Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.
When everything was said and done and he was finally able to enter a sleepy abyss inside his tent, Danny couldn't help but feel like his task was only half completed. Even as he laid there on top of his thin blanket, his mind was demanding a proper ending to his task. It was strange too as he knew he completed his assignment to the best of his abilities, something he would have to discuss with the colonel no doubt. And, while he didn't know the specifics of what happened during the final parts of it, he knew everyone got out safe, even the escaped slaves. There were a few close calls for sure, more than he would like, but they didn't matter now that it was over. Was it perhaps he was having a change of heart?
Danny lightly chuckled from the thought as he bordered on unconsciousness. He's been in this line of work too long to have a sudden change of heart. Though a change in motivations was possible. What new could be motivating him? Danny mind wandered to pictures of money, happiness, even his long dead friend Tucker, but eventually his mind settled on the image of Sam, and that was what he fell asleep to.
He slept through the bugle that normally woke everyone up, slept through the loud jeers of the men as they past buy his tent, and even slept through the gust of wind that tore half his tent down.
"Jeesh," muttered Sam as she entered his ruined tent. "How are you still not awake?" With no response from her sleeping comrade, she decided the most appropriate action was to kick his stomach. An action she promptly took. What can she say? She was never the most gentle spirit.
"Ah!" Screamed Danny as he felt Sam's foot collide with his stomach. "What was that for?! You know that's probably gonna' bruise now!"
"Quit whining, you big baby. Colonel Hoskins wants a debriefing right now. He didn't sound too happy either. Maybe he got wind of one of your more reckless moves," Same gave a shrug.
"Great." Danny grumbled, wiping the sweat on his forehead. Did he have another nightmare or something? Huh, he couldn't remember it. "I think he's infatuated with you or something. He has this strange sort of attraction to you."
Sam rolled her eyes. "He's not a pedophile, Danny."
"Of course he's not because you're over the limit. I guess he's not as bad as General Hooker though. Have you heard about his...escapades?"
Sam raised an eyebrow, "No, what did he do?"
"Well he-" Danny looked into her pure, almost naive eyes and decided to shut his trap. "Never mind. It's not important anyway. Just make sure you're all packed up before all the other soldiers. I want to leave before they begin they're march."
A frown formed on Sam's face but she looked away. "Do I at least get to say goodbye to my friends?"
"Of course. Just don't take too long."
Sam soon left to do what she was told and Danny couldn't help but realize that he missed her presence. It's been so long since he had a friend, which, even if she didn't consider him one, he did her. He didn't have to ask for her friendship to be considered one, did he? Quickly shaking his thoughts away in a fit of annoyance, he marched off to the Colonel's tent. At least their relationship gave him more of a reason to protect her, he supposed.
"Mr. Fenton, it's so nice to see you alive and well," Colonel Hoskins greeted as the aforementioned man entered his tent. "I trust you had no problems fulfilling your assignment?"
Hoskins grabbed a paper out of the stack sitting on his desk and read it silently. "It appears you were spotted with Sam by the night watch after they found the escaped slaves and the rest of your party, am I right?"
Danny nodded. "Yes, sir. We were caught and being chased out of the plantation and so I decided to split up so the slaves had a better chance to escape. It appears to have worked too."
"So it has," Hoskins answered, giving Danny a searching stare that unnerved him. "Anyway, you and Sam have gotten pretty close. I guess that's fitting as you and her should be leaving after today."
"No sir. Sam and I are merely companions, acquaintances. Nothing more, even as Danny spoke, he didn't know if he was telling the truth, or lying.
A sigh came from the colonel as he crumpled up the paper he was reading and threw it to the ground. "Here I thought I was getting you two to bond. Guess I made less progress than I thought. Well hopefully you two will be able to do the rest yourselves."
"Sir, what is your obsession with me and Sam. Can't you just leave us alone? We aren't friends, haven't bonded, and have barely even talked. She doesn't like me; I don't like her. Can't you just let it go?"
Hoskins shook his head. "Nonsense. You may hate me now, and even up until after I meet my end, but eventually you will realize that what I'm trying to do is right. Being in the military changes a man. You know that more than most. You have yet to experience infatuation, love, even desire, and that's not healthy. It's high time you start experiencing what life has to offer instead of wallowing in despair. I know all about your near suicidal tendencies and you can't go on living operating like that."
"Sir, I appreciate your concern, well not really, but I don't like her like that. Even if I did, that would only hurt my job and my dream."
"To move out west?" Hoskins asked.
"Yes, to leave this place behind."
Hoskins laughed. "So you're still set on running away from your problems?"
"Not running away, escaping."
"Same difference." A silence befall the two before Hoskins grabbed another paper from his stack and glanced at Danny. "Answer me this. Do you think Sam is attractive?"
Danny turned away from the man in embarrassment. "Sir, this really isn't an appropriate topic."
"Just answer my question and I'll shut up."
"I-" Danny began, facing his commander's steely gaze. "I guess she could be pretty if she isn't cross dressing."
Hoskins shrugged. "I guess lust is better than nothing."
"It's not lust!"
Hoskins handed Danny a parchment, another paper from the stack. "Here. Just sign this and you can leave. Of course I require Sam's signature too which means I need you to get her for me."
Danny gave him an incredulous look. "Why do I have a feeling that you'll do more than just get her to sign?"
A lighthearted smile formed on the colonel's face. "Because you are learning how I operate. Treat Sam properly, okay?"
Danny muttered something under his breath before nodding. "I'll treat her just fine."
"Ugh" the mercenary groaned as he slammed his second glass of beer on the table. He was about to order another, but then thought against it. While he was had built up a pretty good tolerance for alcohol, there was no reason he really needed to push it. Why not save that for when he reached California.
Glancing around the run down cafeteria like tent once more, Danny did his best to ignore the hairs that were standing up on the back of his neck. Huh, maybe he should get another drink after all. At least then he could better ignore the uneasiness that was settling in the atmosphere. It was probably just him, but he felt like someone, or a couple people, were watching him this very moment and didn't have the best of intentions. Maybe it was his eagerness to leave getting to him.
It's been what, an hour, maybe two, since he told Sam to report to Hoskins? You'd think they'd be done by now. He already went to one of the makeshift stables around camp and collected his horse, which was currently waiting a little ways outside of the cafeteria with both his and Sam's equipment. All he was really waiting for was her now.
One of the barkeeps grabbed Danny's glass and was about to leave when he turned around. "Hey, you're that mercenary guy correct?"
If Danny's senses were to be believed, he felt even more eyes on him now. The barkeep must've noticed them to as he fidgeted and all but shrank under their gazes.
"Uh, I'd just be careful if I were you. A group of soldiers entered the bar area last night, a little after you did a job for the colonel I think. They were talking about you. None of it good of course. They were really pissed off over something. Sadly I wasn't able to get much out of them because they left after only a few rounds."
"Okay," Danny was growing even more uneasy by the second. He would reach for one of his daggers if he could, but that would only be a provocation. "Why are you telling me this?"
"They-" the barkeep hesitated to speak, "They sounded like they wanted you dead."
The now tense mercenary gave the cafeteria another once over before saying a thanks and walking away. The place was getting too crowded for him anyway. He decided his best bet was waiting by his horse instead.
Five minutes passed and he tried to suppress his growing agitation. There was a near constant flow of men passing by him, most all glancing at him before quickly moving on. This was starting to get dangerous. By now he was sure someone was after him. The trouble was he couldn't tell friend from foe, something he had never dealt with before.
"Pretty ain't she?" Asked a soldier, stopping at the other side of Phantom, Danny horse.
"Yeah, my horse is." He could feel more eyes on him before. Something was definitely going down. Danny rested his hand on the hilt of one of his daggers.
"Perfect black hair and such soft skin. Oh and her eyes. Who do you know that has violet eyes like her. She's one of a kind."
"We're no longer talking about my horse, are we?"
The temperature grew colder as the man smirked. "Did I mention how kind she was? Always willing to talk and laugh with the rest of us. Yes, she filled a void in most all of our hearts."
Four men appeared from the stream of passerby's all armed with a rifle at their hip. A good many more were behind them unarmed. A normal man would've expected a reaction from the stream of soldiers, but they paid them no heed. For one reason or another, they weren't intervening.
"I'd suggest throwing down the daggers you have hidden, Mr. Fenton." The soldier speaking to him pulled out a pistol from a hidden holster and aimed it at Danny while the four armed men surrounded him.
"I hope you know you're pulling your weapon on a high ranking officer."
"Ah, Ah, Ah," the soldier with the pistol replied in a mocking tone. "You're just a civilian once more. Now, let's have a chat without all this bloodshed. We've had too much already don't you think? But first, drop you weapons."
Still staring at his assailant, Danny slowly took his first dagger out of it's sheathe and dropped it to the ground. The second came soon afterwards. Pressing his luck, the mercenary did not reach for his pistol hidden in the back of his belt.
"Great!" The soldier beamed at him, though it was obviously faked. "Time for our chat. I think it's about time you left. Like, right now. You're not wanted or needed anymore. That way everyone gets what they want. Sam can continue staying here, we get to keep her, and you...well you get your life. Who knows? You might still gather enough money for your little dream house one day. So whatcha say, pal?"
The soldier was met with the worst glare Danny has ever given in his entire life. "I wouldn't be threatening me right now. There's nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal."
"Hmm," his assailant sighed, "I see you want to do things the hard way. Okay then. Let's go for a little walk outside of camp."
One of the other soldiers forced Danny to take a step by shoving him forward. Using all his strength, he planted his feet firmly on the ground and didn't move an inch further. "I guess you haven't realized that I'm currently waiting for someone."
"Do you wanna' get shot, idiot?"
"No," Danny shook his head, "but I no that you can't do anything where we currently stand. If either you or your goons fire their weapon, then it would be heard all the way back at my colonel's tent. You wouldn't be able to hide what you did. In other words, you won't shoot."
"True," answered the soldier. "Richard, Billy, please grab our friend here for me."
Two soldiers who weren't already holding a rifle walked up to Danny and grabbed both of his arms, one arm per soldier. Smirking still, the soldier with the pistol started walking away from the camp with the two soldiers forcing Danny to walk behind. He tried to dig his feet into the ground, but only ended up injuring his legs. Following behind him were the four other soldiers with rifles.
The soldier with the pistol spoke once more. "I'd be directing my thoughts to my friends and family if I were you. Happy last memories, you know?"
"Go fuck yourself," Danny felt intense pain in his head before everything went black.
"The colonel's kind of a creep," Sam quietly thought aloud as she left Hoskins' tent. It wasn't that he was a pervert or anything, he just came off as really weird. Of course there was also that odd attraction he had to both her and Danny. Oh well, she shouldn't really care because that's the last she'd be seeing of him.
She headed to the cafeteria, the place Danny told her to meet him after she was done with the colonel, only to see he wasn't there. Ignoring her growling stomach that was begging for food, she instead walked outside and went to his tent, finding that it too wasn't there.
'Where could he have gone?' Sam thought. 'He didn't leave without me did he?'
Something didn't feel right to her.
And here's the latest chapter. This was actually supposed to come out a while ago but then life took over and...issues started popping up. Coincidentally, this all gave me the perfect distraction from said issues. That being said, I wasn't in the best state of mind when I edited this, so if anyone notices any mistakes, please tell me.
Now for some more news. After needing to go back into the earlier chapters of this story for some information, I realized how many mistakes were still left in the story and how much it could be improved. I have decided to go back and heavily edit all previous chapters for this story. This isn't just grammar and spelling errors either, but many other aspects. I shouldn't be changing anything important to the plot though. So no one needs to reread previous chapters.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American viewers!
Reviews:
Inviso-Al: Dash was never confirmed to be the blonde that was previously in this story. No jumping to conclusions! Hm, now that I think about it, that does give me an idea. I'll tell you if I use it.
Blue Rider: If you affected it, then it was only for the better. Before I thought of Sam I was thinking of the shooter being Valor or just a random soldier on night watch. It wasn't until I was talking to a friend who brought up the lack of bonding Danny and Sam have gone through in this so far that I realized the situation was great for bonding...among other things.