This is the longest Fanfic I've ever written. And it's still not over yet! :D
On with the Story! (I don't own DP)
Stressed
So, once Tucker and I caught the two Phantoms after their little sugar buffet, Danny and Dani went crazy. They were bouncing off the ceilings, phasing through rooms, speed flying, and talking a mile a minute. Somehow I convinced them that there was one more cookie left and that I hid it somewhere in the house. They were now going mad looking everywhere for that non-existent cookie. I'll admit it: Tucker can have good ideas from time to time.
I was cleaning up the kitchen, trying to estimate how many sweets the two ate, before moving on to the living room. When I started in the living room, Tucker convinced the two halfa's to play wii sports, so by the time everything was spotless they'd worn out most of their sugar high. I finished putting my cleaning supplies away and refilled the water guns, just in case, and then headed up to Danny's room.
"Just in time Sam! It's time again," Tucker tiredly said as I entered Danny's room. Dani looked like she was about to faint and Danny's eyes were wide and unblinking. I gave Tucker the 'o.k.' and he pressed the mood button and before we knew it we had a Stressed Danny in our midst.
"O.k. Dani, you know what mood he's on, so I think it'd be fine if you took another nap. You look a little tired," I said. She weakly nodded at me when I grabbed her hand to bring her to Jazz's room and pulled the blankets up to her chin once she was in bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out. I smiled looking at the peaceful face of Dani before returning to Danny's room, closing the door on my way out.
"So, stressed you say?" I asked Tucker while observing Danny. Unlike Dani, he remained in Phantom form, but before I could say anything else, another Danny appeared next to him. And another Danny. And another. And another.
"You do homework, you make brunch, you clean the bathroom, you clean the lab, and I'll clean my room," the original Danny said while pointing to each duplicate. One Phantom turned into Fenton. That duplicate was the one lucky enough to be assigned 'homework' so he grabbed Danny's backpack and a pencil before heading down to the kitchen table.
Tucker and I shared a confused look before he said, "You should probably help with the homework and I'll help clean the lab." I nodded and headed off to find Fenton. All of his forms were trying to do things as fast as possible, including this one. Fenton's eyes were quickly scanning one of his worksheets again and again while chewing on the end of his pencil.
As I took a seat across from him I said, "I can help. I normally tutor you, but usually we get interrupted. Since all the other duplicates are doing something else, I think we might actually have time to go through everything." I smiled and he smiled back.
"Let's start with math please," he said and I nodded. I was really good with numbers so I enjoyed teaching this duplicate all my little tricks and secrets to understanding the algebraic process. Once math was done we went on to science. Danny seemed a lot happier learning about physical science than math, so it was a breeze. The duplicate that was assigned 'brunch' had finished around the same time we started language arts, so I rewarded him with a break.
"Tucker, brunch is ready!" I yelled down the stairs. I went upstairs after I got my reply and checked on Dani. She was still sleeping so I decided not to wake her. If she was hungry when she woke up, I'd make her whatever she wanted. I told the other duplicates too, but it was useless because they all just phased back together.
Brunch went by fast. We had half an hour left before Stressed Danny was no more, and I inwardly frowned. The only thing that was really different from this Danny and Normal Danny was that when he was only stressed, he did things and he did them quickly. Why hadn't Danny used his duplicates before? He was left home alone enough, so getting caught wasn't really a big threat. I get it when he's out and a ghost attacks, but he could easily reabsorb them from anywhere. Or better yet, he could use his duplicates in the battle. But otherwise, Stressed and Normal Danny were pretty much the same. And that worried me.
"Well, the lab is looking great," Tucker said as we finished our meals and I started with the dishes.
"That's good," I replied. I could hear Danny's leg bouncing up and down, something he only does when he's worried or not doing anything at all. He's always moving, no matter what. Even in class, he moves his pencil between his fingers, twirling them over and under them. Always moving.
"O.k. so, is there anything else that needs to get done Danny?" I asked. He nodded and one other duplicate appeared beside him. Fenton and Phantom.
"We still need to finish with Lancer's class and the lab still has a little left that needs to be organized," Fenton told me. I nodded and turned back to cleaning and drying the dishes. I turned back and both Danny's were still there. Tucker was at the top of the stairs to the basement smirking.
"Um, is everything o.k.?" I asked. I didn't understand why Phantom was still floating next to Fenton. He should be helping Tucker finish up in the basement.
"Haha, nope! What would give you that idea?" Phantom asked while he rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand, the obvious tell tale sign that he was lying and/or nervous. "I'll just put the dishes away."
"Can we finish Lancer's homework now?" Fenton asked, pencil ticking against his bouncing leg. I looked at both Danny's suspiciously before stepping aside from the dishes and heading back to the kitchen table.
"Danny, tell me when you're ready to finish the lab. I'm going to plug in my baby upstairs," Tucker said as he made his way up to Danny's room. When he said baby I rolled my eyes because by 'baby' he meant his PDA. The same PDA that was probably filled with blackmail pictures of me and Danny.
Mental note: replace Tucker's PDA and destroy all blackmail pictures.
Fenton and I started Lancer's latest assignment and he seemed to have more trouble than he should have. His hand was constantly running through his hair and his bouncing leg increased in speed, if that was even possible. Phantom finished the dishes when Fenton and I were half way through the assignment, but instead of calling up to Tucker to finish the lab, he sat across from Fenton and watched us work. After three minutes of being watched by Phantom and having to repeat the same sentence over and over again to Fenton I lost it. "What is going on here?" I yelled. Both Danny's shared a worried, stressed, and nervous look. I crossed my hands over my chest and began tapping my foot.
"Sam," Fenton started, "I've been really stressed lately about a lot of things…"
"…but one thing in particular," Phantom finished. This caught my attention, so I uncrossed my arms, sat up a little straighter, and gave them my full attention. I didn't know what to expect, except that it was important to both halves of Danny.
"I don't really know how to ask this without being blunt," Fenton said turning to Phantom. Phantom was always the braver half of Danny, so it makes sense that Fenton would turn to him.
"Do you have a favorite?" Phantom blurted.
"A favorite what?" I asked, not quite sure where this was headed.
"A favorite side. You know, of Danny," he replied.
"O," I said. My eyebrows were raised high and I momentarily forgot how to breathe, but I quickly recovered and grabbed one of each of their hands and gave a small smile. Inside, I was extremely confused, but outside I looked calm. Why was Danny so stressed about that? He should know by now how I feel about both his halves.
"At times I may like one half of you better than the other half, but I don't have a favorite side. If I did I would be just as shallow as Paulina and just as blind as Valerie. Phantom and Fenton are one person; Danny. And Danny is my best friend," I explained before quickly adding, "And Tucker."
Both looked a bit more relieved, but I guess that was only one of their questions because Fenton then asked, "So you don't just hang with me because I'm Phantom, right?"
I wasn't going to, but I punched him in the arm and glared at him before saying, "Of course not! I'm offended you'd think that." Phantom laughed so I shared my glare with him, which immediately shut him up.
"Sorry Sam, but I had to know for sure," Fenton said. I smiled again and got up to give each halves a hug. When I hugged them, I had a chance to check the clock and discovered it was just about eight in the morning, which meant it was time to trade in Stressed Danny for the next mood in line.
"C'mon Danny, time to change moods again," I said as I grabbed the now one Danny's hand and led him up to his room. "Go tell Tucker and I'll go get Danielle."
This chapter just kind of wrote itself, so it was interesting for me to read what my fingers typed just like I hope you like it! Update's a comin'!
