Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, honest!

Oooo, this is bad. It's been nearly a year since my last update and I don't have a very good excuse for why I still haven't put up a new chapter. All I can say is that life happened. School, friendships, graduations, relationships, work, yadda, yadda… All that aside, my muse abandoned me suddenly. I started this story with a vague understanding of where it was going, hoping that it would form itself as I went; but, alas, that's not how it happened. I didn't want post some crap – and believe me, anything I tried to write was crap – when I knew I could do better and because I wanted to write something spectacular for you guys (If your still there, which I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't). But now that I've had plenty –unfortunate- time to think about it, I think I have a solid idea people will like. Sorry for the extremely lengthy wait. The only way I can even partially make it up to is by selling my soul – or finishing this story; which ever comes first.

Replies (Because I don't give a damn what fanfiction says, you guys deserve 'em):

Phoenix72389 – I really don't deserve these. M&M bag blows away in the wind. Ok, so I was little hungry…

fluffytwin – Hey! A fellow potty-mouth! And yes, my mind if unbelievably twisted. Tell me if you know what this means: tabaru bafoon. I think I spelled it right… Ja ne!

ba77ousai – Ahhh! Alright, here! Just don't kill me!

Monai – Ya, different, huh?

Asatsuyu – Thanks! I'm flattered! But I personally don't really like it. I wanna get better, since writing is probably the only thing that'll keep me alive all throughout my life.

Phoenix'sSoul – Thanks for telling me. Like I said before, I don't have a beta so things tend slip by my notice. I really appreciate it and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Littlekittykat – Cool! My story smells like oranges!

Annabelle Carter – That's what I was asking myself! I'm happy you like it!

Ch. 4 – Cut To Black

Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptap went Sam's fingers against the steering wheel, her irritation evident. Not only was it directed at her fellow moronic drivers trying to flee Amity Zoo after its most recent ghost attack, but also at herself for even thinking she could get out before the inevitable traffic jam Desiree's appearance (she snarled quietly at the thought of the ghost) had caused.

'It's been nearly three years! You would think people would be use to ghosts by now!' She sure as Hell was!

"Okay," She snorted. "Bad example." She was slowly inching her way forward, nurturing a small seed of hope before slamming on her brakes as a monster truck came from her left and skidded to a halt in front of her.

"Garr! Dammit! Watch where you're going, Bastard!" Falling back into her seat and crossing her arms, Sam grumbled, growled, and cursed a very colorful string threats to whatever hick it was driving that death-trap on wheels. Sam normally didn't like swearing, even smacked Danny and Tucker upside the head when they allowed a vulgar word to pass their lips, but Sam was pissed. Another moment of this and she was sure she was going to turn into a female version of that Hulk guy Tucker read about. Sighing, she slumped further into her seat, glaring moodily over the top of the dashboard.

Sam knew her initial anger with her current situation was nothing but a guise for what she was truly feeling. While she was most definitely annoyed with the way the citizens of Amity were acting as though they were chickens with their heads cut off, her stomach was threatening to expel it meager contents as it tied itself into very tight knots.

Danny had already caught the spirit. She knew this only because the girl, whose name she learned was Bella, had clambered out of the over-large tank sputtering and gill-less not long after the halfa had sped after the ghost. Sam then had vaulted over the shaky counter to fetch an armload of towels to dry off the shivering girl. And now, after escaping the girl's thankful mother, elbowing her way through a very chaotic crowd and exchanging a few unkind words with faceless strangers who shoved her into walls, she was here, sitting in this deadlock.

This knowledge eased her gut just slightly and she knew that only when she saw that he was no worse for the wear than usual, when she touched him, hug him and felt his warm (or cold, depending on which form he was in at the time) skin pressing against hers would its nauseating churning settle.

But until then, she was happy to take out her less-than-favorable emotions on the other drivers.

'This is not how I wanted to spend my Friday night, people!' No doubt she shared this same conviction with others, but Sam wasn't in a particularly kind and understanding mood at that moment and so chose to ignore the 'evil eye' the motorist she cut off shot her to get Sam that much closer to her semi-distant goal.

Between the short time of Danny's hasty departure and to now, with her caught in the slow dredge of traffic, Sam's teeth had taken to biting her bottom lip and worrying the flesh raw. It was a habit she had come by not long after the accident and her friends' decision to play the hero for a town that had been both suspicious and (hesitantly) supportive of their new, seemingly otherworldly vigilante. She had been doing it on and off since the café, only releasing the lip to snap off a sarcastic remark to whomever provoked her.

Her fingers twitched again, tightening, and then loosing their grip on the steering wheel, threatening to resume their insistent tapping. She reached to her right and with a quick flick of her wrist; music began to blare inside the small 1994 Civic. She recognized the song vaguely, recalling that it was by a band called 'Goblin's Cock'. The name alone revolted her, twisting her pretty features in to a grimace. So she took to flipping idly through the channels, easing her foot off the brake every now and again to let momentum carry the car forward before pressing down and once more becoming stationary.

Sam found the news station dedicated to ghost-happenings and kept it there, hoping for some information about her halfa, even if it was biased. As long as he was all right, she didn't care what kind of bull they spouted.

"…sighted around Amity Zoo has traveled to Amity Park Park and has remained quiet for several minutes." A perky radio woman said. "Witness's say that Danny Phantom was spotted battling a gypsy-like apparition and was soon joined by the Red Hunter.-" Sam rolled her lavender eyes. "The fight took place several feet above Amity Park Park before disappearing in a near-by alley, though sounds of the fight could still be heard. A strange blue light appeared shortly after and a few moments later, the Red Hunter was seen fleeing the scene."

"What about Danny?" She said to the radio, knowing full well it wouldn't answer simply because she asked. Unfortunately, there was nothing more to be said about this most recent ghostly battle, as the radio woman introduced the ghostly weatherman, who announced there was nothing else paranormal happening at the moment.

She rocketed out of her seat when someone behind her honked repeatedly. Her way to the main road was finally clear. She ignored the heat roasting her cheeks and floored it.

"Well, that was easier than I expected." Danny chuckled. He stood in the alley behind Nasty Burger, now fully rebuilt after a year and a half of procrastination on the Mayor's part, holding a silver thermos. Danny rattled the Fenton Thermos and was satisfied that his quarry was still trapped inside when she let out a very disgruntled cry. He was sure there was some kind of insult in there, but he wasn't about to take off the cap to ask.

The halfa leaned against the grimy alley wall, wincing and pocketing the thermos. His back was little sore, being thrown in to the edge of an open dumpster was definitely not fun, but that was what came with being a superhero and he thought nothing more of it.

Sam would be here soon. They had planned on dropping by the Nasty Burger for a shake before their nice, quiet date had been interrupted. A wicked grin came on to his face then. He made sure to give Desiree a few good reasons why not to do that again before sucking her up.

It quickly fell, however, when he thought back to their fight.

Danny quickly ducked a ray, noting how far it had been from any vital spots on his body.

"Nice shooting Tex! With some practice, you'll be just like my dad!" He prodded. Desiree reacted very differently than he had expected. Instead of infuriating the ghost into basic and upfront attacks, she waggled a finger in front of her, a truly demonic simper slicing her features.

"I'm not trying to harm you, little ghost boy." Her tone was one of amusement and utter ecstasy. It confused his C average brain. His expression must have said so, for Desiree suddenly cackled and raised her hands, palms facing upwards, towards the sky and shrugged.

"Think of me as a very convenient beguilement, a simple lark to fluster the pubescent paladin, if you will." Unfortunately, the Red Hunter appeared right then and the half-hearted battle (at least for Desiree) ensued, eventually coming to a head in an alley (where he gained his back problem).

"All right ghost, now that she's out of the way, wadda ya say we skip the banter and get right down to me kicking your skinny ghost butt." Valerie snarled, turning her very dangerous looking weapon on to Danny. And with Danny's luck, it would definitely give more than pretty bruises. But Danny revealed none of his anxiety and threw on an annoyed look.

"Hey! I'll have you know that's all muscle down there!" He whined childishly, knowing it was getting on his 'friends' nerves. He heard the distinct whir as Valerie charged her weapon.

"How 'bout I see for my self?" She shot a painful looking ray (he swore it sizzled when it went by his ear. Sizzled!) without any further preamble, giving Danny no time to throw a witty reply back and very little time to get out of its way. They played a game of cat and mouse, with Danny acting as the very agile rodent. He barely eluded the growing shots (another, smaller gun had mounted itself on her left shoulder and joined in), feinting this way and that until he started to pant.

He saw his moment when she ran out of ammo and passed through a wall unseen, much to the chagrin of one female ghost-hunter.

What Desiree said were just a bunch of big words he didn't understand, but he knew they were important. Which was why he had come to his girlfriends – his heart leapt – eventual destination instead of hightailing it back to the zoo.

Sam wouldn't have been there anyway, even if he threatened the sound barrier to get back. She would have left right after him, intent on following him should he need aide.

His rash, superhero side was slightly relieved that he hadn't seen his car defying all posted speed limits to keep up with him. Whatever Desiree was implying, he didn't want Sam around for it. Danny knew he may be optimistic and slightly naive despite everything he had endured since the accident, but he had absolutely no difficulty imagining Sam taking a hit for him.

His best friend turned significant other was headstrong and often ruled by her emotions, though her brain had a fair say in most things she did.

Danny's frame shook lightly as a thin stream of blue mist left his mouth and he sighed. "Back to work." He muttered, feeling the familiar shiver run up his spine as he transformed. He took to the air gracefully, scanning the area and honing in his hearing for the slightest sound of discomfort from the people he protected so viciously.

He didn't have to search long, as Skulker rose into the air ahead of him, arms crossed and looking every bit the Ghost Zones 'Greatest Hunter'.

Danny mimicked his opponent, glower and all. "Hey there, Skulk! Long time, no see! Where were you, off polishing that pride?" The halfa's false, stony demeanor shattered when he felt the corner of his lip quirk up in a smug smirk, a dark eyebrow arching in amusement.

'He's doing a real good job of looking like Desiree with that sneer.' Danny thought warily. Skulker started to chuckle. 'Too good.'

"Oh, don't worry ghost boy." He replied, suddenly as smug as Danny. "After I confirm a few things, I will have absolutely no trouble at capturing you."

"You know what. I'm starting to get a little miffed at being confused. Mind if I cut you off?" His hand lit with brilliant, emerald splendor.

"Terribly, actually."

Danny gasped harshly, pain lancing through him, flaring horrendously at one small spot on his back. His thoughts quickly swirled, like a whirlpool, colorful spots dotting his vision.

'O-ouch! Th-at smartsss.s...'

"Hallo! You've reached the very sexy and masculine cell of Tucker Foley. How may I help you?" Sam groaned into the receiver, her head falling back on the head rest.

'At least he answered. If I have to hear "I'm too sexy for my shirt" one more time…'

"Hello?"

"Tucker? It's Sam." She heard her friend sigh and could practically see his shoulders slump.

"Ya, I know. You're the only member of the opposite sex that calls me. You know, besides my mom."

She felt her eyebrow copy the half-moon currently hanging in the sky. "I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted."

Tucker chuckled nervously. "How about we forget I ever said that? My shins will be ever-so thankful!"

"I've rub off on you too much."

"That tends to happen when you've known someone for nearly 16 years." Sam gasped, swerving to miss a car that had inexplicably stopped.

"But I still don't eat meat." She reminded.

"It'll happen! It's only a matter of time…" He trailed off ominously. Sam rolled her eyes once more.

"Listen Tuck, I need to ask you a favor."

"Your wish is my command, how may I be of service."

"Don't say that, please." Sam whined, stopping at a red light. "I don't want to be reminded of her."

"Huh?" And the light bulb turns on… "Oh! Ah, I'm sorry Sam. Dizzy kill the date?"

At the mention of 'Dizzy' as Tucker had come to call the wish-granting spook, her inner oven was set on boiling with a pot of anger ready to heat. "The date and a little girl, nearly." She waited a moment or two, and then pressed the gas to go when the light turned green.

"I don't wanna know."

"Good, cuz' I don't wanna tell you."

"Then we're agreed." Tucker chuckled. "Now, about that favor."

"Right. Do you have that little tracker we borrowed from the Fenton's lab?"

"The one with Danny's DNA?"

She gave and affirmative "Mmhm."

"Yeah."

"Could you find him for me?"

"Gotta go kiss the boyfriend's booboo's better?"

"You know, shins and steal-toed boots make a nice ring." She threatened quietly, - the ring implying to Tuckers girlish shriek- feeling rather proud when she heard Tucker hem-and-haw on the other end. "Anyway, if you're so jealous, why didn't you make your move before Danny?" Twisting the knife was always fun…

"Oh, ya, and risk the wraith of the halfa and you? Thanks, but I've accepted that your Danny's territory and always have been." She heard rustling as he spoke, telling her that he was searching for the tracker to distract him.

"I'm not anyone's territory, Tucker."

"Ya, tell that to Danny…" He said under his breath, though she heard him very clearly. Now her boots were thirsting for techno-geek blood. She waited in relative silence, humming along with a song on the radio, stopping and turning when she needed to. Sam suspected Danny would already be waiting for her at the Nasty Burger and so took the route to the restaurant. It was only a few minutes away from the intersection she was stopped at, but she wanted to know he would definitely be there. It would be stupid, in her opinion, to barge in a place only the barge back out and if he wasn't there, that's exactly what she would do.

She could hear Tucker mumbling rapidly to himself, though, once again, she could understand him perfectly since he probably had his chin and shoulder keeping his phone in place while he tinkered.

"Would mind cutting out the techno mumbo-jumbo? I already have a headache." She asked.

"Ya…" Nope, it was a lost cause; he was too far gone now. "Aha! I got him." He laughed triumphantly. 'Now I have a migraine.'

"He's at the Nasty Burger…and now he must be flying, cuz his dots getting bigger." He spoke the last bit in a whisper and Sam remembered him mentioning something about an all night geek convention. The trackers view was that of a bird, giving the viewer and outline of the city from above.

Sam rounded around the last bend, spotting the Nasty Burger and two figures floating in the dim shadows behind the eatery.

"It's Skulker." She muttered distractedly, watching the oddly civil exchange between enemy and savior intently. A shadow slowly glided up behind Danny. "And…" She gasped again, throwing on the brakes.

"Tucker! Get over here, now!"

"Why? Sam, what's going on!"

"Just get over here!" She threw her cell phone on to the passengers' seat and pressed the gas all the way to the floor. She heard the tires screech in slight protest. The car promptly responded, lurching forward because of the sudden action. She clipped the next corner and grinded to a stop at the mouth of the alleyway behind the Nasty Burger.

She clawed at her seat belt, franticly trying to undo the latch. "Yes!" She cried and dashed out of the car. She was soon tripping and slipping on discarded debris and puddles of garbage juice, squinting her way down the dark way.

"Danny?" She called. Nothing but silence replied. "Danny, dammit, answer me!" Furious tears blurred her vision, nauseating as well as angering her. The wall came up to meet her hand, slimy and sticky from the bacteria, but she was grateful for its stable structure. It kept her erect and guided her. 'Please be ok.' Sam silently begged, it becoming her mantra as she searched, her eyes beginning to adjust to the inky blackness. She overlooked whatever her foot collided with, until that something groaned. Groused out something unintelligible in a voice she recognized. Immediately, she fell to her knees and crawled the rest of the way to the object, feeling her way up this vocal something until her fingers tangled themselves in thick hair.

"Danny."

"Sam!" She glanced up quickly, shielding her eyes from the bright light that suddenly skewed the darkness.

"Over here!" Tuckers footsteps squelched sickeningly as he approached, shedding light where darkness once reigned. Danny looked, for the most part, unharmed. They chalked off the small cut; blood that had already oozed from it starting to dry and the few bruises they could see as the usual and left them to heal on their own. A thin trickle of crimson rindled down to the middle of his forehead before making a sharp turn and headed for his temple.

What bothered them the most was the rip in his shirt. Under it was a nasty looking gash that bled profusely, staining an odd looking ring around it on his t-shirt.

"He's not looking to good, is he?" Tucker stated sarcastically, with a hint of concern breaking through.

"That's the understatement of the century." Sam stared at the unconscious boy for a moment longer, then turned to Tucker. "Help me get him into the car."

Tucker nodded. "Yeah." He silently placed the flashlight between his teeth and edged around the two to grab his friend by the arms while Sam hefted up Danny's legs. Together, with minimal stumbling, they made it to the car, carefully placing Danny in the back seat.

Sam retook her place in the drivers' seat; Tucker plopped in the passengers' seat, hand already pulling the seat belt down. Sam followed suite and then made a u-turn.

"Where are we going?" He ventured, after long moments of silence.

"My place. My parent's are off on one of their business trips and I had the staff take the time off while their away." Her eyes darted to the review mirror and back to the road. "We can fix him up there." Tucker turned in his seat to glance at his friend, worry welling in his green eyes. He never liked this. He would never like it and he would never get use to it, seeing his best friend hurt badly as he was; or worse. The thought by its lonesome made him cringe. Slowly, he turned back in his seat, watching the scenery go by, grimly wondering why people could look so happy and carefree when their martyr was laying unconscious in the back of his own car. The world, indeed, was very unfair.

They carried Danny up the steps to Sam's mansion in silence, minus the stumbling. They did just as well, not jostling their friend's battered form as they descended to the basement/entertainment room, and settling him on the plush couch. There, they fell into sidekick mode; Tucker retrieving the first-aid kit from its spot beneath the counter as Sam took her time to strip Danny of his jacket and t-shirt. She took the kit when it was handed to her. Flicking it open, she found the cleaning gauze and alcohol, the both of them thinking a very frightening thought. 'We're too use to this.'

Tucker fell in to an equally overstuffed chair and relaxed his overly stressed muscles, letting Sam take care of Danny.

She was glad to see that whatever had cut him sliced cleanly. The gash was long and reedy, starting at the top of his right hip and ending just underneath his ribcage on his left side. She cleaned it, asking Tucker to sit Danny up when she needed to wrap the roll of white cloth around his abdomen. He did, commenting on the halfa's weight in an attempt to break the tension.

Once Tucker laid their mutual best friend back down, Sam turned to give Danny's forehead the same treatment, smiling a little at her African-American friend's antics and sighing tiredly when he pulled out his PDA. She finished and put the kit back once she put what she had removed from it in their rightful places. Lifting Danny's head, she sat down and placed his head in her lap.

A flash surprised her. Looking up, she saw Tucker do something smart with his PDA, grinning shamefully wide. Sam had an inkling as to why he was.

"That isn't another 'I-told-you-so' picture, is it?"

Tucker snickered. "You two just keep adding to my arsenal." Sam facepalmed, but left the matter alone. Tucker chuckled quietly again, eyes sliding back to his PDA. Sam sighed and returned to her vigil over Danny. Her hands ran through his unruly raven hair, patiently untangling any snarls she came across before continuing on. 'I have one of those splitting migraines because you, you know that?' She thought, her other hand coming up to pinch his nose lightly and shaking it affectionately. Another flash illuminated her now annoyed expression.

"Not another picture Tucker!"

"Nope, that one was a video clip." Sam wondered how much abuse a shin bone could take until it snapped in half.

"You know, Tuck. Danny's fine now, but unconscious. I could kill you in the most brutal fashion and there would be no witnesses." The swallow Tucker took then needed his whole body to force it down.

"Ah," He tapped his nose knowingly. "But you wouldn't leave the poor, ailing halfa alone without any support while he healed."

A feral grin split her face then, her eyes gleaming. "He'll heal faster because he's a halfa." She started to move Danny's head from her lap, slowly rising from her position on the couch. "You on the other hand…"

"How about a movie? A movie sounds great to me! Let's watch a movie!" Sam fell back on to the couch at the complete mercy of her own laughter as Tucker tumbled over the coffee table to get to the DVD rack by the TV.

Sam resumed combing Danny's hair with her fingers, occasionally massaging his scalp as Tucker searched.

"I got it!" he stood up, looking triumphant and boasting his prize in the air. "The perfect movie to relax our nerves after a strenuous night like this." He popped in the disc and, tossing the case on the coffee table, he rushed over to the refreshments and began to stock up.

For the third time that night, Sam felt her eyebrow arch in question. "Animal House?"

"Ya! It's the best comedy in the world!" Ah, comedy, no wonder she hadn't seen it. Tucker came back into view, arms loaded with candies and popcorn and soda.

"You don't plan on—" He looked up at her, his mouth already stuffed full of sweets. She waved her hand. "Never mind, stupid question." He started the movie and with in ten minutes she already had enough sarcastic attacks that would put John Belushi, 'Pluto' on his back, twitching. 'Thank God.' She thought when the phone rang. Tucker apparently disagreed with her.

"Ah man, now we have start the movie again!" Despite his seeming reluctance to do so, Tucker leapt up from his seat to restart the movie. Sam snatched up the phone from where she had put on the armrest of the couch, complimenting herself on how smart it was to grab it when he put the firs-aid kit back and pressed the talk button.

"Hello?"

"Sam? It's Mrs. Fenton. I'm glad you're all right. Is Danny there with you?" The barely concealed spike of worry in the women's voice was easily noticed. Sam quickly made to put her fears to rest.

"Ya, he's right here. He's, uh, sleeping." She added hastily When Maddie started to ask to speak with him.

"Oh," Sam felt the familiar twinges of guilt bite at he bowls when she heard the disappointed tone in Mrs. Fenton's voice, but she couldn't exactly tell her he was fighting a ghost and got knocked unconscious during an unfair fight. "Well, I'm just glad the both of you are all right. Would you mind keeping Danny there for the night? His father and I are going out to search for the ghost boy and the other ghosts."

'Good luck finding 'em.' Aloud, she said. "Sure Mrs. Fenton, its no problem. I'll have the staff make up the guest bedroom for him."

"Thank you Sam. Jazz will be over soon, too, if it's not too much trouble. I just don't want her to be alone after tonight. Not until we find some answers." Jazz cried out in the background, claiming her age gave her liability to make decisions for herself. She quieted down when Maddie mentioned a slumbering Danny.

"Sure, Mrs. Fenton; we have plenty of rooms." Tucker snorted and repeated her earlier statement. "That's the understatement of the century."

Sam hissed a quick: "Tucker, shut up!" and circled back to her other conversation. "Your welcome, Mrs. Fenton. No, no, we don't the portable ghost shield-" Another snort curtsey of Tucker. "- It's really ok. Tell Jazz the door will be unlocked for her when she gets here. Ya, good night."

"I take it Jazz is coming?"

"Yep."

"She'll flip when she sees Danny."

Sigh. "Yep."

Tucker nodded. "It's gonna be a long night."

"Oh, yeah."

Finally. Good God, 11&1/2 pages. This is the longest, most monstrous thing I've ever written. Hopefully it's good enough. I kinda think it started pretty strong at the beginning and started to sputter out towards the end, but what do I know. I just wrote it. I still like it though; it's probably the best thing I've written. I will definitely have the next chapter up sooner than this one and it won't be months from now. I'm not too good at news broadcast so that's why the one I have in here is crappy. Just ignore it, you already knew it was about Danny. And this chapter was refined for a whole night and I'm totally low on sleep. I'm about to crash so I'm out.

-Dreamthreader