Up to chapter 9! I actually didn't plan to make it this far, but I'm not complaining. Thanks so much for the reviews and seeing as I don't have any mentioning any of the characters acting OOC, I'm assuming they're fine and will just keep going with them as they are.

This chapter was basically to vaguely summarize what's already happened in case you missed something or I didn't explain something enough.

I own nothing aside from the story. Neither the characters nor the basic ideas are mine. So it has been said so it shall be.

Read, review, and enjoy!

As soon as the halfas had left the room, Jazmine let go of her mother. Maddie was far angrier than she had been since facing the ghosts responsible for her son's disappearance.

"Explain!" she ordered loudly, turning on her daughter.

Jazmine nodded quickly with hands raised in a peaceful gesture, "Okay, just chill out. It's a long story. I'll give you the run down without details, but don't interrupt."

Maddie nodded once, anger still evident on her face.

"So we were sent out on our mission and made it to Vlad's mansion as planned, but when we got there we ran into Danny who told us to leave. He didn't know who we were and kept his distance as he did to you. He called Vlad "father" and got mad when we insulted him. We didn't get out before Vlad got back so he tied us up and put us in a cage in his lab. He and Danny joked around a lot like they were close or something before they started training." She paused in reflection, "He was really amazing, mom. You should have seen Danny fight. Turns out he has telepathy now and can read thoughts and talk to people with his mind or something."

Jazmine shook her head and continued, "Anyway, Vlad taught him some stuff and then they split for dinner. Danny came back with food for us, but overheard us talking and was really upset at hearing his relation to us though he didn't really dig into it much. That night Danny had nightmare and Vlad sedated him. He came to the lab and made another dose and told us that it had been happening since he rescued Danny from the ghosts who were hurting him. He said something about being too late to stop them from doing something but never said what."

"That's when you guys called." She continued. "We wanted to find out more before coming back without all the answers so we told you to wait. The next morning Danny got us breakfast before he and Vlad trained some more. In the middle of the fight, Danny just froze up and Vlad started freaking out. When Danny woke up, he started fighting Vlad and couldn't talk straight, but shook it off and told Vlad he'd be okay by himself. They left joking around and stayed out of the lab until about lunchtime when a bunch of ghosts broke in and grabbed us."

Jazmine shuddered, "Danny came down. He looked so scared, but covered it up and acted brave. He didn't stand a chance against them and we all knew it." She paused before continuing, "The ghosts grabbed him and took us to some lair in the G.Z. where they chained Danny to a wall and threw us in a cage next to him. Danny contacted Vlad through this mind-power he has now, but a bunch of ghosts took him out before we heard what Vlad was saying. It seemed like forever that he was gone and when they finally brought him back he was a mess."

She ignored the gasps, holding in her own sadness as she finished. "Turns out they tortured him and that's why Vlad needs the lab; so he can try to fix whatever they messed up. Anyway, Vlad finally got to the prison after the ghosts found out about Danny contacting him, but they got away with Danny. Vlad let us out and we went after them. We found Danny all drugged up and strapped to some table, but okay. Vlad lead us to his mansion in Colorado, asked Danny what happened, decided they weren't safe, and opted to come here." She shrugged, "The end."

Wide eyes met her revelations, but no one had anything to say.

"Did we miss the re-cap?"

"Tucker, are they okay?" Jazmine asked as the trio entered the room.

The formally known hacker nodded, "Yah, Sam told them we'd get food so they don't have to come out for a while."

Sam laughed awkwardly, "I don't think they would be willing to at this point."

"Don't blame them." Valerie muttered bitterly.

"Don't be so mean, Val." Sam nudged, "You'd be freaked out too."

Valerie shrugged slightly.

"How's Danny?" Jazmine ignored the others in favor of Tucker who shrugged a bit.

"He's…okay. Definitely intimidated and possibly rethinking his convincing Vlad to come here." He gave Maddie a pointed look, "I know it's weird, but you have to be careful around him. You kinda freaked him out."

Maddie sputtered in anger, "My son comes back from the dead and you expect me to treat him like a stranger?!" She shouted, "He is my son!"

"Shh!" Sam urged heatedly.

"Trust me, I know it's not easy and Tucker's right, it's weird, but to him we are strangers. Give him a chance to warm up to us." Jazmine assured her.

"I don't understand," a man called from the crowd, stepping up beside Maddie, "how did he lose his memory?"

Jazmine shook her head.

"Sorry Mr. Fenton, but we don't know." Tucker admitted sadly.

"Can't you just ask him?"

Sam answered before the others could, "That wouldn't be smart. It sounded like Danny was messed up by whatever happened. Bringing it up could ruin everything."

"What about Vlad? Can we ask him?"

"We tried." Valerie admitted.

"I'll give it a go!"

"Jack, I don't think…" Maddie began, but the man was too excited to dissuade.

"I'll bring 'em supper and ask him man-to-man!" Jack bellowed already heading to the kitchen.

Tucker shook his head, "This is a bad idea, but if we let him cook their food it'll be even worse. Someone should help him before he kills both of our…guests."

Sam sighed shuffled into the kitchen.

"Guests." Maddie scoffed.

Jazmine stiffened, "Yes mom, guests. I promised they could come here, use the lab, and leave when it was safe; no strings attached."

"Why would you do that?! We could have used their help to…"

"No!" Tucker shouted. It was rare for him to use much emotion aside from being the comic relief. "I knew this would happen! I knew you couldn't just be happy with him coming back! He's hurt and freaked out, but you can't help without making him fighting in a war for you?" The room was silenced by his frustration. "As much as I hate to admit it, I was hoping that his being taken was a way for him to get out of the war. It's unbelievable that you people would ask him to fight for you after everything he's already gone through even if we don't know the half of it."

He steeled his gaze to the floor, deepening his voice. "Earlier you introduced yourselves to him. Then you said you were his past's family and friends. Now, however, he is a weapon. What gives you the right to humanity if he is a tool used for your survival?"

He could hear the thudding steps climb the stairs ushering a tick to start in his eyebrow. Of all of the humans in this blasted building it just had to be him. Casting a glance at the sleeping boy, he smothered the smile blooming at the sight before readying himself for what he knew was to come.

Sure enough, an annoyingly loud fist found a place on the door. Vlad ripped the door open before it could land another hit, put a finger to his lips to silence the oaf, and waited for Danny to settle his shifting. Wishing for another way to both watch the boy while keeping the man from waking him, Vlad stepped slightly out of the room and into the hallway with the door cracked and a clone inside.

A strange look passed Jack's features, but Vlad ignored it in favor of the plates in front of him. Taking them, he nodded his thanks and turned to re-enter the room, but Jack stopped him. He began to play with his hands as the older-halfa turned to face him.

"V-man, I just had a quick question. It's about Danny. I…Jazz told us what she knew, but I wanted to ask how-"

"I'm going to stop you there." Vlad said strictly. "I am under no intention to give you any answers nor will I without Daniel's permission. It is a decision I refuse to make for him. If he desires you to know, you will know." He turned to leave, but again, Jack called to him.

"Vlad, please," He was desperate. "I need to know. He is my son."

Vlad's gaze hardened. Danny had spent two years hiding who he was out of fear of this man, while Vlad had done everything he could for the boy and gained his trust after the horrors the child had been through. Biological father or not, this man held no claim to the boy as far as Vlad was concerned.

"When he feels you deserve it, Daniel will…tell you." He paused before getting in Jack's face, "I will not, however, allow you to pester him about this. You will not hint, ask, or imply your concerns to his past. I can and will disappear as well as promise you that the boy will accompany with me regardless of your pleas. Do not put me in a position to prove this." Without leaving room for comment, he closed the door. After a few seconds, the sounds of resigned footsteps began to fade away.

"That was rude." A soft voice full of amusement projected from behind him.

Vlad smiled, "Perhaps, though he deserves as much for his questions."

"Agreed."

"Shall we feast?" the man raised the plates in his hands towards the boy who nodded and sat up. Vlad sat on the bed across from him with his own plate as he passed Danny the other.

Looking at the plate he faintly chuckled, "Feast may be in your terms."

Vlad let out his own chuckle, "Agreed, Daniel."

"How did it go?"

The question gave no hesitation when Jack reached the main room. By his demeanor it was obvious that things didn't go well.

"Did you find out anything?" His wife all but ran up to him, but he gave no answer still lost in thought.

The way Vlad looked after Danny, like a father to his son. From Danny's friends' stories the two halfas once hated each other, but now it was like they all but relied one on the other. A trace of jealousy peaked in Jack's mind only to be overridden with a curious worry. What happened? What did they have to go through to become what they are now?

"Jack?" Maddie's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh, no he wouldn't tell me. He said if I was supposed to know, Danny would tell himself."

"How's that gonna work exactly -oof!" Tucker cried as Jazmine slapped him on the back of the head.

She scowled, "Don't be so insensitive!"

"What do you mean?" Jack's brow creased, maybe the more he found out, the more he could put together.

Tucker's hands began to wring themselves awkwardly, "Uhm…"

"Jazmine," Maddie warned.

"I uh…we really shouldn't talk about it."

Jack sighed, "Better I hear it from you than Vlad, princess."

Jazmine sighed, this was a bad idea, but they would find out eventually right? "Danny lost his voice."

Eyes blinked, "Okay?" Maddie said slowly. Her son had lost his voice before, all it took was time and water before it came back.

"No, Mrs. Fenton, you don't get it. We were locked up in the G.Z. and a bunch of ghosts took Danny somewhere. We don't know what happened, but when he came back, he was all messed up and couldn't talk. They did something to him to take his voice away." Tucker explained carefully.

In less than a second, Maddie's anger sky-rocketed forcing Jazmine to fight against her getting to the halfas' room. The teens urged her to calm down and stay quiet, but she would hear none of it. Being stronger than her daughter, Maddie pushed past her aiming for the stairs when more arms got in her way.

Fighting tirelessly the whole trip, the group made it to the room; even Jack, still lost in the shock of his son's injury, couldn't hold the mother back.

Danny could hear the noises getting closer, having just finished their food, the two halfas were both sitting on the bed talking casually. Fear laced his eyes. Vlad immediately picked up on that fear and quickly reached the door with the intention of fending off the unwanted company. Placing himself between the oncoming crowd and his young charge, Vlad ripped the door open to reveal the mess before him with eyes intent to kill.

It was obvious that the teens and Jack were trying to hold Maddie back yet failing miserably. Taking up the entire doorway, Vlad made no hint of movement as the woman attempted to shove past him. His ghost-half's strength easily overcame her human limitation.

Anger grew in Vlad's eyes. This woman had no idea the damage she could do by causing such a scene. How he had loved her in the past he would never know, but in moments such as these, it was obvious that she was never the woman Vlad had deemed her as being. She was far less.

As it became obvious that she wouldn't get past the older-halfa, Maddie stepped back and glared daggers at the man. "Let me in. I need to see him." She ordered.

Matching her glare, Vlad did not move, "No, Madeline."

"How dare you! He is-"

"-in fear due to your outburst." The man interrupted harshly.

Maddie looked past Vlad to see Danny, standing like a deer in headlights by the bed, fists clenched and ready for a fight he was highly unsure of. Yet the sight urged her on rather than deter her.

"You have no right to keep us out. You are not his father and he is not your son. Step aside, Vlad."

"I do not believe you truly understand." The older-halfa admitted emotionlessly. "I have no care of your insinuations. I am the only being Daniel truly knows and I will care for him as long as he allows. I am not keeping him against his will or hurting him in anyway nor would I ever do such things. It is you who are the threat. You do not realize what you are doing and for that I pity you. If it is an explanation you seek, it is not my information to share. If you were meant to know the answers you desire, you would already know. Creating chaos like this is no way to gain trust."

"How dare you, Masters!" Maddie seethed, "You have no right to keep him away from me! He is my son!"

"He does not know you. How many times must this be repeated?"

"Tell me how! I demand to know what happened to him!"

Just as Vlad began to turn her down, a familiar fog entered his mind.

It's okay. Danny projected.

The older-halfa turned to face the younger with a sadly curious look, "Are you sure?" He asked aloud gently.

Danny hesitated, but nodded with finality, fear clouding his blue eyes. Maybe not everything though…

Vlad sighed and returned to face the enraged, yet confused woman before him. "As much as I am against it, Daniel has decided to enlighten you on his memory loss." At his dreaded words, faces lit up in curiosity.

The young-halfa did his best not to cringe at the excitement radiating off the humans. He really wished he didn't have to share the story, but perhaps this would make them leave.

"It was shortly after the ghost's first attack. They had taken Daniel and…" Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to be as vague as possible. "The ghosts had him in their prisons. Once Daniel gained the ability to forget any chosen event, his captors grew angry. As assurance that his forgetfulness would cease, they somehow drained all of his emotional memories in favor of creating a new, more…violent past for the boy to draw on. I have yet to decipher how they accomplished this and I must find that much information before I can create any type of reversal. If, of course, Daniel would like me to," at this he turned to the ridged boy who didn't make any move to answer. "There you have it. Now be on your way."

"No, not yet, I have more questions." Maddie claimed proudly.

Vlad felt the nervous shift in his mind that clued him in to believing Danny didn't want to give any more away, but would if asked. Steeling his gaze, the older-halfa drew on his power to heighten the electricity around them as a means of intimidation. The air began to subtly fizz and crack at the intensity of his voice. "You may have more to ask, but we have no more to share. You have overstepped your boundaries once; do not do so again or I assure you that the threat dealt Jack will become reality. I will leave this place and Daniel," he waited for the assured nod from the boy before continuing, "will accompany me. We will disappear. I suggest you count what blessings you have in this situation and end it there."

The humans' expressions of worry and hesitation filled the man with pride in his ability to protect his boy. Taking it one step farther, he added comfort to the list. "Now, I ask that you leave. It has been far too long a run without rest and we both have many tasks lined up for tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, he shut the door in the humans' stunned faces.

Stepping back from the door only slightly, Vlad waited until all of the humans had left the way they had come before approaching a frozen Danny. A hint of fear hit the man as the boy was still in his mind, but when the young-halfa met his eyes, he felt a calm wash over him.

"Are you alright?" his voice was gentle and soothing, urging an answer.

Danny nodded a bit, but didn't relax as his eyes continuously returned to the closed door.

Vlad smile a bit and sat on the bed in front of the boy. Turning Danny to have his back face the door, the man wrapped his arms around the stiff boy until he felt the nerves slowly loosen. Time passed with the two in each other's grips before Vlad felt the young-halfa fully melt into him. He chuckled quietly and lifted the sleeping boy in a bridal fashion. He laid him carefully on the bed without waking him, brushing wild, black hair off of his eyes.

"Goodnight, little badger"