By the next Wednesday, Danny is over the novelty of having a job and working for Hal. A week and a half of full-shift days, every day, and Danny is…tired. The pay isn't great – but he also keeps forgetting that apartments, food, clothes, everything is cheaper – and on top of that, he has to deal with shitty people leaving messes everywhere and harassing Jenny and Lisa. Not to mention that the uniform Hal had gotten him was just a pair of gross green slacks and a short sleeved button up shirt. The pants are too tight and the shirt doesn't let him move as well as he wants. But if he wants to get a better uniform he has to buy it himself.

He just smiles and endures it, though, because it's not that bad. He gets to hang out with Jenny all day. And she's turned out to be a great friend. She's funny, sarcastic, and just a tiny bit snarky. Danny's kind of girl. She's incredibly sweet, too, and Danny had been more than touched when she'd talked Hal into setting up a donation jar on the counter.

Aside from Jenny's amazing company, Dany looks forward to a group of girls, all students at the college, who come in for lunch every day. They tip well and they playfully flirt with Danny whenever he comes over. They've started requesting him even if he's the one behind the counter and Jenny and Lisa are the ones covering the booths. Which is great because he gets to flirt and they tip fantastically.

All the same, Danny was relieved when Hal had closed up the dinner and given them Wednesday off. His wife wasn't getting better and he'd had to take her to the hospital. They'd all sent their best wishes but were relieved for the day off.

Danny was able to sleep in – not all that late, though, because he's used to being sleep deprived and running off of four or five hours a night and he hasn't been able to sleep more than eight in one day – before waking up to the sound of Jack puttering around the dorm room.

"Mornin'," Dany greets, voice tired and a little slurred as he sits up.

"Oh, hey, Danny," Jack visibly winces before laughing, "Sorry for waking you."

"Mmm, I's okay. Actually slept pretty well." Danny glances at the 'spare' alarm clock that Jack had given him. Part of Danny suspects that Jack went out and bought it for him because it looks so very new and unused.

"Good. Good." Jack grabs his shoes and continues, "We're all going out to lunch if you wanna come with."

"You…sound like you don't want me to come with you." Danny frowns, scared that Jack is upset with him.

"No! No, that's not it. I'm just…I wanna go meet up with Vladdie to talk about something we were talking about yesterday."

"And," Danny drags out the word before continuing, "You don't want me there while you guys talk."

"Yeah, I don't mean to offend-"

"None taken." Danny brings up his hands to stop Jack, "Seriously, I get it. I can walk with you to meet up with him and then just…chill somewhere while you guys talk. Then you can come find me when you're done."

The mention of lunch reminds, him, though, "I just remembered," he turns and starts digging in his bag.

He gets up from the couch, neatly folding the blanket he'd all but high jacked and putting it on the arm of the couch. He roots through his bag and grabs the small lump of cash he has from the tips he'd earned. He turns to hand it to Jack – to pay him for letting him stay here – but Jack is talking before Danny can even get his mouth open.

"Danny, if you offer to give me that I'm going to be very upset."

"What? Jack, I just wa-"

"No. I'm not taking money from a homeless man. Even if he has a job."

"Alright, fine. Then when I get an apartment-"

"Yeah. Yeah, maybe."

"Yes." Danny insists, "I need to repay you."

"You really don't, Danny." Jack shrugs, "Get dressed so we can go."

Danny drops the subject but makes a mental note that he might have to just leave the cash in Jack's apartment if he wants to pay Jack back for his kindness.

It doesn't take more than a few minutes for Danny to get ready to leave n- he'd taken a shower last night after work so it's not like he smells or anything. He heads out with Jack, walking towards the center of Campus and into one of the buildings.

Danny has no idea where he's going and he's just following Jack.

Jack leads Danny to a classroom and stops outside. The class is still in session so Danny leans against the far wall with Jack. He doesn't know when this class gets out but he figures it can't be that long if Jack is here waiting.

"You're sure this isn't a problem?" Jack starts again, rubbing at the back of his head, "I mean, it's rude to exclude you and-"

"Jack. Stop. It's fine. You're stressing over this too much." Danny shoves his hand into his pockets, "I get it. Really. Jack is your best friend and I'm new. I get that you like me and we're friends. You needing to talk to Vlad privately doesn't mean you don't like me. I get it."

Jack blinks, staring at Danny before he grins wide and throws one arm over Danny's shoulder, "You're such a laid back dude, Danny!"

If Danny closes his eyes and pretends Jack's voice is just an octave or two lower…he can almost fool himself into thinking this is his father. That he's back home and his dad is proud of him. That he's back home.

That he's not alone…

"You okay, Danny?" Danny opens his eyes and looks up at Jack.

The Halfa nods and pulls away from Jack's arm, "Yeah, no. I'm…I'm fine." He blinks back a few tears, "It's just…you really remind me of my dad sometimes…"

Jack's face falls into a worried frown and he opens his mouth to say something but the door opens and a small swarm of students' floods out of the room.

"Don't worry about it…" Danny shrugs, "It's nice. You're nice. So thanks."

Once the other people are gone, Danny holds open the door for Jack. The bigger man nods but, for once, doesn't say anything as he heads inside. Dann follows, letting the door shut gently behind him.

Jack immediately heads to the back of the class where Vlad is cleaning up his notebook and materials. The classroom is large but…old. It looks like it was built in the forties or something and it could use a bit of maintenance.

Danny meanders over to the front of the room, just waiting for Jack and Vlad to finish their conversation which he is actively blocking out. There's a kickstand whiteboard next to the professors' desk. It has the words 'Daily Challenge' written up top with a '12' circled in red. Beneath that is a mathematics problem in black.

It takes Danny about fifteen seconds to figure out the answer to the problem. It takes him about three minutes to grab the blue marker and write down his steps and the answer to the problem on the board.

It reminds him of Jazz and all of the afternoons she spent tutoring him just so he could graduate. Even after she went away to Harvard she'd jump on Skype at night and screen-share with him to help him study. Even though she had her own work to do, she always found time to help him with his work. And she kept up with it…even though Danny was sure it was effecting her grades.

She's the reason he ended up loving to learn. And not just machines and space. But English and other languages. Science and math. Art and music…

All of it…just learning in general.

"Very impressive."

Danny nearly jumps out of his skin at the voice that is right behind him. Behind him is a middle aged man who is – undoubtedly – the professor of this class.

"What's your name, young man? I always give credit where credit is due."

Danny nervously rubs at the back of his neck, "Aha, I'm…I'm not a student of yours. I don't go here…I can erase it…"

"No. No, no, please, leave it. Perhaps it will inspire my students to try a bit harder during my next class."

The halfa feels a bit sheepish, "Wasn't trying to…show anyone up. I kind of just did it without thinking."

"Don't be so humble. None of my students could think of how to solve this problem. If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here if you're not a student?"

"I'm a friend of Jack's, actually." He turns and points over to Jack and Vlad appear to be having a heated – but quiet – argument.

"I see. You tackled this problem very quickly. I must ask…where did you learn do do this level of mathematics? You obviously had a very skilled teacher."

The professor looks very interested and Danny smiles, thinking back, "My sister, actually. She taught me pretty much everything. I could never pay attention in class as a kid so she'd teach me after school. She showed me how to 'work smart, not hard.' She taught me how to shortcuts and shorthand. All kinds of things."

"Your sister must be a veritable genius," the older man praises, "Is she a student here?"

Danny shakes his head, "No. Jazz…use to go to Harvard before…she passed."

"My deepest condolences," He puts a hand on his chest, obviously not expecting that, "I'm sure that she'd be very proud to know that all of her hard work has paid off."

Danny feels a little weird claiming that Jazz is head when she's not. At least…from what he understands. Regardless, it's an easier explanation than the truth so Danny gives the middle aged man a tight lipped smile and a thank you.

"I don't mean to sound forward, young man, but have you considered applying for our university? You would be a wonderful asset to our body of students."

"I hadn't…Well, I mean I did but never as a real possibility. My life is in shambles right now and I don't even have a real place to live. Maybe once I get my life back on track but I mean…me affording college at this point is a pipe dream."

"Well, once you 'get your life in order'…if you decide to apply, head down to the DeRicco building and ask for the Melody grant. If you're as smart in other areas as you were right here," He taps the board for emphasis, "there's a good possibility that you could get a near full-ride scholarship."

Danny thanks him right as Jack and Vlad walk up to them. While Vlad's sour look isn't surprising, Jack's is. Obviously their talk hadn't gone well.

"Hey, you guys done?" Danny asks, a little worried.

"Yeah," Jack side-eyes Vlad before looking back at Danny, "We're ready to go meet up with the others."

Taking the cue, the professor turns to Danny and holds out his hand, "Well, it was nice meeting you…"

"Danny," he shakes the older man's hand, "It was nice meeting you, too."

"Godfrey Young. Have a nice day, boys."

With a simple wave, the conversation is over and Danny is left with the thought of going back to college. Obviously things wouldn't be nearly as hard this time around…since kids from Danny's time had to learn harder things earlier. Most of the stuff this college would try to teach him are things he'd learned in high school. And honestly, some of the things Danny had learned in college probably haven't become a requirement to learn. Or they don't exist yet.

It would be so weird to go to college with not-his-parents. And his new friends.

And Vlad.

Almost as if Vlad knows Danny is thinking about him, the man scowls and turns on his heel before leaving. Jack rolls his eyes and nods for Danny to follow him before following after Vlad.

"I take it your talk didn't go too well?" Danny easily keeps up with Jack about twenty steps behind Vlad.

"Nope. Vlad is just…he's like my brother but-"

"Even siblings fight, Jack."

"I know, but…I'm not supposed to complain about my best friend! But it's like every time I bring you up he…uh," Jack suddenly looks guilty.

"You don't have to worry. I know he doesn't like me a lot."

"More like not at all," Jack frowns, "Sorry, I-"

"You don't have to apologize. You can't always get everyone to like you."

"Well, yeah, but Vlad's being bull-headed. Keeps saying you're trying to take advantage of me."

Danny doesn't say anything. Mostly because Vlad almost has a point. Danny has nothing and Jack had offered him a place to stay and Danny intends to stay until he's back on his feet.

The other reason he stays quiet is because he doesn't exactly want to speak ill of Vlad to Jack. It might get him kicked out on the street. Or worse: it might end up driving a wedge between Jack and Vlad. That's the last thing Dany wants.

"Sorry, I shouldn't be venting to you," Danny tunes back into what Jack is saying, "Vlad's my best friend and I barely know you. But I trust you and I just…"

"You don't have to worry about me blabbing to Vlad about what you said." Mostly because he didn't even hear it, "It's good to get things off your chest. I'll put it under lock and key."

"Thanks, Danny," Jack smiles, not like his normal ear-to-ear grin but it's no less sincere.

There's a quiet sort of back and forth between the two of them from there as they follow behind Vlad. It's a little surprising to see his father so calm and collected. He's nowhere the level of animated Danny is used to. It's unsettling but also reassuring.

When they catch up with Vlad its because he's stopped walking and is waiting for the two outside of a pretty looking restaurant. The name on the side reads 'Fina's'.

Once Jack and Danny are close enough, Vlad scowls and heads inside, not bothering to hold the door for them.

"I really wish he didn't hate me so much for something so-"

"Stupid and untrue?" Jack provides.

"Honestly? Yeah."

They both head inside. From the entryway, they can easily see Maddie, Dean, Harriet and Vlad at a large table.

"Jack! Danny!" Maddie stands up from her chair and waves over at Danny and Jack.

Danny awkwardly waves back before Jack is back to his normal self, cheerful with a large grin on his face as he ushers Danny over to their group of friends. The Halfa ends up sitting at the end of the table across from Jack and next to Dean. Maddie and Harriet occupy the other end of the table and Vlad is between Maddie and Jack.

"So, Danny! I hear you're a working man now!" Harriet cheers, leaning on the table to look at Danny around Dean.

"Oh, yeah…Jenny got me a job at Hal's diner. Uh, speaking of Jenny, where is she?"

Dean sneers and says, "We invited her but she's spending time with Mike."

"Mike?" Danny asks, a little confused, "Her boyfriend?"

He'd heard Jenny talk about him during work but it's not ever really in a good sense. It's usually 'Mike forgot this…' or 'Mike and I were fighting…' and it makes sense that they wouldn't like him if they hear all of the bad things Danny hears.

"Yeah," Maddie's tone is disapproving – a tone Danny knows all too well.

"Okay, do we not like Mike?" Danny asks, making sure.

"No one likes Mike," Harriet buts in, "Not even Vlad likes him."

Vlad frowns, "I resent that. Anyone with a brain would hate Mike."

Something catches Danny's eye beyond Maddie and Vlad's head. Jenny is coming from the bathroom. Now either they lied to Danny about where Jenny was or – the most likely scenario – they don't know she's here. And she looks like she's been crying. Hard.

Jenny meets his gaze and immediately looks away before she turns around and heads back through the door that reads 'bathrooms'.

"Uhhh, I'm gonna….use the restroom. Be right back." Danny says, not really caring who hears him as he gets up and heads around the table.

"Wait, if the waitress-" Jack tries but Danny cuts him off.

"Coke. Or Pepsi. Doesn't matter to me."

The door to the restrooms leads to a little hallway with two doors. Jenny is kneeling down on the floor across from the actual restroom doors.

"Jenny? Hey, Jen, are you okay?" Danny kneels next to her and gently grabs her shoulder.

"Nothing," Jenny huffs, looking away, expression screaming embarrassment and a little shame, "Don't worry about it."

"No, no, I'm going to worry about it." Danny moves a little closer.

"Danny, really, it's nothing, I'm just -"

"Jenny if it's enough to make you cry, it's important."

"I wasn't-"

"You were. I can see it." Danny awkward wraps his arm around her shoulder and hugs her, "If you don't want to talk about it…I'll drop it. But I want you to know you can talk to me."

"It's stupid."

"It's obviously not stupid if you're crying over it." Danny sits down next to her.

"It's – it's just…my boyfriend….Mike, he…we planned to go on a date today but….he's at his place with his friends getting drunk at -" she looks around for a clock but can't find one, "who knows in the afternoon!"

Danny frowns, "This sounds like a recurring problem."

"This always happens, I don't know why I'm even surprised anymore."

Danny frowns, deeply perturbed. Why were none of the others more upset by this?

"That sounds like utter horse shit. Why are you with him if he doesn't make you happy?"

"Because I love him and he's sweet." Jenny stuffs her hands between her thighs and she looks so small as she curls in on herself.

"You mean he's sweet when he bothers to make an effort?" He hates this.

He hates how familiar this is to him. It reminds him of Jazz's first boyfriend.

Besides Johnny who totally, one hundred percent does not count.

His strong, smart, independent sister had been reduced to a sobbing mess four days out of the week beause of him. Because he kept jerking her around with 'If you love me's and 'I need you's. Because she loved him when he didn't return the feelings. And if he did, they were not to the same level.

Danny and his friends and their parents had to intervene. Use Jazz's own psychology against her. They'd learned a lot from her but it had still been so difficult to convince her…

"Does he apologize for ignoring you?"

"All the time."

"Does he ever actually say 'I'm sorry' or that it was wrong of him?"

Jenny looks at him very confused, "Well…I mean, he says he didn't mean to hurt me and that he'll try harder."

"Jenny, that's not what I asked."

The blonde pressed her lips into a thin line and she really has to think which gives Danny his answer well before she opens her mouth to say, "No, not….really. I mean, maybe…maybe back when this all started?"

"Then, Jenny, I'm sorry to say this but…he's not sorry. And chances are….he knows exactly what he's doing…he knows he can get away with neglecting you and keep you around."

"That's not-" her voice had been really loud but she quickly drops it again, "That's not true, Danny. He loves me."

"I'm not saying he doesn't…I'm saying he knows he doesn't have to put any effort into your relationship to keep it."

"No, I'm telling you -" she cuts off, not having anything to argue with, "Trust me, there's effort."

"Where is there effort?" Danny asks, "I really want to know. If I'm wrong I will apologize and say I was wrong but…Jenny…my sister went through this exact same thing with her first real boyfriend. She fell in love and it was great at first. And then as time went on…things got worse. They fought a lot. If they did anything together it was arguing. And she loved him and what they used to be and she didn't want to let it go. She wanted to hang on and get it back to what it was. But it's not going to. It's just going to keep getting worse. It never gets better."

She looks so lost as she looks at Danny, "This is – this is so different, Danny. Whatever your sister went through, it's not what my problem is with Mike."

Danny bites his lip, thinking about Jazz and how it had really been compared to what she'd told them…"Does he throw things when he gets mad?"

She hesitates, obviously not liking the question, "Well, yes but….not at me or anything. He doesn't hit me. He just…he takes his anger out on inanimate objects."

"Are they your things or his? Are they things you share?"

She looks so very defensive as she sits there. She doesn't want to answer but she eventually says, "My things. Always. And it always leads to more fighting."

"Does he apologize for breaking your things?"

Jenny can see where this is going and tears gather in her eyes, "N-no. He says I shouldn't have started the argument."

"I an already guess the answer….but when the fight is over…and you're both calm again…does he clean up the mess he made or does he make you do it?"

"He doesn't…make me. He just leaves it there until I clean it up."

"Why does that matter?" She turns away, not looking at Danny.

"Jenny, remorse….guilt…it makes you want to right what was wrong. It makes you want to apologize, doesn't it?"

Jenny hiccups, starting to cry again and Danny feels regret coil in his stomach. He doesn't want to be the reason she cries but…well, it was better to make her hurt now with the hope that she leaves him for someone who makes her happy…

"He isn't sorry. Is he?"

"It…doesn't sound like it. I don't know him like you do but I've seen things just like this."

"What are the chances….that he'll change?"

Danny doesn't want to hurt her but it's better to know the truth "That depends on him…my sister's boyfriend promised to change and he did…for about two weeks. Then it all went back to normal…well….normal for him."

Jenny shakes, curling up, "Part of me…part of me knew…three years and it's just...getting worse and worse. I – I just – I love him!"

"Jenny, just because you love someone…doesn't mean that they love you back. And not always in the same way…" Danny shakes his head, "You deserve to be with someone who treats you like the amazing, funny, hard working woman that you are. Someone who won't ignore you."

She sniffles and looks up at him with a slight doe-eyed expression, "Do you really think I'm funny?"

"You make me laugh all the time at work." He smiles, "And I've only known you guys a short time."

She's stopped crying but now she's really quiet and Danny doesn't know which one is worse. Well, no, he does. The crying was worse but this is still unsettling.

"I'll…I'll think about it." She tells Danny, "It's been so long since I've talked to anyone about Mike…"

"What do you mean?"

"The other's don't like Mike. If I try to talk about him they all get this look on their face like they're smelling bad milk. Even Vlad." She sighs, "I just…thanks, Danny…for listening. And offering some…really good advice."

"No problem. I figure your boyfriend should act like a partner…not a child or asshole."

Jenny snorts and nudges Danny's arm, "Oh, I would be a terrible mom."

"Can't be that bad," Danny shrugs, "You'd be better than my parents."

"Oh, my kid would be a saint."

"Mmm, nah. They'd need a wonderful older sister to take care of them."

Their quiet laughter calms down a bit before Jenny takes a deep breath and stands up.

She scrubs her hands over her face before turning to Danny, "How do I look?"

Danny sands up and smiles, "Gorgeous. But like you've been crying. You should go into the bathroom and wash your face. I'm going to head back to the table…are you okay?"

She nods, "Uh…do they?"

"No, they don't know you're here. Said I was heading to the bathroom."

She hugs him tightly before letting him go and smiling at him, "Thank you. Could you…not tell them?"

"Of course."

"You're the best." She turns and heads into the ladies' restroom.

Danny rubs at the back of his head in embarrassment before he turns and heads back towards their group of friends.

"There you are!" Jack smiles at Danny as the Halfa sits down at the table, "We thought you'd fallen in!"

"Har har," Danny snarks, feeling particularly sarcastic, "Did you all order?"

"Just drinks," Maddie smiles, "Harriet can't decide on what she wants."

"Shush, Mads." Harriet pouts, "I have to watch my figure if I'm going to go into journalism."

"Who cares about figure?" Dean snorts.

"I do!" Harriet snaps.

"Mmm, if you're doing it for personal reasons there's nothing wrong with dieting and exercising. But if you're doing it for someone else…that's less good." Danny hums.

"Easy for you to say Mr. gorgeous probably-has-six-packs. I have a slow metabolism."

"I remember from our first lunch at Hal's."

Jenny shows up then, with her purse in her hands and her hair braided over one shoulder, "Hey, guys! Room for one more?"

"Of course!" Maddie cheers, patting the table to indicate the space across from her.

"Great! So," she sits down, "So what did I miss?"

"Harriet complaining about her metabolism," Maddie smiles, "We were talking about acceptable reasons to diet."

"Well, personal preference? Health reasons?" She shrugs, "I mean, my brother's diabetic so he has to watch what he eats."

"True," Jack frowns, "But is that really dieting or is that just monitoring your food intake? Vlad's allergic to mushrooms so he avoids them but that's not a diet."

Danny leans on his hand and watches the deliberation turn into a debate. It's such a silly topic but everyone is so invested in it. Even Vlad is throwing in his two cents.

The only interruptions are when the waiter takes their orders and drops their food off. They're there, loud and rowdy, for over two hours. Danny can't help but compare the food to Hal's.

When everyone starts paying, Danny pulls out his share and he could swear Vlad is giving him a death glare.

Danny just shrugs it off and focuses instead on Jenny and Dean as they giggle over something Harriet said.

After another hour of nonsense and goofing off, their little group leaves the restaurant and starts splitting up. Harry and Jenny head back to campus, Harriet for classes and Jenny to her dorm. Dean heads off for his band practice. Which leaves Danny with Vlad, Jack, and Maddie.

Maddie and Jack are looking at him excitedly as they stand outside the front entrance. Vlad looks kind of like he bit into a lemon but he always looks like that so Danny brushes it off.

"What?" He asks, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"We were all wondering-"

"They were wondering." Vlad interrupts, earning him an elbow to the side from Maddie.

"We were wondering if you are free to hang out on Saturday night."

"Unless my schedule changes, yeah. I get off work around six, though."

"That's fine!" Jack chirps.

Danny frowns, "Don't you guys usually go do something on Saturday nights?"

"Yes. The three of us do." Vlad crosses his arm and refuses to look at Danny.

"You know we're…ghost enthusiasts." Maddie starts out.

Something clicks and Danny teases, "Don't tell me you guys go to abandoned houses and look for ghosts."

Jack and Maddie look a little sheepish and Danny almost winces.

"Oh my god you are…uh, okay so…"

"We want you to come with! You believe in ghosts, too, right?" Maddie claps her hands together.

Danny is silent for a moment before he sighs, "Honestly, every fiber of my being says this is a bad idea but…yeah, sure."

He's not in any danger, considering his powers and training, so he doesn't see the harm in going. Especially since his parents see their first real ghost when he's fourteen.

Vlad looks even more upset and he scowls as he heads back towards his and Jack's dorm. Jack and Maddie are skilled, though, so Danny figures he made the right call.

He wishes Vlad would be less of an angry jerk.

Jack throws his arm over Danny's shoulder and starts telling Danny about this house they had picked out.

"It's awesome, Danny! It was made in the twenties and like fifteen people died there. It's public property though, so we can totally go in and poke around!"

Okay, so…maybe he should have thought this through a bit more.