Here it is, Chapter fifteen. Held up by sickness and reading Ashes to Ashes by Gecko Osco. REALLY good story. REALLY.


Anyway, I just don't know how I feel about this chapter. I like it. I don't like it. I feel to sick to be able to tell if it's any good, but can't stop writing either. So let me know if you think its just too blah and I might do something about it.

Chapter Fifteen

Sam was sitting at home curled up in a chair, trying to read a book when the phone rang. She looked at the caller I.D. and sighed.

"Hi Mom," she said blandly.

"Hello Sammykins," Pam Mason called sweetly. "Are you and Danny going to be over for dinner?"

"I'm sorry Mom," Sam said as she picked nervously at one of her fingers. "Danny…has the flu."

"Oh dear!" Sam's mother replied. "Do you want me to make some of your Grandma Ida's chicken soup." The idea of her mother cooking almost sent Sam into reels of laughter. It was an annual tradition for her mother to begin feeling domestic. She would try to cook a meal and it would end in disaster. Once it had ended with a hospital visit when Sam's father ended up with food poisoning.

"He's sick Mom," Sam said trying not to laugh. "I don't want to kill him."

"Well I wouldn't make it personally," Pam Mason said in an offended tone.

Sam sighed heavily and said, "All he needs is some rest and me to take good care of him Mom. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Oh Sammykins," Pam called, keeping Sam from hanging up. "I set up a meeting with a wedding consultant for four in the afternoon. I thought you and…"

"No!" Sam yelled then calmed herself. "No Mom. I don't need or want a wedding consultant."

"But Sammykins…" Pam whined.

"No no no!" Sam yelled as she smacked her hand on the arms of her chair. "No!"

"All right Samantha," Pam said coldly. "We'll discuss this later. I love you."

"Yeah," Sam said. "You too Mom." She hung up the phone and said something grumpily under her breath as she lifted her book and took a sip of tea. Sam shook her head as she turned the page on her book then looked up. She stifled a scream as she looked up to find Plasmius smiling down at her.

"Hello Samantha!" he said as he leaned closer and Sam scrunched down further in her chair.

"Hi Vlad," Sam said as she composed herself and tried to sit up normally. She turned her attention back to her book and cleared her throat. "Danny's not here."

"I know," Vlad said in a sinister tone of voice which caused the hair on the back of Sam's neck to stand up. Sam looked up over the top of her book at Plasmius who was still floating in the same spot looking down at her, grinning like a chainsaw wielding maniac.

"I suppose you're here because of the paintings," Sam said quickly. "It's just artistic expression. No need to take it personally."

Plasmius laughed. "Oh Samantha you are a dear. I find the paintings quite lovely and I am flattered that I could serve as a subject for you."

Sam gave him a skeptical look then closed her book and put it on the table beside her. She felt like a little mouse sitting there, waiting to be devoured by a cat. "If you didn't come about the painting, and you didn't come to see Danny. Why are you here?" she asked.

"I came for you my dear," Plasmius answered.

Sam gave him an unblinking tired look. "Why?" she asked as her stomach began to feel sick.

"Because Tucker says you know the proper settings to turn Jazz into a half ghost," Plasmius answered.

Sam was electrified. She felt she needed some sort of award for managing to keep her cool. "Why would you need to turn Jazz into a half ghost?" She asked. "I don't think that would make Jazz very happy."

"As you know,' Vlad began. "The laws of the Ghost Zone strictly dictate that a ghostly being cannot marry a creature of the living world."

"Yes," Sam said dryly.

"I went in search of a loophole, but there is no alternative. In order to marry Madd," Plasmius paused a moment and cleared his throat. "In order to wed Jasmine, I must turn her into a ghostly being like myself."

"Marry Jazz?" Sam nearly screeched. "Vlad you're too old for her! She can't possibly want to! What are you thinking? This is madness!"

"I am thinking," Vlad said angrily. "That I want children of my own. What Jasmine wants and does not want is irrelevant at this point. What you think is irrelevant and my age has no significance in this matter."

Sam swallowed hard then said shakily, "Why don't you just take out a personal ad? I mean you're loaded. There are a million women who would give to marry you and pop out a million little juniors for you."

Vlad moved a little closer causing Sam to wish she could just vanish into her chair. "I don't want just any woman," Vlad said threateningly. "I want Maddie. I cannot have Maddie so Jazz will do."

"I see," Sam said as she pried her fingers from her death grip on the chair.

"You know the proper settings," Vlad said. "You are coming with me. Perhaps I'll use the portal on you, poor dear. I'm quite saddened to hear that you and Daniel will be denied a happily ever after thanks to the Ghost Zone law."

"I don't find it necessary to marry in order to be happy with Danny," Sam said softly. "I'm not going to help you Vlad."

"Oh yes you are," Plasmius said as he grabbed Sam from the chair. "You will because your very life depends on it."

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Danny stopped as he flew through the Ghost Zone and looked around in confusion. Vlad's portal was closed. "Why would he do that?" Danny asked. But he knew the answer, or at least thought he did. The only reason he could think of to turn off the portal was to keep Danny from rescuing Jazz.

"But why would he kidnap Jazz?" Danny asked out loud.

"To marry her." A voice called from behind him. Danny spun around I and was confronted with a tall ghost wearing a black cloak. The man looked like a wizard of some sort, not a ghost.

"Hello," Danny said slowly and as respectively as possible. "I'm Danny Phantom and…"

"I know who you are," the ghost said impatiently. "My name is Gaspar." He floated to the other side of Danny and looked him up and down. "I was actually sent in answer to Vlad Plasmius' request. But we have heard as of late, your name ringing around the Ghost Zone."

"Uhh why," Danny said in confusion. He paused a moment then asked. "What is Plasmius' request?"

"He wants to supersede the law and enter into a marital contract with a creature of the living world." Gaspar answered as he eyed Danny. "I believe you have a similar request."

"Well," Danny said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, but right now I don't have…" His mind was racing. Vlad wanted to marry Jazz? He could barely contain his rage and his desire to destroy Vlad.

"Time?" Gaspar asked. "Time is limited only to living creatures."

"I am a living creature," Danny said. "I'm only half ghost. How can that law apply to me. I am both a living and a ghostly creature?"

"We are taking that into consideration," Gaspar said as he eyed Danny. "Why are you seeking to enter into this contract? Do you love this human?"

Danny tried not to be irritated with this questioning. This was not the time for him to consult with any citizen of the Ghost Zone about his plans to marry Sam.

Gaspar watched him for a moment longer. "Do you love her?" he asked again.

"Yes," Danny said almost impatiently. "I do."

"Would you give up your ghostly powers for her?" Gaspar asked as he eyed him. This line of questioning gave Danny pause and slowed down his worried thoughts of Jazz. It was a trick question.

"Only if it wouldn't cause harm to anyone," Danny answered. "If it is going to hurt the Ghost Zone or Sam, then no. But should it be an effortless thing with no impact on anyone but myself, yes I'd freely give up my ghostly powers for Sam."

"Curious answer," Gaspar said. He looked over Danny's shoulder. Danny turned to look but found nothing behind him and when he turned back the spirit was gone. Danny growled in irritation then sighed.

It would take him too long even if he flew there at top speed to reach Vlad, and he had a feeling that because the portal was off, that time was of the essence.

"Vlad," Danny said angrily then sped off in the other direction, he had to find a ghost who could tear out of the Ghost Zone, and there was only one he could think of who could and would.

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"I do not need the ghost portal to transfer myself great distances any longer. I've been practicing," Plasmius told Sam as he wrapped his arms around her. They vanished in a poof of reddish smoke and reappeared in Vlad's lab.

Sam looked around nervously. Jazz and Tucker were still tied to their chairs. What ever conversation they were having stopped instantly.

"Where's Danny?" Tucker asked frantically as Sam was thrown in a chair and tied there with ectoplasmic bounds.

Sam blinked at Tucker a moment, she had to reason out what she said before answering. She looked at Vlad a moment, who had transformed back to his normal self, then sighed. "He went to the hospital to see Jack," she lied.

"Why?" Tucker asked in anger. "Why wasn't he with you? He should have been with you!"

"Well he wasn't Tucker," Sam said angrily. "Excuse me for wanting a little time to myself to relax." Tucker said something under his breath and looked at Jazz. She looked to be near tears as she watched Vlad standing at the ghost portal controls.

"All right Samantha," Vlad said as he walked over to her. I'm going to release you and when I do, I want you to walk to the control panel and set it just as you did when Danny gained his ghost powers.

"You what?" Sam asked in shock. "I don't remember what the settings are! Who told you I did?" Vlad laughed and pointed to Tucker. Sam shot Tuck such an evil glare that he would have exploded on sight if looks could kill.

"Well then," Vlad said smoothly as he picked up Sam along with her chair. "At least I have myself a little test subject." He placed her inside the portal.

"Wait! Wait!" Sam yelled. "Let me stand at the gauges. It might come back to me!"

Vlad gave her an amused look. "I thought you might change your mind. But do take into consideration the fact that I am still going to use you as a test subject." He released Sam from her bounds and pointed to the controls.

Sam found that her hands were shaking as she stood in front of the array of dials and gauges. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It had been ten years since the accident, and even then she hadn't set the controls.

Once, after a fight with Danny, Desiree the wishing ghost had taken away Danny's memory and powers and Sam used a picture to correctly set the portal so that Danny would become a half ghost again and defeat Desiree. But, again that was ten years ago.

"Samantha," Vlad called from his vantage point next to Jazz's chair. "We don't have all day dear. "Hurry, hurry."

"Don't rush me!" Sam yelled. "I have to remember!" She turned one dial and then another. She felt weak and sick with fear.

"Th-there," She stammered as she turned and looked at Vlad. "That's the best I can do."

Vlad nodded his head then took Sam by the arm and marched her to the chair. "Don't look so frightened Samantha," Vlad said in a soothing tone. "If this works, there will be no impediment keeping you from entering into wedded bliss with Daniel. Think of the positives my dear."

"Please don't do this Vlad," Sam said. "I don't want to be half ghost. Neither does Jazz. Look at her."

Vlad shook his head. "Irrelevant," he said as he walked away from the portal.

"I really am doing you a favor," Vlad said. "Perhaps one day you'll thank me for this." He walked over to the controls and hit the button which would power up the portal.

Sam closed her eyes tight, she could feel the floor vibrating and a loud electronic buzzing as the hair on her arms began to stand on end. "Say good bye to Samantha Manson," Vlad called then pushed the button. "And hello to Samantha Phantom."

The ghost portal whirred and buzzed then burst to life. Tucker and Jazz closed their eyes. They expected some sort of scream or noise from Sam, but there was silence. Everyone waited and waited…finally Vlad turned off the portal and stood back in shock as the machine shut down.

"No!" Jazz said her eyes going wide. She turned her head and looked the other way.

Tucker sat with his eyes transfixed to the portal. His eyes wide and full of terror. Vlad sat down where he stood, knowing that his life was now forfeit.

Through years of testing and prodding Vlad knew that certain aspects of Danny's ghost powers had grown vastly stronger than his own. He also knew that Danny wouldn't hesitate to destroy him. Vlad looked at Tucker in sympathy. It was likely, Vlad thought, that Tucker would suffer a similar if not worse fate than himself, for the death of Samantha Manson, the love of Danny's life.

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"Tucker," Jazz said softly as she sat on the cold floor with the crying Techno Geek's head in her lap. "Tucker I'm so sorry." Vlad had, in shock, released them from their bounds and walked shakily from the lab. Tucker had tried to stand but immediately fell to the floor in profound anguish which threatened Jazz's composure, she was trying to hold on to her emotions, but it was growing more and more difficult.

"You loved her too," Tucker said as he kept his eyes shut tight. "Don't tell me you're sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm the one to blame."

"Sweetie," Jazz murmured softly as she bent forward and kissed his cheek. "The only person to blame is Vlad. Vlad is the one who kidnapped Sam. Vlad is the one who pushed the button."

Tucker took several deep breaths then sat up and looked into Jazz's eyes. "Do you think Danny is going to understand that?"

"He will," Jazz answered softly. "Not right away. But he will. Besides you and I, we can be a family together. We'll get married. Move to Florida raise a family. The grief will subside. We'll be happy."

"No," Tucker said as he pulled away from Jazz. "My life is as good as over. I had a hand in killing my best friend." More tears began to pour down his face. "Do you have any idea how much I loved her Jazz?"

"I think I may have a fair idea," Jazz answered softly.

"And I was so mean to her. She needed me and the last few months I've been so mean to her. I loved her so much and as much as I loved her, I know Danny loved her more..."

"Tucker," Jazz whispered. "You're hysterical. You need to calm down."

"I promised Danny I'd never let anything happen to her," Tucker continued. "Do you know how hard it is keeping Sam out of trouble? She's such a head strong brat. She tortured me relentlessly. She was my best friend." Tucker covered his face with his hands and sobbed. "What am I going to do now?"

"You still have me," Jazz answered softly. "I'm still your friend Tuck, and I still love you. I'll protect you from Danny…"

"No!" Tucker shook his head. "When Danny comes to kill me. I want you to let him do it! I don't want to go through life knowing….he hates me. And you will too Jazz. You'll grow to hate me too."

"You're grief is understandable," Jazz began forcefully. "It's painful to lose loved ones. But the talk of letting your life end is unreasonable and unacceptable Tucker. Pull yourself together. We need to be strong for Danny. You need to be there for Danny. He's going to need you." Tucker closed his eyes then laid his head back down on the floor.

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Sorry this is a short chapter. I'm not feeling like writing more, yet I want to give you this chapter. I hope its okay. If there is something lacking. Let me know. Darn the flu! I really shouldn't have mentioned it in this story. Now it has attacked me.