Thank you to Gammija, Lightning Streak, 60sec400, Raventink, IceFire Dragon Alchemist73, and Lexosaurus for your reviews on the last chapter! This one is also a little shorter than usual but I felt like I needed to cut it off where I did. Next chapter will probably be much longer, since I have plenty of loose ends to tie and such. Until then however, hope you enjoy the climax (finally)!
Danny paled as Valerie aimed the gun at him. He hoped he could see some sort of regret or resistance in her eyes, but no such luck. He couldn't worry about her for long, however, because he was currently the only one looking down the barrel of a lethal weapon.
With that thought, he shot off. He could hear her following, but he knew she'd never be able to catch him, not to mention the gun only had one round. She only had one shot. He turned, looking back at her though never slowing. She had activated her full mask – something she hadn't done since they had worked out all their issues – and something about that sent a chill down his spine.
"Valerie!" He called, glancing over his shoulder for a moment to make sure he wasn't about to run into anything. Bad idea. When he looked back, Valerie had gained on him, steadfast in her pursuit. "Valerie I don't know what he did to you but you have to fight it!"
He took them weaving through buildings, trying to direct them back towards the deserted park. Citizens gaped up at their heroes, unused to seeing them chasing each other.
"Just stop Danny. You can't escape this forever. You can't ruin my life and expect me to forgive you." Valerie's voice was cold - detached - as she spoke through the speaker in her helmet that amplified her words.
Danny shook his head. "I know Valerie! I know. We've talked about this. Please, please fight this. I'll do whatever it takes to get you back!" He saw the park in the distance and breathed a sigh of relief.
Valerie was silent for a moment. "Maybe I don't want to be back. Maybe I want to be angry. Maybe I want to kill you." Her foot shifted on her board.
Danny's eyes widened as he recalled the movement.
"I guess I'll just have to make you." She said with a snarl. Her ambient energy flared around her, glowing brighter than he had ever seen it. He refused to let himself feel fear as she began flying towards him. He moved his foot slightly, readying himself.
When she was moments away from knocking him clean off his board, he used his foot to active his most recent upgrade. The beam of light stopped Valerie in her tracks, freezing her completely. Her eyes flashed dangerously when she realized she couldn't move. Danny knew his little trick wouldn't last much longer. He'd have to do it, and he'd have to do it now.
He didn't have the time to hope that the location of the tractor beam matched up to his dream as he directed hot ectoplasm into his hand and fired it at Valerie's board. He heard her yelp at the heat so close to her foot as her board spun from the force of his attack.
He watched, muscles tensed as he fought the urge to go help her. She steadied herself quickly enough, glancing down at the char marks on her board. Her mask disengaged and she looked up at him with wild, angry red eyes.
"How did you know? I never did show you where your parents put this!" She stood straight suddenly, eyes blinking as her brain worked. "Wait… Your parents… They told you!" She pointed an accusing finger at him, red eyes flashing. "Of course they would! They would sacrifice mankind for their precious boy."
Danny frowned, holding up his hands in what he hoped to be a placating fashion. "What? No, Val, it wasn't that at all!"
Well," She smirked darkly, "Not me. If no one else will do what it takes to keep us all safe, I'll just have to do it myself."
Danny braced himself to make a speedy escape when Valerie reached down to press a button on the side of her boot. He cocked his head, confused, as she did the same to the other. She never released her hold on her gun as she did, nor did she look away from him.
"You ever wonder how I stay on my board? I mean, I have good balance but I'm only human, of course."
"Val…" Danny watched her, brows furrowed.
"It's my boots, actually. The bottom have this conductive metal coating and there's this electric current running through it that makes the whole situation act kind of like an electromagnet with the board, but it's only really activated when the board tilts or if I get too close to the edge." As if to demonstrate, she eased herself closer to one side of her board. The board began whirring as its engines and stabilizers kept it from tilting too far. "I can turn the magnets off, of course."
"What are you doing?" Danny's voice was tight. He already knew.
"You have two options, Phantom. Save me, or save yourself." And with that, she allowed herself to fall forward.
Danny didn't have to think. Which was, of course, exactly what she was counting on. He flew to catch up with her falling form, noting how she had closed her eyes. Even when under the influence of some evil ghost, she wasn't sure he'd care enough to save her.
He did, of course. He always would. He flew under her, catching her and holding her in his arms, bridal style. She blinked her eyes open, immediately putting the barrel of the gun to his chest, right above his core.
He stared down at her. She stared back. Time felt slow. The world felt quiet.
"You can fight this Valerie."
She shook her head and he noticed tears at the edge of her eyes. Her irises were still red, but they weren't glowing anymore. "I can't. I can't be free until I get my revenge." And with that, she pulled the trigger.
Time caught up. Fast. Valerie felt her mind clear at the same moment Danny's arms tensed where they held her. She caught a glimpse of his face, his features twisted in agony, before the two hit the ground hard. Valerie gasped as the air was knocked out of her, rolling a couple times with the force of the landing.
Her head hurt. She didn't know if she had hit it or if it was left over from the recent attack on her mind. She rolled to sit up, noting the soft grass beneath her. This area was over-grown. Danny had tried to give them a soft landing.
She gasped, looking over her shoulder. Danny was lying in the grass, body spasming and eyes wide as he panted.
"Danny!" She crawled over to him, pulling his head and shoulders onto her lap. Her eyes locked onto his chest. "Oh no…" She pulled out the empty dart. She had done this. She remembered.
"Val?" Danny's voice was soft, shaky. Magenta glowed as it creeped in veiny patterns from the origin right above his core.
She nodded. "I'm sorry Danny. Shit I'm… I can… I can help. Let me just…" She reached to pull her phone from her side pouch.
"No you don't." Hayes voice cut through her panicked haze like a knife.
She looked up to see him walking calmly towards them, smirk on his face and gun in his hand.
"Hands up, Valerie. You've lost."
Valerie felt her face heat as angry tears slid down her cheeks. "No! At least let him die in the arms of someone who loves him!"
Hayes shrugged. "Sure, but no funny moves." His gun never wavered from its aim. "Though it might not be much comfort, seeing as it's also the arms of his murderer."
Valerie wanted so badly to appear strong in that moment, but the timing of the words and the truth of them as she held the shaking body of her friend would never allow her. She could only choke on a sob and turn her attention back to Danny.
"He's right," She whispered to him, tears falling down her cheeks, "This was my fault. I'm so sorry. I try so hard to be good to you but I always fall short."
Danny shook his head as best he could. "It… Not your gun…"
"Does that matter?" She watched as the magenta poison continued to spread.
He smiled feebly at her. "You don't… Have yours… I was right."
Valerie scoffed. "You're crazy." She hugged him as tight as she dared. "You're absolutely nuts. I'm sorry." Fresh tears began to fall.
Danny wanted so badly to comfort her, but he couldn't. He couldn't move, he couldn't think. The only thing he had keeping him in the present moment was the pain. He wanted to be rid of it, but not if that meant he couldn't stay with her just a little bit longer. She had worked miracles on his life before. Maybe she would again.
Valerie watched as the magenta spread further and further. There was nothing left she could do. They had used up all their luck.
"Valerie!"
And then Laura Brannon became the hero.
Hayes wasn't a fool. "Apprehend her!"
Two bulky guards lumbered towards Laura, who showed no signs of slowing. When she was close enough, she leapt into their waiting grip, but not before launching the ecto-gun in her hands towards Valerie. The guards had her, already pulling her arms behind her back and securing her wrists together with a zip tie.
It didn't matter though. Valerie leaned forward, almost tossing Danny from her lap to catch the gun. Upon closer inspection, she realized it wasn't a regular ecto-gun. It was clearly for injection, and she could see a glowing green liquid in the barrel. It looked like ectoplasm, but much, much brighter.
She didn't know for sure what it was, but she didn't have the time to care. She administered the shot directly into his core, right near the poisoned wound. Bright green raced down the same channels as the previous fluid, clearing it and replacing it with its own bright hue as it went.
Danny gasped, eyes flaring sharply green before he grabbed hold of Valerie and hugged her tight to his body. She felt a harsh cold flare from him - icy hot – before the feeling of a cold glass of water being poured over her head reminded her of Danny's ghostly ability.
She watched bullets fly towards them through his intangible shoulder and shivered when they flew past the area where they were sitting. She felt warmth return to her limbs and watched as Danny flew out from under her, rising above them all and glaring at Hayes with furiously glowing eyes.
Hayes didn't wither under the stare. Danny wasn't intimidated. He could take them all. He just wasn't so sure he wanted Valerie to see.
"Please don't make me fight you Hayes; I'm so pissed right now I feel like I could level this park, and I really, really don't want to do that." His voice rumbled in his chest, and Valerie could hear an echo in his voice. It was unsettling, how much he felt and looked like a full ghost in that moment. And yet, she could feel the thrill in her chest. How risky it was of her to gain the affection of something so dangerous.
She wondered if this excitement was what drew him to her.
Hayes glared. "Would you? Would you be willing to risk everyone seeing you for what you truly are? What about her?" He motioned towards Valerie. "She's clearly put all of her faith into your humanity. Are you willing to prove her wrong?"
Valerie watched him hesitate for a moment before adding her two cents. "I know what he is." She promised, drawing the attention of all who were present. "I've always known."
Hayes scoffed at her, once again raising his weapon towards Danny. "We'll see."
Danny moved to create a shield when a shot rang out. Danny frowned. It didn't sound like a gun. He looked down a Hayes, who had dropped to a knee. He could see a severe ectoplasm burn right above Hayes's knee. He looked at Valerie, who was still aiming her ecto-gun.
The other GiW seemed to shake off their shock a moment later, angry gazes turning to Valerie. Danny lowered himself between them, hands glowing and providing a silent threat. The remaining agents weren't as bold as Hayes and immediately dropped their weapons, hands raised in surrender.
Danny lowered himself fully to the ground, offering a hand to Valerie upon landing. She took the offer and rose to stand next to him. He noticed her vacant expression, eyebrows furrowing as he gently grabbed her arm and tugged her a little closer.
"Hey, are you alright?" He asked her. She remained silent. "Val? How did you get that gun to do that?"
She looked down at the weapon in her hands, directing his gaze to the damage. He recognized the remains of the safety system that regulated the heat of the ecto-plasm. "It broke when we fell." She whispered.
He shook his head, amazed but relieved at their luck. "We need to take care of these guys Val." He walked over to Hayes, who was making the attempt to look like he wasn't in pain. Danny pulled a pair of Fenton Cuffs from his boot and slapped them on the man's wrists. "What an interesting turn of events, huh Hayes?" He smirked coldly. "Here I was thinking you'd be the one arresting me one day."
"I wouldn't have arrested you," Hayes replied, "I would've destroyed you."
Danny just rolled his eyes. He glanced up at Valerie, who still hadn't moved. His worry returned. "Hey, can you get Laura free while I cuff these other guys?"
She nodded, still silent. Danny watched her move as he did his own tasks. He noticed her empty look and stiff posture. Finally, when he was done, he walked over to the two women. Laura was rubbing her freed wrists and speaking softly to Valerie.
"Are you alright? Valerie? It's okay. Jasmine called me. I had the serum because you asked me to make it. You did it. You saved him."
Valerie shook her head furiously at that. "I'm… I'm going home."
Laura and Danny watched her hail her board and climb on before speeding away.
Yay finally! We are soooooo close to being done here, and I for one am pumped! I'll put a more complete summary of my thoughts and feelings and thanks, but for now I really hope you've been enjoying yourself and that you enjoyed the story in general. Can't wait to hear what you all think!