A/N: Sorry sorry sorry! School, that's all I need to say!

And as a way to maybe both redeem and condemn myself, I am offering to you a sneak peek of my mentioned one-shot Is Forever Enough? Basically, it's AU-ish, involves character death, and it's from Danny's POV.

Those were the last words I said to her, to anyone

Is forever enough?

Three little words that crushed her….

!5 023\/32 3\0()9-?

There's a cycle we go through. Everyone, even Sam. We want to be accepted, we want to be appreciated, we want to get everything we dream for, but we don't. We want everyone to still accept us after we fail, but we aren't. We want life to go after we're abandoned, but it doesn't.

We want everything to be perfect, but it isn't. Ever. It's all a stupid game, and no one wins….

!5 023\/32 3\0()9-?

It would've been better if I hadn't known. I wouldn't have bothered writing this, and I wouldn't have to worry for my parents and friends. If I hadn't known, I wouldn't have spent the last three months worrying and waiting, trying to find out when it would be….

!5 023\/32 3\0()9-?

I'm sorry, Sam. That's the worst part of this whole thing. I have to say good-bye to you….

Is forever enough?

I'm holding on

I know you'll be there

Whenever I wake up

Okay, now you can kill me after I type up the next chapter of Back To Life:cringes and hides:

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"Hey, guys," Danny called as he walked into the living room. Jim and Jake glared up at him, and he winced in remembrance of the day before. "Sorry 'bout the game yesterday. No hard feelings?"

"Sure," the bit out.

Danny shrugged at them, then turned to greet Danlie at the door. She yawned widely, not yet seeing him in front of her.

"Hey, Danlie. Sorry 'bout leaving you alone like that yesterday."

Danlie stared at him in shock, blinked, blushed, and ducked away from him. "Y—Yeah… I'm just glad you guys, uh, bonded."

Jeff spoke up then, saying, "Oh, Dan, we'll be goin' out, so—"

"Oh, well, I have to check in with Lancer and the others, too."

"—we'll be driving to the other side of town," Jeff finished in a deadpan.

Danny's face fell. "I could just get Danlie to drive me."

"Cool. See ya." The guys left, and Danny sat down on the couch. Danlie seemed to battle with herself for a moment before tossing something towards Danny and heading into the kitchen.

Danny caught it, surprised, but just stuck it into his pocket, not bothering to look at the object.

Something's going on, Demo told him, I can feel it.

He sighed mentally. I thought you'd shut up. What now?

Those four are plotting something. They're the ones trying to control Danlie!

Are you sure?

Yes! Now, instead of having Danlie drive you, call up Sam. We can't be too sure where Danlie's true loyalty lies. And anyway, Sam was following you yesterday. She heard more than you did.

She followed me?

I believe Lancer made her, but she was worried herself.

…she followed me?

Demo sighed. Yes, lover-boy, she followed you.

…why?

And now Demo screamed. Because she's worried about you! Damn hormones. Glad I got over those a thousand years ago….

…she's… worried… about me?

Yes, Dan. Just like how Jazz and Jack always are. Er, were, up until Jo came out.

…she doesn't need to be worried….

It doesn't matter if she needs to be worried, she just is.

Danny paused, mulling that over before saying anything else. Demo continued to curse hormones in the background. I still don't like people worrying over me.

So you don't like people to care?

…I didn't say that.

You thought it.

Fine, I'll call Sam.

Atta boy!

DON'T CALL ME THAT!

"Dan?" Danlie called out tentatively. "Do you still need me to drive you?"

Danny looked up, trying to figure out from looking at her who she'd be loyal to. Him or them. "Nah," he finally replied. "Someone else will. You should go out. Have some fun, alright?"

The girl hesitated before nodding. She left, glancing back at him once before closing the door behind her.

He sighed, reaching out for the phone and dialing the familiar number. It took only one ring for someone to pick up. "Hi, Mr. Lancer? Could I talk to Sam for a minute?"

34( 70 !3

By the time the car pulled up, Danny was already outside waiting. He jumped in quickly, mumbling a greeting to Sam while trying to keep up with Demo's grumbled logic.

Obviously some plot… maybe with…? No, not possible… but what about…?

Make sense or shut up, your choice.

Noted. Ah, she's talking!

Danny glanced up quickly, noticing Sam's raised eyebrow. "So, why'd you need my help again?"

"Because you followed me yesterday," he answered honestly.

She stared at him, only slightly surprised. "Yeah, I did. Your point?"

"What did you hear when I wasn't listening?"

She frowned at him. "They were calling you a target. That's what stood out the most. I know you were playing a game, but that's obviously not the kind of target they meant. And apparently, the laser guns you were using were actually stun guns. You froze Jim and Jake."

He thought that over for a moment. "Oddly enough, it all makes sense. They didn't recognize me when we first met, but Danlie did. Not something you'd expect from 'older siblings'. They brought along an insane amount of sports stuff, and each piece could double as a weapon…. They are controlling Danlie…!"

"…What?"

"They—I think Danlie tried to tell me something this morning, but the guys were too close still. She slipped me this, though," he said, pulling out the balled-up piece of paper from his pocket. Sam realized just then that he was using his bad arm, which was no longer in the sling.

"When did your arm get better?" she asked, surprised.

He chuckled. "While my 'brothers' and I were bonding yesterday."

"Hn. Interesting how powerful restorative, healing abilities of accidentally stunning two of your 'brothers' can be."

"Actually, three," he said, smirking slightly.

She stared for a second before laughing hysterically. "Remind me to never play laser tag with you."

"Or dodgeball."

"…I'm not even gonna ask."

"Yeah, school was interesting for me…."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Sam said, "So what did the paper say?"

Danny's eyes widened. "Oh, right!" Sam rolled her eyes as he unfolded it and read aloud. "'Simmons Street, 1500. I know what you mean now about J's.'" he gasped, eyes even wider. "What time is it?" he breathed out.

"It's 2:50, why?"

"How long'll it take to get to Simmons?"

"Ten minutes, if we're lucky. Danny, what's up?"

"Put your siren on until we're almost there. GO!"

Trusting him, Sam drove as fast as she could to Simmons Street, glancing over at Danny as she followed his orders. After everything that happened the past two weeks, she was ready to trust him about this.

He seemed to have fallen asleep, but his fingers twitched and he was mumbling something. Confused, she ignored him the best she could as she drove as fast as legally possible.

They're meeting with someone, he told Demo.

Probably Jo, from what Danlie said. Dammit, I should've figured that out before!

It's fine, but yeah. It looks like Jo strikes again. But getting someone else to do the dirty work just doesn't seem like her. Or Jazz, when she gets into her violent moods. No, they'd want to actually do it themselves.

That's why you were using stun guns instead of real guns. She just wanted to get you, then she'd do the rest.

That's more like her, yeah.

You have to be careful. She might be able to sense you or Sam if you get too close.

Right. I'll keep Sam from looking up, too. Otherwise, she might get suspicious about "Jazmine" trying to kill me. Heh, my family just gets better and better, huh?

Sure does. Went from one sibling wanting ya dead to six siblings wanting ya dead!

…Five. Danlie can't count. We're not sure about her.

…we're here, Demo said, unsure how else to comment on Danny's obvious trust in the girl. Sam echoed him a second later, and Danny noticed then that the siren had been turned off a while ago.

The two got out silently, sneaking over to an opening to an alley where the guys were already talking to Joaquima. The latter looked enraged while the former tried to calm her.

"We'll get him still, J," Jeff was saying quickly. "He's completely clueless!"

Sam had to slap her hands over her mouth to keep from laughing at Danny's face.

"Yeah, J," Jake continued. "Just give us another chance and he'll be all yours!"

"How do I know you won't fail again?" she hissed at them.

"Because," Josh tried, "we still have our secret weapon!"

"And that is…?"

"Danlie," Jim replied. "She'll surprise him and get him here, trust us. She's already had practice at kidnapping from her, ah, 'foster' dad." The guys smirked as Jo thought it over.

Danny's eyes narrowed at that comment. It can't be…! he thought.

Anything's possible. Not probable, but possible.

"What insurance do you have that she will stay in your control?"

"Blackmail, pure and simple. We know her past, and she knows we know," Jeff answered promptly.

Sam glanced at Danny again, gauging his reaction. He appeared stone-faced still.

"Alright. You'll have one more chance. But if you mess up, you'll be my next targets!"

"Yes, ma'am," the four chorused.

"Good. Now, what exactly is it that Danlie can do that makes her your so-called secret weapon?"

"Same thing he can," Jake spat.

"Yeah, y'know, all those special talents and abilities."

Danny had to force down his snarl at Josh's statement. Danlie wasn't the only one they could blackmail. He ignored Sam's confused look as Jo laughed.

"Oh, I highly doubt she has all his, eheh, 'abilities'. But in any case, if she doesn't kill him, kill her."

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A/N:GASP!: So, small note for this one: Demo has hormones??? Since when???