I can't help thinking that this Chapter would make a great little one shot. Hmmmm but it furthers this story…which Danny and Sam are hogging. Well…that's life. Okay this is all in italics because it's a flashback. BUT if the italics are too unreadable, let me know and I'll fix it.

Chapter Ten

Sam shook her head as she stared at the painting. It was almost the end of their senior year when it happened.

"Sam" Danny said as he walked up to her one Friday morning. He leaned against the locker and gave her one of those searching looks which made her heart grip painfully in her chest.

She looked at her best friend and sighed, "What do you want Danny?"

"I need your help!" he said almost frantically.

"No I won't do your homework for you," Sam said tiredly as she slammed her locker shut almost angrily.

"That's not what I was going to ask," Danny said in an hurt tone.

"Okay," Sam sighed her heart softened slightly. "What?"

"Sheesh you're in a bad mood!" Danny observed as Sam shot him a withering look.

"Come on Danny," Sam said in exasperation. "Just cut to the chase. What do you want?"

"I've finally figured out how to make things work for Valerie and I," he said. "But I need Tucker and you to help me, and I need that ring. Do you still have the ring?"

"Yes," Sam answered flatly. She didn't want to give him the ring. It had her name engraved in it. Giving it to Valerie would be a big mistake.

"I'm going to tell her I'm Phantom," Danny said quickly and Sam dropped her books in shock.

"Don't do it Danny," Sam warned as she picked the books up. Danny helped. "She's not going to take it well. It's only going to cause trouble."

"I'm sick of playing games Sam. I want to ask her to be my girlfriend. To go steady. To make it official instead of just casually dating. I hate seeing her going out with other guys," Danny said which caused tears to prickle at Sam's eyelids which forced her to close her eyes until the feeling subsided.

"The only way to get her to agree is if she knows the truth. If she cares about me she'll understand," Danny continued oblivious to the emotional pain Sam was going through. "I figure if you and Tucker are there to help me explain, it will all be okay."

Sam took a deep breath and looked at Danny. She wished she had the courage to just tell him how she felt, but that admission would simply complicate his life. What kind of friend places a burden on one already so burdened? "Will doing this make you happy Danny?" she finally asked.

"Yes," Danny answered. "I think so.


Sam searched his face for a moment. "Okay, but I'm telling you now that it's a really big mistake." Danny didn't listen he just half hugged her, thanked her and took off so he wouldn't be late to class.

Sam's eyes blurred as she blinked back tears. She was still standing in front of her easel looking at the painting whose colors evoked such terrible memories. She'd never forget the confrontation. It'd actually taken place at the park.

It was a beautiful day. The sky was cloudlessly blue. Sam sat nervously on the bench wringing her hands in her lap waiting for Danny, Tucker and Valerie. Tucker showed up and sat next to Sam silently for awhile.

"Danny's an idiot," Tucker said. "This has the makings of a total disaster. He's going to tell her his secret and she's going to reveal it to the whole world."

"Or she'll shoot first and ask questions later," Sam said as she gave Tucker a worried look."

Danny and Valerie arrived ten tense minutes later. Danny was smiling idiotically and Valerie was looking apprehensive. She and Sam had an uneasy friendship. Sam accepted her at their table at lunch from time to time. They said nice things to each other in passing, but mostly they stayed away from each other. Valerie knew Sam had feelings for Danny, but she was careful not to encroach on the friendship, which Sam appreciated.

"So," Danny said. "I wanted Sam and Tucker here to help me tell you something." Valerie looked at the worried look in Sam's eyes and frowned.

"I want to ask you to go steady with me," Danny said. "Date each other exclusively."

"Oh Danny," Valerie said her voice filling with uncertainty, "You know I can't. You know my life is too complicate."

"I know you've been fighting with Phantom," Danny said quickly and Valerie gasped in shock.

"But Phantom isn't bad!" Danny insisted. "He's proven it over and over and over."

"He's a ghost," Valerie said as she folded her arms across her chest. "I don't trust him. I won't trust him."

"But you trust me!" Danny said.

"Because you're Danny Fenton!" Valerie said. "You're not a ghost."

Tucker looked at Sam. "This is going to get really ugly," he whispered. Sam only nodded with an open mouth as she looked back and forth between Danny and Valerie as they argued about Phantom.

"But I am Phantom!" Danny exclaimed.

Valerie stopped and her eyes widened. "What?" she screeched.

"I said," Danny started to yell then stopped and said in a normal tone. "I am Phantom."

Valerie began to laugh. "This isn't a funny joke Danny."

"It's true," Sam said causing Valerie to go silent. "When Danny was fourteen I talked him into checking out the ghost portal in his parent's lab. The portal wasn't operational yet and he went inside. Danny, being his clumsy self hit a button and bam he had ghost powers!"

Valerie looked at Sam for a moment and blinked dazedly. She looked at Danny again and watch in shock as he transformed into his ghostly state. He stood before her in all his white haired, green eyed, black suited glory.

Valerie stepped back in horror. "All this time," She said in a shaky voice. "All this time that we've gone on dates and confided in each other and I told you how worried I was. All this time you've lied to me. You're a freak!"

"Valerie you need to understand" Danny said as he reached toward her. " I've been trying to protect you. Everything has been a big misunderstanding."

Valerie stepped away. "Don't you come near me you freak!" She yelled. She put her hand to her face. "Oh god! I dated you! I held your hand!" Her eyes widened and she began to wipe of her mouth like it was dirty. "I let you kiss me!" she gasped.

"You don't understand," Danny said desperately. "Please let me explain."

"I'm not listening to anything you have to say ghost!" Valerie spat. She quickly transformed into her ghost hunting gear and raised her guns. "I vowed to destroy Danny Phantom. He destroyed my life! My father's life. He's evil! You're evil, you freak!"

Tucker grabbed Sam's hand in fear as Valerie raised one of her ecto-gun's and aimed it at Danny. "And you are going down you son of a bitch!" Valerie screamed.

Sam felt the world was moving in slow motion as she watched Valerie's finger rubbing on the trigger on the gun. Danny stood unmoving just watching Valerie with a heartbroken look on his face. Someone had to do something. Sam didn't know what she was thinking except she had to protect Danny. She couldn't let him be hurt anymore than he already was. She stood and jumped between the ghost and the hunter just as Valerie pulled the trigger.

Sam didn't remember much of what happened after that. She remembered the pain. She remembered screaming and chaos, and then her world had gone dark. Sam had been certain she was dead.

When she came to she found she was in Danny's house. In Danny's bed with Jazz leaning worriedly over her.

"Hey Sam," Jazz said gently. "How are you feeling?"

Sam opened her mouth to talk but felt too sick, so she closed her mouth and tried to shake her head, only it hurt too bad.

"While it was a noble act," Jazz said as she placed her cool hand on Sam's face. "Jumping in front of a gun was pretty stupid."

"I had to save Danny," Sam forced herself to say. "Valerie would have killed him." Tears began to slip down Sam's face.

"I know," Jazz said comfortingly. "You love him don't you?"

"He's my best friend," Sam said simply. "And yes I love him. With all my heart." It felt really good to finally say that to someone.

Jazz only nodded her head. "Your wound isn't major really. Well it's bad, but you'll live. You have a burn from the ecto-beam and are in shock."

"Is Danny okay?" Sam asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Danny answered from the other side of the bed. Sam's breath caught and her heart nearly stopped beating as she turned her head and met Danny's worried gaze. She closed her eyes, not being able to stand the look of pity on his face.

Jazz looked at Danny a moment. "I'm going to leave you two alone to talk." She started out the door then turned and grabbed Tucker who was standing dazedly at the end of the bed and drug him out of the room with her."

"Wow," Danny said. "I always said, "Sam would take a bullet for me". I never thought you'd actually do something like that."


"Well," Sam laughed then winced as her shoulder throbbed. "You know how it is. There is no greater love than to be willing to lay down your life for your friends. You'd do the same for me."

"Yeah," Danny said as he carefully sat on the bed and took Sam's good hand. She knew the truth of the statement because he had put his life on the line many times for her.

"I'd do the same thing for Tuck," Sam whispered as she closed her eyes. "I love both of you."

"Hmm," Danny said. "You love us both with all your heart huh?"

"Yup," Sam said nonchalantly as she squeezed Danny's hand.

"Why have you never told me?" he asked.

"Because first you were obsessed with Paulina. Then you were all about Valerie. What room for me is there in that equation?" Sam asked. "I'm your best friend. Not your girl friend. And then when my feelings grew too much for me to deny anymore, I couldn't burden you with the knowledge. It just wouldn't be fair."

"I'm sorry Sam," Danny said as he looked down at her hand. "I've been stupid and blind and treated you badly."

"It's not your fault," Sam half laughed. "You're just too clueless for your own good that's all." She paused. "Have you heard from Valerie?" The look of sheer pain on Danny's face made her wish she could take back the question. But she had to know if the secret was safe or not. It probably wasn't, but Sam had to know.

"She did call and talk to Jazz. She wanted to make sure you were okay. She then warned you to not get in the way next time." Danny answered.

"Next time!" Sam yelled as she sat up then winced at the pain shooting down her arm. Her vision darkened and she felt like she was going to pass out. She laid her head on Danny's pillow and took several deep breaths. When she opened her eyes again it was to find Danny still sitting on the bed, holding her hand, with tears pouring down his face.

"Danny," Sam said in a heartbroken tone of voice as she reached up and brushed the tears from his face.

"I'm a freak," He said as he sighed. "You heard her. I'm a freak, and she hates me." He bent forward and put his head on Sam's stomach and sobbed. If Sam's heart wasn't broken before. It was now.

"You're not a freak Danny," Sam said gently as she calmly smoothed his hair. "You are a beautiful and wondrous human being who happens to be enormously gifted. You're not a freak!" In that instant she hated Valerie Grey and she swore she would hate her to her dying day. Danny looked up at her, his beautiful eyes filled with tears.

"I'm going to talk to her," Sam said angrily. "I'm going to talk to her and make her listen." She looked deep into Danny's eyes. "I'll make her understand, and do my best to fix things for you. At the very least I'll keep her from revealing your secret."

Danny's sorrowful eyes filled with confusion. "But why?"

"Because I love you," Sam said simply. "You're happiness means everything to me."

"You're insane," Danny replied.

"Yes," Sam agreed. "I am. But as long as you're always my friend. As long as you always promise that we'll keep this bond. Me, you and Tucker. I'll be happy."

Sam blinked back to present. She looked again at the painting. "I was a fool," Sam whispered. She had gone to Valerie and made her listen. She screamed and shouted and bullied the ghost hunter and finally made her understand that Danny meant her no harm.

"I still can't accept it," Valerie told her. "I mean. I can't go on with Danny like I was. I don't trust him. I don't like the whole Phantom thing."

"But you'll keep it a secret right?" Sam asked worriedly. "I mean he's been hurt enough."

"He's been hurt?" Valerie screamed in outrage. "What about me? What about how I've been used and deceived?"

"His intentions were always honorable," Sam told the girl. "He never meant to do you any harm. You should know Danny enough to understand that."

"The point is," Valerie said. "I don't know Danny."

"No," Sam growled. "You don't want to admit to know him because that means you were wrong about Phantom and you don't want to admit you were wrong!"

Valerie put her hands on her hips. "Okay, yeah so you're right what do you want me to do about it?"

"Just keep his secret and stay out of his way," Sam said forcefully. "He's been fighting ghosts longer than you have. He's been doing his best and living a double life. He deserves the peace of his own identity. I'm sure, considering your situation, that you can understand that."

"Fine," Valerie said. "His secret is safe with me. My war with him is over."

"Thank you," Sam replied feeling relieved.

"I know you like him," Valerie said slyly. "So why are you doing this? Why are you desperately trying to get me to forgive him and start seeing him again and everything?"

Sam looked Valerie for a moment then answered, "Because I love him unconditionally. Because his happiness is my happiness. Because he cares about you and is hurting because of you."

"Wow," Valerie said. "Fenton really is a jerk. Does he know how you feel? Did he let you come talk to me knowing?" She shook her head and started walking off.

"You know Sam," Valerie said as she turned. "He doesn't deserve that kind of love. And he's a fool for not seeing what he has in you. If you're smart you'll get away from him. He's going to bring you nothing but grief."

"Wow!" Michelle said as she came to stand over Sam's shoulder and observed her painting. "That is the most awesome work you've ever done!"

Sam broke herself from her reminiscence and looked at the painting. That day with Valerie was the last time they'd exchanged civil words with each other. Danny had talked to Valerie a few times as the years passed and her attitude toward him gentled, though she made it clear she had no interest in him beyond friendship. She'd even asked for forgiveness for her stupidity, but Sam didn't forgive Valerie, even if Danny did, and wouldn't speak to her again if she could help it.

Sam's shoulder healed, but Danny's heart seemed to take longer. He took comfort in Sam and their friendship grew and deepened, but they never admitted to themselves or anyone else that they were anything more than friends, despite the stolen kisses and the frequent secret declarations of love. It wasn't until he asked her to marry him that they finally gave up the pretence, and now Sam felt like it was all going to slip away.

"Abby," Michelle said. "Come look at this!" Abby dropped what she was doing and looked at Sam's painting.

"That's like totally cool Sam!" Abby said.

Sam looked at the painting which reminded her so much of Valerie, in revulsion. She grabbed her Exacto knife from her art kit and began attacking the canvass, stabbing and ripping and screaming until the ring made her finger begin to burn, ache and throb.

"I hate her," Sam growled as she stabbed the canvass one last time, leaving the knife imbedded in the tattered work.

"Sam? Are you all right?" Abby asked worriedly, she had taken several steps back and was regarding Sam like she was crazy.

"I'm fine," Sam answered breathlessly as she looked away from the ruined painting and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I need to go home." She gathered together her stuff then walked to the door.

"Abby," Sam called from the door.

"Yeah Sam?" Abby replied. She and Michelle remained standing in front of the painting, still stunned.

"Can you do me a favor and get rid of that thing for me? I never want to see it again."

"Sure thing babe," Abby called cheerfully. "It won't be here when you come back in the morning."

"Thanks," Sam said. "And I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Michelle laughed. "As artists we're all entitled to our eccentric, psychotic moments."

Sam ran down to her car and took several deep breaths. She looked down at the ring on her finger and found it was just sitting there. No longer embedded in her skin. She shivered a moment then tried to pull it off, it budged but the pain was just too much to bear. She shook her head then drove to the hospital to see Jack. Danny was going to meet her there and at the moment, all she wanted was to see him.

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Danny was halfway down the hallway at the hospital to see his father when he ran into his mother running toward him looking breathless and a little panicked.

"Is Dad all right?" was Danny's first question.

"What?" Maddie asked. "No. I mean yes. He's fine Sweetie." She looked around then said. "Vlad's here."

"Oh," Danny said then almost wanted to laugh at the look on his mother's face. "Is that why you look so frantic?" he asked in near amusement.

"Yes," Maddie answered distractedly then looked at Danny. "No. No. It's just that Vlad is asking all sorts of weird questions about Jazz."

Danny wrinkled up his face. "What? Why?"

"I don't know," Maddie said as she looked around the hallway. "But I need to find your sister."

"Okay," Danny said and let his mother go. He walked quietly down the hall and stood by the door for a minute to listen.

"Yes," Jack said. "Jazz is an excellent ghost fighter, just like her mother. You should see my princess with my Jack-o-nine tales! It's an awesome sight."

"I'm sure it is," Vlad said thoughtfully, then he asked, "When is her birthday?"

"July 8th," Jack chuckled. "You know it's been nice talking about my little princess Vlad. Thank you for keeping me company."

"It is my pleasure," Vlad told Jack then looked up to find an angry Danny starring down at him.

"Why Daniel!" Vlad said as he leaned back in his chair. "It's good to see you. I've been keeping your father company."

"What are you up to Vlad?" Danny asked point blank.

Vlad blinked innocently at Danny and put his hand up to his chest. "Do I need any motivation other than friendship to visit my dear, dear buddy Jack in his time of need?"

"Yes," Danny said. Vlad gave him an annoyed look.

"Danny!" Jack laughed. "You're so funny always teasing Vlad. We were just talking about your sister."

"Oh yeah?" Danny asked as he folded his arms across his chest. "Why the sudden interest in Jazz Vlad?"

"I'm just keeping tabs on the little moppets I've known since they were babies." Vlad answered innocently.

"Babies being the operative word," Danny said. "How much older than Jazz are you Vlad? 30 years?"

Vlad smiled at Danny for a moment. "Not quite that much." he answered.

Danny was about to say something else when Sam ran into the room looking almost frantic. She stopped when she saw Vlad. "Uh. Hi Mr. Masters," she said then sent Danny a worried look.

"Good day Samantha," Vlad said. "Please, please call me Vlad. I hear you and I are going to be family soon."

Sam snorted then turned to Jack. "How are you feeling Dad?" She asked as she walked forward and hugged Jack Fenton.

"Feeling great," Jack said. "But bored. I have work I need to get back to."

Sam smiled indulgently at her father in law to be. Then turned to Danny. "Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" she asked then shot a glance at Vlad from the corner of her eye. "In private?"

"Sure," Danny said then turned to his father. "We'll be back Dad."

"No rush Son," Jack laughed. "Vlad's here to keep me company. Right Vladdy?"

"You betcha," Vlad said as he smiled smugly at Danny.

Danny simply gave Vlad an exasperated look then followed Sam out of the room.

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Whew! Man. I have nothing to say, except I am now going to work on the next chapter. Do me a favor and review. Reviews keep me on track. I even work into my story, little bits from comments here and there. Like E.P. mentioned Valerie's colors Yellow and Orange and that gave me a great idea. So yeah, review please. I've been getting huge page views but no reviews. Does this story suck THAT bad? Aghh let me know if I need to go in another direction please.

So I was thinking. I could turn the whole Valerie finds out tale into an interesting one shot, flesh out the story add more POVs? What do you think? Yes? No? Hmmmm