Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of the characters from the show. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is made from this story.

Chapter 3

Danny and Sam strolled through the mall, one tense, the other amused. Danny was keeping a constant watch for this admirer of Sam's. It seemed like every single guy in Amityville was here today and he found himself glaring at several who were checking out Sam. Sam rolled her eyes and grinned as she saw Danny scowl at a group of teenage boys who were smiling at her. When one of the boys had the courage to wink at her and give a low whistle, Danny gave a low growl, turned abruptly, and took a step toward him, eyes flashing green. Sam quickly grabbed Danny's arm and turned him back to face her.

"Danny stop it, you're scaring the poor kid."

Indeed the boy had paled and was backing up with his arms out palms facing forward in a pacifying gesture. And really, who could blame the kid? Danny had grown a lot in the past few years and now stood at an impressive 6'2". Add to that the broad shoulders, firmly muscled yet not bulky arms and chest, and his washboard abs that his constant ghost fighting gave him and any man would think twice about challenging him. Sam felt his hard bicep under her hand and unconsciously let her eyes travel down his body, resting briefly on his flat stomach and his lean hips currently encased in his favorite jeans, then down his legs and back up to his face. When she realized that he had caught her looking him over she blushed furiously, whirling around to continue walking. Not paying attention as she started forward, the heel of her sleek black boots caught in a crack on the floor and she felt herself pitch forward. Squeezing her eyes shut in anticipation of a painful fall she brought her arms up in front of her face to brace herself when she felt Danny's strong hands wrap around her waist and pull her back up against him safely.

"Careful there Sammi" he whispered against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

Sam looked up at him and caught the amused smirk on his face. "Uh, Thanks." Sam laughed shyly as she reluctantly pulled away from his grasp.

"Come on" she said as she started forward again, this time more carefully. Danny gave one last glare at the boy as he let Sam lead him away to the food court where she was supposed to be meeting her secret admirer.

"Okay Danny look," she pointed to a corner "there are two tables close together, you sit at one, and I'll sit at the other."

"Sam, I think it might be better if I --"

"No, Danny" Sam cut him off knowing what he was about to say. "I need to be sitting alone so I look like I'm waiting for him."

"But…"

"Danny!" she yelled exasperatedly, "I'm fine, and you're going to be sitting less than five feet away from me." She shook her head. "You're acting like this guy is the boogie man or something."

"For all we know he could be" Danny muttered quietly.

He steered Sam toward the concession counter and ordered two diet colas, a burger for himself, and a salad for Sam, deftly paying the matronly looking woman working behind the counter before Sam could get her money out of her purse. Sam grumbled good-naturedly about it being the twenty-first century and not the dark ages as Danny laughed at her, putting his change into his wallet. The lady at the counter smiled at them and told Sam "Oh, honey, don't complain. Lord knows there aren't enough gentlemen left out there; you'd better keep hold of this one!" Sam started to say "But we're not together" but the woman had already turned around to place their order. Danny and Sam just looked at each other and shrugged. They each carried their food to their respective tables and sat down.

Sam absently picked at her salad as she people watched, waiting to see if anyone was coming toward her. Danny pretty much ignored his food, sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest, a silent sentry watching over her. After several minutes, Sam glared at Danny for about the fifth time, silently communicating to him to back off. She then moved her chair so that her back was facing Danny.

Danny let his gaze wander across the food court, stopping every once in a while to study any suspicious looking men but he found his gaze repeatedly being pulled back to Sam, her amethyst eyes mesmerizing him. He winced as she glared at him again. He knew she wanted him to back off but there was no way he was getting any further away than he already was when this guy could be some wacko. Just the thought of something happening to Sam made his stomach clench in fear. He swept his gaze around again but stopped and frowned as Sam deliberately moved her chair so her back was to him.

Danny shook his head, letting his eyes roam freely over her form. She really is beautiful he thought. He had always thought Sam was attractive but now she had blossomed. Her dark silky hair now hung in waves to the middle of her back and her style in clothing had mellowed. The new colors she wore, though still somewhat dark, accented her porcelain skin, and fit nicely to the slender curves of her hips and chest. Danny thought about how those curves had felt against him earlier when she had tripped and he had caught her. His hands had wrapped around her tiny waist and slid down slightly as he pulled her back up so that they glided over the tempting flare of her hips. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he remembered how her bottom had brushed against him and how wonderful her hair had smelled when he had whispered at her ear… Danny snapped his eyes open, not realizing that he had closed them, as a small hand fell to his shoulder. Sam's laughing eyes met his as she removed her hand.

"Wake up sleeping beauty. I don't think the guy is going to show up, we've been here thirty minutes and I haven't seen anyone who looked like they were supposed to meet someone." "Of course my guard dog might have scared them away" she teased.

Danny laughed and stood up; grabbing his trash and throwing it into the trash can as they started walking.

"Do I get a treat for doing a good job?" he murmured suggestively to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. He looked at her and waggled his eyebrows at her. Sam smacked him lightly across the back of his head.

"Ow!"

"You are such a dork."

Giving her his best puppy dog eyes, he said "yeah, but I'm your favorite dork right?"

Sam laughed and leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment. "Yes, Danny you are."

NeitherSam nor Dannynoticed the narrowed pair of eyes that followed them from the dark shadows behind the food court as they headed toward the door of the mall.

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