Author's Note: I am very tired but I wanted to just get this done and uploaded.
I got one review asking, so for anyone wondering if Danny is actually addicted to painkillers, the answer is yes but it's not too bad right now. He has some control over it. He's just going through a particularly hard time right now, which is pushing him over the edge.
(after being) Condemned
"Well, Jack, we have plenty of quiche since the kids left before I could finish." Maddie set the entire pie on the table. "So eat as much as you want."
Jack took in the egged-up oniony aroma of the quiche as Maddie served a piece onto a plate for him. Strain and tension in his face seeped away as the heat from the dish hit his skin and the smell settled on his taste buds. Home-cooked meals from his wife were always so therapeutic.
He stuck a large bite in his mouth, which exploded with savory cheese and cream and vegetables and seasoning. This was good, this was so good, this was maybe even better than fudge—well okay maybe not better but still really really good and he was already salivating for the next bite.
He could definitely eat the entirety of this quiche. Absolutely. Right now. In one sitting. And then he'd probably have enough energy and serotonin to keep him going for hours.
Maddie hummed to get his attention and pulled out her phone. She swallowed her bite of quiche before speaking. "I think we should go over the status reports Danny's teachers sent me over the weekend."
Danny. Of course she was somehow going to find a way to bring him up again and make him the focus of yet another conversation. Jack had hoped this breakfast would be as stress free and blissful as it was delicious, but that was apparently too much to ask of his wife who was completely obsessed with their son.
"Status reports?" asked Jack
"Yes. I asked them to let me know how he's been doing in all his classes in light of his recent depression the past week." She tapped her phone's screen a couple times. "I really think we need to be more proactive in his life. We've been letting him do things on his own too much, and while that works just great for Jazz, Danny isn't Jazz, and I think we forget that sometimes."
Jack definitely never forgot that particular detail. He was all too aware just how not like Jazz Danny was.
"He isn't self-motivated like she is," Maddie continued. "And just with how down on himself he's been lately, I want us to try to help him more."
She scooted her chair closer to him so that they could both see her phone screen. Jack stuffed another bite of quiche in his mouth and leaned in to look.
"So, the good news first. Danny's actually getting a B in P.E. Ms. Tetslaff says he's significantly improved in strength and endurance and that he'd definitely be getting an A if he would just come on time more often." Maddie sighed. "We're going to have to talk to him about that."
"How many times are we going to just 'talk to him about it'?" asked Jack irritably. "Tardiness has been a problem for him since the beginning of freshman year. Just talking to him never seems to be enough."
"He has gotten better at getting to his classes on time," said Maddie. "We want him to know we've noticed that. Positive reinforcement is best, Jack. All the parenting books say so."
Jack grumbled through another bite of quiche.
"Well, that's where the good news ends." Maddie pulled up another e-mail. "He's getting Cs, Ds, and even one F in all his other classes. And considering that we're about halfway through the semester, we really need to get all of these up to at least Cs."
"An F? Really?" Jack stabbed his fork into his plate. "In what?"
"English."
"Of course. It's always English. His teacher is Rob Lancer again, right?"
"Yes."
The number of talks and conferences they had had with Danny's English teacher was high enough to put them on a first-name basis with him. And yet nothing ever changed. Danny never changed. Danny was still failing in far too many ways.
"All of his teachers have said that his low grades are a combination of tardiness, absences, not turning in assignments, turning in assignments late, and then just poor performance on assignments and tests he does complete." Maddie scrolled through the comments over and over again. "They said they'd all be willing to give him full credit for any late assignments he turns in. They're willing to give him a couple hours of after-school help or even during lunch. But a few of them have expressed he may need more help than that."
"Okay, so, what do we wanna do? Get him another tutor like we did last year?" asked Jack. "Because that managed to save his grades last year."
He hoped it would be as simple as that. Just hire a tutor, force Danny to actually study and do his homework, and just be done with all this worrying.
Maddie pouted as she continued to read the e-mails. Judging by her expression, Jack had to guess it was not going to be as simple as that after all.
"Well, I was thinking." Maddie set her phone down. "Maybe we should try tutoring him this time."
"We? As in you and me?"
"Yeah, I mean, we've always passed him off on others to help him in school, but you and I are smart! We did well in school. We know how to study. And I think the bonding time would be really good for him. Don't you think?"
Jack puffed out his cheeks. "How often? Once a week?"
"Oh, no. Probably every day until the end of the semester. Or at least three times a week."
Jack lightly drummed his fingers against the underside of the table. He had a lot of work to do, so many inventions to finish. He didn't mind assisting his kids with their homework every now and then, but to actually tutor Danny each day? That was really going to cut into his time.
"Look. Here." Maddie picked up her phone again. "He's really struggling in physics. His teacher says he seems to understand the concepts but has trouble with the math. I know that's something you could help him with. You'd be great at that."
Jack read over the e-mail and slowly nodded. He did enjoy physics. And it was a shame that a son of his couldn't enjoy it just as much.
"So do you think you can help him with that for a couple hours when he gets home today?" asked Maddie.
"Today?"
"Yes. I think it's best we start this new routine with him right away."
Jack's teeth grated against his fork.
"You can, right, Jack?" Maddie massaged his upper arm. "It'd be a great way to show him that you do like him."
There it was. He knew she'd be bringing that up. And as much as he had tried not to think about it, it had been on his mind all night and all morning.
His blood raced hot as he remembered the night before when Danny dared to imply that he didn't feel safe with Jack. And just mere moments ago that morning, the strange way Danny spoke and toppled his chair over, as if his thoughts were somewhere else, as if he wanted to be somewhere else and nowhere near Jack.
What sort of thanks was that from his own son, after all he had done as his father? What was even the point of trying if Danny was just going to somehow get the impression Jack didn't like him?
But he could never let his wife know about how he had woken their son up in the middle of the night to confront him directly. He could never tell her what more Danny had revealed to him.
He could never let her know just how much their son had hurt him because of course she'd just take Danny's side. She'd probably scold him for intimidating Danny because their boy was so very sensitive and just a child and could not handle too much conflict.
"You do want to show him that you love him, right?" asked Maddie. "That you care about him? I think this could be a good way to improve your relationship with him."
Jack thoroughly chewed his bite of quiche, which tasted so amazing and hit every part of his tongue with such perfect flavor and coated every section of his mouth so that the taste lingered even after it slipped down his throat.
Danny had really crossed a line with him the day before. Had really upset him last night. Had acted so strangely that morning.
But…
Danny was still his son.
And this was so important to his wife.
Jack stole a glance at Danny's chair at the kitchen table, remembered the talks they had engaged in together right here about girls or school while eating ice cream even if Danny only ever ate a couple bites and Jack devoured almost the entire carton. And maybe that was because it was usually rich chocolate fudge ice cream and Danny apparently preferred vanilla.
Maybe he should've paid more attention to that.
Maybe he should've let Danny choose the flavor of ice cream every now and then.
He definitely did not want Danny to think he disliked him because of course he didn't. Even if they didn't share any interests and weren't good at the same things, Jack valued their relationship.
And he was the adult here. As Maddie often had to remind him. If it was anyone's responsibility to make his son feel comfortable with him again, it had to be Jack's.
"I think it's a great idea," said Jack. "Me and Danny studying some physics together, it sounds like a grand ol' time."
"Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you." Maddie kissed his cheek. "And while you tutor Danny, I can take Jazz to look for her new car."
"Her new car? For her graduation gift? You want to buy it so soon?"
"Well, Danny's going to be getting his license in a couple weeks, and I just figured it might take us a while to decide what car to get, so we might as well get started," explained Maddie. "And it'll give you an opportunity to be alone with Danny. Just the two of you. So you can really bond without us girls around to distract you."
Jack laughed. "All right. But promise you won't buy a car without at least showing it to me first?"
"Of course not, dear. We'll get your input first."
"Okay. And now a more important question."
Maddie waited with a pleasant but inquiring smile.
"Can you make this quiche again tomorrow morning?"
Maddie giggled, her gorgeous eyes sparkling, her cheeks filling with rosy color. So beautiful he could take her right here if she'd let him.
Why had he allowed himself to be so angry before? It felt so much better to be happy.
And with food this delicious to start the day, the rest of the day was certain to be just as good.
-DP-
Danny wished he could've just skipped the whole day. Not like actually attending class helped him get better grades anyway. And it definitely didn't help today because he could not focus at all.
Every lecture was only in the background of his conversations with Sam and Tucker that kept replaying in his head. Both of them asking if his dad was abusing him because he seemed so miserable and distant lately. Sam refusing to give him painkillers because she was concerned about him overusing them.
It didn't even matter to him anymore that they were just trying to be good friends, that they were just trying to help, that they really did care about him. He didn't want their pity, he didn't want their judgment. And he definitely didn't want their protection.
He was supposed to protect them, not the other way around. And if they really thought he needed protection, then he was failing at being a hero.
Well. Not like he didn't already know that.
But he expected his friends to raise him up and reassure him that he was doing a good job, not remind him just how much of a struggling failure he was.
His friends really weren't helping him at all right now. Just like everyone else, they were only making him feel worse.
Ignoring them the remainder of the school day was not too difficult. They didn't try very hard to talk to him anyway. A few comments during passing periods, a couple jokes here and there. But Danny did not respond to any of their attempts to engage him.
When the final bell rang, the three teens opened their lockers and prepared their backpacks in silence. Danny positioned his bag on his shoulders and began walking away.
"See you tomorrow, Danny," said Sam, her rise in tone at the end sounding like a question.
Danny paused to look at her before turning away without even a nod. He power walked through the halls and out the door, barely noticing all the students blurring past him.
Each step away from the school and toward the student parking lot felt weighted. His chest was bristling with all the rage that originated from his head and circulated through his body. Everyone was against him. His dad was against him. His friends were against him.
He spotted Jazz's car. She was already inside and waved to him with a cheerful smile.
But he wasn't fooled.
Jazz was against him, too.
He opened the car door and settled into the passenger seat.
"Hey, Danny!" greeted Jazz. "So how was—"
"Why did you tell Sam and Tucker about what happened this morning?" asked Danny.
Jazz blinked. "Oh, well, I just thought they'd be worried, so I wanted to let them know you were okay. I mean, I would've normally let you tell them, but you didn't have your phone, so I just thought I'd do it for you."
"Did I ask you to do that for me?"
"Well, no, but—"
"You should've let me tell them, Jazz. Let them worry. They can worry sometimes. They can handle it." He huffed. "I just can't believe you did this to me again."
Jazz scowled and drove out of the parking lot and away from the school. "We're supposed to be a team that supports you, Danny. We can't support you if we don't all know what's going on."
"The 'team' is me, Sam, and Tucker," said Danny. "You're only part of this because you found out my secret by accident, not because I trusted you enough to let you in."
She did not look at him. Of course not. She was driving. But her expression in profile drooped with such hurt. And he normally might've felt guilty for hurting her if this wasn't the second or third or fourth or however many times she had told Sam and Tucker something without his permission and with no regard for how he might feel about it.
"And right now, none of you are helping me." Danny's volume was low but his chest was tense. "All this you guys are doing, all this 'support' you're trying to give, it's not helping. I've never felt less supported by you guys."
"Danny, just because you don't like the way we're trying to help doesn't mean that—"
"No, don't finish that sentence. I don't care."
Her expression hardened, but she did not speak for some time. Danny glared out his window.
"We really are trying to help you," she said with shaking emotion. "But maybe we've been going about this the wrong way. Maybe we've been too nice about this with you. Because clearly, trying to be nice and sensitive with you isn't working. You just won't stop hurting yourself."
"Jazz," said Danny in warning.
"Like we try so hard not to upset you or offend you, but where has that gotten us? Where has it gotten you? You're only getting worse, Danny!"
"Jazz—"
"So you're right, maybe we really aren't helping you right now. Maybe we aren't supporting you. Maybe we need to change the way we help and support you. Maybe we need to be more forceful with you about some things."
"Maybe you need to be more 'forceful' with me? Did you really just say that?" Danny's voice rose. "You have no control over me, Jazz. None of you do. I'm not a child. I don't need this from you. I don't want this." He calmed his breathing before leaning back in his seat. "If you really don't know how to support me, then I will tell you. And I have told you guys, but you don't listen to me."
"Because the ways you want us to support you aren't healthy," said Jazz. "Not letting us talk about certain things with you, allowing you to just shut us out on only your terms…"
She gave him a quick glance, a glance that made Danny wary.
"Helping you get opioids illegally," she said.
A bolt hit the nerve in his upper chest.
No, wait, how could Jazz know—
Sam wouldn't—
No, surely Sam wouldn't betray him twice in one day.
Perhaps Jazz was bluffing. Perhaps she was just making an educated guess.
"What are you talking about?" Danny asked, deciding to take a chance.
"Sam texted me. Now before you get all upset—"
God damn it, she was so goddamn patronizing. "I'll get whatever I want."
"Just listen to me for a minute, okay? Sam told me because she's really worried that she's been making you sick with these drugs you shouldn't be having."
"They're not drugs."
"Yes, they are. And in conjunction with how you were acting this morning, it all made sense to me when she told me. You took some pills last night or this morning, didn't you?"
"Why are you asking me?" Danny shrugged sardonically. "You're the one who knows everything."
"I was actually already suspicious that you were under the influence of something," said Jazz through a slight grit of her teeth. "So Sam telling me that she's been supplying you with opioids was not a surprise to me."
"Oh, really?" Danny stared straight ahead and did not look at her even once. "Me being a drug user doesn't surprise you. That's real nice, Jazz."
"That is not what I meant, and you know it. Why do you always try to make me look like the bad guy? When you know I just care about you and want to help?"
Danny had a thousand retorts to throw back at her. He actually didn't know if she really cared about him, if she really wanted to help. Sometimes, he was sure she just liked hearing herself speak and brag about her superior intelligence.
A thousand retorts that could bring her to tears.
But he forced them all back and locked them down.
"It doesn't feel like you actually care about me," he said quietly. "When you say things like that. Especially since what you're saying isn't even true."
"What isn't true?" asked Jazz. "Are you not taking hydrocodone?"
Danny's shoulders tensed. "No, that's... That's true."
"Do you have a prescription for it?"
"Erm... No."
"So Sam is stealing it from her mom for you?"
"Well, yeah, but it was her idea first. I would've never even thought about it if she hadn't offered it to me."
"Yeah, I know, she was trying to be a good friend." Jazz sighed. "You do get hurt fighting ghosts, and I can see why she'd think it was a good idea to give you something to take the edge off. Neither of you could've known that you'd start overusing it."
"I am not overusing it." Danny's irritation rekindled almost immediately. "I'm using it for exactly what it's meant for. Pain. And I always use it for pain that's really bad, especially if it's keeping me from sleeping. But I don't actually need it. It helps, sure, but I could go without it. I'd rather not be in pain, of course, but I could do it. Because I'm not dependent on it."
Jazz's lips pressed and swiveled to the side. "Then you shouldn't mind giving all of it to me."
Danny didn't answer for some time. Jazz was also silent but quite loud about it.
"No," he said.
"No?"
"No. I'm not doing this with you."
"And I'm not going to just let this go, Danny. I can't just let you have drugs."
"I'm not going to give them to you."
"You said yourself you don't need them!"
"That doesn't mean I'm going to give them up just because you ask me to!"
"I'm not asking," said Jazz forcefully. "If you don't give them to me as soon as we get home, I'm going to have to tell Mom and Dad."
"Tell Mom and Dad? Like actually tell on me? Like we're kids again?" An incredulous scoff caught in Danny's throat. "Did you really just say that?"
"I did, and you know what, Danny? You are a kid. You never stopped being one. You're probably more of a kid now than you've ever been."
"Oh, and you think you—"
"I'm eighteen now and graduating this year, so yeah, I am an adult."
"I can't believe—"
"Yeah, I'm sure you can't." Jazz's eyes flickered upwards. "I know you don't believe me. You never do. But I'm really not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to help you. And right now, that means taking your drugs away from you."
"They're not—"
"And I bet I know exactly where you keep them, so don't think you can hide them from me. They're in your wall, right? Where you keep other things you don't want anyone to find?"
Danny did not reply. His breaths were hot and shaky.
"So when we get home, I want to go to your room and I want you to give me all of your narcotics. And if you refuse, I'll have no choice but to tell Mom and Dad."
Jazz pulled the car up to the curb in front of Fenton Works. Danny grabbed his school bag from the floor and kept his gaze averted from her.
"You're just lucky I'm not going to tell them anyway," said Jazz. "If this wasn't related to your ghost fighting, I absolutely would have told them."
Lucky. Yes. What a perfect word to describe him. He was so lucky to have friends who doubted his mental strength and emotional stability. So lucky to have a sister who would take away the one thing he had to make his life just a little more bearable.
Venting a ghostly wail had never been more enticing.
He threw open the car door and slammed it closed. Jazz was calling after him but he shut her out as he walked toward the house. He went over all possible solutions in his head. He couldn't give her his painkillers, definitely not. Even if she was right—which she WASN'T—he couldn't let her control him like this. She had no place, no authority.
But if he refused to give her his narcotics and she really did tell their parents, he knew they'd believe her. They wouldn't even question it. Not only because Jazz never ever lied and never ever did anything wrong as far as they knew but because they both already thought he was troubled and a failure and this would be a perfect reason for why he was such a disappointment to them. Danny was a drug addict, of course! It all made sense now! Because why else would Danny be so tired and moody all the time! Why else would he be getting terrible grades! Drugs explained everything!
And no amount of denial would ever convince them otherwise.
Especially not his dad.
"Danny! Danny, wait! Please!"
She was sprinting behind him. He quickened his pace because he had to beat her to the door, had to get inside the house before she did, had to somehow get up to his room first and do something to keep his painkillers from her and prevent her from telling their parents. He wasn't sure what he'd do, but he'd figure it out as he went along. He always did.
Danny prayed the front door was unlocked so he wouldn't have to risk his parents seeing him if he phased through—it was!—and he flung it open. He locked it before Jazz could get in. Anything to stall her. He could just tell his parents it was a silly prank, just typical sibling fun because he was a very normal teenage boy and there was nothing about him they needed to worry about because he was fine and not a ghost and definitely not taking illegal painkillers.
Jazz started jiggling the door knob just as he dropped his bag on the floor and dashed out to the living room toward the stairs. She had her own key and would be in soon. He had no time to waste, had to get up to his room before—
"Danny, what's the rush? You running from something?" asked Maddie with a laugh.
Danny came to a quick stop, nearly stumbling forward in the process. Jack and Maddie were standing in the living room, looking as if they had just gotten up from the couch.
"Oh, uh, just gotta use the bathroom," said Danny through slightly clenched teeth.
"Well, can you wait a sec?" asked Maddie. "Just so we can go over what's happening tonight."
Jazz ran into the room but slowed and stopped right next to Danny. Danny looked up the stairs.
Shit.
Maddie beamed. "Well, as we all know, Jazz is graduating in a couple months, and with Danny getting his license in a couple weeks, Dad and I figured this is a great time to start looking to buy Jazz a new car!"
Danny and Jazz both stayed quiet.
"You heard what I said, right?" asked Maddie.
"Oh!" Jazz jolted. "Oh, yes, wow, that's awesome! Thank you so much."
Danny observed Jazz's plastered smile. She glanced at him. He promptly looked away.
"Danny will take Jazz's old car. So you'll have your own to drive right away, sweetie!" gushed Maddie. "Isn't that great?"
Danny normally would've complained and whined and griped that he definitely did not want Jazz's super lame convertible and he definitely didn't want to be caught dead driving it. Dash had enough fodder as it was.
But he nodded agreement. Now could they please let him go up to his room so he could figure out how to keep his narcotics from Jazz?
"This is all assuming Danny actually passes his driving test," bellowed Jack with a laugh.
Maddie's mouth scrunched. "Jack!"
"What?" Jack laughed again. "It took him three times just to pass the writing test for his permit."
"Danny's been practicing, and he's been doing great," insisted Maddie.
"I know, I know, I'm just giving him a hard time."
Jack flashed Danny a huge grin. Danny wasn't sure if he was expected to return it or not.
"You know I'm just teasing you, don't you, Danno?" asked Jack.
They held eye contact. The muscles in Danny's face were too paralyzed to contort into any semblance of a smile.
"Yeah," said Danny with a slight choke. He cleared his throat and managed to revive his face, pulling off an amicable expression. "Yeah, I know, Dad."
He could hear the whirring of his dad's ecto-gun aimed right at his head.
Maddie gave Jack one last scowl before turning back to Danny and Jazz. "Anyway, we don't actually need the new car just yet, but we've decided to go ahead and start our search today."
"Today?" echoed Jazz.
"Mmm hmm! And if we happen to find one that is perfect, then Danny will be able to start getting used to your old car. He's been practicing with my car, after all."
"Today, so like right now?" asked Jazz. "We're all going?"
"No, no. Just you and me." Maddie patted Jack's upper arm. "Danny and Dad are going to stay here together."
A hard thump resounded in Danny's chest. Every nerve in his body fell toward the floor in rushing cascades.
"We—we are?" he asked, his voice definitely not as strong as he would've liked but he for once hoped they would just attribute it to puberty this time.
"Yes," said Maddie. "Dad's going to help you with your physics homework."
A few stunted syllables escaped Danny before he was able to speak. "No, that's—it's fine, I don't need Dad's help."
"Sweetie, I asked your teachers to e-mail me about how you're doing in all your classes."
Danny's shoulders dropped. No point in arguing now. He couldn't defend himself, had no excuses to offer.
"It's all right, Danny. Dad and I aren't angry or disappointed. We just want to help you." Maddie took Jack's hand and squeezed it. "Your father here is an expert at physics, and we think it'd be a good idea for you to study with him, get all his inside tips and knowledge."
"Yeah, Danno!" Jack raised a determined fist. "We're gonna get this together, you and me. And I bought a whole bunch of fudge just for the occasion. The secret to good studying is fudge, you know."
Every internal component in Danny's body quaked.
"Well, you two should get started," said Maddie. She let go of Jack's hand. "Come on, Jazz. Let's get going. Lots of cars to see." Maddie put a hand on Jazz's shoulder and began leading her out of the living room.
"Wait," said Danny in a somewhat squeaky voice. He managed to bring his tone down as he continued. "You're really going to leave?"
Maddie and Jazz turned around. Both of their eyebrows pinched, Maddie's eyes wide while Jazz's narrowed.
"Is that okay?" Maddie asked.
Danny could see his father's frown on the edge of his vision.
No. This was not okay. Wasn't she supposed to be a genius? Shouldn't she know this wasn't okay? Didn't she remember what he told her on Sunday at the mall? Why would she do this to him? How could she?
"You and Dad need more bonding time," said Maddie. "We won't be gone too long. Just a few hours. And we'll bring back dinner."
He could hear his breathing. The blood reverberating in his ears.
But he managed a smile. "Yeah, it's fine. I was just wondering." He glanced at Jack. "And I really could use the help. That'd be great."
Maddie's eyebrows relaxed. "Wonderful. Well, like I said, we'll be back."
She again led Jazz out of the living room. Jazz looked at Danny one last time over her shoulder, and Danny realized that she was going to be alone with their mom and there was nothing to stop her from revealing his use of stolen opioids.
He shot her a look: Don't. Don't do it. Don't say anything. Don't you dare.
She gave him a look of her own. But he could not decipher her meaning.
And then she and Maddie were gone. And he was alone with his dad.
Jack gestured to the table in the living room that had been set up to be Danny's desk while he was grounded. "Ready to get started?"
There was nowhere for him to run. No escape. No choice. He could only put his hands up and surrender.