I figure I must have been in a really wier mood when I wrote this. Oh well, I'm not changing it...unless you guys want me to. Your call. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Last time I checked I wasn't Butch Hartman. Butch Hartman owns Danny Phantom. Ergo, I don't Danny Phantom.

Chapter 9-Connections

Her back was turned towards Danny, but she was still easily recognizable.

"Sam!"

Sam had barely turned around when she was enbraced in a pair of strong arms. She struggled at first. Whoever this was was not going to take her any further from Danny. She'd seen the Wisconsin border sign as she had been taken to the castle by Skulker. Danny was never going to find her if they kept moving her around like this. However, the arms just held her tighter.

She was also having déjà vu. The thought that she was safe percolated in her mind and drove away her instincts to flee. And then the surprise seemed to wear off and Sam recalled the shout she had heard. It had sounded like Danny's voice. Sam went ridged.

"Danny?"

Danny gave a smile. He'd been afraid that she was just some illusion. Hearing her voice concreted the idea that she was real. "Hello, Beautiful."

Sam tore herself away to stare at him as he gave her a loving smile. Her look of shock turned to annoyance.

"I told you to stop calling me that."

"And what would you rather have me call you?"

"My name has worked for the last 25 years. Why don't you go with that."

"If you say so, Samantha."

"And Daniel Fenton died eight seconds after finally being reunited with his girlfriend. Ironicaally, by said girlfriend," Sam predicted.

Danny gave a mournful sigh and put a hand to his heart. "He shall be missed."

They stayed like that for a few seconds. Sam glaring at him, and Danny in that dramatic pose. Finally, Sam's face spread into a wide smile and she lunged at him. "Danny!"

Danny laughed and caught her, twirling her around before stopping and drawing her back into a hug.

"I thought I'd never see you again," he whispered.

"I'm not that easy to get rid of."

"Thankgoodness for that."

After a minute Sam finally pulled away.

"What happened?"

Danny gave a sigh. "Which horrible part do you want first?"

"How about the part with Amy."

Danny gave her a smile. 'How is she?"

"She's fine. A little scared but fine. Don't change the subject, Danny. What happened?"

Danny relayed what had happened. How he had been looking for her and then realized his family was in danger. How, because of this, Vlad had kidnapped Amy. He relayed the fight and how he had lost, and then what had been the consequences of that. He told her everything up to the part where he had passed out from exhaustion in the bed Vlad had given him last night.

"I wasn't able to do anything, Sam! I fell into his trap and now I'm being pulled around like a puppet. I don't even understand why he let me see you again."

"Did he say anything before he let you in here?"

"Just something about wanting to be fair and some other garbage like that."

"Perhaps he meant that since he had your mom he would give you something that you wanted. Me."

"But he still has Amy," Danny murmured sullenly. "Do you know where you were being held?"

"Not a clue. It was a two-story house surrounded by woods. Nothing looked familiar. Where's your mom right now?"

"She locked herself in the room Plasmius gave her. I don't think she'll come out for anything."

"Does she realize that Vlad is behind this?"

"I don't think so. She recognized where she is, but she isn't connecting the two people. Oh Sam, this is hopeless! I'm going to be stuck being his puppet forever."

"And I thought I was the pessimistic one. There are a few good things, Danny. You saved your dad."

A smile climbed Danny's face. "That's right. I did."

"And you have me now."

"Mmm-hmm. That's a very good thing." The two leaned forward and connected in a long kiss. The two finally parted, but not by much.

Danny, I think I may have a plan," Sam whispered.

"What is it?" Danny asked as he went in for a shorter, chaster kiss.

"Tucker."



Tucker Foley was not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. Sure, he was a genius when it came to some things, especially technology. But Tucker's jokester attitude tended to make one look over those things. Especially if you didn't know him well.

Tucker's lack of iridescence, though, was because of the small amount of arrogance when it came to the things he was good at. He knew he was a genius at them and so relied on them, and didn't put too much motivation into learning much else.

After this analysis, it may come as a shock to discover that instead of being in Amity Park, Tucker was 45 miles away at a college taking the summer term.

Why? There could be a number of reasons why Tucker could be taking the summer term, but Tucker's motivation can be summed up just by listening to the very end of his latest phone call.

"Alright, I'll see you tonight. Bye, Valerie."

Tucker had gotten a girlfriend. It had taken some time, but Valerie had given in to one date and then was shocked to find out she had had a great time. The relationship had been going fine ever since. And then when Valerie had announced that she had signed up for the summer term...well, the time it took for Tucker to make a decision on whether he wanted to stay was the amount of time it took him to sign his name up.

And now that the phone call was over Tucker walked out of the floor's lounge and back to his room to continue his previous activity: listening to music. He had had to pause it when he had felt the vibrations of his phone ringing. Putting on his headphones (his roommate was still asleep or he would have just used his computer and done his phone call in the room) Tucker hit the play button. However, it probably had not been a good idea to have it paused for an hour an a half. The CD player had already died. Tucker cursed and popped the dead batteries out before throwing them in the trash. There hadn't been that much to do this morning but listen to music. Valerie had a class starting now. Tucker would probably be sleeping like his roommate, but had woken up a little past seven that morning feeling wide awake. It was strange considering how late he had stayed up. He didn't have classes until one today. He was pretty sure his roommate had a class now, but the guy was out like a light. Lucky him.

And those just happened to be the last pair of batteries. He glanced over at his desk. He could do the work for his classes…but it wasn't even eleven yet! He shouldn't have to do it now! That was inhumane!

You know, he thought, maybe he just needed a break. Go outside and get some fresh air. He could go to the bookstore and buy some batteries while he was at it.

Decided, Tucker grabbed his wallet and headed out the door. It would only take five minutes to and from the bookstore. Four and a half minutes later his cell phone went off where it had been placed on his bed. Tucker heard it outside his room as he returned. Perhaps Valerie's class had been canceled for some reason. With this thought, Tucker ran back and picked up.

"Tucker here."

"Tucker! What took you so long!"

"Oh," he replied disappointed. "Hi, Sam."

"Love you, too," Sam sarcastically snapped.

Tucker gave a smirk. "Really? I didn't know you cared, Sam. However, I'm not going to cheat on my best friend.'

"Tucker!"

"Sorry, Sam. By the way, why does my phone say Danny's calling me?"

"I'm using his cell phone. It's a good thing he had it. Danny figures Vlad probably took down any forms of communication we could have used."

"Vlad?"

"Vlad Masters."

Tucker stopped, turned to look at his sleeping roommate before quickly exiting the room and closing the door. Even then you could probably hear his shout all the way down to the bookstore where he got the batteries. His roommate just slept on.

"Vlad Masters! As in-"

"As in billionaire Vlad Masters. Also known to a select few as Vlad Plasmius, Danny's arch-nemesis."

"So you are currently…"

"In his castle in Wisconsin. Come on, Tucker! Use your brain! We'll actually need it today." And Tucker listened as Sam relayed to him everything that had happened to her, Danny, and Danny's family. And then she came to the part where Tucker was needed.

"You want me to use my computer to find out where Vlad is keeping Amy?"

"It's what I said, isn't it?" Sam was losing patience.

"And then you want me to get Valerie and help us distract Skulker while I get Amy?"

"You're being particularly slow today." Now Sam's patience was pretty much gone.

"Even though Valerie is in a class right now, I have classes this afternoon, and there is a chance I may not come out of this alive?"

3…2…1…Goodbye patience! "Cut the over-dramatic crap! Think about someone else besides you for one second! Think of Amy! I can't believe you're acting so…so…shallow! Now are you doing this or not?"

Well, finding where Amy is being held won't take but twenty seconds but…do I have to come with Valerie?"

"Amy doesn't know Valerie. She'll need someone familiar to be there to comfort her."

Ok, I understand that, but, Sam, how am I going to tell all this to Valerie? She doesn't know that we know she is a ghost hunter."

"You'll have to figure that out on your own. I have to go. Danny is signaling that someone is coming."

"Wait, Sam," there was an ominous click on the other end. "Terrific."

Tucker took the phone away from his ear and looked at it. Then he glanced at his room's door where inside lay his computer before looking down at his cell phone again.

"I'm going to really hate making that phone call."

Well? What did you think? You know what I just realized! There are a lot of phone calls in my story. Interesting. Well, I think it's interesting. Anyway...

Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet I didn't understand your review. Vlad didn't give away both of them. Thanks for the review.

Eternity's Shadow Right! I'm glad everything was to your liking. Thanks for reviewing.

Chaltab I don't know what to say about the Vlad comment. It's because I saw that when I went back to fix my grammar and tried to changed it, but I don't know which version you read. I'll try to keep putting out long chapters. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the review.

kitty00240 Thanks for the imput and the review.

EvilRobotZombieLoofaOverlord Well, I'm allowed to be evil sometimes, right? I'm glad you like it.

Jaded Rose Katara Thank you for all the reviews! Seeing all those reviews made me SO happy! And now I shall answer all of them.The whole cartoonist part of Sam came with the inspiration and I just went with it. Like I said, the whole inspiration for this ame form a song I was listening to. I didn't have any choice but to write this. The plot bunny wouldn't let me go.

I can visualize Danny's face, too. I don't really have a problem with elevators, but to each his own I suppose.

Those three are my favorites too, but I would have to add Public Enemies to it, too. Well, I'm not that obsessive, but I am a fangirl. And I liked Skulker, too.

I'm not liking hotels at the moment. I spent a week-end away with my family last week-end and my dad snores. Not to mention I'm a light sleeper. It wasn't fun. I know! New episodes on June 3rd whih TOMORROW:) See I have spastic moments, too. I'm glad you thought that line was funny. That was it's specific purpose.

I'm glad I was able to inspire you. And yes the evil won't end for a long time.

I like Jazz, too. And you probably already know the answer to your question.

This review has my favorite quote in it out of all of them. I'm glad you aren't hyperventilating.:)

I had to do this to you because everyone has those little shoulder demons and mine has been poking me with it's fork. Ow! Stop that!

Anomaly25 Now you know! Hope that fainting spell isn't something to worry about. Thank you for all the praise! I really appreciate it. Thanks for the wonderful review!

JadeRabbyt Your welcome for the review. And again, thanks for the insight. I'll think about what you said for future chapters.

Professor Fishmeister I don't understand your Amy comment. Oh well. Thanks for the praise and the review.

cakreut12 Did you check the song I suggested? I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for the review.

Lightning Streak I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for the review.

I have one final plea. I really don't like my summary. If anyone could maybe give me some suggestions I would be ETERNALLY grateful! Please? I'll take anything!

Reviews make miracles.

Faith's melody