Sam was watching out the front window of Fenton Works apprehensively, waiting for Danny. She spotted his dark hair and familiar white and red t-shirt emerge onto the sidewalk from an alleyway down the block. He was not quite running, muttering to himself as he hyperventilated. Sam opened the door for him before he reached the front steps and asked, "Danny, what happened?"

He looked up at her as he entered. "HE was there." Danny's eyes flashed green for a moment. His jaw was clenched tight in anger, but there was also a look of distress in his eyes that worried Sam.

She put a tentative hand on Danny's shoulder. "Is Valerie's dad ok?"

Danny raised a hand to his forehead, trying to calm down. "Yeah, he's alright. I think so at least. Mom and Dad should have him by now." His hand lowered and his breathing evened out a little. "How's Val?"

"She's doing ok. Jazz and Tucker are both with her right now, just in case." She gestured to her Fenton Wrist Rays, indicating the other two were similarly armed. "Jazz and I moved Valerie up to the guest room so she could be more comfortable."

"Good, that will make this easier."

"Make what easier?"

"Getting into the ghost zone. I have to go talk to Clockwork." Danny started to walk toward the basement, where the Fenton Portal was located.

"Clockwork?" Danny didn't stop, so Sam ran after him into the lab. "Danny, what exactly happened? What does Clockwork have to do with this?"

He stopped in front of the closed portal and turned back to her, staring down at his shoes. "That's what I need to find out," he said. "Have Jazz close the portal after I'm in. Tell her to give me an hour, then open it back up again so I can get out."

Sam nodded reluctantly, knowing from her friend's look that he wasn't going to say more. "Ok, but shouldn't one of us come with you?"

"No, I'll travel faster by myself. Stay here and be careful." He turned and pushed his thumb against the genetic locking mechanism which was keyed to only the Fenton family, and the heavy portal doors opened with a hiss.

Before he could step through the portal, Sam grabbed him into a quick hug. "You be careful, too." Sam blushed and let him go. Danny's cheeks reddened slightly too as he stepped away. He gave a little wave then jumped through the portal, changing into Phantom as he entered the swirling green mists.

Danny flew through the sickly green sky of the ghost zone until he reached the imposing Clock Tower that was Clockwork's home. He phased effortlessly inside, into the inner workings of the clock. Glowing green gears and shafts surrounded him, ticking through their movements with precision. In the middle of the chamber was a softly glowing panel, which Danny landed next to. "Clockwork?" he called loudly.

"You should not be here," said the deep echoing voice of the ghost of time. Danny spun around to face an old man with pale blue skin and a long straggly white beard, wearing Clockwork's signature violet cloak. "I suppose it was inevitable however," the ghost continued in a resigned tone.

"You know why I'm here then," Danny said.

"I know all," Clockwork answered. His red eyes narrowed. "You are here to ask about the future version of yourself that overpowered me and took one of my medallions so that he could travel back to your time."

Danny gulped. "So, he is me – from the future – after all?" His face fell as his worst fear was confirmed.

"Yes," Clockwork replied mercilessly, a strong, youthful face taking the place of his aged form.

"But it's not Dan, right?"

"Correct. Dan is still safely contained here, in my domain."

Danny let out a long breath, comforted a little. He bit his lip, considering Clockwork's earlier words. "But how could he overpower you? I thought you knew everything, were all powerful or something?"

Clockwork's body suddenly shifted to that of a young child, though his voice remained deep and strong. "Just because I have knowledge of everything that was or ever will be and complete control over time? No, I am unfortunately not ALL powerful. And apparently I was too trusting about whom I shared my knowledge with." He turned his back on Danny, becoming older again.

Danny hung his head, running a hand through his hair, his face tight with anger. "So, I'm doomed to be evil in the future, no matter what I do?"

Clockwork glanced at Danny over his shoulder, then turned back to face the glowing white panel in front of him as if he could see something in its mists. "Ghosts, like people, are rarely completely good or completely evil. They are all driven by their wants, their desires, and, especially for ghosts, their obsessions."

"And my future self's obsession is… Valerie?"

"Yes," Clockwork acknowledged solemnly. That one word seemed to echo throughout the Clock Tower.

Danny put his head in his hands. "But I promised them…," he whispered to himself.

Clockwork, now wrinkled and bearded again, put a hand on Danny's shoulder, startling him. "There are many twists and turns the future may yet take. While some paths have always led to evil, most on your journey do not." He paused a moment like that, letting his words sink in.

Then Clockwork suddenly straightened and swept his staff through the air, creating a spinning blue portal in midair. He pointed at the portal. "Now, it is time for you to go home."

Danny looked up, green eyes wide. "But you have to help me stop him!"

"Now that he is in your world, your time, I cannot interfere. You must deal with him there."

"But you've interfered before. You could just pop in and stop time so I could trap him. You have to do something!" Danny pleaded.

"I could, but I am forbidden to." Clockwork moved away again, floating toward the door at one end of the room.

"The Observants can't stop you…"

Clockwork turned back one last time. "No, but they could make my job much more difficult. And, free will must be respected – yours and well… yours. The path the future takes is up to you now."

Danny rounded on Clockwork, frustrated. "Clockwork! What are you up to?!"

With a wave of one hand, an invisible force threw Danny backwards through the portal.