Chapter 16 The warning.

A loud and buzzing sound caused Danny to sit up rub his eyes and look around. His alarm clock sounded on his night stand to his right, and the familiar walls and furniture of his room surrounded him.

I'm home? Danny wondered puzzled. He shut off his alarm clock, and looked down at his clothes. He was wearing the same clothes he had gone to school in yesterday. How did I get home last night? Wait did last night even happen? Okay I'm wearing clothes I thought I put on yesterday so it had to have happened, but how did I get here?

Danny changed into clean clothes and went downstairs where Jazz sat reading the paper, and his mother was busy making coffee. Jazz looked up from the paper and gave Danny a wicked grin. "Morning Danny sleep well?"

Jazz knew something. It was in her eyes, and she thought it was funny. Danny knew she wouldn't say anything about it with their mother in the room though.

"Pretty good I guess." He said.

"You slept long enough," Danny's mom said. "You were in bed by nine. You didn't even hear me come check on you."

She did? Danny knew that normally he didn't sleep that deeply. Months of ghost attacks and the occasional night mare usually snapped Danny awake instantly. True he never quiet woke up the other night when he had a nightmare. Man what did Miss Daily do to me last night?

Just then an explosion was heard in the basement. The next thing anyone heard was Jack calling out. "Oh Maddie!"

Maddie sighed. "I told your father to wait for me before working on those Fenton Chains. Have a good day at school kids. With that she left the room and went down into the lab.

Both Danny and Jazz let loose a sigh of relief. Then Danny turned his full attention to his sister. "Okay Jazz fess up," he said. "The last thing I remember I was hanging out with Miss Daily. Then I woke up here."

Jazz chuckled. "Yeah you were kinda hard to wake up last night. It was about a quarter to nine when I heard a knocking on my window...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

tap tap tap Jazz looked up expecting to see her brother floating in the air. Instead she saw Miss Daily. Jazz put her book down, and went to the window. Floating just outside the window sat Miss Daily on a blue green flying carpet. Curled up on the carpet in a semi fetal position sound asleep lay Danny snoring softly.

"Danny?" Jazz looked at her brother then at his teacher warningly. "What did you do to him?" Jazz demanded.

Miss Daily held her hands up in surrender. "Easy Jazz I didn't do anything to Danny except give him a workout and a meal. I swear I didn't cast any spells on him."

Jazz eyed the teacher suspiciously. "You didn't do anything? Then a thought occurred to her. "Wait you said you gave him a workout?"

Miss Daily nodded. "He needed a good distraction, and I wanted to see him in action. We just played tag for a couple of hours."

Jazz thought about this. "And then you fed him?"

Miss Daily was now the one confused. "Yeah, I mean it was just take out from The Nasty Burger. After that we were just cruising around. Danny was star gazing and telling me about the constellations then when I asked him a question, and he didn't answer I saw that he'd fallen asleep. He reverted back to human about five minutes ago, so I figured I'd bring him home."

With a deep sigh Jazz stepped away from the window, and invited Miss Daily in with a gestured. "It's okay. This actually make sense. When Danny is happy, tired and has a full stomach he's usually asleep within the hour, faster if we're in the car. Dad is the same way. The last time we went to a barbeque he and Danny were asleep within ten minutes. Mom doesn't even count on Dad driving after dinner.

"Ahh," Miss Daily said. She climbed into the room, and guided the flying carpet with Danny still sleeping inside. "I was worried I overdid it or something. I know Danny doesn't trust me fully, but I try to project to him that I won't let anything bad happen when I'm with him. I guess he got a little too relaxed around me."

Together they guided the carpet into Danny's room, and gently nudged him into his bed. Danny slept so deeply he never even stirred.

While they walked back into Jazz's room Jazz asked, "Who are you really? What do you want from my brother?"

"I want to help Danny Jazz, that's all. That's what I'm here for. Danny will tell you more tomorrow." With that Miss Daily flicked out the carpet which was actually a cape. She put the cape on, climbed out the window, and flew off.

Danny frowned at that. "That's it? She just brought me home? Actually it made a lot of sense. Danny knew that Jazz was right. A good couple hours playing along with a great meal and Danny was asleep in front of the TV within the hour. One time after a great thanksgiving dinner he and his dad woke up together Friday morning both curled up next to each other under blankets on the living room floor.

Jazz chuckled. "Yeah you didn't even grumble when we moved you. You were out cold."

And it was my alarm clock that woke me up. Danny couldn't recall the last time he slept so deeply or so well. "Jazz would you think I was crazy if I said I think Miss Daily wants to me be my friend?"

Jazz looked at Danny as she picked up her purse. "Sounds like you have a story to tell me."

Danny sighed and looked at his feet. "Yeah." During the entire ride to school Danny told Jazz about Miss Daily's meeting with Walker and the other ghosts, and their game of tag.

"So, there's a whole organization of these guardians who protect kids with special powers?" Jazz asked.

"That's what she told me," Danny said. "I mean she could be lying or trying to trick me, but I don't think so. I think she really is here to help me."

Jazz released a deep relieved sigh. Keeping Danny's secret and trying to support him while he hunted ghosts was stressful enough for her. It had to be much worse for Danny. If Miss Daily was what she appeared to be Danny's life was about to take a turn for the better.

When Danny reached his math room he found himself alone. There were still ten minutes before class but Danny, Sam, and Tucker often found it was a good place to meet and talk. Danny didn't want to check up on Miss Daily, but he moved over to the door to her office, and heard her talking on the phone, in a language he didn't understand.

But I can guess, Danny thought. He closed his eyes and forced his memory back to her conversation with Walker and Skulker about the rubies. She said something about an amulet and a broach, she also said that the next target would be the earrings. And Walker and the others were scared of those gems. Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

"Danny?"

Danny turned around to see Sam and Tucker coming into the classroom. "Danny what do you think you're doing?" Sam asked worridly. "You know Miss Daily knows when you're eavesdropping on her."

"Maybe," Danny said, "But right now I think her attention is somewhere else."

"What happened to you yesterday Danny?" Tucker asked. "I mean you really freaked us out with going off to a ghost summons."

"It was Miss Daily," Danny explained. "She didn't mean to catch me, but she summoned Walker, Ember and Skulker. She told them that Amity Park wasn't a safe place for a ghost to be right now, and the weird thing is that they were listening to her."

"You mean the other ghosts just obeyed her?" Sam asked sounding angry.

"No!" Danny shook his head forcefully. "They really didn't like her. In fact Walker hates her, but they didn't doubt for a second she was telling the truth. That's what really worries me. They trust her, even if they don't like her. It has to do with that bracelet in her inner library and the rubies that are supposed to be on it. Someone is stealing the ones in Europe, and when they're done there they'll come here to Amity Park."

"Why would they do that?" Tucker asked.

"Because the other three rubies are here, plus that bracelet that zapped me the other day" Danny explained. "I'm guessing Miss Daily is protecting them, but whoever is in Europe isn't doing their job."

Just then the three heard Miss Daily shouting in that strange language. Tucker looked at the door confused. "She knows French and Itallian?"

"Is that what's she's speaking?" Sam asked confused.

"Yeah," Tucker said. "And I'm glad I'm not the person on the other line."

A small bang with a ring could be heard next alone with Miss Daily venting. "Morons Imbiciles. They can't catch one crazed creep and his accomplice! How am I supposed to do my job if I have to pick up after those idiots in Europe!" Suddenly the door from the office swung open and Miss Daily stormed into the room. The moment she saw the three teens she froze.

"Hi Miss Daily," Danny said very quietly. "I would have said good morning, but I don't think you're morning has been very good today has it?"

Miss Daily sighed. "You heard me?"

"You'll be lucky if half the school didn't hear you," Sam said. "Good thing I don't think anyone here knows Itallian."

"Sam not helping!" Danny shot back at his friend.

"It's okay Danny," Miss Daily said sadly. "I shouldn't let my temper get the best of me like that."

"The ruby earrings are gone aren't they." Danny asked. When Miss Daily looked at him shocked he reminded her. "You told Walker and Skulker about them yesterday remember?"

Miss Daily sighed angrily. "I forgot you heard that whole conversation. You didn't talk about the gems that much yesterday, except for how they related to you."

"I was more interested in the guardian thing yesterday," Danny admitted. "But I'm beginning to think that this ruby thing is more important."

Miss Daily looked out the window. "I can't do anything about that until after school today," She said.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Danny asked. Sam and Tucker looked at him shocked that he would offer, but something in Danny's gut told him that he needed to help this sorcerous teacher.

Miss Daily looked as if someone came and struck her. She sat down at her desk and gestured for Danny to come close to her. "Listen to me Danny," she said earnestly. "Normally I would love you to come help me. A year from now I would take you up on it instantly, but right now no. I can't let you get involved in this. You're not ready yet."

"Ready for what?" Danny asked annoyed. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I can't!" Miss Daily insisted. "I've told you that already."

"Not good enough this time," Danny said. "You have to tell me what's going on! You have to let me help you."

Miss Daily shook her head forcefully. "That's just it Danny you can't help me! Not with this!" Danny was going to argue the point more, but Miss Daily wasn't finished. She said, "not unless you can tell me what your nightmare was about the other night."

That stopped Danny short. He honestly didn't know what he dreamed that night. All he knew was that the dream had left him sobbing on his sister's lap terrified, and he didn't even remember that. Jazz told him the next day.

"You know I don't remember that," Danny insisted.

Miss Daily nodded. "That's how I know that you're not ready. If you could tell me then maybe I could count on you not freezing up at a critical moment."

Internally Danny warred with himself. On one hand he wanted to know what was going on, but at the same time he knew Miss Daily was right. If he did know he'd be terrified. Danny shook of the odd torn sensation, and looked Miss Daily right in the eyes. "You don't know that."

Miss Daily rolled her eyes, sighed and bend down to look Danny in the eye. "Danny as a guardian - as your guardian you are my one and only priority. I can't allow you to help me!"

"What," Danny asked annoyed. "You think stopping a simple robbery is too dangerous for me or something? I thought you said you're people were keeping an eye on me. Did they tell you I took out The Ghost King?"

"If only he was your worst enemy," Miss Daily said sadly. "But you have a more dangerous enemy Danny, one that can make everything you fear come true."

With Miss Daily's eyes on him Danny could feel something stirring inside of his mind. Danny felt his body begin to tremble as he wrenched his eyes away from his teacher, but even that did little to quell the sudden fear that had welled up inside of him."

"DON'T DO THAT!" Danny shouted, his eyes flaring an angry green. "You don't want my help fine! Go get yourself killed. At least then you'll be out of my life. Just STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!"

Miss Daily simply nodded not saying another word. Danny wasn't sure what he should say or do, but the bell rang, and students began filing into the room. At first Danny wondered if they heard him shouting at Miss Daily, but nobody seemed to notice how unsettled he felt. Without another word Danny moved to his seat. He looked up at Miss Daily who seemed to be paying him no attention whatsoever.

Oh man I'll just bet I hurt her feelings, Danny thought to himself. Why on earth did I react like that? What did she almost pull out of my head that made me freak?

Whatever it is it's keeping you from knowing what they're all talking about the cautious side of his mind answered back. Whatever it is you're afraid of it. Look at you. You're shaking, you can't concentrate, you want to run home and hide under the bed.

She did that on purpose, Danny's rebellious side argued back. She's trying to scare me badly enough so I won't go following her if she goes to the Amity Museum later.

You shouldn't follow her, His sensible side said. She's trying to protect you. All she wants to do is help you, and you're making her job difficult.

I didn't ask for her help! His rebellious side snapped. I was doing fine on my own.

Sure you were. You were falling asleep in class all the time, your grades are in the sewer and if you're not fighting ghost in the middle of the night you're having nightmares. Oh you were doing just great! For crying out loud Walker and Skulker listened to her. Whatever she's facing she doesn't want any ghosts around and that includes you.

Danny sighed and conceded the point to his sensible side. She said if I went with her I'd be forced to confront an enemy worse than the ghost king, but who could be worse than him? Danny spend the rest of the period scanning his memory trying to figure out who could be this horrible enemy that Danny was still afraid of. He wasn't even aware of the passage of time until a set of fingers snapped in front of him, and a gentle voice called out, "Danny?"

"Huh? Sam?" Danny put his pencil down and rubbed his eyes. He had zoned for the entire period. The classroom was empty except for the three of them.

"Danny are you all right? You completely spaced out during class," Sam said. There was a slight edge to her voice that told Danny something else happened as well.

"I'm fine Sam," Danny said with a sigh. "I was trying to figure out which of my enemies is worse than The Ghost King."

"That's it?" Tucker asked looking at Danny's notebook. "You weren't thinking about anything else?"

"Just that and Miss Daily," Danny admitted with a sigh. "Did...did I hurt her feelings?"

"Hard to say," Sam answered, her voice growing steadier. "She didn't act like what you said bothered her. I mean she was unhappy I think, but she just went along with the lesson like it didn't happen."

"She didn't say anything?" Danny asked. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened.

"Except to comment on your artwork no, and that was only after everyone was gone." Tucker said.

"Artwork?" Danny echoed confused. "What artwork?"

Tucker handed Danny his notebook and he found instead of notes sketches of spiders, bats, snakes, and other ghostly creatures.

"Huh?" Danny looked at the drawings puzzled. "Who drew all this in my notebook?"

Tucker swallowed and glanced at Sam. "You did," Sam said.

"Me?" Danny answered. "But I don't remember."

You were sketching the entire time in class," Sam said. "You don't remember?"

Danny thought a moment, "No it wasn't like that," he explained. "I was thinking, I swear I was. I wasn't paying attention to what my hands were doing." Danny examined the drawings again. "They look familiar somehow but I just can't place them."

Sam looked at the sketches again. "They do, but we'd better get to class. Miss Daily left us another late pass, but we'd better get to class."

"Um yeah," Danny said. And after school today I'm going to have a talk with Jazz. Something just happened in class today and I need to figure out what.

Coming Soon: Chapter 17 The Nightmare Begins

Fulled by a healthy dose of fear Danny fired his ecto blasts at the micro ghosts, making them disappear. Feeling slightly more confident Danny flew in front of the ring and said, "Give it up Lyidia. There's no way I'm going to let you get that ring."

"Maybe you want to hand it to me yourself then." A familar voice said. Danny looked up reflexively and found himself face to face with the Ringmaster of the Circus Gothica, Freakshow.

A small analytical part of Danny's mind noted the ruby Amulet around Freakshow's neck, the broach pinned on his lapel, and the pair of earrings. They glowed and pulsed, and throbbed just like the rubies in the gold band at Miss Daily's house. The gems hummed with an unearthly power, and something deep within Danny answered it.

It was an amazing feeling. All cares, all fears, all concerns, all worries fell from his mind. He didn't have to worry about the feelings or emotions of humans anymore. He was free free to wreak havoc on anyone he wished! He looked up at Freakshow completely unafraid and smiled.

"There now," Freakshow said in a completely friendly tone. "I have missed having you as a minion. Now be a good boy and bring me my ring."

AN: No Freakshow is not Danny's worst enemy. I'll say it later but if you think about what Danny's really afraid of you'll figure it out.