a/n: um... hi guys! I have no idea if there are people who are still reading this story or even still interested in it after all these years lol. I'm going through a weird phase where I want to finish things that I start and this story was one thing I started when I was like thirteen with a simple idea and it evolved into something a little crazy. I'm going to try my best to finish it off but I have no idea when that would be. I hope you guys have kept safe through the pandemic and damn! Here we go again!
disclaimer: don't own anything
"The Wrong Danny"
Chapter Twenty-One: "Revelations"
"Think she'll kiss you when we find her?"
"Can you shut up?"
"Just wondering - she'll probably be in a very vulnerable place and maybe want to give her hero a littl' somethin' somethin' if you know what I'm sayin'."
"Tucker, I swear to God next time you say shit I will throw you into the Ghost Zone."
"Chill." He paused and whispered, "...like you don't want one anyway."
"COME HERE YOU LITTLE PIECE OF-"
"-oH BAD GUY BAD GUY SHHHH! MPHH-!"
Danny's grip on Tucker's mouth loosened as he eyed Skulker and Ember at the front of the rundown warehouse. The two, not unlike Danny and Tucker, were arguing.
Probably about their relationship again, Danny rolled his eyes.
He watched as Ember let out a hysterical hiss of anger and stormed off, leaving Skulker by himself. In the darkness, Danny could fairly make out Skulker punching the wall and grumbling angrily to himself. A flash of anger enticed him at the thought of fighting Skulker again - this time, he won't be caught off guard and teach that insecure ghost exactly who he was messing with.
Danny turned to Tucker again, who still looked a little annoyed, "You sure this is the only entrance? As much I'd love to beat Skulker to a pulp, Sam comes first."
Tucker's looked down for a moment at his PDA: "This is the only way. So you can go all trigger happy on Skulker if you want. Although, if someone else is in there with Sam they'll vamoose the moment they hear anything suspicious."
Danny raised his brow, "Vamoose?"
"Shut up Danny Fen-sorry, Phantom."
"Touché."
"Good luck man. Hope you don't die."
"Thanks man. Means a lot."
Danny transformed swiftly, wasting no time turning transparent and gliding carefully towards Skulker, who was still muttering angrily under his breath about 'ghost girls' and their 'need for affection'. Unlike earlier, Danny's thirst for revenge had taken a backseat at the sobering realisation that Sam could be very well behind those doors. The thought of finally saving Sam, finally seeing her again –
He felt desperation crawling up his throat, burning in his gut.
...
Sam could tell that something felt off about the day.
For once, Copy didn't bother tying her up again after she was fed a terribly soggy ham and cheese sandwich. He was also subdued… acting like he was suddenly sober after months of bone-chilling highs.
She didn't trust it.
It had been the longest that they had ever stayed in the same place. At least fourteen nights - maybe more given how much Copy drugged her to keep her compliant. There was a sofa, two camping foldable beds and a small array of bizarre kitchen items to keep themselves fed - a small gas cooker, two pots and two sets of plates and cutlery. A small box of cans, crisps and snacks sat next to it. They even had a TV, which Copy was currently channel hopping on.
"Do you want to watch something?"
Sam didn't register the question at first. Then realised that it was actually directed at her.
"What?"
"Do - you - want to watch something?"
She frowns, "No."
"Fuck you. Fine. Goes to show what I get for trying to be nice." Copy grumbles like a pouting toddler.
Sam's confusion outweighs her sense of logic, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What the hell is your problem? I was just trying to be nice!"
"Nice? You? Are you even capable of something like that?"
Suddenly, he's in her face. His gaze like an acidic poison on her skin.
"Watch your fucking mouth, before I break it."
He starts to walk away. But this for some reason, this infuriates Sam even more. He didn't even punch her, try to violently subdue her. How dare he? How dare he start being nice to her. Now? After nine months of torture and insanity he wants to try being nice? What the hell! She's about to start laying it on him, consequences be damned! They haven't killed her after nine months, what makes them think she's still going to be scared of them now?
BOOOM! CRACK!
The walls of the warehouse shake. Dust flies, the stench of acid and metal and fire comes rushing from outside.
Copy is visibly panicked, "What the fuck was that? Skulker? Ember?"
The nearest wall caves in as Skulker is sent flying into the warehouse. He lands on the rubble, already unconscious. A flare of hope blooms in Sam's chest. She can't be dreaming right? She can believe that this is real… right?
Danny Phantom stands at the mouth of the opening. His face set in an icy, angry frown. He's unharmed, not a scratch on him.
He catches Sam's eyes.
The both of them had imagined this moment for the better part of nine months. What they would say, what they would feel. But nothing could have prepared Danny to seeing Copy - someone who wears his face, who stands in his skin.
"What the fuck?" Tucker pipes up from behind him, breaking the icy silence. "Who are you?"
Sam's mouth drops open as she sees him, fighting the urge to convince herself it was a hallucination. Tucker Foley? He knew Phantom?
Copy frowns, Vlad never told him what to do if the original ever found him.
"I'm Phantom." Copy replies, bitterly.
"Nooo… he's Phantom." Tucker points to Danny. "Oh god, before you say anything please don't say the 'I'm you but stronger' speech, please. Is this actually happening? Are you a clone?"
"Tucker, get Sam."
"Oh right. Good idea."
A blast of red ectoplasm is shot at Tucker's feet, missing him by inches.
"Don't move. Or else she gets it." Copy's glowing red hand gets close to Sam's face.
Danny's eyes flash, "Come on asshole, I'll show you who's the real Phantom."
Danny zooms, in a blink of an eye he's tackled Copy by the waist and thrown him across the warehouse. He gives Copy no time to recover, slamming a glowing fist into his abdomen. Copy chokes, the blow knocking the wind out of his lungs.
Now far from the fray, Tucker rushes to Sam and unties her quickly. He eyes the bruises, the signs of malnutrition and exhaustion on her face.
"Oh god. Can you stand?"
She nods, still in shock.
"Come on, let's get out of here. Lean on me."
He picks her up from her arm, pulling her arm over his shoulder to support her weight. They start move slowly, but surely, to the gaping hole.
The two Phantoms are flying about, punching, kicking and crashing into anything and everything. The whole building shakes again, the foundation growing rocky and fragile.
"How do you know him? Why didn't he tell me?" Sam manages to squeeze out.
Tucker purses his lips, "I'll let him explain. It's not my story to tell. Just know that he was doing everything he could to save you. I've never seen him this determined to save anyone before."
Sam's mind is swirling with questions, caught between fear, joy and betrayal. She's not sure what she feels, or what she wants to feel. A heavy weight settles in her chest, a niggling thought is trying to make itself known to her in her mind, but she's so tired, so exhausted that she can't manifest it. Phantom being friends with Tucker? Why does this bother her? Why does she feel as if she's missing something so glaringly obvious?
"ARRGH!"
Copy sends Danny flying into a box of crates.
"Who's the real Phantom now!" Copy laughs manically.
Danny blasts him, sending Copy flying off his feet. Copy groans. Danny watches him with a morbid sense of fascination. At first Danny thought he was some type of high-tech robot, but there was something so inherently real, so tangible about him. Copy shrugs his shoulders, gearing himself up for another attack.
God, that's exactly what I do. Danny's mind is a swimming mess. There's only one explanation that makes any sense.
"Let me guess. You're a clone that Vlad made of me. He's your little evil crazy daddy, right? What did he steal a piece of my hair when I was asleep like some creep?"
"Fuck off! Don't speak about Vlad like that!"
Copy throws the TV at him, Danny dodges.
"Listen man, we don't need to fight. You're me. And if you're anything like me you know that Vlad is another level of psycho. Just tell me what he wanted with Sam and I won't hurt you. It's him I want."
"I'm nothing like you!" Copy snarls, sending blast after blast of ectoplasm.
Danny does his best to dodge, but gets hit in the chest. He crumbles to the ground. Copy laughs gleefully.
"I got you! Hahaha! I got you! Don't know why the old man was so scared of you, you're so pathetic! Now I can finally get him off my fucking back! I'm fucking free! Finally!"
Copy runs up to Danny, lighting his arm, ready to land the final blow. But before he can do it, Danny whips out the thermos and opens it, sucking in Copy.
"What the fuck!?"
"Surprise asshole! Say hi to the Box Ghost for me!"
Copy flies out of range quickly.
"What the hell is that?!"
Copy stares at the thermos, it frightens him. Danny is perturbed to see his own frightened face starting back at him and for a moment he feels a pang of pity.
Copy disappears into the night without another word.
Danny's shoulders sag, his knees buckle under him. His chest aches, bruises swelling slowly over his arms and legs. He could feel the pain and exhaustion pushing up the surface of his skin. Copy was good. Maybe even a little better than Danny himself even.
He looks over to Sam and Tucker, who are at a small distance from the building. Tucker is on the phone, probably speaking to the ambulance. Sam's lying on the ground, breathing quietly. Tucker keeps a hand on hers to keep her awake.
He focuses on the rise and fall of her chest. The bruises on her arms. She's so bruised and battered. He could see the anguish she suffered through, the bruises that told a thousand stories she could never say herself. But she was safe. She was there, alive and breathing. Danny's body sags in relief at the thought.
It's over. For now.
...
Three weeks pass.
Sam recuperates at home. Her parents smother her with attention and care that she hasn't experienced since she was a little girl. It felt a little creepy at first, but she got used to it, maybe even enjoyed it from time to time.
But as the days grew longer and she was improving, she realised I lot of things have changed since she was gone. Her kidnapping case had thrown her into instant celeb status. The first day back at school proved just how far from reality she really was. Sam could feel the stares, the whispers of everyone. It seemed like no one knew what to think of her now. Goth loner, the daughter of the wealthiest family in Amity Park goes missing for nine months and is saved by ghost menace, Phantom? Where does that fit in the social hierarchy of high school?
"Saaam! I'm happy that you're safe and like totally okay now! Your cast looks soooo cute!" Paulina drawled, linking her arm with Sam's unbroken one. "Can I sign it?"
She whips out a pen and starts scribbling on it with hearts and cute drawings.
Sam had stopped trying to push Paulina away, and she even kind of tolerated having her around. Man, being held captive for nine months really messed her up.
As Sam indulged Paulina, turning around the corner came Danny Fenton and his sneaky friend, Tucker.
"Catch you later Paulina, I need to have a word with a certain nerd."
Tucker caught Sam stalking towards him and made a run for it. He sprinted back from where he emerged. Sam hot on his heels, was rudely stopped by Danny.
"Hey Sam! Wow it's so good to see you, nice cast, you, you - look - "
"Out the way!" Sam snarled, trying to shove him to the side, but surprisingly he didn't move an inch. There was some serious muscle hidden under his shirt.
As Sam managed to push Fenton the side (or did he move?) and get a look into the corridor he disappeared, Tucker was gone. She turned to yell at Fenton but like his slippery friend, he was gone too.
The bell rings with a shrill shriek. The halls are empty now. Sam feels anger run deep. There is something that is bothering her. Something niggling at the back of her mind. Screaming at her.
The night that she was rescued, Tucker was with Phantom. And the way he had spoke about him betrayed that Tucker was good friends with Phantom and more embarrassingly, knew about her relationship with Phantom too. Suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion, she couldn't muster the energy to at the time to demand answers. She couldn't even ask Phantom, who disappeared immediately after his fight with Copy. Sam was carted off in the ambulance before she could think what to do and ever since then she had been trying to get Tucker alone, but for the life of her she could not get him alone. It was almost like he was Phantom!
Another thing bothered Sam, more than she would like to admit. Phantom hadn't seen her since he rescued her.
It bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
Sam felt sick and decided she had enough of classes for the day. As she walked towards the front entrance, she was stopped by an angry Mr Lancer asking her where the hell she was going. Which she replied with: "Taking the day off since I just got kidnapped, thanks." Before taking off. Mr Lancer couldn't utter a retort and decided, with a painful shake of his head, that he was too old to bother with it.
Sam didn't have a destination in mind but she wanted some quiet, so the park would have to do.
In spite of her bravado, Sam's body was still really weak and she was incredibly fatigued by the time she got to the park - despite it only being a fifteen minute walk from the school. She was glad of the park bench. She sat and stared at the fountain, its weakly sprouting water jets were trickling in the breeze.
The night of her rescue was a blur. But there were two things that she remembered most vividly. Copy had escaped and Tucker Foley was Phantom's friend.
The latter revelation had been bothering her for the longest time. How long had Tucker and Phantom known each other? Why did Phantom conveniently leave out that he was also friends with someone at her school? Tucker only had one friend, Fenton. So did that mean Fenton was friends with him too? The thought disturbed her greatly. But there was something strange about … Fenton was Tucker's only friend …
"Whatcha thinkin' there pretty lady?"
Sam's head whipped around her, her heart beating wildly in fear only to see Phantom floating behind her, smiling. She balked, remembering Copy, but managed to pass off her mistake easily as a surprise.
"Great line."
"Eh, not my finest. Is this seat taken?" He pointed next to her.
She shook her head, her heart still refusing to stop beating. He floated down and sat. For a moment the silence stretched between them as they both relived the last few months in her heads, leading up to the night of the rescue. Neither of them really knew what to say or where to start. Finally, as Sam's heart calmed down she had enough of it.
"Thank you." Sam started. "For … saving me."
"Oh, no problem. It … it was nothing." Danny's eyes flashed, "I'm sorry it took so long."
Sam shrugged jokingly, "Not exactly brainy are you?"
Danny didn't reply. Sam felt the stiffness radiating off of his body.
"Come on, I was joking. It's obviously not your fault."
"It was though Sam."
"Come on, don't start with that bullshit. My parents had half the government looking for me and they didn't even come close! Imagine what they'd say if they found out a ghost beat them to it?"
Sam nudged him playfully, unable to understand exactly what she was doing. She just wanted him to stop blaming himself. Phantom smiled, relieved and turned to look her straight in the eye. The acidity of his eyes, the familiarity of it - made her involuntarily flinch. She jumped back. As soon as she had done it, he turned away. A look of pure hurt flashed across his face.
"No - I didn't mean - ! I mean my body's still weak and I - "
"Sam stop."
Phantom looked at her again.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"No! I'm not!"
"You can tell me the truth."
"I am!" She said angrily.
Phantom didn't looked like he believed her at all. Sam took his hand, Phantom felt himself flush.
"Listen to me. I - am - not - afraid - of - you. You didn't do anything to me. You didn't hurt me. You saved me."
Phantom's hand curled around her, gripping it tightly like a lifeline.
"I'm going to get him for this. I'll make sure that he pays."
"Let me help you."
Phantom hesitated.
"You have no reason to stop me. I'm going to find that shit stain with or without you. And - " She gripped his hand harder, " - I'LL make him pay for what he did to me."
He sighed, "I don't know why I pretended you might have wanted to sit this out."
Sam smirked. He grinned at her back. It felt good speaking like this again, they both thought at the same time. Neither of them thought to let go of each others' hand.
"Also - you better explain yourself right now Phantom. How do you know Tucker Foley?" Sam pressed him. "Does he know that we're … friends? How long has he known?"
Phantom started to sweat a bit.
"Oh - well, to be honest he's been friends with me for a while … he does know we're … friends …"
"Why didn't you tell me!" She flushed, screaming inside.
"I don't know! It just never came up!"
"Never came up? What do you mean - NO, WAIT, WAIT. Does Danny Fenton know?" Sam glared at him, trying to hide her horror. If Fenton knew, it was all over. She didn't think she could survive the embarrassment. Phantom was not getting out of this conversation alive (un-alive?).
Phantom did not answer, but rather looked like he was trying to make up his mind about something. He glanced around quickly. There was no one in the park.
"Please, please don't be too angry with me. Please just … let me explain - "
Before she could ask, before she could even wonder what he was talking about. Phantom's body flashed. A ring of light encased his body, sweeping away his suit to jeans and a familiar t-shirt, his green eyes to blue, his white hair to black, his pallid skin to lightly tanned.
Sitting in front of her, squeezing her hand was Phantom no more, but Danny Fenton.
a/n: hahaha I know you're all cursing me sorry but it was tempting to leave it here. See you all next time! Please review.
PhantomPotterGirl