I have to get this out of the way first, NNF well I love you too, but I don't think I can have your babies. Thanks for the offer though! XD And deadzonedragon? Thanks!


Oh and I'm sorry for all the TxJ, it's really the only focused pairing in this story. I love it very dearly. BlueMyst19 can probably explain it better than I can, but hopefully you can feel the love too.

The Navigator

I have to admit right now, that sitting in the hospital surrounded by beautiful girls, worried about me, for a change, was kinda cool. I was feeling so much better and here they were just for me. Well, not really, they were all here because Danny was here too, but I still like to believe they all cared about me.

I know Sam was worried the most for me. Her care was genuine and she would have been at my bedside no matter what, she's a good friend. I felt really bad for alarming her. I remember her stricken face when she rushed into the hospital room to see me.

"How are you feeling?" she asked gently.

"Miserable," I answered then gave my parents and expectant look. They said something about going to talk to the doctor and left Sam and I alone.

"What happened?" Sam asked worriedly as she sat on the edge of my bed and looked at me fearfully.

"I was, well am, severely dehydrated," I answered sadly. "It's from throwing up so much. I've not been able to keep anything down. I haven't even drank anything really, not since Friday afternoon."

"You've been throwing up?" She asked in alarm. I watched sadly as she looked at me. I felt so bad for upsetting Sam, but I have to admit, it really was nice to know she cared about me. She squeezed my hand and sighed.

"I wish you would have told me," she said. "You're important too Tucker."

"I know," I said quietly, but feeling ashamed as I looked down at my hands. "I just hate being sick, you know? I thought maybe it was just stress and it would go away."

Sam smiled wryly. "Are you sure you're not doing this just to make me accept Valerie? It's just her, Jazz and I against all the ghosts now."

"I wish," I replied and smiled weakly, I have to admit I was thinking about it. "I'm actually disappointed that I didn't think of that, maybe I could have gotten help before this happened," he gestured to the IV.

"I know you hate hospitals," Sam laughed. Oh boy do I ever hate hospitals. I really feel like someone has it in for me, I've spent way too much time here in the last few days.

"Valerie and Jazz are here," Sam said and I looked at her in surprise.

"Where?" I asked worriedly. I didn't have my hat on! I couldn't see them without my hat! That was as bad as being naked!

"They went to check on Danny and said they'd be down to see you after." Sam answered then gave me a strange look.

"My hat Sam!" I told her frantically. "Where's my hat?" Sam immediately started searching around the room, but she couldn't find it. I began to feel severely panicked.

"Why do you need your hat?" Sam asked in amusement as I begged her to keep looking. I can't explain the sense of relief I felt when she found it in a bag by the sink.

"I just need it," I answered as I put my hat on. It's a long story. I hate being without my hat.

"You look better without it," Sam told me. I just smiled, knowing that she was really just trying to embarrass me. I didn't let many people see me without my hat if I could help it, and she knew it.

"Who are you trying to impress anyway?" Sam asked teasingly. "Jazz or Valerie?"

A rush of warm happiness flooded through me. "Either or," I answered.

"You're kidding," Sam answered looking dumbfounded. I don't know why she's so shocked. She knows I like girls…a lot.

My heart started racing as Valerie and Jazz came into the room. Valerie sat on the other side of my bed, Jazz hung back a little bit. Sam looked like she was about to burst out laughing and I had to give her a warning look.

"I'm going to check on Danny now," Sam said as she hugged me. I started feeling bad again, here we all were, stressed out and worried over Danny, and I just made things worse. I was worried about Danny too.

"I'll go with you," Jazz said as she stood. I felt so disappointed. I was hoping she'd stay and spend time with me. There was nothing like having two beautiful girls fawning all over you…Not that either girl was fawning over me, but it didn't hurt to dream did it?

"No," Sam said to Jazz, then looked at me briefly. "Stay here, and keep Tucker company. I think he feels neglected. He's suffering from such severe mental trauma that, well maybe he could benefit from a good talk with you."

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound pathetic. "I think talking would make me feel a lot better." Jazz looked uncertain for a moment then decided to stay. Yes! I gave Sam a grateful look and she rolled her eyes at me as she walked away.

Jazz walked further into the room and sat down in the chair near my bed, and let out a deep breath. I looked at her worriedly for a moment then at Valerie who was looking down at her hands.

"How are you feeling?" Valerie asked. "I was so shocked to hear you were sick."

"Me too," I laughed. "But I'm okay. I'd like to get this stupid thing out of my arm and go home." I held up my hand with the IV in it and Valerie winced, and shook her head in sympathy.

All right, as I was saying earlier, sitting in the hospital surrounded by beautiful girls, worried about me for a change, was great. Don't ask me who I like better, there's no way I could chose. Both girl's are different. Jazz is cool, calm, smart and beautiful. Valerie is fiery, sassy, strong and beautiful. The sad thing about both of them, is neither would give me the time of day. Depressing, but true.

Valerie has a thing for Danny. I don't know if things could work out between them, I think you'd probably have to cut Sam's head off first.

No, not really. Sam would be supportive of Danny if he wanted to date Val, she's a very sensible girl. Sam doesn't let her emotions get the best of her, usually. It would hurt her, that's for sure, but she'd never let Danny know it. I think Danny would enjoy dating Valerie for awhile, they'd probably get along really well, but ultimately, Danny loves Sam. So, like I said. Valerie likes Danny. Where does that leave me? No where.

Then there is Jazz. Even if she wasn't like, two years older than me, there is seriously no way she'd ever have any interest in me. There's also the little complication of the fact that she's Danny's sister. Man, if he knew I was crushing on Jazz, he'd kill me.

This was a situation I knew I'd never be in again, so I was determined to enjoy every moment, irregardless of the fact that my chances with either girl were nill. Valerie fluffed the pillows behind my back and Jazz took my hand in hers and looked into my eyes. Man, I was in heaven.

"Sam says you need to talk," Jazz said as she looked into my eyes. I almost melted then and there, and there was no way I was going to be able to answer her. I swallowed hard and opened my mouth to talk, but no sound came out. I looked down at her hand holding mine. It was soft, like rose petals, and so sweetly pale in contrast to my skin, like ivory. My heart started racing in my throat.

"I think he's so stressed that he's at a loss for words," Valerie said, I knew she was teasing me, but was grateful that Jazz didn't pick up on her tone, at least I hope she didn't pick up on her tone.

"Poor Tucker," Jazz said and sighed. "This has to be so difficult for you." She shook her head, and I frowned. Things had to be difficult for her. Danny might be my best friend, but he is her brother. Just because I was sick, though I was feeling better by the minute, didn't mean that I wasn't okay, and could let Jazz comfort me.

"Jazz," I said as I turned my hand over and cradled hers in mine. "I'm going to be fine. Really. I'm already feeling better. Tucker Foley is a hard man to get down." She smiled at me wryly then looked at Valerie, I suddenly felt like they knew something I didn't.

Valerie cleared her throat. "Uh, I think I saw a soda machine down the hall," she said. "Does any one want anything?"

I pointed to the IV which was filling me with some weird type of fluid and shook my head. Jazz politely declined, then turned her attention back to me.

"Obviously," she began. "The stress of the situation has manifested itself in one of the worst ways possible, physically. Your current condition is indicative of extremely repressed emotions, Tuck,"

"I'm not repressing anything," I denied quickly, except maybe a wicked crush on my best friend's sister, that had just grown one hundred million times in the space of a few minutes. I sighed and thought for a moment. Danny had been in my head. Was he still there? If he was, and he could hear my thoughts. I was in some deep trouble.

"I'm here for you," Jazz continued. "If you need to talk or you know, cry or anything."

"I don't need to cry!" I said in shock. "Why would I need to cry?" What? Did she think I was a girl or something? My spirits sagged, she probably did. She probably thought I was this big wuss. I looked at her for a moment, she looked back at me expectantly. What was she waiting for? Me to cry?

"I don't need to cry," I repeated, but my eyes suddenly felt all hot and prickly and I had to blink several times to get the stupid liquid filling my eyes to reabsorb. I thought I was supposed to be dehydrated!

Jazz sat back in her chair and made some sort of humming noise. I bet if she had a notebook and pen, she'd be writing something down. I had to look away from her, the last thing I needed right now was a blushy moment.

"What about you?" I finally said trying to take the focus from me. "You must be having a rough time yourself."

Jazz looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. She smiled a little. "I have a good emotional outlet," she told me. Valerie chose that moment to come back. On one hand I was happy, but on the other, I was kinda sad.

Sam returned what seemed like only a few minutes later looking wild eyed and frantic, I looked at the clock and saw that she'd been gone almost over an hour.

"Jazz," she said, then took a deep calming breath. "You need to get upstairs now. You're mother needs you. Vlad has been here and he's demanding that your mom marry him. He's coming to take her and Danny away!" Jazz shot up from her chair, thanked Sam, said good bye to me and Valerie then ran of, as I marveled at how she could still be so polite in the face of such really bad news.

Sam collapsed in the chair Jazz vacated and leaned forward. Holding her head and keening like someone in pain. Valerie looked at me in alarm. I tried to get up but the IV was on the other side of the bed and wouldn't let me move.

Valerie rushed to Sam's side and said, "Sam. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay." Sam only moaned in anguish. Valerie looked at me in alarm.

"Sam," I called gently. "Come sit with me." She didn't move she just kept sitting forward with her hands on her head, crying.

"I think she's having a panic attack," Valerie said softly as she looked at me with wide frightened eyes. I opened and closed my mouth a few times, unsure of what to do. Valerie bit her lip then put her hand comfortingly on Sam's back.

"Sam, you need to relax. The only thing panicking will do is make you sick," Valerie said gently. Sam seemed to be listening. She took several deep breaths, then tried to look up. She looked up at me with pain filled eyes then at Valerie.

"Now," Valerie said as she held Sam's gaze. "that you're breathing again. I want you to relax okay?" Sam tried to nod her head, but seemingly couldn't. Valerie knelt down in front of Sam and took her hands.

"You're hands are like a block of ice," Valerie said to Sam worriedly. Sam said nothing as Valerie held her fearful gaze.

"Relax your toes first," Valerie told Sam soothingly. Sam closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Valerie put her hands on Sam's shoulder.

"Now your legs," Valerie continued. I looked at the IV in my arm and contemplated pulling it out. I knew Valerie was the last person Sam would want to lean on, and figured I'd have a little more success.

I looked at the IV in my hand and shuddered then up at the bag and tubes hanging above my bed. I thought they were supposed to put these on little movable stands or something. Why was mine attached?

"Danny," Sam sobbed as she collapsed into Valerie's arms.

"I know," Valerie said soothingly. My life has been strange for the last few years. I've grown to expect the unaccepted and accept the really weird, but seeing Sam leaning on Valerie for emotional support was by far the most bizarre thing I'd seen in a very long time, and really, that's saying a lot. Sam returned Valerie's embrace for a moment then pulled away. She gave us both a look of horror.

"I have to stop him!" she yelled. Valerie tried to keep Sam from leaving but she was gone before we could do much to restrain her. Valerie looked at me worriedly.

"Crap!" I said as my stomach began to ache, though it wasn't as severe as it had been before. It was more like a worried ache instead of a sick ache.

"Do you want me to go after her?" Valerie asked.

I shook my head. "It won't do any good," I told her. "She'll just fight you." Valerie sighed and shook her head. She was about to say something else, but the nurse came in to check my vitals.

"Is this your sister?" The nurse asked sweetly as she looked at Valerie who covered he mouth and started laughing.

"No," I answered. "She's just a good friend."

"Oh!" the nurse said then smiled. "I'm sorry." She paused for a moment. "Girlfriend?"

"No," I repeated. "She's just a good friend."

The nurse only smiled mysteriously. "Don't think I haven't noticed the other two pretty girl's hanging around your room," she teased.

"They're just good friends too," I said quickly then looked at Valerie who was grinning from ear to ear.

The nurse shook her head then looked at Valerie. "Tell me," she said. "Does Tucker always have so many girls hanging on to him? Or is it just you three?"

Valerie smiled happily. "Oh all the girls in school think Tuck is the best. We all love him. The best thing is that he's so humble." She looked at me evilly.

"Tell the nurse the truth Tucky." She continued. "Jazz, Sam and I have been fighting each other for your attention for weeks now." I opened and closed my mouth. Wanting to deny it, but kinda wanting to play along too.

The nurse smiled as she took my blood pressure. "Which one is winning?" she asked Valerie.

"Jazz I think," Valerie answered as she gave me a wicked look. I looked back in alarm. For a girl who was clueless about Danny's secret identity for so long, she sure was perceptive. Darn it.

"Which one is Jazz?" The nurse questioned. "The freaky Goth girl or the pretty red head?"

"The red head," Valerie answered sadly.

"Yeah," the nurse said on a sigh. "It's always the red heads." She patted my shoulder then left the room with a big grin on her face.

"You're mean," I said to Valerie. "Really mean." Valerie just smiled at me happily.

"Really, really mean," I growled trying to pretend I was angry.

Valerie narrowed her eyes at me then said, "Don't lie to me Tuck. You know you liked it." I looked at her a moment and smiled. She smiled back, and some how, my crush on Valerie doubled. Darn it! Though crushing on Val was much safer.

Sam returned a little while later with an expression of profound sadness on her face. She explained that Vlad came and took Maddie and Danny away, that she was too late to stop them, and that Jack and Jazz went after them in the R.V.

"Man," I said, again feeling my stomach churn. "This is really bad."

"What happened to you earlier?" Valerie asked, her face filled with concern. "Why did you run off?"

Sam looked at Valerie thoughtfully then answered, "Because, Danny's told me to try and stop them. His voice was in my head."

"Are you sure it was Danny?" Valerie questioned in disbelief.

"I believe you Sam," I said and Sam looked at me gratefully. "He was in my head for a little while too." Valerie frowned in confusion, then and idea hit me

"Tell him he needs to transform to Phantom," I told Sam excitedly. If Danny's could hear us, maybe he could transform.

"I don't think he can," Sam said regretfully. "He's stuck in my head."

"Do you feel sick?" I asked her curiously.

"I have a headache," Sam answered. Yup, I knew it. Danny was the reason I was getting sick.

"Can you hear him?" I questioned

"I only heard him once," Sam answered then gave me a sad look.

"I bet he can hear you," I teased, and I bet Danny was learning a whole lot about Sam. This was good. Sam gave me an angry look and I laughed.

"You probably need to be close to him," Valerie said absently. "I mean both of you. If you're like in control of his consciousness, wouldn't the two of you together with him be able to like do something?"

"What do you mean?" Tucker asked. Man, now that she's catching up to all this ghost stuff, she's turning out to be scary smart, just what I need, more women who were smarter than me.

"I don't know," Valerie answered. "I'm not making sense. I don't know anything about this half ghost thing. I don't know how it works, and I don't understand it."

"I think she has a point," Sam said thoughtfully.

"We should go after them!" I said excitedly. Vlad won't even know what hit him. "We'll take the Specter Speeder and…"

"I think we should wait," Sam told me. "We don't know if Vlad's actually taking Maddie and Danny to Wisconsin."

"I bet they go to Colorado," I said thoughtfully. I looked at Valerie who began to look lost.

"Vlad has a hide out in Colorado," I explained. "It's in the Rockies. I think it'd be hard to get to on foot, but it's a breeze with the Spectra Speeder."

Valerie shook her head then opened her mouth to speak, but my parents walked into the room. They told me that I was being discharged. The doctor came in and issued instructions for me to rest. Damn.

Sam and Valerie left, making me promise to call when I was at home and settled. I asked them where they were going and Valerie grinned.

"On ghost patrol," she said happily. I looked at Sam who simply shrugged her shoulders. I wondered if they would actually be fighting the ghosts, or if they'd end up fighting each other.

I ended up falling asleep for awhile once I got home. My mother brought me some soup and then I was out like a light. I was so worried about Sam and Valerie that I assumed resting was impossible, but I slept. Thankfully I didn't dream.

When I woke, it was to a soft knocking on my door. It was Mom telling me that Sam and Valerie had come to see me. I quickly dressed and put on my hat and told her to send them up.

Both girls entered my room in companionable silence. Each taking their places. Sam on the end of my bed, Valerie in my computer chair.

"How did the ghost patrol go?" I asked.

Valerie was smiling as she spun in my chair. "We ran into Skulker," she said happily. My eyes widened and I looked at Sam who shook her head.

"Obviously," Sam began. "We didn't get killed fighting him. No thanks to Miss Crazy Person over there." She pointed her thumb at Valerie who just smiled as she continued to spin in the chair.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Valerie decided to be a kamikaze," Sam growled, but I could tell she was amused and not really angry. "It freaked Skulker out a little, I think and before you know it…"

"Boom right into the thermos!" Valerie said loudly and happily. She stopped spinning long enough to grin at me then started whirling in the opposite direction.

Sam bit her lip trying to keep back her laughter then cleared her throat. "We have some other news for you," she said.

"Which is why I had to play kamikaze," Valerie started. "It was to save her skinny little butt." Sam sent Valerie an irritated look and stuck out her tongue. Valerie only smiled and continued to spin. My mouth was hanging open in shock. I never thought these two girls would be able to get along, period, and here they were bantering back and forth like old friends. It was too bizarre.

"So," Sam said as she took a deep breath. "We need to call Jazz."

"Why?" I asked warily.

Sam looked down at her hands said softly, "Because Danny contacted me again…"

"In the middle of our battle with Skulker," Valerie interrupted.

"So," Sam began. "I was thinking that we should take the Speeder, rescue Maddie and Danny."

"We have a plan," Valerie said happily.

"A big plan," Sam added.

"A really big plan," Valerie laughed.

Sam looked at Valerie a moment then dropped the bomb, "Danny says that Vlad took them to Colorado." I didn't hesitate. I grabbed my cell phone and hit the speed dial for Jazz's cell.

"Why does he have Jazz on speed dial?" Valerie asked Sam.

"Because he has everyone on speed dial," Sam answered with a strange smile on her face. "It's a safety precaution." I gave them both an irritated look then closed my eyes and listened to the click of the phone connecting.

"Hello?" Jazz answered and my traitorous heart flopped in my chest. Man, I'm just completely hopeless.

"Hey!" I said.

"Hey," Jazz repeated and I smiled then frowned. How was I going to tell her something that sounded so unbelievable?

"Um…," I started looking for the right word then took a few breaths. "I don't know if you're going to believe me or not because this is pretty strange."

"Tucker," Jazz said in amusement. "You know as well as I do, that I've been through more than my share of strange. What's going on?"

I took a few more few deep breaths. "They're not in Wisconsin," I told her. "They're in Colorado."

"Oh geeze," Jazz replied in alarm. "Are you sure?"

"Tell her Danny contacted me," Sam ordered

"We kinda heard it from Danny himself," I said.

"What?" Jazz yelled.

"You need to turn around," I continued urgently. "Now, and get back here as fast as possible. We have a plan."

"A plan?" she asked.

"Yeah," I answered, trying not to laugh, because honestly, I had no clue what this very big plan was. "A big plan."

"What kind of big plan?" she probed. Did she always have to ask so many darned questions?

"How are you feeling?" I asked abruptly. I was grateful she changed the subject, but it was kinda weird.

"They released me from the hospital, I'm doing a lot better now that your pesky brother is out of my mind," I told her as I held the phone closer, just so I could hear her better. She seemed so far away.

"What?" Jazz asked in disbelief

"He's in Sam's head now," I told her happily.

"Okay," Jazz said slowly. "So you're feeling better?"

"Yeah," I answered in amusement. Jazz was repeating herself, it was cute.

"I'm glad your okay," she said softly. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I listened. "I was...we were really worried about you."

"I am kinda worried about you," I told her honestly, she laughed then sighed. I wanted to sigh too, but thought better of it.

"I'm glad you're okay," She repeated then caught myself. I couldn't help the blush spreading across my face.

"Would you stop flirting with her, Tuck?" Sam growled and my blush deepened. "Tell her they need to stop and turn around now!"

"I'm not flirting with Jazz," I said in outrage and was mortified when Jazz laughed.

"Really," I continued, trying to play it off.

I closed my eyes and asked Jazz, "You don't think I'm flirting with you, do you?" I kinda hoped that she would say she was flirting with me. It was completely irrational, but I couldn't help it.

"No," she answered, and my heart sank. "But let me call you back okay?" I agreed then hung up the phone and looked at Sam, who was smiling slightly with a knowing look on her face.

"Tucker's in love with Jaaaaazzzz," Sam said to Valerie, who laughed.

"I am not!" I denied. Sam only smiled. I knew she was going to tease me unmercifully, just to get back at her for all the teasing I'd done about her and Danny. I sighed in exasperation.

Both girls left me so I could rest. They said they needed to patrol for more ghosts. I figured they wanted to giggle about my reaction to Jazz.

They called later in the evening and told me they ran into more ghosts, but were both going home for the night. They said they were going to do a quick patrol in the morning, then give me a call.

Valerie called me at seven forty five and told me to get my butt over to Fenton Works. Jack and Jazz were home and we had a lot of work to do. I dressed quickly then had to beg my mother to let me go. She said that she was surprised I was so eager to get to school. I didn't want to tell her I was ditching and flying to Colorado to rescue Danny and his mother. She wouldn't understand.

When I reached Danny's house, I found Sam and Valerie in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Let me say that again. Sam and Valerie. Together. Cooking breakfast…at Danny's house. Total weirdness. They told me Jazz was still asleep and that Jack was in the lab working on trying to reactivate Valerie's ghost suit.

Sam later teased me for my reaction once Jazz came downstairs. I couldn't help it. She looked so worried and she focused her attention on me.

"You made it sound like you went ghost hunting yesterday," Sam teased as we walked to the Specter Speeder. I blushed heavily and she put her arm around me.

"Danny's going to kill you," she told me. I sighed. That was very true.

The next thing I knew, we were off, and I was the navigator. I just hope I didn't start off in the wrong direction this time.

"Oh look!" Valerie said as she pointed out the window. "Is that a jackalope?"

"A jackalope?" Jack asked in his trademark booming tone? "Where?" She pointed, but luckily we'd already passed it by, and I can tell you from experience, it wasn't a jackalope, I googled them. Thy don't exist…but then again ghosts aren't supposed to exist either, so what do I know?

I began to feel extremely nervous as we approached the mountains, that meant Vlad's stronghold was close, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for the battle. I still felt weak and sick after all. I looked at everyone else. They seemed more than ready to take on whatever Vlad was willing to dish out. I was just worried. I hoped Sam and Valerie were right. I hope their plan would work. It better work.

Geeze! Sorry this took so long to get out. You can blame three people. My muses and The Bushwacker. I started on ANOTHER story and that kept me from working on this one. The next chapter is Sam and it's going to be rather complicated, so I'm going to take my time on it. You may not have it until Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest.

Again, I'm sorry about the TxJ…ok not really. Just humor me with it will you? Please?

This meager writer humbly submits an honorable request, that her kindly readers issue a review. –bows-