A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, favorited, and/or story alerted so far. You are all awesome.
A word of warning, I've decided that it would make sense if Sam knew about Tucker's fear of all things hospital that was only seen in "Doctor's Disorders." If they've known each other for so many years, how wouldn't she know about that phobia? Ah well, my own bit of Fridge Logic. I do realize, that I could justify this with "Alternate Timeline." Silly me.
For now, enjoy this chapter through the eyes of our favorite fruit loop.
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or anything associated with it. I'm just this writer, you know? Doing writer things. For no profit at all.
Vlad POV
Chapter Three: Early Visits
Amity Park must be one of the most backwater cities I've ever visited. It baffled me to think Daniel lived there without complaining about it once while he stayed at my castle. There were few places that would have even come close to meeting my standards. And even then, I hardly wanted to spend the next few days trying to entertain myself in this place. Sacrifices must always be made, I told myself. Who knows? I just might find something else worth my time in this town.
Alas, I just had to come to see the poor boy in his moment of need. He must have lost a lot of blood in that battle with Skulker. I grinned at that thought.
The hunter ghost had already been after the lad. Having been tasked to approach him again, well, that made him more ecstatic than a child in a candy shop. I was also curious to see how the new weapon had performed. And to do that, I needed to see Daniel.
My limousine peeled into the hospital parking lot. The driver stopped at the entrance and opened the door for me. I stepped out into the bright day, a calm expression on my face. I honestly didn't think I'd see Daniel again so soon after the reunion. My fault, there. I could have waited to give Skulker the green light, but, oh well. Plans change. Especially when they concern so great a prize.
The Amity Park General Hospital was sterile looking on the outside. White walls with pristine glass doors as the entrance. Red letters high up on the building spelling out the name. With a simple look over, I saw the signs for various entrances and the services in their immediate area. I walked briskly under the stone entry way. The glass doors slid to the side as I approached so I wouldn't have to waste the minute energy to move the door myself. With other people coming into view, I shifted my pace and my body language into that which spoke worry, concern and sympathy. An easy masquerade.
I walked through the automatic doors, my hands wringing themselves with the facade. I looked around, seeing a few out-patients being wheeled to the doors. Families were smiling in relief that their beloved relative was fine.
All in all, it irritated me. I had few visitors when I stayed in the hospital those many years ago. Neither Jack nor Maddie had so much as tried to make things right with me in my weakened and deformed state. Even my parents (God rest their souls) refused to see me. And if I hadn't needed to keep my performance going, I might have let my annoyance show.
Finally, my eyes landed on the reception desk. The receptionist hadn't so much as glanced at me when I approached. He had, with all likelihood, seen so many men and women in this worried state that it was just another day on the job. He had to have been so jaded to seeing the grief and confusion of countless others before me. "Excuse me," I said, "can you help me?"
The youth turned his brown eyes at me and took the sight of me in with quick efficiency. "How can I help you, sir?" he asked in a bored tone. His hands hovered over the keyboard, ready to type in whatever I asked.
"I'm here to visit Daniel Fenton," I answered, the concern thick in my voice. "But, I don't know what room he's in. Can you tell me?" His fingers flew over the keyboard, typing in information. One hand left to click the mouse a few times before he stopped what he was doing.
"Third floor, room 334," he told me, not glancing away from the screen.
I thanked him quickly before heading toward the elevators. I thumbed the needed button and waited for the doors to open. Glancing at my watch, I saw it was after school hours and his friends might be there. Good. It would be an excellent time to see with whom he spent his time. His family would most likely be there as well, worried about the little badger. I could feel the smile itching to spread over my face. Maddie would be heartbroken that her son was nearly killed by a ghost. It would be the perfect time to offer her my support.
The doors opened and an old woman was being wheeled out by an orderly. The woman looked up at me and smiled. She rested a hand to my elbow and told me how much I looked like her son. I gave her an amused chuckle before the orderly took her away. Once the elevator doors were closed, I scowled and brushed off the area she touched. The old hag was probably senile at her age. Still, I didn't like to be touched.
It took me most of the short climb to the third floor to regain the attitude I was meant to have for this visit. Blasted woman. The doors opened a moment after I had my act put back together. There was another desk with people coming and going from behind the station. One person seemed to be a constant, handing off files and taking them from offered hands. The ringing phone sounded off before being picked up by one person in scrubs passing by. I walked by the station, not even giving the men and women around it a second glance. I knew where my destination waited.
Turning down the appropriate hall, I watched the door numbers. I found his room and looked in the window first to see who was currently in the room. His mother and father, as expected, were standing on one side of the bed. I couldn't help but notice Jack's hand on Maddie's waist and the urge to push him out of the window grew instantly. I couldn't, though. Not with so many witnesses around. My eyes, instead, jumped to Daniel, propped up in his bed with an IV attached to his arm. A laptop was on his lap and he laughed at the screen. The one other person in the room wasn't Jasmine, as I thought it would be, but a girl wearing black and exposing her midriff. Her dark hair had been partially pulled back.
Everyone was focused on Daniel. And so, my presence behind the door went unnoticed. To be quite honest, I was both furious and envious of the scene that played out before me. I would have been content to die just to have had Maddie at my bedside when the agony had become nearly unbearable. But she, like Jack, had left me to rot in that bed after the second day. (That had been one of the better days, admittedly. Hardly any pain.) And I thought we were the best of friends. My fault there, I suppose.
I honestly hadn't thought this visit would stir up those memories. I backed away from the door and leaned against the wall. My hands were tight fists and I shook with the rage that coursed through my veins with every beat of my heart. I had to regain my composure.
Deep breaths, Masters.
Deep breaths.
Calm down.
I ran a hand over my silver hair, forcing my memories and emotions away. I was here for Daniel. My own experience would have to be forgotten during this visit. With a final sigh, I straightened myself and returned to the door.
I knocked, immediately catching the attention of the bed-ridden boy and the girl beside him. Maddie saw me through the window, said something to Daniel before leaving Jack's side to greet me. She opened the door, her grateful smile gracing her lips. "Vlad, it's nice to see you again," she said. "Danny's talking to his little friends, right now. But, I'm sure he'd be happy to see you."
"I hope he doesn't think I'm intruding," I said softly. I bowed my head, looking at the beautiful woman with as much sorrow as I could portray.
"Mr. Masters?" Danny's voice piped up. I turned toward him, seeing a smile on his face. Still in need of my act, I let a small smile grace my lips.
Maddie stepped aside, opening the door wider for my entrance. I entered and the buffoon's face lit up with excitement. "V-man! You're here early," exclaimed Jack. He was loud enough that Maddie had to remind him he was in a hospital.
I ignored the giggling of the girl and focused on Daniel, walking up to his bedside. I rested a hand behind his back and said, "I wouldn't dare waste a moment when my best friend's son was injured in a ghost attack." It appeared as though no one noticed the darker emphasis on those words. Not the most observant bunch, were they?
Daniel looked up at me, probably feeling so much gratitude that he didn't know what to do with it. I had a few ideas, but they would have to wait. "Mr. Masters?" He began a little timidly. "I, uh, I can't thank you enough f-for paying for this."
"Think nothing of it, my boy," I smiled down at him. "It's the least I can do." I examined him in his hospital garb, white just like the building and also like the room. It accentuated the feeling that one was in a place meant for the sick. Something I never wanted to be reminded of. "How are you feeling, Daniel?"
"I've had worse," he said. Yes, I suppose I did beat him much worse when we first met. Had I known anything at the time, I might have been far less brutal in that encounter. At least I'd fixed him up good as new before morning. But he didn't know all the details, now did he? I merely gave him a concerned look that said he must have been lying, like most everyone else in the room.
The girl's face, I noticed, pleaded to Daniel for an introduction. He noticed this a number of seconds after I had. We'd have to work on his perceptive abilities. The boy gave her a sheepish smile before gesturing between the two of us saying, "Mr. Masters, this is my friend, Sam." Then he pointed at the screen, where I had to bend over to see what he wanted me to see. There was a boy wearing a red beret and glasses. The boy on the screen saw me and practically squeaked in joy. "And that's Tucker. Guys, this is Mr. Masters."
"Oh, come now, Daniel," I chuckled. "You don't need to be formal with me. Call me Vlad, if you want."
"Really?" He asked. His eyes were huge as he realized the implications of my small statement. His shock from being considered close to an equal from an adult soon became a huge grin. "Thanks, Mist—Vlad." It was clear saying my name to my face was a foreign experience for him. He looked absolutely giddy from it. From the peripherals of my vision, I saw the object of my hatred beaming at the declaration.
"Dude," came Tucker's voice from the computer. "How awesome is that? You're on first name basis with a billionaire!"
"Tucker," chided Samantha, shooting me an embarrassed glance before glaring at the screen. "He can hear you."
"Sorry," the young man looked down and rested a hand behind his neck. He laughed nervously. Daniel shared the gesture, looking at his parents instead of myself or his friends.
The dynamic of the three friends was amusing to watch. My mind already turned with the possibilities that could come to pass with my future involvement with the boy. They were quick to change subjects away from my wealth and back to the events Daniel missed at school that day. I feigned interest, keeping an ear open for anything that might have been useful. It seemed the boy's sudden trip to the hospital had been the talk of his peers. Nothing on Phantom's involvement in the battle was mentioned. And it seems the three friends all expressed shock when they spoke of a boy named Dash deciding to give Daniel some space. I'd have to look a little closer into that information, I supposed.
"Vladdy," cried Jack. I felt a part of me wither on the inside at the sound of his voice. He had somehow snuck up on me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, ignoring my very visible cringe. "How's it feeling not being the one on the bed this time around?"
I stiffened as the memories threatened to resurface. The confusion, the anger, and the agony. All of which flashed through my mind at the speed of thought. It took me a moment longer than I intended to finally pull myself back together enough to respond. Though the terse tone in my voice was hardly gone completely, "I don't think that's an appropriate inquiry, Jack. I'm here to see that Daniel's recovery is going well."
Maddie gave me an apologetic smile, which made the current invasion of personal space a tad more bearable. "Jack, honey," she said, "why don't we go get some coffee, hm? Vlad can watch the kids."
"Great idea, Maddie," he released me and left me alone with Daniel and his friends. It wasn't complete privacy with the young hybrid, but I had to take what I could get.
I let out an inaudible breath at the freedom from the oaf. I smiled at the two persons still in the room, almost ignoring the one present through technology. But not enough to not be curious as to why he wasn't supporting Daniel in person. "So," I asked, "why is..Tucker, right?"—said boy widened his eyes and his mouth dropped open as if he couldn't believe I would remember his name—"Why isn't he here in person?"
The little badger waved a hand in dismissal and said, "Tuck has a fear of hospitals. Can hardly walk by the nurse's office at school."
"Yeah," said the boy on the screen, "it's easier to pretend Danny's not in a hospital if all I can see at most is a blank wall behind him."
"I see," I filed that piece of information away for future use. It might never need to come into play, but it was out of a habit I wasn't about to drop anytime soon.
"So, Vlad," the girl, Samantha, casually dropped my first name as if my offer to Daniel was open to her as well, "have the Fentons told you what happened?"
Yes, I already knew, but not because of the Fentons. The only information they'd had when I last spoke to Jack was that Daniel had been taken to the hospital. My information came from other sources. Skulker and the hospital's database to name a few. For my appearance of a billionaire ignorant of the recent news, I shook my head. A concerned frown with matching eyes to go along with it. The girl glanced at Daniel, who nodded, and began her retelling of the whole ghost attack. I noticed she left out any mention of Danny Phantom and her knowledge of Skulker's name. There were the occasional interruptions from the computer, making corrections or elaborating. The two humans had apparently defeated Skulker with the thermos they never seem to leave home without. But they saved Daniel's life in their eyes.
Even without my knowledge of the incident beforehand, I still would have heard the hesitations, the more forced descriptions of the fight. I had no doubt they knew Daniel's true nature when they gave me the edited tale. The boy's identity was, apparently still sound from what I heard from his friends. Which meant that half-ghosts were still not known to the world at large. Good. Then Daniel took over, telling me about the surgeries I'd be paying for. How thoughtful of him.
And even from their abridged story, I gathered the information I wanted. The new weapon worked as well as expected. I should probably take it away from Skulker, though. I don't want a surplus of hospital visits on my hands. It's only been less than three hours and I already hated this city and would rather keep my presence here at a minimum.
"Daniel, I had no idea a ghost would attack you," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it to give him some form of comfort. "And to have it send you here of all places." I turned my gaze from my young counterpart to Samantha and Tucker. "I'm glad you two were with him. He is very lucky to have friends as loyal as you." I couldn't keep all of the malice out of my voice, unfortunately. Had they more experience around me, they might have heard it. I pushed my own disdain for the concept of friendship and returned my attention to Daniel. "Now, I know that it's advised for patients who have had their appendix removed to walk multiple times a day. Would you care to walk with me, son?"
"Can Sam and Tucker come?" He asked. I nodded my assent to his request, already knowing the most desired outcome would arrive. Who would have thought that piece of information would come in handy so soon?
"Uh," Tucker spoke up, "if it's all the same to you guys, I'd rather not see what's outside this room."
"I'll stay with Tucker," Sam offered. "He'll probably mess with his technology too much if no one's around to watch him."
Daniel looked somewhat fallen that his friends decided to stay behind. I, however, thought it went exactly as it should have. The other hybrid scooted toward the side of the bed and swung his legs over the side. I heard him hold back a sound of pain. His face wore a grimace at the movement pulling at the stitches in his body. Not to mention the hole in his lung probably hadn't healed yet. Organs always took longer to heal than the flesh, even with the quickened healing a hybrid possessed. I supposed this was the first time Daniel knowingly experienced damage quite like this.
With a quiet movement, he hopped off the bed and grabbed the stand that held his IV drip. I stepped to the door, which opened without warning to reveal a woman in a white lab coat. His doctor, I assumed. She glanced from me, to the standing boy, then to the girl now sitting on the bed with the laptop. She pointed at me, "Friend or relative?"
"A friend of the Fentons," I told her, giving her my charming smile. "I am also the one paying for the expenses of his stay."
The woman raised a disinterested eyebrow at me and then nodded. "You'll have to discuss payment plans with the front desk, sir. They'll get you sorted straight as to what you need to do." She turned her attention away from me and onto Daniel. Her expression never changed. "How are you feeling today, Danny?"
"I'm feeling much better, Doctor Lindquist," he said, giving the woman a smile. "I was going to walk for a few minutes, like you told me to."
Lindquist pursed her lips together and consulted her files and then shook her head. "You'll have to wait for that walk. I'll need everyone to leave the room while I examine him to see how his recovery is progressing. I've also sent for a nurse to change the bandages."
I obliged willingly, as did the girl, who brought the laptop with the lid closed. You could still hear muffled cries of astonishment and displeasure sounding from the piece of technology. My gaze found both Maddie and Jack, sipping cups of coffee down the hall. The idiot waved at me and I returned it with a scowl. He didn't even notice. Instead of going toward my fellow adults, I stayed in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite to Daniel's door with my arms crossed. Samantha held the laptop to her chest as she did the same.
"Vlad," said Samantha, dropping my name again as if it were her right to do so, "Danny says you're pretty cool for an old guy."
I glanced down at her, frowning. "I'm hardly old, Samantha. My hair had turned silver prematurely, is all." She covered her mouth and shook with laughter. Teenagers. Speaking of, "Where is Jasmine? I was surprised she wasn't with her family."
"Jazz?" Samantha raised one of her thick eyebrows. "I'm sure she's at the library doing some research for an essay…or something."
There was a pause as we waited for Daniel to be finished. The aforementioned nurse walked by carrying a tray with the new bandages, scissors, and other necessities. Samantha looked up at me, to which I pretended to ignore. The sounds of people walking in their own worlds, absorbed in their work, filled the hallway. It reminded me of the office and I could lose myself in that kind of environment. It was one that I knew well enough that I could let my thoughts turn toward that which is more engaging. For instance, how long I would have to wait before I could tell Daniel.
"Does your company test on animals, Vlad?" the tone in Samantha's voice turned harsh as if she accused me of something.
"I can't see why that matters," I grumbled, not looking at her and refraining from slapping her face for using my given name a third time.
"I can," she crossed her arms and I could feel her glare on me. I could give her my own that would cause her to shrink in on herself, but kept my expression neutral. "Do you know how many defenseless animals are cruelly mistreated in labs every day?" In the space of a breath, the girl started ranting.
An irrational activist. Swell choice in friends, Daniel. I brought my thumb and index finger to the bridge of my nose and shut the girl out as she continued her tirade about animal cruelty or exploitation. Some nonsense like that. Eventually, she stopped talking in mid-sentence. I looked up, a small smile creeping on my lips. Not only was the girl silent, but I would be free of her presence very shortly. If only for a few minutes.
Daniel emerged from the room, looking relieved, if anything. Lindquist looked astonished, probably trying to wrap her head around the healing Daniel showed already. The doctor promptly shook her head and walked down the hall into another room. He approached the two of us, looking at the closed laptop expectantly. "Sam," he said, "I don't think Tuck likes seeing nothing."
"Well," the girl shrugged, opening the computer, "I didn't want him to freak out."
"Hey!" exclaimed Tucker. "I resent that." There was a pause before the boy said, "I still don't want to go with Danny and Mr. Masters, though."
Sam sighed and looked at the laptop with a different hatred than that shown toward my indifference of her cause. "I'll stay with Tucker and the computer. We wouldn't want him to have a panic attack or something."
"Thanks, Sam," said the young hybrid. The two of us watched his friend slide down the floor with the laptop resting on her knees. She gave Daniel a reassuring smile before turning to the laptop.
Daniel gave her a soft, gentle smile of apology before turning to me. "Where do you want to go…Vlad?" He was still testing my name out. Adorable.
"I had nowhere in particular in mind," I said, beginning to walk in the direction away from his parents. He followed me, carting the metal stand on the other side of him. Once we neared the second desk on the floor, I asked, "What did the doctor tell you, Daniel?"
He grinned as he said, "She says I'll be able to leave sooner than she thought. Like, Mom and Dad can check me out tonight. But I will have to come back next week for a check up." He seemed to be happy to get out of the hospital. Not that I blamed him. Most of his joy, though, might be in the knowledge that his hybrid status was still unknown beyond his two most trusted peers and the odd ghost. And myself, but that one was my little secret.
"By tonight?" I asked, astonishment dripping from my mouth. "You must be one fast healer, little badger." I ruffled his hair, giving him the impression that I was both impressed and proud. In some way, I was. It had taken me years since my accident to discover the rapid recovery of a hybrid.
"I guess," he muttered, ducking out of my hand and quickly smoothing his hair back down. "I guess it'll be cheaper for you."
"As if money was any worry for me, my boy," I laughed. We passed by another desk and continued down to the other end of the hall. There was padded bench waiting for someone to sit down. Elevators lined the end of the hall, occasionally dinging with people leaving. Only a few spared us a glance when we did sit down. "I just needed to be sure that you had the best care possible. Truthfully, this will be cheaper than the repair work back at my castle."
His face flushed when I mentioned my home. "Sorry about that," he said in a hushed tone.
"What do you have to apologize for?" My face molded itself to one of bewilderment. Eyebrows raised, widened eyes. The muscles contracted and relaxed from practiced ease, fooling the boy instantly. "It wasn't your fault. My home had been invaded by ghosts and your mother was only trying to rid me of the nuisances. So I forgive your mother for that incident. In fact, I do believe those ghosts caused more damage in their spat."
Daniel's form slumped when I called his ghost half a nuisance. He tried not to let it show, but it was clear he was struggling with the idea that, by using his ghost powers, he might never be accepted. I placed an arm around his shoulders, squeezing them in a comforting way, and offered him a smile. I doubt he knew why I chose to do that. He looked at me, trying to read through my expression for the answer. I merely smiled, relaxed. "I was going to ask my parents for your number yesterday," he said suddenly accompanied by a short, nervous laugh.
I raised an amused brow. That wasn't expected, but still worked out in my favor. I was interested in his reason, anyway. "Why would you want to call me?"
"Well," he folded his hands over his lap, "I wanted to thank you. You helped me a lot with my homework."
"Daniel, you thanked me enough at my home," I assured him, lips curling up with my growing amusement. "Honestly, you needn't call me for something as simple as that." His brows furrowed in confusion as I reached into my suit jacket. From the interior pocket, I withdrew the case holding my business cards. The metal reflected the light off the engraving of my monogram when I opened the case. Daniel tilted his head when I held out my card for him to take. "This has my cell number on it. If you ever need or want to call, dial this one," I pointed to my cell number and he nodded.
"Thanks, Vlad," he said, wearing a huge grin. My name, I noticed, sounded less awkward already. His eyes lit up as he scanned the business card.
I glanced at my watch and stood up. "Well, son, I suppose we should get you back to your room. Your family and friends no doubt would like to spend more time with you."
"Yeah," he scooted off the bench, holding on to the wheeled stand for his IV drip for support. We walked back toward his room, deftly evading the staff and other patients in the area. Daniel, when he thought I wasn't looking, glanced down at the business card. I accomplished more than expected with this hospital visit. It might just be the start of a pattern with my dealings with the boy.
We arrived at his room, his little activist friend arguing through the webcam with the other friend over something that was probably inconsequential. Jack and Maddy spoke quietly among themselves until Daniel and I approached. The girl stood up, ending the spat by turning the screen to Daniel. There was a cry of fright before the screen went blank when a palm reached for where the camera likely was on his side of the Internet. Daniel snickered, covering his mouth with a hand. His mother went to his side and led him back into his room. While she did so, he told her what Lindquist said about checking out that evening.
Everyone, myself included, filed after her. I entered last, watching as the group settled themselves back to where they had been before my arrival. Samantha placed the laptop down and told Tucker that it was okay and he could lower his hand. The two friends seemed to pounce on Daniel, asking questions about the short time he and I spent together. Maddie looked at me with a tilt to her head, as though she were trying to figure me out. It was probably due to the conversation the children were having, centering mostly on me. I gave her a shake of my head and a shrug.
Another glance at my watch and I decided it would be time for me to leave. I touched a hand to Daniel's shoulder, stopping him mid-sentence. "Well, son, I think I'll be going now," I told him.
"What?" He asked, looking confused. "Are you going back to Wisconsin, already?"
I shook my head, "Not for another few days. I just need some rest from the long trip, is all."
"Hey, why don't you stay with us, V-man?" asked Jack in an overenthusiastic tone that grated on my eardrums.
"Thank you for the offer, Jack. But, I already have my hotel booked," I told him. Not that I wanted to stay in the same house as that idiot.
"Nonsense, Vladdy," the oaf exclaimed. "Stay with us. I insist! You can stay in Danny's room."
I glanced down at the little badger with an apologetic look at his father's suggestion and said, "I'm afraid I must refuse. I wouldn't want to crowd the boy."
Jack was persistent in his desire to have me stay with his family. He continuously pressed me to cancel my room at the hotel and stay with his family. I refused each time he asked, not that he seemed to care. Eventually, Maddie stepped in and placed a hand to the oaf's mouth to shut him up. She sighed and gave me a pleading look. "Vlad, would you please reconsider," she said. "We won't force you, of course, but it would be nice to return your hospitality."
I melted when it was Maddie who asked me to stay. I raised my hands in surrender and said, "Well, if you insist, Maddie. I suppose I can call the hotel and cancel the room." She sighed in relief and lowered her hand from Jack's mouth. The man seemed to bounce on his feet about the whole situation. "Please excuse me while I make the cancellation." They didn't try to stop me when I slipped out of the door.
I made my way to the center desk of the floor. A large window overlooking the nature behind the hospital caught my attention. I leaned against the wall beside the glass and pulled my phone from its set pocket. I took the stylus from its slot and lazily went through my call list until I found the number for the hotel. I dialed it, heard the snobbish tone of the woman at the front desk, and explained that I had other lodgings during my stay in Amity Park. She gave me the amount for the cancellation fee and that I would have that applied to my credit card. With that finished, I sent my driver new directions for where he would be taking me once I left this place.
I stayed away from the room for a while longer, looking out the window. The nature they preserved on their land had concrete paths set into it. I spotted a few benches at the beginning of the paths. The trees seemed to offer some privacy, but I doubted the staff would allow a patient along the trail without supervision.
While I waited for him to check out, I thought I might as well sort out the payment issue. They would most likely send me a bill once they figured out the costs of Daniel's little stay and check up. If his rate of healing was as fast as I thought, he'd be nearly healed by his appointment the following week. It would no doubt fall within the expected recovery rate for his lung, but his recovery from the appendectomy might cause someone to turn their heads to his regenerative abilities. I'd no doubt have to step in and keep the boy safe from any prying eyes. His family, no doubt, would turn a blind eye to his speedy recovery. But other scientists might become too interested in him.
A few minutes passed before I pushed myself from the wall and made my way to the elevators to get the whole payment situation settled. The youth at the front desk looked up at me, again with little interest in his eyes. He did, however, know exactly what I needed to be done and worked with the efficiency I wished some of my own employees held. He told me to expect it within the next month. Well, here's hoping it actually would be cheaper than restoring my castle to its previous glory.
Another elevator ride later, and I was back in the room with the Fentons—minus Jasmine—and friends. Samantha eyed me with an accusatory frown, which I coolly deflected with an impassive smile. I wondered what she found wrong with me this time, but it might have to do with the material of my suit or shoes. I brushed off some invisible dirt from my sleeve as I walked over to the small window. Unfortunately, the view from his room was of the parking lot, so I kept my attention on the gathered. They all seemed to wait for either the doctor to arrive and give Daniel her permission to check out or for someone to boot all of us out to the lobby.
Jack and Maddie closed the distance between myself and the others. They must have grown bored of the youthful talk. "Vlad, were you serious about canceling your hotel?" Maddie inquired innocently. "I'd feel awful if we were too pushy about having you stay over."
A soft smile played on my lips when her amethyst eyes met mine. "It's no trouble at all," I said in the smoothest voice I had. "I would. However, prefer not to stay in Daniel's room. I really wouldn't want to impose on his space." Or make him think he needs to be extra careful around me. I would see through any harebrained lie he might concoct to get out of my sight anyway.
"We can set you up in the lab," the idiot boasted. He froze for a moment before adding, "Though it might get a bit chilly at night."
"That would be fine." It would give me a chance to see their lab, after all. I couldn't stop the satisfied smirk even if I wanted to.
The next few hours were filled with two different conversations. One I unwillingly participated in with the monkey of a man. The other between Daniel and his friends. Jack rambled about ghosts and he believed I had dropped the entire subject of the paranormal world after my case ecto-acne. Therefore, he felt the need to tell me the basics I had known since the beginning. Simple concepts I never lost over the years and even concepts I had published under a pseudonym were shoved down my throat in all his blathering. Maddie looked as enthusiastic as her childish husband when they spoke of the theories posed by the DALV Group that helped further their own work and inventions. Now I knew that observational skills weren't one of my love's strong points either from how she didn't mention the obvious connection between DALV and myself. Another blatant clue I flashed before the ignorant world unnoticed, I suppose. It did give me hope that Daniel would have forgotten the conversation from our first encounter, though.
Eventually, Lindquist entered the room again, interrupting the conversations. She gave Daniel one last examination before telling him his parents could check him out. The doctor spoke with me briefly, asking if I had gotten the billing situation cleared up. I gave her my assurances. Then, Daniel was left alone in his room as he changed into the more casual outfit of jeans and a t-shirt (both far too big for his thin frame). His parents and I had gone with Lindquist to sign all the paperwork. My signature was needed for legal purposes. Samantha held the closed laptop with her as she waited impatiently. All of us had to wait for the orderly to arrive with the wheelchair that would escort the child from the hospital.
The moment Daniel was wheeled out of the room, I pulled out my cell phone to dial my driver. I gave him his instructions to pull up to the front. The idiot seemed to take my call as a cue to get his blasted RV. I doubted his driving skills and it was only confirmed by the horrified looks on Maddie's and Samantha's faces. Maddie turned to me with a nervous smile on her lips. I had an idea of what she was going to say before she asked, "Would it be alright if Danny rode home with you?"
I feigned surprise. "Maddie, my dear, shouldn't Daniel return home with his family?"
"Jack's a little…" she waved a hand, searching for the right word. "He's, well, overenthusiastic when he drives. I'd feel better if Danny didn't have to deal with that kind of stress on the ride home."
A look of understanding flashed over my face and I nodded my assent. She looked at me again with those amethyst eyes in gratitude. Had she been any other person, I would have exploited that gratitude without a second glance.
It was then that Daniel arrived in front of his mother. He noticed his father's absence and his eyes filled with horror at the thought of his father driving him home. I didn't blame him for that emotion. "Mom," he asked, "is Dad driving us home?"
"Unfortunately," she sighed and bent down to his level, "you know how he is once he's behind wheel. Vlad said he'd be more than willing to take you home, though. But only if that's what you want."
Daniel's eyes darted from his mother to me multiple times. Then he lowered his eyes to his lap, mulling over his options. His stitching could very well come undone during the idiot's haphazard driving. With me, he'd be in a car with a virtual stranger alone. Alone, but safe. Oh, the opportunity to prove myself better than the imbecile came all too often around this family, it seemed. Daniel snapped his eyes up to me and nodded, "I'll…ride with Vlad. But, can Sam get a ride, too?"
I gave him a gentle smile, "Of course, if that's what she wants."
Samantha jumped at the chance to get away from Jack Fenton's driving. Maddie looked guilty over having placed the children in my hands and not being there with Daniel going home. But she was a mother and knew the chosen option was much better than the alternative.
The orderly began wheeling Daniel through the hospital, the whole time the young hybrid arguing that he could walk. The man behind him told him, in the kindest voice he could manage, that it was hospital policy and there was nothing he could do about it. After all, the building and it's staff were still liable should Daniel be harmed on his way out. One final trip through the elevator and we were at the entrance. The Fenton RV was parked in front and ready to sail through the streets at speeds that caused other drivers to suffer panic attacks. The orange wearing dolt leaned out of the seat and waved at meager group.
"Hop in, Danny!" He shouted. "Can't wait to get you back home so you can see my new invention!"
"Uh, sweetie?" Maddie spoke up, "Danny and Sam are getting a ride with Vlad. We don't want to upset his injuries, right?"
The man's shoulders fell, crestfallen. I smiled jovially at the sight of his disappointment. "Well," I said, leading the teens to my limo, "I'm sure Daniel and I will be at your home in no time. Ta!"
My driver opened the door and the two youngsters entered into the spacious back. I lingered for just a moment, watching Maddie climb into the vehicle with her husband. She had said something too soft for me to hear. I felt myself longing for her to speak to me with love in her voice as she often did with that man she chose to marry. With that wish in my heart, I slid onto the seat smoothly from practice. The door closed behind me and I watched as the teens opened the fridge embedded in the wall dividing the driver from its passengers. Soon after, the limo rolled away from the hospital. I refrained from rubbing the bridge of my nose, even though I could feel a headache coming on.
"Don't you have any water in recycled bottles?" asked Samantha, shaking one of the bottles made of non-recycled plastic at me.
"Come on, Sam," Daniel rolled his eyes. "Vlad wasn't expecting a goth ultra-recycle vegetarian to end up in his limo."
So that's what the girl claimed to be. That explained the black, but her disposition seemed off for the look. She had too many activist characteristics in her personality that threw me off her gothic interests. I raised an eyebrow at her and she gave me a stare that dared me to question her. I smirked, causing her to look away. "How is he cool, Danny?" she muttered.
"You told your friends I was cool, Daniel?" I asked him, amusement washing away the former atmosphere. I cupped my chin and looked toward the ceiling as if in thought, "Come to think of it, Samantha mentioned that earlier."
"She did?" Daniel sounded embarrassed and he was hiding his face from me. "Heh, I guess I let that slip when I was talking about last weekend." When he extracted a bottle of Coca-Cola, I could tell his arms were shaking, though only slightly. Samantha saw that, too, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Maybe he did tell his friends about our first encounter.
"Ah yes, last weekend," I chuckled, barely managing to keep out the malicious joy when I thought of it. "That was definitely something else."
"You know, I don't think that ghost kid was trying to cause any damage," said Samantha. My lips twitched at the corners. He had definitely told his friends about the encounter. At the very least, they knew of our second meeting.
"How do you figure that, Samantha?" I saw her cringe at the use of her full name. She mumbled something along the lines of 'It's just Sam'. I folded my hands over my lap, completely relaxed. The little badger, I noticed, was sipping his soda slowly, forcing himself to be calm and distant from the conversation.
"Well," she shot a nervous glance toward Daniel, "I've seen him around Amity. And he's been fighting other ghosts. He even saved my life at least once."
"That doesn't mean anything, Samantha," I reasoned. "Ghosts are without emotion. They have an obsession that they cling to. This ghost boy might have an obsession with being the savior. Perhaps acting on a wish he so desperately clung to in his last moments."
"Then what about the Wisconsin Ghost?" asked Daniel, staring at his feet. The Wisconsin Ghost? That's what I had been dubbed after our fight? I nearly burst out laughing and tell them what I called myself in that form. But I hid my mirth behind a mask of serenity. "What do you think his obsession is?"
"The Wisconsin Ghost," I mused aloud. "It's very possible that his obsession could very well be around betrayal or having had his life torn from him in the form of an early grave. Therefore, if he saw any happiness, he would seek to destroy it." I shook my head at that analysis, knowing that it was only half-right. I certainly didn't plan on killing all joy in the world. "But that is an uniformed opinion of this ghost. I'd only first seen him at the reunion, after all."
I must have hit a nerve with Daniel because he tensed up after that. I could tell he was thinking about our battles. The first one, he must have known by now, was reality. My pseudo-analysis might have only have confirmed my ghost half's villainy in his mind. Well that was just dapper. I'd have to do a lot of PR work with the boy to get him to trust my ghost half now. I could already feel the migraine that effort would cause forming on top of the one I was getting now.
"So that ghost wanted to destroy my parent's happiness. No wonder he went after Dad," said Daniel. He took a long drink from the cola.
"As I said Daniel," I gave him a reassuring smile, "it's just an opinion I formed from that first meeting. He might have also been trying to destroy the mood the reunion." I crossed my arms and leaned back at my seat. "He succeeded in that regard, at the very least." Wonderful, I just painted myself as a chaotically evil ghost. That PR campaign was very much a necessity now.
He seemed to relax a little from that. My words probably deflected his suspicions that the ghost was after his father specifically. Samantha seemed to be considering my words as well. They would probably include that Tucker boy in a conversation later and start trying to figure out the exact motives of the Wisconsin Ghost. I silently wished them the best of luck.
The rest of the ride to the Fenton home was filled with another pointless conversation. The two teenagers started talking about the latest video games or what-not that the youth were into those days. I honestly didn't care to much. And they seemed to ignore the fact that I was still in the car. I let them speak without interruption from myself. I, instead, watched the dingy streets from the window. There were not as many people walking the streets as I initially thought there would be. But then again, it was a backwater city. Occasionally, my eyes slid over to glance at the young hybrid. He sat closer to Samantha, now, though not close enough to brush his shoulder against hers. She seemed to have maintained the distance, it seemed. They did not notice the limo slow to a stop in front of Daniel's home until the driver opened the door, startling them out of their conversation.
I stepped out into the open air first, taking in the red bricked building before me. Upon the roof was a garish neon sign advertising their small company: Fenton Works. Accompanying the sign was a large metal monstrosity that cast a shadow over the sidewalk I stood upon. Daniel and Samantha walked up the stairs without concern for the looming shadow above them. After so many years of living with it, I suppose one would get used to that sight. I noticed, though, that Daniel's back caused him pain as he walked up the few steps. He leaned on his friend for support and she opened the door for him.
I had gathered as much as possible from the exterior and entered in after the children. I could already hear the irritating noise that passed as speech from Jack as he welcomed his son home from the hospital. I entered in time to see the man squeezing the ever-living hell out of the boy. Did that man have no memory at all? Daniel strangled out some words, telling his father that he needed to breath. A quick apology later, and all was forgiven. I glared at the man for nearly harming the boy so soon after being discharged. The boy was too important to be handled that way.
Their living room was sparsely decorated, having only a few family portraits hanging from the blue painted walls. A large couch by the fireplace. They did have a television, though not as large as the one I had. There were stairs leading up to the second floor to where their bedrooms waited for the night. Maddie had used the time waiting for us to arrive to prepare a meal, something I was genuinely looking forward too. I must admit, I was shocked to see Daniel's ashen face at the mention of a home cooked meal. Because I needed to know, I commented on it to Daniel.
"You've never eaten her food," he told me. "She brings life to whatever she cooks."
"What do you mean?" I asked, for once confused about something as trivial as cooking.
"We had a turkey come to life, some hot dogs," he scrunched his face in thought. "I think a ham, too. Or was it steak?"
This news shocked me. Really, it did. How on Earth does someone make food come alive while they're preparing it?
"Mom uses stuff run by ectoplasm," explained Daniel. I stared down at him, an eyebrow raised before I realized I'd spoken that thought aloud.
It took considerable effort not to slap a hand over my face. It was one thing to let the boy be the reason I let the fool Jack live. It was another to slip my thoughts around him. Sometimes, I don't know what to do with myself after so many years living on my own. Oh well, when one was oft alone, voicing thoughts becomes a bit of a habit.
Although, Maddie being unable to cook did not lessen her in my eyes. She wouldn't need to prepare any meals for me once she became my wife. She wouldn't even need to step into a kitchen for the rest of her life. But bringing life to the dead—albeit using the energy composing the unliving—is still impressive. I must admit that it made me desire the woman more than I already had. Mostly, I wanted to examine the devices she used while cooking to see how they transferred the energy into physical vessels. But still, having her there with me while doing so would be that much better.
I stared into the kitchen, listening to Maddie as she hummed a merry tune. Daniel moved to the couch and eased onto the cushions, probably still feeling the effects of that horrible embrace his father had given him. Samantha remained at his side and I, too, sat down at his other side. "Are you going to return to school tomorrow, Daniel?" I asked. Such an innocent question.
"I want to," he said. I caught the girl's worried expression. "I mean, I heal pretty fast. I think I'll be good to go again tomorrow."
"Danny," Samantha scolded. "You were put in the hospital by Sku—that ghost!—" Ha, the girl almost revealed that she knew Skulker's name in front of me. Hilarious. She believes it's dangerous to spout the names of ghosts. "—Take another day off. I'm sure Lancer will understand."
The boy groaned and shook his head, "No he won't. He's probably going to assume I used all my free time bedridden to do the homework." He leaned over, resting his arms over his lap as he glared a hole into the floor. "I'm so screwed."
Another golden opportunity presents itself. Dear me, Daniel's life is just full of moments to take advantage of, wasn't it? I placed a gentle hand on the boy's back, hoping to avoid touching one of the injuries. "Would it make it easier if you had some help, hmm?" I smiled down at him as I gave him my offer. I'd done it before while his father was too busy searching for the elusive Dairy King to even know his son needed aid. Surely, he wouldn't want to deny the help.
"Thanks, but you've done enough for me already, Vlad," he answered. "I can always ask Jazz whenever she gets home. Where is she anyway? She left really early for the library."
"Probably still there," shrugged the Goth girl.
Most libraries closed around the late evening. A glance at my watch told me she would be coming through the door any minute, if she stayed through close. A moment later, as predicted, Jasmine bounded through the door. She called out to her parents, telling them of her arrival. In her arms were a few large books. She was about to head into her room when Daniel spoke up, "Hey Jazz."
The girl paused on the first step. She turned around to confirm the person who spoke was really there and her face broke into a huge grin. "Danny!" Running over to her little brother, she threw her arms around his neck. I heard the sound of shock and pain escape his throat when she did that and suppressed a glare at the girl. She might be Jack's daughter, but she was also Maddie's. Still, it was the same problem as before. The poor boy had only just gotten out of that dreadful hospital not even an hour ago. "They released you early!"
She finally let him go, holding him at arm's length. It was also at that moment that she saw he was still wincing from her embrace. "Sorry," she said, a blush creeping on her face. Her eyes then moved to the other two in the room. She waved at Samantha and furrowed her eyebrows at me. "Mr. Masters, I didn't expect you here."
"I came a bit early," I told her. "I must have missed you when I arrived."
"That's not—," she began and then paused. "Dad invited you to stay, didn't he?"
That was more of a statement, rather than a question. I simply nodded. She rolled her eyes before giving me an apologetic look. "Be warned," said Jasmine, "my parents are crazy about ghosts. So try to avoid that subject."
"Did you say 'ghost' Jazzy-pants?" shouted Jack as he burst into the living room with a fully charged ecto-gun in his hands. He swung it around until it had been mistakenly aimed at me for a moment and then at Daniel. Thankfully, the buffoon didn't pull the trigger. His daughter ran to him and pushed his arms upward toward the ceiling.
"Will you stop that?" demanded the girl. There was so much anger in her eyes for her father. I began to like her already. "Danny just got home from the hospital. Would it kill you to set ghosts aside for one night?"
The man's shoulders fell for the second time today. Jack lowered the gun to his side, a small whine telling us that it lost its charge. I heard a small sigh of relief from the hybrid beside me. I looked at him with with a raised eyebrow, wondering how he managed to keep his being half-ghost a secret from his parents. "Aw, princess, you know how excited I get about ghosts," he whined and then put the ecto-gun away—though to where, I hadn't a clue.
"You're hurting Danny's psychological development. If you keep chasing imaginary ghosts, then he's never going to be able to move on from that childish belief." The girl pointed an accusing finger at her father. However angry she may be at her father, I could not help but roll my eyes at her reasoning. If only the girl knew Daniel could never 'move on' from ghosts.
The voice of my love sounded from the kitchen, alerting us that dinner was ready. I stood up, waited for Daniel and his friend, and followed them into the room. I could smell the food being laid on the table. It smelled fantastic. With every step closer to the table, however, wariness began to turn my stomach into knots. I wanted to eat Maddie's food with out a care. But Daniel's mention of her use of ecto-energy while cooking made me apprehensive.
Instead of letting those emotions show, I walked with poise. My face painted with a relaxed smile. I stepped into the kitchen to see Maddie in all her beauty. She—and Daniel—would be the ones to make these next few days in that house bearable.
A/N: This chapter ended up longer than I expected. I could have ended it while they were all still in the hospital and seriously thought about cutting out everything after just arriving at Fenton Works. But I loved it too much. Forgive me!
Anyway, so far, so good for Vlad's scheme, n'est-ce pas? Who knows when he drops the bomb on Danny's life? I have an idea. Do you?
