Thanks to you guys who reviewed! Just so you know, I might be slowing down with the updates, cause Labor Day weekend is almost over and I won't have as much time. Also, for those of you who haven't figured it out, the bold italics are Danny's thoughts and the plain italics are Wraith's. Oops! Tiny spoiler... Without further ado, I present... Chapter 3!

Chapter 3- Valerie

Before him stood a tall African American woman. Black hair that was long enough to cascade down her back was tightly braided against her scalp. Her teal eyes looked up at him, confused, then narrowed, alert now.

"Excuse me?" She asked. "Do I know you?" "Yes, you do," Danny replied quietly. She looked again, closer, harder, eyes narrowing even more. They quickly widened as her mind matched his slightly familiar face with a name.

"Danny? Danny Fenton?" Valerie opened her mouth to say more, but stopped herself and pushed him back into the house and closed the door.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed through her teeth.

"What do you mean?" He said, shocked at her reaction.

"After what you did you have the nerve to come back here?"

"What are you talking about?" Danny asked again, confused.

"Fine," Valerie said, "We'll have to do this the hard way." Before he could move, she has whipped out what looked like a Fenton Thermos and pushed the button. Danny, still perplexed, said not a word as he was sucked in.

--

As he sat (metaphorically) in the Fenton Thermos, Danny wondered.

What was that all about? How does she know my secret? What did Valerie mean, 'after what you did'?

How am I supposed to know? I'm stuck here with you.

I thought you were the omnipotent type.

Nope. Since when did you start learning such big words?

Since my world ended because I was too lazy to study for a test.

Oh.

You know, I never really thought about what it was like in here. Kinda claustrophobic.

You'd probably go crazy without me to talk to.

I'm already crazy. I'm talking to you, aren't I?

That's not crazy. I'm real, not one of those little 'I am your conscience' things.

If you're not, then what are you? And why are you in my head?!

For a start, call me… Wraith. You might get some other answers in due time.

Go ahead. We seem to have all the time in the world.

A deafening clanking sound came from overhead. Danny could see light. He was being let out.

The universe just loves proving me wrong, doesn't it?

Of course.

--

Danny did a face plant on the carpet.

Carpet? Is this her house?

Yes.

Danny stood up, groaning. He felt his hands pulled together in front of him.

Click-click.

Handcuffs, cool and glowing a faint green, were clasped around his wrists.

"They'll short out your powers. As long as they're on, you're effectively human for our little chat," Valerie said smugly.

"How long did you have me in that thing?" Danny asked. "A few hours."

Only a few hours? Seemed like a week.

Time, uh, slows down when you're stuck in a Thermos with only a voice for company?

Hilarious.

"Now you are going to answer some questions of mine," Valerie said. She pressed her hand down on top of his head and roughly pushed him down onto the couch.

"You ask your questions, but I have a few of my own," said Danny.

"Go ahead, but you'll be doing most of the talking."

"Fine, you first," he said.

"Why did you come back?" Valerie demanded, angrily.

"I don't know. I just sort of… came," he replied. "Whether you accept it as my answer or not, it's the truth."

"But why, after what you did?"

"What the heck did I do?"

"You can't have forgotten," Valerie said. "You can't be that unfeeling that their lives mean nothing to you. You're the reason they're dead, why did you kill them?"

Danny was dumbfounded. "You think that I killed them?" He asked quietly.

"Of course you did. You're evil."

"You may be right, that I'm the reason they're dead, but I am not evil, and I did not want them to die."

"How could you do it, Danny? Your parents, your sister, your best friends!"

He couldn't take it any more. Danny exploded.

"You think I wanted them to die? I did everything in my power to save them. Why would I intentionally kill everyone I cared about? I don't know how you figured out that I was half-ghost, but you can't be that blind. Not all ghosts are evil! On top of that, I'm half-ghost, so even if they all were, I'd only be half evil! I know you hunted me as Phantom and thought I, or he was evil, but you know me, Danny Fenton, the human, too. You aren't that blind, Val. I know you aren't."

Valerie stood there, staring until he finished his rant.

Nice job keeping your temper, there.

Shut up.

Shutting.

They stood there, Danny quietly simmering, Valerie turning his words over in her head, for a few minutes.

Finally, Danny calmed down enough to speak. "How did you figure it out? Or is common knowledge now?" He said, unable to control his anger.

She waited a while, then said:

"When I really thought about it, it was obvious. You always left the classroom right before my ghost alarm would go off, and that one time we were over the school, you had to leave when the bell rang. You knew my name the first time I 'met' you. Phantom disappeared when you did. You never wanted to hurt me. I realize that now."

Danny swallowed. "How many other people know?"

"None that I know of, cause I haven't told anyone," she replied.

"My turn again," Valerie said. "Where did you go? Why? You disappeared from the hospital. They didn't know where you had gone."

He stood silently, and then slowly answered:

"I couldn't face the fact that it was my fault they died. I went ghost, phased through the wall and flew away, not looking back, until I was too tired to continue. After that, I traveled the world, not speaking to anyone, not really myself, a complete loner. It seemed like I woke up one morning to find myself floating over Amity Park."

Valerie thought a moment.

Someone knocked at the door. "Hello?" came the muffled voice. "Val? I'm here!"

Valerie walked over to Danny and unlocked his handcuffs. "It's Star. We were going to dinner."

Another knock. "Come on, Val, are you coming?"

"Go," Valerie said. "I'll talk to you later."

Danny nodded, relieved. He transformed and invisibly flew through the door.

--

He landed in the kitchen and changed back.

Well that was interesting.

He walked to the front door and locked it.

Quite.

Danny climbed the stairs, going into his room and taking off his pants, shirt, and boots.

I guess I'll sleep in my boxers; I don't have any pajamas, either.

Suit yourself.

Danny brushed his teeth and lay down in bed.

Wraith?

Yes?

I forgot to get food and clothes. Will you remind me in the morning?

I'm not a memo pad.

Please?

Fine.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Danny slipped into a dreamless sleep.

How was that? Please tell me your opinions! Sorry if Wraith scares you, ShadowFireMario666. She's supposed to be a little creepy.

Thanks again to all of you who have reviewed so far!

-Flaming Water