Chapter Five

Tucker refused to go back to Danny's house after the battle. Everyone was panting and Danny and Sam were euphoric from victory and the rush of adrenaline still working it's way through their veins. They sought each other out almost instinctively, eyes locking, hand's clasping, smiles on their face.

"We'll go over to my house," Sam said happily as they walked down the road, her fingers still twined in Danny's. We'll watch some movies, relax." She looked at Tucker a moment and found him off in dream land.

"Sounds great," Danny said cheerfully. Tucker murmured his agreement softly. He considered going home, but he knew he'd probably just want to cry or something, he really didn't want to be alone.

"Tuck!" Danny said happily as he moved from holding Sam's hand to walking with his arm around her waist. "You look like someone punched you in the stomach. Did you hurt yourself on the way to my house or something?"

Tucker shook his head to indicate no, but yes, yes he had hurt himself. He currently hated himself. He wished he didn't see her, every time he closed his eyes, wrapped in Pete's arms, eyes closed in bliss, his mouth on her neck his hands on her…

"Tucker," Sam said gently when they'd reached her house. "Something's wrong."

"What?" Tucker asked as he looked around, pulling himself into a more alert state.

Sam's expression softened as she watched Danny leaving the room. "With you," Sam told him gently. Tucker met her worried lilac gaze and sighed.

He fought to maintain control of his emotions and shrugged one shoulder. "Can we talk about it later?" he asked. "After Danny leaves maybe?"

"Sure," Sam said softly then smiled as Danny walked into the room. She patted the spot behind her on the couch and he sat, putting his arm around her.

Tucker looked at the couple warily. "Is there something you two should be telling me?" he asked. Sam shook her head as she cuddled into Danny's shoulder while she pushed play on the remote.

"Nope," Danny replied, smiling slightly as he stroked Sam's arm. "Just watching a movie." Tucker looked at them both for a moment. He didn't feel like teasing them. He didn't feel like watching to see if they were finally going to just let go of all the pretense and admit their feeling. His heart was heavy. He felt sick and tired and figured he was probably better off going home and just trying to reconstruct his heart.

An hour later Danny stood and announced it was late and he needed to get home. He looked at Sam then at Tuck expectantly. Tucker simply settled into the couch.

"You go," Sam said as she walked with Danny out of the room. "I think Tucker needs to stay and talk." Danny looked worriedly at Tucker for a moment then sighed and told him good night.

Sam came back in the living room to find Tucker sitting with his knees pulled up into his chest, his face hidden in his arms. His glasses were sitting beside him, discarded because of the tears which had fallen on them.

"Tuck," Sam started gently as she sat beside him and put her hand on his back. Tucker turned toward her, pulling her into his arms as he sobbed and cried in something which seemed to Sam more like rage than despair. Her heart ached as he cried. This boy was family to her, like her brother, and it made her angry that something caused him so much pain that he needed to sob on her shoulder.

"What happened?" Sam asked as soon as Tucker's crying stilled.

"Jazz," Tucker answered hoarsely.

Sam clenched her fists together. No one hurt her family, even Danny's stupid sister. "What did she do?" Sam asked trying not to sound angry, but failing miserably.

"Nothing intentional," Tucker said then sighed. He pulled away from Sam then wiped his eyes. Sam was quick thinking and had a tissue ready for him to blow his nose. She waited calmly for Tucker to gather his composure.

"It's not her fault," Tucker said bleakly. "I just have a crush on her."

"Oh," Sam replied as her eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Don't you have a crush on practically every girl in Amity Park?" Tucker gave her a hurt look and she sighed.

"Okay, you have a crush on Jazz," Sam started then paused. "Is that why you've been hanging around together?"

Tucker closed his eyes. "No. I had no intention of crushing on her, or anything like that."

Sam took a deep breath. "So what happened?"

"I don't know," Tucker said as he took off his hat. "Nothing happened. She's just wonderful. Oh Sam, you don't know what she's like. Not really."

Sam smiled slightly at the joyful expression on Tucker's face as he outlined all the things he loved about Jazz, "She's really funny, and she's smart, beautiful, kind, she likes technology and she listens to me, Sam. She has the most beautiful eyes and her hands, she has such beautiful hands."

"Hands?" Sam asked as her smile grew.

Tucker nodded. "She has such strong goals, she's passionate and she's strong and sexy…and…"

"Whoa," Sam laughed as she put up her hand. "I don't need to hear that." Tucker smiled then frowned. Sam shook her head as another tear rolled down Tucker's face. She handed him another tissue and waited.

"But," Tucker continued his voice filled with pain. "She'd never take a second look at me. I'm lucky just to be allowed to grovel at her feet."

"That's not true!" Sam started angrily. "You're the most deserving person I know, and well I don't even know if Jazz is good enough for you." Tucker snorted bitterly.

"So then what happened," Sam asked.

"Nothing," Tucker answered. "She did that make over thing, decided to find me some girl to date, started seeing Pete…"

"You hate Pete huh?" Sam questioned.

"You have no idea how much," Tucker half laughed then sighed. "But things were good. She was a little distant but things were still good, and I thought that as long as we were friends it could be okay."

"Yeah," Sam said as she sighed herself. "But it wasn't was it?"

"No," Tucker agreed. "And then yesterday she almost kissed me, and she would have if stupid Danny hadn't interrupted me." Sam's eyebrows raised and Tucker sighed.

"Annoying isn't it?" she asked calmly and Tucker half laughed.

"So then what?" Sam prompted as Tucker grew silent.

"She and Pete were at Danny's house when I went go get the thermos," Tucker said as he closed his eyes. "I turned on the light and there they were, her shirt pretty much off, he's kissing her…"

"You wanted to die huh?" Sam asked knowingly. Tucker gave her a look and she sighed. "I know how it feels Tuck, and it's even worse because you're in love with a Fenton."

"I'm not in love!" Tucker denied indignantly and Sam gave him an indulgent look.

Tucker's shoulders dropped and his head drooped. "I am so in love with her Sam, that it's ripping me to shreds. How do you do it? Day in and day out?"

Sam shrugged her shoulders. "It's just that Tuck. Day in and day out and I pray each day that Paulina, Star, Val or some other girl doesn't steal his heart away. Each day the tension grows worse and worse…"

Tucker shook his head tiredly. "Yeah but at least you know Danny loves you back."

Sam's eyes clouded. "Does he Tucker? I don't think so. If he did…."

"This isn't at all the same," Tucker started in irritation as he stood. "You and Danny have been dancing around your feelings since you were fourteen. You know the pattern, the music, it's all choreographed. The looks, the teasing, the flirting and the touching. One of these days one of you is going to find the courage and cross the line and you'll both admit what you know is true."

"That doesn't make it any less scary," Sam told him weakly.

"Jazz on the other hand, has no interest in me other than as a friend, a doll she can dress up, someone to talk to when she's lonely. She has no feelings for me. I don't even think she knows I have feelings." Tucker sat down and hung his head in his hands. "She's…She's just like everyone else."

Sam put her hand on Tucker's shoulder and sat beside him. "I'm sorry," she told him tenderly.

"I can't face her," Tucker began. "Tomorrow. I know she'll come looking for me, because she's Jazz and she will want to talk about what happened."

"Maybe it's better to get it out of the way," Sam replied.

"I can't face her. Not yet."

Sam took a deep breath. "Why don't you call your parents? Stay here tonight. I'll call Danny and have him come over when we wake up, we'll just stay here all day tomorrow, god knows there's plenty to do here."

"All weekend?" Tucker asked doubtfully.

"If need be," Sam answered. "And by Monday, you'll be able to face her again and it will all be good."

Tucker sniffled slightly and said. "So is this when girls breakout the ice cream?"

Sam smirked, rolled her eyes then jumped up off the couch. "Chocolate or Strawberry soy?"

Jazz caught Danny the next morning, just as he was heading out the door. He stopped and gave her an annoyed look as she grabbed his arm.

"Come on, Jazz," Danny said in irritation, since Jazz stopping him from leaving usually precluded a long talk. "I have to go."

"Where are you going? To meet Tucker?" Jazz queried. Tucker hadn't answered his cell phone, she was sick with worry. She wanted to know how his date with Amanda went. She wanted to talk to him about walking in on her and Pete. She, just wanted to hear his voice.

"And Sam," Danny answered as he eyed his sister for a moment. She'd obviously been crying, her eyes were slightly puffy and she was more pale than usual.

"Where?" Jazz asked.

"Sam's house," Danny told her. Jazz's shoulders dropped and she closed her eyes knowing he was avoiding her. She felt sick to her stomach.

"You all right?" Danny asked as he watched his sister's eyes fill with tears.

"Yeah," Jazz answered weakly as she turned and started walking away. "I'm fine."

Danny watched her uncertainly for a moment. "Want me to have him call you?"

"No," Jazz replied. "But thanks Danny."

Sam frowned as Tucker's cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her skirt. She'd lifted it off of Tucker while he was asleep, and though she was sure he was going to say something soon about missing it, and force her to return it, she was going to try to hang on to it as long as possible. He didn't need to hear from Jazz right now. She checked the phone, just to be sure it wasn't his parents calling, but it was Jazz. She'd called five times since last night.

There were three text messages on Tucker's PDA and Sam knew he would look for it the moment he woke up. She frowned at the messages.

"How did your date go?"

"Tucker, please call me."

"I'm so sorry."

"Please call, I need you."

Sam growled at the last message as she erased them all. She wondered if Jazz knew about Tucker's feelings at all. She contemplated that the girl was just clueless, but then why would she be apologizing? Sam thought for a minute as she sat on her bed and looked thoughtfully at Tuck, then began to compose a reply to the text message, debating the ethics only briefly.

"I think it's for the best to just leave me alone." She pressed send and winced then bit her lip and willed Tucker to sleep. Sam knew Jazz well enough to know that there would be a reply.

"I'm sorry," came her texted reply. "I never intended to play with your heart. You're my friend." Sam's heart began to race painfully. She knew she was playing with fire and she needed to back away. She erased the message then slipped the PDA back beside him. She looked at his cell phone, erased the records of her calls then put it back where she found it.

Danny showed up a few minutes later, surprised to find Tucker still sleeping in a bundle by Sam's bed. He looked at her confusion.

"Tucker was keeping me company last night," she told him her mind racing to figure out a way to protect Tucker. If Danny found out he was nursing a broken heart over Jazz, well Danny could be understanding, but he and Tucker were given to some very cruel teasing and Danny owed Tucker some rather strong pokes. Sam preferred to protect Tucker for now.

"Oh," Danny replied. "You should have called. I would have stayed too." Sam read the worry in his eyes and she smiled.

"It was just a boring broken heart thing," she said in an offhand tone, watching Danny's face as the dust of her comment settled.

His expression softened and he slipped his hand into hers and held it gently, as though it was her heart and he needed to protect it. "Who is causing you heartache my Sam?" In his mind he was thinking, "Say you. Say you." If she would only say his name then he could possibly kiss her and possibly ease the pain in both of their hearts.

Sam's breath caught by the tenderness in Danny's eyes. She parted her lips slightly with the intention answer, but his eyes darted to her lips, and Sam couldn't help it, it was almost a reflex that made her close her eyes and tilt her face up. She didn't regret it as his lips brushed against hers or as he stepped closer, his hands at her waist. She didn't regret letting her hands slide up around his neck or pressing herself against him. What she did regret was Tucker choosing that moment to stir. She regretted that she hadn't parted her lips beneath Danny's sooner, that he had just started to run his tongue along her lower lip, that she'd barely had a taste of the sweetness of him before he moved away from her. She tried to read the look on his face, her whole being trembling with hope and desire, but he'd turned away from her, so she was left to turn toward Tucker, wanting to growl in frustration. Tucker always had perfectly bad timing.

Tucker jerked in embarrassment as he watched his two friends push away from each other. He watched Danny for a minute, struggling for composure, forcing as smile on his face then he looked toward Sam who at the moment was looking a little shell shocked.

He'd always taken a sort of, perverse joy in catching Danny and Sam in moments which outed their feelings for each other, and he admitted to himself that he had a hand in stopping those moment. He claimed time and again that he wished they'd just get over their shyness already but all the while sabotaging their baby steps toward each other.

There he'd admitted it to himself. He hadn't wanted them to finally make it over their shyness, over the obstacles that kept them apart, he was scared that as a result of their blossoming romance, he'd be left out, the fifth wheel, included out of pity. But now, now he couldn't bear the knowledge of the pain they were in. They loved each other. He knew it. Danny hadn't said it in so many words, but Tucker was privy to his best friend's thoughts. Danny worshiped the ground Sam walked on. It was no secret with Sam, she had admitted it more than once. He vowed, that no matter how much it hurt, he wouldn't interfere with them anymore, that he would step back and let the relationship develop as it was supposed to.

"So what are we doing today?" Danny asked as he regained his composure.

"I thought we'd stay in," Sam answered as she watched Tucker look down at his hands. "We can bowl or.."

"Stay in?" Danny exclaimed. "Have you looked outside? It's a beautiful day!"

"It's fine with me," Tucker said as he rescued a floundering Sam. He gathered himself together and headed for the bathroom. "I mean, who wants to stay in on a beautiful day?"

He didn't look back to see Sam's expression, he just closed the bathroom door. He went instantly for his cell phone and his PDA, he checked the for messages from Jazz, his heart pounding hard with hope. If she'd called him, maybe it would be okay, it would show that at least she cared about him on some level, but there were no messages. He took a deep shaky breath and chastised himself, why would Jazz think of him, especially when she had Pete.

"Is this because of last night?" Pete asked solemnly as Jazz sat with him in his car that very afternoon.

"No," Jazz said then sighed. "Partly. Yes. I just have feelings for someone else and it's not right to you…"

"Feelings for someone else!?" Pete half yelled then took her hand and finished what he had to say calmly. "You're talking about that little techno geek loser right? That little kid! He's two years younger than us Jazz! You can't possibly want him over me."

Jazz shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes. "I'm not leaving you for him, Pete, there's no need to go getting all territorial. It's not about you…"

"No!" Pete growled. "I've given this speech before. It's not about me, it's about you. Yeah yeah yeah." He pulled Jazz's hand to his heart. "But Jazz I've really started having feelings for you and…"

Jazz closed her eyes. "And I can't possibly reciprocate those feelings right now," she told him. "That doesn't mean not ever. It's just right now I'm confused and…"

"And so you're running off to be with this kid?" Pete asked bitterly.

"No," Jazz answered as she wiped away her tears. "It can't work between us. I just need time…"

"And after you've had time, you'll consider dating me again?" Pete asked as he smoothed Jazz's hair back behind her ear. She pulled away from him.

"I don't know," she answered. "You'll probably have moved on by then." Pete snorted bitterly then moved to kiss her. Jazz turned her head away from him so that his wet kiss landed on her cheek. He sighed in frustration then looked at Fenton Works.

"You know where to find me," he told her as she climbed out of the car.

"Good bye, Pete," Jazz said softly, looking at him sadly before turning, running up the steps to her house, and slamming the door behind her, dissolving into a puddle of tears as she ran up stairs and into her room. She contemplated trying to reach Tucker again, but figured it was for the better if she didn't.

Tucker was feeling better, especially now that he had downed two Nasty Burgers and a Vanilla shake. Sam had watched him with reproachful eyes, but he didn't feel like picking up their old teasing game.

Things began to feel very normal and like old times, and Tucker decided that he could handle whatever happened, that is until Pete walked in the door. Luckily he was alone, Tucker just didn't think he was ready to handle seeing him and Jazz together so soon after…seeing them together like he had.

"Do you want to leave?" Sam asked softly as Danny left to get another shake.

"No," Tucker answered. "I'd be stupid to start rearranging my life." He paused. "But if Jazz shows up…."

"I'll think of something quick and talk Danny into using his invisibility to get us out of here,"

"Thanks," Tucker replied in relief. Sam just shrugged her shoulders and frowned into her empty chocolate soy shake then sighed.

Danny was usually oblivious to everything and everyone around him that wasn't ghostly, but he couldn't be oblivious to his sister's boyfriend, Pete, who was standing with his friends, just a head of Danny in the line.

"And she dumped me to the curb," Danny heard Pete say. Danny frowned slightly. He'd thought that Pete was a good choice for Jazz. He was brainy and smart and dull, just like Jazz.

"Dude, that's harsh," said one of Pete's friends. "Just like that? Why?"

Danny could see Pete's expression darken. "It's funny, I finally got her to you know…make out with me and." His friends snickered and he frowned at them. "And then today she tells me that she has feelings for someone else and…"

"Wait!" one of his friends interrupted. "She kicked you to the curb for someone else?"

"Yeah," Pete said his tone disheartened. "For one of her brother's best friends. For someone two years younger."

"Whoa," his friend said. "That's way harsh. What's this friend's name?"

Pete's eyebrows furrowed together and he thought, for the life of him he couldn't remember the boy's name. "Sam, I think," finally came his reply. "She's in love with Sam, and I'm pretty sure feelings all sides are shared."

Danny rocked back on his heals as the impact of Pete's statement hit him. His world spun as he turned and looked at Sam, who looked very sad as she talked to Tucker. Danny's stomach began to ache and he had to get away, get outside before he lost it completely.

He took a few steps away from the line then turned and went into the bathroom where he washed his face and calmed himself.

"No way," he said to himself. "Sam and Jazz, but he'd heard it with his own ears. Danny clinched his fists tightly. First she took Tucker and now she was after Sam. Jazz wasn't going to get away with this. Then finally he convinced himself it wasn't true. How could it be?

Danny stepped out of the bathroom and headed for the table where he'd left Sam and Tucker. It was there that he witnessed another shock. Jazz was there. Sam was standing, she took Jazz by the arm and pulled her out of the Nasty Burger, that was enough for Danny to believe.

Tucker looked up at Danny in bewilderment as he sat down with a thump then put his head down on the table.

"Dude," Tucker asked, plowing himself up through his own pain and angst enough to worry about Danny. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sure you know," came Danny's muffled answer. "All about Sam and Jazz…"

Tucker gave Danny a worried look. "I have no clue what you're talking about."

"You know Jazz broke up with Pete?" Danny asked.

Tucker grasped the edge of the table then looked around for Pete, he was sure he'd seen him. Jazz broke up with Pete, he tried to stifle the little bubble of joy growing in his hopeful heart.

"I overheard Pete talking to his friends," Danny continued, not lifting his head from the table. "Pete says that Jazz is in love with my best friend."

"What?" Tucker gasped a strange heated chill hitting him from head to toe.

"Yeah I know," Danny sighed then looked up at Tucker, noting that he too was utterly beside himself.

"Wh-what else did he say?" Tucker asked softly. His heart had tightened so hard in his chest that he wondered how he was still alive as he forced breath into his lungs.

"That Jazz is in love with Sam, and that Sam loves her too," Danny answered miserably. Tucker looked at Danny. It took a few moments for Tucker to process just what Danny had said, and then a smiled broke out on his face and he started laughing.

"It's not funny, Tucker," Danny said sadly. "It's not funny at all. I didn't…I didn't even know Sam liked other girls. I-I thought…" He looked down at his hands on the table.

"Danny," Tucker began, barely able to keep himself from breaking out into hysterical laughter, the only think keeping him calm was Danny's utterly broken demeanor.

Danny shook his head. "Do you know where they went, Tuck? Do you think it's too late for me?"

Tucker smiled gently. "I think what you should do is talk to Sam about this."

"And Jazz," Danny growled, obviously paying Tucker no attention. "First she takes one best friend from me and then she takes my Sam. My Sam, Tucker!!!"

"What you need to do, Danny," Tucker continued calmly. "Is talk to Sam about this."

"I should just kill her," Danny growled in a very frightening, menacing tone which froze Tucker's blood.

"Whoa!" Tucker half shouted. "Kill who?"

"Jazz!" Danny hissed as he looked up at Tucker who grew even more alarmed as green flooded Danny's eyes.

"Are you kidding?" Tucker gasped wondering how the hell he would protect Jazz from Danny if he was serious.

The green ebbed from Danny's eyes. "I should talk to Sam," he said bleakly. "After all, she does love Jazz and I could never do anything to hurt Sam."

"Talking to Sam is a smart choice," Tucker replied.

Danny sighed. "She's in love with my sister, Tuck. My Sam. My Sam is in love with my sister." He put his head back down on the table in misery and Tucker looked up at the ceiling, trying with all his might not to bust out laughing and spill the beans. Tucker didn't have to worry about Danny killing Jazz, because Sam was going to kill Danny.

Tucker looked to the door of the Nasty Burger and frowned. His worries fled from Danny and his hilarious misunderstanding to what Sam was saying to Jazz, he guessed it didn't matter, one way or the other, Jazz knew, he just didn't know how he was going to deal with her knowing.