This is the first time I've ever really named chapters in a story. I'm wishing I hadn't done that, it adds to my stress, trying to find a title which fits the character as well as the theme of the chapter. Argh! I don't advise naming chapters!

The Problem

I have been sitting beside Danny's bed poring over Tucker's data on Danny's ghostly abilities, for hours, but unfortunately, I have more questions than answers about my son and his status as half ghost. I still wonder how it could be possible for my son, my child, Danny to be half ghost or have ghost powers, but he does, as I have witnessed.

Jack and I need to run tests, but I don't want to leave the hospital. I want to be here when Danny starts to wake up. I want to look into my son's eyes and know he's going to survive this. The doctors say it could be a very long time before he does, and I'm scared that when he opens those eyes, that he will no longer be the same Danny. I wondered if Vlad could do something to bring him back to us.

I had tried shoving Vlad Masters to the back of my mind, but he wouldn't stay there. He really was the least of my worries other than the fact that we owed him for what he did to save Danny's life. It seemed to take a lot out of him, and the fact that he hasn't shown his ugl…face since had me a little worried.

I desperately hope we can find a way to transform Danny into his ghostly state without having to depend on Vlad for help. I know what he wants from me, and it makes me sick. Jack has been very understanding about the situation, but I know he's upset. I'm really worried about what his reaction is going to be next time Vlad makes an appearance.

Jack and I talked a great deal about the consequences of accepting Vlad's assistance. As a mother, I will do anything necessary to insure my son's survival and well being. I just hate Vlad for trading on the life of my son, and forcing me to chose between my child, and the only man I'll ever love.

Studying the notes and data about Danny's powers was a good distraction from thoughts of Vlad, but there just wasn't enough information. I silently cursed Tucker for not being more through with his data collection. His information, though tantalizing, was woefully incomplete.

That's the problem, for a kid who didn't know how to properly research and notate his findings, his notes were good, they just weren't good enough for my purposes. I rubbed my eyes tiredly as sat back in my chair then looked at Danny.

"I wish you would sit up and talk to me Danny boy," I said to him. "There are so many questions I need answered.

"Mom," Jazz said as she appeared beside me. I jumped in shock at her voice. I didn't hear her come in. She was looking at me worriedly and I gave her a serene smile.

"Hi Sweetie," I said as I hugged her. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm all right," Jazz answered then motioned to the girl standing beside her. I greeted Valerie, then looked at the fearful expression on my daughter's face.

"Tucker is very sick," Jazz said as she sat in the chair beside me. "Ghosts attacked the school this morning. He wasn't hurt, but something was wrong, he's been admitted to the hospital."

I blinked at my daughter. I didn't know what to ask her about first, habit told me to ask about the ghosts. "What happened to Tucker?" I asked worriedly, yes my first concern would be for the boy, not the ghosts.

"I'm not sure," Jazz said, her face reflected a little more distress than I believe she wanted to convey. I looked at her worriedly. My daughter was doing her best to remain adult about the situation, and doing an admirable job. I really wished she didn't have to carry such a heavy burden.

"What about the ghost?" I finally asked as I looked at Valerie who was standing by Danny's bedside.

Jazz shrugged her shoulder. "I took care of it," she said as if she were telling me she took care of a mouse in the kitchen.

"There was another," Valerie said softly then turned and looked at me briefly before making eye contact with Jazz. "I took care of that one though, just before Tucker…" She stopped and frowned sadly, apparently at a loss for words.

"I think you should both go check on Tucker," I said. "Nothing exciting is happening here with Danny."

"Sam is with him," Jazz told me and I nodded my head, hoping that Sam herself was all right, the girl seemed like she was on the verge of collapse.

"I thought we'd give her a little time to talk to him and compose herself. She's been a little over emotional lately," Jazz continued.

"Or maybe everyone else has been under emotional," I said as I looked pointedly at my daughter, who gave me a confused look.

"Maybe," she said as she caught on to what I was trying to say. "I'm just worried about her. We need her help more than ever now, if we're going to keep ghosts from over running the city." Jazz frowned again and looked at Valerie who simply nodded her head in agreement.

I sighed deeply, really the last thing I wanted to worry about were ghosts, I actually couldn't force any real interest in the subject except for the concern for Jazz and everyone's safety, and of course helping my son.

"No ghosts have shown up here have they?" Jazz asked hesitantly. Valerie was watching me with worried eyes.

"No, I answered," then paused. "Should I be concerned that there will be?"

Jazz looked sheepish for a moment then rubbed at her neck in a manner eerily reminiscent of her brother, I couldn't keep back the smile that spread across my face at the gesture.

"Danny has quite a few ghostly enemies," she finally said. "I'm afraid that they'll try to take advantage of him now that he can't protect himself.

"There's no need to worry," I said with determination. "Your father and I will blast any ghost that shows up to harm Danny, into oblivion. They won't dare come near him." Jazz nodded her head and looked at Valerie.

"Do you want to go check on Tuck?" she asked. Valerie who was now looking at me with wide eyes, nodded her head. Jazz stood then bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll talk to you girls later," I said cheerfully then looked back down at the notebook in my hands.

It wasn't too long after they left that Vlad appeared, and by that, I mean appeared I mean suddenly, out of thin air, standing at Danny's bedside, looking down at my son. I made a mental note to ask Jack to bring the Fenton Ghost Finder with him when he came back to the hospital.

"Hello Vlad," I said trying not to sound too disgusted or surprised. He turned from Danny and smiled at me.

"Good afternoon Maddie," he said in his annoyingly pompous voice. "Did you miss me while I was gone?" I thought it was better not to answer, I wasn't particularly good at lying and well, I didn't think it would do any good to tell the creep the truth.

"There have been no changes I trust," Vlad said as he inclined his head toward Danny.

"None," I answered. Vlad sat down in the chair beside me and looked at me thoughtfully. I looked down at the notes in my lap. He reached forward and slid the book out of my lap and quickly scanned through it. He chuckled a little as he turned the pages then burst out into full scale laughter.

"Oh Maddie," he said when he finally calmed himself and handed me the notebook. "You're not actually taking that seriously are you?" I gave him a blank look as he wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes.

"My information is inaccurate then?" I asked as I looked at the notebook.

"Well it's incomplete," Vlad answered. "I've been a ghost hybrid for well over twenty years, my dear Maddie. I have all the data you need."

I sighed and closed the notebook. "So tell me then," I said as I looked him straight in the eye. "What exactly is Danny? How can he be half ghost? Explain this to me?"

Vlad seemed to be considering what he should and shouldn't tell me. He sat back in his chair and looked at me thoughtfully.

"Daniel and I are both half ghost," he began. "Of course the condition seems to affected each of us a little differently. Our molecules have been rearranged, coated with ectoplasm you might say."

"Your molecules?" I asked as I leaned forward in curiosity. "How?"

"It has something to do with the accident with the ghost portal." Vlad answered. "Mine with the one we were trying to put together in college, and for Daniel, the one you have in your lab." Vlad stood and walked toward Danny. I wanted to stop him. I wanted to tell him to keep away from my son.

"As far as I can tell," Vlad continued. "The change goes deep, into the victim's very DNA, altering him, me, us forever."

"Are you half dead?" I asked.

Vlad chuckled slightly. "Perhaps, but it sounds so grim my darling, to consider myself half dead, that distinction is reserved for zombies and vampires, none of which Daniel and I are."

"Then what are you?" I asked as I fought the urge to take notes. I was afraid he would stop giving me information, then again, if he was talking so freely it was likely he wasn't telling me anything of importance.

He smiled at me gently. "I am a half ghost my dear," he answered and I growled in frustration.

"We've already established that," I said. "But what makes you half ghost? How can that be?"

"Oh I have many theories on that Maddie dear," he said lovingly. "Many different theories, but nothing really conclusive."

"You say your DNA has changed. Is it no longer human?" I asked curiously.

"It's ghost," Vlad said. "Of course you would have to have a sample of ghostly DNA in order to detect the difference, the mutation is so slight at first glance, and ghostly DNA is rather hard to come by." He chuckled slightly at that statement.

"If you're not half dead then," I continued. "Is it that you are stuck between dimensions? The Ghost Zone and the physical realm?"

Vlad shook his head. "Do I look stuck to you? Do I look less than real? Touch me Maddie," he said as he knelt before me and put my hand to his face. "Do I feel like a ghost? No, when I am in my human form, I am a human. When I am in my ghost form, I am a ghost, there is no being stuck. I have amazing abilities, far beyond human, far beyond ghost. I have the upper hand and advantage in both realms of being a frighteningly powerful creature."

I fought the urge to pull away as he pressed my hand to his cheek. I cleared my throat then looked toward Danny and took a deep breath and steeled my resolve.

"You are able to move between two planes of existence at will," I stated. "So the accident gave you the ability to transition back and forth between these planes."

"Generally speaking," Vlad replied as he held my gaze. "Yes."

"How do you transform?" I asked. "I mean what does it take to transform you to your ghostly persona?"

"It's nothing but a thought my dear Maddie," he told me softly as he continued to look into my eyes. "It's effortless most of the time, though it does take physical exertion, it's barely noticeable."

"Is there any outside force that would make you change into your ghostly form? Force you to change?" I asked almost breathlessly, I was very uncomfortable with the intensity of his gaze.

"No," Vlad said. "There is no way to force me to change against my will, other than overshadowing me, and even then it's not an easy feat, you'd have to know how to force the transformation, have done it yourself."

I sighed heavily and rubbed my face tiredly with one hand. I realized that Vlad was being so free with information because he knew there was nothing we could to that would force Danny to transform, so there was no risk in giving me the answers I was looking for.

"What about keeping the human form?" I asked. "Can something be done to keep you and Danny from transforming to your ghostly state?" Vlad smiled at me.

"Why would there be?" he asked shortly as he moved from his knelt position before me, to the chair beside me.

"If your transformation can be suppressed, then surly, it can be induced," I said thoughtfully.

Vlad nodded his head, "It would seem logical that it would work that way, but it does not."

I bit my lip and looked at Danny. "You've already saved his life," I said. "Now we just have to wait…" Vlad interrupted me by putting his hand to my mouth. He was shaking his head.

"I've consulted with a few medical personnel who have experience beyond the human realm," he began. "If Danny is to recover, he's going to need to be in his ghostly state."

"Why?" I asked suspiciously.

Vlad looked very pleased with himself. "The why isn't important, Darling," he said. "What is important is that Danny's rate of healing is significantly faster when he's in ghost form, and his, you can call it, consciousness has been thrown askew."

"So," I said as I watched Vlad sit back in his chair with a pleased expression on his face. "How do you propose we fix the situation?" The statement Vlad made next told me I'd played right into his hands. He leaned forward again and took my hand in his.

"I'm proposing a collaboration, Maddie," he answered almost breathlessly. "You and me, the way it should have been."

"I don't know Vlad," I said uncertainly. "I haven't collaborated with anyone but Jack, and I don't think I would function too well without him."

Vlad's eyes narrowed as he looked at me. "Jack is not necessary in the equation, Maddie. In fact he's been nothing but a road block to your brilliance for years."

"Jack has been a joy to work with." I defended. "He can be a little lax in his methods when he gets excited about a new project, but his ideas and insights are brilliant." I noted the look of anger growing on Vlad's face.

"Let me put it this way, Maddie," Vlad said in a low almost menacing tone. "I am the one person who can help your son. I am the one person who can pull him from the coma. I am the one person who can force him into his ghost state. I do not think you have the luxury of pointing out the merits of Jack Fenton, or turning down my proposal."

I narrowed my eyes at the snake sitting beside me. "You haven't told me exactly what your proposal is Vlad."

"Marry me, Maddie," he said, his voice quivering with emotion. "Marry me and I'll save Daniel's life. Marry me and I'll put you upon the pedestal you deserve. You'll have everything your heart desires, you simply have to name it."

I looked at the man beside me in shock. I choked back a gasp of horror and looked away from him. I couldn't bare to look at his face. I took several deep breaths to calm myself. I was expecting some kind of sick demand from Vlad, but it wasn't this.

In fact, I was pretty sure he was going to suggest a collaboration of the basest type, if you know what I mean, and while I certainly wasn't going to agree to any type of collaboration with him, I was prepared to at the very least reason with him. I was not expecting a marriage proposal.

"Vlad," I finally said. "I'm already married, to Jack."

"An unfortunate mistake that can be remedied quickly, my dearest Maddie," Vlad said smoothly as he placed his hand on my back. I wanted to pull away from him. His hand felt like acid burning through my skin.

"I-I don't know what to say, Vlad. This is so sudden. I'm stunned."

"I want you to think of the benefits, Maddie," Vlad said as he rubbed my back in slow, sickening circles. "You'll be the wife of a very, very powerful and rich man. Imagine the research you'll be able to do. Nothing will be beyond your reach. Imagine the advantages you can give to Daniel, a half ghost mentor who can teach him to better manage his ghostly state." I continued to look at him in shock.

"Just say yes, Maddie," Vlad prompted. "Say yes, and I'll take you and Daniel rom this hospital. He will be well before you know it and…"

"Give me time," I said as I stopped him. "I-I need to talk to Jack. I at least owe him an explanation. I need to talk to Jazz..she won't understand." Vlad stood and pulled me up from my chair and into his arms. I turned my head away from him as his lips grazed my cheek.

"I understand your reticence my dear," he whispered in my ear, making me dizzy with disgust. "But it will be easier to walk away without looking back."

"No," I said quickly. "I need time to think. I need to weigh my options. I need to think logically about this."

Vlad frowned at me. "Maddie," he began. "Let me put things to you in simple terms. It's Daniel's life. He either lives or dies. It's your choice."

"You would kill my son?" I asked in shock. I knew I was shaking now, I was trying not to but I couldn't help it.

"Oh, no, I wouldn't, but I know others how would," Vlad said smoothly. "As I said, it's very doubtful he'll ever regain full consciousness without my help, but that's not the only difficulty you'll face. Daniel has created some rather strong enemies, and without me to hold them off, well…let's just say the boy won't last long in such a vulnerable state."

I opened and close my mouth but could find nothing to say. Vlad had me cornered. I needed time to find out if there was another option, another way to save Danny.

"I know all of this is startling to you," Vlad said in a very tender voice as his eyes searched my face, "But the truth of the situation is grim, and my terms have been laid out before you. All you have to do is say, yes."

I shook my head in distress. "All right," I said quickly, my stomach lurched at what I just agreed to. "But, I need to tell Jack myself. It's the right thing to do."

Vlad nodded his head. "I understand," he replied. "You are an honorable person. I know you'd be unhappy doing things any other way."

"Th-Thank you," I said as I continued trembling in his arms.

"I will return in precisely two hours," Vlad said. "At that time I will collect what is mine." I nodded my head dazedly then nearly reeled back in horror as his lips brushed against mine.

I gasped in shock as he changed into his ghost form, I didn't have much time to study his appearance when he disappeared in a swirl of reddish mist. I waited for a moment before I scrubbed my mouth with the back of my hand and made spitting sounds. I then sat down and took several deep breaths.

"Okay, Danny," I said to my comatose son. "How are we going to get out of this?" I ran my fingers through my hair in agitation then reached for the phone.

"I wished you'd get out of that bed, Sweetie," I continued to tell Danny as I dialed the number for Jack's cell. "Because Mommy could sure use your help right about now."

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to see Sam standing in the door way. My mind began to race. How long had she been standing there? The look on her face lead me to believe that she'd heard everything.

Jack answered the phone and my knees went weak. Sam ran forward and steadied me as I grabbed hold of the counter. I held her gaze as I told Jack in a panicked voice that he needed to drop whatever he was doing and get to the hospital now.

"We have an emergency situation on our hands, my love," I said. The phone line went dead and I knew my husband was on his way to me. I felt sick at the thought of what I was going to tell him.

"Is there any way out of this?" I asked Sam who was watching me with sadness.

"I don't know," she answered as she looked toward Danny. "I wish I did."

"Me too," I said as I pulled the small girl into my arms, began to cry, and held on to her for dear life. I knew I shouldn't be seeking comfort from such a young girl who was already strung out emotionally, but at that point I needed someone, and she had the misfortune of being there to see me fall apart.

"We'll figure out something," Sam said as she hugged me. "There's always a way. Always." I nodded my head, not believing she was right, but hoping she was.

I'm not sure when my next update will be, likely it will be late tomorrow evening or early on Wednesday morning. Either a Jack or a Vlad chapter is up next. I'm not sure.

Until then, review!...Please?