Finding Danielle Part 3
Danny slammed the door shut, and gave an sigh, looking at Dani's invisible face (he guessed where), with an exasperated expression.
"Care to explain?" He asked, clearly annoyed.
Dani flickered into visibility and looked down at the floor, not making eye contact.
"I was…afraid." She said quietly. Danny's face softened and he got down on his knees, taking Dani's hands and making her look at him.
"I promise you I will be right behind you the whole time. You don't have to tell them anything you don't want to, I just want you to be safe and happy. Dani…please don't be scared." Danny said earnestly.
Dani looked down.
"…I"
---
Jack and Maddie sat in the basement, neither talking. A few minutes had passed, and both had been left to private thoughts, though most likely they were still wondering whether their son was in need of physiological help or not.
All previous thoughts left their mind however, when a door slammed open, and Jazz, as she had been doing every hour or so, came down to ask the annual question: "Is Danny back yet?"
Jazz tore down the stairs and saw her parents sitting cross-legged on the floor. Before they had been standing up, pacing in their anxiousness.
"Is Danny back yet?" Jazz asked excitedly.
Both parents nodded. Jazz squealed, but Maddie sighed, stopping her.
"The second halfa hasn't come out yet." Maddie said, clearly disappointed. She decided not to mention the fact that Danny had dragged her invisibly up the stairs.
"Really? She's probably just nervous. Where are they now?" Jazz's question was left unanswered as Danny walked downstairs. Everyone's attention was not on him though, but the two slightly smaller, feminine hands that were holding onto his shirt, effectively hiding the rest of the girl's body. The tiniest bit of black hair peeked out.
Danny stood facing his parents and Jazz. There was a long moment by which everyone's breath was held. Tension grew, as did anxiousness…
"Mom, Dad, Jazz, I want to you to meet Danielle." Danny finally said. Slowly the arms unhooked from Danny's shirt and Danielle peeked out, all three parties previously mentioned taking care not to gasp, but gaping all the same.
Maddie took in the red beanie, the blue hoodie, and the red shorts. She took in the white sneakers. She exhaled softly at the blue eyes and black, messy hair that had also, equally as messily been pulled into a pony tail. This was a twelve year old girl. Younger than she had expected. It made her happy.
"Danielle was it?" Maddie asked, breaking the silence in which Dani had become increasingly nervous.
"Y-Yeah. You can call me Dani for short though, with an "I"." Dani said softly, not making eye contact.
"Dani, they're here to listen. Tell them whatever you want to." Danny encouraged, pushing her forward gently.
Maybe it was the fact they were standing in a basement filled with ghost weapons, or the fact everyone was taller than her by a good foot, or maybe just the fact that they were paying a great deal of attention to her, but either way, Dani felt less than comfortable at the moment.
But this was Danny's family. Family who could be her family too.
And Dani with an 'I' was no pushover! Why was she acting so shy anyway? She had a few memories of these people, so in a way she had met them before!
With that last thought, Dani regained her nerve.
"My full name is Danielle Masters. Before you ask, I am not Vlad's daughter. I was created in a lab, when Vlad was trying to make a perfect copy of Danny. Among a few others, he got me, a female clone version. However, with the help of Danny, I realized what a jerk he was and helped Danny escape. I do have ghost powers as well." At this point, Dani changed into her ghost form and then back, smiling.
"So in a way, my name should be Danielle Fenton, and I guess you could say I'm kinda Danny's daughter." Danielle thought to herself, finger touching her cheek as she cocked her head to the side cutely.
Danny didn't find it so cute, being the person in question here, and at Dani's last comment, phased halfway through the floor in shock, mouth open wide.
Dani giggled at Danny.
"Just kidding! I mean, who would want to be your daughter anyway? You even still live with your parents!" Jazz snickered behind her palm, while Danny glared at her, still stuck halfway through the floor. Realizing this, he blushed and pulled himself out.
"Aww so this is Danielle! So cute! I've always wanted a little sister!" Jazz said, squeezing Dani in a bear hug. Turning to Danny she gave him a cruel smirk and said,
"Hey, you did pretty good for a child, I'm surprised. And now you can stop worrying about her, day and night, always hoping for her safety like a poor abandoned father." Now Danny's eyes were turning and angry neon blue and ice started creeping up his legs, if only to try to reach up and get rid of the deep scarlet blush forming on his face.
"Can't…breathe!" Dani said, and Jazz let go of her sheepishly.
"You know, based on that earlier presentation there, I think you and I are gonna get along just fine." Jazz said, smiling pleasantly.
Dani, suddenly realizing Jazz had basically called her a little sister, and was looking forward to spending time with her, suddenly turned red in the face.
"Y-yeah well, me too. And don't call me cute." She stammered out, trying to act stubborn.
"Smooth Dani, real smooth." Danny smirked, then yelped and jumped as he got shot by a stray ectoblast. Dani smiled evilly, waving her glowing green hand at Danny, who grimaced.
After more teasing and tormenting, the children seemed to realize that one party had not said anything yet.
Maddie and Jack had been staring, eyes wide. However, Maddie had a grin creeping onto her face. As soon as Dani turned to looked at them, Maddie and Jack looked at each other, nodded briskly, and turned back to Dani.
Maddie walkd over to Dani, face hard and expressionless. Danny and Jazz exchanged a nervous glance, Dani also gulping as Maddie kneeled in front of the girl.
Maddie's face broke into a warm smile suddenly, and she hugged the little girl close, who went stiff in surprise.
"Welcome to the family Dani." Maddie said softly.
Dani's eyes went wide. She stared at Jack, who grinned and nodded, stared at Maddie who was embracing her, and was unable to see Danny and Jazz grinning behind her.
But slowly she smiled and closed her eyes, a few tears threatening to spill.
"Thanks." She spoke, breathlessly.
---
After a long moment Dani's stomach grumbled.
Danny's eyes went wide as Maddie let go of her new daughter, and quickly he hoisted her up and ran up the stairs, oblivious to Dani's surprised cries.
Both Maddie and Jack and Jazz raised an eyebrow at his antics.
When they came upstairs, they found that Danny had placed a plate in front of Dani after seating her a the table. Now opening the refrigerator, he found a sandwich Jazz had made for him for when he came back. After a quick inspection to make sure nothing ecto-ish was next to it, and nothing ecto-ish was in it, and that his mother had indeed, not made it, Danny placed the sandwich on Dani's plate.
"Eat." He commanded, pointing at the food. Danielle opened her mouth to protest but Danny beat her to it.
"You've had nothing to eat in a few days, so do as I say and eat." He commanded again.
Danielle hesitated, rolled her eyes, then picked up the sandwich and bit into it. A moment passed when she realized she was tasting something she liked, and then she started chewing. Fast.
Jack, Maddie, and Jazz watched wide eyed as Danny watched over Dani as she ate approvingly. Maddie found it amazing how fatherly she was acting towards Dani, as did Jack, whom couldn't help but wonder if he would have to have a 'talk'' with Danny soon about how he would have to let his kid grow up someday, and leave the nest.
Jazz just found it funny, amazing, and entertaining at the same time.
At that moment, Sam and Tucker burst into the house, dashing into the kitchen, only to find themselves face to face with Danny, Dani, and a half finished tuna sandwich.
I don't know whether I kept it in character or not! Let me know!!! R&R!
Artgirl4!