He didn't say a word or make any soothing sounds. He simply pulled back her hood and stroked her hair and held her tight until her racking sobs calmed into silent streaming tears and then he held her a little tighter to let her know that he was there.
It took about twenty minutes for her to pull herself together and she struggled out of his arms. He didn't really react. He just let her go. He had the same look on his face that he had had when he made them all go to church. He was very religious and often had told her that God was the only thing keeping him hanging on. She was beginning to realize what he meant. His hand brushed away the last of hr tears and then he got up and sat on the side of bed. He looked utterly drained but his eyes were full of grim determination.
"Hello Raven." He kept his voice even but she could here the tired tremor underneath the well-crafted dark timber.
"Hi Danny."
"Long time no see. What are you doing here?" The accusing tone she expected never came.
"I was dragged in by my hair."
"I see." He pursed his lips together.
"They told me that you caught a bug."
"There is a portal round here somewhere and it is drawing energy from the only ghost energy around. I don't have the strength to find it." He made it sound like the spatula had fallen behind the stove. She shook her head. How was she supposed to find a ghost portal? He seemed to know what she was thinking.
"My mom left some stuff in her room. I showed Robin how to use it but you have to shut it."
"How?"
"Just pull it together." He closed his eyes and lay back on the bed. He was out like a light leaving her totally confused. She levitated him back into the bad and covered him up. Then she headed back out to the mini waiting room where only BB remained. He was in the shape of a large German Shepherd and was wining at the door. At the sight of her he transformed back into his humanoid form and gave her a questioning look.
"We need to get the Fenton's equipment and find a portal." He nodded.
"Robin is in the main area. He is going to help you."
"Why is everyone mad at me but Danny?" He seemed surprised.
"Danny understands. He doesn't want to get close to people either. He doesn't look upon what you did as betrayal. Robin, Star and Cyborg look at what you did as just that. I just look at it like it is your business if you want to remain alone." She bowed her head. He led the way to where the rest of the group was. They didn't pass angry glances but deep inside Robin's eyes she could see the disappointment. Nightwing must have told him about how he got her there. She felt ashamed but not sorry. She pushed him away because that was what needed to be done. So with this in mind she steeled herself to all reactions and walked into the middle of the room. She had almost made it when something hit her from behind knocking her flat. Mocking laughter filled her ears. She turned her head to see that man that Danny had fought with that fateful night those months ago. Vlad Plasmius. His evil grin and haunted eyes lit up his face with a hellish glow. She growled under her breath but the effect was another mocking laugh.
"Don't me mad little girl. I shut down your portal. That is what you wanted isn't it? Of course dear Danny won't regain his strength in time to save his friends." An army of ghost stood behind him among then the replicated phantom they had fought six months ago. Robin gestured for the Titans to get ready while Superman followed suit with the Justice League. An army stood against an army and Raven didn't feel lucky. The dead usually have very little to loose.
Med. Lab
Danny's mind was wandering the ghost zone and it was empty…much too empty. It was downright scary like a haunted house that even the spirits have deserted. Thought echoed through the green plasma that was air in the ghost zone. It didn't matter to him. He didn't breathe in this form anyway. He floated until he reached the place that he had seen Ember last. She was still there but all alone this time. A sweet sad song echoed through the region. She was reminiscing.
"They all left to come after me didn't they?" She didn't turn around.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you go with them?"
"I didn't have a reason anymore."
"I don't understand."
"Then you will never figure it out." He sat down next to her and sighed.
"I guess. I wish I could wake up. I have a feeling that I am missing something important."
"Like what?" She wasn't used to him being kind and vulnerable.
"The utter destruction of the world."
"Oh."
"But I still don't have the strength to wake up and even if I did I couldn't get out of bed."
"What if you borrow strength? From one of the humans or one of your friends."
"Or another ghost." He looked at her questionably.
"What?"
"Ember I know you don't like me but I need your help." She looked at him for a moment.
"Why should I?"
"You never wanted destruction but you want power. I can give you power if you use it to help me." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Very well but how can you figure that I can give you the power and your body back?"
"I have to trust you." He turned intangible and so did she and they merged.
It only lasted for a moment. He pulled all the strength he could out of her while she tasted the strange power of the halfa. She had gotten the better end of the deal, all the energy he took was immediately replaced since they were in the ghost zone. He pulled free. Then he gave her a look and then a half smile and said.
"Would you care to join me? I know you love a good tune." His eyes were not quite right. It almost looked as if he was drunk and then it hit her, Danny was half ghost. He had never contained just ghost energy before and it was making him react like any other ghost would and that meant he was going to act a little batty till it wore off. Ember had to see this.
"Only if I can sing back up in the lead number." He nodded and grabbed her spare guitar. This would be fun. She flew after him.
They appeared in the infirmary and Danny flew back into his body but the strange insane glow didn't go away. He smirked at her.
"Vlad is this way." She followed, not quite sure how this was going to turn out.
Upstairs
The battle wasn't going well for the league. The dead far outnumbered them and far outpowered them and the few ghost gadgets they had just weren't enough. Vlad was floating still yet high about the crowd. He seemed almost disappointed. He watched the destruction yet did nothing to add to it. He was busy watching. He was watching Raven. What was it about this girl the Daniel found fascinating? Why did he want to protect her? He left a home and a team because he knew that she was uncomfortable. Why? Why was Daniel that selfless? He became colder and more ghost like with each passing day, yet the good in him refused to die! WHY? His face twitched. That was the only indication of his inner monologue. Someone tapped him on the shoulder and he turned. Danny Phantom stood before him. Vlad tried not to look shocked. Danny look positively angry and not in his usual pathetic way. He was angry and he was here to make sure that Vlad knew it. A shiver crawled up the older halfa's back. He tried to suppress it but was interrupted by the blow to his chin. He flew backward but it didn't take him long to recover and fly back up to where Daniel was.
" Very good Daniel." Daniel's left eye twitched.
"Why? Why are you so sad and pathetic that the only thing you can try to do is take over the world? It has been tried and all ten thousand people have failed. Couldn't you just buy a cat and PLAY GOLF!" Now there were Daniels all around him. The boy had finally learned to duplicate! That was wonderful.
"I was never a cat person." A blow to the temple rewarded the remark. It shook him a little but not much more. Daniel leeped forward and slammed Vlad into the wall but was thrown off by an ectomplasmic blast.
"Daniel you can never beat me without your friend's help and they are all previously engaged."
"No they are not." Vlad looked around to see what he meant. All the ghosts were gone!
"Nice job Ember!" The teen pop star stood there looking very pleased. Those ghosts had been a piece of cake.
"You're welcome." Daniel turned to Vlad.
"I didn't have to beat you. All I had to do is distract you."
"Well good for you. Now what you going to do?"
"Give you to the count to five to run." Ember pulled out the ghost bazooka and leveled it at the middle aged lonely man who needs to get a cat. Vlad decided that the best thing to do was retreat for now but he would be back.
"Thank you Ember." Danny stared at her through half closed eyes. His borrowed strength was running out. She was pulling it back into herself.
"Time to sleep little hero."