"Is it just me or are those explosions coming closer?"

Boxy frowned at Jim's urgency. "Maybe?"

"No seriously," Jim whispered nervously, eying the rest of the warehouse in concern. Ernie and Shirley were conversing in hushed tones, eyes darting between the window and the rest of the workers. "The air feels strange… like it's hard to breathe."

The Box Ghost paused, frown deepening as he too glanced at the window. "Sometimes, when the fights get too rough, it can affect the air around the ghosts."

Jim scratched one arm nervously. "Okay, fine but Phantom doesn't just get into fights like that. Right? You said he was different."

"He is."

"So why-"

A closer explosion interrupted his next sentence - the warehouse falling silent in an instant. The Box Ghost floated upward, finally taking stock of the air around him.

"What is it Boxy?" Ernie asked him.

"Not sure," he replied. "But there's something different. This isn't normal." Phantom's ecto-signature was fluctuating erratically, almost like he had way too much caffeine or ectoplasm. Boxy looked down to his Boss. "You all should probably take evacuate - the kid tends to be thrown into buildings."

All five humans looked at each other before shaking their heads.

"Warehouse protocol states we stay put," Ernie replied with a sarcastic shrug. "Something about stolen merchandise if we're leave."

The Box Ghost blinked twice before looking out the window again. He started to hear faint screams and yells; they were getting closer. "What are you supposed to do?" he asked curiously.

"Cry in a corner?" Carl supplied unhelpfully with a nervous grin. Jacob and Jim hit him in the shoulder.

"Huddle behind Big Bess," Shirley said, gesturing to the packing machine. "It's also our earthquake, severe weather, act of God and Ghost Zone apocalypse protocol."

"That you made up," grumbled Carl dejectedly.

"And it saved your ass every time," Jim retorted, pulling the younger man along seriously. "You're not going to go fanboying to Phantom when your neck is on the line." Jacob followed silently, falling in step with Shirley as they moved back.

Ernie glanced up at Boxy. "You should come with us," he said seriously. "Protocol states -"

"I'm a ghost," the Box Ghost replied. "Remember? It won't be so bad."

Ernie frowned again. "Boxy - you're one of us," he stated seriously. "You don't have to put yourself in danger just to appease us."

"I'm not," the Box Ghost stated, using his telekinesis to lift the boxes they were packing into a neat pile toward the back of the warehouse. "I just mean ghost fights don't bother me unless I'm in them. And no one fights me."

The hairs on Ernie's arm rose slightly as the air became chilled. Boxy frowned, floating toward his boss in concern.

Without warning, the north wall exploded, sending debris and merchandise across the far end of the warehouse. The Box Ghost made Ernie intangible, frowning as something was thrown into Big Bess at a high speed. It hit the machine with a sickening metallic clang, causing his coworkers to cry out in alarm. As quickly as it came, it became silent again, dust from the explosion dancing in the air.

The Box Ghost undid his intangibility, looking down at Ernie sheepishly. "Was that okay?" he asked, unsure.

Ernie blinked, muttering under his breath in Spanish. Finally, he nodded. "Thanks Box." He peered around the ghost with a confused frown. "What the hell was that?"

The Box Ghost floated gingerly toward the dented machine, peering curiously at whatever hit the packing machine. A soft muffled groan caught his ears before his eyes found him.

Phantom's white hair was messier than normal, skin pale and slightly clammy as he tried to get onto his hands and knees. He faltered slightly, shaking his head as his arms shook in strain.

"Phantom?" Boxy asked, floating closer to the ghost.

Danny groaned. "Of fucking course," he muttered darkly, gripping his side. He looked up at the ghost. "Hey, kinda busy right now." He faltered again, dropping to the ground stiffly as his body contorted in pain. He bit his lip, stifling another groan as he closed his eyes.

"You okay?" A half lidded glare was his response. The Box Ghost floated in front of him, watching as the boy still tried to get up. "Plasmius did this?"

The half-ghost gave him a stiff nod. "Yeah," he said gruffly, eyes scrunching tightly. "Got me with something… it's messing… with my head." His voice was a little more ragged as he fought through whatever was affecting him. "Did… everyone get out?"

The Box Ghost felt more than heard Ernie come up beside him. "We're all following protocol," he told the boy.

Boxy and Ernie watched Phantom stiffen at the latter's voice, a light green aura dancing around him. "You have to get out," Danny said, alarmed. In an instant, his whole body contorted upward to get him on his feet. "You need to get everyone out."

Ernie frowned at Phantom's tone. It was strained. "Phantom-"

"Get out," Phantom urged again, this time shaking as he held his arm tightly. His aura lit aflame making the boy wince in pain. When Ernie didn't move, he turned to the Box Ghost. "Box, please, get them out."

Ernie and Boxy frowned at each other. "Kid, you're the one who needs help," Ernie replied, moving closer. "You're hurt."

He shook his head violently. "Doesn't matter," he said. "I can't help… can't protect you like this."

Boxy's red eyes widened as Phantom wildly looked around. "Oh," the older ghost exclaimed softly. Ernie turned slightly. Boxy floated closer, hands out in a placating gesture. "Phantom, Plasmius hit you with something right?" he asked gently.

"Please, get them out Boxy," Phantom begged, the grip on his arm tightening so much it drew ectoplasm. His eyes watered as he started to curl inwardly. "I can't… it hurts."

"What's happening to him?" Ernie asked tentatively.

The Box Ghost shushed him. "I know kid," he said gently. "Suppressing an obsession will do that to you."

Ernie's eyes widened as he took in the terrified ghost teen. His eyes were glassy, shining with tears. His body shook, clearly both injured and fighting an urge to act.

He can't help it. No ghost can. I'm actually afraid of when mine kicks in.

"Protection," Ernie whispered in awe. "His…" he trailed off, remembering the boy's explanation about obsessions. The foreman's frown came back in full force as he took in the scene in front of him.

The boy was drugged to bring forward his obsession and was repressing it. Hard.

"What's wrong with me," Phantom moaned, curling inward and faltering slightly.

Ernie rushed forward, catching the boy and slinging an arm around his shoulder. "I got you Phantom," he said gently. He looked back to Boxy and gestured to the back of the plant. "Tell Shirley to get the first aid kit and meet us."

To his surprise, Box Ghost shook his head. "Phantom's going to need more than first aid in a second," he said unnerved, eyes darting to the broken wall. He turned to the teen ghost in question. "Plasmius brought out your obsession. We need to get you out of here."

The boy's eyes grew confused, straining to look ahead at the wall. "Why?" he asked before groaning, green aura flaring once more. "Don't we all have to get out? Doesn't matter-"

The Box Ghost shook his head. "It does matter if you get hurt," he replied. "Right Ernie? Workplace safety."

Ernie frowned, watching as Boxy grew more and more nervous by the second. "Uh… right. Wouldn't be nice to leave me with all that paperwork." Phantom didn't seem to hear him.

Suddenly Boxy frowned, turning back to the damaged wall. "Oh no."

"Is that Phantom!?"

Both Ernie and Boxy whipped their heads toward Carl's voice.

"Not now Carl," Ernie muttered, eying the rest of his team in concern. "We have to get him out of here."

"No," Phantom muttered, face scrunching up in pain as his aura flared again. Ernie ignored the biting cold that was seeping through his bones. "I have to -"

"We have to go," Ernie corrected firmly, glancing over at Shirley. "Shirle, get the first aid kit. Jacob or Jim, help me with him."

"What's wrong with him," Carl asked, confused.

"Long story," Ernie replied, finding the Box Ghost's eyes trained at the hole in the wall. "Boxy?"

The ghost in question stiffened, floating back toward his friends. "We need to go… now," he replied, uncharacteristically direct.

"Why -" Carl started before he was cut off by many things happening at once.

A strong, large blast of magenta energy flew toward the crew, making the entire team gasp in surprise. Phantom broke away from Ernie quickly, moving in a blink of an eye to stand in front of the team with a strong shield of green energy. He struggled against the blast's power, gritting his teeth in exertion as he pushed back. His aura flared, the boy's knees buckling under the pressure. As the blast subsided, the teen hero dropped to the ground, his fists curling as he smothered a scream.

"Come now Daniel, this really doesn't concern anyone else."

Ernie watched as a ghost dressed in white floated in through the hole in the side of the building. His fangs almost twinkled against the working lights as he smiled almost gleefully as he looked down at the occupants of the warehouse.

Phantom managed to get onto all fours, twitching slightly as his aura flared again. His breaths came out in small pants, eyes straining as he glared at the ghost. "Plasmius,"he grunted angrily.

Plasmius' grin widened at the boy's condition. "Still repressing it I see," he stated smugly. The ghost's eyes drifted to the onlookers who were frozen in place by the arrival of the ghost. "Let's see now," he started, bringing a finger to his face thoughtfully. "How did I capture you attention? Ah yes… Cassiopeia wasn't it?"

Phantom bit his lip hard, stifling another grunt of pain.

Plasmius chuckled. "Yes… I was asking you to tell me more about that constellation."

The boy's body twitched painfully. "2nd … century… Ptolemy…" he ground out.

"Stop it!" Carl yelled out. "Can't you see it's hurting him!?"

"Carl!" Jim hissed in warning, grabbing the younger man's shirt to hold him back.

Red eyes glanced at the human who spoke but continued onward. "That's it little badger," he coaxed. "Just give into it. Then we can go see some stars hmm? Far away from your idiot father."

Phantom whimpered. "No." He curled into himself again, shaking his head. "Must… protect…" The boy's nose started to bleed, thick green blood oozing out of his nose slowly.

"That's it," Ernie said strongly, stomping out from behind the boy and kneeling beside him. He glared up at the ghost in question. "I think it's high time you get the hell out of my warehouse."

Plasmius' eyebrows incredulously, but he stayed silent, observing the interaction closely.

"Ern…ie…no…" Phantom forced out.

The foreman moved closer to the boy protectively. "It's alright kid," he shushed. "Remember what I said? We're all getting out of here. You keep fighting you hear?"

"Boss' right," Carl affirmed, breaking away from Jim and stood forward. "We don't need some wannabe tainting our WSIB report this month. We have had a clean streak for four months! Right Shirley?"

The woman in question let out a small squeak before she laughed nervously. "6 actually. Night crew does its best."

Jacob moved forward also, feet planted beside his boss and squared his shoulders, making him look more intimidating.

"The fuck do you think you are anyway?" Jim asked gruffly, eying the ghost with unease. "Throwing kids around buildings? Drugging them?"

Plasmius chuckled softly. "Dear me," he replied haughtily. "I didn't think I would have such a vocal audience!" His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared them down. "This does not concern you. I would suggest you let me have him peacefully."

Ernie glared back. "Not a chance."

Plasmius hummed slightly. "Well," he said in annoyance. "I guess it can't be helped." His aura glowed menacingly. "Looks like I have to make you."

All the humans bristled, the teen hero between them continuing to curl in on himself painfully.

"BEWARE!"

All eyes turned to the loud exclamation to their right incredulously.

The Box Ghost held up his arms, making him look bigger than he actually was, eyes narrowed with pink and blue boxes levitating in the air. With one fluid moment, he threw the set of boxes toward Plasmius, hitting the villain in one direct moment. Boxy moved in front of his friends, red eyes glowing brightly as his aura danced. "I am the Box Ghost! And you should not be in my place of employment!"

Plasmius floated up, frowning slightly. "Really?"

"Yes really!" Boxy continued. He created a giant blue box and placed over Phantom and the crew. "This is my package. My box. Do not test me Plasmius or face my wrath!"

"You get 'em Boxy! Show this clown how it's done!" Carl encouraged. "Night shift crew represent!"

Ernie looked on worriedly, a small frown on his face. He jumped when Jim touched his shoulder. "What?"

Jim nodded to Phantom. "He's struggling a little. Let's get him out of here while we can."

Ernie nodded, bringing the boy's arm gingerly around his shoulder. Phantom winced, letting out a small groan at being moved. "Let's move kid."

"Boxy…." He muttered, trailing off. His feet were planted on the floor, half lidded green eyes finding the ghost in question. "He needs… my thermos."

Box Ghost made various shipping containers float, glowing threateningly at Plasmius' sarcastic stare. "Last chance to bow before the power of boxes!"

Plasmius rolled his eyes. "I'm quivering in terror," he replied dully. "Do you really think you're a match for me? You're not even a threat to Daniel on the best of days."

The Box Ghost's eyes narrowed. "You will not hurt the packages in my care!" With a wave of his hands, three containers opened and a sea of Sayonara Pussycat plushies flew at the older ghost at a high speed. The attack caught Plasmius off guard, and with a quick shout of surprise, he was drowned in a sea of electronic meows. Boxy glowed brightly, limbs pulsing dangerously as he threw more ectoplasmic boxes to his foe.

"Whoa," Jacob muttered under breath.

"Get him!" Carl egged on.

"Wait!" Phantom called out. He pulled at Jim and Ernie and brought the crew's attention to the younger ghost. The boy sounded more like himself. "What's that?"

Box Ghost's form started to shift drastically. His limbs expanded, making him grow taller and wider. His muscles tightened against his smaller shirt.

Carl gasped excitedly, grabbing the still stoic Shirley and shaking her. "He's hulking out!"

"Like a werewolf," Jacob added in awe, watching as the Box Ghost finally stopped glowing. His face changed, no longer the familiar round. He floated higher up, straightening to his new height.

"Huh…" Jim blurted out, turning to the younger ghost questioningly. "Can all ghosts turn change forms?"

Phantom, eyes wide and mouth agape, shook his head.

The Box Ghost rushed forward, grabbing Plasmius and pinning him against the floor. "How dare you use another ghost's obsession like that," he growled. "Especially forcing it out of a young one!"

Plasmius scoffed. "Please, he's not that young anymore," he retorted. His red eyes glanced toward the humans still holding Phantom upright. "Still hiding behind others hmm? Wait until I tell everyone how you were saved by the Box Ghost!"

The Box Ghost's hand lit up in anger. "That's Mr. Box Ghost to you," he replied.

A click of a camera shutter made both ghosts turn. Shirley had her phone out, directed straight at the two ghosts with shaking hands. "And now," she said somewhat strongly. "Everyone will know that you lost to Boxy."

Plasmius growled, red eyes looking up at the Box Ghost, then over to the slowly recovering Phantom before sighing dramatically. "Very well," he said reluctantly, before turning intangible and disappearing, leaving the night crew and Phantom in the middle of a destroyed warehouse.

Once Plasmius left, Phantom dropped to the ground with a groan, all tension seemingly gone from his body. Ernie and Jim both moved beside him, while Jacob, Shirley and Carl ran towards him.

"I'm okay," the teen told them tiredly. He breathed hard, as if he had just sprinted a marathon. "Need a second."

"Still bleeding Champ," Jim retorted, sending a small glance to Shirley.

"I'll go grab the kit," Shirley said, rushing off.

"It's fine," the boy said, using the back of his glove to stem the bleeding. "It'll stop soon." Green eyes drifted to the other ghost in question.

The Box Ghost hovered uncertainly, his new form making him even more of an outsider than he was before. "You alright Phantom?" He asked in concern.

The boy chuckled. "Yeah," he said softly. "Thanks to you."

Boxy fidgeted in place, pushing his fingers together. "Good," he said, trying to suppress a smile. "No ghost should have their obsession drawn out like that."

Phantom shivered. "Tell me about it," he muttered. He tested his nose to see if he was still bleeding, then wiped the back of his glove on his jumpsuit. "You weren't kidding, that sucked."

Boxy tried to say something, but Carl beat him to it.

"You were so cool!" Carl exclaimed to the overall clad ghost. Boxy blinked in surprise, shrinking at the attention. "I don't even care that we'll be on dust run all night - with the 'Bow before me puny ghost!' and the hulk moment and -"

Jacob pulled the younger man back with a sharp tug. "Give him room," he said quietly. "Not the time for questions."

"But Jacob! Boxy just did the literal best thing ever!" Carl whined. "I wanna know how he got all jacked up."

"You know, I wouldn't mind knowing that too," Jim grumbled curiously. He eyed the ghost's new form. "Talk about a growth spurt."

Attention in the room shifted to Boxy, who fidgeted with his hands again. "Ghosts can shift forms if it affects their obsession," he said uncomfortably.

Phantom laughed quietly. "Of course," he muttered. Ernie and Jim turned toward the teen. "Always protect the boxes - noted."

"So it just happened!? Like that?" Carl pressed.

"No," Boxy said again. He floated closer to Ernie and Phantom. "It was more that I needed to protect my friends, my packages."

Carl opened his mouth again, but Jacob hit him on the head with his fist. "No more from you," he rumbled quietly.

"He's right," Ernie said, looking around. "We got a ton of work to do and only a few hours left on shift. Dust run time - Carl, Jacob you go on ahead."

"But -"

"Quit your whining," Jim grumbled, moving to pull that man's sleeve. "Let's go forward."

The three men disappeared across the warehouse, leaving the two ghosts and the foreman behind.

Phantom pushed himself off the ground slowly, swaying slightly before becoming stable. "I should get going too," he said, squinting at the pre-dawn sky. "Probably can get a couple hours of sleep in."

"You sure you're alright?" Ernie asked worriedly.

The teen hopped in the air with a small wince. "Yeah," he said, one arm waving while the other wrapped around his waist. "Thanks for all that."

"Wai-" Boxy started, but the boy disappeared out the air, turning invisible as he flew off. Boxy frowned, looking up in the hole in the ceiling. "Darn it."

Ernie sighed heavily. "He always like this?"

"Think so," the ghost replied. "Hey Ernie -"

"You still have a few minutes until your next break," Ernie said, cutting him off. He looked at his watch with disdain. "Grab the kit from Shirley and go find him. If you don't come back, I'll still pay your full shift." Box Ghost blinked in confusion. "You definitely earned your pay saving all of our asses earlier. Go make sure your friend's okay."

A small smile found his way on the Box's Ghost face. "Thanks boss."

Ernie waved him off, turning to head towards the rest of his workers. "Go."