This is another fanfic I intended to stay on dA, but decided to go ahead and post it here as well. Basically, there has been a buzz going around about whether Danny is immortal or not, so I decided to give my 2 cents on the matter.

Rated M for graphic violence, blood/gore and briefly mentioned sexual content.

Disclaimer:

Danny Phantom © Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon

**I do not claim to own the DP franchise, I only own this fanfic.**

...

Janet shivered in the cold and buttoned her coat as she headed for home. It had been a long, rough day at the warehouse she worked at and she just wanted to go home and get off her aching feet. She followed the same road she'd walked every night for three months and didn't think anything of what little light there was from the streetlights that were on the verge of burning out.

A train passed loudly overhead on old tracks that should have been torn down years ago, yet were somehow left standing. The screeching and grinding of the metal would have been nearly deafening to most people, but Janet had lived in this area for so long that she could even sleep through it. She sidestepped a puddle from a dripping drain runoff from one of the tall apartment buildings of this shantytown. Her footsteps echoed loudly against the walls as she walked, amplified by the lonely feeling around her.

As the train disappeared and the air was still once more, there came a very quiet sound, a distressed sound, one that is programmed in every mind to respond to. Janet squinted in the dark and saw a bundle of clothing down the street on the sidewalk, and could hear a baby crying. She gasped loudly and rushed toward it in an attempt to rescue the child beneath the fabric.

"There, there," she whispered in a calming voice as she gently picked up the bundle, "It's okay, everything is going to be alright."

But something felt strange; it didn't feel like a baby, more like something hard. The crying sounded repetitive somehow. Was this, really a baby?

Janet was about to pull the blanket away from the figure when she felt a pair of strong hands roughly grab her around her mouth and middle, holding her arms to her sides to keep her from struggling. She dropped the blanket in her arms as she grabbed at his arm in a futile attempt to pry her arms free, her screams muffled under the hand. As the blanket hit the ground something rolled out from under it and Janet stared in horror—it was a tape recorder, repeating the sounds of a baby crying.

She continued to struggle as she was dragged into a dark alley; a husky voice whispered in her ear, "Where do you think you're going little lady?"

Janet heard three other male voices laughing in the alley, only causing her to try to fight harder and scream louder. But at this time of night there was no one out, no one to save her. All she could do was hope these guys didn't want what she thought they wanted. They ripped her purse off her shoulder, along with her pepper spray within it, her only means of defence, all the while laughing at her pitiful struggling as they rummaged through her bag for any valuables. She kicked her feet wildly, but one of the thugs grabbed them and held her fast.

There was the cold sensation of a knife pressed against her throat as she was pushed roughly against the brick wall, "Keep fighting and I'll slit your throat," the man said, the hot stench of his breath against her face.

She pinched her eyes shut as she felt other hands upon her, some pulling up her skirt and others roughly unbuttoning her shirt. Janet was about to give up when she suddenly heard a voice from down the dark alley.

"Hey," the voice of a young boy spoke up, stern yet calm, "Let her go."

The thugs stopped to stare at the boy. He was in a dark baggy hoodie, hands in the oversized pocket, the hood pulled over his head to hide his face. An old backpack swung over both his shoulders, likely containing what little possessions he had; he was obviously a homeless street kid. Janet stared back at him, her eyes pleading for help.

"This doesn't concern you kid," the man that held Janet tight growled, "It's none of your business."

"I'm making it my business," he stood his ground, "Now let her go."

They just laughed at him; one of them stepped toward him, "Really? And what're you gonna do about it?"

The boy glanced up slightly, his dull eyes fixed on them, "If you don't, I'll kill you."

They simply laughed at him; who does this kid think he is?

One man scoffed, "You? Kill us? You've gotta be joking kid! We'd kill you before you even got a single hit on us."

"You can't kill me," his words dripping with malice, a chill cut through the already cold air.

The thug picked up a nearby metal pipe and stalked toward him, "I'll shut your mouth, you snot-nosed brat!" and swung the pipe.

There was a loud crack as the pipe came into contact with the side of the boy's skull and flesh, but he didn't move, he didn't even flinch! The man gasped slightly in surprise, then grit his teeth and swung again with loud growl, but this time, his opponent fought back. The boy quickly reached a hand up and blocked the pipe with his forearm before the next strike. He stared at the dumbfounded thug for a moment before jerking the pipe from the man's hand with his own free hand and swung it around at lightening speed. It struck the back of the man's knee, and a loud crack echoed as the bones broke. He fell to the ground with a shriek of pain, holding his knee and rolling on the ground slightly. The boy twirled the pipe in one hand, then tossed it aside and dawned a defensive stance, daring the other men to try their luck against him.

The man with the knife chuckled cockily to himself, releasing Janet and letting her fall to the ground as he walked toward the youngster, "You think you're pretty tough don't you? With one lucky strike?" and jabbed the blade at his chest.

But the boy simply sidestepped the knife with a spin, grabbing the man's arm and pulling him in to elbow him hard in the face, breaking his nose and front teeth, then flipped him and threw him to the ground, "I don't think so, I know so," he said matter-of-factly, his demeanor still calm and cool.

The other two men descended upon him, fists ready for a fight. This kid couldn't fight off two people at once, could he? They threw punch after punch at him, but he easily dodged each blow with cat-like agility and reflexes. He wrapped his arm around one man's arm and flipped him over his head, causing him to fall flat on his back and knocking the wind out of him. Then he ducked down as he avoided another fist from the other man, spun his foot around to knock the man's feet from under him and elbowed him in the gut straight into the concrete. The other man on the ground recovered and climbed to his feet, grit his teeth and tried to swing one last punch at the kid. But the boy roundhouse kicked him across the face, knocking him against the wall. The thugs lay on the ground, gripping their injuries and groaning loudly in pain.

The boy stood over them, look of quiet malice on his face, "Leave. Now."

They scrambled to their feet, whimpering in fear. One stopped to lift the man with the broken knee to his only working leg and supported him as they quickly retreated. The boy stood there for several minutes to make sure they really were gone, then turned his attention toward Janet. She knelt on the ground in shock, who was this kid with such tremendous strength?

He walked calmly toward her, "Are you okay?"

She climbed shakily to her feet, placing one hand against the wall for support, "I-I think so," she looked back at him, marveling at his bravery, "You … saved my life."

He didn't seem to pay any mind to her statement, simply bent down to pick up Janet's discarded purse and the miscellaneous items scattered along the ground, then tossed it toward her without looking at her. She fumbled it momentarily in her hands as she watched him walk away without a word, his hands now back in his hoodie pocket as if they'd never left it.

"Wait!" she held her hand toward him, "Please, is there anything I can do to repay you?"

He stopped and paused for a few moments, then spoke without turning around, "Forget you ever saw me," and continued walking.

She stared back at him, and took a few steps forward, "Wait!"

Suddenly, he swiftly jumped high and landed easily on the three-story building at the end of the alley. Janet gasped and covered her mouth. He glanced over his shoulder, then disappeared into the night.

Janet just gaped up at where he had been, completely dumbfounded by what she had seen. Could that really have been him? The legendary … Danny Phantom?