A/N: I know, I know, I'm bad, two cliffies in a row.
Disclaimed.
…Restaurant/ FentonWorks…
"Where's my daughter? I know you know! Why would she be under attack? I knew that boy was trouble!" Pamela ranted accusingly to Jazz.
"Calm down, Mrs. Manson," Ben stepped up, protecting his wife. He didn't know what exactly was going on; Jazz wouldn't break her brother's trust, (not that he'd asked), but he knew Danny was a hero.
"Why don't we take this somewhere private," Jazz reasoned, suppressing the urge to defend her brother; now wasn't the time. Her hand roamed to her belly, and the reason she couldn't join the battle. She hadn't even told Ben yet.
A few minutes later, the group arrived at FentonWorks. The Mansons had insisted so that they could interrogate the family.
"Come in, come in," Jack beckoned, worry creasing his forehead.
"Where's Dani? And Mom, for that matter?" Jazz questioned her dad.
"Danielle's in her room, you're mother's gone for news," Jack informed her. She nodded and ran to check on her little sis.
"Well, what do you have to say for your drug-dealing son, Fenton?" Thurston accused angrily.
Jack was livid, "Now see here, Thurston! I know we've never been on the best of terms, but that's going too far! My son is not a drug-dealer!"
"How do you know that?" Thurston snapped back.
"GUYS!" Ben shouted, breaking up the fight. "This isn't the time!"
…Technology Institute Campus…
"So, he's gonna propose to her tonight, huh?" Valerie asked, feeling calm and happy.
"By my watch, he already has," Tucker laughed. "'Bout time, too."
Valerie jumped as her bracelet, which doubled as a communicator in her suit, vibrated.
"Sorry, Tuck," she smiled apologetically as she answered it.
"Valerie," Maddie said, "Is Tucker with you?"
The young woman was taken aback for a moment, but then realized they probably needed his tech expertise, "Sure."
"What is it, Mrs. Fenton?" he inquired. "And are you in the Specter Speeder?"
"There's been an attack on Danny's Workshop," Maddie told him, purposely letting Valerie overhear the very big clue. The situation was getting worse, if Mrs. Manson's phone call was any indication, and they needed the Red Huntress.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, who would – I thought it was protected!" the techno-geek panicked. This could not be happening!
"Vlad led the Guys in White there," the older woman continued. "Danielle just got back and Danny and Sam…Something's wrong."
"Oh no," Tucker responded. "Just when you think the guy can't get any lower…"
"Tucker, try to get Valerie to understand; we may need her help," the message transmitted before Maddie cut the connection.
…Workshop…
Frostbite ran, swerving left, then right, to avoid the blasts that were being aimed at him. He just couldn't understand why the human had turned on him!
Perhaps it was a trap, he thought, though he didn't really believe that. Besides, no human would know of the legend, the mystery, which had eluded even ClockWork for centuries.
He ducked as another blast flew a little closer than was comfortable and saw what awaited him…
…Far Frozen…
The frozen tundra where the usually peaceful ghosts existed was a beehive of activity. It was chaos as ghosts ran in and out of the portal to Santa's Workshop, sometimes carrying casualties.
A shiver ran up Maddie's spine as she realized that, more often than not, those who returned were being carried. This is worse than I thought…I hope the kids are alright…
Not knowing what to do, the aging ghost hunter headed toward the medical facilities, hoping to help.
She wasn't a doctor, but her proportionally smaller size would allow her to reach what these large, and otherwise capable ghosts, could not.
…FentonWorks…
"That looks painful," the redhead commented as she entered.
Danielle sighed, "It's healing."
"Do you want to talk, Sis?" Jazz gently asked.
"It was – I don't even know how to describe it," she expressed, rubbing her eyes. "Vlad's gone too far this time. There should never have been violence there."
"No, there shouldn't," Jazz whispered, her hand again finding her abdomen.
"He's the one who did this to me," the younger girl gestured to her leg, bandaged and set with a make-shift splint.
…Far Frozen…
While she worked, Maddie listened carefully and was able to catch snippets of news of her son and his girlfriend. They fought fiercely, but without causing any real harm. They had also taken a few shots, which worried the mother greatly.
When a ghost said something that she couldn't understand, Dewice, Frostbite's wife and a great linguist among the tribe, translated.
Dewice wore a cape of vibrant purple to identify her as one of the leaders and was beautiful for all she was fierce. The two had become good friends.
There was a large commotion outside the cave and the two rushed out to find the cause. Whatever order there had been before had disappeared.
The Frozenites could be seen yelling or crying, appalled at the sight.
Maddie and Dewice forced their way through the crowds and what they saw made Maddie's blood run cold.
One of the Frozenites had returned with two victims in his arms: one was a young woman with white hair who was barely conscious and the other…
The other was a young man, wearing a nice suit and tie…with a coat over his face. Instantly clips from murder mystery and medical shows ran through Maddie's mind, and she couldn't help but think the worst.
"No…"
…
A/N: Don't hurt me. Please. What did you think of Mrs. Fenton's conversation with Tucker? Or my mean little cliffhanger? Tell me in a review, and as alwaysALOHA!