A/N: Hello again! Part 2 of 3 up today! Obviously I didn't finish typing it last week, but it's finally here now. This chapter is a lot more angsty. I love angst and I love writing it. I just hope it turned out okay for the rest of you. Also, thanks to all who reviewed! Wow, I actually got my first C2! Thank you! And the new reply system is awesome and long since due. ;)

Alright, on a little bit of a different note, I'd just like to remind everyone (certain people more than others) that I'm open to suggestions to improve my writing. If you think it was boring, please tell me how I can make it less boring. Give me suggestions on where I can cut things out and where I can add things. Now, if you still want to flame me instead (a flame, for those who don't know, is basically a review along the lines of 'you suck' which has no value to the message whatsoever), please write your flame in English so I can read it and at least understand it and so I don't have to spend several minutes of my time trying to decipher it.Thank you.

Anyway, on with the story.

Warning: Still has TUE spoilers but I suppose if you're here, you probably already knew that.

Disclaimer: Still don't own it. Danny Phantom is copyright to Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon.

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The Other World: Part 2

By Fey Phantom

"Has he said anything yet?"

"No. He's just continued to stare straight forward. He hasn't eaten anything yet either."

"It's not like this is unexpected. From what I've heard from the police, they say he lost everyone who was close to him."

"But there must be some family member – or friend – surely?"

"I've done some background checks myself. I've only found an Aunt that lives in Spitoon. She says she'll take the boy but she doesn't really have a place suitable for a teenager to grow up."

"But then where will he stay?"

"I don't know. I guess we should really leave the decision up to him. After all, he is fourteen, he does have a good sense of understanding by now. I'm sure he'll figure it out. I just hope he recovers. He'll have to make some pretty big choices soon, whether he's ready or not."

The two doctors were talking to each other outside of the closed door of room 147. Inside it, a young boy with black hair and light blue eyes stared forward at the wall, almost unblinkingly. He was listening to the conversation outside at the same time as feeling lost. It didn't seem real to him anymore. Nothing did. He had woken up in this bed a few hours after the explosion at the Nasty Burger. That was a day, no maybe two ago. He couldn't quite remember. He hadn't slept since then though.

All around him he could hear people rushing about, a woman's voice would come on the PA system every now and then calling for certain doctors, machinery was wheeled by his room heading from room to room. Some nurses and the doctor assigned to him had come by several times already. They tried to talk to him but would eventually give up and talk to each other about him and his symptoms in third person. He didn't care though; they barely registered in his own mind anyway.

There was one thing that kept nagging at him but he refused to let it into his mind. If he did, he would break apart and never recover. But what was it that he wouldn't let himself think of? It had to do with the explosion… NO! He mustn't let it seep its way in!

As hard as he tried though, the loneliness of the room gave him little to distract his mind with and all too suddenly he found himself thinking what he'd tried to shut out.

He was alone. Everyone he'd known and cared about was gone. Their lives were erased in the explosion and he hadn't saved them, only himself. But that wasn't all; he was the one who caused the explosion in the first place. If he hadn't let his anger get the better of him, they would all still be alive. All because of some stupid test.

It was his fault… Gone, all of them…Alone now… His fault… Nobody left… His fault… Parents dead… His fault… Sister dead… His fault… Friends dead… His fault… His fault…

Danny inhaled deeply as if he had suddenly been able to breathe after being suffocated. He started to hyperventilate. His fingers flexed and dug his nails into his palms. His jaw clamped shut despite his heavy breathing. He shut his eyes tightly too, images of the Nasty Burger swimming up behind his eyelids. His back curled around and he leaned towards his lap, his head hung low. He started gasping for breath. The sounds of his struggle reached the ears of the doctors outside. They rushed in and saw him in his pain. Although he looked to be hurt they couldn't help by sigh with relief. They were worried that he'd stay unresponsive for some time. Luckily, it seemed he finally came to.

"Danny, it's okay," the head doctor said as he stepped forward and placed his hand on Danny's shoulder. Danny flinched and his eyes shot open. He looked up at the doctor with wide, terrified eyes, his pupils dilated. He looked so lost. "Danny, do you know where you are?" the doctor tried. He needed to get Danny thinking about something else and small talk was the best thing he could think of.

For a moment, it looked like Danny hadn't heard the question, but then slowly and surely, Danny nodded. "I'm at the hospital," Danny's voice cracked sounding very weak.

"Yes, that's right," the doctor said sweetly. "And I'm your doctor, Dr. Newman. Do you know what time it is?" Dr. Newman continued. At this, Danny answered a lot more quickly with a shake of his head. "Well, it's 7:15 in the morning. Would you like something to eat? You haven't eaten for a couple days now." Danny nodded. "I'll get the nurse to bring some pancakes and fruit for you. Do you like pancakes Danny?" Nod. "Okay, I'll get the nurse."

When the doctor returned, he didn't say anything. He sat down next to Danny on the bed trying to act as fatherly as he could to the child. The nurse came a few minutes later with a tray of pancakes, maple syrup, a bowl of fresh fruit and a glass of orange juice. Danny started eating it hungrily. Dr. Newman waited for Danny to finish the first pancake before he spoke again.

"Danny, do you know what happened?" He already knew Danny knew about the deaths of his family members and close friends, but he had to bring up the subject and he had to ensure that Danny understood.

Danny had stopped eating, a piece of cantaloupe on his spoon halfway between the bowl and his mouth. He then put it down and hung his head. "Yes," he said quietly, trying not to think about it. He didn't want to breakdown, not here.

"Then I have to ask you a few questions Danny," Dr. Newman said. "We've been in contact with your Aunt but I was wondering if there was anyone you wanted to live with? If there's a friend's parent who might take you in?" Dr. Newman asked.

"I don't have any more friends," Danny replied sadly.

"That's not true. There was a young lady here yesterday who wanted to see you. Unfortunately, you didn't seem in the mood for visitors. She said she'd come back later today. A young Ms Gray?"

"What? She came here to see me?"

"Yes," Dr. Newman said.

"I can't stay with her," Danny said coolly.

The doctor looked at him questioningly. Why did he seem so bitter towards her? She seemed to really care about him and yet he didn't want anything to do with her, despite the fact that he had nobody else. "And why can't you stay with her? She's your own age, in your classes, and she cares about you. She seems like a wonderful friend to me."

"Yeah, if I want to end up dead," Danny muttered cynically.

"What was that?" Dr. Newman asked.

"Never mind."

"Then where do you want to stay?" Dr. Newman asked, trying to get the prior mood back in the room.

Danny searched his mind. He really had no where to go. No one would want him. No one would understand him. But, there was someone whounderstood him; someone who wanted to adopt him as a son before any of this even happened… "Plasmius," he whispered.

"I'm sorry, what?" Dr. Newman asked.

But Danny was doing some fast thinking. Did he even want to live with him? After everything he'd done, is that where he wanted to go? But he was the only person Danny could still call 'family'. He had a bond with the man, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Perhaps, he could help him move on from here…

"I want to live with Vlad Masters," Danny said in a monotonous tone.

"Vlad Masters? Where does he live?" Dr. Newman asked. He was sure he'd heard the name before but he couldn't place it.

"He lives in Wisconsin," Danny answered.

"Alright then, I'll look him up for you and see if it can be arranged." Dr. Newman was glad that the boy seemed to have decided on someone, whether or not this man would take him was another question, but the doctor would cross that bridge when he came to it. "So, Vlad Masters, is he a friend of yours?"

"He – he's a lot like me. He knows…" Danny paused, thinking. He plastered a stoic look on his face. "He knew my mom and dad. He was their friend in college."

"Okay, I'll go talk to him. Meanwhile," Dr. Newman got up from the bed, "you get some rest. You haven't slept for a couple of days. It's not healthy. So, lie back and I'll see you in several hours." Dr. Newman smiled at Danny and turned and left. He was happy with the way that went. Danny was still very depressed, but it was something Dr. Newman expected. At least Danny was able to hold togetherso thatDr. Newmancould get his answers. So, a Vlad Masters was the one he needed to call. Hopefully this one would be a good home for a fourteen year-old boy.

---

"Hello, may I speak to Mr. Vlad Masters?" Dr. Newman asked.

"This is he," a soft voice replied on the other end. It seemed Danny wasn't the only one mourning the recent deaths.

"My name is Dr. Newman. I work at the Amity Park General Hospital. I'm phoning concerning Danny Fenton," Dr. Newman said his lines as he always did, despite having an emotional attachment to this case in particular. He really cared for Danny and he wanted to see Danny recover from this terrible ordeal.

"Daniel? What's wrong? Have there been complications?" He sounded concerned. Dr. Newman didn't understand why he'd think there'd be complications, but he put Mr. Masters' mind at ease nonetheless.

"No, no, everything's fine, or as fine as it can be," he added sadly. "I'm phoning in regards to Danny's future, where he'll go when he's released from the hospital."

"And why are you phoning me about this?"

"Well, Danny has requested to live with you so I would like to know if you may consider adopting him?" Silence rang in the doctor's ear. "Mr. Masters?"

"Of – of course I will!" the man on the other end sobbed out. It sounded like he was crying anew.

"Good," was all Dr. Newman could say. He wasn't sure whether the tears the man was crying now was a good or bad thing, but he had a feeling that it would be all right. This man seemed to really care about the Fenton family and obviously Danny trusted him. "When can you come here to pick him up?"

"I'll be there for the funeral tomorrow," Mr. Masters admitted while trying to calm down.

"Okay, I'll have his official guardian now, his aunt, sign the papers tomorrow then."

"Goodbye then. Until – tomorrow," Mr. Masters sobbed one last time before hanging up. Dr. Newman was sure he would be crying fully now that no one would hear him.

"Until then," he said to the receiver and hung up.

---

It was a grey day. The clouds seemed indecisive on whether to rain or not. A heavy breeze blew in between tombstones. The long grass whipped every which way in the wind. It was very cool but a fairly large group of people walked on along the path from a row of cars in the distance. Six caskets were carried at the head of the procession. Just behind them, Danny walked slowly, letting his feet drag on the ground and his head hang onto his chest. His black hair covered his face so that no one could see his pained expression. He still hadn't cried, not one tear. He didn't want to. To cry would be admitting that they were gone but he didn't want to believe it. He wanted his sister to run up to him and throw her arms around him. He wanted his friends to tell him off for acting so melancholy. He wanted his parents to give him chores to do. He didn't want to believe that he'd never hear their voices again.

Danny had wanted to say something in the reception that morning. He had wanted to stand up in front of everyone and tell them about the people they would be burying today. He wanted to tell them how close he was to his two best friends – that they knew more about him than anyone else. He wanted to say that his sister was the smartest person he knew and that she was destined to change the world before it happened. He wanted to tell them all that his parents were right about ghosts and that their inventions worked very well. He wanted to say how proud he was of them for continuing to work in an area where they were shunned by many people. He wanted to say how much he loved them all; that even Mr. Lancer had meant something to him. But instead of saying any of it, Danny sat there at the front, unable to move, unable to speak, fearing that he would cry.

The last time he had looked upon their bruised and cut faces before their caskets were closed, Danny had looked at them with dead eyes, hardly seeing his friends and family, but just charred bodies of some strangers he'd never met. It was his mind's protection against believing that they were truly gone.

As Danny walked along in the group, next to him, an older man, the same age his parents had been, walked just as slowly and downhearted as Danny. Vlad Masters wasn't crying now, but facing forward bravely. He had already accepted the passing away of the love of his life, Maddie, but that didn't make the pain seem any less. However, even her death wouldn't make him lose his dignity in public. He looked over at the young boy at his side and put a hand on Danny's shoulder. Danny didn't react at all to the touch.

Over an hour later, the caskets were in the ground, each lain side by side. They would be buried later by the workers from the funeral home. Most people turned and left, heading back up the long path in between the tombstones toward their cars on the side of the road. Danny and Vlad, however, stayed. They hadn't said a word to each other the entire day. When they had met at the funeral home, they had simply looked at each other with similar expressions in their faces. They were both upset and no words either of them could say would make the other feel better.

Valerie and her father stayed behind in the graveyard as well. Valerie had tried to talk to Danny on several occasions already. She had visited him at the hospital twice and had attempted to console him again during the reception. Never did Danny answer her when she spoke.

The last people who stayed in the graveyard were a driver hired by Vlad, Maddie's sister and Dr. Newman. After a half hour of waiting, Dr. Newman approached Vlad and told him it was time they went to sign the papers so that Danny could go home with Vlad. Vlad nodded and turned to Danny, kneeling down beside the boy who was crouched on the ground by his mother's grave. "Daniel, I've instructed Todd here to take you to your house so that you can pack up what ever you may want to keep," Vlad said softly, indicating the driver who had come with him. "I'll be going back to Wisconsin tonight to prepare your room and the castle for you. Will you be all right?" he asked gently. Danny barely nodded but Vlad saw it and tried his best at a compassionate smile before he turned and left with the doctor and the woman.

After watching them walk away down the path for a minute, Valerie went over to Danny and said quietly, "Do you want me to come with you?" Danny ignored her. He stood up with his eyes shut tight and turned away from her, walking up to the driver, Todd, and giving him a look which clearly said, 'let's go.' All Valerie could do was watch Danny walk away as well.

"Well, sweetie, we should go home too," Damon said to his daughter, but Valerie was still watching Danny.

"Daddy, I'm gonna take a walk, okay?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Danny's back.

Damon sighed. He would've preferred driving her home but he also knew she could take care of herself. Besides, after having a breakdown about losing her friends over their recent money issues, Valerie had come to her father and told him that she was finally making new friends. Now, two of those friends were gone. He couldn't blame her for wanting to be alone. "Yes, go on," he sighed and she too went off down the path leaving Damon alone near the six fresh graves.

Valerie didn't wander about however. She had already decided where she wanted to go and half an hour later, she would arrive on the doorstep…

---

Danny shakily took a hold of the doorknob. This was a place he never wanted to come back to. He didn't even want to enter it now, but he had to. He had to get his belongings and anything else that would strike him as important. He had to get some of the ghost hunting equipment as well. But how would he ever be able to face another ghost again?

Danny pushed the door open and took one step at a time, his body threatening to collapse on him. He continued to move forward by will alone. He was going to head upstairs when he decided to head to the basement stairs instead. He opened the door and went down.

He looked around the room. Everything was in the messy disarray his father left it in. He walked further into the lab and noticed something glimmer at him from a bookshelf. He went over and picked it up. It was a recent picture in a frame of his family and friends standing outside of Fenton Works. Everyone looked so happy. Even he had been smiling…

All too suddenly Danny felt pain in his chest and he bent over, falling to the floor. It was the same pain he had felt back at the hospital, but this time it was a hundred times worse. He felt the tears threaten his eyes and he screamed out in his agony. Every emotion he had been suppressing came back ten fold. As he screamed he pounded the floor with his fists and released a power within himself that he hadn't used since the explosion. Danny Phantom cried on the floor of the lab where he was created.

With a shaking hand, Danny picked up the picture he had dropped. He brought it close to him, holding it to his chest, and cried over it, rocking back and forth. If only he hadn't been so stupid, so full of rage, no one would have died. Behind him, he heard footsteps and a voice call out to him…

---

Valerie looked up at the house. She had been here before but it had never looked as gloomy as it did now. The walls seemed a touch greyer than usual and the windows seemed barren. Valerie shivered as she went up to the door and pushed it open. "Danny?" she called but there was no answer. She walked in carefully, listening for any sign of Danny. Down the corridor, she noticed the basement door ajar. Was he in the lab?

She walked over to the door and yelled down. "Danny? Are you there?" No answer. She took a few steps down and was prepared to call a third time when she heard whimpers coming from below. She hurried down the steps and into the lab where she saw a figure crouched over as if it was just punched in the stomach. "Danny?" she asked nervously. The person was shaking and she thought she saw something in its hands. "Danny, is that you?" she asked again. She was getting closer and closer.

Abruptly, the person turned and looked at her with tear stained eyes, his white hair sticking to the sides of his wet cheeks. "I killed them," he said quietly. After a moment he yelled out, "I killed them!" His voice reverberated around the large industrial basement. "I didn't mean to, it just – it just happened." His eyes opened wide as if he was pleading with her to believe him; as if he was pleading with her to forgive him.

"What are you – " but Valerie stopped short, understanding apparent on her face. "The Fentons?" she asked looking at the Ghost Boy on the floor in front of her. His eyes stayed wide, telling her she was right. But there was more. "Sam? Tucker? Mr. Lancer?" She couldn't believe it. He did it? She stood still in a stupor. It couldn't be… Something inside her exploded. "After everything you did to me, it wasn't enough, was it? I finally find some new friends – someone I could actually like – and you just had to steal his life away too! Didn't you? Why? Why did you do it?" she demanded.

"I didn't mean t – " but she cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it. You did do it, didn't you? Isn't that the fact here? You had to ruin Danny's life? How DARE you come in here after that? I will get you for this, I promise!" Valerie grabbed her knapsack from her back and pulled out an ectogun. She pointed it at Danny Phantom in front of her. He looked at her with a dejected expression before floating up into the air and fazing through the ceiling. "You can't escape from me!" Valerie shouted, running up the stairs. She reached the landing when a sudden thought occurred to her. She still hadn't seen Danny and he was the one who needed her help most right now. Resolutely, she spoke out loud to herself, "I will make you pay for this. I'll get my revenge on you and revenge for Danny as well. You mark my words Phantom, you'll fall at my hand." Then she thought to herself, 'but first I need to see Danny.'

Valerie walked up to Danny's room and knocked quietly on the door. She heard a murmur come from inside and opened it. On his bed, Danny was sitting quietly. Shoulders slumped and eyes staring at a photograph in his hands. She noticed he hadn't done any packing yet. She walked up to him and sat down on the bed next to him. She lowered her head to try and see his face behind his hair. He had red streaks down his cheeks. He wasn't crying any longer but he had been recently. "Danny," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her. "It will be all right. You'll see, someday, it will be okay again. Just promise me you'll remember that I'll always be here for you? If you ever need to talk, just phone, okay?"

Danny looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you, Valerie," he said, his voice cracking.

She smiled at him. "It's you I should be thanking," she said. Then she hugged him. Danny put his arms around her, too, and hugged back. He leaned his head on her shoulder and cried again, this time having someone to comfort him. But all the while, words she said to him earlier echoed in his ears. 'I don't want to hear it. You did it, didn't you? Isn't that the fact here?' And he still had no reply for her.

---

Several hours later, Danny was outside again. Todd was loading his bags in the car. They would be leaving tonight and arriving the next afternoon. Valerie was still by Danny's side. "You'll be okay for the car ride, right?" she asked tentatively.

Danny nodded then looked back at the house. It was the house he'd grown up in, the only home he'd ever known, but now it was time for him to leave it and never come back. He never wanted to step foot in it again. It brought too many unwanted memories back – memories of when he was happy and carefree with his family and friends. Now, he wanted to just forget about it all. It was too painful. It was tearing him up inside. It took everything he had to try and suppress the memories. Now he was moving to Vlad's and he was hoping to find some way to forget it all, to move on. And yet, as he entered the car and looked back at Valerie and his house one last time, he couldn't let go of the picture he held in his hand – a reminder of what he once had and all he'd lost.

---

End of Part 2

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Okay, finished another part for you guys. I know Vlad seemed a little OOC in this chapter, but he'll be back on track next chapter (hopefully). I guess it's just cause we don't see him sad all too much, but the idea behind him bursting into tears after hearing Danny wanted him as a father was from Maternal Instinct where he sheds a tear when Danny asks him to give him a hug (new Dad :D) Anyway, take that reaction, add in his emotional heartbreak from Maddie's death, and that's what I came up with. Sorry if it made him seem like a cry baby… he won't cry anymore… much ;) You know, it has occurred to me that I tend to make Vlad cry quite a bit in my fics so far… I guess it's just that TUE showed a side of him I don't think we'll ever see in the show again. He really did change from the death of Maddie and then Danny's death and 'rebirth'… in a way…

Anyway, the third and last part of this story won't be put up until after crunch time. All of my major assignments are due on the 1st/2nd of December and I've got to get a move on… So, yeah, expect the update after that, possibly during exams some time.

And as always, please tell me what you think. If you hated it, please tell me why and give suggestions on how to improve it. Thank you in advance.

.:Fey Phantom:.