Phantom 3
CH.3: Gold and silver blowout
In the waiting room of the emergency room were Maddie Fenton and Jack Fenton, the ghost hunting parents of Danny; Jazz Fenton, the caring older sister; Sam Manson and Tucker Foley, the two best friends who shared Danny's secrets. Then there was Mr. Lancer Danny's English teacher and Valerie. Vlad Masters had brought Danny in after finding him beaten up in the alley. There were many questions about the gold and silver found on Danny's body, but Vlad dismissed any comment. Maddie was all tears and her blue eyes were moist from the recent tears. The story Vlad told about her son was questionable, I mean how many 14 year olds go out for ice cream at 11:00 p.m. and take a rest in a dark alleyway? She asked herself while growing restless about her son's condition. "Jack we have to see Danny now-."
"I know Maddie, but what do you want me to do? Barge in like a crazed dad concerned about his son's health? I will…if you wish Maddie," he said feeling his concern burn in his heart, or was that another heart burn? He was a ghost hunter, not the best, but still he was responsible when his family was in danger. He and his wife created an ecto container to hold ghosts, but it failed on their first attempt. When he went there to dispose of it…it was fixed. A doctor came and Jack jumped up spilling his coffee all over his orange Fenton suit. "Doctor is he-?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, your son is in critical condition at this moment," the doctor said to the point, "he has sustained huge amounts of damage to the back and his whole system is in such a fragile state, that one push done to him will send him into a comma. For the next 24 hours I will have him in my care, until then I must ask that no one see him." This caused a rush of questions but the doctor didn't budge and left. Jazz Fenton managed to slip by the doctor and as she wondered the halls aimlessly she was followed by Sam, Tucker, and Valerie. Jazz was unbeknownst to them.
"Well Valerie come to see if Danny was ok before you attack him with kisses and loads of poetry?" Valerie took this offensively and slapped the unsuspecting Sam across the cheek. Sam was about to slug her but Tucker stood between the two of them much to Sam's protest. "Tucker get out of the way! I need to clean the floor with her before I-."
"Sam…will you pull back that slug and listen! Valerie and I…were at a baseball game together," he said letting that sink into her confused face, "you see Danny didn't show and I couldn't save his seat…so when Valerie's dad had to go I let her sit by me. Though in reality she sat there without knowing I sat there. We got a burger after and…well you know the rest. So don't go accusing Valerie of liking Danny…when in reality it's your feelings you want to scream to him!" By now the three teens were so caught up in their conflict with each other, that they wouldn't even notice Jazz Fenton around the corner.
"I always knew Sam liked Danny," Jazz said as she peered at the Goth from her hidden place, "wait I have to focus, first check on Danny then shove it in his face about this secret." Jazz snuck further into the patient visiting area and after stumbling into 2 rooms with patients suffering memory loss she finally found her little brother. Danny was in a white medical gown and was lying in the bed with his head propped up. Though she couldn't see the internal injuries, she could still notice his body fighting the battle. "Hey Danny…its me Jazz…can you hear me?"
"Hey Jazz…did mom and dad get lost?" Jazz laughed lightly and smiled at her sick brother's humor. She walked over to the chair beside his bed and sat down. "Plasmius did this Jazz…he led me to believe he was helping…but now that I'm here…it seems wrong."
"Danny the Wisconsin ghost isn't a friendly face you see right away and see trust, haven't you realized that already?" Jazz watched as Danny grinned at that then cringed as she saw him close his eyes tightly. His forehead was drenched with perspiration and his whole body stiffened. She hated to see him suffer, but all she could do was watch, she would've tried ghost hunting, but her aim was awful. Before she left she heard him whisper, "I'm planning to escape…tell them Larry in room 2 helped me…ok?" Jazz looked over her shoulder at Danny and nodded her head. Then as she left she said:
"Danny…think about the ones who care about you, would they want you in here again?" Jazz left leaving Danny sitting in bed with a annoyed expression and as she left she looked at a surprised Tucker, Sam, and Valerie. "Oh hey Valerie…come to check up on beaten up Danny?"
"Uh…Jazz, Valerie is dating Tucker," Sam said and watched the older Fenton kid drop her mouth in similar fashion to her a few minutes ago. Jazz gave her family the slip to visit Danny, I swear Danny is rubbing off on her more and more, Sam thought wryly. Jazz closed her mouth and gave Sam a smile, but Sam knew Jazz's smile by now and knew she had found out a secret…could it be…? "Well bye Jazz."
"You too Sam, Tucker, and Valerie," Jazz said with a small wave. Sam waved back then followed Tucker and Valerie into Danny's room. He sat there reading one of the medical magazines and when he saw his friends he grinned widely. Tucker told Danny about the baseball game and Valerie filled him in on when she first fell for Tucker. Danny was bewildered by the sudden change in Valerie and her openness but remained attentive to their story.
"So I guess Casper High has its newest couple to celebrate huh?" The two gave each other hesitant looks and Danny scratched the back of his head wondering if he had been thrown out of the loop. If Paullina and Dash can hook up (as much as it hurts) then surely my best bud Tuck and Valerie can hook up as well. Yet they seemed doubtful about going public with their newfound love…or is that like?
"Danny I'm glad you support us, but currently we were both thinking to let it lay low. Outside of school we'll hook up, that way we won't be judged to the full extreme like the hallways of Casper High," Valerie said still holding Tucker's hand. I have to tell Tucker about my job, she thought, either that or live a lie for eternity. She shifted on her feet uneasily and Tucker gave her hand a squeeze. "Well hope you get better Danny," Valerie said edging towards the door, "if you need our help-."
"I'll relay the message to you," Danny said. The two gave Sam a smile before heading in the trail of Jazz. Danny stared at his Goth friend and felt warm though inside he was cold, being a ghost sure does put me in the freezer a lot, he thought. She sat beside him and averted her eyes from him, Sam what's wrong? "Hey Sam is this cozy or what? Tucker and Valerie together it-."
"Is totally unexpected and in a million years unforeseeable," she said smiling and Danny laughed. Danny's laughter caused her heart to flutter and to steady herself (and without knowing it) put her hand over Danny's. After both enjoyed a few minutes of the touch they pulled back afraid their flesh was on fire. "Ah Danny…what did Jazz say to you?"
"Oh…well she was just concerned about her younger brother's health, that's all," Danny said hoping she wouldn't catch the lie. He looked into her violet eyes and caught concern and doubt in them. Sam is my best friend…these feelings I have for her are non romantic, he thought fighting a losing battle. Skulker is loose and Plasmius needs to be taught a lesson, I'm sorry Sam….please forgive me…
"Danny…where are you going!" The familiar black and white outfit of Danny Phantom appeared and just as Sam lunged onto the bed he phased through. She punched the bed and cursed herself for her fragile state of mind, Danny why can't we admit we like each other? I asked for it though, she thought laying on the bed, to have feelings for my best friend…oh well…maybe we'll admit it someday…or when he comes back…Sam got up and swung her legs over the bed and as she rushed to the door in skirt and boots she saw to her horror Jack and Maddie Fenton coming to check on their son! "Well Danny…if I do this you owe me one," Sam said.
"Last time I checked your son was recovering nicely," the doctor said, "his vital signs were up and he seemed to be looser then before," then as he said that he led them to Danny's bed. The blanket rose with every breath of the occupant and for a minute it worked. Then Maddie Fenton reached for the blanket…but the doctor pushed her hand away. "Sorry Mrs. Fenton, but our patient right now is recuperating from his past ordeal. If he shows any more signs of recovery I will call you." So because of that Sam's identity was kept.
"Danny I like you…maybe it's because of your humor, or your lousy dress style," she laughed, "but I hope it's mutual." Throwing the covers off she checked herself in the mirror and saw black hair, raven like and stiff from a missed shower. She wore a black shirt that had some random patterns on it and her nails were black. She played with her hair and had her hand on her hip, but realized she was no Paullina. With that out of her system she climbed out the window to look for Danny.
Skulker was on his usual patrol along the sky of Amity Park when a green ecto blast hit his right jet. Turning around he saw to his disbelief the ghost child! But upon closer inspection he grinned realizing the whelp didn't even have enough strength to stay in a straight line. Holding up his wrist he let loose a hard punch to Danny's face and sent him spinning into a billboard. Smiling over his victory he flew up to his defeated foe when a radiating green blast hit him square in the chest taking him on a whirlwind path to the dark depths of the alley. All his systems were broken and a strange feeling was in him…was it shame? No, I the great and powerful Skulker can not feel this…then again, he thought while his systems were turning off.
"Skulker I have you defeated, but I have been known to be generous from time to time," he said with green eyes narrowed, "tell me where Plasmius is and you'll get the Fenton thermos, and if you defy me…I can take you out of your armor and dispose-."
"Alright whelp, if you must know Plasmius is at his mansion, and he is expecting you as well," Skulker said grinning. He saw the ghost kid smile and knew his fate would rest in that thermos until he was released in the ghost zone, but then again that would give him time to repair his hardware. "Danny Phantom you were lucky this time but-."
"Yeah I know, you'll beat me to the tinniest atom next time, now into the thermos you go Skulker the almighty!" Pulling off the cap of the Fenton thermos he held it with both hands and a bright white light enveloped him until at last the ghost hunter was no more. Taking a steady breath he took to the sky and flew to the mansion where at that moment Vlad Masters was pouring himself some tea.
"Ah Daniel, back from the hospital are we?" Vlad gave the teen a nod and he transformed into Danny Fenton. "I see you are still sporting that gold and silvery jewelry I gave you, but never fear there is a cure. You see, to counter the act the gold and silver you must obtain the red ring. Then and only then will you be totally-."
"Vlad you are a liar! Because of you I suffer day after day, because of you I go to sleep with sore muscles, and because of you I hunt for items that do the opposite of their real purpose. I say we settle this once and for all!" Vlad finished his tea and as he pushed away from the chair the ring of light surrounded his body giving him the body of his ghost self Plasmius. Danny did the same and began to fly around the room daring Plasmius to follow.
"Really Daniel must I kill you in my own home? To think of killing Maddie's only son, what a stab to the heart that would be…then again that would only leave Jack to face off. Ok Danny I accept your challenge!" Plasmius flew after Danny and shot off pink purple ecto blasts and Danny let them phase through while invisible. Plasmius took to the offensive and let Danny have a punch sending him into one of his paintings. "Be careful Daniel those aren't cheap like-."
"Hey lay off my family's economical situation, at least I have a loving family," he shot back. Danny recovered and vaulted from the wall and kicked Plasmius in the gut. Plasmius backed off and used his ecto shield to ward off hot attacks. "Hey you tired already?"
"Not the least bit young one, in fact I think I might as well cut off these kiddy routines. Skulker maybe in that blasted Fenton ghost portal, but I plan on residing here long past your ghost hunting days!" Plasmius formed a purple shield around him and with his arms stretched out began to widen the shields density. Danny took to the air and phased through the shield to enter a struggle between good and evil. Danny punched and kicked Plasmius and sent him bouncing off his ghost shield. Plasmius got Danny in a choke hold and smiled as Danny's legs kicked effortlessly for help. "Well Daniel, the fun ends here…shall I kill you quickly or very slowly?"
"Wrong again Plasmius," Danny said grabbing Plasmius's hands in his own. His hands began to glow a sickly green and it began to work its way over Plasmius. The shield was fluctuating and both combatants were now cringing from both their powers at their max. Danny couldn't hold it any longer; neither could Plasmius, so both phased out and went through the roof until they were in the night sky. When they released their grips both returned to their original form and fell to the ground. A boy nearby was riding his bicycle and saw the billionaire Vlad Masters and a boy lying in a smoking heap outside the mansion. He went and called 9-1-1 and soon Police sirens were heard in the distance. Danny got up and took off afraid of the accusations he'd get if the Police found him there. The sound of footsteps was behind him and as he made it to town he tried to go ghost…but it didn't work.
"Stay right there and don't move!" The Police Officer said as he walked forward. When the officer grabbed his wrist Danny fought it off but then was thrown down and felt the rough handcuffs over his bruised wrists. "Now get up and go to the car…nice and easy kid."
"Hey officer my parents are nearby, I saw the incident and was going to-." Danny was cut off and as he was pushed to the back of the Police vehicle. Then the partner of the officer opened the door and pushed him in. the leather was hot and his mouth was cut when he hit the floor, his clothes were burnt and his hair was all stuck up. Outside everyone thought he had hurt Vlad Masters, truth was he did, but if Vlad died he could face murder charges! Jazz was always the perfect one; at least she has a future. I still have this gold and silver thing to worry about and if that's not worse I think I found out Sam likes me. But why do I feel like this is good…in fact why do I want to do it again?