-Hello to any new readers; this is book two, and will make more sense if you read the first book, "A Stroll Through the Mall."

Well, here we are with a first few chapters following a side character (Shelly,) and an OC (Mac.) Don't worry; I'll try and keep everyone as real as a fictional character can be, and Danny will show up here soon. Thanks for waiting!

I don't own DP characters. I do own Mac, and this story however, so no misusage of either please.

Chapter 1: Bad News Hits Hard.

(Set back in time to the day of Phantom's stroll through the mall. POV: Shelly Makamoto.)

I'd just finished being interviewed by Tiffany Snow, via transmission. I myself was still stuck at the hospital.

"Well you can't keep me here forever, you know." I antagonized the nurse, while anxiously rubbing my temples, "The Doctor said, I'm fine, so I'll be leaving now. I have a life, and a job to do."

My assigned nurse tried to block my path, "We know that, but we need to keep you here for one more night, just in case. You were hit by an explosion, and it's amazing that you're as alright as you are." I started tapping my foot one the ground, "Look," the nurse began, "Why don't you just watch TV, like I wish I could?"

She tossed me the remote, and closed the door behind her as she left. I made a 'humph' noise, and turned the TV back on. Honestly, I get some time off of work, and what do I do with it? Watch other people do my work at the station.

Actually, watching Tiffany bumble her way into the interviews, allowing her own personal fear of the situation show; made for good entertainment…and job security.

I kept watching; they were talking plenty about Phantom, and the fight. When I realized just how much scientific information I had gathered, I smiled.

They talked through till Phantom's Boom of Doom, (I don't want to meet the crazy person who came up with that one.) They didn't examine the explosion in detail; or explain what exploded, and why it exploded. That's just the nature of news; I wasn't even sure if they even had clue either.

Come to think of it, I didn't remember much about the explosion myself. All I know, is the camera stopped functioning, and I got knocked out at some point. I remember things here, and there; but only bits and pieces. Everyone at the hospital thinks that head trauma's just playing with my memory; but I don't know…

Then Mayor Masters came on, live. I watched the whole thing with little interest, and a growing headache, so I turned the TV off, and went to bed early…

"NO!" Phantom shouted, and spun around. I tried to follow where he was looking; but he darted away me. I lost track of him then, when soon after, sparks started flying out of the radio station.

I gasped, and took a step backwards; but I didn't move fast enough. I heard an explosion, followed instantly by debris. I screamed, and tried to protect myself, when a large black shape came hurling toward me. I prepared for the worst…

The mass pushed me to the ground; but it wasn't as heavy, or as hard as I feared. In fact, it seemed to almost cradle me…the world went fuzzy, and my head, it hurt…

The fuzziness faded away, and became almost clear. I found the strength to open my eyes. Laying on my back, debris surrounding me…I tried, so hard, to get free from the weight on me. My hands slipped, covered in blood and unable to grip anything.

I groaned but couldn't scream out for help. My head hurt, but I still turned to face the thing pinning me down.

My vision became clear, but my voice was weak as I looked at it…At Mac.

"Argh!" I shouted, and fell out of my hospital bed. Mac! "MAC!" I shouted out, alarming every nurse in the hall.

They came running in, too many for my throbbing head to count. They leaned down to me, and started asking rapid-fire questions…

Finally, I turned to them, "Where's Mac?" They gave me blank looks, "Mac Davis? The cameraman!" The one who protected me, my upset head thought.

The nurses scrambled to get me off the floor, "Mac Davis?" I nodded impatiently, "Christina, go find this Mac Davis, she'll never shut up unless we do."

I glared at her, "shut up?" I said, "May I remind you, who's the client here."

The nurse flinched, "You are. I'm sorry, that was unprofessional of me."

"Uh-huh, fine." I glared at her again; I knew all she wanted was to keep me from going to her boss about it…

The nurse Christina came back into the room, "I think I found Max."

"MAC," I corrected harshly.

"Mac, right sorry. I guess the hour's getting to me. This way please."

I was expecting to go to his room. Instead, Christina took me to a computer where she typed in a few things. I took the time to look at a wall-clock reading 2:30-ish. I blinked a few times, and looked towards a black window down the hall. Apparently, it was 2:30-ish A.M. not P.M. I took that as the reason for why I couldn't see Mac directly, and calmed down a bit.

"Here we are," the nurse announced. "Mac Davis. Age 25. That him?"

I nodded, glancing at a small photo I.D of him on the screen anxiously, "Without a doubt."

"Oh, Well, um." I made an urging grunt, "It says here, that Mac Davis is currently in the ICU…"

(A/N you are SO lucky I'm not leaving you here.)

"He's where?" I asked plainly.

"The ICU Miss."

My mind crashed, I swayed and leaned on the desk. "No…" I said, weakly.

"It says that," she went on, "he's unconscious for the moment, and fairly severely injured; but nothing to cause permanent damage. He's due to leave in six weeks, give or take."

My brain couldn't function, "Thank you," I managed to say. I turned back around, and headed for my room. Mac…had protected me, saved my life. For God's sake! He saved my life, and now, now…how long would it be, before he could start living life again?

I collapsed in my bed and sobbed quietly. I guess I was feeling a bit guilty after everything he'd done for me. All I'd been thinking about was my paycheck…what a jerk I must've been…

My sobs quieted down, and I fell asleep. My worries drifted away with my consciousness, and my dreams didn't bother me again.

…

I woke up around noon with a throbbing head, and a doctor prodding me.

"Leave me alone. Head hurt." I grumbled out.

The Doctor, Alexander didn't look amused. "You were complaining all day yesterday, and now I'm giving you the chance to leave." He had my attention, "I've called in your Mother, and she's on her way over. Here are your pain medications, and if you don't mind and don't have any questions, I'll be on my way."

I waved him off, and collapsed back into bed. What's with this hospital? I thought they could've been a bit more polite.

A few minutes later, the door to my room slid open again revealing my exhausted looking mother.

"Oh, my baby!" she shouted, gaining the attention of everyone on our floor.

My hands held my head steady, "Mom, cut the shouting you're hurting my head."

She grabbed me in a tight hug, agitating my bruises. "Oh Shelly, I'm so sorry. How badly does your head hurt?"

"On a scale of one to ten? You." I said rudely. I flinched and apologized immediately.

"Don't worry Shelly," Mom consoled me, "I'd be a little quick to quip too, if I were in your shoes. Come with me, I'll drive you home and stay with you for a few days."

I nodded, honestly relieved by her company. "Hey, Mom? Can you do me a favor, and see if Mac's woken up yet?"

"I already did; he hasn't, Shelly. He's still out, due to blood loss." Frowning, my Mom helped me up, and walked slowly with me out of the building-

Where we spent the next half-hour trying to find the car. "How big of a rush were you in, anyway?"

"Oh, don't ask sweetheart. You're not a mother, you wouldn't understand."

I sighed. Mom was stressed, and I knew I shouldn't pick on her anymore. Besides, it wasn't just me she was worried about.

Mac had it ruff as a kid, so when we became friends in middle school, he started spending most of his time around me and my brothers. Coming over in the morning, going to school, and hanging out with us afterwards. It stayed that way through high school as well. Then Mac took some jobs, and started college early. He took various photography and production courses, while later on, I studied to become a news anchor. When Mac graduated, and landed a job at channel 4 he introduced me to his boss, and got me my first job.

Since then, we stayed friends, and Mac was still a frequent visitor at home. After all these years, I guess I just stopped thinking about him. He's always been there for my family and me; he made us see the silver lining in life…

I swore to myself, there in the parking lot that somehow, I would make it up to him…

Finally, we managed to find my Mothers' silver Volvo, exactly where she was sure she hadn't parked it.

I got in, and swallowed a few painkillers. Shutting my eyes, I focused on not throwing up as the engine started up, and the radio came on.

Cringing, I fumbled for the volume control, "No radio, please."

My Mom shut it off, "I'm sorry sweetheart, does your head feel any better?" I gave a sideways glance as a warning to be quiet, and to not ask standard questions with standard answers. "Well, I was just asking," mom gave me an odd look, her eyes blinking tiredly at me, "When you feel better, there are some things I'd like to talk with you about."

I groaned, and waved off her comment before resting my head, and sleeping during the drive home.

(Two days later.)

I picked up the phone; mom was out grocery shopping, and my headache was gone, at last. It was time to throw myself back into the world again.

"Yes?" I groaned into the phone, "Unless it's important, you've got five seconds."

"Shelly?" I flinched away from the phone. There's only one person in the world I knew with a voice like that.

"What is it, Tiffany?" I snapped, "If you hadn't noticed, I'm on break due to the fact that my head explodes at the sound of your voice."

"Shelly, is that you?" Miss. Oblivious asked again.

I gripped the phone tightly, "Yes, it's me. Who were you expecting; Zorro and the seven dwarves?"

There was a pause, "Wow, you sound a lot like your Mother."

It was my turn to pause, "I didn't know you knew my Mom."

"I don't, really. I've called a few times and she picked up. She wouldn't let me speak to you, though."

I took note of that, "Alright, well I'm listening. What's so worth getting a hold of me for?"

"You mean you have absolutely NO idea what just happened a few day ago?"

I stiffened, "Does this involve Mac?" She told me no, I sighed with relief. "Then enlighten me, if you will." She ranted on about what'd happened in my absence, and made me promise to watch the station's video of the events.

I did, and was intrigued. Phantom pulled a stunt like that? This was huge, the whole world was raving about it. I called up a few acquaintances at the station immediately. Not only was the fight between Ember and Phantom one of the worlds fastest spreading events; Phantom's charade had spread just as far, twice as fast.

Our station was gaining more in profit then most every other station combined. The boss was very happy about that apparently; I even called him up, and got a dose of that gratefulness over the phone.

Overall, everything was going swimmingly. Except for Mac…

I walked up and down the hallway, attempting to cool down. I couldn't help but worry until my headache came back to haunt me. Groaning, I went to my room and laid down for a nap. How hard had I hit my head, exactly?

The pain was subsiding, and I was almost asleep when I heard my mother come inside with the groceries. Calming down even more with her back, I opened my eyes when the phone when off in the other room.

I heard her answer it; her words were muffled too much for me to hear what she was saying. After a minute, she came into my room in a hurry; I gave her a questioning look.

She sighed, "I'm glad you're awake, that was the hospital. Mac woke up a few minutes ago."

And this is where I leave you, I know it's not Sunday; but I don't want to be fiddling with this all weekend. I've got a laundry list of things that I don't have to do, but I'm doing anyway for my Mom.

So, here is how I think I'm going to take this story. -A few chapters following Mac and Shelly, and their recovery over a few months. -A few chapters following Danny and Danni, (the idea here, is that Danny summarizes a few months of finding out more about his powers with Danni, while training together.) -Then, the two POV's meet just before Halloween, and then the fun begins.

Anymore, and I might spoil something, and we don't want that to happen now, do we? ;)

So yeah, a long the lines of the first book's POV toss, and just like the last book It should be a lot of story, in fewer but very LONG chapters. (I still can't believe the length of a lot of my past updates. Here's hoping I can keep it up.)

Well then, as usual. See you Sunday!