The Jewels The Guardian and The Ghost.

By Kellie Fay

Disclaimer: Danny Phantom and all related characters belong to Butch Hartman. I don't make money out of this. If I did I wouldn't need to work for a living.

Chapter 19 Awareness

Danny could hear the murmur of conversation around him and he was partially aware of the fact that Sam and Jazz had moved him somewhere, but most of his mind still in shock, sobbing at the narrow close call he just experienced.

This time instead of a vague blur the memories from this encounter with Freakshow were painfully clear. The most frightening thing about that whole mess was that while under the ring master's control he enjoyed it. There was some tiny dark part of his own soul that was enamored of Freakshow's touch on his mind. It enjoyed causing as much trouble and destruction as possible. It didn't feel like he was under anyone's control at all. It was just he opposite Danny had felt a giddy euphoria that came with a repressed conscience He could do anything and not feel remorse or regret. Now in control of his own mind, Danny felt those emotions intensely.

Oh man I shot at Miss Daily? Is she mad at me? I didn't want to hurt her. Why did Freakshow want me to attack her anyway? I mean besides the obvious.

"Danny please wake up!" Sam's voice filtered through the darkness. Danny was relieved that Sam was okay. The flashback he experienced made Danny feel like it was really happening. He was pretty sure he broke some speed records trying to find Sam, but now that he knew she was safe Danny didn't want to face her. He remembered the incident on the train now clearly, and he knew that it was his fault that Sam fell.

After a while Danny began to hear a soft melody flowing into his mind. The music seemed to speak to him calling him out of the darkness. Danny, Danny come, you've been dwelling too long in the darkness. Its time to come back.

Danny shrunk further away from the song. No. I ruined everything you were right I should have stayed away.

I don't live my life in "I should haves," and neither should you. What's past is past. Come back Danny we need you.

Danny shook his head. No I tried to hurt you. And the last time I almost killed Sam. I can't be trusted. You don't need me.

Yes we do," Somehow the song was making him aware of the emotions of everyone in the room. Tucker was worried, he wanted Danny his friend back. This frightened guilty Danny he didn't recognize at all. Jazz felt very similar. She wanted to be able to take him into her arms and tell him that it was all a bad dream and it was gone now, even though she knew that wasn't true.

Sam was worried too, but for some reason she thought it was her fault that Danny was retreating into himself.

No Sam, it's not your fault, Danny thought to himself.

Then come back to us, The persistent music echoed in the darkness. Come back to us and help us. Don't give in to your fears.

Don't give in to fear, That's what Miss Daily told them when she gotten into his dreams. This is the situation she had warned him about. Freakshow was free with a tool to hypnotize ghosts. Freakshow had to be brought down.

I didn't listen to her before and I screwed up, Danny thought. I have to listen to her now, but I'm scared.

"Miss Daily must have heard this thought because her answer came swiftly. You don't have to be. I am with you. I am your guardian. I am here to help and protect you, to help you grow into the great powers you now have. No matter what challenges you may face now, I will always be here. Now come back to us Danny we need you.

The sincerity of the emotion touched Danny so deeply, he forced himself out of the dark realms of his mind. To his surprise he was awake and standing in front of Miss Daily. Jazz Tucker and Sam sat on a king sized bed side by side all watching the scene intently.

Danny scrutinized his teacher carefully. "What did you do to me?" He asked sharply

Miss Daily placed the flute that she had been playing down at her side. "I called you. You're mind was in psionic shock. You didn't want to face the real world."

Oddly enough those emotions were still with Danny, but they no longer overwhelmed him. Danny recognized the room as one of Miss Daily's bedrooms. He glanced out the window with a sigh. "I still don't," Danny admitted. "You're house repels magic right? It can keep me safe?"

Miss Daily nodded. "But you can't stay here forever Danny. For one thing your folks can't come home until your there."

"What?" Danny asked puzzled. Miss Daily gestured to the mirror. Instead of his reflection, Danny saw his parents struggling with the Fenton RV. "What happened to the RV?" he asked.

Jazz bit her lower lip. "She hexed it so Mom and Dad wouldn't know we weren't home." Jazz said guiltily. "Danny you know you can't stay here."

"Well I can't leave either," Danny shot back. He was still scared. "Freakshow has four of those magic rubies that can control me now!"

"Five," Sam, Tucker, and Miss Daily corrected."

"Five?" Danny echoed then looked at Miss Daily sadly. "He got the ring." It wasn't a question.

Miss Daily nodded. "I had to make a choice Danny. Save you or save the ring. I had to choose you.

Danny sighed guilty "So what happens the next time."

"Don't worry Danny," Miss Daily said gently. "My contingency plan worked pretty good. You were able to free yourself and escape. Even though he has another ruby as long as you place your trust in me you should be all right."

"I know," Danny said with a sigh. "Wait a minute contingency plan? You told Walker you gave one of the gems you had to someone else," It didn't take Danny more than a few seconds to figure it out. "Sam?"

"What?" Sam said instantly defensive. She wasn't very convincing especially with her hand on her neck."

"I remember, I heard you," Danny said looking Sam over very carefully. "When everything at the museum was going crazy in my head I heard you calling me."

Sam winced and looked guilty. "Danny I'm sorry, Miss Daily told me to. I didn't want -"

"Huh?" Danny was puzzled by Sam's reaction. "Sam, wait, you think I'm mad at you?" Danny got back up on the bed, and made Sam look directly at him. "Sam I didn't know who to listen to or what to do. It felt like my head was going to explode from everything going on inside. You were the only thing I could focus on. If you hadn't called me I might have lost my mind for good."

Miss Daily smiled as she looked at the pair. "From what I see, Danny, I'm probably not going to be your primary guardian for very long. A lot of times when friends and family offer support and help to the client they acquire the rank, privileges and title of guardians as well. Sam is probably going to be a very good guardian as soon as she goes through a little training and adds some experience to her arsenal."

"I am?" Sam said blushing.

Danny wasn't satisfied. "Maybe but it's too dangerous to let her keep the ruby," Danny said looking at Miss Daily now and not Sam. "If Freakshow finds out she's got it, -"

"That's why we kept it a secret from you Danny," Tucker explained. "If you didn't know you wouldn't worry about it."

"Freakshow is going to have to go through me first, Danny" Miss Daily reminded him. "And you just found out that's not so easy to do. As long as he doesn't get you, he won't find out Sam has the ruby."

"Wait I don't understand something," Jazz said puzzled. "How can Sam beat Freakshow when she only has one ruby and he has five."

"The amulet I set the ruby in amplifies it a little," Miss Daily explained. "Not as much as the band itself, but it's too dangerous to let that loose. Besides Sam was able to free Danny without any focus objects the first time you encounter Freakshow even when he held the staff."

"Not entirely," Danny said sourly. "The only thing I remember clearly about the Circus was us on the train, and that's only because of what happened tonight. I don't remember Sam snapping me out of it at any time."

"But I did, Danny," Sam said gently. "You came too when I was asking Freakshow about you, and then again on the high wire. The only reason it didn't stick was that Freakshow was right there."

Danny sighed unhappily. "I still don't like it that you're a target for Freakshow now," Danny said. "I...I can't let him get me, or he's going to use me to hurt people. He could use me to hurt you! He looked up at Miss Daily. "That what you meant by an enemy worse than The Ghost King. You meant me, if I go bad."

"But Danny, you weren't able to let me get hurt," Sam insisted "You snapped out of it when I fell from the high wire."

Danny could feel himself shaking with the memory, but he didn't bother to hide it. "I...I just don't see how its worth the risk. I can't let him get into my head again. I can't let him use me to hurt people."

"Danny?" Tucker asked worriedly. Danny kept silent. He didn't want to explain to Tucker why he felt so strongly about this. He didn't even want to remember what happened, but the memories where there, and Danny knew he had to face them.

A gentle touch on his shoulder made him turn to see Miss Daily behind him. "Danny, what happened at the museum wasn't your fault. What Freakshow found in your mind...well every living thing has that inside of them."

Danny didn't answer directly. Yeah but I gave in to it. I let him control me. And worse Vlad is right. Sometimes I do use my powers for what I want, like payback on Dash. I am my own worst enemy

"You think you're the only child of power who has?" Miss Daily said with a small giggle. "Danny I could count the number of children of power who has never used their powers for selfish reasons on one hand and still have fingers left. It doesn't make you a bad person, just young, and frustrated."

"It does?" Danny felt a ten ton weight lift from his shoulders, but then a thought made him frown again. "Yeah but what about what Freakshow does to my head?" He couldn't bring himself to tell his friends that part of himself liked it.

"Think of it like a drug," Miss Daily explained. "While your under it's influence it feels good," but the moment you're head is clear you feel all the remorse the spell suppresses in you."

"That's for sure," Danny agreed with a sigh. "But Miss Daily I -"

With a warm smile Miss Daily said, "Danny under the circumstances I think you can call me Sarah for now."

Now Danny knew that Miss Daily wanted to be his friend. No teacher had ever told him that before. "Okay," he said slightly surprised. "Sarah I -"

Suddenly a wave of pressure washed over Danny. He winced even though the sensation didn't precisely hurt it still felt uncomfortable. He looked up to see Miss Daily reacting in the same manner. "What the heck was that?"

Sarah moved instantly to the window. Suddenly her expression turned angry. "All of you stay up here. Don't open the windows. In fact Danny stay away from the windows and stay close to Sam. I have to deal with a solicitor." With that she muttered something under her breath and stormed down the stairs.

"Gee she seemed mad about something." Sam said wondering. "I wonder who's at the door?"

"Tucker," Danny asked, "You were the closest what did she say before she left?"

Tucker stopped and thought "I'm not sure it sounded like "Lords of Fire and Lightning help me defend against my enemy."

"Defend?" Danny got up from the bed and moved to the window.

Jazz blocked his path. "Oh no Danny. Miss Daily said you should stay away from the windows."

"Yeah and I think I know why now," Danny said. He sat down on the bed next to Sam again. "Jazz Tucker She told me to stay away from the windows, not you guys. Look outside and tell me what you see."

"Well there is someone at Miss Daily's door and - WOAH!" Tucker jumped back from the window and crashed into Jazz."

"Tucker what is it?" Sam asked from the bed.

"Remind me never to tic Miss Daily off," Tucker said with a wince. He ran back to the window. Followed by Jazz and Sam. Sam suddenly began to laugh.

"Danny, I wish you could see this. It would do your little half ghost heart good."

Danny couldn't help but smile. He knew Sarah had held back at the museum. She didn't want to hurt him. Danny didn't doubt for a second though that Freakshow was getting what she thought he deserved. He came as close to the window as he dared and heard Sarah's voice shouting at the Gothic ringmaster.

"And THAT was for making Danny steal for you, and THAT was for making him endanger his friends, and THAT's for kidnaping his parents, and THAT's for trying to destroy him, and THAT'S for stealing the Rubies, and THAT's for trying to take over his mind AGAIN!"

Each time Miss Daily raised her voice louder Danny could see the flashes of light reflected in the faces of his sister and friends. "Man," Tucker said appreciatively. "You gotta love those old lords of fire and lightning."

From below Danny could hear Miss Daily shouting again. "And now you've got the unmitigated gall to come waltzing up to my home as if you have a right to breath the same air as him and demand the bracelet that I've been guarding from you? They always said that you were crazy Fredrich, but I never knew that you were this blatantly STUPID."

Tucker snickered as he watched the scene below. "Freakshow guesses she's not going to give him the bracelet.

Just then a thump was heard from a back bedroom. "I'll go check it out," Danny said rising from the bed, and floating in mid air.

Sam instantly moved to Danny's side. "Call me paranoid but if Freakshow is out there I don't want you to be alone," she said.

Danny shrugged and didn't argue as she followed just below him. They moved to a second smaller bedroom, but there was nothing there. "I don't see anything," Sam said.

"Neither do I," Danny admitted. "But I know I heard something." Just then the thump was heard again against the wall. "Sam go look out the window, but don't open it," Danny said. Sam peered out the window in the direction of the noise and then began to giggle. "Sam?" Danny asked.

"Lydia just found out the hard way that the house is ghost proof," Sam said. Suddenly Lydia was seen through the window. Sam backed up in fear but smiled when Lydia tried to break in, and found it impossible.

Danny couldn't resist taunting Lydia. "You hoo! Lydia! Coming to steal the bracelet? Good trick IF YOU COULD GET IN THE HOUSE!" Danny giggled and made faces at Lydia as she tried to break into the house.

Sam decided to be more reasonable. "Forget it Lydia the house is spelled to prevent unwanted magic and ghosts from getting in, and that means you and your boss!"

Lydia looked at them angry, but then she stopped, listened then flew up over the house out of their view.

"Hmm I wonder why she took off like that?" Sam asked.

Danny shrugged. "I don't know, I'm just glad she couldn't get inside. I feel safer knowing Sarah's wards work on other ghosts."

"Lets go check on Tucker." Danny said. They moved back to the second bedroom where Tucker was still sitting on the windowsill chuckling and playing with his PDA.

"Where's Jazz?" Danny asked.

"She went downstairs to check on Miss Daily," Tucker said. "You should have seen her Danny she let Freakshow have it. He couldn't do anything against her until Lydia showed up and got him out of there."

"So that's where she ran off too," Danny said puzzled. "I wish I knew what her story was. I mean even without the rubies or the staff she always seems to do what Freakshow wants. It's almost as if she likes him."

"Ew! Bad mental image!" Sam said with a shiver. Danny shrugged and silently agreed with her.

Just then Jazz's voice was heard from the steps. "Danny, you can come down now!"

Coming Soon Chapter 20 A Rest

"It will be all right, Danny," Miss Daily said reassuringly. "I'll see you in school tomorrow."

"Yeah," Danny answered with a heavy sigh. He looked at the mirror uncertainly, but Jazz took his hand gently and lead him through. With a small jump Danny found himself in his parents bedroom. "How does she do that?" Danny asked . He looked back at the mirror. For a second he thought he saw the fireplace and the couch of Miss Daily's den, then the image turned into his and his sister's reflection.

"I wish I knew," Jazz said looking at the mirror herself. "You have to admit it's a pretty cool trick."

Danny didn't seem happy. "Yeah," he said dejected.

Jazz put her arm around Danny. "Danny it's going to be all right, you'll see. I don't think Miss Daily is going to let you down.