Authors Notes:
Welcome back! :) Thanks for reading!

Just FYI... Flirting with Disaster took place after TUE. But Reign Storm took place before it. So Danny and Valerie know each other, they've never dated, but are on good terms. Or were before the accident... well see how Danny's depressed state effects their relationship...


Keeping Promises

Chapter Six: Valerie

Valerie pulled the laces on her boots tight. Her bag slid roughly up her back with the weight of her books rubbing on her shoulder blades. She stood, rolling her neck as the pack settled into the crook of her back. "You ready?" She asked glancing back to the landing where Danny stood. It didn't look like he'd even tried to brush his hair. She ignored that though, silently glad that he was coming along with her at all. She could see that he was wearing fresh cloths and he had actually eaten more than three bites of cereal this morning. An improvement over the one bight of food he ate the night before at dinner. Though, it was also clear he hadn't slept well, dark circles rested sharply under his eyes.

The boy shrugged at her question stepping down from the landing onto the porch with her. She smiled, carefully pulling the door shut, and stepping onto the sidewalk.

Without any trouble they began walking to class. Valerie glanced at Danny as he watched his sneakers push him across the surface of the earth. His eyes were dull. The depressed state didn't suit him. It was painful to see him so down.

She'd really started liking the kid lately and was even considering asking him out… but with the Nasty Burger explosion she doubted he was in a dating mood. Now she just wanted him to show her a sign that he was going to be okay. She knew he was down, and rightfully so. She'd seen him at the funeral, he was like a statue. When she came home from school on Friday he was in his room, and he didn't come out of it till Saturday after noon.

She noticed right away he wasn't eating much. His naturally sparkling blue eyes were a dull gray. He spoke quietly and was blunt in his responses to questions. He had not once started a conversation since he got there. "I'm sure everyone will be glad to see you back in school." Valerie said trying to start one of the said conversations.

Danny blinked his walking slowing for a second before he regained their original pace.

"Forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical." He said.

Valerie felt a half smile grace her lips, she recognized the snide comment even if the voice caring it was little more than monotone. "There's the Danny I know." She nudged him lightly.

The boy allowed a small smile to cross his lips as he glanced at her. Suddenly a flash of fear crossed his face and he looked away. Valerie glanced behind her, but saw nothing. "Is something wrong Danny?"

"N-no." He shook his head and bit the end of his thumb nail. "It was nothing. J- Just my head playing tricks."

"Tricks?"

"It's nothing." Danny insisted, his fist balling.

Valerie noticed the hostility wondering if he was embarrassed about it- deciding it would only agitate him more if she asked- she dropped it. "So… who's your home room teacher? I'm in Mr. Faluka's class."

"Lan-" Danny stopped stuttering slightly his hand going to the back of his neck gripping it tightly. "I- I was in… Lancers… home room class… I guess… it'll be someone else's class now…" He frowned, his brows knitting together tightly.

Valerie watched Danny's mental state dive further south at the mentioning of Mr. Lancer. She seriously started wondering if he was going to be okay. She doubted even Dash was heartless enough to beat on Danny right now, but she was still worried. She heard Danny gasp and turned to look at him seeing his eyes were wide and staring up Valerie spun to face a ghost she had hoped she'd never see again- at least until she got her hand's on some new ghost hunting equipment. Skulker floated above them his gun razed. "I've been more than generous." The ghost said. "I don't care what state you're in- I'm still going to mount your head on my-

Skulker stopped as Danny screamed running down the street. "D- Danny!" Valerie cried running after him- but he took a sharp turn into an alleyway and vanished. "Danny?! Danny!" Valerie began to search frantically for the panicked boy.

Danny Phantom floated invisibly 3 stories above her. Panting, a hand on his chest, as he tried to gasp in a more steady breath. "That startled me."

There was a blast connecting with his shoulder sending him flying forward, braking him out of his invisibility. Danny let out a cry of surprise as he tumbled through the air. "I've given you ample time to mourn your pathetic loss- now I'm here to take you out of your misery!" Skulker shouted.

Danny spun to face his attacker, eyes wide. His limbs were trembling from adrenalin, he felt way too scared. He took in gasping breaths trying to calm himself. "It's only Skulker." He mumbled to himself, as he self-consciously floated backwards.

Skulker rose a mechanical brow at the boy. "Giving up ground already? This is going to be easier than I thought."

"St-stay back!" Danny shouted, fear clear in his voice, as he sent a wave of energy from his sweeping hand.

Skulker batted the weak attack away with a laugh. "And why would I do that?" He asked with a snap of his jaw as he aimed his gun at Danny. The sound of the blast charging caused something to connect in Danny's brain and he stopped. Glaring daggers at the hunter before him. "Oh… now that's a look I've never seen from you before."

Danny shot forward with a scream, his hands burning with green ectoplasmic energy. Skulker allowed a flash of surprise to cross his face before he gritted his teeth and his body began to glow.


Valerie was seriously worried. Danny running off in a panic like that- it wasn't right. She couldn't leave him like that. She jumped in shock as the garbage bin she was walking by exploded from the force of a body colliding with it. She gasped as a groaning Danny Phantom sat up gripping his head.

"What the- what are you doing here?" Anger and fear flooded through her at the sight of the ghost.

The sound of jet engines filled the air and an irritated voice followed. "Was that it?" Skulker flew into the ally. "Pathetic!"

The ghost teen gasped, becoming alert, as Skulker took aim. Valerie was frozen, her body telling her to move and fight, her mind telling her to run. She was defenseless and without her weapons. She glared at Phantom, angry for her predicament but stopped as she saw an expression on the specter she'd never seen before. The white haired boy hadn't moved from the crater he'd created in the trash heap, instead he just gazed up at the other ghost. The phantom's face looked defeated and some how almost… longing? Accepting? She wasn't entirely sure, but she could just tell, he had no fight in him.

Apparently, the other ghost felt the same as he lowered his weapon, letting it power down. "Chh! don't give me that look Child. Damn… This… Just isn't any fun." The ghost vanished with that.

Danny Phantom just stared at the spot the ghost had been a torn look on his face. He almost looked like someone had unexpectedly slapped him. Valerie watched transfixed as the ghost boy curled up into himself burring his face in his palms. Valerie reached for him instinctively, before she hesitated. "Phantom?"

"Go away."

Valerie was taken back by the blunt response. She balled her fist. "Liston here ghost! I don't have time to deal with your creepy ghost mood swings! I have more important things to worry about right now!" The ghost boy curled tighter into himself. Valerie felt her anger wash away and she groaned. "What the hell!? Why do you look like…? I can't be righteously angry at you if you look like that!"

"Wow… I must look really bad." Phantom noted, a slight astonishment in his hoarse voice.

Valerie frowned, taking the curled up form in. She hadn't really looked at him- she never really did. It was hard to look at Phantom completely without shuttering. It was kind of off putting, like looking at a manikin. He was so human but, just, not quite. "You don't look bad. You look…" She bit her lip trying to fined the reason why she was reacting this way.

Blinking she put it together. It wasn't how he looked. The air around the ghost was heavy. It was more that he felt bad… Like Danny… it almost felt like he'd crumble if she even said the wrong thing. "Why do you think you look bad?" She decided to ask rather than voice her observation.

He shrugged one shoulder, in a way that made it look like he just didn't have the energy to shrug the other. "First Skulker abandons his favorite hunt…" He let out a deep sight. "Now you- a ghost hunter who has clearly stated they want to blast me apart-" Valerie wasn't sure but it sounded like Phantom let out a sob. It sure looked like it the way his shoulders rose and shook from the noise. "You're making sure I'm okay?" His voice cracked slightly. "It kind of hurts my pride you know." One dimly glowing eye peaked out through his curled arm at her.

"Who said I was making sure you were okay?" Valerie snapped, a bit irritated that the ghost wasn't necessarily wrong. He tilted his head, never lifting it from his arms as his dim green eyes locked with hers. She was shocked by how little light shown in them. She looked away focusing on the brick wall beside her. "Look, I'm looking for a friend who ran away from that other ghost. He's recently gone through a… huge tragedy. I want you to help me find him." She took a firm breath before turning her gaze back to him, staring him down sternly.

The ghost blinked at her, surprise clear on his face. It faded slowly, the dull look returning to his features. Valerie shuttered. "Why should I help you?" The ghost almost snapped, but there was no bite in his words.

Valerie almost growled back at the dull glare the ghost was giving her, but stopped her self. Taking a breath she balled her fist and whispered harshly. "You're always talking about how you're the good guy, and you choose now to show your true colors?" She saw the ghost flinch looking away from her. This was why she didn't look at Phantom too closely, every time she did she couldn't help but feel she was talking to a human. Right now it didn't matter though, Danny was in a state of distress and she needed to find him. Even if it meant asking her arch enemy for help.

"Why... would you even want my help?" Phantom asked in a whisper, still not looking at her.

"You owe me ghost. Because of that stunt you pulled back at Fenton Works last month, my Dad has locked away all my ghost hunting equipment! I- I need your help!" She tried not to sound to frantic. This wasn't her normal behavior. She normally wouldn't consider asking a ghost for help- especially this one- but she was seriously worried about Danny.

Phantom just stared strait ahead, his face contorted slightly as if he were thinking really hard. Valerie crossed her arms glaring at him. After the ghost didn't move for a good minute and a half she threw up her arms in frustration and yelled. "WELL?!"

The ghost jumped and then blinked looking at her surprised almost as if he'd forgotten she had been there. "O-oh. Um… what- what were we talking about?"

Valerie growled in frustration. "I was asking you to help me fined my friend, Danny!"

"What friend?"

"Danny Fenton!"

"What?"

Valerie sighed in frustration. "You know one of the teen's from Casper High. Dark hair blue eyes. Kinda scrawny- he looks a bit disheveled right now, dark circles under his eyes…" Valerie slowly stopped talking as the ghost blinked at her looking confused before he looked down to his hands a shocked look on his face.

"O-oh." The ghost boy sighed rubbing the back of his neck. "Th-that kid. I saw him while I was fighting. I think he was headed to the school."

Valerie let out a sigh of relief. "Oh… that makes sense." She frowned studding the ghost for a long moment. It hadn't escaped her attention, the dark circles under the ghost's eyes, or his messy hair. The more she looked at him the more his state reminded her of Danny. "Did… something happen?"

He took a slow breath- another thing about this ghost that bugged her- he was really, really good at mimicking life. "I…" He let out a small laugh, a bitter smile forming on his face as he picked at the fabric on the leg of his suit. "I guess… you could say that." He looked at her again, and Valerie was really wishing he'd stop doing that. His eyes were just so dead- the vibrant glow they normally held dimmed making his eyes look more like a mossy green rather than the acid neon she was used to. He looked exhausted. "Though I couldn't imagine that you'd care." He added dryly finally looking away.

"I…" Valerie stopped her self. He was actually right… she shouldn't care, but… he looks so… not himself. It had her at a loss. Her mind felt like it was in shock. Why was he in this state. What could cause it? Was it a trap?

"Aren't you late for school or something?" The ghost snapped suddenly, sounding slightly irritated. Valerie blinked snapped out of her thoughts.

As his words sunk in Valerie gasped running for the mouth of the alleyway. As she was about to exit she spun to say something else, but the alley was empty. Sighing she adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and took off at a sprinting pace.


Authors Notes:
Yay! Another decently long chapter! Can I keep this up? I don't know! :D
Just in case you're wondering/hoping/worried about it...

I highly doubt there's going to be any real Danny/Valerie action in this story. I mean clearly Val has feelings for Danny... as per what the show suggest... but as she's concluded... Danny's really not in the state of mind for dating right now...

This chapter was a bit difficult to write- but Valerie lacking her weapons and the ability to just "shoot and ask questions never" did help...

Thanks again for reading! You guys are awesome! Let me know if they're too out of character...

(Also, I couldn't think of a good title for this chapter... if you guys have any suggestions that would be awesome... otherwise this is just "The first chapter Valerie shows up in aka Valerie")