Sorry for the wait, I've been surprisingly swamped for the past month. I don't think it'll get any better until summer, but I'll try to keep updates at least semi-regular. After all, what else would I do in class? I'm also writing several oneshots and drabbles because the stupid plotbunnies kept following me and nipping at my heels, so expect regular updates on Breaking the Block as well as in my new collection Alphabet Soup. (shameless plug)
All of the parts of this that actually happen in the show are taken directly from it, with exact quotes. I've rewatched parts of it multiple times as I'm writing. No spoilers this chapter (except TUE, obviously)
When Danny's eyes began to adjust to the darkness of the storeroom he had suddenly found himself in, he was able to make out a flash of dark hair and pale skin. "Thanks–"
"Shhh!" came a hiss from his rescuer. "She's still out there, do you want her to hear you? We've got to get out of here."
Another tug on the weary boy's arm forced the issue, and he limped behind the dark figure as softly as he could manage. They emerged into the light and he was temporarily blinded, stumbling a bit until another figure slipped under his left arm. One person on each side, they made their way to a small secluded alley about half a block away from the crumbling Nasty Burger.
"Thanks guys," Danny breathed to his friends, leaning against the old brick façade and sliding his back downward until he was sitting on the torn-up pavement. He dropped his head back against the brick, wincing a bit and tenderly poking at a forming lump on the back of his skull.
Sam was instantly concerned, gesturing for Danny to lean forward enough for her to take a look and assess the damage. Prodding fingers gently explored the area, the boy flinching slightly away and hissing a bit through his teeth as the throbbing behind his eyes intensified with the movement.
Sam pulled her hand back after just a moment or two. "Not bleeding, probably not a concussion, but you'll be sore for a bit." Her callous tone was betrayed only by the worry still apparent in her eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Danny sighed, exasperated with the question. "Yes, Sam, I'm fine. Ghostly healing abilities, remember? What's with you guys suddenly always asking that?"
"You've been acting funny lately, man," Tucker chimed in.
"Yeah… you've been really… distracted," Sam mused.
Danny persisted, "Guys, seriously, there've just been a lot of ghosts lately."
"Then why were you so distracted during that fight with Skulker?" Sam worriedly snapped back. "If you were being distracted by the ghosts then you would be paying attention during a ghost fight!"
"And Skulker just handed your butt to you. You'd be a pelt on his wall by now if Valerie hadn't shown up," Tucker added, ever helpful.
Danny aimed a tired half-hearted glare in his friend's direction before allowing his eyes to drift closed with a sigh.
"Danny…" Sam's voice softened, "I really don't want to fight like this. I just wish you would let us into your life again. The three of us used to know everything about each other, remember?"
The boy at least had the decency to look guilty and somewhat ashamed of himself. His eyes opened and locked with each of his friends' in turn. "I know, and I do. Sorry guys; I'll have to work on that. It's harder now than it used to be… our lives are so much more complicated than before. I promise I'll try harder to let you guys in."
Tucker grinned at his best friend. "Good to hear. Now… Mega Movie Marathon at Sam's?"
Sam shot a fake-irritated glare at him. "Sure, invite everybody over to my house without asking me first…" A mischievous smile flashed across her face. "No ghost powers, race you there!" She was already to the end of the alley by the time the last word passed her lips.
The two boys instantly clamored to their feet, Danny fighting off a wave of dizziness in favor of taking off just behind Tucker. Three sets of feet pounded on the pavement, three gasping sets of breath as the teens sprinted down the street.
Sam laughed, a lilting melody that betrayed her dark exterior. "Come on, Danny, even Tucker's not that slow!"
Tucker glared at her as his lungs threatened to rebel, putting on a slight burst of speed. "Hey, I resent that!"
Danny suddenly got a devious idea. He winced overdramatically, purposely stumbling a bit to add to the sympathy. "Head injury, remember?" He had to fight back a smirk as she fell for it.
Sam slowed slightly, shooting him a worried glance. "Are you okay? Should we stop?"
"Nah, I'll live. Especially since I'm going to win!" His sudden surge of speed was completely unexpected, and he sprinted past Sam just as they arrived at her block.
"Hey! No fair!" She whirled back around and took off after him, determination glinting in her eyes.
She quickly pulled even with him, but both were firm in their desire to win. Their steps moved in sync with one another as they pounded down the sidewalk. As they were nearing the front steps of Sam's house, she began to pull ever-so-slightly ahead. Danny refused to let her win, so he took a flying leap in her direction, tackling her into a heap on her front lawn. The two friends grappled for a moment, but he had the weight advantage and quickly pinned her.
They stayed in that position, gasping for breath, even as Tucker finally arrived, gasping for breath. "Whoa, I knew you guys were fast, but this is just ridiculous!"
His friends quickly disentangled themselves and clambered to their feet, blushes spreading across their cheeks. Sam broke the suddenly awkward silence by taking off again, running the final five feet to her front steps and sticking out her tongue at Danny. "I win."
"Aw, come on, the race was over," Danny protested.
Sam grinned. "Who said that? It's not over 'till there's a winner." At Danny's conciliatory groan her grin only grew, and she practically bounced through the front door.
"You know," Tucker commented, "You're going to ruin your Goth image if you keep acting all happy like this."
Sam merely scoffed at him as she led the way to the basement. "As if I care. What do you want to watch first?"
The familiar debate over movies brought a contented smile to Danny's face despite the steady pounding of his head. He chimed in whenever he actually had a strong opinion, but otherwise happily relaxed into Sam's sofa. He leaned back with a blissful sigh, hoping inwardly that no ghosts would show up to spoil this night, and otherwise settling easily into the habits of old friendship.
Danny yawned loudly into his hand as he flopped down into his seat in the school auditorium. Sam and Tucker, on either side of him, cast worried looks in his direction but said nothing. He had been unusually snappy and jumpy lately, probably primarily due to the sudden increase in ghost attacks.
Sam had talked to him on the phone the previous night at around eleven, and he was still traipsing after the ghosts that had somehow escaped earlier in the evening. His friends had helped until they had to leave in order to make it home before their curfews.
Danny himself was in a ton of trouble when he finally got home, but had no choice but to quietly accept his punishment. He couldn't just let the ghosts overrun the town, but it wasn't like he could tell his parents what he had been doing. Sometimes a vague thought played out at the edge of his consciousness, urging him to tell them everything, but it was always quickly pushed aside. There was no way he wanted to put them through all that confusion, not if he didn't have to.
The assembly began, and Lancer started his usual droning monologue. "Your future is not carved in stone, people. But it may be carved with a number two pencil."
Sam and Tucker each slouched further into their seats with an exasperated, "Oh, please," but Danny quickly shushed them.
"Quiet! This is important!"
His two friends exchanged a look, but Danny was too busy trying to stay awake and hear Lancer that he didn't notice their questioning glances.
Lancer continued, completely unaware of the exchange among his students. "As most of you have probably forgotten, you will be taking the career aptitude test on Saturday. Do well, like Ms. Fenton here," he gestured to Danny's sister Jazz as Danny spoke along with his next statement, clearly annoyed, "who got the highest score in the history of the CAT, and a successful future will be assured. Fail, like Irving 'Third-Degree' Burns here, who got the lowest score in the history of the CAT, and you will be doomed to a career at the Nasty Burger." Lancer's distaste for both the fast food restaurant and its employee was evident in his tone.
Irving quickly protested, "Hey, working at Nasty Burger takes brains, you know. If those 42 nasty secret herbs and spices in our nasty sauce are overheated, it could cause an explosion that would take out an entire city block!" His words went unheeded by the student body, who stared disinterestedly back, clearly not believing a word of it. The man sighed and trudged off the stage. "Oh, who am I kidding? My life is over."
Lancer opened his briefcase and deposited a pale manila envelope within. "These aren't just the answers to the test. They're the answers to your future. So study!" He slammed the briefcase closed with a sharp click, immediately locking a set of handcuffs around both it and his left wrist. He leaned forward to the microphone once more, admonishing dryly, "Remember, it's your future. Do you want fries with it?"
As the balding man made his way off the stage, Tucker turned to Danny, who looked completely zoned out. "Dude, you okay? Danny?"
The exhausted teen shook his head slightly, eyes clearing. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about that. I just don't know what I'm going to do about this test. There's no way I'll have time to study if the ghosts keep escaping at this rate."
Sam laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It'll be fine, Danny. You'll see. We'll always be there for you; we'll help in whatever way we can."
Tucker chimed in, "We'll kick a little ghost butt, do some studying, kick more ghost butt, and get it all done in time for dinner!"
Danny smiled at his friends, but it was halfhearted at best. "Sounds good guys. Hopefully it'll all work out. If it doesn't, I don't know what I'll do."
The three melded into the crowd of students leaving the assembly, moving on to the next part of the school day. Everything was perfectly normal and according to routine.
…for now.
That was surprisingly fun. :) Hope you don't think that last line was too corny... I just couldn't resist.
I do tend to ship DxS, but also like DxV and a little DxP occasionally, depending. Not sure yet what this will wind up being, if anything. I'll be finding out along with the rest of you.
I was originally going to cut this off at that break at the halfway point, but decided to include the assembly scene (partly because I really didn't feel like typing it out, so I figured I'd get it over with).
I know the show has been cancelled, and I know I'm not Cori or WoM or any of the other fantastic people, but seriously, I used to get at least a dozen reviews fairly quickly after posting a new chapter. I've also noticed that I tend to read things without reviewing unless they're exceptional, and ever since I noticed that a couple of weeks ago I've been trying to review everything, good or bad. So, that said, please let me know what you think! All reviews are welcome, especially constructive criticism! If you read this, whether you liked it or not, please take the time to let me know what you thought and why!