Broken Record
"Goodness is easier to recognize then to define."
H. Auden
"Danny," Jack whispered looking at his son's sleeping form next to the woman he loved. She refused to leave him alone afraid that he would disappear again in the middle of the night. His son's chest gently rose and fell, until Maddie adjusted herself. Then his breath hitched, and he stopped for a few seconds before it started again quicker and then gently went back to normal. "Please be okay," he whispered as he watched for a few more moments until sleep started to get him once more, and then he slowly made his way back to his room. He laid next to the empty spot where his wife normally slept, only this time she's not there because Danny was home, and she was with him. That helped him find a much more peaceful sleep that night.
"Morning Jazz," Danny grinned as Jazz walked downstairs. Jack watched from the lab as Jazz greeted him back before realizing he was home.
"DANNY," Jazz exclaimed running up to him and hugging him to death. Jack smiled glad that everything was going back to normal. He walked the rest of the way down the stairs and started his investigation into who had taken his son. He had figured that it was something to do with Phantom since he was also gone that week, but he heard from a source that Phantom was caught by the Guys in White. He actually felt bad for Phantom at that. He was hoping to at least get to talk to Phantom and maybe do a couple things, but what they wanted from the ghost was beyond what he believe should be gotten from a ghost. They wanted a weapon; he wanted to know more ghosts in general. He wanted to learn more about them in case something more happened and they needed protection from them. He wanted Phantom, but from what he heard they were doing, there wasn't going to be much of Phantom left. At least not enough to get anything worth it, Jack sighed as his thoughts turned him in circles. Then he remembered that sound right before Danny showed up. The one that alarmed him to check on his wife, and then it came to him as to what it was: the sound barrier being broken.
"Phantom," Jack whispered smiling like a manic. Phantom could get out of anything, and if knowing Phantom, he got away. "Good for you," Jack whispered looking at a picture they had of the ghost in the lab. He felt better when Phantom was around. He wouldn't say anything, but Phantom gave him hope for a better future. He wanted to know why Phantom made him feel that way, and that was the main reason he went after the ghost anymore, but he wasn't going to explain that little bit until he had him. And he definitely wasn't going to go around and tell everyone that. It would make him sound weak.
"Mads, I'm home," Jack boomed walking into the room. He had gone to the store since they hadn't gotten much after Danny disappeared. Maddie looked up and gave him a sharp look.
"Jack, be quiet," Maddie hissed. Danny was sound asleep on her lap facing Jack. He moved a little when Maddie had put a hand on his shoulder.
"How is he?" Jack asked quieter walking up to his son. Maddie smiled softly and started running her fingers though Danny's hair undoing knots.
"He cried himself to sleep," Maddie explained watching her son's chest rise and fall as he adjusted himself a little into a more comfortable position. Jack felt like his world was slowly healing with his family complete. "I think it's getting to him, but he'll be okay in time. He just needs to get over whatever it is that's stopping him from telling us."
"How long till then?" Jack asked worried that he may lose his son again. He gently laid his hand on his son's side and felt the wrapping on his side. "What do you think happened?" he changed the topic. He never seen the wounds under the wraps, but Maddie had told him of what she had witnessed. He wanted to keep his family safe, and now his son was in pain and there was nothing that could be done.
"How long? He may never tell us what really happened, but more likely bits and pieces, but for what I think happened. I honestly don't know," Maddie admitted. "Someone wanted information from him, and from the looks of his body, I would say he wouldn't give them it." Jack looked at his only son sadly wondering if on some level it was his fault. Maybe they wanted information that was part of their weapons against ghosts, and Danny didn't have any. Maybe what they wanted, Danny didn't know, and that's why they tortured him, or maybe a ghost took him just for the same info so they could avoid them.
"Do you think he was taken by a ghost?" Jack asked as anger seeped into his voice. If it was a ghost, then they were going to be ripped apart…molecule…by…molecule. Maddie looked up at her husband sadly.
"Maybe, but only Danny can tell us," Maddie answered looking down at Danny. Danny moved and then screamed out sitting straight up. Both Maddie and Jack jumped at the sudden action. "Danny, it's okay, calm down."
"Wha…What happened?" Danny sputtered out shaking. Maddie reached for him, but he jumped away to the other end of the couch.
"Danny, it's okay. No one here is going to hurt you. Sweetie, come here," Maddie murmured patting the place besides her. Danny looked at her before looking at his dad and cringing. Jack frowned afraid that Danny was really terrified of him. He stood up.
"I'll just go to the kitchen," Jack muttered walking away to let his wife and son talk. It felt weird, but something told him that Danny wasn't going to be very comfortable with him there listening in. Jack sat at the table watching as Maddie tried to get though to Danny. He only knew that his son was broken enough to cry himself to sleep with his mother, and that he wanted to make the people-no creatures- who tortured such a young boy pay.
"Dad, where's Mom and Danny?" Jazz asked walking in the living after looking though the house. Jack looked up from his newspaper.
"Mads took Danny to the hospital. She's worried that something is wrong," Jack explained looking at his daughter sadly. "Chances are though it'll be like last time, and they get into a fight and Danny comes home and leaves before Maddie gets here." Jazz sighed.
"I think Danny just needs time," Jazz whispered walking up to her dad and hugging him. "He won't talk to me about what really happened, but I think he'll come around and eventually tell you the truth." Jack sighed figuring that was the answer.
"Alright, Jazzeriness," he whispered holding her hand. "I love you kids, you know that right?"
"Yes, Dad, we know, and we love you as well," Jazz grinned running up to her room to start on her homework. Jack watched glad that at least one of his children was safe and sound at the moment. He looked at the door as Danny walked though.
"Again?" Jack asked smiling as Danny cringed and shied away slightly. "You know, you could just let her take you all the way there instead of bailing out at the last minute. It may settle her mind."
"I'm fine," Danny growled, but then went wide eyed and backed away. Jack looked confused until Danny turned and ran into his room. Jack sighed figuring that Danny was still remembering what would happen if he talked back wherever he was. It saddened Jack that they made Danny think that they would do the same things.
"Danny, what am I gonna do now?" Jack sighed as there was a knock at the door. He got up and answered it. "Sam?"
"Is Danny here?" she asked worriedly. "We were going to Tucker's." Jack nodded and pointed up to his son's room. Sam nodded and ran up the stairs.
"I hope he is at least," Jack whispered as he heard Sam slam his son's door. He walked back to the couch when a noise in the lab caught his attention. He ran down the steps and stopped when he seen Phantom being thrown out of the portal. His eyes were wide and terrified. Jack quickly grabbed an ecto gun and pointed it at the portal waiting for something to come running out. Only nothing ever did. He looked back at Phantom who was shaking and ectoplasm was coming from an unseen wound. Jack slowly walked up aiming his gun just in case Phantom decided to attack. He wouldn't blame him if he did. After hearing what had happened, and how Phantom was treated, Jack wouldn't blame the ghost for just letting Amity fend for itself.
"Get away," Phantom warned closing his eyes. He looked in pain, but he stood up and turned away from Jack and faced the portal tensing. Jack looked at the young ghost's back and winced knowing that the Guys in White had caused most of the scars lining it. But what got his attention was that they looked similar to what Maddie described as Danny's wounds when she wrapped them. Jack wanted to question the ghost at that. What if Phantom had saved Danny when the Guys in White were there and caught both? Tried to see if torturing Danny would set something off in Phantom? Break him maybe? Then try to get any info Maddie refused to give to them? Jack felt anger that they would do that. He knew they were hurting something to try to get something out of the ghost.
"Phantom?" Jack whispered slowly making his way to the controls. He hit the 'close portal.' Phantom nearly jumped out of his skin when the doors suddenly appeared. He turned lighting his hand up and aiming it at Jack's head. Jack put his hands up not wanting to engage the slightly delusional and frightened ghost. He could tell that Phantom wasn't completely all there by the way his eyes were. They were clouded with fear. He was petrified of Jack, and that was something Jack did not want. "I'm not going to hurt you," Jack promised calmly and took a step closer. Phantom shot an ectoblast by his head.
"Don't come any closer," Phantom hissed shaking. Jack nodded and stayed where he was. He watched as the ghost was starting to break down, and his previous thoughts came back. They tortured this ghost and then tried to destroy what he was. Jack understood most of the obsessiveness of ghosts, and he figured that maybe Phantom's was to protect. He was afraid to ask anymore to Maddie about the theory since she was determined to rip Phantom apart, so he kept to himself.
"Did the Guys in White have my son?" Jack asked wanting to get an answer for his thoughts. Phantom faltered slightly put off by the question. He stopped at a noise coming from upstairs as Jazz came down the stairs and out the front door. "Please, tell me. I need to know. I need to know what they did. I know what they wanted from you, and…please."
"Yes," Phantom put his hand down, but never relaxed. Jack figured that the ghost was never going to be able to relax near humans again after what they had done. They had ruined any chances of Jack getting any answers. Especially with a good word and honesty, they were thrown out the window without trying to gain the ghost's trust. And as for now, he probably doesn't trust the people he used to very well.
"Do you know what they did to him?" Jack asked relaxing his body hoping to get Phantom to relax just enough so that he could gain a sense of safety. The ghost wasn't relaxing, but he did start shaking again. His aura became powerful as well. Green and blue swirled above his suit ready to be used when necessary. Jack had only ever seen this once with another ghost when it felt trapped. It wasn't a very powerful ghost, and Jack was worried since Phantom was. Phantom felt cornered, and that was something Jack was trying to avoid. "You can go, I'm not going to keep you here. I believe you have been trapped enough," Jack assured putting his hands higher up waiting for Phantom to relax the energy swirling around him.
"I know," Phantom whispered as the energy condensed and gathered near his chest as to protect it. Jack realized they had probably tried to dissect him when he escaped. It didn't surprise him that Phantom got violent, but from what he heard, the worst Phantom did was three million in damage and a lot of research lost. He had asked about deaths, and no one would give him a straight answer. Jack watched as Phantom backed away from Jack afraid that he was going to attack.
"Were you the one that got Danny out?" Jack asked needing to know the answer. If Phantom did, he was going to just stop hunting him. Phantom looked up surprised Jack was talking to him like a person.
"Yes," Phantom answered deciding that it was best and the closest to the truth. Maybe he could get them to lighten hunting him.
"Thank you," Jack smiled gently. "Thanks for saving him when I couldn't." Phantom looked up startled. Jack took a hesitant step forward hoping that maybe he could get a few answers from Phantom. Unfortunately, it sent Phantom into panic mode, and Jack ducked as Phantom lost control. He was shaking violently and energy was blowing random vials up. Jack watched as Phantom seemed to shoot at delusions.
"Get away," Phantom screamed grabbing his head. Jack realized what was happening and quickly reached for a net hoping to keep Phantom from destroying the house. He looked up again and seen pure fear in the ghost's eyes.
"Phantom, it's all in your head," Jack informed hoping to get some sense into him, but Phantom was long gone. The Guys in White had shot him up with illegal drugs hoping to get more info on what to do when someone was being forced out of the addiction, and now Jack was the only one able to stop Phantom from freaking. He aimed carefully and shot Phantom getting him stuck to the other wall. Phantom screamed, and Jack winced at the pain that was sounding though. He was also glad that the lab was soundproof, otherwise Danny might come down and that would just be really bad for Phantom.
"Get away," Phantom whispered, and Jack felt something off. The ghost was crying, and something was telling Jack that Phantom had been broken. He growled slightly. It doesn't matter what the thing was or what it may have done, but breaking was crossing the line with him. He may not be the smartest person alive, but no one deserves what Phantom went though. He cautiously made his way up to Phantom afraid that maybe sudden movements could set Phantom off, and he get away. That would be dangerous for everyone involved.
"Phantom," Jack calmly whispered. "I know what's going on. I just want to help." Phantom slowly calmed, but his energy started surrounding the net ready to destroy it. "Please, don't. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Stop," Phantom whispered as he hung his head. Jack didn't understand until he remembered what had happened. "Please, I didn't…" Phantom lost himself in his mind, and Jack just grabbed a needle and vial filling it with water hoping to cancel out the affect of whatever was missing in Phantom's system.
"Phantom, it's okay," Jack assured moving part of the net so he could get at the ghost's arm. "It's going to feel weird, but it should help with whatever is going on." He had done an experiment with a smaller ghost in seeing what would happened if something was missing. Water was a great substitute since the ghost could make it into whatever it needed, and Jack was amazed at how the ghost did it. It couldn't completely fix the problem, but it was close enough to where the ghost could use it while the body adjusted enough so it could live without it. Phantom tilted his head to the side to glare at Jack while he injected the water. "It's okay," Jack whispered hoping the same thing would happen to Phantom.
"What's in..in it?" Phantom stammered afraid of getting yelled at for asking what was being put in his body. Jack watched as Phantom closed his eyes and his aura died down. Jack smiled gently hoping to calm the hybrid farther.
"It's just water. I once took something away from one little ghost and replaced it with water. The ghost used the water to replace what was missing, and maybe it'll work for whatever those guys were pumping into you," Jack explained slowly pulling the needle out. Phantom seemed calm, and Jack figured the reason Phantom freaked out was the sudden cut off from some drug they had him addicted to. "I don't think that anyone should have to go through what the Guys in White did." Phantom stiffened at the mention of the Guys in White. Jack remained calm not wanting Phantom to deem him as the threat. "It'll be okay, if what I've learned is correct and works for all ghosts, then you should be fine in about a week," Jack stated calmly gently grabbing the net. Phantom tensed and shot up destroying the net and crashing into a table. Jack jumped back out of the way so Phantom didn't hit him.
"Get away," Phantom yelled backing into a corner. He was trembling, and Jack watched as his eyes drooped. Phantom opened his eyes again, but they were dulled. "Don't come closer." Jack sighed and stood up from when he had ducked.
"I won't," Jack promised putting his hands up in surrender hoping not to freak the ghost out again. "I'm not going to move. Take your time."
"Why are you being nice?" Phantom asked wearily as his system started working on the water. Jack smiled as Phantom started getting drowsy.
"I have a limit," Jack explained slowly walking up to Phantom. "I think you've been through enough already, and you saved my family probably more times than I can count." Phantom tried to bury himself farther into the wall as Jack kneeled in front of him.
"It wasn't water, was it?" Phantom mumbled.
"No, it was water," Jack assured gently grabbing Phantom's wrist to take his pulse. Some ghosts had a pulse that ran though their body to get energy though it. "I'm not sure on everything about how it works, but it will make you drowsy at first." Phantom looked at him with worry.
"Nothing going to happen to me right?" Phantom asked like a little child. Jack felt his heart swell. Ghost or not, that was what Phantom was: a young child trying to make the best of what life threw at him.
"No, I won't let it," Jack whispered as Phantom slipped into unconsciousness. He gently picked the ghost up noticing that he weighed almost nothing. "I guess they starved you to," Jack whispered knowing his son was thin as well. Jack took him to the guest room of the house and laid him gently on the bed. "You'll be safe here," Jack whispered pulling the blanket over Phantom's body. A shudder ran though his body, but Jack knew that Phantom would fine and that his plan worked.
"Is Danny here?" Maddie asked entering the home and looking around nervously. Jack looked up from the couch.
"He was, until Sam came and he went with her to Tucker's," Jack answered catching the table on fire. He quickly put it out. "Sorry." Maddie sighed.
"Okay, thanks," she whispered heading up to Danny's room. Jack sighed thinking of the ghost he had in the guest room. He wasn't going to tell Maddie just yet of it, and he was a little embarrassed that he had helped the ghost instead of catching him. The Guys in White had a bounty, but it went away after two days after Phantom escaped. Jack figured Phantom screwed up an experiment, and they wanted him back as fast as possible. Jack sighed figuring he should check on Phantom. He walked up the steps quietly and opened the guest bedroom to see Phantom sitting on the bed with the bed made so well you could bounce a quarter off it.
"Why did you help me?" Phantom whispered looking at his hands. He was paler and his eyes were darker than Jack remembered from earlier. Phantom reminded Jack of a drug addict, and he felt terrible for it. It wouldn't take long for Phantom to recover from it since his makeup could process things quicker, and from what Jack knew about ghosts, Phantom would be able to recover there. Jack sighed and walked slowly over to Phantom. He wasn't tense, but he seemed more alert.
"You saved my son when I couldn't even begin to think of where he could be," Jack whispered. "It's the least I could do." Phantom looked up and smiled slightly. He moved slightly and winced. "Do you know what they used?" Phantom sighed and looked back down at his hands.
"They never told me what they were sticking in me," Phantom responded sadly. "If I asked, they…" Phantom cut off as tears started down his face. Jack gently put his hand over Phantom's.
"The Fenton's aren't going after you anymore," Jack offered. Phantom looked up alarmed that it was a trap. "As long as you come back here in the morning and evening."
"Why?" Phantom snapped as a shudder racked his thin frame. "So you can get what you want?"
"No," Jack stated sternly. "You need to. In the lab, you revealed to me a side that could be extremely dangerous if you don't get help." Phantom looked up slightly dazed.
"I don't understand. I can only remember bits and pieces," Phantom mumbled as he started shaking. Jack smiled slightly as the hybrid looked up at him confused.
"You're going though withdraw. They were probably shooting you up with who knows how many different types of addictive drugs," Jack explained standing up and going into the bathroom and grabbing a cup and filling it with water. He walked back in to see Phantom standing and looking out a window. "Here, it should work without me having to inject it." Phantom stiffened at the end of the sentence.
"I remember you sticking something in my arm and said that it was water," Phantom whispered turning to him. "That was what put me out." Jack nodded.
"From what I learned about another experiment," Jack began a little excited. Phantom recoiled at the tone. "Your body can take water and use it as a replacement for something until it learned how to operate without it. If we could find a way to duplicate that, we could find better ways to help people recover from addiction."
"I don't want to be an experiment," Phantom muttered backing away, and then did Jack realize he went off into his own theories.
"I'm sorry," Jack apologized not wanting to upset the ghost. "Just something I was thinking about. I think you've been through enough, but you still should take the water." Phantom looked at the cup in Jack's hand and closed his eyes.
"I can't, it hurts," Phantom mumbled. "It hurts." Jack cautiously walked forward to look closer at Phantom's neck line to see if it was anything on the surface causing the discomfort.
"Can I see?" Jack asked not wanting to get too close and have Phantom disappear. "Please, maybe I can help?" Phantom looked up at him with fear in his eyes. "I'll try not to do anything to hurt you. I just want to see if there is anything there that maybe I can fix."
"Okay," Phantom whispered shaky. Jack made sure not to have any sudden movement when he kneeled in front of Phantom. Phantom tensed and closed his eyes as he trembled.
"I'm not going to hurt you. Can you open your eyes for me?" Jack asked watching Phantom slowly open them. "I want to be able to see if you're in pain or not, and I can tell you probably won't say it, but I can tell though your eyes," Jack explained his reason as he reached for the neckline of Phantom's jumpsuit. Phantom took in a shaky breath remembering the last day. The worst day when they torn him down so far that he wasn't going to be able to stand back up very easily. It was his breaking point, but he wasn't going to let them win.
"I…I," Phantom stammered wanting to back away knowing that he could. "Please, don't, I can't do this," Phantom muttered reaching to stop Jack from pulling the zipper down. Jack looked at Phantom sadly realizing something was done that Phantom wasn't too happy or comfortable with. "Please."
"I'm not going to take it all the way, just enough to see where the redness from your neck is starting," Jack pointed out to the redness right at the neckline of the suit. "That's all I need to see, I promise." Phantom stepped away feeling slightly empowered when Jack didn't follow and try to force him.
"I'll be fine," Phantom murmured holding his chest. Jack sat back as Phantom tried to hold himself together. "I have to."
"Phantom, I don't know what they did, or what it is, but you are far from fine right now. The only thing that'll help you is if you get water into your body," Jack urged not wanting Phantom to run and then put the city in danger. Phantom was unstable, and Jack wasn't going to let him wonder around like that. Phantom reached for the zipper of his suit and pulled it down enough so that only his neck would show and walked closer to Jack. Jack looked into Phantom's eyes to see hostility and fear. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I've heard that before," Phantom growled. Normally Jack would have shot back at the ghost, but he could tell that Phantom was insecure and that would only make everything worse. The best thing was to let Phantom think he was in control, and Jack knew that hopefully he would realize that. As he looked at the redness, he noticed bruising around Phantom's neck as well. There was one that looked like a rope was wrapped around his neck, and then another looked like someone held him down.
"Can you show me where it hurts the most?" Jack asked offering his large hand. Phantom looked at it confused for a moment before he realized that Jack wanted him to guide it where it hurt.
"Everything hurts," Phantom whispered looking down. He gently took Jack's hand anyway and headed for the base of his neck getting shakier the closer to the skin Jack's hand got. "Please don't hurt me."
"I'll try not to," Jack promised gently pressing on it. Phantom winced as Jack tried to feel for anything that might give him a clue as to what was causing it. Jack frowned when he realized what it probably was. "I think I know what it is, but I doubt I can get it out with you conscious."
"What is it?" Phantom asked fearfully. Jack sighed and looked up into Phantom's petrified eyes.
"I did this once, but that was only to see what would happen," Jack explained. "It's an injection of calcium. It's hardened so chances are they did it in the middle of the week. But I thought that the ghost's body would absorb it. I was wrong, and I had to get it out. The ghost wasn't very big to begin with, and either was the injection, but I didn't leave it in long enough for it to solidify." Phantom just blinked not understanding the point exactly.
"Why?" Phantom asked curiously, and Jack wondered if maybe Phantom was into science himself.
"I had a theory that I kinda explained to them. I may have been part of the reason that they injected it into you," Jack whispered looking down feeling slightly guilty. Phantom looked at his boots still not getting it, but decided not to press it.
"How long can it stay?" Phantom asked worriedly. "Would it kill me again?" Jack looked up at the tone Phantom had used.
"I don't know; I never kept it in long enough to find out. I didn't want to put any of the ghosts at risk," Jack explained pressing slightly harder. Phantom whimpered, and Jack let his hand drop. "I can get water in a vial like what I did in the lab, but I don't know if it'll put you out like it did before. You're more stable now, but I'm not letting you leave with that calcium stuck in your neck."
"Do you have sleeping pills?" Phantom asked shyly. "They work as well."
"Have you taken them before as a ghost?" Jack asked tilting his head in confusion. Phantom nodded.
"They did there to see if they would kill me," Phantom mumbled rubbing his arm and shaking again. Jack noticed this shaking was more like what it was in the lab than earlier in their conversation. "It just put me out for a couple hours. It ran though my system fast." Jack nodded figuring as much.
"I can get some, but are you sure?" Jack asked wondering what possessed the ghost to trust him. Phantom looked up at him and smiled slightly.
"I think I'll be fine," Phantom whispered as a shudder racked his body. "I also think that you at least know what you're trying to do." Jack nodded and walked into the hallway and stepped over to his bathroom.
"Why is Phantom in the guest room?" Maddie asked walking out in the hallway. She looked worriedly down the hall. "Why don't you have in the lab?"
"He saved Danny," Jack whispered pulling her into the bathroom with him. "The Guys in White had Danny. They used him against Phantom." Maddie gasped looking at the door.
"You don't really believe that do you?" she asked narrowing her eyes. Jack sighed and ran a hand though his hair.
"I gave him my trust for saving Danny, and he gave me his for letting me get the calcium they injected into his neck so he can get through the withdraw," Jack explained grabbing the sleeping pills.
"Withdraw? I didn't think ghosts could be addicts," Maddie mused looking thoughtful. Jack sighed.
"They can, but let's not look into it, okay?" Jack whispered pulling her into a hug. "From what you told me about Danny, Phantom has the same wounds. From what I guessed was his obsession, wouldn't keeping him from saving someone be torture for him." Maddie looked at her husband and sighed.
"I guess so," she whispered stepping away from Jack. "Danny called and said that he was sleeping at Tucker's. I told him I wanted him home, but he said it was late, and he wanted to spend time with his friends. I'm going to sleep in his room tonight if that's okay."
"You don't need my permission," Jack whispered in her ear leaning forward. "I'm always going to be there for you." Maddie smiled glad that Jack loved her no matter how many nights she stayed in her son's room during that week. Jack kissed her and walked out and to the guest room where Phantom was laying on the bed staring at the ceiling. He was trembling so bad that Jack was afraid that maybe he should inject Phantom with water again just so the ghost would sit still.
"You ever see something white being injected in a person and see them scream and not be able to do anything as they pass out and are dragged away," Phantom mumbled blankly staring at the ceiling. Jack slowly walked up to him. "Then you see them take the same stuff and inject into your arm and you can't scream, you just sit there and take the pain unsure of how to react." Jack stopped and watched as Phantom slowly sat up. "I think that should be investigated, but no one will look into it since I'm a ghost. I don't have rights, but I'm pretty sure the people that were there do. Why did they use humans if they are ghost hunters?" Jack's mouth was hanging open surprised at the bluntness Phantom had put that in. "Mr. Fenton?" He was surprised would call him that.
"Phantom," he began but watched as Phantom looked sadly at the ground afraid he did something wrong. "I don't have an answer, but you do have rights. Don't let them tell you different. Were you born in America?" Phantom nodded, and Jack winced when he played back what he said, then became confused, but shrugged it off. "You have rights. I have the pills, can you get them down?" Phantom looked at them unsure.
"I don't know," he whispered as Jack handed him a couple, but he was shaking so badly that one fell. Phantom closed his eyes. "Probably not with as bad as I'm shaking." Jack winced at the hurt Phantom held in his voice and eyes. "They had crushed them up and injected them straight into my system though my stomach."
"I'm not doing that," Jack stated sternly. "That's way too dangerous." Phantom looked up at him and smiled slightly. "However, I might be able to get you to stop shaking, but you have to trust me." Phantom looked down as a shudder ran though his body again. Jack knew there was little time before the ghost would lose his cool.
"What do you have to do?" Phantom asked looking up at Jack. Jack held up a small vial that was empty.
"Fill this with water and inject it in your arm," he explained hoping that Phantom would be able to handle it. It was the only thing he could think of at the time. Phantom looked at the needle warily.
"I…I" Phantom stammered again. Jack let the ghost gain control of himself more. "I can handle it," he whispered more to himself than to Jack. Jack picked up the cup he had wanted Phantom to originally drink and sucked the water into the vial. Phantom was tense when Jack kneeled in front of him again. Jack held out his hand letting Phantom give Jack his arm so that way Phantom would still be in control. Phantom let his arm drop into Jack's hand, and Jack gently pulled down Phantom's glove so he could get to his inner elbow.
"This is easier than you in that net," Jack smiled softly trying to get Phantom to relax somewhat so it didn't hurt him as badly. Phantom tried to smile, but it didn't work as well when the needle gently poked him. Phantom stiffened and Jack was afraid that something went wrong when Phantom shook one more time. "Phantom, you okay, buddy?" Phantom nodded looking at Jack hoping to get it over with quickly. Jack inserted the needle and emptied the water into Phantom's system. He stopped shaking and just stared at Jack for a few moments. Jack was slightly creeped out by it.
"That was weird," Phantom mumbled taking his arm away. Jack stood up and handed Phantom the pills. "Why didn't it make me pass out like last time?" Jack smiled.
"Your body knows what it needs to do," Jack said giving him the cup of water. "It's realizing that whatever drug you were addicted to is no longer being put in, it needs something to use as a false thing to trick your mind. I'm not entirely sure how it works, but it's safer than testing every drug out there until we find it." Phantom nodded.
"This is still going to hurt," he muttered putting them in his mouth and swallowing. He held the base of his neck and winced. "I was right," he muttered darkly. "I never was one to do drugs, how is it that I get addicted to them after I die?" Jack looked at the teen and realized that he died at a young age.
"Can I ask a question?" Jack asked as Phantom looked up at him wearily. He about fell over.
"You don't have much time," he whispered closing his eyes as his breathing slowed.
"How did you die?" Jack asked. He couldn't help it; he was a scientist. Phantom slightly opened his eyes to look at him and smiled in his delusional state that the pills put him in.
"Never really said I was completely dead, now did I? However, I did manage to get myself electrocuted half to death," he mumbled falling backwards on the bed. He grinned. "Literally," Phantom murmured as he slipped away.
Jack stood there shocked unsure of what to think when he remember the matter at hand and the reason he needed Phantom out in the first place. He grabbed the kit he had previously made for emergencies, and took out the scalpel. He pulled back Phantom's jumpsuit so he could get to his neck easier, but the bruises on Phantom's chest ticked him off beyond what he had been expecting. He ignored them in favor of getting the solid calcium out before looking farther into the bruising. He put a towel under Phantom's neck to prevent ectoplasm from staining the sheets. Red and green slowly creeped out of the incision, and Jack understood why Phantom said half to death. He was still alive, somewhat. He could ask about the technicalities later as he opened the skin up enough to see the calcium. He dug it out and noticed it was in a perfect circle, which is what happened even when it was liquid. He put the info aside not wanting to really learn anything from the pain and torture Phantom went though.
"What did they really do to you?" Jack whispered pulling Phantom's jumpsuit farther down so he could see the hybrid's chest. Bruising went all way the under his jumpsuit, and Jack figured they did everything they could think of to the ghost to break him. Phantom shifted, and Jack figured he'd have to wait on those answers. He zipped Phantom's suit back up after dressing and wrapping the incision he made to get the calcium deposit out. Jack walked back into the bathroom and cleaned off the scalpel and towel he kept under Phantom's neck. He may have kept it if it wasn't for the fact that Phantom had been though hell. He heard something fall and ran out of the bathroom to see Phantom in the corner trembling violently. "Easy, Phantom. It's okay," Jack stated calmly walking up to the hybrid.
"What…what," Phantom stammered holding his neck to protect it. Jack walked up to him and kneeled down carefully. Phantom looked up at him with betrayal feeling as though Jack didn't keep his promise. "Why?"
"Phantom," Jack whispered holding out his hand. "I only took the calcium out; I didn't do anymore than that." Phantom was still shaking, and Jack started to wonder if maybe Phantom was delusional again. "It's okay."
"No, something doesn't feel right," Phantom whispered pulling his legs to his chest. Jack didn't know what to do.
"Phantom, I can't help you unless you tell me what is wrong," Jack mumbled hoping to help the young ghost. Phantom just shook more. "Please, I didn't do anything more than remove the top part of your suit so I could get to it better. I seen the bruising, but I didn't go farther than necessary, I promise." Phantom looked up unsure.
"What..what did you really see?" Phantom asked timidly. Jack sighed and sat back giving Phantom some room.
"A young boy who was tortured by evil vermin," Jack stated sternly. Phantom seemed okay with the answer as he tried to stand. He almost fell back down until Jack caught his shoulder. Phantom winced in pain, but seemed to lean all his weight into Jack. "Want back on the bed?"
"I should go," Phantom mumbled. Jack looked at the clock and realized that it was almost three in the morning.
"No, stay the night here, you aren't in any condition to go out there in the dark, ghost or not," Jack ordered. "That's when you are more likely to get caught again." Phantom looked up at him with a smile. He had already called Sam and told her that he was fine and that he would more than likely end up staying at his own house, just as Phantom. She didn't think it was a good idea until he told her that his dad thought he saved himself, but Phantom didn't want to act like he had nowhere else to go.
"Alright, can I make call though? I have friends, and they have been helping me out," Phantom asked as Jack helped him sit on the bed. Jack nodded and left to get the phone. When he came back Phantom was lying on his back.
"Phantom, you still with me?" Jack questioned holding out the phone for the ghost to take only to see that Phantom was out. "Guess not. I hope whoever he was going to call isn't too worried. He didn't seem like it."
Danny: I hate you...
Me: Anyone want to guess what Phantom's addicted to?
Danny:...You know how many drugs are there...the chances of them being able to get it right are small.
Me: Shut up, it's one of the common ones, don't worry about that...now if you guess right, I'll put the next part up right away...if not then I want at least seven reviews...got it
Danny: Remember, this has skipped over the main parts os Silent Tears for the first week, and now we're in the second week...the last part of Silent hasn't happened, and this is from Jack's view more than anything else. Any questions? Ask, because she wrote on this for twelve hours straight and it ended up thirty pages...keep her writing and this also goes with Seeing Sounds
Me: I love you people!