I do not own Danny Phantom. No matter how much I wish, I don't own Danny or any of the related characters.
This is for Sasia. I wish you'd either sign up for FFN or email me so that when you make statements like….Can you continue this story. I can answer with…Why I haven't. My e-mail is on my profile, feel free to contact me if you can't PM me. I do not bite.
Chapter Two: Female Bonding
Tucker Foley was standing outside helping his mother wash the windows when he heard the pounding feet of runners. He turned casually to look, hoping to catch a glimpse perhaps, of a couple of fair maidens as they exercised their Sunday afternoon away. The sight his eyes beheld nearly caused his heart to stop beating. He dropped the soapy sponge in his hand and his jaw dropped open.
"Hi Tuck," Sam waved cheerfully as she ran by.
"Hi Tuck," Valerie called from beside Sam. Both girls surveyed the stunned look on Tucker's face and started laughing. Tucker ran to the fence and watched as they jogged down the road.
"Stop looking at our butts Tuck!" Sam yelled over her shoulder. Tucker shook his head then looked up at the sky to see if maybe he was going to be struck dead by a falling meteorite, for surly on a day where Sam and Valerie were running down the street in what looked like amiable companionship, the world must be coming to an end.
"I think we shocked him," Valerie laughed as she checked her watch. They'd run a good five miles together and neither girl felt like stopping. Well, not true Valerie was almost ready for a break, but she wasn't going to tell Sam that, especially when the Goth girl looked as cool as a cucumber.
Sam smiled almost ready to pick up the pace when she noticed the flush of exhaustion rising up in Valerie's face and she slowed down. "Wanna stop?" she asked.
"Only if you do," Valerie said as she hoped Sam was ready to rest.
"Yeah," Sam said even though she was used to running a couple of more miles. "I think we need a cool down."
The two girl's walked a block over to the park where Valerie flopped down in the grass. Sam followed suit and began to stretch. Valerie looked at the Goth girl, rolled her eyes and followed suit.
"I would never have figured you for a runner," Valerie said.
Sam smiled. Her answer should have been, "When you're constantly trying to keep up with Danny and running around in combat boots, you get in shape fast." But she couldn't say that to Valerie so instead she told her and quite truthfully. "I've been running for awhile now. It clears my mind when I have too much to worry about."
Valerie wanted to sarcastically ask Sam what she had to worry about. Valerie had spent the night at Sam's house and naturally discovering one of Sam's many secrets, that she was filthy rich.
"Why don't people know you're loaded?" Valerie asked in awe and a little bit of jealousy. Sam's home reminded her how far she'd fallen.
"I'm not rich," Sam answered coldly. "My parents are. Besides, I don't want to make friends based on the fact that I have money. I want people to like me for me, not what I can buy for them."
Valerie looked around Sam's room. Of course she was unaware of the large scrap book which was missing from it's place of honor on Sam's dressing table. Or that a couple of pictures on the wall had disappeared at the knowledge of her arrival. All she saw was the dark Goth room with the moody lights and candles.
The girls had watched a few movies, talked about boys. Yes, it was amazing that Sam Manson actually talked about boys confiding that, even though she thought he was a world class jerk, Sam thought Dash Baxter was kinda cute.
Then came the face painting session and soon the dawning realization why Sam was the way she was. Sam had put some heavy eyeliner and dark eye make up on Valerie for a decidedly punk look. Valerie didn't especially like it, but she could live with it.
Valerie's turn provided her with something she'd always wanted to see. Sam wearing light pink eye shadow, blush, pink lipstick, and her hair tied away from her face. Valerie was a little surprised at how pretty Sam really was when all the Goth was washed off. She'd be able to give Paulina a run for her money for the prettiest girl in school title. Valerie figured that Sam's thinking about her looks must go along the same lines as her money. She wanted people to like her despite her appearance, not because she was pretty. Then she met Pam Manson. Sam's mom who ultimately was the grown up equivalent of Paulina.
"Oh dear!" Pam squealed delightedly as she entered the room. "Look at my Sammykins! Just look at that dear, pretty little face. I just can't believe it" She clasped her hands to her chest. "I knew that if I held out and hoped long enough that…"
"Mom," Sam said as she cut her mother off mid gush. "We're just playing with the make up. I'm not changing. I hate pink. I don't want to be popular. I am still a vegetarian." She gestured to Valerie. "This is my friend Valerie."
Valerie watched as Mrs. Manson's face fell with every declaration of Sam's until she got to the "my friend, Valerie," part.
"A girl!" Pam Manson said on a sigh. "You're father and I have despaired of you ever finding normal friends. Daniel Fenton and Tucker Foley as nice as Tucker is, are not suitable companions for a young impressionable lady such as yourself." She eyed Valerie for a moment then sighed.
"Welcome to our home Valerie," Pam said as her face began to look strained and slightly angry. She nodded at Sam then left the room.
Sam picked up a tissue and wiped the lipstick off her mouth. "As you can see, my parents have a great deal of difficulty accepting me for who I am. They want me to be Samantha the high society princess and to be my mother's pretty little dress up mini-me. No thank you."
"It could be worse," Valerie started.
"They hate everything about me Valerie," Sam said, not letting Valerie get any further. "Right down to my friends. They even took a restraining order out on Danny once,"
Valerie looked up at the blue sky and watched the clouds pass by. Sam might be rich, but she seemed to be lacking in one of the things that made life bearable, love.
"So tomorrow," Valerie said as she sat in the park resting from their run hoping that a ghost didn't decide to show it's ugly face at this exact moment, because she just didn't feel like running after it. "Tomorrow we do my work out."
"Tomorrow." Sam said then blinked at Valerie. "What makes you think there is going to be a tomorrow?"
"Because it's paybacks," Valerie laughed as she grabbed a bottle of water from her bag. "It's going to be your turn to struggle to keep up."
Sam didn't reply, she simply dug in her pocket for her cell phone. "I need to call Tucker," She explained as she dialed. "He's probably going into super geek melt down as we speak."
"Sam!" Tucker screeched when he answered the phone. "Have you lost your mind? Are you being overshadowed? Are you okay? Do I need to call Danny?"
Sam smiled slightly and looked at Valerie who was sitting in the grass beside her, tying her shoe. Sam stood and walked a little way away. "No," She answered "No and no."
"Then was it my imagination that you were running down the street with Valerie. Valerie Grey?" Tucker screeched.
"No," Sam answered. "She spent the night at my house and…"
"What!" Tucker screeched. "She what? At your house. Oh my gosh Sam. Something is wrong! I'm calling Danny and…."
"Tucker!" Sam growled. "Stop it with the drama queen act already."
"Okay," Tucker said quietly. "So what are you up to Sam? Are you a double agent or something."
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "I guess it's something like that. Can we hang out this evening? I really need to talk…I'm O.Ding on estrogen right now and have the urge to go shopping." Tucker told her that he'd be waiting and Sam hung up her phone and walked back to Valerie.
"Did he freak?" Valerie asked looking at Sam who seemed to have retreated into a distant world.
"Yeah," Sam answered almost absently. She shook her head and looked at Valerie a moment and smiled slightly. "He thinks that maybe I'm being overshadowed by a ghost."
Valerie laughed then looked at her watch. "I guess we better go. My dad's going to be over at your house to pick me up in like fifteen minutes and then I need to go to work."
Sam stretched again then looked wickedly at Valerie. She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "Last one there is a rotten egg." She took off running and with a groan of protest Valerie took off after her.
"Damn," Valerie whispered to herself in annoyance. "Sam can run way too fast."
Tucker sat beside Sam getting his butt kicked in Mortal Kombat. He hated that she could beat him so easily. Of course Tucker could beat Danny, but Danny wasn't there to take his frustrations out on.
"So," Tucker finally said after his twenty-third butt kicking. "You and Val friends now or what?"
Sam frowned as she put down her video game controller and leaned back on the couch. "I don't know Tuck. It's weird. She's really nice and funny and isn't really that judgmental."
"But?" Tucker pushed.
"But nothing," Sam said as she looked down at her hands. "I'm finding few reasons to hate her anymore."
"Except that Danny wants to date her," Tucker stated.
"Yeah," Sam sighed. He eyes widened and she looked up at Tucker in a little bit of shock. "I mean no. What I mean is despite all that, and the fact that she wants to kill Danny's ghost half. I really like her. She's fun."
"Well all I have to say is be careful," Tucker said as he cued up another game. "I know this is Sam I'm talking to, but even the best of us can slip up from time to time."
"She wants me to be her sidekick," Sam told Tucker and watched as the boy's dark face paled. He turned his light hazel eyes to her and opened his mouth. Sam told him about her afternoon at the mall on Saturday.
Tucker took a deep breath. "You told her no way, right? I mean there is no way! How in the hell would you pull off supporting both of them in a ghost fight?" Tucker shook his head. "You know I was just kidding about that double agent stuff? Right?"
"I know," Sam said softly. "But I figure that it's a good way to protect Danny. Plus, I won't have to run and hide anymore when she shows up in the middle of one of Danny's fights."
"You're insane Sam," Tucker said. "You're going to get yourself killed, and probably by Valerie when she figures out that you're double crossing her. But, maybe by Danny instead. I don't know."
Sam simply shrugged. "We all do what we have to do Tuck."
"I guess," The Techno Geek said warily.
Sam cued up another game and actually let Tucker gain the upper hand on her for once. She could practically hear him thinking and it was bothering her.
"What?" Sam asked as she turned her purple eyes to Tucker who was smiling in a forced sort of way.
"When Danny finds all this out he's going to take it as a silent agreement of acceptance and he'll start chasing Valerie full force," Tucker warned. "You know that right?"
An emotion that Sam was loath to describe washed over her and she began to feel weak and sick. Tucker, for the first time in a long time kicked her butt in Mortal Kombat. Not once, not twice, but three times.
"You need to tell him before it's too late Sam," Tucker said worriedly. "Or you're going to lose him."
Sam put down her controller. "How can I lose him?" She asked Tucker, her voice devoid of emotion. "I never had him. In the first place."
Tucker took a deep breath as he fiddled with the controller. "Okay." he said. "What ever you decide to do. You know I'm there for you right?"
"Thanks Tuck," Sam said as she leaned over and gave the Techno Geek a rare hug. Tucker put his arm over her, knowing that if she actually sought human contact, that she must really be upset and in need of comforting.
"Besides," Sam said as she sighed onto Tucker's shoulder. "Danny is going to do what Danny is going to do. Obviously he wants a relationship with Valerie. If I'm friends with Val too…then I don't lose him completely. You know?"
Tucker nodded his head in pity. "I think you're flirting with disaster Sam, but you are just as headstrong as Danny and you're going to do what you're going to do too. But like I said, when you fall down I'll be here, but I'm still going to say I told you so."
"Gee thanks," Sam said.
"Don't mention it," Tucker replied.
Sam shook her head and went back to playing the game. Her cell phone rang and she picked it up. "It's Danny," she told Tucker.
"Hey you big dork. You get somewhere with a phone and your first impulse is to call here?" Sam laughed.
"Yeah," Danny said across a line filled with static. "I just wanted to make sure there hadn't been any ghost trouble."
Sam looked at Tucker who was gesturing that he wanted the phone and gave him a dirty look. "Not much ghost activity here. How about things on your side?"
"I think they all followed me," Danny admitted. "So much for a vacation."
"You know what they say," Sam laughed. "There's no rest for the wicked."
Danny laughed, "In that case we're not bringing Jazz along next time. I miss you guys."
Tucker narrowed his eyes as he watched Sam's expression soften. "We miss you too." Tucker hit her shoulder and held out his hand for the phone. "Geeze Tuck hold on!"
"He pestering you?" Danny asked.
"Yeah," Sam sighed. "You better talk to him or I'll get no peace."
"Yo! Dude!" Tucker yelled into the phone. "When are you going to get back here? I'm bored out of my skull without you, especially with Sam hanging around with her new best friend."
"Valerie?" Danny asked in amusement.
"Valerie." Tucker confirmed.
"I know I talked to her a few minutes ago and she told me she and Sam were bonding." Danny answered.
"You did?" Tucker asked in a weak tone as he cast a quick glance at Sam who was looking at him questioningly. Tucker turned away from Sam. Then got up and walked from the room.
"Dude," Tucker warned. "I wouldn't tell Sam you called Val first. Seriously."
"Why not?" Danny asked in clueless confusion.
"Because Sam will flip out. Trust me." Tucker told his friend. "It's a girl territorial loyalty thing. Just don't tell her."
"Ooookay," Danny said. "She and Valerie have really been hanging together?"
"Oh it's much more than that Mr. Phantom," Tucker said. "Valerie is trying to steal Sam from you."
"What?" came Danny's shocked reply.
"Exactly," Tucker said.
"Tucker," Danny growled. "Explain yourself."
"Ha I bet you have all these dirty little thoughts running around in that empty little head of yours," Tucker teased.
"I'm serious Tucker. Start explaining or I'm going to ditch this camping crap and come kick your butt!"
Tucker laughed then checked on Sam who was glaring at him from her spot on the floor. He walked down the hall again and said, "Saturday at the mall they ran into Skulker. Sam ended up helping Val catch him and Val asked her to join her in her ghost hunting endeavors."
Danny was silent on the other end of the line. Finally he repeated, "Valerie wants Sam to help her hunt me?"
"Yes," Tucker answered.
"What did Sam say?" Danny asked already knowing the answer.
"She said she'd give it a try," Tucker replied smugly.
"Can I talk to Sam please?" Danny asked, his voice sounding oddly strained.
"Sounds like your boyfriend is pissed at you," Tucker said as he tossed the phone to Sam.
"What did you tell him?" Sam asked as she gave a smug looking Tucker a sour look.
Sam put the phone to her ear. "Danny? What did Tucker just tell you?"
"Did Val really ask you to help her hunt ghosts?" Danny asked softly.
"Yeah," Sam answered.
"And you said yes?" his voice went up in pitch and Sam smiled slightly.
"I didn't say I'd help hunt you," Sam laughed. "Get a grip Danny. I figured I could help get her out of your hair, maybe change her mind about the Phantom."
"How are you supposed to help her?" Danny asked. "You're always helping me."
"Well," Sam said in a short tone of voice. "You don't seem to need me anymore. Tucker either. You're always off alone fighting ghosts, so I don't think it will be that hard."
"Sam it's dangerous," Danny began. "Valerie doesn't have enough ghost experience. She can't save you if…"
"Danny I can save myself very well thank you very much," Sam interrupted.
"That means I'm going to have one more person to watch out for when fighting ghosts!" Danny exclaimed angrily.
"No it just means you have me watching your back keeping Valerie from shooting you in it Dummy." Sam yelled.
Sam listened to Danny take a deep breath on the line. She smiled slightly and closed her eyes. At least she could take comfort in the fact that he still worried about her. His next words took her breath away and caused her heart to skip more than a few beats.
"But Sam," Danny said in a cute pouty voice. "You're mine!" Sam blinked and looked at Tucker a moment, she could feel a blush spreading across her cheeks like some insane disease. She had to yell at herself to make herself realize that he didn't mean that the way it sounded.
Sam swallowed hard. "I think that Valerie needs me a little more than you do right now." Sam said trying not to sound shaky. "I mean you've made it pretty clear that you can do all the work yourself. Besides, I am still helping you keeping Val from breathing down your neck. I thought you'd be happy. Like I said, you don't need me anymore anyway."
"Sam," Danny said in exasperation. "I do so need you! I've always needed you! I just don't want you or Tuck to get hurt! That's why I've been leaving you out."
Sam swallowed hard. Danny was killing her. Here he was telling her all the words she so longed to hear, except he was using them in all the wrong context. "Danny I…" Sam started then paused. "Crap hold on Danny don't hang up. I have another call coming in." Tucker gave Sam a confused look as she clicked over and then paled.
"Sam!" Valerie said urgently. "We've got ghosts! Park! Now!" She hung up and Sam clicked over to Danny.
"Dan," she said in a calm but urgent voice. "Val just called. There's a ghost attack in the park. I gotta go." She disconnected the call, threw the phone to Tucker and ran out of the house.
Tucker blinked a few times then looked at the phone as it began to ring again. "H-hello?" Tucker answered and found an extremely irate Danny on the other end.
"I'm sorry Dude," Tucker said. "She took off out of here like a flash of lightning."
Tucker listened to Danny freak for a minute then answered. "Sorry Danny I don't know who the ghost is." Danny hung up on him without another word and Tucker shook his head. Then picked up his controller and began playing another game.
He looked out the window and said, "Shhh quit bothering me. This isn't my mess to clean up." He sat there a moment longer then growled and headed out the door toward the park.
Ha looks like we found a case of jealousy where we least expected it huh?
I have another chapter of this story, but I don't know if it's anything I'll ever finish, which is why I left it as a one shot.