Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Summary contest: See profile
Reviews: Abster1, Summers Rage, MysticLady3, Droodle Phantom, Perfect yet broken, Van Uber, PhillyE2Heart, SkyAngel429, Danny fangirl lover, Moon Cosmic Power, Siren of Time, dannychic, Samantha-Girl Scout, Arica, Princess of Rivendell, Werefox Alchemist, Iluvdolphins.
Special thanks to Red's-Fury and PhillyE2Heart (who FINALLY informed me that he had a ff account).
Chapter 6: Blood red
Danny sat with his knees pulled up to his chest, gazing down at the young woman still sleeping in the bed. He smiled as she rolled over, causing a bit of her hair to fall before her face. He gently tucked it back behind her ear, leaning down to set a gentle kiss on her forehead. She stirred and mumbled something before falling still once more. He pulled the blanket up to her chin, stroking her cheek for what he hoped wouldn't be the last time.
"I'll remember, Sam," he whispered. "I'll remember how much you love me."
Then he stood and walked toward the door. He set his hand on the doorknob then looked back to the bed, taking one last look at the young woman he loved with all his heart. Then he opened the door and stepped out into the hallway to leave her behind. It didn't take him long to find Vlad. The mad-man was in his lab dusting off the brainwashing machine he'd planned to use on Danny and Sam's child if it ended up too much like its parents. He seemed surprised to see Danny.
"Come to fight me even without your powers?" Vlad asked mockingly.
Danny clenched his hands into fists, swallowing hard. "I'm giving myself up. Let Sam go, and I'll be your evil son instead."
Vlad blinked then a slow, wicked grin made its way upon his lips. "I knew you'd come around eventually." He glanced at Danny then to his brainwashing machine. "All right, we have a deal."
Vlad set Danny on the lab table, pinning his arms and legs down because the brainwashing "might hurt just a bit." Then he pulled down a metal cap and fit it over Danny's head. He put a few responders on Danny's chest to keep an eye on his vitals then turned to the machine, adjusting a few things here and there and typing in a few things.
He turned back to Danny, his wicked grin still in place. "And now for the final bit." He snapped his fingers.
"Let me go, you stupid animals!"
Danny's heart raced. "No!" He struggled against the bonds that held him to the table, growling at Vlad as Sam was dragged into the room by Vlad's ghost vultures. "You promised to let her go!"
"Indeed, I did, young man, but I never said I would release her before I brainwashed her." Vlad chuckled at Danny's wide-eyed betrayed look. "You never specified, my dear boy, so I decided for myself."
Sam stared at Danny who turned to her. "Danny," she whispered, tears trailing down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Sam," he said, wishing he could run to her and hug her and tell her everything would be all right.
Vlad pushed Sam into a chair. "Enjoy the show," he said with an evil smirk. Then he pulled the lever down.
Sam shut her eyes and covered her ears as Danny screamed in absolute agony, body writhing as it struggled to get away from its tormenter. Tears slipped unbidden down her cheeks as she shoved Vlad away when he went to pull her hands away. Her heart ached to hear Danny in so much pain, but just as quickly as it had begun, it stopped. She opened her eyes, blinking, and lowered her hands. Danny lay unmoving on the table, and Sam was afraid Vlad had killed him. The evil mastermind unstrapped the young man, stepping back from the table as Danny rose, eyes closed.
"Show her," Vlad said. "Open your eyes."
His eyes opened, and Sam let out a strangled sob. His eyes were a deep blood red. Her Danny, the one she loved with all her heart, was gone.
