Prompt By Majora: Jack and Maddie may not be the best but they're trying.
Category: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Feeeeels!
Trigger Warnings: Mention of CPS and Fenton's B- Parenting.
Jack Fenton had been called many things by many people. Scatterbrained, idiot, retarded, negligent, a danger to society and the road, annoying, (one time he had pretended not to hear) even a waste of space, but never ever a father that didn't love his children. Sure, he had a favorite (who didn't have them! It was only human), but he loved his son, too. That time the CPS had taken both away, it had been Jack who had fought tooth and nail to be cleared to have a fitting house and schedule to get them back. Sure, Maddie had been as involved as him, but no one ever had the same emotional attachment to this family than Jack.
(Had Jack been a ghost, one would have called it his obsession.)
And the man would have been an exemplary father as well, if he didn't have one heck of a case of ADHD.
His brain, once he had managed to obtain the objective (bringing his kids back home), had decided that it was absolutely the time to switch hyperfocus and start building the Fenton Portal!
It wasn't his fault! He had tried to take medicines for this neurological dysfunction, but they blocked all the creative juices and slowed him down! And how could he create ghost-fighting weapons and gadgets without them?!
So yeah, he had given… precedence to his work instead of his offspring. But without the former the latter would be even more at risk!
However, lately something hadn't been… right, so to speak. Everything was so much more, so intense and escalating that Jack was actually considering taking his ADHD meds.
Ghost plants invading the city had come before he could have started the therapy, though.
Sap and chlorophyll had taken over his frontal cortex, rendering him practically a zombie slave, aware enough to know that he had been taken over and that his family had joined his fate.
So much for being the family's protector… The man had thought in the rare moments of lucidity, still fighting for control, but deep-down despairing that he wouldn't succeed.
That is, until the white Bigfeet came.
All the vines and thorns were frozen solid then smashed, along with the vegetal pods that held the trapped people, rendering them inoffensive.
The cryptid creatures moved like a squadron of Navy SEALS, with their same efficiency, as they swarmed Amity Park.
They had made each human-puppet harmless without even hurting them, then they had moved to the big bad green chicken-plant.
The furred warriors had methodically dismembered the ghost with icy weapons, until a meager sprout-imp remained, which was then detained in an ice globe, like some demented hamster in a ball.
All the while, the newly freed Amity Parkers (Fentons included) had watched from the sidelines because they were still recovering from the forceful chlorophyll-takeover.
It was when a couple of Bigfeet departed with the ghost in tow, leaving the rest to clear up, that finally Jack and Maddie shook themselves up and unsteadily searched for their kids (but only after determining that the new creatures were not a threat to humans).
They only found a shaken-up Jazz and two nearly hysterical Sam and Tucker who couldn't find their friend, but they were sure that they had hurt him while under control of this "Undergrowth" fellow (which apparently was the chicken-plant's name).
A colossal scarred white Bigfoot took the moment the duo had paused to breathe and sob as their clue to interject in their conversation. – Fear not, companions of the Great One! He is safe and recovering in the Far Frozen under the tutelage of Chief Frostbite. – He announced, startling the teens, who had been too distracted by their distress to notice his approach.
– Ancients, Icefang! …You're Icefang, right? – Sam rambled and the creature nodded. – How bad is he?
– I couldn't gather his actual condition before being dispatched to "annihilate with extreme prejudice" Undergrowth, – Jack could hear the quotation marks in his voice, – but from what little I could see when I was in the same room as the Great One, he was alert and looked already better than when our patrol found him half-frozen in the outskirts of our Lair. – The furred ice-horned being stated and both hunters jolted at the mention of the last term: did that mean that these creatures weren't cryptids but ghosts?!
Their flinch must have alerted Jazz, because she moved her own body between them and the ectoplasmic being, frenzied but with a severe glint in her eyes. – Don't you dare! – She screeched, giving time to the other two young humans to join her side.
– They just saved me from becoming a slave and you from becoming fertilizer, what's wrong with you?! – All the previous frantic hysterical energy she had seemed to have turned into fury, as Sam snarled at the Fentons.
– You can't be that bigoted to not recognize when you owe someone a debt! – Tucker added with a vindictive light in his eyes.
Both statements stung Jack fiercely, so he backed off, reaching his wife to make her do the same when she had stood her ground and prepared to leash out instead.
The Fenton patriarch (as already stated) was many things, but he did recognize when he had a debt, even if it was with someone he didn't like, like that time in college with that "Dad" Turner¹* fellow.
And, and! He wasn't bigoted, ghosts were simply malicious posthumous human imprinted ectoplasm without sentience that could only… His automatic train of thoughts screeched to a halt after derailing due to being hit by a meteorite: if they had no sentience or emotions (beside satisfying their obsession and feeling pain, that is), why would a pack of them risk themselves "uselessly" to save the citizens of Amity Park so vehemently, if the quote "annihilate [him] with extreme prejudice" was anything to go by?
And… Hadn't this Icefang fella implied at the start that Sam and Tucker were companions of a certain "Great One", who they had inquired about, apparently not caring about Danny anymore? Was Danny one and the same? Did that mean that he was in a nest of ghosts right now?
While usually that prospect would have sent Jack into a panicked frenzy, the fact that these three teenagers (his daughter above all!) were defending one of those furred ghosts had given him enough reassurances about his son's safety.
After all, if they were already on first name-basis with one of these warriors, Jack could concede them the benefit of doubt.
The hunter inhaled deeply and the trio tensed, before he simply exhaled and tried to assume a non-threatening stance. – While they did save us, I can't simply give my trust blindly. – He made eye-contact with the ghost, noticing for the first time that one of the scars had made one of his pupils white and unseeing. Oops! Well, no matter. – My name is Jack Fenton, ghost hunter and scientist of Amity Park, who am I speaking with? – He stated formally, grateful for those few lessons on etiquette with Vladdie.
While the teenagers seemed stunned, the ghost didn't miss a beat and straightened, raising up his head and exposing his throat, turning away his horns from them at the same time²*.
(Maddie bristled at the gesture, probably interpreting it as a challenge, but Jack had seen that kind of behavior in deer and caribou and it was a sign of respect, since it exposed such a vulnerable spot.)
– I am Icefang of the Far Frozen yeti tribe, General of Chief Frostbite's army. I commend you for your wariness of an unknown force, but I assure you that we mean no harm to humankind unless provoked with war. – The unspoken threat was there, but it was a fair warning of not wanting trouble, like Switzerland neutrality.
Jack could deal with something like that, so he deliberately mimicked the warrior's gesture of exposing his throat for a couple of seconds, which seemed to please Icefang. – We don't want anything of that kind, but if threatened we will retaliate. – The man answered seriously. – However, I need to clarify a point: is this "Great One" you mentioned my son Danny Fenton? – The yeti nodded, serious as well. (Maddie gasped.) – What is your relationship with him, what do you want from him and why is he in your haunt?
The warrior pondered for a while on his answer, while Jack silently tried to placate his agitated wife. If she attacked the fella, he couldn't give them the answers!
– I am not sure I have the clearance to divulge some of this information, but what I can tell you is that the Great One managed to escape Undergrowth's attempt to take over by fleeing in the Infinite Realms through your Portal and crash-landed in our Haunt. Your son is dear to us inhabitants of the Far Frozen, so we immediately aided him in his recovery. Our Chief instantly sent my squadron to liberate the town as soon as he woke up and explained the situation. – Icefang carefully explained.
It made sense, even if there were still holes left.
– If he's awake, then give him back! – Maddie exploded at last, incensed.
The general looked them over in a consideration, then called "Snowcoat!" and in a second the thick furred yeti who had been fussing over civilians down the road materialized at his side. – Have you been debriefed about the condition of the Great One by Brinehorn before departing? – He got a nod. – Is he cleared to travel?
– I'm afraid not, General. He was still too weakened from the ordeal. – Snowcoat answered.
– Then we can go and see him! – Sam jumped at the alternative.
The new yeti turned towards them and crouched to be at eye-level. He seemed to perform a quick examination (which the kids allowed without so much of a peep!), but the growing frown on his face seemed an answer enough. – You are still too shaken and drained to even stand up, Lady Sam, in clear conscience I can't allow this.
Before the Goth could try and either chew him off or bargain, Jazz put a placating hand on her shoulder and turned to Icefang. – Does Danny have his Phones? They are a pair of green earbuds with an F printed on them. – She described when a puzzled expression painted the ectoplasmic duo's faces.
– If he doesn't have them, we can always give them a pair to send to Danny, right? – Tucker looked expectantly at the ghosts.
– That, we can do. – Icefang turned to Jack. – Are these terms acceptable to you, father of the Great One?
The man looked at Maddie, who seemed peeved at being interpellated only now after being cut off before. With a glance that promised retribution (or a tongue lashing) later, the woman huffed, but at least she gave it a thought.
Jack, in the meanwhile, was pondering if this could be enough.
Sure, from what the kids implied, the Phones were already capable of interdimensional communication, so there shouldn't be a problem to talk to Danny, but… would that be enough?
All of them were exhausted, that was true, so there couldn't be much of a fight on the terms of the deal, but it was kind of them to give the humans the ability to decide.
So yes, the deal was fair according to Jack.
Maddie seemed to have reached the same conclusion because she nodded, even if displeased by it, due to the distaste evident on her face.
– The terms are acceptable, Icefang. We just need to grab a spare pair of phones and hook them up to a viva-voce device so that all of us can hear when he is going to call. – The patriarch tried to appease his wife and at the same time leash the kids into talking things in the adults' presence, without sneaking off.
Both groups seemed at the same time mollified and disgruntled by the conditions, but didn't protest, so it was already a step forward!
It took a bit of a hassle to reach the FentonWorks, due to their exhaustion and Maddie's unwillingness to be touched by ghosts.
Jack had been a good sport, instead, and had accepted leaning on Snowcoat to walk, due to both their bulk and the inability to stand on his own of the man (plus if he observed from a close perspective his fur, it would be no one's business).
Sam, even if grumpy, was completely fine sitting on Icefang's shoulder (but it was more about being treated like a weakling than the person carrying her), as was Tucker on the other, but with a more relaxed air on him.
Jazz (the least injured and drained among the humans) had proclaimed herself as her mother's crutch and was helping her walk.
At lest half an hour later, the five humans and two ghosts found themselves in the Lab basement, rummaging for both the Fenton Phones and a receiver to modify in order to hear the call (which took less than the time it took to make the deal, unsurprisingly).
After entrusting the spare Phones to Icefang (who swore on his Core to bring them safely to the "Great One"), the yeti departed, sending Snowcoat to tend to Amity's civilian.
Apparently, the yeti was the most knowledgeable doctor on human physiology after Brinehorn, who was supervising Danny.
Thus, the Fentons were finally alone with the teenagers.
– Why on Earth are you so familiar with a whole tribe of ghosts? And why is Danny called "Great One" by them? – Maddie finally snapped, however the kids glared right back at her (even if Tucker in a weaker way than the other two, probably due to being more susceptible to the woman's ire than Sam).
– We crash landed on their Lair while we were exploring the Infinite Realms, it's not a big deal. – Sam growled. – Danny just went Mouse on Frostbite's Lion with a thorn in his paw, they are grateful to him because of this. – She crossed her arms, clearly defensive.
– You went into the Portal? How? – Jack knew he should have been more severe, but the news had made him excited.
– The Speeder. – Tucker looked relieved to change inquirer, since he looked at him. – It's perfectly equipped with the defense Ecto-Shield and while there's no reliable radar map in the InfiRe, it can still keep track of where the Portal is, so we never got lost! – While that made the man super interested, the implication of that statement made him pre-cringe at his wife's reaction.
– Never? Tucker, how many times did you go in the Portal? – Her saccharine tone made everyone sans Sam shudder.
– Ughhh… Two or three? – He asked weakly, not being convincing at all, sweating all over and looking paler by the minute.
– Buddy, just plead the Fifth and don't dig yourself deeper. – Jack took pity on him, not wanting the boy to pass out in terror. Their emotions were skyrocketing too high, and it would have inevitable to blow a fuse.
Uh, it was weird to be the mediator among them, usually that was Jazz's role, but she was more on the defensive side of the edge instead of walking it.
– Jack, stop covering for them! Were you on this secret all along? – The woman verbally attacked him, but he just raised his hands in surrender.
– Maddie, sweetheart, we just came out a Plant-pocalypse, I think we all deserve to chill out. – The kids groaned at the pun, but a bit of tension seemed to be diffused from their frames.
Mission Accomplished!
His wife seethed, but seemed to recognize reason in his words, because she tried to forcefully reign in her fury and started to breathe in definite patterns to quell her demeanor. – Very well. I have just one thing to ask you then: after all we taught you about ghosts, why did you even decide to trust them? – She demanded tightly.
– Because they're sentient people, mother. – Jazz finally spoke, calm and serious instead of the whiny tone she had usually assumed when she had tried to tell them the same before… Or at least that was the main difference Jack noticed, because the familiar phrase sounded in his head like that.
Had he dismissed her opinion before just because it sounded like the whining of a bratty kid?
– You just have to accept that you were wr-…! – Sam was cut off by Tucker's elbow in her gut, which allowed Jazz to continue.
– Like humans, ghosts have different personalities and attitudes, all your data had been based on a small "tainted" sample and so ineligible for your observations. Like, if you use a net in a koi pond and fish up only red ones and a couple of calicos, it's obvious you'll think that the majority of their population it's red. However, since you fished only in one spot, you'll never get the full picture and so discover that the population is like, 75-80% calicos and white fish and the red ones swarm only that particular spot you're fishing in. – Jazz lectured and for once her father found himself fully captured by her arguments instead of either nodding off or being distracted.
This… did make sense! It also kind of reminded one of his ecology lectures in college about gathering samples.
With a gasp, Jack realized where the simile was going to: the pond was the Ghost Zone and the malicious ghosts they had fought were the red fish! And the specific location they had fished in was Amity Park!
Was this flocking because of attempting a turf war for a new place that had opened because of their Portal?
He could ask his daughter now, but probably the question would be ill-received during such a serious situation, after all they had just managed to calm Maddie.
– So, these yetis are part of this "calico/white fish" faction, that's what you mean? – He asked instead, earning an approving smile from Jazz.
– More the whites than calicos, if we keep to the simile and consider the latter as a bit more voluble than the former. – Tucker added with an awkward chuckle.
– Yeah, not really a fan of Kitty and Johnny, but if they're not up to their shit, they don't usually try to make menace of themselves. – Sam huffed from the sidelines.
– Yes, a whole lot of ghosts want to be left alone or not to be messed with. Then, there are the peaceful or neutral ones and then the belligerent ones, who are the most frequent assaulters of Amity like Ghost X and the Crate Creep. – Jazz concluded, making Danny's friends cringe. Why?
– Jazz, please, how many times have we told you to call them by their self-appointed names? It makes them more annoyed if they hear you use that! – Tucker protested, exasperated.
– That's exactly why! If they are more annoyed about that, they'll be more distracted! – That made the younger teens pause and look at her in bewilderment.
Luckily, before anyone could make any more remarks, the speaker frizzed and Danny's hesitant voice sounded from it. – Hello?
– Danny! – Everyone exclaimed, relieved.
They then proceeded to talk over one another, before the boy's drained voice from the other side interrupted them. – Guys! One at time! I didn't understand a word!
Guilty and embarrassed, Jack scratched the top of his head and coughed awkwardly. – Son, how are you?
– …I've been better, but I'm getting there. Frostbite is mother-henning me to eat and stay warm, so I'll be fine soon, don't worry. – Danny reassured sincerely if not a bit mutinous, clearing the remaining tension in the Lab. – But enough about me, how are you all? What happened to Undergrowth? Icefang told me they dealt with him, but not the details. – Funny how his boy seemed more preoccupied of them than himself.
– Tired but okay, little brother. Snowcoat checked us over. – Jazz answered with a small fond smile.
– Good. …Sam? – He asked carefully.
The Goth huffed, but relented. – I'm definitely not made to be a queen and I think that for a while I won't be able to get inside my greenhouse, but I'll be fine, you moron.
A loud relieved exhale could be heard from the other side of the line, but before the boy could add anything else, Maddie took over the conversation. – Danny, why didn't you ever tell us about all of this? – She gestured to the kids (even if their son couldn't see it). – Mingling with ghosts, exploring the Ghost Zones and who knows what else!
– I think you know why, mom. – Danny answered after a beat, seemingly with a "done" tone. – How many times have Jazz and I tried to tell you that not all ghosts were bad? How many times you and dad raved about capturing and dissecting ghosts anyway at the lunch table? That if they screamed in pain, you knew that whatever you were doing was working?
Jack flinched guilty at the reminder, but then frowned when he noticed a low vibrating sound in the background of the transmission. Was that an interference or…?
He glanced around to see if anyone else has noticed the oddity: Jazz and Sam were fixated severely on Maddie who was grimacing, while Tucker seemed to be paling.
Once making eye contact with the Tech-genius, the man mouthed a "What's going on?" that made the teen swallow.
– Danny, sorry to change the topic, but is Frostbite there with you? – The boy braved.
There was a pause, then a sharp intake of air. – Frostbite, stop growling! Your anger is making me angrier than I'm supposed to be! – There was a thump, like someone had hit a plushie, and the interference (growling?) stopped.
– Little Snowflake… – A deep baritone began, almost whining, but Danny seemed to have none of that.
– Frostbite, I know that you're fostering me now, but this is something I have to resolve with my parents on my own. – The term "fostering" chilled Jack to the bone and he had a sudden flashback of the CPS time.
What was this ghost trying to do?
– Not quite, Danny. You're under my responsibility at the moment, so this is very much my concern. This situation cannot be carried forward any longer, for your sake and your dear ones'. This requires an intervention. – This stranger sentenced, as if he had any authority over mortals, since he was from another plane of existence.
However, before either of the adults or Danny could protest (vehemently in the case of the former), Jazz uncharacteristically of her whooped.
The four stared at her bewildered, but she didn't either notice or care. – Thank all great psychology spirits, finally someone said it and is willing to actively do something! Thank you Frostbite, your help will be greatly appreciated.
– But Jazz-! – Her brother started, but Jazz cut him off.
– Can it, Danny. Frostbite is right and I'm sure you know that too, but you're just in denial. – She said, a bit smug and a bit stern.
– …I think they're right, man. – Tucker piped up. – You saw how, from Undergrowth and all those other close ones we had, we're over our head. Besides, you're struggling, don't deny it, and I don't like seeing my best friend suffering.
– You don't have to shoulder everything Danny. Lone wolves don't last long without a pack and if anything goes wrong, you'll have us and Frostbite to back you up. – Sam added her two cents.
That seemed to cement whatever decision they were talking about and that was soaring over his and Maddie's head, because their son sighed in defeat. – Okay, fine. But we're having this conversation face-to-face, not over the Phones. – He added.
– That's fair. – Jazz conceded, while the other teens nodded along.
– And when will this conversation be? – Maddie demanded, still worked up by the situation but mollified now that at least there seemed to be some sort of accord where they would get answers once and for all.
There was a pause where only some hums and chirps sounded from the other end of the line, but then the ghost answered. – Brinehorn here was informing me that it'll be at least one Earth rotation before Danny will be able to safely leave the Far Frozen. His condition needs to be… regulated in order to prevent one of the reasons he had to flee to the Realms.
– Oh! You got another one! – Tucker blurted, a bit excited and surprised.
– Yeah, just another to forget about in the heat of the moment when you need it. – Danny grumbled tiredly, making his friends and sister laugh at him.
– Little Snowflake, you should rest some more if you want to meet up with your companions tomorrow. Plus, I'm sure they are tired themselves; we can call them again later. – Frostbite rumbled comfortingly, making Jack's stomach drop at his tenderness and the following agreeing mumble of his son.
Danny allowed others to hear him sound like that only if he was comfortable with them, because he had hated showing any weakness since coming back from the fostering the CPS had him and Jazz in.
(During one father-daughter bonding, rarer due to the construction of the Portal, his princess had confided Jack that her brother was trying to go out of his way to ensure that no one would have a reason to bring them away again.)
(At the time the man had burst with affection for having such a caring son, but thinking about it now with what he had just heard about needing "an intervention" for the boy's sake, maybe that hadn't been a good thing. Above all because he hadn't heard Danny this vulnerable since then.)
The trio of teens gave their farewells and recommendations, but when it came the Fentons' turn, the parents hesitated, unsure about what to say and not cause a discussion.
– …Make sure to come back home feeling better, son. Your old man would appreciate it. – Jack decided to say fondly, trying to repress his jealousy.
– …I'll do my best, dad. – Even if practically on the verge of sleep, there was a smile in Danny's words.
– If you need us, don't hesitate to call, Danny. We'll drop whatever we'll be doing to answer, okay? – Maddie told him, partly because she was his mother and partly because she was a ghost huntress. She wouldn't let her son be harmed by those beings.
– …Okay, mom. – The boy answered, almost out of it.
– We love you, Danny. Remember that. – Jack couldn't help to say, getting a hitch of breath from the still open line.
– …I never doubted it. – Was the wet whisper, before the line closed.
…Time to secure the Portal, bring the kids home and take a hot shower. There were fluids dripping fresh from his face, Jack Fenton had to wash them away as soon as he could.
A/N. I'm not crying, you're crying! *sobs in a corner*
I'll be brave enough to admit that I made myself sad with this ending, okay? (╥﹏╥)
I love when parents try to do their best and to do so recognize their misleadings.
A shout out for Trace, Alice, Strawberrycamel and the others from Team Ghost, you were awesome and the main reason this chapter came out! (シ_ _)シ
The chapter count changed because it felt better to split the second one in two, but I'll try to post the ending by the end of the day! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
Plz send good vibes and type ya soon! ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ