Hello readers! I know, it's been a long time since I've posted anything. The summer really took a lot out of me, and school with all AP and DE classes isn't easy :( Luckily, I've managed to find some time over break and finish this chapter! This part is a bit angsty but every story has some angst in it, apart from fluff one-shots! Also, good news, I got a good score on my SAT! Now I don't have to worry over the school year about it, though I am stressed about college plans but I'll think about that later. Well, that's enough personal talk for now. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! :)

Chapter 10: I'm Fine

Darkness.

Explosions and Ectoblasts.

Blood and screams.

One of the inhabitants of 221B was experiencing their own personal nightmare.

"No, don't do it!"

Danny watched as his alter ego, Dan, tortured his uncles and Rosie, laughing all the while as he did it.

Uncle John tried to hold Dan back, with little success.

Uncle Sherlock was in shock.

Tears were shining in Rosie's eyes.

The worst part was that they believed it was him. They believed that he would betray them.

Danny flew in in his ghost form. He gave his all in the fight.

It felt like it went on for hours, when in reality it was only a few minutes.

He screamed and cried as he put more of his strength into his attacks.

But in the end, he wasn't strong enough.

He transformed back.

Danny looked on at his second family in sorrow, trying to show that he had given his all in protecting them. But they only looked on in horror and disgust.

A freak. That's what they saw him as.

Their words cut even deeper.

Uncle John screaming, "Why did we ever consider you as our family!"

Uncle Sherlock shouting, "This is all your fault!"

Rosie murmuring coldly, "You're a monster!"

All three of them agreed, "You don't deserve to live."

Danny woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air. He sighed in relief as he realized his nightmare wasn't real. He sighed again as he counted this as his eighth nightmare in a week.

He wished he could believe his fears were mostly irrational. But who's to say his nightmare wouldn't come true? Dan would most likely not show up and ruin his life, but some other villain definitely could. It's not like his relatives were ghost hunting professionals, and his regular villains would eventually find out where he lives in London and harass him.

Also, what were the chances he wouldn't transform into Dan again? If something awful happened to the people he cared about, what would stop him from going down that same path?

The door to his room swung open.

"Rise and shine! Time to get-"

Rosie stopped as she took in her cousin's appearance.

Face covered in cold sweat, pale & clammy skin, bloodshot eyes. He looked awful.

"Geez Danny, you look like a wreck. Are you alright?"

Danny's eyes snapped up to meet hers.

"Oh, h-hey Rosie! I'm f-fine, thanks for asking. I-I've just had a l-long night..."

Damn, curse my stuttering self! She's not going to buy that!

Rosie frowned.

"Danny, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

I wish I could. Really, I do.

Danny calmed himself down.

"Rose, I'm fine! It's just been a long night."

I'm a coward, but at least I'm a coward who still has my family.

Rosie sighed softly, knowing she wouldn't get any more information out of him. Maybe she was overreacting, though.

That's what you said the last few times.

Rosie's phone beeped. She looked down.

Oh, it's a text from Victor. He wants me to come over before school again.

Rosie smiled as she looked up at Danny, though her smile faded as she took him in again.

"Well, I better be heading off now. I'm going to Victor's. Make sure to eat a good breakfast before leaving for school."

Danny smiled weakly. Rosie cared so much, even when he wasn't being completely honest. A small part of him was glad that Victor kept capturing her attention, even if it was a bit suspicious. It made things easier for him.

Thank Clockwork for small victories.

Danny sighed as he got up and got himself ready for the long day ahead.

Rosie grinned as she made her way over to Victor's flat. As she walked, she heard her phone chime and looked down.

Victor: Hey :) I'm getting bored without you, where r u?

Rosie chuckled.

Rosie: I'm on my way right now, hang on :)

Another text.

Victor: Well, hurry up. I'm getting bored without you.

A chipper response back.

Rosie: I'll be there shortly.

She smiled as she continued towards Victor's house.

"AHHHHH!"

Rosie's head shot up just as a man ran past her.

She stared in shock as he ran off.

I wonder what he's running from…This can't be good.

Her question was answered as she heard maniacal laughter coming from behind her. She whipped her head around, expecting to see a man with a weapon.

Instead, she saw a floating figure. It looked like a mix between a cyborg and a skeleton with fiery hair and toxic green eyes. The ghost let out a deep chuckle.

"Hello, foolish human girl. You may not be the prey I'm looking for, but I'm always looking to add to my collection. You're certainly a sight for sore eyes."

Rosie shuddered in fear and disgust.

This is worse than last time. At least then I wasn't being attacked AND hit on! I have to get out of here.

She quickly started running away, but was stopped as a blast was shot and hit the ground in front of her.

"I don't suggest running, girl. You'll only make things harder for yourself. I promise I'll make my fun painless before taking your life."

Rosie covered herself, feeling violated already. She tried not to hyperventilate as she turned to face the ghost.

The ghost grinned as he moved closer to her. She closed her eyes, praying that everything was a bad dream.

Please, whoever is out there, don't let him hurt me. Please, help me…

"Hey, Skulker!"

That all too familiar voice.

"Why don't you pick on someone on your own level!"

Rosie's eyes shot open. The same snow-haired boy with the jumpsuit, Danny Phantom, apparently, had come to her rescue once more.

The ghost (Skulker, apparently) sneered.

"Ah, greetings, ghost child. Recovered from the beating I gave you a while back?"

Danny scowled. "That caused me a bit of trouble, but I'm over it. What I'm not over is you creeping on a teenager! What would Ember have to say about that?"

"You won't be saying anything to her once I defeat you! You'll make a lovely skin on my wall!"

"Well, at least you upgraded your joke a little, though personally I don't think it's an improvement."

"How many times do I have to say it's not a joke!"

Skulker blasted his guns for a while, missing a smirking Danny every time. After a minute, he faltered and Danny pulled out his magic thermos, sucking the ghost in. Rosie sighed in relief.

After capping the thermos, Danny turned around, floating down in front of her.

"Hey, are you okay? Did Skulker hurt you?"

Rosie smiled, feeling a lot calmer than last time. "I'm fine, thanks to you. You saved my life, Danny!"

Danny frowned, and his eyes widened in shock. Rosie's smile faltered.

"Sorry, did I say something wrong?"

Danny snapped out of his shock, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, it's just, most people don't call me by just my first name. They either call me 'Danny Phantom' or 'Phantom'."

"Oh, I'm sor-"

"Hey, don't apologize. It's fine, I'm just not used to it."

More like used to people treating me like a normal person in any way.

Rosie grinned in relief. "Well, if it's alright with you, I'm going to keep doing it."

Danny grinned back. "I'm fine with it. It's a refreshing change."

She couldn't help but giggle. Here she was, expecting an average, 'You're welcome' hero response before flying off, and she was having a full conversation with this kid.

Which was another bit of shock to her. Before, she could've sworn this ghost was a young adult, but close up, he looked like a fourteen year old!

He looks like he died so young. Maybe he did…

She also noticed dark circles and bloodshot eyes. The question popped out before she could stop it. "Hey, are you okay? You seem tired…for a ghost anyways."

Another shocked moment for the ghost. Did no one ever ask him about his wellbeing?

"I'm fine, just had a rough morning. Don't worry about me, though, worry about yourself! It's not like you have a healing factor."

Rosie chuckled. This kid even had a sense of humor! "I don't, just don't forget to take it easy sometimes. Even heroes need a break!"

Danny smiled as Rosie continued towards her destination.

She's always been a kind person, even to people she doesn't know very well! I love that about her. I hope no one ever breaks her kind spirit.

That ghost kid is so caring towards others! Yet, it seems like very few people have shown him kindness. He had this tired air around him, like he's been through a lot, and it feels like very few people have been kind or even decent towards him.

Well, I'm not going to be like those other people! I'm going to give him a chance, even if no one else ends up agreeing with me!

Her mind made up, Rosie rushed to Victor's house, an excuse already in her mind for being late.

Well, that's all for now! I can't say when I'll get enough inspiration and time so it'll be a long while before a next chapter, but I promise not to leave you hanging forever!

Signing off until next time, milyash2131 :)