The problem was, Tucker found, many of the ghosts he found did not speak English.

There were some really annoying vultures that spoke Yiddish—he thinks?—that kept coming back time and time again. They seemed to enjoy hovering near him. Enough English to say they found him interesting. Tucker didn't really mind them that much. They didn't cause trouble and he did get some answers out of specifics to the Ghost Zone from them. The really problem was that they talked, a lot, and kept getting close enough to set off a breath of visible cold air, his new inner system of knowing when ghosts were nearby. Really annoying. That it was them setting it off rather than a new ghost Tucker could question.

Not to mention the ghosts that didn't speak at all. More animal type ones. But not like those three vultures with the fez hats. Tucker wasn't sure of why they were able to talk and they weren't helpful either on explaining why. But at least they could answer some of his questions, as annoying as they were all together.

The Box Ghost was another one Tucker ran into often. So Tucker had began carrying tiny boxes folded up, 'magically' forming the flat cardboard into a tiny box in front of Box Ghost's awe struck eyes for the ghost to have. It usually gave Tucker time and good graces to get answers from the ghost. That is, until the Box Ghost's attention flittered off of the newly acquired box to look for larger and more impressive ones, typically causing all sorts of chaos while doing that.

Things he did for a few measly answers.

It never felt like enough.

Technus was a ghost that grabbed Tucker's attention though.

Ghost was all about the tech. Out of date tech, but hey, he was a ghost and technology changed fast the past few years and was primed to keep changing even faster. Tucker kept getting majorly distracted with that ghost. Technus hadn't seen the point of focusing on the Ghost Zone, not with all the amazing technology of the land of the living. Well. Tucker couldn't blame him. It also meant Technus paid even less attention to other ghosts when he had been in the Ghost Zone.

Still, major distraction when Nicolai Technus popped up, searching out both technology stores and/or Tucker to geek out over the stuff.

At least the ghost had begun giving Tucker more answers about the Ghost Zone and said he'd asked around about any new formed ghosts that looked like the picture Tucker had given him. The last time, Tucker had snagged onto the brilliant idea of giving him his parent's old camcorder, which would be able to show Tucker the Ghost Zone. Suggesting that Technus could even talk and explain what he was recording to better answer Tucker's questions for Ghost Zone specifics.

So Tucker was anticipating the next time Technus came through the Portal.

The ghost who'd lived back sometime in the 50s and attended Casper High wasn't very informative. Because that ghost apparently still lived at Casper High of the 50s in the Ghost Zone. But Sidney Poindexter—

Really? Poindexter? Seriously, the names of some of these ghosts were just something else. Then Tucker dug around old yearbooks and winced. Sure, the one ghost he ran into with an actual name.

Anyway, Sidney Poindexter was actually kind of fun to hang out with at school. The guy did not like bullies. Sidney'd go all invisible, making sure no one spotted him, together the two of them pulling pranks on any of the bullies or kids they saw busting up other kids' chops.

It was due to Sidney that Tucker discovered it was possible for him to overshadow people, possess them. Great to get a bully to do something embarrassing to be teased instead of doing the teasing. But, not really all that helpful as the one who'd be possessed wouldn't remember what they'd done.

Something and someone to lighten up the long school day. Pass the time. Since ditching too often to go out looking for ghosts would backfire on him. Tucker already had more than a few warnings and adult eyes attempting to keep a closer eye on him about it.

It was also with Sidney Tucker found out he didn't have to use strength to wrangle any troublesome ghosts that popped up. The blast of green energy from his palm was unexpected, but an unexpected bonus. Tucker didn't have to get close to deal with them. And Sidney thought it was, Tucker was not going to repeat the out of date phrase Sidney used, amazingly impressive. A power that Sidney thought was handled well by Tucker.

Sidney would think that. The ghost, one of the more animalistic ones, had been about to attack Sidney. Then there was the blast. Blasting the ghost away from Sidney. So, Sidney would think the power was handled well.

The guy described Tucker as a 'badass' and a 'protector'.

Badass protector.

With the kinds of pranks they did, as well as fall coming in full swing and Tucker getting even colder than before, 'badass protector' led Tucker to think of Sam. Spooky Sam. Goth. Lover of horror films. Of Halloween. Standing up for what she thought was right.

He began throwing layers on over his favorite long sleeved shirts. Black T-shirts over the long sleeves. Tank tops underneath the T-shirt and long sleeved shirt. Jackets tossed over top of that. And amazed how mimicking Sam's scowl got anyone questioning either jackets, coats, or his stocking cap got the few who brought up he shouldn't be wearing them inside the school building to just…stop.

Black. Skulls. Stars. A studded belt. Matching fingerless gloves. And a scowl. Things that reminded him of Sam. Danny too with the stars tossed in, but more Sam of 'I'm a tough gal, don't you mess with me, I'm prepared to bring it' appearance.

The layers weren't really needed though. Tucker knew he was colder. Feeling a bit numb inside because of it. A longer version of whatever likely did in Sam and Danny. Just…drawn out, he guessed.

But Tucker didn't actually feel cold. As in, he didn't need the layers. They were kind of too warm at times. It was only everyone commented on his temperature. Well. His parents did. A few kids near his locker had made comment about it whenever they bumped at lockers. It became a thing for a couple weeks for kids to 'accidently' bump into him in the hallways and 'accidently' reach for things the same time he did. Or straight up, no questions asked, trying to grab a hold of him, laughing like it was some great joke.

It was amazing how much Tucker had gotten his new appearance and general attitude of 'fed the fuck up' to get them all to stop.

Sidney helped too. Sidney had a blast assisting with any misfortune on kids who attempted to treat Tucker like a great touching and grabbing game. Kind of nice to have someone on his side.

And Sidney understood and was fine with them not being buddy-buddy.

"Oh, there's no way I could replace what you've lost, no-sir-ee."

Unlike Valerie.

Take care one irritating ghost dog causing havoc at her dad's workplace, visibly spotted while he finally figured out why it kept returning, and all of a sudden Valarie wouldn't leave him be. Wishing to assist him. Learn the tech he'd borrowed from the Fenton lab. Sneaking after him, spying around the corner, discovering the questions he'd ask, picking up he only zapped up the troublemakers into the thermos, and him finally realizing as she leapt out with a banshee scream when he was dealing with an attacking ghost. Not sure who was more distracted by that. Him or the ghost in question.

Valerie wanted to help him.

Okay.

Tucker would take the help.

But that didn't mean he wanted her always searching him out at school, waving at him, sitting and chatting it up next to him at lunch, going on about her life and joking and the gossip she still heard from Star, suggesting he take it easy for a weekend and join her bowling, or any of the friendly overtures.

"I miss Danny and Sam too, but you need to try to not live in the past so much," Jazz suggested to him quietly at some point.

It was some time after a ghost named Johnny 13—again, what was with ghost names?—had attempted to sweep her off her feet to get his actual girlfriend, Kitty, out of the Ghost Zone too. Tucker and Valerie had worked together on that one. Which meant Jazz had visual proof to what she thought Tucker had been up to lately. And her concerns about his overall health.

"Sidney may not be alive, yet he's still a good friend. Same with Valerie. They could both be good friends for you. She wants to be your friend. Besides, haven't you realized that Valerie is clearly flirting with you, Tucker?"

Yeah. Right. As if.

Tucker turned fifteen.

An age Sam should have been before him.

An age Danny would never become.

Tucker removed a candle from his cake.

And then left for his room.

Refusing to eat the cake.

Not touching the present his parents bought him.

Everything birthday related was quietly put away and out of sight.

Ember had been interesting to deal with for a ghost.

Don't get Tucker started about Spectra.

Just. No.

Freakshow had been aggravating. Tucker had gone to the dark circus show, thinking it would have been definitely something Sam would have dragged him and Danny to. The fact Freakshow was a ghost and what they'd been up to. Oh, Tucker had been pissed.

A whole invasion of ghosts at some point.

At least with the chaos, no one called Tucker out on ditching school again.

The elder Fentons ran around collecting up ghosts with that swarm, Tucker had flown about with his asking and gathering, Valerie doing the same. Well, Valerie ran. On feet.

They filled up thermoses Tucker would then bring back into the Fenton lab. So far, Danny's parents handled them the same way as the ones they filled up, not realizing they hadn't gathered those up. As far as Tucker knew.

There was one ghost though, the Fentons had gotten a hold of that Tucker couldn't wait to spot himself. A ghost the fulfilled one's wishes. The possibilities.

To set up a permanent way for him to get through the DNA lock and turn on the Fenton Portal himself. To just ask to have himself in the Ghost Zone. To be taken to wherever Danny and Sam were at. To have them be brought back here, to him.

He'd have to think it over. Get his wish just right. As soon as possible.

Because the growing ghostly abilities he was gaining were a sign. As was his temperature dropping. Valerie noticing how his electric blue eyes were more eye catching when using powers. Pointing out that they were now glowing. Brighter and brighter. How his skin seemed paler than usual in going through the darker months of the year.

It wasn't a good picture for him.

Especially in the confirmation from the Fentons old college buddy, Vlad, who'd gone through an accident himself. Vlad Masters had made a point to talk to Tucker after visiting the Fentons. Said that Chief, Specs, and Beaks—what? Tucker eventually had given the annoying ghost vultures something of a name he could refer to them by since they didn't give him any names—had been sent by him to keep an eye on Tucker. Vlad had been keeping an eye on Tucker, doing his own asking among the ghosts about Tucker and his abilities, because he thought Tucker was like him after his own Portal accident.

Tucker was not. Vlad said his aftereffects stabilized, but that his body had adapted and changed to suit them. The man wouldn't answer specifics about that. But he did say Tucker's body had not done the same and the aftereffects were slowly killing him.

Confirmation.

Vlad wanted to run tests. In his lab. Go over the specs of the Fenton Portal and specifics of that day to pinpoint differences to work from. Try to get Tucker's body to do the same adaption and change his did.

Which well.

Had some appeal.

Because Vlad had a point. He hadn't any luck finding Danny—or Sam, he added on hastily—had become ghosts from any he asked either. Not every person who passed on would become a ghost. And apparently, it had only been a year. The formation of a new ghost took time. At least twenty years, Vlad claimed. Which fit with what Tucker had found. The most recent ghosts Tucker ran into, spoke as though they were from the 80s.

It could be another 19 years until Tucker ran into Danny and Sam as ghosts.

Years Tucker didn't have.

Time was limited.

So Vlad's suggestion of help in running tests and helping Tucker had some appeal.

But also.

It could be another 19 years until Tucker failed and realized.

If Danny and Sam never became ghosts at all.

Which left him one option in his thinking.

Time was limited.

Tucker told Vlad no.

And wound up rolling his eyes at Vlad's reaction of Tucker daring to tell a rich man 'no'.

Then, not caring one bit, turned his back and walked away rather than listen to the man go on.

Fuck that guy.

Tucker's time was limited.

And he was going to see this through before time was up.

Handwritten notes were not locked. Neither were computer notes.

It took a while to search them, figuring out how the Fentons may have labeled this wishing ghost, Tucker hoped it'd been one they'd kept in a thermos. Not dumped back into the Ghost Zone. But then, he could probably work out a way around that.

Great.

Dumped back into the Ghost Zone.

Twisted wishes apparently.

More awesome.

Tucker would need to word it just right then.

Fortunately, some ghosts were repeat offenders in frequency of coming back into the world of the living.

Box Ghost and Nicolai Technus were top contenders for Tucker to ask about getting this wishing ghost to join them the next time they came back.

Technus for the win.

Gave Tucker the footage he'd taken, brightened at the gifted PDA, and said he'd find the wishing ghost.

Said that he'd even run across her in the Ghost Zone, so he knew Desiree was findable and could help Tucker wish up finding Danny and Sam.

Tucker barely felt bad lying to Technus about saying he'd still geek out with the ghost about all the new tech together.