A/N: I'm continuing this, but don't expect too-frequent updates. This will be more of a writer's-block-breaking story. So, yeah. Here.
503(!4 230027
"Sam, what was that announcement this evening about?" her boss, Lee Andrews, demanded as Sam entered his office.
So that's why I was called in, she thought wryly. She sighed. "My friend and I—"
"And about this 'friend' of yours, he just shows up out of nowhere, gives you this news a—and leaves again? Sam, this is a news station. People come to us to hear the truth, not some mumbo-jumbo thrown together by your psychotic boyfriend!"
"He's not psychotic!"
"So you expect me to believe that he is really Danny Phantom? And not just that, no, you want us to cower in fear because his 'ghost-mode' is on the loose? Phantom has been a help, an aide to the people, not a menace! Now all of a sudden, he's the bad guy? What is this, some Nick cartoon?"
"Sir, you don't know the whole story—!"
"And, obviously, neither do you. What is the number one rule in this organization, Sam?"
She sighed again. "Get the story straight."
"Correct. And rule two?"
"Double check with other witnesses. But, sir—!"
"Did you double check?"
"Sir, I—!"
"Did you?"
She huffed, crossing her arms. "No."
"Then how do you know that this… Fenton kid was telling the truth?"
"Because I know Danny!"
"You know him. That's wonderful. Do you know who I know, Sam? Do you?"
She had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. "No, sir. Who do you know?"
"I know politicians. Do politicians tell the truth, Sam?"
"Of course not, they're politicians."
"Exactly. What if this Fenton was lying, huh? How would that affect the people who watch our news cast?"
"They'd get mad and stop watching."
"Right again. Now, tell me, Sam, what good comes from people not watching our news cast?"
"None."
"You're just on fire today, aren't you?"
"Sir, if you'd just let me explain—!"
"You can 'explain' all you want to our audience tonight. I expect a full apology from you."
"Sir, Danny's telling the truth, and I even gave him the money to get what he needs to stop Phantom."
Andrews glared at her. "How do you know he wasn't just conning you out of the money?"
She ground her teeth.
Andrews took this as a sign he'd won the argument. "Good. Now, if you'll just head out and start filming—"
"No."
"Excuse me, what was that, Samantha?"
"I said, 'no.'"
"Why would you say no?"
"Because I quit."
"WHAT?"
"I resign. I am no longer working for you, Mr. Andrews. Frankly, you are a horrible boss, and you should learn to trust people instead of making everyone around you your enemy. Maybe you'll learn that someday. I, however, will take my leave now."
"You. Can't. Quit."
"Actually, I can. It's in my contract, as well as my résumé. You see, sir, I am very good at quitting from jobs that I find offensive, impossible to work in, or have immature, sleazy, manipulative bosses. This job is all three. Good day to you, Mr. Andrews."
And with that, she turned and walked out the door.
503(!4 230027
Danny panted, dropping down to the ground on the side of the desert road. He'd been walking a long time since seeing Sam for what would probably be the last time. He was glad he hadn't noticed any town names or street signs when looking for—and finding—her. That meant Dan couldn't get the information from him, saving Sam a bit more time to run.
However, that also meant Danny had no idea where he was. As far as he could see, the road stretched on for miles in either direction before disappearing into the horizon. He couldn't even see a cactus. Tumbleweeds were rare here, too. In fact, the only thing keeping him from thinking he'd stumbled into the Ghost Zone was the lack of green and purple swirls.
But that didn't mean he could stop here. Actually, it meant he had to keep going. Who knew when Dan would show up? And it'd be even worse for him to show up near any sign of civilization, be it a long desert road or suburbs. Danny couldn't take that chance.
So he picked himself up, took a swig of water from his canteen, and kept walking.
503(!4 230027
Sam couldn't believe how hard it was to find a trace of Danny. She asked everyone she saw whether they'd seen him, but none of them had. She was getting worried.
She was just about to give up when she walked past an electronics store. The TV in the window was on, turned to some crime show about serial killers. Suddenly, the show paused and Gregory came on.
"We interrupt this show for a special news bulletin."
Sam stopped, spun around, and gasped at the recording they were showing. It was of green lights flashing through the air. Loud, wailing noises could be heard, even over Gregory's report.
"There seems to be a sudden, monster thunderstorm in Texas. No one is quite sure where it is originating, but the wind and lights can be seen and heard all throughout the state. More on this tonight. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program."
"--If you get within 100 feet of Agent Rossi, I will unleash an unrecoverable virus on your personal computer system that will reduce your electronic world into something in between a Commodore 64 and a block of government cheese. …Call me later."
"That wasn't a storm," Sam whispered to herself. "…Danny…."
503(!4 230027
He couldn't breathe. It wasn't the first time he'd woken up with this problem, and he knew that, if Dan didn't find him today, it wouldn't be the last. He knew that his body, without his ghost half, was crumbling apart. He couldn't survive having a piece of himself ripped out. Unfortunately, he'd had no say in the matter.
It was then that he heard the whooshing noise behind him that meant someone was flying towards him. Instinctively, he ducked and tried to form the ring around his waist. When it didn't appear, he grimaced, remembering his situation. Instead, he was stuck, defenseless, in the middle of a desert lacking a good enough place to hide.
Dan swooped down quickly, tossing Danny into the dirt. His hand flared green as Danny tumbled to a stop, dazed. Dan let loose his blast, and Danny just barely dodged it.
"Huh, straight to the point," he mumbled, jumping over another blast.
"I. Will. Kill. You!" Dan growled, releasing a Ghostly Wail.
"Then go ahead!" Danny yelled up to him. "Kill me! Just leave everyone else alone!"
"And why the hell would I do that?" More blasts flew, and Danny dodged most of them.
"Because they aren't the ones who abandoned you! That was me, all me! And Vlad, but you already got him back." Danny rolled under another blast.
"Sam and Tucker never came after us! They didn't care! They abandoned us, too!"
"They had no idea where we were! I spoke to Sam recently. Her life was ruined after we left! Sam and Tucker aren't friends any more. We were the only thing keeping them together!"
Another burst of green sent Danny rolling as Dan snarled a reply. "Good. They ruined my life, it's only fair theirs be ruined, too."
"So I'm the last one. I'm the only one you haven't gotten revenge on. Go ahead, kill me."
Dan smirked. "Oh, no. I've got a much better idea for you…."
503(!4 230027
Sam ran to the airport. Once there, she immediately looked for a flight to Texas. Shocked that someone would want to head towards the disaster area, the attendants booked her a ticket to Oklahoma. The flight was quick, and Sam found herself in a different state. She found a car rental and paid for the fastest car they had. Within minutes, she was at the border.
What had been a beautiful, clear sky immediately changed to the "monster storm" everyone was worrying over. It seemed the only thing keeping it contained was Texas' state line. She drove to the nearest town, asking around where the storm was coming from. They pointed her deeper into the center of the state.
After several more of such stops, she found herself on a lone road, seemingly endless, in a barren area. The storm was getting so bad that she could no longer drive. Immediately, she pulled over and ran down the road.
What she saw shocked her. Danny was offering himself up to the ghost, and the ghost was arguing with him. But what shocked her more was how pained Danny looked. Even though very few blasts actually hit him, he was acting like he was bruised all over.
Then, Dan smirked. "Oh, no. I've got a much better idea for you…." He swooped down, grabbing Danny and taking off.
Sam gaped. "Danny, NO!!"
Her voice disappeared inside the "storm" Dan had created. Five hours later, a passing car found her.
"Miss?" the driver said. "Are you alright? What were you doing out here? Didn't you see the storm?"
Sam jumped at the chance. "Sir, please, you have to take me somewhere!"
"…What?"
"I need to follow that storm!"
"Why would you wanna do that?"
"My friend—he's in trouble, and I need to follow that storm to find him!"
The driver stared her down, searching her eyes for something. Finding it, he nodded and hooked a finger towards the passenger door. "Get in."
503(!4 230027
A/N: Wow, no planning whatsoever, and it actually wasn't crap! That's a miracle, for me. Anywayz, read and review, plz! BYEZ!