A week had passed since Jazz found Danny in the lab. He was still sore, but he couldn't stay in bed any longer. His parents hovered over him the entire time he was bed-ridden and it was worth the discomfort to let them think he was feeling better. He was glad to finally be able to have dinner with his family. They actually talked, laughed and enjoyed the time together.

It was still early when Danny's mother said he should get some rest. He tried to protest, but Maddie was adamant that he not wear himself out the first day he felt better. Danny decided not to argue and said good night to everyone and went upstairs. He sat down on his bed, wondering if he'd be able to go ghost and get out for a bit. He thought he might at least find out what his ghost half was angry about. He was a little tired and knew he shouldn't push himself, but he was so bored that he couldn't help himself. He got up, locked his door and transformed.

Danny floated over to the mirror and stared at his reflection. Even his ghost form looked emaciated. He put his hand up to the mirror and suddenly, memories came flooding back to him with such force that it hurt. He remembered the dark being he encountered. He remembered the fight and the separation from his ghost half. He remembered calling Vlad for help, and remembered that Vlad actually showed up and saved him. He also understood now that Phantom was angry because Danny always blamed everything that went wrong in his life on being part ghost, instead of taking responsibility for the questionable decisions he sometimes made while human.

Danny changed into his human form and sat back down on the bed, his mind reeling.

Vlad saved him. This was the same man that tried to kill him not so long ago. What did this mean? And what about Phantom? If he could be angry, did it make him a separate being? If so, who was the white-haired green-eyed boy who was looking back at him a few moments ago?

Danny decided to transform again. There had to be answers to his questions somewhere and he knew just the place to start. The thought of the long flight to Wisconsin worried him but he had to know why. The white rings appeared and soon Phantom was back. He gave a look around the room and left through the window.

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Vlad was feeling quite pleased with himself. He'd taken the Specter Deflector apart, programmed it with his DNA so that it would protect him instead of zapping him and draining his energy. If the captive Soul Splitters ever got free, they weren't going to take Plasmius from him. Briefly, he thought of Daniel. It amazed him that the boy just never gave up thinking he would win. He wasn't sure if it was Daniel's age or just confidence that made him the way he was. Either way, lately, he'd come to find Daniel's persistence disturbingly endearing.

Deciding he was done for the night, Vlad took his human form, locked up the lab and went to get himself a drink, and maybe some dinner. After a sandwich and a few glasses of brandy, Vlad was relaxing in his favorite chair, listening to Ravel. He had a decent buzz going on and had nodded off. He never noticed his ghost sense go off as Danny phased into the room and floated before him. When Vlad opened his eyes and saw Danny floating in front of him, he thought he was dreaming. "Go away" he said to the apparition.

"No Vlad. I won't.

Vlad quickly realized that this was no dream. He looked at the boy for a minute and finally asked "Why are you here? Have you lost your mind?" To set the proper atmosphere, Vlad quickly transformed into Plasmius and glared at Danny.

Danny didn't move. He just looked back at Vlad.

"I want to know why." he said.

"Why what, Daniel?"

"Why did you come? Why did you help me?"

"Ugh, don't remind me. I don't know WHY. You should just be grateful and leave here now."

"Why? Why do you hate me so much? Why do you have to be the way you are? Is it really that fulfilling, being evil? Does power make you that happy? Is it really worth it?"

"You are a child. You can't possibly…"

"Oh please, Vlad. You've been using that excuse for the past two years. I know you don't think much of my intelligence, but believe it or not, I've learned a thing or two along the way. I understand a great deal more than you know. For instance, you're so happy that you drink yourself to sleep at night, right?"

"Go home Daniel."

"I can't. I came for answers Vlad. Why won't you talk to me? Don't you think I know what a chance I'm taking, going to the home of my enemy? And in less than top form? I'm certainly no threat to you now. Can't you just talk to me?"

Vlad sighed. "What do you want from me?" he asked softly.

Danny changed into his human form and sat down. The flight had tired him more than he wanted to admit. Seeing this, Vlad transformed also.

"Do you want some tea, or something?" he asked Danny.

"I…yes please"

Danny followed Vlad upstairs to the kitchen and took a seat at the table. This was the first time he had actually had time to notice anything. Every other time he'd been in this house, the owner was trying to blast him into eternity. Despite his sister's observations two years ago, Vlad's castle (that's what it was, really) was quite tastefully decorated, even after being rebuilt. He found himself wondering about the personality behind the man and ghost that he knew. Danny had always assumed that Vlad had servants for everything. Seeing Vlad moving about the kitchen gave Danny a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was almost like one of his dreams – Vlad being domestic; taking care of him, making him feel wanted and loved. He shook his head as Vlad walked over the table, cups in hand.

Vlad felt the boy's eyes on him, burning a hole in him, the whole time he prepared the tea. He felt exhilarated, sad and angry, all at once. That Daniel was being honest was a given. He wasn't the aggressive type. It wouldn't occur to him to set up an ambush. And, even if it had, Vlad knew Daniel didn't have the strength. He (gulp) trusted him. He saw the look on Daniel's face as he was lost in thought. "I wish I knew what he was thinking", Vlad thought. "I am playing with fire" he said to himself, but he'd decided he would give the boy whatever he wanted. He just didn't have the heart to deny him anything after the ordeal he'd just been through.

"So, Daniel. You wanted to talk?"

Danny felt himself blush. He took a cup from Vlad and busied himself fixing it as he liked. He really didn't think he'd get this far. Just what was it that he wanted from the man?