"Sam!" Tucker ran over to his friend and looked around, "Where's Danny?"

"He left again."

"Did he tell you where he went and everything?"

"No, but-"

"What happened here?!"

James was in the front of the lunchroom and sighted Sam and Tuck.

"Hey, James. Just a regular ghost fight," Sam said shrugging.

"Oh."

"Yeah-wait, you're new. You shouldn't be used to this," Tucker accused, eyeing him suspisously.

"Well...I'm not exactly...new, per-say," he said hesitantly.

"Oh, how come we've never met you?" Sam asked.

"You have," he said looking into her eyes then walked off as the bell rang.

"What was that about?" Tucker asked as he looked back.

Sam just stood there and gapped.

"Danny?"


"Sam?"

"..."

"Sam?"

"..."

"SAM?!"

"What!"

Sam and Tucker were walking to the Nasty Burger from school.

"I called your name about ten times already!" Tucker burst out.

"Oh, sorry," Sam said as they walked into the resturant.

Tucker's face softened. She was worried. Sam could never worry...unless there was a very good reason.

"Worried?" Tucker asked.

"About what?"

"You tell me," Tucker said accusingly.

"Hello, how may- hey guys! How was your day?"

Valerie stood at the register and smiled at them. She still hunted ghosts, but only the ones who attacked people and such. Since Danny and Phantom dissappeared, she put two and two together and found it out. She thought back and found a lot of what he said was true. That he was good and that there weren't many who were lke him.

"Hey Val. Okay," Tucker said.

"Yeah, it was alright," Sam replied.

"Wow! That's got to be really good for you to say. What, with-"

"Ahem...," the boss said behind Valerie.

As soon as he was gone she rolled her eyes and asked for their orders and gave them to them.

"See you two tomorrow."

"You too," they replied as they went and sat down to eat.

"So, what were you worried about?" Tucker asked after he took a bite out of his hamburger.

"Well,-don't you think it's a little wierd that Phantom popped out of nowhere, but Danny didn't?" Sam asked getting to the point.

"Yeah, but maybe he lives somewhere close," Tucker said shrugging.

"Well, why would he show up now?"

"Well, isn't it the same as why he left?"

"And what made him leave?"

"Yeah, but then again. Nothing in this town is easy."

"Yeah, and neither is Danny," Sam said saddly as she fell heavily on her soda and took a sip.

"What did he say to you, that is, if he said anything yesterday?" Tucker asked.

"He said..." Sam then remembered she promised not to tell,"I asked him if it was a dream, he said it wasn't and flew off," but half-truths weren't wrong, right?

"I was in shock too. I wonder how Jazz's taking this," Tucker said.

"Oh, I forgot she has the same lunch period as us," Sam said shooting up.

"Well, she wanted to make sure you were okay. You know, since-"

"Tuck! I love you, you're like a brother to me, but don't make me kill you," Sam said, left eye twitching.

"Fine!-Fine! Do you want to stop by the place, if you're-"

"Tuck, I swear, if you son't shut up and acting like I'm a child...besides...Danny's back, I don't have to worry any more."


Tucker and Sam were walking to the Fenton's house when they saw someone.

"James?"

"Huh? W-What are you guys doing here?" he replied to their accusation.

"It's on the way home, you?" Sam replied.

"Well, I thought it looked a little..."

"Wierd? Our friend used to live there. He wasn't very normal either. You should meet the Fentons," Tuck implied.

"Yeah, well...I need to get home. I've got something to do later," James said backing away.

"Where do you stay?" Tuck asked.

"Um, I really have to go. I'll see you guys later!" he called as he ran off in the opposite direction.

"What was that all about?" Sam asked.

Tucker shrugged, "Beats me."

She narrowed her eyes.


Sam set her backpack on the floor, next to her bed and collapsed face down.

"Is tenth grade really that hard?"

Sam shot up, turned to face her window and gasped.

"Danny?!"

Sitting on the window sill was Danny Phantom, smiling at her. She rushed up and ran over to hug him.After she did she punched him in the chest.

"Ow! What was that for?" Danny asked rubbing his chest.

"For running away like that! What's wrong with you? Have you lost it?" Sam exclaimed, looking serious.

"Maybe," Danny mumbled before answering outloud, "What do you mean?"

"(grumble)Why'd you leave?"

"To keep you safe,"Danny said saddly.

"Safe? The only thing that needs to be safe is you. What made you think I wasn't safe."

"Because..."

"Because what?"

"Because I'm not safe to be around."

"What?" Sam said shocked.

Danny didn't reply. Sam let it slide...this time.

"Where'd you go?"

"Not too far. Only a mile out of town."

"How could you leave?"

"I told you, to keep you safe."

"Why'd you come back now?"

"It seemed like you needed me. Besides, there's going to be a war soon."

"What?"

"The ghosts are planning on attacking Amity."

"And they just came up and told you this?"

"Basically."

"Hold on, where's the real Danny?"

"Sam, I'm serious. Since I wasn't seen making their 'lives' miserable, they thought I sided with Vlad."

"But, you didn't?"

"Of Course Not! What kind of question is that?"

"Well, you obviously won't tell me why you felt you had to keep us safe. Vlad's the only one I can think of to make you do that."

"Sam, I don't want to talk about it."

"But I do. Why would I just want to know why you're back and that you only appear in ghost form?"

"Because, me being back is all that matters-and...I do see you in my human form, you just don't realize it..."

"You're...James aren't you?"

Danny was a little taken aback and fell through the sill.

"How?" he asked floating back up.

"You look the same, for the most part."

"Wow, you sure you're the same Sam?" Danny said turning into James.

"I'm still the same. You? Not so sure," she replied walking away to close her door.

"Sam, I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"Yeah, don't forget your homework," she said as he was about to fly off.

He turned around and smiled, "Seems like thsome things never change?"

The he frowned and looked at the ground before flying off.

"Sam, I didn't join Vlad...but I wonder if the guy I did join isn't worse."