The Stoic
It makes me sad, when I realize just how outside of everything I actually am. I am the reason this is happening, but when I look at Danny and Sam, Tucker and Jazz, I know I don't belong in their inner circle. I started everything by trying to kill Danny. I am still here because I can fight. That's it. That's my role. To fight.
I see them paring off. I don't think they realize they're doing it and I don't see the purpose. Why do people feel the necessity to pair off into couples? I won't deny that I like Danny, a lot and I won't deny that I feel kind of sad at the loss of Tucker's crush on me, but I don't need it. I don't need a relationship or a boyfriend to be anything. I'm perfectly fine on my own. I'm not going to lie and say it doesn't hurt, but I will be fine.
I know it seems strange, but I'm okay with it. I'm okay with Danny and Sam being together even though she tells me emphatically that they are not together. They're just fooling themselves, and I'm not going to stand in the way of seeing my friends happy. Funny, Sam is my friend. I'll admit that I am going to miss making her jealous, it was fun being able to manipulate someone's feelings, though I still might be able to push her buttons occasionally. Sam is a good friend and I could use a good friend, I just hope she won't want to kill me after all of this is over and everyone is all right. I'm worried that everyone is going to calm down and they're going to realize my blame in this situation and I'm gonna be toast!
Danny is hiding something. Yeah he told us that he's weak, but I get the feeling that because he's telling us that he's not doing good, that he's far worse off than we can imagine. Danny has a hero complex of some sort and I think he's going to put himself at risk to save his parents from Vlad, I can read it in his eyes. I know Sam sees it too.
"This place is awesome," I whispered to Sam as we sat in the ops center. Sam smiled at me and showed me the refrigerator, complete with emergency ham. I had to laugh, if anyone or anything was an emergency ham, it was Jack Fenton.
Danny frowned as he riffled through the cluttered ops center, Sam watched him worriedly then turned to me and touched my arm.
"I know what he's planning," she whispered softly as she looked over her shoulder to make sure he wasn't listening. "We can't let him do it."
"What?" I asked worriedly as I scanned her pale face.
"Wear the suit," Sam told me. "If the thing is even operable. I know how Danny is.." A sad expression flashed across her face and I put my hand on her arm as she opened her mouth to say something more, unfortunately her words were interrupted.
"I found it!" Danny called out as he pushed aside what looked to be a mountain of junk. Sam met my eyes for a moment, begging me for something. To stop him? Stop him from what? And what power did I have to stop him from doing anything at all?
"Do you think it'll work?" Sam asked as she held my gaze for a moment then turned to stand by Danny.
"Depends on much work Dad did on it," Danny answered as he touched the suit his expression was unreadable, which was frightening to me because well, Danny's usually a pretty expressive person and to see him so distant is unsettling.
"It looks a lot like the old one," Sam remarked and I turned to look at Jazz and Tuck as they walked through the door.
"Mom's been working on it," Jazz announced as she moved forward. She delicately pushed Danny out of the way. She hit a few switches and opened the control panel, the lights on the suit flashed on for a moment then faded slowly. Jazz sighed shakily as she closed the panel.
"You got into Mom's notes?" Danny asked warily. Jazz looked at him for a moment then locked the control panel.
"She solved the power source problem," Jazz continued softly as she moved her brother further from the suit, and I began to feel relieved thinking that we didn't have to free Skulker from his thermos, to be honest I wouldn't mind keeping that ghost locked up forever. I wasn't looking forward to the battle to keep him contained or negotiating some kind of treaty to get him to work for us, it seemed unthinkable.
"What about the other issues?" Danny asked.
Jazz shrugged. "I don't think we can solve the other issues, and if I don't stay in it long, it shouldn't be a problem," she answered almost flippantly
"You?" Danny asked as he looked at her skeptically.
"Tucker and I have been talking," Jazz answered. She looked at me then at Sam. "Valerie, you already have an advantage with your suit, so if we have someone else wear the ecto-skeleton, then we'll have just one more person to fight Vlad."
"Sounds reasonable to me," I said, in fact it sounded like a really good idea, I would have worn the suit with no complaint, but I wasn't looking forward to it.
"Tucker and Sam are used to fighting beside you without anything but ecto-guns," Jazz continued as she looked at Danny. "Beside I think it would be better if they stayed with you and kept you safe."
"So that leaves you as the only option," Danny replied almost accusingly as he watched Jazz. I could see he wasn't happy with the decision.
"There isn't any other option," Jazz told him. "Besides I have experience using it."
"So do I," Danny said his face filling with breath taking determination.
Jazz shook her head. "No way are you going to use it," she said angrily. "But it's not an option Danny. You're already weak as it is, we don't know what it will do and…"
"Jazz…" Danny said then stopped and looked over Jazz's shoulder at Sam and I. He sighed then pulled his sister up the stairs to the roof. I looked at Sam who was biting her lip worriedly.
"The RV is ready to go," Tucker whispered from behind us, we jumped and he smiled. It was strange to me to see him so serious. He asked us to help him move the suit down to the R.V.. I looked up the stairs where Danny and Jazz had disappeared then put my back into helping to move the ecto-skeleton out of the ops center and into the R.V.
When we came up back upstairs, Jazz was standing in the center of the room with red rimmed eyes. She looked like she'd been crying. I looked at Sam who looked at Danny. Danny said nothing as he made his way past us, punching Tucker in the arm as he passed.
"What did he tell you?" Sam asked as she moved forward. Jazz looked at her and shook her head.
"He's all right though right?" I questioned.
Jazz smiled shakily. "I think we should go downstairs and get ready to leave."
Everyone was quiet as Jazz and Sam packed food for the trip. I had nothing to do and no one to really talk to so I stood and looked at the pictures on the wall; Danny and Jazz as small children. Jazz was dressed as a doctor and Danny was dressed as a vampire for Halloween, I thought that they would have been ghosts, but then again, they were probably scared to dress up as ghosts considering how zealous their parents are about hunting them. I turned my attention to a picture of Danny at the park with his mother and then one of Jazz standing with her father. I felt profoundly sad as I looked at them all, they pictures of a happy family and a life I could very well have ended.
"Hey Val," Danny said as he came to stand beside me. I looked at him in his ghost form and couldn't help feeling something. What was it? Fear? Revulsion? Hate? No it wasn't any of those feelings, it was guilt. It was strange standing with him, my former enemy who in reality was probably one of the better friends I'd ever had in my life.
"Hey Danny," I said then turned to look at him. His eyes were focused on the pictures on the wall.
"Listen," he began, not looking at me as he spoke. "I don't want you to worry or feel bad or anything, okay?" I blinked at him as he kept his eyes on a picture of him with Sam and Tucker, it looked like it had been taken when they were in the third, maybe fourth grade.
"About what?" I asked, playing like I didn't know what he was talking about. It was weak of me to pretend, but I needed to hear him say it.
"It's not your fault Val," he told me as he turned his green glowing eyes to my face. I couldn't suppress my shudder of fear, not of him, but at never being able to look into his beautiful blue eyes again. Oh how I loved those eyes; deep and thoughtful, perfect blue. I'd never seen anything like them, and I was scared of never seeing them again, as my gaze met the glowing ecto-green I thought I hated, and now I felt so, confused.
"We know that's not true," I replied stiffly. "It is my fault for being so blind. I-I just want you to know that I see how wrong I was. I'm sorry Danny." I felt so embarrassed about the tears which were now streaming down my face.
"And am telling you that there is nothing for you to feel guilty about," Danny continued. "You didn't know what you were doing, so no matter what happens, I want you to know that I've never held it against you."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You talk like you're saying good bye Danny." He smiled at me sadly and shrugged his shoulders. I pulled myself together and forced all my emotions down and away, presenting the most stoic appearance possible.
"I just want to be prepared…" he told me.
"And what are you not telling us?" I asked coolly, feeling like a soldier being ready to take orders from her commanding officer as we marched to war. All I needed were the facts. If I could have the facts and understand what I was facing, I would be alright.
Danny took a deep breath as he returned his gaze back to the pictures on the wall. "I worry about Tucker and Sam," he told me. "I know that the three of us are interconnected some how, and if something happens to me..."
"You're planning on wearing the suit aren't you," I accused. "That ecto-suit or whatever it is."
"Ecto-skeleton," Danny corrected as he put his hand on the wall to brace himself up, giving away what he was so desperate to hide, his weakness. "Don't try to stop me, Val. I know what I'm doing."
"Do you really?" I queried softly as I looked at him in profile. He's a fool, such a hero, a champion, a protector. He's everything I wanted to be, everything I thought I was and everything I'll never be. I thought I was doing good, but no. I should have just stayed out of it. I should have accepted his help and friendship when he offered it in his ghost form.
"Of course!" He answered almost cheerfully. Sam came to stand beside us and I knew the conversation was over as he turned and smiled at her.
"Are we all ready to go?" she asked looking from Danny to me then back to Danny worry and a little bit of jealousy alive in her eyes. I smiled.
"Yup," Danny answered cheerfully. He looked at me expectantly. I looked at him sternly for a moment as his eyes begged me not to say anything to Sam. I knew I had time to decide on my course of action, so I decided to wait.
"I'm ready," I said, leaving Danny and Sam to talk.
I found Jazz in the driver's seat of the RV reading a map. She looked at me and smiled. She offered me the passenger seat, but I knew it was an offer made more out of hospitality and kindness rather than a genuine desire for my company. I declined and sat in back, beside…Tucker who was sitting behind Jazz. I smiled at him and he smiled back. Jazz turned and looked at us for a moment and suddenly I felt like some kind of crazy femme fatale, making all the other girl's jealous, though unfortunately or mostly fortunately the males weren't swooning around me. I actually thought it was amusing that Jazz and Sam regarded me as threats for Tucker and Danny's attention.
"How are you doing?" I asked Tuck as I adjusted his hat. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled at me wryly. He wasn't going to confide in me, I knew that, I don't know why I asked except maybe to make conversation.
Sam and Danny climbed into the RV and I gave Sam my place between Tucker and I, so it was easier for her to talk to Danny who was beside Jazz, in the passenger seat. I myself needed some quiet. I needed to pull myself together. I felt like a bundle of nerves, and even though I knew Vlad's home was hours away, my body was filled with the tension of the upcoming battle.
I don't know how it was possible, but I fell asleep with my head against the wall of the RV. I guess it because of the way the vehicle was rocking as Jazz sped down the road and because of the drone from the large engine. Everyone was so quiet anyway that there wasn't much else to do but sleep.
When I woke up, Sam was asleep, I couldn't tell what Danny was doing, and Tucker was leaning forward with his hand on Jazz's shoulder. I watched for and listened as they talked quietly.
"I think you should let me take the suit," Tucker told her gently. "I have more fighting experience than you."
"I have formal training, Tucker," Jazz replied her voice soft and tender as she spoke his name. "I know how to fight. Just because Vlad ups the ante with his ghost powers does not mean that I am unqualified to use the suit."
"Yeah, but don't you think your parents have been through enough? They don't need you risking your life too," Tucker continued.
I could see Jazz smiling as she drove, checking her mirrors dutifully every eight seconds. Then daring to put her hand over the hand Tucker had laid over her shoulder. I looked at Tucker as he closed his eyes.
"I don't want you to do it," he said. "Let me."
Jazz shook her head. "When it comes down to it, Tuck. This is a family matter. I'll do what I have to do to protect my parents and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you." She paused then said quickly, "Or Sam or Valerie.
I had to suppress a sigh as I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall of the RV. It was strange watching two people fall in love with each other and stranger still that it was Tucker and Jazz, I didn't want to think about how completely freaky that was. The last two people I imagined getting together are Jazz and Tucker.
"Besides," Jazz said sounding amused. "You're kinda clumsy Tuck." It was hard to suppress a chuckle of laughter and for a moment I thought I had laughed, but it turned out to be Danny in the front seat.
"Your flirting is making me sick," Danny said, not sounding sick at all, but more amused.
"We're not flirting," Jazz told him indignantly as she tightened her grip on Tucker's hand, which was still on her shoulder. Tucker looked sad and I felt bad, so maybe the love was all on his side, or Jazz was ashamed.
"We're having a serious discussion," Jazz continued. "I know that seems implausible to you Danny. Besides, what does it matter to you if Tucker and I are flirting, it's none of your business."
"Jazz," Danny began in an a serious tone of voice. "Who was it who only two weeks ago called Tucker an irredeemably nerdy geek."
I watched Tucker move back in his seat and then watched Jazz's jaw set. The R.V. was silent for while, with the only sound of Sam's deep breathing as she slept.
"So what if I said Tucker was a nerdy geek," Jazz said softly as she looked at Tucker briefly through the rearview mirror. "That doesn't mean that given a chance to know him better, that I can't change my mind. I happen to really like Tucker Danny and I don't think it's very fair of you to try and stop our…friendship. It's not like I'm trying to steal him from you or anything."
"I just think it's weird," Danny said happily. "Are you guys going to date? What's the deal? Tuck?"
I looked at Tucker, whose skin darkened visibly. "I don't know," Tucker replied. "Why are you being such a jerk Danny? So what if I like your sister? I-I like lots of girls." I wanted to kick Danny. Why was he stirring up trouble between these two, their falling in love with each other was weird, but it was sweet too.
"I know how you are," Danny said to Tucker. "You flirt with anything that doesn't have the Y chromosome, so I was just wondering, because I remember you thinking that Jazz was an irritating know-it-all."
"Well I don't think that anymore," Tucker told him angrily. "I like Jazz, and if you don't like it fine, but don't try to hurt us just because you're jealous or something."
"Us?" Danny asked his voice thick with repressed laughter.
I was about to say something, anything just to change the subject when Sam said, "Can it, Danny." He turned in his seat and smiled at her.
"You're awake," he said happily. "I figured you were going to sleep all the way to Wisconsin."
"How can I sleep with your gums flapping?" Sam replied then yawned. "I thought Tucker was supposed to be the talkative one. Did your brain cells get scrambled? Did someone drop you on your head?" I covered my mouth with my hand.
"Yeah," Danny replied as he turned and smiled at her. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. I realized the bickering and quipping were elements of their friendship. It's how Sam, Tucker and Danny worked together, but that didn't mean I was comfortable with how tough they were with each other, but it did mean I was again standing on the outside. I looked at Jazz and wondered how she felt about the trio. She was probably used to them, and in some ways, was part of the group.
"I'm going to take a break," Jazz announced as she drove through an exit off the highway and made her way to a gas station. I was glad. I needed to get out and stretch my legs, and I was beginning to feel extremely restless.
Talking to Jazz put us only a few hours from Vlad and our fight with him. Butterflies swirled in my stomach as I stood in the gas station store looking at the selection of candy bars. I bought one with the intention of eating it once we reached Vlad's, any earlier and I'd be stuck in the RV, strung out on a sugar rush, not a wise decision.
Settling into the RV left us all feeling much more comfortable. I ended up switching places with Tucker, which was sad because I frequently had Jazz's sad eyes on me from the useless rear view mirror. I was able to see Danny as he sat with his white haired head tilted against the glass. Sam leaned against Tucker as they spoke in quiet tones as they played on his PDA. I didn't want to sleep anymore. I was ready to go after Vlad.
It was Sam who woke me up when we stopped next. We were in the drive way of a huge mansion covered in green and gold flags and banners. Everyone piled out of the R.V. and looked at the big wooden door.
"Well?" I asked. "Are we just going to stand here or are we going to do something?" They all looked at each other and I rolled my eyes and walked forward. I liked opening cans of worms and I was going to do it right here on Vlad's door step. The man owed me, big time.
I pounded on the door for a good five minutes while the others stood together talking amongst themselves. I felt a great swell of resentment grow in my stomach so I started taking all my aggression out on the door. If Vlad wasn't going to answer, I was going to pound it down! I threw several kicks at the wood, hoping to make some kind of dent in the wood, but the door was heavy.
Someone put their hands on my shoulders and I moved to attack the door again and I turned to unleash my fury on whoever had dared to try and stop me, but came face to face with Danny and those freaky eyes again and my stomach dipped.
"Save your energy," Danny told me gently then moved forward and turned the door knob. The door swung open and I felt instantly stupid.
"You go ahead," he told me. "I think it's better if I hang back a little." I narrowed my eyes at him and he smiled innocently. I knew what he was planning, but for the life of me I couldn't stop him. I should have stopped him, but I couldn't I wanted to fight by his side. I wanted to fool myself that he was going to be okay. I was selfish.
"Let's go then," I growled as I activated my suit and looked at Tucker, Sam and Jazz. I didn't wait for any cries of agreement. I was ready to kick some butt and I didn't care if they followed me or not.
"Vlad!" I yelled as I marched into the entry way. I tried not to be dazzled by the sheer size of his home, but it was hard. I knew Vlad was rich, but he lived in a mansion and I'd never been in a house so big in my life.
"Valerie," Vlad called from the top of the stairs. He had a rather disheveled and dazed looking Maddie by his side, his arm around her waist in an iron grip.
"Let Mr. and Mrs. Fenton go," I demanded angrily. "Fight me like a man instead of a coward."
"Fighting you at all would be cowardly Ms. Grey," Vlad said smarmily. I wanted to wipe the self serving smirk off his face. "After all dear girl, you are no match for me, and it seems all your friends have abandoned you."
I looked over my shoulder to see that I was alone. I shivered a little in fear, but rallied. I was not about to let Vlad intimidate me. I had come to take my revenge for his use of me and I was not going to leave until my hunger was sated.
"I don't care!" I yelled. "Let Jack and Maddie go and I won't decimate your butt."
Vlad laughed then looked at Maddie. "Stay here my darling, whilst I dispatch this unwanted guest. Should you try to escape, well you know the consequences. All it takes is a push of a button." He kissed her lingeringly then moved away from her and transformed into his ghostly persona.
I armed my weapons and waited for Vlad to make the first move, his first move never came. Danny appeared wearing the ecto-skeleton. It had transformed into something which looked a great deal like his outfit, black with that crazy DP in the middle.
Vlad laughed as he dodged Danny's opening volley, and I took the opportunity to lob several shots, a few which connected, and then Vlad's attention was taken up so much by Danny's fierce attack that I was able to run up the steps to Maddie.
"Hi Mrs. Fenton," I said breathlessly. "Are you all right."
She smiled at me wryly, and I could tell by the fire in her eyes, the same fire that was alight in Danny and Jazz's that spark of scary intelligence that she was fine, just biding her time, waiting for the right moment.
"You go watch Danny's back dear," she said to me kindly. "I'll be fine. Vlad's not about to hurt me." I nodded my head, activated my sled and flew up, shooting at Vlad as I went, doing my best to direct his fire away from Danny, who was beginning to move sluggishly, I could tell he was tired. I wanted to get him out of that machine.
"You are a dirty, lousy, no good piece of human filth!" I spat at Vlad as I hit him with a barrage of shots.
"Sticks and stones my dear," he said at me as he shot, knocking me from my sled. I fell hard on my side and my hip felt like it shattered into a million pieces.
"You're going to have to kill me, Vlad," I yelled as he started shooting at Danny again who was now standing on the ground instead of floating. I shot and shot and shot until Vlad in his vampiric evil ghost form landed on the floor and began walking toward me, a look of pure evil on his face. I detected movement behind him and did my best not to give anything away as Jazz snuck up on him.
"Say good night, Valerie" Vlad told me his expression turning almost gentle. I stood, ready to fight with him, hand to hand. He threw a few punches at me which I blocked laughing at the pathetic weakness of is delivery, but now I see he was just playing with me. I can't tell you what happened next as I readied a round house kick, all I knew is that pain blossomed on the right side of my face, I saw stars, then everything went black.
Sorry it took me so long to get this out. I've been blocked. The next two chapters are the last, hopefully they will come quickly. Please provide me with inspiration and review.