Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom

Chaper eleven

"Jack. And Maddie! Whatever do I owe this surprise to?" Vlad asked as he opened the door. He was not surprised to see them here after being released, afterall Maddie knew he had her son, but had hoped that it would have been a few more days before they arrived. Or at the very least long enough to get rid of his other unwelcomed guests.

"Maddie told me about what you did for Danny, and I first just want to thank you for helping him. Also, we would really like to see our kids," Jack answered.

"Of course! That is, assuming they want to see you," Vlad answered. He internally smirked as he watched Jack stiffen at the comment, but lost the smirk when he saw how distressed Maddie looked.

"Mom! Dad!!" Jazz called out as she saw them in the doorway and rushed forward to hug them both.

"Jazz baby! How I missed you? I take it V-man has been treating you well. I mean, he is like family to you kids," Jack greeted.

"Jazz, we're so sorry you had to go through that. Your father and I are just happy that you didn't get caught up in all of that," Maddie apologized as she hugged her daughter. She then released her as she asked, "But where's danny?"

"We were downstairs when we heard the doorbell. He was saying bye to his friends before they went home. It's kind of a long story. Anyways I bet he'll be surprised to see you guys here," Jazz answered.

"Quite surprised," Vlad agreed, "Infact, I think I hear him and his little friends now."

The group looked farther inside to see Danny walk into view flanked by Sam, Tucker, and Valerie. His friends looked surprised to see his parents, but Danny looked terrified.

"High Sweetie. The Guys in White let us go shortly after you escaped. I guess they really didn't have a use for us. But everything's alright now. I promise, it's all in the past," Maddie greeted as she took a step into the house.

In response, Danny took a few steps back and asked, "It's all in the past?"

"Danny, what's wrong? Mom and Dad are back and free. This is great," Jazz asked, confused.

"I…why are they here? How did you get here?" Danny asked as he tried to get around the topic.

"We drove all day and night to get here. We just missed you kids so much that we wanted to check on you," Jack answered.

"For Father's right, Sweetie, I know the last week or so was trying but we really did miss you guys," Maddie continued.

"'Trying' isn't exactly the word I would use," Danny commented as he stepped further back behind his friends.

"Danny, what's wrong with you? You're acting like you're scared of them?" Sam asked, confused.

"And don't worry, son. Before we left your mom and I finally figured out a way to get rid of those ghost abilities of yours. We can all just go home, fix you up, and go back to as if nothing ever happened," Jack announced.

"But you can't just get rid of his powers. He needs those to save the city," Tucker protested.

"You kids really shouldn't be here. Your parents must be worried sick about you," Maddie critiqued towards Danny's friends.

"Do you guys honestly think that taking me home and getting rid of my powers will make everything okay? That we can just go back pretending you never did all that stuff to me?" Danny asked.

"Danny, I know that it wasn't fun at that facility for you, but remember what we told you? You have to trust us. We're your parents, we know what's best for you," Jack told his son.

"Ya, you know, I tried that. Buts it's kind of hard to trust people who are actively torturing you," Danny argued.

"Danny, they're our parents. You know they wouldn't torture you. You always said that they would accept you." Jazz protested.

"Right. So I must have just imagined them telling me to stand still as they shot at me. Or let those guys shock me till I passed out. Or how they failed to realize that I spent the first few days without food or being allowed to actually sleep," Danny answered sarcastically.

"That-that must be some kind of misunderstanding. Mom and Dad would never allow that stuff," Jazz continued the protest.

"They dissected me," Danny persisted.

"Danny, you-" Jazz began only for Danny to cut her off, "I was awake Jazz as Dad led a team to dissect me. I remember everything. Every cut…them talking about removing my organs. S-screaming, begging for it to stop, only for Dad to push my head away so he didn't have to look at me. And then, when I was about to pass out they gave me some drug to keep me awake so they could continue! And there's a lab in our house just like that. What's to stop them from continuing the job? How am I supposed to just go home and pretend they never did that to me?"

Danny was on the verge of tears as he finished his tirade. The group was in silent shock as what he said sunk in. At last Jazz began, "Danny I…there must be…Mom and Dad would never…"

"Come on Jazz, you're supposed to be the smart one. How else do you think I got these injuries?" Danny asked as he showed off his injured wrists and stomach.

"Danny, why didn't you tell us you were injured?" Sam asked. Danny gave no reply, but only looked down.

Jazz frowned and looked to her parents for an explanation. In response Maddie answered, "Danny, Sweetie, You know that we never would have allowed those things if we had a choice. We were trying to protect you. If we weren't there, the Guys in White would have just found someone else. Someone who didn't care about you and just followed orders. I mean, that's why as soon as I saw Vlad I remembered what you said about him and asked for his help. I even gave him the key to unlock that collar in case they tried to find and hurt you again."

"Wait. You had the key to unlock that collar with you the whole time?" Danny and Valerie asked at the same time.

"You're saying that at any time you could have just given me the key and let me escape?" Danny asked, shocked.

"You were just saying how you didn't want to hurt him, but you could have killed him," Valerie complained.

"Don't overreact. That collar was only supposed to give mild shocks," Jack replied.

"I don't know what you thought it did, but I know when I snuck into that facility it was shocking him to the point he couldn't breathe," Valerie continued as she grabbed hold of Danny and showed his injured neck.

"Danny, we're sorry. Please, let us make it up to you. Let us help you," Maddie requested.

"I…I don't know if that's still an option," Danny commented.

"Come on, son, you have to trust us," Jack ordered as he walked closer to Danny.

"Hey, stay away from me," Danny ordered back.

"Danny," Jack began as he placed a hand on Danny's shoulder. Danny panicked and ordered, "I said stay away!"

As he said that, he blasted his father with a ghost ray. Jack stumbled back from the direct blast as Jazz and Maddie called out shocked. Danny was equally shocked by what he did, and clutched himself as he stepped back and apologized, "I-I'm sorry…I'm sorry, I…"

Not wanting to see if they were angry with him, he ran off towards the guest rooms; his friends followed close behind. Jazz paused, then started after them

"Jack, are you okay? Danny, Jazz, wait!" Maddie asked as she rushed up to her husband and noticed both her children start to run off.

Jazz turned around at the request, then guiltily advised, "Vlad keeps a first aid kit in the kitchen, but it's getting kind of low on bandages. I…I really need to check on Danny."

As always, please review~