slowed the car further as he got on the main road and decided on his destination.

The drive hadn't been bad besides the fact every cop he saw he wanted to scream at them that he killed a boy, He killed Daniel Fenton because he was too scared to tell the boy what was really going on. He finally pulled up to his destination and spent a moment composing himself in the car. Honestly, it wouldn't do any good, his hair was in disarray, he hadn't grabbed his jacket or a tie so he was left in his dress shirt and vest, his eyes were red from tears that had cascaded down his cheeks and those that refused to fall. All in all, he looked a mess, fitting as that's how he felt.

Sighing he slowly pulled his way out of his car and approached the door, a swift knock left him thinking if this was the right choice. Before he could even think to turn away the door opened revealing a broken man.

"Vlad? What are you doing here."

Vlad rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Hello Jack, I- well I honestly don't know."

there was silence before Vlad turned away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come."

He started down the path until a large hand gripped his shoulder turning him back towards the house.

"No, Please V-man, stay." Vlad let himself be led through the house to an armchair obviously meant for him to take. He slowly sat down and glanced around the room. Jack rejoined a distraught Maddie on the couch pulling her back into his shoulder, He guessed that Jazz along with Daniels friends were still at college blissfully unaware or currently on their way to where he currently sat.

"I am so, so sorry. I know..." Vlad cleared his throat "I know you will hear this a lot but I truly am. You raised a remarkable young man." Vlad felt his throat close thinking of the boy and had to clear it again. Maddie let out another sob burrowing into Jack's shoulder. At one time Vlad would have been envious but now all it brought him was sadness. He would never be able to hold Danny again, never see his smile at breakfast, never hear him laugh over the antics of the goats. He felt his chest tighten more at those thoughts and looked away. He had to get out of here

"If there is anything, I mean anything you need please call me." He quickly stood and headed towards the door. He was stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

"Wait!" Turning slowly he saw Maddie raising from the couch, she gingerly made her way over to him before wrapping him in her arms.

"Thank you for taking care of my baby while he was away at school. He used to call and tell us about classes and the goings-on. We couldn't be there for him but you were. Thank you."

Vlad felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He gave a quick goodbye before fleeing to his car. He winced at the sound the tires made as he drove off. He didn't want her thanks, he didn't deserve it. He hadn't "Taken care" of Danny if he had they wouldn't be in this situation. He drove street after street before noticing he had brought himself to his usual hotel when staying in Amity Park. Parking he walked inside, the woman behind the counter did a double take before coughing and handing him a room key, he didn't need to know what room. It was always the same one, reserved especially for him to use. Being a billionaire had its perks after all. Getting in the lift he swiped his card which automatically took him to the penthouse. Once he arrived he did the first thing he could think of, find the bar, grab the closest bottle, sink into a chair and wallow in self-pity.

The wallowing lasted about half a bottle till the anger took hold. It was his fault if he had just been there for Danny. If he had just explained, this wouldn't have happened. Right now they would be curled up on the sofa watching a movie, or he would be "reading" while secretly watching Danny play video games. But no! He had to go on that trip, he had to leave Danny behind to suffer through something he had no idea the cause of. He didn't deserve to live while Danny died.

'This is a bad idea' Plasmius said.

"Shut up. This is your fault too."

Before the voice could respond he transformed and flew out the window. He stayed intangible till he got to where he was looking for.

'don't do this'

Vlad just growled. "I told you to shut up. You don't get a say anymore."

Flying into the house he landed before the grieving couple.

'What would Danny say' was Plasmius' response

"DANNY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF ME!" he yelled back, He turned tangible and stared at the couple on the couch. "That's right Fenton's, your precious son is dead because I killed him." he turned away from them and laughed a cold broken laugh. He heard more than saw the Fenton's arming themselves. "I Vlad Plasmius, killed Daniel Fenton because I couldn't tell him the truth, I couldn't tell him what I was...what we were." the last part was whispered. He turned back around and dropped to his knees, raising his arms out to the side he closed his eyes. "So do your worst Fenton's, I deserve it all and more." He heard Maddie's broken scream before he felt plasma blasts tear into his body.

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING! FIGHT BACK, YOU WEAKLING!' Plasmius growled from inside his head

Vlad let the tears slip down his face. "I deserve this."

He blocked out the pain, this was nothing compared to what Daniel had felt in his last few moments, this is what he deserved. The blasts stopped as he slumped to the ground. He felt someone approach him and slid his eyes open to see Maddie with a Spirit knife.

"Why? Tell me why!" she dropped to her knees beside him raising the blade over his chest.

"Because I loved him."

Maddie sobbed again at the response, "You don't kill the ones you love."

Vlad felt himself try to shift back to human but resisted, this would be hard enough on them as it was, no need to uncover that until it was over.

"You do when you leave them. But I'll be with him soon, at least that is my hope. Now please." Vlad placed his hands over hers holding the knife. He brought it down till the tip dug into his chest. He looked her in the eyes and finally said.
"I killed him because he was my soul mate and I abandoned him." Maddie hesitated but he didn't give her time. He forced his own hands down with her burrowing the knife deep in his chest. He felt his rings finally take over reverting him to human. Maddie gasped and backed away letting Vlad's hands collapse beside him.

"Vlad?!" She brought her hands to her mouth and sobbed again.

Vlad just smiled and let out a soft "thank you" before closing his eyes and letting the darkness consume him.

~~~~~~The End~~~~~~

Yes, I fully admit I am a terrible human being.