Thanks for your reviews: slpytlak, Death Fox of Chocolate, Galateagirl, giggleaid, rainblackroses14, mysterygal02, BlueMyst19, dramaqueen07, Karen Kano, Samantha-Girl Scout.

A quick note from the author: There's only a few more chapters left, but don't worry. After this one I have Beauty and the Ghost.

Chapter 8: Caught

Danny flew home, wished away his costume, and managed to create a good "fast asleep" act before the others made it home.

"Daniel!" Vlad stomped up the stairs. "Daniel, wake up!"

Danny sat up, rubbing fake sleep from his eyes. "Yes, sir?" Jazz and Leo followed the man up.

"You did such an excellent job that I have no choice but to congratulate on a job well done," Vlad muttered.

"Thank you, sir." He glanced at Jazz and Leo then back to Vlad. "Was the party fun?"

"No," Leo spat out. "Some moron dressed as the Phantom of the Opera stole my girl."

Danny resisted the urge to smirk as he glanced back at Jazz who winked at him. "Oh, how sad," he said.

Vlad and Jazz walked downstairs, talking about the masquerade, but Leo walked up to Danny, grabbing the teen by his shirt. "You're hiding something, Dannyrella, and when I find out what it is, I'll slaughter you." Then he shoved the halfa away from him and stomped away.

Sam had just climbed into bed when a light rapping sounded from her window. She leapt up and ran to the window, grinning when she found Danny's white-haired, green-eyed phantom counterpart floating outside her window. She opened the window, but before she could speak, Danny's lips covered hers. She shuddered at the ghost-like coldness that reached her, but she gripped his jumpsuit anxiously. She felt a blush on her cheeks when the kiss ended, and Danny still smiled at her.

"Danny, what if you get caught?" she asked as she let him float into her room then closed the window.

"I won't get caught." He held up a Fenton Thermos. "I had to catch a ghost." He pressed the button, releasing Desiree. "She's allowed to grant five wishes before I come after her as part of my cover."

Desiree smiled at them then fazed through Sam's window, disappearing into the night. Sam wrapped her arms around Danny's neck as he went human, putting his own arms around her. Her lilac eyes betrayed her fear for him, but he gently nudged her nose with his.

"I'll be fine," he whispered. "Vlad doesn't even suspect a thing."

She sighed and hugged him, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I don't want to see you get hurt because of me, Danny."

"I won't," he promised, holding her close.

Danny was rudely awakened by Vlad at noon the next morning. "Just because you did a good job yesterday doesn't mean you can sleep in!" Vlad growled.

"I'm sorry, sir," Danny mumbled then pulled out the thermos. "I was up late catching a ghost." He took the list Vlad held out and handed the thermos over. "I'll get started on these."

Vlad walked down to the lab, tossing the thermos on a table. "That boy is up to something! But what…?"

Sam sat on the school bus waiting anxiously to see Danny again. She almost leapt out of her seat when he finally got on the bus with Tucker.

"Hi, Danny." She scooted over so Danny could slide in beside her. "Hey, Tucker."

Tucker raised a hand in greeting before returning to his PDA.

Danny slipped his arm around Sam, smiling as she blushed. "Good morning," he whispered.

"M-morning," she managed. She smiled nervously. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to hide this from Leo."

"It was your idea," he reminded her.

"And I'm starting to think my idea's not going to work," she breathed before Danny's lips claimed hers.

Tucker glanced at the couple only once. "Knew it," he muttered.

Leo stomped down into the lab, scowling. Vlad looked up. "Shouldn't you be at school?"

"What if Sam's mystery 'Phantom lover' is there?" Leo argued. "I'm not going to be humiliated in front of the school." He picked up the Fenton thermos and threw it.

The lid popped off as it rolled around the floor, and a ghost was released in a cloud of green smoke. "I am Desiree. What is your heart's desire?"

"I wish I knew who Sam's 'Phantom' was," Leo said, suddenly feeling maybe he'd get to get the guy who stole his girl.

Desiree's eyes widened. "No!" she whispered. "I-I must obey…" She lowered her gaze and raised her hands, an image of Sam's phantom appearing.

"Take the mask off of him," Vlad ordered, slight recognition clicking in his mind.

Desiree obeyed, and there before them floated an image of Danny Fenton, Sam's Phantom Lover. An evil smiled passed Vlad's lips, and Leo was ignored as he ranted and raved. Danny had finally done something that would allow Vlad to throw him out.

"At last!" Vlad murmured.

A/N: Uh, oh...