I do not own Danny Phantom.

Confrontation and a Message

"I still can't believe the Ghost Bomber was a dud!" Tucker exclaimed as the trio walked through the doors of Casper High. "Talk about a lucky break!"

Danny nodded, feeling the beginnings of another laugh attack. Jazz had covered for him when he left the lab in a fit, so his parents hadn't asked him why he was in the lab at six in the morning. This was good, because he didn't have an answer he could give them.

"You said she knocked you out. What did she knock you out with?" Sam asked. She studied her friend. "You don't have a bruise, so I guess she didn't club you one."

Danny frowned. "I think she drugged me, but I'm not sure. The only thing I remember is waking up in the lab, seeing Valerie with the missile and when I went to stop her, the thing kicked it. Then she left in a huff and I spent the next four hours having a hysterical laughing attack. My sides are still tender."

Tucker shook his head. "Well, that's one less thing we have to worry about. But the question is, what's Valerie going to try next?"

Danny shrugged. They reached their lockers and he turned the dial on his metal door, swinging it open. "Don't know. Oh, after I talked to you guys, I went to check on the Fruitloop last night."

Sam blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah. I guess I felt obligated to or something. It kind of just hit me. I flew over to Amity Hospital and spent about an hour there."

Tucker adjusted his glasses. "How is he? And did you tell him about Maddie? The cat, I mean," he added for clarification. "Not the person."

Danny smirked, still finding it amusing that Vlad actually got a cat. He was creeped, however, that the cat was named after his mother. "He's fine, actually. He's getting out tomorrow, and yeah, he knows where Maddie is. I made sure to let him know."

Just then Lancer stepped around the corner and spotted them hanging around Danny's locker. "You three, come with me. I've been meaning to have a word with you."

The trio exchanged confused glances as they followed their English teacher down the hall. "What do you think this is about?" whispered Tucker.

"He seems really serious," remarked Sam. "Not in his usual manner, either."

"I don't think this is going to turn out well," said Danny fearfully.

They soon reached Lancer's classroom and they filed in, taking seats in the front row. Lancer shut the door firmly behind him and stood in front of the three teens, surveying them intently.

He had gotten no sleep the past few nights, wondering how he should approach the situation. He couldn't pretend he didn't see what he saw. He needed answers. And he was prepared to keep the trio for as long as necessary until he got them.

"Okay, I'm going to come out with it," he said bluntly. "Samantha, Tucker, what were you doing ghost hunting when your parents specifically told you not to? And with Phantom. But I'll come to that later. Now, Foley? What do you have to say?"

He did not miss the pale faces and nervous expressions exchanged between the three.

Tucker hesitated. He couldn't remember the cover story they had invented the day of Skulker's and Technus' appearance at Casper High. It had been so long ago and no one had asked them about it. He was going to have to wing it and hope he didn't screw up.

"Phantom saw me walking around, looking for Sam, and said he needed our assistance. He couldn't break into the Fenton's lab without the ghost alarms going crazy, so he needed me to go in and borrow the Fenton Thermos. So I did, and met him at the soccer field, where he rescued Sam and defeated that ghost."

Lancer frowned. "Samantha, why did you throw yourself in front of those ghosts?"

"I didn't want them hurting the other students, so I tried to distract the ghosts and lead them away. It only worked on one of them though, and I know it was wrong, but I planned to slip away after."

He tapped his fingers against his desk. "You certainly didn't show any fear. You actually seemed to be having fun. It was as if you knew that ghost."

"I didn't. I just enjoy the adrenaline rush and danger. Come on, Mr. Lancer. You know me by now," said Sam with an innocent grin.

I thought I did, Lancer thought wearily. I thought I knew all of you.

He truly did. Over the year he and other members of the staff had realized that instead of being annoying and disruptive, the trio were becoming amusing. Instead of dreading having the trio in their class, teachers often fought for them. Lancer especially.

He wouldn't admit it to Daniel, Tucker or Samantha, but he was fond of them more than he let on. He respected their individuality, their ability to ignore the insults they got for just being themselves. And just when he thought he knew everything about them, the trio surprised him.

Tucker knew the musical works of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, and knew every possible fact about them. He had thought Foley only listened to current pop music. But no, he had surprised him.

Samantha enjoyed watching plays of famous play writers, mostly anything that suited her dark nature. Lancer had been shocked when she had gotten tickets to see Shakespeare's Hamlet in the theatre, and was thrilled by her genuine interest.

Daniel read works by some of the greatest poets, his favourite being Robert Frost. He was also good at poetry. Lancer had been moved to tears, a rather impressive feat, after reading the poem Danny had written for a project at the beginning of the year.

And he always admired the way they stood up for those who were too scared to stand up for themselves. Samantha had dumped a bowl of spaghetti on Paulina's head after she stole Nathan's glasses and broke them in half. Danny had kicked Dash in the shin in order to get him to stop beating up Mikey.

Lancer had not been there when these events occurred, but he heard them from the teachers that had.

But now his opinions of Danny, Sam and Tucker dropped harshly. He had thought they were always honest. Sure, they avoided telling the truth and giving him full details, and often side-stepped the truth. But a full out lie? How many had he been given?

Lancer stared at the Goth girl. "Miss Manson, I was at the soccer park when that battle occurred. I clearly heard you call that ghost Technus."

Sam widened her violet eyes. "Well, it-it's just a nickname."

But she had left too much a pause between his question and her answer and stuttered during her response. Lancer narrowed his eyes. "I want you to tell me right now, Samantha. Have you and Tucker been ghost fighting after you've been told not to?"

Sam felt like the time she'd been caught with one hand in the cookie jar. Busted and with no way out. Sure, she could lie. But what was the point? Lancer had witnessed the whole thing, and she would slip up eventually. What was important was not giving too much away and accidently give up Danny's secret.

"Yes, sir. I led Technus away from the others and Tucker led Phantom towards me so he could finish him off."

"What about the other ghost? Do you know him as well?"

Sam hesitated, debating whether or not to lie on this one. She decided yes. "Not personally, sir. Phantom knows them. He just tells us their names."

Lancer studied her for a moment. "Do you know Phantom personally?"

It took everything Tucker had not to snicker. "He often comes to us asking us to slip him Fenton inventions to help contain the ghosts he beats. That's why he has so many Fenton inventions on his person."

The English teacher thought for a bit, processing the information he was given. "Why did you run away after the girl in red showed up?"

"You mean the Red Huntress?"

Tucker got glares that he swore burned holes in the back of his head. Aw, crap.

Lancer pounced. "You know her?"

Tucker scrambled to fix his mistake. "No, I'm just going by what the media had dubbed her. We ran away because Phantom told us too. He didn't want us in danger if the Red Huntress found me and Sam with him."

"Hmm...Danny, where were you when all this was happening? You're the one who is actually allowed to ghost fight, so why aren't you?"

Danny, who had been stone still through the entire questioning process, finally spoke. "Well sir, I saw the two ghosts, but I didn't have my gear with me. So I evacuated with the others, and I thought Sam and Tucker were right behind me. Thanks for telling me what happened, guys." The raven haired boy glared at his two best friends.

Lancer sighed. "All right. You may go. But if I ever catch you two ghost fighting again-" He pointed a stern finger at Sam and Tucker. "-I will be calling your parents. Understood?"

"Understood!" they chorused before rushing out the door, dragging Danny behind them. Lancer watched them go, an unsettling feeling in his stomach.

Danny breathed a sigh of relief when they were out of earshot. "Aw, man. That was too close. We have to be more careful. Tuck, you almost let it slip about Val!"

Tucker winced as he got a slap on the head. "I'm sorry! I saved it, didn't I?"

Sam glared. "And that is the only reason why your talking privileges haven't been revoked! Again!"

"Aaagggrrrhhh!"

"Aaagggrrrhhh!" Sam, Tucker and Danny screamed back as a shadow popped up right in front of them.

Youngblood giggled, coming into full view. "Sorry, mateys, but you should have seen your faces!"

Danny allowed the pounding in his heart to calm. "Youngblood, what are you doing here? I told you to stay in the Ghost Zone!"

Bones sighed from his place on the young ghost's shoulder. "I tried to tell him. But he never listens."

Danny slumped. "Let me guess. Fenton Fudge Dispenser?"

Youngblood smiled. "Yeah, what is that, anyways?"

Sam punched Danny in the shoulder. "I thought you Jack-proofed the place!"

"Apparently not very well," Tucker commented.

Danny sighed in annoyance before removing the Fenton Thermos from his backpack. "Sorry, Youngblood. But it's not safe out here for ghosts."

Youngblood backed away from the silver device. "But I have to tell you something! Kitty and Shadow went out this morning, and never came back. Johnny just left to look for them, and I slipped out to find you! I thought you could help."

Danny froze. Sam and Tucker exchanged glances. "The Red Huntress," they muttered grimly.

Youngblood's eyes widened. "The scary lady meanie?"

Danny glanced around to ensure the coast was clear before changing into Phantom. "Come on, guys. We gotta check out Val's place and see if they're there!"

"Can I come?" asked Youngblood hopefully.

"No," Danny said sternly, scooping up Sam and Tucker. "I want you and Bones to stay in the Fenton lab until I come get you. If you hear anyone coming, go invisible and hide until they leave. Don't worry about the alarms-they won't go off. Bones, keep an eye on the twerp and if something happens, come look for me."

"I am not a twerp!"

Danny didn't hear him, as he had flown out of earshot, leaving behind an annoyed ghost kid.