Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last chapter, it was accepted much better than I expected, though I did receive one stinging but kind rebuke, which makes the review all the more meaningful. Meaningful, constructive reviews are the best. I apologize to anyone if I made you feel like you absolutely HAD to review. It's not absolutely necessary, it just means the world to me when I hear from my readers.
Anyway….back to normal here, dealing with repercussions of Chapter 5, but they aren't as long lasting as all that and well, you'll just have to read to see.
This story feels as though it's going to be long, it seems to me that each consecutive tale I have to tell becomes longer and longer! Yikes. It's just I like well rounded stories that take advantage of all the wonderful characters Danny Phantom has to offer, so…yeah. Filler chapter here, though you'll find some very interesting people populating it.
Chapter Six
Maddie could hear Jack's voice booming down the hall, "Are you aware that I have no underwear on under this thing?" Maddie stopped in her tracks and blinked. For a man on the brink of dying, he sounded awfully loud. She tiptoed stealthily to his half open door where a nurse was standing beside him trying to get him out of the bed and into a wheelchair.
"No," he said. "Not moving until you give me something to cover myself with." Maddie put her hand over her mouth and had to suppress the laughter that was bubbling up from her throat.
The nurse looked up and spotted Maddie at the door. "May I help you," she asked.
"Maddie," Jack boomed jovially he turned to the nurse. "This is my wife, Maddie!"
The nurse sighed in relief. "Good morning Mrs. Fenton," She said. "I was just trying to talk your husband to letting me move him to his new room. His condition has been upgraded and…"
"And I'm driving her bananas," Jack interrupted then smiled sweetly at the nurse.
"Condition upgraded?" Maddie asked. "But when I called this morning I was told that…"
The nurse gave Jack a stern but amused look and said, "Yes, that was this morning, but I suppose your husband had other ideas. You'll need to talk to the doctor if you want details. He'll be around to talk to you if I can ever get Mr. Fenton here to move!"
"I said," Jack said through his teeth. "I'm not moving until you give me some better clothes."
"I can handle this," Maddie told the nurse then she turned and eyed Jack. "Stop being a baby Jack and get in the wheel chair."
"But!" Jack said as he pointed to his back. "Butt! You know?"
"I know Jack," Maddie laughed but your nurse here will close her eyes. "Right?" she said to the nurse who nodded her head.
"All right," Jack said reluctantly as he climbed from the bed and sat in the wheelchair.
"I'll be right back," the nurse said then let out a deep breath. Maddie waited until she was out the door then bent over and put her arms around Jack.
"Hey hey!" Jack said. "What are those tears for?" he said as his wife began to sob. "Nothing's gonna get ol'Jack Fenton down. I'm as strong as an ox."
"And twice as stubborn," Maddie added as she kissed him softly. Jack wore a goofy grin very reminiscent of a certain ghost boy we all know and love, as Maddie pulled away. "Don't ever scare me like that again," Maddie warned.
"Yes Maddie," Jack said as he grinned lovingly at his wife.
She put her hands on her hips and turned. "Where is that nurse?"
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Tucker stumbled into the kitchen where Danny and Sam were sitting finishing breakfast and looked blearily at his two friends. They looked entirely too pleased with themselves. He checked the clock then realized it wasn't breakfast they were finishing, but lunch.
"Good morning Sunshine," Sam said teasingly. "And I thought I was the Goth."
Tucker didn't respond he only rooted through the refrigerator for something to eat. He finally found something and then turned around and looked at his friends. They were looking at each other and smiling.
"You two look like the cat who ate the cream," he said and they both blushed. "Have you had any news on Jack?"
"It's a miraculous recovery," Danny answered as he shot one more smile toward Sam then directed his attention to Tucker. "They say there isn't even any evidence that he had a heart attack, it's like it never happened. He's going to need to change his life and they're talking about surgery, but they think he's going to be fine."
"That's awesome," Tucker said then took a swig of milk straight out of the container.
Sam watched him with a look of disgust on her face. "Can't you use a glass?" she asked.
"Why does it matter to you?" Tucker asked in amusement. "You don't drink it anyway, and you practically have Danny converted over to that soy milk stuff."
Sam just shook her head then stood. "I need to get back to the studio," she said as she put her lunch dishes in the sink. She turned and looked at Danny then at Tucker and then at Danny again.
"Go ahead and kiss him," Tucker said as he smirked. "Why should you care what I think anyway?" Sam smiled at Tucker then walked over to Danny and kissed him then attempted to walk away. Danny pulled her back and gave her a kiss which sent Tucker himself to blushing as he turned to face the sink.
"Wow," Sam said as she for once was the one who wore the goofy grin. "Thanks. I think I'll stay home now." She sat down in Danny's lap and he laughed. They kissed again and Tucker shook his head in embarrassment.
"But," Sam finally said. "I really need to go." She placed one more kiss on Danny's forehead, told Tucker good bye and left reluctantly.
"So," Tucker said as he smiled at Danny. "Things are going good between you?"
Danny smiled, put his elbow on the table and leaned on his hand. "Yeah," he said happily. "Plus my Dad is going to be all right. Things are good."
Tucker nodded his head then jumped up to get the phone as it rang. He walked back into the kitchen. "It's for you," he told Danny. "Some reporter."
"Just hang up!" Danny said. "They've been calling all day."
"Because of the hold up I presume," said Tucker as he made himself a sandwich. "You should just talk to them Danny. Being evasive is just going to make them bug you even more."
"Well I figure the story will become old news by tomorrow, so it won't matter." Danny said as the phone rang again. Tucker moved to answer it again. He walked back into the kitchen smiling as he handed Danny the cordless.
"It's for you dude" Tucker laughed as held out the phone to Danny. "The past is like, calling your name and wants to beat you senseless."
"What?" Danny asked as he looked at the phone like it was a snake about to bite him.
"Valerie." Tucker said as he shook the phone.
"No way!" Danny gasped as he took the phone. "Why is she calling me?" Tucker only shrugged and sat back down to finish his sandwich.
"Valerie," Danny said as he took the phone. "This is a blast from the past! How are you?"
"Good!" Valerie answered cheerfully. He voice changed to concern, "I just caught the news story about the hold up. You okay?"
"Yeah," Danny laughed as he turned from Tucker. "It wasn't as big of a deal as they made it out to be. Really."
"Not when you're the legendary Danny Phantom," Valerie teased.
"Well yeah true." Danny replied uncomfortably as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and looked at Tucker who was watching him intently as he chewed his sandwich.
"I called for another reason," Valerie said then paused a moment. "Something has been up with the ghosts lately. I thought maybe you would know what's going on, or at the very least be able to find out for me."
"I haven't been to the Ghost Zone in awhile," Danny said as he got up and walked into the living room. "Even then I haven't noticed anything weird going on." Among many other things Valerie ran a ghost investigation service in Chicago, where she was now living.
"If you could check and get back to me I'd appreciate it," Valerie said then paused. "Still living with Tucker?" She asked in amusement.
"And Sam," Danny answered. "We're engaged. Talking about an August wedding date."
"You and Tucker?" Valerie joked.
Danny laughed. "Yeah. You know how it is."
"How is Sam?" Valerie asked almost dryly. "I hear she's becoming pretty successful in the art world. She planning a scary Goth wedding?"
"No," Danny said as he shook his head as he smiled. "She's doing good though. You seem to be pretty much up on all the news around here. Do you have spies?"
"No," Valerie replied, "But I do keep my ear to the ground and tabs on my friends."
Danny looked into the kitchen again and found Tucker leaning back in his chair watching Danny. "Then you'll know that Jazz was getting married."
"Was?" Valerie asked. "Did she call things off?"
"At the last minute," Danny answered. "She was standing at the end of the isle with my father then woosh she was gone. And you'll never in a million years guess who she took off with."
Valerie thought for a second. "Dash Baxter?" she asked trying to think of any obscure name from high school.
"Our very own dippy TechnoGeek," Danny answered.
"Hey!" Tucker yelled from the kitchen. "I can hear you out there! Who are you calling dippy?"
"Tucker!" Valerie exclaimed in glee. "No way!"
"Yup." Danny laughed. "I think they're testing the waters so to speak."
"That's hilarious," Valerie said as she laughed.
"I need to go visit my father," Danny told Valerie. "But afterward I'll head into the Ghost Zone and find out if anything is up."
"Thanks," Valerie said. She paused then asked. "So I'm going to be in town on Saturday, maybe you and Sam could meet up with me, bring Tucker. It will be like old times."
"Except you won't be trying to kill me," Danny laughed. "Right?"
"Right," Valerie laughed with him.
Danny sighed. "Sam has an exhibit that night, but it's open to anyone who wants to come. You should come see her art. Tucker will be there too."
"Sounds great." Valerie said. Danny gave her the details then hung up the phone and walked back into the kitchen smiling happily.
"You are going to be in so much trouble," Tucker sang as Danny entered the kitchen.
Danny gave Tucker a wide eyed look. "Trouble? Why? Sam and Val don't hate each other."
"Much," Tucker said as he bit down on the second sandwich he made. Danny gave him a worried look as he frowned and again rubbed the back of his neck.
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Jazz shook her head in disbelief as she watched her father eat lunch. She smiled as her mother came up beside her. "I can't believe him," she said.
"He's something." Maddie replied.
Jazz looked worriedly at her mother and said, "You do realize he's still in danger though, right?"
"Yes," Maddie sighed. "It's going to be hard to change him." Maddie's eyes lit up as she saw Danny approaching.
"How is he?" Danny asked then looked at his father for himself and smiled.
"Danny!" Jack said. "Maybe you can talk some sense into all these paranoid idiots. My test results have been fine. I'm feeling fine. There is no reason for me to stay."
"Daddy," Jazz scolded. "You're not fine. Your cholesterol is through the roof. You have high blood pressure and you have blocked arteries. You're not fine."
"Being a doctor sure has made you bossy Jazzypants," Jack teased.
"No it hasn't," Danny laughed. "She's always been bossy." Jazz gave him a sour look.
"So what happened last night?" Danny asked his father.
"I was working on my latest invention!" Jack said excitedly. "It's so cool! It's this device that tracks a ghost in your house and…"
"Dad," Danny said as he tried to focus his father. "What happened?"
Jack frowned. "I must have miscalculated. I went to turn it on to test it and boom! I really should have had your mom take a look at it before I tried it out." He shook his head then looked at Maddie and smiled.
"Do you mind if I go down to the lab and check things out?" Danny asked.
"Oh sure," Jack said. "But don't disturb things too much. I need to be able to clearly assess what went wrong, take readings and so on. You know how it is Danny."
"Yes Dad I understand," Danny looked briefly at Jazz. Then hugged his father and his mother.
"I'll be back later this evening,' He said. Jazz followed him out of the room.
"Bring Sam too!" Jack called.
"You still think Vlad is up to something?" Jazz asked as she stopped in the hall.
"Isn't he always?" Danny asked. "Besides Valerie Grey called me this afternoon and…"
"Valerie Grey?" Jazz said in surprise. "What did she want? To warn you that she's coming to get kill you at last?"
"She's having ghost trouble and then there was Paulina yesterday with ghost problems. All these people from my past keep showing up. I'm half expecting Dash and Kwan to rear their ugly heads." Danny told Jazz as he looked around warily. "I'm going to go to the Ghost Zone and see what's going on. I've been absent awhile and…"
"I don't know," Jazz said. "Wouldn't that just stir things up?"
"Naw," Danny answered. "It will be good. If something is starting up I might be able to stop it before too much damage is done. Plus there are a few ghosts who'll be pretty mad if they think they're the last to know about Sam and I…"
"You live a weird life little brother," Jazz said as she shook her head. "But what do can you expect. You come from a weird family."
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Sam Manson stood at her easel staring at a blank canvas and sighed. Her heart wasn't in her work today. She sighed and looked over at the two girls she shared the studio with. Abby and Michelle. Tucker called them Romy and Michelle because as he said, they reminded him of the two crazy girls from the movie. He'd dated both of them a few times, naturally.
Abby and Michelle were eccentric to say the least. Abby was molding some weird abstract object out of clay and Michelle was slashing at a large canvas with a large paint brush, scattering yellow paint with exuberant glee.
Sam looked at the blank canvas before her and sighed. She really didn't need anymore paintings right now. All her work for the show on Saturday was complete and had been sent off earlier that day for framing and after that they would be hung at the gallery for her showing on Saturday.
Instead of obsessing over the blank canvas she grabbed a sketch book and sat in the corner with a box of pastels and doodled for awhile. Abby looked up from her work for the first time that day and spotted Sam in her unusual position. She stopped her work and walked over to Sam. As if sensing the other artist's break in concentration, Michelle stopped her work and joined Abby to stand over Sam, who looked up and smiled wryly.
"You've broken our concentration," Abby accused with her clay coated hands on her hips. "This is highly irregular."
"It has to be something to do with her roommate," Michelle said "I saw him on the news last night. Something to do with helping to foil a robbery and heroism."
"Yeah," Sam said. "It wasn't a big deal really."
"Yeah right," Abby chided. "We know you like him. So it has to be a bigger deal than.."
"We're engaged," Sam said as she looked back down at her sketch pad.
"What?" The girls said together. "Engaged to hunky roommate Danny? You've been saying since we've known you that you're not dating him and now!" Both girls looked at each other and blinked in surprise.
"Gee," Abby said. "So much for me trying to convince you to convince him to take me on a date." She sighed forlornly.
"So now you're head is in the clouds dreaming of your wedding day," Michelle said.
Sam shook her head. "Not really. I have other things to worry about right now."
"Ring! Ring! Ring!" Abby said jumping down excitedly. "Let me see!" Sam extended her hand and both Abby and Michelle looked excitedly then frowned.
"It's just a little green stoned ring," they said in disappointed unison.
"No," Sam said as she smiled. "It's not just a little green stoned ring. It's my little green stoned ring." Both girls gave her a skeptical glance.
"It's just like you Sam," Michelle said. "Completely unique."
Abby nodded her head and looked down at Sam's sketchbook. "Hey," she said as she pointed to the figure. "That looks like the virus in my computer!"
"What?" Sam said as she looked down at the drawing she'd done of Technus.
"Yeah it totally reeks!" Abby sighed. "This guy comes on to my screen and starts laughing and laughing and I can't do anything with my computer. I've been thinking of calling Tuck, but you know I hate to ask him after the disaster of our last date."
Sam laughed a little. Tucker had told her the story of how Abby had taken a banana cream pie and belted a waitress who was flirting with Tucker, and how Tucker himself came to be covered in mashed potatoes, gravy and meatloaf as a result of the waitress' revenge.
"I'll talk to him about it," Sam said in concern, wondering why Technus would be haunting Abby's computer. There was supposed to be a truce in the Ghost Zone.
"See look at that worried frown on her face," Michelle said to Abby. "There's definitely something bothering her."
"Danny's father is ill," Sam said thinking quickly. "I'm just concerned about him."
"You shouldn't be here Sam," Abby said as she took away Sam's sketch pad and made her stand. "Go home and be with Danny."
"You know you want to." Michelle teased.
Sam smiled as she let them push her out the door. She was glad she had a good excuse to leave. The thought of Technus being out of the Ghost Zone made her stomach ache and all she wanted to do right now was tell Danny what she knew.
"I'll talk to Tucker right away," Sam told Abby. "Maybe we can come over tonight and take care of that computer virus for you."
"Okay," Abby said as she waved good bye to Sam. "Just give me a call first."
Sam ran out the door without a look back. She grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and dialed Tucker.
"Yo Sam!" Tucker said cheerfully.
"Has Danny left yet?" She asked urgently.
"Yeah awhile ago," Tucker answered as he caught onto Sam's worried tone. "Why what's wrong?"
"I think Technus is out of the Ghost Zone." Sam answered as she stopped at her car and rested her head against the window.
"Not good," Tucker said. "He's probably at Fenton Works by now. Maybe you should try him there and catch him before he goes into the Ghost Zone."
"Thanks Tuck," Sam said then hung up the phone and dialed Fenton Works and hoping she could reach Danny before he entered the Ghost Zone.
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And there you go. Another cliff hanger of sorts. What? I said I wasn't going to post today? Well yeah, but I'm obsessed. I am not writing this story, this story is writing itself, and in so doing possessing me. Aghhh where is Danny Phantom when I need him? Hmm?
And now I humbly submit a request for a review from you, please. Tell me what you think…is it all too much? Too little? I don't know…..darn complicated stories. Why do they haunt me? For the record. I blame Jazz. :-)