A/N I don't own Danny Phantom.

Danny, Sam, Tucker, Paulina, and Valerie were sitting under a tree eating lunch and laughing about some memories they had, "You right about one thing Danny," Valerie said, "Vlad got himself a cat, but if you ask him he'll say it's his sister's cat."

"You're kidding!" Danny yelled laughing.

"No! That was one of my jobs," Valerie laughed.

Everyone burst out laughing, "Vlad needs to get a life that doesn't involve my family," Danny said.

"Oh, big time," Valerie said, "He has at least 10 pictures of Maddie in every room, a hologram of her, and his cat his name after her."

Everyone looked at each other, "Fruitloop!" they yelled in unison laughing.

"Somebody admit him into the home for the insane," Tucker said.

Sam and Paulina looked at each other, "We could do that," they said.

"Maybe," Danny said, "If he goes overboard then we'll do that."

"Hey!" Dash yelled causing them to turn, "You think you're so hot Fenton."

"Uh…what are you talking about?" Danny said.

"You've taken two of the A-list into your group," Dash said, "Don't plan on taking anyone else."

Danny stood up, "One: Paulina was the only one in the A-list and she quit," Danny said to Dash, "Two: We didn't take anyone from your little 'popular' group. They either came to us or we offered to be their friends. And three: Don't be surprised if you quit the A-list and join our group of friends."

"Not going to happen, Fenton," Dash said, "Go back to your little Goth girlfriend and friends."

Danny shrugged and sat back now next to Sam and Dash walked away, "I wonder if in the future Dash and Mikey were mistaken about becoming friends in the 11th grade," Danny said, "Because summer's almost here and Dash hasn't changed."

"Hmm," Paulina said.

"What?"

"I've just now noticed," Paulina said, "Dash hasn't stuffed Mikey in a locker since the second semester started."

"Right when Mikey was assigned to tutor Dash," Valerie added.

"Do you think Dash and Mikey are friends, but Dash is afraid of what might happen if they become public friends?" Tucker asked.

Everyone looked at Dash who was going behind the school, "Come on," Danny said and quietly followed Dash with everyone behind him.

Everyone found a place to hind when Dash made it to the football field. Dash just stood there glancing at his watch every so often. Suddenly, Mikey came in through the back door, "Hey Dash," Mikey said closing the door softly.

"Hey Mike," Dash said and sat on the ground.

"Sorry I'm late, the club ran longer than expected," Mikey said.

"No prob," Dash said, "Are you sure you're okay with being friends in secret?"

Mikey nodded, "I understand, being at the top of the popularity chain is hard because you have to follow certain rules; one of which is not being friends with kids like me."

Dash smiled, "But thanks to you I've gone from D's to B's."

Mikey chuckled, "That's because when Jazz tried all you did was stare at her."

"Point," Dash laughed.

"Wow," Sam whispered, "Tucker was right for once."

"When am I never right?" Tucker whispered.

"Too many to count," Valerie whispered.

"Hurtful," Tucker whispered.

"So, you want to play chess after we study?" Mikey asked.

"Sure," Dash said, "You know before you taught me to play I didn't know how the knight moved."

Mikey laughed, "You're really good at it," Mikey said, "You can make a career out of that you know."

Dash smiled, "Maybe," Dash said, "I just don't know how Paulina and Valerie changed so fast."

Mikey shrugged, "Popularity isn't everything," he said, "But you can give it up whenever you think you need to."

"Truth is, I'm ready to give it up," Dash said, "But my dad wants me to live on his legacy of bullying and popularity."

"Then why don't you?" Mikey asked.

Dash looked down, "If you tell anyone I'll start stuffing you in lockers again," Dash said.

Mikey nodded. Dash sighed, "My dad, he's abusive."

Mikey went wide eyed and Danny, Sam, Tucker, Paulina, and Valerie had to cover each other's mouths to keep from gasping in shock; Sam covered Danny's; Danny covered Tucker's; Tucker covered Valerie's; Valerie covered Paulina's; and Paulina covered Sam's, "You're kidding," Mikey said shocked.

Dash removed his jacket showing the bruises, "I don't kid about stuff like this Mike."

"Dash, why haven't you told someone?" Mikey asked.

Dash put his jacket back on, "My dad would kill me," Dash said, "That's why when I beat up Fenton when I get a bad grade because I know my dad will beat me so I don't want to be the only one who suffers."

Danny went wide eyed, "Dash," Mikey said, "You do realize that this is wrong and illegal right?"

"Yes, but what do you want me to do? My dad will kill me if he finds out that I'll turn him in."

Mikey sighed, "Dash this needs to stop."

Dash sighed, "I know that, but I'll turn 18 in a month so…"

"No," Mikey said, "My cousin said the same thing and he never made it to that."

Dash looked at him, "What do you want me to do?"

"Ask someone for help," Mikey said, "Like Valerie or Sam or Paulina, or Danny. Their parents work for the government and can get help quickly."

Dash looked at Mikey, "They would never help me. Not after what I've done to them."

"Don't be so sure," Danny said after removing Sam's hands.

Dash and Mikey turned in shock, "How long have you been there?" Dash asked.

"We followed you," Paulina said.

"Why?" Mikey asked.

"Let's just say we've known for a while that you and Mikey were supposed to be friends," Sam said, "And what your dad is doing is wrong and anyone of Danny, Valerie, or Paulina's parents would help you."

"What about yours?" Dash asked.

"Uh, my parents are on a 3rd honeymoon in Paris and didn't give us any numbers," Sam said.

"You'd really help me? After everything I did to you?" Dash asked.

Danny stepped up, "All you had to do was say sorry," Danny said and held out his hands to Dash and Mikey.

"Don't even think about it Little Badger," Vlad said appearing in ghost form.

"Plasmius," Danny, Sam, Paulina, Tucker, and Valerie said, "What do you want?" Danny asked growling.

Valerie let her suit in case her, "Answer before I just shoot," Valerie said.

"Dashiell!" a deep voice.

Dash's face turned to fear and everyone turned to the voice, "Dad?" Dash said with fear.

"Why aren't you in class?" Dash's father asked.

"I, uh, um, was, uh," Dash stuttered.

"He was studying with me," Mikey said.

"Us too," Danny said, "That is until this ghost showed up."

Vlad smirked, "See?" Vlad said, "He's lying to you."

Dash's dad's eyes lit up and Dash backed away in fear. Dash's dad pulled out a gun, "Have fun," Vlad said and disappeared.

Danny and his friends gasped, "I'll ask again Dashiell," he said, "What are you doing here?"

Dash couldn't answer, "Alright, time to say good-bye," Dash's dad said and pulled the trigger.

Dash closed his eyes in fear, "Danny!" Dash heard Sam scream.

Dash's eyes flew open and saw Danny holding his side, "Fenton, did you just…" Dash said.

Danny turned to Dash and nodded and showed the bullet in his hand, "What!" Dash, Mikey, and Dash's dad yelled in shock.

Danny turned to Dash's father, "I don't tolerate parents hurting their kids and I especially don't tolerate them trying to kill them!"

Danny let the blue ring appear around his waist and turn him into Danny Phantom. Dash and Mikey's mouths dropped and Dash's dad dropped his gun in fear, "Now, I'd run if I were you because the police will be looking for you faster than you can count to 20," Danny said.

Dash's father didn't hesitate and ran far away. Danny turned human and was attacked in a hug by Sam, "Idiot!" Sam yelled, "Don't scare me like that!"

"Whatever you say Samantha," Danny said.

To everyone's surprise Sam didn't hit Danny, "You're the only one who can call me that and live understand," Sam said.

Danny smiled and turned to Dash and Mikey, who seem to be trying to get what just happened into their minds. Danny walked up to them, "Are you two alright?" Danny asked.

"What, who, when," Dash and Mikey said.

Danny offered his hand to them again, "We'll explain when we get to my house after you tell my parents what your dad has been doing to you," Danny said.

Dash and Mikey nodded and took Danny's hands and they walked home, well after explaining to the principal why they were leaving.

A/N Okay, long chapter, but it includes a subject that I'm very passionate about; Child Abuse. So, I'm very happy with this chapter and how it turned out. R&R and stop Child Abuse!