Chapter 4

Danny felt himself falling within the dark swirling water. It was thick and made his hands sticky and it felt oddly strange to be floating in. His eyes snapped open and he saw red. Red hands, red fingers red shoes, red shirt...just red. He couldn't breathe and he needed air. He clawed upward trying to swim to the surface but there was no end to this vast red world. It clogged up his lungs and he chocked inhailing more of the vile tasting liquid. He tried to reach up but the liquid was closing in on him; crushing him; hurting him! He had to get up where there was air. He swam up with his eyes closed because it burned his eyes.

He finally felt air and sat up. Pain surged through him and he cried out.

"Danny!" he fell back down, his head resting on a soft pillow. The covers that had covered him were partially off. He felt his torso and winced as he fingered the bandaging around it lightly. Someone moved his hand off his torso but he pushed it back as he felt the vile come up his throat and out of his mouth into a waiting bucket. He coughed the rest out. Once that bout was over he fell back against the bed feeling weakend and ill. He found the strength to turn his head as a cold compress was place against it. His vision blurred for a few moments before correcting itself.

Sam and Jazz were standing by him and Tucker was off the side, sleeping on his own bed. Truth be told, none of them looked like they had gotten any sleep for a few days but Danny couldn't understand why. He was finding it hard to speak, his voice just wouldn't respond to his commands. Danny tried to talk but his throat felt dry and worn away. He looked over at Tucker again, the chocolate skinned teen sleeping soundly.

Sam watched as Danny scanned the room the again. His blue eyes glassy and overly bright, his lips dry were cracked. Danny closed his eyes again and shuddered a cold chill ran up his body, not from a ghost, but from his own healing system. He opened his eyes again and looked around, his mouth moved and he tried to mouth some words. Sam quickly got a glass of water and helped to tip it down Danny's throat. His cheeks were red, either from the fever or the blush. Once he had some water in his mouth he was able to crack out a few words but his voice was barely above a whisper indicating just how badly he had been injured.

"A-a-are you guys...o-okay?" Danny asked feeling like he hadn't talked in days. His throat was burning and Sam tipped another small amount of water down his dry and burning throat. He felt himself blush but was thankful for the fever that hid it.

"Yeah," Sam smiled and then her lips turned into a frown, "DANIEL FENTON! WHY DIDN'T YOU COME DOWN AND ASK FOR HELP!" Jazz frowned but realized this is what Sam needed to do.

"I-I didn't w-want you g-uys to get to h-hurt. I-I-I would n-never f-f-forgive myself if you d-did get h-hurt." Sam's look of anger disappeared and Tucker, who was woken up thanks to Sams yelling, was grateful for a best friend like Danny. Jazz smiled at her brother, feeling proud of him. Danny caught sight of Jazz and his eyes grew wide.

"Relax Danny." Jazz said standing, understanding that he was freaked out. She sat on the bed and put his head her in her lap in a sisterly maner, "I know you're half ghost and I couldn't be prouder."

"H-how long h-h-have you k-kn-known?" Danny asked in a weak voice. He was having trouble with the harder words to say. Jazz frowned and ran a hand through his hair.

"I've known for some time. Ever since Spectra entered the school, and you saved me from her ray. Sam and Tucker filled me in. We've had a lot of time to talk."

"H-how l-l-long have I b-b-been un-un-asleep?" The three other teens in the room shared a frown.

"It's been almost a week Danny." Jazz saw the shocked expression on her brothers face, "Yeah...you've been out for awhile. How do you feel?"

"I f-feel t-tired." Jazz smirked and Sam shared the same smirk.

"Okay, we'll let you get some sleep." Jazz pulled a couple of pills from a bottle and put them in Danny's mouth. He swalled the pills with some help of water and imeadiatly the pills started to make him drowsy. Tucker fell back asleep and Sam curled up on the bed next to Danny. Jazz left the room after kissing her brother on the forehead. "Get some sleep, I'll tell mom and dad you woke up and are resting." Danny nodded on instinct and closed his eyes. Sleep pulled him into a dreamless sleep, for which he was happy.

Four hours later Danny woke up to an empty room. He sat up and winced as the pain ran through his body. He fingered the wound on his shoulder and cried out in pain. "Man...I had no idea I could be hurt this bad." Danny sighed in frustration and noticed a bowl of hot chicken noddle soup and a glass of water on the table. He coughed for a few minutes and waited for the pain to subside before finishing half the soup and taking another asprin for his headach.

Might as well relax when I get the chance. Danny let his head fall back on the pillow. I can't wait to go home. Even the box ghost would be better then this.

Aw...does the little ghost boy miss his home?

Danny sat up and looked around. "Who's there?"

Don't worry my pretty little cutie. I was just wondering...what is it like? What is like to feel like you don't belong? Danny froze, that same question being asked earlier, just not in the same way. He didn't bother to answer and closed his eyes. Did I hurt your feelings? Danny ignored her, or at least tried to. I don't like being ignored! Pay attention to me! Danny ignored her fit until his body felt an intense buring sensation. He screamed in pain but it wouldn't stop.

"What...what do you want?"

I want you to talk to me, but alas. I must go. I'll be back though. Bye bye my cute little ghost boy.

"Great..." Danny groaned and found a headach forming. He closed his eyes and let the asprin work. Why me?