Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet Well, you should feel loved because you are. Here's more! Thank you so much for the review.

cakreut12 I updated! Thanks for the review.

Eternity's Shadow I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thank you so much for the review.

Chaltab There you go! A longer chapter! Well, it's not as long as it could be I guess, but it's a start!

You'll have to forgive me for Vlad calling Danny son. I've only seen Bitter Reunions once completely through. All the other times have just been parts of the episodes. I'll try to cut back on using it.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 8-A Try at Redemption

Sam glanced glumly out the second-story window. She'd been thrown in the room as soon as Skulker had touched down on the ground. The door waas locked and the only response she had gotten to her yells and protests was that he wasn't going to "Baby-sit."As Sam took the time to contemplate the bright side she had to admit that at least the gag was gone.

Sam wasn't really worried about herself. She would be fine. But she was worried about Danny. She had to wonder what was happening between him and Vlad. How Danny wasdoing and how he was going to find her. Nothing about the scenery outside her window was familiar.

She heard Skulker's heavy footsteps and tensed, turning around. The door started to open and Sam ran forward, ready to maneuver anyway she could to get past the ghost hunter and escape. However, the door opened only far enough for someone to be thrown in and then slammed shut for a second time that night.

Sam and the person collided. Sam gave a small grunt as her back hit the floor painfully. Above her, the person moved out of the defensive position she had been in.

"Aunt Sam?" Sam's head jerked upwards at the familiar voice.

"Amy," she shouted. "What are you doing here?"

The girl gave a small sniffle. "I don't know," she replied weakly.

Sam sat up and gave the 5-year old a hug. "It's alright, Amy. Don't be scared. I'm here."

"The little girl squirmed out of the hug. "Oh, I'm not scared, just sad."

"Sad? Why?'

"Because Uncle Danny was sad. He looked pretty sad before the monster took me away."

"Monster?"

"Uncle Danny was fighting the monster like in Mommy's stories. But the monster said some things and took me away. Did you know the person in Mommy's stories was Uncle Danny?"

Sam gave Amy a smile. "Really? Is he?"

Amy gave a triumphant nod and a smile at knowing something that Sam supposedly didn't.

"And what about the monster? Don't you mean he was fighting a ghost?"

Amy's nose scrunched inward as she thought. "It didn't look like a ghost. It was scary, though." Finally the girl looked at Sam and asked the question she'd been thinking all this time. "Why didn't he win?"

"What?" Sam asked confused.

"Why didn't Uncle Danny win? The monster won, but that's not what is supposed to happen!"

Sam enveloped the girl in another hug. "Oh, don't worry, Amy. Danny is going to win. You just have to give him some time. He'll beat the monster."

"Promise?"

Sam gave her the most convincing smile she had. "Promise."



FentonWorks was still illuminated by the Fenton Ghost Shield as Danny watched it from down the street. Him and Vlad were sitting on the bench at the neighborhood's bus stop. Vlad had immediately used the Plasmius Maximus when he had arrived. Now his three hours were almost up and he wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad. Three hours alone with Vlad was the last thing he had wanted to do, and he would be glad to get away from him. But, on the other hand, Danny had been dreading this because of what Vlad wanted him to do.

Vlad checked his watch again. "Fifteen minutes left, Daniel. Take down the shield and I'll get Maddie."

"And what do you want me to do afterward," Danny snapped "Go after my Dad?"

Vlad gave him a smile. "That would be very helpful. Yes."

Danny gave a sigh. He shouldn't have even said anything. Vlad glanced at his watch. "Thirteen minutes."

"I'm going," Danny grumbled. Getting off the bench, Danny trudged up the street until he reached the shield. He reached out a hand and watched as it passed easily through the shield. He'd really hoped it wouldn't work. Glancing up at the house, Danny stepped all the way through the shield. It would be best, he thought, if he could draw as little attention to himself. Confronting his parents would just dig up even more guilt over what he was going to do than he was already carrying. With these thoughts in mind, Danny walked up to the front door and, using his key, opened and closed the door silently.

"Danny!"

Danny jumped. His father stood in the hallway that led away from the lab in their basement.

"Hi, Dad."

"Danny?" His mother looked over at him from the kitchen.

"Hi, Mom."

Jack gave Danny a pat on the back, making him stumble. "I've got to thank you for that warning earlier Danny. Who knows if we would have been ready if that ghost attacked. Your mother and I have been holding down the fort ever since. The ghost hasn't shown himself but we'll get him! Just you wait and see!"

"Could you give us a description of the ghost so we know what we're looking for, honey?" His mother asked Danny the question as she walked up to the two.

"Actually, I really didn't get a good look at him. I just thought I'd come by. You mentioned a new invention, didn't you? It's in the basement, right? I'll go get it and you can tell me all about it. Yeah, I'll just go by myself and you can just stay where you are. Right…be right back!" Danny had nervously backed away from them and finally turned and ran towards the lab. The clock on the wall telling him he only had a few minutes left. He could hear his father's voice carry from where they were and say, "Really excited about it, isn't he?"

Danny looked around at his parents' lab. He hadn't been down here in awhile, but not that much had changed. And there attached to the wall was the lever for the shield.

Walking over to it, Danny gave it an angry stare, as if it was the cause of everything that had happened. But that was Vlad, he reminded himself. He shut his eyes tight. He had to think of Sam and of Amy. If he didn't shut the shield off Vlad would carry out his threats.

Finally realizing his time was running out Danny raised his arm and grabbed the handle. With one last reminder of why he was doing this Danny pulled the lever, effectively turning off the shield.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

And then he heard his mother's startled shout.



Jack was in the middle of seeing what was taking Danny so long when he heard the shout also. He reacted quickly. Maddie and him had been preparing all night for this. He quickly pulled out the Jack-A-Nine-Tails, a personal favorite, from his jumpsuit and ran back to where he had left Maddie in the living room.

"Maddie!" He cried as he came across the scene. The ghost had grabbed hold of both Maddie's wrists, preventing her from reaching any of the weapons she had on her. Jack raised his weapon as the ghost turned around to face him, looking annoyed.

Wasn't Daniel supposed to take care of Jack, Vlad thought. Well, if the boy wasn't going to, he wouldn't complainabout killing Jack. He let go of one of Maddie's wrists to raise his hand level with Jack, Confident that he could dodge anything Jack shot at him.

And then Danny came up through the floor and, before either of them could shoot at the other, grabbed Jack, turned both of them intangible and pulled both of them out of the room through the wall.

Vlad wasn't sure if Daniel was still working for him, but at the moment he had to concentrate on Maddie who, with one hand free, was able to reach her weapons.



Danny quickly pushed Jack away from him as soon as they both were outside.

"Go," he yelled. "Run away! Get somewhere safe!"

"Another ghost," Jack cried. He raised his weapon again to shoot. The Jack-A-Nine-Tales was quickly removed from his hand by a beam from Danny.

"Get out of here! You can't win! You'll only get killed."

Jack reached for another weapon inside his jumpsuit, but his attention was averted as he had to jump away from another blast from Danny that was aimed at his feet.

"Don't you get it? I'm saving you! You could at least be grateful and get out of here."

The statement seemed to make it through but Jack was still confused. "Saving me? But You're-"

"Inviso-Bill? Public Enemy No. I? I know! Let's just forget about everything you think you might know about me and focus on what's happening now."

"But…that ghost! It has Maddie! I have to save her!"

"You'd just get killed. Believe me,. Please just make yourself scarce."

Jack became discouraged. Someone had to save Maddie! "Well, then will you save her?"

"I can't. It's impossible."

Something occurred to Jack. "Danny! Danny's still in there. If you can't save Maddie then save him."

Jack became confused at the true look of sadness that crossed the ghost's face. "I can't save him either," he whispered.

Jack's confusion turned to suspicion. "This is some trick," he murmured and reached for a weapon.

Danny rolled his eyes. Raising his hand above his head, he shot a beam upwards into the sky. The beam effectively cut through one of the satellites on the house and the metal construct fell down. Jack had to jump back again to avoid being hit.

"I didn't want to hurt you," Danny replied solemnly. "But it's better than you getting killed. Go to your daughter's house. Hopefully he won't find out and you'll be safe there. She'll need the support since her daughter is missing, too."

The statement seemed to sober Jack and he glanced behind him.

"I'll make sure they aren't hurt," Danny promised.

With a look back at Danny, Jack finally turned around and ran down the street. Danny breathed a sigh of relief. There were noises coming from the front of the house, and Danny lifted off into the air and followed the voices that were now drifting over.

The voices he had heard was actually just one. Maddie struggled against Vlad as he held her above FentonWorks. All the weaponry she had on her had been removed. Even the goggles in her suit had been torn off. Danny looked on sadly as he floated up to them then flinched as she gave him a murderous glare.

Vlad waited expectantly. "Well?"

Danny looked away, ashamed. "I took care of it."

Vlad studied Daniel for any sign of a lie. Finally, deciding the emotion was real, he nodded. "Good. Come on. It's a long flight back to Wisconsin."

"No!" Maddie yelled as she struggled to look back at her home. "Jack! Danny!"

Danny followed quietly, trying not to outwardly show the small victory he had won over Vlad. However, as he looked at his mother he wondered whether it was going to be enough.



The next morning, Danny was abruptly awakened by Vlad. Vlad had drawn up the drapes to Danny's window, letting the bright sun come in.

"What is it?" Danny wiped sleepily at his eyes.

"I have a surprise for you, Daniel. Come." Vlad didn't wait for Danny and promptly left the room. Danny climbed out of bed and followed. The look of distrust evident on his face.

"What surprise? The only thing I want Plasmius is for you to undo all the damage that you have done to my life."

"I do realize all the things you have done for me, Daniel. Killing your father, helping to kidnap your mother. But I would always like to see myself as at least fair. Consider this a token of my gratitude." Vlad ignored the disbelieving snort from Danny. Coming to a door, He opened it and motioned for Danny to walk on through. Danny kept one eye on him as he stepped through. Vlad gave him a smile and closed the door, leaving with only a quick "Surprise."

Danny turned around, on guard for an attack if one came.

And stood frozen as he gazed, mouth open, at the person standing in the middle of the room.

It's not my best, I know. I really wish that the thoughts in my head came out like I wanted them to on paper. Danny and Jack's conversation was hard to write, and I still think there's something I didn't get right. Tell me what you think! And you can do that by sending me a review! Please?

Reviews make miracles.

Faith's melod