Links in the Chain
By Lacey52

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

A note: Okay, who else really enjoyed the new episodeentitled "Flirting With Disaster"? I for one did (I got it taped and watched it that way), but it leads me to two slight problems…

One: Valerie assumed that Danny was attacking her, not just the suit. This messes with the Valerie in my story thinking about how he never attacked her first, etc. Plus she got a new suit…bleh…

Two: The ring that Danny asked Sam to hold, which just so happened to have her name engraved on it. I was so not planning on having any sort of rings enter into this story…argh!

All in all, I feel as though the new episode, while ridiculously entertaining, is going to force me to deviate from the show…I'll have to continue writing this story as though I'm ignoring the new episode (s), and I feel horrible about that….
But oh well, it is Fan fiction, and may I point out that everything that is written as such is going to not be true to the television show, or whatever else it might be based on…eh, I'll just keep on writing anyways.
Hope you guys aren't too upset about me not including the new information brought up by the new episode, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter…lol, Merry Christmas! ;D

Oh and it's kinda' a 'blah' chapter , sorry you guys….I'm just really tired and there were some things I needed to tie up and other things I needed to point out. Oh, and no throwing rotten fruit just because there wasn't a lot of DxS fluff in this…I'm getting there just give me time! Not proofread...don't hate me...

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Chapter Thirty Nine: Angels

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"Danny?" Jazz called into her brother's room, trying to keep herself from laughing as she watched him wrestle with wrapping paper, tape, a hyper puppy, and his own unruly hair that desperately needed a cut, "Want some help, little brother?"

"Please!" the halfa yelped out as the paper tore and a piece of tape trapped some of his bangs against his forehead, "I don't know how to wrap things…you do it!'

Having the necessities shoved her way, Jazz sat down beside Danny on his bedroom floor, laughing as Matches began to wrestle a sock away from him, though it looked to small to be one of the boys'. While Jazz sat and wrapped up two cds for Sam and then a game for Tucker, she carefully scrutinized the sock and realized something interesting.

'It's black and green,' the young woman raised her eyebrows and a grin arched her lips, 'Danny doesn't own black and green socks, but I know a certain friend of his who does…'

"So," Jazz started slowly, "any reason why Ms. Samantha has started leaving articles of clothing in your room?"

Danny immediately let go of the sock, causing Matches to tumble back with a shocked yelp, "Wha…what?"

"Oh you know," Jazz put a black bow on one present and a bright red on the other, "The sock that you and Matches were fighting over. It isn't one of yours or Dad's, it's too small. It isn't one of mine or Mom's because neither of us own black and green socks…that kinda' led me to believe that it came from another female…and Sam was the only other viable choice."

"That wasn't how you made it sound," Danny accused with a pout, "I really wish everyone would get off our backs. Sam and me can't even act like friends without people jumping all over us and yelling 'lovebirds' at the top of their lungs. I swear, even Tucker teases us until he's blue in the face and he knows there isn't anything going on between us."

"It's 'Sam and I can't even' and besides that," Jazz waved her hands and rolled her eyes, "when you say you and Sam can't act like friends…I hate to tell you, but you act a little closer than just friends. That's why Tucker teases you so much and everyone thinks you're together…"

"But we aren't," Danny sighed in exasperation, "We aren't together…"

"Methinks I hear frustration mixed with a tinge of longing," Jazz patted her brother's shoulders lovingly, "Repressed emotions are not good things Danny. People have even been known to start showing physical symptoms from bottling up their emotions for too long. Stress can do it, too. Ulcers, nausea, other stomach problems, skin problems, all sorts of things, not to mention the mental problems it can cause."

"Alright, Jazz," Danny shrugged her off, but continued to think over what she had said as a small idea formed, "No need to get all up about it."

"So you do like Sam?"

"I dunno'," the boy sighed with a twisted grin on his face, "I might, but…I've felt this way about her for a long time. Who's to say it's because I like her, like her? Maybe it's just the way I feel about her."

"Or maybe you're just lying to yourself," Jazz frowned, "Is this the big problem that had you three all upset the other day? Did you get into a fight or something?"

'Great,' Danny sighed to himself as he began to rub Matches' belly, prompting the little dog to take a quick nap, 'Jazz is going to want to be all nosy and I really don't want to talk about it. I just want to forget the whole stupid Valerie thing…'

"Danny?" Jazz snapped her fingers in front of the halfa's face, "Snap out of it and answer me already. I mean, I know you don't like talking to me all the time, but at least have the courtesy to tell me instead of ignoring me."

"I wasn't ignoring you," Danny frowned, feeling obliged to talk now lest he hurt her feelings, "I was just thinking. There's been a lot going on and me and Tucker and Sam were all just really preoccupied by everything…"

"So what's everything?" Jazz eyed him as he leaned back onto his arms, "Ghosts or girls?"

"Try both," Danny closed his eyes, "You know Valerie Gray right? Father works at Axion, I liked her once upon a time…"

"Yeah, she even came over here a few times, right?" Jazz watched him nod, "So what's the big deal? Wait, wasn't Sam kinda' against her for some reason?"

"Yeah," Danny smirked at how stupid he had been, ignoring his best friend's judgment, "but she had every reason to not like her, I guess. Valerie wasn't very nice to any of us at first, and then it turned out that she…uh, she became a ghost hunter after this ghost dog wrecked Axion and she blamed it on me and started to hunt me…"

"Uh huh," Jazz said in slight shock, "So she's the ghost hunter in that pinkish outfit that's after you sometimes? Okay, Sam had every reason not to like her, you're right…though Valerie seemed to have a lot of reason, in her own mind, to not like you. So what happened? Hasn't this been an ongoing situation since, like, your freshman year?"

"Yes," the young man shifted positions again to sit cross legged and burry his face in his hands, "But the thing is…Valerie found out that Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom are the same person. That was why we were all upset the other night…she confronted me in the park and I don't know how she's going to handle it…"

"You're still alive, right?" his sister asked him then, her voice sounding assuring, "Obviously she has sense enough to think things over in a very serious situation. It's come down to either trusting her friend and believing he isn't the enemy or going after her enemy who just so happens to be a very loyal friend. Valerie seems like someone with their head on straight, Danny. I don't think you really need to worry so much."

"I know, but," he winced and looked away, "I also told her that Vlad Masters has been sending her the equipment she uses and was basically playing her like a pawn to get rid of me. Now she's hell-bent on getting rid of him…"

"And you feel guilty because you're afraid she'll do something rash," Jazz nodded to herself, 'And I thought Sam and Tucker were teasing Danny about having a hero-complex…who knew they were so right?'

"Look, Danny," Jazz started again after a moment of heavy silence, "You can't be responsible for her actions. You can protect and help and advise, but in the end, she's going to make her own decisions. It's the same for you and me. I can protect and help and advise, but in the end…it's up to you what happens."

A half-smile appeared on Danny's face as he looked sideways at his sister, "When'd you get so smart?"

"Since you actually started listening to me and stopped tuning me out," Jazz grinned back, "and since I've got your attention I think I should point out that there is something between you and Sam, whether or not either of you will ever admit to it…"

"Sorry, what was that?" Danny cupped a hand over his ear and leaned closer, "I didn't quite hear you…must've tuned you out or something…"

"Oh shut up," Jazz laughed and pushed him over, only to be pulled over with him and set upon with the sock he had been playing with Matches with, "Oh gross, Danny! I'm telling Mom!"

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"I love Christmas!" Danny said brightly as he walked down the street towards the mall with his friends, "Love. Favorite holiday, end of story, period, the end."

"Stop it," Sam's eye twitched at his overly happy voice, while Tucker made a gagging noise and wrinkled his nose, "You're just getting way to weird for me. That is saying so much, but it's the truth."

"What?" Danny smiled happily, "It's a beautiful Christmas eve with only a couple of hours before all the real Christmas festivities begin. Shouldn't I be happy about it?"

"Two years ago you hated Christmas," Tucker pointed out, "Last year, you were okay with it…even seemed to enjoy yourself, but this year…"

But Tucker couldn't find the words to describe it and looked to Sam for help, "This year you're ecstatic…and it's ridiculous and scaring me and Tucker. Stop it."

"C'mon Sam," Danny gave her a tiny frown, "Don't you get it? I don't have to worry about anything except being Danny Fenton today. There will be no ghosts or fighting or saving the world, because there's a truce amongst ghosts and it lasts a whole freakin' day! I don't even have to be on my guard."

"So you're unreasonably happy on a day that you used to hate just because you don't have to worry about getting beaten black and blue by ghosts," Tucker was once again beginning to loose himself in his PDA, the new game that Danny had given him for Christmas already installed, "I gotcha'."

"It's still weirding me out," Sam sighed and rubbed her hands up and down her arms, "Let's get inside, I'm freezing."

Finding an empty table, the trio sat and tried to warm up, chatting amiably about their plans for that evening. Family dinners, traditional movies, singing carols, lighting the menorah, and many other holiday traditions were listed and talked over. The whole while, Danny feeling lighter about his world than he had for a few days.

"Danny," Sam interrupted his and Tucker's conversation, "I know you're excited about the holidays and all, and I know the ghost truce is an awesome thing, but I'm going to have to burst your bubble on that one idea."

"What idea?" Danny asked, truly curious to what she was talking about. He and Tucker had been discussing the truce and the halfa mentioned how the ghosts usually held a large celebration. One thought had led to another and, 'Oh no…I really hope I didn't accidentally send that…'

"The one about the ghost party…" Sam's cheeks were covered with a find pink that had Tucker's head bouncing between the two of them as they talked as though he were watching a tennis match.

"What are you talking about?" Danny tried to play it off and act cool, but he wasn't convincing Sam to let it be.

"I know you didn't mean to send the picture, but I know it was from you," Sam gave a tiny smile, "and as nice of you as it was to think of inviting me to a ghost party, I won't be able to go. My parents are actually home and I wanted to spend it with them…as little as I usually enjoy their company, somehow it's bearable on the holidays."

"Oh," Danny felt Sam's worry and hurt, and it almost felt like she was worried about hurting him, "It's no big…it was just an idea, because I know you used to be so interested in ghosts…and…"

Clearing his throat, Danny just stopped, 'That was the most pathetic come back from being shot down for a date to a party and I didn't even ask her to go with me…and it wasn't even going to be a date…'

"Well," Tucker tried to end the awkward situation all three found themselves in, "I take it that you two still haven't figured out what's been going on with this whole 'sending pictures' thingy you've got going…."

"Nope," they both answered before Sam stood up with a tiny blush, 'This just keeps getting more and more awkward…'

"I've gotta' get going, you guys," Sam smiled at them, "I promised my Dad I wouldn't spend all day out at the mall, and I need to get home anyways. Merry Christmas and I'll talk to you two tomorrow or later this night."

"See ya' Sam," Tucker smiled and waved, watching Danny from the corner of his eye.

"Bye Sam," Danny smiled softly.

"You've really got to admit it Danny," Tucker smirked at the shock that came across the halfa's face as he realized Tucker was still beside him, "You've got it bad for the Goth girl."

"I do not," Danny frowned, and it only deepened as he remembered Jazz's talk that morning, "Hey Tuck, I need you to be serious for a second. I've got a theory about the whole picture thing."

"Do tell," Tucker's eyebrows rose, "Usually I'm the one who has the theories, so this is gonna' be good…"

"Whatever," Danny began to play with the straw he had from his soda, "Jazz and I talked this morning and she said something about keeping emotions bottled up and how it could cause problems. Like people get ulcers and skin problems from stress or 'repressing' or something like that…"

"Yeah," Tucker nodded in thought, "I've heard of stuff like that. Sometimes when people get too stressed out over things, their body reacts to it and physically shows signs that something is mentally wrong with them…"

"Yeah, well," Danny rubbed the back of his neck, "In my case I end up sending mental pictures to Sam without realizing it. Maybe I've finally gotten so stressed out that I'm loosing the little control I have over the link."

"Or maybe you're repressing your feelings for Sam…" Tucker smiled as Danny dropped the straw, "Since, you know, she's mostly seeing images about her…"

"God, Tucker," Danny flicked an a piece of ice he had fished out of his soda at the boy, "Can't you give it a rest, you're probably part of the reason why I'm so stressed out."

"How about this?" Tucker wiped the screen of his 'baby' off carefully with the edge of his shirt, removing any moisture that might have landed on it, "If you're still sending her pictures and you're not stressed then you know it's more about repressed emotions than stress. That way you figure it out on your own that you're madly in love with your best friend and no one's ego will be bruised."

Stating this Tucker simply stood and tried to keep from laughing at his best friend, "But I've gotta' jet, I promised my Mom I'd be home to help set up Christmas dinner tonight. See ya'," and he took off, heading for the exit.

'Is it really that simple?' Danny shook his head, 'Gah, this is just too much to think about. I'll deal with it all another day, tonight is about Christmas and food and no ghosts!'

And so it was for the halfa. The food was delicious and the presents were just what he wanted, with the few exceptions of clothes and ghost-crazy inventions that chased Danny and covered Jazz with goo. That night a quick trip into the ghost zone had Danny meeting with and talking to the other ghosts as he never had before. There was so much more to their world than the halfa had ever realized.

With another quick trip over to Tucker's that evening, Danny found himself loaded with goodies and a few presents, and one last stop at Sam's completed Danny's night. Though he never admitted it to himself it was that last visit with Sam before he turned in for the night that made Christmas truly feel like Christmas, and the excitement of the next day so promising.

With New Years less than a week away, Danny's thoughts wondered to how the new year would turn out and if things could get anymore stressful than they had recently become. Thinking back over the conversation between himself and his sister the morning of Christmas eve, Danny felt himself drifting to sleep, conversations from years past between the siblings drifting with him as he fell….