A/N: I deeply apologies that I've taken so long to get this chapter up and running. I have severe tendinitis in both my arms/hands, though my right is worst. I'm right handed and so as I write this story out long hand it causes the pain to flair up. In debating how to get this all out I decided to bite the bullet and just finish writing out the story before moving forward. The upside to this is that the story is complete. I just need to type it out. The downside is that typing is harder for me than writing long hand. Who would have ever thought?
I haven't responded to reviews from the last chapter and I'm so sorry. I will try to remedy that. Thank you for all your kind words. As for my impatient reader, I'm doing the best I can with what I have to work with.
Chapter 3
"This is ridiculous," Sam told the woman who brought her dinner tray. "Where is Vlad? I want to talk to him."
"He had an important meeting to attend,"the woman answered. Now please eat or Mr. Masters will be forced to find other ways to nourish you."
Sam looked at the open door and chewed on her bottom lip. All she had to do was stand up and run. She looked at the maid, certain she was a ghost. She wished she had an ecto-blaster and a thermos with her.
Sam picked up her spoon then dropped it on the floor before jumping up and running through the door. She made it as far as the bottom landing where she was confronted with Vlad at bottom of the stairs.
"How good of you to come down to greet me," He said then gave her a toothy grin.
"Fuck off,' Sam yelled.
"Now, now, Samantha. That is not how a proper young lady speaks."
"Fuck off," Sam repeated then stepped back as Vlad transformed into Plasmius.
"I'm told you didn't eat breakfast or lunch," he said as he advanced toward her. "What did I warn you about that?"
"I just want to go home,"Sam said as she backed further up the stairs. "Please, Vlad. Please."
"Aw, you're so pitiful," Vlad said. "But I am afraid that I remained unmoved. Now tell me what would you say to a nice thick steak cooked medium rare and a baked potato drowning in butter and sour cream?"
"Disgusting,"Sam answered then screamed as Vlad jumped toward her.
XxX
Sam woke not much later to find herself sitting in front of a plate filled with the remnants of a steak dinner. She put her hand to her mouth and gagged.
Vlad was waiting for her in the bathroom, his arms folded as he leaned against the sink. "I would think twice about doing that my girl. Not unless you're interested in more punishment."
"Fuck you,"Sam screamed then fled back to her room. She wrapped her arms around her waist. She felt like she had been violated and the meal sat like lead in her stomach.
"Have you looked over my work?" Vlad asked from the bathroom door.
"I am not helping you with your evil, fucked up plans you bastard," Sam shouted as she picked up a book and threw it at Vlad's head. Unfortunately, it phased right through him and he laughed.
"Oh you will," he said. "I understand how angry you are, but I want you to understand how willing I am to carry out all my threats."
Sam couldn't find anything to say. Instead she walked over to her stereo and put on the loudest song she owned. When she turned it was to find Vlad was gone.
"Good riddance,"she said as she threw herself down on the bed and began to scream along with every song on her playlist until her voice had vanished and her throat was sore. When she couldn't sing anymore she curled up and cried herself to sleep.
When she woke the next morning she found a cup of steaming tea on her night stand with a note from Vlad which read: "For your throat. Have a look at my work. It's on your desk. Love, Vlad. XOXO"
Sam blinked and reread the note then snorted at the thought of Vlad, a grown man ending a note with "XOXO".
"Seriously," she said then crumpled up then note and put it in the tea even though she'd rather have drank it. Her throat was raw, but she wasn't about to give Vlad the satisfaction.
She tried to roll over and go back to sleep but her mind was racing. She flicked on her stereo and turned on her "I'm pissed ass hell" playlist before turning it up as loud as she could stand it.
Sam paced around the room for awhile then sat at her desk and opened Vlad's folder. Her reasoning was that it was a good idea to know what Vlad was up to in order to better protect Danny."
She perused the work for awhile then put her hand on her mouth and laughed. "What is this?" No wondered Vlad was always stealing Jack's work.
"He's an absolute idiot," she whispered then bit her lip. Even worse, he was a dangerous idiot.
XxX
"You went over my work?" Vlad asked later that day as they sat at his dinning room table.
"Uh," Sam said as she stirred her oatmeal with soy milk. "Sorta."
"What did you think?"
"Well,"Sam said then shrugged her shoulders. "It's an interesting idea but your science isn't very sound."
Vlad nodded his head as he leaned forward in interest. "What do you think I should do?"
Sam smirked. "Other than go back to school?" Vlad leaned back in his chair and frowned.
"I think you should shove it right up your goofy ass." She gave him a winning smile then shoved a heaping spoonful of of oatmeal into her mouth and chewed with her mouth open.
"Charming," Vlad said as he wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Thank you," Sam replied with her mouthful then opened wide to show Vlad the contents of her mouth.
"You need a course in manners," Vlad stated then began slicing into an orange. He offered her a slice then frowned as she grabbed it and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth before smiling around the rind. Vlad raised his eyebrows.
"You know what you need, Vladdy?" Sam asked around the rind. "Math lessons. Do you even know how to add?"
"Very well actually," Vlad answered. "Unfortunately higher math has never been my forte and now I have you for that don't I?"
"If that's what you want to think,"Sam said. She picked up the sugar bowl and poured the entire contents into her tea.
"I like a little tea with my sugar,"she announced.
Vlad's eyes were sparking. "I should make you drink that."
Sam blinked at him innocently. "What do you mean make me drink it?" She picked up her cup and poured some tea soaked sugar into her mouth. "Mmm good."
"You're going to make yourself sick," Vlad told her as he leaned on his elbow and watched her. "And if you think your antics will induce me to free you, let me set you straight. I find this little act of yours infinitely amusing. I'm very interested to see how far you are willing to go with it."
"Good,"Sam said then pretended like she was about to take another drink of her sugar tea but threw it at Vlad instead. It was such an unexpected move that Vlad failed to let it phase through him and the gooey sugar hit him in the face and ran down the front of his shirt."
"Score one for the Sam!" She yelled then pumped her fist and let out a magnificent belch.
Vlad raised his eyebrows then a smile spread across his face, he threw back his head and laughed. Sam frowned it was not the response she wanted.
XxX
Tucker stood on the door step of Danny's house with his hat in his hands. Usually he would just walk right in and head up to Danny's room, but now he felt incredibly lost and unsure of what to do.
The door opened and Jazz, who was about to take a walk, looked him in surprise. "What are you doing standing out here?" she asked as she looked around for Sam out of habit. She blinked back a fews tears as she gestured for Tucker to come in.
"How's Danny?" Tucker asked keeping his eyes down on the floor so that he didn't have to make eye contact with Jazz, or anyone else.
"Not great," Jazz answered.
"Yeah, I know the feeling," Tucker replied. He felt like running. Could he run? Maybe he could just hide in his room for the rest of his life.
"Are you okay?" Jazz questioned.
Tucker shook his head. "Not really." He looked up at Jazz to find her watching him with a look of pity on her face so he looked away quickly. "What about you?"
"Not really that good either," she answered.
"Yo, Tucker, my man," Jack said as he appeared in the living room.
"Hey, Mr. Fenton,"Tucker answered then cast his eyes to the stairs.
Jack looked at Jazz who shook her head then sighed. "Danny isn't home. But come down to the lab, Maddie and I want to talk to you."
"They know about Danny's secret," Jazz said. Tucker's eyes went wide and he swallowed loudly before following Jack like he was a condemned man on the way to the gallows.
Jack turned and caught the look of fear on Tucker's face. "It's okay, Son," he said. "Jazz told us everything. No one is angry or in trouble."
"Oh," Tucker said then let the tension drop from his shoulders. "Cool."
Maddie was sitting on a stool soldering electronic components when she looked up and smiled. "Tuck,"she said happily as he put down her work and stood. "How are you holding up?"
"I-,"he started then shook his head as tears began rolling down his face. Tucker began sobbing so Maddie held him tighter and closed her eyes.
Jack wandered around the lab idly and rubbed the back of his neck while Jazz remained on the stairs as they both watched Maddie comfort Danny's remaining best friend.
"Just let it all out,"Maddie told the young man as she rocked him from side to side.
"S-Sam always protects Danny," Tucker began almost too soft to hear. "And it was my job to protect Sam. But I failed. I failed Sam and I failed Danny. It's all my fault."
"No," Maddie said then looked at Jazz who was standing on the stairs with her hand over her mouth. She mouthed "Say something" to her daughter.
"Uh,"Jazz said then paused. "Um. I was there." Her voice sounded robotic to hear ears so she cleared her throat.
"Not when it all went down," Tucker said as he moved out of Maddie's arms and looked at Jazz.
"But I did get there in time to see how overwhelmed you all were. There were hundreds of ghosts. What were you supposed to do?"
"Save Sam," Tucker answered. "That's my job."
"I didn't know anything about that," Jazz said. "I didn't know you had jobs. I thought you both just supported Danny any way you could."
Tucker ignored her. "Where's Danny? If he's going to kill me I want him to get it over with sooner rather than later."
"No one is going to kill anyone else," Jack boomed.
"Where is Danny?" Tucker repeated.
Maddie stepped forward. "Mrs. Manson called a few hours ago. Danny is with them."
"Heh, weird," Tucker said. "And they're not mad?"
Maddie shook her head. "Not as of yet. Anyway we thought it best to just let him stay there for awhile."
"Except all of them refuse to believe Sam is dead," Jazz said.
Tucker eyed the ghost portal for a moment then asked, "D-do you think maybe she's in there?" The thought of Sam becoming a green or blue skinned ghost was horrifying. It wasn't something he wanted to face in the least.
"I hope not," Jazz said. "Besides I doubt she's still really be Sam."
"But Danny is still Danny,"Tucker said.
"But he's not dead," Jazz countered.
Maddie leaned back against her workstation. "I've been doing some research and tests. I don't think they are ghosts. At least not how we understand them. If that isn't a portal to some sort of after life then Sam won't be there."
"What do you mean not ghosts as we understand them?" Jack asked gearing up for an argument with his wife. Tucker startled and Jazz put her hand on his arm.
"I think they are inter-dimensional beings," Maddie told her husband. "Hold on and I'll show you my data." She walked across the lab and turned on her computer.
"So what would that make Danny?" Jazz asked.
"Part of both dimensions,"Maddie answered. "Either way he would be an inter-dimensional being." She stood and directed Jack to her seat where he quietly began reading over her findings.
"It doesn't sound as cool as ghosts," Tucker said.
"So an alien then?"Jazz asked.
"No," Maddie answered. "Just part of both worlds."
"So he's still a phantom,"Tucker asked.
"Depending on how you define phantom, then yes."
Tucker looked at Jazz. "And Vlad too."
"What do you mean and Vlad too?"Jack asked not looking up from the computer screen.
"Vlad?" Maddie asked.
Jazz gave Tucker a look of exasperation then told her parents about Vlad Plasmius.
"But Plasmius is bad news,"Jack said. "And Vlad, well he's my friend. He's a good guy."
"That's what you think," Tucker, Jazz and Maddie said in unison. Jack scowled at them.
Jazz spoke up first. "Dad, Vlad has been trying to kill Danny for the past three years. And he's been plotting to steal mom too."
"He's a creep, Jack," Maddie said. "I've been telling you this for years."
"Classic Fenton cluelessness," Tucker said.
Jack sighed then leaned back in his chair. "Mads, the last twenty four hours have been so horrible that if you have any more earth shattering news to share you should do it now, while I won't be shocked."
"Well,"Maddie said, "I might be pregnant,"Jack's jaw dropped open and Maddie put her hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"I'm kidding,"she said. "But clearly you are not as unshakable as you think."
"Jazz!" Tucker yelled as the young woman standing beside him fainted. He barely managed to catch her then lay her carefully on the floor.
"Oh Jazz,"Maddie cried as she knelt and put her hand on their daughter's face. Jazz's eyes fluttered open and she looked up to see three concerned faces peering down at her.
"Did I faint?" she asked as she tried to sit up.
"Stay down there and relax,"her father said. "Your mother was just teasing." Maddie was blushing as she helped Jazz sit up.
"I'm so sorry, Sweetie. I was just trying to bring a little levity to a too serious situation."
"So you're not going to have a baby?"Jazz asked. Maddie shook her head.
"Thank God," Jazz said. "I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to have another sibling."
"Though,"Jack said as he rubbed his chin. "It's not entirely out of the question." Maddie sent him a warning look and he laughed.
"Why are you all down here?" Danny asked as he phased into the lab from the ceiling.
"Hey Danny." Jack said. "We were just scaring your sister.
"How are you feeling?" Maddie asked as she eyed her son who hadn't changed from his ghost form. "Are you hungry?"
"Not really," Danny answered then sent Tucker a questioning glance. His friend just shrugged his shoulders.
"When did you last eat?" Maddie pressed then watched as Tucker took several wary steps back.
Danny looked at his mother a moment then turned. "Hey, Tuck," he said then transformed into his human form.
"I'm so sorry," Tucker said as he cast his gaze to his feet. "It was all my fault."
Danny shook his head. "Did you call the ghosts,Tuck?"
"No,"Tucker answered. "But I was supposed to protect her..."
Danny shoved his hand into his hair. "Don't be stupid, Tuck. It's my fault. Not yours. Besides, Sam always said she was responsible for herself. I shouldn't have involved the two of you."
"It was an accident," Jazz said forcefully. "Neither of you are to blame."
Tucker snorted. "Nice of you to say, Jazz, but I feel differently."
"So,"Danny said as he looked at Tucker. "Have you heard anything from Sam?" Tucker opened his mouth then closed it before looking to Jazz for help.
"Danny," Jazz said sternly. "I know denial is part of the process, but this is ridiculous."
"You," Danny said as he pointed at his sister. "Need to keep your over opinionated mouth shut!"
"Danny," both Jack and Maddie warned. Jack put his hand on Jazz's shoulder protectively. Danny turned back to Tucker.
"Tell me you don't believe it," he demanded. "This is Sam we're talking about here! Sam!"
"Um," Tucker began and Danny threw his hands up in exasperation. "All of you are stupid."
"Danny,"Jack said to his son. "You need to be reasonable."
"No," Danny said to his father. "You don't understand. You can't. Nothing is ever reasonable. Nothing is ever normal." He turned back to Tucker. "You of all people should understand."
"I-I don't know, Danny." Tucker started to say. "I saw her fall. I.."
"Then I don't need you," Danny growled in disgust.
"You're in denial!" Jazz told her brother. Danny turned to her his gaze glowing green.
"I told you to shut up!"
"Now that's enough,"Jack shouted as he pulled Jazz behind him. "We understand that you don't want to believe Sam's gone, fine. You don't need to take your anger out on your sister or anyone else." Danny took a deep breath as he met his father's warning gaze before turning to Tucker.
"I'm going to The Ghost Zone to search for her. Are you coming or not?"
Tucker took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'll go with you."
"You have to know she's not there,"Maddie said as she reached for Danny's arm.
Her hand phased through him as he ignored her and turned to his father. "We need the Specter Speeder." Jack looked at his wife who was shaking her head.
"You should just let him go," Jazz said. "He'll go with or without your consent. At least this way is safer."
"Fine,"Jack said as he tossed Danny the key. "Be careful."
"Thanks, Dad," Danny said walked to the vehicle.
"Jack," Maddie cried. "That place is so dangerous. You can't let him go."
"Mom,"Jazz said. "Danny can hold his own there. He, Tucker, and Sam have miles and miles of it mapped out."
Tucker's expression brightened. "You can check out my maps!" He instructed Maddie on how to get his information from The Cloud, writing it all down as quickly as he could.
"Tuck," Danny called as he started up the Specter Speeder.
"Don't worry, Mom," Jazz said as she stood with her parents and watched them vanish through the portal. "The Ghost Zone gets excellent cell phone reception."
"Oh. Well that makes me feel so much better," Maddie said dryly.
