Disclaimer: I only own the TV that I watch Danny Phantom on, but I'm willing to trade Butch Hartman for it.

Author's Notes: Enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Rooftop Rumba

"You're pretty strong for a half ghost," grunted Griffith.

"You're pretty strong for...whatever you are," replied Danny.

Their hands were clinched together, both boys struggling to toss the other. Danny felt himself slowly being pushed backwards, the grip on his hands growing slightly painful. A red light began to glow around Griffith's hands as he fired a ghost blast at Danny. The young boy flew backwards, landing loudly on the front lawn. Danny groaned as he slowly pulled himself up. His eyes looked up in time to see Griffith about to strike the Baxters with his scythe.

Danny yelled out in anger as blue energy beams formed in his hands. In a surprising display of power, the twin beams hit Griffith dead on and sent him crashing back into the burning house. Danny turned intangible and quickly flew through. He heard a small chortle resound through the walls around him.

"Indeed Danny, you're impressive for a half breed, but that's all you are,"

Danny heard loud laughter as he looked around for the other boy.

"Alas...I grow tired of this, but rest assured you and I will finish this fight soon enough, count on it." Danny looked on in amazement as large puffs of smoke began to die down around him. 'Ok, I wasn't expecting that. Who is this guy?'

"Oh, that boy?" said the nurse. Her sympathetic eyes looked through the room window and at Danny. "Well he's been in there for about an hour now, just looking and talking to his friend. The doctor said the other boy has a concussion and he probably won't wake up until tomorrow."

Jasmine placed a hand to the glass and asked, "What about his parents?"

"We finally have his mother stabilized, but the doctor has ordered her to stay here for a few days under observation. We've notified the boy's father of both their conditions and unfortunately he will not be able to arrive until tomorrow afternoon. It's a good thing you're here Jazz, visiting hours will be over here in 20 minutes and your brother will need to leave."

Jasmine turned her gaze back to Danny.

"I keep asking myself why he was able to do all that stuff. For some reason he attacked you, but what that reason is I still haven't figured out yet," said Danny, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"On the bright side, at least your house didn't burn down," said Danny joking, "although I'd stay away from the kitchen for awhile."

The sound of interval beeps from the heart monitor was the only response he got from the unconscious boy. Danny cleared his throat, his tone becoming serious, "I promise I'll find Griffith and make sure he doesn't do this to anyone else. It's my fault this happened to you anyway. I have all these powers and I still didn't stop this from happening. When my ghost senses kicked in I should have just barged in, then you and your mom wouldn't be like this now...I'm sorry."

"You're the one that got them here Danny," Jasmine said from behind him.

Danny jumped in surprise and looked behind him in worry, "Jazz! Um, how long were you listening in?"

"Long enough to know that you're beating yourself up about it," said Jazz arms crossed. "Danny, if you hadn't shown up when you did, Dash and his mom could've died today."

"Yeah well I should have done more. I could've-"

"Done nothing else," said Jazz as she placed her hands on her brother's shoulders. "You risked your life for them and it's a miracle that you're even alive. It's not like you have super powers or anything, what more do you think you're capable of doing?"

Jazz ruffled his unruly bangs, a small smile came to her face as she thought back to what her brother really was capable of, thanks to his secret ghost powers.

After a minute she spoke again, "I talked to one of the nurses here and she said Dash and his mom will be fine. They just need some rest," Jazz held out his jacket to him, "and so do you so come on, let's go home before mom and dad start to worry."

Danny put on the jacket and stood up to leave the room with her. He paused and looked back at Dash once more before closing the room door behind him. Danny and Jazz walked quietly alongside each other.

"You know I really didn't expect you to act like this. You're actually being kind of mature," said Jazz.

"What do you mean?" asked Danny as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Well I just didn't expect you to act so nice to Dash, especially after all the things he's done to you. When I came into the room, you were talking to him like he was your friend. I just think it's mature that you put your feelings aside to be there for him," she said, a small smile on her face.

As Danny stepped out of the hospital's sliding doors, a small breeze ruffled his hair. He let out a sigh, only to see it turn into a smoky blue haze. His body grew tense as he looked around him for the ghost. His ears caught the faint sound of laughter and he looked up in time to see a shadowy figure land on the ledge of the roof. Danny turned to run back inside, but Jazz grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Danny, where are you going?"

"I uh forgot something in Dash's room. I'll be right back," said Danny as he pulled away. He ran back into the hospital racing down the hallway toward Dash's room. He arrived just in time to see Griffith phase through the ceiling. Without a second thought he used his ghost powers to phase through the door.

"The visiting hours are over Griffith so it's time for you to leave," said Danny while going ghost.

"Oh, it's you," the other boy said in a bored tone. "Look, our little scrap today was fun and all, but I'm busy right now."

Griffith floated closer toward Dash, but Danny stepped in front of him.

He got into a defensive stance as he spoke, "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but if you want Dash you're going to have to go through me."

Griffith's eyes suddenly glowed a bright green as a dark aura surrounded him. He let out a growl as he charged forward and brought his scythe down. Danny dodged the attack, but Griffith used the other end to knock him onto the floor. Danny quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding Griffith's next strike. The metal blade scraped against the floor as Griffith flipped it upwards and back into his hands. Danny got ready again when he saw Griffith hold the scythe poised to attack him again. Griffith smirked once, before quickly flinging the blade backwards and towards Dash.

Danny's eyes widened in fear as he leapt forward and grabbed the end of the scythe's handle. He was able to phase through Dash, but the weapon kept pulling him, until he phased through the wall. The scythe seemed to have a mind of it's own as it dragged Danny every which way, phasing through both walls and people. Danny yelled and held on for dear life as the thing phased through the elevator shaft upwards until it reached the roof.

Danny let go and fell with a thud, the scythe harmlessly falling down next to him. He sat up and held his head in a daze, "Anybody got the number of that runaway scythe?"

The scythe clanged to life again, but this time it zoomed past him and back into its owner's hands. Danny saw Griffith float in front of him, the boy's eyes glowing angrily as he prepared to attack.

"You stupid meddling ghost mutt! I'll have your head for this!"

"Sorry, but I like my head where it is," said Danny as his hands glowed.

Just as both were about to fight, a loud beeping noise caught Griffith's attention. He pulled the sleeve of his robe back to reveal a strange watch. He pressed a button on it and Danny saw a holographic screen pop up. Griffith pressed another button as his eyes scanned over the information in front of him. Just as Danny didn't think things could get any weirder, he saw Griffith's face calm down into one of resignation.

He raised an eyebrow as Griffith moved his robes back into place. His scythe shrank until it became a hand held weapon, which he tucked away into his robes. A small tornado of wind encircled him and looked like it was swallowing up both his robes and the dark aura that previously surrounded him. Griffith's feet landed softly on the ground and he was now dressed in a dark blue pinstripe suit. A small green aura began to glow around him as he walked toward Danny.

"Ok, why do you suddenly look like a mobster ghost?"

"Danny Fenton, the Grim Reaper Inter-dimensional Matrix would like to offer you a proposition," said Griffith calmly.

He pressed another button on his watch. A dark red portal opened above them and Danny yelled as he and Griffith were pulled in. After a flash of light and what felt like his body being ripped apart, Danny landed with a thump into a green chair. He looked around him wildly to find himself in a comfortable office with simple ghost decor. The black chair in front of him swiveled suddenly and revealed Griffith. The other boy looked pensive with his hands laced together over his crossed legs.

"Welcome to my office Danny," Griffith said politely.

"Where are we?"

Danny looked around him through the large office window behind Griffith, he saw a busy metropolitan ghost city.

"You're inside my office, located within one of the downtown G.R.I.M. buildings. Is there anything I can get you? Soda, juice, ectoplasm shake?"

"Uh no thanks, I'm good," said Danny quickly. "Why'd you bring me here?"

Griffith moved forward and pressed the intercom button on his desk.

"Ms. Mort, please take all my calls today and move my next client to midnight. Also begin the hologram projector."

"Yes Mr. Rolland, right away," replied a female voice. As soon as the words left her mouth, the lights in the room began to dim.

Griffith stood up and reached into his coat pocket to produce a pointer. It snapped at attention just as a large holographic screen popped up to his left. Danny held on to the chair in surprise as it moved to stand in front of the screen. An intricate insignia with the word 'G.R.I.M.' flashed onto the screen as Griffith spoke again.

"Danny, G.R.I.M. is an enterprise that seeks to protect and ensure the safety of the citizens of the ghost zone."

As Griffith continued to speak, various images of the company's work began to display themselves, "You see many years ago, the passage ways that connected both our worlds, were too primitive and useless in keeping spirits on their path. To stop this from happening our illustrious founder, the Grim Reaper, formed this organization to ensure that those who must depart your world make it to ours safely and to stop those that breach our barriers and escape into your world."

"Wow, I never knew something like this actually existed. Would've been handy to know earlier, anyway what does this have to do with me?"

"We've been watching you for sometime now Danny Fenton. You're a very unique boy and we feel that one day your talents will be beneficial to us."

Danny gasped as a familiar image displayed itself.

"Although we know about your illegal portal into our world, we were willing to overlook it because it allowed us to observe you more. You've taken care of every ghost that has gone through that portal and saved many people. Despite your noble efforts, our rules clearly state that once your parents die they must be imprisoned for their crime."

"What? Dude, that's not fair! I know they weren't supposed build it, but they meant well!" said Danny alarmed.

"Calm down. The director of this branch feels this will also be a waste and that is why he has asked me to offer you this proposition. If you accept it, the possibility of punishment will be transferred onto you."

Another holographic image popped up, but this time of what looked like an old family portrait of Dash's family. Danny saw a younger version of Dash standing next to a little girl he'd never seen before. He was shaken out of his thoughts by another image being shown, but this time of Dash only.

"I came to your hometown to do my assignment of taking Dash and his mom to this world. It was supposed to be an easy job, but after your first annoying interference my only choice left was to kill them myself. Since you've been so damned persistent, I'm willing to offer you the chance to save Dash's life."

"Really?" asked Danny in surprise. "What about his mom?"

"A committee has rescheduled her next appointment in 32 years, but the decision for Dash still stands. That is unless you complete the challenge," Griffith said with a smirk.

Danny's eyes showed his confusion, "Challenge?"

Griffith's expression became serious as he emotionlessly said, "The conditions of our contract with you will be simple, Danny. In order to save Dash's life and your possible afterlife, you must agree to complete one challenge of our choosing. If you succeed, then Dash will live and we will approve the portal in your home. If you fail, then the decision on Dash will stand and also affect you."

"Wait, are you saying that if I don't pass this challenge I'll be killed too?"

Griffith nodded and stated matter-of-factly, "And have no memory of your life before your death as well as become an agent of our organization."

"I knew there was a catch," Danny muttered with a sigh.

Griffith merely smirked and paced slowly in front of Danny.

"We in ghost world joke about how the living foolishly believes that love transcends death, when in reality love is only strong enough to slow down the hands of death. Your challenge Danny is to help Dash fall in love with someone and vice versa. In order to change his fate, the other person must confess their love to Dash in 3 month's time with a kiss. If love is really there then the kiss will restore Dash's life span, but if the love is false then the kiss will instantly kill him," Griffith laughed slightly, "and you."

"This is my challenge? It sounds like something out of a cheesy fairytale book! You gotta give me something else, anything else," Danny said desperately as he stood up.

"Nope, sorry Danny, but that's how the ectoplasm slimes. Let us kill Dash and your parents spend the rest of their eternity cleaning ghost prison toilets or save the meathead and have a happily ever afterlife, the choice is yours," said Griffith, his tone arrogant and cruel.

Danny jumped in surprise when a clipboard with the contract appeared in front of him. A pen floated toward him and Danny grabbed it with an unsteady hand. A small drop of sweat made its way down his face as he stared at the floating contract.

End of Chapter 3

Author's End Notes: Muahahaha! Sorry couldn't help myself. So there you have it folks Griffith is officially not a normal kid. The truth is that because he's an executive agent of G.R.I.M. he has special powers. He's definitely not the big boss (aka the Grim Reaper), but a pretty powerful minion of the god of death. Hope you guys liked the update!

Spider's Shout Outs:

(because the world's quieter without them)

Dela the Hidden: Yay! I'm glad you still like my story. I hope this chapter cleared up some of your questions about the mysterious Griffith. To be honest I know that if I make Danny a freshman I'm just asking for plot holes, but I think I'll keep him that way. :Evolutionary Spider says unsurely: Thanks for pointing that out to me.

KimuraSato: wow, I'm particularly pleased that you're reviewing me cause you're one of the big DD supporters out there. As I said earlier in my author's end notes, Griffith's not exactly the shinigami, he just works for him. As you'll see later on he's more of a protege. Thanks for the awesome review.

moondragon-1001: Wow, you're definitely to the point. lol. Tada, I updated!. Thanks again for the review.

Danny Lover 98: ...points and laughs hysterically...you're funny. You should call yourself Slash Hater 69.

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dfizzle: Thanks for the cool review and don't worry I definitely don't plan to.