Links in the Chain
By Lacey52
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
A note: Hm…not a lot to say really. This chapter is spread out over the first week and a half of March so it's kinda' jumpy, but you can follow it so no biggie. We're getting closer to Spring Break…muwahahaha! Hope you guys enjoy, it's the longest I've done so far...I think!
EDIT! I accidentally wrote 'Saturday' when I meant Sunday. Thanks to Hiroshi Yakuza Ketchumfor catching it and telling me!
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Chapter Fifty One: Realizations
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 1st, Wednesday Evening
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Come on ghost boy," Sam's voice came over the phone, "You're gonna' be late if you don't hurry it up."
"Yeah, I'm coming," Danny cradled the phone between his cheek and shoulder, trying to tie his shoes as quickly as he could, "I'll be there in less than two minutes. You and Valerie go ahead and meet Tucker…he'll complain if we leave him alone for too long."
"You know that I invited Dash to come too right?"
That one little sentence and Danny froze. It wasn't that he didn't like Dash anymore, or that they hadn't been getting along. It was the fact that he and Sam had been getting along so well the past couple of weeks. The jealousy that he had been dealing with reared its ugly head once again, and Sam's voice showed that she had felt it as well.
"Danny," he could just see her glaring at the wall she spoke, "Stop getting so jealous of everything. He's just hanging out with us at the mall, it's not like he's trying to steal my attention from you or anything. Besides, I invited him, be mad at me or something."
"I'm not mad Sam, I just...get jealous, you know that."
"Yeah," she sighed, "I know. Did you think over what I told you? About how maybe your ghost half is influencing you or something?"
"Yeah, maybe," Danny grimaced as he stood and stretched his sore muscles, "I'll see you there, alright Sam?"
"Cool, talk to you then. Bye."
"Bye."
Of course he'd been thinking about the conversation they'd had in her room. How could he not have been? At first he had brushed the jealousy off as just normal teenage behavior. He could admit to himself that he really, really liked his best friend. He'd even said it to a few people, but he had never given his other half any consideration until she had offered her theory to him.
Now he wasn't sure what to think.
He had always been an impish kid; he liked to play tricks and pull pranks and tease and joke. When Freshman year rolled around, though, and he became imbued with his ghostly powers, things had changed slightly. He didn't just like playing tricks and getting into trouble. He truly enjoyed it…and if he didn't get caught, then all the better.
That was how poltergeists worked. They pulled pranks and played tricks and hated getting caught at it. Did that make him a poltergeist?
'No,' Danny shook his head as he grabbed a light jacket and headed downstairs, 'I don't do it all the time, I just have random urges…maybe that's part of the ghost half of me. I mean, ghosts are usually pretty mischievous…'
There were other things that Sam's statement had brought to mind as of late. Like his role as a hero. Danny admittedly loved it, loved the feeling of keeping people safe and helping them. He wouldn't trade it for anything, even though his powers seemed like a curse most of the time.
'That's like my ghost half,' Danny shook his head as he kissed his mother goodbye and waved to his father and sister in the kitchen, 'That one time I was split the ghost part of me was complete 'hero'. Then when it got split in the future it was complete 'villain'…I like being bad and causing trouble, more than I used to…but I like helping people, even if it's just holding a door open, or picking up litter.'
Jogging down the street to the next block, Danny began to stroll casually towards the alleyway where he could transform. He had to get to the mall fast or the others would be bored waiting for him, and flying was definitely the fastest way to travel. Sam seemed to enjoy it too.
'That's another thing,' Danny frowned as he thought of Sam, which led to the thought of her inviting Dash along again. She was always inviting him along, and it irked Danny to no end, 'I can't help it, but I get so dang jealous of other guys being around Sam. Even Tucker, and that's just weird because I know they don't like each other that way. Is this the ghost side of me like Sam said?'
'I don't know why I'm so protective of things that are mine…' Danny stopped mid-flight, pulling up short and hovering for a moment, green eyes widened in shock, 'Did I just think that? I get mad at people messing with what's mine…but what do I consider mine?'
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Danny vowed to be more vigilant towards what he was thinking to figure this new mystery out. It wasn't just Sam that he considered 'his'…it was far more than that. This town was his. The people he cared about were his. The school he went to was his. Even the people he didn't necessarily like or know…he felt like they were his.
And why?
"Because I protect them," Danny took off like a shot for the mall, as he mumbled under his breath, "Because they're my responsibility."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 3rd, Friday Lunch Period
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Danny, um, you want some help or anything?"
"No Sam, I got it," the halfa huffed out as he pushed the squid's glowing tentacles off himself…again.
"I don't think you're sure, because I think you might want some help right now."
"You think?"
The Fenton Mini-Ghost Weasel, recently redesigned and miniaturized by Maddie, was pulled from Sam's bag and aimed at the ghost trying to squeeze the life out of Danny…considering he was a halfa, it was only half-way working of course.
Sam switched the small device on and began to drain the specter of its energy. Kicking it the rest of the off of him, the halfa stood up and easily captured it with the Fenton Thermos, "Heh, awesome."
"Yeah, now let's get to class," Sam brushed off some of the dust that had been kicked up onto her pants and black tank top, "This is the only class that actually gives me any trouble and I really need to take some notes."
"You go ahead," Danny smiled at his best friend, "I'm gonna' try and clean up here a bit first so Lancer doesn't have to start crying over old books that got knocked off the shelves. Then I'll probably go tell him what happened…I swear I give him more problems and heart attacks now that he knows what's happening than when he thought Phantom was just some ghost…"
"Whatever," Sam laughed playfully, quickly gathering her things and heading for the door, "I'll take notes for you too. I know you're having a worse time with it than I am. Don't want you to become a C student all over again."
"Yeah really," Danny laughed as he started grabbing books and sticking them back on the shelf, "Tucker would probably break down crying because I've wasted all the tutoring lessons the two of you give me all the time."
"Just be careful," Sam nodded at the clock from the doorway, "The librarian gets back in about five minutes, so clean up and get out of here, alright?"
Nodding Danny turned back to finish, but felt a tug on his ankle. Looking down, he found Sam staring up at him, "Here. Since you didn't get to eat lunch."
Leaning down, Danny took the candy bar from her hand and smiled. The feelings were warm and comforting and fresh and…something new. Danny decided he liked the strange mixture of emotions as Sam walked out the door and he started to pick things up.
She was always doing things for him. Always, always picking up after him or being the needed distraction. She did the little things that no one else would have thought of. A candy bar because he didn't get to eat lunch. That was probably the nicest thing that anyone had done for him in a while. Only that wasn't quite true.
'She helps me fight and hunt ghosts, she keeps me out of trouble and on the straight and narrow, she's always there if I need a shoulder to cry on,' Danny finished stacking the old texts and began working on picking up the scattered pieces of paper, 'Sam's always taking notes for me or studying with me, she's way too good to me.'
With a sigh, he picked up the last bit of paper and looked up at the clock. It had been five minutes and just like Sam said the librarian started to open the door. The young man quickly made himself invisible and took the last bit of trash with him.
'She's always there,' the halfa thought with a smirk on his face as he ate the candy bar and headed for the classroom he had dropped his things off in earlier, 'She's like my partner in crime…'
The halls were filled with a ghostly chuckle, and several students shivered as something passed through the hallway. Sam, getting ready to go into the classroom just laughed and wondered what had her halfa in such good spirits.
'Ha, spirits…' Sam narrowed her eyes as she caught herself making the wisecrack, 'Ooo, he's making me echo his feelings…that was such a lame joke I'd of never come up with it otherwise…still, it was pretty 'punny'…argh! Oh, he is so asking for it.'
As Danny felt the humor and annoyance come from the girl he was currently floating above, he figured she was trying to hold off the feelings he was purposely transmitting to her and failing. Another ghostly chuckle filled the hall, even though he knew he was in for it later. Several students shivered and looked around nervously. Sam just glared into the air around her.
Shaking his head one last time and grinning like an idiot, Danny headed to Lancer's office. He had to break it to him gently that some of the oldest books in the library had been a bit roughed up. He wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but making Sam peeved had lifted his spirits.
'Ha, spirits!' Danny laughed to himself, 'That's a good one!'
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 5th, Sunday Afternoon
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
The food had been delicious. When his sister wanted to cook, she could like there was no tomorrow. Apparently she had a major fear of turning out to be as bad of a cook as their parents were. Cooking classes were the remedy, and Danny was thanking his lucky stars for it.
"Jazz, you rock out loud," he said as he leaned back a little in his chair, wondering how he'd move with so much food in his stomach, "Not a single thing was glowing or moving or threatened us the whole meal. It was goooood."
"Thanks little brother," Jazz smiled happily, "I'm just glad that I got to come home for the weekend and try out the new recipe with Mom. It turned out even better than Thanksgiving when I helped cook."
"Well, I'm proud of you honey," Maddie smiled at her daughter, "the meal was delicious and I'm just happy that you let me help."
"Aw, Mom," Danny stood up and pecked his mother on the cheek, "You always make good food…you just have to catch it first."
"That's the fun part," Jack stood and smiled, collecting his and his wife's dishes and taking them to the sink, "I've got the dishes right now, so you go do something fun."
"I'll help with the dishes, Daddy," Jazz smiled and moved to the sink, "It's only fair, I made half the mess after all."
"Thanks, Princess."
Watching his family Danny slowly fell into the idea that he had a very good life. Not a good life, as in 'I'm rich' or as in 'Everything is perfect'. That would have been ridiculous. Nothing in his life would ever be perfect, and if it was he'd be a very bored halfa.
Good food, good company, good atmosphere…Danny had to laugh to himself, he felt like a restaurant critic all of a sudden. But it was all true. He had a wonderful home and all the creature comforts he needed, and a few that he didn't need, but rather just wanted.
The world had seemed like it was specifically out to get him for so long, that Danny hadn't thought to take a step back and remember how much was good in his life. Jazz coming home after being away at college for so long had just seemed to trigger something in him.
His life was good.
Mr. Murphy may have had a tendency to bite him in the butt, and many times Danny swore that the universe just liked laughing at his despair, but when he was honest with himself, things were good. No, not just good.
Things were great.
He had people, friends and family, who cared about him. Who were worried when he was sick or hurt, or who would talk to him when he was bothered by something. He had people who cared for him, liked him as a person, who loved him.
There was always someone to stand beside him when things were seemingly spiraling out of control. Any ghosts? His friends or sister were there. Sometimes even his father and mother, though unwittingly, would assist him. Troubles at school? Friends again, parents, teachers that thought students mattered. Girl trouble? Well, his father was always ready to have a chat with him on that one.
As soon as Jazz finished the dishes, she found herself stolen away by her little brother. He pulled her into the living room, and making sure his parents were out of earshot, began one of the most interesting conversations of her life.
"Jazz, you still like psychology right?"
"Yeah," she smiled and ruffled his hair fondly, "What can I do for you? Got a ghost that needs a shrink or something?"
"Somethin' like that," Danny blushed a bit and looked down at Matches who was asleep under the coffee table before continuing, "A couple of weeks ago, Sam had a theory that since all the ghosts we've ever met are attached to one thing, that maybe I do it too…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Danny frowned as he puzzled out how to word his thoughts, "The Box Ghost is obsessed with boxes, the Lunch Lady Ghost is all about food, Skulker hunts non-stop, and I…"
"You…" Jazz tried to lead him into it, but it wasn't working. She'd have to try another strategy, "Well, that all makes sense you know. Even Vlad Masters seems fixated on one particular thing."
The siblings looked at each other saying "Mom," and both started laughing.
"Yeah, but he liked Mom before the accident," Danny stated as they both caught their breath.
"The other ghosts probably all enjoyed their obsessions before they were dead too," Jazz reasoned, "It only makes sense that what a person is attached to in life is what they would enjoy during death, right? The Lunch Lady Ghost was a cafeteria worker who enjoyed what she did, Technus was a technological genius, Desiree was a harem girl who wanted nothing more than her deepest desire to be granted. It all makes sense in a twisted sort of way if you look at it."
"Yeah, I guess," Danny shifted, "but that worries me. I…kinda' have something too, but I never noticed it before I got zapped in the ghost portal. Honestly I didn't pay it any attention after that for a while either, and then it hit me over the last couple of weeks. I'm really possessive."
"Of what, Sam?" Jazz laughed and shushed her brother's protests so she could continue, "For one thing you've always been protective and possessive of her, you just didn't notice it because you were younger. For another, that's just a Fenton thing. We're all overprotective and get possessive of what we see as 'ours'."
"Possessive of what we see as ours?" Danny parroted back to her, a questioning look in his eyes, "So anything can be something you consider yours? Like a person, or things, or even a place?"
"Yes," Jazz nodded as she got more comfortable on the couch, moving a pillow from behind her to her lap to hold, "Is that what's bothering you? Do you see something or someone as yours?"
"Yes," Danny said as he sank down in embarrassment, "A lot of people and things actually. Anyone I like or know well is 'mine', the town is like 'my territory' and I don't like other ghosts intruding, and even people I don't know are 'mine'. It hit me the other day…they're all mine because I protect them."
Smiling, Jazz sat back, "Maybe your ghost side does effect you a little then. You were prone to possessiveness anyways, maybe it's just playing off of that. Or maybe it's that hero-complex Sam swears you've developed."
"Aw, come on, not that again," Danny frowned playfully, then poked at Matches with his foot until he woke up, "I already know about that problem I've got. Now I've got another one."
"It doesn't seem like it's negatively effecting you," Jazz smiled as Matches leapt onto the couch between them, lovingly nuzzling against her, "Unless there's something you aren't telling me…"
Another blush flooded his cheeks, "I get really jealous when other guys look at Sam or Sam looks at them. At first I thought it was just…being a teenager…but not I'm not so sure."
A knowing smile was present on Jazz's face as she ruffled her brother's hair and stood up, "Nah, that's just normal stuff. It goes along with being in love with someone."
Looking over the back of the couch at his sister, Danny blurted out a question before he could stop himself, "But how do I know if it's love or something else?"
"You know little brother," Jazz laughed as she walked off, "You know!"
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 7th, Tuesday Passing Period
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"You know they say 'Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes,' but this is just ridiculous," Sam folded her arms behind Danny. He and Tucker had her pinned behind them against the lockers as they watched for an opening to shepherd her to the girls' bathroom.
"Shouldn't that be 'great men' in this situation?" Tucker spoke up, "I mean, there are two of us, and you wouldn't want to insult either one of us right now…"
"Shut up, Bad Luck Tuck, this is your fault anyways," the young woman replied dryly, "I can't believe you decided to grab my shirt to keep yourself from falling after you slipped in that puddle in the hall."
"It's all good Sam, you didn't flash anyone at least," Danny smiled at the girl over his shoulder, "Do you know how many times people at this school have borne witness to my boxers?"
"At least you don't wear 'tighty-whities'."
Danny couldn't help it. He burst out laughing, with Tucker soon joining him. The whole situation was so ridiculous and Sam was just so funny sometimes in her own weird way. Half the time she probably wasn't even trying to be funny, but her thoughts on certain things and the tone in which she said them was just the funnies thing to Danny.
"Oh shut up," Sam shoved the two boys, "I can walk to the bathroom on my own, even with all these people here, your 'brilliant' plan of hiding me until the coast is clear is gonna' take forever."
"You're not walking through the halls with half your shirt front ripped open," Danny frowned, "It's bad enough with all the guys trying to look past us and see you as it is."
"Whatever," Sam rolled her eyes, "It's your tardy to class."
"Best tardy I ever earned," Tucker smiled, "I mean, I'm guarding a partially undressed girl…can't get much better."
"Oh shut up," Danny and Sam both said in annoyance.
"Why don't you just make me invisible and drop me off in the bathroom Danny?"
"Don't really want to go into the girls' bathroom," Danny frowned, "Tucker would never let me live it down for taking you in there."
"He's absolutely right," Tucker grinned, "Huh, idea…why don't we get Mr. Lancer to clear the hallway…or find Dash and borrow his jacket real quick?"
"Genius," Sam exhaled sarcastically, "but that still leaves us with the problem of me being exposed."
"I'll go and look for whichever one I can find first, and Danny can stay and block you. The tear isn't that big," and Tucker was already moving, not waiting for either to reject or affirm his idea, "Be right back."
"This is just great," Sam dropped her forehead in between the taller boy's shoulder blades, "The first day it's warm enough to get around without jackets and I have to go and have my whole shirt nearly ripped off."
"You're mom's coming with a shirt right?" Danny turned, then quickly turned back, 'Crap, can't forget I'm blocking her…that's gotta' be embarrassing.'
"God, I hope it's not pink," Sam rubbed her head against his back, then inhaled deeply and smiled, "You know, you smell pretty good. It's that 'clean guy' smell."
"Uh, thanks," Danny blushed a bit, feeling that strange mix of feelings again, warm and comforting and fresh, and that new something that he couldn't really describe, 'Affection and pride, happiness and a little nervousness, what else…something else…'
"I liked this shirt too," Sam bemoaned its fate into his back, "It was one of my favorite."
"You look, uh, looked good in it," Danny tried to make her feel better, "You really like those tank tops now. You wear them a lot…and jeans too. Not just your skirt anymore."
"I felt like a change," Sam smiled against him, causing him to smile too, "I made a resolution at New Year's to be completely honest with myself. I honestly was getting tired of being just 'Goth' all the time…so I wanted to try something new."
"Mine was to grow a backbone," Danny stated half of his own to be fair, 'Can't tell her all of it though…that would be bad…but it would make me end up keeping my resolution.'
"You've already got one Danny," Sam fidgeted behind him, "I'm the one who needs to get some guts. I felt really weird wearing just a tank top and pants and flip-flops to school. Kinda' a weird outfit for the 'Goth' girl."
"I like it," Danny said shyly, "It fits you better kinda'. You seem a little happier lately, too, you know."
"Yeah," Sam brought her arms up and gave him a quick hug from behind, "I am happier. My life's been a lot better lately."
"Mine too…"
Danny was going to say more, but at that moment Dash and Tucker came around the corner, Dash holding out his letterman to Sam, which she gratefully accept and headed into the bathroom. Watching her go, the three boys chatted for a minute before they spotted Mrs. Manson heading their way with a light purple tank top, the front littered with small white butterflies. The three pointed at the girls' bathroom before she could even ask and wondered if the tank top was enough of a compromise to please Sam.
One glowing mother and fuming teenager coming out of the bathroom later, the three decided that it probably wasn't and that the best course of action was to avoid the wrath of a displeased Sam. At having his jacket thrown at him, Dash wisely caught it and headed off. Tucker followed his lead.
Danny smiled at Sam to let her know it was alright, before turning calmly and heading for his next class, 'She's changed a little, but I guess we all have. I'm just happy that she's happier now. It's like she finally figured out where she wants to be in life.'
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 8th, Wednesday After School
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Only two more days not counting today until Spring Break starts!" Tucker was practically bouncing off the walls, "You know what that means. Swimming and gaming and hanging out and hot dogs and hamburgers."
"Yeah," Sam laughed, "in addition to any ghost that we end up fighting, or whatever else we might be doing like watching movies or going to the mall."
"Swimming is my vote," Danny smiled, "Then movie, mall, gaming, hanging out, food, and last is ghost fighting. In that order."
"It'll never happen," Valerie shook her head as she joined them in their trek for the front doors of the school, "Just because you want it one way means it's gonna' happen the other way altogether. You always jinx yourself Danny."
"I know, but…" but Danny stopped as he grabbed Sam by the waist and pulled her out of the way of two guys running down the hall that he didn't know. They had to have been seniors and were going to plow right into her, and didn't look like they cared at all, "You okay?"
"Yeah, but those jerks won't be if I ever meet up with them again," Sam lay her hand on Danny's arm which still had her firmly around the waist, "Good thing you've got good reflexes or I'd be sitting on the floor…"
Tucker had watched the entire scene with a detached air of amusement. Valerie, on the other hand, had watched the display with slacked jaw awe. Danny's eyes were still burning green as he looked down the hall at the two older teens disappearing around the corner.
"You have really fast reflexes," Valerie managed to get out, "You never moved like that when we've fought before…"
Danny just shrugged as he let go of Sam, his eyes faded back to their normal blue, and they continued walking, "I didn't want to hurt you Val. It wasn't necessary to fight all out with you."
It must have been a shock to hear Danny say it so plainly because Valerie looked away for a moment, 'He's serious about it too. I can't believe I was so wrong about him. I'm not going to jump to conclusions ever again…'
"Actually I've been getting shoulder checked a lot lately," Danny frowned, "Yesterday some guy almost knocked me into a locker."
"Yeah I heard about that," Tucker looked over at the halfa with an admonishing glare, "If you want to keep your growing skills and abilities and muscle mass a secret I'd suggest toning down on the showing off."
"Danny showing off?" Sam mocked the boy beside her, "Not our Danny. Not the same shy boy who is standing beside me…"
"Shut up Sam," Danny laughed, "And I wasn't showing off. I was just standing there and this guy ran into me, but he was kinda' scrawny and bounced off. I didn't mean to do it, and I don't think he meant to try and run into me. I helped him back up, and he said thanks and stuff."
"You know, a lot of people are starting to actually care like you do," Sam took a look around her, "I mean, the band people are starting to hang with the jocks, some of the hippies have been starting to date the skaters, and the other Goths around the school have been associating with the preps. It's weird."
"Wait," Valerie sent Sam a confused look, "I thought skaters were hippies."
"Nope," Danny laughed and Tucker followed up, "Hippies love animals, skaters love skateboarding. It just so happens that people associate both groups with doing drugs."
"Which is a stereotype…just like all the names I used to label them," Sam frowned for second, then brightened, "but if I hadn't you guys wouldn't have had a clue what I was talking about so I suppose I'm justified."
"Whatever you say Sam," Danny patted her head like he would Matches and then ran for it. Valerie and Tucker trotted along behind, enjoying the show and chattering about the pair ahead of them.
"Get back here Daniel James Fenton!"
"Not even if you pay me all your money, Samantha Elizabeth Manson!"
"Danny! You're dead when I catch you!"
"Too late, I'm already half way there!"
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 9th, Thursday After School
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
'They're looking at her again,' Danny shifted uncomfortably in his spot standing beside Sam's locker, 'They've been looking at her all afternoon…all day. It's that stupid, really good looking pair of pants and that stupid, really good looking shirt she has on. And those stupid, cute fingerless gloves…and that really sexy chocker…I meant really stupid chocker!'
"Danny are you alright?" Sam's face appeared in front of his own, "You're grinding your teeth and feeling really mad about something."
Turning to follow his line of sight, Sam found herself looking at a group of four guys on one side of the hall and two or three others a bit further down, who had been shamelessly staring at her, and ignoring the rather hard glare Danny had been sending them.
"Come on," Sam turned back to the boy and tugged him down the hall, "I've got my stuff, so let's meet everyone at the Nasty Burger, we don't have to wait for them. They know where to go, I mean, where else would we be at?"
"Alright," Danny nodded, sending one last icy stare at the boys who apparently had a death wish. Finally catching on that Danny was glaring at them, and not someone else in the hall, several of the boys turned away while others just raised their eyebrows. Danny Fenton wasn't such a threat…or so they thought.
Finally getting clear of school, Sam began to make her way down the street, the halfa at her side. She could feel the tenseness from moments before begin to evaporate as Danny's thoughts drifted somewhere else. Silence with him she could handle, especially when it was a comfortable silence like they were having then. Walking only inches apart from her halfa and just enjoying the world around her, Sam couldn't have wished for a better afternoon.
Danny, too, was having a much better time now that Sam was away from the leering eyes. Danny, being a boy, knew all too well what mischief was running through their minds, and the jealousy that he had been doing an excellent job repressing threatened to over run him once more.
'Sam didn't like it either, she looked uncomfortable when she saw them looking at her,' Danny sighed as his thoughts drifted to safer ground while thinking of the girl beside him, 'She does look really good though. I like the new chocker on her. Black and blue are good colors.'
Sneaking a peek at the young woman beside him, Danny couldn't help but smile to himself, 'That's why people are looking at her. She was right, it's not just the link, it's because they want to. She probably didn't even believe herself when she told me that, but it's true. She's hot.'
'Hot doesn't really cut it though,' Danny allowed himself a wry grin, trying not to laugh at how stupid he was sounding in his own mind, 'She's hot yeah, but that's for just ogling girls. She's cute, even though she's not trying to be. And she's pretty when she's just thinking. And she's beautiful when…okay, Danny that's a little much.'
Shaking his head, and then steadying himself as he tripped, Danny turned back to the task of walking beside the girl he was falling hard for, 'I'm glad that she thinks I'm just a natural klutz sometimes. My klutz factor increases by like ten when me and her are out like this. Thank God I've never tried to take her on a date. I'd probably end up loosing my pants, and my shirt…and a bunch of body parts…'
'I can just see it now,' Danny smiled at Sam as he opened the door to Nasty Burger for her, letting her enter first, 'She'd be waiting for me to open a door on our first date and then…'
"Danny," Sam hissed quietly as she quickly grabbed the door in one hand and his shoulder in the other, "Your arm! Stop daydreaming!"
"Yep, that's what she'd say," but one more firm shake from Sam had him snapping out of his daydream, "Ah, crap, my arm!"
Phasing it back in, Danny looked around worriedly, only to spot an empty booth and move towards it, "Sorry about that Sam. I was just thinking about something that would probably be just my luck happening and it did."
"I'm not even gonna' ask," Sam shook her head as she sat down and took out one of her books.
Nodding, Danny suddenly had the urge to wipe imaginary sweat off his forehead, 'Thank God she didn't ask…I'd have probably phased my whole self out and that would have really been weird.'
"There they are!" he heard Tucker laughing as the door beeped to let the staff know someone else had entered, "Told you they'd come here. You little sneaks, didn't wait for us…probably wanted some alone time."
'Saved by the Tuck,' Danny smiled before launching into a retaliation, Sam at his side doing the same. The day was officially back to normal after the strange detour it seemed to take with his thoughts. Moment, or rather moments, over, the group began to unwind and enjoy their second to last day of waiting for Spring Break.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
March 10th, Friday After School
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
'I can't stand it!' Danny huffed to himself as he stormed towards some guy advancing on Sam, who obviously did not want to be advanced upon, 'He is going to get a piece of my mind…and maybe my fist…no, wait, gotta' calm down and get Sam away from him.'
"Hey Sam," Danny walked up beside her, much closer than he normally dared, and smiled down at her, "How was your last period? Sucky as it always is?"
The thank you in her eyes was proof enough for Danny, but the happy rush of emotion he suddenly got from her only sweetened the deal and strengthened his resolve. As she turned to face Danny more fully, and to cut the other guy out of the conversation, a smirk appeared on her face.
"Hey, I was talking with her," the other guy said before Sam could even reply.
"Yeah, and she was backing up," Danny frowned at the teen, sizing him up inconspicuously, "Girls don't usually back up if they want to talk to you."
"I was just asking her about what she was doing …"
"Didn't look like you were very polite about it," Danny cut him off, not even wanting to hear him finish that sentence, "Besides she's busy tonight and…"
"You don't own her, she can talk for herself," the boy looked very unhappy by this point for obvious reasons, even more so when Danny turned back to Sam and raised his eyebrows, giving her a questioning look.
"Yeah, I can," Sam started, "but he was right, I'm hanging out with my friends tonight, and no, you weren't very polite about asking me anything. It was more like demanding and I don't like getting told what to do."
'That's my girl,' Danny grinned to himself as he stood back slightly and watched Sam as she launched herself into a detail account of what he should have done versus what he actually did. Getting laid into, the boy was starting to seriously regret approaching her, 'Give it to him good once, and he'll never come back…unless he's an idiot. Or me.'
'You brought this on yourself bud,' Danny sent a leering smirk at the guy, who was now backing up much like Sam had been, 'Man she can really dress a person down when she wants to. That's what I love about her though.'
Smiling at where his thoughts had gone, Danny turned that certain phrase over in his mind again and again, 'That's what I love about her. It is. I don't just like her anymore…I've loved her as a friend for forever, but this is different than just a crush or anything like that.'
Sam finally got done telling the boy off and instructing him on proper pre-dating etiquette and turned to give Danny a saucy smile of victory, which only prompted Danny to think on that certain little phrase even more, 'It hasn't been just 'like' in a long while. I've known that, it was just weird to think it…but it isn't so bad anymore.'
"Ready to head home?" Sam smiled as she opened her locker to stuff a book in and then closed it, her nearly empty backpack hanging off one of her shoulders, "I am so ready to start Spring Break it isn't even funny. There's at least two rallies that I want to go to."
"That's what it is," Danny laughed as he nudged Sam gently with his shoulder, "You don't want to come home with me because of my dashing good looks or great bod…you want to use my giant wall calendar I just got to plan out what events you can go protest at."
"Hm, it seems I've been discovered," Sam laughed, then winked playfully, "the other stuff was just an added bonus."
The same strange rush of sweet, warm, comforting feelings came over Danny again, and this time he could decipher what it all was. It was a content feeling, something happy and proud and a thousand other good things. He loved Sam, had for a long while, but this was special. It was more than a friend, more than brother and sister. He just loved her plain and simple. After all they had been through, he felt fairly safe with admitting this to himself.
'But only to myself,' Danny laughed at something Sam had been reading to him from one of the books she had with her, 'I know she 'loves' me, but is it just friends? I get the same feeling from her, but it's a little different somehow…softer. Maybe it's a brother, sister love that she feels for me.'
Finally making it to his house, Sam laughed as Matches charged her and nearly bowled her over in his excitement. Danny watched the two play for a moment before getting in on the action, picking Sam up and making Matches go nuts because his beloved playmate was being carried around by his boy. Spinning around a few times, Danny finally dropped Sam to sit on the couch, collapsing beside her. Matches joined them, elated that his two favorite people were in the same place.
'But do I really love her, or is it just because of my ghost half and the link?' Danny watched the girl beside him, gently petting the dog, and then leaned over and brushed some of the fallen hair from her face. The shy smile sent to him had his stomach doing flip-flops and the emotions that he so enjoyed feeling swept back to him, 'Nope, definitely love her…how sad is that, we aren't even dating and I know I love her…'
'I gotta' figure out how to do this, and it's gotta' be perfect,' Danny smiled as Matches finally got bored and began to tug on Sam's shoelaces, 'Maybe Spring Break will be a good time to figure out if she 'likes me' likes me or if I should wait a little longer. That'll work…'
And with another happy smile, Sam was left bewildered by Danny's amazingly happy mood as he pulled her off the couch to wrestle with both him and Matches. It was fun just letting go and not worrying about anything, and the pure, happy-driven emotions had Sam feeling like she was on a natural high, 'Wow, this last week has been an amazingly good one.'
Too bad Mr. Murphy decided it was about time for Danny and his friends to have another oh so entertaining visit…