Chapter Twelve

Danny stood on the sidewalk in front of Valerie's house and took several deep breaths. He was glad that her father, once he was back on his feet from nearly losing everything, was able to move them close enough so that if Danny needed to run for the safety of Fenton Works, it would be a short flight.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" Tucker asked worriedly. Danny looked at his friend and shook his head.

"I mean if you need the support," Tucker continued.

"No," Danny said as he kept his gaze focused on the front door. "You don't need this. I mean maybe you should go back to my house and wait. I'd actually feel better. If she kills me, I don't want you to have to see it."

"Oh yeah," Tucker said unhappily. "That makes me feel a whole heck of a lot better!"

Danny smiled slightly. "Well it's now or never,'' he announced then walked forward and rang the bell.

Valerie opened the door and gave Danny a look of pleased surprise. "Hi," she said. "How are you doing? Wanna come in?"

"Yeah," Danny said as he looked over his shoulder toward Tucker, but Tucker was already gone.

Valerie gestured to the couch. Danny sat down and put his palms on his knees and watched Valerie as she stood for a moment.

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked eagerly. "Soda? Lemonade?"

"No," Danny said as he shook his head. "I'm here because I need your help."

Valerie sat down and gave him a concerned look. "I'll do what I can," she said gently as she picked up on his distress.

"Your father's work. Axion Labs. They're using FFTech 3.1 right?" Danny asked.

Valerie shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah I guess so. I mean I don't really pay attention to my dad's job. I've heard him talk about the program a few times, he has it on his computer here, but that's it. Why?"

Danny took a deep breath. "I need a copy of it," he answered as he rubbed the back of his neck and kept his eyes focused on Valerie's shoes.

"Why?" Valerie asked suspiciously. "I thought Tucker was the Techno Geek."

"I can't tell you why," Danny answered as he met her worried gaze. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."

Valerie chewed on her lip a moment. "Are you in some kind of trouble?" she asked. Danny felt like a deer in headlights as she moved over to the couch and sat beside him. "Because if you are, I can help you. Even borrowing something from the lab could get us all into some serious hot water, especially something which hasn't been released to the public yet."

"All I need is a disk," Danny said as he looked away from her tender gaze. "It's a matter of life and death." He closed his eyes and prayed that she wouldn't ask.'

"Whose life? Yours?" she asked her voice filled with anger. "Because if someone is threatening to kill you, I'll find them and…."

"No," Danny said as he took Valerie's hand. He was so scared that he was shaking. Valerie's anger was replaced with concern. She moved closer to Danny.

"Is it Tuck? Is someone threatening Tuck?" Valerie asked soothingly. "Tell me Danny whose life is at stake? And why would you need a copy of some silly computer program to save it? Is this ghost related? I can handle ghost problems you know."

Danny took a deep cleansing breath. "It's Sam," he said. Valerie's eyes filled with tears and sympathy.

"Oh Danny," She said softly. The tone in her voice brought Danny to tears. He tried as hard as he could not to cry. He was trying to hold on, to not believe Sam could be taken away from them, but now as he sat with Valerie someone who all at once could and couldn't understand, someone his feelings were so convoluted about, the one person who stood between Sam's life and death, the tears just burst forth. Valerie held such power over him, and in so many ways. The girl had no clue how much of Danny's lay in her grasp. He was scared. Terrified. If he told Valerie the truth, the secret he'd been hiding, she'd probably hate him and refuse to help. Danny shamed himself by sobbing. Before he knew it Valerie had her arms around him and was talking to him softly.

"You really loved her didn't you?" Valerie asked gently. Danny didn't know how to answer. He sniffled and put Valerie away from him, hating himself for being so weak. He reminded himself of what a jerk he was. How he was entirely responsible for the current situation. How he certainly didn't deserve either her or Sam. He steeled his emotions against the fear and despair.

"You need to listen to me Val," he said trying to regain his strength. "Sam's death is my fault. I'm trying to put things right, but I need a few things before I can find the ghost who started all of this."

"What?" Valerie asked in shock. "What do you mean? This is crazy Danny. You're trying to tell me a ghost killed Sam?"

"No I did," Danny said as he rubbed his hand on his face, he wanted to laugh bitterly and tell her she was right, yes a ghost killed Sam, that ghost was himself. He realized how crazy he must be sounding, but he had to continue.

"I made a stupid wish because I was trying to fix my own stupidity and…" He paused. Valerie was giving him a look of complete disbelief. "Let me explain my reality as I know it okay?" he asked.

"Okay," Valerie said as she looked at Danny worriedly. Danny took a deep breath and told her about how seriously they had been dating." Valerie smiled at the description of their relationship.

"Sounds nice," she said. Danny smiled a little and told her about Sam coming home from the hospital, about spending the day with her, about kissing her, then about Valerie finding out and her ultimatum.

"So I made a wish," he said. "I wished I didn't have to decide between you and Sam. I wished I hadn't been such a horrible jerk and kissed her while I was in a relationship with you."

Valerie nodded her head. "That is pretty jerky. I would have been very mad."

Danny shook his head. "You were actually pretty cool about it, but that made it all the worse." Valerie brushed Danny's hair behind his ear and sighed as he looked at him. He could tell she was thinking of a way to tell him something he didn't want to hear.

"I know you believe everything you told me," she said gently. "But Danny. Sam died. It would be so wonderful if it were true, even the bad parts, just so Sam would be okay, but…it's not. Ghosts, they don't work that way."

Danny shut his eyes tight. "But they do Val. They do all the time. Once Sam wished she never met me and we had one heck of a time getting things back to normal. It was during Paulina's fifteenth birthday party, you know when they had the big meteor shower? The ghost became powerful by granting wishes and we were trying to stop her."

Valerie frowned at Danny. "You don't fight ghosts," she told him. "If you did we'd cross paths I'd think."

Danny sighed heavily and continued. "And then there was the time that Tuck wished he had powers like me, and Desiree, that's the ghosts name, she granted his wish, only every wish she grants gets twisted, so he was on the verge of turning into a monster."

"Danny," Valerie said softly. Her look of worry intensified.

"I'm not crazy Val." Danny said forcefully. He paused for a minute. "I had an accident. In my parent's lab."

Valerie half laughed. "An accident where you bumped your head?" she asked trying to make light of a situation which was starting to sound less and less believable.

"This is very serious Val," he whispered as he looked her in the eyes. "You're either going to kill me for this or simply hate me forever, but it's a risk I have to take. I have to save Sam. I only have two weeks before we lose her and can't get her back."

"You're scaring me Danny," Valerie warned.

Danny closed his eyes. "Do you trust me Valerie?" he asked

"Of course I do," Valerie replied. "You are one of the kindest, sweetest people I know."

"And how do you feel about me?" Danny asked. "Honestly Valerie. Really honestly."

Valerie blinked at him for a moment. "Are you looking for a confession of love?" She paused. "I don't know if I'm ready for something like that. I like you a lot. I mean. I love you sort of but…" She frowned and was at a loss for words.

"It's okay," Danny told her "Just promise me, that after I tell you what I am about to tell you, that you'll remember that you trust me and you more than just like me okay?"

"Okay," Valerie said warily.

Danny stood and paced around the living room. Valerie watched him as though he had lost his mind.

"You know Danny Phantom right?" He asked.

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Yeah the jerk keeps getting away from me. I almost had him the other night and as always he slips right through my fingers." Her vision narrowed. "Does he have something to do with this?"

Danny laughed bitterly. "Have you ever thought, Danny Phantom, Danny Fenton? Fenton, Phantom? Phantom, Fenton? Danny, Danny?"

Valerie laughed. "Um, no!" Danny looked at her in frustration.

"All right," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I have a story to tell you. When I was fourteen, my parents built the ghost portal. You've seen it right?"

"Yeah," Valerie said as she watched Danny pace.

"It didn't work at the beginning. Sam and Tucker were over one day and Sam talked me into checking it out. I some how turned it on, but in the process something happened to me."

"What?" Valerie asked as Danny stopped in front of her.

"Ghost powers," Danny answered in an almost overdramatic tone. "I became a ghost hybrid. Half ghost. Half human."

Valerie raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "You mean you half died?"

Danny shrugged. "I don't know. The only thing I know is that I had these strange powers."

"Like what?" Valerie asked skeptically.

Danny showed her by walking straight through the coffee table and sitting down on the couch beside her. Valerie's eyes widened as she looked at Danny in shock.

Danny swallowed hard and continued, "Unfortunately, all these ghosts started escaping from the Ghost Zone through the portal, so I made it my mission to put them back where they belong. I've been fighting ghosts ever since. Some of the same ones over and over. I've also made a lot of mistakes along the way, inadvertently making an enemy out of a pretty powerful ghost hunter."

He stood again and Valerie opened her mouth to say something, but she seemed to think better of it, so she just watched him pace and listened to him talk.

"I have two forms Val," Danny began. "My human form, which you know as Danny Fenton." He looked her in the eyes then allowed the glowing rings to envelope him as he changed to his ghostly form. "And the other form, my ghostly form is Danny Phantom."

"Whoa!" Valerie yelled as she jumped over the couch in order to get away. "Hold on a minute. No no no! Uh uh! No way!" She held her arms out in front of her as if he were advancing and she was trying to push him away.

Danny stood stone still. He was terrified to move. He was sure Valerie was going to attack him. He wasn't sure what her reaction would be but the look of horror on her face confirmed that she wasn't going to jump for joy at his confession.

"I should have told you sooner I think," Danny said quickly. "It's just the only people who know are Sam, Tucker and Jazz. The less who know the better, and well, I've also been afraid that you would kill me."

"Kill you!" Valerie yelled. "Kill you! I want to do more than kill you right now Danny Fenton! You should have told me from the beginning. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you were filled with such hatred for the "Ghost boy" and so set on destroying him for messing up your life, that you wouldn't listen to me, at least I didn't think you would. I figure you're too caught up in some silly vendetta that you couldn't see me beneath the ghost," Danny answered.

"And you've attacked me! Over and over and over!" Valerie accused.

Danny shook his head violently. "I've been protecting you over and over and over. If I wanted to destroy you Valerie. I could. Trust me."

"Trust you?" Valerie growled. "Why should I trust you? You're my greatest enemy."

"You did a few minutes ago," Danny tried to remind her.

"That's before I found out what a hideous…abomination you are? What a disgusting freak you are?" Valerie hissed. Danny transformed himself back into his human form and sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands as he leaned forward.

"Then just destroy me Val," he said hopelessly. "You can do it. I'm sitting here defenseless. I'm not going to fight you. If I can't save Sam, then what's the point in fighting anything anymore?"

Valerie sighed heavily as she walked around to the front of the couch and stood looking at Danny. "There was a point where you could have told me," she said angrily. "There have been many times. You started dating me knowing….knowing how I felt about Danny Phantom, you, and yet you kept that information from me? You've deceived and betrayed me. How far were you willing to let things go before you told me? You used me!"

"You're right," Danny said. "I'm sorry. I wish I could take it back. I wish I didn't make such huge mistakes, but right now, I need your help Val. I've got to save Sam."

Valerie sighed as she sat down. She looked at Danny a minute as if she were considering what to do. "You and I need to sit down and have a long talk," she told him gently. "There is a lot you have to answer for, but right now I don't think your state of mind can handle it." She reached toward him and took his hand. He looked into her eyes and she half smiled.

"This doesn't mean I've forgiven you." Valerie warned. "It does not mean I accept you. It does mean that I'm trying to understand and I'm still your friend. I'm very hurt that you've kept this from me for so long, that you thought I was so narrow minded that we couldn't put aside our differences."

"And it doesn't put aside the fact that you think I am a hideous freak either," Danny said as he reminded her.

Valerie looked ashamed. "I'm sorry," she said. "That was just my gut reaction. I was angry and shocked. I don't really feel that way. I think it's freaky but," She paused and looked at Danny. "You thought I would try to kill you? Didn't you? You must really think I am a wretched bitch!"

"No," Danny said. "I don't. I didn't know how you react. I never dared hope that you would even be rational about it. I now how you feel about Danny Phatom." He looked at Valerie hopefully. "But took the risk because I need help."

Valerie gave him a considering look then nodded her head. "Then you have to let me help you in more ways then just giving you a stupid disk." She stood. "I'll be right back." Danny was watching Valerie in surprise as she ran from the room.

"Here," Valerie said as she ran back into the living room. She handed a gold CD to Danny. "Go save Sam." She smiled shakily and Danny stood and walked to the door. Valerie followed him. She seemed to think for a moment then she put her arms around him and hugged him tight.

"Promise me," she said. "That once things are put back the way you say they should be, that you'll trust me okay? I deserve that much."

Danny looked into her eyes for a moment. "I promise," he said.

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"She didn't even yell at you?" Tuck exclaimed after Danny relayed Valerie's reaction to learning his secret identity.

Danny gave Tucker a strange look. "Did you want her too?" he asked.

"No," Tucker answered. "It's just kinda scary that she did react at all like we expected."

"But good," Danny added.

"Good," Tucker agreed. "But for some reason it was just all too easy. You know?"

Danny frowned at Tucker. "Don't jinx us." He warned. Tuck closed his mouth and looked ashamed.

"So now we go get Technus right?" Tucker asked.

Danny shook his head. If Tucker went into The Ghost Zone, he'd see Sam. Danny didn't want anyone to see Sam like she was. "I'll go alone. I'll bring him back here and then we'll go break into some files."

"Are you sure?" Tuck asked. "You don't have to go alone."

Danny shook his head. "I'm not alone Tuck." He smiled a little then changed into his human form and phased down to the basement and disappeared into The Ghost Zone.

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I think Danny's confession to Valerie of who he really is was probably a lot anti-climatic, but it's not the most important matter in this story so I hope it's okay.

Here is where I beg for a review. Imagine big tear filled puppy dog eyes then review.