Chapter Ten

Closing and Opening

"That's the thing though, I didn't survive." Slade muttered to himself as he leaned back into the lazy boy chair that had been pulled over for him. He grunted as pain lanced through his stomach from where the metal had lodged itself a week ago. He still didn't understand how he was alive after that explosion; he should've been dead after that due to the fact that the last explosion had been right behind him.

He growled in irritation as his mind poked and prodded at him with something at the edge of his memories but he couldn't tell what it was, it was all too blurry. He'd have to figure out what was going on later, right now he thought he should get some sleep. It had been a long week and he felt that it was only going to get worse. "You better wake up soon Phantom." Slade said as he looked at the peaceful face of his apprentice. "We have much to discuss." With that he let his head fall back on the chair and fell asleep.

DannyPhantom

He wasn't sure what time it was, but one thing was for sure, he hurt. All over! "Ugh, tell me someone caught the number of that truck." Danny said as he blinked open his eyes and looked up at the ceiling of a familiar place. It took his foggy mind to come up with the information but when he did he smiled softly. "I did make it back then." He said as he moved his arms slowly to make sure that they would work and then slowly, ever so slowly he sat up.

"Ah, looks like you're finally awake. I was beginning to wonder if you were dead." Danny blinked at the voice in surprise before he looked over at the masked face of his master. "You've been asleep for two weeks now and it is currently two o'clock in the morning." Slade announced as he carefully shifted his body in the big black lazy boy chair.

Danny nodded his head at the information before he looked at his hands that were currently wrapped in bandages and then he realized something else. He was currently nude except for bandages and a blanket pooled around his waist. "How badly was I injured?" He asked as he looked underneath the blanket to see how many bandages were wrapped around his lower half.

"You acquired several new burns and cuts, not to mention an injection site that is currently still on your lower back. You'll be sore for quite some time." Slade admitted as he folded his hands in front of him carefully over his stomach. "You will not be up for any combat for at least a month and neither will I." Slade grumpily admitted.

Danny looked over at Slade with curious eyes. "Injection site?" He asked in wary curiosity.

Slade sighed and nodded his head. "Before I and the Titans arrived to save you, we were too late to stop any experiments done on you. Tell me, what is the last thing you remember?" Slade asked with his one sharp eye evaluating the youth.

Danny blinked again and looked down at the table with concentration as he thought back to what he remembered. "I was strapped on the table; he had me on my stomach for some reason. I don't remember what it was but he hit me with something in my back. I passed out not too long after that." He said as he looked up at his master.

Slade nodded his head. "I'm not surprised you don't remember us being there, you seemed quite out of it." Slade said as he held a hand out to the side and Danny was surprised when a mirror appeared. "Thank you Doctor." Slade said as he held the mirror out to Danny.

Danny took it and looked into it and almost dropped it. "My eyes…" He said as he trailed a finger over the smooth glass surface. "What the hell happened?" He asked as he continued to look at his reflection. He still looked almost entirely the same, raven hair with tanned skin, but his eyes. They were the sapphire he had grown up knowing. They were emerald now, like his ghost form use to have.

At this point it was Octavius who spoke, knowing that he would know more about the subject than Slade would. "It would seem that what he had injected you with was nano-bots so small that they were on the molecular scale, they were instantly attached to your DNA." He said calmly as he explained to Danny. "Once they had attacked to your DNA they went after the…what did you call it…the ectoplasm…that was glued onto it. Once they had attached to that part they began to lengthen it and cover your DNA more firmly and entirely."

Danny blinked at the explanation and nodded his head in understanding, his heart beating faster than what he wanted as he realized what that meant. "That means…that I was… or wasn't… human anymore." He said as he looked back at his master.

Octavius nodded while Slade kept silent. "That is correct, but because the Nano-bots weren't completely successful, you were an unstable project that was destroying itself from the inside out." He explained as he adjusted his glasses. "The nano-bots were unable to hold the ectoplasm in place for long terms and so you were changing back and forth constantly on a molecular scale and even if you had looked different at that point and seemed to be working, in all actuality you weren't."

"Okay, then how did you fix it then? If I was so unstable you must've done something to fix it since I'm apparently back to normal." Danny said as he looked at the doctor with curiosity and horror at what had been done to him.

Octavius smiled at that and nodded his head. "I did, I figured a way to use both experiments that were performed on you together." He announced as his eyes glowed with pride and excitement.

"Both experiments?" Danny muttered as his brows furrowed. "Are you talking about the ectoranium that was placed inside of me and the nano-bots then?" Danny asked cautiously.

The doctor nodded his head. "Yes, that's correct. The kryptonite, or ectoranium, was already melted from when I first helped you with that and because of that I was able to use the nano-bots to converge on that instead. The problem was that once the nano-bots were all full of the ectoranium that they had nowhere to go."

"Why didn't you just take out the nano-bots then? Wouldn't it have been easier to just remove them all together?" Danny pointed out.

Octavius nodded his head at this in agreement. "Normally that is what I would do, but the nano-bots were created with a feature, one I've never seen before!" He exclaimed at the end like a little kid with candy. "This feature has made it impossible to remove from your body or from your DNA if we don't want to kill you or rip your DNA out of your body!" He explained quickly. "Therefore I cannot remove them from your body, but I was able to use them to not only stabilize your body but also to return almost all of your powers!"

Danny stared at the doctor for several minutes, his mind blank as he took in the information before he looked over to his Master. "Is he telling the truth?" Danny asked as his emerald eyes blinked in stunned amazement.

Slade nodded his head with a small smirk hidden by his mask. "That's what he's told me as well, but I am unsure of whether that is what really happened or not." He admitted to his apprentice before turning to look at the doctor. "When will we be able to find out whether what you say is truth or not?"

Octavius frowned as he calculated in his head of the healing rate of the boy in front of him. "I give him a week from the way his wounds are already healing. It seems that is one of the abilities he has gained back. He is healing at an inhuman rate." He explained and to prove it he pulled out a small knife, grabbed Danny by the hand and nicked the boy on the palm.

Danny hissed and yanked his hand back afterwards, nursing his already sore hand and glaring at the elder man. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He asked as he looked down at his hand to see the damage.

Octavius smiled smugly as Danny stared at his hand in astonishment. Slade looked curiously at his apprentice wondering what was wrong. "What is going on?" Slade asked as he sent a penetrating look at his apprentice. "Show me your hand." He demanded only a second later.

Danny didn't hesitate at the order and revealed his unhurt hand or his newly healed hand. "This is about the same rate I use to have back before the accident." Danny explained as Slade looked at the unblemished limb.

"I see." Slade said as he laced his hands in front of his face again. "So he has already shown signs of having regained his powers." Slade nodded happily to himself before he leaned back in his chair with his groan.

Danny stared at him for a second, his eyes lighting on the fact that his Master wasn't wearing his utility belt or his armor. He wore only a pair of sweats and a loose black long sleeve shirt, his hands pale from all the time underneath gloves, feet clad in black slippers. "Is that why his eyes are currently emerald instead of his once sapphire?" Slade asked suddenly.

Octavius nodded at that. "It is, I was unable to control many of the changes and apparently the one that changed his appearance was the eye color. He will forever have emerald eyes now instead of blue." He stated. "We'll have to wait and see what other changes there are in his body until both of you are healed." He stated before walking away. "I'll bring some food for us to eat." With that he disappeared into the darkness that was the lair that Danny had known for a couple of years now.

"You said that you wouldn't be able to fight for a while earlier? What happened to you? Are you hurt? How bad and where? Is that why you aren't wearing your normal armor? Are you in any pain right now? Do I need to call the Good Doctor back?" Danny shot off question after question and Slade had to stop him before the boy turned blue from lack of air.

"Do not worry, I will heal in time." Slade stated as he laid a hand gently on his stomach. "I was hit with shrapnel from my battle with Masters…"
"Plasmius."
Slade blinked in surprise at his apprentice's interruption. Danny blinked before he explained what he meant. "Call him Plasmius, I only have one Master after all and you have none."

Slade nodded his head in understanding as he realized what the boy meant. "From my battle with Plasmius and it had cut open my stomach. I was lucky enough not to have my insides spilling out." Slade explained. "I was able to get away afterwards though and return here." 'Though I don't understand how.' Slade thought to himself.

Danny sighed and nodded his head. "Well at least you're alright. I guess we'll deal with Plasmius later and finish him off." Danny said as he laid back down in his bed with his arms behind his head.

Slade shook his head at that with a smug smirk. "We will not have to worry about Vlad Plasmius in this life." Slade stated, getting a shocked look from his apprentice. "I was able to destroy him along with his house before I returned here."

Danny stared from his position in shock at his master. His mind raced to process the information and after several seconds his eyes blurred. His breath shortened as he fought to control himself but soon tears were flowing over his cheeks and sobs escaped him.

He had been through hell in the last few years. The scars that were left on him, skin, heart, and mind were all still present and had yet to start to heal for only one real reason. He could've still been taken away from his current home and Master. Plasmius could've ruined everything for him and left him dead in a ditch somewhere in the end.

But now he wasn't in danger anymore. He was safe and sound with his Master, with Slade, where no one could hurt him unless Danny himself put himself in that position. Even then Slade would do what he needed to help Danny where needed.

"I'm free." Danny whispered as he covered his eyes by throwing an arm over them. "I'm really and truly free." He gritted his teeth to stop himself from releasing another sob. "He's gone and now I don't have to worry about returning to that damned life!"

Slade could only watch as the information finally dawned on the boy and he couldn't help but be happy for his apprentice. For even though he was the true Master, the boy had taught Slade a few things as well. Trust was one of them, the ability to trust his Apprentice when it came down to it. Phantom…no…Danny had showed him that even though several of his Apprentices had betrayed him in the past that he could trust Danny, because Danny himself trusted Slade.

Both Danny and Slade had taught the other things needed in life and both couldn't help but be happy with what had happened, even if it had been painful. Finally Slade spoke and with that Danny's tears quickened. "You are free Danny and I swear, no one will ever take that away from you again."

TeenTitans

"Ugh. I'm so bored!" BB yelled out as he slumped back onto the couch with his arms sprawled out by his sides. "Nothing's happened for months now!"

Raven scowled at her friend before returning to her book. "You could always try and read you know." She suggested as she continued from her place. "You might actually gain a small grain of knowledge."
Beast Boy scowled at her before shaking his head. "Nah, I don't like reading, it's too boring for me!" He announced before he looked over to the rest of the group. Starfire was in the kitchen making one of the many recipes from her home planet that only she would eat in the end. Cyborg was playing a video game next to the green hero, determined to beat his high score again. Robin was standing in front of one of the windows looking out towards the city with his arms crossed over his chest.

"I think I'll go for flight." Beast Boy finally said in the end as he stood up and left the living room, not noticing that the others beside Starfire didn't even take notice.

Robin wasn't really paying attention to anything, his mind more focused on the fact that only one body had been recovered from Vlad Master's house. Nothing was discovered on what had caused the fire but Robin could give a good guess.

Another thing was that neither Slade nor Phantom had made an appearance in months. They had stayed quiet for too long and it was starting to make Robin nervous since nothing good came from Slade being quiet.

He hadn't even considered that the two had been badly injured and were only resting. That possibility was impossible since Robin had never once seen Slade so badly injured that he had to rest for long periods of time. He was sure that Phantom was the same.

It was at about this time though that the alarm went off and startled everyone in the tower. "Trouble! Titans Go!" Robin yelled as he ran out the door with Starfire and Raven right behind him, Cyborg right behind the two of them.

Soon enough they were off with Cy in the T-Car with Raven, Robin on his motorcycle, and Starfire flying over hear. "Where is Beast Boy?" Robin asked as he swerved down the road before turning sharply.

"He's on his way." Cyborg called over as he followed close behind Robin. "Raven gave him a call and gave him the co-ordinates. He'll meet us there."

"Alright, Cyborg you know what to do! Figure out what's going on and what building we're hitting this time!" Robin ordered.

Cyborg of course was already on it, quickly typing on the minicomputer that he had installed in the T-Car just for that purpose. "It's another high-tech place Robin. This one creates military weapons and other technology used in war-fare." Cyborg said as he hacked into the security system quickly. Once he did though he blinked in astonishment. "Ah, this seems oddly familiar." He said as he sent the security feed over to Robin who was now sat out front of the company.

"You're telling me." Robin said as he looked at the giant hole in the side of the building. He quickly glanced down at the feed and his brows furrowed as he realized that the system wasn't showing anything even though the weapons were going off, shooting at something. "I think I know what's going on." Robin said as he stood off his bike just in time for Starfire to land next to him with Beast Boy as well.

"Dude, this is Déjà vu!" BB exclaimed as he began to shake and tremble. Robin stared at his friend and his suspicions only strengthened at that.

"Are you alright Beast Boy?" Starfire asked in worry as she laid a hand on his shoulder just as Cyborg came to a stop next to them.

Beast Boy smiled nervously and nodded his head. "It's just this feeling; it's so much stronger than it was last time, as if whatever is in there is stronger." Beast Boy explained as he looked at the hole in the wall in terror.

"Well, I think our boy is back." Cyborg said as he looked over at Raven who was nodding in agreement.

"I sense him inside, he is different as well. It feels as if he has only grown stronger in the months that he has been gone." She stated and floated up to Robin. "I am unsure if we'll be able to confront him successfully this time either." She admitted.

Robin nodded his head as he walked towards the wall. "We'll just have to find out then now won't we?" Robin said as he jumped through the wall and into the building, the others quickly following him.

They moved through the building soundlessly, Cyborg having already shut down the security system, all prepared to attack if need be.

It was just at the end of one hall that Robin signaled them to stop as he looked around the corner, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the black and white outfit instantly. "It's him." Robin whispered as he turned to look at his team. "We'll have to be careful." He stated and turned to attack the boy but froze as he came face to face with emerald eyes only inches in front of him.

Phantom smirked as he jumped into the air and used Robin to propel himself over the rest of the Titans. He landed gracefully behind them before turning and looking at them with smug eyes. "You guys have gotten slow since I've been gone." He stated as he leapt away from one of Starfire's energy bolts. "Come on now, I know you can do better." He taunted as he turned and raced away from them.

Robin scowled as he raced after the other, knowing that his team would be right behind him as he did. They followed the boy out of the building and out onto the street only to stare in surprise at Cinderblock, Plasmus, and Overload standing in front of them. "Raven and Cyborg you take Overload. Starfire and Beast Boy take Plasmus. I got Cinderblock." Robin said as he leapt at the concrete being and quickly nailed him with several of his birdarangs.

Cyborg fired off a sonic boom at Overload while Raven disappeared from sight to appear behind the electrical being. Making sure that Cyborg's attack hit home. Overload was quickly cornered but he retaliated with a slam from his electricity, hitting Cyborg.

"Cyborg!" Raven exclaimed but quickly surrounded the disk that was the main part of Overload with her energy, making it impossible for the electrical beast to reach its power out any further.

"I'm fine, let's finish this and help the others." Cyborg said as he appeared next to the girl and blasted a sonic boom at the trapped being and soon Overload's main disk was laying on the ground, knocked out for the round. "Boo ya! That is how it's done!"

TeenTitans

Starfire and BB were having a bit of trouble with Plasmus since the being was like putty, he could reform almost instantly from all the attacks that they were putting against him. Though Beast Boy would turn T-Rex but even with the ferocious slam of a tail from the Dinosaur Plasmus reformed. "Ah, man, he's making this almost impossible!" BB exclaimed but Starfire quickly growled in annoyance and shot one powerful ball of energy at the beast.

"I will not be made a fool by a glutinous beast!" Starfire exclaimed as she shot another beam at Plasmus after he reformed once more. She frowned at the reforming putty in confusion and frustration.

BB noticed and quickly turned into a Rhino and charge Plasmus but was grabbed by one of the sharp claws and thrown up at Starfire who screeched in surprise, both hit the ground hard. "Sorry Star." Beast Boy said as he climbed off of her. "You're not hurt are you?" He asked as he helped her up.

"I am fine friend." Starfire assured before rising up in the air again. "But he will not be." She exclaimed as she flew at the being and this time she combined her powers together and released her power from her hands and eyes. Plasmus was unable to dodge the attack and screeched in pain as it connected with him, boiling his body before exploding outwards, leaving behind a sleeping male covered in goop.

"Wow Star," Beast boy said as he looked up at the Tamaranian, "remind me never to make you mad." Starfire smiled at him before turning to see if the others needed any help.

TeenTitans

Robin quickly back flipped away as Cinderblock slammed a fist where the boy wonder had just been. "This'll be easy." Robin muttered as he pulled out his staff and used it to propel himself up into the air enough to throw several of his disks at the concrete being.

Each connected and exploded on Cinderblock, causing him to stumble backwards and Robin quickly attacked, slamming his staff into the other.

Cinderblock was quickly knocked onto the ground and Robin quickly released several more bombs before leaping away from the other as the bombs went off. Once the dust had cleared, it revealed that Cinderblock was knocked out, leaving Robin to smirk smugly at the criminal before turning to look around.

Starfire landed next to him with a smile and Beast Boy wasn't too far behind either. Cyborg and Raven appeared as well, everyone seemed alright. "Any major injuries?" He asked as turned to look at each on carefully.

"Nope, I'm good." Cyborg stated with a thumbs up.

"Not even a scratch." Beast Boy chimed in.

"I am uninjured friend Robin." Starfire informed happily.

"I'm fine." Raven stated.

Robin nodded his head as he turned to see if Phantom was anywhere nearby but stopped as two figures appeared in front of them. Robin blinked in surprise knowing for a fact that they hadn't been there earlier. When they came into focus though Robin scowled and prepared for a battle. "Slade!"

The rest of the Titans were instantly in battle formation and prepared for anything as the two figures walked closer to them, only stopping when about a yard away. "Robin, it's good to see you again." Slade stated as he stood tall and proud with his normal outfit in place.

"I can't say the same." Robin stated as he ran forward and swinging his staff in front of him to slam into the elder man. He blinked in surprise though when his staff was met with a glowing green one, stopping his attack on the Criminal Master mind.

"Don't think I'll let you even lay a finger on my Master." Phantom snarled, his emerald eyes glowing with a fierce protectiveness that Robin was astonished at.

Slade chuckled as he laid a hand on his apprentice's shoulder. "Now Phantom, we aren't here for a battle." He stated as he looked back at Robin with a gleam in his eyes. "We're just here to show them that we're alive and well." He stated.

Phantom nodded his head but didn't move from his position. "I know Master but he attacked first." He stated as he pushed Robin backwards roughly before slamming the green staff into the ground next to him.

"Dude! If you weren't here to fight us then why break into a building!?" Beast Boy asked with his arms waving in the air.

"Not to mention the three minions you sicked on us." Cyborg stated as he crossed his arms.

Slade chuckled at the looks that all the Titans sent him before shrugging. "We had to catch your attention somehow, what better way than causing mischief."

"I'd call that more than mischief." Robin said as he crossed his arms, staff hanging from his hands tightly.

Phantom shrugged with an unrepentant smile. "Like Master said, we had to get your attention somehow, besides this was my idea anyways." He stated as he looked at all the Titans his emerald eyes glowing. Robin realized with a start that they hadn't been that color before, but a dark navy blue. "I wanted to say thank you."

The Titans all froze at that and before anyone could say anything else Slade spoke as well. "Yes, I agree with Phantom, thank you for your help before." This had all the Titans with their mouths on the floor, wondering if this was actually happening.

Phantom smiled at them with a fire in his eyes that none of them had seen before. "If you hadn't had helped Master before, than I would've still been on that table being used as a lab rat, but because you helped I'm free now." He stated with such a glow to his face that the Titans couldn't help but smile.

But then Robin frowned as he looked at Slade. "You killed Vlad Masters didn't you?" Robin asked with a serious face.

Slade actually chuckled and shook his head. "Actually no I didn't." He stated back and Robin could only blink in surprise.

"But his body was found inside of the house only hours after we left you there to fight him!" Robin exclaimed as he looked at Slade in disbelief. "There's no way you didn't kill him!"

"I didn't kill him, true I didn't help him out of the mansion, but I didn't kill him." Slade stated as he placed his hands behind his back. "I left him in a burning building after one of my distractions caught the place on fire. I didn't kill him and I in fact almost lost my life that day as well." He admitted.

The Titans were stunned once again as they looked at their most dangerous foe with disbelief. Phantom looked at the Titans before shaking his head and placing a hand on his hip and smirking at them. "Master is very smart and powerful, but he is also only human." He stated easily, taking the smack to the back of his head easily.

"They don't need to know that." Slade said as he looked back at the Titans. "Let them keep thinking that I'm immortal." Phantom rolled his eyes at that but didn't argue against his Master. "Either way, we came to just to say our gratitude before we leave to relax and train some more."

Phantom looked at the Titans before picking up his staff and walking towards Robin, coming to a stop in front of the stiff boy wonder. Robin eyed the boy while Phantom eyed him for several minutes.

Phantom finally smirked at the other before holding a hand out to him. Robin stared at him in shock before it transformed into a smile of his own and he took the hand in his own. Their grips were firm as they shook the others hand. "Does this mean you're leaving Slade and coming to our side?" Robin asked as he stared at the other.

Phantom scoffed as he glared at Robin. "Don't insult me like that; I'm simply acknowledging you as a worthy opponent." Phantom said as he released the hold quickly and then swung his staff at Robin's feet, catching the other of guard and knocking him to the ground. "The next time we meet don't expect me to go easy on you."

With that Phantom leapt away from Robin and landed next to his Master's side again. Slade nodded his head proudly at his student before looking back at Robin. "It seems Robin that I have found a more worthy apprentice than even you." With that the two disappeared into thin air.

Robin sat on the ground staring at the place the two had stood only moments ago for several moments in surprise. "Dude, that was weird." Beast Boy finally said, snapping everyone out of their amazement.

"You can say that again BB." Cyborg said as he looked at his little green friend. "I wonder why his eyes were different though."

"Do you think we will see the Phantom and Slade again?" Starfire asked Robin as she helped him stand up.

"I think we probably will Starfire." Raven replied to the girl instead as she stared at Robin.

Robin could only grin and nod his head in agreement.

DannyPhantom

"Do you think we made the right decision in saving that man?" A male voice asked as two figures watched Slade and Phantom confront the Teen Titans. "I mean he is a bad guy and Danny shouldn't be hanging around that sort of people. At least, isn't that what we taught him when we were alive?"

A bell like laugh and a shake of the head. "I'd rather have my baby boy live with that Slade person than with Vlad." Vlad's name was spat out like a curse by the female of the two. "Don't worry Jack; I'm sure Danny will be just fine. After all, he still does good in the end, even as he does bad too." She stated. "This Slade person will make sure to keep him safe and happy, I'm sure of it."
Jack nodded his head as he looked down at his red headed wife with warming blue eyes, knowing that his wife would know best. Jack stated after a second. "I know your right Maddie, but I'll still worry about him. We left him behind and with Vlad the traitor." Again Vlad's name was spat like a curse that was too vile for human kind. "I can't believe I trusted him."

Maddie smiled up at her husband sadly before looking back down at Danny. "I know Jack, but now he can't hurt our baby boy." She said just as Danny shook hands with Robin.

Jack nodded his head and both watched silently as their baby boy conversed with the leader of the Teen Titans before knocking the green tight wearing hero down. "It's time to go Mads." Jack said sadly as he watched his son return to Slade's side.

Maddie nodded her head and whispered one last thing before both she and her husband disappeared. "We love you Danny, and we always will no matter what."

With that the two parents disappeared.

The End

DannyPhantom

A.N. Don't kill me please.

This is the ending for Turning the Tables. I hoped you all liked it and I hoped I explained clearly enough as well. Please review and tell me what you thought. Another special thanks to djanubis for doing an awesome cover for my story. Again this is the end, no sequel, I hoped you all enjoyed and please review.

I have no ownership over with Danny Phantom or Teen Titans.