A/N: Once again this is a Danny/Sam fic with maybe some Tucker/Valerie in later chapters. I don't plan on making it that long since I'm trying to have it finished by Halloween. Please continue to review.

Restless Teen Halloween

Chapter Two: Cause to Investigate

In the cafeteria the students flocked to their respective tables after braving the lunch line on dreaded 'Meatloaf Surprise Day'.

"Ugh," Sam gagged, "isn't there anything on today's menu that didn't require some poor defenseless creature to drown in ketch-up?"

"Hey don't get any more ideas about changing the menu Sam!" Tucker warned, "You remember what happened last time you tried that."

"Yeah," Sam countered, "the school got a refreshing taste of genuine Ultra Recyclo-Vegetarian cooking!"

"Cooking?!" Tucker shouted, "It was turf sandwiches Sam! Grass on bread, there was nothing to cook!"

Annoyed Sam spun around nearly knocking the trays out of both their hands, "Oh like meat lovers are so great. At least us Ultra Recyclo-Vegetarians don't go around telling lame-o ghost stories."

"Lame? My ghost story wasn't lame!" Tucker retorted, "And in case you've forgotten it was based entirely on actual events!"

"Tucker," Sam replied with half-lidded eyes, "you tried to tell a 'spooky story' about your encounter with 'the box ghost' while walking to your locker."

"Well it would've been frightening..." Tucker trailed off, "...except he got sidetracked by that box of old textbooks Mr. Lancer was moving to storage."

Rolling his eyes at his two bickering friends Danny led the way over to their usual table. He'd had a lot on his mind since English class and he wanted to talk to them about staking out the old science lab tonight.

"What?!" Tucker exclaimed after Danny finished filling them in on his plan, "You want me to waste all these good looks snooping around some run down old science lab during one of the biggest dances of the whole school year?!"

Danny and Sam exchanged bored glances.

"Look, I'm the halfa around here and that makes me responsible for making sure restless ghosts don't harm innocent people." Danny insisted.

"But...but-" Tucker protested.

"Don't worry Danny," Sam spoke up, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "I'll be there to back you up. Besides, Tucker would just mess things up by dropping the thermos again and letting all the ghosts out."

"Hey!" Tucker objected, "That was one time! You two really need to let me live that down now. I WAS trying to hold the ghosts AND manage Danny's time schedule!"

"Oh the pressures of multi-tasking," Sam muttered sarcastically.

"Enough you two," Danny intervened, "the dance is tonight so we're gonna have to blend in then slip away to the old lab before the ghosts get loose."

"Right," Sam and Tucker agreed.

"Great," Danny said, "now we'll all meet up in the gym by the bleachers as soon as the dance starts. I'll bring the Fenton Finder and Fenton Thermos."

"If we hurry we might even have time to get in a dance or two." Sam added with a short glance in Danny's direction.

Fighting off a blush Danny tugged at his collar while Tucker looked on with a knowing grin. Those two are so crushing on each other. They're about one fake-out make-out away from being real-thing friend-fling.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Danny Fenton announced strolling through the front door of his scientifically modified house and making his way towards the staircase leading up to his room.

He was halfway upstairs when he heard his father ranting from the lab. Curious Danny went to investigate.

As he drew closer he could hear his mom trying to calm Jack down.

"I just don't understand it Maddie!" Jack Fenton grumbled, holding up one of his 'stylish' orange jumpsuits. "These things are supposed to be machine-washable. How the heck did it shrink?!"

"Well I don't know Jack," Maddie responded, trying to remain calm and helpful, "Maybe it's the washing powder? I'm sure it was this size before I put it the dryer. Of course it was all wadded up at the time..."

"Great," Jazz beamed appearing behind Danny at the lab's entrance, "one of Dad's old jumpsuits got shrunk in the wash. Now maybe he'll have to out and buy some normal clothes for a change."

Danny had leapt eight feet in the air at the sudden voice behind him. "Sheesh Jazz, warn somebody before you go sneaking around will ya?!"

"Poor Danny," Jazz wore an expression of concern and pity, "all these years living with two parental role models obsessed with the supernatural has left you a sad paranoid wreck. A person can't even talk to you without you reacting as though you'd seen a ghost."

"Save it Jazz," Danny griped, "Mom and Dad aren't responsible for me being jumpy. Having a know-it-all big sister who over analyzes everything and pops up behind me at the worst possible times can be nerve-wracking."

Shaking her head Jazz brushed past her odd little bro and entered the lab. "It's just a jumpsuit Dad. You have a dozen more just like it in your closet!"

"Jazz is right dear," Maddie agreed, "Now why don't we just sit this aside and get back to work on our latest invention so we'll be all ready to go ghost hunting tonight?"

"Tonight?!" Danny's blue eyes widened. "W-why are you going out ghost hunting tonight?!"

"Because we have it on very reliable sources that tonight—at your very own high school—the ghosts of two deceased students will emerge from the old science lab and run amuck!" Jack announced dramatically.

"That's right honey," Maddie added, "and your father and I want to be there to catch them and hopefully send them back where they belong before things get out of hand."

"B-but the big Halloween Dance is tonight!" Danny protested.

"That's right!" Jazz gasped, "I almost forgot! Mom, Dad, you can NOT go off on one of your weird ghost searches tonight! Everyone in school's gonna be there! If anyone catches you Danny and I will be permanently scarred for life!!!"

"Now don't worry sweetie," Maddie smiled, pulling the hood of her aqua jumpsuit over her head, "your father and I know how to use stealth. And with everyone wearing costumes we'll blend right in! Your little friends will probably just assume we're there as chaperones."

"That's right kids," Jack said, digging through a few scattered boxes for a misplaced device, "Maddie and I are practically professionals! You've got nothing to worry about."

"Except for how I'm gonna manage to pay my therapy bills once you're done inflicting me with severe emotional trauma." Jazz muttered, turning on her heel she hurried back upstairs. I swear parents can be so dense!

"Speaking of costumes," Danny moaned reaching into his jean pockets and pulling out the empty fabric, "I don't know how the heck I'm gonna be able to afford one."

Maddie studied her son thoughtfully for a moment before a light bulb flashed over her head. Going back to the table she picked up the shrunken orange jumpsuit, unfolded it, and held it up beneath Danny's chin.

Danny stared at her quizzically for a moment before realization sunk in, "Mom..." he gulped, "...no."

"And why not Danny?" Maddie argued, "This jumpsuit is just the right size for you. And you'll look so handsome in it. Jack, who does he remind you of?"

Looking up from the pile of boxes he'd been sorting through Mr. Fenton beamed proudly, "Why, he looks exactly like a younger, less experienced version of me! Way to go son, you were born to wear that outfit!"

Groaning Danny took the jumpsuit and trudged defeated up the stairs. "That's what I was afraid of."

That night at the dance Danny arrived with the Fenton Finder and the Fenton Thermos tucked neatly away within his jumpsuit. "I feel like a complete geek." he muttered before forcing himself to enter the gym.

Halloween decorations were everywhere. Black bats dangled from the ceiling, orange and black balloons were tied down to table legs or the backs of fold-out chairs, and spooky high-volume party music filled the air.

Scanning the crowd Danny's eyes finally fell on two people standing off by the punch table near the bleachers. Tucker had thrown on a black cape and had a pair of fake fangs protruding from his mouth. Sam had on a black, shoulder revealing, top with purple pants. Black knee-high boots accented her long slim legs. But Danny couldn't help but chuckle when he spotted a strap of wooden steaks slung over her shoulder. Sam the vampire slayer...poor Tucker.

Unfortunately, before he could reach his friends, the familiar voice of his mortal tormentor was heard.

"Hey Fen-ton!" Dash called, "Nice costume, who are you supposed to be? The world's geekiest electrician?"

"Well, that's a surprise." Danny remarked under his breath, "I didn't think Dash could even pronounce electrician."

"Hey Danny!" a voice called before Dash could think up another insult. Looking over he saw Sam waving by the punch table.

Ignoring the bully Danny joined his friends on the outskirts of the crowd.

"Nice threads Danny, your Dad's suit get shrunk in the wash?" Tucker asked.

"Yeah," Danny sighed, "it really bites being broke."

"Cheer up Danny, it doesn't look that bad." Sam said reassuringly, "Although I was half expecting you to come as an astronaut."

"Or at least as Danny Phantom." Tucker added.

"I can't come as Danny Phantom; it's too big a risk." Danny explained, "What if someone made the connection? Plus...my parents are here hunting for the ghosts too."

"What?!" Tucker exclaimed, "Oh great, how we supposed to sneak past them?"

"I don't think that's gonna be a problem." Sam grinned pointing across the gym.

"Mom!" Jazz hissed, trailing behind her parents as they used their 'stealth' to sneak into the gym and look around. "There are no ghosts here all right? Now just go home before it's too late?!"

"Of course there are no ghosts here Jasmine," Jack stated matter-of-factly.

For a split second Jazz looked hopeful. Maybe I've finally gotten through to them? Maybe they're really about to pack up all their weird gadgets and go back ho-

Her wide, hopeful eyes narrowed when her father continued.

"The dance just started, they're probably still in the old science lab." he concluded. "Maddie, to the lab!"

Before she could stop them her parents bolted through the double doors and out into the hall. With a loud groan of annoyance she quickly bounded after them, intent on saving what was left of her already damaged dignity.

"Jazz will slow them down," Danny sighed, "but not for long. C'mon guys, we'd better hurry if we wanna beat my folks to that lab."

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching Danny placed a hand on Sam and Tucker's shoulders then used his supernatural abilities to faze them all through the wall and every obstacle between them and the old science lab.

Amanda/Artiste: And voila, the second chapter! I hope this doesn't feel too rushed. Like I said, I'm trying to have this fic finished by Halloween (of this year). Next Chapter: Danny and the gang enter the old science lab, but are they too late? And what happens when Kate and Jet start to mingle with the unsuspecting students of Casper High? Review please, no flames though!