Letters Unsent

The Right Word

Hallo! Well...this had originally been a one-shot....but I got a few requests from Pearl, Invader Johnny, and aryanderagonforever to

continue....and, this time, be a little more specific in the letters themselves. Hehehehe....~

Well, it is as you wish. Please take care.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom. And, if I did, I wouldn't have sold him to Nickelodeon.

*~*~*~*~*

Quote:

I am tired, Beloved,
of chafing my heart against
the want to see of you;
of squeezing it into little inkdrops,
And posting it.
~Amy Lowell, "The Letter"

Tuck,

I don't really know how to start or how to tell you this, but I do know I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with you or Sam. I just need to leave, Tuck. I know the least I could do is tell you why, but I can't. I'm really sorry for doing this to you guys, but, trust me, it's better for all of us in the end. I know that saying that won't make this easier for you or Sam, so if you guys are angry with me for doing this, I totally understand and deserve that. Listen, Tuck, I want to thank you for always being there for me. I really can't imagine my life without you or Sam. You really are the coolest friend there is, and I'm going to miss you more then I could ever tell you in this lame letter. Look after yourself, alright? And a word of advice, don't make Sam mad cause with me gone, she might finally do one of those "vile things" she keeps threatening you with. If it's not too much to ask, please take care of TJ for me while Jazz gets better. My parents aren't well enough to do it and I don't want him to be lonely. I really don't want you to worry about me, dude; I'll be fine, so just go on with your life, Sam too. You probably think that's the weirdest thing I've ever said, but I mean it, Tucker. I guess that's all I can really say so I better end this. Again, thanks for everything. I want to say "see you around" but I'm not sure if I will. Whatever the case, I'll always be grateful for meeting you. Good Bye, Tucker.

Danny

-------

Dear Sam,

Knowing how you like sleeping in, I'm sure Tucker already told you that I left. I'm really sorry; I know I'm the biggest jerk for doing this to you and everyone else. I wish things could have been different, but the truth is, I can't regret my choice. You know how they say; you don't really appreciate something until you lose it? Well, I totally agree. You have no idea how much I'm going to miss you. Thanks for always being there for me, Sam. I couldn't have better friends then you and Tucker. Speaking of Tuck, take care of him, okay? You know how fast he gets himself into trouble. I need you to do me a favor; the other letter I left you is for Jazz. I need you to give it to her when she's better. I know that after reading this you're going to come looking for me with Tucker. Please, don't. I don't want to be found. Take care of yourself, Sam. You'll always be in my heart.

Danny

-------

Dear Mom and Dad,

I really hate to do this, especially when you guys have enough worries as it is right now. First, I just want to tell you both that you're the greatest parents a kid could have and because of that, I've always tried to make you guys proud of me; I hope I did that, at least once. Please, don't think for a second that this is your fault somehow, because it's not. I'm leaving because it's something I have to do. I'm sorry I can't explain but there are things I've decided to keep personal. Don't worry about me though; thanks to you guys I'm pretty good at watching out for myself. I want to thank you for always showing me your care and for everything you've taught me. I know that without those things I'd be in trouble; without you, mom and dad, I wouldn't be who I am now. Please don't tell Jazz about me until she gets better and take care of her; she needs you two a lot more then she thinks. I love you both very much; please, don't forget that. I know I won't forget how much you guys love me.

Your son forever,

Danny Fenton.

-------

Dear Jazz,

First of, I just want to apologize for getting you involved with my problems, for hurting your feelings when you would try to give me advice. I've really messed up more times then I can fit in this letter, but none of that compares to what I did to you now. I shouldn't have been so selfish, I should have thought about you first. I'm so sorry Jazz ……

……. Now I wish I would have listened to you more; I wish I wouldn't have been such a jerk, maybe none of this would have ever happened. Even if I can't hear you say it, promise me you'll get better, Jazz, and promise me you won't blame yourself for any of this. This is my decision and mine alone. I can't even begin to explain to you have hard this is for me to do. I realize that by leaving I also leave behind who I am. After today I'm no longer Danny Fenton or Danny Phantom, but whoever I am now, I want you to know that I will always be your little brother and you will always be my nosy, know- it- all, big sister, who I love very much. I know I should have said this to you more often, so I'm sorry for that too. Thank you, Jazz, for always being there for me, even when I didn't want you to be or when I didn't know you were. Don't worry about me, alright? I'll be fine, and knowing that you will be, too, will help me go through with this. Take care of yourself and take care of Mom and Dad. I know that you're going to try to find me, but I'll tell you what I told Sam and Tucker. Don't. I don't want to be found. I love you, Jazz, never forget that.

Your little brother,

Danny.

-------

In that order, Danny forced his pen to paper, often burning the excess pages with a teary groan of frustration. He obviously couldn't leave the

information he truly wanted to disclose....but at least the most critical message was still there:

"I love you. I'm sorry."

Still, the words felt hollow as Danny silently left each letter before departing for Vlad's waiting helicopter; sorrow and fury blending within one

another in hapless, hopeless conformity.

And, he had left Amity Park that night-and for many a long night thereafter, the now slightly meaningless words paying regular visits to haunt the

young hybrid.

~*~*~

At first, his despair had indeed been too much for him to write.

However, he had needed something-anything-to do after aimlessly wandering the castle, avoiding the older hybrid at all costs.

The idea had been in his head for awhile....but he didn't believe himself capable of writing to either friend nor family for quite awhile.

But, soon enough- he even found himself writing a small letter to TJ, of all.....er.....people, after the first two weeks.

It had been a fairly simple letter-and he felt awfully ridiculous for doing so, but he had indeed managed a smile that day-albeit a small one as he

wrote....as if the little puppy could read or understand it, even if it DID make its way to the small dalmation's muddy little paws.

Plus, after awhile....the dog was sure to forget Danny. He couldn't possibly manage to remember his master for such a long time....

Still, he had managed a bitter smile at the thought, and merely continued, the small notebook on his lap while he perched on the four poster bed

in the room the older hybrid had left for the younger.

It had merely been an inquiry to the small creature's wellbeing-but a warm one. Danny had paused thoughtfully in midsentence, tapping his

pencil to the side of his cheek as he did so, and shrugged, adding a small postscript.

Hoping you're well, boy. Still thinking of you-take care of Jazz for me.

-Danny.

For a few minute-before a tapping had arrived at the door and the boy had froze, ripping up the small piece of paper and crumpling it into his fist,

he had merely stared at the small postscript, a sad smile escaping him as the door slowly swung open-and the note disappeared in a wave of

emerald.

It was more then I ever could do.

~*~*~*~

On the days that the boy was left alone (which were, to be quite honest, fairly rare) and the Dairy King would make an occasional visit, Danny

found himself writing to Tucker the most. He had a feeling that the pleasant ghost of...well....all things dairy...would get along with Tuck just fine.

It was the evening after he and the little ghost had played a video game together that he had picked up pencil again before turning in, and wrote

a small message:

He always just fades away-in the end. I have no idea where the guy goes to-the Ghost Zone? Dairy Farm-help me out here, Tuck.

The boy had paused in thoughtful consideration for a bit.

Still, his company is nice-though kind of what Sam would call eccentric. It depends, I guess. Vlad either doesn't know that the little guy keeps

coming back to haunt this old place, or doesn't care. Kind of hard to imagine this guy being a threat to anyone....except maybe the Box Ghost. I

dunno.

I played a video game with him today-and then, disappeared later on. I decided to finish his level for him-it took him awhile to get used to it.

But not very long. I wish you and I could have had another match again-but I don't think my computer has internet, and the fruitloop probably had....oh,

I don't know...a surveillance system emplanted in it anyway....

He had paused once more.

....I doubt you'd want to come within three hundred meters of this place anyway, Tuck. High tech or low tech.

Watching the letter burst into flames, Danny had impatiently brushed the ash away, and phased himself to his ghostly counterpart once again in

a flashing of rings.

He needed to clear his head for now.

~*~*~*~

Dea-

I don't know how to s-

Well, the truth is....

Uh.....

......

.....

Um.

Sam, what I never did get to tell you was that I-

Agghh. The boy had enough of a headache already, staring at silver, trembling palms.

For awhile, Danny had been feeling more then distinctly ill. Rotten, more like.

.....or, quite honestly, the worst physically he had felt for a long, long time. He had vaguely wondered if, for awhile-he was coming down with

some type of virus.

And his ghost form had been reacting to it as well. Blasts were triggering themselves to an astonishing....and if not frightening rate of intensity,

occasionally, his aching body would force itself into its ghost side, ripping away Danny's human flesh and blood instead of gently gliding and

guiding it to ectoplasm and specter like material....

....it was like a hungry boar, viciously tearing at his insides.

But no way in the Ghost Zone was he ever, ever going to ask the man for help. As if the man would notice....or care.

And, quite honestly, Danny thought he might prefer it that way. As long as the man kept his distance-he could be moderately okay with himself.

It was probably just a side effect that came from being locked inside that....that.....

The teen shuddered from where he sat on the balcony, watching a V line of geese making their way back from the South, squawking as they did so.

The weather was slowly beginning to warm up....but the boy rarely noticed, as the chill he had been under roughly intensified itself at the

memory.

He was going to try really, really hard to not recall that scenario.

And as if he was going to let the older hybrid play "doctor" on him with all those fun little toys in his lab. Most of them probably acquired by

Skulker. Sam definitely would NOT approve.

Speaking of Sam....he had been trying to finish this letter all day, by means of distraction. Though the pangs of discomfort were still bothering him

slightly, he, at least-managed to exhale

Danny blushed as he struggled to write the next three words. It definitely was NOT easy-but at least it was distracting.

Sam, I l-

With an embarrassed groan, his heightened ghost powers accidentally overtook the small message in a storm of flame. Biting his lip, he managed

to release the energy-not at all an easy task-and gave up, standing to slowly walk over to the balcony, empty eyes peering aimlessly at the sky.

~*~*~*~

Curled up in a ball under his blankets, fighting the cry of misery that was threatening to escape from himself-the boy drew into an even smaller

ball from where the billionaire had left him.

How could he had sold himself like this....?

He was numb. Well....he certainly WISHED he was. That would have been much preferred to then this agony.

Every time the boy closed his eyes, his own dark counterpart...Dan Phantom....had been staring at him, crimson eyes amused.

That was it.

It had been the final straw.

He had known it had been hopeless-known that it would simply do no good to beg Vlad for his freedom....but he had tried anyway.

And failed.

He needed to go back home. Even if they couldn't see him-even if the boy would merely be looking on-quite possibly for the rest of his existence-

he wanted-craved-needed to know that they were still there.

And to remind himself of who he was fighting for.

When Danny finally drew himself away from the covers with a slight sigh-that tea had really knocked him out-and silently left the room, his

footsteps had aimlessly carried him away with no hint of direction whatsoever.

Still, he did make one mental note....and one of the few that had burned-but instead, had been clasped to his heart.

Mom, Dad, Sam, Tucker.....

His heart tightened on the very last word.

Jazz.....

He closed his eyes as a lump rose to his throat, and the hands at his sides desperately wound themselves into fists.

I'm coming to see you soon, Jazz. I promise.

Whew! Okay....now I'm tearing up.

If you guys want more-just ask. *Shrugs.*