Yes, I decided to continue. I think that if I didn't at this point then people might hunt me down. Sorry it's so short, but I couldn't think of a good place to end it. Enjoy!

How it Happened and a Tape

Chapter 2

Sixteen-year-old Danny Fenton had just entered the usually messy kitchen when he heard his mother call for him. He dropped his worn out purple book bag at the cluttered kitchen table before turning and running up the stairs. The teenager climbed the ladder into the Op Center, and saw both of his parents sitting on a worn out, thread bare couch staring blankly at the ancient television.

"Yeah Mom?" he asked breathlessly. He was hoping that the two scientists had not found out about his 'D' in English. They would not be happy, and he would most likely be ground for a week when they did find out.

As if to add to his confusion, Maddie just pointed wordlessly at the TV screen.

Danny scratched his head. "The TV? What about it?" he asked in confusion.

"Not the TV, Son," Jack said, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, "What's inside it. You mother and I were going through some old security tapes. We found a particularly interesting one that happened about two years ago. Ringing any bells?"

Danny's skin was beginning to resemble chalk. "Oh…he he….that tape. You see, about that….I got nothing."

"Would you care to explain?" Maddie interrogated, tapping her foot impatiently and wincing at her harsh tones.

"Well, I, uh, guess you know that I'm Danny Phantom then."Danny voiced unnecessarily as he rubbed the back of his head.

Jack and Maddie noticeably deflated. Now that it was confirmed, the magnitude of this situation was hitting them dead on.

"Yes, now we do know of you being Danny Phantom. But why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you. We could have fixed you." Maddie said sadly, her violet eyes lowered to her feet. She couldn't meet her son's eyes. She knew that if she looked at him she would only see a ghostly menace that she had devoted herself to killing. Maddie felt a chill that went bone deep. How could she have almost killed her own son? The fact that she didn't know was no excuse. She should have known. He was her son for crying out loud! Well, if he was her son then why did she feel so frightened by his presence? The answer was that this was not the same son she thought she had. Apparently he hadn't been that son since he was fourteen. That thought alone made her want to curl up and cry.

Danny's eyes flashed a furious green that seemed to be a shadow of the phantom inside of him at his mother's words, "Fix me? Fix me! As if I'm just some toy? Just some stupid science experiment that didn't go quite as planned? I don't want to be fixed! I like myself just the way I am. I've been this way too long, and not only would it probably be physically painful but emotionally, too!" Realizing that he was beginning to sound like Jazz, he turned on his heel and walked out the door. He didn't pause in his steps as he jumped from the top of the ladder and stomped down the stairs, all the while wiping angry tears from his eyes.

The two distraught parents winced as they heard the front door slam shut. Maddie leaned on her husband and let searing tears roll down her cheeks. Jack wrapped his long arms around the woman and looked sadly at the trap door in the floor that his son had just disappeared through. That had defiantly not gone as planned.

That is only slightly longer than the first time I put this chapter up but I think it's better. Tell me what you think! I really want to know!

Edit Date: 4/2/10