Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.

Shattered Trust

OOOOOOO

The man was now standing on the very edge of the top step and she made a split second decision. Giving him a sultry smile she walked toward him, surprising him, and giving her the advantage.

"A ride? With you?" she said sweetly, feeling sick to her stomach as she reached up and placed her hands on his chest. As she bit her lip and looked at the man with wide eyes, lust and excitement entered the man's eyes. Just as he raised his hands to place them at her hips, Sam braced herself and gave a huge shove. Caught off guard, he fell backward down the stairs landing hard on the pavement. Leaving her books, Sam raced down the staircase and headed across the grassy area that led toward the street, hoping that a car would pass by. She heard a roar of rage from behind her and sped up, but the man was too fast for her. She felt her coat tear as he grabbed it from behind and fought to get out of it, leaving it in her attacker's hands. Still running she chanced a glance behind her and saw that he was quickly catching up to her. Looking around desperately she noticed an old hubcap lying by the side of the road and ran toward it. It will have to do she thought and grabbing it she darted around the side of the building and listened to the heavy running footsteps as he got closer. Just as he turned the corner, Sam swung it with all her might, catching the man in the face and he dropped like a stone. She dropped the hubcap and turned to run only to be grabbed by the foot and dragged down onto the ground. Sam screamed as she flailed at him, managing to land a few good kicks before he swore. "Little tramp, I was hopin' for a good time before takin' you to the boss." He raised his hand and hit her hard in the face, one of his rings slicing her cheek. She felt blackness sweeping in around her as her head made contact with the pavement and she struggled weakly before it overcame her and she fell into oblivion.

OOOOOOO

Tucker peeled into the parking lot of the school, cursing fate. Stupid flat tire. He opened his door and looked around.

"Sam?"

Silence greeted him, and he looked around again, a feeling of foreboding going through him.

"Sam!"

He noticed a lumpy shadow on the stairs and ran to it, realizing, as he got closer that it was Sam's books. Panicking he ran around to the front of the school yelling for her. Oh, man she has to be here somewhere please let her be here. After looking for her for about five minutes, he frantically called Jazz.

"Hello?"

"Jazz, its Tucker, is Sam with you?"

"With me? No, I thought you were picking her up from class."

"I was, I had a flat and now she's not here!"

"What! Look, stay there I'll be there in few minutes." Jazz hung up abruptly and Tucker started to pace. Wait, I'll call her cell phone! He quickly dialed and listened to it ring several times before realizing that she must have shut it off. Frustrated, he grabbed his hat and threw it to the ground. Have to keep it together Foley he thought, turning suddenly as he heard a car and saw Jazz pulling in and jumping out to run toward him.

"You haven't found her?"

"NO!"

Jazz put her fingers up to her temples to ward off the headache she could feel starting to pound. "Okay, let's calm down and think for a minute. Sam isn't your average everyday girl; she's smart and knows how to take care of herself. Maybe when she realized you were late she got a ride from a classmate?"

Tucker shook his head. "Yeah that's great but there's one problem, she left her books sitting on the staircase."

Jazz frowned. "Well, maybe she walked across the street to the convenience store to use the phone and didn't want to carry everything; I mean she hasn't been using her cell right?"

"You're right, I just tried it and there was no answer, I think she turned it off."

Jazz nodded and started across the lawn. "Why don't we head over to the convenience store and see if anyone has seen her?" As they walked, Tucker felt something snag his foot and stumbled. Reaching down to pull it off he noticed it looked like a piece of clothing. He took his flashlight that he always had on him and turned it on.

"Jazz wait."

Jazz turned around impatiently, "What is it Tucker?"

"We have a big problem."

Jazz walked closer, seeing the material in the dim glow from the flashlight. "What's that?"

"It's Sam's jacket." Tucker looked up at Jazz, his face pale. "And it has blood on it."

OOOOOOO

"YOU FOOL!"

Sam dimly heard voices as she woke, everything in her body ached, pain lanced through her head and she felt a sharp sting on her cheek. Raising a hand to it, she found that it was bandaged. She opened her eyes, squinting in pain, to see that she was in a large lavishly decorated bedroom. Feeling dizzy, she closed her eyes again and listened.

"MY UNCLE TOLD YOU SHE WAS TO BE UNHARMED!"

"That little bitch put up a hell of a fight! Now I delivered, where's my money?"

"Take it and get out" the first voice said in a disgusted tone.

Sam heard the door to the bedroom open and faked sleep. She heard footsteps near the bed and that same voice said in a dry tone "You can stop pretending you're asleep my dear Samantha, I'm aware that you heard my little conversation." Sam slowly opened her eyes to stare at the man now standing next to her bed.

"Who are you?" she shouted and then immediately whimpered when pain exploded in her head. "Why am I here?" she asked more softly, glaring up at the composed young man before her.

"Forgive me, my name is Vincent, and we will discuss your reason for being here at a later time when you have had time to rest and recover. For now, I think it best that you sleep Samantha."

Sam opened her mouth to argue but the man quickly placed a handkerchief over her nose and mouth and she briefly smelled a sickly sweet odor before the blackness closed in on her again.

OOOOOOO

Danny quietly opened the door to the apartment, not knowing if Tucker or Sam would be asleep yet as it was just before midnight. He was tired but glad to be home. He had gotten through his training a little earlier than expected and had managed to catch a flight for tonight instead of tomorrow afternoon. He blinked when he realized that the lights were on in the living room and was about to call out when Jazz and Tucker came flying out of the kitchen.

"Sam! Is that you?" Jazz stopped abruptly and Tucker barreled right into her from behind.

"Danny!" Jazz said sounding shocked.

Tucker blanched. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here. Jazz, why are you here?" Suddenly turning serious, he glanced around. "Where is Sam?" Jazz bit her lip and Tucker looked at the ground.

"Well, Danny. . ."

"Where is she?" Danny asked again looking Jazz straight in the eye. Jazz glanced away nervously and then took a deep breath and walked to Danny, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Danny, we can't find her."

Danny felt as if he had been sucked into a vortex of some kind. Jazz's voice sounding far away. He shook his head trying to clear it and stared at Jazz.

"What do you mean you can't find her?"

Tucker stepped forward. "I was a little late getting to the school to pick her up and when I got there I couldn't find her." Tucker's voice was hoarse with worry and guilt. Danny's head snapped to him and he felt rage building inside him. Not thinking he stepped past Jazz and grabbed Tucker by the shoulders, slamming him into the wall.

"What the hell do you mean Tucker, you were late? You were supposed to look after her for me Tuck. Why weren't you there?"

Danny was dimly aware that Jazz was yelling at him to let go of Tucker but he ignored her.

"She's gone? She has a god damn stalker after her and you left her there by herself!" He brushed Jazz's hands from him and swung away from Tucker, panic and desperation filling him as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

Tucker put his hand up on Danny's shoulder saying "Danny, man I'm sorry, I had a fla..."

When Danny felt Tucker's hand he snapped. Wheeling around, eyes briefly flashing red, he punched the wall next to Tucker leaving a huge smoking crater and causing the building to shake violently. He shouted "I TRUSTED YOU! I TRUSTED YOU TO KEEP HER SAFE!" Breathing heavily he staggered over to a chair and collapsed putting his elbows on his knees and burying his face in his hands.

"She's gone, she could be anywhere. What if she's hurt… or…oh, god." Jazz kneeled down in front of him and stroked his hair.

"Danny, listen to me, you have to keep it together, for Sam's sake." Danny nodded, not really paying attention and Jazz continued. "Now the police are already looking for her, along with Mom and Dad. We'll find her Danny, but blaming Tucker for this isn't going to do any good." Tucker looked up from where he had slid down the wall, a tear escaping as he shook his head.

"No, he's right Jazz. This is all my fault. I should have done something, called you to get her…I don't know."

"Tucker it was an accident, you had a flat tire. You tried to call her. You got there as fast as you could."

"It doesn't matter, I have to find her," Danny stated with purpose. He stood up and stepped over Jazz, walking into his room. He forced himself to ignore the sight of Sam's things scattered around the room as if she belonged there and grabbed three Fenton walkie-talkies. Returning to the living room, he tossed one to Tucker, one to Jazz, and tucked the last one on his belt. Jazz stepped forward, a look of concern and pity on her face and he held up his hand to stop her.

"We'll keep in contact with these; let me know if you hear anything." Not looking at Tucker he silently transformed into Danny Phantom and flew off.