True to his word, Vlad had sent someone up to give Alex his meal. It was the same ghost as before. The ghost dropped the tray on a tea table, and phased out of the room before the spy could even open his mouth to speak. Scowling, Alex got up to see what the meal was. He had been given shepherd's pie, steamed vegetables, and a pot of tea and a small cup to drink from. His small cup from earlier, going untouched, had turned cold. Cautiously, he poked at the pie, expecting it to be drugged.

"Did he have this prepared beforehand or something?" he wondered aloud. "Obsessive old man…" Alex turned away from the food, refusing to even look at it. He went back to the fire, sitting in front of it and staring down into the dying embers.

For the first time in any mission, he didn't feel like trying to free himself, and he only continued to stare into the fireplace, his thoughts elsewhere. Perhaps it was the fact that he was unable to defend himself back then in his overshadowed state, and save Danny, or could it be that Danny had been so young? He had worked beside others before, only to have them killed before the job was even completed. They were adults, and they knew the risk. Danny was half ghost, and he had known the risks that came with all of his fights too, so why was it so different?

"Friendship, I suppose." He thought to himself, looking back outside. The dying fire crackled, as if it were trying to become the center of attention again. Alex frowned, walking over and taking the teapot. Upon opening the lid, he learned that the container was full of the hot drink. He brought it over to the fire, dumping out the contents over the burnt logs. With a final sputter of protest, the fire gave in and expired.

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Sam and Danny had left through the floor, leaving Yassen and Tucker to find another way out. Tucker went over to the door, which was open. Yassen was already there. The assassin had just finished looking over the door.

"The lock has been tampered with."

"Alex?"

"Possibly."

"Yeah, man! Earlier, he had a knife with him."

Yassen wasn't interested in this, and continued out the door. Tucker ran after him, determined to have some conversation.

"So, did you and Alex meet up on a couple of missions?"

"Possibly."

"Did you guys work together?"

"No."

"Why?"

Yassen sighed, looking away. Tucker, wanting to avoid a silence at all costs, changed topics.

"Did you know his uncle? Is that how you know Alex?"

"Yes."

"So you worked with Ian?"

"No."

"How did you know him then?"

"Why don't you go and ask Alex?"

Something in the man's tone of voice told Tucker that it would be foolish to ask Alex. The boy gave up, and fell silent. Yassen seemed to know where to go, and Tucker followed him up several flights of stairs. They finally stopped at the doorway to a tower of sorts, and Yassen pulled Tucker off to the side, motioning with his hand to tell the boy to remain silent. The ghost had somehow picked up on the presence of Danny and Sam. One of them must have noticed the other group, and Sam and Danny flew over to meet them. Sam became visible, leaving Danny alone in invisibility.

"We've been through most of the place." She reported. "Unless he's in one of the lower labs or the garden, this tower is the only place left for him."

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Alex continued to stare into the dead fire for a few more moments until something came over him. He turned around, coming face to face with the Dairy King. His eyes widened, and he cried out lightly in surprise. The small ghost smiled warmly.

"Well, hello again! I was wondering; are you trapped in here?"

Alex made a face. Who would ask such a stupid question? Of course he was! The King didn't notice this, and he continued talking.

"I came across a small group in the dining room just now. The white haired man never has anyone over, so I assumed they were for you."

"Uh, they might be. Why are you telling me this, Dairy King?"

"Well, I thought that you were in a spot of trouble! Here, let me take you to them!"

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Yassen and Tucker went up to look. The trio knew that there was a small chance that Vlad could be up there. Tucker had been the one who had offered to search the tower. Sam smiled softly in relief as they left. She leaned against the stone wall, moving slightly when she felt Danny lean on the spot next to her. For a few minutes, they were silent.

"How are you holding up?' she asked quietly. Danny shrugged, his shoulder nudging hers. It was an answer enough. She moved her hand down his arm until she found his hand, and held it tight.

She wanted to ask Danny what he thought of Tucker and Yassen. Had they been gone for too long? Her answer was quickly answered by the return of Tucker and Yassen. She frowned at Tucker's expression.

'Tuck? What is it?"

"We just missed him, probably by minutes."

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The Dairy King left Alex almost as soon as they had landed back in the dining room. Muttering something about kingly business this and that, the ghost flew away. Alex gave him a wave of thanks before running out of the room. He took a right, sprinting down hall after hall until he finally realized where he was. Turning around again, he put on another burst of speed, going up several flights of stairs and ran some more. He came to a quick halt at the next floor.

"We just missed him, probably by minutes."

Missed who? Him?

"Oi!" he yelled, running down the hall. Several heads turned in alarm. Alex waved, stopping in front of Sam and Tucker. He swallowed what he had been about to say when he saw their faces.

"I'm sorry!" he said. "I couldn't fight back! I never meant to!"

"Sorry about what?" Sam asked coldly.

"I wasn't able to save Danny!"

Alex looked away in shame and guilt. "I should have done something, I know!"

Sam gave Danny's hand a final squeeze before letting go. Yassen began to walk away, taking something with him. She sniffled as he left, wiping her eyes.

"So, it's true then? Danny… didn't make it?" she said, hair falling into her eyes. "We weren't sure. After the morning paper, we got nervous. We had no idea where you were either, and Jack's brother offered to drive us here. We all thought that Vlad would have left you alive-"

"What are you talking about, Sam?" Alex said, wiping his own eyes. "Jack doesn't have a brother. Do you mean Yassen? Red eyes don't exactly run in Jack's family, as far as I know."

Sam smiled, giving him a rare hug. She quickly apologized, saying that she wasn't sure if he was still overshadowed or not.

"Last time I talked to you, you offered to call Jack for me, when I told you that I had seen her brother."

"That wasn't me."

Sam nodded. Tucker punched Alex on the shoulder in greeting. "I thought you were someone else, man! Good to have you back!" he cheered. Alex smiled back weakly, looking past him to Yassen.

"Fancy seeing you here, Yassen."

The ghost only shrugged. He seemed to be pulling something along. Alex watched this curiously. Whatever Yassen had been pulling tugged free. The area grew silent, and Alex stared with wide eyes as the quiet sound of foot steps made its way towards him.

"Danny?"

"Oh my god, is he all ghost now?"

"I'm still here." a hoarse voice whispered.

"Danny?" Alex's voice had suddenly dropped to a whisper. He stared in the empty space before him, trying to figure out where the voice had come from. "Danny?"

The voice didn't answer again.

"If it's anything, I don't think Vlad is here right now. He would have found you by now, right?" he said to the group.

"He'll be at the warehouse, trying to find me." The voice said sadly.

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"Trying?"

"Yeah, and when he doesn't find me there, he'll come after me again!"

"He… has a reason to? Even now?"

The voice went silent again with a gasp. Sam and Tucker's eyes widened, and the voice whimpered.

"He's here!"

Two invisible hands shot out, grabbing Sam and Tucker and turning them invisible. Tucker grabbed Alex, and he vanished as well. Yassen disappeared a moment later.

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Vlad had indeed gone back to the warehouse. Rather than talk to the people as Masters and waste time, he remained in his ghost form. A few sweeps of the area gave no results.

Daniel wasn't there. If he had died there, there would have been a charred body, and a lot of media attention. He had been aware of this from the start, which is why he planned to not set fire to the place. A fire had been efficient in destroying any evidence though, and it would certainly finish the boy off. Plasmius frowned. Where could the blasted boy have run off to? He began searching through the rubble, trying to find a space big enough to hold a body.

He had been about to leave the empty shell of a building, until a light breeze blew across his face. A makeshift door had been created at the other end of the building, so this was impossible, unless it was what he thought it was. He flew over to a wall, and his eyes widened at what he saw. There was a hole, just large enough to admit Daniel, and a bent pipe. Plasmius cursed. Daniel had woken up, and he had found a way out.

He was alive.

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AN: Shepherd's pie is pretty awesome, as I found out in London… X3 Steak and ale pie too! 8D

*cough* So… back to the story! Vlad had a bit of a wakeup call! It's a good thing he went to the warehouse himself instead of sending a copy or some other ghost, right?