Seeing Sounds

Chapter 2

The Break In

"If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair."

Samuel Johnson

"Is he going to be alright?" Aqualad asked looking at Batman, who had shown up not long after Phantom collapsed.

"I believe we were able to save him," Batman said looking at the vitals of Phantom on the screen. "Your mission can wait for another hour, but I may have to send you out without him. But I will be sending someone who has had encounters with ghosts before go."

"You wanted him to go with us because you wanted to see how we will work together," Aqualad said looking at Batman. "You really want him on this team. Why?"

"We need someone like that. Unlike you and the rest of your team, he has worked to become hero on his own. No one helped him when he needed guidance, so everything he knows, he learned on his own. He keep at it even when everyone thought he was the bad guy," Batman said. "He also is a pretty powerful kid himself; I would rather have that on our side than trying to fight it."

"Why leave him with us? Why don't you just have him join the league?" Aqualad asked looking at the file Batman had just given him for the mission.

"He's a broken spirit," Batman said looking down at his computer. "And he's still just a kid. He said he was fourteen, and is too young to join, even if he has the experience of one of the leaguers. His family is gone and he has nothing left. You guys are perfect to help him come out of the shell he built around himself."

"He didn't seem like he had," Aqualad said confused.

"I've heard stories of him being cocky and arrogant when he is fighting, and here he just seems like a kid trying to keep himself from falling apart," Batman said. "You look into his eyes and see that pain, it's not from the wound." Aqualad blinked and looked away ashamed for thinking that he wanted to ask if they could not have him.

"Alright, I'll go see if he has woken up yet," Aqualad said exiting the room. He went over to the infirmary area that was still somewhat under construction. He looked over Phantom, who was now just Danny. His eyes were slightly open, but they weren't focused. "Danny, are you there?" His eyes moved slightly to look at Aqualad, but they still couldn't focus. Danny was tense and terrified of what was happening. "Danny?"

"What's going on?" Danny rasped out trying to regain some kind of seeing, but nothing was working.

"When you were attacked, there was a chip in your shoulder," Aqualad said getting some water for the hybrid. "Batman said you might be confused, but don't worry, nothing here can hurt you." Danny slowly sat up holding his shoulder as his eyes were finally able to focus.

"Do you know what it did?" he asked taking the water from Aqualad.

"It had some kind of poison in it. Batman thinks it was designed to put you out for a long time in order for someone to find you easier," Aqualad said as Danny finished the drink.

"Thanks," he said smiling. He put his hand on his shoulder. "Do you guys have something to eat? I haven't had anything for a while."

"How long?" Aqualad asked. He really wanted Phantom ready for their mission now. He felt like he at least owed him that for acting the way he did. Phantom had a point when he said that he should pick the teammates by what job he needed.

"I don't know," Danny said looking down at his hands. "I can't remember what I even had last time I ate something that was good or even healthy enough to help." His hands were thin and bony. He was mainly just skin and bones now.

"I'll get you something," Aqualad said turning around and heading for the kitchen. M'gann was there making lunch for everyone.

"How is he?" she asked looking at her leader. Aqualad sighed.

"He's good, but he's starving," he said sadly. "He hasn't had a good meal in a while, that much is given."

"Is he going to be ready?" she asked concerned.

"I hope so. I shouldn't have gotten mad at him when he asked me that question," Aqualad said putting the two sandwiches on a plate for Danny. "He had a point."

"Are you going to let him take lead on this mission?" Superboy asked walking in. "He sounds like a good leader who knows what he wants."

"I don't know. He's in pain as it is, maybe as secondary, but only if I'm out or can't contact any of you then you can fall onto him," Aqualad said looking as Kid Flash and Robin entered.

"When he said he had taken a bunch of teenagers to save their parents, he wasn't kidding," Robin said sitting at the table. "He had them all ready, but he disappeared on them."

"We thought at first: what was he thinking, but then it said that Phantom came and rescued everyone," Kid Flash said. "They didn't know he was the same person. He never abandoned them, just changed who he was."

"That's good to know," Aqualad said smiling. "I wonder what they would think if they learned he was the same person."

"I didn't even believe it at first," Robin said. "I didn't even think ghosts existed, but here's someone that's half ghost. How cool is that?"

"Extremely," Kid Flash said smiling. "I mean how many others can there be?"

"Two," a voice said. Danny was slowly walking into the kitchen area. "I was wondering what was taking you so long."

"Sorry, Danny," Aqualad said walking over to help him sit at the table with everyone else. "You're not supposed to be getting up. You are to be resting."

"I can't," Danny said hugging himself. "To be completely honest, the infirmary terrifies me."

"Why?" Robin asked confused. Danny smiled weakly.

"It looks too much like a lab, and I…" Danny stopped closing his eyes. "I would rather not talk about that." Everyone closed their eyes afraid to even know what had happened to the hybrid.

"Alright, so what about this mission we are going on?" Kid Flash asked changing the subject. Danny smiled glad they weren't going to push it.

"Well, the complex is guarded, but we're not sure by what yet," Aqualad said putting a map of the place down. "The trees are covering a lot of it and Batman wasn't sure where any of the traps are. It's our job to go in and see what is there. He believes that whoever attacked Phantom is here."

"We also think that Phantom was right about the Joker not really being there," Robin put in showing a picture of him attacking Phantom again. "He was still at Arkham during this time causing a riot."

"So we have no idea who they are?" Superboy asked annoyed. "Why can't bad guys just yell out their plans?" Danny stopped eating for a moment.

"They did," he said suddenly. Everyone's eyes were on him. Normally he would have been nervous, but right now he was afraid of if he was right. For if he was, then this wasn't a random act, but to finish what was started in Amity.

"Care to explain?" Aqualad asked annoyed at how quiet Danny had gotten after he said something.

"I just really hope that I'm wrong," he said looking down. "Because if I'm right, then this isn't anything more than a distraction, and that the person we are truly after is the same one who killed everyone I cared about."

"I really hope you're wrong too," Robin added in. "I looked up that explosion. They said you were dead, but I figured you were able to get out."

"I wasn't able to get out until afterward," Danny said rolling up his long sleeves showing everyone the burns. "I was caught, but I was able to put myself out before it could cause too much damage."

"I think I'm with Robin," Kid Flash said looking at the burns. "I hope that this was just a random act of evil."

"I doubt it," Danny said looking down. "He's been looking for me since I disappeared. He has been using the Red Huntress to track me, and I think that she was sent to kill me. That's why I never met this ghost. He could have been hired."

"Wasn't that the girl you told to go home?" Robin asked. Batman had told him of when he had run into Phantom and how he acted when he was attacked by her.

"Yes," he said sadly. "She's caught up in everything as well, but she knows more than she's letting on. She believes that I was working for him to kill everyone in that explosion. She blames me for it, so I had to run. If she was there, then that means Vlad found a way to track me in both forms."

"Can he track you here then?" Robin asked concerned that they may be compromised.

"With you guys using those portals, I doubt it," Danny said looking at the Zeta Beam. "In order for him to be able to track me, he would have to work at for a while, and then right after I change forms, he would have to switch it back over in order to track me again. But that portal can take me far away enough that he would have to start from the beginning. I doubt he could even track me here from the protection this mountain gives to keep everything from being found."

"That makes sense," Aqualad said looking thoughtful. "You never really answered Wally's question from earlier about your powers. What do we have to work with?" Danny looked down.

"I can do normal ghost things like pass though walls," he began. M'gann dropped her plate.

"Only some of us can do that," she said interested. "How?" Danny looked at her completely lost for a moment.

"I just kinda think about it. It's a ghost thing," he said shrugging his shoulders. He looked down at his right. "Huh, it didn't hurt. Maybe that chip thing you guys found actually slowed my healing process. That, and I'm eating something which always seems to help." Aqualad walked over and started to slowly take the bandage off. He winced as he revealed the burn and painful looking scars going across his body. None of them were visible on his ghost side, but the explosion had taken its toll on the young hybrid.

"The wound is gone," Aqualad said looking over and slowly reaching his hand over where there once was a horrible gash. "But how?"

"Part of my powers," Danny said looking at his shoulder. "It was something I was working on before any of this happened. I could heal myself, but it took a lot out of me, and I was learning how to do it to others."

"That's awesome," Wally said smiling. Danny lifted his hand up and created an ice crystal. Everyone watched in fascination as he let it drop to the table.

"My healing is part of my ice powers. I can also shoot ecto energy from my hand in different forms," Danny said creating a green glowed around his hands. His eyes also changed to green. "I can also level a building if I really wanted to, but I save that for emergency proposes only. It drains me and can destroy everything."

"Wow," Wally said looking at Danny.

"That's sounds extremely dangerous," Kaldur said looking at Danny. "Have you ever had to use it?" Danny grew quiet.

"I only used it once at full power, but that wasn't even in this time stream, but a much darker one," he said quietly. "I've used it at different levels when I felt like there was no other option."

"You were in a different time stream?" Wally asked excitingly.

"Can we change subjects?" Danny asked looking at his hands. "That is too close to what had just happened, and I really don't want to talk about it."

"Alright, let's just talk about how we're going to get around this place and check it out," Robin pointed out to the complex. "We'll have to split up, but I think we can pull it off, although we now have an odd number of people with us."

"I can go by myself," Danny said looking at it. "We'll have to have some form of communication, and I tend to prefer going alone."

"All depends," Kaldur said looking at the place. "M'gann sets up a telepathic link between all of us, and I don't think any of us should split. We'll have three teams going around the place. Two teams of two and one of three. Danny, I'm putting you with Robin. Superboy, I want you and Artemis with me. Wally, you and M'gann together." Everyone looked at each other completely confused as to why he was putting them together like that. Danny smiled knowing the reason.

"Glad I was able to get something though your head," he said. Kaldur looked at him.

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it," he said smiling as well.

"What?" Danny asked as everyone just looked between them. "I know for a fact that none of you have actually worked like that before. It's a good test to see if you can work like a team no matter who you are paired up with. It's good for you."

"Okay, so where will we be going?" Megan asked as Kaldur started their plan.

"Are you sure sending them is a good idea?" Superman asked looking at Batman.

"I want Phantom to think about giving them a chance," Batman said looking at the man of steel. "If we want him to join them, then we have to let him get use to them. I doubt they could get into too much trouble with him. I've seen his track record."

"You really think they'll be able to handle it then?" GL asked concerned as they watched the young heroes talk during lunch. "What is Phantom talking about?"

"I'm not sure, but it looks like it's something that's painful for him," Superman said noticing Danny's tension during the talk and how quickly they changed the subject.

"At least no one is fighting," GL said. "Although, I would like to see what Phantom would do in a situation like that when his team is fighting."

"I looked into his friends' records as well. They always fought over something," Batman said handing them a file. "I think he'll solve it or bang their heads together and tell them that it's enough."

"Great problem solver that one," GL said smiling. Batman looked at them all lightly smiling, but tried not to show it. He knew this kid was a good choice for a new team member.

"Are we ready to go?" Aqualad asked as everyone readied to board the Bioship. Phantom looked at them and smiled.

"I believe that we are," he said walking up with them. Robin walked next to him.

"Okay, something is going on between you and Aqualad, mind telling me?" Robin asked wanting to know more. Phantom smiled.

"Something you'll learn along the way," Phantom said. "I learned it the hard way. I almost lost my sister too during that time. I should've listened to her, and we most likely wouldn't have been put in that situation. When you decide to become leader, you have to listen to everyone that's on your side, even if you don't consider them on your team."

"You didn't consider your sister on your team?" Robin asked confused. "But you're related?"

"I never really told anyone about who I was," Phantom said looking. "She was following me during a bad time and I wasn't as careful as I should have been, and she seen me transform. She kept it a secret until she had to tell me in order to save everyone."

"Wow," Robin said looking back out the window.

"Okay guys," Aqualad said as they came up to the island. "M'gann, cloak us." She nodded and the Bioship turned invisible. Danny looked out the window.

"At least I didn't have to do that," he said absent mindedly. "Then everything turns invisible and you can only see your outline while the people who aren't affected can't see anything."

"You can turn invisible too?" Kid Flash said excitingly. "You never told us that." Phantom looked at him with everyone else.

"He said he had the basic ghost powers, I would think that was included," Aqualad said smiling. "Phantom, can you teleport?" Phantom looked over at him with a curious smile.

"Maybe, but I haven't done it in a while, it takes a lot of energy and concentration. I used to be pretty good at it," Phantom said looking down. "Until I was forced to leave and I couldn't keep my energy up. Some of my powers sometimes act up, and I'm not sure how to fix the problem."

"Well, I guess you can stay with us," Artemis said smiling. "That way you can get your energy back. Plus, you can practice in the training area. I'm sure no one would mind. I'd like to see you train." Phantom looked at her and smiled gently.

"Batman offered for me to be part of your team if I wanted," Phantom whispered looking at his hands. "But I'm not sure what to do at this point. It's sounds interesting, and I wouldn't have to fight to get anything that I needed."

"We could always use another team member," Aqualad said smiling. "I might have been jealous at first, but I guess that may have been the way you just came in and seemed to take charge."

"I don't like fighting," Phantom said. "It has lead to nothing for me besides keeping the ones I loved safe, and now they're gone. I really don't know what to do anymore."

"Make new friends and move on," Superboy said smiling at the hybrid. "We all have some kind of past that seems like we are the only ones, but at least you had someone, I never did. I was a clone of Superman." Phantom looked up and smiled.

"Sadly, I can relate, well, not me per say, but I've been cloned, so I guess I can relate to how Superman felt," he said smiling. "Mine was weirder since she turned out to be a girl. Kinda awkward when you think about it."

"Why would someone clone you?" Robin asked as Superboy's eyes widen in surprise that there was someone else like him that was cloned from someone else.

"The same person who killed my family," Phantom said looking down again. "He wanted to teach me everything about being half ghost, but his price was too high. I would never give up my family for anything. So he decided to try and make a clone of me."

"That's disturbing," Artemis said looking at Phantom. "He's like obsessed with you."

"I think that's his ghost obsession now, and it kinda scares me," Phantom said looking up at them. "I mean, what forty something year old man who stalks a fourteen year into deserting his family to live with him. I think he's a fruitloop."

"That's highly disturbing," Kid Flash said smiling.

"Tell me something I don't already know," Phantom said smiling at them. He was amazed at how easy it was for him to slip back into making friends and getting along with people around his age, and he was happy at the moment. Maybe I can really join. I wouldn't have to worry about being by myself, and I would be able to at least have some friends. I may not trust them as much as I did Sam and Tucker, but at least I won't be alone if anything happens. May this is how I can heal from the wounds. Just maybe, I can have a new life here without having to worry about whether or not I can protect them. They do this kind of thing all the time with other heroes, and it would help get a lot of people off my back.

"We're here," Aqualad said seriously. "M'gann, land us here. Okay guys, you know who you're with. Pair up and get ready to go." Phantom and Robin stood next to each other as everyone else formed into their groups. "Robin, Phantom, go for the east. The sun may rise before we can group back, so since Phantom can turn you invisible, you guys will be the safer choice." Phantom and Robin nodded.

"Ready?" Phantom asked looking at the boy wonder. He nodded.

"Artemis, Superboy," Aqualad pointed out. "You go straight for the complex. M'gann and Kid Flash, take the west. It's the safest for you two, and it has most cover." They nodded. "M'gann, set up a link."

"I can't get Phantom," she said looking at the ghost. Phantom looked at her confused.

"I've no idea what you're talking, but I'm guessing it has to do with your communications?" Phantom asked looking at them. Aqualad nodded.

"Can you focus on just Phantom for right now?" Aqualad asked as she terminated the their links. "It's telepathic, but why won't…"

"Got it," she said, and Phantom looked at her confused. "I can now get in your head."

"That's highly disturbing."

"My powers?"

"No, my mind." Phantom thought back at her smiling. She laughed.

"Alright, can you set us up now?" Aqualad asked looking at her as she concentration on not losing Phantom and gaining the rest.

"I got everyone. Well that was fun." M'gann thought smiling at them all.

"Alright, let's go."Aqualad ordered though his mind. Everyone split.

"Phantom, what are you doing?" Robin thought to him. Everyone else was quiet.

"Something feels off…" He began, but then screamed in pain.

"Phantom!" Robin yelled running up to him. He was in a circle of red rose like flowers. They had a purple stem, and Phantom was screaming at the top of his lungs in the middle. "Hang on," Robin said. "I need help, Phantom is in trouble." Soon Superboy showed up to help him.

"What happened?" He asked walking into the circle before Robin could stop him. "It's only hurting him."

"They're…..blood….blossoms," Phantom gasped out between screaming. "You….have….to…eat…them."

"Are they eatable?" Robin asked picking one up. Phantom just continued to scream. Superboy had started eating part of the circle already.

"They taste bitter, but they are pretty good," he said as Robin helped. When the last one was gone, Phantom was laying on the ground panting and every so often he would twitch.

"Phantom, are you okay?" Robin asked. Phantom groaned.

"I was right, we have to get out of here," he said looking up. "We can't stay, he'll find you, and then I can't go back with you guys. I would have to disappear."

"Alright," Robin said turning around as Superboy helped Phantom stand."Aqualad, we need to leave if we want Phantom to stay with us. He said that he was right, and we need to leave before whoever it is finds us. I don't want to have to leave Phantom. And chances are he'll leave to make sure that we are safe."

"Meet us back at the Bioship then," Aqualad thought.

"Come on," Robin said taking Phantom's right side while Superboy was on the left. Phantom winced.

"I might heal fast, but my shoulder is still pretty sore," Phantom whispered leaning on them. "I really hate Blood Blossoms."

"We'll get there soon," Robin said as they approached the ship. Kid Flash and M'gann were already there.

"Is he okay?" M'gann asked walking up to him. Phantom looked up at her and smiled.

"I'm okay," he mumbled closing his eyes. "Just hurtin'."

"What happened?" Kid Flash asked taking Phantom to let Robin get out his computer.

"Blood Blossoms are believed to get rid of any ghosts around," Robin said looking at his computer then back up to Phantom. "Then is says that they are supposed to destroy the ghost that is around. They release a toxic gas that hurts them until they disappear."

"Sounds about right," Phantom said looking up. "I could have told you most of that." Everyone looked at their ghostly friend.

"I guess we should be more careful next time," Robin said as Aqualad and Artemis showed up.

"Is he okay now?" Aqualad asked. Phantom looked up at him and smiled slightly.

"Just another near death experience with Blood Blossoms," Phantom said trying to gain his legs under him. He was able to put some weight back on them, but he was still leaning on Kid Flash and Superboy heavily.

"Okay, let's get back and get him to the infirmary to make sure that he's okay." Aqualad said as M'gann opened the Bioship. Superboy and Kid Flash slowly took Phantom up the steps as he tried to walk in step with them.

"Phantom, we can go slower," Superboy said as the hybrid tripped over his own feet.

"That would be nice," Phantom said smiling at him. "Thanks."

"You're our friend," Kid Flash said smiling. Phantom faltered tripping again. He looked down. "It's what friends do." Phantom smiled a little at that, glad that they are considering him a friend.

"Alright, so all we seen was the Blood Blossoms and couldn't get past them with out Phantom," Aqualad said as the ship took off. "And we confirmed who is after Phantom."

"Yeah, his name is Plasmius," Phantom said leaning against the chair and breathing hard. "He destroyed my life and expected me to come running to him."

"Well, what do you want us to tell Batman?" Robin asked looking at Aqualad. "He wanted us to see what was going on here."

"We couldn't get past the blossoms, and I don't want to go in without Phantom," Aqualad said. "If there are ghosts, then they can't get out without getting caught in them."

"Unless there is a ghost portal," Phantom said looking up thoughtfully. "I was able to study how the portal my parents build worked, since that was what caused me to become half ghost."

"Ghost Portal?" Robin asked typing it in his computer. The Fentons came up, along with their pictures. He looked at the family picture noticing the young teen smiling with them. He looked up at Phantom realizing what happened.

"It takes you to the Ghost Zone," Phantom said taking in a deep breath. "It's where most ghosts live, and sometimes they use it as a short cut to this world. The Ghost Zone constantly is shifting, you can enter one portal, but the next one may not always lead you to the same time."

"Wow," Kid Flash said wide eyed. Robin looked at Phantom.

"Phantom, can I talk to you alone?" he asked. Everyone looked at him confused.

"I guess," he said looking at him oddly. "Now?"

"Later," he said remembering that Phantom wasn't going to be able to get up without help. "When we get back." Phantom nodded.

"I believe I'll be okay by the time we get back anyway," Phantom said looking Aqualad. "I'm guessing that you still want me to go to the infirmary though."

"Yes," he said smiling. "Or you could tell us what happened to make you uneasy in it." Phantom looked down and held back a few tears.

"I was fighting a ghost named Skulker," Phantom said and all eyes were on him as M'gann told the ship to take them home. "I was running low, and I had a test and a fight with one of my best friends. I was tried and just wanted to go to sleep at the time. I was so into fighting Skulker and dreaming about going back to bed that I didn't notice that the Guys in White were closing in."

"The Guys In White?" Robin asked a little ticked. Phantom looked at him confused. "They aren't even considered helpful at all. One time Batman had to work with them, and they were closing in on something. I was with them, and Batman was working ahead. They ended up killing two civilians trying to attack the guys that had been stealing." Phantom bit his lip, afraid of what was going happen. No one told him this. "Batman said that if he heard of them again, he was going to find a way to get rid of them."

"Well, here's one," Phantom said pulling his legs up and hugged them to his chest. "They were able to catch me, and they wanted to dissect me since I wasn't following any of the norm for ghosts. They wanted to run painful experiments on me. If it wasn't for the fact they forgot about Skulker, I wouldn't have been able to get away," Phantom said with a couple tears going down his face. "That didn't stop them from at least doing something to me." Robin stopped him.

"How about we talk about this later?" he asked not wanting to hear anymore. Everyone looked at him confused. "I really don't want to hear about them right now, besides we are almost there." Phantom looked at him and smiled.

"Thanks, Robin," he said unwrapping his hands from his legs that he had tightened his grip during his story. Robin nodded.

"Opening Doors," the voice said over the com. Batman and Red Tornado looked up surprised they were there early. The doors to the ship opened.

"What happened?" Batman asked as Robin helped Phantom walk off the ship after the others.

"Blood Blossoms," Aqualad said as Robin helped Phantom in the chair. "We had to get away before we ran into more. They had an effect on Phantom." Batman looked at the pale ghost.

"Were you able to get anything?" he asked hoping that it wasn't a complete waste of time. Phantom looked up.

"Plasmius hired that ghost, and there is a portal in there to help the ghosts get out. Give me time and I can build one," he said smiling. "I know the ends and outs of one. That's how I ended up in my accident that made me who I am today." Batman nodded.

"Alright, how big of a space do you need?" Batman asked. "What materials?"

"I have a better idea," Phantom said happily remembering something. "If you can get me to Amity Park, I can just take my parents portal. It'll be easier, because I have no idea where they got everything." Batman looked at him and smiled.

"Are you ready to go back then? Because there is no way you can go there without being seen," Batman said hoping that he would stay if he was willing to let them bring some of that stuff here.

"As long as I'm Phantom," Phantom said smiling. "I think I can handle it then."

"Yeah, you can take them," Batman said motioning to the Jr. League. "They can help with whatever you need." Aqualad looked back at Phantom.

"Your decision," he said smiling. "I know that it's going to be more than just bringing that portal here." Phantom looked down.

"I guess it is," Phantom said looking down at his hands. "Can I ask a favor then?" Batman looked at Robin when he smiled widely knowing what it was. Everyone just looked confused.

"What is it?" Batman asked wondering what was going though Robin's head. Phantom looked at Robin and smiled.

"Find a way to get the Guys in White away from me," Phantom said looking at Batman. "Robin told me what had happened with them when you had worked with them."

"Did he now?" Batman said looking at his once sidekick. Robin smiled.

"His story is worse," he said motioning to Phantom. "I didn't even let him finish the story, I figured it was better if he told it once." Phantom smiled at him glad he was trying to help him.

"What did they screw up now?" Batman asked a little anger coming though. Phantom sighed.

"I was fighting a ghost and they attacked me," he did a quick recap of what he was talking about on the ship. "The one that didn't get shot right away wanted to at least get a quick sample of my ectoplasm. He stabbed my arm with a needle not too gently and pulled out some of it. To say it hurt would be an understatement. I was screaming that much I know, but Skulker wasn't too happy that they had me. He wanted me, but ghosts have some boundaries. He knew enough to know that if they learned anything about me, they could use it to hunt every ghost and even destroy the Ghost Zone. They tried that once before and I was able to get him to help me."

"They tried to destroy an entire realm," Batman said annoyed that they would be so stupid. "Wouldn't that destroy some kind of balance?"

"Yes, they would have destroyed this world as well," Phantom said hugging his legs to his chest once again. "Skulker fired at them. For him never being able to catch me, if every ghost's after life is in trouble he gets really good, but then again, the Guys in White aren't that good of hunters," Phantom laughed a little. "But he was able to get them away from me so I could get out of the restrains, and I flew off. Skulker landed back in my room and told me that he would resume the hunt the next day."

"That's slightly disturbing," Kid Flash said smiling at the hybrid. Phantom looked at him and smiled as well.

"That's his goal in life," Phantom said. "To hunt me and hang my head on his wall."

"Ew," M'gann said shivering. Phantom smiled.

"That's what I also say," Phantom said.

"Is that why you don't like the infirmary?" Aqualad asked confused as to how that connected. Phantom froze.

"Not the actual experience, but the nightmares after," Phantom said looking down. "They haunted me for the next three weeks. I wouldn't even go down to the lab during that time. My parents were worried when I would stiffen at the mention of it. They almost figured it out."

"So, they never were able to experiment on you," Batman said glad that maybe they could help him get over the fear of the infirmary.

"No, Skulker destroyed the sample they had taken. He said that no matter how much they fight, they would never leave another ghost to a human for something like that. Ghosts tend to make sure that they are safe from the humans. Humans tend not to care," Phantom said. "I know it sounds weird, but humans tend to care more about themselves. Skulker stopped hunting me in order to keep all ghosts safe. If any of the humans find out anything about how to create hybrids, well, let's just say it's a bad thing."

"That's either up for ghosts, or a down for the human race," Kid Flash said smiling. Batman looked at Phantom a little afraid to see what he was talking about.

"They both have their faults, and then they both have good things," Phantom said smiling. "I'm both, so I can at least say something about it. Ghosts can be violent when they want, and humans can be peaceful when they want. Along with the reverse being true as well."

"Thanks to Skulker, I didn't become an experiment," Phantom said smiling. "Humans can be extremely dangerous to ghosts as it is the other way around, but for some reason, ghosts seem to make sure that they are all safe. If a human ends up becoming a threat, then the ghosts will come together and think of a plan to prevent the threat from becoming more."

"Have you ever been to one of those meetings?" Batman asked wanting to know if he has played politics in the Ghost Zone. If what he is saying is true, they might be able to call a truce with the ghosts and make all their lives better.

"Yes, I have," he said looking up at him. "They're not very fun when they are about you either." Batman and everyone else stopped and stared at him. "I said that last part out loud, didn't I?" everyone nodded.

"I thought you said that they only had meetings about threats to the human world and the Ghost World," Kid Flash said getting confused on what Phantom was trying to tell them.

"That's something I wish not to talk about," Phantom said looking down. "It's never going to happen, and I really don't want to talk about it if I don't have to."

"We won't force you to talk about anything," Batman said. "But we do want to know why they would think you were a threat." Phantom paled.

"It's part of why I don't wish to speak about it," Phantom said hugging his legs as close as he could get them. Superboy left and then came back with a blanket and laid it over Phantom's shoulders. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Superboy said walking back around to M'gann.

"Well, I guess that's it," Batman said after he was beeped by the league. "I have to go. Phantom, you and the team can leave tomorrow for Amity." Phantom nodded. "I also want them to help you get over the fear of going into the infirmary. That can cost us if it's too bad. You could be asked to go in as a nurse to help those injured." Phantom nodded.

"I can do that, it's actually laying on the beds," he said looking up at Batman. "I can go in and out, but I can't be a patient."

"That can still help you," Batman said. "That is important that you don't freak out if you are injured as well."

"Okay," Phantom whispered relaxing somewhat so he could move the blanket to cover everything but his head.

"There is an extra bedroom for you," Aqualad said holding out his hand to help Phantom up. He smiled up at him.

"Thanks," Phantom whispered taking the hand. He stumbled when he first stood up, but Aqualad quickly moved and kept him balanced. "Again, thanks," Phantom said smiling a little.

"Are you going to be okay?" Aqualad asked putting Phantom's arm around his shoulders so he could help get him to the room.

"I'll be fine, but for whatever reason, they seemed to have affected me worse than last time," Phantom said tripping over his own feet again.

"It might have to do with the fact that you are under weight and aren't your best," Aqualad said stopping at a door to allow it to open. When it did, the room was a light blue. Phantom tensed slightly, but Aqualad noticed. "You can change it if you do decide to stay."

"It looks similar to my old room," he said looking at the walls. "I'll have to in order to avoid the pain that thought brings."

"You really going to stay then?" Aqualad asked with hope in his voice. He really wished Phantom would stay. So far, Phantom was a great team player, and he was reliable, which is what made Batman want him in the first place. Phantom looked at him.

"I'm not sure yet," he said looking down. "I don't know if I still have the heart for it anymore." Aqualad looked at him sadly.

"I can see that you do," he said carefully helping Phantom sit on the bed. "You still have the heart, but you're afraid of it backfiring on you. Here, with the league, there are plenty of heroes, and I'm sure there are some that have a similar past as yours."

"I know, but I'm not sure," Phantom said changing back into Fenton. His scars and burns clear in the bright room. Aqualad flinched.

"I believe that you will make the right choice," he said smiling and walking to the door. "You're still just a kid, but aren't we all?"

"Yes, I guess we are," Danny said. "I'll think about it." Aqualad nodded and left the room. Danny looked at his hands. "I want to stay, but you're right about me being afraid. It's just not what you think I'm afraid of," Danny whispered with a few tears in his eyes. "I'm afraid of being betrayed, like what Valerie had done." He had slept with nightmares of labs and experiment being done on him by the Red Huntress.

Danny: You got that scholarship!

Me: I just got the Herman DeVry scholarship worth $13,500!XD I'm so exicted.

Danny: And ten reviews in the first two days of this story even being posted with yesterday not being worth much since it was so late.

Me: I can't believe it!

Danny: So this chapter is up for that!

Me: I should slow down so I don't catch up with myself...that would be bad...

Danny: Review and get her to write faster while I push her to get her grades back up

Me: That's contradicting. Getting me to make up work that the teacher isn't helping work with me on to the fact I hate muscles...i'll be fine.

Danny: Yeah, somehow the two classes you had Bs in and in trying to get them up everything else suffered.

Me: Shut up.

Danny: you need to have a chill day

Me: working on that...please tell me what you think while I strangle a certain half ghost

Danny: Yes while I run away in fear...*disappears*

Me: o.O