Disclaimer: I claim nothing, except a rather bad case of exhaustion. Rotations have seemingly sucked all energy from my body.

Warning: this chapter has yet to be beta'ed

Eidolon
18. Setbacks

Unsure if he was hallucinating, Danny just stared at the two people in front of him. Why were they here? That was a silly question: they were probably there looking for him. The better question to ask was how did they get into Vlad's mansion? During the unwilling time he had spent with Vlad, he had no recollection of any normal human being in the house, let alone coming to visit. If his memories from his escape were correct, the house did sit quite far from most other dwellings. That was probably the reason. And, now that he had a chance to consider it more, he did spend a lot of time in the hidden rooms… the occasional visitor no longer seemed so odd.

"Hello? Are you still with us?" someone asked as they waved a hand in front of his face, making him jump. Danny blinked a few times before he noticed Sam slowly retracting her hand.

A frown crossed his face as he noticed her hesitation. It was clear she really didn't know what to make of him still. "Sorry," he told her as a sheepish grin graced his features, "my thoughts ran away from me for a moment. I… uh, really wasn't expecting to see any living people here."

"Right…" the goth's reply was dry as she leaned towards a beckoning Tucker.

"What are you doing? Do you really think it's a good idea to let your guard around him… err… it?" Tucker whispered as he glanced over towards Danny. It was clear he was trying not to be overheard, but it was moot point. Danny's vision wasn't the only one of his senses which had improved. His ears didn't seem to be quite as sensitive as his eyes, but it was still easy from him to pick up on whispers, especially in such a quite room. "I mean, we don't know a thing about him! What if he hurt Danny? What if he attacks us too?"

"Mildly offended by that," Danny told them, causing both of his friends to stare. Crossing his arms with an off-handed shrug, he gave them a wry smile. "If I was really interested in hurting you, I would have done it before you even knew I was there… or, after I shouted out my nefarious schemes. It always seems to be one or the other with ghosts."

"You heard that…?" the other boy paled as Danny nodded. "But…!"

"If you're not going to hurt us, then what do you want with us?" Sam asked as she cut off Tucker's nervous stammers. "You're the same ghost who gave me that book… Wait, you're not trying to make us your pawns, are you? 'Cause, if you are, I'm gonna make you wish that thought never occurred to you, ghost or not!"

Knowing she was dead serious, the hybrid immediately tried to calm her down. "Whoa! Slow down there! Sam, I promise you, it's nothing like that! I gave you that book in hopes you could figure out a way to stop Vlad! He wants to either take over the world or destroy it… maybe both."

Her eyes narrowed as she took in his words. "If you're aware of that, why aren't you trying to stop him?"

Relaxing slightly, Danny looked her in the eyes before shifting his gaze. "I've been trying, but he's much stronger than me. And, if I do anything too far outside his wishes, I'm worried he's going to hurt them. I'm not the only one kept prisoner here. And," his voice dropped to a low murmur as he continued, "I'm worried he's working on a way to control me. If that happens, I don't think I'll be much help."

"Control… you mean like brainwashing or something?"

"I think so…"

"It's possible to do that to a ghost? Wait… what do you mean 'you think so'?" The curiosity was obvious in Tucker's voice.

A strange thought crossed Danny's mind. Wasn't Tucker terrified of ghosts? He could still recall some of the rants the boy had, especially the one after the second cemetery incident. How was Tucker still in the same room, let alone taking to him?

Shoving the question aside for latter, he nervously rubbed his neck as he gave a small smile. "Err, I really don't know for sure how this all works. I'm still in the learning phase, but I'll try to explain." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Vlad seems convinced that I'll become evil, apparently because what is written in that stupid book. And he seems to think he can somehow control me so I can do his bidding, or some other nonsense. Right now he's mostly trying to beat me into submission, but I know he has other plans if I continue to hold out." He shivered slightly. "The man's a fruitloop."

Danny allowed his words to sink in before he spoke again. "So, why are you here? It's not exactly safe to be this close to Vlad."

"We're looking for our friend, Danny," Tucker hesitantly explained. Both he and Sam had been caught off guard by the abrupt change in the topic. "We know Vlad took him."

"Really? How?"

"There's footage from the police station where Danny was last seen."

"Wait… there is?" Danny was honestly surprised by the news. He had heard from various gossip Vlad had asked Technus to erase the footage. If what Tucker said was true, Technus was not going to like what would happen when Vlad found out. Everyone in the mansion knew how well Vlad took failure. "What exactly does it show?"

"Huh? Why do you care? You're probably going to rat us out!"

"I'd never..!" He was honestly shocked his friend would say such a thing, but he had to remember, Tucker didn't recognize him. To him, he was just another ghost who had the potential to harm him. After shaking his head, Danny made sure to keep his gaze low. "I just… I was hoping it would explain what happened. Everything goes fuzzy when I try to remember it… I think Vlad somehow managed to overshadow both me and that officer… but, I still don't know for sure if that's even possible. Hypothetically, ghosts can possess people, but it's not like I've ever seen it happen."

"Overshadowed you? Wait, you're telling us you were there too? What did you do with Danny?"

"Tucker, what are you talking about? How could I do anything to myself? I'm Danny!"

A strange pause fell between them after the outburst. Danny cringed at both his words and his friends' stares. He hadn't meant to reveal the truth. Unsure what to say, he fidgeted in the silence as he waited for his friends to say something.

Glancing at them, he realized they seemed afraid. As they breathed, their breath misted in the air, and his sensitive eyes picked up on their shivers. Had the temperature in the room dropped? It was possible as the power was out, but the two of them seemed fine a moment ago. Danny's eyes widened as a strange thought came to him. Was this his fault? Ghosts, in general, tended to cool the air around them, but when they grew angry or emotional, the temperature fluctuations grew worse. Did that still hold true for a hybrid?

"A-are you guys okay?" he asked hesitantly as he backed up slightly in hopes of pulling the coldness away from them. "I'm sorry… there's a lot about myself I don't know, especially about my powers. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." When the two didn't answer, he began to grow desperate. "Please, just say something!" he pleaded. "I swear, I would never intentionally hurt you or anyone else!"

Still shivering slightly, Sam slowly moved over towards him. Ignoring the warning from Tucker, she carefully touched his face. Jerking slightly, she her hand back to glance at it. "D-did I hurt you?" Danny asked, somewhat scared by the strange reaction. Now that he thought about it, even Maddie and Jazz didn't touch him much when he was in his ghost form.

Unsure what was wrong, he started to apologize again but the words were cut off by Sam's gentle touch. Carefully, she moved his face just enough to force him to stare into her eyes. He could tell she seemed to be searching for something. A surprised smile appeared once she was finished. "I'm fine," she told him with certainty. "You're just a lot colder than I was expecting." A sigh escaped her as she looked away for a moment. "Danny, who did this to you?"

The question caught him off guard. Did this mean she finally recognized him? His words failed him as he tried to find away to answer. He was spared the trouble by an outburst from Tucker.

"Sam, don't tell me you actually believe him!" he nearly shouted. "This could all be a lie to make us lower our guard!"

Sam's response was to glare at the boy, causing him to shrink back in alarm. "I really didn't believe it at first either, but this is Danny. Look at him carefully." She then turned to look back at the hybrid with another small smile. "You know, once you get past the color changes, you actually don't look all that different. I'm kinda ashamed I didn't notice it sooner."

"Don't worry about it." Even though he was still tense, Danny couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him. "I think the 'oh, shit, it's a ghost!' reaction tends to override everything else. I didn't even recognize myself at first. Though… I didn't think I was a ghost… that came after I fell through a floor."

A hesitant yet sad smile crossed Sam's lips as she reached up to touch his face again. This time, she was able to suppress the shivers her body tried to create in protest of his unnatural presence. "He… did this to you, didn't he?" she asked. He tilted his head in confusion, causing her to sigh and elaborate. "Vlad, I mean. He caused… this…?"

"Kinda…" he replied after a small pause. "It's more like he sped the process along."

"Err… what's that supposed to mean?" Tucker questioned as he stepped a little closer.

"It apparently was going to happen anyways, whether he got involved or not. I'm supposedly this sort of halfway existence, and Vlad wants to use that to his advantage." Shaking his head slightly, he gently pulled away from Sam's reach. "But enough about that. I need to get you back to your rooms. If Vlad finds out you've had any contact with me… Well, I'm not exactly sure what he'll do, but it definitely won't be pretty. The last thing I need is for you two to be held prisoner like Maddie and Jazz."

"Wait… who?"

"Vlad's kept them here for years for some reason. They're being kept in a hidden room underneath the mansion… but I don't think there is any normal way to reach them. We have to phase through the walls to get into the room…" He hesitated a moment before he spoke again. This might be the best chance to get the girls out of Vlad's grasp, but it wouldn't amount to anything if his friends got hurt in the process. Making up his mind, he reached out and grabbed them by the arm. "This is going to be uncomfortable for you, but please stay quiet. Now, which room are you in?"

Rather confused by the question, Tucker blurted out the answer before Sam had a chance to shush him. Without much warning, Danny then allowed his energy to reach out to his friends and turned them invisible. It was hard to describe exactly how the process worked, but he knew his energy wasn't actually entering his friends. It was more like he was allowing it to temporarily cover them, much like a blanket. It was a little tiring to keep it up, but it was necessary and good practice for him. Without another word, he took them through the wall and headed towards the room.

….

"Dude, give a guy some warning before you do something like that!" Tucker wheezed as him as he tried to catch his breath.

Danny couldn't help the smile that crossed his face as he watched his friend try to recover from his shock. Tucker really didn't like to be frightened. "Sorry, but I'm on a bit of a tight schedule here."

"You're not thinking about leaving us here, are you?" The irritated tone of Sam's voice was enough to make him cringe. To make matters worse, he could feel her glaring into his back. Who knew a girl could hold such power in a look? Maybe it was her gothic nature which strengthened it? Danny pushed the thoughts away. He would be able to think about it later, hopefully.

"That was the plan. Look, Sam," he sighed as he ran a hand through his white hair, "I can't tell you how happy I am to see both of you, but it's not safe for you to have contact with me. As much as I want to stop Vlad and leave here, I can't do a think if it means it's going to put you, Tucker, Maddie, or Jazz in danger. You haven't had the pleasure of trying to fight against this maniac. Heck, my jaw still hurts from where he broke it earlier."

"He what?" both of his friends yelled causing him to shrink back. Why had he let something like that slip?

Holding up his hands in defense, he backed up against the wall. If things got really bad, he could easily phase through it and escape. It wouldn't be the most tactful move, but it was a possibility. "Look, it's not a big deal. Ever since this happened," he said while gesturing to his ethereal body, "I've been able to heal at a much faster rate. As long as the injuries aren't too bad my body is usually able to take care of it within a few hours. It's one of the few perks of being like this."

"But…!"

"Sam, there's no use arguing," Danny told her, effectively cutting off her protest. Her eyes smoldered as her anger continued to simmer. "I know this isn't right or healthy, but what else am I going to do? Vlad leaves the girls alone as long as I do what he says. Or, if I do 'misbehave,' take my beatings without a fight. Now that you're here, there are more people he can use against me."

"But, we came here to find you and bring you home! Do you just expect us to leave without you?"

"That's exactly what I want you to do!" Silence filled the room after Danny's outburst. His eyes burned with rage as he dared them to say another word. "I was hoping you'd be able to do something on the outside… what I was expecting, I still don't really know. But instead, you come here and leave yourself open to be trapped. I should have known better."

His friends stared at him with worry filled gazes, but the tension in their bodies told him they were nervous to come too close to him. Briefly he wondered if his energy surged again, but quickly pushed it aside. Sam and Tucker were playing with fire by testing both him and Vlad. Sure, he would never willing hurt his friends, but his powers were still developing. Accidents were a part of his new life, and until he stabilized better, they would continue to happen.

"Danny… isn't there something we can do?" Sam nearly pleaded.

Tucker nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I mean, we managed to prove Vlad took you. It proves we're not useless."

"Speak for yourself."

"Hey!" For a moment, it looked like Tucker was going to argue back, but he seemed to think against it. "You know what, never mind. But, seriously dude, there has to be something we can help you with while we're here. We're your friends, remember? And friends help each other!"

Danny knew he was going to regret listening to them. Didn't they realize their lives were on the line? But, try as he might, he couldn't just ignore them. "…If you want to help, find a way to get Maddie and Jazz out of here."

"…What…?" his friends hesitantly asked, almost as if they weren't sure if they had heard him properly.

A sigh escaped his lips. He really didn't have time to explain this. "Maddie and her daughter, Jazz, have been stuck in a room under the manner for several years. I still really don't understand why Vlad keeps them here… especially since Vlad had her husband killed…" A quick shake of his head brought him out of his momentary tangent. "Anyways, if you can get them to safety, he won't be able to use them against me, and it'll be easier for me to escape. Vlad tends to get very distracted when things don't go his way."

"Right… and is there anything else which might be of help?" Tucker asked somewhat skeptically which surprised him. Danny was expecting Sam to continue to argue with him.

The hybrid scratched his head for a moment as he tried to think of anything else which could be of some help. "Oh! I don't know if this will make a difference, but there are several air vents which connect into the room. But, I don't really think any of them are large enough for a regular person to crawl through."

"Anything else?"

"Sorry, but that's all I got."

"Well, at least it's a start." Without another word, Tucker immediately pulled out one of his P.D.A.s and started working with it.

With a nod, Danny moved to phase through one of the walls. But, before he could get a chance, a pair of arms was thrown over his head. It took him a few moments to realize the arms belonged to Sam. "Wh-what..?"

"Make sure you come back," she told him as she pulled back to look at him. "I want to yell at you for being an idiot and trying to push us away, but it's not going to accomplish anything. At least promise me you'll stay safe."

"I'll do my best."

While it wasn't quite the answer she was expecting, it was good enough for to nod and let go of him. He gave her a small smile and disappeared from her view. It was nice to know his friends still cared about him and were actively trying to help, but he wished they had remained outside the stone walls.

xxxxxxxxx

It had been about ten minutes since Danny had literally disappeared from the room. The lights in the mansion had still not come back on, making the room almost black with the exception of the small amount light coming from Tucker's P.D.A. and the windows. During that time period, Sam had paced around the room for most of the time while she tried to patiently wait for Tucker to finish whatever he was trying to do. It was taking all of her willpower not to exit the room and try to find her friend.

She still couldn't understand why Danny was so against going with them. Okay, sure. Vlad was some sort of half-ghost, but that didn't mean she and Tucker couldn't find away to stand their own against him. Besides, they had come so far already. They had proof Vlad took Danny, and if Danny would just come with them he could…

She stopped in her tracks as realization set in. Even if they were able to take Vlad into custody, would Danny really be able to come home? He was a ghost now. She had already almost forgotten that fact. But, he seemed so real! He had been right in front of her, and she had been able to touch him! Ghosts weren't supposed to have much of a form, right? But he had felt so solid!

But, if she stopped to think about it, she still didn't really know all that much about ghosts. Weren't they created by the lingering regrets someone had while they were dying? If so, it would somewhat make sense why Danny was suddenly so protective of those closest to him. But, would that mean he would pass on if they managed to stop Vlad?

"Sam, I think I finally got something."

More than a little thankful for the interruption, the goth turned towards the source of the voice. Though it was hard to tell in the dim light, she was still able to tell her friend was looking in her direction. "And?" she asked as she moved towards him to get a better view.

He tapped the screen a few times before he turned it towards her. What appeared to be a blueprint was on the screen, but it was too complex for her to easily figure out what it was. "These are the plans for the vents Danny had mentioned, and he was right; they do lead to a room underneath the manner. But like he also said, none of these are big enough for a person to get through."

"So, what do we do?"

A few more taps on the screen gave her the answer. "Apparently, there used to be some sort of doorway to that room. It's probably been blocked off, but…"

"If we find the way to it, we can rescue the people Danny's so concerned about?"

"Or, at the very least, be able to lead the cops to it."

"Tucker, you're brilliant!"

"It's about time you noticed! …Hey! Do you even know where you're going?"

Sam barely listened to him as she grabbed her flashlight and sped out the door. They were one step closer to helping Danny. It was still too early to tell what exactly would happen when this was all said and done, but she wasn't going to let that stop her.

And another chapter down. Even though there was mostly discussion this chapter, things are really starting to pick up. But wait, there are still plenty of twists and turns coming. I don't know about you guys, but I'm rather excited.

Hmm… I guess I'll mention this now. I do support DannyxSam, but the one issue I always had with the show was how much they rushed their relationship. Personally, I feel like both needed to mature a few years before it would properly work. But, this story doesn't really focus on romance. Anything that could be taken as such should only be viewed as a relationship between friends or a crush and nothing more serious.

Anyways, aside from that, my personal life has become rather hectic right now. My first rotation is going well, and I'm learning a heck of a lot of things about oncology and current and upcoming treatments. But, as much as I love it, it is very tiring. Early mornings plus a five day week plus homework really drains me.

Also, the current storms in the Pa region have screwed up everything. My 3 'normal' routes to get to my rotation and school all flooded on the same day (and there was somehow a fire on the alternative route). And, more rain is coming in. Then there are the family feuds which have cropped up again. And, my friend just lost her father… funerals always hit me hard. Otherwise, I'm in good health, which I guess is a good thing.

And, I just bought myself a Superman cape! It is nice and shiny and red. XD You are all jealous of my cape.

Well… that's it for now. Time for me to try and find George, my normal fanfic flashdrive, who has decided to go AWOL again…

Goshi, signing off