Gah, I'm sorry about the late update! D8 We did a lot of family stuff this weekend and I had a friend over. Plus I couldn't get the ending to work. I still don't know if I like it or not. x( Oh well, hope you like it anyways! ^^

Oh, and this is the sequel to "Time...", the second one-shot in this series. :3 Just so you know. ;D

Enjoy!

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Chris Daughtry owns Ghost of Me. Butch Hartman owns Danny Phantom. And I'm not either of them. At least, last I checked I wasn't. O.o


Title: Ghost of Me
Written: 9/6/11


Danny sighed sadly as he sat down next to Sam, who was currently asleep, tossing and turning, most likely from a nightmare. He gently laid a hand on her cheek, before brushing some stray strands of hair away from her face. She shivered in response to the cold and curled the blankets tighter around her, frowning.

He pulled his hand back, afraid of waking her. "I'm so sorry Sam," he whispered. "I miss you. You have no idea how much I miss you. I wish- no, I can't wish. I've…longed, wanted to come back to you for so long. I just…I can't stay much longer. I want to, I need to, but I can't." he finished as tears welled in his eyes, just as tears began to trickle down her cheeks, as if she had heard him.

"Danny…" she murmured grievously.

A lone, sparkling tear slipped down his own cheek as his face contorted in pain from his broken heart.

"I love you Sam." He managed to choke out. "I love you so much."

"I love you Sam. I love you so much…."

She gasped and bolted up in bed, head whirling around, trying to find the source of the voice. His voice.

But… there was no one there.

"…Danny?" she whispered hopefully, but with a twinge of fear. After a few moments, realizing she was alone, her face fell, and she burst into tears. It had been so long since he had…left. She'd refused to utter that one word –that wretched 'd' word- even though she knew it to be true. She thought she had gotten over it, over him being gone forever, but hearing his voice –at least, she could've sworn she had heard it- after all these months, it tore at her heart.

And even more so at the invisible teen's in the corner of her room.

Thought it was dead and buried
Then it woke you up last night
You sounded so damn worried
You've been tossin', turnin', both ends burnin'

The next day she and Tucker met up at the Nasty Burger for lunch. She really wasn't that hungry, but the techno-geek -after much convincing- had finally gotten her to go. She pushed her straw around the glass containing her strawberry soy milkshake and stared sadly out the window.

Tucker glanced up at her worriedly. She had told him earlier of what had happened last night, of how Danny had been in her room. Tucker had been tempted to make a joke about it just to cheer her up, but seeing as how much the claimed visit had her shaken up, he decided against it. She had been a nervous wreck the entire day, and he pitied her. He remembered what she had gone through when Danny died. They had all gone through the grief, but for Sam… for Sam it was the worst. It hadn't been pretty. Lots of breakdowns, lots of bad thoughts the normal Sam wouldn't think. Without Danny…she just hadn't been herself.

Finally after a while she had accepted that he wouldn't be coming back. At least, that's the way it had been until last night. She had even been almost back to normal; about as back to normal as she could get after that night. But now…

Danny watched Sam from near the checkout counter. He hadn't meant to upset her like that. He wanted her to be able to move on with her life, find someone else that could take care of her. He needed to know she'd be okay. That's why he had come back. But now…now he was thinking that probably wasn't the best idea.

I wanna put your mind at ease again
Make everythin' alright
I know it's gettin' underneath your skin
I've tried to tell you now

While deep in thought, he lost invisibility for a moment, before hurriedly slipping back into it when he realized his mistake. But that one moment was enough for Sam to notice it in the window and she stiffened. "Danny…" she whispered breathlessly. Tucker sighed sadly.

"Sam, I know you miss him, we all do. But you need to get over it. He isn't coming back. What you saw last night was probably just a dream and-"

"No, he was just right there," she said, voice wavering slightly as she pointed a shaky hand towards the checkout counter. "He was there I swear…"

Tucker looked her over worriedly. "Sam, maybe we should get you home."

"But…"

"Come on, you need some rest."

Sam reluctantly followed Tucker, pausing slightly at the door and looking back at where she had seen the halfa, before lowering her head and heading out of the restaurant.

Danny's eyebrows creased in sadness as he watched her leave. If only he could tell her that everything would be alright, that all she had to do was move on…not forget; no, that would lead to disaster. Just remember the happy times, stop mourning…

Don't look over your shoulder
'Cause that's just the ghost of me you're seein' in your dreams
Wait, there's no rhyme or reason
Sometimes there's no meanin' in the visions when you're sleepin'
Don't wake up and believe them
You're lookin' at the ghost of me
You're lookin' at the ghost of me

Once Tucker had dropped Sam back at her house, and informed her grandmother she hadn't been feeling the best, he headed towards FentonWorks to talk to Jazz. She'd probably be able to help Sam get through this…phase, or whatever she was going through. Or at least give Tucker some tips on how to help the girl.

When he reached the building, he rapped quickly four times before heading inside. Having been friends with Danny since kindergarten, both he and Sam were welcome to walk in anytime they wanted. Maddie and Jack practically considered them as their own, even more so after what had happened to Danny.

"Hey Mrs. Fenton," he called. Maddie poked her head around the corner of the kitchen with a smile.

"Hello Tucker. Feel free to make yourself at home."

"Thanks, but actually I was going to go talk to Jazz." He started. "Sam… well..." He sighed. "She thinks she saw Danny. Once last night then again when we were at the Nasty Burger just a little while ago."

Maddie's face fell and she looked at the ground. "This has been so hard on her. I don't really think she realized just how much she meant to him. And it all went by so fast…"

"I know." Tucker said softly. The stood in silence for a moment, reminiscing.

"Jazz is up in her room," Maddie said a few moments later, snapping Tucker out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, okay. Thanks Mrs. Fenton." He responded, heading towards the stairs.

When the teen reached Jazz' room, the conversation was very similar, pausing with the same remembrance of that horrid night.

"I'm worried about her Jazz," he stated. "She's my best friend. I can't let anything happen to her. I mean, I promised Danny that I'd protect her. But I don't know what to do." He finished, placing his head in his hands.

Jazz placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic smile when he looked back up at her.

"Don't worry Tuck, we'll get everything figured out." She reassured him. "It's most likely just another state of grief. We'll just have to keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't do anything foolish. Everything will be okay." She finished, giving him a small hug, which he returned.

"Thanks Jazz."

Later that night, Sam woke up screaming, having dreamt the same nightmare she had had many times before:

The night Vlad killed Danny.

Danny's heart clenched when Sam started to cry. Screw this, he thought. He was just about to show himself, when her bedroom door flew open, and Sam's grandmother came high-wheeling it into her room. She parked her scooter next to her granddaughter's bed, immediately wrapping her arms around her; shushing her, comforting her.

"Shhh, bubeleh. Everything will be alright. It was just a nightmare."

"But it wasn't Grandma! It was about…about…"

The old woman's eyes creased in sadness as the teen started crying again, knowing right away what Sam was upset about. She may not have been at the fight, but she had seen it all on TV. She knew how much Daniel had meant to her granddaughter. And to have the one you loved so harshly ripped away from you, while he was lying in your arms? You were left with complete and utter devastation, and a broken, bleeding heart.

As he watched from the opposite end of the room, Danny felt the desperate want, the need to be the one to comfort her. Why hadn't he ever gotten to hold her like that? To feel the warmth of her body in his arms, his hands passing aimlessly through her hair? To wipe away her tears, hold her close, and kiss the pain away?

That's it, he decided as Sam's grandmother tucked her back into bed once she had fallen asleep once again. I'm talking with her, and I'm talking with her now. I can't let this go on any longer.

With your imagination and emotions runnin' wild
Fuelin' my frustration like a fire burnin', clock keeps turnin'
I know it's gettin' underneath your skin
I've tried to tell you now

Just as he was about to go into Sam's dream, the woman softly called out. "Daniel? Is that you?"

Her sudden call startled him out of invisibility and he stared at her with wide eyes. "Mrs. Manson? H-how did you-"

"I knew you were in here the moment I came in. You ghosts give off quite a cold spot." She said with a small grin.

Danny flinched and looked away at being called a ghost, which didn't go unnoticed by her. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in a bad way."

"No, it's fine. I mean, it's what I am now, right?" he finished and gave a dry chuckle before his face fell once more and he sighed sadly. Mrs. Manson stayed silent and waited for him to continue.

"I'm sorry, I just-"

"No, you have nothing to be sorry about dear. The only thing you have to be sorry for is not coming back sooner."

"What?"

"Do you have any idea of what happened when you… left?"

"N-no, why?"

The woman sighed before explaining. "Everyone was devastated. The whole town went into a state of mourning; they finally realized you were a hero. But… then you were gone. Who was going to protect them from the constant ghost attacks? Luckily, the ghosts have stayed away, save for a few, which your parents were able to take care of.

"On the day of your funeral, all the businesses and schools shut down, just so people could attend. It was even broadcast on the news, much to your friends and family's dislike. They tried to get them to leave, but the Mayor insisted that they let the Press stay, as long as they left the family alone and were respectful. The people who couldn't attend should have the right to see their hero off, don't you think?"

"I…guess…"

"Your parents were hit pretty hard; they'd been hunting their own son all this time. Of course, I'm sure you knew that'd happen."

"Yeah," he muttered quietly.

"But I think out of everyone, Sam here was hit the hardest," Sam's grandma stated, noticing the way the boy winced and the way his face scrunched up in pain. "Can you imagine what it would be like to lose the one you like the most?"

"Of course I can!" he loudly exclaimed, lowering his voice when he noticed Sam flinch in her sleep. "Do you have any idea how hard it's been without her? Not having her or Tucker around to help when something went wrong? Or just when I needed someone to talk to?" Tears welled in his eyes as he continued. "I've been so lost and so alone without them! And I've been worrying about them every single day. Are they being harassed by Dash even more so now that I'm gone? Are they being threatened by ghosts? Are they still alive?"

The woman watched him sadly as he furiously wiped away the tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Not knowing whether the ones you love the most are safe and well…you have no idea what that feels like. I've wanted to come back for so long, but I was afraid I'd just cause more trouble than ever before. Or that I'd be hunted down by the Guys in White now that my secret's been revealed. I was just…scared." He choked out, his voice hoarse as he collapsed into Sam's chair. "I'm a coward," he whispered sadly, placing his head in his hands as his body shook with his cries.

"Oh, honey…" Sam's grandma murmured, enveloping the teen in a hug. She rubbed his back soothingly and muttered reassurances to him.

"Danny, it's natural for you to be scared. Anyone in your position would be. I may not have seen much of you or your fighting, but dear, you are most definitely not a coward. You fought ghosts daily and went through things no normal human would be able to endure. You're special Daniel. You're the hero people need. And you're the one that your friends depend on."

Gradually, his cries turned into sniffles, and he pulled away from the woman. He wiped away any stray tears with the back of his gloved hand and muttered his thanks.

"You're welcome dear. Now, I'll leave you two alone," she said with a soft smile, and drove out of the room, shutting the door softly behind her. The teen sat there for a few more moments, staring at the door, before slowly turning his head towards where Sam lay. He smiled softly, before standing and walking towards her bed.

Alright Fenton, he thought. Now, all you have to do is do the same thing you did when Nocturne put everyone to sleep. Easy.

He gulped nervously, before turning intangible and diving into Sam's dream.

Don't look over your shoulder
'Cause that's just the ghost of me you're seein' in your dreams
Wait, there's no rhyme or reason
Sometimes there's no meanin' in the visions when you're sleepin'
Don't wake up and believe them
You're lookin' at the ghost of me
You're lookin' at the ghost of me
You're lookin' at the ghost of me

Everything was pitch black. Because of the darkness of the room, she couldn't tell where the walls met or ended, or how big the space between them was. She didn't know if there were holes in the floor, or even just an endless blackness stretching out in front of her. For all she knew, she could be on the only solid part of the entire room.

She then began to hear voices; soft at first, but gradually growing in volume, until they were indistinguishable shouts. She could have sworn she recognized the voices, but she couldn't put her finger on them.

Then there was a loud crack and a sharp intake of breath. There were a few seconds of silence, before a 'NO!' was ripped from her throat, and a large thud shook the ground beneath her, making her lose her balance.

Scenes started flashing before her, moving at rapid speed. She gasped and stumbled backwards, immediately recognizing the images from the night Danny was taken from them. She whimpered and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and burying her face in her knees. Her eyes swelled with tears. How many times would she have to go through the torture of watching Danny be murdered right in front of her eyes? This had to be at least the third time in the past few nights.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light that shone through her eyelids, and a voice whispering her name. She let out a strangled cry and clutched her legs tighter. This was always the worst part, because it was the only part she could understand what the people were saying -what she and Danny were saying- in his last few moments.

Wiry, cold arms abruptly wrapped around her thin form and she gasped in fear, pushing away the unknown force and scrambling backwards. This part had never happened in her dream, and she was afraid of what might occur. She then heard a pained 'Oomph!', electric green eyes met violet, and she froze, eyes widening in shock.

Don't look over your shoulder
'Cause that's just the ghost of me you're seein'…

There were a few moments of precious silence, the scenes in the background having blinked out and gone quiet.

Finally, the owner of the green eyes spoke. "…Sam?" he whispered hopefully. And that small whisper was all she needed to assure her that it really was him.

She cried out and flung herself into his embrace. Danny quickly wrapped his arms around her tightly as she buried her face into his chest and sobbed. He rocked them back and forth, placing a hand on the back of her head, pulling her closer as he cried into her soft locks.

"Oh God, Sam, you have no idea how much I've missed you." He whispered softly into her hair.

"And you have no idea how much I've missed you," she mumbled into his chest, her voice hoarse.

They sat like that for a while, soaking in each other's presence, which they had been deprived of for a few months, which was far too long in their eyes. When they pulled apart, Sam sat back on her knees and looked at the ground, pulling at a snag in her purple tights.

"Why…why didn't you come back sooner?" she asked when he grabbed her hand, glancing up at him.

"I was…scared." He admitted defeatedly, looking down at Sam's hand that he was absentmindedly rubbing circles on with his gloved thumb. Sam sat, enjoying the feeling, and waited for him to elaborate. He sighed before continuing. "I was afraid that the GIW would've tried to catch me for experimentation, or even worse, my parents. I was afraid that I'd attract more ghosts if I came back. I was afraid that the town might see my reappearance as my ghostly side just wanting to haunt the town. I…" he sighed dejectedly.

"You what?" Sam asked gently, laying her hand on his cheek, pulling his head up to look at her. He froze for a moment and blushed a deep crimson, though the girl wasn't able to tell due to the minimal light protruding from the ghost in front of her. He closed his eyes and smiled, with a small sigh of elation, leaning into her hand and placing his gloved one over her own. But that moment couldn't last forever. When he opened his eyes, a sad frown covered his face once more.

"I was afraid that…that you, Tucker and Jazz would…would be afraid of me," he finished in a hoarse whisper, looking at the ground once again.

"Why would we be afraid of you Danny? We're your best friends. There's no reason for us to be afraid of you."

"Yes, there is!" he insisted. "I'm a full ghost now. I don't have any humanity left in me to keep me grounded… there's nothing keeping me from becoming… evil." Tears welled in his eyes. "You guys aren't with me anymore all the time. In fact, if Clockwork hadn't kept me in line a few times, I would've…would've…" he sniffled.

"Oh Danny…" she said softly, before enveloping him in a hug. He cried quietly into her shoulder while she held him with one hand and ran the other through his snow white locks. "Don't you see? You're more human than any other ghost there is. You still have emotion, you still worry over the ones you love. You care Danny, and that makes you one very special ghost." She pulled away but kept her hands on his shoulders and forced him to look her in the eyes. "We may not be physically with you in the Ghost Zone, but we'll always be in here," she stated, placing her hand over his heart. "And the same goes for us. You may not be with us all of the time, but you'll always stay with us here," she finished, guiding his hand and placing it over her own heart.

He sat there for a moment, contemplating her words while the steady beat of her heart reassured him that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, pulling his hand back.

"What for?" she asked him, confused.

"For…everything. For putting you through all of this. For leaving. For...not realizing...just how much you meant to me." He mumbled quietly, looking up at her sadly through his white bangs.

She smiled sympathetically and brushed some of his hair away from his face. "It's not your fault Danny. None of us knew that Vlad would resort to what he did."

"I know, but still…But the one thing I'm sorry for the most, is not getting the chance to do this," he finished, swooping in and gently capturing her lips with his.

Sam's eyes widened in shock and she froze at his sudden touch. But she then relaxed, her eyes slipped closed, and a smile graced her lips as they kissed. His hands came down to rest gently on her hips and her hands went around his neck, entangling her hands in his hair.

When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, they rested their foreheads against each other's and smiled wider than they had in a long time.

"I love you Sam. I love you so, so much." He whispered placing a lighter, tender kiss on her lips.

"I love you too, Danny," she whispered back with a grin. "I don't want this moment to end."

"Me neither," he replied, placing his cheek against her hair. "But…I have to go," he responded sadly, eyebrows creasing in pain.

"What? So soon?" Sam exclaimed, pulling back and studying his sad green eyes.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "I've already overextended my visit. Clockwork isn't going to be too happy."

"But…but you can't leave! You just got here!" she protested, tears springing to her eyes.

"I know," he responded, gathering her up in his arms and clutching her to his chest tightly. "I know. I want so badly to stay; you have no idea how badly. But I have to go."

She buried herself further into his arms and sniffed. "Will…will you come visit? Please?" she begged.

"I…I'll try," he reassured her, running his hand through her ebony hair. "I promise I'll try. Just…promise me you won't do anything foolish, alright? I don't want to come back and find out something happened to you."

"I won't. I promise."

"Good," he smiled. "Oh, and I wanted to give you this," he continued, pulling back and taking a necklace out of his pocket. At the bottom of the chain was a small crystal ball, with a little flame of ectoplasm swirling around inside.

"Danny…it's…it's beautiful," she said with a smile. He simply smiled in return and carefully clasped it shut around her neck. She fingered the little ball in wonder before placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered. "I miss you already."

"I miss you too," he responded. "I love you," he said. Man, it feels so good to say that!

"I love you too Danny. See you later,"

"See you…"

And with that, she faded into oblivion.

Wait, there's no rhyme or reason
Sometimes there's no meanin' in the visions when you're sleepin'
Don't wake up and believe them
Visions when you're sleepin'
Don't wake up and believe them
You're lookin' at the ghost of me
You're lookin' at the ghost of me
You're lookin' at the ghost of me

Before she opened her eyes, she felt a gentle cold kiss placed on her forehead before the coldness in her room vanished. When she opened them, she noticed a soft green glow coming from her chest. When she looked down, the necklace Danny had given her was around her neck, pulsing with ectoplasm. She smiled softly, before glancing out her window.

Today is going to be a wonderful day…


Bleheheh. Would anyone like some fluffy cotton candy and a side of cheesecake? Because I just made some...lol. (And no, I didn't come up with that line. :P)

Yeah, this came out pretty cheesy. And fluffy. Blurgh. Wasn't really edited much either...heh. ^^;

Review plz! No flames, but constructive criticism is welcome. ;)

~Lyssie212