A/N: 9/11: Never Forget!

Yay! Chapter 5! A big thank-you to all who reviewed! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, including my interpretations of Sam's parents. :D

I feel like Pam and Maddie Fenton have more in common than they'd ever admit. Pam's just a little more prone to class-based prejudice, while Maddie's against ghosts. Also, Pam's relationship with her daughter is very poor in comparison to Maddie's relationship with Danny, and she's not quite as analytical, and therefore more prone to outbursts. (Where do you think Sam gets her temper from? …don't tell her I said that…0.0) Jeremy is not very confrontational, and just follows Pam's lead. He doesn't yell, he lectures. And Ida…does what Ida wants to. ;P Anyway, as always, read/review/fav/follow and ENJOY!

Chapter #5: Ghost Hunting

"…So, in light of recent events, I am proposing a classification of ecto-weaponry and a required license for all hunting-class weapons. This is to minimize unnecessary property damage. I've released the official document, along with a key of its main points for voter evaluation. Please feel free to write me in regards to any concerns you may have. Thank you," Tucker steps away from the podium to a wave of cheers. Once out of sight, he lets out a long breath, relaxing.

"Good job, Babe," Valerie smiles, taking his hand, "I can already see the future; 'Tucker Foley for President.'"

He winces, "I don't need that much power…yet," his gaze grows distant, "Ghosts may soon become citizens as much as humans, Val. I'll do whatever it takes to protect our allies – to protect Danny."

"And Danielle," she adds.

"And Danielle," he agrees, "And those who love and care for them."

"How is she, anyway?"

"Danny got a photo of her and Cujo in front of some Aztec temple. She seems to have decided that she wants to become a treasure hunter – that's not exactly smiled upon, though, so Danny's hoping she means to study Archaeology."

"Sounds like Dani," she laughs, "well, she's only a little over thirteen – physically. Technically, she's only…a little less than two? She knows what she wants to do as much as Youngblood!"

"Yeah," he laughs, "That's true. He really wants her to come home though."

"I know that the Fentons know about his status as a halfa now, but…do they know about Dani?"

"Mrs. Fenton asked once, after she overheard Danny and I talking about her in the Far Frozen, but…Sam only gave her vague answers. She knows Dani exists, and that Danny views her as a younger sister, but…that's really all she knows."

Valerie nods absently, "It's a little tough to swallow."

"Yeah. Danny didn't want to totally overload them with the weird crap that's happened in his life thanks to 'The Froot-loop.'"

"So he's not just a froot-loop, he's 'The Froot-loop'?"

"Yeah," he snickers.

They enter another gathering room, where familiar faces, including members of the Guys in White, the – former – Master's Blasters, and other renowned ghost-hunters gather. Tucker releases her hand and climbs the stage at the front of the room, "Wish me luck."

He silences the room, "Welcome to Amity Park," he begins, "the most haunted city in America! I understand that you are all professionals in your own right, but there have been some incidents," his eyes lock onto The Extreme Ghost Breakers, "that were completely avoidable. So, I have asked for Jack and Maddie Fenton to organize a slideshow of the most common ghosts in Amity Park. I also ask that you leave the ghost-hunting to The Red Huntress for the duration of your stay. She is perfectly capable of handling up to level-seven entities by herself. Not only that," he smirks, "But she might get irritated if you encroach on her territory. Trust me, her bite is worse than her bark."

Off to his left, Valerie sends him a wry glare, trying her hardest not to smile. He turns to his right, where the Fentons wait with their presentation, "Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, I'll turn the rest of this meeting over to you," he smiles and steps away, earning an elbow from Valerie.

"What am I, a guard dog?!" she hisses.

"Well, your career was started by one," he shrugs.

"How does that make me one?!"

"Guilty by association?"

"Then Danny's one too, and so are you, and Sam, and Dani…"

"What's wrong with being the guard dogs of Amity Park?" he grins, "And are you hungry? Because I am starving. Politics are exhausting."

-BREAK-

"So we have four Bazookas, two Peelers, five Jack O' Nines, and four wrist-rays excluding the ones Sam and I have," Danny and Sam check each weapon carefully, "do you have a ghost-shield?"

"We planned to have one installed, but for a ship as large as this…we didn't have time before this cruise," Al shifts.

"Well, I'm not expecting a lot more in the way of ghost company anyway," Danny replies quickly, "But it's always best to be prepared; who knows? Vortex might come back."

"He's tough to predict, though," Sam adds.

"If we do get any guests of the…ectoplasmic assortment, then Sam and I will handle them. Do your crew members know how to use these?"

"Yes, they were taught by your parents."

"Good. Distribute the weapons to them, but remember to tell them to do only what they have to. We know what we're doing, and we can handle any ectoplasmic threat thrown at us."

"U-understood," Al stutters. He can't say no. He can't argue; why not? What is it about the teens before him that demand his obedience?

It's their eyes, his mind whispers, they're so focused, so relaxed. Those eyes…have gazed into the depths of despair. Into the eyes of evil. They aren't teenagers; they're warriors.

The passengers have all changed into their casual clothes, and he swears he can see faint scars crossing the arms and legs of the teens in front of him. A tally had been taken, and no passengers had been found missing. A few suffered from bumps and scrapes, but no major injuries had been uncovered. Sam had helped in the hospital for a few hours while Danny had run around, checking the ship for damage with the crew – they had no idea how he'd been able to move from one end of the ship to the other so quickly, and he supplied no answers.

Jeremy Manson stands by the doorway, frowning, has Sam been…?

"It's his doing," Pamela hisses beside him, her eyes leveled coldly at Danny, "he made our little girl into a ghost hunter!"

"Like father, like son," he growls.

Sam, who shouldn't have been able to hear them, whirls on her heel and storms over, taking them by the arms and pulling them out into the sunshine.

"We live in Amity Park," She hisses, her amethyst eyes almost seem to glow, "don't you dare blame Danny! Technically, I'm the reason he hunts ghosts, so don't you dare add it to your little list of 'Reasons to Hate Danny Fenton!'"

"I can't believe you've been…!" Pamela shrieks, "You could have died!"

"Danny would never let that happen!" Sam yells.

"Things go out of control, sometimes," Jeremy frowns.

"Yeah, but I have yet to end up needing emergency care – which is something Danny and Tucker can't claim," she growls, tears brimming in her eyes, "They would both die long before letting my life be in danger. It ticks me off!" she stamps her foot.

"Just more reasons you – no, all three of you – shouldn't be out hunting ghosts!" he replies, taking her by the shoulders.

"I can't just sit on the sidelines; none of us can!" she replies, her voice falling to a whisper, "If you stop and someone gets hurt, you'll wonder if you could've helped them. The guilt will weigh on you until you break. You shoulder your responsibilities and you can never leave them behind, because if you do, you'll leave your back open for guilt. So don't you dare blame Danny. You don't see his face every time Tuck or I get hurt; he blames himself already, so you don't need to!"

"Oh, so he knows it's a problem!" Pam screeches, "Well that makes everything okay! I have to say, I was curious about the enormous first-aid kit under your bed. Now I suppose I know what it's for!"

"Yeah!" Sam snarls back, "And stop patronizing me! Do you know what it's like to be up to your elbows in blood, or what burnt flesh smells like?! Have you ever had to scrub asphalt from a gash and stitch it up while the person you're treating can't make a sound?!"

The nights flash through her mind. Danny on her bathroom floor, one hand clamped firmly over his mouth, and the other gripping the edge of the bathtub so tightly she's worried it'll shatter under his ghostly strength. A large burn spans his back, and she scrubs away shreds of the hazmat suit that have melted to his skin. Another night, and she has to pin his legs with her own, holding him still as she sews a gash in his side shut. These nights have lessened, now that the Fentons know what their son was up to, but they haven't disappeared. He always comes to her when they're really bad. He doesn't want them to realize the full extent of his injuries.

The two parents stare, astonished at the tears that stream down her cheeks, "You have no right to look down on him. He's the strongest, most courageous man I know, and I love him."

"Sam…" Jeremy begins.

"Don't," she sniffs, "Just…leave us alone. Go," she wipes her tears away, and strides back to where Danny still speaks with Al. He notices her puffy eyes, giving her an inquisitive look, but she brushes it away with a gentle hand on his shoulder. Worry flicks through those oceanic eyes, but he does as she asks.

"Our little girl…" Jeremy whispers, "She…"

"She's doing this because she knows it'll tick us off!" Pam hisses, "Ungrateful little…" she shakes her head, hands on her hips, "We're moving. We're getting a restraining order on Daniel again and moving away from Amity once we get back."

"It won't stop her, Pamela," Jeremy sighs, "She's almost eighteen anyway. We can't whisk her out of school for the last few months of her senior year."

"Then what are we supposed to do?!"

"Leave them be," he replies.

"Darn right!" Ida adds, buzzing up, "I overheard everything. I don't think anything short of death – heck, we live in Amity, so maybe not even that – is going to keep those kids apart!" she declares, "True love conquers all!"

"True love?" Pam grimaces, "Sammykins and…him?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" the elderly woman deadpans, "You have been watching them, right? Well, I suppose you wouldn't be capable of identifying such unfamiliar emotions–"

"Mother," Jeremy warns, "That's enough."

Pam's face is red, her mouth clamped shut. He takes his wife's hand, "Let's go relax for a while, and let Sam cool off. You know how she is. If you yell at her, she'll just yell back."

"You're right," Pam relaxes, "Once she calms down, she'll know we're right."

Well…that may be going a bit far…