Authors Note: Sorry this took so long to update, I had some computer problems and a case of writers block. I even had to re-write this chapter. Please R&R. And I also changed my pen name...again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.

Chapter 4 Valerie

"Val honey, you need to eat something." Valerie's father begged as he set a plate of food beside her. "I know it is a shame at what happened at your school, but that…" He stopped in mid-sentence as he saw his daughter facial expression go from sad to a mixture of depression and rage.

"Leave me alone please." Valerie pleaded. Mr. Grey did as he was told and left Valerie alone.

Flashback

The ghost alarm had just went off and Valerie slipped away to change into her ghost hunting outfit. She snuck around a corner and saw the ghost boy, Sam, Tucker, and an unidentified ghost in the abandoned hallway.

'What are Sam and Tucker doing in here?' Valerie thought.

Just then none other than Mr. and Mrs. Fenton burst down the doors. Jazz followed a little behind them..

"Oh joy." Valerie muttered to herself as she quietly approached her prey. "Yes! He's distracted!'

"Say good-bye ghost boy!" She shouted.

"I'm so scared." He muttered back.

Valerie was about to fire a shot at him but here gun was knocked away by the mysterious ghost. Next thing she knew, she was bound together by ecto-plasmic restraints. She struggled to get free, but came to no avail.

The others soon found themselves in the same situation as Valerie.

"Hey leave them alone!" The ghost boy shouted.

'Why does he even care?' Valerie muttered to herself.

Then she saw a horrific site. The mysterious ghost charged up an ecto-blast.

"Time to eliminate my only threat." He stated evilly. He fired the shot.

Valerie saw the ball of ectoplasm make it's way to the helpless ghost boy. He let out a cry of agony as he started free-falling to the ground below.

What freaked Valerie out he most is what the ghost boy changed into as he made his decent. It wasn't the ghost boy that landed on the ground, it was Danny Fenton.

'What the…' Valerie screamed in her head as she gasped. She glanced at the Fenton's and all but one of them shared her surprise.

"Danny!" Sam ran to him.

Jazz called 911.

'I gotta get out of here!' Valerie told herself as she snuck away from the small group of freaked out people. She could hear the approaching ambulance in the distance.

End Flashback

"It can't be true….it just can't be." Valerie told herself over and over. But it was true. All of it. Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom where one in the same.

She glanced at the clock. 8:00. "Better get to school sweetie." Mr. Grey shouted.

"Fine, I just hope I don't run into Sam, Tucker or Jazz." Valerie muttered as she got ready. She hadn't touched her dinner.

The mess the ghost fight had caused was cleaned up. Everything was back to normal. All except one student was no longer roaming the halls of Casper High. Nobody knew exactly why Daniel Fenton wasn't in school. They all knew it had something to do with the ghost's appearance, but didn't know all the details.

Valerie walked to locker and got her things. She turned and walked to English. 'This will be interesting.' She muttered as she saw Sam and Tucker enter the class room. They had missed a whole week of school. Well, so had Valerie. She regained her composure and mad her way into the classroom.

She didn't even give a glace in the direction of Danny's friends. She was sure they would talk to her at lunch. Both of them had left many messages for her. She took her seat, preparing herself for another day of boring talk about boring writers. 'What is Mr. Lancer on anyways?'

As she had predicted, Sam and Tucker approached her during lunch.

"We need to talk." Sam stated dryly.

"Don't worry Samantha. I won't tell." Sam cringed at being called by her full name.

Valerie got up and started to walk away.

"Have you even gone to visit him?" Sam asked. Valerie stopped in mid step. She digested Sam's words and then continued on her way.

In truth she had thought about Danny a lot. She really liked the human side, but she had mixed feelings for the phantom side. She always thought Danny Phantom was cute. But she still hated him. With the newly found information she no longer thought of him as evil. She really didn't know what to think.

The rest of the school day was a snore fest. She hadn't missed a single thing over the week that she wasn't in school.

All night long she tried to sleep. But sleep would not come. She couldn't get Danny off her mind. "I give up!" She announced as she flung her covers to the floor. "I have to go see him."

She made her way to the closet where she threw on some cloths and got on her hover board and made her way to the hospital.

The hospital was dark and deserted. The only noise came from the repeating rhythms of heart monitors.

Valerie continued down the corridor until she came to room 4 of the ICU. She peaked inside and was surprised to see nobody but Danny in there. She looked around one last time, gathered her nerve, and then made her way into the room.

She slowly approached the comatose halfa. "You sort of do look like the ghost boy. I can't believe I've never seen it before. I was so stupid. Everything fits now. All of your disappearing acts, why you defend, well yourself, why you are always so tired and jumpy. Even why you are doing so horribly in school."

Valerie suppressed a small laugh as she thought of Danny's bad grades.

There were several questions she had that she really wanted answers too and that had been driver her nuts since Danny's secret was revealed to her.

"I don't get several things Danny. Why did you and your dog ruin Axion's lab? Wait, was it true that the dog wasn't yours and that it was all a mistake? Well, you did apologize. But why did you become by friend? I mean I was your enemy, how could you still want to be friends with me? I tried to kill you and you become my friend in return."

Small tears welled in Valerie's eyes as she spilled her feelings and questions. She wouldn't get a response, but she still needed vent.

"You're such a better person then I am. I don't disserve to be your friend. And I never have. Danny, why didn't you just tell me?" Valerie looked at Danny's lifeless form. "I know why, you where afraid. I would've been scared too. I'm sorry Danny. I'd never hurt you, you know that right?" Valerie starred at Danny hoping to get some sort of response.

"So all this time you have been telling the truth. You are good and you do send evil ghosts back to there world. I should have believed you, accepted your apogee, but no I was stubborn and as an after effect you are lying in this hospital. I hope you can forgive me." Valerie broke into silent sobs, but was put in a state of fear as she heard footfalls coming towards her.

"Ah crud." She whispered as she looked for an exit. Her gaze fell upon an open window. "Perfect!"

Valerie made her way to window and activated her jet sled. "I'll see you later Danny, I promise." With that she flew out the window just as a nurse entered. Valerie flew home and finally able to get a good nights sleep.

The Nurse who entered Danny's room wore a name tag that said SHELLY.

"You need to get better Danny. You've been out for far too long. You must wake up!" Shelly pleaded with unconscious boy. "The doctor says that this isn't a good sign. Danny you need to give us some sort of signal that your still in there. The doctor thinks your brain dead. Come on I know you're a fighter. So fight Danny fight."

To be concluded…

Next Chapter……Mind Games

GWA