A/N: So, how ya been? I hope you've had a great week, even though I know it's been finals' angst this week for a lot of ya! Still, it IS Friday and y'all should take a break from cramming your eyeballs out and look this chappie over! But, I hope it will not make you want to go back to studying! No matter how it makes you feel, feel free to tell me, 'cause I absolutely LOVE your thoughts! But how can I get your reaction if I keep delaying you from reading this? Well, then, here comes Chapter 33 and the IDNOAC thing. Enjoy!

TrueHeart—Chapter 33—Questionable Progress

Sam hurried to get ready for school. She was so nervous, she hadn't been able to sleep that much last night and couldn't even think of having any breakfast right now. She felt it was best if she met Danny right at his house rather than halfway between their homes like they usually did.

She sloppily threw the things she needed for school into her backpack and slung it hastily over her shoulders. Finally, she whipped her coat on and zipped it up as she ran out the front entrance of her house, not even taking the time to say good-bye to her family. Not that she didn't care; she just couldn't help herself. She had only one thought burning in her mind…and that was that she hoped Danny would give her a chance to talk to him.

But she had no way of knowing that her boyfriend had never gotten much sleep last night, either. Or that he could barely drag himself out of bed. He was still upset, of course, but he was also not feeling well, all because he had quite a bit of his ghostly pheromones siphoned off by Bertrand. That was not only making him barely able to function now that his body was half-awake, but weighed his mind down with more misery.

Finally, Sam was there in front of her boyfriend's home, sighing in slight relief when she looked at her watch. She had gotten there in plenty of time. She walked up to the door and found herself hesitating. Would she be able to convince him? She threw that worry away and knocked on the door.

Jazz answered it. Not only was she surprised to see Sam here this early, but she was also a little alarmed on how the goth girl looked. She had never seen Sam look this disheveled before. Nevertheless, the red-head successfully hid her nervousness with her slightly surprised tone of voice. "Sam? You're here? Now? At this time?"

Sam was suddenly aware of Jazz's edginess. The goth girl didn't know why, since Jazz didn't seem outwardly nervous. But she threw that thought out and, instead, dryly replied, "Yeah, you know me…Hate to be totally predictable. Mind if I wait for Danny in here?"

"Uh, sure. I'm sure he won't mind," Jazz casually answered, slightly clenching her jaw, determined not to let Sam see her apprehension.

Sam then looked right at Jazz and frowned, once again wondering why Jazz was so nervous. Then it hit her. Jazz must know something.

And Sam was right.

Jazz had seen Danny not too long after he had gotten home last night. He had alluded in his own way that something wasn't right, which was very easy for his sister to see, since he looked awful and he was so bad at hiding those kinds of things. Jazz, of course, had mentioned his change and though he had let her know that he didn't totally like her butting in, he was feeling more at ease to talk to her about things that bothered him. He hadn't gone into too much detail, as usual, but Jazz was certain that he was having more difficulty, more serious difficulty with Sam than the last time, which, of course, had to do with Libro. But this time, Jazz knew it was different. She, too, had heard all those ugly rumors at school, but had flipped them off…until Danny had talked to her last night. Still, she didn't understand why Sam was doing this. It was so unlike her. There had to be some kind of explanation…but what?

Finally, Jazz said, "He should be ready soon. He's still in the kitchen."

"OK, thanks, Jazz…and, uhm, thanks, you know, for not mentioning anything about our problems," Sam quietly blurted out. But she hadn't said that with any intention to accuse the older girl for butting into her business, but in relief that Jazz wasn't going to ream her out or something like that.

Jazz jolted in surprise at her friend. How did she know what was on her mind?

But Sam didn't know—exactly. She was just becoming more aware of the fact that lately she was beginning to get very good at 'reading' other people—if she paid attention to them, that is. Like now. She could tell that Jazz knew something about her and Danny's 'disagreement'. Just how much, she wasn't certain, but if she knew Danny…..Danny! She jolted at her sudden thought. She did know him and now she was certain that he would let her talk to him and would believe her!

"Uh, s-sure, sure, Sam," Jazz stammered, now uncertain on what to say since it was obvious that Sam had seen through her ruse. "Well, I got to finish getting ready myself. See you at school."

"Sure, Jazz," Sam said and continued to stand near the front door. She looked down at the floor, suddenly getting nervous again. How was she going to convince her boyfriend that she had been framed—or that maybe her telepathic powers were going crazy—and that was the reason for all that had happened? But before she could search her mind more, she heard familiar footsteps, and looked up and toward the direction from which they were coming.

When Danny came out from the kitchen to the front room and entrance to his home, he stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes met Sam's. He hadn't expected her, and in his fatigue, could not guard himself emotionally. They stood there, feeling like they could just fall into the other's eyes, but they fell short of that. Still, in that instant, they just knew each other's hearts—Danny's wanting to know why she had hurt him and why she didn't want him anymore, and Sam's determination to make him understand and believe in her. And even still, there was an underlying hope, an inkling of assurance that they both wanted to somehow get through this.

Danny cleared his throat in embarrassment as he broke their mesmerizing gaze. "Uhm, hi, Sam. Uhm…"

She jumped right in, "Uhm, I just thought that maybe we could sorta have a walk by ourselves before we met up with Tucker. I mean, if it's all right with you."

"Sure," he automatically said, and quickly got his things together as Sam silently watched on. They walked out the door together, but neither felt it was the right time to hold hands.

They walked side-by-side in silence at first, both burning to say exactly what was on each of their minds, and both kind of hoping the other would go first.

But before either of them could say something, there was a loud crash right next to where they were just passing…..

Sarah looked over to the cage right next to her, which contained her husband, searching for signs that he had recovered. But he didn't stir. How long had he been out? A few hours?

Suddenly, she heard a noise and she crouched down. Spectra and Bertrand were coming out of the lab. She could clearly hear their conversation.

"You better be glad that I had gathered up more flowers this time, or else, we would have had to wait for a few days for me to go to Pandora's Maze, get more of them, and then finally concoct some more of the aura masking juice that you unnecessarily wasted back at the brat's school," Bertrand said indignantly, showing her the two precious vials he had left. One was full, and one was only a quarter full.

Spectra yawned in annoyance before replying, "Spare me the boring details, Bertrand. I'm just happy that we have more of the stuff. But, ooh, when you do have to go to Pandora's Maze, could you get some more of that sweet water from her Fountain of Youth? I have a yen for that exotic dessert!"

The left side of Bertrand's nose flared up and his left eye twitched now that he was perturbed when she hadn't fully listened to him—again! He sarcastically said, "And it'll remain that—rare and exotic—as long as I can help it, Penelope! Especially when that Ghost Kid's pheromones are all we need now."

One of her eyebrows rose and a side of her mouth fell in irritation at his refusal. Spectra, nevertheless, wouldn't be put into a bad mood. After all, she could also taste her sweet victory over Danny. She suddenly gushed, "And I'm getting more and more excited, now that I know we have almost accomplished what we have planned for that Fenton Brat!"

They walked closer to their prisoners and Sarah hunched down further in her cage.

"I think it's already worked. Just look at the quality of that Fenton Kid's samples," Bertrand countered, placing the vials holding the concentrated ghost-masking mist between the two cages while pulling out one of the glowing vials from one of the pouches he had hanging on his side.

Sarah braved lifting her head a little and looked at the two vials that was so close to her she could touch them, then diverting her gaze toward the vials that the evil assistant beheld high enough for her to clearly see. She stifled her gasp at their powerful glow. Then she startled at her next thought. On what that evil assistant had said…She knew that name, the one that they kept mentioning. She searched her memory and then she was certain that name was the last name of that boy whom the evil ghosts were so interested in. She concentrated again, trying to remember the boy's first name. They had been talking about…Danny? But, what could that mean? And what were in those glowing vials that the ghosts were so interested in obtaining? She listened in more intensely.

"Ohh, giveme!" the shadow ghost demanded, reflexively reaching out to the glowing dark vial. But she hesitated when she was near enough to grab the vial. "Don't want to waste it, since, like you said, they aren't my pheromones. Uh, so how about you give it to me—ya know--doing what you're supposed to do with the machine?"

He frowned, but quickly pulled out the little machine and promptly gave an aerosol dose to Spectra.

"Ahhhh," she cooed, but then hungrily growled, "All of it!"

Again, he obliged her and emptied the vial until it satisfied her. He then said, "You do realize that you probably won't need another dose for a least a year or more?"

"Really? How delicious! But then, we must get more of those pheromones, Bertrand! I want enough to last eternity! Danny's relationship might be on stormy waters, but it hasn't sunk yet. And I want to make sure it's driven right to the bottom!"

She paused at her next thought and then added, "That is, of course, I don't run into anymore snags…"

"What do you mean, Penelope?" Bertrand asked, growing concerned now that she had expressed some doubt in their future plans.

"An odd thing happened. When I tried to overshadow Danny's girl, what's-her-name…"

"Sam Manson," he interjected.

Sarah shuddered. She also knew that name!

"Yeah, that's right. When I tried, I got a jolt I haven't ever felt before. It was very strange."

Bertrand rolled his eyes, "Maybe you were just having a ghost brain hiccup. It happens to everyone occasionally."

"It does?" she asked sincerely, frowning with sudden worry. But she then rolled her eyes, throwing that feeling away, while her voice mirrored her dismissive attitude, "I had never heard of that. Oh, well, I don't need to worry about that, then. It was just a nuisance, since I did succeed in the end." She looked at the vial full of glowing, almost black, pheromones again and unconsciously licked her lips as she purred, "And from how those samples look, the best is yet to come. And even more…"

"Yes, but I think…," the shape shifter began.

But Spectra sternly interrupted him, "I know what you think, Bertrand! But it's not just the samples I want. I want that boy's strength completely depleted, and his power destroyed, so that he won't ever interfere with any of our future plans anymore! That way, getting our further meals of misery will be like having an eternal feast instead of being in a famine like we have been in most of the time."

Bertrand smiled wickedly. He had forgotten about that little detail. He piped in, "I agree, and we might be able to bring him to an inch of both of his lives when we do!"

"Or, even permanently over the edge of that inch, which will eventually come, and would be even more delicious," Spectra snickered, her eyes narrowing with her dark thought.

Sarah's eyes widened when she heard that. Derek and she had been instrumental in not only hurting so many innocent young humans, but now they would also be abettors to that boy Danny's possible demise?! But how could that be? She had thought that all that the Spectra ghost had wanted was to end his relationship with his girl and that was all. What power could that human boy possibly possess that they would seek his destruction? She shuddered in fear at the thought.

And now, she was even more worried when she thought about what else they had said. Who was this 'Ghost Kid' they had mentioned earlier? Somehow, she didn't think that was good news, either. She searched her mind…She did not recall another ghost's being involved in all of this. But, of course, she had been under the potion's power at one point and since she could remember practically none of what happened, she wasn't certain. Even when she had been aware of what she was doing later, she didn't remember any other ghost except those two and her husband. Maybe, then, it was when she had been under the potion's power this 'Ghost Kid' to whom they were referring had come into play.

She shook her head in doubt. She still didn't understand all that. But she felt that these two evil ghosts' words were not threats; they were real. She could not bear the thought of any human being in mortal danger because of her, and she began to silently whimper.

But her thoughts were interrupted by Bertrand's remark. "Then, I guess we should go to work."

Spectra smiled wickedly. "Glad you see the point. After all, you benefit from this as much as me. In the meanwhile, let's take it easy until tomorrow. I want to make sure the whole world knows that Danny and his girl's relationship will be out for the final count."

But suddenly, Derek stirred in his cage a little, and the movement of his body caused the tawny-colored vials that were between the cages to vibrate, before they began to roll off the table.

Sarah gasped when she saw that and Bertrand noticed both the ghost dove's reaction and the vials' movement. He gasped at the sight as well.

He lunged for the vials, grabbing one, but missing the other. The uncaught vial smashed to the floor, releasing the powerful amber aura-masking gas, which immediately bellowed into in a potent yellow cloud, and just as quickly enveloped Sarah, Derek and Bertrand.

Sarah and Bertrand coughed on the gas. Derek didn't, but that didn't mean he wasn't affected by the concoction, as all three of the ghosts' signature auras were snuffed out.

"Now…look what…happened!" Bertrand moaned through his coughs.

"Well, what are you crying for? That's what you get when you're careless!" Spectra said, her tone not unlike a teacher chiding her student.

Bertrand growled, "But it was the full vial that broke! And that means we'll have less of the stuff to use if we need it! Still, it's not a total loss. The effects of that concentration will last about ten times as long as the small doses I had been putting on us in order to spare its use."

"Well, then, why blubber about it? That'll just mean you can carry even more vials to suck up the Ghost Boy's energy!"

Bertrand growled again, but he had to agree with her. He would be able to carry more empty vials now that he didn't have to take and protect the masking gas vials. He finally said, "OK, I'm going to get going so I can get more containers. I'll meet you first thing tomorrow, then."

"Of course," Spectra said with a smile, as she headed to her back room, leaving Bertrand and her prisoners behind.

The ghost dove continued to cautiously and silently observe the shape shifter as he reinspected the vials. She didn't like how evilly he smiled when he admired them once more before carefully replacing the glowing vial into the pouch. She tracked his movements as he headed back to the lab to deposit the pouch of filled vials there. He came back in no time and Sarah once again watched until Bertrand had left the lair.

After a few minutes of quiet, Sarah came to the conclusion that Spectra must have retired for the night. She then clenched her beak in determination. She would no longer be willing to do anything for these despicable ghosts--even if it meant her own destruction. So, she and Derek had to escape tonight!

She pulled the pieces of bedding which hid the small hole at the bottom of her cage. She smiled in encouragement when the hole had gotten slightly bigger when she had pressed against it earlier. But her face grew more serious almost as sudden. She pushed against the hole again, but it didn't budge any more. Still, she was not discouraged and began to work on the bars with her beak.

After a few minutes, she heard a strange noise and sighed in relief when she knew it came from her husband's cage. He was groaning.

"Darling?" she quickly whispered. "Are you alright? We have much to do!"

"Uh, I think I have recovered, Wife," he slowly said, and then when his head cleared, he added, "What do you mean that 'we have much to do'?"

She quickly and quietly explained the situation and her anxiety over the whole thing, in between her efforts to pry the bars open. "We must help that human couple, Danny and Sam. And the others, too!"

But her husband would not answer her.

"Derek, did you not hear me?" she anxiously asked.

"Yes, I did, Sarah. But we have done enough. If we can escape, we will never come to this part of the Ghost Zone—or to the Real World--again."

She didn't comment. She knew she didn't have the time to convince him right now. She needed to concentrate on getting out of here.

They didn't speak again as she silently and frantically pecked at the bars. Sometimes, she would push her body against the hole, encouraged when that helped.

Finally, after what seemed like days of struggle, and just a few hours before daybreak in the Real World, Sarah felt she had pried the bars enough to squeeze through. She put her head through and slowly and carefully pressed herself between the twisted bars. She winced a little when one of the bars' sharp barbs scratched her left wing, but she successfully bit back her urge to scream. She was finally successful in shimming completely through the hole, and hurried in silent anticipation to her husband's cage as fast as she dared.

Derek knew immediately that his wife was free when he heard the quiet flutter of her wings approaching him. He stood up just as she used her feet to attach herself to the cage's bars immediately above the lock of his cage. He remained mute, concentrating on picking up any unusual noise other than what her beak made as it worked to yank at the pin-like latch from the circular bolt in which it was wedged.

As she pulled with all her might with her beak, it was soon apparent to the young bird that it was in vain. She let go, panting a little, but she didn't give up yet. This time, she dropped down onto the pin-like latch itself and grabbed it with both of her feet. Then using the power of her wings to draw herself and the latch upward, she yanked on it again. After several attempts at this strategy, with little rest between each try, the pin finally moved! After a few more concerted efforts, the pin finally slipped out of its hole and her husband was free!

He pushed the cage open with his head and Sarah immediately fell exhausted at his feet.

"Have I ever told you how brave and strong you are?" he said with a touch of pride in his lowered voice as he gently nuzzled her.

"All the time," she quietly remarked with a soft laugh, as she nuzzled him back. "And you know I feel the same way about you!" she softly added with a weak smile.

"Come, Dearest, we have overstayed our welcome!" he whispered with a slight smirk, relieved to be free.

She smiled and flitted up to the top of his head again. As soon as he felt the pressure of her body upon him, he propelled himself upward and headed to the nearest ready exit, which he had already seen many times. He knew exactly where to go. Without hesitating, he swiftly entered the little room where he and his wife's cages were usually kept, but hadn't been placed tonight. He and his wife leapt at the window that had been left carelessly ajar, pushing it completely open as they exited it.

He headed as quickly as he could far, far away from there.

And as the young couple hurried forward, each of them unconsciously glanced back over his or her shoulder every once in a while. They silently prayed that they would cover a lot of ground before they would be discovered missing.

But that possibility did not seem to be...

Spectra had not been able to get any rest after her near victory. She was just too excited. She left her room, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to meet with Bertrand with plenty of time to spare. She just couldn't wait to get the goods and get that Ghost Boy once and for all. She slowly floated toward the front room of her lair. As she entered the still-darkened room that held the ghost animals, she inadvertently glanced toward their cages and spied something awry on the floor. She went over to investigate and gasped.

It was the pin to the latch! She quickly inspected the cages. They had escaped! She floated over to the door and seeing it was still closed and locked, knew that they could not have left that way. Then she thought of the only window that was nearest to this area. She flew over to the little room where she usually had kept her prisoners. Her eyes anxiously locked onto the tiny window, and frowned when she saw it was open and slightly rocking on its hinges. How could they have opened it? But she didn't care. They must have used it in their escape all the same.

She flew back over to the room where their cages were and quickly inspected each cage. She then saw the twisted bars in the small bird cage. One of them easily bent under her strength. How could this have happened? Surely, that little bird couldn't have had this much strength to even begin to pry the bars away, much less work on or finish the task. The enchanted ghost must have struggled with them and taken a great deal of time to do it, not only with the effort, but to do it in silence. That meant that they may not have escaped too long ago.

Her next thought was to go after them. But then, she had a better idea…She hurried toward Bertrand's lair. He would have to go after them.