A.N. Sorry people only just remembered about the Disclaimer; so in case you didn't already know I do not, and will never own Danny Phantom, if I did it wouldn't have been cancelled.

What Unusual halflives we lead

Chapter 3: Parents Can Scare the Shit Outta You

Gym class. Need anymore be said? The bane of many students school lives: to embarrass yourself in front of the entire class and for the rumours to come and bite you in the ass. For Danny it was worse. Over the last few years he had gotten more than physically fit, with constant ghost fights and his powers to figure out he was more than a match for anything that class could throw at him. However he could never show just how good he was because it would provoke suspicion. If he was suddenly the star of gym class, if he could suddenly be the schools best black belt, or the best acrobat, sprinter or weightlifter someone would surely notice. Right?

Of course his grades had improved in gym recently, he wasn't the best, but he wasn't the worst either, and that was good enough for him. That was what he kept repeating in his mind as they were seriously put through their paces by Coach Tetslaff. They'd already run several laps round the track, done 20 minutes of push-up and sit-ups, now they were taking turns doing pull-ups. Apparently they were recording how much they had improved over the term despite the pervious protests of the students of it being the last day of term, a quiet gym lesson to finish the day off was not on her to-do list. Fantastic.

"Come on, come on, kids lets pick up the pace," she shouted, enthusiastically clapping her hands and glancing at the timer in her right hand. "Next two, move it, move it."

"Anyone'd think we were running an army training drill," Tucker moaned as he slowly hauled himself into his first pull-up. His limbs screaming in protest as he tried for another one. Sam and Danny found it far easier than he did, but said nothing as they waited for him to finish. "For all intents and purposes, we are." Danny agreed wiping the sweat from his brow, he had had no real problem with the pace of the class, the exercises were tame compared to his 'extra-curricular' activities. But he was hampered by his fatigue and the need to keep his abilities unnoticed.

After the last people finished their round of pull-ups it was time for, "Basketball, alright two team's people, I don't care if it's boys vs. girls or, whatever, just do it quick." Tetslaff said running over to the equipment room, grabbing a basketball and tossing it into the crowd of teenagers; Dash caught it and immediately proclaimed him-self a captain while Sam took the opposing role, much to Paulina and Star's dismay.

The teams were divided quickly and the game began, it mainly ended up between the two captains, with the others getting in the way. After many had given up and were slouched on the side-lines Danny took pity on Sam, although to be fair she had been doing fairly well against the two quarterbacks. Danny applied him-self to the game, not too much though, and he and Sam were soon acting as the dream-team, despite Danny's handicap. They passed and dodged through Kwan and Dash laughing at the surprised looks on their faces. After they won they high-fived, giving Dash matching looks of victory. "No way, you lovebirds did not just beat me at basketball!" Dash shouted pointing angrily at them from across the court, "Rematch, now!" he demanded.

"We're not…" they shouted simultaneously.

"No time, Baxter," Tetslaff interrupted, "times up, get going kids."

"Rematch, Manson," Dash muttered as the class made their way to the changing rooms.

"Definitely," Sam agreed, "Then we can humiliate you again."

Dash growled in response, "Next Wednesday, the court in the park, me and Kwan…and you two lovebirds."

"We'll be there." Sam growled back too angry to give the usual reply to his nickname for them, instead she dragged Danny away from Dash by the arm as she stormed away.

"What…did you just…did you just involve me in some kind of death-basketball rematch…against Kwan and Dash?" Danny asked with vexation.

"Oh come on Danny, don't deny you had as much fun as I did beating Dash at his own game, well, at basketball anyway, and compared to fighting ghosts it's hardly lethal." She huffed, and he silently agreed, "Alright, alright, I'll come to your stupid rematch." He muttered.

Tucker finally caught up with them dragging him-self back slowly like a defeated soldier from battle. Danny took one of his arms round his shoulders and Sam took the other and together they climbed the stairs that lead from the gym. After changing they filed out of the school with the other students, thankful that the last day of term was at an end.

Thankful it was still raining the three of them stood in outside, letting the cool droplets trickle down their skin and soak their clothing.

They walked to an empty corner of the grounds when Tucker asked "Can we go now? My PDA can only take so much water before it malfunctions!" in response Danny morphed into Phantom, held his friends arms and took off into the sky.

"So, wanna come over to mine and watch 'Cyber Invasion of Doom'?" Sam asked as they flew through the streets, invisible to everyone below.

"Maybe another night, Sam, I'm gonna get started on this homework, make the most of a ghost free day," Danny replied, "plus, with the fruit loop at my house who knows what he's planning…"

"Want us to help you watch him?" Tuck asked.

"No, it's fine, you two watch the movie, I couldn't concentrate anyway," he muttered, "and I have that detention to do." Danny sighed.

"We could have walked y'know." Sam said as Danny landed behind her house.

"I don't mind, really," he said and with a smile took off at top speed back to the school and into the boy's toilets. He morphed and made his way to Prickly's classroom.

"Ah, Fenton, glad you could join us, and here I was thinking you weren't going to show." The teacher smiled as Danny took what was fast becoming his seat in the detention class. Dash sat across from him glaring at him. Great, two people in the school that hate him, all he'd need would be for them to team up against him. They sat in silence for 5 minutes when Prickly looked up from his desk. "You know the drill, 6 sides of paper." He said and turned back to his book. With that the students began writing out the same sentence, 'I will not be late' over and over again.

When Danny was finished after another 20 minutes he left the papers on Prickly's desk and turned to leave, "Remember Fenton, Wednesday." Dash whispered to him, Danny nodded and left the room. He looked around and noticing no-one he morphed and flew away.

He decided to circle the city, though what he'd told Sam and Tuck was partly true he didn't go home immediately. He wanted time to think, so at speeds of over 300 mph he flew round buildings and houses, skimming the tree tops and passing through the rain clouds. The fact that Vlad was at his house irked him to no end, if he couldn't be safe at home where could be? Though he supposed he really wasn't; his parents wanted to tear half of him apart 'molecule by molecule' and Vlad wanted to tear all of him apart. His half- life was seriously messed up, he concluded.

By now the sky had begun to darken and the street lights shone brightly illuminating his snow white hair and toxic neon eyes as he sat upon what was probably the highest point in the city. Atop the radio broadcasting tower he could see every person, every cat and dog in the streets. A while ago he had discovered a type of enhanced sight, he could already see in the dark but now he could distinguish between living things, each person had an individual glow, like a ghostly aura, at first he thought it was something that reflected a person's personality, like magic. But he'd since discovered that it showed the health of the person; their physical state, and often peaked when they felt high emotions, he wondered if his did the same. He could tell if a person was sick, or healthy or even dying, that hadn't been a pleasant experience.

When visiting the hospital after his dad blew up an experiment in the lab, nothing serious, but Jack had to have a few stitches on his arm. Danny had been walking round the building when he noticed an old man, lying in a bed. A nurse, for some reason had informed him that the man's name was Victor, he was a war veteran and they weren't holding out much hope for a recovery. The man died in front of him while the doctors tried to resuscitate him, when he noticed the change in the aura. He could see them even when he was human, and at first he hated it. Now he could control it with ease it, like a light switch he could turn it off and on, it wasn't so bad anymore. Once he had learned to stop telling people they would develop a cold or even the slightest cough, people forgot about it. But his dad still asked him frequently to predict his weekly health for him; they just thought he was a lucky guesser. He hoped.

After another flight round the city he flew towards his house and entered as Danny Fenton, tossing his bag on the floor beside the door. His parents came in from the kitchen as he said "I was…"

"…at Sam's," Jazz finished, "she called, how was the movie?" she asked. She was sat on the sofa a book on the table and on the television was clearly a documentary or other. Vlad, of course still had to be there, sitting in a chair drinking wine and turned from the TV to look at him.

"Yeah, it was good." He answered with a small smile.

"Your school called," Maddie frowned, and Danny moaned, he didn't think they bothered anymore. Bummer. "Another detention…every day for the last week, and the week before that…what have you been doing, young man?" she demanded, and his father brandished a stick of fudge at him like a weapon when he looked to him for help. But upon Maddie's death glare that warned Jack of any interference he replied; "Danny…listen to your mother," and went back into the kitchen munching his fudge.

"I…just…"

"No more excuses, Danny, tell me the truth." She replied angrily, "I'm sorry about this Vlad, but I…" she looked over at him apologetically. Most guests would have taken this as their cue to leave, but not Vlad, he just love torturing Danny, so he sent a quiet snarl Vlad's way, knowing he'd hear it.

"Not a problem, my dear Maddie, all young boys have their troubles, after all I'm sure he has his reasons." He smirked, "Right, Daniel?"

"Err…hey…" Jazz said hoping to provide a distraction, "Danny, there's something about the Hubble space telescope on TV…you err…you wanna watch it?"

Grateful for the effort Danny looked over at her as she flicked the channel over and images of the telescope in question emerged. "Sure…I…" but winced as his mother frowned.

"Jasmine," Maddie shouted, appalled at her usually responsible daughter, "what is wrong with you…your brother's had more detentions in this last month than your fathers eaten fudge, he's missed curfew almost every night, and you're suggesting he watches television?"

Little did she know he'd missed his curfew every night, she just saw one of his duplicates in his room at night whenever she came to check on him. If he could he'd send one to school every morning while he rested, or send one out to fight ghosts while he came home, like a dutiful young son, before his curfew. But it didn't work like that, the power was too complicated, and he still couldn't hold them for extended periods of time. It would be disastrous if it started acting weird or spacing out because he lost his control for even a millisecond. It wasn't worth the risk, at least not until he could control the power with more confidence.

"I just think you're overreacting, mom, Danny's still a teenager, maybe he's having teenage problems…or…"

"Hello, I am still here, y'know, I can hear e-very word…and IT. HAS. NOTHING. TO. DO. WITH. PUBERTY!" Danny cried, sick of having to explain the same thing over and over as he waved his hands in the air hoping to gain their attention. Seriously what was it with people and thinking that everything was to do with puberty, Jazz could have used a better excuse; she knew how much that one irritated him. Much to Vlad's amusement he was reminded of himself every time he shouted to Daniel that he refused to get a cat or try internet dating.

"…maybe he just needs some space, psychologists say," Jazz continued, "that parents who shout at their children for repeatedly misbehaving only do it all the more because of their pride, so if you give Danny a chance I'm sure he'd…" despite Jazz best efforts their mother was having none of it, she wanted answers and she wanted them now.

"Enough Jasmine, go upstairs and let me talk to your brother," Maddie replied, breaking Jazz off mid-rant.

"But, mom…you…"

"Now, Jazz!" at this Jazz threw her brother an apologetic look as she turned away and left the room, Danny smiled in understanding at her. She'd tried her best, even though she had used the stupid puberty card, there was only so many times you could play that and get away with it. Now he was paying for it, it was full house to Maddie, and Danny had nothing to give for her win. He'd just have to think fast, no problem. With a crazed up fruit loop watching his every move from across the room, no clever sister to back him up or friends to corroborate his movements, no dad to provide a distraction, and no ghosts to fight…oh yeah, he was most definitely, well and truly screwed. Crap, crap and triple crap. Not very creative or helpful perhaps, but it made him feel slightly better, he though with a smile.

Which, unfortunately his mother caught and advanced on him further, her hands on her hips and that terrifying mothering scowl that adults seem to develop upon becoming parents was in full force. "Daniel James Fenton…you think this is funny?" She shouted.

Oh boy, the full name, if it was possible things just got ten times worse, "…what…no…I…" Danny stuttered, and his head shot around the room looking for an escape, only to remember that this wasn't a ghost fight, his mom could be just as scary as Skulker on a bad day, or Plasmius on a good one.

"Well, I'm waiting, Danny where have you been all week?"

"Well…I…err…what like every day…" he rubbed the back of his neck, talk about awkward moments.

"Yes, every day Danny, why are you late for school? Why do you miss curfew? What do you do all night that is so important?"

"Well, I was late today cuz…err…I forgot it was Friday…I slept in…no big deal…"

"No big deal!" she repeated, Danny muttered; "Oh boy," and Vlad sipped his wine.

"Eureka…hey, Maddie, guess what…I just fixed the Fenton Fan," Jack ran in the room shouting and brandishing an ordinary looking electric fan with the word Fenton on it. "Err…bad time?" he suggested looking around the room; the tension was so think you cut slice a Fenton knife through it and serve it on your Fenton toast.

"Bad time," Maddie agreed, "Jack sit down, Danny was just about to tell us where he's been all week."

"Really, cool, I just figured he'd been at his spook-ooky friend's house," Jack smiled, once more making bat ears on his head as he did whenever he mentioned Sam.

"It's 'Sam' dad, not 'Spooky-ooky', and second…" Danny began, but his mother cut across him.

"You've been at Sam's all week then?" Maddie shouted furiously.

"What…no…it's not…she's not…we're not…" he pointed at the door then at himself with a sigh.

"Great job, Danny, play it cool, and you got yourself a girlfriend," Jack smiled and gave his son the thumbs up.

"SHE'S. NOT. MY. GIRLFRIEND!" Danny yelled, once again he was sick of explaining this to people, what made it worse was he knew he was beginning to sound like Vlad, always shouting the same thing over and over again.

"So…it's not puberty…Sam's not your girlfriend, you've not been at her house. And you've not been anywhere?" Maddie replied calmly, "Right?"

"What?" Danny replied, and he immediately turned his face away from them, he could feel his eyes glow green in frustration. Why couldn't they just go back in the lab and make things to rip apart his ghost half, rather than pester his human half with questions he couldn't answer.

"Look at us when we're talking to you, young man." His mother continued, but this time he cut across her.

"No. I want answers too. Like what's Vlad doing here? Why the sudden interest in how I choose to spend my time? Why…"

"Danny…" Maddie sighed, "Vlad is here because he is visiting, I'm sorry to have to say that I didn't want him to see this, but we're worried about you. You don't tell us anything anymore, and you're embarrassing yourself in front of a guest."

Danny let out a quiet snort of laughter, "Right…me embarrass myself in front of Vlad…sure mom…"

"What's that supposed to mean? Look…I know you don't exactly get along with Vlad, but he's our oldest friend, and we'd appreciate it if you at least tried to…"

"Look, it's not my fault okay…he's the one who always…" he caught himself, cursing his anger and his stupid mouth, why couldn't he stop while he was ahead? Stupid, stupid…bad Danny.

"He…who…Vladdie?" Jack pointing at his old college friend and the two laughed together.

"…No dad…school…Prick…ly…he's the one who keeps looking for m…us when we go into school, he loves putting kids in detention…it not always my fault…" he tried to correct himself, but he had a feeling it was too late.

"That's not going to wash this time, Danny," Maddie scolded.

"But it's the truth…it's like he's always out for my ec…my blood…he's like a blood hound, it's seriously creepy…"

"Danny, I'm disappointed…I thought you would at least tell me something…"

Usually that would have killed him, not that it didn't still hurt, but it was like he was used to disappointing people, especially his parents, but he was too used to lying to them that it was a hard habit to break. For almost 2 years he'd lied to them, he knew he was a bad son, but he couldn't break the cycle, he was too far gone, he knew that. "Goodnight, Danny," she sighed, all her prior anger deflated as he heard himself dismissed form the conversation.

"Mom…I…" for the millionth, billionth, trillionth time he considered just telling them, it was just a few simple words Mom, Dad, guess what…I'm a ghost…y'know the one you want to rip apart molecule by molecule…yup that's me. Yeah, real smooth, Ghost boy. "…'night…" he exhaled, and left the room, dragging his bag on the floor as he climbed the stairs.

"I just don't know what to do anymore," Maddie moaned as she flopped down onto the sofa beside her husband.

"Yeah, don't know what's wrong with Danny, Vladdie and he should be best friends, right V-man?" Jack asked, totally missing the point. Vlad raised an amused eyebrow and set down his empty wine glass.

"Perhaps I could talk to him for you," he suggested quietly, as though uninterested.

"I don't think Danny'd…" Maddie began, but Jack lit up.

"Really, V-man?"

"Of course, you know he might find it easier to talk to a stranger…"

"I don't know…" Maddie sighed tiredly.

"Why not, Maddie, we got nothing to lose." Jack announced happily and turned his attention to the television set.

"Excellent, it's settled then," Vlad smiled and left the two of them on the sofa; the hapless father and concerned mother.

A.N. So people what'd you think, good, bad, crap? Let me know. Next chapter: tones of foreshadowing and internal monologue? Fun huh?