Before you admonish me and say, "But you said this story had no pairings". I remind you that I said I would allude to things. This chapter is about my interpretation of how Danny might feel about Sam. So yeah, there are again…feelings in this chapter as well as interactions with Valerie, but it's still not romance and I'm still not putting Danny with anyone, but see the A/N below and you can decide the whole outcome. Sheesh.
Chapter Five
The minute Danny arrived home from his flight, and transformed from his ghostly self, he grabbed the picture of Tuck, Sam and himself on his shelf and took a good hard look at his best friend.
The funny ponytail. The short black hair with pointy bangs. The pale skin. That was Sam. Purple lipstick. Black clothes. The black choker, the bracelets. Sam. Danny shook his head as he ran his thumb over her face on the picture. She had a beautiful smile. Perfect teeth. Her eyes were gorgeous, her face delicate and sweet. Danny sighed. He guessed he could see why people thought she was a hottie. But this was Sam he was talking about, the girl he'd known for practically ever. There wasn't much about him that she didn't know.
He sat down with the picture in hand and his stomach began to ache. The last thing Sam Manson could ever be, was normal. She invited, embraced, loved the strange and unusual. She herself was strange and unusual. He liked her. He really did. Danny would even go so far as to say he loved her. But Sam was just too weird. Danny didn't want weird. He wanted normal.
"Face it," he said on a deep breath. "You are really, really shallow."
Jazz who was standing in the door, half spying on her brother started laughing. He looked up and scowled at his sister. "Don't you know how to knock?"
"No," Jazz said as she flounced into the room and took the picture off the shelf.
"Get out of my room," Danny told her angrily as he ripped the picture out of her grip and put it back on the shelf.
"Who were you calling shallow?" Jazz asked. "Sam or Tucker?"
Danny took a deep breath and laid back on his bed with a thump. "Me," he answered. "I'm shallow."
Jazz laughed as she sat down on the bed. "Sometimes," she agreed. "But no more than the normal sixteen year old boy." She smiled. "Why are you beating yourself up about it?"
"I'm not!" Danny growled.
"Yes you were," Jazz disagreed. "I heard you berating yourself." Danny sighed and Jazz continued to watch him as he laid on his bed with his arm over his eyes.
"Can't you just leave me alone?" he asked.
"No," she answered. "There's something bothering you. With Sam and Tucker gone, you have no one to talk to. I worry about the state of your mind Danny."
Danny took his arm of his eyes for a moment and looked at his sister. "You wanna know what's bothering me?" he asked. Jazz nodded her head eagerly.
"You're sure?" Danny asked. Jazz nodded her head again.
Danny gave her an annoyed look and said, "You!"
"Oh Danny," Jazz laughed. "That's my job. But I'm trying to insure that you have the most normal childhood possible, considering that A. We have really weird parents and B. You have some really weird ghost powers."
"And a really weird sister," Danny added with a smirk.
"I'm not weird," Jazz defended. "I'm a perfectly well rounded human being."
"Who happens to hunt ghosts from time to time," Danny teased.
Jazz shook her head. "Just because it's not common, does not make it abnormal. Being different isn't bad Danny."
"Being different is a curse," he told her. "Look at Dash Baxter. There is absolutely nothing different about him. He has girls hanging on him twenty four seven. He's got great grades, and pretty much a free pass through school. He's normal. I'm just a weird geek with ghost powers."
"Oh man," Jazz said as she rolled her eyes. "You are shallow if that's all you aspire to. Don't tell me you're jealous of that big dumb Dash Baxter."
Danny threw his arm back over his eyes and groaned. "I didn't say I wanted to be like Dash."
"Yes you did," Jazz disagreed. "You said being different is a curse. You're different. You said there is nothing different about Dash Baxter. You say you are a weird little geek with ghost powers. You want to be like Dash."
"No I just want the girls, the grades and the freedom to get away with all the crap he does at school." Danny told his sister.
"And the ghost powers," Jazz replied. "You don't want too much do you?"
Danny smiled. "Not much at all."
Jazz sighed deeply as she walked over to the picture on Danny's shelf. "So. You have amazing ghost powers. Which makes you different. You have crazy ghost hunting parents. Which makes you different. But what you do have are two utterly loyal, crazy friends who would do absolutely anything for you. You have a big sister who looks out for you. What more do you want?"
"A girlfriend would be nice," Danny told her.
"Who?" Jazz asked. "That shrill thing named Paulina? You're just looking for arm candy huh?"
"I'm sixteen Jazz," Danny pointed out, he didn't want to bring up the subject of Valerie to Jazz. "That's all I really need at this point. A little arm candy."
"Sex on legs," Jazz teased and watched as her brother turned red. It was so charming how easily her little brother blushed. "Because you know, Paulina is rumored to be very, very easy."
Danny's eyes widened. "No she's not!" he gasped.
Jazz gave her brother a sad look. "You really do live in a fantasy world Danny. Don't you see anything that goes on around you?" She sighed deeply. "I suppose it's a defense mechanism."
"I don't live in a fantasy world," Danny said defensively.
"And Sam and Tucker perpetuate it too," Jazz continued as her face took on a far away thoughtful look. "I think they like to keep you clueless to keep you out of trouble. They're kind of like your parents"
"Jazz," Danny started. He was about to launch himself into a nice long angry tirade which probably would have earned him a long lecture when the messenger in his pocket began beeping.
"Saved by the bell," Jazz laughed as she walked from the room and kindly gave Danny his privacy.
"Hello Danny," he read on the text window. "This is Sam's nurse, Deborah. She can't talk too well right now, and her motor functions won't allow her to type, but asked me to relay a conversation with you. Is that all right with you?"
Danny could feel his heart beating in his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second. "Yes," He answered and waited for the keywords that would tell him he was really talking to Sam.
"Her replies are going to come very slow. You'll need to be patient," Deborah told him.
"Okay," Danny typed.
"Hello handsome," came Sam's awaited greeting. "How is everything going?"
"Boring without you," Danny answered as the feeling of relief rushed through him and he waited and waited for her reply.
"I bet. Still better than being where I am." Sam replied. "Tell me what you did today."
"I hung out with my mom," Danny told her. "Hung out at the park. Talked to Tucker. Argued with Jazz. The usual stuff."
"No other complications?" Sam asked.
"Not since last night," Danny answered. "All is quiet on the western front."
"Was that a movie?" Sam asked.
Danny laughed. "I don't know. You know better than to ask me hard questions."
"Oh yeah," came Sam's reply. "I forgot. You're dumb."
"As a brick," Danny laughed as he typed.
"I miss you," Sam said. "I wish you could come see me. I don't feel right. It's horrible here. I want to escape. I imagine prison is like this."
Danny took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut to hold back the stupid tears filling his eyes. He could only imagine how horrible things were for her. "If you want I could just fly there. It might take a few hours, though. If you really want." What was he thinking? How would he fly a few thousand miles?
"No," Sam answered. "It's okay. I don't really want you to see me like this. Deborah is making me sound better than I am."
Danny frowned. "How bad are you really?"
"Having a really hard time talking straight. Can't hold a pencil. Can't write my name. Hard time remembering things. Did you know I didn't know what green was for awhile? Kept forgetting."
"You didn't forget me though right?" Danny said. How would he feel if she forgot about him? Crushed.
"No," Sam answered. "Not my best friend. Though I couldn't remember Tucker's name right away."
"Tucker will say that's typical." Danny typed then looked at the clock. He would need to leave soon to meet with Valerie. He could talk to Sam on the way though, especially if he talked Jazz into driving him.
"If you need to," Sam finally replied. "I can let you go."
Danny shook his head. Sam hadn't lost the gift of knowing what was going on in his mind. It was a little unnerving and he began to feel guilty because he was afraid she'd know he was lying when he wrote back. "No. I have nothing else to do tonight. I can just sit here and talk to you as long as you want."
"I'm feeling really tired though," Sam replied. "And Deborah's shift ends in ten minutes and she's the only nurse I trust not to relay every word of our conversation to my mom."
"We can talk again soon," Danny typed.
"Hopefully I can call you. Hear your sexy voice." Sam teased. That was her cue that she could no longer talk.
"I'm looking forward to the call," Danny typed. "I'll talk to you soon." He waited for a few minutes. A reply never came, so he tucked the gadget into his pocket and ran out the door to meet Valerie at the movies.
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Valerie frowned as she looked at Danny, who instead of looking at the movie screen had cast his eyes to the side of the wall and was staring into space. She watched him for a moment then sighed.
"Danny," she finally whispered in his ear as she leaned close. "Is something wrong?"
Danny snapped back to reality and blushed as he nearly bumped his head against Valerie's. "No," he answered. "I was just thinking." He cast a quick look at Valerie. She gave him a skeptical glance then turned her attention back to the screen.
The movie ended and Danny and Valerie went to The Nasty Burger, chatting about school over burgers and chocolate shakes. Danny couldn't shake the feelings he was having. Firstly, it would be so easy to fall completely in love with Valerie. She was so easy to talk with. They got along so well. Okay still, she wanted to kill his ghost half, but they had so much in common. Secondly, he felt guilty because his thoughts kept wandering to Sam.
Danny wondered what his problem was. Valerie was unique. There wasn't anyone like her either. But, unlike Sam who set out to shock people and repulse them from mimicking her, Valerie was graceful and poised. She was admired. It wasn't a girl like Paulina who Danny wanted, after all Paulina had no real substance. It was someone like Valerie. Someone smart, funny, talented and easily accepted. She was a girl who could fit in anywhere she wanted, her middle name was far from being antisocial.
Valerie's laughter filled Danny's ears as he sat across from her and listened, occasionally saying something which would make her face light with a smile and cause her voice to rise in laughter. Instead of being happy himself, Danny felt haunted by a pair of worried lavender eyes.
Valerie, though she did miss out on a few things, like Danny's ghostly identity, was smart enough to be able to tell that something was bothering Danny. She figured she knew what it was, because as they became more and more comfortable in each other's company and the more she felt that she and Danny really clicked, he seemed to become more sad.
She reached out and touched his hand and smiled a little as he jumped in surprise then smiled shyly at her. She adored his shy smile. "Something is bothering you," she stated. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No," Danny started then changed his mind. "Yeah. Okay. Yeah. It's Sam."
"I figured," Valerie said wryly.
"What we talked about at the park made me think," Danny said. "I've never really seen Sam before. You know?" Valerie leaned on her hand and nodded her head as she watched Danny's face.
"Do you believe you can love someone. I mean really love someone, but be okay with not being with them?" He asked.
"Yeah," Valerie answered. "I guess so. But eventually, if the love grew and was real then not being with them would start hurting. I don't know cause I've never truly been in love. It's just a theory." She smiled and Danny smiled back.
"And if you didn't want to love this person?" Danny asked.
Valerie frowned. "Why wouldn't you?"
"Because it's too complicated," Danny said. "She's not the right person. She's not what I see myself with. She's my best friend. It would all be too serious."
Valerie raised her eyebrows and sighed. So the truth was finally rearing it's ugly head. She wondered if she should be noble and steer Danny in the right direction or take advantage of the situation. Of course, Valerie was honorable, but she was human too.
"First off, maybe you should make sure you're not mistaking feelings of deep friendship for something more. Don't you think she deserves someone who can love her for all that she is? Someone who isn't fighting their feelings for her tooth and claw?"
Danny closed his eyes. The thought of Sam with anyone else sent shivers of jealousy through him, but Valerie was right. She did deserve better. Jazz was right too. He wanted it all. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too.
"I guess," Valerie said softly as she looked down at her hands. "It's a matter of what you want more. Her friendship or her heart."
Danny's eyes lit up. "You're right," he said. "That makes sense."
"Glad I could help," she said.
"Me too," Danny said as he relaxed and smiled at Valerie.
Valerie tapped the table for a moment then sighed. "Just make sure you're honest with yourself Danny. And make sure you're honest with her. She deserves better."
"I know," Danny said. "I promise I will." He grinned and Valerie smiled back.
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Over the next few weeks Danny fell into a routine. His mother would pry him out of bed five days out of a week and force him to work out with her, then teach him self defense. Then he would spend time talking to Tucker.
Ghost fighting didn't seem to interfere with much. It was as though all the ghosts had gone on vacation. Danny was grateful for the sense of normalcy he'd been craving. He would wait in the afternoon for Sam to message him and they would chat for awhile, though the length of their conversations grew as Sam's strength grew. Then he would hang out with Valerie.
Only Tuck knew Danny was spending time with Valerie. Sam would hit the roof and start worrying. Danny decided he would wait to tell Sam that he and Valerie had become good friends. Just friends. Nothing more. Valerie's idea, at least until Danny had all his feelings sorted out.
Danny's finale daily task was to avoid Jazz like the plague. She had begun to take notes when she came to talk to Danny. Sometimes he managed to get away from her. Other times he didn't, and those other times, when he got away, Jazz sent Jack after Danny, telling their father that he had expressed interest in his latest ghost hunting gadget.
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A warm Tuesday afternoon found Danny at the park, alone lounging under the shade of his favorite tree with his eyes closed, when someone walked up and stood over him. Danny opened his eyes and looked up to see Dash Baxter grinning down evilly at him.
"There you are Fen Turd," Dash said menacingly. "You've managed to escape me all Summer, so now you're going to get twice the beating I was going to give you if you hadn't been such a girl and hid from me the whole time."
Danny rolled away from Dash's feet and stood as quickly as he could. He observed Dash with wide eyes. He could use his ghost powers to escape Dash, but he didn't want to. He wanted to deal with this on his own.
"Leave me alone Dash. I've done nothing to deserve the beating you want to give me," Danny said as he stood in a defensive stance.
"Wow!" Dash said sarcastically. "It looks like little Fentonia is going to try and fight me."
"I'm sick of you bullying me Dash," Danny growled. "I've never done anything to you."
"You annoy be," Dash said. "I think that's enough to warrant a good butt kicking."
"You need to grow up!" Danny yelled.
"How about if we stop you from growing up?" Dash asked as he lunged forward and attempted to pound Danny with a powerful right hook. Danny almost laughed at the lumbering slowness of Dash's attack. He ducked quickly out of the way and retaliated with a punch of his own, right in the tender spot under Dash's arm, which he left open with his pathetic punch.
"Oohh!" Dash said as he tried to hide the fact that Danny had hurt him. "Has your mommy been teaching the little boy how to fight?"
"Yes," Danny answered. "In fact she has, but Mommy is a ninth degree black belt."
"Liar," Dash said as he advanced again. This time Danny lifted his leg and kicked Dash in the solar plexus, knocking the bully to the ground. Dash gasped as he looked up at Danny who was standing over him wearing an angry expression.
"Leave me alone Dash," Danny warned. "Or next time I'll kick your butt!" Danny turned and walked away, feeling good. Dash had tried to yell a wise ass comment Danny's way, but he hadn't recovered from having the air knocked out of him. He stared after Danny trying to decide if this was grounds for war or if he should just leave Danny alone from now on.
Danny himself was grinning from ear to ear as he walked away. He did it. He may not have destroyed him, but he had beat Dash Baxter at his own game, and without the use of his ghost powers. This was a great day. Nothing could get him down. He sighed deeply then frowned as a mist of blue erupted from his mouth. Strike that, almost nothing could get him down.
He looked around for the ghost in question as he ran to the bushes, jumped inside them and transformed to into his ghostly identity. He flew up into the air and tried to catch sight of any near by ghosts.
A blast from an ecto ray nearly blew Danny from the sky and he turned in time to come face to face with Skulker.
"I beat one bully and another shows up," he said to himself. "There's just no escaping these guys."
"I've come for your head whelp!" Skulker yelled as he flew toward Danny who ducked out of the way.
"I'm sorry," Danny replied. "I'm a little attached to it right now." Where were Tucker and Sam with the Fenton Thermos when you needed them?
Skulker laughed, "You should learn to let go of such material possessions!" he shot a few more blasts at Danny who dodged them an shot several blasts of his own.
"I see you have no little friends to back you up this time," Skulker shouted. "You will be mine. I shall lay your pelt at the foot of my bed!"
"Errr," Danny said as he shot several more blasts toward Skulker, several connected, sending the hunter ghost spiraling down to the ground. "Again, that's something I'm rather attached too. Why can't you ask for something I don't want." He saw his sister running through the park out of the corner of his eye. "Like my sister," he muttered.
The fight progressed well. Danny had the upper hand and was just about to cast a weakening blow at Skulker when Jazz accidentally trapped him in Fenton Thermos. Skulker flew away, laughing and thanking Jazz for the laugh.
"I'm sorry Danny," Jazz said to her brother, cramped inside the thermos. "I've been trying to get better at this…really."
"Not trying hard enough apparently," came Danny's grumpy reply.
"I'll get you out of there," Jazz laughed. "I promise. But in the meantime, this is a good a time as any to talk, since you've been avoiding me and all."
"Oh Man!" Danny groaned.
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I have to admit I am kinda sad. I see the wonderful thread of a great romance here. But this is supposed to be a non-paring story. A NON-PARING story. Though I hate wasting such a good potential story. Man this stinks.
I'll leave it up to you, the reader. Should I let this become a paring story? Should I keep it non-paring. If I receive ten requests for me to make it DxS or DxV (which ever gets the most votes), I will. Otherwise, this will stay a nonparing story. Period. Review review review tell me what you think.