Notes:

Thank you (yet again) for reading and reviewing this story. Here's what you probably came for: a new chapter. I hope you like it.

Chapter 6: Silver Lining

"Danny! Where have you been? We were so worried!" Maddie exclaimed as soon as her son walked into the house accompanied by Sam.

"You were supposed to come home with Jazz. What happened?" Jack now asked.

The raven-haired boy sighed. "I wanted to be alone for a couple of minutes. Rough day, you know…"

"Do you want to talk about it?" Maddie questioned as he motioned him to the couch.

"Not really. I just want to go to my room. I hope you don't mind," Danny replied, addressing to his friend as well.

Before Sam could respond, the front door opened abruptly and someone walked inside. "I've looked everywhere and asked everyone but I couldn't find…" Jazz trailed off as she noticed her brother sitting on the couch. "…him," she finished in a softer tone. "Oh! Thank God you're home. We were so worried!" Jazz exclaimed as she hugged her sibling.

"I know. I'm sorry," he replied softly. "Anyway, as I was saying, I should go to my room". He stood up and then turned to his Goth friend. "Rain check?"

"Sure thing. I'll see you at school," Sam replied with a weak smile.

Danny walked upstairs towards his room while Sam walked outside towards her house.

Something here isn't right.

Danny was deep in thought once he was in his room. He tried to do his homework but he was still distracted.

Why would I be hallucinating someone so crucial at such a random time? It doesn't make sense. Why didn't I imagine him before? It would've been more logical, right? But who am I to say something's logical? Things haven't made sense lately.

Something is definitely wrong. Even Sam acts so… different. My shoulders still hurt from her grip. What was THAT all about? First she seems interested and intrigued; then, all of the sudden, she discards the idea of Phantom being real.

Maybe I shouldn't have told her. Maybe she didn't want to keep my hopes up. Maybe I need someone else's opinion.

'Maybe you should go to see Dr. Masters,' a voice echoed in his thoughts.

Dr. Masters? Yeah, right. He's the weirdest part of this living nightmare. Actually, now that I think about it, his behavior was also strange. Like the way he tried to explain how I opened my eyes while I was in coma and saw him before I slipped back into my sleep. That's just weird.

And I know I'm not good at math but, according to my dreams, I've known Plasmius for about half a year. However, Bertha said that she had been my nurse for only three months. If she was with Dr. Masters the day I opened my eyes, that means she has been my nurse for at least six months, not three. Why would she lie? Unless Dr. Masters is the one lying.

This is getting more confusing…

If only I had someone to talk to about it.

'You could talk to Tucker, Sam, Jazz, or even Valerie…'

No. They won't understand. They are not the same people I remember. Tucker almost killed me just by looking at me today. Sam is acting weird and it's usually Tuck or me who act weird. Jazz won't be as open-minded. And Valerie? Well, I'm just getting to know her.

I really wish I had someone to talk to about all of this.

The room became colder as Danny snapped out of his thoughts. He recognized the familiar sensation: it felt the same way it did in his dreams when a ghost was nearby.

"Why the long face?" a voice echoed in the room.

"Who's there?" Danny asked startled.

The voice materialized in front of him as Danny Phantom became visible. Fenton again gasped in shock.

"But you… and I… how did…" Fenton stammered.

"Easy, Fenton. Everything's fine," the ghost assured him.

The boy finally found his voice and spoke to the specter. "Last time you said you didn't have enough time. Why are you so calm now?"

"Well, last time I was in a hurry and you had to go to class. I didn't mean to scare you, but I wanted to see you," Phantom replied.

"Why did you want to see me?" Fenton asked intrigued.

If he's supposed to be me, he should be in me and not a completely different being, right?

"To thank you," Phantom said simply.

"Thank me? For what?" Fenton was still incredulous.

"For creating me."

"WHAT?"

Phantom sat on his bed, still staring with his glowing green eyes at the boy. "You heard me. You created me. I was born the day of the accident. I've been feeding you with dreams about ghosts and other nonsense to keep you alive."

"Nonsense? But you're a ghost too!" Fenton exclaimed confused.

Phantom just smirked. "Not exactly."

"What are you, then?" Fenton challenged.

The 'ghost' just kept his smug smile on his face. "A dream."

Ok. That doesn't make any sense…

"I know it doesn't make any sense. I'm just a projection of your hopes, your fears… a dream," the white-haired boy explained.

So why is my own dream talking to me? I can't be talking to myself!

"Yes. You're talking to yourself, Fenton. But as soon as you let me go, I'll be gone and never annoy you again," Phantom said with his arms crossed.

Fenton was confused before the ghost appeared. So, confusion doesn't even begin to describe what he felt now.

Again with the whole 'giving up' thing. So, that's it? I just have to erase him from my thoughts and desires? That's what it takes to live a normal life without feeling so lost about what's going on?

"Think about it, Fenton," the ghost said before he disappeared from the human boy's sight. Danny was left dumbfounded.

What the hell is going on? Why the sudden change? Earlier today he was hurt after he found out I wanted to give up on him and now, he's encouraging me to do it? GAAAH! I don't get it!

With those last thoughts, Danny stormed out of his room and headed downstairs to the front door.

Maddie noticed him. "Honey, where are you going?"

"Out," Danny exclaimed with a dry tone as he shut the door closed behind him.

His cell was everything but ordinary. Even though he was covered by darkness, it was hard to make an image of the place he was trapped in.

A deadening feeling filled his bones, which was ironic considering the nature of Phantom's power: he was a ghost.

As the feeling intensified, he heard the all-too familiar voice of his warden. "I might not be able to convince the kid that your visit was nothing but a dream, but I can still take advantage of the situation."

"What are you going to do now? Pose as one of my classmates or as one of my enemies? What?" Phantom demanded.

"No, my boy. It's much better than that. This time it's YOU who will do the job," the sinister voice replied.

"Yeah, right. Like I would do anything to hurt myself like that," the young ghost exclaimed with a snort.

"Perhaps not you, but I doubt your human half can see the difference between you and an illusion. After all, he thinks he's losing his mind," the warden said.

Phantom's eyes widened in shock when he heard those dreadful words. "He's smarter than you think. Even if I can't beat you, I'm sure he'll find a way to outsmart you."

"And yet, he still believes what I tell him. You're finished, Danny. He's going to give up on you, so why don't you give up on him as well?" The voice taunted.

"Do I seriously have to answer that?"

"Think about it, Phantom." The warden left as soon as he said those final words.

I still have faith in him. I have never given up so easily, so why would he? We're a team. He won't discard me just like that. Heh, we're Team Phantom. Who says there's no 'I' in team?

Danny Phantom was about to give his thoughts a rest until he could come up with a decent plan, but he suddenly noticed the silver lining again, streaking among the shadows.

What is that?

He came to realization once he remembered what had happened the last time he saw the same thing.

Is that… doubt? If it is, we still have a chance. I should better take advantage of this kind of opportunities.

Notes:

Again, short. But I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Itmight get confusing, but I'm not done with the story. Things WILL be explained. Perhaps not on the next chapter, but soon.