Chapter 7: Another Date
"Really, Dash?" Kwan asked in disbelief. "It's Fenton we're talking about."
"Nothing else makes sense, Kwan." Dash replied. "But we're ending this right now."
"Yeah!" Both Dale and Kwan cheered.
Another player showed up at their room. "Guys, Coach Tetslaff wants us for practice."
"We're ending this after practice." Dash corrected himself and Dale and Kwan redid their cheering.
Meanwhile, at Jerry's office, Jerry was addressing the girls. "Girls, this is Roland Daggett, former CEO of the now bankrupt Daggett Industries. Daggett waged a lot in the victory of Gotham High's football team against Casper High's. Daggett's company went bankrupt when he tried to use stray animals to spread a plague so he could make a lot of money selling a cure and that's why W.O.O.H.P. doesn't want him to be powerful again. I want you to look for evidence of anything illegal he does to win the bet and then arrest him or at least neutralize whatever dirty scheme he has."
"Yes, Jerry." The girls replied.
"Unfortunately, Alex can't go because Danny Fenton is one of the Casper High students visiting Gotham City for the occasion and might recognize her." Jerry explained.
"Impossible!" Alex exclaimed. "He's not interested in sports other than bowling!"
"His chosen girl attends Gotham High." Jerry said and Samantha, Clover and Alex understood. "Sam, Clover, since Alex can't go with you, Britney will."
Back in Gotham City, Barbara was giving Danny a private tour while Tucker and Sam were following them. "Sam, don't you think you're blowing things out of proportion?" The techno geek asked.
"You should have thought about that before talking Danny into entering that dating service." Sam argued.
"No, Sam." Tucker replied. "You should've thought about that before reusing to admit…" He then noticed her glare. "Never mind." 'She can be scarier than Batman.'
Unbeknownst to them, Barbara noticed the two amateur spies. 'I won't say anything because they're Danny's friends but they'd better stop before Batman decides to intervene.' She and Danny entered a movie theater.
"Tucker, I hope you're ready to pay for our tickets." Sam said.
"No way!" He protested. "You're the one who dragged me here. Not to mention that you're…" He saw Sam glaring at him. "I'll pay my ticket and you'll pay yours."
"Whatever." The goth conceded and they entered, unaware that they weren't the only teenagers spying on Danny and Barbara.
After the movie, Barbara took Danny to another place for a snack. On their way, he noticed an abandoned building. "Daggett Industries?" Danny asked. "That's the company that went bankrupt after the animal-spread plague scandal, right?"
"Right, Danny." Barbara confirmed.
"So, is it true that Daggett waged on the outcome of the football game?" Danny asked.
"Yes, Danny." Barbara answered.
"So, how would Batman and his Bat-family feel if Danny Phantom showed up and foiled Daggett's scheme?" Danny asked with a suggestive smile that unknowingly made Sam and Tucker wonder if Barbara knew Danny's secret.
"Well, I'd have to be Batgirl to know for sure but I'd guess he'd become even more worried it'd attract his enemies to Gotham City." Barbara replied with an inside joke tone that confused Danny's friends.
"Really?" Danny asked with skepticism.
"Yes." Barbara answered. "Why do you think Superman stays out of Gotham?"
"I never thought about that before. I just assumed he focused on Metropolis whenever there were no world-wide emergencies." Danny explained. 'After all, Superman could've stopped several crimes if he came to Gotham once in a while. Then again, the idea of Skulker coming after me does seem to be a good reason Phantom shouldn't appear in Gotham very often.'
"Really?" Barbara asked. "I thought a ghost going after Phantom in Bellwood would've made you understand."
It took a few seconds but Danny figured out what Barbara was talking about. "Actually, I was dating a girl from Bellwood back then thanks to the dating service and because of that I witnessed the battle." He explained. He knew there was no need to lie to Barbara but, since they were in her turf and she was acting like she's not Batgirl in spite of him knowing the truth, he decided to play along and pretend he's not Danny Phantom. "Technus, as Phantom called the other ghost, was actually hoping to steal tech somewhere Phantom wouldn't be around to stop him and was surprised at Phantom's presence."
"Well, Supergirl once came to Gotham to catch a criminal from Metropolis so I'm giving Phantom the benefit of the doubt." Barbara commented.
Danny briefly wondered if he should tell about his meeting with Supergirl but decided against it not only because he didn't want to speak of his other dates more than needed but also because he didn't know if they knew each other's identities.
"Look!" Barbara pointed at a restaurant. "That's where I'm taking you."
"Yak in a Box?" Danny asked. "I never heard of this place before."
"They opened a restaurant here recently." She explained.
Meanwhile, Tucker and Sam were still stalking them until a cop showed up. "Stalkers!"
Thinking quickly, Sam grabbed Tucker for a fake out session similar to one she and Danny once used to trick Valerie. "Sorry, I thought you were stalking the other couple." The cop said and left.
"You owe me, Sam." Tucker said.
"Consider it compensation for setting Danny into that dating service." Sam replied.
"Then we're even and I'm leaving." Tucker said and ran away before she could say anything else.
Unbeknownst to them, three girls were inside Daggett's abandoned building and one of them was watching the visitors from Amity Park. "That's definitely the TooFineTucker Mandy whined about." Clover commented. "If so, I no longer blame her."
"Clover!" Samantha replied with a scolding tone. "We're not here for this! We're here to find evidence of Roland Daggett's criminal activities."
"Inside this abandoned building?" Clover scoffed. "I don't think we'll see any signs of Daggett here."
"Wrong, Clover." Britney replied as she looked outside the office they're currently in. "He's coming." Surprised, the spies simply left through a window and waited on the roof while the listening devices they left behind worked.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to be here, boss?" Germs asked Daggett. "What'll you say if somebody catches you?"
"Since I still own this place, I can say I'm evaluating it to decide if I accept Warren Powers' offer or not, Germs." Daggett answered with a tone that suggested Germs was being stupid for asking that question. "Now, did you do as I asked?"
"Yes, Sir." Germs answered. "I've added steroids to Dash Baxter's juice but I don't understand. I thought you wanted his team to lose."
"Exactly." Daggett was proud of himself for his brilliance. "I can't poison my adversaries or use steroids to improve the local team's players but once Dash Baxter returns to his hotel room and drinks his tainted juice, the Ravens will be disqualified and I win the bet."
"I hope so because just thinking about that boy's laundry gives me nausea." Germs commented. "It's so dirty."
Upon hearing and recording it, the girls reported it to Jerry. "Good work, girls." He said. "Now get that juice before a civilian touches it."
Meanwhile, Danny and Barbara were eating at Yak in a Box. "This is great!" Danny commented. "I wonder who came up with this idea."
"A couple of immigrants who came from Ustinkistan five decades ago, Danny." Barbara answered.
"I thought they came from Zoravia." Danny said.
"The Eastern European Kingdom copied by the town of Fountain Park, Illinois?" Barbara asked.
Before Danny had a chance to answer, Dash, Kwan and Dale showed up. "Stop right there, Fenton!" Dash ordered. "I know your secret!"
"What?" Danny fearfully asked. 'Did he figure out I'm Danny Phantom?'
"I've seen how you reacted when Paulina claimed Phantom as hers in front of your girl, Fenturd." Dash declared. 'On, ho. He did find out.' "You tricked her into thinking you're Danny Phantom!"
"It's a lie! I'm not…" Danny quickly replied until it clicked in what Dash said. "What?"
"You heard me, Fenton." Dash replied. "I don't know how you tricked her but it's obvious she must think you're Danny Phantom. You probably tricked the other 27 girls as well. Especially the crime-fighting cheerleader who doesn't need superpowers or a secret identity to be a hero."
"He doesn't need to be a superhero to be my boyfriend." Barbara defended her boyfriend. "Unlike you, he's a nice guy who doesn't need to belittle others to feel good about himself."
Sam Manson, who was hiding in a corner to avoid being seen by Danny and Barbara, was amazed at Barbara's attitude and as shocked as Danny about how close Dash came to learning Danny's secret. Sam also believed Dash got it right about Barbara figuring out Danny's secret even if the bully thought the redhead was falling for a lie.
"You're lucky I don't hit girls." Dash said with a frown.
"No, you're the lucky one since it means I cannot hit you in self-defense." Barbara teasingly replied.
"Fine, you asked for it." Dash tried to sock Barbara but she used a judo move on him and he's the one who got hurt.
"Stop right there, punk." Detective Bullock ordered Dash. Another cop then approached Barbara. "Did this delinquent hurt you, Ms. Gordon?"
"Hey!" Dash protested while wincing. "She's the delinquent and I am the victim. Tell them, Fenton!"
"Dash Baxter is a school bully my girlfriend had to hit in self-defense, Detective." Danny stated.
"Take that back, Fenton, or you'll suffer." Dale threatened.
"Witness coercion is a crime, punk." Detective Bullock replied. "You're under arrest!"
"Don't you understand, Sir?" Dash pleaded. "Fenton and Gordon are the troublemakers!"
"Don't you dare call the Commish's daughter a troublemaker." Bullock ordered, showing the bullies how much of a trouble they're in. He then turned his attention to Kwan. "You'd better call your teacher before I find a reason to arrest you as well."
"Yes, Sir." Kwan fearfully replied and left.
"What about that girl?" Bullock asked while pointing at Sam.
"She's just worried about her friend." Barbara reassured Bullock. "Which explains why she came to a place like this in spite of being a vegan."
"Ultra-recyclo-vegetarian." Sam protested while drinking her soda.
Bullock then approached the cashier. "Yak meat is better than I expected. If you start serving donuts, I might become a regular."
"Probably the reason this place will never sell donuts." Barbara whispered to Danny, who chuckled at her joke.
"Alright, punks." Bullock addressed the arrestees. "You have the right to remain silent. If you waive it, everything you say might, and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney during your questioning. If you can't afford a lawyer, the court will waste taxpayer's money on one. Do you understand these rights?"
"Y-yes." Both bullies answered.
"Do you wanna talk to me?" Bullock asked.
"No!" Dash quickly answered and Dale, unsure of what to do, played along and also refused.
"Good." Bullock grunted. "Because minors need a parent or guardian around during questioning and I've got no time for bull."
"He should watch his language." Danny whispered to Barbara.
"Who said he didn't?" She teasingly asked in reply.
"Remind me not to get on his bad side." Danny asked his girlfriend.
"Just' don't stand between him and his donuts." She replied and he laughed.
"By the way, do you know someplace other than the hotel where I can spend the night?" Danny asked. "I'm afraid of staying anywhere near Kwan and the other non-arrested A-Listers."
"Well, you're a key witness on a case of attempted assault on the Police Commissioner's daughter." Barbara stated with a suggestive smile. "You could stay at our home or somewhere else under witness protection."
"Good!" He exclaimed. 'Even if her Dad puts me in prison, it's still better than what the A-Listers would do.'
After everyone else left, Sam returned to the hotel and told Tucker about the incident. "Wow!" Tucker was amazed. "She not only put Dash in his place but also got him and Dale arrested! Forget about Batman! I want her autograph now!"
"Tucker, we have something more urgent to worry about now." Sam scolded her friend. "Don't you remember how she and Danny spoke of Phantom and Batgirl?"
"Yeah, I also noticed something odd on how they mentioned the two heroes." Tucker answered.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Sam asked.
"I think so, Sam." Tucker answered and both teens started a phrase with "Barbara Gordon is…" but while Tucker ended his with "…Batgirl!", Sam ended hers with "…blackmailing Danny!"
"What?" Both Tucker and Sam asked each other. They tried to answer at the same time but neither could understand the other. "I'll go first." Sam declared. "Tucker, Barbara Gordon must've learned some police technique and used it to learn Danny's secret. She's blackmailing our friend with it!"
"Are you crazy?" Tucker asked. "From what I figured out, she's Batgirl and she and Danny know each other's secrets."
"That's even crazier than Bruce Wayne being Batman, Tucker." Sam replied.
End chapter.
Disclaimer: Yak in the Box and Ustinkistan are a business and a nation from "The Fairly OddParents", a cartoon I don't own.
Disclaimer 2: Zoravia and Fountain Park are locations from "Princess Natasha", another cartoon I don't own.
Author's Note: Thanks to Leonardo for suggesting Sam jumping to the conclusion that Barbara is blackmailing Danny with his secret identity.
Answer to Chester A Bum (guest): Thanks. Well, Danny crossed over into a verse featuring an element ghosts are vulnerable to so I eventually came up with a way to introduce Danny to this element. As for Tucker, he is "Too Fine" after all. Well, in "Danny and Kara", Sam practically lost all hope upon learning her rival is Supergirl. As for super explosions, I still haven't decided when Sam will learn Tucker got it right.
Answer to Leonardo (guest): Lamento desapontá-lo, mas nada de Alex em Gotham City.
Answer to Guest: No spoilers.