Thanks for the reviews: Kryptonite Riot Girl, Psycho but fun, lupin's-wolvesbain, slpytlak, giggleaid, NoNameTheHobo, LilAriezAngel, definenormalAB, mysterygal02, Galateagirl, BlueMyst19, Karen Kano, rainblackroses14.

A quick note from the author: Sorry it's been so long. I had this typed up, but I was too lazy to go and collect all my review names and type them up on this chapter.

Chapter 9: Pain

Danny headed back to his room, never noticing the quietness of the house. Today had been the best day of his life. Leo wasn't a school, Dash didn't know what to do with him without Leo, and he and Sam had had a make-out session in the janitor's closet. He stopped short of his room as a foreboding feeling passed over him. Where were Vlad and Leo? Something slammed into the back of him, crashing him into a wall.

He groaned and moved to get up only to find someone was standing on him. "Hello, Daniel. Did you have fun at the masquerade?" Vlad growled.

"Wh-what? I—"

"My dear little friend Desiree was kind enough to tell me." Vlad picked the boy up, his eyes flashing red. "I warned you, boy. Now, I will tear you to pieces, Jazmine will be homeless, and your little girlfriend will choose my son or suffer the consequences." He slammed Danny into a wall then tossed him down the hall.

The poor boy landed hard and attempted to stand. Vlad had changed to Plasmius by then and shot an ectoplasmic ray at the boy who was thrown into another wall.

"Vlad, please…" Danny coughed, struggling to his feet. "Jazz didn't have anything to do with this! Please…"

Vlad punched him hard in the stomach before grasping his t-shirt and pulling him up in the air to glare at him. "You made your choice, Daniel! Now, you will pay for it!"

Danny wasn't at school the next day, worrying Sam. She couldn't go by the Fenton house to check on him; Vlad would find out if he didn't know already. She walked home alone, wringing her hands in fear. What if Danny was hurt? She jumped as something moved in an alley she was walking by, and a groan reached her ears.

"H-hello?" she asked. "I-is someone there?" A pained groan was her only answer. She stepped into the alley then gasped when she caught sight of a familiar figure lying on the ground. "Danny!" She ran to his side, moving his head into her lap. "Oh, Danny, say something," she begged, tears falling down her cheeks. He looked terribly battered and bruised. Cuts adorned his arms and chest, and Sam feared he might have broken ribs. "Danny, please," she whispered.

His eyelids fluttered open just a little, slivers of blue gazing up at her. "S-Sam…" he breathed.

"Oh, Danny," she choked out before setting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"Jazz… I-I have to…warn Jazz…"

"Sorry about this, Tuck', but if Vlad did this to him, he'll find him at my place." Sam ruffled Danny's hair, gazing down at his unconscious form.

"It's okay, Sam." Tucker patted her shoulder. "He's my friend too. I mean, what are friends for if not to hide them from their family?"

Danny stirred, and his eyes weakly opened. "Sam?"

She managed a small smile as she moved to sit beside him. "Hey, Danny. You okay?"

"Jazz… Did you warn Jazz?" He attempted to sit up then groaned, falling back into the pillows.

"Yeah, Danny, I warned her." She grasped his hand in hers and looked to Tucker. "Can you get another blanket?" she whispered.

He nodded and walked away. She turned back to the injured teen, her eyes filling with tears. He said nothing as he gazed back at her, his eyes begging her not to worry. She couldn't help worrying though. Vlad was on the loose, and Danny was in no way able to protect even himself. She couldn't even take him to the hospital to make sure nothing was broken.

"Get some rest," she said finally, managing to control the quiver in her voice. "You're going to need it.

He weakly nodded and closed his eyes, squeezing her hand in his. She just wished there was some way she could help him.

Jazz grabbed her cell, controlling the steering wheel to her car with her free hand. She dialed the Gray's number, putting the pone to her ear.

"Hello, Valerie Gray? I seem to be having a ghost problem."

"You've got my attention," the ghost hunter's voice said from the other line.

When Danny opened his eyes again, he was no longer at Tucker's. He recognized it as the hide out Sam had taken him to once before. Sam and Tucker leaned over him.

"How're you feeling, buddy?" Tucker asked.

"Sore," he whispered hoarsely.

"Anything broken?"

He shook his head. Tucker grinned at him then left the room, mumbling something about lovebirds and nurses falling in love with their patients. Sam sat beside Danny on the bed, brushing his hair from his eyes as he reached up and grasped her other hand in his.

"Jazz called," she said softly. "She and Valerie are working with the police to find Vlad and create a way for both forms to be imprisoned."

He nodded. "I should've known Jazz would always find a way to protect herself." He sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry about all this, Sam. I should've never brought you into this."