A/N:

finally! brief explanation of how Dan's memories work, and some other things, plays between chp8&9, a.k.a. gas station scene

also, I am hinting back&forth, so if you spotted sth like a similar stuff from here and there, that's intentional

usually I don't use two povs within one chapter, but I'd like to add Jazz's side as a basic point, and then through Danny, making Dan explaining some things about him, and of course building up the tension between them for the chp9

also, once, there would be a short that plays before this one, including Danny on the phone, but the slight little information in that only would be needed later, so until we reach that point in the main line, that wouldn't be important

question: is it very annoying adding missing details later? I mean, it must be weird… I'm just asking.

"Do you need anything?" Jazz asked, trying to close out the grunt coming from beside her for the question. The older version of her brother took a quick glimpse at Danny, seemingly hesitating, but then biting his lips, answered the question.

"I- I guess, yeah… uh- that flavoured chips when- when we used to take the roads and Dad-" he suddenly closed his mouth shut, leaving the sentences unfinished, as he, with a frown, fell silent. Jazz thought it was partly because Dan didn't want to enlighten the similarities with his younger version, just as she had spotted the two were just keeping the shared facade, they were bearing each other finely. They weren't. But according to her plans that was soon to change.

"The pizza flavoured one?" Jazz guessed then. The figure on the passenger seat remained quiet. "You want some?" Dan opened his mouth, but then after looking briefly at his younger self, closed it, gazing at his lap, starting to twisting his fingers, resting over the borrowed book.

"No, forget it. I don't want anything," he mumbled. "I'm not hungry."

Jazz peeked at Danny, who a very annoyed and impatient face was showing to his alteration. She was sure Dan changed his mind, because of Danny, but she didn't want to voice that she could clearly see it. "Are you sure?" Jazz asked instead again. "I don't want to stop later, so-"

"I'm fine, Jazz." he said, though it sounded like a frustrated snap. She got the message, to not pick on the issue further.

"All right." Jazz nodded, adding "We try to be quick. Don't make any trouble until then." to that, she got a chuckle, getting as he slowly slipped a finger within the pages, presumably, to continue where he paused the reading at home.

"I literally won't even move from here, so-" he started, staring at the book, but then, suddenly looked up, just at the same time as Jazz decided to leave him alone and doing this all paying for and getting some snack for the road as fast with Danny as she could. "Jazz, wait-" stopped her an unsure voice, calling after her.

Jazz tried to hide the 'told you so' smile spreading on her face. Danny wasn't on the same opinion about his future version, so then, she rather carefully behaved 'kindly' with Dan, avoiding Danny's noting to each 'normal reaction' towards him. "Yes?"

"Can I- can I get some coffee?" her brows knitted together.

"Coffee?" for a second no further information came, but then, it was confirmed.

"Uh- yes? Black. Without sugar? It can be long. The normal ones are usually quite small." was it explained, then Dan glanced at her, with a hoping in the familiar blue. "Can I get some?"

"Okay." Jazz nodded, taking the order. "Anything else?" she enquired, but the cover of the book was already opened, getting a hardly understandable mumbling under the nose 'no, thanks, that would be all'.

"You know, that right, you still owe me an explanation?" his sister didn't say anything, just paid for the goods, and grabbed the bags of chips. Danny so hated she didn't give him any explaining since he had firstly asked at home.

"Could you bring the coffee?" Jazz turned to him, shaking the snacks a bit within her fingers. "My hands are kinda full." she said. There was a short silence, but then his sibling gave him a look. "Danny, please."

Danny let out a growl, and grabbed the paper cup, murmuring under his nose. "He doesn't need any of these. He is a ghost, Jazz." he noted. "Not a human. He doesn't need food or to drink. That's nonsense."

His sibling rolled her eyes. "M-hm, says the one, with the same part-ghost existing." Danny opened his mouth to explain that it wasn't the same at all, but then just shook his head, as the only way of resistance and disapproving against 'being nice with him'. "Also, why do you think he wouldn't need anything? He is just like you. I mean, he is literally you." she pointed. Danny didn't have any fancy to start a tale about the truth right now. "Besides, I gave him tea at home after he arrived, seemed he liked it and on the morning… I think, he ate from one of your cereals. I wasn't paying much attention, but I'm sure I heard him eating." Jazz cleared.

For that note, Danny stopped, with wide eyes. "He did what?"

His sister tsked, that she almost walked into him, by the sudden stopping, but then, repeated, pressing the words. "He drank and ate, Danny. I know you don't like him much, but give him a chance. He is not that bad." he really had to focus, not to correct her, that no, he was bad, and technically worse than anything imaginable. "And I think he must be hungry, whatever he says. I mean, he is here for two days, but he didn't eat or drink much since then, so- and a coffee really not the end of the world."

Danny grunted at the idea that Jazz pictured him similar to him or like a human. Seriously, how could he buy her that much? But that was why he was here now. He had to keep an eye on his (alternate) future self and protect Jazz from his impact and this all play, whatever this was all about.

Danny took a breath and continued the way to the car, following his sister. First of all, he had hated leaving him behind, when Jazz after finishing with filling the tank took the question about the quick shopping, buying some stuffs for the road, but- that sounded better than staying with him in the car. He just couldn't take the ghost's presence at all, but until- Danny couldn't say that until he didn't do anything, all was fine, because it wasn't, but- no, that was just for the better act.

"He just asked for coffee, Danny. Nothing else." Jazz said then.

"Yeah, and you bought him chips too…" Danny described, still abhorring this all blind faith that he would have needed food. Especially the chips that he liked so much. (Actually, it was his favourite, and that fact just made it even worse.) Jazz was seriously living in the dark that he was him just from the future. (He so wasn't! But she couldn't see the whole picture. Why she just couldn't believe him in that?)

"If he doesn't eat it, then you can have it." Jazz ended the debate. "As I see, it's a win-win scenario, Danny."

"It's really not." Danny murmured, but then, stopped as they were a few feet away from the car. He was still holding his 'specific ask'. Okay, that was fine, he had to bring it, but Jazz- Danny turned around to catch his sister, but she was already at the car, opening the back door, and packing to the back seat everything. She couldn't be serious!

Danny waited a bit, but then took a deep breath, realising Jazz wouldn't come back and take the cup from him, he had to- god, how much he hated this whole situation! Danny closed his eyes, collecting every strength to convince himself that Jazz hadn't directly planned this scenario for him to give him the coffee from the beginning - though, he knew it was definitely all along in his sister's mind. Danny then, not having any other choice, took the remained steps ahead.

For a moment he wondered to just stay at the spot, unmoved, if Jazz would somehow realise its absurdity, but that barely could work. She was too persistent to notice him, or got how awkward it was. Danny let out a resigned sigh and walked to the car, stopping next to the nearer front door. It seemed the ghost got lost in reading. The book was leaned against his pulled-up legs and- Danny wasn't sure what he should have done. Knock on the window? But that momentary stalling made him realise his older self wasn't actually reading the book. The eyes were fixed on the words, yes, but- was it a hand-written note?

Before he could have made out a word, or wonder about why his future self had a written paper within the pages, the man suddenly blinked and nearly jumped up as the figure standing at the door became clear in the corner of his eyes. Danny could make out a murmured swearing under the ghost's nose, along with a wince. But- did he just startle him?

The door got open and the so hated blue gaze stared at him, closing the book with a hasty movement with the other hand. "What do you want?" came the grumpy question, undoubtedly because of the interruption from whatever the man was doing, or by just clear annoyance, in that Danny wasn't sure.

Danny opened his mouth but then nodded towards the book. "Is it interesting?" he played dumbfoundedly, not clarifying that he knew it wasn't about the content, it was more like about what was within the pages. The other's jaw clenched, it seemed there was an internal cursing but then the ghost put down his legs, opening the glove compartment and slammed inside the book, closing it away from the curious eyes.

"None of your business." was it commented. For a second Danny played with the idea that Jazz had found the man too to fill a psychology test, for giving a sample for her further studies, but hardly that was the case, and either- he couldn't either imagine if that was the reason behind it.

For a long second, neither of them moved, but then, Danny slowly put together why there was an odd, uncomfortable, almost burning sensation in his palm. The ghost with crossed arms, gazed ahead, biting the lips when Danny reached out the paper cup for him. "Jazz- she…" he turned towards Danny slightly, measuring his hand. "Just accept it, okay?" Danny said then, implying how much forced this all was.

The man raised an eyebrow but then took it. Danny opened his mouth to tell it was not a bit hot, and only his ghost healing made it possible for him to hold it this long, without hissing the meantime, but the other wrapped his fingers around it easily, tapping on the paper cup, staring at it, but then, lifted the (stolen) eyes, looking at Danny.

"I-" was it started, but then it paused. "I think… you know, I don't need such things, but-" his eyes were marvelling the black drink. "Jazz asked and I- I don't know, I just- I just felt the urge to drink a coffee, so- and I couldn't stop thinking about it." his eyes stared off, and sniffed from the drink, creating a pleasing half-smile on his face. "God! Just as I remembered..."

Danny's brow drew closer. It really looked like the ghost enjoyed it, only drinking it in small portions to lengthen the experience. He couldn't tell why he was still standing there, but then his alternate self closed his eyes, letting the drink filling him completely, the hotness, the taste and-

"How does this work anyway?" Danny asked then, grabbing out the man, from recalling a pleasant memory or something like that. The ghost opened his eyes and licked his lips, observing if he took the question seriously. Danny hated repeating himself, and even asking about it, but- this bothered him much. Not that he would have cared about it, or that he would have been curious about anything regarding his future self, but- "I mean, your memories." Danny clarified, wishing to end this discussion as fast as they could.

For a second the man was just staring at him, opening and closing his mouth, abashed, but then started. "It's-" he tapped on the nearly empty cup, but then gazed ahead, answering. "It's complicated. I think it's-" but then suddenly he snapped his eyes at Danny. "Why do you even ask about it? Is it to examine if I remembered them last week, right? If that was 'Danny' doing that? Or that the old man's theory is right? That the Plasmius part is responsible for everything?" to that Danny couldn't tell the answer, "Listen, I- I don't think either you want to know the truth, okay?" he moved his fingers on the paper cup again. "If that helps, I am just remembering things since I- since I- well, since I got out of the thermos." he mumbled, though it felt only a half-truth. "And if you ask, it is hardly as fun as it sounds, but I don't think you'd care about it much." the ghost said then, drinking the last bit of the coffee with a quick movement.

Indeed, Danny didn't care about it. Not even a bit. Maybe he could convince Jazz, but not him. For a long minute, Danny was just staring ahead again, but then the ghost continued. "I think it's- it's like a puzzle. Different pictures, but both created with the same structure of pieces. If you mix them together and then get the half of the mixed pile, you may put together by those pieces a somewhat massive fitting together larger piece, maybe an almost entire one. But you will have some pieces twice and some will be missing entirely. You may have a whole-like form, but- it wouldn't be complete and-"

"And the entire picture will be just messed up." Danny finished the thought, trying to follow up with the explanation. "It's a very metaphoric way, describing yourself, you know. So, you are nothing but an ugly, shouldn't be existed puzzle." Danny summarized the main of the whole almost poetic-like picturing.

The ghost opened his mouth, but then pursued it. "Yeah, something like that." he said then, and after that moved his legs.

"What are you doing?" the man paused, but then after shook the empty cup in the air, meaningfully.

"On to throw it out?" then he caught Danny's eyes. "May I be excused to walk to the dustbin, or you would like me rather to use you as a litter-slave?" was an eyebrow raised up, drawing out the other scenario.

Unwillingly, Danny moved away, following by his eyes the tall figure moving. He so hated that the other seemed so human. For a moment, he snapped back his vision to the passenger seat, taking a peak at the closed glove-box, but then to the eerie feeling, crawling up on the back of his neck, made him turn around.

"Don't you dare." the man hissed. "That's personal." he so hated that tone. So then, Danny couldn't ask about it, not directly at least, and he knew the ghost was feeling he was aware of the handwritten pages.

"Since when are you reading?" Danny asked instead. The man halted, stopping to move ahead to the spotted dustbin a few feet away.

"It's-" was it started. "I guess it's from him. I mean, you weren't ever a reading type." he explained. "And I- I needed to occupy myself." that he gave an answer, slightly surprised Danny, especially that it sounded true.

"With Jazz's book…" Danny pointed unbelievably, not even trying to imagine how bored he had to be to choose a psychology book to somehow spend the time. This all just sounded ridiculous, as a joke rather, that he was reading one of Jazz awful psychological books she used to understand people more! In a way, it was ironic.

"Yeah, tell me about it… not as bad though." he scratched his neck, almost embarrassed. "I finished with it within a few hours, besides, it was better than trying to sleep..." he said, stopping suddenly, eyes widening, realising he accidentally just admitted, he wasn't having it now to read it. Danny expected for him to correct himself, but presumably, that would have just enlightened to it more attention, so then, he just frowned, uncomfortably by his mistake.

For a long silent second, nothing happened. His so-called future self was just folding absently the paper cup in his hand, but then Danny relieved a sigh, somehow breaking this awkwardness. "Okay… I don't think you'd make any trouble, throwing out your cup." to that, Danny just received a smirk.

"Well, some chaos theories could argue with that." he commented, turning around then towards the dustbin. Danny just watched as the ghost was moving, not missing any second if something happened. Much to his luck, the other seemed harmless, not even intending to do anything else really now, just as a simple human - and that, Danny hated. Damn this disguise. He must have perfected it, before he came here, to look this normal. Not even his movements suggested the man would have been something entirely else - or even, a threat hiding behind something harmless.

Danny almost believed Jazz might have been right about him, and- no, that wouldn't happen, Danny shook his head, reminding himself who the other was. He couldn't allow himself to just slightly forget that fact, not counting how much this human skin was on to see the ghost differently... By that, Danny returned his vision back to the man, catching as the figure was turning back from the dustbins, spotting something, and then, he abruptly stopped. Literally, like he would have got frozen.

Was it Jazz coming back? By now, Danny put together (and remembered, she had announced inside the shop), Jazz had gone to use the restroom - which was either the real reason or just a made-up one, leaving them together. Reading by the ghost's face, it wasn't relief or joy seeing his sister either, it was- undecipherable, and he didn't like it. And it reminded Danny of those hunting animals that just fixed their vision on something.

Danny swallowed, observing the taller. The clenching in and out fists told the other was calculating something in his mind, hesitating or waiting out the perfect time to do the deed. No, Danny paled, scared turning towards the direction. For him, there wasn't anything else, just an elder couple, standing near to their fruittruck-like vehicle, struggling over a folded-out map. But that didn't count what it was, who it was, they were innocents. Danny just couldn't believe he had let the ghost, who had ruined his time, into the current world, an other one to waste into the ground.

Danny looked around, observing the surroundings, searching for any hiding spot to transform, but then, he recognised, he shouldn't have wasted any time. Caring about such things, was only important for him, and it didn't count, when people were in danger. Hell with the secret identity, he decided, feeling as his fist was already glowing green, ready to act.

"Danny?" came an enquiring voice, to that Danny snapped his head towards the source, catching his sister staring at his hand, confused. "What are you doing?"

Danny just blinked at the stupid question. What was he doing? He was on to protect everyone, why couldn't she see it?! "He-" Danny started, waving to the couple, only to gape at the sight. His brows ran together. Was he- was he just seeing what he was seeing? "But-"

The weirdest and creepiest was that he even saw the man giving an encouraging smile to the two figures, as he was giving back to them their map. For a quick glimpse, the familiar eyes looked at Danny, raising an eyebrow to the glowing hand, but then turned back to the elders, seemingly wishing them safe travels. After that, the ghost walked back, joining them, as nothing had happened a minute ago.

"Let me guess," his future self tilted his head to the still greenish fist. "you thought I'd kill them."

Danny didn't say anything, just growled annoyed, ceasing the glowing. "I really hope we don't have to stop at every damn bunny during the road to save them from vultures or something."

"What? That doesn't even make sense."

"You don't make any sense!" Danny retorted. "Stop this game, this won't help, trusting you, no matter how many good things you do." he cleared to the ghost, who visibly thought it would just work like that.

To that, his future version somewhat disgruntled snorted, taking the remained steps to the car, and sitting back then to the seat without any word. Danny followed him too, fuming over this- this whatever this was, not even noticing as a hand reached out towards him, grabbing a pizza flavoured chips from the pile, and then it was given to him.

Danny just couldn't believe this all. Not even that as the human disguised ghost almost kindly thanked for the snacks, hiding then it to the same place where the book-illusioned something was. Why couldn't Jazz just see how much this was just- just a lie? To buy them? Just for that, Danny put in his mind, not forgetting it for any second, it was all just for the better human act. To keep up this cursed ruse helping- helping some old couple, lost in a road, explaining to them the right way, like it would be important for him. Seriously? Who the hell could be bought by that cheap trick? Danny snorted, and crossed his arms over his bag in his lap. There was no way, he would keep it away, out of reach the Fenton Thermos in it. Just as there was no way, he would forget for any second who the other was, even if he was trying this much to build up an altered, changed vision of him. There was no way he could change. Ever.