Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom
Chaper twelve
"Danny? Are you in there? Open up!"
"I can't believe his parents actually did that stuff to him."
"I can't believe you knew about that before us. I mean, if you knew why didn't you tell us."
"Danny just mentioned it in passing yesterday. He seemed upset so I dropped it. I figured if he wanted people to know he would have told us."
"But why didn't he tell us?"
"Were his best friends, should have known something was up without him telling us."
"Do you think he's okay in there? He seemed pretty scared."
Danny covered his ears with his hands, wishing to quiet the voices from outside. After he ran off, he locked himself in the first room he could reach and now his friends decided to talk on the other side as they tried to convince him to open the door.
He did not know why he refused to tell anyone what happened. He did not know why his parents suddenly made him so nervous. He did not know why he shot his dad, or if he was okay, or if he was going to be in trouble. All he knew was at that moment he just wanted to be alone to think.
"Danny, are you okay in there? It's me, Jazz. Mom and Dad aren't here right now. Can I come in and talk?"
Danny thought over the request for a moment, then finally asked, "What do you want Jazz?"
"Danny, I just wanted to say that I am sorry. If I'd known they did that to you I would have tried to help you," Jazz apologized.
"We all would have. We're your friends, nothing that happens is going to change that," Sam chimed in.
"And what exactly would you have done?" Danny asked.
"I…for starters we would have put that information into considering your next move," Jazz answered.
"Not to mention making some distance between you guys," Tucker added.
Danny stayed silent, so Jazz asked, "Danny, why didn't you tell us? You know you can tell us anything, right?"
"Ya, I know. It's just…I don't know. Maybe…it would be best if you guys just all went home," Danny answered.
"What are you talking about? We came here to make sure you are okay. We are not leaving with you cowering in a bathroom," Sam objected.
"Guys, you're all able to still live like before. You can still go home. To parents who are probably wondering where you are right now," Danny protested.
"Is that what you really want?" Valerie asked in thought.
"What are you talking about? We're not leaving," Sam asked.
"I'm sorry, I really appreciate your concern. But…I just want to be alone right now," Danny answered.
"Ok, we'll go home. Text us later so we know what's going on," Valerie agreed as she pushed Sam and Tucker away from the door.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Sam objected.
"Listen, if we leave then maybe he can actually talk things out a little with his family. Or at the very least leave that room," Valerie hissed at the other two.
As the three left, Jazz announced, "I'm going to see our friends off. I'll be back in a little bit…I love you."
With this said, the four headed back to the lab so their friends could go back home.
"Well, that could have gone better for you," Vlad commented as he brought the first aid kit into the living room.
"I didn't realize he was that scared of us," Jack admitted.
"Yes, it would appear you caused him some deep seeded issues," Vlad agreed.
"There has to be some way to convince him that we're not his enemy," Maddie commented as she applied an ointment to Jack's wound. She sighed and continued to think aloud, "Did we really make that big of a mistake? I wish there was some way to make it so this never happened."
"I must admit, it pains me to see you so distressed," Vlad admitted.
"Thanks V-man, but you've already done so much for us. You don't need to worry even more about us," Jack replied.
Vlad frowned at Jack taking the admittance meant for Maddie. He then persisted, "But there is still the problem of what Daniel will do. If he feels pressed, there is the chance that he will simply run off somewhere."
The Fentons paused at this. They did not want to lose their son, they loved him! They wanted him to come back with them, to be a family. But if he was really as scared of them as he seemed then he might run off. The parents worried what would happen to their son then.
"If I can make a suggestion. Why not let Daniel stay here with me. That way, you can know that he's safe and he will not feel as threatened," Vlad suggested.
"I don't know, do you really think he would go for that? He always seemed a little…annoyed when he's around you," Maddie paused.
"Come now, like Jack said, I'm practically an uncle to the boy. You know he'd be safe here. And maybe in time he would be more willing to see you. Maybe even go home for some reason," Vlad argued.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try to talk things over with him. He deserves to at least have a choice to come home or stay here," Jack agreed.
"Alright…I don't really like the idea but we can ask him," Maddie relented.
Vlad smiled as he commented, "Of course. Why don't we talk to him about it later during dinner. Speaking of which, I'll go start it."
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