Imaginary

Summary: Everything has a consequence now Sam has to learn to live with hers. All Danny can do is hope it doesn't kill her.

Rating: PG-13 for mature themes and language.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom, Butch Hartman does. I do not own Imaginary, Evanescence does.

Chapter Fifteen

Something waits for you to breathe again.

Sam could have stayed in the darkness forever. The detached floating sensation seemed like an answer to a prayer after being chained to a painful reality for almost two months. She never wanted to wake up, she laid there, willing her brain to never work again. The next thing that hit her was the undeniable cold.

Suddenly, she wondered how she hadn't felt it instantly. Her teeth chattered loudly and everywhere prickled in numbness. Her still slightly damp clothes clung to her. It crossed her mind that it would be a good long time before she could wear a crop top again, if ever. She looked around, pink beginning to tint the eastern skyline, memories from last night coming back to her.

She sat up suddenly, looking for her best friend. Danny was lying next to her breathing evenly. She sighed, dropping back down onto the ground. They were alive and safe, for now. Sam had given up looking at things in the sense other than 'the moment'. The moment was what they were living in and that was all they were guaranteed.

She turned her head and watched Danny sleep for a few awhile. She bit her lip, watching as a lock of his bangs would slip down over his eyelid and he would brush it back unconsciously. She had become so used to Danny being there, turning and he was at her side. Now her parents were trying to rip apart a romance that never happened, killing her friendship in the process.

She couldn't imagine life without him. Briefly it crossed her mind that this sounded a lot like she was in love with him. She shook her head slightly dispelling the idea. She didn't have time to fall for Danny right now. She needed a best friend much more than she needed a boyfriend. Besides Danny wanted Paulina not her. As much as she hated Paulina, who Danny loved was Danny's choice not hers. All she could do was be as supportive as he had been for her.

But as much as she hated the idea of Danny with Paulina, it hurt her just as much to picture him with anyone else. Perhaps they had just been best friends for too long. She knew what Danny needed and it was someone he could trust with his secret and all the burdens and baggage that went with it. The things that were part of Danny that no one else would understand. The back of her mind whispered that she'd just described herself but she shook her head. They both new each other to well for that. They'd kill each other before the week was up.

She reached out and brushed his bangs of his forehead. He moaned and rolled away. A slight smile curled her lips as she reached out and shook him. His eyes instantly popped open, he blinked a few times and she watched his sky-blue eyes adjust to the light. "Sam," he whispered. He struggled to sit up. "Are you alright?"

She leaned back putting her arms behind her. Her palms sunk into the mud, feeling slightly strange. "I am if you are." He sat up and ran through his hands through his hair while she spoke. Upon hearing her answer he stopped and shot her a look.

"Yes or no?"

Sam grinned. "I'm fine," she assured him. "What about you?"

"I'll live," he muttered rubbing a stripe-like bruise that disappeared beneath the collar of his shirt on his shoulder.

She suddenly felt really concerned. "What happened?"

He looked at her with resentment for a moment then stared down at his beaten-up red shoes. "I ran into a bridge." Sam sat there for a moment thinking about it. She tried not to laugh. Danny glared up at her upon hearing her stifled giggle. "It's not funny, Sam!"

She grinned. "So, you just flew into it?"

Danny looked like his blue eyes were about to fall out of his head. "You remember about that?"

"Awhile ago, Mr. Obvious," Sam grinned over at him. "Your not exactly great at hiding things."

"Why didn't you tell me."

She shrugged. "It was more fun this way. It was about as subtle as I'm sure the bridge was." She beamed over at him. "I'm sure it was a very sudden sneak attack."

Danny glared at her but this time there was no anger in it. She swore he was fighting off a smile. "Of course it was. You gotta watch them."

She shook her head. "Danny Phantom vs. The Amnity Park Centennial Bridge. We should sell tickets! We could be rich," she joked.

"Tucker could commentate. That just leaves finding a job for you. I know we could make you our typical idol worshiping fangirl, unaware of my real identity." Sam shot him a look. "Ya know, like Lois Lane or Mary Jane or something."

She glared at him for a moment. "I hope the bridge beats the crap out of you."

Danny laughed. "I could give it a run for it's money, that's for sure." He glanced around smile still lingering on his features. It was moments like this that Sam knew that Danny was going to be the only person she would ever be able to open up with. She tried not to think about what if something happened to him.

He sighed, smile fading. "We should go. Before my parents wake up. Jazz is covering for us, but still."

She nodded, forcing herself to stand. "Time to go back to reality," she whispered.

"I wish I could make it go away, Sam." He said standing to her side, only inches between her. As if he was afraid if he touched her she would shatter.

She glanced over at him before looking at the river again. It somehow seemed so much less threatening in dawn's light. "I know. We need to head back while it's still dark."

"I think we can fly. You trust me enough for that?" He looked so nervous standing there waiting for her answer. She knew that to him there was a lot more behind the question than simply a ride home.

She regarded him for a moment and then nodded. "I'd trust you with my life. Always have, always will. But, you know that."

He looked down for a moment. "I think I did. I just needed to hear you say it." He grinned up at her and for a moment Sam would have sworn that if she closed her eyes, she could have dreamed her reality away.

There. Another chapter done. We're at that point again guys. Three chapters left plus epilogue. Wow this has gone so fast! I wrote the epilogue today so I promise that we'll get this one finished. Thanks to my wonderful reviewers: Spice of Life, Samster The Hamster, Mrs. Granger-Weasley, Chibi Fluffy Muffin, Lady-Ashanya, autumngold, Annie, Piezo, Snow Owl Queen, IceSugarHigh, Shadow Sakura, Sakura Scout, Moody Maud, The Fuzy Llama, q.t a.k.a spice, Ryo's destiny, CoLdPLaYeR813, Divagurl277, gothmiko, Fox of Light, RavenForever, audi katia, Dark Lil' Hanyou, Possesed Angel, RainbowSerenity, Kagome51, Wind Cat, AngelicxDeath, The Good Girl, and The Weasil. Think we can hit four hundred reviews?

Note to all Fallen Fans: Rainbow Serenity, being the wonderful obsessed fan that I love, has drawn a fanart for Imaginary! I think this is just awesome and if anyone does anything like this ever email me. But I want you all to go check it out. She did a phenomenal job. The fact that Fanfiction has made links in chapters unpostable annoys me. But your smart peopl you can take out the spaces: www . deviantart . com / deviation / 9258670