Happy 10th Dannyversary! Wow, that's hard to believe. It's the perfect time to post a collab and celebrate the fan community that's grown up around this awesome little show. Here's a collaboration fic, compliments of Anneriawings and Haiju. :)

Sharp pain slid across his chest — blood, warm and thick, soaked into his T-shirt. Danny's mouth parted in a silent scream. Claws slammed him into the concrete on either side of him. Curling his fingers into a crack in the floor, Danny arched himself upwards, pushing the ghost back. Its jaws snapped shut inches from his face.

He yanked up one knee close to his chest. Pain whipped across his ribs at the movement, but he ignored it and kicked out hard. His foot landed somewhere solid behind the slashing claws and limbs. Satisfaction flushed through him as the ghost yelped in pain. It toppled backward, thrashing like a cockroach that had been stomped on.

Danny dove for the thermos that had been knocked out of his hands just seconds before. His outstretched fingers were only inches away when its tail lashed into his back. His skull smacked painfully against the cement.

Air rushed out of his lungs—stars burst in front of his eyes. Claws scrabbled on the warehouse floor behind him. Danny rolled over and raised an arm defensively—teeth like razors dug into his flesh, fastening onto his forearm like a steel trap.

"Danny!" Someone was calling him, but—

Danny clenched his jaw and jabbed the fingers of his other hand into the angry scarlet eyes. They sizzled. A cry ripped past his gritted teeth as ectoplasm ate like acid into his fingertips, burning cold.

The ghost howled, releasing Danny's arm. Danny seized the chance—the thermos, where? There! He pounced on it and jammed it between his knees, unscrewing the lid with his uninjured hand.

The spectral beast charged him blindly, long fangs flecked with foam, green fur bristling. He lifted the device, fumbling for the button now slippery with blood—his fingers stung from the ectoplasmic burns, he'd have to use his thumb—

Light flashed out of the thermos. White rings surrounded the ghost and dragged it into oblivion. The thermos clanged out of his his numb hands. Danny dropped to his knees, sobbing for breath.

"Clumsy, Danny," a smooth female voice purred. "He almost got you."

Danny cracked his eyes open. Cold washed over him. Spectra. She floated casually next to Maddie Fenton, who hung by the arms from wispy black chains that ran up into the shadows of the warehouse rafters. The shadowy ghost had her talons at his mother's throat, eyes glowing with smug satisfaction.

He struggled to his feet. "Get your hands off her," he snarled.

"So much aggression." A scarlet tongue flicked out and licked ebony lips. "It spices things up beautifully. Though not as delicious as all that fear. You're so repressed, Danny." Claws tightened; his bound mother cringed away. "Why don't you let it all out?"

"Danny, sweetheart, you shouldn't have come." Mom's violet eyes were wide and frightened, but they fixed steadily on him. "Just walk away, Danny. Call an ambulance. You're..." her voice broke. "You're hurt; they need to take care of you."

The shadow glanced from her captive to Danny; red eyes narrowed in understanding. "Keeping secrets from mommy?" A sneer split the ghost's face and she tightened her grip on Maddie's arm. "What a naughty little freak."

Danny glared, fists clenching. "Shut up, Spectra. Let her go."

Maddie grimaced, but kept her eyes on her son, confusion battling with the urgent fear.

"You haven't even told them what you are." Her lip curled. "Jazz would have told them right away. But then Jazz would never have made any of your mistakes. You are the failure of the family, after all."

Danny tried to hide his wince, but an angry, defensive flush curled up around his ears. "That—that doesn't matter right now." He took a bold step forward. "I said let her go."

"Danny." The talons around her arm tightened in warning, but Maddie kept her eyes firmly on her son—Danny couldn't help notice the shred of uncertainty on her face. "Sweetie, don't listen to this—this thing. It's just a ghost. It just wants to hurt you. That's all they're capable of. You need to leave, now."

Spectra chuckled. "How sweet. She's ready to die for you, and you won't even tell her the truth." The ghost's eyes curved happily above her glittering smile. "Wow, you are selfish."

Danny growled. His mother's eyes widened. He could feel the freezing, burning power of his core twisting and curling inside him, contained with only the barest wisps of self control. "You have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Oh, don't I? I know that you're so pathetically desperate to keep your creepy little secret, even if it means people getting hurt." One of the claws pierced Maddie's skin. A ribbon of scarlet slipped down her cheek.

Danny snarled, a sound that wasn't human even in his own ears.

Spectra waved a finger, a bead of red under the sharp nail. "Oh, but you have so many good reasons. Who knows how they'll react? Hatred? Fear? Or maybe they'll actually pity you, like the pathetic excuse for a ghost that you are—"

"I said shut up!" Ectoplasm seethed through his veins. Danny's eyes were glowing acid green and he knew it; in the gloomy warehouse it was too much to hope his mom didn't notice.

"You're not the one calling the shots here, Danny," Spectra purred. Her eyes narrowed to crimson slits in the darkness that was her face. "You can't hide the monster that you are. Not if you want to get through me."

Danny could see his mom swallow hard, throat moving against Spectra's sharp nails. "Danny, did this ghost...do something to you?"

He shook his head wordlessly. The hairs prickled on Danny's neck. Power crackled invisibly down his arms, numbing the pain and making him feel more alert, less alive.

"Sweetie, you're not a monster. You can't let them get to you. Don't let… it take over. When I get out, I'll...I'll help you. I'll make it go away."

He rubbed his fingers over the Fenton Lipstick in his pocket, licking his lips as he eyed Spectra warily. "Later, Mom," he muttered.

"Still indecisive?" Spectra scoffed. "Where'd all that heroism go? Still, I suppose this is a major life decision. Let me help make up your mind."

A resounding crack echoed through the dismal chamber, followed by a scream. Danny's stomach dropped at the sudden, vicious movement—she'd just—

Maddie sagged against the chains, her face ashy-white and beaded with sweat. Danny could see her bite her lip fiercely. Her face distorted in pain. The arm had a misshapen, stomach-churning bend where it shouldn't. Maddie's other hand grappled with the chain above the cuff, desperately pulling her weight off of the mangled arm.

Horror buzzed in Danny's brain. He'd just… stood there, stupidly.

"Ahhh," Spectra stretched luxuriously, drifting slightly toward him. "Now that's what I call misery. I knew I could count on you, Danny. You never fail to disappoint." Her eyes drank him in, half-lidded and menacing. She slid back and draped an arm around Maddie's tense shoulders. "Now."

Tendrils of doubt coiled thick and heavy around his brain. He locked eyes with his mother, mouth dry. Her face was chalk white and he could see tears starting at the corners of her eyes. Though if it was from the pain or… or because of him, he didn't know. It's all your fault. You're such a freak.

Spectra messed with people's heads. That's how she got her energy. He was just feeding her… Screwup. Danny shoved down the feelings with an angry shake of his head.

Spectra's voice dropped its sickly sweetness, cracking out sharp and menacing. "Release Bertrand, my dear, or a broken arm will be the least of your mother's worries."

"Okay, okay!" Danny raised his hands in surrender. "Don't do anything else!"

Ever so slowly, Danny reached down, wincing as the cut across his chest flared with pain—he slowly, carefully, picked up the thermos. He edged forward and extended the device toward the floor at Spectra's feet. His thumb slid down ever so slowly, to the twin buttons and the order he had long ago memorized. Top, capture. Bottom, release.

For a split second he hovered, indecisive. He could do what Spectra asked… but she was anything but trustworthy and then he'd have two ghosts on his hands. Yet if he didn't… Mom might… he wavered. Glanced at Mom. She was glaring fiercely back, her eyes telling him to get out of here, no matter what it took.

He could have laughed. Fentons and their overprotectiveness.

Danny jammed the top button and raised it to point directly at the ghost. "You want your pet, come and get him!"

Light exploded from the thermos. Spectra slithered around the deadly beam of light and lunged for him with a furious shriek. Danny's eyes widened—he dodged on reflex, throwing the thermos to the side, managing to step in between the ghost and his mother.

"Don't even think about it," he snarled, fingers crackling with power.

Wisps of black swirled around the ghost. "I so wanted to see how this little family gathering would pan out," she cooed in mock disappointment. "You've forced my hand, sweetie."

Shadow whirled past him and straight toward Maddie, claws outstretched. His eyes widened.

"No!" Light exploded around him, energy fizzling and bubbling as he lunged after her. He slammed into Spectra with a shout, energy dancing in his hands.

Black smoke twisted away from green fire. Spectra snarled, animalistic, fangs snapping at his face. Danny jerked back and flung another ball of energy. She coiled around it—talons slashing his thigh.

Danny screamed. Spectra yanked him close, wrapping her hand around the back of his skull almost tenderly. Her nails sank deep into his skin.

"Look at you now, freak," she hissed into his ear. "Howling and fighting like a mongrel. She's sees you, you know. She's looking right at you." Danny couldn't turn, couldn't look, but he could feel his mom's eyes burning in the back of his head—his white-haired head. She'd seen.

Shit. She'd seen. Spectra gave a low throaty chuckle. "You should see her face; it's so exquisitely… delicious. She's terrified. Terrified of you, Danny dear."

"No," he ground out, but the tendrils of smoke had wound around his body; he couldn't move.

The shadowy ghost threw back her head and laughed. Then she leaned in close. "And the best thing is? I don't have to say a word."

The door banged open and light poured in. "Get away from my wife!"

Both ghosts whipped their heads around—Spectra slithered off in a rush of inky ectoplasm, leaving Danny to take the oncoming blast.

The ectoblast hit dead on, like a flaming fist slamming into his gut. Danny was thrown back into the steel wall of the warehouse. His side cracked and agony blossomed across his chest. He tumbled painfully to the ground.

Danny heard Spectra laugh softly from the shadows. "Tough luck, sweetie. They turned on you, after all. And now the consequences are all on you." She dove for the thermos and swept it up, disappearing through the warehouse ceiling.

Jack hardly spared the departing ghost a glance. He reloaded his gun and stalked toward Danny, murder in his eyes. Danny lay flat on his back, gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him, dizzy from the second blow to his head, spots blossoming in his vision.

"D… Danny?" A voice breathed, little more than a whisper. Mom. Danny gazed at the distant, shadowy rafters, refusing to glance her way. He didn't want to see her expression, the judgement in her eyes.

Jack's shadow fell over him. A thick hand grabbed the front of his suit and slammed him into the nearby wall with a furious growl. Danny could only stare back with wide eyes.

"You've gone too far, Phantom," Jack's voice rang deadly and low, freezing Danny in place. Cold metal pressed against his temple. "I'm going to destroy every last trace of—"

"Jack Daniel Fenton!" The voice rang out clear as a bell. "Don't you dare pull that trigger."

The metal pressed against Danny's skin faltered. Jack turned his head; Danny could just see his mom past Jack's massive shoulder. Maddie still hung from the chains, her face so white it was almost gray, but her eyes were sharp and focused directly on Danny. She looked furious.

Danny's face burned with shame; he shut his eyes and listened miserably to the whine of the ectogun on his face. It was still active. Dad was still waiting to shoot.

"I- but—Maddie-" Jack stumbled over the words, then seemed to steel himself. "I'm not letting him go this time, Mads. Look what he did to you."

That stung; worse than the wounds that had begun to burn him even in ghost form, worse than Spectra's poisonous lies. What he did. His fault. Maddie never would have been here if it wasn't for him. She might have...

"Jack," Maddie said with a surreal kind of calm. "You will put the gun away. You will come get me down. And then we will… talk. About all of this."

The air could have been cut with a knife. Danny cringed as Jack leaned down and breathed into his ear. "Make a single move and I'll blast your skull to jello." The gun powered down and Danny dropped to the ground. Footsteps walked away.

The grip on his ghost half slid from him like water. He couldn't breathe. Air seemed to only come in tight, painful bursts. His fingers trembled and pain sang through his entire body. He stared blankly ahead, wide-eyed and trying to work his mouth into words—nothing would come out. His mind could only whirl in one direction. Danny dropped his gaze down to the rough cement, cold terror and shame gripping his heart.

She knows. She knows.

Chains clinked. A long pause. He knew his father had turned around when a sharp gasp echoed through the chamber.

They both know.

tbc...

Anneriawings

Yaaaay happy 10th Dannyversary! Holy crap I can't believe I've been in this fandom for an entire decade. I can't thank Haiju enough for all the fun we've had over the last year. This was really fun to explore, and I'm excited to see it progress.

Haiju

Collaborating is always amazing to me, because it takes such a complicated mesh of personal style, ability, and cooperation. Yet somehow it works out, and when it does, it's awesome! Writing things with Anneria has been some of the most fun I've had in the phandom. :)

This started out as a casual little game of build-a-story between the two of us, but on the way it grew into something really interesting, so we decided to clean it up and make it a proper story.

The rest of the fic should be up by summer at the latest!

-Hj