I just wanna say

I haven't been away

I'm still right here

Where I always was

-Morrisey-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning came without much problems. A nurse walked into Danny's room to do a check up. She was immediately amazed at his progressive state, the last time she had seen him he'd been teetering on death's edge.

"Do you believe this Doctor?" She asked as he entered the room.

He looked at the results she had written and he reread them again. "I don't believe in miracles Pat." He shrugged. "Perhaps we made a mistake."

"Why can't it be a miracle? Why does there always have to be cold hard facts and no beauty to life, just except the fact that this boy defied the odds. Twice if I can recall."

"He's half ghost. We probably underestimated a ghost's ability to heal. That's all." Dr. Hardon explained lightly.

Danny groaned slightly and slowly opened his eyes to see the two still bickering. For a moment he might've forgotten he was laying in a hospital bed, but there were a lot of factors that reminded him. He watched them go at it but not harshly but with a friendly kindness. It reminded him of Sam and Tucker and their arguments. Although most of the feeling Danny was experiencing was pain a wave of comfort came over him. He would see them soon.

The nurse made a drastic over exaggeration of her frustration with him by pivoting on her heel and turning her arms held upward. She blinked as she caught sight of the most amazing blue eyes staring at her. At first she was frozen she didn't expect him to be awake. Gaining her cool back she smiled.

"Hello there Danny." She greeted warmly.

Danny saw the man she was arguing with step forward until he was very close to the bed. He held a pen light up and shinned it into Danny's eyes, making him blink and squint. "Can you talk young man?" He asked.

Danny swallowed hard, which felt like glass shards making their way down his throat. "Yes." He finally replied.

"That's very good." he said rather mundanely. He then turned to the blond nurse standing in the room. "Patricia could you go alert the family that he's awake. A few tests then they can see him. I'll get them when I'm ready, ok?"

The woman nodded and walked out. Dr. Hardon's light green eyes were locked on Danny for a moment as he took a seat in the chair beside him. He reached up and took the stethoscope from his neck. Danny stayed silent letting the Doctor do whatever he had to do. He tried desperately to search for any answers on the man's face but he seemed to always have a stern grim expression.

Finally Dr. Hardon pulled back and throw the instrument around his neck again. "Well the good news is your up with no damage to your brain, and the broken bones look like they'll heal well over a few weeks."

"And the bad news?" Danny pressed, knowing no one only had good things to say when they start with 'the good news is...'

"It's nothing really to worry about, your vitals are a little weak. But it isn't much of a threat as long as you don't go running around saving the town, or anything else active." The brown haired man explained simply.

"Meaning I can't do anything but rest." Danny stated knowingly.

"Exactly. See I told you nothing happened to your brain." The doctor joked his eyes lighting up a bit. "So you're the boy who saved the world, huh?" Danny nodded. "But I thought you..."

"Died?" Danny finished with a smile. "I get that a lot."

"Which seems to make sense, that's what everyone else thought. I was rather interested in the story myself, watched your exposure in person. Fought during the ghost war and attended the funeral."

"Ok." Danny replied hesitantly. "But why would you do all those things? Why do so many people care?"

"Well everyone cares now, but not everyone thought you were evil before everything happened. The things you did exceeded the expectations of what is demanded in society, you're a hero, you help people for no real reason just a passion. Being a doctor I think we can relate, don't you?" Danny smiled at him. "Well Danny it's been an honor to save your life." Dr. Hardon announced extending his hand to Danny.

"Well I'm really grateful." Danny returned shaking the man's hand. "Doctor...?"

"Hardon, but my name is Jacob. Now, I believe there's a lot of people who want to see you. Up for visitors?"

"I'd love to see them." Danny answered, Jacob nodded and headed out the door leaving Danny alone.

Finally Danny could look at his hand. The very same one Sam had put the gem in. There was a burn the size of the gem and it was a slightly redder color than his skin. He had seen it as he had gone to shake the doctor's hand, it made him wonder if the gem itself had burned directly into him or simply incinerated. He didn't think he'd know.

Danny heard the door open again then heard what he thought was parade walking in. That's when he saw all their faces, Jazz, his parents, Sam, and Tucker. They all looked so excited and proud as they crowded around his bed with huge smiles plastered on their faces.

"Hi." He greeted lightly.

They all erupted in a loud disorganized talk someone each contributing something all at once. Until finally they dulled it down and Jazz spoke.

"Danny we're so happy to see you're alright." She exclaimed.

"Yeah how long did it take?" He asked.

"Only one long excruciating night." Tucker said his voice was quavering with excitement.

"I knew my boy was a fighter. I knew it." Jack announced with a hearty smile.

"But dad, I may have beat Vlad, but what'll you guys do with him?" Danny asked it was a question that bothered him he didn't want Vlad to break out again.

"Well I say we should just keep him in the thermos." Jack responded his eyes gleaming menacingly. Maddie whacked his shoulder.

"For the last time Jack Fenton, he may be the biggest jerk in the universe but he's still technically human. Which means we cannot keep him locked away in a thermos twenty times smaller than he is." Maddie scolded playfully.

"I think I have a solution." Danny began. "It's called a Plasmius Maximus, it can cancel out ghost powers for a few hours. Maybe if you gut it like you did for the Specter Deflector."

"That's perfect Danny, but where could we get something like that?" Maddie asked staring at her little boy with so much pride.

"Danny has it." Tucker announced. "He took it and told us it was too dangerous and he didn't want Vlad to use it on him again."

Danny smirked lightly. "Yeah well...You could find it somewhere under my bed, that's where I last put it."

The parents agreed that they would work on that as soon as possible. But felt so happy just to be chatting lightly with his family and friends. They didn't talk about anything of real importance but they talked. Of course Sam stayed rather silent through most of it, she had a few things to say but nothing directly to him.

Hours had passed and soon they decided that they should head home. Danny said goodbye and they all uttered promises of returning. Sam was just about to exit along with everyone else but Danny caught her wrist.

"Sam something wrong?" He asked.

"Danny I've got to go they're..." She couldn't finish because Danny cut her off.

"They can wait. Something's wrong and I want you to tell me." Danny told her calmly. Her soft purple eyes shifted around.

She cleared her throat. "It's nothing I promise I really do. It's just that...nothing."

"Sam."

"Ok, ok. Danny I was scared, really scared. I thought you were going to leave me again. It's stupid because you're fine right now, but I'm still scared." She explained quickly tears sparkled in the corner of her eyes. She shuddered and collapsed in the chair beside him.

Danny frowned but reached up wiping the few tears from her face. "I don't think it's stupid Sam. I was scared."

Sam steadied herself. "You were?" She asked while still trembling.

"Yes." He responded while gingerly taking her hand into his. "I was scared that I wouldn't get to see you again, I was afraid that wasn't brave enough to make it."

"You're just saying that." She whispered.

"I wouldn't lie to you Sam. Please try not to be sad for me." He cooed. "Because in a few days we can always see each other, and I'll be home. Everything's going to be alright."

"I believe you Danny." Sam confirmed.

"Good." Danny smiled, deciding against bringing up the gem. "So go home and get some sleep. They're waiting for you, and I'll see you soon."

"Bye Danny." And with that Sam walked out.

He watched her leave longingly. If it hadn't been for her, her voice, her love he wouldn't have even been here. He wasn't sure what he would've done without her. Danny shifted uncomfortably half closing his eyes, he couldn't wait to sleep in his own bed.

So yes... That's not the last chapter and I can tell you I really hate this chapter. I don't know why, I just do. I've been having severe writers block lately, so I pretty much just drained myself for this one and I dont even think its good enough. The final chapter, the next chapter is very very long and completed. I should be posting it soon.