Chapter Three: Moment of Silence
After an hour or so after the doctor left, Danny's parents burst through the door into the office. Danny's head popped up from Sam's neck and stared at his parents. Sam looked behind them to see if her parents also had come to their child's rescue, but no such luck. Why even look anymore? It was useless to even hope.
"Oh Danny," he didn't have enough time to react before his mother took him in her arms and nearly crushed him to death in a choking hold while brushing back his hair, "I'm so sorry, honey. Did the Foley's all ready leave?"
"Yeah…" Danny said with a gulp of breath he had barely taken.
Jack Fenton entered next turning to his son and patting him on the back. For once he wasn't mentioning ghosts. For once he didn't have some kind of ectoplasm ray or gun or capturing device. He was there for only one reason, and that was to pick up and comfort his son. He took over where Maddie had left and crunched his son in a suffocating hug that lifted the teen off of the ground. Jack put him gently back on the ground and held on to his arms.
Maddie looked from her husband and son to Sam who was still sitting in her chair frozen in place. Maddie then looked at the doctor behind them and he just shrugged. He couldn't get a hold of her parents. Not uncommon for the Mansons. They were probably in another over seas venture and could not or would not be reached for days or weeks to come. They could call her grandmother, but what good would that do? She was now living on her own in another state, living up the rest of her life. Not to say that she didn't care for her granddaughter, she just wouldn't know or understand what was going on.
Maddie left from Jack and Danny's sides and knelt before Sam catching her eyes, "You are part of this family too, Sam. You can come home with us tonight, if you would like."
Sam looked into her eyes and couldn't contain herself. She leaned forward and out of her chair, hugging Danny's mother around the neck. She wasn't going to be alone in her mansion. The help would be there, but they would be no comfort. Her parents would be even less, even if they were there in person.
"Thank you so much," she mumbled and sat back in her chair, "You have no idea how much it means to me."
"And me," Danny echoed from the side of the room by his father. He stared at Sam's stunned face and then quickly turned to his mom, "Can we go home now?"
"Yeah, let's get you two out of here, huh? Maybe I could whip up some hot chocolate or something for everyone," Maddie nodded and Danny came over to help Sam up. She gladly accepted and followed the Fentons out of the hospital.
Later that night Danny sat on his bed in his old gym shorts- which were still too long- and an old white t-shirt, staring blankly out of the window. His half empty cup of hot chocolate sat forgotten on his nightstand as his thoughts drifted in and out. He couldn't help but think about the last conscious thoughts that Tucker must have had going through his mind. What could he have been thinking? Did he know he was going to die later that night on a surgery table? Could he have been pleading for Danny to some how save him from his doom? To help him like a best friend should help another?
Danny dropped his eyes from the window and took a deep sigh, 'And all I did was absolutely nothing. It's all I could do. Nothing.'
"Damn Desire," he gripped a pillow that was within reach and threw it to his floor, "You have crossed the line."
"You think? I'm only borrowing it from your sister for the night," Danny snapped his head to his bedroom door. Sam was leaning on the doorframe in one of Jazz's old pajama sets. It was a dark blue shorts and camisole top combo. She rubbed her arm apprehensively as Danny just kept staring and didn't say one word.
"Well?" she prodded.
"Oh-uh," Danny shook himself out of his stupor, which he hadn't done since lunch earlier that day at school. Tucker had noticed him staring, but luckily Sam was preoccupied in trying to tell Tucker about her new job. Had it only been a matter of hours ago when everything still made sense?
"I wasn't talking about you, Sam."
"Is it okay if I come in and sit with you?" she asked shyly from the door, "Or do you want to think to yourself some more?"
"No!" Danny nearly shouted as he thought Sam was going to turn away, "No, it's okay. It's probably better that I have company. You know, better than talking to non-existent ghosts."
"But Desire isn't non-existent," Sam pointed out and began to walk toward him.
"So you did know who I was talking about," Danny said with a small smirk, "Eavesdropper."
"I wasn't listening in, and even if I was it was only because I was worried," Sam finally made it over to Danny's bed and paused as if she had to think something over. She finally blinked a few times and crawled onto the bed with him. But instead of curling up next to him as she usually would have done, she settled on top of him as if she was sitting in his lap. She leaned back toward him and settled against his chest.
Danny was flustered and a bit confused by the move. He didn't really know what to do next either. Sam was pretty much in his lap and even though he would have normally hugged her, he couldn't seem to remember how at the moment. Not too long after she settled she made it a little easier for him and just wrapped his arms around her waist. She settled back and put her head under his chin.
"I'm sorry if I sorta surprised you, Danny," she whispered, "… it's just that this is the only way I can feel safe anymore. Any kind of normality that I can find in the insanity we call life."
Danny chuckled at her slight poetic explanation for her actions and hugged her, "It's okay. It's the only way I know you're safe for sure."
Sam smiled at his answer and put her hands over his as she studied a picture he had hanging on the wall of the three of them at her 'sweet sixteen' party. It was on board her parent's yacht. She had told them numerous times that she just wanted a normal party at home, but they insisted. And as soon as Danny and Tucker heard of the plans they insisted too. Valerie had come too, but she was elsewhere on the ship at the time of the picture. Probably hanging over some railing throwing up again. She had terrible seasickness, but didn't let it spoil the party. She was such a good sport. They sailed out a good ten or fifteen miles from shore and, with the exception of Sam's parents and Valerie barfing, had a great time.
"Do you think we'll ever have fun like that again?" Sam whispered, still trapped in the memories from the picture.
"What do you mean?" Danny asked searching for what she was looking at and found the small picture, "Sam, just because Tucker is… gone, doesn't mean that we will never laugh or have fun again. It will just be different…"
"It will never be the same," she looked away from the picture at last and out the window.
"He was our best friend, Sam," Danny answered and put his cheek to the top of her head, "I… I don't know if or how we'll get over his death. But I know that we can stay together. Desire did this to separate us. You're all I got and I can't let go of that. I won't let go of that. No matter how hard he tries."
"Good," Sam piped up and began to trace her fingers over his hand lightly, "Then you aren't going to do something stupid like push me away just to protect me, right?"
"You serious? That gives the enemy a clean shot at you," Danny chuckled a bit, "Besides, you're too stubborn for that and I know it."
"Because you know me too well," she interlaced the fingers of one hand with one of his, "What do you think Desire meant when he said that the bond would break without the glue?"
"Maybe he thought that Tucker was the only thing holding you and me together," he thought.
"And that's another thing," Sam took a breath in thought, "Why am I so important that he would want to break your bond with me?"
'Because he saw that you are the most important thing to me,' Danny thought to himself.
He couldn't tell Sam. Not now. Only one other person knew about his feelings for her and that was Tucker. He had a long talk with his friend over the phone a few nights before. The feelings he felt for Sam were growing ever since they were freshman, and even before that. And now, he just needed to tell someone and he knew he couldn't tell Sam. At least not yet. Tucker had kept the secret to the grave, and now Danny had to hold the secret all his own.
"I don't know," he whispered.
Sam looked at the television that Danny had earned after a few years, "You wanna watch a movie?"
"Why not? It's Friday," he shrugged and used his free hand to channel surf until he found a movie. A monster/horror move at that and he quickly got warm with Sam covering him and fell asleep. Sam noticed his rhythmic breaths after a while and turn the television off and also fell asleep in Danny's arms.
The weekend went by a little too fast for the three friends. Mid afternoon on Saturday Valerie met up with Danny and Sam after they went to pick up a few clothes from Sam's house. They sat down together at Nasty Burger and ate and talked. Soon enough they had to get out of the fast food place before too many memories had come back. They walked the park, the mall, anywhere else they could think of, but in the end they were all back at Danny's house until Valerie left yet again.
Tucker's parents held his funeral the next day. It came faster than Sam or Danny had expected, but the Foley's just wanted the pain to subside and the faster they could put their boy to rest the better. They didn't let the doctor do an autopsy or try to find the exact reason for Tucker's death. It was bad enough that he was dead to begin with; they didn't want to know the details.
Danny, Sam and Valerie stood next to one another at the front of the funeral assembly. Their respected family members behind them, minus Sam's parents, of course. Jazz had finally come in on her plane only to change directly into black clothes and run to the cemetery for the funeral. She had a hand on Danny and Sam's shoulders through the whole service giving them a squeeze every once in a while. She would have done the same for Valerie if she had an extra hand to spare and if her father hadn't all ready taken charge. Danny kept his hand next to Sam's during the whole service and when they were beginning the eulogy and the 'memories with Tucker' portion of the funeral, he grabbed it tight and wouldn't let go. Sam didn't mind. If he hadn't grabbed her hand, she would have grabbed his by then anyway.
Tucker's parents bid their farewells and told the group of people that came a little about Tucker's childhood and his friends that he always kept so dear to his heart. A few family members stood and said something about him to the crowd. About his way of always bringing something technological to the family discussions or how his love of meat sometimes just got too freaky. Danny had wanted to say something. He wanted to shout to the world how Tucker was the best friend a guy could ever ask for. But nothing could formulate in his mind, nothing could function properly. All he could do is sit there and listen.
The funeral lasted only a few hours overall. Valerie turned and left with her father and the rest of the funeral party. Jazz turned to leave with her parents to their car when she noticed that Sam and Danny weren't following. She opened her mouth to call them, but stopped herself. They needed time to grieve to themselves. She was a doctor, she knew about this process all too well. Might as well just let them have their time and meet them at home. Danny brought his car. He'll come home in time.
Sam knelt by the gravestone and looked at the still pristine coffin that laid at the bottom of the six foot hole. Soon he would be covered from sight and buried away from the world of the living. She looked up to find Danny's eyes glowing and tears slowly running down his face. Sam took a rose she was holding through the whole service, kissed a petal and threw the flower into the hole. It was her way of saying good-bye. She had no words just as Danny had no words. That's why his eyes were glowing, that's why he was so frustrated.
She stood up, wiped off her hands and stood next to Danny. They both looked at the stone and just sighed and said the first thing that came to mind.
"We'll miss you."
The next day was another Monday at Casper High. Kids were running through the halls, gathering homework together before class and trying to catch up in the reading before the school bell rang. Danny and Sam had talked about it the night before with the whole Fenton family if they should go to school. They decided to go. It would be hard, but it is better to get back into the swing of things instead of prolonging it. And they had one another to keep company and give each other strength.
As soon as they entered the school, no one turned to greet them. No one really even recognized their existence. It was normal for them and they continued to trudge through the sea of students to their lockers, which thankfully were right next to one another. Valerie wasn't in their first class together. It didn't surprise Sam or Danny; she was taking it harder than they would have thought. Maybe she did have actual feelings for Tucker. Or maybe they were just overanalyzing it. They didn't know which one for sure.
For once, Danny didn't sit in front or behind Sam, he sat right next to her, which pissed off another student, but he didn't really care all that much. The morning announcements went on and Sam didn't really pay attention and started to doodle in her notebook. Then a grim voice over took the usual happy principle and Sam cringed for what was to come.
"A sad moment for Casper High has passed over the weekend. One of our own students had a fatal meeting with a ghost. The first fatality by a ghost in the history of our town. Tucker Foley was a senior here and will be missed by us all. Please bow your head in a moment of silence for the departed."
Most of the students and even the teacher at the front of the room bowed their heads and then silence was overwhelming. That was until Sam heard some whispering from the front of the class. She opened her eyes to peek and saw that Paulina was whispering to a few of her cheerleader friends. Sam was about to rush out of her chair to tear her apart, but calmed herself down. This moment was for Tucker; she would get back at the pretty princess after class. She didn't care if she was suspended for it. She would get back at her.
At lunch Danny and Sam pulled up at their regular table and pulled out their lunches. They eyed the cafeteria line and found that they were serving Sloppy Joes. Tucker's favorite cafeteria food, practically just plain meat on a bun. The food usually just repulsed Sam, but she even had an urge to go and buy one and set it on the table as if Tucker was just late and was going to pick it up and eat it when he came in from class. Danny looked away and shoved a piece of chicken into his mouth with a bit of lettuce.
"I know what you're thinking," he said after he swallowed, "But I'm not eating that Sloppy Joe if you buy one. And I know you aren't either."
"That damn psychic connection we have. Always gives me away," Sam chuckled and picked at her food.
Danny chuckled as well and looked up to see Paulina coming over to the table. She sauntered over and sat down right in front of Sam and Danny. She leaned forward, ignoring Sam and fluttering her eyelashes at Danny.
"Danny I was hoping you could do me a favor and ask the ghost boy to meet me tonight by the foot ball bleachers? I wanted to ask him something," she said sweetly.
Danny sat there in silence and sighed as he put his fork down and tried to calm down an ever increasingly angered Sam with a hand over hers, "Look Paulina. I'm sorry to tell you this, but I doubt that the 'ghost boy' has any interest in you what so ever. At least not any more."
"Why not?"
"Because your shallow, self-centered and just rude. If you haven't noticed we're kinda mourning a passing of a friend," he picked up his fork and began eating again, "So just back off."
"Now you listen here, Danny! I-"
"Better just back off and shut the hell up," Sam finished for her and stood up, putting her hands on the table.
"What did you just say to me, freak?"
"I said shut the hell up, princess," Sam said with venom, "Get out of that seat and walk your pretty little self over to the popular table and sit the fuck down."
"I'm sorry this is your little, loser friend's seat isn't it?" she smirked and grabbed a Sloppy Joe from a passing student and squashed it in the seat and turned to walk to her table, "Oops. My bad."
"That's it," Sam walked around the table.
"Sam…" Danny said in a warning tone, "I'm not defending her, but don't do something stupid."
Sam turned Paulina back around to face her, "Paulina, I'm sick of you. I'm sick of all your bull shit."
"Then why don't you do something about it, Goth?"
"Fine," Sam grabbed another Sloppy Joe from another lower classmen and shoved it in Paulina's face and hair, "Instead of making your little 'smart comebacks' and 'witty' remarks, why don't you take that moment of silence you failed to use earlier this morning for Tucker and use it right now? Tucker deserves it. And who knows, it may just do you some good to shut your mouth."
"You… you…" Paulina looked at herself and found the whole cafeteria looking at her. Then, all at once, the whole cafeteria flooded with laughter and pointed at the Latino high school princess. Paulina looked at Sam who still held daggers in her eyes and briskly turned and walked out of the room without another word.
Sam turned back to the kid that she took the Joe from and gave him a few dollars, "Here, get yourself another lunch on me. Sorry."
"No problem, that was worth it," the small freshman said and ran off to tell his friends that it was his Sloppy Joe that creamed Paulina.
Danny came up to Sam and put a hand on her lower back, "You okay?"
"Better now," she smiled a little and they went to pick up their bagged lunches and left to the cafeteria to the grass outside.
A/N: I don't really know if I would consider this a filler chapter or not... hmmm... I just wanted to get more in depth with the other characters and get Jazz in there one of these millenia. And since she was suppose to arrive that weekend, it worked out. Ina sad kind of way. Way to be welcomed back home by a funeral. I know, action is coming up again soon. At least that's what I have planned. Please review!