Author's Note: So this turned into way more than I even originally planned. I hope you guys enjoy it; I know it took forever to get here. I really love this story, though, and I hope you guys do, too.
Rating: M, just like the other one. I like continuity.
"Sam, you can't give up. I know you, and you're not the kind of person to be defeated."
"It's so hard, though. I miss you so much."
"I know. I miss you, too. You need to know that. But I've got work to do here…"
"Where is 'here?' I have no idea where you are!"
In a smooth and fast motion, Danny reached forward and pulled Sam to him. For a split second she expected to kiss him, but she stopped just short of it, their faces inches apart. His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her against him and Sam marveled at how real it felt. She knew this was a dream, but it didn't feel like one. Smiling, Danny reached up his other hand to bury it in her hair.
"Leave your hair down more. It's so beautiful. You're beautiful."
He was tilting her head back, and Sam had to concentrate very hard before she got swept away by him. "You didn't answer my question," she whispered.
He grinned. "Beautiful and intelligent. How could you possibly love a guy like me?"
She didn't answer, simply placed her hand on his chest and went up on tiptoe, forcing their faces closer together. "I want to kiss you," she said.
"Then do it."
She nodded and leaned in.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!
This time, it was definitely her alarm clock. She reached over and slammed it off, grumbling as she got out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. Minutes later, she was in the shower.
She smiled as hot water poured over her tired body. She'd been taking cold showers for almost a week—it was nice to have her heating back. Thanks, Langdon, she thought, luxuriating in the warm pressure. A scowl came to her face, however, when she thought of what she had to do to earn this heat.
Sandy Manning. She was as annoying as she was perky, and that was saying a lot. Every single day she came to training with a smile, no matter how early it was. Sam had to concede that Langdon had been right, she was a fast learner, but that only redeemed her slightly in Sam's eyes. That day would be hell—it was their first day of field work.
Sam left the shower and got dressed, strapping on her shoulder holster and moving to the mirror. She pulled a hair-tie off her wrist and swept her hair back into a ponytail just like she did every morning, but stopped. In the dream, Danny told her that her hair looked nice down. Dropping her locks, she slipped the tie back onto her wrist and grabbed her gym bag.
Sam hadn't gotten much sleep, and she mused over this while driving to work, caffeinated tea in hand. For the past two weeks, ever since her trip to Amity Park, she'd been having strange dreams. Well, she supposed dreams about Danny weren't strange, as she'd been having them almost nightly for ten years. But these dreams were different; they changed what happened. Ever since Danny went missing, Sam had been reliving her times with him. But for the dreams to change, for her to see things that didn't happen—that was strange.
And it was keeping her up at night. Not that she minded when it was for Danny, but… did her alarm clock have to cut the dream off right before the kiss every time?
Yes, it did, because life hated her.
She knew life hated her because when she arrived at the precinct, Sandy was actually standing in Sam's parking space, waiting. If life didn't hate her, why would they have sent her this person? Why? What did she do to deserve this!
"Hi, Ms. Manson! I'm so excited for today; I can't believe I'm finally getting to go out in the field, and I…" At Sam's blatant glare, the young girl swallowed thickly. "I—I mean, hey. You look like shit." She grimaced at her own use of the swear word.
All Sam could do was laugh. After all the time she'd spent with the girl, seeing her try to follow Sam's first official order was… just too much. She laughed and laughed, and though Sandy became visibly uncomfortable, Sam kept laughing. Finally, she stood from where she'd been leaning against the car. "Good work, Manning. You've got to have grit to tell me I look like shit, especially this early. If anyone else but Tucker or Langdon did that, they'd be staring at the dirty side of my boot."
"Um… right, sure Ms.—ah, Manson. Just Manson," she added before Sam could correct her—again.
Grabbing her tea, Sam walked forward and looped an arm of Sandy's shoulder. "I might just break you in yet, Manning. Maybe today won't be so bad after all."
Together they entered the precinct, where it was obvious that everyone who saw them was shocked at Sam's physical contact. Usually she had a personal bubble, only to be intruded on by Foley, who did so in a simple, brotherly way. To catch her with an arm around a trainee… it was something for the memo board; that was for sure.
Sam ignored the staring and sat at her desk, motioning Sandy into the chair across from her. She flipped through the files on her desk, not really reading but thinking that she'd only pick up the easy calls the first day. A missing parolee, perhaps the clean-up of a small robbery. She was half-way through her morning paperwork when Sandy spoke.
"Why are you so bitter?"
Sam almost spit out the sip of tea she'd just taken. "Excuse me?" she asked, coughing roughly.
"I just… you're a very sarcastic, bitter person. I was wondering why."
"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to dive into the personal life of a cop?" Sam growled out, not meeting the girl's eyes.
"No."
She sighed and flipped the file closed. "Well, don't. Ninety percent of cops have something in their past they don't want to talk about, and that's why they do what they do. You see the officers with families; they have a hard time balancing. A good field agent keeps no connections, always remaining open for a call. If you let someone in, they'll hold you back. Learn that lesson fast, Manning. I wouldn't want you failing the hard way."
"But you have Tucker Foley."
"Tucker's been with me since I was a teenager, and he's a cop, too. He understands if I have to leave suddenly, because he has to do that sometimes. We know each other, and we understand each other. Do you have a brother or a best friend in the force, Manning?"
"No, ma'am."
"Then don't relate yourself to me. That's another lesson you need to learn. Never assume someone's on the same ground as you are. You're always wrong."
"Right."
Sam was happy to see that Sandy had abandoned the notebook. The trainee sat stiffly, watching those around her as she was being watched. She really was a good kid, just a little soft and squishy. Maybe doing something easy for the first day was the wrong way to go about things.
"Alright, we're wasting daylight. Let's go."
It looked like something bigger wasn't in Fate's plans. The day had been utterly dull, and though it was still early afternoon, it felt like it should have been midnight. Absolutely nothing had happened, to the point where Sam was wondering if all the criminals in the city had decided to take a day off. Sandy was getting antsy. Sam was getting bored… and pissed.
"What's that in the back seat?" Sandy asked.
"A whip."
"Why do you have a whip?"
"It does almost the job of a gun without bothering Internal Affairs."
"Do you always carry it with you?"
"Yes."
"Are you good?"
"Yes."
"You've been using it a long time?"
"Yes."
"Will you show me?"
"Will you shut up?"
"Probably not."
With an angry grunt and fire in her eyes, Sam swerved her unmarked car into an alley. She grabbed the whip and stepped out, finding an open space. Sandy followed more slowly, somewhat afraid of Sam's violent reaction. Once Sam saw that the girl was paying attention, she began.
"The whole basis of using a whip is getting your entire body into the motion." She lifted her left arm high and began to circle it, leaning and stepping as she did so. "You need to swing and prepare, and once you and the whip are moving together, you can do anything. A gun is impersonal; you grab cold metal and lift a finger. With a whip, the leather is warm. It's part of you. And once you know how to use a whip, there's no such thing as a misfire. The damage it does…" She brought her arm down and back, making the whip crack loudly in the still alley. "It does it on purpose."
Sandy spoke softly, but Sam could hear. "How much damage does it do?"
With a small sigh, Sam let her arm go lax. "I can give you a tiny tap on the wrist, or I can give you a straight slice to the jugular."
There was silence for a while as Sam picked up the circle again, simply swinging the long whip over her head. "I thought you were right-handed," Sandy commented finally.
"I am," Sam answered. "I need my right hand for my gun. As good as I am with a whip, I sometimes miss knocking a bullet out of the air. The people I fight don't understand that when I use my whip on them, it becomes more personal. They just think I'm crazy. Hey, maybe I am."
Sandy walked forward, seemingly unbothered by the whip that began to swing over her head. She stepped right up to Sam, staying just out of the way so that the rhythm could remain. "You're not crazy. You're just in pain."
The words had been said in such a soft, deep voice that for a moment Sam was unsure that Sandy had said them. She was used to a high, fast-moving sound, whereas this was said with care. The whip cracked against the brick building next to them and came down, the tip coiling down to rest beside Sam's ankle.
"I'm what?"
Sandy was about to answer, but she was cut off by screaming at the mouth of the alley. The scream was quickly followed by two blasts—gunshot fire. Sam shot to the main street, Sandy close behind, and they arrived just in time to see a man with a gun and a large duffel bag go running down the street. One person lay on the sidewalk in front of a bank, unmoving.
"What do we do?" Sandy asked frantically.
"Call for an ambulance and back-up, we've got an armed robbery suspect on the move toward uptown, one civilian down. Stay here and keep everyone as calm as you can. I'm going after him."
"Manson, I don't think that's a good—"
Sandy didn't get to finish, however, as Sam was already in hot pursuit of the man weaving through people on the sidewalk.
Sam had tunnel vision, zeroed in on the hooded man with a gun. He was running blindly; she could tell. His movements were erratic; his expression frantic. This guy was either a first-timer or his buddy bailed, and now he had no idea where to run. He was brandishing his gun as he went, making sure people got out of the way, but that made it easier for Sam. She was catching up when he turned onto a side-street and she lost sight of him. Sam ran faster, leaning into the curve as she made the turn.
Pain exploded in her right forearm, and it couldn't have come as more of a shock. The tunnel vision refocused, and Sam saw the smoking barrel of the man's gun, still pointed in her direction. With a quick glance at her arm, she could see blood beginning to stain her black long-sleeved shirt. Another look at the man, pain and retribution in her eyes, sent him running again.
He got four steps when her whip lashed out, catching him behind the knee and bringing him to the ground. His gun skittered away and she struck again, tearing a slice across his back. He fell and rolled over; gazing up at the woman he'd thought was a regular cop. She curled the whip back and let it fly, this time causing the tip to wrap around his left wrist tightly. He was shocked into stillness, giving her enough time to step forward and catch his other hand, binding them together tightly with the leather. She placed her boot on his chest and pulled, forcing his arms to become taut and useless. She glared at the gun now lying on the sidewalk.
"You're screwed, buddy."
And she waited.
She recognized the wound in her arm. She acknowledged the pain, accepted it, and moved on. A bullet to the forearm wasn't going to hold her back much, though she was thankful the guy was a bad shot. Had she been hit in the chest or stomach, things could have turned out differently. Maybe refusing to wear a bullet-proof vest was a bad decision after all…
Within minutes, three marked cop cars, an ambulance, and Sandy had made their way to Sam's location. The scene when they got there; a bleeding Officer Manson, standing victoriously over a very scared-looking wanna-be criminal, would have been funny were it not still a hazardous situation. The gun was grabbed and bagged, the man was put in real handcuffs, and Sam's wound was checked out by a medic.
"You're lucky; the bullet missed the bone and went right through. You'll need physical therapy, and since it's your shooting arm, a good amount of time behind a desk."
"Desk duty! Come on, I get shot by an idiot and then tortured by the precinct? How is that in any way fair?"
The medic chuckled. "It's not," he said, placing the last bandage around her arm.
It was then that Sandy trotted up, confessing her undying idolization of Sam as the best cop on Earth, and a vow to stay by her side until her injury had healed.
Yes, Sam had confirmed it. Life definitely hated her.
"Can I get you anything else?"
"I don't know, maybe some peace and quiet?"
Sandy laughed. "You know, now that I've been around you for a while, you're pretty funny."
Sam just groaned and closed her eyes.
Tucker laughed, enjoying the scene as he came upon it. "Aw, Sam, don't tell me the loneliness finally got to you… I'm telling you, self-pleasure only brings pain."
She kept her eyes closed. "Tucker, I still have my whip and one good arm, and I know where you live. Do you really want to mess with me?"
Sandy giggled. "See? Like that! That was funny."
"Manson!" Langdon called from across the room, causing those near him to flinch and hold their ears in pain. He quickly strode over to where the three were. "You did well out there. Not quite by-the-book, but you got the job done and managed to keep IA out of it. Good work."
She managed to crack a smile. "Thanks, Chief. Can I go back to the field now?"
"Ha-ha, this little one is right, Manson; you are funny!"
He sauntered away, still chuckling softly. Sam slammed her head onto the desk in front of her… repeatedly. This time, Sandy didn't find it funny. "Manson, stop that. Tucker, maybe we should go. Sam doesn't seem to want us around…"
"Wait," Sam commanded, her head still on the desk. "Tucker goes; Manning stays."
Tucker was uneasy, but nodded. "Finish your business here, and then I'm taking you home. Meet me in the parking lot when you're done, okay?"
Sam nodded, finally lifting her head. "Thanks, Tuck."
"No problem," he said and left. Sam turned to Sandy.
"Okay, now you have to explain yourself. What did you mean earlier when you told me I was in pain?"
Sandy shrugged, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "Just what I said. You're obviously in a lot of emotional pain about something from your past, and that's why you're bitter and people like to think you're crazy. They see that look in your eye—the look that says you had something… loved and lost?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sam wondered at how she'd hit the nail on the head. "You're perceptive, Manning. That's good for this job. And because you deserve a perk from me, I'll tell you this. I've loved, I've lost, and now I'm going to get that love back if it's the last thing I do." Sam stood abruptly but bumped her arm and winced. "I'm sure you can take care of the rest of this paperwork. Consider it training… and a favor."
Sam didn't bother to look back; she knew Sandy was watching her as she left. She met Tucker at her car and he drove her home, and then told her he'd find a taxi to take him back to his own car. For the few minutes he was there, Tucker fussed over Sam's wound, pampering her like he'd never let anyone at work see. They'd get the wrong idea… either that he was gay or he had Sam under some kind of hypnosis in order to make her let him so close. In reality, they just cared that much.
He gave her a hug before leaving and murmured something about this giving them a chance to spend more time away from work in order to take care of ghostly matters. She just nodded and kissed his cheek, thanking him for the help.
What would I have done without Tucker? She wondered about it later. He'd been both family and friend after she'd gotten too sick of her parents to stay around them any longer. He'd helped her out so many times, yet taken so little in return. Really, he deserved so much more than to shoulder her pain.
She'd have to do something good for him… something to repay him for all the pain she'd dumped on his lap.
Sam entered her bedroom listlessly, intending on looking at the photo album again. Seeing herself and her friends so young and carefree was touching and…fulfilling somehow. She needed that feeling just then. However, as she pulled the book from her bag, something small and hard fell onto the floor. Confused, Sam bent down and picked up the tiny object. When she finally recognized what it was, she gasped.
In her palm was the class ring Danny had once intended to give to Valerie, but had given to Sam and forgotten about it. Sam laughed out loud, remembering her hopefulness for weeks that Danny was finally serious about a relationship… though the inscription had always confused her. Who the heck was Wes?
She tilted the ring, expecting to see the familiar letters, but they were upside down. She almost turned the ring over when she noticed something. The letters were not w-e-s. They were s-a-m. The realization hit Sam like a punch in the back, and her breath was knocked out. The inscription read "Sam?" How could she not have noticed? Wow, she must have been stupid as a teenager…
She read the inscription again, barely believing her eyes. The class ring, the ring that Danny wanted to give to his girlfriend, read "Sam" on the inside… it filled her with such an odd giddiness that she giggled, a sound that had not come from Sam Manson since she donned her first Gothic boots.
Flopping back onto the bed, Sam smiled like a school-girl, clutching the ring to her chest. Then, on an impulse, she slipped it on her finger. Strangely, it was a perfect fit. With a content sigh at this connection to Danny, Sam closed her eyes and rested, daring to hope that this good feeling would continue in her sleep.
"Just tell me where you are! Please, Danny…"
"I can't, Sam, I'm bound. I have a duty here. You know if I could, I'd come back to you… I'd never leave you in the dark for so long on purpose."
Sam turned away from him, wrapping her good arm around herself. To her surprise, Danny's arms soon joined her own. He stroked his hands over her skin, and paused when they encountered something foreign. Sam knew what it was.
"The ring."
"My dad gave me that to give to the girl I wanted to be mine. I think somehow, that girl was always you. I've never been able to tell these things to you before… it's a great feeling."
Sam faced him and slipped her arms around his neck. "It's great to hear them. But Danny—I want this to be the way it really is. I just keep hoping these dreams come true, and I know it's foolish but this all feels so real." She gazed at his face, realizing for the first time that he had changed in her mind. He was taller than her, now, and his hair was shorter, though not by much. His face was tougher and seemed older, though his blue eyes still held the joy of youth. His shoulders were broader; his voice deeper. This intrigued Sam, as it had just seemed natural in her other dreams. She was noticing it for the first time…
"Sam, listen to me. This is something that was hard for me to learn, and it took me a long time, but I'm going to say it to you now. Reality is only as true as you make it."
"What? I'm confused. Danny, it's not often you say something that can confuse me."
He chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Is your love for me real?"
"Yes."
"Is my love for you real?"
"I believe so."
"Are your memories of me real?"
"Definitely."
"Then I'm real. 'We' are real. As long as you remember that, everything will get better."
She gazed up at him. The look in his eyes was so caring, so loving, that it broke her heart. This was what she wanted for the rest of her life. She had to be with him, but she was so tired of failing. Ten whole years…
"I can't run away from this any more. I think somehow, I've always been afraid of throwing myself into finding out where you were, because I didn't want to acknowledge the possibility that you were actually gone." She stepped away from him, pacing around the pale nothingness of her dream. "In the beginning, I tried to forget about it; just move on, you know? But you're a part of me—you are me, and I can't fight myself. I know this is probably confusing to you, but it is how I feel. You're home to me, and I want to go home, Danny!" Sam's voice cracked, and she fell to her knees. Danny stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I understand, Sam. Tell me more."
"Through all these years there's been this hope that you'll just come back. I think about how when we were kids, I denied my feelings for you, and that seems so stupid now, because I'd give anything just to go back and do it again. I would have told you… I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for denying us the times we could have had."
"Just remember the times we did have. Were the fake-out make-outs so bad?"
She laughed bitterly. "No, they were great, but I could have done with more make-out and less fake-out. Do you see me? Even now, as I'm breaking down in my own mind, you're holding me high. You're my strength, my power, my peace, and my joy. My life revolves around you and my love for you. If I could just reach you I'd give myself to you. I guess through all this time I've been facing your disappearance like something to take revenge against. I thought all I needed was to find you, but I've been ignoring the truth; all I need is you. Whether I find you or you come home or I see you in my dreams, I need you."
Gently, Danny took Sam's arm and helped her to her feet. "Don't you see? That's what I meant earlier. You have me. You've always had me, Sam, and you always will."
There was a long silence as Sam took in these words. "I've been ignoring my pain for so long, hoping it would go away. But the cuts were too deep. Tell me; is this like my bullet-wound? If I accept the pain and just forget it, will it go away quicker?"
"Maybe. What do you have to lose?"
She wrapped her left arm around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder. "That's a good question. Danny, you make me so strong."
"You're the strong one, Sam. You just love me."
"Yes… Yes, I do love you. Danny I think I understand what my mind has been screaming at me for so long. I don't care what comes at me anymore. I can take it. I can face anything, and I won't close my eyes against darkness. I am alive, and as long as I'm alive, I'm going to love you and be strong for you, and for myself, and for Tucker. You are real, and you are alive. Danny, I've always loved you. I always will."
Danny grinned widely and infectiously before dipping down and catching Sam in an impromptu kiss. It was so sudden, and so unexpected, that for a moment, she was still. Then she returned the kiss, leaning into him and letting joy overtake her. When they broke apart, Sam was grinning just like him.
"This won't make a lot of sense now, but it will soon. When you wake up, tell Isandrad hello."
Sam sent him a weird look. "Who's Isandrad?"
"Just trust me. I love you." He kissed her once more before fading away.
For the first time in ten years, Sam woke up peacefully.
And then got freaked out.
"What the hell is this? The Wizard of Oz!"
Tucker and Sandy were sitting side-by-side on the edge of Sam's bed, and had been gazing at her as she slept. Tucker burst out laughing.
"Sorry to break it to you, Sam, but you're not quite sweet enough to be Dorothy."
"Oh, shut it. Man, I had the weirdest dream. Danny and I were confessing our love to each other—"
"Whoa, do I really want to hear this?" Tucker asked, putting his hands up.
She just glared. "And he was giving me all this advice… like, philosophy. And then he told me to say hello to… Isandrad."
Sandy muttered something too soft for Sam to hear.
"What was that?" Tucker asked.
"Nothing, just saying you're probably delirious from your pain medication. I came over to bring you some soup my grandmother used as a cure-all, and when you wouldn't answer your door or phone, I called Tucker."
"Oh, okay, well thanks for caring, Sandy."
There was a pause. "You called me Sandy."
Sam just smiled. "That's your name, isn't it?"
"Yeah…" Sandy replied, gazing at her strangely. "Yeah, it is."
She didn't stay much longer, simply showed Sam where the soup was and then left. Tucker, however, remained.
"Okay, now tell me what's up."
"Nothing's up. What are you talking about?"
"You were being nice to her."
"Can't I be nice to someone without getting Twenty Questions?"
"No. Sam, you're a naturally sarcastic person. I'm used to it, but others can find it mean. You were being sweet a few minutes ago, and I want to know why!" he said indignantly.
Sam huffed and pouted. "I guess it had to do with what Danny said. I'm more… comfortable with things now."
Tucker just stared at her. "Speaking of what Danny said… did you hear what Sandy muttered under her breath?"
"No. I thought you didn't either."
"I pretended not to. She said, 'That boy's going to hear it when I get home.' That is definitely not normal, especially taken into context with what we were discussing. Now, can you tell me about this dream? I need to record it in my PDA."
Sam shifted uncomfortably. "This wasn't the only dream. I've had more. And I think… I think I know kind of what happened to Danny."
"Lucy, you have some 'splaining to do."
So she explained and told Tucker about the dreams she'd been having since their trip to Amity Park. Sam paid special care to the telling of the one in which Vlad attacked Danny and then was taken by someone into the ghost zone. She told him how in the other dreams, Danny kept saying something about a duty he had to uphold. She also explained how Sam hadn't been sure that the dreams weren't actually dreams… until then. That's why she hadn't told him this before.
"And that's where you come in."
"I knew Vlad was acting shadier than usual. We've got to do something."
"We can't! Vlad basically runs Amity Park now. If we try to take him on, we'll have half the ghost zone on our butts."
"What? Are we supposed to just hang around and wait for something to happen?"
Sam was getting aggravated. "No. But we can't run off half-cocked."
"Sam, he killed Danny."
"NO, he didn't!" Sam's eyes flashed and glowed green, illuminating the previously dusky room. Tucker thrashed in surprise and fell onto the floor, landing with a hard thud. When he finally got up, Sam was looking around frantically. "What's happening? Why is the room bright? Tucker, what's going on?"
"Sam…" he whispered, leaning closer. "Your eyes are glowing. They're bright like… like Danny's!"
As Sam's anger faded so did the light, and she brought a hand to her chin in deep thought. "Of course. Something Danny and I talked about in my 'dream' was how we are a part of each other. 'You have me. You've always had me,' he said."
"Are you saying you have ghost powers?"
"No, I don't think so. I would have inadvertently used them. But I do think I've got a part of Danny inside me. Almost like I'm… channeling him."
"Whoa. This is getting freaky, Sam, and you know what happens when things get freaky."
"Things get done. Tuck, I think we're really close to finding him. If I'm channeling him, that means he's still out there somewhere. We need answers." Sam jumped out of bed, not even caring about her arm. "And I think I know just where to find them."
A figure stood beside a glowing picture, watching a scene unfold. He smiled.
"Good job, guys. Somehow I knew you'd never give up. And now you're almost here…"
"Daniel!" called a voice from the adjoining room, and Danny changed the picture on the screen quickly before turning around.
"Yes, Clockwork?"
A very old ghost came floating into the room, carrying with him a large staff. "There's been another revolt. We must act quickly."
Danny nodded and Clockwork floated quickly away. Taking one last look at the screen before transforming into his ghost form, Danny smiled. "Soon," he whispered.
"Oh! Hey, you guys, this is kind of a surprise. We just saw each other like—hey, what?" Sandy asked as Tucker and Sam physically lifted her back into her own home. "What's going on?"
"It's your latest training lesson," Sam explained as Tucker put Sandy in a chair and tied down her wrists. "Interrogation."
Sandy chuckled nervously. "Are the ropes really necessary?"
"Yep. Who's Isandrad?" Sam asked directly, cutting to the point. Sandy's eyes widened.
"I have no idea. I've never—"
"Don't give us that. I heard what you said at Sam's," Tucker pointed out.
"I didn't—"
"Okay, new tactic. Take note, Manning, this is the art of intimidation." Sam brought a hand to her belt and shocked Sandy by uncoiling it into a full-length whip. She backed up and set herself in a striking position. "Don't make me use this. Tell us who Isandrad is."
Sandy's eyes were wide, but—Tucker noticed—not tearing. Someone who is really afraid begins to tear up, whether they actually cry or not. It's the body's first emotional defense mechanism, using crying to express the fear physically. But Sandy… she just seemed anxious. And she didn't answer. Tucker knew she'd seen Sam wield a whip, so this also was a surprise to him.
Apparently, it surprised Sam, too. She cracked the whip directly over Sandy's head, and was sure she must have felt the wind from it. When Sandy still didn't speak, Sam tried again. This time, the whip broke the air directly in front of Sandy's face. When the whip recoiled, Sandy hung her head.
"I am Isandrad."
You could have heard a pin drop for about five seconds.
"Huh?" said Tucker finally.
"Okay, I'll explain this easier. First, can I get up?" she asked. Tucker looked at Sam, who nodded, and he went to untie her. Once free, Sandy moved to get a piece of paper and a pen. Neatly, she wrote her name, and then crossed out Y, N, I, N, and G. Sam leaned over her shoulder to read…
"Sand-Man! But… you're a woman."
"I'm kind of both, actually. Here, let me finish. So Sandy Manning is connected to Sand Man, but also, Sandy is short for Sandra, the main part of the name Isandrad."
Tucker was confused. "So… are you a ghost?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm not. There's another part to this. If you take the Sandra out of Isandrad you are left with…"
"ID!" Sam exclaimed. "Freud's Ego, Superego, and Id theory… the Id is man's most primal inner desires."
Sandy nodded. "So you see; I'm not quite the Sand Man. I use dreams to show people their inner desires so that they may utilize them more fully. And to answer your earlier comment… I can portray myself physically as either man or woman in order to further aid whoever I'm dealing with."
"Okay." Sam sat down where Isandrad had been previously, placing her left hand to her chin. "So you've been bringing Danny into my dreams to help me find him, because that's my inner desire?"
"No. If you notice, I didn't really help you get any closer to finding Danny. But I helped you to realize that even though you haven't seen him these ten years, he's never been gone. Your inner desire was for love. Danny gives you that."
"Alright, alright, I think I get it now," Tucker said triumphantly. "So you found Sam in Amity Park, I'm assuming, since that's when the dreams started." At Isandrad's nod he continued. "But you said something about Danny hearing it from you when you get home. Where is home?"
Isandrad was quiet for a long while. Finally she rolled her eyes and motioned them to follow her down to the basement. "Clockwork's going to kill me…"
"Isandrad, if I didn't know already what would happen if I killed you, I would kill you."
"Yes, I know, Clockwork. But what was I supposed to do? Do you want me to have a scar across my eye like you do? She was brandishing a whip in my face!"
"I know that. I saw it."
"Then why are you yelling at me?"
"I'm not yelling. I'm getting my point across."
Tucker and Sam watched as Isandrad and Clockwork argued. In all honesty, it reminded them of themselves.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we'd like a little explanation!" Sam called.
Clockwork only looked at them for a moment. "Do you see? This is what we get. I'll not talk to them. You brought them here."
Clockwork sat in thin air, crossing his arms as he changed into a small child. Isandrad sighed.
"Ever since the attacks on Amity Park, the ghost zone has been in utter chaos. There's no order whatsoever with Walker gone and Plasmius in power in the human world. And the Observ—I mean, a group of beings who like to observe and not interfere with things, decided that Clockwork couldn't meddle in this with his time-keeping and suspended his powers. They said that the disruption was needed for something. As always, Clockwork had other ideas, and he called me in to help. Clockwork saved Danny from Vlad and brought him here. I brought forth Danny's inner desire to be worth the title of hero, and now he's fighting to bring the ghost zone back to relative peace. It is difficult, however, to unite a group of paranormal beings all set on ruling the world. He's been facing roadblocks for the last ten years. It was… ahem…" She paused and glanced at Clockwork. "Danny insisted I help him to reach you. He said it has been far too long for you to be left with nothing, though I'm not sure he intended—"
"Yes, he did," Clockwork interjected.
"Well I'm sure he was focused on—"
"No, he wasn't."
"He's been doing a wonderful—"
"Yes, he has, but we're still not there yet. We need to bring Plasmius down, but I can't use my powers to find out what will happen if we do."
"Aw, it looks like for once you're running blindly just like the rest of us!"
They began to bicker again, and weren't fazed by the new voice that entered the room.
"Are you guys fighting again? Jeez, you sound like—" Danny entered the room but stopped dead as soon as he saw the scene. "Tucker! Sam!" He rushed forward then, bringing both of them into the biggest hug of their lives. "I knew you guys wouldn't give up, and you didn't let me down. Man, Tuck, I've got to thank you." He stepped back and began shaking Tucker's hand. "You did great at keeping Sam in-line and safe, and you have no idea how much that means to me. Best friends for life, right?"
"Right. I just can't believe all this. This is way more complicated than the search-and-rescue we've been thinking of."
"Yeah, I know; sorry about keeping you in the dark so long. It wasn't my choice."
"We know," Sam said, grinning. Danny turned and looked at her, his hand still clasping Tuckers. His eyes ran up and down her body, landing finally on her pure violet gaze. He was just like he had been in her dreams; the same Danny, just a little older.
"Sam…" he said quietly and stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Those weren't dreams, were they?" she asked.
"No, they were real."
"Reality is only as true as you make it."
Danny grinned and kissed her, eliciting a croon from Isandrad, a harrumph from Clockwork, and a roll of the eyes from Tucker.
"I can't believe it took you guys this long to get together! I lost so many bets!"
Later, after a long discussion of catch-up between the three friends, Clockwork and Danny sat down together.
"Did you put down the revolt?"
"Yes. Let me tell you, Clock, as much as Walker hated me, he was a big help. I wish he hadn't been exiled… in fact, I wish I knew where he was period."
"He's in Amity Park," Tucker said, entering the room unannounced. Clockwork sighed and grumbled something about too many houseguests.
"How do you know that?" Danny asked.
"We found him near us, trying to survive. We brought him back to Amity Park in return for some information. But hey, I thought you'd been watching us."
Danny chuckled. "I can't watch all the time. I had to sneak in glimpses between fighting and Clockwork here being on my back."
"I see." Tucker sat down at the table they were stationed at. "Continue."
Danny shook his head with a smile. "Anyway, the uprisings are getting worse. The closer we get to bringing everyone together, the harder some of them push back. They just get into such big fights that everything goes wrong and we're sent back to square one." He sighed. "We have other ghosts coming back into the zone from Amity Park, and all they talk about is "Vlad keeps us from doing things" this and "I can't take over the world" that. It's giving the in-zone ghosts motivation, but they don't want to fight him. He's too powerful."
"But you're a half-a, also!" Clockwork argued. "Surely you can convince them that you are strong enough to go against him."
"Not when the last battle I fought, I lost."
"Oh, this is so frustrating! I wish I could see…"
"Well, you can't. But I'll tell you this, Clock. If we don't act soon, Vlad's going to get wind of what we're doing and he's going to stop us before we can stop him." Danny stood. "Now that I know where Walker is, I'm going to try and get his help. I'm sure he wants control of his jail back. See you around, Tuck."
Danny walked away, but just before he left, he heart Tucker say to Clockwork, "Man, it's good to hear his voice again."
Danny smiled. It was great having his friends back. He'd missed them a lot, especially…
"Sam," Danny said, poking his head into the room she was staying in. Clockwork's domain was like a castle, though he only used a few of the rooms. Sam was currently reading a book on the time-space continuum.
"Danny," she said, putting the book down. "Come in."
He did so and sat beside her on the bed. "You have no idea how happy I am to have you here, Sam. I was so tired of living without you guys. I didn't care about fighting; I'd fought before. But I'd never done it without my two best friends beside me." He wrapped his arm around her. "I wanted to reach out and touch you so badly. We went through the most important years of our lives without each other. While our classmates were off getting married and making families, we were stranded."
"I know what you mean," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "But look at it this way. If all of this hadn't happened, we wouldn't be right here, right now. And this is great."
"Yeah," he said, lifting her face so his lips could touch hers. "It is."
They kissed in earnest, trying desperately to make up for lost time. Sam felt so good in Danny's arms; he could hardly get over it. He shifted her forward and onto his lap, bringing their bodies closer together. Sam marveled at the change in his body shape compared to hers. She felt like they were meeting for the first time, and a chill of pleasure ran through her. After a long while they separated, but kept their arms around each other. Well, Sam kept one arm around him anyway.
"This stupid injury. I can't even hug you right."
Danny smiled and brought her right arm forward, slowly undoing the bandages. He revealed the wound, and though he frowned at it, he placed his hand over the healing hole. His palm glowed and Sam felt warm, and when he pulled away, her arm was healed.
"Is that better?" Danny asked.
"How—how did you do that?"
"Actually, it's a little something I picked up from a nurse ghost. Came in handy, let me tell you."
"Yeah, I'll bet. Thanks."
"No problem. Sam, I hate to ask this of you, but I need a favor."
"Anything."
He grinned at her readiness. "You probably won't like this. I need you to go into Amity Park and find Walker. I need him to help me against Vlad."
"No problem," she said confidently.
Danny was more than a little shocked. "Just like that?"
"Well, yeah. The only reason I hated going there was because of what happened to you. I know you're fine now, and I know you're safe. You're fighting, just like you always do. I'll go back to Amity Park." She got up and shoved him playfully down onto the bed. "And I'll kick ghost ass better than you do when I get there, Phantom. Just watch me."
She sauntered out of the room, leaving Danny with a somewhat stunned expression on his face. "I want him back here in one piece!" he yelled after her, only getting laughter in response.
She went to Danny's house first. To her delight the basement was still intact. It seemed the ghosts wouldn't dare venture too far into the home of Danny Phantom and his ghost-hunting parents, even if they had moved long ago. Sam raided the drawers and cabinets, grabbing any weapon she recognized and knew would work. By the time she was back on the street, Sam had a wide belt with a Thermos, a Jack-o-Nine-Tails, a Boo-oo-merang, a mini-ghost-shield, and a large ecto-gun attached to it. On each thigh she'd strapped a smaller ecto-gun, and in her left hand was her whip. Her right hand she left free—only because she had to turn handles on doors. She made her way slowly and assuredly across the city, no longer scarred by the memories of the buildings around her. Yes, she was sad the town had fallen to such ruin, but at least she was finally doing something about it.
She headed straight for the destroyed jailhouse, and wasn't disappointed.
"Well, you look healthier, but still a little lonely," Sam said to Walker as she came up behind him. He whirled and glared at her.
"Manson. I'm kind of surprised you came back here. I thought this place was a little too spooky for you. Now, I didn't attack you last time because you'd done me a favor, but I can't promise the same this time."
Sam rolled her eyes and drew the large gun, pointing it at him as the sound of the charger took the place of any words she could say. When Walker just stared at her, however, she tried something else.
"I'm taking you in, Walker."
He laughed maliciously. "Taking me in? What in hell would you take me in for?"
"Service against Vlad Plasmius."
At this Walker paused and eyed her interestedly. "Plasmius hasn't done anything to me since my stay here. Now, I know he can get a little rough with the others sometimes, but… hey, we all need some discipline now and again. I got no reason to go against Plasmius. Maybe if you gave me a little incentive…"
He never finished the sentence. Sam fired the gun, intentionally hitting the wall right over his shoulder. He turned to find a large scorch mark there as testament.
"I'll give you incentive," Sam replied darkly. "You come now or I make sure you never haunt right again. My orders were to bring you back in one piece, but I'll gladly compromise them if you make me. I'll be forgiven."
He seemed to find this somewhat compelling. "Orders? Whose orders?"
"Danny Phantom's."
As Walker let himself be sucked into the Fenton Thermos, Sam grinned. She looked straight up and smiled, knowing that Danny had listened to every word.
Damn, that girl was great.
Danny mused on her as the screen changed and Clockwork became absorbed in watching the time stream. She was great cop, a great ghost hunter, and a great kisser to boot.
Oh yeah, Danny had gotten really lucky with her.
It was only minutes later that Sam marched proudly into Clockwork's inner sanctum, letting Danny lead her to one of the holding cells in the lower levels of the castle. On the way down Sam was whistling, and Danny couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
"Nope. I haven't caught a ghost in ten years, and for my first one, I'd say that was pretty damn good."
He turned unexpectedly and kissed her. "Not just good. Great."
She smirked. "You just took all the fun out of gloating."
"We'll have 'fun' later," he promised, opening a door through which Sam stepped. He followed and she waited until he'd closed the door to let Walker out. By the time he'd fully materialized, she already had the gun pointed at him again.
A quick draw, too, Danny thought. "So," he said to Walker. "How've you been?"
"Phantom. You know how I've been. And I don't take kindly to being hauled in here by your woman."
"She's pretty good at it, though, isn't she? I think she could haul me anywhere and I wouldn't mind. But that's beside the point. The point is: I need you."
"And why should I help you?"
"One, you don't want to get blown to itty-bitty ghostly pieces, and two, you can have your jail back."
"My jail, huh?" Walker wondered aloud, fixing his hat atop his head. "I'd do a good deal to get my power there back. What kind of help are you looking for?"
"We need you to organize the ghosts of Amity Park into a revolt against Plasmius. I've almost got the ghosts here motivated, and if they see their friends doing the same, I know they'll step forward. When Plasmius falls, I'm going to launch an attack on the ghosts still in the human world, driving them back into the ghost zone. Once the portals are shut, you can take over here. You had order in the ghost zone once. You can have it again."
"Hmmm… all of this sound pretty appealing. And all I have to do is get the ghosts of Amity Park to attack Vlad Plasmius? The way he's treating them, it shouldn't be too hard."
"That's it. I don't want to reveal myself to them so that my attack can be secret, and they wouldn't listen to humans. That's why we need you."
"How do you know I won't betray you?"
"I'm giving you what you want. What reason would you have to betray me? As long as ghosts run Amity Park, you have no chance at getting your jail back."
Walker thought on this for a long time. It was only when Sam got bored and cocked the ecto-gun that he reacted.
"Fine, fine! I'll do what you want, but only because it's getting me what I want."
Danny grinned. "Good. Now, get back in the thermos."
"What!"
"It's the only way we can keep our location a sure secret. Sorry."
With a glare and some low muttering, Walker was sucked away.
Sam put her gun away and turned, surprised to find Danny only inches away. She jumped in surprise but he caught her around the waist, dropping his lips to her ear. His breath was warm and made Sam tremble.
"D-Danny?"
"You know, you're hot when you're wielding a weapon." He whispered, letting his mouth brush against her skin. He could feel her body moving in tiny ways, he was holding her so close. He cherished this, because though he'd 'held her' before, the dream-like state had blurred the senses. He began to kiss his way over neck, letting his hands spread over her back.
Sam's voice was shaky as she said, "Okay. This is definitely not a dream."
"Thank God," Danny agreed, pulling back to gaze down at her. "I've finally got you, Sam. After ten years of wanting you, I finally have you."
Sam reached down and removed her belt, eliminating the bulk of technology between them. She reached up to put her arms around his neck. "I've wanted you, too." She touched her lips to his, a sweet invitation. He accepted, wrapping her tightly in his embrace and kissing her back. It was something they'd been waiting to share for so long that the reality of it made everything more intense, and soon Sam could barely stand on her own two feet. Danny was supporting her and had backed against the wall, needing something solid so he wouldn't lose his balance. The pace increased and Danny turned them around, pressing Sam against the wall and effectively freeing his hands. He lifted the hem of her shirt and began sliding a hand over the exposed skin. His other hand he slid through her hair, supporting her head as his mouth descended to her neck once more.
Sam moaned and let him roam. She'd needed this, she realized. Even in high school she'd felt the need to be close to Danny, and time apart had only made it more urgent. She was a big girl now, and Danny had certainly matured as well. She knew what would come from this attraction between her and her best friend. She accepted it, and she awaited it.
His hand on her stomach glided upward, approaching new and secret territory. She didn't dare stop him, didn't dare breathe as the anticipation rose. His fingertips had just reached the under-wire of her bra when there was a sharp knock on the door, and both of them nearly jumped out of their skin.
"Hey! Guys, it's Tucker."
They remained where they were, silently giving each other the hush signal. The knocking came again and they began to grin. Danny whispered into Sam's ear, "We're not here…"
"Are you two in there?" Tucker asked from outside the room. "I'm coming in." He opened the door, and to the lovebirds' relief it swung in a way that hid them from view. Tucker entered the room and looked around, failing to find anyone. He scratched his jaw and shrugged. "Must have gone back up," he said to himself and left, closing the door behind him. As soon as his footsteps faded from earshot, Danny and Sam both broke into laughter.
"I feel like a teenager almost caught necking by her older brother!" Sam told Danny as their laughter slowed. "Should we tell him?"
"What, that we're finally together?"
"Yeah. I mean, I told him that in the dreams we were, but I don't think he quite knows…"
Danny seemed contemplative. "I've always been kind of worried that he might try to interfere."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"This isn't high school; things have changed. I'm almost positive that Tucker… you know… has feelings for you."
"Really? I haven't seen it. But then, I guess I have been kind of focused." She slid a hand up his chest and he smiled.
"I'm going to talk to him. I'm not sure I could hide this if I tried."
"Uh huh," Sam agreed, kissing him one last time. "I know what you mean."
It was later that night, and Danny finally managed to get away from Clockwork long enough to get Tucker alone. They were walking in the never-ending halls, catching up and reminiscing.
"You know, Tuck, I really want to thank you," Danny said at a break in the conversation.
"Why?"
"You've been there for Sam. I hate that I couldn't be, but you took care of her when she needed you most."
"Man, we both had hard times. She was there for me a lot, too. But hey, what are friends for?"
"Is that it then?" Danny asked apprehensively. "Friendship?"
It took Tucker a minute to answer. "There was a point where I loved her as more than a friend. I even considered asking her to marry me." Tucker chuckled and Danny's gut twisted, hoping he wouldn't have to fight his best friend for the woman he loved. "But time went on, and I think somewhere along the line I started loving her too much, you know? At this point, Sam is my sister; I don't care what the DNA says."
Peace spread through Danny, and he literally sagged with relief. "I'm glad you have that with her. I… well, for my part, I—"
"You love her. As in, love her love her."
"Yep."
"Danny, don't you think I knew that? Hell, you had a crush on her ten years ago. I didn't expect that to just go away." He grinned. "Don't worry about me as competition. I give my blessing to this union," Tucker said mock-solemnly. Danny shoved his shoulder and he chuckled. "Seriously though, luck to the both of you."
"Thanks, Tucker. It really means something."
"I know it does."
Hundreds of ghosts were standing before Danny. Some more powerful ones—previously his enemies, such as Skulker and Technus and Ember—were acting as security to keep everyone calm. Danny lifted his arms, and everyone quieted.
"I know that all of you are concerned about what's going on in the human world," he said loudly, making sure his voice carried. "I also know that many of you have heard stories about Vlad Plasmius, and how he's controlling the ghosts there. How many of you want your friends and family back?" A loud cry went up as everyone agreed. With a wave of his hand, Danny silenced most of this. "We have a way. At this very moment, the ghosts of Amity Park are joining together against Plasmius. We plan to make a collective attack, using all of our powers at once to destroy him for good! He's been terrorizing both of our worlds for too long!" Cheers went up around him, and a few of the zanier ghosts began flying around and howling. A few power chords later, everyone was back under control. Ember smirked when Danny thanked her. "We're going to enter the human world when I get word that Plasmius is in the open. I have precautions set, including a ghost shield that should keep him from escaping. When I give the word, the shield is going to go down and I want everyone to attack, centering on him. After that, all of you from the ghost zone need to chase the other ghosts back here, so that the two worlds can be separated again. Everyone will be back, and it will be a fresh start for the ghost zone! It's a clean slate, and hopefully peace will return again!"
He backed away from his place in front of them, allowing the cheers to continue this time. He knew that the ghosts were excited to get their companions back and to eliminate the threat of Vlad Plasmius. He'd been convincing them for ten years. As for the ghosts of Amity Park, they'd had enough of Vlad's oppression also. Walker had come with good news—the trap was set—and then returned to wait for the opportune moment. He had ghosts stationed all around the park, and was using an open yard as the place of attack. It would only be a short while until they could attack.
Danny conversed with Tucker, confirming the plan. Tucker was in charge of the ghost shield, and he had constructed a controller that could change the nature of it—raising or lowering, and repelling ghosts or repelling humans. No matter what Vlad tried to do, there was no way he could escape, when all Tuck had to do was push a button.
Satisfied that everything was going smoothly, Danny turned to look for Sam. He wanted to make sure she was ready, and tell her he loved her.
In the past days since they'd been reunited, hardly anything could come between their times together. Tucker often joined them, and Danny sometimes had to go off and manage uprisings, but every thought was for the other, soaking in the minutes like life-giving water. Danny needed to see Sam before he fought Plasmius—her love would fortify him.
But she was nowhere in sight. He frowned, deciding she was probably preparing for the fight. He'd considered telling her to stay behind, but didn't want to incur her wrath. He knew she was coming along, whether he wanted her to or not.
A hand on his shoulder surprised him. He spun around to find Clockwork in his adult form. He gave Danny a pointed look and gestured toward the nearby portal, guarded by strong ghosts. Walker had just arrived. The prison warden floated over and tipped his hat.
"Plasmius is on his way to the park. We have to move quickly."
Danny nodded, adrenaline shooting through him. "Right. Tucker! I want you in front so you have a clear view of everything going on. Ember and Skulker, you're at the lead." He turned to the large assembly of ghosts. "Let's fight!"
The march was swift and completely a surprise to Plasmius, who was whirling in place to see himself surrounded. He'd barely split into four when Tucker activated the ghost shield, and a glowing green dome encased all the copies. It had all happened so quickly that there hadn't been any time for something to go wrong, and for that Danny was thankful.
But he was worried, because Sam still wasn't there.
Clockwork approached him then. "You've done it, Daniel. Now, finish what you came here to do."
"Of course." Danny stepped forward and stared Vlad down. "You made my life hell, Plasmius. I don't know what happens to a half-a when the human part dies. Please, don't come back to tell me." He turned to the ghosts, all of them ready for the attack. He lifted his arm and was about to call the ghosts into action when a voice from the crowd stopped him.
"Wait!" Sam walked through the many ghosts and stood beside Danny. "I have something to say." At his nod she stepped through the ghost shield and faced the man who'd town away her dreams for ten long years. There was terror written on his features even as he transformed into a human and tried to escape. Tucker foiled that plot, of course, and Sam frowned at the pitiful excuse for a man. He was staring at her in wide-eyed fear.
"What do you have to say?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"This." Sam drew her whip from her side and lashed out, striking Vlad at the calves. He fell to his knees and she used this angle to slash at both of his shoulders. His face contorted and he hugged himself, sending her a shocked look.
"My, Samantha, how you've changed."
She circled, kicking him on the way. "Shut up! Did you expect me to stay the same? I'd lost one of the few people I ever truly cared about." The whip cracked, slicing open the back of Vlad's shirt. A bright red line marked his skin, slashing from the base of his neck over his left shoulder-blade. Two strikes later and she'd zigzagged her way down the left side of his back. "Oh yeah, I changed. But it was you who changed me!" She lashed twice more, forming an acute angle on the other side of his back. Vlad had been taking it in silence, but he let out a moan of pain then. Sam spat on the ground. "Maybe now you'll understand a fraction of what I felt. You haven't known pain." Two more hits.
Her work of art was complete, for now as Masters cried out, and on his back was a glaring SM.
"Sam…" Danny said from outside the portal. He moved through it, to her.
She wasn't paying attention to him. Tears were streaming down her face. "There you go, Mr. Masters! SM—my initials. Even if your body is destroyed, my brand is on your soul! And then there's S and M. Sadism and masochism. You're a sadist, taking twisted pleasure from hurting other people and ruining their lives! And you must be a masochist, because you brought this on yourself. You should have known not to cross a Manson, let alone one of Danny's best friends. You hurt me. Now we're even!"
She spun around and glared at Tucker, who lifted the shield long enough for Danny and Sam to get out. Vlad was crouched on the ground, not saying a word. Even his face was hidden in his hands. The surrounding ghosts were silent as Sam strode quickly away. Danny lingered only for a moment before waving his hand in a careless manner and following.
"Finish it," he ordered simply.
She was seated on her bed, staring out a window into the swirling green of the ghost zone. Her eyes were vacant; her mind somewhere else. Danny entered the room silently and sat beside her. She stared away—he stared at her.
"It was wrong of me," she said after a long while.
"No, it wasn't. Plasmius inflicted pain upon everyone he knew. He deserved some in return."
"Maybe," she conceded, but shook her head at the same time. "I just never knew I had that much hate in myself. I deal with bad people on a regular basis, Danny, and I've never used such brutal force, even in self defense. What I did today was… was…"
"Human," Danny finished for her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, resting his chin on top of her head. "You're allowed to have emotions, Sam. I can't tell you if punishing Vlad was morally good or not, but you did it. Do you really regret it?"
"No."
"Then let it go." He kissed her forehead lightly. "He's gone."
"And you're back," she said as his lips trailed over her temple. "Danny, I love you so much."
"I love you, too, Sam. I'll trust you to reacquaint me with the real world, you know. And I'm pretty sure you'll have to catch my mom when she faints at the sight of me."
Her responding chuckle was caught in his mouth as he kissed her. Her hands rose to grip his shoulders fiercely, and she pushed him back onto the bed. His shock was clear but she didn't care, and slid on top of him easily. "I've waited too long to do this," she said.
Danny's palms skimmed under her shirt before sliding upward. "We've spent a decade apart, Sam. Marry me when we get home, and we'll spend however many decades we have left together."
Her answer was sealed in a smiling kiss.
The picture faded away to be replaced by one of a smiling family. A dark-haired woman sat at a picnic table, grinning at the sight before her. Her blue-eyed husband played with a happy child, who was hovering a few feet over the ground, her expression excited and proud. The little girl had blue eyes like her daddy.
Tucker smiled at the picture as the scene unfolded. "Is that really their future?" he asked the people next to him.
Clockwork nodded. "It can be."
"Any future is possible, really," Isandrad replied. "You now know one of many possibilities, Tucker. We showed you this because… out of anyone, you have the best chance of helping them make it happen. Don't let them lose hope."
"I wouldn't dare," he replied, his eyes returning to his best friends and their happy future. Clockwork and Isandrad moved away, their momentary peacefulness giving way to the usual bickering about some timeline or another. Tucker continued to watch.
His eyes widened as a new figure entered the scene, a tall dark man whose face brought pleasant greetings from everyone else. The little girl ran into his arms and he lifted her high, swinging her around in the air. It was then that another woman stepped in. She was pale, with exotic looks and red hair. Beside her was a teenage boy, already showing the gangly stance his father had taken as a highschooler. Tucker's mind was running a mile a minute.
A wife… a son…
The scene blacked out and Tucker whirled to see Clockwork moving away, his back shaking with laughter. It showed him that he was indeed meant to see that future. It was a future not only for Danny and Sam, but for Tucker and… whoever that woman was.
Tucker was determined to make that future come true.
The bold section is for the SagePoint, just like last time. Congrats to LandJ-SandD-Fan, SHADOW DRAGON TWISTER, GreenEyes301, Hakkyou Kuusou, and WaterGirl14 for getting "Missing: Part 1"'s song right, which was "Taking Over Me" by Evanescence.
SagePoint: This is another Evanescence song. As a hint, it's not from an actual album, and it was from the twentieth century. That's all ya get!
