Lots and lots of dialogue, but explains most of what's going on :) DP doesn't belong to me

"What's going on, Clockwork?" Sam asked, turning back to the now elderly form of the time master. "Why am I here? Am I still dead? How long have I been dead? Why did you take me from limbo?"

Clockwork raised his hands to silence her. "One at a time, Sam."

Sam took a deep breath and wrapped the cloak around her tightly. "Okay. Tell me how I died."

He nodded solemnly. "I'm surprised you're even aware of your passing. Most ghosts don't realize they died until they do something drastic to get it through their heads."

"So I am a ghost…" she mused.

Clockwork shook his head. "Abel-or who you may commonly know as Death-released you into my care. As of now, you're alive and well."

Sam's eyes widened and she rubbed her fingertips together. She realized that they weren't glowing an ectoplasmic aura.

The time master cleared his throat, regaining her attention.

"As you may remember, your friend Danny cheated on the CATs. This created a butterfly effect to lead up to the Fentons', Mr. Foley's, Mr. Lancer's, and your deaths by explosion via the flammable Nasty Burger sauce."

Sam nodded; this was all simply a review of what she remembered currently. "So what happened after that? Where's Tucker and the Fentons and Lancer? How's Danny?"

Clockwork continued, "The victims of the explosion were immediately sent to their rightful places in heaven. However, I held you back for a specific purpose-one concerning your only living best friend."

Things were finally getting the ball rolling. "What do you want me for?" she asked.

"To possibly set this wrecked timeline straight."

Clockwork's now childlike hands clasped onto his rod firmly. "You see, after the great Amity tragedy occured, Danny fell in a deep depression. Orphaned and friendless, he was put into the care of what you may call his 'archnemesis'-Vlad Masters."

Sam scowled. "That selfish, cheeseheaded, egocentric fruitloop…"

Clockwork smirked, but made no commentary on her statement. "Vlad tried his best to maintain mental balance in his newfound 'son'-" He used eccentric finger quotes to phrase this, "-and ended up coming up with the most stupid solution ever imagined to help Danny." He turned and shook his head in disgust. "Removing his human half."

Sam's jaw dropped. "But...that's so...so STUPID!" she yelled, fuming. If it were possible for steam to literally blow out of her ears, now would be the time.

"That's what I said!" Clockwork seethed agreeably, stomping his staff on the floor angrily. Regaining his composure, he continued (although with occasional eye-rolling whenever he mentioned Vlad).

"Phantom, no longer bound by the morals that held his rage back as a human, went on a murderous rampage against Fenton and Masters. After ending both of them, he joined with the unhosted ghost half Plasmius to stabilize himself." Clockwork's eyes shifted uncomfortably. Sam sensed that this was the part that he would've liked to avoid, if given the option.

"The new Dark Phantom was...mentally unstable. The addition of Plasmius' evil heart bore no help, and eventually broke way to the tipping era of Phantom's new form...known currently as Dan Phantom."

Sam went pale. If this was only the beginning of the new, evil Danny...who knew what he could do if left to his own devices.

For some reason, she felt like she knew this name, as if from an alternate universe. But she flicked the thought away as a train of simple thought.

"And that's where you come in."

Her head snapped up in alarm. "What?"

Clockwork looked fixedly out an empty timehole. "I made a deal with the Observants in an effort to save your timeline. In that deal, I would revive you as a human once more and would task you with taming the beast known as Phantom."

"No!"

Clockwork stared at her with disbelieving eyes.

"I-I mean, it's not that I don't want to save Danny…" Sam sputtered. "But it sounded like you're dealing me with subduing a murderer...I can't do that."

"I know it's a risky bargain, but-"

"I won't-I can't do it!"

The master of time's expression hardened. "Are you saying that you are too afraid to save your friend? The one who finally accepted you as a normal member of society? The one who was there in your hardest life moments? The one who accepted your feelings for him? The one who risked his life every day to protect your hometown from ghosts? Like you?"

Sam's mind reeled. This was asking too much. This whole thing was too much. She needed a break...to mourn over herself and her friends. To mourn over Danny.

"You had your break spending five years drifting in limbo!" Clockwork bellowed. "Are you really going to leave your friend to die in his own cage of insanity?"

"N-no!" Sam cried, determination fortifying in her glare. "No."

Clockwork's gaze deemed satisfaction. "Will you save Phantom?"

Sam inhaled sharply. This was the ultimate choice. Say yes, and risk dying again, maybe at the hands of one of the most important people in her life. Say no, and spend another lifetime of guilt and regret for not taking action in protecting Danny when he needed it the most.

"I'll do it."