This is where the story ceases to be wholly mine and now belongs in big part to Everyone's Favorite Rebel Scum. If you thought things were good before, they are only going to get better I think, this story has been made so much better just from the hand of Everyone's Favorite Rebel Scum. And, Mo thank you so much for standing between me and this story. I appreciate it, and so do my nightmares…now hopefully I won't sleepwalk!

Chapter Nine

Jazz was frowning at herself in the bathroom mirror when Vlad knocked on the door. She put her hands to her newly colored, curly hair, and frowned discontentedly. She took one more sullen glance at herself and then opened the door.

Vlad himself seemed a little taken aback as he laid eyes on Jazz. He may have had someone come to change Jazz's hair, but this was the first time he saw the affect.

"You look beautiful my darling," he said softly, trying hard to disguise his dismay. Jazz smiled shakily.

"I barely even recognize myself," She said as she walked into his arms. Vlad closed his eyes as he held her for a moment.

"He is one sick puppy," Danny said to Clockwork. "Look how upset Jazz is now."

"It's good that you are unrecognizable," Vlad says. "I have many enemies and when we visit Mexico, it's better that no one sees you as you really are."

"Oh lame excuse," Danny said. "We know you're trying to make her look like Mom!"

Danny frowned and turned to Clockwork.

"Why is he doing that? I thought he cared about Jazz! Aren't you trying to sell me on that?"
Clockwork only looked at Danny, then gestured to the scene before them.

"We're going to Mexico?" Jazz asked excitedly. Vlad smirked at her childish enthusiasm.

"Don't get too excited my dear. It's a business trip. I wouldn't bring you along, but I can't bear to part with you."

Jazz smiled happily. "Good," she said as she snuggled into his arms. "I don't want you to be able to bare to part with me."

Vlad closed his eyes and sighed. The melancholy look on his face contrasted terribly with the peaceful look Jazz wore. He kissed the top of her head then frowned as he fingered her new curls. Jazz sighed contentedly, and then looked up at Vlad. He gazed back at her. Of course her eyes hadn't changed. That was going to be a problem. Those eyes, bright green-blue, were the things he needed to be rid of. Those eyes held immense power over him, power that he could not allow her to possess.

Danny rubbed his face and wondered how much more Clockwork was going to show him. Nothing was going to convince him that Clockwork was right, and he wondered if the ghost had completely lost his mind. He continued to watch, but his heart was not moved.

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At Maddie's request, Sam knocked on Jazz's door. Sam had never really thought about her relationship with Jazz very closely before. She was always just Jazz, the annoying older sister. But she was Danny's annoying older sister, and if Maddie thought she could make Jazz feel better, she would try her best.

Jazz let the younger girl into her room, then firmly closed the door behind her. She walked over to the bed, and laid back down beneath the covers.

"You know I'm fine, right?" Jazz asked. Sam shrugged her shoulders and sat on the edge of the bed, looking nervously at Jazz. Jazz raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"Thanks for answering your phone and talking to me," Jazz said gratefully.

"No problem. You know I wouldn't have hung up on you. Danny was kinda mad for a few minutes, but he got over it." Jazz grinned, opened up her nightstand drawer and searched around for a minute. She laughed, and then pulled out a handful of black licorice candy and offered some to Sam, who smiled and took a piece.

Jazz had just started unwrapping the candy when Sam asked, "What happened to you?"

"Jumping right in huh?" Jazz asked not looking up from the candy in her hand.

"Yeah, well I didn't think there was any point in dancing around the subject," Sam said as she chewed on a piece of licorice.

Jazz laughed halfheartedly as she toyed with one of the candy wrappers. "It wasn't that bad I guess," she said tiredly. "He didn't beat me or anything." Sam nodded her head, but her smiling expression had been replaced by one of concern.

"He seemed like he didn't want to let you go," Sam said quietly.

"Well, he is crazy." Jazz replied as she laughed nervously. An uneasy silence ensued. Sam fiddled with her bootlace in an effort to distract herself from the matter at hand, but soon decided that it would be less awkward just to talk.

"So," Sam said as she shifted uncomfortably, "Do you want to talk about it or anything?"

Jazz sighed deeply. "I don't know...I'm still feeling a little strange. I don't think all of that drug has worn off yet either." She wiped at her eyes and looked up at Sam, who had the grace to not stare.

"I think I've remembered everything now," Jazz told the Goth girl. "I mean it's like one big dream, except I just feel…sad." Jazz shrugged her shoulders, unsure if her feelings were normal.

"You're not scared or anything?" Sam asked.

Jazz shook her head. "What I'm scared of isn't what I should be scared of." She whispered half to herself. She paused and looked thoughtful for a moment. It was apparent that the events of the day had fatigued her; her eyelids were half-closed, and she yawned loudly before speaking again.

"I'm glad to be home though. I want to get back to my life. Get back to school…I missed all my finals! All that work for nothing! I missed the fall semester too, stupid Vlad!" She groaned, obviously agitated.

Sam laughed uneasily as she picked at the hem of her fraying skirt. "Why did he kidnap you anyway? I mean, what were his intentions?"

"I'm not sure," Jazz frowned thoughtfully. "I know he had something big he was working on, but he changed his plans."

"Why?" Sam asked. "I mean Vlad doesn't seem the type of person who would change plans for anyone or anything."

Jazz nodded her head. "He is really stubborn… but he's funny too." The expression on her face softened. "He's very smart. And once you get past the egotistical exterior he's very polite and kind."

"Vlad? Kind?" Sam scoffed and raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

Jazz smiled a little. "I know, weird huh? He doesn't see himself as a bad guy though."

Sam snorted. "What villain does? I mean, how many people go into the profession thinking, 'hmm I'm going to train to be a bad guy, cause being hated by the whole world is totally cool'? Not very many, I think."

"But he sees himself as good," Jazz said. " I think he knows he does bad things, but some how justifies them as right and good."

"Sounds like he's mentally ill to me," Sam replied softly as she watched Jazz with concern

Jazz nodded her head then rubbed her tired eyes. "He's complicated, my Vlad." She looked at Sam who was now looking back with an open mouth thinking, Did she just say her Vlad? Dear God, she must be worse off than I thought.

"Uh, I think maybe you need some sleep. You're not thinking too straight are you?"

"I'm exhausted," Jazz said she frowned a little. "Do you think you can sleep here tonight? In here with me?"

"Yeah," Sam said softly. "I'm going to go get some blankets and stuff, talk to Tuck and everyone let them know where I'll be."

"Thanks Sam," Jazz whispered tiredly as she laid back on her pillows and shut her eyes. "You're such a good friend."

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Vlad flew into the Fenton household with one goal in mind: to take Jazz back with him. He was fortunate that at even at three in the morning, Daniel still wasn't home. He floated silently through the house, finally phasing through the door and into Jasmine's room.

He was intangible and invisible; and yet he held is breath for fear she would hear him as he floated close. He smiled slightly; Jasmine was cuddled up in sleep with none other than Samantha Manson, Daniel's little girlfriend. He leaned over the side of the bed where his Jasmine slept, and carefully untangled her hand from Samantha's. He smiled as he slipped two glittering rings back on to Jasmine's finger, and stood there, just watching her breathe in and out.

It would be so simple, so easy, take her. But as he surveyed her chopped hair and the pained expression she wore even in sleep, he couldn't bear to disturb her. He touched her cheek and she opened her eyes sleepily. He braced himself for her to scream, but instead she smiled, genuinely and sweetly as she blinked at him sleepily. Vlad could tell she wasn't truly awake.

"Vlad," she whispered. "Why aren't you in bed?"

Vlad smiled sadly as he bent forward and kissed her forehead. "I have business to attend to my love," he told her softly. "Have sweet dreams."

"Mmkay," Jazz said as she snuggled down and fell back to sleep. Vlad took a deep breath and took her hand and removed the rings from her finger. He decided he needed to approach the situation from a different angle. He hated having Jasmine angry at him; He didn't want to have to work through her hatred to find her love.

Vlad was about to stand when the door opened. He quickly went invisible and moved away toward the wall. He watched in horror as Maddie crept into the room. She smiled at the two girls as she stood by the bedside. She tucked them both in then walked to the window.

It was a defining moment for Vlad. She had been his obsession for years, this beautiful violet-eyed woman. She sat down at Jazz's desk and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Vlad looked from Maddie to Jazz then back.

Maddie picked up a pen and wrote a quick note then stood and walked back to Jazz's bed. She smoothed her daughter's non-existent hair then looked around thoughtfully. Vlad backed up against the wall as he watched her gracefully exit the room and close the door behind her with a click.

Vlad let out the breath he was holding then looked at the note she'd written for Jazz. It said something inane about breakfast and love. Vlad's heart ached at the love part. Jazz was well loved, and he was glad. He made himself visible once more as he placed Jazz's rings on the nightstand. He was about to leave when turned to look at Jazz one last time and came face to face with a pair of angry lavender eyes and the high pitched hum of an ecto-blaster charging. Vlad smiled roguishly at Sam Manson who was sitting up in bed with the gun aiming right between his eyes.

"Good morning," Vlad said calmly, as if he were used to being faced down by an angry Goth girl with an ecto-blaster aimed at his head every day.

"Leave," Sam said, her voice deadly serious. "And don't you dare touch Jazz. If you do, I'll kill you."

Vlad raised his eyebrows. The look on his face as he bent down and kissed Jazz's forehead was cocky. He called Sam on her bluff and Sam faltered.

"Okay," Sam said, "So I let you have one chance. I'm not going to let you have another."

Vlad laughed devilishly. "You are a feisty creature Samantha," he said. "If my plans hadn't changed, I would think about bringing you with Jasmine and I. It would make Danny understand how much it hurts to have the love of your life ripped away from you." His voice had a very metallic, strained quality, as though he were stressing every syllable to make her understand what he had just said.

Sam gave Vlad an incredulous look. "Who is the love of your life? Jazz? You're sick! She hates you Vlad. She despises you. She wants to see you drawn, quartered and flayed."

"Is that all?" Vlad asked dryly. "Just drawn and quartered and flayed? Flayed? I suppose you mean my skin ripped from my body." He gave Sam a smile that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Yes, that would be interesting." He inched closer to Sam, apparently unconcerned about the ecto-blaster between them.

"I'll even do it my self," Sam growled through gritted teeth.

Vlad laughed condescendingly. "You are a good morbid little Goth girl, but I'm sure you could think of more creative ways to murder me than that than that. Gouge out my eyeballs and feed them to the pigeons, perhaps. Cut out my heart, still beating, and make me live my last moments in unspeakable agony?"

"All of that and more!" Sam hissed, though there was an unsteady quality in her voice. He was too close, his tall, lean figure casting a shadow across her face.

"You love Jasmine don't you Samantha?" He asked.

"Yes, I love all my friends." The girl answered angrily as she swung her legs out of the bed, keeping her aim zeroed in on Vlad. "And stop calling me Samantha!"

Vlad laughed, he seemed to be thoroughly charmed by her behavior. "I'm glad that my Jasmine has people in her life so willing to go through so much for her," He said then intoned deliberately. "Samantha."

"She's not yours," Sam hissed angrily as she edged toward the door.

"Going to call Jack and Maddie?" Vlad asked sarcastically. "You're only going to distress Jasmine. I was about to leave."

Sam blinked at Vlad in disbelief. "You're not taking her?"

"You're right," Vlad responded, the chilling smile back on his face. "I'm not taking her."

"Really?" Sam asked as she almost dropped her weapon in astonishment. "Why?"

Vlad sighed impatiently. "I don't want to stand here and have discussion on the inner workings of my mind with a little girl such as yourself. How old are you now Sam? Eighteen? Still pining after a boy who will never really love you." He smirked.

"Danny loves me just enough," Sam said. "I don't need anymore from him than he's able to give."

Vlad smiled bitterly. "You say that now, child. But when you're older and living in the cold emotional wasteland your life has become, when Danny introduces you to his fiancée, then his wife, then his children, then things will be different. You'll be standing on the outside of a Fenton family just like I do now, and you will understand me."

Sam shook her head. "I'll never understand you Vlad, because I'll never be like you." Sam spat venomously.

Vlad raised his eyebrows. "Are you quite sure of that, Samantha?" he asked silkily "I know about all about you. Your parents, you feel they don't love you. They don't make an effort to understand you. They try to push you into a mold that you don't want to fit into. You're all alone. Your whole life is Danny and Tucker."

"And Jazz," Sam added as she narrowed her eyes at Vlad.

"I always thought perhaps it was Tucker who would end up on the outside looking in," Vlad said, relishing the effect his words were having on the young girl before him.

"But maybe it's you. After all, Danny seemed to be completely disgusted when I referred to you as his girlfriend." Vlad said maliciously.

Sam blinked at Vlad. "He did?" she asked then shook her head. "You're just trying to make me drop my guard." She growled

"He told me with a sickened look on his face that you're not his girlfriend," Vlad continued. "You've been cast on the outside, loving him from the sidelines. Poor Samantha."

"Stop calling me that!" Sam yelled. "get out!" she was on the verge of tears, his words had cut her to the bone.

"Fine," Vlad said as he picked up the fact that he'd was just about to push the girl too far.

"I hope in the coming weeks, that you'll be supportive of Jasmine." He looked at the girl in question for a moment.

"After all, she does deserve to be loved and admired, even if you and I don't"

With that, Vlad phased out of the room, leaving Sam feeling a breathless with tears stinging her eyelids.

She knew rationally that everything Vlad said was a lie, that she didn't have to partake of the poison he spewed, but he had hit a tender spot. She took a deep breath and sat up the rest of the night, unable to sleep, just watching Jazz. She wondered if maybe everyone in the world had lost their mind.

While she laid in bed, staring at the shadows cast from the moon coming in through the bedroom window, Sam said a silent prayer that Danny would come back soon.

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Questions? Comments? Then please review. Both Everyone's Favorite Rebel Scum and I would greatly appreciate it.

Updates will be much, much slower now. This is no longer in my obsessive hands, but at the mercy of someone who actually has a life outside of writing fan fic, so be patient. (Imagine how hard this is for me...I'm the obsessive one!)