A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own it.
……Casper High, 2 weeks later……
"Tucker? Sam? What's wrong with Danny? You guys know everything about him!" Valerie asked.
Sam looked away so Tucker said, just above a whisper, "Not anymore."
Valerie looked worried; Danny shared everything with those two.
"Valerie, why do you care?" Sam asked meanly. This girl had hunted Danny for two years; she didn't trust her.
"Why? He's my friend!" Valerie said, hurt by the comment.
……park……
In the park, Danny Phantom sat in the tallest tree he could find. His breathing was ragged with his pain and grief for the family of three that had just died when a drunk driver hit their car head on just moments ago.
From his perch, Danny could feel a cool breeze brush his face and see the whole town. It was times like this that he longed for his family and friends to know the truth, longed to break his oath.
……6 Months later, July 4, night, Op Center……
"Dude! How can you stand it? You have a beard!" Tucker complained, sweating profusely beneath his red beret.
"Tucker, you're talking to a guy with ice powers; I have a constant breeze," Danny teased. Tucker looked dumbfounded as he saw Sam grudgingly dig in her bag.
"You guys made a bet, didn't you," Tucker grumbled.
"Hey, Sam proposed it; I was only too glad to accept," Danny laughed. The bet had been on how long it would take for their friend to realize that they were completely unaffected by the summer's heat.
Tucker smirked and insinuated, "I'm sure you were. And here I didn't even know you were dating."
"TUCKER!"
"Time OUT!" The world froze except for Danny, who slumped in exasperation.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation, Santa, but there's a problem," ClockWork told the teen.
Danny sighed, he still wasn't used to that title, "What is it this time?"
"Your packaging manager has quit. I cannot appoint another; it is now your job," the time ghost informed him.
"Another? How often do they quit?" Danny asked. This was all still very new to him. All he had done the previous year was deliver the gifts and eat more cookies and drink more milk than he cared to think about. This year he had to organize it all. This year, he would be at the ghost zone Christmas party and the ghosts would finally know the truth.
"It is a stressful job, most do not last for more than a year," ClockWork replied.
Danny rubbed his temples as he said, "I'll keep a lookout for any possible candidates."
ClockWork nodded in satisfaction and said, "Time IN."
"Hey I can't help it if you give it to me; I am not responsible for my actions in the face of such an opportunity," Tucker defended himself, still smirking.
"Danny, what's wrong?" Sam asked, worriedly when she saw his face.
"Nothing, you don't want to know," Danny said, "Let's just get back to enjoying the Fourth."
The friends looked at each other, but said nothing. They'd made a pact with Danny months ago not to mention his 'job' over the summer.
"So, how's Danielle?" Tucker asked, changing the subject.
"Ask her yourself, she's right behind you," Danny told his friend without even looking. His attention remained on the fireworks.
"How do you do that? I was invisible, intangible, and off the ground! And your ghost sense doesn't work with me!" Dani groused. Sam snickered at that. Danny had been doing that a lot lately with everyone.
"How are you feeling?" Danny asked, pealing his eyes away from the show.
"Ugh! You've asked me that every day since I got home from the hospital!" Dani exclaimed, irritated.
"I'm just worried, Dani," Danny answered, truthfully.
"And you thought Jazz was overprotective? She's TAME compared to you!" Dani complained. Everyone, including the young ghost girl laughed.
Danny flinched as his heart gave a quick pain. He then sensed that something bad was going to happen.
"I'll be right back," Danny said, distractedly as he flew across the street to the park.
"Dude, I dare ya!" a jock challenged a younger blonde.
Dash picked up ten sparklers and was about to light them all at once.
"NO!" the ghost boy yelled, stealing the lighter from the teen's hands.
"Dude, what's your prob-" Dash yelled, stopping mid-word when he saw who he was talking to, "Phantom!"
"Do you know how stupid it would've been for you to go through with that?" Danny asked, angrily, "And you! What kind of college student makes dares like that? Do you even realize what could have happened?"
The two jocks looked at him in bewilderment. Danny stared back at them furiously.
"Who do you think you are? Smokey the Bear?" the jock asked. He was obviously from out of the town, "What makes you think that you can ruin my fun?"
"No, Jerry, don't!" Dash told him, looking nervously at the powerful being in front of them. Phantom may look weak, but Dash knew better. This ghost had beaten some pretty powerful ghosts.
"You're afraid of this weakling, Dash?" Jerry mocked.
Stand up to him, Baxter! Dash heard, but when he looked around he saw that nobody had spoken.
"No Jer, I'm not afraid of a weakling. Danny Phantom is a powerful ghost!" Dash said, taking the strange advice; his voice shaking from his nerves, "I'm not gonna listen to you anymore, Jerry."
"Ghosts don't exist," Jerry sneered.
Dash seemed to be getting some confidence around his older cousin, "Yeah, they do. Ask anyone in Amity Park and they'll tell you the same! I'm tired of you always messing with me!"
Danny didn't stick around to hear the rest, but followed his ghost sense to a picnic area, just in time to see the families scatter from something blue.
"BEWARE! For I am the Box Ghost! I shall take these WOVEN BOXES OF DOOM for myself!" the over-alled specter proclaimed.
"Box Ghost, just the ghost I wanted to see!" Danny said, smirking. Perfect.
"You, Ghost Child, confuse me!" Box Ghost told him. Danny laughed.
"Come with me; I have a job for you," Danny said, floating to a copse of trees. Intrigued, the Box Ghost followed.
"Box Ghost, you know that a, uh, new Santa will be revealed this year at the Christmas Party, right?" Danny began.
"Yes, I am aware," Box Ghost answered, cautiously, "But how are you aware?"
"Heh heh, well, I know 'cause I'm him. I seem to have found myself without a packaging manager…" Danny nervously asked.
"It is my dream job!" Box Ghost exclaimed. Danny smiled at his reaction.
"Then, you'll take it?" Danny asked, though he really didn't need to.
"YES!" Box Ghost yelled, enthusiastically.
Danny took out his time medallion and froze time. Almost immediately, ClockWork appeared.
"Are you sure about this?" ClockWork asked Danny.
"Is there anyone better than a box obsessed ghost for a job as packaging manager for my Workshop? He'll last the longest, because he loves the job. Yes, I am sure," Danny answered.
"Then you must sign here, Santa," ClockWork pulled out a roll of parchment. Danny signed. A medallion was placed around the ghost's neck, freeing him from the confines of time.
"Box Ghost, will you please tell no one, not even Lunch Lady or Boxed Lunch, that I am Santa until the party?" Danny asked.
"I will tell no one," Box Ghost agreed.
"Good. ClockWork, I'll be by later, but I have to get back to my family," Danny said. The two ghosts left through a portal and Danny set time back into motion.
When he got back, the fireworks had ended and all but Tucker had left the roof.
"Where'd everyone go?" Danny asked, alighting next to his best friend.
"They went to see if you'd make the news," Tucker answered, "Dude, about earlier…you've been crushing on Sam for almost three years and…why haven't you asked her out yet?"
"I'm gonna ask her to Winter Formal," Danny confessed.
"Finally," Tucker said, "Why not ask her on a date sooner?"
"Ah, see- well, that's complicated. Maybe I'll ask her to the New Years' Eve countdown," Danny stumbled.
"Nothing before Christmas, huh?" Tucker surmised, "Why is that?"
"You know I can't tell you that; I'm bound to my word," Danny answered, exasperated.
"Eh, can't blame a guy for trying," Tucker said, though he made a mental note of the conversation.
After an hour of just hanging out, Sam and Tucker said goodnight and left for home. When his family had all gone to bed, Danny snuck down to the Ghost Portal and headed to work.
……Santa's Workshop, Ghost Zone……
Danny Phantom transformed from Amity Park's teen hero into his newest form, Santa Claus. The red suit had been made new, as it is for each Santa, with faux fur trim on warm red velvet embroidered with Christmassy designs with a black belt with a big buckle. His black boots gleamed and his flopping hat had a tip of the same fur from the coat. The biggest change, however, was in his eyes, which now glowed a warm baby blue.
"So, how's our new packaging manager?" Santa asked Box Ghost happily.
"It is more than I ever dreamed!" Box Ghost smiled.
"Good. I assume you know what to do?" Santa asked.
"Indeed, I do. BEWARE!" Box Ghost shouted, quickly, then headed to his station.
"Ho ho ho ho!" Santa laughed, bemused. Yawning, he looked out over his workshop; at the ghostly elves working tirelessly. It all felt like an amazing dream.
"Will I ever get used to this, ClockWork?" he asked as he turned to face the now-youthful being.
"At times, Young Santa, you will, while at others it will feel completely new and exciting again," ClockWork wisely noted. Danny nodded.
"What country are we on?" Santa asked, referring to the Naughty and Nice list.
"Belgium," the time master said, handing him the scroll.
Danny smirked, "Mmm, waffles. Speaking of which, if I-" –yawn- "want any breakfast, I'd better get to sleep. Goodnight, ClockWork."
Danny Phantom yawned again as he stepped through his parents' portal and phased through the ceiling to his bedroom.
"I'd better leave this for tomorrow, or else I'll make a mistake-"-yawn- "Oh, man am I tired," he said, placing the list on his desk. He changed into human form and fell into bed…
…But didn't get a wink of sleep. A scream disturbed the hot night.
"Danielle!" Danny yelled, flying through the wall where he found his little sister dangling from a glowing green net.
"Danny!" she called, trying to phase through.
"Skulker! Where are you?" Danny yelled, assuming it was the hunter.
"Harboring another fugitive, Punk?" a deep voice said, threateningly.
"Walker," Danny said, turning. Right then, the rest of the Fentons ran in.
"What's going on? Danielle!" Maddie yelled and started forward.
"Mom! No, let me handle this!" Danny warned. She looked worriedly at her two children, but stepped back hesitantly, "Walker, let her go."
"I don't take orders from criminals," Walker spat. The parents looked sharply at their son.
"Walker, let her go; she's human," Danny told him, terrified of losing his sister.
"Says who?" the ghostly warden challenged.
"SAYS-" Danny started sharply, but stopped when he realized his family was there.
"Well, Punk?" Walker prompted.
"Says her actions. She's human," Danny argued with resolve. He would fight Walker if he had to, but not if his family was in harm's way.
"Doesn't matter, Punk; she's a fugitive," Walker said, refusing to listen.
"Then you leave me no choice. Let her go," Danny said, resolute, "Take me instead."
"Danny! No!" Danielle protested among the shouts of the rest of the family. She began to struggle even harder against her floating cage.
"Danielle, I almost lost you once, I can't lose you now," Danny said, sure of himself, "Well, Walker? Do we have a deal?"
"Danny! Why aren't you fighting?" Jazz interrupted, desperately.
"Because fighting isn't the answer here. If any of you got hurt; I would never be able to forgive myself," Danny answered calmly.
"Oh, sure, now he listens to me!" Jazz muttered as she ran down the hall to get a thermos.
"So, you're ready to turn yourself in, Punk? I'll take your deal," Walker spoke hatefully.
Danielle fell to the ground as the net disappeared.
"Oof!"
She began to get her breath back and started to stand, but the guards never gave her the chance. They started to attack her with their shock rods. Several shouts rang through the house but none were quite as loud as her older brother.
"NO! NO! YOU DON'T HURT HER!" Danny yelled, doubling over in pain as he fought his restraints with everything he had.
The cuffs broke under the strain.
"No! It's not possible!" Walker yelled.
Danny reached out his arms without hearing him and, despite the pain in his heart, put a shield between his family and the ghosts.
There was quiet in the room, except for Danielle's coughing.
"You've gone too far this time, Walker," Danny rasped, his own breathing ragged, "You attacked a kid while she slept and tortured her after a more-than-fair trade. You're done here." Jazz tossed her brother the Fenton thermos that she'd run for and he caught the ghosts.
"Danny! Danielle! Are you okay? Come on, we're going to the hospital," Maddie ordered. No one dared argue.
Once there, the Fentons claimed that Danielle had been too close to a firework when it exploded, instead of trying to explain a ghost attack. Even in Amity Park, that took too long, mainly because the Guys In White insisted that each attack be registered.
"And my son-" Jack began.
"No Dad, I know the cause and you know it won't show in any tests," Danny stopped him. His family looked at him worriedly, "I'll be fine."
While Maddie went in with Dani to get the mild burns treated, the rest of the family waited.
…
"Danny, I really think you should've gotten checked…" Maddie said, worried.
"This isn't my first heart attack, Mom, and it's not gonna be my last," Danny sighed, sadly and muttered, "Too many kids get hurt."
Jazz looked up sharply, but kept quiet. This worried her, but she knew that asking him would be no use; he would just deny it.
……………
A/N: Danny had better watch out, that secret's starting to unravel. Who will figure it out? Did you like Dash standing up to his cousin? Are you happy for the Box Ghost? Tell me in a review and as alwaysALOHA!