Rushing right along dear readers. Sorry. Seems like I'm just that way. Hope you enjoy and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW . If the story starts sagging, it's cause you didn't review! Ha! Just kidding. I'm just tired. I now have a forum if you want to go there and you want to ask questions about this story. I know I ALWAYS say this, but the next chapter is going to be delayed. I'm still a little stumped on Chapter 9. Maybe some input from all of you will help me get over the block

Chapter Seven

Danny Phantom, the ghost half zoomed through the Ghost Zone. He didn't look behind him. He didn't know where he was going. He just knew that it was important that he escape. The horror of being separated from his human half was rivaled only by his fear of what would happen if those chasing him caught up with him.

Phantom wasn't sure where to go from here. He stopped briefly, long enough to get his bearings then he sped off again as fast as possible. The thoughts going through his head were ones of kindness, friendship, love, family, friends and Sam. Finally he thought of his human self. He felt lost without himself. He chuckled for a moment at the thought he was missing himself before he stopped again and looked around in bewilderment. Which way should he go? His biggest urge was to find his human half. The pull to find him was intense, but he knew that they would be expecting him to go straight there so, he kept moving.

He spotted something that looked familiar. It was like an oasis in the desert. He smiled to himself then swooped down to Skulker's lair. Wouldn't the hunter be surprised to see him in his current state. Danny Phantom wasn't worried about Skulker's reaction.

"So you have returned Whelp," Skulker said as Phantom swooped into his lair. "I warned you that I would not be merciful this time…" The hunter paused and looked at Phantom for a moment. Phantom just stood there grinning.

"You are changed," Skulker declared, remaining on the defensive. "Something is very different about you."

"I've been separated from my human half," Phantom explained slowly.

"Ha the Halfa is no more then," Skulker said then put away his weapons. "What are you doing here? Have you come to surrender? You are of no use to me now. You are nothing more than a ghost."

"I need help," Phantom said. "I am being chased by Plasmius and my future evil self. They want me to join with them to create another evil being. I just want to get back to my human half."

Skulker looked interested for a moment. "Your human half still exists? I thought perhaps he was errr dispatched." Phantom shook his head. "How interesting." Skulker said.

"And I might add that they could be here any minute and that would be the end of me and you. He's not a nice guy." Danny said as he backed away, feeling a little threatened

"So you came to me for what?" Skulker asked "Protection or to lead then to me so they can get rid of me for you?"

"I had no where else to go," Phantom said sadly. "I can't to home. That's where they expect me to be. They'll destroy my family…."

"Your family?" Skulker scoffed. "You're a ghost you don't have family. Your human half has a family. What do you care about that?"

"I care!" Phantom declared. "They love me."

"Deluded creature!" Skulker laughed. "They care about your human half. Not you. They're probably exceedingly relieved that you are gone from them." Skulker paused. "Someone is approaching," he warned. Phantom prepared himself to run.

"Skulker," Poindexter screeched as he careened into the lair. "Have you heard about the halfa?" He stopped and stared at Phantom. "I guess you have."

"Hi! Poindexter," Phantom said cheerfully. Poindexter looked at him doubtfully. "Is he okay?"

"He wants to go reunite with his human half," Skulker told Poindexter in disgust.

"I can't say as I blame him," Poindexter said. I've had the opportunity to live his life. It's great!"

Phantom frowned as he watched Poindexter and Skulker interact. "I didn't know you two were friends," he said.

"As long as our goals do not conflict," Skulker said as he eyed Poindexter. "Then there can be friendship between us." He paused again. "Yet another approaches." Phantom again tensed, ready to flee.

"Ember!" He said as she sauntered into view. She smiled seductively as she walked over to Phantom.

"The news is all over the Zone." She said as she checked him out. "I had to come see this for myself. Of course there are a few who are plotting your demise. You're very vulnerable right now." Phantom shivered. He didn't trust Ember. He didn't trust Skulker or Poindexter, but they at least seemed more straightforward than the blue flame haired ghost standing before him.

"You are not to touch him," Skulker ordered. "He is in my lair, under my jurisdiction. If anyone is going to destroy him it will be me. I do not chose to destroy him….yet."

"Gee that's comforting," Phantom said dryly. Skulker grinned at him.

Ember leaned toward Danny and narrowed her eyes. "Tell us the story," she ordered. "How is it that you came to be separated from your human half?"

"A human half he wants to be reunited with!" Skulker declared in disgust.

"Eww!" Ember said as she shuddered. "Why?"

"I love my family," Phantom said in bewilderment, wondering what was so wrong about that. "And I miss my human self and I miss Sam."

Ember smirked. "That girl huh?" She got a far away look in her eyes for a moment then sighed. "Yeah I guess I can understand love. I'd go back for that." She looked over at Skulker who was making a face of disgust "But nothing else."

Skulker put up his hand, "Someone approaches." Phantom tensed yet again.

"Beware! I am the Box Ghost!" The box ghost cried as he entered the lair. "I have come to see the new creature! Beware."

"Oh shut up already," Ember said. "That's so annoying."

"Not as annoying as your music!" The box ghost said in his oh so ghostly tone of voice. Ember rolled her eyes and the box ghost flew over to Phantom and looked him up and down.

"I vote we keep him here," Ember said as she ignored the box ghost. "The longer he stays like this the less he'll want to go back."

"But!" Phantom said. "What if my human half can't live without me?"

"All the better for us," Skulker said.

Phantom closed his eyes. "I wish I could just go back."

There was a brilliant flash and Desiree appeared, "So you have wished it," She cried. "And so." She paused. "I don't have you grant your wish. You're a ghost!" She smiled slyly as she looked at Phantom. "Fallen on hard times haven't we," she said in a pouty tone.

Everyone laughed but Phantom. He was defiantly reconsidering his idea to come here. He doubted they could hold him, but the last thing he needed were more enemies chasing him.

"I'm not here to gawk," Desiree said. "I'm here to warn you. There is some big guy floating around with Plasmius. Walker sent his men after him and the guy blew them into oblivion, like they were nothing. Looks like there's a new boss in town."

"If you get me back to my human half," Phantom said urgently. "I can reunite with him and I can defeat him. I'll save all of you the misery of his torture. Trust me I know what he can do. He can make you all a lot more miserable than I can."

The ghosts all talked amongst themselves. Phantom was a little surprised at their ability to unify at all. They were always after the same goal. To be the most powerful ghost. But since the most powerful ghost ever was currently terrorizing the Ghost Zone looking for Phantom, he guessed their unification was easier to understand.

"All right," Stalker said as he separated from the group. "We're going to help you. But there are going to be conditions."

"If those conditions are to not stop you when you try to terrorize people, then sorry I'll have to find my way back on my own," Phantom said.

Skulker laughed, "No. No. Whelp you jump to conclusions. The conditions are, if we ever need your help with anything, here in the Ghost Zone, we can each call on you in return for this favor."

"But in the Ghost Zone only," Phantom clarified, "And nothing I help you with can in anyway impact anything outside of Ghost Zone."

"Deal!" Skulker said.

"Okay," Phantom answered. "Lets get me home. I'm hungry. They all gave him a strange look and he smiled. "It's just a little bit of humor. All of you are way too serious!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Skulker called on several other ghosts in The Zone to assist them. They'd already heard of Dark Dan and his willingness to destroy anyone and anything that got in the way. Skulker claimed leadership of the mission to get Phantom home and they began to plan.

They moved slowly, each taking turns guarding Phantom. Phantom himself was very uncomfortable. They were at the halfway point when they were confronted with Dark Dan and Plasmius. They all huddled around Phantom to protect him.

"Hand the boy over to me," Dan told them menacingly. "I will then show you all mercy."

The ghosts all spoke amongst themselves. For a long time. Finally Dark Dan's patience wore thin an he opened his mouth to say something when a ghost spoke.

"We've decided to all leave." One of the ghosts spoke up. The stood for awhile and looked at Dark Dan.

"Well?" he asked.

"I'm going! I'm going!" Poindexter yelled. He went off by himself and the other ghosts stood. Dark Dan looked at them expectantly.

"I am the box ghost," The box ghost cried. "Master of all things cardboard and square! Beware!" Dark Dan looked at him blandly. The box ghost stared at him for a moment then yelled "BEWARE!" and flew away.

"Dude!" Johnny 13 said as he looked at Kitty. "This guy is seriously huge and serious. I don't think I like him."

"Me either Johnny," Kitty said as she clung to his arm. "I say we blow out of here."

"Sorry Phantom!" Johnny 13 called as he and Kitty flew away.

Ember and Desiree stood with several of the lesser ghosts who were still crowded around Phantom.

"He's kinda cute," Ember said to Desiree.

Desiree looked Dark Dan up and down. He was getting seriously angry. "I suppose if you like the tall dark and gruesome thing." She said in a bored tone. "I'm not sticking around for the kid. You stay if you want." With that Desiree fled.

"Enough with this! You are stalling! Surrender the boy to me now!"

"All right!" Ember said. "Man you don't have to get your tights all in a twist." She smirked at Dark Dan for a moment then flew a safe distance away and called the lesser ghosts to her. They dissipated leaving it apparent that the Phantom was not there. Dan yelled in rage, but Ember and the others were already gone.

Dan yelled in rage then took off in the direction leading to the Fentons.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Thank you," Phantom said to Skulker as they stood in the Fenton lab.

"Yes yes," Skulker said. "You will be thanking me for a long time. I am not sticking around. I don't suggest you tarry" With that he zoomed back through the portal.

Phantom hit the secret panic button under one of the work stations and turned off the portal. An alarm began to squeal and he could see Jack peaking down from the stairs.

"Uh! Hi Dad!" he said

"How do I know it's you?" Jack asked. He'd been warned of Dark Dan's ability to shape shift.

Phantom faltered. He wasn't sure what to tell Jack. "Jazz is a pin head?" He asked.

Jack laughed. "All right that's good enough for me. You now have 3.5 seconds to…."

Phantom was upstairs before Jack could answer. The shield rearmed and they stood looking at each other.

"Um, You'll uh…find yourself upstairs," Jack said then scratched his head in confusion. The Phantom said nothing else he just shot straight up through the ceiling.

Sam, who was standing at the window jumped when he appeared. She looked at him wide eyed then at Danny sleeping on the bed then back at him.

"Hi!" He said as he advanced on her. "I made it back!"

"I'm so glad!" Sam said feeling relieved and happy all at once. He attempted to hug her, but he just wasn't able to maintain solid form and phased right through her.

"Darn!" he said and they both laughed. Phantom then looked at Danny laying on the bed. "Is he? Am I all right?"

"Yeah," Sam answered. "He's in a lot of pain." Phantom nodded.

Danny opened his eyes then jolted as he looked at Phantom. "Whoa," he said weakly. "This is weird."

"Tell me about it!" Phantom said. "I can't even hug my girlfriend."

"You mean my girlfriend," Danny said.

"No mine," Phantom growled.

"Oh geeze," Sam sighed. Both Danny and Phantom started laughing She gave them both exasperated looks.

"So how are we going to put us back together?" Phantom asked Danny.

Danny shivered in pain and said he didn't know. Phantom gave Sam a questioning look. She only shook her head. Phantom moved toward Danny. He hesitated a second then before Sam could even protest, overshadowed Danny.

Danny sat up, or rather Phantom overshadowing Danny sat up. "Ouch!" he said. "I'm, I mean he's really not feeling well." Sam opened and closed her mouth a few times. It was tough to comment on this situation. It was just too weird.

"But," Danny….no Phantom said. "We defiantly feel better than we did." He got out of bed and walked over to Sam. "Now we would like to hug you Sam. Thank you for having so much courage for us."

"Yeah," Sam said as she took a slight step back. "It's nothing really." Her eyes darted to the door. "We should tell everyone your…both here." She frowned at the look of hurt in Danny's eyes.

"This is seriously freaking me out," she said. "Let's go figure out how to put you back together Humpty Dumpty."

"Okay," Danny sighed as he stepped away from Sam. "Let's go." He held out his hand. She hesitated a second then smiled wryly and took it and pulled him out of the room.

"Slowly!" Danny groaned. "He…I mean I'm still hurting a little bit."

"Oh Sorry," Sam said as they stopped in the hall. Tucker was just coming up the stairs and he stopped and looked at Danny. He adjusted his glasses like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"You're up?" he asked. "You're all better now?"

"Well," Danny said and looked at Sam who raised her eyebrows. "Not really. I'm still separated from myself but I'm okay."

Sam pinched him. "Ouch!" he said then looked at her. She gave him a look that said "tell him!"

"Fine fine fine." Danny said grumpily. "I'm actually overshadowing myself."

Tucker looked at Danny in confusion, then looked at Sam who was nodding her head and looking a little annoyed. "Wait a second." Tucker said. "You're overshadowing yourself?"

"Yup," Danny answered.

"Dude that's totally messed up!" Tucker laughed.

"What's messed up?" Jazz asked as she walked from the room. She looked at Danny and her eyes widened. "Danny! You're up!"

"That's not Danny," Tucker laughed. "It's Danny Phantom. He overshadowed Danny."

"You got away from Dark Dan and Plasmius?" Jazz asked. She was the only one who didn't seem a little weirded out that Danny was overshadowing himself, but then she hadn't been exposed to the ghost fighting business as long as they had. Sam and Tucker looked at each other for a minute then back to Danny.

"Yes." Danny said then shot both Tucker and Sam doubtful looks. "And I think we need to figure out how I'm going to get myself back together." He started down the stairs then froze as he saw Vlad laying on the couch.

"Maddie! Oh Maddie!" he cried in a pitiful voice. "Can you please come fluff up my pillow Maddie?"

"For goodness sakes Vlad," Maddie said as she came striding into the room. "I don't have time for this nonsense!" She fixed his pillow then looked up and saw Danny. "Oh hi Sweetie!"

"Mom!" Danny said as he strode into the room then pointed to Vlad who had Maddie's hand and was pressing it against his face with his eyes closed. "What is he doing here?"

"Stop that!" Maddie said as Vlad started to lick her hand. She grabbed her hand away and started to wipe it on her leg with a look of disgust on her face. "He's here recovering Sweetie. Don't you remember?"

"Uhhh yeah." Danny said then turned and looked at Jazz, Tucker and Sam who were standing on the stairs.

"I heard your Phantom half came back," Maddie said. "Where is he?"

"Ummm well," Danny began then all the sudden the house was rocked.

"Earthquake?" Jazz asked.

"Dan Quake," Tucker answered.

"Maddie!" Jack called from the other room. "He's back and he's trying to break through the shield again." Maddie ran out of the room.

"We need to get me back together!" Danny said urgently as he turned to his friends.

"Back together?" Vlad asked.

"He's overshadowing himself," Tucker answered.

Vlad shook his head. "How sad."

"Couldn't we use the Fenton Ghost Catcher to get him back together?" Tucker asked as he walked the rest of the way into the room. "It worked before."

"You did this before?" Vlad asked in confusion.

"I don't know," Sam said as she ignored Vlad. "He's kinda different this time. I mean last time he separated halfs we got Fun Danny and Super Danny. This time it's like they are the same person."

"I am the same person," Phantom said in an almost hurt tone.

"The Fenton Ghost Catcher probably works different than the Masters Ghost Splitter" Vlad said from the couch. "If your going to put Danny back together then you need to use the Splitter"

"Great," Sam said. "How are we going to get to Vlad's Lab? We can't go through the Ghost Zone."

"I want to be reunited with my ghost half as well!" Vlad demanded. "It's the price I ask for letting you use my splitter."

Danny sighed and the ground shook again. "It's going to take us forever just to get to Vlad's lab. By then Dark Dan will have broke through the shield and we'll be toast."

"Well," Vlad said as he pulled a control from his jacket pocket. "I've just activated my helicopter. It will home in on me and be here shortly. You all can sit here and discuss your plans and wait for that shield to blow or you can go with me to the lab."

Jazz ran to get Jack and Maddie. Danny looked again at Sam and Tucker who were still keeping their distance. "All right," he said as he advanced on them. "What's your problem?"

Tucker and Sam looked at each other. "Well…" Tucker said. "We just remember what you were like last time you were separated and….really your not Danny until you're all together."

Danny looked hurt. "You heard Vlad!" he said. "It's different this time. And I am Danny. There's just more of me."

Tucker and Sam looked at each other then burst out laughing. "More of you to love," they laughed. Vlad rolled his eyes and Danny demanded to know what was so funny.

"It's nothing," Sam said then raised her eyebrows. "Where did your sense of humor go?"

"He's losing it," Vlad said. "Ghosts usually don't have the greatest senses of humor. The longer he stays separated from himself. The less Danny he will become."

"So you don't trust me?" Danny asked almost angrily.

"We're just giving you a hard time," Tucker answered slowly. "Of course we trust you. You're Danny."

Danny looked at Sam, "And you don't…care about me the same way?"

Sam looked uncomfortable for a moment. Firstly she really didn't want to talk about this in front of Vlad. Secondly, Tucker really didn't need to be in on this, and thirdly, she wasn't sure if she did or not.

"Maybe you two love birds need to talk…alone," Tucker suggested as he pushed them up the stairs. He looked at Vlad who was smirking slightly. Sam and Danny obeyed and were ushered upstairs.

"Don't you dare say a word," Tucker said as he pointed at Vlad.

"I wasn't going to say anything," Vlad defended then started laughing. Valerie came into the room at that moment and he shut up. She was still very unhappy with Vlad Masters.

"What is he laughing at," in a tone she might use to ask, what a cockroach was doing laying legs up on the floor.

"He's being a jerk," Tucker answered.

"Mr. and Mrs. Fenton have the shield stabilized again but that guy is hitting on it pretty hard," Valerie said. Tucker took a deep breath.

"Don't worry," Vlad said confidently. "My helicopter will be here long before the shield gives way."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Sam stopped in the hall and looked at Danny. Only he wasn't really Danny was he? She noticed Jazz's door open a crack and she smiled a little. It was comforting to know she was there if she needed her.

"You don't trust me. Do you?" Phantom asked.

"That's not true," Sam answered. "It's just no matter how much you are the same, your not the same without your human half."

"So you only love my human half?" the ghost asked sadly.

"No," Sam answered. She looked again Jazz's door. "I didn't say that."

"You only love my ghost half?" he asked as he smiled happily.

"I didn't say that either," Sam growled then took him by the arm and lead him into his room. She just couldn't discuss this with Jazz listening in. She thought she could but the blush growing on her face belied that belief.

"Why are you blushing?" Phantom asked. Sam blushed harder. Danny would probably be blushing too much himself to ask such a question. And therein was the difference.

"I'm not blushing!" Sam hissed. Phantom smiled and she gave him a narrow eyed glare. He continued to smile and she conceded that he wasn't going to be intimidated by her.

"So what is it?" he asked then smiled. "You love only me right?"

"No!" Sam said in irritation. "I love both of you." Phantom looked confused. Sam felt confused. How could she explain it? She loved the Danny that was, but that didn't mean she loved Danny as he is now less, or should she say Dannies? But could she love them both the same? Was there an essence in one that was missing in the other? Would she have to chose? She didn't want to be forced into that decision.

"I love the Danny that was before you were separated." She explained softly. "But that doesn't mean I love you any less. It just means that I'm really confused."

Phantom nodded his head in understanding then very slowly, so not to scare her, put his arms around her and held her tight. "If it's any comfort to know," he whispered as she returned the embrace. "We are confused too. But, really I think I love you more than he does."

Sam pulled away and looked at him and he smiled cheesily. "Oh come on," he laughed. "My sense of humor isn't totally gone…yet." Sam smiled hesitantly then jumped as Vlad called from downstairs that the helicopter would be landing shortly.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX