A/N: Hey! Sorry it's been so long. I was called into work last-minute on Sunday, I'm fighting my allergies (and the meds that make me want to just sleep…) and trying to work on a (VERY LATE) b-day present for my older brother. So yeah…

That's not a legitimate excuse. I'm sorry. I'm just being lazy.

Actually, that's a lie…I've written almost the entire first chapter of "The Crown of Fire", which is odd, seeing as I haven't even finished the book before it…

Anyway, we have some Val and Tucker! Yay! It's been a while. :D Review shout-outs at the end! Anyway, as always, read/review/fav/follow and ENJOY!

Chapter #19: Something Wrong

"Something is definitely wrong, Val," Tucker paces back and forth in front of his desk, his eyes locked on his feet.

"I'm beginning to agree with you," she frowns, "I can't get rid of this…itch in my head that something's wrong."

"I have a bit more than an itch," he growls, "I didn't get more than a wink of sleep last night. Something just kept screaming at me. Even when I did fall asleep, I dreamt that Sam and Danny were running for their lives. In an abandoned ship. Is that weird?"

"But if something was wrong, why wouldn't Danny just go ghost and fly to help?"

"Yeah, and leave people behind? Likely," he snorts.

"…As likely as him burning the money he used to buy that ring for Sam?"

"Less likely," he replies quickly, before screeching to a halt, "Wait…how did you know about that?!"

"Babe," she laughs, "I can't just reveal my sources like that."

"Sam doesn't know, does she? He wanted to surprise her. He's been desperate to keep it secret–" he rambles.

"She's clueless as ever," she dismisses with a wave, "I mean, I know she views it as a fact that they'll get married someday, but I think the proposal will blindside her…" she sits up, eyes wide, "that's why you were so sure they'd send photos. You meant engagement photos!"

"Yeah," he confesses, sitting heavily in his chair, "but I've gotten nothing. I know she wouldn't reject him – they already view it as a done deal, really. It's a mere formality. In truth, she probably doesn't even expect one."

"That sounds like Sam," she nods, leaning back, "Do you think he'll ask her parents?"

"He plans to ask, but only for their blessing, not their permission. I don't think Pamela Manson will ever really support them, and he knows that. Jeremy will follow her lead."

She hums, her eyes drifting closed, "So how much was the ring?"

"Your source didn't know?" she can hear the smirk in his voice.

"No."

"I asked, but he just grimaced and told me I didn't want to know. He had to get it custom-made."

"That much, huh?"

"He wanted it to be something she could wear even after they're married. Something that isn't like 'Hi! I'm an engagement ring!', you know? All of the gems are inset, so they won't catch on anything."

"So you've seen it?" She asks, rolling onto her stomach, propping her head on her hand to look at him.

"Yeah," he smiles, "I'm not an expert in jewelry, but I'd say it's pretty amazing – and definitely very Sam."

"Can you describe it to me?" she pleads, fluttering her eyelashes.

"I can do better," he grunts, summoning his PDA from his pocket, "I have a picture. I mean, it hardly does it justice, but it works."

She leaps from her spot on the chaise to skip over to his desk, leaning against the back of his chair. He scrolls through folders of photos until he finds the one he wants, and then scrolls through more photos.

"Oh, wow," she breathes when he finds it, "No wonder it cost him. Are those real?"

"Everything," Tucker nods, "Yeah. The amethyst, the emeralds, the silver…all real. All specially cut."

"Ouch," she winces, "That couldn't have been easy on the wallet. He knows Sam wouldn't care about something like that, though, so…why?"

"I think he wants to make sure she'll have something if he…" he takes a deep breath, "…you know…"

"He's pretty conscious about it, for all his recklessness," she whispers, sliding her arms around her boyfriend's shoulders.

"He knows he can die, Val," he places his hand over hers, "he's very conscious of that…he just…" he sighs, "…'doesn't care' isn't the right phrase…"

"It's just not the highest thing on the totem pole," she finishes for him, earning a nod.

"Yeah."

"The flowers were nice, Johnny, but you just can't stop, can you?!"

"You know I love you, Kitten! Isn't it natural to look towards something that moves in the corner of your vision?"

"Yeah," a snort drifts through the window, "Especially when that something happens to big a big pair of–"

"You know I'm a hip guy!"

"Here we go," Tucker mutters, abruptly standing, "Get your suit ready."

The two ghosts stand in front of the building, Johnny on his motorcycle, and Kitty standing with her hands fisted at her hips. She taps her foot impatiently.

"Come on, Kitten, let's just go home? We can stop by your favorite place on the way, and then…I'll sleep on the couch."

Tucker's eyes flick to where a couple of out-of-town ghost-hunters emerge from a bush. He motions to Valerie, who summons her sled and zooms out the window, landing behind the waiting hunters.

"Leave them be," she growls, startling them, "there's no need to blast holes in the pavement!"

"No need?!" they hiss.

"You heard me," she shouts, "And the mayor said that all ghost hunting was to be left to me or the Fentons. Johnny and Kitty fight all the time. As long as they keep it to yelling and don't start destroying things, there's no reason to get involved. It's better if you don't, honestly."

"Oh, wow," Kitty snorts, trying to stay mad despite the wry smile on her face, "Who suggested that one? I know you wouldn't think of it yourself."

"…Phantom's girlfriend," he mutters, causing Tucker's head to rocket into the air. Valerie leaves the hunters and snatches him from the window, lowering him to the pavement. He strides quickly to Johnny.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but…when did you speak to them?" he inquires quietly.

"A few days ago," he replies, "I rode all the way to that cruise ship. Man, he was mad! He told me that if any other ghosts showed up, he'd blast them to the end of the Infinite Realms…or to Klemper. Not sure which is worse, but…"

"Was there anything…odd?"

"Odd?" he repeats, "Like what?"

"Like anything that would've kept them from contacting anybody?"

"…you know, his girlfriend was yelling at me not to leave the way I was…I didn't hear more than 'Wait! Not through–' before I went through the walls and out on my bike again."

"Johnny, what did you fly through?" Tucker dreads the answer he already suspects.

"I don't know, man, I was going like…eighty miles an hour!"

"Could it have been an engine or a generator?" his mind scrolls through blueprints he's seen.

"I don't know…maybe," the ghost shrugs. Tucker massages his temples.

"…Well, it's disappointing he couldn't come up with it himself, but I suppose he has to learn somehow," Kitty growls, inspecting her fingernails, "Can we go now? We need to hit the mall. I'm not going without someone to carry my bags."

"Yeah. Just make sure the shadow doesn't touch anything, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Johnny sighs, but smiles as Kitty seats herself behind him.

"Have a good day, Mayor," she dismisses before they blast away with a loud rumble.

Tucker watches them leave for a moment, before having Valerie lift him back through his window. He immediately sits at his desk, searching on his computer and pulling his phone closer. He finds the cruise's website, as well as its schedule. He punches a number into the phone, holding it to his ear.

"What are you thinking, Babe?" Valerie asks, removing her suit.

"I'm thinking that Danny and Sam may not be on a cruise anymore."

Review shout-outs:

xXxDisillusionsxXx: Why do I do what, exactly? Be specific! ;P

kinitsukirihan: ]:-} Not quite, but you'll see…

Rhyolite56: Glad I'm not boring you anymore. Sorry, I just really suck at action scenes. Character introspection? World interpretation? Yeah, those I can do.

YumiStar: You must be psychic. :D