A/N: Sorry about the week delay. Sheesh. Homework is threatening to kill me, but I'm not going down without a fight! Anyways, the movie How to Train Your Dragon really inspired the creative side in me this week, so I forced some hours in the week to dedicate to writing this chapter and the next. Go out and see the movie! It will probably be my favorite of the year. Besides that advertisement, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: Yeah...I don't own any of the Danny Phantom characters. But I do own Vlad's Uncle character in this chapter. So no stealing!

Chapter 6 Uncle Aleksey

Feeling and hearing the firm click of my seatbelt synching into place, I glanced out of the small window on my side of the helicopter with a look of unbridled excitement on my face. I had been trying not to show it for a while, but it was obvious I was enthusiastic about the helicopter ride. I mean, come on! It was a helicopter! Who wouldn't want to ride in one? Exactly! Only those people with the fear of heights.

I was glad not to be part of that group of acrophobic people as the copter initially took off. As we ascended gracefully into the dark sky, my stomach dropped in one of those roller coaster good ways. I was reduced to a fascinated five-year-old, my face practically pressed against the window to watch the city lights twinkle out of existence the farther we flew.

Soon the land was dotted with looming mountains created out of leafy jungle. It was too dark to see much as we weaved our way through the forest of mountains. A few houses that were scattered about in small towns warmly glowed like small beacons in valleys, the few plain areas, and nested on the side of the mountains. Besides them, there were the stars. They shined so brightly, each looked like a separate flash light in the sky. It was rare to see them like that. It was pretty cool.

The best part about the trip was the fact that Vlad didn't say a single word to me. The cabin was too loud for a conversation, thankfully. He could have talked me over the headphones we wore, but he somehow refrained. I caught him a few times glancing with a smile at me but nothing more than that. Creeper.

A little more than an hour later, we had arrived at Vlad's uncle's ranch. From above, I could see the large house. It was much bigger than expected. Made expertly out of stone and thick, rich logs, the house had a wooden gambrel roof, a full wrap-a-round porch, and at least three floors. It was more like an expensive ski resort in the middle of grassy nowhere than the Mexican-type ranch I expected. A wooden barn sat a little ways away from the main house to complete the picture.

The helicopter slowly landed in the front yard. The wind from the rotating blades made the tall grass sway like the waters of a stormy ocean. As the helicopter kissed the ground, the main doors to the house opened and a silhouette stood in the bright doorway for a second before it walked toward the chopper with a lantern in hand. More people came out of the house with lanterns. They bustled toward us with a sense of purpose. I guessed they were the helping hand.

"Leave your bags, Daniel," Vlad ordered me as we unbuckled ourselves. "The servants will take care of them." I didn't grant him an audible response. Instead, I gave a shrug and followed him outside after dumping my headphones on my seat.

"Ah ha! Vlad, my son! It has been too long!" a boisterous voice boomed over the dwindling hum of the copter blades. Rounding the aircraft, I saw Vlad and who I assumed was his uncle giving each other a great bear hug. The two laughed heartily at the reconnection with each other, patting each other's backs heartily.

It was weird seeing Vlad like this again. Last summer I'd seen a more human side to Vlad because of his and Katsumi's old relationship. Now those old thoughts of odd conviction were coming back. Seeing him so friendly with his uncle, I saw that Vlad was more human than he probably wanted to be. That was a good thing, right? I wasn't so sure what was right anymore.

"Oh, this must be Danny!" Vlad's uncle suddenly said as he spotted me. Automatically, I locked up. I was an instant deer in headlights as the man strode toward me. It was embarrassing.

It was obvious that Vlad and the man were related. The guy was tall, broad shouldered, silver haired, and had the same spark in his blue eyes that I'd seen in Vlad's millions of times. There was ambition and cunningness in them as if life was but merely a game to win at. He had to be in his mid or late 50's; a lot younger than I expected. Guess I had been anticipating some cranky, battle-worn old fart that Vlad held in too high esteem. That wasn't the case, though. His uncle might be a bit aged, but the way he moved made him look young and quick. He wasn't someone I wanted to mess with.

Shoving a large hand out for me to shake, the man introduced himself. "My name is Aleksey Masters. I am very pleased to finally meet you, son."

Managing a curt smile, I shook the man's hand, saying quickly, "I'm Danny."

"No, no, no," Aleksey said as we shook hands. Before I could pull my hand away, the man had my wrist in a firm grip. Instinctively, I pulled back like a skittish cat. "Wait. Hold on, boy," he told me calmly but sternly. "Now, when you shake a man's hand, Danny, you do not simply shake like you just did. A handshake shows that person your character. Here, you shake firmly like this." He shook my hand again to demonstrate. I tried to match his shake. Smiling, Aleksey exalted me, "There! That's how you do it! Tells a man you are confident. A good handshake will get your places, boy. Remember that."

"Uh...thanks," was the only thing I could think of to say.

Chuckling good-naturedly, Aleksey said while letting me go, "You're a good kid, Danny. What brings you here?"

I thought he already knew. Didn't Vlad tell him he was bringing along a kidnapped ghost kid? Confused and a bit bitter, I answered, "It wasn't my choice. Your psychotic nephew over there thought it would be fun to take me along for the ride even if I liked it or not, so this isn't exactly a vacation." I couldn't help but point the finger.

Aleksey grinned at the mention of Vlad as if he knew exactly what I was talking about. He glanced behind his shoulder at my kidnapper but said nothing to the frowning Vlad before turning his gaze back on me. Face turning more serious, Aleksey said, "I am sorry, Danny, that you have been put into this position. It must be hard. But I wish for you to enjoy your stay here at my ranch. I promise you will have a good time here, but you're going to have to promise me something in return."

"What's that?" I asked reluctantly.

"That you will stick around long enough to enjoy yourself," Aleksey answered with a warm, inviting smile. He must have seen the disbelief or confusion on my face because he quickly added, "You can not have fun if you keep a dower attitude, Danny. You must be willing to have fun to obtain it."

Had Vlad really meant it when he told me he brought me here for a vacation? Doubt it. The fruit loop was just using that as an excuse for something else that was deeper...maybe. Unwanted uncertainty clouded my head once again. As if my head was caught in a rut, I began to question Vlad and his motives to the point of mental exhaustion. Finally, the day had caught up with me and I was feeling helpless to stop it.

Bottom line: I was tired of thinking about it. I was sleepy, hungry, thirsty, and confused about by the very cornerstone of my superhero ethics. I wasn't in the position to make escape plans. Might as well give in just a little and see where it took me.

Lifting my shoulders into a indisposed shrug, I said, "Sure. Why not?" I lifted a finger, adding swiftly, "At least for one night. If I don't get the fun I was promised, though, I won't be a happy camper."

Aleksey burst into hearty laughter as he clapped me roughly on the shoulder. I tried not to collapse at the friendly blows. Jeez! For an old guy, he was strong! A weak smile crossed my face as the man bent down to retrieve his lantern. I caught Vlad's stare then. He chuckled at my bemused look. I returned it with a sharp frown to try and cover up my other emotions.

"You both must be hungry!" Aleksey seemed to announce with his loud voice. He looked back and forth between Vlad and I expectantly. I nodded my agreement with the statement.

"That would be nice, uncle," Vlad said. "Something small before we head off to bed."

"Sure, sure! Of course!" Aleksey said. He gestured for us to follow him to the ranch house. I walked on one side of Aleksey; Vlad on the other side. With the copter quiet now, I could hear the nighttime animal calls from the surrounding grass plains. Crickets chirped loud their constant song. Bugs buzzed about their business through the tall grass. The shrill calls from bats in the darkness were heard, but only a brief flap of a wing was all I could see past the light of the lantern.

We crossed the front porch and into the house, all the while Aleksey talking up a storm with Vlad. I felt like the two had locked their jaws on me and now I was being swept along for the ride. The day's last few hours felt like a whirlwind of sounds, colors, and emotions. I had given up on fighting the tide as I stepped into the house.

The place was so grand, I couldn't help but to fall silent as my eyes swept across the insides of the house's large living room. Clusters of leather couches, tastily decorated coffee tables, and round or square llama rugs formed areas of relaxation around the room. Exotic stuffed animals or just their heads hung on the walls or stood in the corners for impressive display. A fireplace I could probably walk into held the last handful of red, dying embers. Beside the creepy animal heads, the room was pretty cozy.

Aleksey took us across the living room, through a door in the back, down a hallway, and through another door to get us to the kitchen. Like the living room, the kitchen had a warm, wilderness feel to it. The only thing that was stainless steel was the fridge and stove top. Everything else was wooden, iron, clay, or made out of a slab of stone. Even a clay oven was there in the corner, cold and dormant until breakfast came around.

"Here, take a seat. Let Uncle Aleksey take good care of you," Aleksey ordered us as he brought up some stools for Vlad and I. As we sat, the man shuffled around the kitchen, prepping everything for us like the genial host he was.

As he put the kettle on the burner, Aleksey asked me, "What do you want to do while you are here, Danny?"

"I don't know," I answered. "What is there to do?"

"What is there to do?" he repeated in astonishment. Placing coffee mugs on the table, Aleksey shot Vlad a disapproving frown with his hands on his hips. "Vlad, have you not told the boy anything about my ranch?"

"Well, he did find out last minute," Vlad said, smiling in amusement. "I didn't want him to know too much." He gave me a scathing look, saying carefully, "Danny has proven in the past to get into trouble with the more information given to him."

"I wouldn't have to be so much trouble if it wasn't for you whisking me off to foreign countries against my will," I spat back. Accompanying my resigning attitude that night was my abandonment of fear for Vlad.

"He has a point, Vlad," Aleksey said, pouring coffee into our mugs.

"Don't take his side, uncle," Vlad said with a sneaky smile. "It doesn't fit you."

"I only take the side that is most logical," Aleksey reminded his nephew. The thin smile that hinted his lips was identical to one of Vlad's. It was an eerie thing to see.

"See, I make perfect sense," I teased Vlad, nudging his side with an elbow.

"There's a first time for everything," Vlad muttered as his uncle poured some hot milk into our mugs. I rolled my eyes and retreated back into silence. Giving Aleksey a nod and thanks, Vlad took a sip from his drink.

"Oh, you're very welcome," Aleksey said. He motioned for me to take a swig, saying, "That's a South American drink called café con leche. Very good, it is. Drink up and I'll tell you what plans we have for tomorrow."

Slowly, I took a tentative sip. I would never trust what Vlad gave me to eat or drink, but I figured Aleksey wasn't out to drug me...yet. The coffee had a soft taste to it from the milk and yet the flavor was still all there. It was pretty good. To show approval, I smiled at the man waiting for my opinion.

"Good! You like it," Aleksey observed enthusiastically. "Now, I thought we would go jaguar hunting tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"

"I...uh...um...," I stumbled out with, unsure of an appropriate response. Although I wasn't extreme like Sam who would probably have killed Aleksey for mentioning the harmful intent on a jaguar, I wasn't exactly for the killing of one. Not something that sounded fun, in my opinion. Beating up evil bad guys, yes. Beating up Vlad, hell yes! Killing innocent animals, no.

"You'll have to teach him to ride first," Vlad butted into the conversation, saving me from answering Aleksey's question.

"You don't know how to ride a horse?" Aleksey asked me, aghast.

"I know how to ride," I argued heatedly, snapping a quick glare in Vlad's direction.

"When was the last time you rode a horse?" Vlad asked. He flashed me an evil smile before saying, "At a petting zoo when you were five?"

"No!" I protested. I wasn't going to admit he had hit the mark perfectly. A man needs his pride somehow.

"Then when?" he challenged me, that vicious grin still on his features.

"Have you ever had the thought that you don't know everything about me, Vlad?" I asked. "Ever think that maybe I've learn to ride somewhere without your knowing?"

"Don't change the subject, Daniel."

"How 'bout you answer the question first?"

"Cease your mindless squabbling!"

Blinking in surprise, Vlad and I shut up long enough to look over at Aleksey who had given us the bellowed order. He gifted us with a hardened, disapproving frown. With his hands on his hips and towering stature of displeasure, I felt like a little kid being scolded for arguing with my sister about which side of the couch was hers and mine.

"No more of your foolish altercations! That goes for the both of you! It gets nobody anywhere. I will tolerate no more of it!" Aleksey reprimanded. I was surprised he didn't waggle his finger at us for our bad behavior. Still, I felt guilty repercussions for my child-like actions.

"Fine. I'll admit it. I don't know how to ride a horse. You happy now?" I said.

"We could have avoided all that if you had said so in the first place," Vlad pointed out cooly.

"Careful, you two," Aleksey warned us, voice low. He took our empty mugs away, muttering as he went to the sink, "Two ornery baby boys, is what they are. I do not like it."

Sensing the obvious bad mood everyone in the room was in, Vlad decided to put an end to it all. He got up from his stool, saying, "I think Danny and I will be getting to bed, uncle. We had a long day. Some sleep will be needed for tomorrow."

-Half An Hour Later-

Squirting a glob of toothpaste onto its brush, I released a frustrated sigh. This was too much freedom. It was was going beyond Vlad's normal tendencies and into the world of the unknown. I just couldn't put the pieces to the puzzle together. Even if I could, it wasn't fast enough.

Unlike my trip to Tokyo, this time I got my own room. That in itself was a big step for Vlad. He usually never lets me out of his sight. Now I had my own room! This was too weird. This whole trip was screwing with my brain.

The room was nice, though. Same feel as the rest of the ranch. Warm and cozy with a backcountry, outdoors sense to it. The lighting was orange and warm. The bed was made from rich, exotic wood that probably cost a fortune and half a rainforest. The dark purple blanket was made out of thick wool and had a star-like black design weaved into it. Pictures of horses, cowboys, and beautiful Ecuador landscapes hung on the walls. One wall sported the full pelt of some poor jaguar. An extremely soft llama rug covered most of the floor. The bathroom looked like the baby form of the main room, just with a sink, shower, and toilet.

One thing Vlad and Aleksey shared was vast amounts of money. In a way, it was kind of intimidating. I wasn't going to dwell on that feeling, though. There were more important things to think about.

I felt Vlad come in before I heard or saw him. My eyes took themselves off my reflection brushing its teeth in the mirror and settled on Vlad who stood nonchalantly in the bathroom doorway. I spat into the sink before asking, "What do you want? Here to torture me before I go to bed?"

"No," Vlad sighed in irritation. "I'm here to give your watch a quick look. If its what's giving you nightmares, I should be able to fix it."

"Oh."

"But," he continued in a flippant manner, "if you don't want me around, I'll just leave. Goodnight." He then left for the door.

I glared at myself in the mirror, quickly rolling over options and questions in my head. Was this a joke? Had he really come to fix the watch? What should I do? I could let him leave...but then maybe the nightmares would come back. Sleep that night would be horrible with the nightmares. But I really didn't want Vlad in my room. I was sick of the man. Should I risk a night of nightmares just because of my extreme distaste for the man?

It went against every bone in my body what I did next.

"Hey, wait!" I said urgently, peeking my head around the bathroom's doorframe. Vlad stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder at me curiously. I wrestled within myself for a second or two before I said unwillingly, "You can look at the watch, okay."

"If you say so," Vlad said with an uncaring wave of his hand.

As I finished brushing my teeth and rinsing, Vlad walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge with a tired sigh. I gave him a quick glance. He looked pretty sleepy and worn out like any human would after our trip. My body felt the same as his. For the first time in a long time, it wasn't hard to picture Vlad as being human like me.

I sat down beside Vlad and let him take my arm with the watch on it in his hands. He spun the combination on the watch face before pressing it in. I expected a lot of pain, but only a slight pins and needles sensation burst up my arm. Nothing more than a wince escaped me.

"That didn't hurt so bad," I noted with a thin smile.

"Good," Vlad said without looking at me. He was busy intently looking at whatever readings my watch was telling him. "That's another update I installed. It should give you less pain when I unlock it, but I couldn't fix anything for when your ghost powers are activated. Thankfully, you won't need your powers on this trip."

"Not even for a few minutes?" I asked hopefully.

"Only for emergencies," he told me sternly.

"Will there be a slight chance for an emergency?"

Vlad finally glanced at me, his lips curling in a slight grin of amusement. "Are you still fishing for answers from me, Daniel? I thought you'd give up already," he said.

"I'm persistent," I remarked, trying to not sound disappointed in my failed attempt to gather information.

"Right you are," Vlad sighed. "As well as obnoxious."

"Obnoxious is better than psychotic."

His eyebrows furrowed together. At first I thought it was because of me, but with a closer look Vlad looked more confused than perturbed. It had to do with the watch. He seemed to ponder about something for a minute before he made a conclusion and muttered, "That's odd. The scan shows nothing."

"What does that mean?"

Vlad clicked the watch back into its normal mode, making me cringe slightly. He leaned back on his hands on the bed and told me with a smile, "It means your nightmares are not connected to the watch." He lightly tapped my forehead with a finger, saying, "They're coming from up there."

"What? In my head?" I asked, puzzled and a bit troubled.

"Precisely." Vlad nodded. "The stress is simply getting to you, Daniel. Very frequently your dreams will reflect your fears at times of stress. This is natural."

"Not for me," I objected. "I hardly get nightmares 'cause of what you put me through. I'm constantly going through stress and crap! You know how hard it is to balance a 6 page report for school and ghost hunt at the same time? Well...not as bad as being kidnapped by my arch enemy and taken out of the country, but my point is that those vivid nightmares I had are not normal. Not for me."

"It's okay, Danny," Vlad said condescendingly, chuckling as he stood up to leave. "What you need to do is relax. You're worrying too much about something that isn't there. Remember, you're on vacation. Think of it as an apology from me for the one I stole from you last summer. Now, get some sleep. You'll have some fun tomorrow."

"But what if I have more nightmares?" I asked dubiously.

"Then count sheep."

"You have a lousy bedside manner," I grumbled up at him.

"You want me to hold your hand as you you go to bed, Daniel?" he asked with a reproachful scowl. His tone was like one of a dad addressing a fearful kid talking about the monsters under his bed. It rubbed me the wrong way and instantly pissed me off. "Is that it? Tuck you or something?"

"Ug! Forget it, Vlad!" I exploded in exasperation. I pointed at the door, ordering with the little amount of authority I had, "Just go!"

Vlad paused for a second as if thinking before he asking slyly, "You sure you don't want a bed time story?"

"Go!" I shouted. The yelling hadn't been necessary, though. Vlad was already on his way out the door, probably smiling at my anger...which only made me more infuriated with him and myself. He could so easily get me pissed. I spent the rest of the night wondering and strategizing how I could fix that about myself, and I fell asleep somewhere along the way.

Thankfully, no nightmares plagued my dreams that night. If I knew the nightmares that awaited me in the future, there wouldn't have been sleep my first night at the ranch.

A/N: Sorry for the little amount of action in this chapter. It's always good to build up to those actiony scenes, I believe. I promise there will be action in the next chapter, though. I'm like you readers; I'm itching for a fight of some kind. And I'll apologize ahead of time for not responding to reviews. This next week is gonna be very busy with the two research papers, homework, classes, and lathe lab. I'll see you guys next week!