Tucker glared at the ghost at his feet. Danny had been gone less than a day, and already the whole Ghost Zone had heard about his disappearance. Tucker knew that this was just the first of many intruders that would be visiting Amity Park in the following months, once they knew of the hero's absence.

"So," Tucker asked angrily of the being at his feet. "What type of freak are you? A shapeshifter? Amorpho? Bertrand?"

The ghost looked up. Whoever it was, it certainly looked a lot like Danny. Rage lit up Tucker's insides like the flames that had killed his best friend. Who was this ghost to think that it could wear Danny's face?

"Well?" Tucker prompted aggressively. "Who are you?"

The ghost stared into his eyes as if it could see into the boy's soul, and what it saw hurt it. The sorrow and pain was an almost flawless act, but the techno-geek easily saw through it.

Opening and closing its mouth several times, the ghost seemed to think carefully. Its eyes closed and it slumped forward, one single word passing through its lips in a barely-audible whisper.

"Help."

DPDPDPDP

Danny was first aware of the tingling in his feet and hands. They buzzed as if alive and separate from the rest of his body. At first the sensation was pleasant, reassuring- he was finally conscious- but soon it grew to a prickling burn. His whole body began to shake as a scream tore out of him.

"Be quiet," a voice hissed. It was then that Danny noticed there was another person with him, so he focused hard, ignoring the pain of his core, until his cries were decreased to small whimpers. Beneath that was the annoying whine of a charging ecto-gun.

Fearfully, Danny opened his eyes. He was lying in an old alleyway between buildings. His hands and feet were tied together in what looked like wire from the Fenton Fisher, the thin strands cutting into his wrists and ankles. But, more worrisome than that, was the weapon held to his head. Danny instinctively flinched away from it.

"Don't move," Tucker quickly commanded. "Unless you want me to shoot this thing."

Danny moaned. "No. Tuck..."

The ecto-gun moved closer to Danny's temple, causing him to panic. His breath came in small gasps as he struggled to regain control of his core. The fire was straining to get out, surprising Danny with its ferocity, and the ice was trying to keep it back, but it looked as if the internal battle would be over soon. He began to shudder and couldn't do anything to stop it as his body curled in on itself.

Tucker, startled by the movements, stepped back slightly. "Don't move!" He yelled again.

It took all his effort, but Danny finally managed to drag his eyes up to meet Tucker's.

"Run," the ghost boy whispered.

The other boy glared defiantly. "No. Not until you answers some of my questions."

Danny's shaking became more pronounced, shudders racing up and down his spine. He could hardly speak anymore. "You have to go now."

Tucker ignored him. "Who are you really?"

"Tucker!"

"You're not Danny," he continued, his voice cracking at his friend's name. "So you can drop whatever disguise you've got on. It's not very good, anyway."

The ghost boy went still. Tucker paused and looked at him curiously. Danny's mouth was slightly ajar, wisps of steam and ice floating out. His eyes were glazed over with resignation, sorrow also visible in them. As he slowly turned to look at Tucker, he did so mechanically.

Danny stared into his friend's face, unable to hold it in any longer.

"Too late," he whispered before icy blue flames raced through the alleyway, lighting up every crevice in the stonework, causing people on the other side of Amity Park to peer into the sky in wonder.

DPDPDPDP

"Danny!" Maddie cried out from the Fenton GAV as it veered around a corner. Jack was driving, and together they posed a very serious road problem.

"Where now, Mads?" Jack asked. His expression was tired and his face pale from worry. They had been searching for hours with still no sign of their son. Jazz was already at school by the time they had noticed his disappearance, and neither particularly wanted to pay her a visit there. Mr Lancer had rung Maddie earlier that morning to ask Danny's whereabouts, so he couldn't be in class.

Maddie sighed, leaning her head against the inside of the vehicle. "I don't know, dear. Have we checked the Nasty Burger?"

"Yes."

"The cinema?"

"Yes."

"The mall?"

"Yes, Mads," Jack sighed. "Twice."

Maddie surprised herself when she suddenly burst into tears.

"Where could he be?" She sobbed. "What if he's lost, or a ghost found him, or he was in an accident, or..."

Neither wanted to finish that sentence. Jack pulled over to the side of the road, running over a small letter box as he did so. The seat belts undid automatically when the engine stopped.

The large, orange man twisted in the seat to face his distraught wife.

"We will find him," Jack reassured herself and him. "Whether it's today or... or later, we will find him eventually."

Maddie sniffled. "I hope you're right."

"Of course I'm right!" Jack smiled, though the act was obviously forced. "I'm a Fenton!"

Maddie started to sob again, and the sound brought tears to Jack's eyes as well. He tried to surreptitiously dry them without his wife noticing. She would only get distracted, and they couldn't afford to delay. What if Maddie was right? Their boy could be in trouble.

To calm himself as well as Maddie, Jack gently placed a large hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him questioningly through watering eyes.

"Danny's a Fenton, too," Jack said softly. "He can take after himself."

Maddie nodded. "I know that. It's just... hard not to know where he is. What he's been doing," she dragged a hand across her face. "I haven't seen Sam or Tucker since Danny disappeared. I... I guess I didn't think much of not finding him that night... I mean- Phantom was in our lab. He was..."

Jack put his head in his hands. "Are we bad parents?"

Maddie opened her mouth to answer, but a bright flash up ahead interrupted her.

"Ghost!" She and Jack yelled at the same time, automatic seat belts locking into place as the Fenton GAV sped towards the light.

AN:

Hey! pale-blue11 here!

Is Tucker OOC? Probably, but please understand what he's going through before giving up on this story. He's being really annoying- he doesn't want to follow the plan -_-

Anyway- thanks for reading and to everyone who reviewed, favourited and/or followed!

Aaaannnnndddd: Please review, favourite and/or follow. It lets me know that you guys like it, or what I should change.

Have a nice week!

pale-blue11