Thanks for the reviews: Samantha-Girl Scout

One last chapter, and then it's all over.

Chapter 8

Sam was upstairs with Jazz sobbing as though her heart would break while the red-haired woman tried to comfort her. DJ sat on the ground nearby playing with toys with his cousin Amy. Hailey, meanwhile, had wandered off. The little girl pushed open a door, revealing a stock hold of different ghost weapons. Hailey's little feet padded into the room, and she looked at each weapon in turn before reaching up and lifting one off its place on the shelf. This was the one she needed.

Dan Phantom looked for that woman and the brats everywhere. He couldn't let them find out what he was doing and tell someone. He smiled gleefully as he spotted his "wife" and the brats with his sister, Tucker, and Valerie before a building he knew very well. This was the building where it had all begun. This was the building that had blown up and taken every one he cared about with it. He landed, startling them all.

"Hello," he said, smiling menacingly.

"Danny," Sam stepped forward and set her hand on his shoulder, tears shining in her lilac eyes. "Danny, what's wrong? Maybe we can help you."

He laughed, finding the entire situation beyond hilarious. "You help me? You've got to be kidding me."

She recoiled as he slapped her hand away. "Where's the man I married?" she whispered.

"That's not Daddy!" Hailey yelled.

Dan Phantom whirled around then let out a shout as the beam of the Ghost Peeler hit him. Sam, Jazz, and Tucker all moved as if to stop Hailey, but stopped as the Danny Fenton façade dropped, leaving behind the evil Dan Phantom from the future. He immediately grabbed the little girl, tearing the weapon from her.

"Bright girl. Pity she won't grow up to use that talent." He held up his other hand as Sam moved to save her daughter. "Ah, ah, ah. One wrong move, and this little girl will cook like a goose." Hailey whimpered, struggling in the evil ghost's grasp. "Now, let's just put you all in here." He touched the ground, causing every person including himself and Hailey to sink into the floor into the boiler room of the building. "Perfect."

He tossed the little brat to the floor, and Sam ran over to her, comforting her now crying daughter. He fired at the cooling system for the boiler. It wouldn't be long before it overheated and killed them.

"Hmm, I was hoping for more of a fight," Dan Phantom said, now back on the street looking at the building with loathing.

"Then I hope I can bring one to you!"

Dan Phantom didn't even have time to react as Danny Phantom launched himself at the ghost. "What a fool you are!" Dan Phantom shouted at his younger counterpart. "Trying to save your precious 'family'? They'll be dead before you can defeat me!"

"NOOOO!" Danny lashed out with the Fenton Ghost Gloves, managing to punch his future self so hard in the jaw that Dan Phantom was thrown back, creating a crater in the ground.

Dan Phantom rubbed his jaw, smirking. "You don't get it, do you? I'm still here! I still exist! That means you still turn into me!"

"I'll never turn into you!" Danny yelled. "NEVER!" His shout changed into a Ghostly Wail, throwing Dan Phantom farther.

"That…that power! It's not possible!" Dan Phantom cried. "I don't get that power until ten years from now!"

"I guess the future isn't as set in stone as you think!" Danny wasted no time pulling out the Fenton Thermos and sucking in his evil future.

Weakened by the Ghostly Wail and the wounds his future enemies had inflicted, he changed back to Danny Fenton, still clutching the Fenton Thermos. He heard someone scream from a building he recognized all too well. His eyes widened, and he ran toward the building. He wouldn't let his dream come true.

Hailey looked up at her mom who was holding her tightly then over at her aunt Jazz who was holding her baby brother. Tucker and Valerie were standing nearby, hugging each other. Everyone looked scared, and Hailey knew they were going to die. She reached out and took her aunt's hand then took hold of Tucker's pant leg with her free hand. Her mother still held her tightly. Hailey closed her eyes, concentrating. A weird feeling passed through everyone just as the boiler exploded.

Danny felt as though his heart had stopped beating as the building went up in flames. Ignoring his own safety, he ran into the building, which burned itself out quickly. "Sam! Hailey! DJ!" he shouted, waving smoke out of his face. "Jazz!" He felt tears on his cheeks as no one answered, but he wouldn't give up.

He ran down into the basement then gasped. There in the middle of the room stood everyone he cared about, intangible. Hailey opened her eyes, revealing a familiar glowing green color. The intangibility faded, and she wavered on her feet. Danny ran over and caught her just as she collapsed.

Sam cried out and knelt beside them, gently brushing her daughter's bangs from her forehead. "Oh, Danny, is she okay?"

"She's still breathing." Danny cradled his little girl gently in his arms. "Wake up, Princess," he whispered, gently kissing Hailey's forehead.

Jazz, Tucker, and Valerie watched with baited breath. DJ clung to his aunt, not quite sure as to what was wrong with his sister. Hailey's eyelids fluttered, and her body trembled. Tucker quickly removed his jacket and handed it to Danny for him to wrap Hailey in. They all breathed a sigh of relief as Hailey stirred once more then opened her pale blue eyes.

A slow smile spread across her lips. "Hi, Daddy," she breathed, hugging Danny. "You got away from the evil man."

Danny hugged her tightly before releasing her to Sam. "Hailey, you are so lucky you didn't die from that stunt you pulled."

"Don't do that to us, sweetie," Sam whispered.

"I had to, Mommy. I couldn't let you and aunty and DJ and Tucker and Valerie die." Hailey yawned, cuddling closer to Danny as he picked her up. "Can we go home now, Daddy?" she whispered before drifting off to sleep.

Sam smiled softly as Danny kissed his little girl's cheek. DJ clung to Sam's pant leg as Tucker, Valerie, and Jazz said their farewells.

"Next time you plan to put us in grave danger, don't try to kill us, please?" Tucker said.

Danny and Sam laughed. "We'll make sure to remember that, Tuck'," Sam said. "Thanks for your help."

"You guys keep an eye on that little girl. Danny was at least older when he got his powers. Who knows what kind of damage she might have done to herself with that stunt," Valerie said.

Danny smiled weakly and rubbed Hailey's back, glancing at her peaceful face. "We'll take care of her."