Description: Why does life have to be so unfair?
Dedication: I dunno, to all the fans that saw "Reality Trips" aka School's Out,I suppose. The story has nothing to do with it, but whatever.
Disclaimer: Danny, Sam, Tucker and all the other characters of Danny Phantom do not belong to me, no matter how much I wish it. (My faeries say it's against "Da Rules")
The Greatest Hero
Tucker could feel the heat radiating from the fire, but he was helpless to do any more than just watch in horrified silence as it consumed everything. Danny and his family stood next to him, watching as the fire destroyed the support beams and their entire house crumbled inwards. They were as powerless as he.
Suddenly, Tucker realized, alarmed, that someone was missing. "Sam! She's still inside!"
The Fentons looked at him, aghast, but Danny took off towards the inferno at a run, without even realizing where his feet were carrying him.
Sam took another step back as more flaming timbers fell from the ceiling and nearly hit her. Her back touched the ghost portal and instinct kicked in. She jabbed the open button, but the portal doors remained determinedly closed. The fire was growing nearer and Sam's eyes burned from the smoke. She took a deep breath, and started to cough, choking on the ashes. The Goth girl was certain that she was going to die.
Danny appeared in front of her, in ghost form, and, at first, she thought he was a hallucination. "Danny?"
"I'm here, Sam." he said. "Don't worry." He held out his hand for hers.
"Danny!" she screamed, suddenly alert. "Watch out!" But there was no time, even for going intangible. A heavy, blazing plank dropped directly onto the ghost boy's back and he vanished in a cloud of soot.
When the dust cleared, Sam could see Danny, human Danny, trapped under the bar. She pushed at it and tried vainly to pull him free. But she just wasn't strong enough. Fire licked at her hands and she jumped back, on instinct. Now Danny was going to die with her? Why did life have to be so unfair?
Danny managed to "go ghost" and slipped out from under the beam, intangible. He grabbed Sam around the waist and, with a final burst of effort, flew them both to safety outside. He climbed unsteadily to his feet and immediately collapsed, transforming back to human just before his parents, sister and best friend rounded the corner.
The next few days were the worst the Fentons and friends ever endured. Danny was in the hospital, suffering from third-degree burns, broken ribs and a coma. Tucker, Sam and his family rarely left his bedside. Several tests came in that concerned the doctor; half-pulse and unusual scans on the teen, but he didn't bother the family with them--he knew there wasn't much hope left anyway.
After almost four days of no sleep and little food, Sam suggested that the Fentons go grab a bite in the cafeteria.
"But what about you and Tucker?" Maddie asked maternally. "Aren't you hungry?"
Sam and Tucker both shook their heads. Neither had had any appetite since Danny had been hurt. "We'll stay with Danny." Sam offered.
Finally, after much coaxing, Jazz, Maddie and Jack went down to the cafeteria. Sam and Tucker didn't speak; they just sat quietly and kept their thoughts to themselves.
Sam was the first to notice when Danny's eyes flicked open. He looked at both of them and smiled weakly. "Hey, guys." Even though he had come out of the coma, both Sam and Tucker were sure that they were reaching the end. Sam bit back her tears and smiled as best as she could.
"Danny," Sam said in a hushed voice. "I wanted to tell you--"
"Sam." he interrupted. "I already know." She took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Me too."
Sam could no longer hold back her tears and they ran down her cheeks, unstoppable.
"Danny, come on, dude." Tucker said, attempting to keep a strong face forward. He was failing miserably. "You can't just…die." Tears glistened in the corners of his eyes too.
Danny shook his head, eyes closed. "I'm not the one who decides how these things work out, Tuck."
"But, there's so much left that we wanted to do." protested Sam. "That you wanted to do!"
"I know." Danny answered, with a touch of sadness. "But I can't."
Sam shook her head fiercely. "You're a hero. You can't die because of that. It's not fair!"
"Life's not fair, Sammy." Danny grinned, and for a moment, it seemed almost like everything would work out. "But, you know what? I still don't regret ever being a hero."
"You could have just left me!" cried Sam. "Why did you have to save me! Then you would be fine!"
"But, Sam, I already told you." he said slowly, between labored breaths. "I love you." His grip on her hand slackened and both Tucker and Sam knew they had just lost their best friend.
Sam looked at him, one last time, her vision swimming in tears. The black haired, blue eyed boy who loved the color red. Who wanted to be an astronaut. Who saved his town countless times even though he was only a kid. Who had saved her own life. The only person who had ever smiled so that Sam had to smile back. The boy who was the least selfish person she had ever met. Who had completely stolen her heart from the moment she first saw him. The greatest hero that Samantha Manson would ever know--Danny Fenton.
A/N: Wow, now I'm depressed. You all know the drill, please R&R!
