The Witness

"This place is awesome," Valerie whispered in awe as we sat in the ops center. I smiled at her and decided to show her the emergency ham, we needed a little levity, to laugh a little, Val has been so serious that I thought she could use a smile. I probably wasn't the best person to try to alleviate Val's stress. I was feeling on edge myself.

Danny made a ruckus as he searched through the clutter with a worried frown on his face. I was worried that he was going to hurt himself, I thought it would be better if he didn't expend so much energy. I also thought it would be better if he didn't find the suit.

I turned to Val, touching her arm to get her attention and whispered so Danny couldn't hear me, "I know what he's planning. We can't let him do it."

"What?" Valerie asked me in bewilderment as her eyes searched my face.

"Wear the suit," I answered. "If the thing is even operable. I know how Danny is.." I did my best to hold back my tears. I knew what the suit did to Danny the last time he used it, and he was healthy then. I was terrified of what might happen to him this time. I was afraid he'd die. I leaned forward to tell her my fears about the suit when I was interrupted.

"I found it!" Danny said as he moved some of Jack's failed ghost gadgetry aside I looked at Valerie for a moment hoping she would say something about the suit or have some other idea than using it, but she said nothing. I know Danny likes her, he would forget the suit if she asked.

"Do you think it'll work?" I asked hoping he would say no as I held Valerie's gaze a moment then walked over to stand beside Danny.

"Depends on much work Dad did on it," Danny answered as he placed his hand on the suit, his expression was thoughtful, though deeply troubled. I wanted to yell at him and tell him I knew what he was thinking. I knew what he was planning.

"It looks a lot like the old one," I said instead of yelling and insisting her stop thinking crazy.

"Mom's been working on it," Jazz announced and both Danny and I turned to look at her as she walked up and pushed Danny out of the way. She activated the suit for a moment to show Danny then turned it off and closed the panel, her expression fearful.

"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 said as she pushed Danny away from the suit and I wanted to hug her. I hoped Jazz would pull rank on Danny and keep him away from the ecto-skeleton

"What about the other issues?" Danny asked his eyes flashing in almost defiance, my heart sank.

Jazz shrugged her shoulders and looked away from Danny briefly. "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." Darkness swirled around the edge of my vision as relief coursed through me. Jazz was going to wear the suit, not Danny. She was going to pull rank. She was going to save him.

"You?" Danny asked as he stared at her in disbelief.

"Tucker and I have been talking," Jazz answered coolly. She looked at Val then gave me a look that asked me to back her up. "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," Valerie said. I agreed. We needed Valerie as she was.

"Tucker and Sam are used to fighting beside you without anything but ecto-guns," Jazz continued and though I felt left out, it was true. Tucker and I would be okay without any special weapons, we were veterans. "Beside I think it would be better if they stayed with you and kept you safe." Yes, that's all I wanted, to keep Danny safe.

"So that leaves you as the only option," Danny hissed as he continued to try and stare Jazz down.

"There isn't any other option," Jazz told him shortly as her eyes sparked back. "Besides I have experience using it."

"So do I," Danny said his face filling with stubborn determination and defiance.

Jazz shook her head. "No way are you going to use it," she told him angrily. "It's not an option Danny. You're already weak as it is, we don't know what it will do and…"

"Jazz…" Danny began then stopped and looked over Jazz's shoulder at me then Valerie. He sighed then took Jazz's arms and led her up to the roof. Valerie looked at me as I chewed on my lip. I was trying to decide weather or not to eaves drop on their conversation when Tucker spoke. I'd forgotten he was even in the room.

"The RV is ready to go," he said quietly and Valerie jumped in surprise.

"We should move this down," he began as he looked at me then Valerie, and so we did. It wasn't that hard, the weight of the suit was deceptive, it was very light.

Jazz looked like she had been crying when we returned. I looked at Danny accusingly, but he said nothing as he made his way by me. He ignored me, walked by me like I wasn't there, but he acknowledged Tucker by punching him in the arm. Of course, Tucker's his buddy and me? I'm just that useless extension.

"What did he tell you?" I asked Jazz. I wanted to know what Danny said to make her cry. I wanted to know if he had talked her into letting him use the suit. Jazz only shook her head, and I knew she wasn't going to talk.

"He's all right though right?" Valerie asked worriedly

Jazz smiled shakily, refusing to meet my eyes. "I think we should go downstairs and get ready to leave," she said and I knew. I knew deep down in my heart that Danny had gotten to her. My heart sank.

"We need to get ready to go," she said as she pulled herself together. "I'm going to pack some food."

I followed Jazz down to the kitchen, noticing that Valerie made her way to the living room. I was glad. It was going to be easier to grill Jazz without Valerie around to make Jazz even more closed mouthed than she already was.

"What did Danny tell you?" I asked as I sat up on the counter.

Jazz didn't look at me. "It's nothing for you to worry about," she answered. "He just talked to me about the suit."

"He wants to wear it doesn't he?" I asked. Chills rose up across my skin as I watched Jazz trying to disguise her emotions. She had a really poor poker face.

"Yes," she admitted as she looked at me. "But I told him no. I told him I wasn't going to allow him to put himself at risk like that."

"Good," I replied as I closed my eyes in relief. Danny was too weak to go against Jazz in full determination mode. I would have said a not long ago that he would have never gotten past me in full determination mode, but…but I've not felt like myself since Danny had the accident. I felt weak and emotional and just not like myself.

"What else did he tell you?" I questioned. I wanted to know everything. I knew Danny wasn't going to talk to me. He was going to pat me on the head like the faithful old dog I am and tell me not to worry, that everything is under control.

Jazz began putting the sandwiches she was making into baggies, chewing her lip thoughtfully. She finally looked up at me. "He can't feel his human side," she told me her eyes luminous with unshed tears. My heart seized in my chest and I had to struggle to suck air into my lungs.

"W-why does he think that is?" I asked. "Is his human half still in a coma?"

Jazz sniffled and shrugged one shoulder as she began putting the sandwiches into a paper bag. "I don't know," she answered sadly. "Danny doesn't know himself. I'm hoping that's all it is. That its not worse."

I blinked back the tears prickling behind my eyelids, but realized that wasn't going to work so I closed my eyes and asked in a voice halted with anguish. "Do…you…think that..maybe, maybe his…human side is…" I took a deep gulp of air as I squeezed my eyes shut tighter to keep the tears from escaping. "Dead?"

Jazz looked at me in surprise as I said the words I think she was afraid to even think herself. Several tears rolled down her cheek and she leaned against the counter and closed her eyes.

"That would be the worst case scenario," she began softly. "I don't believe in even giving thought to the worst case scenario. I refuse to consider that part of him is dead. It's just asleep, Sam. We have to believe that."

"Will not believing it make it untrue?" I asked bitterly.

"No," Jazz answered sadly. "But right now the only thing we have going for us is hope."

I nodded my head and was about to say something more when I noticed Tucker standing at the kitchen door. He was looking at Jazz, his eyes filled with admiration and wistfulness. I smiled slightly then stood.

"Are we ready to go?" I asked as I jumped from the counter. Jazz looked at Tucker sweetly and shyly then down at her hands. Something was going on between them, the air around them was practically vibrating with lovey dovey feelings. It almost made me want to wretch, except, I do have a romantic side and I want to see Tucker happy and, well I'd never seen him look at a girl like he's been looking at Jazz lately. I hope she lets him down easy, doesn't break his heart.

I found Danny and Valerie standing in the living room looking at the pictures on the wall. Danny was smiling at Valerie sweetly. I paused for a minute and decided to act like it wasn't a big deal. It shouldn't be a big deal. He turned and smiled at me and my heart flopped again. I think my heart must have flip flopped at least twenty years off of my life in the last few days.

The look he gave me as he smiled at me, made me think of what he told me when we were alone together at Vlad's. I tried to hold on to his words as more than friendship, but I couldn't. He told me that I was the best friend anyone could ever hope for and thanked me for loving him so well. I knew he was going to kiss me. I wanted him to kiss me, but Jazz interrupted us. If..If something happens to Danny, I really don't know if I'll ever be able to quite forgive Jazz for stealing that moment from me.

"Are we all ready to go?" I asked wondering if they were upset for interrupting what seemed to be a bonding moment between them.

"Yup," Danny answered looking strangely at peace. He turned to Valerie and she gave him a look of confusion.

"I'm ready," Valerie said then left us standing there. Together.

"You're not going to try and pull off something stupid are you?" I asked trying to sound like the same person I always was.

"That depends on what you call pulling off something stupid," he answered then chuckled as he put his arm around me. I leaned against him and closed my eyes.

"Something stupid like using the ecto-skeleton," I told him. "I know what you're thinking."

Danny smiled at me playfully. "Yeah, you've always been good at figuring me out Sam."

"It's because you're so simple," I said teasingly as he held my gaze with his glowing green eyes. I felt like a creature under a spell as he smiled at me.

"We've always known and accepted the consequences for the battles we've fought," he began. My stomach knotted. I didn't want this speech from him. He'd never given it to me before. I didn't want it now, and I began to really understand what Jazz meant when she said we were running on hope. I didn't want my hope shattered.

"And we've always come through those battles." I said as I lifted my chin. "We'll come thorough this one." He smiled wistfully and nodded his head. I almost sighed in relief.

"But," he said and my heart riding that darn roller coaster plummeted yet again. "If this time, if this time we don't get the outcome we want, well…I'd never forgive myself if I thought you believed you're not important to me, Sam."

I closed my eyes. "You don't have to do this," I said as my insides quivered.

"Do what?" he asked softly.

"Tell me good bye," I managed to say. "I don't want you to try and tell me good bye, Danny. It's not an option."

Suddenly I felt something brush against my mouth and my eyes flew open. I looked straight into Danny's eyes as he pulled away from the brief kiss he had just given me. I wanted to say something, but I was speechless.

"Okay," he said as his warm breath wafted across my lips. "No good bye. We'll make a promise that we'll never say good bye."

"Good," I began then swallowed hard.

"You're my best friend," he said as he slid his hand into my hair. "And I love you, Sam. I always have and I always will, no matter what." My knees gave out as he kissed me again.

"You are a part of my heart and my soul," he whispered as we broke the kiss. He smiled into my stunned eyes then took my hand and walked with me to the RV.

I wasn't sure what to do next as Valerie made space for me between her and Tucker. I looked at Danny and wondered how he could say something like that, so easily and so simply. I was also upset that he didn't give me the opportunity to reply either, but then maybe he was afraid of my answer.

I watched as Valerie fell asleep and then I watched Jazz drive. Tucker played on his PDA and I watched Danny. I repeated his words to me over and over again in my mind. Did he say it because he knew I wanted to hear it? Was he going to die and wanted to leave me with something?

I picked at my fingernails for awhile then looked up to find Danny had turned around and he was smiling at me. I knew then that he meant what he said, even if later I was going to doubt his true feelings for me and I smiled. He looked at Jazz then sat back in his seat.

We all, except for Jazz slept off and on during the drive to rescue her and Danny's parents. I felt bad. I wished I could drive. I told myself that she was going to wear the ecto-skeleton, she was going to need rest, but who else was going to drive?

When we finally reached Vlad's mansion, and I woke Valerie. She shared a candy bar with me before we all left the RV and stood at the door.

"Well?" Valerie asked. "Are we just going to stand here or are we going to do something?" I wanted to hang back, and I could tell she interpreted my reticence as fear, but I didn't care

I smiled as Valerie began attacking the door. It was like her to make the first move and it was good because it gave me time to run and guard the ecto-skeleton and keep Danny away from it.

Tucker stood beside me as we watched Danny calm Valerie then open the door to Vlad's house. It was hard to contain my laughter, I wasn't really laughing at Valerie, but it was funny that she was trying to break down an unlocked door. I don't know what he said to her, but she activated her ghost hunting suit and went inside.

Danny turned and looked at us. "Do you know where you're going Jazz?"

"Yes," Jazz said as she walked forward and hugged Danny. Where was she going? What were she and Danny planning? Tucker looked at me for a moment then put an ecto-blaster in my hand. I could tell by the guilty look on his face that he knew what Danny and Jazz were planning and I wanted to kick him for willfully leaving me out.

Tucker opened the back of the RV then, purposefully kept his eyes from me as he looked at Danny then Jazz.

"Coming?" she said to him as she smiled.

"Trust Danny," Tucker said to me then ran after Jazz as she walked through the door. I looked at Danny who was smiling at me sheepishly. No way was I going to allow that cute grin of his to influence me. I was not going to allow him in the ecto skeleton.

"Sam," Danny began calmly.

"No!" I growled as I held up my hand. "I'll take the suit."

He sighed deeply as he walked closer. I was not going to let him use my feelings for him to sucker me into relenting either. I was going to stand firm. He put one hand on my shoulder.

"Don't stop me from doing this," he told me gently. "Let me do this one last thing for my parents…"

A flash of pain exploded in my body at his words. He said, one last thing…he wasn't going to survive. I felt sick and weak and suddenly I was in his arms. I was shaking and trying my best not to cry. I've known deep in my heart that Danny wasn't going to survive. I think I've known all along, but hearing him acknowledge it, made it real and precious hope shattered into a million pieces, cutting my heart into a shredded mess.

"I love you," I whispered as I buried my face into his chest. Danny held me tighter for a moment then let go and looked into my eyes.

"Are you going to let me go?" he asked his voice sounded strained with emotion, but he kept his face straight.

"No," I answered as I stepped away from the suit. "I-I'll never let you go Danny." He smiled at me wistfully and I turned away as he climbed into the suit. When I turned back, he was gone.

I waited a moment then ran into Vlad's house. I wasn't going to just stand there and wait until everyone came out to tell me what happened. I was going to do my best to protect…everyone.

I ducked down as I watched Danny zoom in and attack Vlad. He was doing pretty good, but I could see that he was failing, that he was weakening. I wondered if it was simply because he was hurt or if the suit was hurting him.

Valerie had run up to Maddie so I decided to find a better hide out so that I could keep my ecto-blaster aimed on Vlad. Hopefully I could at the very least distract Vlad if necessary.

I watched with my heart as Danny took several hits from Vlad and started to falter. I was about to jump from my hiding place and fight the creep myself when Valerie started shooting at him.

"You are a dirty, lousy, no good piece of human filth!" Valerie screamed as she open fired, striking Vlad several times. I kind of had to admire Valerie's self control. I could think of a many things to call Vlad, which were a great deal worse than calling him human filth.

"Sticks and stones, my dear," Vlad said as he attacked Valerie who had been flying toward him on her sled as she attacked. I winced as she plummeted to the ground, falling on her side, and then my attention was diverted to Danny, who was now on the ground.

Valerie continued to keep Vlad's attention by shooting at him as she lay on the ground. I ran to the ecto-skeleton and opened it. Danny looked at me in a daze and I knew I had to get him out. I began pulling at him. He fought me at first, but finally he put his arms around my neck and helped me pull him out.

"It didn't work," I told him hopelessly as we sat on the floor. I brushed his white hair from his face and he smiled at me shakily.

"Don't be so sure," he said. "Val still has a chance." I turned and saw that Vlad and Val were now in hand to hand combat. I swallowed hard.

"We should get you out of here," I told him, trying to decide how I was going to manage to carry him, possibly to the RV. Then I saw her. Jazz was sneaking up on Vlad as he and Valerie fought. I put my hand to my mouth then looked at Danny.

"I sent her after the Plasmius Maximus," Danny told me then took my hand. I turned my attention back to Vlad and Valerie.

I winced as Vlad's fist connected with Valerie's face. She went down like a ton of bricks and I gasped. Vlad turned around just in time to meet Jazz and the stinging jolt of the Plasmius Maximus.

Jazz was smart enough to run away from Vlad as he transformed from ghost to human. He grabbed at her as she distanced herself, but she got away.

"Stupid girl!" he hissed. "Do you know what you've done?"

"I just disabled you, you jerk!" Jazz told him then turned and ran to the door where Tucker was waiting with an ecto-blaster.

Danny struggled to stand then walked slightly forward. "It's over, Vlad," he said. "Let my father and my mother go."

Vlad produced an ecto-gun seemingly from mid air and smiled grimly at Danny. "I am sorry, Daniel," he began. "But simply cannot and will not accept defeat. I know you are in no state to fight me, even in my human mode. You've lost Daniel."

"No he hasn't," Maddie said from the stairs as she ran down toward Vlad. She picked up an ecto-blaster from where Valerie had fallen and aimed it at him as I put myself between Danny and Vlad, even though Danny protested and ordered me to go stand with Tucker and Jazz.

"I'm not leaving you," I told him stubbornly. There was no way in hell Vlad was going to get to Danny without getting past me.

"Leave my son alone," Maddie growled. Tucker and Jazz rushed across the room and checked Valerie, who was beginning to wake, then started helping her out of the house.

Vlad pointed at Maddie. "Daniel has interfered with my plans for the last time, My dearest. I am going to dispose of him. I am going to dispose of Jack and then we'll be married. You will accept your new life and be happy."

"You're insane!" Maddie yelled as Vlad ignored her then turned and started walking toward us.

"Move," he ordered as he aimed the gun at my head.

"No," I told him unflinchingly and he laughed.

"You're not worth the effort, girl!" he spat then suddenly was beside me, picking me up and sending me sliding across the floor.

"No!" I screamed and scrambled to stand and reach Danny as Vlad aimed the ecto-gun and made ready to shoot. I could see his finger pressing on the trigger. I struggled to move faster and then I heard it. A shot. I screamed and screamed in horror. It took me a good minute to realize the shot hadn't come from Vlad. It was not Danny laying on the floor, blood flowing from his chest. It was Vlad.

Maddie dropped the gun and walked over to Vlad. I looked at Danny who was again sitting on the floor, his mouth was open in shock. I ran over and checked him over, then looked at Maddie who was kneeling next to Vlad.

"My dearest love," he said weakly as he reached his hand toward her. She took his hand and placed it next to her heart then caressed his face softly.

"I'm sorry," she told him.

"Tell me you love me," he begged weakly. "My Maddie."

"I've always loved you," Maddie told him kindly. He began to shiver and Maddie yelled at Jazz to get a blanket.

"Thank you," Vlad said then closed his eyes. "The code to release Jack is one, nine, two, six." Maddie nodded her head as she checked over his wounds.

"You're dying," Maddie told him. "It's not that we can't save you…"

"It's that you won't?" Vlad asked weakly.

"It's that help isn't going to get here in time," Maddie told him sweetly. "I'm sorry Vlad."

I don't know how he did it, but he managed to chuckle as he looked at Maddie adoringly. "Don't be sorry, Maddie. You'll be well taken care of. Everything I have is yours. I made sure of that in my will. You'll take care of our son?"

"Our son?" Maddie asked in bewilderment.

"Daniel," Vlad answered. "Our son Daniel." I wanted to throw up. Vlad was completely insane, either that or he was having delusions, Danny chuckled bitterly beside me and I took his hand.

"Yes," Maddie said gently. "Danny will be fine."

Vlad coughed and smiled as he reached out and touched Maddie's face. "The day you married me was the happiest of my life," he said so softly I almost missed the words.

"Thank you," Maddie said kindly then bent down and kissed his cheek. His hand fell away from her, and she sat there for awhile. Vlad's eyes were fixed and he was still, but it would take awhile for me to believe what I had seen. Vlad was dead.

"Sam," Danny said softly and I turned to look at him. "Can you help me stand?" I nodded my head then stood and helped him to his feet. He had to lean on me but we walked over to where his mother sat, crying over Vlad.

"Mom," Danny whispered as he put his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at her son then stood and looked him over. She put her arms around him and hugged him tight.

"I'm so relieved that you're all right," she said as he leaned into her. She pulled him tight and sighed. I looked at Jazz who was now standing over Vlad with a stunned look on her face. She shivered then took the blanket she was holding and covered Vlad then looked at her mother and Danny.

"We need to rescue your father and get out of here," Maddie said as she reached out for Jazz and pulled her into a group hug with Danny. I watched for a moment then looked toward the door and made eye contact with Tucker and Valerie who looked completely stunned at the scene.

"Danny," I said. "Are you strong enough to make it to the RV or do you need help?"

"A little help would be nice," Danny answered weakly as his mother released him. She looked at her son questioningly.

"I need to rest," he told her. I walked up and put my arm around him.

"You and Jazz go get Dad, I'll wait in the RV," Danny said.

Maddie looked at Danny for a moment then nodded her head, took Jazz by the hand and left to release Jack from wherever it was Vlad had been holding him.

"Maybe Tucker should help," Danny suggested as he leaned against me.

"What?" I asked as we moved forward and Danny rested most of his weight on me. "Do you think I'm so weak that I can't help a skinny butt like you across a room?"

"No," Danny said seriously. "I just…Don't know if I can make it."

I shook my head as we reached the door. I made eye contact with Valerie a moment and she moved to the other side of him.

"You're pretty impressive, Danny," Valerie said as Danny redistributed his weight between us as his knees gave out. We ended up dragging him the last few steps to the RV as Tucker held the door open.

Both Tucker and I dragged Danny into the back of the RV then I climbed in and sat with him as he leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"It's all over," I told him as I put my arm around him, though my words were more to reassure myself than him.

"Yeah," he said as he leaned against me. "But I'm really tired now."

"Then rest," I told him. I settled him so that he was now laying his head in my lap and I ran my fingers through his snowy hair as I watched Tucker and Valerie load the ecto-skeleton into the back of the RV with us.

It took several minutes, but soon I heard Jack's booming voice. He stuck his head in to the RV to check on us. He gave me a thumbs up then moved so Maddie could crawl in the back and examine her son.

"He's asleep," I said and she looked at me and smiled as she stroked his face.

"You've taken good care of my boy," she told me than smiled as she squeezed my hand. "Thank you." I nodded.

Tucker, Jazz and Valerie climbed into the back seat, Jack was in the driver's seat with Maddie beside him and we drove away from Vlad's. Tucker said something about making Vlad's death look like an accident and tampered tapes. Maddie talked about her guilt and everyone reassured her that she did what was right.

I fell asleep listening talk about the ethics of the situation and whether or not they should go to the police, but ultimately it was decided that Vlad was a wretched monster and he'd gotten what he deserved.

When I woke again, we were still in the RV, still traveling from Vlad's a place I was glad I'd never see it again. I looked down at Danny and gasped. He had transformed from ghost mode. He was laying with his head in my lap, my fingers tangled in his dark hair.

"Danny?" I whispered as I straightened his blue hospital gown to cover him a little better as I blushed. He didn't stir as I disturbed him and my heart clinched yet again, another year off of my life.

"Danny?" I said frantically as I placed my hand on his cold cheek then put my hand to my mouth as a strangled sob escaped from my throat.

"Jazz," I called, trying my best to keep my voice calm as she looked back at me from her place in the backseat then froze as she looked at Danny. She said something to her parents then climbed over the backseat.

"Oh god, Jazz," I began, feeling hysterical and frightened. "He's cold. He's so cold." She put her hand on his chest then looked at me fearfully.

"Sam," she began as she stared into my eyes. "I need you to be calm. This is not the time to lose it. Do you understand?"

"No!" I screamed. Danny was dead. "No! No! No!"

"Dad!" Jazz screamed. "Hospital. Now!" I felt the RV speed up. I grabbed hold of Danny as the RV rocked. I didn't want to relive this nightmare, yet here I was, but this time, this time things couldn't end well, could they?

"Please," I sobbed as I pulled him up, cradled him in my arms, buried my face in his hair, then pressed his cold cheek against my own. "Danny, don't leave me." Jazz put her arms around me and sobbed on my shoulder, and soon Tucker was on the other side of me. Valerie was in front of me and we all cried tears of grief and anguish for our fallen hero.

The next chapter is the end. Please review.