Chapter Four: Sidekicks

Danny woke up in the AM for the first time in a while. He squinted as the sun made Jazz's colorful room even brighter. He took a deep breath and forced himself up. He thought about Valerie. 'Should I do some pushups or something? Maybe some squats...' Danny looked around to see if anyone could see him. He got on the ground in plank position, then he pushed himself up. His arms started to shake. This was harder than he remembered. Danny occasionally worked out in the gym at his university, but very infrequently. Maybe this was why he was a little rusty. Danny stopped at five pushups. He turned over and forced himself to do twenty sit-ups. He stood up, feeling very accomplished. "Yes! Not bad for day one!" Danny went to the bathroom and showered.

Danny got dressed and headed downstairs. He couldn't hear any noise coming from the room that was once his. He assumed Valerie was out as she frequently patrolled the city. She wasn't; his parents were home too. Jack was tinkering with his gauntlets and Maddie was reading. Valerie was napping on Maddie's lap. He wasn't being particularly quiet, but she didn't budge. He wondered how often the huntress slept. She looked exhausted even through her sleep.

"You're up early," Maddie noticed. She gave him a warm smile. "I should make breakfast!"

"No, mom, that's okay. I'm just as surprised as you are."

"Maybe your sleep cycle is regulating since you no longer have exams and homework. Good job on the semester by the way."

"Way to go kiddo!"

Danny was shocked how did they know about his grades. He didn't know yet, but he felt silly for his confusion. His parents were brilliant scientists. Hacking into his account to see his final grades was child's play compared to ghost tech. He decided to view his final grades after breakfast. "Thank you." Valerie still hadn't stirred during their conversation. Maybe she was used to his dad's loquaciousness. Even though she was deep in slumber, she took precautions against ghosts. She was wearing Fenton Phones, the earrings that filtered ghost noise. It was more stylish than the version he was used to. This model didn't stick out nor was it green; they were sleek, red ear loops. Danny wondered if she designed them herself. Gray Phones? Valerie Phones? He was amazed by her skill. The thermos she made for him was compact and able to detach from the metal wristband she made. He wanted to ask if she could teach him; although his parents showed him countless times he was more interested now that Valerie knew. Looking at her exhaustion he wondered if it was fair to ask. "Does she usually sleep this hard?"

"Usually not for long. Ghost hunters are always alert. It makes me so happy that she trusts us enough to let herself to succumb to such a deep sleep." Maddie smiled at the sleeping huntress fondly. "So what are your plans for today, Danny?"

"I might hang out at Sam's with Tuck. Patrolling, nothing interesting."

"Ghost hunting is always interesting. Even when it's not! Those days when no ghost show I just can't help but wonder why. Where are all the ghost? What are they planning?" Jack rubbed his chin. "Somebody's planning something. I can feel it."

Danny's gaze fell back to Valerie once more before he made his breakfast. Seeing her with his mother made him realize how great his life was for him. He also felt slightly jealous. Valerie was filling the role his parents desperately wanted their children to play. She fought ghosts, learned and update their technology, stayed closed close to home; most of all she listened to them. Danny needed to work on his listening skills. He dated Valerie, he almost asked her to be his girlfriend. He thought they were close, but he realized that he didn't know anything about her. Her dad was overseas, but where was her mother? Was she absent? Was she alive? What relationship did they have? Perhaps it was why Valerie bonded so wholeheartedly to Jack and Maddie.

Halfway to Sam's house, Danny felt his ghost breath alert him to another phantom. He transformed and surveyed his surroundings. He was punched upward by a glowing skeleton. That was odd. Danny never saw this type isolated; these ghosts tended to be homogeneous henchmen.

"A ghost skeleton, kind of out of place. Halloween isn't for another six months." Danny quipped. Not his best, but Danny was still rusty. However, his foe didn't take the quip kindly. If he had skin Danny's quip would have certainly gotten underneath it. The skeleton frowned as best as it could and pointed to Danny in outrage. His jaw clacked rapidly as if speaking. Without a tongue or vocal chords, Danny was at a loss. However it was very clear when the ghost folded all, but his middle phalanges. "Oh, it is on!"

The ghost materialized a sword and rushed Danny with rapid strikes. He dodged them with moderate effort. The skeletal ghost's movements became faster and more frequent. The grace was deteriorating, anger made its strikes random. Elbowing and kneeing the hero always landed; thanks to it being pure bone, it hurt! Danny wondered if this rage was really from a Halloween joke. It didn't matter. He wasn't great with close range attacks. He created a barrier and pushed it away. Not giving it time to retaliate, Danny blasted its skull off its body. The body seemed stunned, but only for a second. In that second Daniel grabbed his thermos and sucked it in.

Before Danny could revert back to his human form a wave of skeletal ghost emerged. "Of course. It's never that easy." Danny spent the next two hours chasing and corraling skeletal ghost. It was strange. These beings had no direction. Hundreds were casually walking down the street or standing perfectly still waiting for direction. The chaotic ones chased citizens, some were attacking, and a few of them were oddly fighting each other. Danny was chasing three that decided to wander into traffic. Valerie flew in wrangling them with a Fenton Grappler. They poofed into dust.

"Overwhelmed, Phantom?"

"Thanks for the assist, but I didn't need your help," Danny said sucking a cluster of the homogeneous phantoms.

She did the same. "Likewise."

"Any ideas on where this horde came from?"

"I thought you didn't need my help."

"I usually brainstorm with Sam and Tucker."

Valerie took out an old thermos and engulfed scores of skeletons. "Well, I work alone."

Danny groaned as he created giant boxes which trapped the remainder of the ghosts. With a grunt, he crushed them. Valerie gathered their bones while Danny caught his breath. "See, it goes faster with teamwork."

Valerie chuckled lowly. She put her hands on her hips. "I remember working with you in high school. We don't communicate well, Fenton."

"We're not in high school."

"No, we're not. I guess it doesn't matter. You'll be gone in a few months and everything will be back to normal. With you here, I can have a summer vacation too."

A gang of kids ran up to them as soon as the danger passed. They cheered. "You're back!" "Danny Phantom! Danny Phantom!" "Huntress!" "Team Phantom!" "Are you guys teaming up? Are you two together?" "Are you guys married?" "Who's the leader?"

Danny put his arm around Valerie. "Huntress is a valued member of Team Phantom."

Valerie elbowed him in his side. She bent down to their level and smiled underneath her mask. "What Phantom meant to say is he's really enjoyed being my sidekick."

"Technically you'd be the sidekick. I've been doing this longer."

"But I do it better. We need to flush these ghosts."

"Alright." Danny took off. "Race ya!"

Valerie glared and took off after him.

It only took three seconds for Valerie to feel a little foolish for chasing after Danny. Perhaps it was her profession that made her take his bait. She'd always catch ghosts. Their interactions confirmed that she needed to expand her circle. Maybe she'd get a social media account, go to the mall, or find a date. Although her hunting skills were excellent, she thought that Danny was more rounded than she was. Catering to her competitive nature she accelerates jetting herself past Danny and landing on the roof. The ghost shield must not have been on because he fazed into the lab seamlessly.

"I win." They both said at the same time. "No, you didn't. I won."

"Whatever," Valerie said sending the ghosts she caught into the Fenton Flush. One push and they were back into the Ghost Zone. Danny followed her lead. "Maybe it wasn't the brightest move for us both to be flushing ghosts at the same time. One of us could be patroling Amity. I'll take the rest of the day, there's something more to this attack. I can feel it."

"My dad thinks there's a ghost plotting."

She shrugged. "He's probably not wrong."

"If it will make you feel better I can watch Amity. Enjoy a day off."

Valerie thought about making social media accounts and reconnecting with friends. She felt herself blush. That was probably a bad idea. What would she talk about? Did she even have recent pictures? Doubt made Valerie decide against it. "I'd rather not."

"Alright, then we can watch Amity together."

"I work better alone, but I won't protest as long as you don't get in the way."

Danny analyzed her body language. He couldn't get a read on her emotions. "This is playful banter, right?"

"Sure."

(A/N) Some do not like that Danny cheated on Sam in this story. However, from what we've seen of Danny from the show it's entirely possible. Danny always struggles with right and wrong and is easily seduced by popularity and his hormones. Once his identity was revealed Danny most likely got the attention and adoration of millions. It's a world he's not used to. Even though he loves Sam, he's a teenage boy; they make mistakes.

Next Chapter: The arrival of a new ghost put Valerie and Danny at odds.