Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom
Chapter two
It did not take long for Danny to find himself hauled into the Fenton lab and into a cage. A normal, un-ecto-y cage. Confused, Danny asked, "What, that confident?"
"You bet. With this restraining collar you're as much a threat as a weak kid. The cage is just a precaution," Jack answered as he slammed it shut and covered it with a white cloth. He then walked upstairs to join Maddie and eat a late breakfast.
Danny gave a disbelieving look as he watched his dad leave. He figured that his parent's next step would be to call the Guys in White, but part of him was curious as to what else would happen. He was also a bit hungry since he missed breakfast to look for them. With the cloth blocking anyone from seeing him, he figured no one would notice if he slipped out for a quick snack.
With this in mind, he tried to turn intangible …only he couldn't. Confused he tried to float, but only fell to the floor.
"Okay, this is getting weird," Danny said to himself as he charged to fire an energy beam at the cage, but nothing happened.
"What is happening?" Danny asked aloud. He checked himself over to see that he was still in his ghost form, but he was completely unable to use any of his powers. The most was the weird energy he felt from the collar seemed to intensify whenever he used a power. He suddenly felt a twinge of panic. If he was stuck in his ghost form without any powers then he was going to need to rethink his next move.
As he thought he sat down and pulled out his cellphone to see that he had several missed calls and texts from a nervous Jazz and curious Sam and Tucker. The last text was from Jazz a few minutes ago, wondering where he was. Not sure what else to do, Danny texted back, 'At home, did not think things through.'
Jazz saw the text as she reached her house, and felt her stomach lurch as she rushed up the steps and inside. Cautiously, she walked inside and peered into the kitchen to find her parents celebrating.
"They said they'll be here in ten minutes to talk more and retrieve the ghost boy. This is wonderful," Maddie spoke estatically as she hung up the phone.
"And you said we couldn't do it," Jack replied as he skewered a sausage.
"I wonder if they'll take him away or let us keep him? Maybe we could lead on the experiments on him," Maddie speculated, her mind reeling on what she could study on ghost biology and such.
"As long as we get to keep the credit for catching him I'll be happy. They'll never be able to doubt us as the best ghost-hunters again," Jack commented.
'Oh no,' Jazz thought to herself as she listened. From what she heard she assumed that they caught Danny and were going to hand him over per some sort of agreement. She assumed that they were keeping him in the lab in the open, she had the only thermos in her backpack after all, and started for the stairs when her parents saw her.
"Jazz, what are you doing here? School should have started half an hour ago," Maddie asked, surprised to see their daughter home from school.
"I…forgot to pack something…from the lab. So don't mind me, I'll just be looking for that," Jazz answered as she eased herself closer to the stairs to the lab.
"Not so fast Jazzy pants, there's a ghost in the lab," Jack replied.
"Don't worry dear, the ghost will be gone in a little while. So you should just go back to school and we'll we'llby whatever you forgot later," Maddie compromised.
"But…," Jazz paused as she thought of a reason to stay. It then accord to her as she continued, "It sounded like something important is going on and I'm curious about it."
"You are?" The parents asked shocked.
"I am. I think it's high time I took an interest in the family business. Starting with checking out that ghost in the basement," Jazz explained persuasively.
Her Mom gave her an unconvinced look as her father smiled and replied, "I'm happy to hear that Jasmine, but we have to start with baby steps. Speaking of steps, that's where I'll be waiting."
With this said, Jack left the kitchen and started for the front steps, only to stop when he noticed the Fenton thermos in the backpack Jazz dropped. When he noticed it he commented, "Hey, I was wondering where this thing ran off to!"
Once her dad was out of the way, Jazz once again began to edge towards the lab. Her mom noticed, however, and warned, "Jazz, we both told you not to go down there."
"Mom, what exactly are you planning on doing with the ghost?" Jazz asked.
"Your father and I are currently working with the Guys in White organization, so we're going to hand the ghost over in return for them sponsoring our work. From there, the ghost will probably get experimented on, researched, disected, who knows. I'm going to insist on us helping with that of course."
"But don't you think that's a little extreme? I mean, maybe it's a ghost who's actually good," Jazz debated.
"Oh Jazz, you know there's no such thing as a good ghost. Especially the ghost enemy number one. Besides, it's already dead so it's not like it can get any more hurt," her mom rationalized.
"I think you would think differently if you knew the truth," Jazz whispered aloud but more to herself.
"What truth Jazz?" Her mom asked.
"It's just that maybe if you talked to the ghost you might think differently. You might realize that this a big mistake," Jazz answered.
"Now I understand why you might think that, but you need to understand that your father and I are only thinking about what's best for you and Danny. I'm sure you'll understand someday."
"Maddie, they're here!!" Jack called out to announce the presence of the Guys in White. Within moments the three of them walked into the room.
"We came right over when you called to collect then destroy the ghost," Mr. Black began.
"Where is the ghost boy," Mr. White continue.
"He's downstairs in the lab. You can see him and how well the Fenton Ghost Restraining Collar works," Maddie answered.
"But first wouldn't you like to hear my dad tell you all about how he stopped the ghost almost single handedly with all the items made by him and his wife?" Jazz butted in when she saw the group head to the basement.
"That's right! It all started yesterday…" Jack began as he led the two guests away and blathered on about how he caught Danny Phantom.
With the Guys in White temporarily busy, Jazz grabbed her mom's arm and pleaded, "Mom, I know you think you're doing what's best, but you have to trust me. For Danny's sake, don't send him off with them!"
"What do you mean 'for Danny's sake?'" Her mom asked.
"Well, I really wanted Danny to explain it to you, but he and Danny Phantom - the ghost boy - are really…close. If you don't believe me then take this opportunity to talk to the ghost boy about it before its too late," Jazz continued to plead. She really did not want to tell her parents Danny's secret without him knowing, but she even more did not want her brother shipped off to have who knew what done it him.
Maddie thought about it for a moment, then decided she would see for herself what was really going on.
She walked down to the lab and lifted the cloth slightly so she could see the ghost boy. Part of her always thought that he looked a little like Danny, but she assumed that was a coincidence. But…Danny had been acting strange for a while; about as long as the ghost boy had been around. And now that she thought about it, how is it that the ghost boy was always seen using Fenton tech that was neither stolen or sold? What did all of this have to do with each other?
"Mo-Mrs. Fenton. What's going on? Why can't I use any of my powers?" Danny asked when he noticed his mom.
"It's because of my newest creation, the Fenton Ghost Restraining Collar. With that on, you keep your form so that we can study you but it stops you from using any of your powers. And if you do somehow act up it works as a good way to make you stop with its other abilities," Maddie answered.
"I see. Well, this has been really fun, but I got places I gotta go so how about you take this thing off me and you can try again some other time," Danny replied.
"Not so fast, Mister. The only place you're going is a nice lab where you will be analyzed and studied for the rest of your unlife. But first I gotta know, what exactly is your connection with my baby boy," Maddie ordered.
"My, what?" Danny asked. He had focused so much on the lab-thing that he almost missed the question at the end.
"Don't play dumb. Ever since you appeared my Danny has been acting strange, then I hear from my daughter how you and Danny are close."
"She…told you that?" Danny asked, shocked.
"She did, so spill it. Are you blackmailing him? Possessing him?"
"None of that! I-," Danny began then paused. He had been planning on telling his parents at some point, but he would have preferred for it to be a little less of a dire time. Even so, this technically wasn't the first time they found out, and they always acted alright with the concept until he erased their memories. Why should this be different? At last he swallowed and finished, "I am Danny. Your Danny."
"That-that's impossible. Don't you lie to me," Maddie replied shocked
"Mom, I'm not lying to you. Remember that lab accident a little while back? During the accident I somehow got these ghost powers. I'd turn back and show you but this collar is stopping me from doing so. You gotta believe me. It's why I've been acting strange, missing curfew, slipping grades. It's all because I've been using these powers to help you guys and fight ghosts. To keep everyone safe," Danny explained.
"Prove it. Prove it someway without me removing the restraining collar," Maddie ordered.
Danny quickly wracked his brain and started to ramble off, "Um…your anniversary is May ninth. I want to be an astronaut. Vlad has a crazy obsession with you and hates dad to the point where he used to use his powers to send ghosts to attack him. When I was little, I was secretly bummed that you guys got me a gerbil instead of a puppy."
"Danny? And wait, what was that about Vlad sending ghosts?" Maddie asked as she became more and more confused.
"Oh ya, did I say that? Don't worry, I've been able to keep everything under control…until now," Danny answered awkwardly.
"But Danny, why didn't you tell us about all this? Why are you putting yourself in danger?" Maddie asked.
"I just wanted to try to help," Danny answered with a slight smile. In that instant, Maddie knew that Danny Phantom was in fact her son.
Slowly, she grabbed the key to the collar from her hip pocket, only for Jack, Jazz, and the Guys in White to walk downstairs.
"And as you can see I - Jack Fenton - succeeded in catching the ghost kid," Jack concluded his long winded story.
"And you're keeping him in a regular cage?" Mr. White asked as he looked over the scene.
"The cage is just for dramatics. I know how much you guys love that-," Jack began.
"-We do not," Mr. Black interrupted.
"What's really holding him back is that fancy collar. And with this remote I can stop him from doing anything. See?" Jack continued without missing a beat. As he finished, he pressed a button which caused the specter-deflector part of the collar to momentarily zap Danny.
"Jack!" Maddie called out appalled.
"What?" Jack asked.
"Impressive. And do you have anything to help restrain him while we transport him?" Mr. White asked.
"Right here. The handy Fenton Thermos. With this, you just press this button and it'll suck in any ghost until you want them out," Jack answered as he handed over the thermos.
"I think we should try it out. Mrs. Fenton, open that cage," Mr. Black ordered.
Maddie grimaced as opened the cage and stood in front of Danny to unlock the collar. As he saw this, Jack complained, "Come on, Maddie, I wanna see him get sucked into the thermos."
"I'm sorry Jack, but I can't let that happen," Maddie retorted as she turned back around to look at the group. As she did so, she moved out of the way just enough for Mr. White to see Danny.
"You might not be able to, but I can," he commented as he pressed the button and sucked Danny into the thermos.
"No, Danny!" Both Jazz and Maddie called out as they watched Danny disappear.
"What are you two yelling about?" Jack asked, confused.
"That isn't just any ghost, Jack. That's our son. Get the thermos back!" Maddie ordered.
"What?!" Jack asked, shocked.
"Impressive. Part of me doubted any of their stuff would work," Mr. White commented.
"But if what they said about turning their son into a ghost is true then that is even more impressive," Mr. Black added.
The two shared a look, then Mr. White stated, "Congratulations Fentons, you just worked your way into mandatory positions in the Guys in White research facility."
"In other words, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, you are under arrest," Mr. Black continued.
Jack and Maddie shared a surprised look as more Guys in White stormed the lab and arrested the adults. In the confusion, Jazz rushed for the bedrooms to quickly grab a bag of supplies then to her car to drive off; before they decided to take her too.
Once she was a little ways from the house, she texted Sam and Tucker to tell them what happened. She then drove off to the only person she could think of who could actually help.
As always, please review~