Author's Note: Just a poor white kid. If I owned Danny, would I be a poor white kid?
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Danny looked so confused. I'd never seen him so close to crying before. I tried to assure him, but I knew nothing I could say would make things right. He needed proof Jack was his father. Personally, I didn't see how Jack couldn't be his father. He loved Danny, so it shouldn't matter even if Vlad was Danny's father. "Danny," I said, "We could do a DNA test or something. We could ask your mom."
"Sam, that's not something you can ask your mom!"
I sighed. "We could ask Clockwork."
His eyes brightened slightly at that. I wondered sometimes if Danny and Clockwork were friends. I knew he'd saved us, helped us, but Danny seemed to see something in Clockwork that I didn't. "Yes, he would know," Danny said, his voice suddenly hesitant.
I understood. He was worried that his fears were right. He was scared that Vlad was his father. I weighed the two options. It would kill Danny if he couldn't find out for sure. "We'll…do that DNA test first," he said. "Then, we'll go to Clockwork. I don't want to bother him over nothing."
I had a sinking feeling it wouldn't be 'nothing'. "Alright," I agreed.
He smiled. "Thanks, Sam."
Danny flew away, and I smiled sadly. I hope he's alright. I watched until he was out of sight. Then, I turned around and nearly yelled in surprise. Vlad Masters stood right behind me. "How were you planning on getting a sample exactly?" he asked.
"I…um…"
He rolled his eyes and gave me a lock of hair in a plastic bag. I didn't bother asking where the bag came from. "I thought Daniel might want to avoid a blood test. With our ectoplasm, I'm not sure what the results would be. I'd go to Axion Labs. I'm sure Valerie's father would be willing to help you."
Then, he vanished. I stood and stared at where he'd been. I'd have to explain how I'd gotten Vlad's DNA, and I was praying silently that Vlad wasn't Danny's father. I missed cheerful Danny. I missed the Danny who smiled with that sheepish smile of his- the smile that could melt my heart. "It'll be alright," I whispered to the empty air. "It'll be alright."
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Mr. Grey gave us the results printed on paper. "I'm glad to see you kids taking an interest in genetics," he said.
I smiled. "Thanks."
Tucker hovered over me, seemingly genuinely interested in what the paper said. "Well?" Danny whispered. "What does it say?"
I gazed over the paper. Then, I saw the answer. I gulped. "It's…not a hundred percent," I said, forcing a smile.
Danny narrowed his eyes. "Sam, let me see it," he whispered.
I didn't want to show it to him. It would hurt him! No… he couldn't make me. I wished that paper would just… burst into flames or something. I stared, as if my gaze could change the number on it. "Sam, I need to see," Danny said. "Your reaction is scaring me. I already can tell it's not going to be good."
I sighed and wordlessly handed him the paper. He took a deep breath. I watched him search for the number he was looking for. When he suddenly paled, I knew he'd found it. Danny swayed unsteadily on his feet. "I feel like I'm gonna faint…"
Tucker grabbed on of his arms to help steady him. "Danny?" I whispered. "Danny!"
He didn't reply to me. Danny dropped the paper on the ground and fainted. Right there. He just fainted. Tucker gave me a worried look, keeping Danny's head from hitting the ground. "Oh, what happened?" Mr. Grey asked, coming into the room.
"Danny just fainted!" Tucker said. "I don't know what happened!"
I vaguely heard them talking. I didn't think he'd be this surprised. In a strange, twisted way, I was relieved. Now Vlad didn't seem so… well, creepy. It didn't matter to me who his father was, but it mattered to him- to Danny. I sighed, wondering how long Danny would deny it. After all, the results weren't a hundred percent, but they were accurate enough to make me believe it. 99.9%.
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Author's Note: Duh, duh, dum! Now we know!
Stephinie Crow Manson: Thanks! Denial seemed very Danny-like to me.
Amethyst Ocean: Thanks a bunch!
RenesmeeScarlet: Your wish is my command…
Alexia Moonlight: I'm glad it was touching… in a phan-girl sort of way.
Rane: Thanks!
Pearl84: Thank you- for the review and the DNA test suggestion. I'm glad you think I do Vlad well. I always worry about getting him right.