Warning: The usual warnings; adult content, language and some violence.
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.
Chapter Nine: Recovery
My army finally arrived and Sam was transported back to the castle. The ghosts brought a medieval ambulance in the fashion of a horse and buggy. We had a long ride back to the castle but our powers never recovered. I sat by Sam's bed, holding her hand, as the doctors overlooked her. I had the best hospital in the Ghost Zone so I knew Sam was in good hands. Once I knew she was stable, I went to the nursery to get William. I knew Sam would want to see our son.
When I returned with William tucked gently in my arms, Brit was coughing. I gently eased William beside of his mother and he snuggled into her side. Brit was still coughing, though. I turned to Brit. "Are you okay" I noticed she was turning red in the face, though. "Brit?"
"I-I'm fine," Brit said, hoarsely. She was starting to sweat and she wiped her forehead with her arm.
"Are you sure," I asked. I used my hand to touch her forehead but all I could feel was the cold, wet sweat.
"I'm fine," Brit said. "Just got something caught in my throat." She didn't look okay but she sounded better. I nodded, unsure. I sat down beside of Sam, taking the hand not cuddling William. I kissed her hand, holding hers in both of mine. I was worried sick.
"What happened," Tucker finally asked. I looked up to see him asking Mom.
"An ecto-blast hit her," Mom replied, resting her elbow on her knee. She rested her head on her hand.
"Did she not see it," Danielle asked.
"She caught the first one," Mom said, her voice breaking. "The ghost sent the second one and it hit her. The force threw her through the air and she hit the wall. The ecto-blast didn't even do much damage. It was her hitting the wall."
"Why don't we have any powers," I asked. I caught my mistake but I didn't care. "Why are the powers not back?"
"I have no idea, Danny," Mom remarked. "We checked our pockets and none of us have it. I don't know why it's still affecting the ghosts."
I rested my head on Sam's bed, feeling so helpless. I never thought she would get hurt. I was certain she could take care of herself. The worst part is we wouldn't be in this mess still if that ghost played fair. I don't know how he's still blocking our powers.
A knock came to the door and I turned around. One of my personnel was standing in the doorway. "Sire. We have captured the ghosts in the community. I would like further instruction."
Tucker and I both came to our feet, saying in unison, "I want to see the fucker!"
I looked to Dani. "Stay with her, please. If William gets cranky, ask a nurse to return him."
"I've got my future sister-in-law," Dani nodded. I followed Tucker out the door while the remaining of my family followed me. Only Joseph stayed behind with my wife, son and sister.
The guard led us to the dungeon but he wouldn't let Tucker enter. I walked past Tucker and the door opened. It slammed behind me. "Hey," Tucker protested.
"Only Danny can go in," Gauis explained.
"Why," Mom asked.
"It's a long story," Gauis replied. My guards had already roughed him up and now he was tied in a chair.
"Where is the device," I demanded.
"I-I've already told them," the ghost stuttered. "I don't know. I didn't have it!"
"Do not lie to me," I hissed, stomping my foot on his. He gasped in pain, looking up. "Where is the egg?"
"I don't know. I was looking for my vessel, I swear! I didn't have the device. You were wrong!"
"Who had it," I asked.
"I don't know," he answered. "I'm not even sure what it looks like. Please. Let me go!"
"Not until Sam recovers," I hissed. "Untie him and deliver him to a cell. He doesn't come out until Sam recovers."
"Yes, sire," the guard replied. He opened the door, allowing me to exit.
"We need to question the ghosts in the thermoses," I replied.
"And hope it wasn't any that vanished," Mom replied.
"Yeah," I agreed. "We'll be in trouble if we don't have the ghost that has the answers."
We collected all the thermoses and brought them back to the dungeon. We began emptying the thermoses and locking them in the cells. There were less than thirty there, so it wasn't hard. My army went in first to loosen their tongues.
(04)
No one wanted to tell us where the egg was but I wasn't giving up. I stayed by Sam's side for hours but about noon, Mom touched me on the shoulder. "Sweetie, we're not done. I'm worried about Sam, too, but there's nothing we can do here. Let's finish dealing with the nests and then we can spend all the time we want with her."
I nodded reluctantly. I stood up, kissing Sam gently on the head. "I'll be back soon, sweetheart. You're going to be okay, I promise." I rubbed William's sleeping form. He had been with us since I brought him here. "Look after Mommy for me, son. Okay." I kissed his head and followed the line of teammates that were leaving. Tucker had his arms wrapped around his stomach, looking defeated. I knew how he felt. I've never felt so out of touch in my life.
We still had no powers so Gauis, Marcellus, Valentinus and Serguis stayed behind. The rest of us could float. It was still a long trip back but not nearly as long as the trip to take Sam to the castle. The ghosts can't even float. Taking their powers doesn't make them human; it just prohibits the use of their powers. I was trying to think of a way the ghosts could have altered that egg. It wasn't on us so it wasn't the egg itself. They altered it somehow and now the effects is hurting Sam. We finally arrived back in South America and went back to the Ops Center.
"Okay, get some sleep," Mom said. "We'll be going out tonight so there's no point in any of you getting hurt." Mom disappeared down the hall as Jazz ran to me.
"Hurt," Jazz asked, panicked. "Did someone get hurt?" her eyes scanned the group. "Sam?"
"She's fine, sort of," Tucker sighed. "She hit a wall but no one has powers and now she can't be healed. She's unconscious."
"Oh, my God," Jazz said, covering her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Danny."
"This was my fault," I said, sitting down heavily in the chair.
"No, son," Dad said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "You are not to blame. You tried to warn us."
"Not even I saw what they did, Dad," I sighed. "It's my fault because I died. Whatever happens to me, happens to Sam. I started this when I died."
"Don't beat yourself up, son. Sam wouldn't want you to do that."
"No," I smiled weakly. "Well, I'm going to bed. Wake me if anything comes up." I walked away from the doorway, heading to one of the rooms. I can't believe Mom dragged me away from Sam to sleep. I could have slept beside of Sam.
I opened a door, closed it behind me and stripped down. I didn't feel like sleeping but I would. I wanted to be at my best so I could get back to Sam. I wasn't going to leave her side for anything after I get rid of these nests. I'm not foolish enough to believe that all the ghosts were in the network.
(04)
The sun was starting to set when I woke up. I was the last one up and I hated myself for it. I grabbed a mug from the cabinet, pouring me some coffee. "You should have woke me up," I commented, taking a drink afterward.
"You were tired, honey," Mom said, standing up from the table. She made something to eat but left mine in the hotplate.
"I'm not hungry," I commented as she lifted the lid.
"You're eating, though," Mom commented. "You came in last night when Jack and I found you and you still didn't sleep any. God only knows when the last time you slept."
"I was fine," I remarked. Mom dished out supper despite my reluctance. She delivered it in front of me.
"Eat, Danny. You need to replenish your strength. All of us were wiped out."
I reluctantly agreed but my stomach was in knots. It wasn't as easy to eat with powers as it was without. The taste added a level of nausea I didn't expect. I put the fork of potatoes in my mouth but my stomach flopped and I thought I'd vomit.
"Are you okay," Tucker asked me, worry crossing his features.
"No," I admitted, swallowing the potatoes hard. "Sam's in the hospital and we can't heal her," I diverted the pressure off me.
"I'm upset too but you didn't look too bad when you woke up," Tucker replied.
"Sleep induced bliss," I said, taking another bite. I forced myself to eat but it was horrible. I felt like I was going to upchuck everything. I didn't want anyone to know that, though. It was just nerves, it had to be.
"Well, we did a search and I've got the location of three nests," Mom spoke. "We might be able to clean this place up tonight."
"I doubt it," I remarked, taking my plate to the sink. I started washing it out, moving slowly. "There's more than just three nests."
"They were low-lying, though," Dad remarked. "Once we get in the mountains, we can widen the area and find more. Your mother may be right."
"What about the egg," I asked. I had my doubts but I hoped Mom figured out how the ghosts did this to us.
"I'm sorry, honey, I can't figure it out," Mom remarked. "I called Marcie and she is supposed to retrieve some jellybeans for Phantom's army. It'll take them a while to get there but the trip may be worth it. We're hoping at least."
"Oh, I'm an idiot," I declared, slamming the plate in the sink. The plate shattered and I cut my hand. I cried out like a baby, cradling my hand.
"Danny," Mom cried but Tucker reached me first. He grabbed a towel and put pressure on the bleeding wound.
"I should have floated back to Fentonworks," I said, hissing from the pain. "Why didn't I think of this earlier?"
"You were tired," Mom said gently. "I'll get the first aid kit."
"You need to be careful," Tucker whispered. "You're more sensitive to pain."
"How do you think Sam feels," I grunted. I can't believe I overlooked the jellybeans earlier. I could have had them brought back hours ago! Sam could be healed by now.
"Sam is sleeping, Danny. She doesn't feel anything. She's going to kill me, though, if I allow you to hurt yourself."
"What the hell is going on, Tucker," I asked. I felt tears burn hot behind my eyes but I refused to release them. "Why doesn't anyone have powers?"
"I don't know, D," Tucker sighed. "I couldn't sleep for thinking about this. That egg has to be around here somewhere. I cannot figure out why none of us have powers. It can't be on Sam because we don't have powers now. It has to be affecting us like the neutralizer."
"Could it be with us," I asked. "What if Sam is okay now because the egg is only with us?"
"I don't know," Tucker sighed. "Wouldn't the ghosts know if they got their powers back?"
"I don't know, Tucker. I am just so frustrated. I want Sam better, Tucker. I can't stand her laid up like this."
"Me either, buddy," Tucker said, gripping my shoulder in his hand. "Sam's going to be okay, though. She's human now, remember. She doesn't have the protection of being a halfa." He lifted my hand up just a little bit. "Sound familiar?"
"Of course it does," I groaned. "But a cut hand isn't going to kill me," I hissed.
"Calm down," Tucker said softly. He looked in my eyes. "You losing your cool isn't going to help Sam either."
"I know," I groaned. Mom returned with the kit.
"Okay, let me see," Mom said, directing me to the table. Tucker and I walked back and Mom turned her chair to face me. She started to bandage my hand as I searched for an answer. The egg has either affected everyone like the power neutralizer or we have the egg. My cut hand proves that I don't have powers.
(04)
We captured a few ghosts but then we decided to do patrols in the villages to protect the people. It was weird with my entire team there. It wasn't like walking the streets like we did years ago. This was not Amity Park and these ghosts weren't relatable even to the worst my town faced. These ghosts were older, more skilled. These ghosts were smart and the likelihood of death was higher here than in my town. I dreaded the first person we see die today. My team foolishly believes we can protect the people.
I heard a soft sound in my Fentonfone and I knew time had run out. I hated not being able to sense where the person was. I tried to listen to the clues and turned in that direction. The sounds took me to an alley with a ghost and a female human. He had backed her into a corner but he hadn't attacked her sexually. Honestly, I'd rather have him attempt to rape her. At least I have more time to try to save her.
He grabbed her arm, causing her to scream. He floated just above the ground but when we came around the corner, he fell from the sky. Honestly, I hadn't expected that. Tucker, Joseph, Dad and I went after the ghost while Dani, Valerie, Brit and Mom went to the girl. The ghost tried to punch Joseph but he ducked from his throw and send one of his own to the ghost. He hit him.
"You don't treat a lady like that," Joseph hissed. Tucker sucked the ghost in the thermos.
"We were lucky," I sighed. "If he hadn't lost his powers, he might have had time to kill her."
We turned to the girls and the woman was crying in Brit's arms. Brit was trying to soothe her.
Joseph walked over to her and said something in Spanish. The girl nodded, thanking us in Spanish. She walked out of the alley.
"What was he doing," Mom asked, furrowing her brow. "All he did was touched her."
"Ghosts are cold," I answered. "It hurt when he touched her which frightened her." I let out a soft huff. "What I don't understand is that when we came around the corner, he lost his powers. Wouldn't that mean we have the egg?"
"That makes the most sense," Mom answered, crossing her arms.
I pushed the button over my ear. "Record Keeper," I announced. "I need you to do me a favor."
"Anything, sire," the Record Keeper replied.
"Try healing Sam," I answered. "I'm thinking we have the egg which means anyone in the castle would still have their powers."
"We will test the theory, sire," the Record Keeper answered. I waited on the line, holding my breath. Tucker wrapped his arm around my shoulder, looking as nervous as I was. I listened to the background noise very carefully.
"Duchess," the Record Keeper's voice came across, startled.
"What," I asked as Tucker looked at me, worriedly.
"Where is everyone," I heard Sam's voice and I let out a deep breath.
"Put her on," I declared, trying not to break down. Was she awake when he walked in?
"Danny," Sam's voice traveled across my speakers. I laughed, so relieved.
"Sam," I laughed, smiling. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Sam said, her voice confused. "I've got one hell of a headache. What happened?"
"You were hit with an ecto-blast," I answered. "You got a concussion. We were worried."
"Sorry," Sam answered. "Were you the one who brought me William?"
"Yeah," I nodded. I wiped a few unshed tears from my eyes. "I hoped he would help you get better."
"He's great," Sam replied. "Where are you now?"
"Doing some more work," I answered. "The ghosts did something with the egg. It's affecting us but I know it's with us. As soon as we left, you must have healed."
"So you don't have any powers right now," Sam asked.
"No. No one around us have any powers. That's why the party didn't go with us. They'd just drag us down trying to come with us."
"Danny, will you tell me what is going on," Tucker demanded.
"Sam's healed," I answered. "I guess she got better when we left." My entire family let out relieved sighs but Tucker stole my communicator. "Hey!"
"Sam," Tucker called into the communicator. Now I couldn't hear her. "Oh, thank God, baby girl. How are you feeling?" There was a pause as Sam responded. "Well, you listen to the doctors okay. They know what they're doing. Now, you listen to me. No, Sam, you are going to get—Sam, listen to me, you had a concussion. Ugh, you are incorrigible. Here, talk to your husband!" Tucker passed me the communicator back, which I eagerly accepted. "Talk to your wife!"
"Sam," I said, putting the communicator back on.
"I'm coming to you," Sam replied.
"No, you are—," I began.
"Yes, I am," Sam declared. "I'm healed, I can fight!"
"I won't allow—," I began again.
"I'm not asking for permission," Sam retorted.
"You are going—."
"I'll be there, soon. You need help."
"…to get better," I continued.
"I'm already better," Sam retorted.
"Sam," Mom's voice came over the communicator and I looked to her in shock. "Honey, you were hurt. We've got everything under control. You just stay in the castle and take care of my grandbaby."
"Mrs. Fenton," Sam began.
"No," Mom cut her off. "You got hurt. I know you're healed—."
"I'm fine," Sam objected.
"But you need to take it easy," Mom continued. "We've got it under control. Besides, if you come down here, we'll have odd numbers and Danny will end up by himself again. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Mom gave me a soft smile.
"Depends who his partner is," Sam retorted.
"Danny and Joseph have paired up," Mom answered. "Tucker and Brit, Danielle and Jack and Valerie and I."
"Okay," Sam sighed. "I'll stay here but you are to keep me updated. I want to know what's going on. And come and see me when you get a chance."
"I'll be at your side before tonight," I answered.
"You're still there," Sam asked, surprised. "Did Mrs. Fenton give you the communicator back?"
"No. We can link up. Did I not tell you kids about that option?"
"No," I answered. "I thought the only way to link was through the continual communicator or through the CB. I had no idea I could listen to other people's phone calls. Believe me, I would have already eavesdropped on Danielle's calls."
"Hey," Dani retorted but it didn't come over the speaker.
"Be careful, Danny," Sam said, her voice serious. "I don't want you to get hurt either."
"Just look out for yourself, Sam. I am so sorry, honey."
"It's not your fault," Sam replied. "I can't believe I got hit. Did you get the bastard?"
"Yeah," Tucker answered. His voice traveled over the communicator. "Can you hear me, Sam?"
"Yeah, I hear you, Foley," Sam replied, her voice irritated. "Look after Danny for me, Tuck. We both know he is vulnerable."
"I'll be fine," I replied.
"What happened to him," Sam asked. "I know he hurt himself."
"He broke a plate and cut his hand," Tucker answered and my eyes widened. Is he seriously telling her this after she's been unconscious?
"Are you okay," Sam asked.
"Yeah," I said, throwing a dirty look at Tucker.
"Don't hurt yourself, Danny. You know you feel pain differently now."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll be fine."
"Take care of him, Tucker. I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry, Sam. You know I won't let anything happen to him."
"Do you have any idea why or how the egg is only affecting you," Sam asked.
"It's not just affecting us," I answered. "Any ghosts in the area we're in lose their powers. Somehow, the ghost hid the egg on one of us but I don't know how. We'll have to do some more investigating."
"What about Joseph and Piggy Tails. Are they with you guys," Sam asked.
"Yeah," Tucker answered. "Remember, Mom said Danny and Joseph were together and Brit and I are paired up."
"Right," Sam said and I noticed her voice change.
"Are you okay," Tucker and I both asked.
"Jeez, yes," Sam grumbled. "My head is splitting, that's all. It's hard to focus."
"Well, rest, sweetie," I replied. "I'll be by to see you in the morning."
"Okay. I'll hold you to it," Sam replied. "Be careful, guys. Sorry I can't be there."
"Don't sweat it," Tucker answered. "Everything is going to be okay, Sam. We love you."
"Can it," Sam retorted, causing us listening to laugh. "I'm not dead yet and I'm not going to die. Don't get sentimental on me, Foley."
"You got it, Sam," Tucker laughed.
"Be careful," Sam said.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," I replied. Tucker and Mom said goodnight, too.
"Thank God," Mom breathed.
"I second that," I said.
"So what does that mean for the egg," Brit asked.
"It's with us, somewhere," I answered. Just where?
(04)
We came across several bad instances throughout the early morning hours but none of them ended in tragedy. For once, the egg was helping and not hurting. My family saw the dark side of my travels, though; the sexual assaults and the attempted murders I couldn't hide from them. We were just able to protect the humans and stop the ghosts now that no one could use any powers.
The sun was starting to come up when we went back to the castle. The need never vanished but it did become less demanding as the sun came up. I wanted to see Sam, though, so I chose to end the scout. We floated through the Ghost Zone and went to the medical chambers. As we passed by, the ghosts would land on the ground or stop glowing. It was evident we had the egg.
I led everyone in the medical chamber to see Sam gently rocking William. There was a bassinet sitting beside her bed but neither one was in their own bed. Who let Sam walk around? Then I thought about it; or worse. Who let Sam use her powers?!
"Sam," I scolded, crossing the room in large bounds. Sam looked up, relief flooding her body. Before I reached her, she shifted William to another arm and stood up, wrapping her arm around my neck. I grunted, "No, Sam! You need to be in bed!"
"Hush," Sam scolded. "Are you okay?"
"I wasn't the one with a concussion," I objected.
"Let me see your hand," Sam instructed but she looked up. "Flavia, can you take William for me, please?"
"Of course, madam," a blonde haired ghost announced. She caught my attention because she had blonde hair. Most of the population has brown or black hair but she had blonde hair. It was surprising.
The blonde haired ghost took William but I was pulled from my thoughts as Sam grabbed my cut hand and flipped it over. "Ouch," I cried. I pulled my hand away from her but she pulled it back.
"Stop being a big baby and let me look," Sam scolded.
"Gentle, please," I whined. They do not understand what it is like to never feel a thing and then get hurt with no powers. It's a bitch!
"I want to make sure you are okay. Have you had this looked at," Sam asked me, unwrapping my hand. Before I responded, she was looking up again. "Can I get a doctor here?"
"No, I haven't had it looked at but I don't need to," I replied. I gently tugged my hand, not really wanting to remove it from her touch but to make a point. Sam gently tugged back, answering my silent plea. "Come on, Sam. I'm fine. You're the one who got hurt."
"Yeah, and you won't let me do anything either," Sam retorted. I looked back to my team but most wore a look as if to say, she's your wife. Jeez, we aren't even married yet!
Sam finished unwrapping my hand and was examining the cut. It wasn't very deep but the area was red and irritated. My bandages were wet with blood still so I did need to change the wrap. Sam was gentle with it but it didn't matter. Pain is rare and precious. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth but I can't help it if I'm more sensitive than a raw nerve.
"Okay, that's enough," I replied. Mom walked around me with new supplies.
"Let me look at it and then I'll wrap it again," Mom replied.
"See," I replied. "Mom's all over it."
"Your mother doesn't know you like I do," Sam argued. Well, she's right there.
"I'm fine, Sam," I sighed. "It just hurts like you don't know what."
Sam rubbed my face, knocking down the hoodie. I reacted, reaching back for the hood. "No," Sam denied me, grabbing my hand. "We're your family. If you can't be bald around us, who can you be bald around?"
I tilted my head in disbelief. "No one. That's the point of the hood. I don't want to be bald around anyone!"
"I'm not suggesting that you keep your head shaven," Sam rolled her eyes, "But there's no point in hiding from us. We aren't going to judge you."
I let out a huff of air. "Still. I don't like showing my head. It's embarrassing. I've had this hair my entire life." I forced my good hand to gesture Mom even though Sam had a vice like grip on my wrist. "Ask her! I was born like that!"
Sam rubbed my cue ball head. "You are still handsome to me."
"I'll feel better when I have some hair on my head, even if it is just some fuzz."
"I think you look like William," Sam smiled at me. She kissed my head but walked over to Tucker. I watched Tucker give Sam a big hug.
"I was so worried, Sam," Tucker sighed. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Sam sighed. "I'm sorry I screwed that up. I don't know what happened."
"Hey," Tucker said, wrapping his arm around her hip. "We all make mistakes." He whispered something to her and I saw Sam nodding reluctantly. "You know that."
"What about Danny," Sam asked. "Has he been taking care of himself?"
"He's doing fine as far as I can tell," Tucker replied. "You'll have to ask Joseph about his performance."
"Oh, and I will," Sam replied. "I'm worried about him." I crossed my arms but Mom yanked my hand back.
"Sit still," Mom scolded.
"Sorry," I grumbled. "I can hear you, you know!"
"I know," Sam smiled at me innocently. I laughed. Mom tugged on my arm harder.
"Ouch," I yelped. "Watch it, will ya! My arm is attached to my body, you know!"
Mom rolled her eyes, snorting. I hate this!
"So, what is going on," Sam asked Tucker. "What do you know about that egg?"
"It's on one of us," Tucker sighed. "We don't know where but that egg is on one of us."
"Which one," Sam asked. I looked at her. "Oh, come on! It's the easiest thing in the world to do! Everyone go to a separate location, far enough away that if you had the egg, it wouldn't impact anyone else and have a ghost go room to room. When he loses his powers, you know that's the one with the egg. Am I the only sane person here?"
Tucker looked to me. "You know, she has a point. Finding out who has the egg should be simple."
"I can't believe we didn't think of it sooner," Mom remarked. She secured my wrap, patting me on the back.
"We were distracted," I remarked. "I think that is the best option. We'll split up and see who has an effect on one of the ghosts."
"That will make locating the egg easier," Brit answered. "We know one of us have it but if we find out which one, we can focus on finding it."
"We need to work on separating ourselves from distractions," Sam said, crossing her arms. "You should not have let my injury bend you out of shape."
"Like you wouldn't do the same thing," Tucker retorted.
"Note I said we, not you," Sam shot back. I smirked.
"That's something that will never change," I remarked. "We'll get better at hiding it in the future but we all know how we are around family. With the entire world in jeopardy and nothing any of us could do for her, we still abandoned the post. It'll never change."
"I'm not suggesting that we would ever be able to ignore something like that," Sam replied. "There are exceptions. However, none of us should get bent out of shape for each other. We all know the cost. It's a price we'd rather pay ourselves than to see anyone else pay, but we know the price."
"I think Danny's right, though. Eighteen or eighty, we'll never be prepared to see anyone else die."
"Okay," Dani sighed. "We know the egg has to be with one of us. So let's split up." Dani touched her ear. "Are we linked up?"
"Yeah," Mom nodded. "The egg covers fifty yards in diameter so we'll need to split up with enough space between us."
"We have enough room," I nodded. "Castle, please produce a map of yourself for me."
Mom gasped when a holographic map appeared in front of me. Even I was shocked of the technology. I looked to Tucker. "I didn't design this," he answered.
"I didn't think so," I remarked. "Castle, direct Mom to room number 55," I began. A line appeared at Mom's feet. I assigned a room to Danielle, Tucker, Valerie, Brit, Dad, Joseph and I. A line appeared before each of our feet.
"So, the castle is sentient," Mom asked me.
"It's like an eleven," I said, looking at her. "When the Observants' ancestors set to destroy Pariah's castle, they kind of made it an eleven. Now the castle is a living being, as Record Keeper says. It responds to your requests, like when we came here for Christmas. It would take you to the room you requested."
"I knew it could lead me places but I had no idea it could do more," Mom remarked. "What is its limits?"
"No one knows," I answered. "The castle is an amazing being."
"I'd say," Mom smiled. She began to float out of the medical chamber. The rest of us followed her lead.
I hadn't even made it to my room yet when I felt my core return. I didn't fall or start flying but I knew I had my powers back. Dani and I wouldn't need to have the test done and I don't think Tucker will either.
"Hey, Danny," Tucker's voice traveled through my earpiece. I pushed the button, knowing it was on a private setting.
"I read you, Tucker."
"Danielle and I both have our powers back. What about you?"
"Roger," I commented. "That leaves Mom, Dad, Joseph and Brit."
"That's what I deducted, too," Tucker remarked in my ear.
"Who do you think has it," Dani's voice traveled through my earpiece.
"I'm not sure," I sighed. "We've been with all four since Sam's attack."
"No," Tucker replied. "When we went to talk to the prisoners, Joseph stayed behind. I think if he had it, we would have got our powers back."
"Good observation," I remarked. "So Mom, Dad or Brit."
"Those three I can't distinguish between," Tucker remarked. "We've been with them the entire time. We'll have to see how the results come back."
"Sit tight and wait," Dani commented. "We can't leave until we hear the results."
"Danny," Gauis' voice traveled through the communicator. "Your father is clear."
"So is your mother," Marcellus remarked.
"I have no change with the young girl," Serguis remarked. "I do believe it is with her."
"Brit," I said, taking a deep breath. "We're on our way."
"I copied," Tucker replied.
"As did I," Sam answered. "Hold tight, guys."
Tuck, Dani, Mom, Dad, Joseph and I met up at Brit's room. Serguis was waiting outside the room when we arrived.
"Viva is examining the young lady," Serguis remarked, his arms crossed against his chest. "I never received my powers back. In all likelihood, it is she with the device."
"Where could it be," I asked.
"Viva is doing a thorough examination to see if the egg had been merged with her," Serguis remarked.
"Wait," Sam's voice traveled across the device. "Merged with her? You mean like Dan did the medallion in Danny?"
"What do you mean by that, Sam," Mom asked, looking at me.
"A few years ago," I said, swallowing, "I was dealing with a ghost that merged a medallion in my chest to keep me from parting from it." Mom's hand flew to her mouth. "My God, that could kill her. I got that thing out of me within the hour." I hesitated. "I think. Things got jumbled up in the Ghost Zone that day."
"Why on Earth did a ghost merge a medallion in your chest," Mom roared.
"It's a long story, Mom," I began.
"Which we apparently have time for," Mom declared.
I released a big huff of air. "Long story short, the medallion served a purpose that he needed, I wanted to get rid of it, he phased it in my chest, tied me up and tossed me in the Ghost Zone. After I was freed, I went to an ally and he removed the medallion and I was able to defeat him."
"So what's the long story," Mom remarked.
"You wouldn't understand the long story," I said, putting my hand behind my neck. My eyes fell on the closed door, worry filling every fiber of my being.
"Try me," Mom remarked. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me away from the door and to a group of chairs. Those weren't there earlier.
Why not? "There was this ghost that came from the future. He was Phantom's alternate evil future self. Sam, Tucker, Phantom and I traveled to the future to get away from Clockwork who was just trying to influence Phantom and not really harm any of us. Sam and Tucker were separated from Phantom and I and when the alternate future Phantom attacked Sam and Tucker, they removed their medallions which kept them rooted in the future. Once the medallions were removed, they returned to the present. Phantom and I were separated and the evil one captured me. I figured out his plan so to keep me from being able to go back to the present, he merged the medallion in my chest.
"Phantom and I both were floating in the Ghost Zone, wrapped in ectoplasm. We bumped into a bunch of the old ghosts who were all burned by Phantom and they started attacking him. That's when Phantom got his Ghostly Wail and he sent them away. He freed me and we traveled to Plasmius' home. We found a way to get our medallions removed from our bodies and we went back to the present. Phantom beat the evil one, saved the future and we all lived to see the next nightmare."
"When was this," Mom asked, sitting towards me. She rubbed my knee.
"Ninth grade," I answered. March 26, 2005.
"I can tell it was painful," Mom remarked, rubbing my face. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
I'll never turn out like that, never. "Not really," I remarked. I wasn't doing a good job of covering my tracks, though, because I melted into Mom's touch. Tears leaked out of my eyes.
"What happened," Mom asked me. "What happened to create that future?"
"It doesn't matter," I said, my voice breaking. I shook my head, trying to remain in control.
"Hey," Tucker said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I thought you were above this."
I smirked at Tucker but the heartbreak was on the surface. "You know what happened, Tucker. I normally am in control. I don't always focus on what happened. I'm terrified it will happen but I'm not afraid of that future coming back… most times. It's just… well, you know."
"Don't I," Tucker sighed. He sat down beside me, resting his elbows on his knees. "Shit happens, though. If that ever were to happen, to any of us, we'd just have to focus on the positive and keep going forward. There's going to come a day, Danny. It may not be right away and it might be completely normal but it happens to all of us. One day, we will pay that price but like you say, we'll see each other again. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on leaving after that day."
"I'm the only one who continues to come out," I remarked, looking at Tucker. He was holding his head high again. "In the dreams, it was said that most ghosts couldn't come out in the real world because they faced oblivion. She risked it every day."
"So would I," Tucker remarked. "This is our world. I'll be damned if anyone conquers it."
I smirked. "You'll listen to me and so will she. No one is going to be obliterated on my watch."
Sam snorted a laugh in my earpiece. "Do you seriously believe a combination of those two is going to listen to what anyone has to say?"
I laughed. "That doesn't mean I'll take no for an answer."
"Oh, jeez," Sam sighed content. "It won't be long before we won't know what to do."
"You mean you haven't reached that point now," Tucker laughed.
"We've only got two," Sam laughed. "Wait until we have half a dozen."
"Now wait a minute," Mom declared. "It's going to be gradual, right?"
Sam and I started laughing. "Think again, Grandma. I'll have my firstborn in 2010. Note I said firstborn, sweetie, not first child." A soft sound came from Sam's device.
"You have got to be kidding me," Mom declared. "2010 is only three years from now!"
"Two and a half years, I think," I remarked.
"Really," Sam remarked, excitement evident in her voice.
"Why are you kids having so many babies," Mom declared. "How many does Tucker have? Jazz? Danielle? Brit?"
"Well, according to the dreams, Dani is done with children. I'm not really sure about Brit. I've dreamed of a couple toddlers but they don't really ghost hunt so I'm not sure. Tucker only has one and Jazz has three."
"How many do you and Sam have," Mom declared.
"Five," I answered. "Three in the first five or so years and then we have twins at thirty-five."
"So seven babies," Mom declared.
"Not to mention the ghost babies," I remarked. I wanted to phrase it in a way to make Mom believe I was only talking about William but it's kind of impossible. I don't want to lie and I think that's more important.
"Eddie and Jacob," Mom groaned. Then it hit her and she snapped her head up. "Eddie and Jacob are yours too?"
I nodded. "Yeah. They didn't survive. Grandma and Grandpa have custody of them until we want them. They age a year every five so they may become mature enough for us to raise them."
"Mom and Dad knew this, didn't they," Mom asked. I nodded. "And they never told Miranda."
I gasped. "She found out!"
"That's my theory," Mom remarked. "Miranda was bound to find out. When she learned who's children they were, she was furious they didn't trust her with the information. And I can't blame them. Why didn't we know this?"
"I can't even show you the entire picture," I remarked. "I thought it would be too confusing for you."
"But it's not confusing to know that somehow you and Vlad are Lilly and Megan's parents but Megan calls you Mommy? Sweetheart, I have accepted weird a long time ago. I don't pretend to understand what is going on but I have accepted that until you tell me or I figure it out, whichever comes first, I'm going to be in the dark. You didn't have to hide your twins from me. I would have accepted them the same way I accepted Megan, Lilly and Dawn."
"I didn't even tell you about Megan, Mom," I sighed. "I was going to tell you after I was revived because I didn't have the strength to hide her but she turned invisible when I came out of Vlad's mansion. I was just so relieved that they both were okay."
"That's why you went to Vlad's," Mom nodded. "Megan didn't want to attend the funeral."
"No," I shook my head. "She or Vlad didn't go. The only way I know how to tell you is to return your memories. It was so hard to tell you in the original timeline."
"So we did know about Lilly and Megan in the other timeline," Mom asked. I shook my head. "No, I mean Lilly. Megan isn't old enough to be from the other timeline."
"Lilly was five months old when I got her back. Vlad kidnapped her from me after her birth and I told you guys after you found out that Sam and I had sex and you warned me about getting Sam pregnant. I told you the truth and you tried to help me get my daughter back. Lilly was trapped on the island and she was being raised by Vlad's staff. After I reset reality, Vlad let me have her. Our theory is that…" crap! I'm being to open!
"Keep going," Mom nodded. She knew I slipped up.
"Vlad was killed in the other timeline," I sighed. "I didn't know until after I reset reality. I used the Reality Gauntlet to revive him and our theory is that I conjured the Vlad from my memories. Vlad says he has no memory of being dead so that's the best theory we have. I brought back the Vlad I loved and he couldn't stand to have me be in pain. He let me have Lilly but then he started slipping again, becoming the Vlad that he was before the Disasteroid. We broke up before July, right around the same time I revived him. The Disasteroid was in September. That was two months and Vlad kidnapped Dani, made Blue and set for Megan's birth in February. The timeline fits the theory."
"Oh, think back to that dream sequence. There was Jazz, Phantom, Jazz's children, Jazz's… Joseph," Mom faltered. "Yeah. That was Joseph."
I smirked. "Yeah. That was Joseph."
"You saw me, too, Mrs. Fenton," Joseph chuckled.
"Apparently," Mom sighed. Mom turned to Dad. "You remember the man that was with Jazz's twin daughter, right. She was upset because her children and her husband were in Amity and she didn't know if Amity was still there or not."
"Yeah. There was also a singleton son there, too. He was about the age… of Jacky and Jamie."
"Oh, my God," Mom declared. I saw Jazz shy towards Joseph. "That was why Phantom wouldn't tell me who Jacky and Jamie were. That was before Danielle was raped, which meant we didn't know who she was at the time. It would have been hard to explain who they were if we only had Jazz and Danny."
"You're right," Dad declared. "I can't believe it. Who else was there?"
"There was Lilly but Megan wasn't there," Mom remarked.
"Megan didn't exist at that time. I was only destined to be with Sam so the girls just appeared after they were created."
"Wow," Mom said, blinking. "Strange. Okay, there was the twins."
"Donnie and Jay," I remarked.
"Yeah," Mom nodded. "Yours, right?"
"Yeah," Sam responded over the communicator. "Born 2025."
"Okay," Mom remarked. "There were two more. A boy and a girl."
"D.J. and Pammy. There's another child… but she wasn't there."
Mom nodded. "I think that was all." She rubbed her chin. "Jazz's twins were there, her eldest son was there, Danny's kids were there, the boys were there, I was there. I think that's all."
"Valerie or Courtney wasn't there," I remarked. "We don't know where they were."
"You told me once that Phantom had a large brood, too, didn't you," Mom asked. I nodded hesitantly. "He avoided the question. I asked him which were his kids and which were my family. His family wasn't there."
I cleared my throat, uncomfortable. "I believe I would side with Phantom in that case. We had more pressing issues than who's who."
"True," Mom sighed. "It's just so confusing. Such a large group. Where was your and Sam's daughter?"
"She was probably late getting there," Sam remarked, her voice depressing.
Mom released a soft breath, holding her chin. I wondered how far away she was from the truth. Mom is really smart. All she has to do is think about it.
"What are you thinking," Tucker snapped, standing up. "I can't stand this silence!"
Valentinus laughed. "I know, right. It's enough to drive a man insane!"
"It sounds like a damn AM radio," Tucker said, throwing his arms down to his side hard. Sam started snickering over my headset. "It's not funny, Sam! I'd give anything to have a squelch button to clear the static!"
"How do you think I feel," I smirked. "Pain everywhere, feeling assaulting my senses, hunger, nausea, aches…"
"Nausea," Sam snapped, her voice sharp. "Oh, God, no!"
"Stop," I retorted. "I am not! For crying out loud!"
"I would not put it past the son of a bitch," Sam declared.
"Did you take that test," Tucker asked me.
"No," I laughed. "Oh, come on! That's insane! It happened in August! Do you know how long ago that was?"
"Should I be counting," Sam snorted.
"Down to forty," Tucker laughed.
"Don't make me hurt you," I snorted. "I've told you once, I've told you a million times. I've hung up my knitting booties."
"Yeah, well, Vlad doesn't really listen to threats. You know how determined he is. His last chance. I wouldn't put it past him."
"What are you kids talking about," Mom asked slowly.
"Oh, it's nothing," I laughed. "They think Vlad did something to me before he left, which he did not."
"Before he left," Mom said, cocking her head to the side. "He went and seen you before you came home. That's why you came home for that day! Megan saw Vlad and Lilly wanted to see Sam and you couldn't neglect one child."
I sighed. "Yeah. Vlad tried to get me to go home and he saw the girls. After we put the girls down, we went for a walk but Sam and Tucker are afraid something else happened."
Tucker practically pushed me off the bench as he got in real close to Mom. "Damn it, think up!"
"I-I'm sorry," Mom said, hesitantly.
I shoved Tucker back. "Ignore him!" I smacked him upside the head, NCIS style. "Will you get a grip?"
"I can't stand this," Tucker grumbled. "I'm about to go crazy!"
"I think he's already gone," Sam snickered.
"Keep rubbing it in, sweetheart," Tucker smarted. "I'm in the Medical Chambers and I'm not affected," he mocked.
"He, he," Sam playfully mocked. "Don't you hate it?"
"Yes," Tucker moaned. "Mom, let's go for a walk. Say fifty yards from here."
I smacked Tucker on the shoulder. "Will you cut it out?"
Tucker turned sharply to me. "I think she fucking knows!"
"She may be close but she doesn't know," I said, turning to Tucker gently.
"I don't know, D. You're not getting the signals I'm getting. I think she knows."
"I agree with Danny," Dani remarked. "For her to know and not be shouting it from rooftops… that'd take a lot of self-restraint."
"Do you really have that little faith in me," Mom remarked. "I've known your secret for eleven months now and I haven't shouted it from rooftops."
"Okay, I meant to us, not to the world," Danielle remarked. "Trust me, if you knew the whole picture, you wouldn't be able to hold it in. The reaction would be obvious."
"Well, I don't know what feelings Tucker is getting, but they're wrong. I don't know anything. I wished I did."
Tucker shook his head. "She's lying, Danny. Come on, dude, you know me! Have I ever been wrong before?"
"No," I said, looking down, "but we've never had these circumstances before. She doesn't know."
Tucker rectified himself, storming across the hall. "You may have them fooled but you haven't me. I know you know." Tucker's brow furrowed as he focused on Mom. Slowly, his sight went lax as his attention vanished. I could almost see Tucker examining a piece of information he received.
I glanced at Mom to see a smug look turn to one of humility as she looked at me. "Something must be eating Tucker."
"We may have kept this information from you, Mom, but know we did it because it was for the best. We've never kept a secret because it benefited us."
I snapped my head to Tucker to see him staring daggers at Mom. My stare snapped back to Mom but she looked bewildered. If she does know, she's pulling the biggest scam in history.
(04)
We were now back in the medical chambers but far enough away from Sam. We were awaiting the results. They gave her an external examination but couldn't find anything. Now, they were looking over her using everything available. Finally Viva exited the examination room, causing us all to come to our feet. "Miss Brit does have the device merged in her body. I do not know how to remove the device."
"What do you mean you do not know how to remove it," I asked, stepping away from the crowd to be in front of her. "They got it in there, you get it out!"
"My King, I am sorry," Viva said, lowering herself. "As long as the device is within her, no one can use powers. Please, forgive me sire."
"Danny," Gauis said, putting his hand on my shoulder and pulling me back a little. "This is not Viva's fault."
I put my hand to my head. "I'm sorry, Viva," I sighed. "I know you are doing everything in your power. I appreciate your work."
"I am only sorry I cannot do as you wish, my liege," Viva said. She bowed before me.
"You are dismissed," I said, going in the room. Brit was sitting on a table. "Hey."
"Hey," Brit smiled at me. "Sorry I'm such a problem."
"Hey," I said, hopping on the table. I rubbed her leg. "This isn't your fault. Don't think that it is."
Brit looked to the door. "Where's Mom and Dad?"
Tucker turned around just as I looked up. "They were right behind me."
"I'll go see," Joseph said. He walked back to the hall. My party wasn't here, either. Maybe Mom and Dad were discussing options with them.
"Do you feel sick," Jazz asked, feeling her forehead.
"No," Brit said, shaking her head. Her hand fell upon her chest. "I feel congested. Viva suggested that it might be a symptom of having a foreign object in my body. She said she can't remove it as long as her powers are blocked."
"I was thinking about that," Tucker remarked. "I might be able to overpower the thing. Mom and Dad's inventions usually come with a failsafe. If they can tell me what it is, I may be able to work around it. Once the power neutralizer is overridden, someone can phase it out. But when did the ghost have the opportunity to do this?"
"When he attacked me," Brit said, her teeth clenching. "Before Danny knocked him off me, he pinned my hands above my head and phased his hand in my chest. I thought he was trying to scare me but now I think he was hiding the egg. He knew if he kept it, he could lose his advantage. It was a brilliant plan."
"Hey," Mom's voice came from in front of me. I looked up to see her, Dad and Joseph enter the room. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm all right," Brit gave a tight smile. "Any ideas?"
"The egg can be overridden," Mom remarked, "but it takes a lot of energy without the failsafe."
"What's the failsafe," Tucker asked.
"A cord," Mom sighed. She lowered her head. "Of all the scenarios I imagined, I never imagined it being merged with someone. Viva told me the egg was phased within the body so it can't even be removed without the risk of death. It has to be phased out and it's still dangerous. It will take a big power source to cut it off. I designed it to cut off if Phantom was attacked with it. It compensates for the Reality Gauntlet."
"Crap," Tucker groaned. He looked to me. "I can do it. I need the Gauntlet… but."
"Tucker," Sam declared. "Are you insane? We don't have that kind of power."
"I can," Tucker insisted. "I'm not looking forward to it—and you're going to owe me big time missy—but I'm not going to let her die."
"You're not going to be in any danger, are you, Tuck," Brit asked.
"Not really," Tucker smirked. "I'm going to push my body to the limits and I'll probably get a bloody nose but nothing a few days rest can't cure."
"I'll go back to the house and get what you need," Mom remarked, rubbing Tucker's shoulder. "You're going to be okay, honey."
"I know," Tucker nodded. Mom walked away. "She knows. She isn't the least bit surprised that I can do this."
"Of course not," I remarked. "You're a tech master. She doesn't know the whole truth."
"Danny," Dad asked me, looking at me gently. "Why do these ghosts regard you as a king?"
"That's why you didn't come in," I said, hanging my head. I was so caught up, I forgot Viva called me her king.
"This isn't generosity. It's not even a noble name. Viva called you 'my liege' and 'my king'! I'm not as smart as your mother, but I know that to call someone else a king is treason! What is going on?"
"I'm sorry, Dad," I sighed. "This castle will call Sam, Tucker and I all royal names. Viva didn't mean that I was the high king. They just respect us that way." I looked away, so ashamed I couldn't even bare to look at my dad. I was lying through my teeth but what choice did I have. I can't tell him she called me her king because I am. I'm not ready to tell them I'm Phantom.
"You know, son, you've gotten worse at lying. I know you aren't telling me the truth but I can't think of any other explanation. When you're ready to tell me the truth, I'll be ready to listen."
I closed my eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just not ready."
"Then say that. Don't lie to me. I can clearly see it hurts you more than it fools me."
Brit wrapped her arm around my back. "It's okay. It won't be long before this nightmare will be over."
"Oh, yeah," I said, sarcastically. "Then I will just have to deal with the war. That'll be so much better!"
"There's nothing we can't do together," Brit said, rubbing my back. I loved the feeling of her hands making the circles. I could feel her fingers and I wasn't even looking at her hands. "The war is no different."
"Stop that," I moaned, closing my eyes in content. "You are making me one happy man."
"Good," Brit said, a smile in her voice. "I'm glad you are getting a chance to be happy."
Brit continued to rub circles in my back and I was so happy I was about to start howling. I couldn't believe what a simple gesture was doing for me.
"Piggy Tails, if you steal my man, an egg in your chest is going to be the least of your troubles!"
Suddenly, the circles was more than relaxatory. Brit and I both jumped. "Ew!"
"Oh, Sam, come on," I said, shaking from disgust. "I was enjoying myself!"
"Yeah, a little too much," Sam said, her voice gruff.
"You are a sick, sick individual," Brit said, shaking. "That is disgusting. He is my brother!"
I finally noticed the room was cracking up in laughter. "It's not funny," I protested.
"It so is," Dad laughed. "You two seen nothing sexual about what you were doing but the minute Sam said something, you both reacted like you'd seen each other naked." Dad laughed some more.
"Danny and Sam belong together the same way Mikey and I belong together. To suggest anything else is so wrong. So wrong!"
"If I could be there, that'd be my job," Sam retorted.
"Why can't you be here," Dad asked. "It's not like you can't heal with us."
"Doctor's orders," Sam replied. Dad snorted.
"Since when do you take orders," Dad asked.
"Since my son can't be around Brit without losing his powers and I don't want to leave him."
"Oh," Dad laughed. "Then say that. Don't make this out to be for you. That sounds more like you anyway."
"Does anyone mind if I get something to eat," Jazz asked.
"Not at all," Dad answered. "I could use some fudge as it is."
"Just don't order the meat," I said, shivering. I still can't get over them cutting the cows here and serving their flesh while the beast heals. Disgusting.
"Why," Tucker asked. "They make a great fillet mignon."
I shivered but I wouldn't tell him. Why screw anyone else's meal up?
I walked over to the door and opened a control panel. "Hey," Dad declared. "That's like the house!"
"Yeah," I nodded, smiling at Dad over my shoulder. "But it's a lot more advanced." I lifted a small lid and a screen came to life. It was very small, maybe eight inches across. I began to order everyone something to eat. I flagged it as the king and sent the order to the kitchen. It'll get here quicker if I sign for it.
"Did you tech this place up, Tuck," Dad asked.
"You have no idea how hard it was," Tucker groaned. "We put phones in when we first began. Sam bought a satellite and we were able to make phone calls from inside the Ghost Zone. Now everyone in the Ghost Zone has access to a phone, although it pops and cracks. Then I decided to put lights in the castle. We were using ghost glows and candle sticks. I could do better. Around the time Lilly was born, Mom gave us that internet satellite and now everyone has access to the world wide web. I started working on making the library digital a couple years ago and I've just about got it all. I am more a team leader now than hands on. Before, I was involved with all of it. Now, I just direct the work. I don't have time to do it myself. I have nieces to spoil."
"And brothers to find," Brit smirked.
"That too," Tucker smirked. I rolled my eyes.
"Well, you did good, Tuck," Dad remarked. He patted Tucker on the shoulder.
"Thanks," Tucker smiled. "It was a big job but someone had to do it!"
The door to the Medical ward opened and Mom entered with Gauis. I looked around in shock. I didn't even know Gauis left!
"Okay, here's the Gauntlet and something to help you out," Mom remarked. "Take this before you begin and whatever you do, don't stop. Not until it's over. I don't have enough for a second go."
"Thanks," Tucker nodded. Tucker slipped on the Reality Gauntlet and took a small pouch from Mom.
"Good luck," Mom said, kissing Tucker on the head. "If you need us, we'll be right outside."
"Wait," Dad declared. He cocked his head to the side. "We will?"
"Only Danny, Tucker and Brit," Mom answered. "Everyone else, out! They don't need the distractions."
"Good luck," Dani said as she walked away. Joseph helped Jazz exit as Valerie walked up to Tucker.
"Be careful, baby," Valerie said softly. She kissed Tucker.
"I'll be okay. Danny will be with me."
"Take care of him," Val said, smacking me on the shoulder. She didn't smile, though.
"Don't worry," I nodded. "I've got him."
"Come on," Mom called. "Everyone out." Mom closed the door behind Valerie, leaving Tucker, Brit and I the only ones in the room.
Tucker opened the small pouch and pulled out a vile with green liquid and a jellybean. "Believe me, now?"
My eyes widened. Mom gave Tucker a jellybean. Tucker put the jellybean in his mouth and chased it with the vile. He shivered in disgust but the Gauntlet began to glow, forcing a golden glow around Tucker. Tucker began to concentrate.
I poised my hand behind Brit, ready to phase my hand in her back and remove the egg as soon as I felt my powers return. I watched Tucker intently as he exerted a lot of power. The Gauntlet would help him generate the amount of power to override the egg but his powers aren't as developed as mine. He was the only one that could do it, though, because Tucker is tapping into the technology of the device.
Brit yelped, bringing my attention to her. Her eyes were wide and I could tell she was afraid. I used my free hand to hold hers. Brit clung to my hands. I felt a jolt of electricity jump out of her hands into mine, forcing us both to yelp. "I'm sorry," Brit apologized. I squeezed her hand tighter.
I felt a large volt of electricity pass through us, causing us to scream out. However, I felt my core return. My pain vanished as Brit continued to scream. I phased my hand in Brit's chest, feeling the device sending out volts of electricity. I grabbed the egg and pulled it out, pushing the button. Brit fell forward and the only thing keeping her from falling off the table was my hand. I dropped the egg, coming around the table.
"Brit," I called, gently easing her to the table. Brit was unconscious but she was breathing. My head was spinning from the sudden increase in power. Still holding Brit's hands, I turned to Tucker to see him bent over forward, hand on his knee. He was breathing hard.
"Is-is she okay," Tucker asked me.
"Yeah," I said, rubbing Brit's hair. "She's been through a lot. The egg was electrocuting her. She just needs some rest."
"Good," Tucker sighed.
I lifted her legs up with my free hand and laid them on top of the table. I was checking her over, making sure she was okay. When I removed the egg, I should have healed any damage from the shocks.
"Are you okay," I asked, turning to Tucker. My hand was still firmly in Brit's grip.
"I'm exhausted, dude," Tucker sighed. "I've never felt my energy nosedive so much."
"I'll heal you," I nodded. I kissed Brit on the head, covered her with a blanket and removed my hand. I walked over to Tucker, putting my hand on his shoulder. I phased my hand in his shoulder and the energy was zapped from my body. I swayed, not expecting so much of my own energy disappearing.
"Sorry," Tucker said, breathing hard. "You don't need to do that."
"You saved Brit. The least I can do is heal you."
"She's not only your sister, you know," Tucker smirked at me.
"Come on," I said, directing him to a chair. Tucker sat down, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Thanks," Tucker sighed. I took a few steps to grab a rag and pressed it to his nose. He wasn't bleeding too bad but he had a drizzle. "I felt my powers shutting down," Tucker replied. "Remember when we first got our powers and you were talking about a dream you had. For the first two years we got a bloody nose and the last three our powers ran out. I felt them shutting down. I don't know if it was that green liquid or the Gauntlet but something boosted me."
"Mom knows what she's doing," I nodded.
"Mom knows," Tucker sighed. He took the rag, holding it to his nose.
"She doesn't know everything," I remarked. "She's figured out some things. She knows we have ghost powers. I don't know her theory but she doesn't know everything."
"She was talking to me, Danny," Tucker said, looking up at me. "When we were arguing in the bedroom chamber. She said something to me but I couldn't read it. She knows I can read minds."
"We'll have to see what she does now that we have our powers back," I said, sitting down beside of him.
"I don't know what she's going to do," Tucker sighed. "I am going to figure it out, though. If she knows, she isn't going to put us through a Jazz. Don't pretend not to know when you do. It causes too much trouble. How many times did we hide something from Jazz when she knew all along? Hiding takes too much energy."
"I agree," I nodded. "Especially from them. I'm tired of hiding. But if she thinks I have powers like Dani or Blue, then that's all I'm going to tell her. I'm not going to tell her the whole truth. She couldn't take knowing I'm Phantom."
The door pushed open and Mom walked in. I looked up in surprise. "Hey. How are they?"
"They're good," I said, nervous. Was she listening in or did she just walk in the door? Did I just tell Mom the last piece of the puzzle?
AN: Hello, readers! I have a proposition for you. I know there are those of you out there that read these chapters but don't review. I have finished Danny's Story. There will be no more changes par a few tweaks in the editing process. I have my next project almost complete but I can't publish it until after I get up Chapter fifteen. That's six weeks from now. What I propose is that if I can get six reviews for this chapter, I will go back to publishing two a week. The review can say anything, so long as you give me a review. I take all forms of feedback. It's up to you. This would be the reader's treat. All it takes is six reviews and I'll publish a chapter on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Let's see how this works out ;)
Thanks for reading! It's been fun.
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