Danny slowly regained consciousness. It was like pulling himself out of a deep dark murky ocean. It was slow and hard work. He didn't feel ready just yet but he knew he had to. Sounds began to breach the darkness around him. Soft beeps and gentle whirring. There were quiet voices too. They sounded familiar but he couldn't quite make out what they were saying yet. But the more he heard them, the more Danny wanted to pull himself out of the darkness.
"Jack, I think… I think Danny's waking up," a woman's voice whispered. Danny drew himself towards the voice.
"Hang on, I'll get the doctors," a male voice muttered and Danny heard footsteps fade away from him.
"Danny, sweetie, can you hear me?" the woman mumbled and distantly he felt something touching his hand. Suddenly Danny recognised who this woman was, it was his mother.
"Great one? Danny. If you can hear us, give us a sign," a new voice requested. Danny tried to comply but it was so difficult. He renewed his efforts to drag himself out of the darkness. Slowly, painfully slowly, his eyes opened. The lights were blinding. His eyes slammed shut again.
"Danny? Son?" his father called softly, encouragingly. Danny carefully opened his eyes again and his tired eyes adjusted to the light reflecting brightly off the icy walls around him.
As his eyes adjusted, he recognised the figures around him. A large man in an orange jumpsuit with greying black hair stood behind a seated woman wearing a blue jumpsuit with short reddish brown hair who was holding Danny's hand. There was a large softly glowing creature wearing green rags with shaggy white fur and icy horns.
"Sweetheart?" Maddie asked hopefully. Danny blinked.
"Mom?" Danny croaked.
"That's right sweetie. How do you feel?" Maddie replied gently. Danny considered the question. He felt tired. But as he recalled how he felt before everything went dark, he instantly knew he felt better. His vision was clear. He could feel his mother holding his hand. His throat didn't feel like sandpaper anymore. He still felt unwell and weak, but he didn't feel like he was dying anymore.
"Better," Danny eventually answered.
Maddie grinned happily and glanced up at her husband who looked just as relieved and overjoyed as she did. Suddenly there were loud footsteps running into the room. Danny carefully turned his head and saw Jazz, Sam and Tucker running into the room ahead of another Far Frozen ghost wearing green rags.
"Danny!" Jazz shouted with relief. Danny smiled at them.
"Hi," Danny greeted them softly. Sam sprinted to him and hugged him.
"Don't do that again! You scared me," Sam exclaimed. Danny chuckled weakly.
"I'll try," he mumbled.
"Yeah dude. When we got here you looked terrible," Tucker remarked, patting Danny on the shoulder. Danny gagged.
"Geez, Tuck did you fall in a sewer?" Danny choked. Tucker huffed in annoyance.
"No. Grateful much," Tucker grumbled. Danny smiled apologetically.
"Sorry Tuck," Danny replied.
"How are you feeling?" Sam asked.
"Still tired and sick but a lot better. Thanks you guys," Danny answered. They all smiled at him.
"Any time little brother," Jazz retorted warmly.
"Great one, we should check your progress," one of the physicians interjected. Danny turned to the ghost and tiredly nodded.
"Come on mom. Dad. You guys should get something to eat. We'll be back in a bit Danny," Jazz encouraged and led her parents out of the medical facility and into the cave opposite. The group of people there looked up.
"How's Danny?" Rebecca called.
"Better. A lot better," Sam answered happily as she entered the cave behind the Fentons with Tucker.
The physicians took Danny's temperature and were glad to conclude that the temperature had returned to normal. They checked his vision and reflexes which were all normal. They asked Danny to change to his ghost form and examined him further. His core temperature was back to normal and his ghostly glow was as strong as ever. His hair was pure white and his eyes burned luminous green. They asked Danny to form an ecto-blast which was its normal bright green.
"Do you have any lingering pains? Problems?" one of the physicians pressed.
"I just feel sick and tired," Danny replied.
"Could be lingering effects of the ectoplasm in your system," the other ghost commented. Danny nodded in understanding.
"How do I fix that?" Danny asked. He just wanted to feel better. After being on death's door, Danny was desperate to just feel normal again.
"It may take some time for it to get through your system. But I think the poison is gone," the ghost explained and removed the IV from Danny's arm.
"But it may take a little longer to recover your energy," the other ghost added with a smile.
"I'll get you something to eat," the first ghost offered and left the room.
"Did I miss anything?" Danny asked. The remaining ghost shook his head.
"I don't believe so but I'm sure your loved ones will inform you of anything important," the ghost answered calmly as he tidied away everything from treating Danny. Danny allowed himself to close his eyes and rest. A few minutes later the ghost returned and helped Danny to sit up, propping the teen up with numerous pillows. The meal was easy to eat with no need to chew. It was bland but not horrible. However after only a few mouthfuls, Danny pushed his upper body over the edge of the bed and vomited into the bucket he had used previously and dropped his bloodied tissues in. The bucket was filled with glowing green and blue liquid. The physician helped Danny sit back up.
Danny shuddered as he recovered. However he suddenly felt a lot better. His nausea was gone. He still felt tired but he did feel better.
"How do you feel now? Hopefully that's all the ectoplasm out of your system," the ghost inquired worriedly. Danny nodded and smiled shakily.
"Yeah, I feel better now. Thanks," Danny muttered. The ghost nodded and took away the food, seeing that Danny had lost his appetite and retrieved a glass of water for the teen instead and removed the bucket, confident that Danny would no longer require it. Danny sipped the water gratefully, happy to cool the acidic after taste in his mouth.
A few minutes later, Danny's loved ones returned. They were all glad to see Danny looking alert. Danny turned to them and smiled.
"Hey," Danny greeted them.
"Wow, someone's feeling better," Sam remarked with a smirk, perching on the bed next to her boyfriend.
"Yeah, lots. What happened to the others?" Danny replied.
"They're nearby. They're fine. They've been worried about you but you can worry about them later," Jazz answered. Danny frowned.
"Where's Agent S?" Danny asked with a scowl.
"You have to take it easy," Maddie reprimanded worriedly.
"Yeah dude, you shouldn't be worried about that jerk," Tucker agreed. Danny raised an eyebrow.
"Guys, I just want to know that he's taken care of," Danny retorted.
"Relax little brother, everything's under control, okay?" Jazz assured him.
"That's right son. That monster isn't going to get anywhere near you again," Jack affirmed firmly.
Danny opened his mouth to argue but he stopped and smiled warmly at his loved ones. It was so nice to hear that they cared so much and would protect him no matter what. Danny was still a little worried that his parents were struggling with having a halfa for a son, especially with having Phantom as their son. But this entire incident had only assured Danny that his parents were completely fine with who and what he was.
"Is there anything I should know then?" Danny asked instead.
"Dude, take it easy. You were poisoned. Just focus on getting back on your feet before stressing over that," Tucker retorted with a soft chuckle. Danny smirked and shook his head.
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired," Danny assured them.
"But you said you felt sick," Sam reminded him worriedly.
"Not anymore. It was because of the ectoplasm and stuff in my system. I er I got sick a little while ago. I'm fine. Just… you know a bit weak," Danny elaborated.
The door swung open and Frostbite entered the room, grinning happily at Danny.
"Great one. I'm glad to see you well on the way to recovery. Is everything to your liking? Do you need anything?" Frostbite greeted warmly. Danny smiled broadly.
"Thanks Frostbite. You've done so much for me. How's the shoulder?" Danny replied. Frostbite laughed heartily and rolled his injured shoulder gently.
"I will heal. It will not hinder me in the meantime. And as for what we've done… it is the least we could do in return for what you have done for all of us. We were glad to come to your aid," Frostbite answered kindly. Danny blushed slightly and smiled with mild embarrassment. Frostbite spoke with the physicians and one was excused, no longer required to care for the halfa.
After an hour, Danny felt ready to try eating again and ate a bowl of food the physician retrieved for him without incident. Confident that he was truly feeling better, he asked to see Ronald. Everyone was surprised but Jazz offered to get the detective for her brother. Sam and Tucker decided to spend some time with the tour group. They all realised that the group had been ignored a great deal over the last few hours in the chaos when they were fretting over Danny as the poison slowly killed him.
Jazz walked in with Ronald twenty minutes later. Danny smiled at the detective as the man walked nervously into the room.
"Danny, good to see you recovering. How do you feel?" Ronald greeted with a kind smile. Danny nodded.
"A lot better. I wanted to thank you. For being there for Jazz and dealing with Agent S for us," Danny replied. Ronald blinked before giving a small self-conscious chuckle.
"I only wanted to help. And this is my job," Ronald muttered as he walked closer to Danny's side.
"No. Ronald I may have been really sick, but I know what you did for me and my sister. I know you offered to hunt down who poisoned me. I know that you stopped Agent S killing me when he had me pinned down and helpless. I know that you helped Jazz cope while my parents and Sam and Tucker were looking for a cure for me. That is something I can't repay. I'm in debt to you Ronald. If you ever need help, I'll help, no questions asked," Danny retorted firmly. Ronald blinked in surprise while Jazz, Maddie and Jack shared stunned looks. They hadn't been entirely sure of what Danny recalled as he had been so exhausted most of the time and dying.
Danny held out a gloved hand, he was back in his ghost form as he preferred that form in the Ghost Zone. Ronald shook the teen's hand.
"I mean it Ronald. Any time. Helping out the man that saved my life is the least I can do. I'll even give you my cell number," Danny added with a smile. Ronald smiled back, clearly a little taken aback by Danny's generous offer.
"I… don't know what to say. That's a very… kind offer. Very kind," Ronald mumbled. Danny gave a curt nod as the handshake was broken.
"Like I said. You saved my life. It's the least I can do," Danny replied calmly.
"Maybe you should fully recover before saying those kinds of things. Think them through with a clear head," Ronald suggested, worried that Danny was making a promise he didn't understand the gravity of.
"Ronald, the only reason I'm still here is because I haven't gotten my strength back fully yet. I have recovered. And I know what I'm offering. And I'm not going to change my mind. Just uh you know be reasonable. I do get pretty busy," Danny decided.
Ronald looked to Danny's family but they were just smiling.
"We feel the same Ronald. You are always welcome at Fenton Works. We'll even provide you with ghost weapons. All you have to do is ask," Maddie confirmed.
"Yeah, I don't know how we could have coped without you Ronald. Especially me," Jazz agreed.
"That's right. Ronald, you're a family friend now. We want to keep in touch after this. You saved my son. We will never forget that," Jack added with a broad grin and encouraging nod.
Ronald excused himself a few minutes later to keep an eye on Agent S. Maddie and Jack left to explore the village now that they knew Danny was safe, they felt it was alright to leave him alone for a little while. Jazz sat down beside her brother and smiled at him.
"So, anyone else you want to see?" she asked. Danny bit his lip and nodded.
"I want to talk to Agent S," Danny answered. Jazz blinked in shock.
"Danny, I really don't think that's a good idea," Jazz replied worriedly.
"Jazz. I don't want to fight him. I just want to speak with the man that wants me dead," Danny retorted.
"Why? Do you want to ask him why he did it? Because I can tell you," Jazz inquired. Danny shook his head.
"No. I know why. He told when he had me at gun point. But it's one thing to keep him talking to stall and it's another to speak to him when the timer isn't ticking," Danny corrected. Jazz bit her lip uncertainly.
"Is it a good idea though? When you're so weak," Jazz pointed out with concern. Danny sighed.
"If I can walk to wherever Agent S is, will you let me see him?" Danny bargained. Jazz chewed her lip lightly.
"It's not really my say. Ronald is in charge of Agent S," Jazz admitted.
"But we can ask. If Ronald says no, then I can't do anything, I know. But please Jazz, let me ask him," Danny replied.
"Why didn't you ask mom and dad?" Jazz wondered curiously.
"I knew they'd say no. They're stuck in protective parent mode. But I'm fine now," Danny answered.
"How do you know I'm not stuck in protective sister mode?" Jazz retorted with a raised eyebrow. Danny snorted.
"You're always in protective sister mode. But even when you're like this, you're more reasonable than mom and dad. Please Jazz, I want to do this. I'm gonna have to face him at some point," Danny responded. Jazz sighed again before nodding reluctantly.
"Ok. But… if you're not strong enough to walk there, you're coming straight back and resting," Jazz decided sternly.
Danny's better!
What do you think Danny wants to talk to Agent S about?
Let me know what you guys think so far.
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Until the next chapter.