Yay! I actually finished the chapter! No, I don't own DP. On with the story!
Chapter 3:Parents
They had ordered pizza. Danny continued to ask questions, but it wasn't until four in the afternoon that Sam and Jazz's smiles turned to frowns.
"What is it Mommy?" Dani asked when she saw the look on Sam's face. True, Dani had just found out that Sam and Danny were her parents a few hours before, but she was technically only three years old and she liked the idea of calling them 'Mommy' and 'Daddy'.
"It's getting late," Sam said.
Dani didn't seem to understand even when Jazz asked, "What are we going to do?"
By then, Tucker had caught on, and was looking sad. Danny held Dani by her waist before explaining what would probably happen overnight; that he wouldn't remember anything. Dani burst into tears. She'd just found that she had a real, biological dad and she didn't want to lose him, especially so soon. She tightened her arms around Danny's neck, using his shoulder to soak up her tears.
"Maybe we could make a video of himself right now. This way, explaining things tomorrow will be a little easier," Tucker offered. When Tucker mentioned the word 'video', Sam jumped up and ran to Danny's desk, pulling open drawers and ruffling through papers. The sudden movement had caused everyone to jump and stare at Sam in confused anticipation. After rifling through the third drawer in Danny's desk, Sam produced a small disk.
"I never thought we'd actually have to use this, so I totally forgot about it!" Sam happily exclaimed before Tucker slapped his hand against his forehead and announced, "Of course!"
"What is it guys? What's going on?" Jazz asked, a little ticked that she hadn't known about his important disk. Dani had stopped crying, but she was still tightly holding on to Danny. Danny looked thoroughly confused.
"A few months after Danny got his ghost powers, and after a really bad ghost fight, he came to me and Tucker and asked if we could help him make a video of him explaining everything. He wanted it just in case something happened to him and we had to tell his parents without him here," Sam explained.
"We weren't actually in the room when he recorded it, but he told us the gist of it. He told us that it would be in his desk and that if anything were to happen to him, we should show him if he was present or show his parents if he wasn't," Tucker finished.
"Then what are we waiting for; pop it in and let's watch!" Jazz exclaimed. Tucker quickly walked over to Danny's TV and inserted the disk. He turned it on and pressed the play button. Everyone had assembled on or in front of Danny's bed to watch. Danny was in the middle of everyone with Dani in his lap.
"Um, hi," said the Danny on the TV as the video flickered to life. He was in his human form, and his baby blue eyes were darting everywhere before he took a deep breath and looked straight into the camera and continued to talk. "I'm making this video in case of, well, the worst. I really hope this never has to be seen, but since I've chosen the life of a part-time hero, I thought I should be better safe than sorry.
"I don't know what has happened to me. I don't know if I'm watching this. Heck, I don't even know what I'm really going to say, but here goes: right now, I'm fourteen. My full name is Daniel Matthew Fenton, but not all the time. Mom, Dad, this will be a huge shock to you, but I want you to know that I'm not being possessed or over-shadowed or anything like that, so don't do or say anything until I've finished talking." The Danny on the screen moved back a little before a bright white flash popped up and the white rings formed.
"I'm Danny Phantom. It happened a few months ago. I stepped into the Ghost Portal and, well, I half died. When that happened, some ghost DNA mixed with mine, and the part of me that died became a ghost. I never told you because I was afraid of what you would do. I didn't know if you'd want to rip me apart 'molecule by molecule' or if you'd accept me. I'm sorry that I hid this from you, but I just wasn't ready to explain anything yet. I'm still not ready.
"Even though you think Danny Phantom, me, is an evil entity, it's not true. I try to be the hero and stop the ghosts that come through the Fenton Portal from the Ghost Zone. I hope you're proud of me, because I do it to protect you guys as well as everyone else. And ya, Sam and Tucker know. They were there when it happened. Jazz just found out, and it was what happened that led to Jazz knowing that I'm making this video." On the screen Danny changed back and sat down in a chair behind him.
"I like being Danny Phantom. I help protect people and I've learned a lot about life. Sam, Tucker, Jazz I hope you're listening to. Jazz: I want you to know that you're the best big sister I could ever hope to have. I know I give you a lot of crap and everything, but I really do love you. I'm glad you figured out my secret. I really wanted to tell you but I didn't know how." At this, Jazz began tearing up. She tried to hide it and no one said anything because the Danny on screen continued.
"Tucker: Man, you're my best friend dude. We're practically brothers. I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't have met, and I hope I'll never have to know. I will always be there for you dude, whether it's kicking your butt in video games or bringing you meat to help with girl problems." Tucker was quietly laughing at the last part. He had a huge smile on his face as he watched Danny continue to talk on the screen.
"Sam: You and I have always been good friends. But lately I've realized that I think I like you more than that. I'm over Paulina, and I'm going to try and build the courage to ask you out, but if I haven't by now, I'm sorry. I guess I'm worried you'll turn me down and our friendship will end. There's nothing more important to me than our friendship, and I just don't want to lose that." The Danny on screen was blushing as he said, "I think I love you, Samantha Manson."
Sam couldn't help herself; she cried. She wrapped her arms around Danny and just held on as she listened to Danny finish on the TV by saying, "If I'm not there because something happened, I want you guys to find Danielle and protect her for me. I know we're just cousins, but I feel a stronger connection than that, and until I figure out what exactly it is, I want to make sure nothing happens to her. Mom, Dad; I hope you'll help them do that. I hope you'll forgive me for hiding this from you and I hope you'll understand and accept that I like being half ghost.
"If I am there and I don't know what's going on for whatever reason, it might be best to ask Plasmius or Frostbite for the next step. Danny, if we, you, me? am there, trust me: these people around you are there for us. They won't let us down." With that Danny smiled his lopsided grin, but it was quickly replaced with an eye roll as he heard a voice, Sam's, yell "Danny, are you done yet? You've been in there for a while and you promised that the three of us would go to the movies tonight!"
"I'm coming! Jeez, what's a guy got to do around here to have a few minutes alone?" Even though the tone coming from the Danny on the video was one of annoyance, you could see that he was smiling. However, his smile quickly turned from one of joy to one of nervousness. Like one a child has after they say something they didn't mean to say. "Hey, did you hear me talking? How much did you hear?"
Before the Danny on the video turned the camera off, you could see his face begin to blush as he waited for Sam's answer. When the video was over, everyone was in tears. Even Danny was tearing up, because he'd heard himself talk about his feelings and his own wishes. He'd seen how much he cared about everyone in the room who currently sat around him.
It took a few minutes before Danny got up, holding Dani in his left arm, and took the disk out of the TV. He turned to everyone and announced, "I think it's time we tell Mom and Dad."
Jack and Maddie Fenton sat on the couch awestruck with their mouths wide open. They didn't quite soak in everything until Danny asked, "So, now what?"
It was a few more awkward minutes until Maddie said, "O honey! You're Father and I would never rip you apart or dissect you! We love you! And we completely understand why you hid this from us."
"Ya, if I'd been you, I'd have been scared to tell us too!" Jack added before he and Maddie gave their son a hug.
After a minute of hugging, Jazz cleared her throat and said, "There's more. Don't freak, because we just realized it earlier today." Jazz walked over to Dani, who'd been sitting on the bottom of the steps, and held her hand out for her to take. Dani took it and Jazz led her over to Jack and Maddie and announced, "This is Danielle."
Dani gave a small wave and a nervous grin before she added, "People call me Dani, but with an 'I'." Jazz motioned for Sam to come over, and when she did, she picked Dani up and held her. Jazz sat down next to Tucker as Danny joined Sam and Dani and Sam began to explain their new-found family.
When they were done explaining, Maddie angrily exclaimed, "Who is the sick person that would do such a thing as melt a child?!"
"Plasmius; the Wisconsin ghost," Jazz answered. Even though the group was telling them everything, they'd already decided that they wouldn't reveal Vlad's secret. It was his choice to make, not theirs.
Maddie huffed but she soon shook her head and asked, "Well, what are we going to do now? And why did Danny say we should talk to this 'Plasmius' ghost for help if he's obviously the enemy?"
"Well, you see, it was he who did this to Danny; the memory loss. I think either Danny knew he'd be part of whatever trouble he was in and we'd have to make a deal with him or he would help because he wants Danny to be his apprentice. I'm thinking that there might be some sort of cure that he knows about, since he was the one that caused this," Jazz explained.
"If I ever get my hands on that ghost, I will surely rip him apart molecule by molecule! Nobody does this to Jack Fenton's son and gets away with it!" Jack exclaimed, actually sounding scary.
"And that's why Sam, Tucker, and I will be going alone," Danny said.
"What! Why can't I come?" Dani unhappily yelled.
"He tried to melt you. And I'd rather not relive that forgotten memory," Danny said. Dani still looked upset, but she also understood. Besides, she hated Vlad and would be very happy if she never had to see him again. Dani walked over to Jack and held her arms up to signal that she wanted to be picked up.
"I'll just spend time with Aunty, Grandma, and Grandpa I guess," Dani decided out loud.
"Cool! Maybe you could show Grandpa how your powers work?" Jack happily yelled. Even though he'd been a ghost hunter mere moments before, he now thought that it would be neat to settle with learning about them. Maybe he would convince Danny to let him help with the hero thing when his memory returned.
"Not in the house! Go down to the lab or outside!" Maddie added. Jazz couldn't help but feel confused. She didn't think her family could get any weirder than it already was. She stood corrected.
"You guys should leave tomorrow, 'cause it's too late to leave now. We wouldn't want Danny to wake up on the road and not remember," Jazz said to the trio. They solemnly nodded in agreement before Danny asked, "What if I just don't fall asleep? Would I remember today then?"
Jazz hated to ruin his hopeful idea, but she shook her head explaining how bad of an idea that would be. "We don't need you tired and unaware of your surroundings. You could get hurt or something worse. Not to mention what might happen to Sam and Tucker without you there. Plus, if you guys get to bed now, I can wake you up early and we may be able to partly retrain your ghost form."
"That would be good. And while you train, Tucker and I can get familiar with some of the new weapons your Mom and Dad made," Sam added.
"Ya dude, a good night's rest is something your body needs. Not to mention mine and Sam's," Tucker said already half way up the stairs. Danny nodded before wrapping his arm around Sam's shoulders and walking up the stairs to his room.
"Jazz, could you call our folks and tell them we're staying at Danny's again? Tell them we fell asleep already and that's why you're calling," Sam asked. Jazz agreed and hurried to the kitchen to make the calls.
"O! And tell your parents to put the Ghost Shield up!" Tucker yelled after her. When he received confused looks from Danny and Sam, he explained, "Just in case any ghost decides to try and attack. As long as the Ghost Portal stays closed, we won't have to worry about anything creeping out. As for the ghosts that are already out there, we can never be too sure."
The trio finally made it up to Danny's room, and as Tucker and Danny walked in, Sam held back. When the two boys realized that Sam hadn't joined them, they stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
"Um, I think I'll sleep in the guest bedroom next door." Before either of the guys could say anything, Sam ran into the room next to Danny's and closed the door. They heard the soft 'click' of a lock before they gave each other confused looks.
Three hours later and Tucker was fast asleep. He didn't care that it was only 7 at night. He knew that he needed all the sleep he could get before the next day's events. Danny stared at his clock. He'd been lying in bed, looking at his walls. He'd tried to go next door to Sam's room and talk to her, but Jazz had spot him sneaking out of his door and told him to go back to bed. He now had no doubt she was standing guard outside his door right now.
Then it occurred to him: he was half ghost. He stood up as quietly as he could and walked over to his mirror. He looked at himself and concentrated hard. He thought about what it would feel like to be able to fly. He saw himself with white hair and glowing eyes. He didn't know why, but he silently mumbled "I'm Going Ghost."
When he opened his eyes, he saw that he'd done it. He smiled and felt like celebrating, but he quickly began to panic when he saw that he was missing something: his legs. In their place was a tail. Danny freaked out for a few seconds before he smacked himself across his face. He took a few deep breaths and concentrated. When he looked down again, he saw that the tail was gone and his legs were back. He smiled. Even though something like that was probably minor, he was proud of himself that he'd figured out the solution without and help.
He then turned to the wall that separated his room from the guest bedroom. He frowned before he remembered what Dani had told him about their powers earlier. He remembered that she'd said they could turn intangible and fly through things.
Danny concentrated yet again. He thought about how badly he wanted to walk through the wall and see Sam. Soon, his outstretched arm was passing through the wall, followed by the rest of his body. When he made it to the other side, he silently cheered for himself as he returned to tangibility. He was too busy looking at the wall with a huge grin on his face to notice that Sam wasn't asleep.
"Danny? What the heck! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Sam silently yelled. Danny jumped a little into the air before falling to the floor. When he recovered from his shock, he got up and gave a sheepish grin in Sam's direction.
"I, uh, wanted to see if you were o.k., and Jazz is blocking my door, so I had to get creative," Danny told her while his face began to flush.
Sam smiled at him before she asked, "So, how do you feel?"
"Good. O, does the phrase 'I'm Going Ghost' mean anything to you? When I was trying to change forms I said it, but I don't know why or where I'd gotten it from."
Sam's smile widened when she told him, "That used to be your battle cry. You don't say it as often any more, but the first time you changed forms you'd shouted it out and it stuck."
"Why would I give it up? I think it's kind of neat to have a battle cry."
"I don't know, I never asked. So, is there something you wanted to ask me or did you really just want to check on me?"
"Well, um…" Danny started, but quickly sighed as he asked, "I was wondering if I could maybe sleep in your room with you tonight? Tucker snores and I can practically feel Jazz's eyes staring through my door at me."
Sam blushed before quickly nodding her head. She didn't want to admit it, but she hadn't been able to fall asleep 'cause she'd been secretly hoping he'd come and see her. "Do you know how to change back? Or do you plan on staying in ghost mode all night?" Sam said, adding some of her signature sarcasm.
"Uh, do you have a mirror in here?" Danny asked slightly blushing at Sam's question.
"It's in the bathroom. Make sure you close the door so the bright light won't blind me." Danny headed off to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Sam got up and grabbed the comforter and a pillow from the bed and got comfy on the floor. She'd decided that Danny should have the bed.
Within seconds of settling on the floor, a wave of exhaustion hit her and Sam drifted off to sleep. A minute later, Danny walked out of the bathroom and nearly tripped over Sam on his way to the bed. He frowned. He'd been hoping to sleep with her like he had the previous night.
Danny looked from the bed to the floor where Sam was. Danny knew that he should probably take the bed, since tomorrow was a big day, but he knew that he'd sleep way better if he was able to hold Sam. He walked over to the bed, grabbed the other pillow, and gently slid under the comforter, placing his right arm around Sam's waist. Her breathing stayed steady, so Danny assumed she was fast asleep. Within seconds, he too was deep in sleep.
This was one of my favorite chapters to write! I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I still do(: Next update should be tomorrow!