Hard Reality

"Melissa!" Danny screamed, running through the hallways of her school. "Answer me!" With tears blurring his vision, he turned to Sam as she looked of the verge of crying herself. "Please..." Danny added in a whisper.

"Danny, it'll be ok. We'll find her." Sam's words were reassuring, but still did no good to calm him. Finally, Danny collasped in a heap on the ground, letting his emotions go all at once.

"It's not going to be okay until I find Missy!" Danny screamed, lifting his head to look at Sam. "I promised her I wouldn't let anything happen to her, Sam. I'm not going to give up on her. I'm not..." Danny lowered his head again, and Sam stood with shock. He'd never yelled before, and she wondered how much of a temper he had.

Sam was brought out of her thoughts when Danny let out another sob. She bit her lip before she walked to Danny's trembling form. She knelt beside him and wrapped her arms around his waist in an attempt to calm him down.

Danny sniffed when he felt Sam hug him. He knew she was trying to help, but not being able to find Missy was really agrivating him. He sighed, and lifted his body into a kneeling position. He rubbed his nose and looked down to see Sam still hugging him. He slowly raised his arm and set it on her back.

"Please be okay, Missy. You have to be..."

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"You're going to do what?" Missy asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Duke laughed again, never failing to send chills up her spine. She turned her eyes back to Buck when she heard him snarl.

"I believe you have exactly three hours before the fun really begins." Duke said, his voice hoarse. He chuckled again and walked slowly out of the room, the childish tune playing softly in the background.

"I have to get out of here..." Missy whispered, glancing around wildly and trying to get of the the tightly bound ropes. She jumped again when Buck barked, snapping his jaws fiercely. Missy winced, then suddenly had a flashback of her dream when she remembered the dog's teeth in her ankle. She really hoped this wouldn't turn out like her dream.

Missy struggled in the ropes, hoping to loosen one of the knots. Her arms were going numb, and she could hardly feel her legs. Her hope rose when she felt blood rush into her arm again. Then suddenly, the ropes fell off her arms. She gasped, surprised at how easily they'd come off. Missy quickly leaned down to let her legs free.

Once standing again, she sighed. Now she had to get out of there without alerting Duke. As quietly as she could, she snuck to the door that was on the other side of the room. She slowly reached out her hand, and turned the knob. Unfortunately, it was locked, so she sighed and hung her head.

"I don't want to die here.. I don't.." She whispered, feeling her eyes well up with tears. She gasped when she felt wind on her face. Surely Duke wouldn't.. Missy looked up and saw an open window. She smiled gratefully and rushed to look out of it. She opened it a few inches so she could squeeze out of it. When her feet touched the sidewalk, she almost squealed with joy, but remembered that she was supposed to be silent. She quickly slammed her hand over her mouth and started to walk quickly down the street.

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After Sam had stopped hugging him, Danny stood and wiped his eyes of remaining tears. He just had to find Missy. He'd made a promise and he wasn't going to break it no matter what. Suddenly, an idea popped in his head. He grabbed Sam's hand and yanked her in the direction of his house.

"Come on! I have an idea!" He yelled to her. Sam yelped as she was pulled. She gasped when his house came into view. It looked like a blimp in Sam's opinion, and she wondered if he was some alien. She quickly pushed the thought out of the way when he opened the door and ran inside only to run into a certain redhead.

"Danny! Where have you be--!" Jazz was cut off by Danny's frantic tone.

"Jazz! Where are mom and dad? Missy is gone! I have no idea where she went, Jazz! We have to go find her!" Danny screamed, his eyes filling with tears once again. Sam put a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him down again, but he didn't seem to notice it. Danny watched as Jazz's eyes went extremely wide with worry, and she grabbed his arm and pulled him in the direction of the lab.

"They're in the lab! Come on!" Jack and Maddie looked up quickly when they heard the lab door slam open again.

"Danny! Why are you so late, young man?" Maddie asked, setting her tool down and standing, putting her hands on her hips for emphasize. Danny didn't even wince as he ran to his mother, and said to her in the same frantic voice.

"Mom! That doesn't matter! Missy's gone! I have no idea where she is!" Danny's eyes were so full of tears, all he could see was a blurred vision of red and blue. Maddie gasped. Missy was missing?

"Danny, Jazz, go look around the neighborhood. Jack and I will drive around in the Fenton RV. Move!" Danny and Jazz wasted no time in scurrying up the stairs back to the living room. When they got there, Danny saw Sam still standing there. He quickly grabbed her arm on the way out of his house.

"Come on Sam, we're going to search the neighborhood!"

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"Exwuse me, mister?" Missy asked, tugging on a hobo's jacket. She winced when she heard a car race by. The hobo turned slightly to stare at her.

"Can I help you?" He asked, impatiently. He still had a lot of cans and valuables to collect. He had no time for this girl's troubles. Missy sighed and scratched her head.

"Yes, you can, sir. I was wonderi--" Missy was cut off when she heard a soft vicious bark in the distance. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the hobo with complete fear on her face.

"Hey, is something wrong, little girl?" He asked, turning around fully to look at her. She suddenly ran behind him, grabbing his jacket and trying to hide herself.

"Please hide me..." She whispered urgently to the hobo. He looked around, wondering what had her so scared. In the distance he saw a huge blood hound. Sniffing for something, no doubt. Behind the dog was a guy, obviously angry. The hobo turned and picked up Missy and buried her in his cart of cans and collectables. He heard her sob, and he quickly pushed the cart down another street until he couldn't hear the dog anymore.

"What was that about, little girl?" He asked looking around to make sure she was safe from whoever was chasing her. Missy sighed and trembled.

"That was Duke. He's trying to kill me, but that's not important. Can you take me to the big FentonWorks house?" Missy asked, secretly hoping he knew where that was. The hobo put on a thoughtful expression.

"What's in it for me?" He asked. Hey, hobo's had to make a living. Missy thought a minute.

"You can eat dinner with us." She offered, hoping that was enough to please him. She sighed in relief when he smiled.

"Okay, I'll take you. Do you live there?" He asked. She nodded, and smiled. She hoped this would be the last she would see of this part of the neighborhood. The cart started moving again and and she looked out of one of the holes.

'I hope I never see Duke again...'

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"Move out of the way!"

Danny's eyes widened as his mother drove around the car stopped at a stop sign. Instead of letting them go around by themselves to look, Maddie thought it'd be safer if they all looked in the RV. He snuck a glance at Sam to see her arms wrapped tightly around his right arm. She looked positively terrified.

"Where do you think she could be?" Jazz asked, looking out the window.

"No clue, princess, but we'll find her." Jack said, his brow so tightly knotted, it looked like it would stay that way. Maddie hadn't said a word since she screamed at the innocent stopped car. She seemed as if she were on the verge of tears herself, but she didn't let them go. She had to keep her eyes clear so she could spot Missy, even though she knew there were three other people in the vehicle.

So many thoughts were racing through Danny's head at the moment, but he didn't dare think for once they were true. He wouldn't believe it until he saw it. Right now, Danny would give anything to see Missy again. He sighed when his arm was going numb from Sam's strong grip. He knew she was scared, but he had to be strong even though it was tearing him up inside. He just wanted to burst into tears right then, but he didn't want to upset everybody even more than they already were.

Jazz wiped her eye as she looked around the houses, hoping to catch a glimpse of her little sister. She didn't know what had happened from the time school ended to this point, but she knew Danny didn't know either. If anything, Jazz knew Danny wouldn't stop until he found her. She smiled, and glanced at Danny to see an emotionless look on his face. 'Sam and Danny look so cute together...' Jazz mused, then her smile disappeared as soon as she knew why Danny looked so emotionless.

Sam loosened her grip on Danny's arm a little, she didn't want to hurt him. She sighed and looked up at him. He looked so grave, so sad. She hated seeing him like this, and she wanted to make him smile again but she knew that she couldn't even smile herself. It was very quiet in the RV except for constant sniffing every once in a while. Sam switched her gaze out the window and didn't see anybody on the sidewalk. Not even animals were walking around.

But one thing caught her attention. It was a hobo pushing a cart of cans and stuff toward the other direction. She raised an eyebrow when she noticed his expression. He looked frantic, and kept talking to his cans. Then her eyes widened in realization.

"Mrs. Fenton! Stop the car!" She screamed, then gripped Danny's arm tighter when the brakes made the RV skid to a stop. Sam released Danny's arm and opened the door to run to the hobo. "Hey! Mister, stop!" She screamed and sighed in relief when he stopped and looked at her, trying to hide his cart.

"Uh.. can I help you?" He asked, glancing around nervously. Sam looked at the cart and saw brown hair sticking out of the many cans. She gasped, and turned to the RV.

"Danny! Jazz! Quickly! Missy's in the cart!" Sam pointed hurriedly at the hobo. The hobo didn't know what to do. He didn't know if they were her friends or her enemies. He turned slightly toward his cans.

"Do you know them?" He asked quietly. Missy shifted a little to look out of a hole in the cart. She gasped and her eyes widened when she saw Danny run toward Sam, then saw Jazz, Jack and Maddie run full speed toward the hobo.

"Yes, that's my family!" Missy almost screamed, and tried to dig her way out of the cans. The hobo smiled at her suddenly so happy, and helped her get out.

"What's going on, Sa--.." Danny stopped talking when he saw the hobo pull Missy out of the pile of cans and set her on the ground. He felt tears blurring his vision again, so happy that they'd found Missy. But he couldn't move, he was so numb with shock. Maddie was the first to move. She ran foward and wrapped her arms around Missy, sobbing happily.

"Oh Missy, I'm so glad we found you!" Missy smiled as she was being hugged. She hadn't known if she would ever see her family again. After Jack and Jazz hugged her, she turned to the one person who hadn't. Danny stood his eyes full of tears, a very hurt look on his face. Missy frowned and swallowed, then slowly walked toward him.

Danny looked down when she approached him. He couldn't look at her, not after he'd promised he wouldn't let anything happen to her. He looked up when he heard his mother start questioning the hobo. He felt tears pour out of his eyes when he heard her speak.

"D..Danny?" Missy asked, silently praying he wasn't mad at her. She was happy that she got to see everybody again, but especially Danny. She knew he felt bad, and she finally raised her arms and wrapped them around Danny's waist, burying her head in his chest.

Danny closed his eyes when he felt her hug him, and it took everything in his power not to start bawling. He slowly raised his arms and wrapped them around her, then finally hugged her with all his might, his eyes tightly closed. He heard Missy sob and clutch him harder. He'd never felt so happy in his life to feel Missy hug him.

Maddie watched Danny and Missy hug. They really did love each other, and she knew that they would always have one another. But one thing nagged at her mind. Why did the hobo have Missy to start with? She glanced at the hobo again to see him wipe a tear as he watched the two siblings. They really were an emotional sight. Then after a whole day a smile, a very soft smile crept it's way onto Danny's face.

Jazz choked back a sob as she watched them. Danny was happy again, and she was happy that Missy was back and that they were all a family again. Jazz walked to Sam and touched her shoulder. Sam looked up at Jazz and smiled, tears pouring out of her eyes like a broken faucet. Sam had never seen such a sight, nor had she ever seen two siblings hug each other so freely.

Missy was so happy right then, she could leap for joy. She'd never been so happy to hug Danny right then, and to feel him rest his head on hers made her feel so very loved that she didn't want to move. She tensed, however, when she heard clapping. Very distant clapping. Missy slowly raised her head and looked to the direction of the noise. She gasped and tightened her hold on her brother. There in the distance, stood Duke and Buck.

Danny didn't know what made her so scared, but when he looked to where she was, he knew something was wrong. He looked back at Missy to see her crying, and buried her head deeper into his chest, wetting his shirt. Jack was the first to speak.

"Who are you?" He demandingly asked, walking foward to make him seem a little more threating. He didn't know this guy, nor did he know that this guy was the cause of his daughter's disappearance. Out of the corner of Jazz's eye, she saw Missy push Danny toward the RV, a truely terrified look on her face. Danny looked absolutely confused and agrivated, most likely because he didn't know why she was so scared. She watched Missy wince when the guy laughed.

"Name's Duke and this here's Buck. I believe you have something that belongs to me." He said, walking foward to close the distance between them. "And I'd much appreciate it if you'd return it to me." Duke sneered and cracked his knuckles.

Danny's eyes widened as he finally realized the meaning of Duke's words. He was talking about Missy, his little sister. He felt Missy's arms wrap tighter around his waist. Danny glanced down at her, then back at the RV. He would keep his promise, no matter what it took. He picked Missy up and carried her to the open door of the RV and set her in the passenger's side. Missy quickly closed the door, and watched as Danny pressed a button on the dashboard making the driver's side and the back doors close and lock. He sighed with relief, then his eyes widened and he backed up into the seat.

"Open the door, kid." Duke taunted, walking around the side of the vehicle to the driver's side. Danny watched for a minute, trying to figure out what to do. He looked at his surroundings, then saw a button on the top of the RV. He smiled and pressed it, making a 'ping!' noise. For a moment, nothing happened and Duke started laughing. "Is that all you can do?" Danny looked up at the button, then at the dashboard. He smiled as he read the motion screen. The RV spoke when it found Duke.

"Fenton weapons online, enemy found. Preparing to blast ghost's butt." The top of the RV opened up and a huge ecto-gun came out and aimed itself right at Duke. For acting like such a tough guy, he sure seemed scared when it shot ecto-plasm in his direction. He yelped and ran off toward his dog that was holding the others away from the RV. He grabbed Buck and yelled over his shoulder as he dodged another blast.

"You ain't seen the last of me! I'll be back later to get my possession!" And with that, he disappeared around the street. Danny glared after Duke, then sighed and turned his attention to Missy. She was sitting in a fetal position, tears pouring down her face. His agrivated look became a concerned and scared look. He reached over and grabbed her hands and pulled her across the seat to his lap. Once in her 'safety zone', she grabbed Danny's waist again and started bawling.

"Dwanny! I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die!" It broke Danny's heart to hear her so terrified of dying, so vulnerable. He wrapped his arms around her in more sense to comfort her.

"Don't worry, Missy. I'll keep my promise to you. I won't let anything get you ever again." Danny assured, determination in his voice. He wasn't going to break this promise to her. Ever. He smiled when she looked up at him with tear-stained eyes. Danny wiped away her remaining tears on her face, and hugged her. Then he remembered about the others, and looked up to see them all crowded around the RV, smiling with 'aww' expressions. He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Can't a guy get some privacy around here? Sheesh..." Danny muttered, pressing the button on the door to unlock all the doors in the RV.

"Danny, I'm so proud of you." Maddie said, smiling fondly at him. Danny smiled, and picked Missy up to put her in the backseat. He set her to the left of him, and when he buckled her in, he jumped when he saw Sam sitting beside him again. He smiled when she laughed.

"Well, you got to meet my family." Danny said, gesturing around the RV. Sam laughed again, and she looked out the window before turning back to him.

"Danny, there's something I want to tell you. I really reall--" She was cut off when she heard Missy giggle. Danny raised an eyebrow at Sam, then leaned back to look at Missy giggling. Danny smiled softly at her, then turned back to Sam.

"Okay before she starts that again, what were you gonna say?" He asked, making sure to poke Missy everytime she show signs of giggling again. He knew Missy knew something he didn't, and he made a note to ask her about it later. Danny's suspicion rose when he saw Sam blush, then turn her head.

"Oh, uh... nothing. It was nothing." Danny raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, it was a something, then somehow became a nothing.. wait.." Danny paused and tried to collect his thoughts again. "I just freakin confused myself.." He muttered, loud enough for Missy and Sam to hear. They both giggled and Danny pouted in his confusion on the way home. Not any of them saw the hobo running after them.

"Wait! What about my dinner?"

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"Hey Danny! Watch me!" Missy cried, running to the swing they'd got for her 6th birthday. It'd been 2 years since Duke had kidnapped Missy, and he hasn't showed signs of returning. Danny sighed and turned to watch Missy swing by herself. She'd been getting stronger because she was so determined to be like other girls her age. Danny, now 10, smiled when Missy fell off the swing trying to get off while it was still going.

"Careful now, don't wanna hurt yourself." Danny warned her. Missy smiled and rolled her eyes playfully.

"I'm fine. I won't hurt myself." She told him, but still made him worry. Missy wasn't in kindergarten anymore, she was now in 2nd grade and Danny was in 5th, but he still went to Missy's school to pick her up. He had her wait inside the school now, so nothing could happen and he could keep his promise to her. Also, since that day, he and Sam had become good friends, and had even met a boy named Tucker and constantly hung out with them. Missy had even made some friends of her own but didn't hang out with them as frequently.

"Danny! Missy! Dinner!" Maddie called from the kitchen. She smiled when she saw Danny wait for Missy to catch up to him. He really took good care of her, but Maddie wished they didn't have to go through what'd happened 2 years ago. She never did see that guy again, and she hoped she never will.

After dinner was over, they all piled into the living room to watch tv. Jack had said that there was a special he wanted to watch. Just as it was about to start, a news bulletin popped up instead of the show.

"Hey! Where's the ghost channel?" Jack asked, flipping through the channels. But every channel held the same news. Danny watched as the newsman talked franticly and was walking fast to keep up with the camera that was rapidly moving toward an old familiar warehouse. Missy thought on where she'd seen that before. Then it hit her like cement, and her eyes widened. That was the building that he had kept her in. She felt memories flood back to her, and her eyes rapidly filled up with tears. Missy looked away from the tv and closed her eyes, hoping to block out the sudden flashbacks. Beside her, she heard Danny gasp.

"Hey, isn't that the--" He was cut off by his whole family's loud 'shh'. He glared but turned back to the tv in time to see Buck standing over a hunched, slumped figure. It was probably one of his past victims. When the cameraman got too close, Buck turned around sharply and barked viciously. Missy let out a terrified moan, and shut her eyes tighter. When she felt arms wrap around her, she wasted no time in crawling in their lap. Danny hugged her protectively and continued watching the news, then gasped. The figure was revealed to be a small girl, no older than 5 or 6, bleeding from various parts on her body. She was dead, and her body was in a sickly death position and her stomach was gone.

"What is it, Da--" Missy was cut off when she felt Danny's hands over her eyes. "Hey, what's going on?" Danny looked around at his family to see them so wrapped up in the news that they didn't even notice Danny pick up Missy and carry her up to her room. Once there, he closed the door and set her on her bed. "Why'd you do that?" She asked quietly, looking up at him. He turned to her slowly.

"You didn't need to see that." Danny answered, shuddering at the girl's misfortune. He walked jumped up and set beside her on her bed, then hugged her. Missy didn't expect a hug, but returned it none the less. "Missy.." She heard him whisper. She wondered if he was asleep but when he started rubbing her back, she pushed the thought aside. He continued after a moment. "Missy, remember back to uh.. that day when you started giggling when Sam was talking? What was that about?" Missy thought and finally got it. He'd forgotten about it until now. She smiled and laughed.

"I don't think I should be the one to tell you." She said mysteriously, smirking up at him. He looked down at her, then smiled.

"Oh, really? Then who should?" He asked, trying to be casual and suspicious at the same time, which really made him look like he was trying too hard. Missy laughed, and poked his stomach causing him to jump.

"Go ask anyone, but I'm sure Sam should be the one to tell you." Danny seemed puzzled by this, and looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. She laughed again. "You're really clueless, you know that?" Before he could question, she jumped down and smiled at him. Danny noticed that she was smiling, seemingly forgotten about the news, and he was thankful but an annoying voice that he'd heard from Sam rung in his head.

'Letting go doesn't mean you have to forget..'

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"We're live outside the very perclusive home of the homicidal killer, Duke Radem and his blood hound Buck. We recently found out that he's taken another victim, and is holding her captive for 3 hours until she is said to be killed. This man is clearly a maniac, and deserves to be locked up for life. Back to you Stacy.."

The tv was shut off, making the screen black. Duke growled and crushed the remote in his hands.

"Imcompetant fool..." He muttered and looked around his room. The chair was sitting in the same spot, and so was the cage, but this time Buck was free to roam but not past the chair or close to it. He looked to his newest 'subject' as he called his victims and smirked. She was so small, she'd never be able to outrun Buck. Still after 2 years, he hadn't given up on the one that got away. The only one that got away. Since then, he'd made sure to lock the windows and doors, and to be sure that Buck could reach the window if his 'subjects' wanted to try to get out.

"Ugh.. where am I?" He heard a soft voice say, and he switched his gaze to her. She looked about 5 maybe 6, and was easy to catch. She was in the back of the Red Lobster throwing away some trash. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard her yell. "Hey! What'd you do to me? Huh? Why am I here?" He sighed. Children were always asking those questions, but he never answered them. He smirked and slowly walked to her.

"Why, you're in my lovely home." He told her, leaning over to look at her. "First off, what's your name? Mine's Duke.." He trailed off when he saw her eyes widen with realization. She looked back to him with huge eyes and he saw a few tears form. Duke smiled, oh yeah. Being feared was certainly entertaining. She let out a violent shiver before finally answering him.

"N-name's.. Courtney.." She said, glancing at Buck every once in a while. In the background, the same old tune played. He always liked it because it made the children so afraid that they knew what was coming. Every week, he would capture a new 'subject' to test their strength and ability. The only one that escaped, he'd never knew what she could do. He would soon find out.

"Well, Courtney, I'm going to play a little game with you." He smirked evilly when her eye's widened considerably. "I'm going to be testing your knowledge of how well you do in dangerous situations. And I believe you have no option.." He laughed and stood up to walk to the door. "You have 3 hours.." He opened it and shut it, smirking again when Buck barked. His smirk disappeared and he walked to the window. So many news reporters and police officers were surrounding the warehouse, but none dared to enter, afraid he'd kill the girl.

If they knew him as well as they thought they did, he never killed them within the 3 hour limit. Sure, he tortured them the last 30 minutes so he could test their strength, but he never killed them. Buck did the killing, he just enjoyed watching. His face grave, he turned away from the window, and looked at his wall. Dozens of pictures were hanging or pinned up of his past victims. He always like to keep inventory, then he frowned heavily when he turned to the opposite wall where a lone picture hung. It was a picture of a little girl, her face full of happiness surrounded by her family. At the top of the article it read: 'Lone Girl Escapes Homicidal Maniac'. Duke scowled as he reread the clipping again.

"Be prepared, Melissa... be prepared.."

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PHEW! Okay! Now, I hope this is long enough! This is as long as I could get it but I'm sure the last chapter will be extremely long because of where I stopped this chapter! Duke is now my favorite character! lol He's country and he's evil! O and yes, Courtney is the girl that Missy met on her first day of kindergarten! I'm so cruel.. lol I need to see a doctor.. holds head and walks away

Disclaimer: DP ain't mine, but Duke, Buck, Missy.. etc... ARE! Mwahahaha!