A/N: I hope you like this chapter even though it's a little slower paced than the rest of the story.
Disclaimed.
…Amity Park General Hospital…
Jack paced in the waiting room, concern for his son at the top of his thoughts, "Is there any news, Doc?"
The rest of the group, excepting Danielle and Sam who were being treated by the human professionals, looked up, mirroring Jack's anticipation.
Dr. Pavi looked at them sadly as she gave them the news, "He's stable, but he has slipped into a coma."
Tucker took off his glasses, rubbing his tired eyes. Jazz put her head in the crook of Ben's neck, crying softly as he put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Ida was saddened by the news; Danny had been so good to her granddaughter. Mr. and Mrs. Manson sat, stunned, while Maddie put her face in her hands, too tired for anything else. Jack stopped his pacing, on the verge of tears himself.
"Sam and Danielle need to know," Maddie stated, her voice conveying the ache in her heart. Her husband put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'll tell them," he offered, heading for the door.
"You tell Danielle, I can tell my granddaughter," Ida spoke up, wheeling the scooter after the big man. Jack nodded gratefully.
…
"How's Danny?" Danielle asked the moment he entered.
"Oh, Dani-girl," Jack sighed tiredly. Wearily, he walked closer, sat down next to her, and put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"What?" she asked fearfully. Her shoulders slumped, "It's bad news…isn't it?"
He hugged her tightly, "The doc says he's in a coma."
She buried her face in the familiar orange of her adoptive father's jumpsuit and cried.
Neither one could think anything other than How can this happen?
…
Ida steered her scooter to where Sam was being treated and waited until the nurse left. Seeing her grandmother, Sam smiled faintly, though it did not reach her eyes.
"How are you, Bubbelah?" her grandma asked, easing into the news.
"I'm okay. I mean, it hurts, but…I'm more worried about Danny," Sam confessed, looking down at the bandages. She had never felt so lost as when she felt worried for the ghost-boy. It was like the Pariah Dark thing freshman year of high school all over again, only this time was much worse.
"Is there any news?" she inquired anxiously. She looked desperately at the only member of her family she had ever felt comfortable talking to for comfort and reassurance that everything would turn out all right, just like it had always done in the past.
"I'm sorry, Sammy," Ida apologized, scooting closer as she broke the news. "The doctor said that he's slipped into a coma.
Sam gasped for breath, gulping in the air to try to steady herself. This couldn't be happening, not now, not after everything they'd been through. She wiped at her eyes; she had to stay strong.
"I finally know who he is," she whispered, putting her head in her hands to hide the tears that refused to be stifled. Why was it that every time something happened in there lives to make things better, something or someone had to get in their way.
Her mind returned to the cave and Frostbite's words: It is said that Santa was a strong young man whose greatest joy was helping others, doing good for the world…
It made her think of all the things he did before he was Santa Claus, even before he was Phantom. Why didn't I see it sooner?
Seeing that her granddaughter was lost in thought, Ida patted her arm and left.
…Ghost Zone…
Youngblood floated aimlessly in the green expanse, trying to find someone to tell. Finding no one, he decided that maybe he could go back and help Santa.
…Workshop…
Youngblood flew into battle, unseen by the adults in white coats. He hit them hard as he could, but it seemed to have little effect.
"Hmph!" he pouted, allowing them to see him so they would fight him; it was way more fun that way.
"Youngblood!" his sister screamed angrily, pulling him away before he could make his hit.
"Why did you do that?" he complained, glaring at her.
"I thought I told you to stay home!" she yelled, infuriated, but glad that she had found him before he could get hurt.
"You can't make me!" Youngblood argued.
"Brat!"
Youngblood's sister was seething, but when a white-clad hunter aimed his ecto-gun at him, her blue ponytail flared and she struck a power-chord that sent him sprawling.
"I can't believe Santa let you come here!" Ember vented. Why did I think I could trust Dipstick!
"Hey!" a voice said indignantly above them. "Don't blame Santa!"
"Why not?" the ghostly rock star asked Red Huntress, then turned on her brother. "Youngblood, GO HOME!"
"No! I don't wanna! That lady told me to spread the word and I did!" the kid protested.
"Lady? What lady?" the blue-haired specter interrogated. Red Huntress thought she knew.
"She had white hair and was wearing a green cape!" Youngblood described. Ember was startled; that description sounded familiar.
"I don't think she meant for you to return," Red entered the argument. That's not Sam, but still, Danny wouldn't want a kid fighting.
"How do you know?" he shot back. Ember and Red shared a look of exasperation.
"I don't," Red started, an idea forming. "But I do know with Danny, Dani, and Sam out of commission, the Fentons and Tucker worried about Danny, and me here fighting the Geeks in White…Well, I'm sure you can handle what few ghost hunters are left in Amity Park."
Ember was surprised at what the huntress was suggesting, but hid it well. She knew what Red was thinking, Give him a reason to leave.
"Yeah, you'll have the place all to yourself! No one will spoil your fun," Valerie enticed, drawing him in.
"COOL!" he shouted and flew through the portal. Ember and Valerie relaxed.
"Thanks," Ember said gratefully.
"Hey, no problem," she replied.
"Now WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S OUT OF COMMISSION?" Ember demanded. She hadn't wanted to say anything in front of her little brother, but now she let loose with a hard edge to her voice.
Valerie was startled by the abrupt change in the ghost's demeanor.
"Well?" she prodded, her eyes narrowed.
"FINE! You want to know the truth? The last time I saw him, he hadn't woken up yet!" Valerie retorted, her voice deepening with emotion. With that said, Red Huntress flew off to rejoin the battle.
Ember stood there, stunned senseless at the news.
…Hospital…
"It's only been a few hours," Sam stated, "but it feels like it's been days."
"Tell me about it," Tucker agreed, nodding sympathetically. He knew exactly how she felt.
Jack and Maddie were with Danny, and Sam's family had gone home to catch up on sleep, leaving her at the hospital as the doctors requested. Any other time, the Goth would protest being treated like a porcelain doll, but at the moment she didn't care. Danielle, too, would be staying overnight for observations, though her mom had done a very good job mending her leg.
…...
Jack looked at his still son, silently entreating him to open his eyes and smile. Maddie held his hand and stared unfocused at him.
When the day came that Mrs. Claus joined him, they promised to return one day…
She shook her head, Is it possible?
"Mads?" Jack asked quietly.
"Hmm?" she looked up.
"What did Frostbite mean, when he called Sam 'Great Lady'?"
"He's Santa Claus," she stated, gesturing to her son.
"I know that," he said, confused by her words. He'd figured it out just after her!
She shook her head, "That's not what I meant, Jack."
She looked at him, "He's always been Santa Claus, even before he was Phantom, he just didn't know it until he was sixteen."
"What d'ya mean, Maddie?" he questioned; she wasn't making any sense. She proceeded to tell him the story.
…Children's Ward…
"Is it true, Maya? Is it him?" Maya's friend, Nurse Corner, asked. She was silently praying that she'd seen wrong, that he wasn't carried in on a stretcher.
"I'm afraid it is, Pat," Dr. Pavi affirmed. "Our favorite visitor has become our patient."
Pat nodded, her face flushed with unshed tears. He'd made such a difference there. In her opinion, Danny's visits had just as much to do with these children's recoveries than any doctor or medical treatment.
…
When Mr. and Mrs. Fenton came out, Danielle went in, followed by Tucker. Sam went in next, though her visit was cut short by the nurse her parents paid to babysit her, much to the Manson girl's chagrin.
Finally, Jazz went in, alone because Ben had to get to work.
"Hey Danny," she sniffed. "You're gonna be an uncle!…But I guess you already knew that, being you."
Danny lay there, unresponsive and unmoving. She took a shuddering breath to steady herself.
"I haven't even told Ben yet. He would've been here, but there was that pre-school-year teacher's meeting today and…"
It almost seemed like ClockWork had stopped time, but only for her brother.
"And…I'm sorry; I know how much you were looking forward to that…"
Jazz looked around the sterile hospital room, putting her hands to her face to wipe away a few tears before once more addressing her comatose brother.
"Time to wake up, Little Brother," she begged his still form. "C'mon, even Danielle is up."
She smiled hopefully, but there was no peeking out of one eye, no complaints about the early hour, just a deafening silence.
…
A/N: What did you think of everyone's reactions to the situation? Did you like Ember and Youngblood's argument? Or Valerie's solution to their problem? How did you like Jazz's time with her little brother? Tell me in a review, and as alwaysALOHA!