Distractions
My eyes kept flitting back and forth between my mother and Sam. I think it's worse knowing which one I'll have to give up than it is to be kept in the dark. The decision was not final, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would not, could not, change my mind; especially not now that we all knew Sam and I had a child in our future.
My gaze kept flickering over towards mom, knowing I was going to lose her soon. This did not go unnoticed by her.
"Danny, sweetie, what's wrong?" Mom had come up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked to her, not really knowing what to say.
"I don't think you'd want to know, mom."
She shook her head, as if she thought she knew the reason. She took my hand and started pulling me upstairs. "Let's talk alone then." If only she knew what was bugging me.
"Is this about Sam," she inquired. I shook my head in response, still trying to decide whether or not to tell her what she wanted to know. "Is it about the baby? I understand if you're scared, it's not always an easy idea to adjust to."
"This has nothing to do with Sam or the baby." The look on mom's face changed to one of confusion.
"Then what's the matter, sweetie?"
I shook my head. "It's probably better if you don't know."
"Danny, you can tell me what's on you're mind. It's my job to listen and help." Mom smiled at me and I sighed, giving in.
"Are you sure you want to know? It isn't anything pleasant." I asked her again, just to be sure. How many people really want to know how close to death they are?
She nodded. "Whatever it is, I can handle it." I could see the concern growing in her eyes with each passing second.
I was silent for a moment, not really sure how the hell I was supposed to go about starting in on something like this. "Clockwork visited me. Someone's going to die." Mom nodded again.
"And you know who, don't you?" I nodded. "Tell me, you need to get it off your chest."
There was no response from me, I couldn't tell my own mother she was probably going to die soon, I just couldn't. "I can't tell you. It'll be better for us all if you don't know until the moment comes."
"Are you sure? You shouldn't carry this burden alone if you don't have to." My response was a silent nod, the words gone from me as a few tears broke free of my eyes. Mom frowned before embracing me in a hug, one I knew would be one of the last I'd ever get from her.
It was still hard to believe I was about to lose her again, but shouldn't I just be glad I got at least this much extra time with her? This wasn't fair, damn it! It was hard enough losing her once, how the hell was I supposed to go on acting like everything was okay after losing mom for the second time?
I clung on to her for a minute, trying to compose myself again before letting go. "It'll be alright, Danny." She smiled warmly down at me, though I could still see the worry in her eyes.
Danny might just kill me if he knew I heard the conversation with Maddie. In my defense, it wasn't my fault he was speaking loudly enough for my enhanced hearing to catch.
He knew someone was going to die, and by his behavior the past few days, I could narrow it down to two people: me and Maddie. Something in the back of my mind was telling me Maddie would be the one to go because she wouldn't let it happen any other way when the moment came, not now that she knew I was carrying her granddaughter. Danny must have realized this too, even he couldn't be quite that clueless.
Well, he could, but he'd gotten a little better about it lately.
I felt sorry for Maddie, it had to hurt knowing that something was bothering your only child, but knowing exactly what it was. If only she knew Danny wasn't telling her the full truth to protect her, to keep her as happy as possible up until the point where the world came crashing down.
Poor Danny. He was going to be a wreck after all of this; I couldn't imagine losing your mother not once, but twice.
Maddie and Danny walked back down the stairs, and as he got closer, I could see tearstains on his cheeks. I wish I could help him through this, but this may be something he has to get through on his own.
I just hoped he didn't start getting trapped in his own mind again like he used to. He'd only just recently gotten past that shortly before Maddie returned.
A sudden image of him being forced to take a point blank shot at his mother's head came to my mind. I didn't know why, all I knew is it made me double over. That wasn't something that should ever have to happen, but I couldn't shake the horrible feeling as the image receded that it might just end up coming to light.
The knowledge that hope alone could not stop that only added to the growing dread.
Ms. Stuth and Maddie left to go retrieve some ship thing and I was left alone with Danny. I turned to face him and started to speak before deciding this was something better kept private.
I heard you talking upstairs. I stated bluntly and his attention snapped to me.
Shit. That was all I got in response, almost as if he already knew I had it figured out.
Maddie's going to die, isn't she? My eyes were downcast now, I found it hard to look him in the eyes.
I didn't get a response until the adults returned and we were ushered into the backseat of the ship looking thing I later learned was called the Specter Speeder.
I felt Danny's hand grip mine before he finally answered me. How'd you figure it out?
A soft chuckle escaped despite my best attempts to keep it in. I know how your mind works better than you do some times. It wasn't hard to figure out. He gripped my hand tighter. Are you going to be okay?
Even in his mind, his response was quiet, as if he didn't really want to be admitting it anyone. I don't know. There was silence between us for several minutes until he spoke again. Can we talk about something else, please? I just want to get my mind off it for a while.
I smirked. Well, I can think of one thing that would get your mind off it.
He raised an eyebrow at me and I knew his interest had been piqued. And what might that be? Even though I knew it was going to come back around to bite me in the ass at some point later on, I sent him an image...of the night before...several. I watched his face turn slightly red and a small smile formed on his face. My job was done, he'd probably send a few of the dirtier images back at me in retaliation, but I could live with it if it let him relax for a few precious moments; it wasn't like I hadn't already lived through everything already.
We were going back and forth with memories of our lone night together, almost making it a game. Our faces were equally red as the Speeder started to slow and finally stop. Our teacher announced that we were about as close to where we needed to be as we could get and all of us exited the small craft.
Up ahead looked to be a slightly smaller version of the former Fenton Works and I could easily tell this was the ghostly lair of the two Fentons that lived within the Ghost Zone. Now we just had to find Tucker.
Up ahead looked to be a slightly smaller version of the former Fenton Works and I could easily tell this was the ghostly lair of the two Fentons that lived within the Ghost Zone. Now we just had to find Tucker.
The door swung open of its own accord as we approached it. We entered cautiously, none of us really knew what to expect from the home of Jazz and Jack.
Jazz appeared at the top of the steps before coming down to acknowledge us before silently leading us to a room that the original Fenton Works didn't have. As we entered, we saw Tucker sitting on the floor, his arms resting on his knees drawn up to his chest. He was staring off into space, as if he hadn't heard us enter until he finally spoke.
"You've been in here hundreds of times, but you still haven't told me what you want." He remarked dryly, clearly over his original fear.
"As far as I'm aware, this is the first time I've been in here, Tuck." I could practically hear the smirk in Danny's voice. Tucker turned to face us before practically jumping up and hugging us all.
He still doesn't seem to understand that only Danny can get away with so much human contact.
"Took you guys long enough!" He tried to sound as if he was scolding us, but his tone of voice lost that effect with the huge ass grin on his face.
The happy reunion was cut short as we each heard footsteps coming towards us. "Who's there?" That sounded like Plasmius, but I knew better.
Jazz moved to the doorway to meet her father. "It's okay dad. Look, mom's here." Maddie turned and recognition alit on the face Jack had claimed. The body of Plasmius slowly morphed into the image of Jack Fenton I'd grown up around.
"Maddie?" His voice was quiet, like he wasn't quite willing to believe this was really happening yet. "Is that really you?"
"It's me, Jack." A smile graced her features as the man ran forward to embrace her.
Damn, there seems to be a lot of hugging today. Too much human contact for my tastes.
Just as it appeared as though we were going to have a few minutes of happy peace, I felt myself losing control. This was starting to happen way too often. I needed to get rid of Plasmius as soon as a solution came up.
One phrase rang through my mind as that thought flashed across my mind.
The sacrifice of a mother.
I didn't have a clue what it meant or why it came to mind, but I didn't have time to worry about it now. I really hated to do this, but I needed to warn them. "I hate to break this up, but the shit is about to hit the fan again."
Maddie, Danny, and Ms. Stuth were by my side in an instant. "The bastard's about to come out again, isn't he?" Danny asked from behind me.
"Yeah." My vision was starting to do funky things. As I forced my final sentence out before Plasmius managed to force himself out into the open. "Did anyone bring the Plasmius Maximus or are we screwed?"
I felt my body start to fall to the ground before I heard a muffled "We're screwed" and the asshole took over just in time to keep me off the ground.
The only good news was that I kinda, sorta knew how to get control back now after the fight with him this morning.
Kinda.
One real day into Thanksgiving break and my sleep schedule is already massively screwed up...joy...
Comments and feedback are as welcome as always! :D
Invisible One