Chapter 5: Reunited

Rain fell from the sky in small droplets making a rhythmic pitter-patter on the roof. Clouds poured their emotions onto the Master's Mansion. Danny lay underneath his covers unable to sleep. Everything seemed to be going wrong for him lately. It was as if no one had any regard for his feelings. Not even Vlad. How could Danny be the only one taking this whole thing so horribly? While everybody else took it as if a mere puppy, bird, ferret or other useless pet had died. You couldn't just go to the pet store and buy another family or new friends. You got one and that was it. But Danny was a listless owner who apparently didn't appreciate what he had. This is exactly why this happened.

Before long Danny couldn't stand to stay in bed. What was the point if he wasn't going to sleep? He couldn't stay in this room either. The walls were bare and cold as well as the floor. Nothing had sentiment or value. Feeling restless he decided to take a brief walk. If he was lucky even the smallest amount of exercise would make him tired and help him sleep. Slothfully he dragged himself to the door. Every step more flat than the last. The freezing ground beneath him didn't disturb him in the least. He opened the door and stepped into the hallway. He walked and walked down it without any destination in thought. Much to his surprise he wasn't the only one awake in this house. When he reached the end the faintest light flickered. There was only one person it could be.

Vlad sat on his roomy couch in his frilly white robe. The warmth of the fire fighting away the bitter chill. Aimlessly he found himself looking at old high school photos. Laughter echoed in his head which brought a slight smile to his face. Then the picture of him and Jack. It seemed almost impossible that two dear friends would ever be driven apart by a simple accident and one girl. Vlad only wished he could apologize for his behavior. What place did he have to intrude upon Maddie's happiness just for his own selfish reasons? All these thought were interrupted when he saw Danny out of the corner of his eye. Wandering the halls as he often did when he was lost. Never had he stopped him from doing so.Out of embarrassment Vlad swiftly shoved the yearbook under the cushion and assumed a relaxing position.

"My, you're up late." Vlad stated as Danny strolled into the room arms at his sides. Danny looked over.

"Couldn't sleep. Needed some air." Danny blankly replied as he stood near the fireplace.

"Neither could I." Vlad added trying to spark a conversation between them. In order to fill up some of this empty space.

Minutes passed by in which no words were spoken. Both Danny and Vlad felt awkward being alone in the same room together. Danny stayed dormant near the fireplace. Watching the ashes wither away in the flames as Vlad closely watched him. Inside Danny felt somewhat guilty about what he had done a few weeks ago at the Interview Fiasco. Although Vlad was his loathed enemy he never meant to say something like that. Especially since he was in no position to. Vlad was the only one who offered to take him in. Feeling at war with him Danny decided to make amends.

"I'm sorry." Danny whispered with sincerity in his voice. Vlad turned to him.

"What was that?" Vlad asked baffled. He wanted to make sure he really heard what he thought he did.

"I'm sorry for what I said…that day when the reporters came. They caught me off guard and I didn't know how to react." Danny repeated. This brought a smirk to Vlad's face.

"That's quite alright Daniel. You were in the heat of the moment. I completely understand." Vlad answered calmly.

"I don't know if I'm ready." Danny said. Trying to hold back the tears attempting to escape from his eye. He didn't want to be seen crying. As if he was weak.

"Ready for what?" Vlad asked.

"To be adopted. I've had my family my whole life and just to be dumped into a new one so soon…it just doesn't seem right." Danny cried as he balled up his fingers into furious fists. He was becoming frustrated.

"This is a transition for me also. Having a son is a big step and I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it." Vlad confessed. "I've never known how to take care of anyone but myself."

"I guess you don't feel much different." Danny said.

"Not really. But if it makes you feel somewhat better you can keep your name the way it is. I know how much it means to you." Vlad said as he consoled Danny.

"Thanks." Danny said with a yawn.

"You should go off to bed." Vlad told him. Seeing the tired expression on his face. But Danny had one more question.

"Do you want me here?" Danny asked as he felt the tears coming back.

"Of course. Where else would you go?" Vlad answered sort of puzzled. It seemed like an odd question.

"You know that's not what I mean. Give me an answer…a real answer." Danny retorted getting irritated. He wanted an honest answer out of him. He really needed to know.

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand the question." Vlad said. The room started to get claustrophobic.

"Did you take me in because you wanted to or because you felt like you needed to!" Danny snapped at him.

"Daniel I-"

"Or did you want to fulfill my mom's supposed death wish!"

"But-"

"Answer me!" Danny screamed in frustration. Unable to hold his tears back any longer. Vlad desperately wanted to say something but the words were lodged in his throat. Why was Danny so hostile? His eyes pierced Vlad like needles and still now words would come out. He was tongue tied. Danny waited impatiently for a response. "Just forget it. I'm going to bed."

Danny stormed off back to his room. Wiping his tears using his sleeve. Leaving Vlad slightly intimidated. Never had so many questions been demanded of him in such a rush. He felt partially guilty because he couldn't give Danny any answers. Mainly because he didn't have an answer. Why did he take Danny in? Was it because he felt obligated to in order to please his dearly departed Maddie? Or was it because he wanted to help Danny in this time of need? Maybe he was just lonely. Vlad didn't even know.

The next morning the hostility that had disappeared from the mansion a few weeks earlier had reared its ugly head. Danny refused to talk to Vlad despite the numerous times he tried to initiate conversation. He often would stare at Danny's adoption papers for hours lost in thought. As this was going on Vlad had second thoughts about adoption. Perhaps he really wasn't ready for a son. Much less Danny who was reluctant to the whole idea in the first place. Maybe he would be happier at an adoption home where he would meet his own friends. Find a place where he could escape the responsibilities of ghost fighting. Only to have Maddie frown upon him wherever she was. The pen often skimmed the paper about to sign but was harshly pulled back. Vlad's mind kept shifting and he just couldn't decide. Oh Daniel, what am I to do with you?

Danny quickly flipped through the pages of his scrapbooks. All the smiling faces he once knew. All the good memories and even the bad made him happy. He looked through the same ones again and again and again. Only to realize it made his heart ache more. How long was he going to be like this? Hold on to these fading images in his hands. Just by wishing there was no way he could make them come back. Ever. The depression weighed him down all the time. He knew Vlad hated to see Danny this way. In a way it was sort of pleasing to put Vlad through that but it wasn't satisfying. Danny wanted to ask Vlad to do him a favor. Something that he might not agree with but it had to be done. Danny couldn't take it any more.

Danny walked down the hallway. His heart pounded like a drum in his chest and into his throat. He wasn't sure if this really was a solution. But he had to try. If he was lucky maybe Vlad would get some pleasure out of it. When he finally arrived to Vlad's room he hesitated to knock on the door. What would he say and how would he say it? Not wasting any more time Danny softly knocked on the door. Gathering all of his strength and the bravery within him. Just so he would be ready.

"Come in." Vlad said merrily. He seemed sort of cheery.

"Am I bothering you?" Danny asked. Another question he wanted an honest answer to.

"Not at all my boy." Vlad reassured him.

"I…I just wanted to say I'm sorry." Danny said apologetically. Sheepishly hanging his head down.

"About what?" Vlad asked curiously. Wondering what in the world Danny was sorry for.

"Well…for yelling at you last night. It was uncalled for." Danny said with hands in his pockets.

"All water under the bridge, over the bridge, wherever you want it. But honestly you have nothing to apologize for. You had every right to ask those questions and I should've had answers. I apologize myself for telling that lie about your Maddie's death wish. I shouldn't have lied." Vlad stated losing the cheer in his voice.

"But why did you have to lie about it?" Danny questioned.

"I felt that I wanted everyone to know Maddie left this earth with us on good terms." Vlad admitted.

"So…why did you take me in?" Danny requested of Vlad.

"To be honest Daniel…I took you in for my own selfish purposes. After your family had died I knew you were weak, defenseless and broken. It was the perfect chance to recruit you to join me. Almost like a son." Vlad started in an excited tone then soon returned to normal "But after seeing your face and how much pain you were in I couldn't bring myself to do it. So I decided to embrace you for your own good." Vlad finished. He waited for a response from Danny.

"Oh…" Danny replied. A look of disappointment plastered itself on his face. Now he wished Vlad had lied to make him feel better. But this only confirmed that Danny should go through with his plan. "Can I ask you to do one thing for me? Then I swear you will never have to take care of me again."

"I highly doubt that but go ahead. If you must." Vlad said in disbelief.

"Finish me. Right here, right now." Danny told Vlad in a serious voice. Vlad look at him baffled.

"Could you please repeat that? I'm not quite sure I heard you."

"You know what I mean. Just do it. And please make it quick."

"No. I couldn't possibly-"

"Do it! It's for my own good!" Danny demanded. His face was red with rage. Vlad started to become angry as well.

"I don't think so young man." Vlad scolded Danny as I he was a child.

"Stop putting on an act! You know you want to so just do it!" Danny screamed.

Vlad stopped arguing for a moment. He wanted to give himself time to think. Daniel wanted Vlad to finish him. As if he had nothing to live for any more. He actually had become that miserable. He turned to Danny. There he stood with his eyes closed and braced for what he might do. Just what did Danny expect Vlad to do? It was the golden opportunity. Vlad rose from his seat and immediately transformed into Plasmius. A sinister smirk planted upon his face as he inched toward Danny. A stream of blue breath flowed from his mouth. His body shivered and quaked. Ready for anything Vlad might throw at him. Vlad had finally reached Danny. The frightened young boy brought on a smirk. How pitiful he looked. Like he was ready to take on a parade of army tanks. "You do realize this would be an easy feat for me.

"I am going to be the mature one here Daniel. By denying you the thing you want most." Vlad said. He lowered himself to the ground and transformed back into Masters. Leaving Danny untouched and cowering. He instantly opened his eyes and looked around. He was still there. Still alive. Vlad didn't do it. "I will not fulfill a foolish request from a child." Danny only stood there.

"Do you really think you can end it all Daniel? Simply by leaving behind everything." Vlad asked bitterly.

"I just can't do this anymore. I don't want to be here!" Danny cried. Soon calming himself down.

"Trust me Daniel. If I did what you had asked of me you would regret it. You're simply going through tough times and you'll soon get through them. I promise." Vlad consoled him. Bringing Danny a small amount of comfort.

Without any comment Danny left the room. Leaving Vlad flustered yet at the same time very sorrowful. It was amazing how lost Danny was. That he would actually resort to such an extreme. Danny needed help in some way. A way that only a very close person to Danny could help. Thinking over it something suddenly hit him. Like a ton of a bricks an idea came to mind. If only he had thought of it sooner. Vlad rushed to Danny's room to share the good news.

When Vlad got to Danny's room he was in the same position. On his bed flipping through his scrapbooks. Making himself feel worse than he needed to.

"You don't have to worry about me. I don't have the guts to do it either." Danny told Vlad.

"Honestly Daniel, I don't know why you torture yourself." Vlad said as he took the sketchbook away from Danny. He tossed it to the side.

"Hey!" Danny shouted at him. Yet he made no attempt to retrieve the book. He really had no energy to.

"You know that all of this pain you're feeling can be cured. If you took some initiative." Vlad told Danny.

"I don't see how." Danny pouted as he assumed an upright position on his bed. Vlad sat down next to him.

"I do wish you would use that brain of yours. It must be so clouded in there." Vlad joked as he gently knocked Danny on the head.

'What are you talking about?" Danny asked confused. Vlad wasn't making any sense to him.

"The answer has been right in front of you the whole time. But you just never took the time to see it."

"What answer?" Danny demanded. He really felt like Vlad was wasting his time.

"Well let's see if we can't find it shall we. Your family, along with your friends are gone from this world. Correct?"

"Don't remind me."

"Their spirits have passed on but are not gone. So there is only one possible place they could be. I believe you know what I'm talking about." Vlad explained. Danny thought about it for a second and smiled. He couldn't contain his excitement.

"The Ghost Zone? The Ghost Zone, of course!" Danny exclaimed. His heart filled with emotion and he bounced inside. The answer was so obvious that he felt stupid for not seeing it before.

"Bingo." Vlad said giving Danny a pat on the back.

"If there in the Ghost Zone then I can go visit them! This is great! I can actually see them again." Danny said to himself. He was overwhelmed. Seeing Mom, Dad and everybody else would make him so jubilant. "We have to go to the Fenton Portal! Now!" Danny shouted as his mind was scrambled.

"There will be no need for that. You can see them right now." Vlad said. His spirit had been lifted by Danny's lifted mood.

"Really!" Danny asked. Barely able to talk.

"My portal is right in my lab." Vlad explained. He got up and motioned for Danny to follow. Danny zoomed out of the door right behind Vlad. He didn't feel depressed, angry, or lost anymore.

When they finally got down to the lab Danny eyed the portal. It swirled in a hypnotic rhythm and entranced him. It was just too good to be true. All of his loved ones just on the other side.

"Anytime you're ready. I'll just wait here." Vlad said as he sat in a nearby chair. Waiting for Danny to be reunited with the people he cared about. It brought joy to his heart. He was actually doing something good for a change. The feeling was so new to him.

Danny was hesitant about going in. The same way he felt just a few minutes ago. His heart was pounding again. What would he say to them? What would they say to him? There was only one way to find out. Two circles of lighted encased Danny as he became the ghost he had once despised. His family would probably be shocked when they discovered who he was. But that's what this whole thing is about. Bravely Danny floated through the portal.

On the other side Danny landed his eyes on the all too familiar Ghost Zone. Numerous ghosts floated around and carried on their business. The many times that Danny flew in and out of this place he felt frightened for some reason. But he had to keep his mind focused. The only question was where to look. They could be anywhere. Doing anything. Like getting hurt or being tortured by one of his enemies. Forcibly Danny shoved those images out of his head and started to search. He had no idea where to start and it would probably take him forever to look throughout the entire Ghost Zone. So many doors left to be opened and so little time. They could be in unknown regions that Danny had never even seen. All he needed was some help. But Danny decided this was something he needed to do on his own.

After hours of searching Danny had become exhausted. His hand ached from all the doors he opened and he traveled with less spring in his step. Still he was eager to see his family today. That way he could continue living without all of this guilt he was harboring. A chance to apologize for his stupid decision that led to all of this. A chance to see the faces that had always stuck by him through his whole life. He would tell Maddie that she was the greatest mom in the world. Tell Jack that he was the most competent ghost hunter he had ever known. Besides himself of course. Admit to Jazz that she was right about everything and did an awesome job as a sister. The kind of sister everyone should have: bossy, intruding and a know-it-all. He would tell Sam and Tucker that they were fabulous friends that were incomparable to any other. Even Mr. Lancer deserved a kind word. A word of gratitude like thanks...or something like that. Then they would all say…

"Danny. How nice of you to drop by." A familiar voice greeted him. Stopping Danny dead in his tracks. Frantically Danny looked around. He knew that voice could only belong to one person.

"Hello Danny." Maddie said with an edge. Danny immediately turned around and stared at her. And there she was. Jumpsuit and all. It was too good to be true. Danny rushed toward her and gave her a big hug. Somehow it wasn't the same warm hug that Danny knew or expected.

"Mom. I'm so glad to see you." Danny exclaimed as he embraced her tighter. Crushing the air out of her windpipe. She harshly grabbed Danny and pushed him off. Spewing away any dirt he put in her. Danny was too overjoyed to notice. "Mom. You have no idea how good it is to see you! It's been weeks that felt like years!" Danny shouted. Maddie just stared back at him with a fake smile.

"Where's Dad and Jazz and Sam and Tucker and-"Danny was abruptly cut off.

"Looking for us?" Jack asked with a look of distain on his face. He still wore his orange jumpsuit. Beside him stood Jazz, Sam and Tucker. They surrounded him in a circle. Closing him in. Danny was overwhelmed with relief and jubilance. Everybody seemed to be here.

"Dad, Jazz, Tucker, Sam, Lancer! It's really you!" Danny shouted as he flew toward them to give the same embrace he gave Maddie. But all of them stuck their hands out in rejection. They didn't want a hug. They didn't want to be touched by him. Not anymore.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked in disgust. Her hands folded and her face showing a slight scowl.

"I came to see if you guys were okay." Danny told them. Why was he the only one who seemed happy about this?

"Took you long enough to figure out we were here. You never were very perceptive." Mr. Lancer stated.

"So what are you here for anyway? I mean what are you really here for?" Sam questioned.

"Well I came to say…that I was sorry…after what I did. It wasn't smart and it cost you your lives." Danny apologized. His head hung low in shame. The guilt started to pile up on him. But that was nothing.

"It's a little late for I'm sorry Danny." Jazz retorted. She didn't have the same caring smile or look of worry that she had been wearing for weeks.

"I know but I just thought-"

"Thought what? That if you came back and apologized that everything would be better. That all would be forgiven and we would come back to life. What a stupid idea!" Tucker yelled at him. This made Danny feel a little crummy inside. It was true that no amount of "I'm sorry" would fix this. Although that was what he hoped. It was stupid.

"It doesn't work that way." Maddie explained. Showing no sympathy for him.

Danny all of a sudden felt suffocated. Nobody seemed to care that he was here. They didn't care that he was trying to right his wrongs. Everyone was against him and couldn't let go of the fact…that Danny was to blame for everything. Why wouldn't they understand?

"Look I know that I can't fix this but…doesn't it count that I'm trying?" Danny defended. He needed to make them see what he was trying to do. Out of the goodness of his heart that had been suffering for so long.

"No. It doesn't." Jazz responded in a hurry.

"You have to pay for your mistakes Danny…just like we did." Jack explained.

"You're no exception." Mr. Lancer added in.

Before Danny got a chance to say anything he could see as all their hands glowed a ghastly green. Clenched fists held rage and any other emotion they could muster. Danny stared at them baffled. Where they really going to do this? After all the trouble Danny went through to see them? He backed away slowly as their hands rose above their heads. Faster and faster he backed away from them. "Wait…wait. Wait!" Danny cried.

Before he could escape they hit him. With all their might and fury. All the pain they felt had been transmitted to Danny. He just wanted it to be over. He couldn't take it for much longer. Finally he regained his composure and weakly picked his head up. The blast still circulated through his body and took even more energy out of him.

"Why are you doing this? I thought you would be happy…to see me." Danny said to them. Clasping his sides trying to stop the hurt. He was so confused at the moment and it was hard to think straight. He went toward Maddie and Jack. They stared at him in disgust.

"Mom, Dad. Don't you understand? I'm young. I do stupid things. Why are you treating me like this?" His parents thought for a second. Finding the simplest way to break the news to him.

"I'm not really sure how to say it. Jack could you give me a hand?" Maddie said. She turned to Jack for an answer.

"I'll think of something." Jack responded as he went into deep thought. Considering what he might say.

"You guys can think while we give Danny a visual aid." Jazz said as she pulled something from behind her back. Danny looked at it and recognized it as the Jack-a-nine tails. With it's multiple arms and sleek design. With deft like movements Jazz lashed it out at Danny. He watched in terror as the arms wrapped around him. Everyone else smiled at the sight. How exhilarating to see something like this. As their revenge was carried out.

"Jazz wait! Think about this for a second! You don't want to hurt me!" Danny reasoned. Trying to stop Jazz from doing something she might regret.

"I've been doing nothing but thinking about this for a long time Danny!" Jazz screamed as she whipped Danny around in a circle. Having the time of her life. Finally all of her anger and frustration was being taken out on the person who deserved it most. While she was doing this she also gave Danny a piece of her mind.

"All I ever tried to do was be a good sister to you. Trying to keep you out of trouble and I get repaid with this! I could've had a great future. Been a brain surgeon or win a Nobel Prize. But no. I had to get stuck with you as a brother!" Jazz said as the arms finally released Danny. Thus bumping him into Mr. Lancer.

"I gave you every chance to succeed and you rejected me every time. I was only doing my job as a teacher. All you had to do was apply yourself. But I guess you weren't much of a student and you never will be." Mr. Lancer shouted. Again he attacked Danny with. Only adding to the suffering Danny was enduring. Next Sam and Tucker were up.

"We did a good job as friends Danny!" Sam started with their lecture.

"Always covering for you with your stupid powers!" Tucker joined in.

"Then you turn your back on us and we have to pay for it!"

"Well now you're going to get your just desserts!" They both finished in unison. Then two bazookas emerged from behind them. Danny watched helplessly as the guns charged. The light signaling a moment of suspense. Bam! The guns shot aiming straight for Danny who was unable to escape. Everyone laughed in glee at the wail he gave. Sounding like music to their ears. Now Danny just lay there. His suit tattered and torn. His face covered in scratches and bruises.

"Please. Stop. I didn't mean…for any of this to happen. Why are you doing this to me?" Danny mumbled barely able to talk. He just couldn't understand. Apologizing should have made them content. Let them know that Danny cared about them and what had happened. But none of them seemed to care. Everything was wrong. Jack grabbed him and pulled him toward Maddie.

"Jack I think I finally figured out how to break it to our son." Maddie said with a devious smirk.

"Really Maddie? Let me hear it." Jack said. Waiting to hear what his wife was going to say. Maddie pulled out an all too familiar to both her and Danny. The Specter Deflector. Danny feared it as he realized what his mom was going to do. He was still too feeble to do anything. In a flash Maddie placed to belt on Danny and locked it. Throwing the key elsewhere. The last of Danny's energy was zapped away from the powerful sting of the belt.

"Consider this as your dismissal from the Fenton family. You're not a Fenton anymore." Maddie told him with deep satisfaction in her voice. It felt great to say that to her traitor of a son.

Jack firmly gripped Danny in his large hands. Crushing the air out of Danny's lungs. He slightly opened his eyes to get a last glimpse of the people he had failed. The people that felt he betrayed them. All he wanted was to make things right and this is what he got for it. He wished that he had never even come. Before they had turned into careless and spiteful ghosts.

"Goodbye Danny." Everyone said as Jack threw Danny back toward the portal entrance. To send him back where he came. His body flew farther and farther away and they waved to him. Feeling good that they finally got their message to Danny. They hoped he would never come back again.

Vlad still waited patiently near the portal. Wishing that Danny would come out soon. It was getting late and he grew weary. He stared at the swirling vortex that led to the Ghost Zone. No signs were there. Hurry up Daniel. The quiet was soon broken when Vlad heard a noise. Soon following it was Danny's body. Zooming right through the air and landed on the floor with a thud. Vlad peered at the worn body in pure shock. What happened to him? Who did this to him?

"Daniel! Daniel, wake up! Speak to me! Daniel!" Vlad shouted to him as he shook him. Danny remained limp on the floor. Noticing the belt Vlad attempted to pull it off. Only to be zapped by it. He had to stop him from hurting Danny until he could get it off. Otherwise he would seriously become injured. But how? Vlad thought on his feet as he ran to his nearby closet. Frantically he tried to find what he needed. Shelves and shelves passed his eyes and then it popped out. He took the Plasmius Maximus over to Danny. Taking one more second to consider it.

"Forgive me Daniel." Vlad uttered as he shocked that already injured boy with the Plasmius Maximus. Immediately Danny transformed back into a human. Vlad didn't want to hurt him but it was the lesser pain. Pulling together his courage Vlad grabbed the belt and pulled it. Despite the excruciating pain he felt. It snapped off and he sent it flying across the room. Speedily Vlad carried Danny to his infirmary and called a doctor.

In his state of unconsciousness Danny was thinking to himself. Trying to take in everything he had just endured. How could they do this to him? His own family had rejected him. He wasn't a Fenton anymore. He was just…just…

Danny…

Nothing more and nothing less…