His calves burned painfully as he ran, but he couldn't allow himself to slow down. He needed to get to the park. His body was trembling with anticipation, adrenaline rushing through his veins. Everything was going to be okay. Soon, she was going to be safe.

Finally reaching his destination, Buster let himself fall to his knees. Gulping greedily for oxygen, his chest heaved. Letting his breathing even out, he scoped the area for his ghostly friend. He wasn't there. Getting up, he walked stiffly over to a bench. A nagging feeling of disappointment crept up on him the longer he sat there. "Phantom will be here," he reminded himself, "he promised."

About an hour later, the doubt began to plague his mind. Bringing his knees up, he rested his forehead against them in an attempt to block out the thoughts.

"Sorry I'm late," a familiar voice echoed. Startled, Buster jerked his head up to find the ghost seated beside him. Patting the thermos strapped snugly to his side, he explained. "I got a little, uh, 'held up'."

Nodding his head in understanding, Buster felt a little guilty for doubting him. Phantom was a busy guy. Taking in the powerful being at his side, he let his previous excitement seep back out. "So what's the plan?"

Phantom's expression was unreadable, Buster couldn't decide if he appeared uncomfortable or smug. The ghost reached behind him and pulled something out, he held it out in front of Buster as if to answer his question.

Raising an eyebrow, "A scroll?" Buster observed.

"It's a map." Phantom said as he carefully unrolled the aged paper, "The Infa-Map to be more accurate."

"Is that part of the plan?" Buster scratched his chin, hoping that Phantom was actually on to something.

Rolling the map back up and carefully putting it away, Phantom flashed him a sloppy grin. "It is the plan."

Confused beyond belief, Buster stared at him. Eyes demanding an explanation. How could they find her with a measly map? If it were that easy, she would have been home months ago.

Floating off the bench, Phantom stuck his arms under Buster's and swiftly lifted him up without warning. "I'll explain everything on the way."

"Where are we going?" Buster shouted through the sudden rush of air.

"Fenton Works, we need a portal" Phantom replied.

Buster hesitated at the information, biting his lip. "Is Danny going to help too?"

Giggling, Phantom shook his head. "Nah, the family is sleeping. We're gonna sneak in."

Buster started, "Phantom, stop. We can't do that." He never agreed on breaking in to anyone's home, much less Danny's. Who knows what the guy could do to them if he thought they were robbers.

"Don't worry Buster, Danny is my friend too remember? I go down there all the time. How else do you think I send the ghosts back?" Phantom sounded pretty confident which slightly calmed his nerves.

He still felt conflicted at the prospect but decided against arguing. "You said you'd explain," he said instead.

Grunting, Phantom adjusted his grip on him. "The Infa-Map is a ghostly artifact, it's mysterious but very powerful. A friend of mine guards it but he let me borrow it for you."

"What does it do?" Buster prompted, growing impatient. Phantom chuckled, "It takes you to whichever location your heart desires." With that he dove straight into the ground.

Buster didn't even have time to scream, before he knew it they were standing in what appeared to be a lab. Buster had been to Danny's house before, but he had never seen his parent's lab. The room was mostly dark, equipment hidden behind creepy shadows. However, everything was washed in a soft green light emanating from the back wall. Buster couldn't help but be hypnotised by the endless swirl of green that reminded him profoundly of Phantom's eyes.

"I've never used it like this," Phantom continued as if no time had passed, "so I'm not sure if our search will be for nothing, but you said you'd try anything right?"

Tearing his eyes away from the portal, he nodded. "Right."

Phantom unstrapped the thermos and connected it to the machine, "I can't promise you that it will even take us anywhere," he said softly but sternly. "You have to be prepared for whatever we might find. You might not like it," he warned.

Buster gulped, in all honesty, he wasn't ready. He wanted her to be safe. But he knew that was asking a lot. It had been a year, she could be severely hurt and enslaved by an evil ghost. She might not even remember him. But he needed to know, he needed to find her. "I understand."

Walking back over to him, Phantom gave him a pointed look. "Remember your promise, after this, you move on. You live your life. No more theories, no more searching."

The intensity of his swirling green eyes was overwhelming, Buster looked down at his hands. He didn't know if he could keep that promise. This was his mom, how could he ever stop looking?

Glancing back up, "I'll try," he replied honestly.

Phantom lowered his squared shoulders, his eyes softened with sympathy. "That's all I could hope for."

He took the map out again, opening it up his eyes roamed its intricate markings. Gazing up, Phantom locked eyes with Buster, "ready?"

Buster exhaled audibly, wiping his sweaty palms against his jeans, he nodded his head. "Ready."

Phantom gestured him forward, one hand on the map and one hand on Buster's elbow. "Hold on," he instructed, "close your eyes and tell it where you want to go"

Buster hesitated, his heart pounding, arms shaking. He stared at the flimsy paper before him. Could it really be this easy? Was this nightmare really coming to an end? He didn't have answers to satisfy his muddled brain, but he was willing to find them. Reaching out, he grasped the map as if it were a lifeline. In a way, he supposed it was. With a deep breath, he slid his eyes shut and pictured his mother's beautiful laughing face. "Bring me to my mom."

A powerful tug pulled him off his feet. He felt Phantom's grip tighten around his elbow as he unconsciously curled his fingers tighter against the paper. His arms felt as if they were being pulled out of their sockets but he was too distracted to notice the pain.

The same mesmerizing green enveloped his senses as they sped past various undiscernible objects. He didn't notice the scream as it ripped out of his own throat, the rushing of the green swirls moving past him was the only sound reaching his ears.

Previous images of the ghost zone that he had constructed in his head from one of Phantom's stories were completely forgotten. The place was unbelievable, even for Buster Baxter. Thoughts of his mom spending all this time in a disturbing place like this sent chills down his spine.

Suddenly, the tugging slowed down and their blurry surroundings cleared enough for him to be able to make out a swirling shape similar to the Fenton Portal ahead of them. His scream finally reached his ears as it grew louder from the shock of being pulled in.

Momentarily disoriented, Buster fell on his stomach. He had no idea where Phantom was, his firm grip on his elbow was lost somewhere during the pull. His throat ached, arms protested movement as he attempted to push himself up. The grey sky was an unsettling change from the toxic green he had just been immersed in. Looking around he spotted Phantom groaning behind him, shaking out his messy hair.

"You okay?" he asked.

Buster grunted as he sat on his bottom, "I'll get back to you on that."

"Doesn't matter how many times I do that. It will never get easier." Phantom rolled his shoulders as he sprang up, looking in much better shape than Buster.

"What'd you think of the zone?" He asked mischievously.

Buster chuckled, "Definitely not how I imagined, and admittedly really creepy."

Phantom grinned, "Yeah, that's how I felt my first time as well"

Finally gaining his bearings, Buster realized that they were sitting in an open field. He looked toward Phantom who was glaring out into the distance at a building with a small frown on his face. "Where are we?"

Phantom turned to face him, "I'm not completely sure, the Infa-Map doesn't always bring you where you want to go but where you need to be…whatever that means." Extending his hand out, he offered it to Buster.

Finally on his feet, he wrinkled his forehead trying to comprehend why the map would bring them here. There was nothing but an endless field of dying grass behind an old rundown facility.

Phantom flew up and roamed the area and Buster busied himself by watching his flight. His heart was in his throat the whole time. What did this mean? First of all, his mom was not in the ghost zone. He felt a tiny wave of relief. Was she in that building? That seemed plausible.

Lifting his hand and curving it against the side of his mouth, he prepared to call Phantom back down. His breath hitched when Phantom abruptly stopped mid-air. He remained frozen in place, a hand covering his mouth in what appeared to be shock.

Buster's pulse picked up, he didn't want to know what Phantom was gaping at. "Phantom! Maybe we should search that building!" he called out, ignoring how his voice shook. Phantom jerked his head back at him, startled. He hesitated for a moment before slowly flying back down.

The look on his face made Buster's stomach flip-flop. "…Buster…I"

"I think we should search the building, there is no way she could be out here," he interrupted, there was no time to stand around and talk. The longer they waited, the longer she would be stuck in that horrible place.

Phantom slowly floated closer. "Buster, listen…I saw something."

Evaluating the distance between them and the building, he realized that there would be at least a twenty minute walk. "You should probably fly us there, it would be faster."

Phantom placed his gloved hand on Buster's shoulder lightly, "…you won't find her there."

Sharply flicking his eyes to meet green ones, Busters blood ran cold by the emotion he witnessed.

Backing away, "How could you possibly know that?"

Closing his eyes, Phantom ran his hand over his face in distress, "I…this isn't just a field."

The gears in his mind turned, making leaps of logic that would only make sense to him, "What? Is there an underground tunnel or something?"

At his question, Phantom's eyes glazed over making him appear more human than he had ever seemed before. "No Buster…"

"What is it then?" Buster demanded. He wasn't in the mood for this, they needed to get going. They were here, she didn't have to wait in there any longer. He needed to save her.

Struggling for words, Phantom looked away from him. "I…uh…the grass up ahead is…patchy." His voice cracked as he spoke, but Buster could not comprehend his words. They were delaying the rescue over lawn care?

"So, what does that have to do with anything?" He disputed, eyes filling with unwelcome doubt. Walking closer and placing his hand back on Buster's shoulder Phantom opened his mouth but promptly shut it again. He took a deep breath, tilted his head down and licked his lips. Buster couldn't help but think about how strange that was for a ghost.

"It's a burial ground," Phantom whispered. Buster's heart stopped.

He hadn't heard correctly he was sure of it, "a what?"

Looking pained, the ghost lifted his head back up to meet his face. "Buster…the map brought us to a grave yard."

Buster felt as if someone had knocked the air right out of him. As if he were flying freely in the air one second and then drowning in the bottom of the ocean the next. He pushed the ghost off of him and turned, starting the trek towards the building himself. "You're wrong, there's no gravestones. This isn't a graveyard. It's just an open field. I'm telling you, we should go to that building, she's probably waiting in there."

Easily keeping pace with Buster's frantic steps, "Buster please, calm down and think for a moment. If she was there, the map would have taken you to the building not to this field."

He stopped in his tracks and harshly glared at the pleading ghost. "It was wrong then, you said it yourself. It's unpredictable." With that he left Phantom behind and continued his fruitless journey.

Minutes later, Phantom appeared beside him. "I said it takes you where you need, not where you want."

Buster didn't stop, he had his mind set. The map brought them to the building, not the field. There was no other explanation. "Well I need to be with my mom, I'll go there myself"

Suddenly Phantom floated out of the grass in front of him, intersecting his path and grabbing both of Buster's shoulders. "Stop."

Buster struggled, pushing and kicking at the ghost. "Let me go." Phantom pushed him down, forcing him to ground. Buster couldn't bring himself to look at the ghost's face. He didn't need to see the pity. His mom would be fine if he would just let him go.

"Please," Phantom's voice broke out.

Closing his eyes in frustration, Buster stopped struggling. "Give me the map," he demanded. He waited a few moments and then looked up expectantly at the ghost. Phantom made no movement to offer the object up so Buster stuck his hand out. The ghost looked down at it and faltered, Buster watched as he relented and pulled the map back out before he placed it carefully in Buster's hand.

Unrolling it the way he had seen Phantom do before, he held it tightly and whispered. "Where is my mom?"

The map came to life, but the tug was not as powerful as before. It gently lifted him and propelled him further down the field in the direction Phantom had flown earlier. Buster's stomach dropped once he realized they were headed further away from the building.

The map's movement died down and he was dropped right next to a patch of grass that didn't quite match the grass around it. He shifted his eyes around him and took in various other patches similar to the one before him.

Dropping the artifact, he rose to his feet and backed away. "It's wrong, this isn't her." His eyes welled up as he felt his heart shatter, "You said you weren't sure if it would work right?"

Phantom remained on the ground and stared at the patch that the map had led them to "…Right"

"Then it didn't, let's go home." He concluded bitterly. He knew that following a map was too good to be true. He would just convince Phantom to let him search the ghost zone later. She was there, he was sure of it.

Watching him walk away, Phantom's defeated voice called out. "Buster stop. Take a deep breath." When Buster stopped but did not turn around, he continued, "I warned you before we left, you promised me you were ready."

A sudden surge of emotion hit him, the tears in his eyes streamed down as the anger bubbled up. He turned around, fists curled tightly enough to draw blood from his palms. "I was ready to find her alive! She can't be dead! She never even said goodbye!"

Feeling a wave of exhaustion, Buster collapsed on the ground. Shielding his head from the unforgiving world, he raised his arms and curled them around connecting it to his knees in a fetal position. His whole frame shaking in powerful sobs.

Phantom was next to him in a flash but Buster was too distressed to pay him much attention. He barely heard the ghost whispering constantly as he lightly stroked his back. "It's okay, I'm so sorry."

An eternity passed before Buster cried himself out, his body still shook with dry heaves. Slowly the heaving succumbed to occasional hiccups and then to a silent nothingness. The gray around them turned a shade darker when he finally lifted himself up, too tired to feel embarrassed of the state he was in.

Phantom's whispering had died down a while ago, Buster had almost forgotten he was even there. Looking up at the ghost, he noticed a single dry tear on his cheek. Through his misery, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the ghost. He had died so young, his life was probably ripped away from him just as unfairly as his mom's.

"Take me to her ghost, I need to talk to her. This can't be it Phantom." he weakly requested. Phantom appeared surprised. He tilted his brows up, an endless sadness emanating from his eyes. He looked just as exhausted as Buster felt.

"Not everyone turns into a ghost."

Sharply sucking in a breath, "but the ones who die tragically do, right?" He was desperate, he wanted her here with him. "She would come back for me, at least to say goodbye."

Buster did not like the expression on Phantom's face. He needed her, he did not know how he could survive without knowing what happened to her. He needed to see her face one last time, to tell her he loved her.

"The map would have taken us to her ghost first if she were one," Phantom croaked. Buster didn't have the strength to cry anymore. He gave Phantom a steely glare, "No, she can't be gone. You're lying."

Two silent tears fell from his unearthly eyes, "I'm so sorry."

Watching those impossible tears fall, his guard broke down further. His insides felt hallow, she was gone. He couldn't believe it. She was his everything, not once throughout the whole year long nightmare did he let himself believe that she was truly gone. But as he watched the ghost in front of him cry, the unbearable truth somehow became real.

Walking back to the patch where his mother lay, he crouched down and placed a gentle hand on the dry grass. "Where did she go?"

Phantom didn't reply, instead he gripped his shoulder tightly. Buster wasn't sure if it was meant to comfort him or Phantom. After a long and heavy stillness, Phantom began to speak.

"Buster…in death, a person is left with a choice. It's not conscious, but it's still a choice. Remain on this plane of existence, wallowing in their troubles and fears of the human world. Or move on, accept fate, and let go. It's a difficult choice, the world and your soul's ties to it are tempting and the pain of leaving your family and friends behind is overwhelming. No one knows what happens once you give it up, it's terrifying to not have the comfort of that knowledge. But, staying here just doesn't help. Most ghosts don't reconnect with their family, many of the ones I know don't even remember what is keeping them here."

When the ghost did not continue his speech, "She could have at least come back to see me before she left," Buster whispered.

Phantom sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Your mom chose to move on, it's better that way. Believe me."

Buster looked at his solemn face, "why didn't you move on if it's so great." He realized that it was a rather insensitive question after it came out of his mouth, but he was too tired to care.

Phantom took his time, biting his lip before he answered, "I couldn't let go."

Somehow, his eyes salvaged the last remnants of water in his body as they glazed over. "How did she let go so easily?"

Offering him a sad smile, Phantom cleared his throat. "She knew you were strong enough to survive without her."

Buster didn't think so, he was broken. There wasn't much of his old self left anymore. Staring at the grave, his throat constricted once again. He didn't have the strength to sob, he needed to leave. "Just take me home, I don't want to be here."

Phantom did not need to be told twice, he picked up the map and wrapped one strong arm around Buster's weak frame, "Okay."

Landing back in the Fenton Works Lab, Danny glanced around the familiar surroundings before turning them both visible again. He was not sure how long they had spent away from Amity, the lack of windows in the lab was not much help. However, the quiet of the house indicated that the sun had yet to rise. They wouldn't have to deal with damage control for their absence.

His entire body ached with emotional exhaustion, he couldn't even imagine how his friend felt. Glancing at the boy, Danny frowned. His face had adopted a sickly colour. "Buster, if you're going to be sick I'll fly you up to the bathroom. Danny won't mind, I promise."

Buster shook his head, gripping tightly at the metal table behind him. "No, I'm not gonna throw up. But I need my inhaler, I left it my room."

Danny's eyes widened as he just then noticed the short, shallow breaths Buster was taking accompanied by a slight wheezing. "Okay, try to take calm breaths I'll bring us there in a flash."

Scooping him up bridal style, Danny secured his grip before rocketing out of the building towards the Baxter residence. The town was beginning to wake up, a few cars and some pedestrians bustled beneath their aerial route but Danny was too focused on his destination to notice.

"We're here," he breathed as he placed Buster gently down on his desk chair.

Buster opened his eyes and pointed. "It's in the top drawer of my night stand."

Wasting no time, Danny flew in the indicated direction and retrieved the inhaler. Holding his own breath he watched as the boy took a dose, the tension in his face gradually dissolving. "Better?" he questioned.

Glancing up at him, Buster shot him a look before turning his eyes defiantly away. Danny nearly slapped himself in the head, "sorry."

He awkwardly floated in spot for a few minutes, not knowing what to do with himself. Buster probably wanted to be alone. "Try to get some rest," he finally whispered as he turned and headed for the large window.

Just as he phased his right foot out, "Did it hurt when you died?" Buster blurted.

The question caught him off guard, freezing him in place for a moment. Finally, he retrieved his foot and turned around. Sitting down on the ledge he stared down at his hands. "Everyone's death is different, my experience has nothing to do with your mom." he said rigidly, not once meeting his eyes.

"So that's a yes then" Buster concluded quietly, almost to himself.

Danny looked up and searched the boy's face, "…Yeah."

Buster stood up and walked over to his bed, sitting down on the edge he unwaveringly stared at Danny, "I'm sorry," he genuinely whispered.

Taken slightly aback, Danny managed a small grateful smile. "It was a long time ago, don't worry about it."

Biting his bottom lip, "how long ago?" Buster probed.

Danny was having trouble meeting his gaze, placing a hand on the back of his neck, "almost three years," he acknowledged.

Buster backed up into his arranged pillows as he nodded, "Oh."

After a while of more silence, Danny gently floated up off the ledge, preparing to leave when Buster stopped him once again. "Do you think you will ever move on?" he questioned with pleading eyes. Sighing, Danny shrugged.

"Eventually, when the time is right." It wasn't a lie, he would die eventually and would hope that he could move on this time.

"…If you get there before I do…would you tell her that I love her?"

The incessant clenching on his heart tightened, his eyes threatened to betray him once again but he managed to compose himself. "She already knows. But sure."

Sitting on the edge of his cold bed, he scowled at the alarm clock. There was only half an hour left before he was due to wake up for school. It wasn't like he could have slept tonight anyway, he reasoned. 'Might as well get a head start.'

Heading over to the bathroom, Danny started the shower, letting the warmth of the steam encase the room. Staring at his matted black hair and tired blue eyes, Danny sighed and picked up his tooth brush. However, no amount of brushing was able to rid his mouth of the bitter taste the night's events had left behind.

Images of his own past and future plagued his thoughts. Buster was admittedly much stronger than Danny could ever hope to become, the boy had lost everything but still managed to find the strength to live. Danny couldn't say the same for himself.

After his extra-long shower, Danny sat at the kitchen table staring unseeingly at his untouched breakfast. He was so consumed in his thoughts he didn't hear the footsteps as they came down the stairs.

"You're up early," Maddie's voice rang out cheerily, causing Danny to flinch out of his daze.

"Oh, uh yeah…just tryna get to school on time," He chuckled, or at least tried to.

Maddie frowned as she searched his face, she seemed to take note of the fake laugh and sagged shoulders. "That's great sweetie, I'm proud of you." She said before turning to open the fridge. "Do you want me to fix you something else? You haven't touched what you have in front of you."

Looking down at his plate, Danny's stomach churned. He wasn't very hungry, but he picked up his spoon and downed a spoonful anyway. "No mom, I'm good. Thanks," he said, smiling genuinely at her this time. She smiled back but the saddened concern never left her eyes. She seemed to carry that look a lot these days, because of him, he was sure.

Danny was suddenly overcome by a new wave of emotion. Pushing his chair out, he walked over to where she was standing at the counter. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he hugged her tightly and whispered, "I love you mom."

Maddie turned around, a look of shock adorned on her face however it almost instantly was replaced by pure love and joy. Hugging him back tightly as if this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, She kissed his forehead. "I know honey, I love you too."

Finally pulling away, he grinned and grabbed a piece of the carrot she had been chopping before setting himself back to finish his own breakfast. Occasionally glancing back up at her he couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky. No matter how much he messed up, she would always be here to love him. It was comforting.

Someone had torn that comfort away from Buster.

Danny's features darkened, eyes threatening to flash green. Murder was an unforgivable crime, one that Danny Phantom does not stand in the sidelines and lets happen. Something had caught his eye at the field, something worth investigation. This was a lot bigger than a single homicide and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

Taking a sharp intake of air, he grabbed his backpack to head out the door, but not before sparing one final look over his shoulder towards his mother.

"goodbye mom."