Okay, my internet's being kind of screwy at the moment, so if I miss the next update, I'm really sorry and I'll put it up as soon as my computer stops messing about.

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.

"Have you seen this child?" the Fenton GAV patrolled the streets of Amity Park, the loud speaker installed on top of it blaring. Jack and Maddie Fenton were throwing their all into finding their son, even making a few trips into the ghost zone in case Danny might be hiding there. Announcements were made in local newspapers and TV stations, posters put up- if anybody saw Danny, then Jack and Maddie Fenton were determined to be the first to know.

Their ghost hunting had come to a standstill, but Danny Phantom was keeping order. Privately, Maddie found herself thankful for his existence for once- she could search for her son without having to worry about Amity Park.

She watched him flying through the sky as she took a much-needed break (only because Sam and Tucker had convinced her that she wouldn't find Danny if she was tired) and wondered, not for the first time, if she had been right to bring up her suspicions with Danny. If he was a ghost, then of course he would've been frightened to have his parents- ghost hunters- find out, so why hadn't she just waited for him to tell her on his own?

As Phantom disappeared behind a building, a thought hit her.

They hadn't been having any luck finding her son. But if Danny really was a ghost, then...

"Send a theif to catch a theif," she muttered. "So maybe we have to send a ghost to catch a ghost..."


Danny was helping Alex by washing the dishes. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, frowning slightly.

"Danny..."

"Yeah?"

Alex sighed. "Are you Daniel Fenton?"

Danny's eyes widened as he stared in shock. "Wha-what?"

"I'll take that as a yes..."

"How did you...?"

She slid a newspaper cutting across the counter. It was a missing persons advert, with roughly ten faces on it, each with a name, age, place and the date they went missing beneath the photographs. Danny's was the third in line.

"You didn't honestly expect us not to try and find out who you were, did you? Look, we aren't going to make you go back, not if... not if what we think is happening is happening. But Danny, please, if somebody's hurting you or- or doing something to you, let us go to the police, okay? I don't know why you're so antsy about the cops, but they can help you, Danny, if just tell us why you ran away."

Danny shook his head desperately. "No, no, you don't understand... I can't!"

"Hey, calm down, we won't make you, but why can't you go, Danny? Did you do something? It can't have been that serious, I'm sure it'll be okay..."

"No, I can't go... please, Mrs Wallis, I can't!" the police would take him back to his parents, and he couldn't, he just couldn't...

"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay..." she guided the panicked teen into a seat and rubbed his shoulders gently, moving her hand in small circles. "Calm down, Danny. It's alright. We aren't going to make you do anything, Danny, I promise, but we just want to help. We've got to do something, Danny , you can't stay here forever."

"I- I know," Danny said. "I know. But I just can't. I'm sorry."

Alex sighed. "It's alright Danny. We'll work something out." she gave him an encouraging smile, but inwardly, she frowned.

Just what exactly is going on with you, Danny? she asked herself. What on earth have you gotten yourself into?