It took all night, but between them, Jack, Maddie and Jimmy developed a tailor-made drug for Danny. The drug was designed to suppress his ghost half. However due to the excessive amounts of ghost energy in his body, it wouldn't be able to fully function which would mean he could still change forms but his energy levels would be massively reduced. They couldn't be sure if the halfa would have full access to his powers while using the drug, he mightn't be able to use his ghostly wail for instance, but it should take the pressure off his body and alleviate his potentially life-threatening symptoms such as inability to sleep, lack of appetite and the ghost equivalent to a heart attack.
That morning, Jake helped Danny down to the lab. The pain in Danny's chest had gradually grown to the point where the teen was taking pain killers just out of the need to dull the pain. The agony in his chest made it difficult for Danny to focus on much else. So, Young Justice and Jake offered to take shifts throughout the night to keep the ailing halfa company. Kim, Ron, Rose, Fu dog and Spud had all returned home the previous evening unable to stay overnight but requesting to be kept up to date. Maddie helped her son into a seat and Jack handed his wife the syringe filled with dark green liquid. Expertly, Maddie prepped Danny's arm and as gently as possible injected the solution into his arm. Together, Jack, Maddie, Jake, Jimmy and Danny stayed in the lab and waited for something to happen. The scientists were ready to jump into action to help the halfa if something went wrong like they miscalculated the dose or even the reaction the drug had with Danny's system.
Twenty minutes later, Danny's eyes began to droop in tiredness and the pain in his chest started to reduce.
"Sweetie? Any change yet?" Maddie called worriedly, seeing that her son was acting groggy.
"Yeah. The… pain's going. And… I feel really… really tired," Danny mumbled sleepily. Maddie smiled in relief.
"Then we'd best get you to bed," she replied gently and helped her son to his feet and guided him up the steps towards his room. Danny stumbled as he walked and he could hardly keep his eyes open. The moment he fell on something soft, he was fast asleep. Maddie chuckled at her son lovingly and gently pulled the teen's shoes off before grabbing a blanket off the floor and draped it over him. She ruffled his black hair and kissed him on the forehead.
She returned back downstairs, and smiled at the teens gathered in the living room. They had seen Danny go upstairs but the halfa was so tired he hadn't even noticed them.
"He's sleeping," Maddie informed them happily. The teens grinned at the news. For the first time in days, Danny could sleep. This ordeal was finally ending.
However there was one mystery to be solved. Wally and M'gann turned to Jake.
"So, why didn't you tell us you had that amulet?" Wally wondered once Maddie had gone into the kitchen to start making lunch for everyone. Jake gulped. He knew he wasn't going to get away without explaining himself.
"Except… he wasn't wearing an amulet when he was a dragon," M'gann recalled.
"And what was all that stuff about being the American dragon and having to protect ghosts?" Robin added. Jake sighed.
"You're not gonna drop this are you," Jake mumbled.
"Nope," Conner confirmed.
"I'm missing something aren't I," Valerie, wearing her suit for the sake of her secret identity, realised.
"Val, would you mind watching Danny for a few minutes?" Jazz requested. Valerie scowled at the older girl.
"Unless you'd rather we start revealing surnames," Sam threatened with a glare. Valerie glowered at the Goth but obediently left the living room.
Jake bit his lip. At least that was one less person. Jimmy was still in the lab with Jack and Maddie.
"Jake, you can trust them," Zatanna ventured. Jake sighed.
"Alright. But for the record you blackmailed me and threatened me because my gramps is gonna flip when he hears you guys know about me," Jake relented. The teen heroes looked between Zatanna and Jake, completely confused by the exchange. Jake walked a short distance from the group so that he was in front of everyone.
"Alright. You guys believe in magic right? Well, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There's a whole world of magical creatures. In that world, dragons are their protectors. Dragons keep peace between the magical creatures by settling disputes or beating back punks causing problems. Sometimes that can mean humans. I'm… I'm a dragon. The first American dragon so it's my job to protect all the magical creatures in America. I'm mainly based in New York though since I'm still training. Fu's my magical companion. My back-up so to speak. And if you need proof… dragon up," Jake explained carefully before being engulfed in fire and became a powerful red dragon. The dragon waved nervously at the group of teens.
Kaldur, M'gann, Wally, Conner, Artemis and Rocket blinked in shock and Robin tensed in alarm.
"You're not surprised," Robin realised, seeing that Tucker, Sam, Jazz, Danielle and Zatanna weren't alarmed by the sudden appearance of a fire-breathing mythical lizard.
"We already knew. Danny knows too. He came up with the cover story of saying Jake used Aragon's amulet. It does exist but Jake doesn't need it. Also the amulet needs the wearer to be distressed or angry to activate," Sam admitted. Jake reverted back to his human form.
"This is a massive secret. Please don't tell anyone else about this," Jake begged.
"Even bigger than Danny's was," Tucker added. The teen heroes blinked and glanced at Zatanna.
"Magicians are on the edge of the magical community. Dragons aren't obligated to protect us and we aren't obliged to listen to them. Same as with ghosts. But my father and I respect dragons and the rest of the community enough to keep their secrets," Zatanna confessed.
"Alright. We can leave this out of the report. And if we must tell Batman, we'll use Danny's cover story. This won't go any further," Kaldur decided, getting agreeing nods from the rest of his team.
Young Justice left that afternoon, taking Jimmy home with them. Robin offered to walk the ten year old to the front door while everyone else waited in the Bioship. Robin smirked at Jimmy as the boy grinned at the sight of his house after being gone so long.
"We have your S.O.S. signal loaded into our databases. If we ever pick it up again, we'll track it down and respond as fast as possible. The League might pop around at some point too," Robin explained.
"Thanks. But do you think that will be necessary?" Jimmy commented worriedly.
"Better safe than sorry. The Light have taken enough of an interest in you to kidnap you once. I wouldn't put it past them to do it again in the future. But then again, you've also been noticed by the League, so the Light might know not to approach you again," Robin reasoned. Jimmy smiled.
"But… I bet you'd prefer to be talking to your parents than me," Robin remarked kindly. Jimmy chuckled softly and shrugged. Robin led the way to the front door of the house and rang the doorbell.
"Coming!" a woman sang and moments later Judy Neutron opened the door. The woman froze in surprise before joyful tears welled in her eyes and she dropped to her knees, pulling her son in her arms.
"Jimmy!" she cried with delight.
"Hey mom. Sorry I didn't come straight back but I wanted to help Danny first," Jimmy muttered into her thick brown hair. Judy shook her head and gently pulled away from her son to survey him.
"That's fine. Oh Jimmy, I'm just so relieved that you're home," Judy replied happily. The woman lifted her gaze from her child to see Robin standing respectfully on the doorstep.
"Thank you for finding him and bringing him home," Judy thanked Robin sincerely. The boy wonder shook his head.
"All in a day's work ma'am. We were glad to help. Jimmy, tell your parents what you want but I ask that you not spread it further. Like Danny said at the press conference a few days ago, there are still people out there that could use that knowledge to hurt ghosts and halfas. The Guys in White might be shut down but there are free-lancers," Robin warned. Jimmy nodded in understanding. With that said, Robin walked away giving a wave over his shoulder before returning to the Bioship.
Judy grinned happily at Jimmy and led him into the kitchen and sat him down at the table.
"Are you hungry?" Judy asked.
"Not really, Mrs Fenton wanted to give us lunch before we left," Jimmy admitted with a shrug. Judy nodded before walking to the phone and calling her husband. While the woman did that, a metallic bark came from the backyard. Jimmy twisted in his seat and beamed as he saw his invention and beloved pet speed into the house though the pet door. The robotic dog jumped up at the ten year old. Jimmy dropped to the floor and pulled the robot into a hug.
"Goddard! Clever boy. I'm so glad you didn't really explode," Jimmy exclaimed with joy. Judy turned back to her son and smiled at the heart-felt reunion between Jimmy and his self-made man's best friend.
The Bioship landed in the cave hanger and the teen heroes filed out. Artemis, Raquel and Wally immediately left for the Zeta tube to return home and assure their families that they were fine. Wally couldn't wait for all the special care he'd get until his ankle healed. It was only a sprain, so he'd be back to normal in a couple of days but he was going to milk this opportunity for all it was worth. Conner ran over to Wolf and Sphere and happily greeted the team's pets having missed them both immensely over the last few days. M'gann and Zatanna grinned at the clone before leaving to relax for a little while. That left only Robin and Kaldur, and both knew they had to do one more thing before they could go off-duty for some rest and relaxation. They needed to give a report to Batman.
"Are you going to tell Batman your decision?" Kaldur inquired conversationally as they walked through the cave to the briefing room. Robin sighed.
"I dunno. I want to branch out but I'm scared I guess of upsetting Batman. I mean we're a team and team's stick together," Robin replied.
"Yes that is true. But children are eventually meant to grow up and leave their guardians. Perhaps it is time for the Robin to leave the nest," Kaldur remarked. Robin blinked and glanced at the Atlantean.
"No way you thought of that line. Where did you hear it?" Robin pointed out. Kaldur smirked.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kaldur muttered. Robin chuckled.
"Stolen or not. It's good advice. But… I might wait a bit. I might try and hint at going solo before telling Batman. I'm still not decided yet," Robin decided. Kaldur nodded in understanding.
Valerie sat in the Fenton Works living room, her body suit retracted into a bracelet, with Tucker, Sam, Danielle and Jazz. Maddie and Jack were doing some calculations in the lab for Danny's treatment and Danny had yet to wake up. Jake offered to watch the halfa in case of complications.
"Thanks for coming to help us Valerie," Sam muttered, breaking the silence. Valerie shrugged.
"It was the least I could do. I heard Danny and you guys were in trouble and wanted to help. Besides… I see it as repaying favours I owed Danny," Valerie replied softly. Jazz glanced at Tucker and Sam meaningfully and both teens nodded.
"Valerie… we'll need to confirm it with Danny before it's official, but I doubt he'd disagree. But… would you like to become an official member of Team Phantom?" Jazz offered. Valerie blinked in shock.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," Sam added. Valerie nibbled her lip nervously before smiling shyly.
"I'd like that but I'll wait for what Danny says before I agree," Valerie answered.
So plenty of endings there in that chapter. Jimmy and Young Justice going home. Valerie being offered acceptance into Team Phantom.
But can anyone spot the final loose end? Hint, it's not Jake.
Only one chapter left, finishing up the story and rounding things off.
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
Don't forget to check my facebook page for the winner of the poll. There's a link in my bio.
Until the next chapter
