A/N: I'm sorry for how late this one is too! It got shoved aside from trying to get ASU written, but it's up now!

And the mystery shall thicken even further! I hope you're all keeping up : ) My offer for help still stands, and I'd also be totally interested in hearing any theories you have, just because I think it's fun! Mystery's are so much fun to write...especially due to my cliffie-happy tendencies. With mysteries, it's like the whole story is a giant cliffie! That just makes me happy : )

And again, a huge thank you to all reader and reviewers! You guys are stupendous! (look, it's a different adjective other than awesome and amazing!)

Alright and again with the self promotion. If you don't already know, the first chapter of Tortured Revenge (sequel to Tortured Truth) is now up, so if you enjoyed the first one, I definitely recommend the second one! Also, I'm going to have a new "story" up called "Lessons in Danny Phantom Philosophy" It's just going to be a set of essays (I hate to use that word, but that's technically what they are) delving into certain deeper topics of Danny Phantom that the show touches on but never really discusses. The first one is going to be about how ghost hunting came about and how their rather biased theories were developed and why they have gone unproved. It's a really interesting write and hopefully a more interesting read! Some other topics will include things such as insight into Danny's love life (with cannon proof to back up both DxS and DxV) and more about Dan and his and Danny's relationship with time. I'm really excited, so I hope you'll take a look when it goes up!

God, I need to stop blathering...I'm starting to sound like Jack... So, onto the chapter!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Nine
The English Teacher

The next morning Kimberly woke up and looked around her room, wondering if everything that she remembered was just a dream. Everything in her room was exactly the same as it was before she went to bed, so it very well could have been a dream. But it just as easily could have really happened.

She shook Noelle awake who opened her eyes with a grunt.

"Why'd you wake me up? I was having a good dream."

"Was it about meeting Danny Fenton?"

"Wha-yeah. How'd you know?"

"Because I had the same one. I don't think it was a dream."

"Would be awesome if it wasn't."

"Well there's only one way to find out." She jumped out of bed and headed towards the guest bedroom that, in her dream, she'd given to Danny and Tucker. She knocked lightly on the door and heard shuffling inside. Then she heard a sigh of relief as the door opened, revealing Danny Fenton's warm face. It wasn't a dream, it all really happened.

"You scared us. We thought it was like your parents or something," he stated as they walked into the room and he shut the door behind them. They joined Tucker, Sam, and Jacob who were already on the bed.

"No, they'd never just randomly look into the guest bedroom. So, did you have a good sleep?"

"I don't think I've ever slept in a more comfortable bed!" Tucker exclaimed as he threw himself back down onto the pile of pillows.

"I'll take that as a yes," Kimberly responded with a smile. "Do you guys want some breakfast?"

Tucker sat up, his wide eyes glittering, as if his morning couldn't get any better.

"Won't it look suspicious?" Sam asked.

"Nah, the cooks don't ask questions and we're friends with Jacob, so they're used to cooking a lot of food for just the three of us."

"Hey, I don't eat that much!"

"Cooks…" Tucker drooled in awe.

"Breakfast would be great," Danny responded before throwing a pillow at Tucker.

"Alright, be back in a few."

A few minutes later Kimberly and Noelle brought up trays of pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets, the works. They dived into the food, satisfying their starving bellies.

"Danny, why don't you tell them the good news?" Sam reminded.

"What good news?" Kimberly asked.

"Danny and Sam have decided to push things up a little and are going to get married now instead of waiting," Tucker answered, hiding behind a pillow after seeing Danny and Sam's evil looks.

"You are so going down," Danny threatened, his eyes glowing green.

"Not if I take him down first!" Sam responded as she tackled him, pummeling the pillow with her fists. Danny dashed around the side of the bed and turned Tucker's pillow-shield intangible, so Sam's fists were able to make contact with their desired target.

"Hey, no fair!" Tucker yelled as he placed his arms in front of his face, trying to protect himself from Sam's punches.

"That's what you get for making yet another comment about that!" Danny responded.

"He's been doing it all morning," Jacob explained to the two girls and they nodded their heads in understanding. Kimberly smiled as she watched the friends argue. These were the moments the bedtime stories and the heroic tales didn't mention, the moments where they just acted like normal friends, without the cares or worries of the world upon their shoulders.

"Alright alright, I get it! No more Danny/Sam cracks! Just stop hitting me!"

Sam got off him and, upon Danny's silent urging, off the bed as well. Danny walked casually around the bed, placing his hand on it. The bed turned intangible and Tucker fell through it with a scream as Sam and Danny started laughing in satisfactory revenge.

"What was that for?" Tucker asked as he crawled out from under the bed.

"To make sure you remember," Danny responded as Tucker gave him an evil glare.

"So, the good news?" Kimberly asked.

"Oh yeah! We know where to go next."

"What? Where? How?" Noelle asked.

"It hit me in my sleep. The clue in the letter, besides the ectoplasm stuff, wasn't the bookstore or the dinner, it was Lancer."

"Lancer?" Noelle and Kimberly asked.

Danny nodded his head. "I remembered what you'd said Kimberly, about how Lancer and I suddenly got really close and how he gets really sentimental about me missing. If I was really that close to him, then I would probably trust him enough to leave him another note or some clue. That reference to Lancer in the note was a clue, telling me where to go next."

"So then it's off to Lancer's," Kimberly stated.

"Only one problem, does anyone know where Lancer lives?" Sam asked.

"The school," Jacob answered while Kimberly and Noelle groaned.

"Did I miss something?" Danny asked.

"Jacob has this theory that Lancer lives in his classroom since he never seems to leave it."

"It's not a theory! It's true, and I'll find the proof someday! I'd already have it if Kimberly would have cooperated and looked behind the walls for the bed…"

"So no, we don't know where Lancer lives," Noelle interrupted.

"Alright, I don't mean to rain on your parade Danny, especially since I don't want to fall through the bed again, but this is just a thought: if we were supposed to go to Lancer's house, then wouldn't you have included it somewhere?"

"For once Tucker has a point," Sam admitted.

"Oh come on. You can't expect me to think of everything. Besides, it can't be too hard to find someone's address. There's got to be a record of it somewhere, like on the internet?" Danny hinted towards Tucker.

"Wha-oh!" Tucker remarked as his eyes went wide with understanding and anticipation.

"I'll go get my laptop," Kimberly informed them as she headed out of the room and returned a few minutes later with the desired object. She placed it in front of Tucker who turned it on with great excitement as he beheld the operating program he created.

"It's beautiful…" he drooled as he looked on in awe.

"Yeah yeah, it's very nice Tucker. Congratulations and all that. Now, Lancer's address?"

"Oh, right."

A few minutes later Tucker had the address (to which Jacob replied that Lancer had to have a place to send his mail, but it didn't necessarily mean he lived there) and the six of them got ready to leave, Danny, Tucker, and Sam wearing hats, sunglasses and jackets in the hope of disguising themselves from anyone who happened to know what they looked like.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They walked up the short path leading up to a small house with no personality save a rocking chair on the porch next to a wicker table, where Danny was sure Lancer read all his novels. He had to be a rabid reader to know that many book names.

As they walked up the path, Jacob looked sadly at the house, like it had wounded him somehow.

"Oh, what's wrong Jacob? Does the existence of this house disprove your theory?" Noelle teased.

"Yeah, it does," he answered sadly.

They approached the door and Danny rang the doorbell, the sound echoing throughout the halls of the house. The door opened and Mr. Lancer's surprised face appeared behind it. "Miss Jordan, is something wrong?"

"Not exactly Mr. Lancer, but we need your help."

"My help? What do you mean."

"Can we please come in?" Kimberly asked as Noelle and Jacob looked behind them, making sure no one was paying any attention.

"Of course, but…who are your friends?" Lancer asked nervously, noticing their paranoid behavior.

"Mr. Lancer, inside please," Kimberly begged.

"Yes yes, of course. Please, come in."

He led them inside the house and sat them down in the living room.

"Now, will you tell me what's going on?"

"Well Mr. Lancer, it's kinda…" Kimberly began.

"Mr. Lancer," Danny announced, causing Lancer to turn to face the disguised figure, staring at him in wonder, recognizing the voice, but not believing what he heard. Danny took off the jacket, hat, and sunglasses and Lancer stared in disbelief. He could never forget that face, the face of his favorite student, of his hero, of his friend.

"Mr-Mr. Fenton?" Lancer asked as he walked closer to the boy. Danny nodded his head and Lancer ran towards him, embracing him in a hug as tears poured out of his eyes. "Ms. Manson, Mr. Foley," Lancer remarked as he ran over to give them hugs as well.

"Wuthering Heights, how…how is this possible?" he asked when he finally finished embracing his long lost students.

"It's…it's really complicated. But before we get anywhere, I need to tell you something, about me, otherwise nothing will make sense. See, I'm—"

"Danny Phantom," Lancer supplied as the six of them stared at him in shock.

"Wait, he knows about you?" Kimberly asked.

"You know about me?" Danny replied while Lancer chuckled, tears of joy still lingering in his eyes.

"Yes Mr. Fenton. I found out your junior year after you saved me from a ghost but used far too much energy for your own good."

"Oh," Danny remarked, surprised to hear that Lancer already knew. "Who…who else have I told?"

"I don't think you told anyone; I think they all found out themselves. Your parents found out, and yes they still loved you, and I believe Ms. Jordan's parents know as well."

"Wait, what?" Kimberly asked, now the one feeling surprised.

"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but your parents and the Fentons were very close friends and your father roomed with Mr. Fenton in college. Naturally, he found out because, as you told me in your e-mails, it was quite hard hiding fighting ghosts from someone you spend almost all your time with."

Kimberly sat down in a chair and stared at the coffee table. She always knew there was some connection between the two families, but when she found out Danny was part ghost, the thought never crossed her mind that her parents would be in so far that they'd know about it as well. They had to know what caused Danny's disappearance, and they'd been keeping it a secret from her and her sisters all these years. She felt a little angry at them for hiding the fact that he may be alive from the rest of them, but she also couldn't blame them. She wasn't exactly the model figure of honesty.

"So, I believe you have quite a story to tell Mr. Fenton, beginning with why Clockwork sent you into the future."

"Wow. I did tell you a lot," Danny remarked while Lancer smiled.

"Yes, you did. Now, does your visit mean there's some hope, that you're still alive? That you're coming back?"

"Yeah, that's why we're here. Clockwork sent us here to save myself from the ghost that kidnapped him."

"But we need to gather information first, and we don't really have much of it," Sam added.

Danny, Tucker, and Sam started filling Lancer in on everything they'd found out from Clockwork or while at the old Fenton house while Lancer nodded his head or asked further questions, a lot of which they didn't have the answers to. Finally, they touched upon the subject of the letter.

"We figured out that the clues are located in letters that I wrote to people, which is how we found out a lot of the information we told you, so we were wondering if I ever happened to send you a letter by mail."

Lancer thought back on times long since past and nodded his head. "You know, I believe you did. Give me a second to locate it."

They nodded their heads while Lancer retreated upstairs to locate the desired letter.

"Wow, this is really weird," Danny remarked. "Lancer found out. That's just…weird."

"Everything here is weird," Sam clarified as she wandered around the living room, looking at all the photographs.

"Yeah, I agree with you there. I thought I was going to have to explain everything to him. And my parents know too. I wonder how they found out."

"I don't know, but I think you should let it go. Knowing too much about your future might completely change it because you may choose to avoid something in it," Jacob advised.

"I think I know too much about my future already," he replied, his eyes flickering briefly towards Kimberly.

Mr. Lancer emerged in the living room, a letter held in his hands. He handed it to Danny who unfolded it and read it aloud.

February 13, 2014
Mr. Lancer,

Hey, how've you been? I haven't seen or heard from you in such a long time! I've wanted to come visit you, but I've just been so busy, which really isn't a good excuse I know, but you know more than anyone how good I am at giving those out! So I've tried to contact you some other way, but as far as I know you don't have VM or even e-mail, so, I'm resorting to a letter, one thing I know you'll look at.

I'm taking it upon myself to schedule a time for us to get together and catch up on things, and you have no excuse not to attend because we all know that you don't have a life besides school, and you can always grade papers later. Besides, would you pass up a chance to spend time with your favorite student? Didn't think so. So I'm thinking next Friday at the usual restaurant, my treat. You'd better be there!

So, let's see what there is in the way of new happenings. Sam's still pregnant, and I'm still suffering (just don't tell her I said that). Yesterday she wanted me to run out to the store and grab lemon flavored ice cream, not caring that it didn't exist. So I actually had to buy lemon juice and mix it into vanilla ice cream. I just don't understand…

Oh, I just got word from Valerie. She's engaged to some ghost researcher that she met at work. Go figure. I guess opposites don't always attract. Still, I'm happy for her. As long as they don't decide to team up to capture and do research on Danny Phantom, I'm totally fine. Their wedding's in a few months and I know for a fact you're invited, so be expecting an invitation.

So I just saw National Treasure for the first time since I was fifteen. Man that is an awesome movie! The people in there are so smart, as were the founding fathers! Anyways, it's all about history so I figured you'd like it, since it's right up your alley. If you haven't seen it, which I'm sure you haven't, you really should. I think you'd enjoy it. And I know you're probably rolling your eyes at me, but it is highly conceivable that good movies exist. Remember how good the movie of Lord of the Rings was even though it wasn't a book? Well, it was based off a book, but still…

So, next Friday, usual time, usual place. Maybe we can watch National Treasure after that! That'll make sure you see it! Either way, don't be late!

Danny

"So, same protocol as last time?" Jacob asked.

"Not exactly, because this time we've got Lancer to answer our questions for us."

A few minutes later the seven of them were sitting in a circle in the parlor awaiting pizza, which Jacob acknowledged as brain food.

"See, it's an excellent theory I developed freshman year," Jacob started explaining to Danny and his friends. Kimberly and Noelle had been subject to it many times, as had Lancer, since Jacob would constantly use his theory as a reason to have a pizza party instead of class. "Whenever you have a study group, there's always pizza because people believe it attracts people. But really, the pizza is the reason why study groups are beneficial. It's not the discussions and peer help that improve understanding; it's the pizza. Pizza is a brain food. It triggers increased mental activity allowing for better understanding of problems and one of these days, I'm going to prove it with actual research into the reactions caused when the ingredients in pizza are broken down and combined with each other in the body."

"Or in other words, another crackpot theory of Jacob's," Noelle summarized.

"It is not a crackpot theory! I'm going to prove it!"

"Well until then, I think we should start analyzing this letter," Danny suggested and Jacob quickly turned his attention, focusing on the new mystery at hand. A few minutes later, the six of them had their paragraphs analyzed and were ready to question Lancer.

"Alright, was the greeting true? When you received the letter had you not heard from Danny in a long time?" Jacob asked.

"Well, we didn't really see each other every day, or sometimes for weeks on end, and at the time it was another one of those streaks. I don't think many people saw Danny at that time, but there was a lot going on at work so we didn't really think anything of it. I was wondering if he…you?"

"We refer to my future self as he," Danny explained. "While sounding totally strange, it makes things a lot easier."

"Alright. So I was wondering if he could perhaps spare a moment to maybe get together and then this letter arrived, though I was quite surprised."

"Why?"

"Well, contrary to what the letter dictates, Danny did know my e-mail and used it on many occasions. It was how we mostly remained in contact, and I do check it fairly often, since some students actually e-mail me questions and such. I have VM as well, though I hardly use it, not completely understanding it myself, so in that aspect the letter was true."

"Did you guys actually meet?" Noelle asked.

"Yes we did, and it was quite a joyous affair."

"Did anything seem off?"

"Not at all. Things seemed perfectly normal, or at least what was considered normal when Danny was around, although he did seem a little distracted, but we just thought it was business or the fact that Sam was due next month and he was soon going to be a father. Now that I think back on it, it was probably because he had some indication then that he was in danger."

"That's what we think," Danny agreed.

"To think that he was living, going on with daily business, keeping a calm façade when in reality he knew danger loomed over himself, and we never even noticed."

"Well, I am a good actor," Danny joked with a smile.

"Alright, I don't know if it's fate that I ended up with the paragraph discussing my pregnancy or just some sick joke, but the only thing I caught was a lemon reference, like the one we found at your house."

"But it's not ectoplasm infused," Jacob pointed out.

"Doesn't matter. It's repetition, and in coded things, repetition always matters, so there's something special about that lemon stuff."

"Well, we won't be able to do anything with it until we find it," Kimberly pointed out.

"Yeah," Danny agreed. "So, moving on: Valerie."

"She did get married that year and the man was very nice and a perfect match for her. Honestly, I can't see what's important about this."

"Well, unless Valerie knows something."

"Why would she?" Lancer asked. "You never told her about yourself, so why would you tell her about the ghost that's going to kidnap you?"

"Maybe she's heard of him? I mean, she is a ghost hunter, and probably still is," Lancer nodded his head "and her husband researches ghosts, so if he was an up and coming ghost, she probably knows something about it."

"Probably. In high school she was always on top of things, especially when they concerned you, so I'd hate to see how she is after more experience," Sam added.

"I think this is a hint to visit Valerie, see what she knows. Maybe I sent her a letter as well. It would make sense. Why would some ghost think that I would send a letter to the Red Hunter concerning something about my ghost half? It would be the perfect ploy."

"Wait, the Red Hunter?" Kimberly asked. "Valerie was the Red Hunter?"

"Yeah," Danny answered.

"You mean to tell me that she didn't come out and tell everyone?" Sam asked. "That seems so unlike her."

"No. That wouldn't be a necessarily good idea since she hunted one of the city's heroes," Lancer answered.

"Ah, good point. Then I guess it's off to see old Val. Can't think of anyone I'd rather see," Sam remarked.

"Mr. Lancer, did you ever see National Treasure?" Kimberly interrupted, getting back on track.

"I did, but not until after Danny disappeared. This was the only time he ever mentioned it as a matter of fact. After he disappeared I started looking through all the things I had of his, and I found this letter. After reading that paragraph, I decided I should watch it, since it seemed like he wanted me to and I wanted to honor his wishes."

"Danny?" Kimberly asked.

"Hmm?" he responded, puzzled that she would be asking him a question.

"What do you think of the movie?"

"Well, it's not the worst movie I've ever seen, but it isn't as good as I made it out to be in the letter. I mean sure it was ingenious and everything, but it's not really my style."

"So there must be something important about the movie for you to mention it, like you wanted Lancer to see it for some reason and not just because he'd like it," Kimberly stated.

"Or you were just looking for a common context to slip the movie into," Jacob remarked.

"Well either way, the movie or something about the movie is a clue," Sam added.

"Yeah, especially since you repeat it in the conclusion," Tucker added. "And that's pretty much all there is in that paragraph. Why do I always get the conclusion?"

"Because we knew your limited brain couldn't handle anything else," Sam teased.

"Because that's the straw you picked when we did the first letter," Danny informed him, trying to keep the peace.

"Still, it's not fair…"

"Hey, is that the year book from our senior year?" Sam asked as she looked at the bookshelf across the room.

"Yes, your class yearbook is in there, and yes, you may have a look at it," Lancer answered with a smile.

The trio ran over to the shelf, interested to see what would happen to everyone in the future while Jacob and Noelle ran with them, eager to see pictures of the figures they saw at the memorial service in their high school days.

Kimberly however remained behind, wanting to ask Lancer a question that had been bothering her thoughts for a while.

"Mr. Lancer? That photograph you look at in your office after class, that's a picture of Danny, isn't it?"

"At his graduation. He was so happy, knowing that he actually managed to graduate, and without spilling his secret to the entire school too. At school Danny always felt like a son to me and on that day I felt like a proud father whose brave and heroic son still managed to graduate even though he spent all his free time trying to sort through the complicated and difficult life fate handed him. It is by far my favorite photograph of him."

"But, if you don't mind me asking, why do you look at it after I leave?"

"I'm sure you've noticed the similarities between your face and Danny's. Whenever I see you, it reminds me of him, reminds me of him sitting in my class, falling asleep during a lecture, reminds me of his unexpected and unexplained requests to use the bathroom, reminds me of the student that used to be here.

"Now if you don't mind me asking you a question, how did you know that I had that picture in the first place? I keep it in a locked drawer."

"Oh, well, Noelle's really good at picking locks because she does it all the time to get into her sibling's personal stuff." Kimberly didn't really want to get Noelle in trouble, but she didn't want to expose herself either. Plus, Noelle was somewhat proficient at picking locks, so she wasn't lying that much.

"I see," Lancer stated slowly in a tone that made Kimberly feel like he had something else on his mind, but didn't quite feel like sharing.

"Alright, I think it's time we moved on," Danny stated as he put the book back on the shelf. "We've still got to visit Valerie and who knows who else before we figure this thing out."

"I understand," Mr. Lancer stated sadly. "But, I will be seeing you soon, right?"

"You can count on it. I'm not going to give up until I'm back safe and sound here in Amity."

"Good. Knowing that the three, well six of you, are on the job brings me great hope. I know you'll succeed. There never was anyone better than catching ghosts and foiling evil plans like Team Phantom. Which reminds me, are you going to see Jazz?"

"Definitely. Even if I don't hint to it, I'm going to visit her. She more than anyone needs to know I'll be back soon."

Lancer nodded his head. "Good. Oh, and keep this," he suggested, handing Danny the letter. "It might come in handy in case you need to reread it."

"Thanks Mr. Lancer."

Lancer gave the three visitors warm hugs goodbye, his eyes tearing, despite their constant promises that they'd be seeing him shortly, just twenty years older. They walked down the steps, waving a final farewell to Lancer at the door.

"So, to Valerie's?" Danny asked as they headed to Kimberly's hover car and drove down the street.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: And there's more to the mystery! Woot! And look, more dates!

And just another fun little hint, if I were you, I'd take Sam's advice about noticing repetition into consideration, and not just when looking at the letters...