Chapter 2

Danny let himself enjoy the summer air against his face as he flew over his town. Counseling was…good, but in a 'Jazz was right but he'll never say that aloud' kind of way. Telling people things to get them off his chest felt good. And even though he had only talked to Rob twice now, he was starting to feel like the man cared about what he had to tell him.

Danny looked down, taking in younger kids playing in yards as he passed over a neighborhood. It was still a bit before five, so he knew Tucker was too busy and Sam said she had some things to do before her ghost tour started up so that left him on his own to patrol the town.

He let himself take in the sounds of a nice summer day, only for his phone to ring out, startling him into jumping mid-flight. He glanced down, noticing a few people below him could hear his ringtone and were pointing up at him as he dug in his pocket for the phone. Pulling out the cell, he rose higher in altitude as he flicked it open and put it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Danny? How'd counseling go?" Maddie's voice asked through the speaker.

"Well, I guess," Danny tried, never knowing what his mother wanted from questions like that. "We talked. I like him. He's good at his job."

"That's good," Maddie said. She paused a moment, getting Danny to open his mouth to say something else only to cut himself off as she asked, "Did you have anything else planned for today?"

"Just patrolling," Danny admitted, wondering if he knew where this was leading. "I'm over the Willow Lawn neighborhood right now."

"I was wondering if you and I could talk today?" Maddie asked. "I forgot the town meeting was Tuesday, and I don't want to push it off- push you off."

"Mom," Danny started.

"I made your favorite surprise cookies, they're cooling right now, and I'll even make up those milkshakes we used to drink together," Maddie offered.

"You're the reason I like those strange combinations," Danny said with a laugh as he changed his course to head homewards.

"I know," Maddie said with a mirroring laugh. Her laugh faded away before she asked, "Will you talk?"

"Strawberries, bananas, and broccoli, with some cayenne powder on top," Danny said in place of a direct answer

"No bacon bits?"

"Uh," Danny thought a moment before nodding his head. "Yeah, toss those in too."

"Will do."

"See you," Danny promised, ending the call. He felt more butterflies appear in his stomach as he pocketed the phone, feeling more nervous about what he might have to tell his mother. He missed when he didn't have to worry about her, worry about what he might say. He remembered when he told her everything, and that only ended when he got his powers.

Two years of fearing her weapons, he realized, was what had done it to him. He'd grown up all his life hearing how evil ghosts were and the ways they were ready to protect their family. His first instant was to tell them, right after the accident and before their weapons got too good, but he couldn't convince himself to tell them out of fear they'd turn their weapons on him. Last summer he got to see that they would accept him but by that point the nightmares had set in.

Maybe that was something he could bring up with Rob, he thought. Though that would mean telling him everything. He didn't know if he was at that point or not just yet with the man.

His breath appeared, taking him out of his thoughts as he slowed down to a stop and looked down.

"Beware!" the Box Ghost announced, jump scaring a young couple trying to move into a house.

"You stupid Box Ghost!" the brunette exclaimed, dropping the tub in her hands to the front lawn. She reached into a pile of boxes waiting beside the truck she was still by and pulled out a broom, holding it upside down. She charged at the Box Ghost, getting him to hold up his hands and fly away.

Danny let out a laugh before realizing he should come to the Box Ghost's rescue. He pulled out a Fenton Thermos and dropped out of the sky, loving the feeling of falling. He stopped himself before his heals could hit the street as the Box Ghost fled passed him and the lady swinging her broom towards them.

"Phantom, save me!" the Box Ghost exclaimed, swinging around to hide behind the floating teen.

Danny couldn't hide the amusement as he turned to the woman, her hair disheveled and coming out of her pony tail as she came to a stop in front of him.

"Phantom!" the woman exclaimed, recognition clearing her eyes. "Please do something about him! He's been harassing my husband and me since we started packing from the old place."

Danny turned to look at the cowering man and said, "I know, you just want the boxes, right?"

"The humans discard them," the Box Ghost informed, floating up to be eyelevel with Danny. "I am the Box Ghost! All boxes shall be mine!"

"Can you wait until they're done using them?" Danny asked. He didn't wait for an answer before turning to the woman. "Once you're done, don't break them down. Leave them outside the garage and he'll pick them up."

"How will you keep him away while we're still using them?" the woman asked.

Danny turned back to the Box Ghost and held up the Fenton Thermos as he asked, "Will you leave them alone until the boxes are empty?"

The Box Ghost gave the thermos a look before pointing at it and saying, "Your cylindrical container shall not hold me!"

"Sure," Danny said, tossing the device up and catching it on his way down. Sliding his eyes back to the blue ghost he added, "But the Fenton's are on my side now."

The Box Ghost gave him a look before fully dropping his arms. Dropping the ghostly warble he always talked with he said, "Fine." Looking at the woman he added, "But you better leave those boxes."

"Anything to get you out of our hair!" the woman promised, nodding her head.

"Okay." The Box Ghost gave another look at both the woman and Danny before raising his arms and shouting, "Beware!" He flew upwards and headed towards downtown, leaving the two in the street.

"Sorry 'bout him," Danny tried, turning back to the woman as he put the thermos back in his pocket. "Are you okay? And your husband?" Danny asked as the curly brown haired man stepped around the moving truck.

The lady looked over her shoulder as she rested the broom handle on the ground to hold it upside down. "He's gone, Jared," she called out. Turning back to Danny she offered with a smile, "Thanks. I'm sorry you got dragged into all of this."

"The Box Ghost may be one of the least dangerous Ghosts around here, but he sure can be annoying," Danny offered with a polite laugh. He reached into his pocket and found his parent's business card he had been trying to keep with him now. Pulling it out, he handed it to the woman and added, "If he causes you more problems, or any other ghost, give Fenton Works a call."

The woman took the card, giving it a curious look over before looking back at Danny with eyebrows raised. "You're working with the Fenton's?"

"Weird, I know," Danny said with a smile. He floated upward and offered, "Good luck with the rest of your move."

"Thanks," the woman said, her eyes staying on him as he rose into the sky.

Danny gave one last wave before turning back to fly home. He knew some of the town didn't trust the new public alliance between himself and his parents, but he wasn't ready to tell everyone he was their son. He knew that was going to be a mess when it happened, coming to terms with the fact that too many people knew his secret now as it was. It was bound to come out one day, he just hoped it was after his graduation at least.