A/N: I actually was threatened with mutant cats…I guess I better not fool around eh? Thank you all so much for the feedback, you guys have no idea how much it means to me, and I really thank every single one of you from the depth of my heart…gosh that was corny.
The next couple chapters are going to be more emotionally driven than the last few…more like the first chapter really. By the by, does anyone want me to write what the original one-shot was as a challenge or something? I kind of cheated you guys of it so I feel kinda bad. I'm actually up for any sort of challenge…just please no slash…I don't think I could do it justice because I would giggle too much while trying to write it!
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Ashes to Ashes
Part Seven: Dwindle
Sam lay in the hospital bed, completely still, for a few minutes before deciding she was going to go crazy if she wasn't released soon. The white walls, uncomfortable bed, funny smell, and fact that Danny was on the complete opposite side of the hospital all triggering her annoyance at her situation. She wasn't even that hurt…she just felt like she had been running for two days straight at top speed, nothing she couldn't handle. Unfortunately, the doctors and her parents, who had arrived later that afternoon after the exciting rescue scheme and started to fuss over her immediately, were of a like mind that she was hurt worse than she was letting on.
Damn parents and the way they can always see through their children's lies.
Sam let out another sigh as she tried to close her eyes and rest, hoping that would make time go by faster, but the comforting darkness eluded her and she only succeeded in bringing up images into her mind. She kept seeing the maniacal look in Riley's eyes as he pressed the knife to Danny's throat, kept seeing how helpless her best friend had looked covered in bruises and who knows what underneath. Sam could not remember a time where she had been more terrified of losing Danny for real, it had frozen her in place all the while during Maddie's scuffle with the madman, and only when she was prompted by the pendant did she step forward…which was a major reason why she refused to let go of the damn thing since she got to the hospital.
Sam opened her violet eyes and looked at the small gemstone of the same color in her hand, her brow narrowing in thought as she recalled how much power had come out of it when shehad used it last. The pain had hurt sure, but the power she felt surge through her was amazing…was that how Danny felt when he used his ghost powers? Sam rested her head back down on the firm hospital pillows, her currently messy black hair fanning out behind her, and couldn't help but feel entranced as she recalled the brilliant light that had shot out of the stone, protecting everyone but Riley…it had destroyed him.
"You destroyed him," a small voice told her in her ear, prompting Sam to wonder which one of her emotions was speaking with her now. Her experience in Danny's head had taught her a lot about those voices.
"I didn't mean to," Sam whispered as she looked back at the stone with sad eyes. She may have despised Riley and perhaps even hated him for what he almost did to Danny, and for what he did do, but she never intended to kill him. She hated using violence, and now she had been forced to kill a living being…maybe this was the true reason she wanted to see and hold Danny so much. He could help her sort through this feeling…
"If he ever wakes up," Sam said with a choked sob, determined to not cry again after she heard what both the doctors and Jazz say. Danny had been put through a vast amount of pain via that collar around his neck, a collar which her amulet had destroyed when it unleashed its power, and had also stopped breathing for a good amount of time afterwards. Not to mention the possibility that he may have been raped…Jazz didn't know for sure the answer and neither did Sam; the amulet wouldn't let her into his mind at the moment.
"Now don't go and start thinking like that Manson," another voice chimed in. "You won't do him any good by giving up so easily. You convinced him not to, whether you remember or not, and I think you should at least repay the favor. He's fighting, can't you sense it, and he just needs some time."
"I guess so," Sam told herself, twirling the pendant around her hand absently, admiring the glittering facets of the jewel. "I just miss him so much…and I'm so worried about him. What if…what if Jazz is right and he was raped there? Jazz said she sacrificed herself, but Riley sent that huge man after Danny anyway…how on Earth will he even let me near him again?"
"He needs you as much as you need him…why doubt your love for him now? Will you be ashamed to touch him if he was in fact violated and not be able to look him in the eye?"
"Of course not!" Sam exclaimed sort of loudly, drawing the attention of two nurses before she smiled slightly and waved to show them she was okay. "I would never leave him like that…I just found him for God sake. I'm just worried he won't let me help him heal if that did happen…he's so stubborn sometimes!"
"Yes he is, but then again so are you. Don't take no for an answer and don't let him walk away from your help! You have a strength and power that has nothing to do with the pendant Sam…use it."
Sam smiled slightly as she vowed to do as her, she guessed, Hope suggested that she do. Now, she just had to wait to be let out of this damn prison…fat chance in that happening she thought to herself sardonically. She had about as much of a chance of convincing her parents to let her out early as a hippo did of learning gymnastics…speak of the devil.
"Sammykins!" her mother shouted as she hurried into the room with what looked like another blanket, hot vegetable soup, and a few of her books all in her arms as her father was carrying a bunch of her CD's and her player after her. "Here, eat this soup before it gets cold, and where do want all of these things?"
"What are you guys doing?" Sam asked as she pointed to a table beside her bed so her parents could unload their arms, her eyebrow quirked quizzically as her father arranged the table and her mother draped the third blanket over Sam's slim form. "And why did you guys bring me soup?"
"Well," her mother sniffed as she smoothed out the blanket and sat her own small frame on the corner, fixing her daughter with a look. "The food here is absolutely horrid, so I brought you some of your favorite vegetable soup. And as for your things, well, your father and I didn't want you to be so bored for as long as you have to stay here."
"I know you don't really want to be here honey," her father added as he walked over and stood behind his wife to also look at his injured daughter. "Especially with Danny and Jazz nowhere near you, but you have to stay here until the doctors are sure that you're all right. Once they do, we'll go see how they both are doing okay?"
"You guys are going to let me actually go and see him?" Sam asked confused as she took a small sip of her soup, praising whatever genius decided to put Campbell's soup in a portable to-go cup. "Aren't you guys going to ground me or something? I thought for sure you were going to reinstate that restraining order from freshman year…"
"Pish-Posh," her mother tittered as she gave Sam a hopeless look and then smiled gently. "We were upset that you left of course, and we were worried sick, but we understand why you did what you did Sammykins. You were worried about Danny and Jazzmine…perhaps under the same circumstances and if I was your age, I would have done the same thing…although I would have waited for my parents to at least come home so they could come as well."
"I would have Mom," Sam whispered as she sipped more of her soup, her free hand still holding the pendant in her hand. "But…I can't explain it, I just felt like I needed to go immediately okay? I know that's kind of hard to accept, but please try."
"We do Sammy," he father said gently as he walked over towards her and placed a comforting arm around her shoulders, smiling down at her. "There's a lot going on here that we don't comprehend, especially from what the police tell me happened at the warehouse, and with what happened with you, but we'll respect your privacy and let you tell me when you feel ready to. All that matters now is that you're safe and so are the Fentons."
"You should be proud dear," her mother said as she rose off the bed and gave her squeezed her husband's shoulder, beaming at her proudly. "From what that young detective told me, it was because of you mainly that they were able to help those two children! And don't worry, I'm sure Danny will wake up soon…he really isn't a bad boy is he?"
"No, he really isn't Mom," Sam answered back with a small laugh at her mother's ability to still find some humor in the situation, no matter how dire it was. "But you know what? He's terrified of you and Dad! He thinks you guys still hate him because of freshman year."
"Does he really?" Sam's mother answered with a smile as her father was chuckling and shaking his head, as if recalling a time where he felt the same way as this young man vying for his daughter's affections…or who had captured them already. "That poor boy! Well, we'll just have to set him straight now won't we dear?"
Sam smiled as her parents exchanged witty banter concerning Danny, fooling her mind into believing that everything would be the same once everything was over. She hugged both of her parents as they said they were going out to get a bite to eat and would be back soon, also to call them if she wanted anything while they were out, and waved as they softly clicked her door shut. As she watched them fade from sight, she gave her head a small shake as she giggled slightly, relieved that her parents had become less over-bearing over the years. It probably had to do with the fact she didn't try to openly defy all of their wishes anymore, and that they had realized that she wasn't going to end up pregnant or arrested by the end of senior year as well. They were just a little over-protective sometimes, but she was touched by how understanding and concerned they were over the whole fiasco.
Sam gave a sigh as her mind immediately reverted back to her original musings, demanding to be heard and causing her to get nervous over Danny all over again. Sure, her parents had been hopeful and told her over and over again that Danny was fine and everything would be fine, but she could see the worry and doubt in their eyes. That, more than anything else, scared her. Her parents, and Danny's for that matter, were supposed to be fearless when it came to reassuring her that everything was fine…but how were they supposed to do that if they were just as worried as she was? Why did she even need them to tell her it would be okay?
"Because I can't believe myself," Sam whispered to herself, twirling the purple pendant in her hand again, a habit she had now admitted to having. "He was so…so battered. I've always believed that, no matter the battle or ghost, Danny would win and not be injured beyond what a Band-aid could fix…even if I was scared. But now…now he's been so terribly injured and no amount of belief in him will change the new knowledge I have…he's not invincible. He can die…and I won't be able to do anything but sit there and scream as it happens."
Sam wiped away the tear that had escaped and trailed down her pale cheek, taking in a shuddering breath as she tried to control her emotions. She was supposed to be indifferent and cool, not letting petty fears and worries trouble her exterior, but she laughed harshly as soon as the thought ran through her mind. How on Erath was someone supposed to be calm and collected when their best friend was comatose in another room of a hospital that smelled way to clean?
"This isn't a petty nightmare though," Sam kept on whispering quietly to herself. "This is cold, harsh reality and Danny got the short end of the pole this round. Me too I guess…this stupid pendant isn't exactly a picnic. I don't know…maybe if I just get some sleep I'll wake up and only have to worry about college again…"
She wished that was true…growing up sure wasn't making it easy on her right now. She rolled over gently, trying not to disturb her still tired body too much, and closed her eyes slowly…willing her pain and guilt away for at least an hour. Maybe tomorrow things would change…but she doubted it.
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Jazz flipped through the fashion magazine her nurse had left her with mindlessly, not really taking anything in and just trying to keep herself occupied. She had wanted to stay in the same room as her brother, happy to see him again even though he had not awoken, but the doctors insisted that wasn't a smart idea. After a few minutes of weak arguing, Jazz found herself in a small, cozy room a hallway down from her brother and she was furious. She didn't spend the entire time in captivity to just be put back in it when she was 'rescued' for goodness sakes! So, she flipped through the magazines and let her thoughts go blank as she waited for the frequent updates from her parents… anything to keep her mind from going back to Riley.
The doctor that had been assigned to her brother and her had started sending in a psychologist into see Jazz every so often, but the red-headed young woman never spoke a word about her experiences to the middle aged woman. Jazz was studying to be a therapist herself…she knew that at her current thought activity, she'd get nowhere and it would only give her nightmares. Jazz would wait to say anything to a therapist until her brother was awake and better…she'd start her healing after Danny was all right.
Jazz's turquoise eyes looked up at her door as it was opened and her mother walked into the room with some salad and water for her. Jazz felt herself smile and accept the food as she and her mother exchanged the usual pleasantries, knowing her mother was happy to just see her smile a little bit right now. Her father burst into the room a minute later, looking haggard and not a bit hopeful…but she asked the question anyway.
"How's Danny?" Jazz asked as she picked at her salad a bit, taking a small bite.
"The same Princess," Jack answered with a tired smile as he locked eyes with his wife's briefly and then back to his daughter. "The doctors say that his body is healing, which is a good sign…but he's still asleep."
"Oh…okay," Jazz answered as she started eating her meal with a bit more enthusiasm as her stomach informed her how hungry she was. She observed her parents as she ate, noting the whispers and worried glances they sent each other; they were really scared over their youngest child. But there was something else about how they sometimes looked over at her, as if wanting to ask her a question desperately but losing their daring every time. Jazz had a feeling it had something to do with Danny, but she was almost feeling as if she didn't want to know. Was her baby brother going to be comatose officially? Was he going to waste away the rest of his life in a hospital bed because of one man's thirst for revenge? Would his external and internal injuries take their toll on him before the hospital staff could save him?
Would her parents inform her what she had been afraid of ever since she had been dragged to see her brother after he collapsed the roof with his Wail? Riley had never answered her query, and all she had seen was an extremely beaten boy with his shirt torn off and bruises around his neck to base her opinion. Was her little brother, in fact, raped by that monster before he used his Wail?
Looking at her parents worn faces, Jazz decided that she couldn't stand it anymore! She had to know why they were acting so strange, even if it was something she didn't really want to hear. If her worst fears were confirmed, her brother would need all the help he could get.
"What do you guys want to tell me?" Jazz asked in her usual, professional tone as she set down her halfway finished salad. "I know something's wrong…and it probably has something to do with Danny. Please, just tell me what's wrong…I need to know."
Her parents looked at her uncertainly for a moment, debating whether or not they should inform her what Sam had filled them in on during the car ride to the factory. Giving a sigh, Maddie scooted closer to her daughter and grabbed her hand, fixing her own deep turquoise eyes on her daughter's.
"Jazz honey," Maddie asked with a nervous note in her voice. She glanced over and saw that her husband had one in his own face, which wasn't surprising because they were about to tell their daughter they knew about Danny's ghost powers. Their older child had been keeping it a secret for as long as Danny had…they were afraid she would be upset they had been told. "I, well, your father and I wanted to ask you something about Danny."
"Then just ask," Jazz answered with a sigh, hating this run-around approach her mother was taking. "Seriously Mom, you're driving me crazy with all those little hints and whispers. If something's…if something's wrong with Danny just tell me."
"I think you're misunderstanding us Princess," Jack replied as he stood behind Maddie and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We don't think Danny has a problem or anything because of his powers, we just want to let you know that we're okay with having a ghost in the family!"
"WHAT!" Jazz yelled as her father uttered the last thing she was expecting. Sure, her parents were scientific geniuses, but they were the least observant people on the planet, and she knew for a fact that Danny didn't tell them about his powers. How on Earth did they find out?
"Now before you get upset honey," Maddie soothed as she signaled Jack to close the door. "I want to let you know that this doesn't change anything all right? Your father and I aren't going to start experimenting on Danny just because he's half-ghost, we could never do that! Obviously, you didn't want to tell us and I'm sorry we found out before Danny could trust us enough to just tell us but…"
"How…when…who..?" Jazz asked as she opened and closed her mouth like a fish, confused and bewildered her parents were talking about this so rationally…like having a half ghost son was an everyday occurrence in families.
"Sam told us the morning after you and Danny were taken sweetheart," Maddie replied instantly, almost begging with her eyes for her daughter to not be upset with her or Jack. After all, her husband and she had hunted the 'Ghost-boy' relentlessly and had sworn to destroy his corporal form a few times; Jazz had a right to be disappointed and angry at them. "She wanted us to be aware because…well, I'm still not sure on most of the details surrounding that necklace, but she felt like we needed to know."
Jazz stared at her parents for a few moments, letting her higher brain functions catch up with her rampant emotions, and then took a calming breath as she fixed her parents with a soft glare. They both looked so awful and guilty about the whole situation, it almost made her smile. "I hope you both know how much stress you put on Danny…and me because I was always trying to cover for him."
"Of course we do," Maddie answered with her head down, a crestfallen tone in her voice.
"And that you nearly fried him a few times with all those crazy inventions."
"Yes princess," Jack answered, not sounding jovial at all.
"And that no matter all those things…Danny still loves you both so much and is only afraid of you both not accepting him for what he is," Jazz finished with a sly smile and slight twinkle in her eyes…a twinkle that had been missing for to long. Jazz nearly burst out laughing at the expressions her parents had on their faces, as they went from sadness to disbelief to happiness and then back to uncertainty in a matter of seconds. "It's true…he was actually planning on telling you both the next morning, but…but things got in the way…" Jazz trailed off as tears entered her eyes again at the thought of her prone brother down the hall.
Maddie leaned forward and embraced her daughter in a comforting hug to get her under control and Jack petted his baby girl's head in a fashion he had when she was younger. It didn't take long for the family to calm down, drawing on each other's strength and guidance to reassure them that the fourth member of their family would be all right. Jazz leaned away from her mother and let her parents both kiss her gently on the forehead, wrapping herself in the warm comforter their love provided, a blanket to ward off the cold feelings of guilt and despair still writhing inside of her. They laughed and talked about trivial things for nearly an hour before both Jack and Maddie noticed the time, and said that they'd be back the next day to try and get her released.
"One thing Jazz," Maddie said as she paused in the doorway, leaning on her husband because of her twisted ankle. "Why was Danny going to tell us about his ghost half? Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled about it, but it seems a bit strange for someone who's been hiding something for so long to just up and reveal his secret."
"Well," Jazz said with a wise smile as she pushed a stray lock of her coppery-red hair behind her ear. "Someone very close to him, someone he loves very much, told him that she figured Phantom deserved parents too…I suppose that simple statement finally pounded some sense into his thick skull!"
Maddie looked close to tears and pushed Jack to hurry out of the door, muttering something about not wanting to make a scene. Jack supporting his wife the whole while looked confused for a second, but then broke out into a huge grin he was so known for wearing. Jazz swore she could hear him yelling something like, "That's right! Me, Jack Fenton, am the first father of a ghost!" which, of course, caused Maddie to shush him and Jazz to giggle lightly as her door clicked shut all the way.
Jazz rested her head back on her semi-soft pillow and stared up at the ceiling, trying to sort through the jumbled mess that were her emotions. She was aware that someone didn't go through her ordeals and suddenly become fine in a day, but she was wondering why she didn't feel as awful as she thought she should. After all, she had prostituted herself for Riley's sick pleasure, and she had been knocked around a bit, but neither of those things seemed too bad when she thought of what he baby brother went through at the hand of that sadistic prick. She heaved a troubled sigh as she felt tears start to well back up behind her eyes, and she wiped them away furiously, refusing them to be victorious.
She started to feel herself start to drift off to sleep when a jingle from her cell phone alerted her and chased away all chances of sleep. Careful to not bump anything or strain her pounding head to much, Jazz groped blindly for her cell phone and allowed herself a small when she located it amongst the many items on her table stand. "Hello?" Jazz answered tiredly, not bothering to check the caller ID.
"Jazz?" a worried, a male voice replied from the other end, one that Jazz knew immediately and made her smile. "Jazz…oh thank God! We were all so worried about you when we saw the story on the news! Are you okay? How's your brother…uh, Benny? Are your parents all right? Are you comfortable? Do you, and I'm being serious here Jazzy, do you need me to contact my mob contacts via my cousin and have him kill someone?"
"All right, Mikey…calm down," Jazz answered with a slight smile as she chided herself for the butterflies she had felt form in her stomach. "Yes, it's me. I'm fine. DANNY is…well he's alive…my Dad's fine and my Mom just as a sprained ankle. I'm perfectly comfortable, and I do NOT need you to contact your infamous cousin Vinny to off someone! Wow Mikey…you sound really worried about everything."
"Well, of course I was worried!" Mikey said back in his deep baritone voice, a slight hint of nervousness and embarrassment echoing through the phone. Jazz felt her face blush at how concerned he was about her, and sure that if she could see his Italian face he would be blushing as well. "I mean…you were kidnapped Jazzy! I was…and then you were…and I didn't know…I was just worried so much Jazz! I was about ready to pull out my hair over this…"
"I'm fine now," Jazz answered back softly, touched that her fellow psychology major crush was so worried about her. "I promise…I still need to heal and stuff but, I'll be fine. I'm just worried about my brother…DANNY not Benny you dork!"
"Well now I feel like an ass," Mikey groaned back in a depressed voice, which only caused Jazz to giggle lightly at the image she had of him slapping a hand over his chocolate eyes in embarrassment. "I'm sorry Jazzy…how's he doing?"
"Not good unfortunately," Jazz said with a choked sob, trying to desperately control her emotions. "If you think I'm stubborn…he's about ten times worse and…he was so battered. He's in a coma right now…had been for about five days, two here in the hospital…I'm so worried about him Mikey!"
"I'm coming down there," he replied without a moment's hesitation, surprising the red-head. "And don't bother arguing…you need Bearbert and some good New York hot cocoa right now, and you're going to get damn it! I'll hop on the first flight to Amity Park in the morning and you can bet I'll be there by tomorrow night! I won't take no for an answer!"
"Okay…" Jazz whispered into the receiver, a different kind of warmth washing away all that Riley had done to her in the past week. "I'd…I'd like that."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
As Jazz continued talking with one of her good friends and possible crush, she felt a sense of calm wash over her, whisking her away from all the drama going on in her life right now. For just a moment in time, she felt like everything was going to be all right…come what may…
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Both Sam and Jazz were released from the hospital three days later, both happy to be out and back home, but both still worried about Danny…who was now going on a week today. Sam had tried to convince her parents to let her go and visit him for more than just an hour a day, but they both adamantly refused. They looked sad about their decision when her amethyst eyes filled with crystal tears, but they both stated that it would be unhealthy for her to spend so much time there, waiting for a boy to wake up. Part of her mind knew her parents were right, but that didn't stop her from acting sullen and depressed about her boyfriend's condition.
The weather had cleared up once more, now that Bruma wasn't chained here, and it was a clear, warm summer night and she could see some of the brighter stars peeking out through the city-lights. Sam sat on the windowsill, one leg curled up under her and the other dangling outside, and she wrote down her thoughts in the form of a poem, a hobby she had picked up from reading so much literature.
That Night
I will never forget that night.
All the tears, the anger, the fright.
My mind spinning, tears running from my eyes.
My anger building, wishing they were only lies.
As I lay on my bed, eyes puffy and red,
Can I really believe what everyone said?
I want to, but can't bring myself to,
If only this was easy! There is nothing I can do!
Sam paused for a second to collect her thoughts, letting her subconscious and emotions guide her pen in a haunting melody. She thought she felt something brush past her face for a moment, but chalked it up to wishful thinking before turning back to her outlet…her release.
My mind is scrambled, too confused to think,
My eyes turn to fire everytime I blink.
I close my eyes, and drift into a dream,
But all I see is that night, I wake up and start to scream.
I will never forget that night.
All the tears, the anger, the fright.
She felt tears sting her eyes as her mind drifted back to Danny's healing, but broken form in the hospital bed. His inky black hair had lost some of its beautiful shine, and his skin looked even paler than when he was a ghost. His lips, which were like silk once upon a time, were cracked and scabbed, and his perfect skin was marred by black and blue. She didn't care though, he was still, and would always be, beautiful to her…no matter what.
My mind spinning, tears running from my eyes.
My anger building, wishing they were only lies.
If only that night never came.
If only my life was still the same…
Sam set down her pen in the small, blue notebook she used as her doodle pad and journal and looked up at the crescent moon with round eyes. She wasn't used to writing such depressing work, opting instead to write about unrequited love and hidden passions, but her muse seemed to have other plans for her. She wrapped one of her delicate hands around the pendant still hanging around her neck, refusing to take it off even when she showered, and wished she cold feel Danny through it again. But she couldn't…the stone was unresponsive in her hand and she couldn't figure out why. Maybe she should try contacting the emotions again and asking for their advice…
"Samantha Manson," a booming voice said from behind her, scaring her so bad she whirled about and yelped loudly. She was unbalanced and this caused her to fall off her windowsill and onto her carpeted floor, which elicited another cry. Sam shook her head lightly as she pushed her silky black hair out of her eyes to acknowledge the being who spoke her name. When she looked up however, she noticed not one, but four, beings looking down at her kindly…four beings she knew very well.
"Aestas?" Sam asked as she felt the summer spirit's warm, strong hands lift her off the ground, smiling all the while in his youthful way. "What are you…what are you all doing here?"
"Why, we are here to help you with your dilemma child," Flora responded in her kind way taking a step towards the confused girl. "We know of the pain you are in due to your lover's ailment, and wish to help you."
"Uh…" Sam said with a nervous laugh, blushing a deep crimson from head to toe. "Danny and I are together, but we aren't lovers…we haven't even, well, you know."
"Had sex?" the wintry spirit that Sam knew as Bruma replied with a small smirk, not bothering to be anything other than blunt. "Child, it does not matter whether you have or not, you want to and will yes?"
"Uh…" Sam muttered as she continued to blush. She gave a small squeak and nodded her head slightly, not trusting herself to speak properly. She wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear rather than face the knowing smiles and small chuckles that all the spirits save one were giving her.
"Then, I do not see a problem referring to you and him as such," Bruma replied with a wave of hand, the only one not joking. She fixed her black eyes with Sam's lilac ones and brushed some of her rainbow hair out of her blue-skinned face. "I know you wish to help the hybrid, and we wish to help you…but most of it will have to come from you girl…you have control of the power to bring him back."
Before Sam could voice a question as to what that power was when Messis informed her. "Your pendant child…the one given to you by the hybrid. If you focus enough on its power, you will call it forth and will be able to unleash its abilities to wake the sleeping child."
"But, the pendants not working!" Sam yelled in frustration, angry that the seasonal spirits didn't think she'd already tried that. "I've tried getting it to work and it doesn't respond!"
"Are you sure girl?" Bruma answered with an intense gaze, her cold demeanor shaking Sam slightly. "You have only ever called the power of that pendant once…all the other times it was done unconsciously by Danny." Sam marveled at the fact that the winter spirit had called Danny by his name, but then focused on what the spirit was telling her once more. "You have merely felt the repercussions of that power, but you only truly used it when you were fighting Riley…you need to summon it child, it will not just come to you."
"I understand if you are confused Samantha," Flora said in her gentle tones, her dark green eyes smiling at her as well. "But your lover is incapacitated and cannot summon the power…only you can. I have faith in you though, and I trust you were the correct choice for the amulet in this century…you are the ones we have been waiting for."
"What?" Sam asked in a bewildered tone, but she was utterly ignored by all except one.
"Yes!" Aestas burst out in his booming voice, clapping his hands as part of the gesture. "I too believe she and the hybrid are those of who the ancients spoke of! She seems to have plenty of fire in her!"
"And she has a good heart…she will make a good mother," Messis added on, making Sam's eyes go wide
"Will you be willing to face hardships girl?" Bruma asked, narrowing her hawk-like eyes at the befuddled girl. "For this hybrid, will you be willing to help him through the trials ahead, even at the cost of your dreams or desires? The journey will not be smooth girl, are you daring enough to undertake it?"
"Yes," Sam answered fiercely, locking her own eyes in a gaze with the spirits. "I would…because Danny would do the same, IS doing the same for so many others! It's the least I can do…"
Bruma looked at Sam passively for a moment while the other spirits looked at her appraisingly. Neither woman dropped their intense gaze for awhile, but then Bruma gave the dark-haired girl a small smirk of approval. The blue-skinned spirit nodded her head and stretched out her hand for the human girl to take, which Sam did after a slight hesitation. Sam felt coldness jolt through her, but as the other season spirits surrounded her, the coldness blended with each of the other and she felt only a tingle…like magic.
The surroundings began to blur, and when she opened her eyes again, Sam found herself in the all too familiar hospital room. She looked up to see the four spirits still with her, somehow accepting a guardianship of Danny like she had four years ago, and smiled at them gratefully. Only Bruma stared back at her passively while her siblings grinned back, and Sam turned back around and walked over towards the occupied bed.
Sam pulled back the curtain and gazed at Danny's limp form, feeling tears form behind her eyes, but she forced them down and strode over to his side determinedly. She stopped right at his bedrail and asked in a loud voice as she held the pendant, "Danny? Danny…can you hear me?"
When he didn't respond, like she knew he wouldn't, she narrowed her lilac eyes and crawled into his bed, positioning her body over his so that her knees were grasping his hips and her hands rested on either side of his face. She tried whispering his name in his ear, calling forth some of the amulets power, but that didn't work either…but she had tried that too she remembered. She pushed herself back up and just looked at his sleeping face, not caring if the seasons were watching her at the moment.
"Come on Danny," Sam asked in a playful tone, leaning down so that her forehead was touching his…he was warm. "This is killing me…and you're family to boot. It's killing me to be away from you. I don't want anymore goodbyes…and I'm done with all the hellos. I just want to talk with you like I do in my fantasies again, or just bear witness to your beautiful awkward silences. I promise you Danny…I'll protect you when you wake up…I will. Don't say it's all right to be away from me too…I was wrong to think this had to be easy. It won't ever be, and I don't mind swimming in my own contradiction if you're with me…come back to me Danny!"
Sam leaned down and pressed her soft lips against his, gasping at how warm they were. She was too lost in his taste and his touch to notice the pendant flare a violet color and wash over the room, signaling the spirits to leave, which they did after a silent vow to the hybrid spirit to help protect him and his town until he regained what he had lost. Sam felt Danny move his arm underneath her and she lifted her head off his lips and watched with a smile as his started to flutter open. After waiting so long, he was finally waking up! She didn't move off of his bed, watching his brilliant blue eyes crack open and look around at his surroundings with a groan.
"Are you all right Danny?" Sam asked in a hushed whisper as his blue eyes made their way back up to her violet ones, and the purple light faded around them. He looked at her in a puzzled way and nodded his head slowly as if he wasn't really sure of answering her. "Danny?"
He shook his head and she hopped off him with a worried look, asking in a scared voice, "Oh, did I hurt you Danny? I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
He continued to look at her as if she was a ghost, and then, with a shaky voice, replied with words that made Sam's heart plummet. "I-I'm fine…but who are you and why do you keep calling me Danny?"
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A/N: Okay, I know that's cruel but I'm sick as a dog and can't write anymore…my head hurts to much and my stomach feels like it's eating itself…blagh! So sorry if the latter portion of this chapter sucks…I really don't feel good, but I felt so bad about making you guys wait already…
Did you guys like the splattering of romance for Jazz? Poor girl, I figured she needed some lovin' too! And as for Tuck and Val…sorry about their absence but they'll be in the next chapter for sure! And sorry about the 'My cousin Vinny' reference...I LOVE tat movie and I thought it fit.
Did you guys like the poem? My sister actually gave me permission to use it and I thought it fit so well! I'm not much of a poet, but my sister sure is! I thought it went well with what Sam was feeling at the time yes? Oh, and if anyone can tell me where Sam's main speech to Danny at the end (when she's straddling him !) is from...a song mind you...you'll get major kudo points!
Again, review guys! They seriously make me feel so much better when I read them! I am never going so long without sleep again…damn you Kael…effing slave driver I tell you!
Osco