Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of the related characters, they are all creations of Butch Hartman. Consequentially, I do not own nor did I write The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Also, the state of my sanity is still in question.

Chapter Three

Jazz held imaginary Danny's hand as she watched the disturbing scene unfold before her. She could see herself walking down an isle in what was probably the most beautiful white wedding dress she'd ever seen. She wanted to yell at herself to turn and run as she approached Vlad with a beaming smile on her face.

The ceremony was quick and before she knew it, Jazz was watching Vlad and herself walking back down the isle happily smiling at each other. She was married to Vlad.

"This is a nightmare right?" Jazz asked Danny.

"Only in so far as it depicts actual events," Danny responded.

"I really married Vlad," Jazz said in shock. "Of course I can have the marriage annulled. Like it never happened." Danny nodded his head and pointed to the next scene. Jazz gasped and closed her eyes.

"I don't want to see this Danny," she said shakily.

"Repressed memories are not healthy," Danny warned. "It may not be as bad as you think it is. Look."

Jazz opened one eye. She was laying in the bed curled up next to Vlad. Danny was right, it wasn't as bad as it looked. She was under the covers and Vlad was not. It was apparent that nothing unspeakable had occurred.

"Has it always been this way?" Jazz asked in surprise.

"Umm sure," Danny answered.

"He's never so much as laid a finger on me?" Jazz exclaimed in relief as a few fuzzy memories filled her mind.

"So it appears." Danny replied, looking a little sheepish.

Jazz almost laughed as she examined the strange scene of her sleeping in Vlad's arms. "I'm relieved. So relieved." She felt confused. Certainly she'd been willing to do anything he asked, so she had expected worse.

"It's better not to look too deeply into some things," Danny told her as the world went dark around them. All she could see were her brother's glowing green eyes. "There are other memories which I cannot bear to show you."

"Danny," Jazz whispered. "I don't want you to leave me. I need you to come rescue me."

"I'm not really Danny," he answered. "Remember. Don't be scared of Vlad. He won't hurt you. Not as long as he feels he loves you."

"Please stay!" Jazz cried, but Danny was gone and she was suddenly back in her bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she found Vlad sitting beside her. She closed her eyes as tight as she could. She wasn't ready to deal with him.

"Jasmine," Vlad said softly. "I know you're awake. There is no need to play games with me."

Jazz opened one eye and looked at Vlad who was staring at her with a look of disapproval. She opened the other eye and met his gaze unwavering and defiantly. He sighed deeply and looked away from the challenge in her eyes.

"All the potion has warn off I see," Vlad observed. "And now my Jasmine has been replaced with this spirited, feral creature intent on taking her revenge out upon me."

"No," Jazz said as she sat up. "I just want to go home."

Vlad shook his head. "But you are home my dear. This has been your home for the last six months and will continue to be your home. I'm certain you'll learn to be happy. You'll want for nothing."

"I want my family," Jazz told him. "I want my freedom. I want to go back to school. I want to resume my life."

"Your life is with me now," Vlad told her. "You are my wife."

"I was not in my right mind when you married me. It's called entrapment. I can get an annulment." Jazz replied stiffly.

"In time," Vlad said. "You'll learn to love me."

Jazz shook her head as she pulled her knees up into her chest and buried her face in them. "I'll never love you Vlad. Never never never."

"You know what they say Jasmine." Vlad started. "Never say never."

"I'd rather die first," Jazz said trying not to sound as if she was going to burst into tears. She looked up at Vlad and frowned at the shattered look on his face. She expected him to tell her that it could be arraigned.

"That would be a means of escape," Vlad told her blankly as he stood and walked to the door. "And I'm sorry Jasmine. There is simply no escape." He didn't look at her as he closed the door behind him and turned the lock.

Jazz jumped out of the bed and looked for the telephone on the end table, but it was gone. She sighed deeply then walked into the bathroom intent on taking a shower. She paused for a moment and thought then shook her head. She felt weak and dizzy again. Something was bothering her. Something she couldn't face.

Jazz looked around the room for a moment. She walked to the dresser and found fresh clothes. She placed them on the bed then found a towel. She turned toward the bathroom and found Danny blocking the entry.

"You don't want to go in there," he warned.

Jazz hesitated a moment. "Why," she asked.

"There are some memories that we're not ready to face yet." Danny warned her.

"But there's nothing to worry about," Jazz said in a falsely cheerful voice. The look on Danny's face told her she was wrong. She walked past Danny and straight into a very shocking memory.

Her head began to ache as she entered the bathroom. She could hear the sound of water running, but couldn't see so well through the foggy mist. She could hear the sound of two voices, see their figures in the shower. She opened her mouth in shock, her eyes widening in horror. She wanted to scream, instead her world went dark and she collapsed onto the bathroom floor. No one was there to stop her from hitting the cold tiles, and no one was there to pick her up.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Tucker and Sam followed Danny as he marched from The Nasty Burger. He said nothing to his friends, he didn't care at this point if they followed him or not. His mind was focused on his sister and the trouble she was in.

"Man he looks really pissed," Tucker remarked as he nearly had to run to keep up with Danny's swift pace. Sam said nothing, she merely started humming The Battle Hymn of the Republic as they marched.

"You're really sick in the head," Tucker growled at Sam.

"Glory glory hallelujah!" Sam sang loudly as she smiled at Tucker as they continued to march behind Danny.

Danny simply ignored Tucker and Sam and their bickering. He marched into the house and down the stairs where his father and mother were working in the lab.

"Mom," Danny called as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "Dad!" Tucker and Sam weren't far behind, they stopped so quickly that they nearly fell over each other.

"Yes Danny," Jack said softly. He was not the same man since he'd lost his daughter. He loved his princess and now he felt she was lost to him forever. His enthusiasm for ghost hunting waned and now he merely tinkered in the basement on idle little inventions.

"We," Danny started then stopped and looked over his shoulder at Sam. "Sam just talked to Jazz."

"Jazz!" Maddie said excitedly as she walked forward her hand on her heart and looked at Sam. "Is she all right? Is she healthy? Is she happy? Does she miss us?"

Jack grabbed Sam and yanked her down the rest of the way into the lab. He sat her on a nearby stool and stared into her eyes. "How did my princess sound?" he questioned fiercely. "That jerk hasn't hurt her has he?"

Sam sent Danny an annoyed look. "Thanks a lot Dan," she said then sighed as she turned back to Jack and regarded him worriedly.

"Answer my question!" Jack yelled. "Or I'll put you in the Fenton Ghost Juicer and squeeze the answer out of you!"

"But I'm not a ghost!" Sam said in shock.

"You will be if you don't tell me about my princess!" Jack boomed. Tucker laughed from his vantage point on the stairs and Sam sent him an evil look.

"She didn't say much," Sam said as she looked fearfully at Jack. "She said that Vlad has been drugging her and wanted Danny's help."

Jack straightened up and walked to the other side of the lab. "Why didn't she call her mother and I for help?" he said to himself. "She doesn't feel like we can protect her…that's why!"

"Jack," Maddie growled. "Get a hold of yourself!" Jack nodded his head and began tinkering with one of his inventions.

"Mom," Danny said as he turned to his mother. "I'm going to go rescue her, but I need the Specter Speeder." Maddie frowned at her son then turned to her husband.

"You know where the keys are," Jack said quietly. "Be careful."

"Thanks Dad," Danny said. He hugged his mother briefly then looked at Sam and Tucker. "You two coming with me or not?" There was no hesitation on the part of either of his friends, of course they were coming.

"Danny," Jack said. "Wait." Danny stopped and looked at his father.

"You'll need some better ghost fighting equipment," Jack told his son. Danny opened his mouth. How did his father know? There was no way he could have been aware of Vlad's ghost powers. Was there?

"This," Jack said as he handed a large ecto-blaster. "Is my latest invention. I came up with it while plotting to hurt Vlad. The beam is very highly concentrated. It will tear apart human flesh just effectively as ghost."

"Uh, Thanks Dad," Danny said as he took the blaster.

"Do not use it on your sister,' Jack warned.

"I won't Dad,' Danny replied in exasperation. He turned and looked at his mother.

"I hate letting you go like this Danny. I really think you should let your father and I handle this." Maddie said as she looked into her son's eyes.

"Trust me Mom," Danny started. "It's really better that I go. I can take care of myself."

"And Tucker and Sam and Jazz?" Maddie asked softly as she reached out and ruffled Danny's hair.

"Yup," Danny told her confidently. "Trust me okay Mom?"

"I don't know," Maddie said as she shook her head. "I'd rather go with you Sweetie."

"We'll watch Danny's back for you Mrs. Fenton," Tucker said. Maddie looked at Tucker a moment then smiled and nodded her head. She walked over to Jack and he put his arm around her.

"I believe it's safer for Danny to go," Jack said to Maddie. "I don't think Vladdy would do anything to hurt Danny and his friends. Besides Honey, I think you and I would go in shooting, asking questions later."

"True," Maddie agreed with her husband

"What the situation needs," Jack continued. "Is a little bit of diplomacy." Maddie smiled kindly at her clueless husband. It was easy to tell by the look on his face, that Danny was not on a diplomatic mission.

"Be careful Sweetie," Maddie told him gently. Danny only nodded his head as he followed Sam and Tucker into the Specter Speeder. He waved once at his parents, and then they were off.

Tucker and Sam waited until they were flying toward Wisconsin, Vlad's home, before asking Danny questions.

"I hate to be the party pooper," Tucker said to Danny. "But you do have a plan don't you?"

"Cause you know," Sam started. "Running in there guns blazing isn't going to cut it."

Danny shot Sam a sideways glace. "You think not?"

"I know not," Sam said. "Come on Danny you've dealt with Vlad enough to know how he works. He's probably all ready for you."

Danny sighed and slowed the Specter Speeder down. "So what do you think we should do?" He asked. "Just walk up, ring the bell and ask to see Jazz?"

"It might work," Tucker said. "I mean it's not something Vlad would expect."

"Yeah and it might get me blasted all the way back to Amity Park," Danny replied cynically.

"I think we can break down his guard," Sam said softly. "Let Tuck and I be the bait. We won't even tell him you're with us."

"What do you mean?" Tuck shrieked. "I'm not anyone's bait!"

Danny furrowed his eyebrows and said, "It might work. You could tell him you're here against my wishes. That you wanted to check on Jazz."

"Hold on!" Tucker yelled. "No one's listening to me!"

Sam gave Tucker an exasperated look. "Do you have any better ideas Tuck?" She asked

Tucker shook his head. "No. But, I think you and I as bait is a bad idea. Vlad's not stupid you know. He'll smell a rat and we'll be toast."

"But," Danny said. "You'll get in long enough to get me in, and that's all that counts. The worst he's going to do to you is kick you off his property."

"I say we do it!" Sam said fiercely.

"Lets do it!" Danny agreed as he fired up the Speeder.

"Oh man," Tucker wailed. "This has disaster written all over it."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Jazz woke up on the bathroom floor with Danny standing over her. "I warned you," he said gently. "but you didn't listen."

Jazz put her hand to the side of her head and looked around the bathroom. It was completely empty, except for her and Danny. She stood up and looked in the mirror. She looked horrible. Her permed hair was frizzy and askew, and her eyes were slightly swollen and puffy. It was a blessing that she took the horrible contact lenses out.

She steeled herself and walked toward the shower. She had no more visions as she turned the hot water on, then adjusted the temperature. She started unbuttoning her pajamas then looked at Danny.

"I know you're me," she said. "I know you're not really Danny, but could you turn around or something." Danny nodded his head and turned as he walked to the bathroom door.

"I'll just wait here," he said. "You don't have to worry. You're not alone."

"No," Jazz sighed as she finished undressing. "I'm just completely insane." She stepped into the shower and hissed as the stinging water hit her skin. She washed her hair, wishing that simply doing so could make it her own vibrant orange red and eliminate the frizzy curls. She wanted to cry, but decided that she had cried enough.

"Are you still there?" she called to her imaginary Danny.

"Still here." He replied. For some reason Jazz felt safer knowing he was there, even though there was no way her imagination could protect her from Vlad. Horrible Vlad.

Jazz rested her forehead against the wet tile as the almost too hot water pelted her. Memories that were all at once pleasant and horrifying began to assault her. Warm hands caressing her skin, lips on hers, hers on his. Declarations of love and more…She shut her eyes tight and whimpered as she slid down the wall.

"I don't want to know," She said to herself as she curled up in the corner of the shower. "I want to forget." She began to sob as she fought the memories of long nights wrapped in the arms of her husband, and though the memories were tender and sweet, they were more horrifying than she could have imagined.

She wasn't truly a willing participant in the charade he'd built around her she told herself. The memories were like a very bad nightmare, a long and horrifying nightmare she no longer had to participate in.

What hurt her the most though, was how happy she had been, how she deeply she had betrayed herself. It wasn't her fault, she tried to reason with herself, she hadn't been in her right mind. She wasn't in control of herself, but wasn't there something she could have done? She could have fought harder she was sure. She knew how weak she had actually been. Jazz hated herself.

The memories filling her senses drove Jazz to a place in her mind where she could escape the horror of the life she'd found herself in. She curled herself up in a ball tightly and allowed the water from the shower to fall, wishing she could drown in the liquid pooling on the floor, then slip with it down the drain. She remained in her spot in the corner of the shower even after the heated water faded away and turned icy cold.

She had no clue how long she lay there before someone finally came and turned off the water. Jazz barely registered their presence at first. She was in another world. Danny and her parents were there and she was fine. She didn't fight as she was picked up from her refuge in the corner, she felt as though there was no fight left in her, all of it had slipped, along with her sanity, down the drain.

Jazz sighed as she laid her head on her mysterious benefactor's shoulder. She didn't hear the soft soothing words or register the towel drying her or the hands helping her dress, all she knew was someone was there, comforting her and she clung to him for dear life until he laid her on the bed and looked into her eyes.

After laying in the shower, crying for so long, she didn't feel like she had much strength left, but the fury which filled her as he tilted her chin and looked into her face lent her strength. Jazz put everything she had into the punch she threw at him. Her hand exploded in pain as it connected with his jaw and she smiled in satisfaction as his head snapped back with the impact. Maybe she wasn't as insane as she thought she was. She smiled grimly.

"I was going to ask if you were all right," Vlad said as he cradled his jaw in his hand. "But you are apparently fine if you have the strength to hit me like that."

"I want to go home!" Jazz told him fiercely. "I demand you let me go. I'll never cooperate with you. I'll fight you with my last breath!"

"I told you already Jasmine," Vlad said as he distanced himself from her. "You are home and I will never let you go."

"You are sick!" She yelled. "You are disgusting. Vile. Nasty. I hate you. I will always hate you! You've tried to make me into my mother! Tried to force me into some twisted illusion. I'm going to make you sorry Vlad. You will pay." She lifted her chin defiantly and noticed with satisfaction that her words seemed to wound him a great deal more than her punch to his face had.

Vlad said nothing as he walked to the door. "I brought you something to eat," he said. "I suggest that if you are going to continue to fight me, you keep up your strength." With that he left the room.

Jazz looked around until she saw Danny standing in at the bathroom door. "Way to go Jazz!" he said.

"Thank you," she replied as she stood shakily and walked back into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment. She hated her reflection. She hated what Vlad had done to her, but what could she do? An idea hit her and she began searching through the drawers and cabinets until she found everything she needed. She took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror than grabbed a large handful of hair and began cutting.

The results of her self given hair cut would have sent her into hysterics on any normal occasion, but she was perversely pleased with the ragged mess her hair had become. Her hair was so short that the roots of her natural color was apparent next to the darker shade Vlad had dyed it, the frizzy curls were obviously gone. She smiled in satisfaction.

"What do you think?" she asked the figure sitting up on the counter.

"Beautiful," Danny replied.

"Thank you," Jazz said as she walked into the bedroom. She poured herself a glass of juice. She was starving so she sat down and ate.

"I remember," She said to Danny. "Sam telling me what she did when she was kidnapped to The Ghost Zone and betrothed to that dragon ghost. I plan on doing the same thing. I'm going to make myself so horribly unattractive and bothersome to Vlad, that he'll won't be able to wait to let me go."

"I think you're half way there already Jazz," Danny laughed as he gestured to her hair. Jazz only smiled as she ate.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Way to go Tuck," Danny said bitterly as they finally landed a few miles from Vlad's mansion.

"I never volunteered to be the navigator," Tucker defended as they all piled out of the speeder. The sun was going down and it had taken them much longer than normal to reach Vlad's home, because Tucker had them going the wrong way for the first hour.

"Are you guys ready?" Sam asked as she straightened her skirt and smoothed her hair. Danny transformed into his ghostly self and nodded his head.

"I guess," Tucker said as they began to walk down the road leading to Vlad's door.

They had just reached the gates of Vlad's estate when Danny stopped. He frowned as a blue green light surrounded him. "Damn! Ghost shield!" he exclaimed.

"Just change back," Sam snorted as she walked past the gate and turned to look at Danny and Tuck. Danny sighed then changed to his human form and walked across the invisible line of the shield. He changed back to ghost, but hadn't walked another ten feet when he encountered another shield.

"Looks like he's been expecting you," Tucker said.

"I'll just have to stay in human form until we reach the house," Danny said as he started walking. Sam shrugged her shoulders at Tucker and followed him. Unfortunately there seemed to be a shield every ten feet and then they met the video cameras. They all frowned and looked at each other.

"I guess I don't get to be bait," Tucker said trying not to sound disappointed.

"He already knows we're here," Danny said. Then pointed at the door. Vlad's figure could be seen standing in the door way. Danny marched forward until he stood before Vlad.

"You're here to see Jasmine I trust," Vlad said blankly.

"Don't try to keep me from her," Danny warned.

"I wouldn't dream of it my boy," Vlad said as he moved and gestured for Danny to enter. He looked at Sam and Tucker for a moment.

"Your conscience and your brain will need to stay here," Vlad said to Danny as he pointed at Tucker and Sam.

"I'm not his conscience!" Tucker exclaimed.

"Yeah but you're not his brain either," Sam laughed then put on a serious face as Vlad sent them both a disapproving look.

"Wait here," Vlad told them. "Touch nothing." He then turned to Danny and motioned for him to follow.

Sam looked at Tucker and started breathing like Darth Vader. Tucker rolled his eyes then smiled at the Goth girl and shook his head.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

I'm not quite sure how I feel about it, or it's rating. The nightmares have started again. AGH!