Lord Pugsy here. This is actually the chapter people have probably been waiting for; Danny with amnesia and interacting with the Titans without trying to take their heads off. Literally. I would apologise for the previous cliff hanger, but I would be lying. I love cliff hangers. I do not own any characters as of yet, only the story.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Danny's eyes flickered at the annoying noise penetrating his mind, amplifying the already tender headache that was beginning to emerge.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Dammit thought Danny. I wish someone would shut that stupid thing up. He began to squirm under the blankets as his headache became more intense.
"Hey?" Came a voice. "You with us man?" Danny opened his eyes, blinking at the sudden increase in light, and looked over to Cyborg who was sat down studying a chart.
"Don't know yet." Responded Danny, massaging the growing lump on his head. "Seriously though, what hit me?" Cyborg chuckled at this.
"That would have been Starfire I'm afraid."
"Starfire?" Questioned Danny. Cyborg nodded with a sad look on his face.
"Yeah. You were destroying the room, so we got her to hit you over the head to knock you out. You were freaking out something terrible." Danny looked around the room, noticing two large indents in the far wall from when he had punched Cyborg and Beast Boy into it. Danny grimaced at the sight of it.
"I'm sorry." Whispered Danny, guilt-ridden. "I don't really like waking up in new surroundings. Especially when I saw how white it was with all this medical equipment." Said Danny, gesturing around the room. "I thought they had finally got me." Cyborg gave him an understanding look. I guess he thought the Guys in White had got a hold of him, thought Cyborg. I would have freaked out as well in his position.
"Don't worry about it. It happens. Anyone would have done the same if they thought monsters like the Guys in White had got them." Cyborg said sympathetically. "But this isn't a new surrounding though." He added in a hushed tone, but Danny heard him.
"What do you mean 'not a new surrounding'?" Asked a confused Danny. "And how do you know about the Guys in White?" He was beginning to panic again.
"Easy." Said Cyborg hurriedly. "No need to panic again. Just let me explain, ok?" Danny just nodded.
"We know about the Guys in White because you told us who they were and what they want to do to you. We know you're a human and ghost hybrid. We know you have a cousin/clone called Dani who you think of as a daughter." He faltered before carrying on. "We also know what happened back in Amity Park; what happened with your friends, family and teacher." Danny just stared at the robotic teen, speechless with tears in his eyes.
"How do we know this, you ask? That kind of ties in with your first question." Cyborg started again. "We know all this because we are your friends Danny. Very good friends if I do say so myself. You have been living with us, fighting with us and protecting the citizens of Jump with us ever since the incident with Clockwork and Dark Dan." He said, hoping to get a response out of Danny, who still looked staggered at the amount he had shared with the Titans; information he swore he would never repeat to anyone.
"I really told you about Dan and my…my family?" Asked Danny, stuttering. Cyborg just nodded.
"I must really like and trust you if I told you all of that." He said in a small voice, looking very much like a lost child. Before Cyborg could comfort Danny, the alarms starting blaring, terrifying the already scared ghost even more.
"Hey, it's ok. It's just the alarm." Comforted Cyborg. "It means someone is stirring up trouble in the city. Just lay back and relax and get yourself together. I will bring everyone else in when we get back so we can have a proper conversation." With that, he left Danny to his thoughts as he went to see what was going on.
"You sure he'll be ok Cy?" Asked Beast Boy as they raced through the city in Cyborg's T-Car.
"I'm sure." Responded Cyborg. "He seemed to accept what I told him as the truth, but he is still scared. When we get back, we have to tread carefully."
"As for now," Robin butted in. "We have to take care of Dr Light." The aforementioned villain was attempting to rob the bank they had just arrived at, firing light energy beams at the security guards.
"Raven." Said Robin. She turned to look at him. "You know what to do." Raven smirked and teleported behind Dr Light, as the others exited the car.
"Hey!" Shouted Beast Boy. "Remember us skinny dude?" Dr Light turned and saw the Titans in front of him.
"Ah, the meddlesome Teen Titans." He said annoyingly. "Come to embrace the light?"
"No." Came Raven's voice from behind him. "We brought the darkness." The villain turned to see the Dark Titan bearing down on him. He gulped.
"I'd like to go to jail now please." Dr Light whimpered.
"Wise decision." Raven prepared to teleport them all back to the Tower as Dr Light was being handcuffed, when the Titans were swarmed by the press, all demanding questions about where the ghost teen was.
"Dammit." Said Robin, looking at the mob before them. "I was hoping to get Danny back on his feet first before we did a press conference."
"I know what you mean Rob." Confirmed Cyborg.
"Maybe it is for the best." Said Starfire. "If we speak to them now, then maybe mini-Danny will return and have solutions that can help friend Danny." No one could argue with Starfire's logic; they just wanted a little more preparation time.
"OK everyone!" Shouted Robin, silencing the crowd. "Meet us outside City Hall in an hour. We will be there to give a statement regarding Danny Phantom." The disgruntled press finally backed off and headed towards City Hall.
An hour later, they were standing in front of what seemed like the entire Jump City's population, listening to the Mayor give the introductions.
"I now introduce the leader of the Teen Titans, Robin." The Boy Wonder walked across the stage to the podium where he began to read from his sheet of paper.
"I have statement I would like to share." Started Robin, gazing at the crowd. "Our fellow Titan Danny Phantom was called away by his mentor to deal with a situation in the Ghost Zone some six months ago. Five days ago, he returned during the City's latest catastrophe. He was badly beaten and fall from the sky portal; he was caught up in the ensuing explosion." Jump's citizens looked at the Titan with horror at what Danny Phantom had gone through. "It is with great regret that we must inform you all that Danny has been struck with amnesia; he doesn't remember anything since coming here to Jump." There was a collective gasp from the press at this news, a single thought running through their minds; what if he decides to leave?
"We do have a message though, for Danny's cousin Danielle." Robin started again, looking at the confused faces at this latest information regarding the ghost's family. "Dani, if you are watching this, please. Get here as soon as possible. We may need your help. That is all." Robin finished. Before the press could ask any questions, Raven had teleported them all back to the Tower, to find Danny standing in the main room, remote in hand, watching the conference.
The Titans froze, not entirely sure what to say. Anything they did, Danny could misinterpret and lash out again. Luckily for them, Danny was the one who broke the silence.
"How bad was I hurt?" He asked. The Titans looked at each other; this wasn't the question they were expecting.
"Maybe we should sit down?" Suggested Robin. "BB, go put the kettle on. This could take a while." After Beast Boy started preparing drinks, the rest of them got themselves comfortable on the sofas, giving Danny some room.
"How bad?" He asked again. Robin looked over at Cyborg and nodded.
"Really bad." Said Cyborg. "You had over forty broken bones, including a crushed wrist. You had serious organ damage and a multitude of skin lacerations; most notably the one on your eye gave us cause to be concerned." Danny raised his hand to his face, his finger tracing the long scar.
"Yeah. I noticed that one." He said stiffly. "Anything else?" Cyborg paused before answering.
"You had a fractured skull and serious brain damage. From the amount of damage you suffered, you shouldn't have survived." Danny was stunned at the injuries he had acquired.
"I guess that explains the amnesia." He said quietly.
"Yeah, that's what we thought." Said Beast Boy, handing everyone their drinks. Danny just looked down at his mug, thinking to himself.
"Look." He started again, looking into everyone's eyes. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what I did last night. I didn't know where I was; I thought I had been captured." He confessed softly. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
"We know friend Danny." Spoke up Starfire, eyes glistening. "You don't need to apologise. I am sorry I had to hurt you though." Danny looked up at this.
"Starfire?" He guessed, remembering what Cyborg told him that morning. She just nodded.
"You don't need to apologise Starfire. I'm glad you knocked me out. Otherwise I probably would have done something I would regret." He said, giving the orange-skinned alien a small smile.
"I don't suppose you can remember anything about what happened when you were in the Ghost Zone?" Asked Raven suddenly, having been silent since they sat down.
"I wish I could." Admitted Danny. "It's all rather hazy. I remember a lot of talking, and even more arguing around a big table in a castle I think. The last thing I can remember is the sound of marching; marching so loud that the ground quaked, then just a lot of pain. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in your infirmary." Danny smiled as he remembered something else.
"I do remember something else though. I remember getting seriously bored during one meeting; I think it was Technus who was speaking. I was so bored, I snuck out before I fall asleep." The Titans couldn't help but laugh at this; typical Danny they all thought.
"That's not all though. I remember walking through a garden, looking for something to do, when I came upon a rose bed." Started Danny. Raven stiffened at the mention of roses, but Danny didn't noticed. "I remember thinking about making one out of ice, but I wondered if I could make a black one; thinking someone would like it. I can't remember who though." He finished, his face scrunched up in confusion as he tried to remember something. If any of the Titans noticed Raven blush, they didn't let on. They all knew Danny had made it for Raven as a gift.
"Anyway." Said Robin, breaking the silence. "Now that you're up and about, do you fancy heading down to the training room with us?" Danny looked at Robin curiously.
"We just want to know if your powers are still in order after your ordeal." Danny contemplated this for a moment before deciding it would be a good idea.
"Lead the way."
The Titans were preparing the training room, letting Danny get ready, when they heard his voice from the door way.
"Umm, guys?" They looked over at the door, expecting to see Danny in Phantom form, but he wasn't there.
"I'm here, just invisible." Came his bodiless voice.
"What's wrong friend Danny?" Asked Starfire.
"When I left for the Ghost Zone, was I wearing my hazmat suit?"
"Yes?" Replied a confused Robin.
"Well, I appear to be wearing something else now." He dropped his invisibility, the Titans' jaws dropping at Danny's new Phantom form. Gone was the one-piece hazmat suit; in its place was something better. He wore a dark green muscle shirt, under a white button-up shirt with the top couple of buttons undone. Black, loose-fitting trousers adorned his legs, with black, steel-toe capped boots. The whole look was completed by a long, black, sleeveless trench coat with a high collar and white, fingerless gauntlets. Danny did a profile so they could see it from all angles; on the back of the trench coat, in white was his DP symbol, as well as white flames decorating the hems. When he was facing them again, they noticed that the scar over his eye was glowing green, matching his eyes. He didn't just look different anymore; he looked downright dangerous.
"Is everything alright?" Asked Danny, getting uncomfortable at their stares, tugging at his newly acquired hand-wear. "Do I look ok?"
"Dude." Said Beast Boy. "You look freaking awesome!" Danny laughed, his nerves starting to disappear. He noticed the girls staring at him, a blush coming to his cheeks as he suddenly became very self-conscious as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Alright." Said Robin, not quite getting over Danny's new look. "Let's get this show started. Cy, let's go."
Five hours later, Robin was sat cross-legged on the roof thinking about the training session they had just finished. He smiled at how well Danny did; he appeared to be even stronger than what he had been before he left. He could fly faster, hit harder and his aim was practically flawless. It was good to have him back with them, albeit not completely back. His happy thoughts, however, were interrupted by a feeling of being watched. And he had a pretty good idea of who was watching him.
"You can come out now. Everyone else went out to get Danny reacquainted with the city an hour ago. We are alone." He smirked when he heard the faint swish of cloth as a cape-clad man sat down next to the Boy Wonder.
"Robin." The man said in an emotionless tone.
"Batman."
"I suppose you know why I am here?" Asked the Dark Knight.
"Not to say catch up on old times, I'm sure." Retorted Robin. He sighed, realising he had been immature, before carrying on. "It's about Danny, isn't it?"
"Yes." Responded Batman. "The League is worried about this threat that he was sent to investigate. If Phantom's injuries are-." Robin cut him off.
"Danny's injuries." Robin stated in a stern voice, glaring at the Caped Crusader. Batman scowled before carrying on.
"If Danny's injuries are anything to go by, as well as the force of the explosion from that portal, we are facing a threat of immeasurable power. Has he remembered any details yet?"
"No, not yet." Replied Robin, his voice dropping. "He kept getting flashes of memories when he was training, but only of what happened at the beginning as soon as he left. He still doesn't remember us or what happened to him." Batman looked down at the Boy Wonder's grief stricken face. Despite what he may think of Batman, he still saw Robin as a son and it was eating him up inside at what he was going through, although he would never show or admit it. Robin knew this conversation was over, so he stood up as well as Batman.
"We'll be in touch." Was Batman's only response, as he headed for the roof's edge as Robin headed for the door.
"Oh, and one more thing." Robin turned to look at Batman, who had a genuine smile on his face, speaking in his normal voice. "It was good to see you again Dick." With that, he stepped off the edge and disappeared. Robin, stunned at first, couldn't help the smile spreading across his face.
"You too Bruce." He said whilst entering the Tower. "You too."
Robin's senses may have been sharp enough to detect Batman, but they weren't even close to detecting a ghost when it was floating invisibly above the duo the whole time. Danny in Phantom form sunk through the roof until he came to his room and became visible again. If he had any doubts about the Titans' motives, they had all but disappeared after watching Robin confront Batman about him. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but he had left the other Titans and went for a fly as it had been a week since he flew; he had missed it greatly. Danny smiled as he looked at himself in the mirror, slightly put off by the glowing scar, but overall enjoying his new look. Maybe these Titans really can help me thought Danny positively. They seem to really care about me; so it's only fair I tell them the truth. The truth which I discovered from Clockwork and Pandora about the new threat we are about to face.
I couldn't help giving Danny a new outfit. Not that there's anything wrong with hazmat suits, I just thought he needed something a bit more stylish. Thanks again for reading my story; rates and reviews are greatly appreciated. Until next time.
Lord Pugsy.