Links in the Chain
By Lacey52
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
OMG! Four THOUSAND hits? People have actually viewed my story that many times? I'm going to faint! I guess people think 'Links in the Chain' is an interesting name or something! I love you all, so here's the chapter a little earlier than normal, plus chapter twenty will be up today (Friday)!
A note: I don't own the Wizard of Oz, though it is possibly one of the best books ever…read the book, it's five times better than the movie, though I adore the movie as well…the book has a lot more details and interesting things in it though…
Lots of fluff in this one near the end,…don't choke on the moment I've talked myself into inserting….it won't repeat itself often, if ever….
Hope you guys catch the Inuyasha joke I put in…I love that show. It was my first anime obsession…lol. If you don't get it no biggie, it won't take away from the entertainment value of the statement. ;)
Ah! I just learned a funny new song from Benny Hill:
Sings: 'Just stick your finger in your ear and go: ting-a-ling-a-loo!'
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Chapter Nineteen: Insight
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Give it back!" Sam nearly growled at the boy across the hall from her, 'I will kill him slowly for this. Damn his eyes! How can he look so damnably happy when his best friend is about to kill him?'
"Yeah, sure Sam," Danny rolled his eyes, which were the brightest blue Sam was sure to have ever seen them, "I'll give it back just as soon as I figure out why you don't want me to see it…is it a journal?"
"No," Sam made another grab at the book being held over both their heads, but ended up just overbalancing and almost landing on her butt, had it not been for the quick actions of the halfa beside her, who courteously caught her around the waist.
"At least I didn't do this at school where everybody could gawk at us," Danny mumbled as he released her and began to run his fingers along the edges of the medium sized black book in his possession, "My reflexes are faster, huh?"
"Yes," Sam said as she snatched the book away, a quirky grin on her face, "but obviously not fast enough. Maybe we should start playing the old game with the books and the bottles at lunch? It would actually be a really good reflex builder for you, you know."
Danny had started out pouting when he had the book taken from him, but his pout soon turned into a grimace with the rest of her statement, "No Sam. No way, that'll just start more problems than we've already got. What happened the first day of school got everyone talking. We don't need more publicity."
"You make it sound as if we're famous," Sam laughed as she moved into her room and sat at her desk, one hand opening her English book, the other still holding onto the book she had retrieved from Danny, "Aren't we supposed to be working on your English skills?"
"They can't get much worse, Sam," Danny shrugged, "Anyways, we're infamous, not just famous. Everyone at school knew about what we could do because we were little kids who liked to show off, and most everyone thought it was evil or something, so yeah…infamous."
"Why, Danny, you've learned a new word, I do believe," Sam smirked at him and looked down at the small book she held, "I suppose you're right, but I don't care you know. Things aren't the same as they were back then, and I can definitely take care of myself now. You really do have a hero-complex."
"Yeah, yeah," Danny huffily sat down beside her, "Let's just get this over with. 'Deconstruct the sentences into their various parts and label each noun, verb, adjective, etc.' Great, just what I have always wanted to do…"
"You stick to ghost fighting and let me be the sarcastic one," Sam pushed the paper towards him, "Get to it and we'll see where you're messing up."
A half hour later found Danny floating near her ceiling, black book in hand and Sam standing on top of a pile of junk trying to at least reach his dangling foot so she could either try to pull him down or try to climb up.
'Argh! Haven't we done this already?' Sam asked herself as she dreamed up ways to torture the halfa who was about to open something she had expressly forbidden for him to do, "Would you just drop the stupid book already?"
As Sam addressed the boy, she gave the most powerful leap she could and managed to catch Danny's ankle, causing him to drop a few inches in surprise before he could stop her. That, however, didn't last long, and soon Sam found herself clinging to his ankle and gripping his pant leg to keep herself from falling to the ground. She really didn't want to explain a hurt ankle to her parents when it was just her and Danny in the room. Bad conclusions might be drawn.
"Uh, uh, uh, Sam," Danny looked down at her with a huge grin on his face, waving his pointer finger at her as if she were a small child, "We don't do that to half ghosts, they just keep on floating and might decide to be mean and turn intangible so you fall off…"
"You wouldn't dare," Sam glared at him, "It would hurt. Now gimme' the book!"
"What's in this book anyways?" Danny fingered the cover and pages in between, considering opening it just to make Sam even more upset, "I know it's not your diary. It's too big, not to mention the wrong color. Is it a secret confessional to some guy? Or a list of phone numbers….nah, too big for that, huh?"
"Not funny Danny," Sam glared from where she hung, "My arms are getting tired."
"So?" Danny smirked wickedly down at her.
"So let me down," Sam dug her fingernails into the material between her and his legs, hoping to convince the boy to play fair. Well, at least a little more fair…
"You got up here, I didn't do it," Danny turned his attention back to the book, "Now let's see what this is…"
"Danny, don't you dare, I told you I don't want anyone to see that," Sam used her body weight to jerk down on his leg, making him drop a few more inches, "I wouldn't go through something if you really didn't want me to."
"Oh sure, Ms. I Know Your Password 'Cause It's Obvious," Danny made a face at her, finally sinking in the air so she was only a few inches off the ground, "You and Jazz and Tucker went through my stuff."
"That was only to help out, and besides," Sam's feet touched down lightly as she let his leg go, "It was so easy to figure out 'Paulina Fenton' was your password. You're so gaga over the Wicked Witch of Casper High…"
"Hey, I am not 'gaga' over her," Danny pushed his hair out of his eyes, "I just kinda' like her, it's not like I'm going to ask her to bear my children or anything…"
"Ha," Sam laughed fakely, "I doubt you'd ever be able to get up the guts…"
"Sooo," Danny sidled up besides her and threw a casual arm over her shoulder, "What is this book?"
"Nothing that you need to see," and with that the book was out of his hands once again, "Since we obviously aren't studying anymore, do you want anything to eat or drink?"
"Nah," he checked his watch, "I probably should get home anyways, I've still got to type up a paper. Thanks for trying to help me, though. I've heard it was nearly impossible."
"Fine by me Danny," Sam helped him pack up his things, and saw him down to the door, "Just be careful, it's all rainy out tonight."
"Of course," Danny flashed her a smile as he headed out into the dark, "When am I not careful?"
Sam just smirked and waved him off.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Geeze," Danny shook the water out of his hair again, "Could it possibly be raining any harder? I mean, I can barely see anything in front of me…"
He hurriedly trudged through the downpour, only a couple of blocks away from Sam's house still, as he was going so slowly. The rain was making it difficult get home in other words.
"Hello ghost child," came the unmistakable voice of Skulker, just as Danny shivered, "Lots you're way home have you?"
Danny shifted his form and glared in the general direction the voice came from, the rain choosing that moment to ease up. Nothing could be seen though. It was as if Danny was alone on the street.
"Come out, come out where ever you are," Danny called as he edged around nervously, 'Where is he? And why can't I sense him…this is just too weird…'
A violent hit to the side of his face sent him flying into a rather hard stone wall beside him, managing to crack the concrete a tiny bit, or so he noticed in the back of his mind as he shook off the blow, 'Thank God I have such a hard head…'
"What is the matter ghost child?" the voice mocked him once again, "Are you having trouble finding me, boy? Maybe you just need a quick lesson on tracking. You see I've been tracking you the past few blocks from that annoying girl's home. It's been quite easy with the rain, though it might have been bad luck for me if you'd have turned around…"
'Crap,' was Danny's thought as another first found his face without him seeing or sensing anything, 'where the hell is he?'
Two more fists and a few blasts had him on the ground, 'Sam…I don't want to do this, but I need a thermos and some help…'
Danny searched and found the small part of his mind that felt like Sam and gave a tiny nudge. A mental shout for help. He hated it, but could see no other option. Skulker wanted to kill him, but fortunately liked to play with his prey first. Danny just might have enough time…
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Sam stopped dead in her tracks on her way to her bathroom. Turning she thundered down the stairs, ignoring her mother's call. She had to go, and she had to go now.
'Danny…what's wrong…you'd never call me, not now…' her thoughts began to run in circles, 'Something has to be really wrong…he'd never call otherwise, he hates this…'
The rain had finally stopped and made it easier for the girl to sprint towards Danny's house. She just knew that she'd find him somewhere along the way.
"So's that all you got?" the halfa questioned haughtily as he wiped the blood from his lip, and Sam skidded to a halt, "That's pathetic, Skulker, even for you…"
'Danny, what's happening?' Sam frantically searched for Skulker's form from her place in the shadows, 'Where is he? He usually stays visible…'
"No, child," Skulker laughed and Danny was tossed to the ground yet again, "that is not 'all I have got' as you put it. I have so much more planned for you before I kill you."
'No thermos,' Sam suddenly realized, 'He doesn't have the thermos, he can't see Skulker and he doesn't have a way to get a hold of anyone who does have a thermos…that's why he sent me a mental shout…I've got to get to Jazz and get a thermos.'
Sam took off then, keeping to the shadows and out of sight, and making her way around the fighting ghost and halfa. As soon as she was clear of the fighting pair, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Danny's house.
"Hello, Fenton residence," Maddie's voice came over the line.
"Mrs. Fenton!"
"Oh hello Sam, are you looking for Danny? I thought he would still be with you…"
"No he, uh, just left, but I needed to ask Jazz something actually…about my psychology homework.."
"You're in psychology? I didn't think you were interested in that…"
"Oh yes, its, um interesting…Is Jazz there?"
"Yes dear just a second."
In that 'second' Sam was rounding the third to last corner on her trip to Danny's house. She groaned in frustration when it started drizzling again, and prayed that her phone wouldn't be affected before she could talk to Jazz.
"Hello, Sam?"
"Jazz!" she could have hugged her, "I need you to get a Fenton Thermos and meet me outside of your house, like now!"
"Uh…alright, any particular reason?"
"Thermos now, questions later!"
"Right, bye."
Sam snapped her phone shut as Jazz hung up and ran the last bit of the way. Jazz could be heard ignoring her parents' startled questions and thundering towards the door, which was ripped open a second later. The thermos was thrust into Sam's hands and she took back off in the direction of the dueling ghosts.
"Be careful!" Jazz shouted, and turned back to do damage control with her parent, 'This is gonna' be fun,' she sighed tiredly.
Sam continued on her way, splashing through newly forming puddles and patting herself on the back for having such wonderful traction on her boots. Rounding the last corner, her heart climbed into her throat as she witnessed another vicious blow landed on her halfa.
"Danny!" she shouted as she held up the thermos, "Catch!"
She threw for all she was worth and his hand shot out to catch the cylinder. A small smile flittered across his face and eyes as he shakily climbed to his feet.
"Pathetic," came Skulker's voice, "What will you do with that? Point it in random directions? Rely on your girl to find me?"
Sam had managed to get to Danny's side during Skulker's little speech, 'Why do the bad guys feel the need to talk and explain their evil plots or poke fun at who they're fighting? Why don't they just attack and save their breath, the stupid idiots…wait, why am I thinking of ways to improve our enemies?'
Sam shook her head as she helped Danny up, "Where is he?" she hissed.
"I haven't got a clue, and you've got to get out of here," he pressed her into a the wall, effectively sandwiching her between his back and the wall. He was opening himself to protect Sam, "I can't protect you if I can't see him. I shouldn't have called you…"
"Danny, it's fine," she said into his back, "You can protect us, I've seen you do it a thousand times before when you thought you'd lose. Don't just give up, fight back and figure this out!"
"I don't know how to figure this out!" he said in frustration over his shoulder, "How do you see something invisible?"
Sam was at a lose for a moment until a cold raindrop fell on the tip of her nose, shocking her into a realization and forcing a harsh whisper from her, "The rain Danny! Use the rain to see where he's at. He has to be solid to hit you, and when he's solid the rain will land on him. You should be able to see his outline!"
"That's why you're not a C student," Danny smiled in relief and watched around him for the outline Sam had suggested. As he was going to give up hope, he noticed the rain bouncing off of something midair, slightly to his left and in front of him about ten feet, "Gotcha'."
The thermos was opened, aimed, and fired, and all Skulker had time to do was drop a small metallic contraption before cursing and being sucked in. Danny was breathing heavily as Sam's head dropped against his back.
"See?" she said as she rubbed her forehead between his shoulder blades, "I told you you'd figure it out and win…"
"That still doesn't mean I should have called you," he screwed the top back on the Fenton Thermos, "I shouldn't get you involved with things like this…"
"Danny," Sam smiled as Danny finally moved away from where he had stationed himself and turned to face her, "I'm glad you did…what would have happened if you didn't?"
"What would have happened if I couldn't beat Skulker," he shot back, irritated at her reasoning it out, "It would have been both you and me hurt, instead of just me. I won't let that happen."
"Danny it didn't happen, and I doubt…" but Danny cut her off.
"No! It's happened before Sam," Danny frowned, "I really don't want it to happen again, I've already said that. I don't want you to get hurt just because this stupid link is back!"
Sam stared at the young man before her. He was worried, scared for not himself, but for her.
'How can I make him realize what I already know?' she thought to herself as he watched him fuss with the thermos and change back, "Danny. I know you're worried, but I think it's alright, and don't you dare try to interrupt me again or I shall hurt you as best I can."
A sheepish grin crawled across Danny's face as he nodded to Sam, "Good. I'm not worried about the connection for the simple fact that this is not fifth grade and we aren't as stupid as we used to be. Danny, you've been fighting ghosts for close to two years now. You can protect yourself and if worse comes to worse you can protect me too. You've done it a million times, against ghosts trying to take over the world no less."
"That doesn't mean I can be around you all the time Sam," the halfa tiredly ran a hand over his eyes, "What if something happens when I'm not around…what if I can't get to you in time?"
"That won't happen," Sam smiled softly and moved to take his hand, "I know you, and I know you'd do whatever it took to get to me. Besides, I'm not a helpless little girl anymore. I can definitely kick butt in these boots, as Tucker already knows…"
The light banter Sam started had Danny's eyes lightening and a smile playing on his face, "You really think this isn't so bad?"
"I'm positive," she gave a tug on his hand, "Now let's get you home and cleaned up and think of a good excuse for everything while we walk."
Danny allowed himself to be tugged along, enjoying Sam's hand in his for the second time in the year, 'I hope she's right…I sure as heck still ain't sure about it though.'
His house came into to view and Jazz rushed out to meet them, ushering Danny inside and to the bathroom to change as she pushed Sam towards his room to find another shirt to change into from his drawer, talking all the while about how she had convinced her parent's that nothing was wrong and they should go downstairs to work and then called Sam's parents to smooth everything over.
"Have I told you I love you lately, Jazz?" Danny smiled tiredly at her as he came out of the bathroom, "You make my life so much easier."
"That's what big sisters are for, little bro. Now, you don't need any serious medical attention do you?"
"Nope, just some psychiatric help," he smiled at her, "but really, thanks for saving my butt."
"Mine too," Sam said as she stepped out in one of Danny's old t-shirts and a pair of his sweat pants, "I can just imagine what my parent's are going to do to me once I get home…"
"Well, I knew you two were supposed to be studying, so I figured I'd call and tell them you had to get something from here for your homework…it worked out well enough, but I've got to drive you back because of the rain. Come down when you're ready, and no funny business you two…"
With that she headed back downstairs to get ready to run Sam home, leaving two blushing teens in the hall. They both smiled nervously at one anther before Sam finally got tired of the awkward tension in the air and started to chuckle quietly. Soon Danny joined her and, shaking his head, wrapped her up in a big hug, planting a light kiss in the hair on top of her head. (Insert squealing from readers here)
"I so would have been toast tonight if you hadn't of come and saved my butt," he smiled as he moved away, 'Oh dear lord, why did I just do that? Please don't kill me, please, please, please! Wait…I should worry more about her freaking out….act cool Fenton, play it off…'
"Eh, what're friends for, right?" she shrugged and struggled to keep herself from latching onto the boy before her, 'He kissed my head….but it was a thank you kiss….but it was a kiss….a friend thing...but maybe not…great now I'm arguing with myself. Look what you make me go through Daniel Fenton!'
"You coming Sam?" Jazz called upstairs and effectively broke up the moment.
"Yeah," she called back down, 'Oh screw it,' and with that thought she caught a confused Danny in a tight hug, and then unceremoniously rushed downstairs, "See ya' later Danny!"
"Bye," he called in bewilderment as he watched her leave, "Hey! You never told me what was in that book, Sam! SAM!"
As the door slammed closed, Danny shut his eyes and chuckled, 'Man, this has been one weird night…a painfulone, but weird none the less. No way my life can get anymore screwy.'
Say hello to Mr. Murphy all over again folks….he'll be visiting a lot…