I've recovered enough to write this chapter. Thank you so much for all the thoughtful reviews and messages you guys have been sending my way for the last few days, they really mean a lot. I'm in the process of responding to all of them now, so if you haven't gotten anything from me yet, it's probably still in the works.

If you guys don't know what I'm talking about and want to know what I'm talking about, please refer to the top A/N of my story entitled Be Careful What You Wish For. I really don't want to explain again.

Anyways, this is the next chapter. It's a bit shorter than the last one, but I feel like this one is a bit more focused. I didn't feel as scattered when I was writing this chapter. Probably because it didn't take me the better part of a month to write (it was more like two and a half hours) but, whatever. Que sera, sera.

I don't want to give anything away in this part of the A/N, so I'll go ahead and leave off with my 'I don't own Danny Phantom' bull.

Enjoy (:

Wide Awake

Chapter Ten

April 21, 2013

"Sam?" Tucker called hesitantly. She gave no apparent sign that she heard him. Danny remained frozen where he stood, arms still outstretched from handing Tucker the knives. "Whatcha lookin' at, there?"

"Hm?" She blinked and shook her head, before peering up at Tucker. She glanced over Tucker's shoulders and for one instant her eyes locked with Danny's. He could definitely see something flickering there, as if some portion of her mind was attempting to wrap itself around her discovery. Danny's tongue flicked out and he licked his lips nervously, willing himself to stay still against his instincts, which were to run and hide from her prying gaze as quickly as possible. He could feel his adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed the thick lump suddenly lodged in his throat.

"What are you looking at?" Tucker asked again, pronouncing each word slowly and carefully before throwing an incredulous look over his shoulder at Valerie.

"Oh, the rope." Sam said, lifting it slightly. "I guess I shot it while I was shooting at the zacks. I just thought it was weird that I managed to directly hit the rope."

Tucker grunted and turned on his heel, picking his way carefully through the splayed limbs of fallen zombies and brushing past Danny. Danny remained very still as Sam followed Tucker. She glanced up at him as she passed, and her face was twisted slightly, as if she was attempting to figure out a particularly difficult crossword. He waited until after she was behind him before turning and following suit, albeit much more slowly.

The walk back was, if possible, even more quiet than the walk there. Valerie kept her head down toward the ground, much to Tucker's apparent chagrin; he gave up attempting to have a conversation with her before they were even out of the gates around the property. Sam stayed behind them, occasionally glancing over her shoulder to ensure that Danny was still with them, but she did not speak either. And Danny was too lost in his thank-you prayers to whatever powers be to even think about speaking a single word out loud.

They were the second group back to the bus. Three people Danny did not recognize were lounging on the ground behind the bus, apparently waiting for Valerie to return so that they could deposit their pick-ups into the back and take their seats inside again. Danny fidgeted nervously on the outer edge of the group, watching the way Tucker murmured something to Sam and Sam ignored him. Valerie managed to get the back door open just as Tucker huffed and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Is everyone PMS-ing around here?" He demanded loudly. Sam's head whipped around and she snarled something Danny could not fully understand. "So that's a yes from Lucifer, here, anyone else?" He asked, craning his head around Sam mockingly as if he was looking for raised hands to tally. Valerie let her head tip back to the sky and her eyes close as Tucker and Sam began bickering.

"Jesus tap dancing Christ," Valerie muttered just loud enough for Danny to hear as he drew up to her side. He carefully tucked the rifles he carried behind the seats Tucker and Sam previously occupied, before glancing up to find her watching Tucker and Sam from the corner of her eye. He turned his head and found them to be inches from each other, Sam's face slowly turning red as they hissed insults at each other.

"Do they do this often?" He asked, scarcely speaking above a whisper for fear of them hearing him. Valerie glanced at him before turning her attention back to the couple in question.

"Sometimes. When one of them is particularly stressed out." She sighed. "I would move out of the way, if I were you." She added under her breath. She cleared her throat, drew herself up to her full height, and just as Danny was scurrying in front of her to stand on her other side, she screeched, "Hey! Get your shit in the bus and take this inside, wouldja?"

They did not immediately look around, though Danny noticed that they were no longer speaking to each other. Instead, they glowered at each other, Sam's nostrils flared dangerously, before suddenly she turned and stormed toward the bus. She growled deep in her chest as she threw her weapons into the bus, before stomping around Valerie and Danny and boarding the bus. Tucker remained where he was, waiting until he saw her taking their previous seat on the back of the bus through the back door to move toward the back door. He did not slam his load down as harshly as Sam did, but Danny could tell by the way his biceps were trembling and a muscle in his jaw was jumping that he was using every ounce of self-control he had to do so. Danny dropped his gaze to his feet as Tucker passed, not keen on giving his old friend any reason to lash out at him, physically or verbally. Valerie stayed still until she heard Tucker on the bus. She groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Thishiz adishter," She grumbled.

"What?" Danny asked fearfully.

"This is a disaster," She repeated through her slightly parted fingers. They remained still for another moment, before Valerie sighed and dropped her hands to her sides. She popped her neck and turned toward the bus, absent mindedly gesturing for Danny to follow. "C'mon, let's just get on," She said quietly.

Twenty minutes later, the entire raid party was back on the bus. Valerie stood at the very front, carefully counting each head to ensure they were not leaving anyone behind, before nodding to herself and taking her seat behind the wheel. Danny turned himself sideways in the seat again, sneaking a glance back at the rest of the bus as he propped his feet up on the bench beside him. Everyone appeared to be very tired, excluding Tucker and Sam. Many were nodding off, either on the shoulders of their bench partners or the windows beside them. Tucker and Sam, however, appeared to be sitting as far away from each other as humanly possible. Tucker was all but hanging out of the window, his gaze turned pointedly upward toward the heavens, as Sam appeared to be perched on the very corner of the bench. She, too, was glaring out the window, but on the opposite side of the bus as Tucker. She looked as if she was ready to take off running at the slightest hint that Tucker might try speaking to her.

The bus started up, groaning and growling its' displeasure at being woken up, and they began their slow trek back to El Lindo Relajo. Danny chewed on the inside of his cheek as he watched Sam's hair twitch in time with the jostling of the bus.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when the music started. It was a deafeningly loud burst of pounding drums and shredding guitar, building rather quickly to an explosive drop to the first verse. Danny was so caught off-guard by it that he did not recognize the tune until the singer began singing. He gasped audibly. It was his favorite song from before The Event, one he had not heard in over a year.

He grinned in spite of himself. Feelings of euphoria bubbled through his chest, making him want to stand and dance along to the music, regardless of who was watching. He chanced a glance back at Tucker and Sam, silly grin still plastered to his face, until he caught sight of Sam and his grin faltered and vanished.

She was whirled around, facing Tucker, but even from where Danny sat he could see tears welling in her eyes. Tucker was looking at her sideways, apparently unmoved by her obvious displeasure with the song choice. Danny watched Sam shout something fiercely to Tucker, but her words were lost in the music and Danny could not catch what she was saying. Tucker shrugged and turned back to the window. Sam's head jerked back, appalled at his response, before standing and storming up the aisle. She ignored the indignant calls from the other raid members upon whose feet she unintentionally tred, keeping her stony glare fixated on Valerie's rear-view mirror. Danny bent his knees up so that his feet were no longer hanging in the aisle, intending to let her pass, but much to his surprise she dropped unceremoniously into the bench across the aisle from Danny's. He remained very still, watching her fight the tears swimming in her eyes and failing as several escaped and streaked down her face.

She grumbled something to herself as she swiped the tears away angrily, refusing to acknowledge Danny's gaze. He looked away quickly, lifting his hand to pick at the tear in the leather lining the divider before him. "D'you think Tucker's a complete asshole?" Her voice rang out clearly over the music, which quieted considerably as the bridge began to play. Danny glanced up and froze at the realization that she was speaking to him. Her eyes were blood-shot, her cheeks were puffy, and her nose was bright red, but she was so gorgeous in that moment that his heart nearly stopped in his chest.

"Um, no," Danny said, recovering quickly. "Why?"

"This stupid song." She growled, falling back in her seat. Danny bit his lip and glanced around. Tucker was still staring determinedly out the window, apparently oblivious to the fact that Sam was even sitting beside Seth, let alone speaking to him.

"What's wrong with this song?" Danny asked, cautiously moving into the aisle seat of his bench so that they would not have to strain as much to be heard by each other.

"Everything!" She cried, throwing her hands over her head in exasperation. "I hate this song!"

"I kind of like it. It's Weezer, right?" Danny asked before he could think. He felt Sam's gaze zero in on his face. He peered down at her, to find that same emotion flickering in her eyes, far more pronounced than before as she searched his expression.

"Yeah," She finally breathed. Danny nodded, attempting to appear fractionally less terrified than he felt. "You like Weezer?"

"I did before all this happened," He gestured to the desolate landscape outside the windows. It was then that he noticed they were back on the main road, meaning that they were well on their way to being half-way back to the ranch. "I haven't really had a chance to listen to as much music as I did before."

"I would think not." Sam said, a hint of amusement in her voice. They were quiet, Sam's gaze on the blackened horizon ahead, Danny stealing furtive glances at her between carefully counted thirty-second stares at his shoelaces. "There's nothing wrong with the song itself, I guess. It's just what the song represents." She said finally, letting her head fall back against the bench as she turned to look at him again.

"What does it represent?" Danny asked, his confusion evident. "I thought it was just about a guy who messed up and missed his chance with the girl he liked."

"Well, that's what the lyrics talk about, but I...I have a...past with this song. I guess you could call it a past. Whatever, I just don't like this song because it reminds me of someone." She said emotionlessly as she turned her gaze back out the front windshield. And suddenly it hit him why the song bothered her so much. It reminded her of Danny, who she still believed to be dead. This was my favorite song before The Event, he reminded himself. It was a fact both Sam and Tucker knew well before the world fell apart. He swallowed hard, his anger with Tucker suddenly boiling in his veins. "Tuck put it on to bother me."

"That's not cool," He said, throwing a heated glance down to the other end of the bus. "Why would he do that?"

She shrugged, her eyelids drooping. The song was over, thankfully. "Whatever." She said again, her voice just barely audible over the pounding bass of the next song, which also happened to be by Weezer. Briefly, he wondered if Tucker put together an entire playlist of songs Danny listened to religiously before The Event for moments like these. He clenched his jaw, resisting the duelling urges to reach across the aisle and squeeze her shoulder reassuringly and fire a well-aimed ectoray at Tucker's forehead (not strong enough to kill him, of course, just strong enough to induce a powerful headache). The desire to tell her the truth washed over him, knotting in his belly and making him fidget restlessly. Once or twice he saw Sam shooting irritated glances at him for his incessant movement, but he could not stop. It was not until he glanced to his left and found himself on the receiving end of a warning glare from Valerie that he finally stopped moving.

The moment the bus rolled to a stop on the grounds of El Lindo, Sam stood and swept off the bus without another word. Danny remained where he was, watching her move quickly over the terrain toward the house as several other people on the ground approached the back of the bus.

He stood and stretched his back, nodding politely to those members of the raid that passed him on their way out of the bus. Valerie stayed seated, counting each person again as they shuffled off the bus. Finally, the only raid party members left on the bus were her, Danny, and Tucker. Tucker was just trotting up the aisle as Valerie stood and turned toward him.

"That wasn't cool, Tuck," She said tiredly. Tucker raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I was just in the mood for some Weezer." He said with a defiant shrug.

She sighed, her impatience with the situation becoming palpable. "You know it fucks with her head. Just leave her alone, okay?" She waited, pointedly tapping her foot while Tucker shifted restlessly from foot to foot.

"Fine. I'll go apologize. Later." He said, slumping his shoulders in defeat and pocketing the iPod. Valerie nodded, before her face creased and worry sparked in her eyes. "What?"

"I need to talk to you guys inside. Seth, you too." Tucker furrowed his brow and glanced quickly between Valerie and Danny. Valerie waited until Danny nodded dumbly before turning and exiting the bus.

"About what?" Tucker asked, watching her pick her way toward the house.

Danny shrugged, struggling between his annoyance with Tucker for bothering Sam and the overwhelming desire to spill his guts out to him. Before he could make a decision, Tucker released a strangled, aggravated sigh, and moved off the bus.

"Do we need to help with the food and stuff?" Danny asked, following quickly behind Tucker.

"Nah. Everyone else takes care of that," Tucker said, rubbing his eyes blearily. "We can go inside and go to bed. Or go see what the hell Valerie wants, I guess." He said, his curiosity evident in his voice. "What the hell does she need to talk to us about? She always talks to Sam when something happens."

"I dunno," Danny said, glancing back at the small mob forming at the back of the bus.

Tucker lead the way soundlessly into the house, tripping over the hidden step in the living room. He muttered several colorful obscenities under his breath as he caught himself, shooting a look back at Danny that let him know if he dared to laugh at that little mishap, he would be very sorry. So Danny kept his mouth shut and pressed into a thin line, slinking along behind Tucker quietly.

One of the French Doors of Valerie's room was ajar, and they could clearly hear a feminine voice carrying out as they entered the dining room. Tucker kicked the door open a little wider, unflinching toward the black scuff the toe of his boot left on the bottom of the door. Danny slipped in after him, shutting the door with a soft click as Tucker dropped into the threadbare armchair in the back corner of the room. Sam was sitting on the edge of the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest and held in place with her arms. She was staring at the door in an effort to ignore Tucker's presence behind her. Valerie was leaning against the headboard of the bed, her hands folded neatly over her stomach and one leg hanging off the edge of the bed. Her eyes were unfocused; clearly, she was lost in thought. Danny folded his own hands behind his back and leaned against the doors. Silence hung heavily in the room until Tucker pointedly cleared his throat.

"Okay. I needed to talk to you guys about something that happened on the raid." Valerie started, shaking her head as she leaned forward slightly.

"If it's about the fact that I shot the first zack instead of shanking him, I'm sorry. I didn't have enough time to get to my knife." Tucker said solemnly from the chair. Sam huffed and rolled her eyes dramatically.

"It's not about that," Valerie said, waving her hand dismissively. Tucker furrowed his brow. "I...I discovered something while we were there."

Sam turned her head, eyeing Valerie carefully. Valerie met her gaze evenly. "Oh my God." Sam said, disgust dripping from every syllable.

"What?" Tucker asked, leaning forward and planting his elbows on his knees.

"I'm pregnant." Valerie said without breaking eye contact with Sam. Danny felt his stomach bottom out. Tucker fell backwards in the chair, an expression of shock plastered to his face. Sam wrinkled her nose in repulsion. "I noticed an unopened pregnancy test in the bathroom and...I missed my last period...I just wanted to be sure, and -"

"You sure it wasn't expired?" Sam asked, her gaze fixated on the vent above Valerie's bedroom door. "Those things do expire, you know. Like condoms. Did you know condoms expire?" She shot a haughty glare back at Tucker, who was still unresponsive.

"The expiration date was May of next year." Valerie said flatly. "It was still good."

Sam huffed again. Danny glanced nervously between the two women and Tucker, who was still dumbfounded. "How could you guys let this happen?" Sam hissed a moment later. She launched herself off the bed and glared accusingly between Tucker and Valerie. "Are you insane? Are you stupid?"

"It was an accident, Sam." Valerie said, obviously offended. "We didn't do this on purpose."

"It doesn't matter if it was on accident or on purpose!" Sam shrieked. "All that matters is that it happened! Do you realize the consequences this means for us? I mean, forget about the fact that you two are having a baby as teenagers, as screwed as that is, just consider the fucked up world you're gonna be bringing this kid into! Look at where we are, look at what we are! Think about what we fight every damn day! Jesus Christ, Val, you're the leader of this group! And Tuck! You're the best fucking zack hunter we have!"

"I am not." Tucker said hoarsely. He was still dazed, Danny could tell, but he was starting to come back around. "You're the best hunter we have."

"Whatever." Sam growled, in no mood to accept compliments. "The point is, you two can't continue on in the roles you've been playing for the last year."

"Says who?" Valerie demanded sharply.

"Me!" Sam screeched, hysteria causing her voice to rise several octaves. Danny and Tucker both winced, but Valerie glared unflinchingly at the angry woman before her. "You can't keep on like you have been, not being pregnant! It's not fucking fair to that kid! No! It's not just your life you're risking now! And Tucker!" Sam whirled around, hair flying like wildfire as she rounded on the cowering man. "You're gonna be a father! You can't do that to that kid, he deserves to have both his parents!"

"Sam -"

"No! Shut up! Fuck you!" Her voice cracked and rose, if possible, even higher. Tucker blanched immediately. "The world is so fucked up as it is right now, you can't force this kid to grow up in it without his parents! I won't fucking let you!"

"Okay, calm down," Valerie said, her voice suddenly soothing. "What do you propose we do?"

Sam was breathing quickly, her eyes wild. She began to pace, apparently in an effort to calm herself. Six eyes watched her erratic circling, waiting with bated breath until finally, she paused. She heaved a great sigh, before turning back to Tucker and Valerie. She pointed at Valerie. "You can't go out on raids anymore. You can't help corral zacks on the lower levels. And you can't lead recoveries, either." Valerie nodded in agreement. "And you." She pointed at Tucker, who sat up a bit straighter. "You can't go on raids, either. You can't help me corral zacks. You can't go with me on recoveries. And you can't be my Zack Bowl partner anymore."

"What?" Tucker spluttered. "Are you serious?"

"As a fucking heart attack." Sam spat, venom in her voice. "You will not, I repeat, will not put yourself in harm's way unless it is absolutely, completely necessary. Have I made myself clear?"

Tucker glared at her, and Danny could see him battling internally with the desire to argue with her. But finally he dropped his gaze and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine." He said shortly, addressing his knees.

"What are we gonna do about you not having a partner anymore?" Valerie asked gently.

Sam resumed her pacing, a bit more slowly than before. "I don't need to compete in the Zack Bowl anymore, first of all." She said, chewing the inside of her cheek thoughtfully and ignoring Tucker's sounds of protest. "It was just for fun anyways, it's not like I have to do that. As for raids, I'll join Lester's group. He's been begging us to go with them lately, anyways, so he'll be pleased. I don't need help corralling zacks."

"And recoveries?" Valerie asked carefully.

Sam turned to Danny, and he felt his heart leap into his throat. "I can train Seth, and he'll be my partner." She said firmly. "That is...if he wants to."

Danny blinked. He could feel them all staring at him. Sam was waiting patiently, and her eyes were telling him that he could say no. Valerie gazed at him expectantly, nodding slightly when he glanced at her. Go on, she seemed to tell him. And Tucker glared daggers at him across the room, his animosity toward Seth suddenly back in full force.

"Okay," Danny heard himself saying. "I'll go with you."

Several things I want to address here:

1. Please don't take this as me criticising teen pregnancy. I am not, in any way, trying to do so. The only reason Sam said that was to try to get her point across. Again, I am not trying to criticise teen pregnancy. Not, not, not. If I've offended you, I extend my sincerest apologies.

2. Only one person seemed to notice that Valerie spent an abnormal amount of time in the bathroom last chapter. And they managed to correctly guess what she was doing in the bathroom, too. Kudos, ShaowDragon357. #urockmysox #forrealtho #waitthisisnttwitter

3. If the 'f-word' makes you uncomfortable, I apologize. I don't really like writing it. I feel like it's such a vulgar word that doesn't really help the story, but in this case it sort of fit. Sorry. ):

Okay, I think that's it. Again, we still have quite a ways to go with this story. It's not quite over yet. There's still one more twist I'm gonna throw in before I start building to the climax. I think. If the story stays the way it is in my head right now, that's what's gonna happen.

Thanks for reading!

Tori