Chapter 13: Just a Bit Closer

Sam watched as Danny lugged giant pots of hot water into her bathroom and dumped them into the tub. He phased through the floor and was back in a matter of seconds with more. It was a tedious process for which she was grateful he was willing to help her. He drained the last pot into the tub and began stacking the pots together to take back to the kitchen.

"Thank you." She said. "You're pretty strong." She complimented, her arms sore just from watching him the past several minutes. He smiled.

"There are days where the thing is miss the most is running water." He said. "But I've gotten pretty fast at this." Sam dipped her hand into the water, pleased that it was the perfect temperature. "Although these days, I don't even bother heating my water." He added, watching her.

"I like baths and all, but I definitely miss showers." She said, longingly thinking to that shower she took in Lancer's house. She missed the feeling of water hitting her back and relaxing her muscles.

"Well, you'll have to get used to this." He said. "I'll leave you to it." And with those words he dropped back through the floor. Sam turned the lock on the door knob and then almost laughed to herself at such a silly gesture. The only other person in the house could just walk through walls. Danny had been very respectful of her privacy though, knocking on her door every single time he came to her room. He seemed so much more at ease around her since he had revealed himself to her, but he still seemed awkward in that regard.

Sam stripped her clothes off and climbed into the tub, sinking into the water. She scrubbed through her hair with some rosemary-scented shampoo. She hissed when the soapy water soaked her scabbed knuckles. She rubbed them in regret, hating how easily her temper had flared up. She had punched a lot of walls back in high school, as well as the occasional douchebag. She had to train herself to calm down and suppress her anger when her counselor's patience finally began to wear thin. Even if she got good grades, being suspended for fighting would have threatened her chances of colleges accepting her.

After dunking her head under the water and rinsing, Sam scrubbed her body and quickly jumped out of the bath. She enjoyed the warm water, but she was still antsy not being in the same room as Danny for too long. She wondered if the fear that he would suddenly disappear would ever truly go away. He had joked earlier that day that she must be getting tired of being stuck with him, but she didn't think that would ever happen.

She dried off and wrapped a towel around her hair and threw some clothes on. She shuffled down the hall and went to go look for Danny. As she passed the large number of rooms in her house she realized he had never told her where he had been sleeping all these years. The master bedroom would have been the best pick as it was the largest and had a terrace with a view overlooking the enormous backyard. She wandered around, idly opening doors here and there to find them all empty. She tried the doors to her parent's room, but it was surprisingly empty too. The temperature suddenly dropped, and she turned around.

"Looking for me?" He asked, back in his ghost form for the first time since revealing himself. She thought she would have been disappointed to see him like this again, but she was pleasantly surprised that she still found him so Danny-ish in this form.

"You never told me which room you stay in. I would have assumed you picked the biggest one, but I guess not." He grinned.

"Do I give off the vibe that I need luxury?" He asked jokingly.

"You did pick a mansion as your haunt." She reasoned.

"Every spooky mansion needs a spooky ghost. It was only right." He defended. She was pleased that it was so easy to go back to this, just two friends cracking jokes.

"You're not spooky." She teased. "You may be the least terrifying ghost to ever haunt a mansion." She pinched his cheek. "I don't think you could scare a mouse." He was the biggest wuss out of their little trio in middle school, the first to cover his eyes during a scary movie. Danny blushed that vivid green and ducked his head.

"Alright, alright that's enough." He protested. "Don't make me flicker the lights or something." He pointed at the stairs. "I stay in the bedroom downstairs, the one across from your dad's study."

"Oh." Sam said. "That was my grandmother's room. She had trouble with stairs, so she stayed on the first floor." Danny seemed surprised by that.

"Does that bother you?" He asked carefully. "I can always pick another one..."

"No, no of course not." She said quickly. "She certainly wouldn't have minded. She probably would have liked you, actually."

"You think so?" He seemed pleased about that.

"I do. She liked hearing about you and Tucker. And she thought it was cool that your parents were ghost hunters. Probably because my parents didn't approve of it, but either way she always told me how much she wanted to meet you." It was true too; Sam's mother had thrown a fit when she first became aware that Danny came from a family of professional ghost hunters. Ida had just chuckled and claimed that she had encountered her fair share of ghosts in her day. "She was a big believer in spirits and stuff, she thought that kind of thing was cool."

"I wish I had gotten to meet her." Danny said. "She sounds a lot like you." Sam had to agree, she had been told that they were alike her entire life. Her mother often grumbled about how similar they were whenever Ida or Sam was grating on her nerves. Ida had once flipped through a scrapbook and shown Sam years of families photos and sure enough she was even the spitting image of her grandmother when she was young. It was almost uncanny.

"I do too." Sam agreed, suddenly feeling sad. Danny noticed her mood shift and he quickly tried to change the subject.

"I was digging around in the attic and I found something you might find interesting." He gestured for her to follow him and she did, wondering what he wanted to show her. She trailed after him and came to a stop at the attic door.

"One moment." He said. He didn't bother pulling the cord to release the door and ladder, instead just floating straight into the ceiling. He quickly came back, holding a giant cardboard box coated in dust and held it out for her. Sam looked at him and pulled the flaps back and gasped. A huge collection of manga was stuffed inside.

"Wow." She said, smiling. "I haven't read most of these in ages." From the size of the box, multiple series were in there. "Did you steal them?" She asked, quickly tugging some out and flipping through them.

"I don't know if I'd call it stealing," He argued. "But yes. I went through the comic store on Fourth years ago and took them. I remembered you liked these, but I guess I never got around to reading them and forgot that I had them at all." Sam held up a volume of Berserk. She knew that Tucker had always been more into comics than Danny and he didn't even really read manga like she did.

"You were going to read them because I liked them?" She asked, feeling flattered. Danny seemed a bit embarrassed.

"Well, like I said I wasn't a big reader at first. I thought I'd start with stuff with pictures." Sam laughed at him a bit.

"I don't know if some of these are what I would call easy reads." She had always preferred some of the more gruesome horror manga, stuff like Junji Ito was more her style than Sailor Moon.

"Yeah, I didn't really know where to start with these." He admitted.

"Thank you." She said. "I'll definitely look through some of these. Might even recommend some to you." She put the books back in place and he grabbed the box, carrying it to her room. As she watched him set it down outside her door she decided to ask him something she'd been wondering.

"Just how far do you think I could wander from the house without being in danger?" He pondered it for a moment.

"As long as you're still on the property, it should be fine. Probably shouldn't leave the fenced area, just to be safe." She considered this.

"Can we go hang out by the oak trees out back? I'm dying to spend some time outside for at least a bit." The grove of trees was pretty close to the edge of their property, but hopefully he'd be willing to take her. Danny looked at her, clearly reluctant. "It's just barely past the fence in the backyard." She added. Their iron gate that led into the surrounding woods was just under the shade of those trees.

"I don't know..." He began. "That would be pushing it."

"Oh, come on, Danny." She said. "We'd still be so close to the house. If there's any sign of trouble we'll just come right back." That was reasonable enough, she figured.

"I'd rather not invite unwanted attention in the first place." He argued.

"Please." Sam begged. "You'll be with me." He sighed.

"Alright, alright." He relented. She smiled, glad that his over-protectiveness didn't win out. "But nothing farther than that. I promise you that the whole territory thing gets a lot shakier the further we are." Sam threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug, grateful to at least have some time out of the house. Truthfully, it was starting to get to her being cooped up like this.

"Let's go!" She tugged his hand.

"What, right now?" He asked, bewildered.

"Why not?" Sam said, grinning ear to ear. Between the manga he had surprised her with and this little trip, her mood had brightened considerably. He followed her, looking as if she had swindled him somehow and he had only just realized it. She led him down the stairs and into the living room, grabbing a couple blankets from the couch. She finally let go of his hand and eagerly walked to the back door, taking a long inhale of fresh air. Danny trailed after her as she headed towards the group of big oaks at the back of their property.

Sam arrived under the shade of the trees and spread the blankets out, sitting down. Danny drifted over to her, his feet not touching the ground.

"Why don't you change back?" She asked. "Relax a bit and enjoy the sunlight." He looked up at the sky with suspicion, as if a rain cloud would suddenly appear and ruin the day.

"I'd rather be ready in case something happens." He said sullenly. Sam rolled her eyes.

"We're fine." She insisted. "Sit down already, you're making me nervous just hovering there." He huffed, but that brilliant ring of light ignited around his waist and he was human again, his feet dropping down and hitting the grass. Sam gasped quietly, not sure she'd ever get used to seeing him do that. He rubbed his neck self-consciously and stood next to her.

"Sorry, it's a bit weird, isn't it?" He muttered. Sam shook her head.

"No- well, a bit I guess. But it's cool." She said honestly. He looked perplexed by her answer. "I'm just not used it yet."

"It took me a while too." He admitted. Sam wondered what it must be like to be half-ghost. She didn't blame him for being so self-conscious about it, though she wished that he'd be a lot less hard on himself. Her eyes shifted towards the sky.

"How long have I been here?" She wondered aloud. "It feels like it's been at least a week, but the days seem to blur." She frowned, troubled by the thought. "Time moves so differently here."

"It's because the town is so ghostly. It's out of synch with everything else. And it uses that to trick you." He let out a puff of air. "Eight years, huh? I figured a lot of time had passed but it's strange to think it's been almost a decade." His voice took on a tinge of sadness. "The world must be so different now."

"It is." Sam admitted. She rolled on her side to face him. "You must have suspected it was years, right? You're all grown up."

"Twenty-two..." Danny muttered. "I can drink now." Sam chuckled.

"You had to have broken into a liquor store by now." A small smile appeared.

"I have. But it's weird knowing that I've been legal for a whole year." His face darkened. "I should be nearly done with college by now, but I didn't get to even finish ninth grade."

"It's so unfair." Sam muttered. "You and everyone else having their lives stolen like that. I hate that I grew up without you or Tuck." Danny leaned against the tree, silent. "If we were able to leave, what would you do?" She asked. He sighed.

"You are able to leave." He reminded her. "And you should."

"You know what I mean. If we both get out of here together, what would you do?" She insisted. He pondered the question.

"I'd finish school, do it the right way. Get my diploma, go to college. I mean by all legal accounts I've been dead for years, so that might be an issue. But yeah, I'd do that." He answered.

"And then?" She asked. "What after that? If you had your whole life ahead of you?" She hoped he didn't think these questions were cruel. He always seemed so defeated about leaving, maybe thinking about these things would change his mind.

"I don't know." He responded. "I mean, the usual milestones seem impossible now. I'm years behind in school. I have no identity, no license, I'm documented as deceased. Even if I could do that, what's next for me? A job would maybe be possible, long as it was somewhere that doesn't ask too many questions. Marriage? Kids? Definitely not."

"Why not?" Sam said, surprised by this answer. Of course, people often just didn't want to marry or have kids, but she never thought Danny was like that. He looked at her, frowning.

"Sam, I'm not human. That would be hard to explain to anyone. I don't think I could hide it from someone, even if I wanted to. They'd either think I'm out of my mind, or they'd believe it and be terrified of me." His answer made her profoundly sad.

"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" She asked. "Someone out there will always love you, no matter what."

"Even if that's true, what am I supposed to do? Just date around and repeatedly explain every fucked-up detail about my situation until I find someone that's okay with all of this?" His voice was shaky, frustration evident in his face. "Someone who doesn't turn me in to be some kind of lab experiment? I told you that there isn't a place for me in the world anymore. All of this assuming I'm even able to leave Amity Park at all." Danny slid down the tree trunk, lowering into a crouch. He hugged his knees to his chest, back hunched in resignation.

"Danny..." Sam whispered. She placed a hand on his knee. "You would have a place out there." She said. He glanced at her, confused. "With me." She reminded him. "Even if all of that were true- and it's not- you'll have me. I love you no matter what. I will always be your friend and take care of you."

"Really?" He seemed unconvinced. "Even if you had to hide me away from your friends and family who know I'm supposed to be dead? Or lie to them about who and what I am?"

"Of course. Best friend rules, your secrets are safe with me. No matter what."

"I'd be a burden." He stated simply. He had no idea how untrue that was.

"I'm a trust fund baby, Danny. I can pay for whatever it is you need, even if that's a new mansion to hide away in." She joked. He gave her a small smile, which she took as a victory.

"And anyway..." She considered how she wanted to put this. "If we did go back, I'd want you to be in my life. It wouldn't be a burden at all. A challenge maybe, but we'd figure it out."

He relaxed a bit, releasing his legs and shifting towards her. She subconsciously leaned closer.

"You really mean it." He realized.

"Of course." She said simply. "You would do the same for me." He nodded.

"You're amazing, Sam Manson." Danny murmured. "All these years I never thought I'd see you again, and now you're in front of me promising all these things I never thought I'd have." Suddenly she realized that he had grabbed her hand at some point. She hoped he didn't notice how clammy hers were.

"You will." She promised. Her voice was thick.

"Be careful," He warned. "I'm starting to believe you." Their faces were inches apart, close enough to feel his coolness on her skin. And then she did an incredibly stupid thing and kissed her best friend.

She barely had time to register his lips against hers when he pulled back, shocked. They stared at each other, the moment uncomfortably silent. His eyes were wide and confused.

"I'm sorry!" She sputtered out, turning away. 'Stupid, stupid!' She thought.

"It's okay." He said quietly, monotone.

"Really, Danny I don't know- "He stood up.

"I...I need a moment. Excuse me."

"Danny, wait!" It was too late, he blinked out of existence. "Fuck!" She yelled.

What was wrong with her? Letting a stupid childhood crush get the better of her like that. Hot tears were already starting to form, and she angrily wiped them away. What a horrible thing to do to him. Dangle all of those impossibilities in front of him and then kiss him, as if he wasn't already confused and frustrated enough. God, as if anything in the realm of romance was on his mind at all in this hellhole of a town.

Sam stood up, pacing in a circle. Should she go after him? No, that would make it worse. She didn't even know where he was anyway. He could be miles away already and she wasn't able to leave this stupid house without being killed. She didn't know what to do.

"Well that was embarrassing to watch."

'That voice!' Sam whirled around to find Tucker standing only a few yards away, half hidden under the shade of oak trees.

"I told the other ghosts you'd be hiding out here with him." His voice was full of disgust. "You two were always lovebirds, after all." He sneered.

"Tucker! What are you doing here?" She was startled, off-balance from the disastrous kiss and now the sudden appearance of her old friend's ghost. He slowly walked back and forth, dangerous and cautious like a lion.

"We've been looking everywhere for you. When you didn't turn up it just confirmed what I already knew. Some of the others thought you might have managed to escape Amity, but I know the two of you. You're too stubborn to leave and he's too weak to let you go."

"Why are you here?" She repeated, steadying her voice. This was really, really bad.

"I warned you." He said quietly. "Whatever happens next is your fault."

"You wouldn't hurt me." She said. She carefully followed Tucker's movements. He didn't seem to be able to come any closer than he already was.

"Are you sure about that?" He growled. His eyes gleamed with that feverish look. She wasn't so sure actually.

"You would have done it last time. Some part of you still cares about me." She urged. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't answer. "You wouldn't have come here by yourself if you were trying to kill me."

"Or maybe I just wanted to kill you myself. Why should some stranger get to do it, or an idiot like Dash or Paulina?" He retorted.

"How's Paulina's hand, by the way?" Sam asked mockingly. "It didn't seem like she'd be doing any handstands for the foreseeable future."

"It's almost grown back completely, actually." He answered dismissively. "She's very mad about that, by the way. She says that she wants to do the same to you now. Of course, there's a long line of ghosts who want a piece of you."

"Are you one of them?" Sam kept her voice steady. He was avoiding telling her his intentions.

"Why don't you come a bit closer and I'll tell you?" Tuckers form was rather translucent. Sam quickly glanced up at the sky which was still sunny and bright. He would be weakened, just like the others. He was alone too.

He grinned at her, clearly aware of her internal debate.

"I promise I won't bite." He teased.

"Why can't we just talk right here?" She retorted.

"Because I'm your friend." The word dripped with poison. When she didn't move, he let out a theatrical sigh. "And because I might know something about the Fenton's portal that you'd want to hear." She wasn't expecting that.

"Might?" She emphasized.

"If you won't trust me I guess I'll just be going." He turned around.

"Wait!" She yelled after him. He glanced at her over his shoulder.

"Yes?" Sam balled up her fists. This was a horrible idea. Danny wasn't even here right now. Then she realized that this opportunity would never happen again. It might be her only chance to get both of them out of here.

"Fine." She said. She took a step forward and Tucker turned back to face her.

"Closer." He urged. Sam took a deep inhale and walked forward, past the property line. She stopped just a couple feet away from Tucker, whose eyes lit with a victorious fire. She exhaled.

"Tell me what you know."

AN: Hello! Sorry about the wait y'all, had an Eventful summer and a serious case of writer's block. Next chapter coming much sooner, I swear.