Hello everyone. Season's Greetings. (right...)

I would love to post a big, fancy chapter for you all to read, but…I can't. Sorry.

Thanksgiving is an insane holiday for me, but I didn't anticipate this level of…business. I've barely had any computer access for over a week now, and I'll have NO INTERNET for the next week. But then I'll be back! I might be able to type up something during the next week, but it'll be very iffy. To explain briefly: over four big Family dinners so far (for one of which I had to do the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie, pudding, etc.), I got ALL my Christmas shopping done (and had to beat up old ladies to get to the super savings items after camping out at 4 am), strung up enough lights and decorations to bring down low-flying planes (And rigged them all to be operated off TWO switches without blowing a fuse…woot!) , got new living room furniture, plus the usual school work and general life. I am very tired, and haven't seen a computer screen in a long long time. (In particular: not mine. I'm on someone else's computer, separated from my old work and notes.) And finally: this next week I will not only be away from a computer but out of the country. Viva Mexico! Ayayay:S

So…yeah. I don't really have much to offer right now. I did manage to type up part of a chapter, and I'll post it below. So at least you guys have SOMETHING from me.

Please note that this is not a whole chapter, and I haven't had a chance to really go back and tweak it, so it's kind of raw, and might be changed a bit when I get back. But you guys deserve it for all the nice reviews. Especially some of the new anonymous types. Some of that stuff makes me wish I'd opened this thing up to all reviews from day one; it easily ranks among the best stuff I've read from anybody. Thank you.

I'll be sure to post thank-you's for everybody, for both the last chappie and this…teaser maybe?...when I get back and post a proper chapter. I hope you can all be understanding, and if this makes you feel better, I have a several-hour layover tomorrow in Detroit, and I'll have my laptop, so… :D

Now I'd love to talk longer, but I have to get up at about three o'clock tomorrow morning, so I really can't stay.

Hasta Luego, Muchachos!

HiddenAuthor

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Chapter 12 – Notices

"Jack's Log. Hunter's date, um…Friday. I am closing in upon what may well be the greatest discovery in the history of ghost hunting. Soon, very soon, I will-"

"Dad? What are you doing?" Jack Fenton rolled out from underneath the huge body of his latest invention, arc welder in hand; to lock gazes with his bemused and slightly concerned son.

"Er…Creating life, but not as we know it?" He suggested hesitantly. Maddie giggled from over by the Ghost Portal as their son rolled his eyes. "I'm just having some fun, Danny. And look!" He gestured broadly at the giant machine above him. Everything's ready for Danielle's reembodiment. Now if I could just finish the ecto-energy transmitters…" Mumbling about wires and converters, Jack pushed himself back under his enormous creation. Blue light flared as he began welding once more.

"So this thing will really work?" Danny asked curiously, walking around the machine slowly to take in the full view.

"Mhmm." Maddie mumbled positively as she continued her work at the portal. A long cable could be seen flowing from the portal to the large new device. "Your father and I must have watched that lab footage a hundred times. Kitty didn't actually take over Jazz's body as planned, but it seems that with the extra boost from the portal, she didn't have to. A temporary switch was enough." With a slight frown at the thought of her daughter becoming the soulless body of an invading ghost for all eternity, Mrs. Fenton resumed her work. "Oh, remember not to finish connecting the wires until I shut off the-"

"OW!"

"Ghost Portal." She finished with a sigh, coming over to Jack's side of the production. A light smoke was wafting out from underneath, and the air was laden with the scent of burning hair. "You know how much energy flows through that portal, Jack." She scolded. "You know we can't finish connecting the wires while there's a live current in them."

"Sorry Mads." He apologized as he surveyed the damage in a small hand mirror. "I just got excited, that's all. We've been trying to fix Dani for so long, and now we can! I just want to get her back to normal." Maddie smiled as she flicked singed hairs from his now temporarily bald forehead.

"Um, how will this help?" Danny asked nervously from the sidelines. It wasn't that he didn't trust his parents, but their first tries at inventions tended to have some kinks. Like an uncharged battery. Or an on switch on the inside.

"Take a look inside the machine." Maddie advised. Curious, Danny edged forward and looked in through a display glass. Eyes wide, he quickly jumped back.

"What is that stuff!" He gasped.

"Bits of human." Maddie answered. "We took Dani's DNA and stuck it into some normal human cells and got them to form into a body shape . Then we put what's left of the real Dani into the ghost portal and turn it on. The energy discharge will suck up her ectoplasm and shoot it into that chamber, fusing it together into her new body. It's almost the same way you got your ghost form, but in reverse." She added as an afterthought.

"How'd you learn to do the DNA thing?" He asked. His parents both shot each other a strange look.

"We, uh, just tried it once to see what would happen." Maddie said with an odd half smile. "No reason, really." Danny frowned for a minute, but shrugged, deciding to let the matter drop.

"So when are you going to do it?" He asked.

"Sometime tomorrow." Jack called out from back under the machine. "The body in the chamber hasn't had long enough to fully form yet. It might be dangerous to do it too soon."

"Right. I'm just gonna go upstairs and do some homework, so…"

"Danny!" Jazz jogged downstairs two at a time, some rolled up paper in her hands.

"Uh, yes?" He responed, eyeing his panting sister. After a quick gulp of air, Jazz reached up and handed him her package.

"I just got a copy. They're all over town." It was a new 'Spook' paper.

'Phantom Called Out

For the last several months this paper has been publishing free, true facts about he elusive Danny Phantom. But what has Phantom ever said on his own behalf? What answers have he given our burning questions about his safety, his sanity, and his true nature? None! The people of Amity Park will stand for it no longer! On behalf of our fair city, we demand that Phantom immediately stand down as 'hero' and submit to local authorities for extensive questioning and testing. Only when we know he is what he says he is will this city ever truly be safe. Where are you Phantom? You can't hide the truth forever!'

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"Oh, how about this one, sweetie? It brings out your beautiful eyes! Oh, or this one!"

Yet again, Sam found herself on the painful end of a dress-up. And this time, her parents meant business. But she knew as soon as her parents had started commenting on 'how frail and ill' grandma Manson was becoming, that something big was up. And now she was trapped. There was no way she was going to let them ship her granny off to some home. Even if that meant putting on pink…fluffy…dresses.

"You know I'm perfectly able to dress myself, right?" Sam asked hopelessly. She was predictably rewarded with a dismissive smile.

"Oh yes dear, but the…clothing you tend to wear is simply unacceptable at this sort of party." Eyes alight, her mother reverently opened a huge box and pulled out a giant confection of ribbons, silks, hosiery, ribbed corset, beads, gems, and frills. "Now this is something a young lady of your status should be wearing." It was official. Her mom was insane.

"You're insane." Sam stated flatly. A slight flush crept across her mother's face, but she received no other reaction.

"Well tell me, Sammy." She said in a prissy, brick tone. "What sort of outfit would you find acceptable?" That took her daughter aback.

"You're…compromising with me?" She asked distrustfully.

"Well it's not as though I have a choice." Her mother burst out. "You simply must attend the party, Sam. So many young men of good standing are coming; they'll be expecting you. But I absolutely refuse to let you go unless you're wearing something we both think is at least marginally acceptable." Grinning triumphantly, Sam rushed over to her closet. "And no black! It's gauche." Sagging slightly, she redirected her steps to the far back of her closet. A few minutes of rummaging later and she stepped out holding a very simple dress in violet. The pattern was set out in basic lines, with no thin material, frills, or gems. After a momentary frown, her mother grudgingly nodded her acceptance.

"That's adequate, I suppose." She conceded. "And simple lines do convey a sense of humility and strength." Smiling, her mother gradually warmed to the dress. "Yes, you're bound to attract a respectable young man with that, provided you don't paint your face with that awful black makeup." Head high in triumph, her mother retreated from Sam's room. The incredibly annoyed girl looked down at her dress.

"Well I guess that's something." She muttered. There was a quiet knock on her door.

"Sam?"

"Grandma?" Perking up, Sam hurried over and opened the door. Her grandmother quickly came in.

"So what're you in for?" She asked jokingly. Sam grinned in response and held out the dress.

"It's not so bad." She said. "At least it's not pink or something." The two shared a shudder, and broke into quiet giggles.

"No, I suppose not." Her grandma conceded. "But do you think he'll like it?" She finished with a wink. Sam blushed.

"W-who do you mean?" She asked. Her grandma grinned.

"Why that Fenton boy, of course. A good, caring young man if I ever met one." The old woman pulled up close to whisper in her granddaughter's ear. "And your parents hate him, so he's perfect!" Sam burst out laughing, falling back onto her bed. Her grandma smiled quietly.

"You really do love him, don't you dear?" She asked. Still a bit pink, Sam gave a small nod. "I can tell, sweetie. When you get to be my age, you can always tell. And I know he feels the same way about you.

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Just for reference, at this point is a cutesy gooey goo moment between Sam and grannie. She's cool, and I've referenced her so much in these stories, she just needed a moment. I'll try to finish this thing up while away. Good Thoughts.