The blast hit Phantom, throwing Sam away from him. His eyes snapped open, their colour blindingly bright, and confused. Close to Tucker, Sam groaned. Danny's neck twisted and the skin split from the strain, but the wound soon closed over as he saw his two best friends sprawled on the asphalt. He slowly turned to face the GiW, fury lending him strength. The puddle of ectoplasm that surrounded him shrank, and Danny lurched to his feet, coming close to falling as his body was not yet fully stable.
"The specter looks aggressive," Agent O told his partner.
"Oh, really?" Danny asked with sarcastic anger. His aura swirled around him, pulsing brighter than it ever had before. "Who would've guessed?"
The agents ignored him for several seconds, making the glow surrounding Phantom's body increase in size and brightness.
"I'm talking to you!" he suddenly yelled, causing the Guys in White to stop their muttered analysis and look at him expressionlessly.
"Should we detain the ghost boy now?" Agent K asked, disregarding the rage on Phantom's face. A green flush was spreading across his cheeks.
"Affirmative."
The ecto-guns whirred as they powered up, a lime-coloured glow spilling out of the end. Danny's aura was blinding, the snowy, silver energy shining as bright as the sun that was hidden behind the thick clouds. The temperature increased noticeably, causing the GiW to avert their gazes and take several steps away from the hazardous ghost. Raindrops continued to fall, but they froze mid-air in the frost that radiated off of Danny. With a loud whine, both guns shot at him at the same time.
The ecto-blasts were absorbed into Phantom's aura, the green gradually becoming paler and paler, until no hint of the attack was visible.
Phantom cocked an eyebrow mockingly. "Is that all you got?"
DPDPDPDP
Sam gasped for breath, her back feeling raw from her slide along the road. She could sense Tucker beside her, also winded and struggling for air. Something silver and metallic glinted against the asphalt by Sam's leg- a piece of Tucker's gear. He would be devastated, she knew, when he found out, but right now they were both incapable of doing much about anything.
"Sam?" she heard her friend cough. She turned to face the bruised face that was watching her anxiously. "Are you okay?"
The Goth groaned. "I dunno, Tuck. I'm really sore- are you okay?"
Silence greeted her concerned words. Slightly annoyed, Sam opened her mouth to ask again, in case he hadn't heard her. It was then the world exploded into a whirling, chaotic vortex of ghostly energy. The white ribbons of shining light danced around her, comforting her with the knowledge that Danny was still around to protect her… and Tucker.
The energy seemed to go right through her, cleansing her body and mind of the damage inflicted by the GiW. Instantly, Sam felt better, if not completely healed from her ordeal. She lurched to her feet as if she were drunk, swaying as her legs struggled to support her. More of Danny's aura reached out to touch her and Tucker, lending them strength. Tucker began to stand as well, grunting with effort. When they were both stable, the energy left, allowing them to view the scene being played out on the road ahead.
Danny's hands were clenched into tight fists, and Sam could see his anger in the tense set of his shoulders. In that moment, she almost felt sorry for the GiW. Almost. After all, they had shot at her and her two best friends. Jack was obviously thinking along the same lines. He glared at the agents from the side of his vehicle, face stormier than the weather. Sam watched with interest as he began to talk.
"Excuse me," Jack said to get their attention. They turned without hesitation, completely overlooking the main threat. "But what exactly do you think you're doing?"
Agent O looked at him inscrutably. "Our job."
"And does your 'job'," Maddie intervened, stepping up next to her husband. "Involve shooting innocent children?"
Taking that as her cue to act, Sam fell to the ground, shaking and moaning as if she were in terrible pain. Soon after, Tucker followed. Danny watched them with panic rapidly sculpting his features into an alarmed mask, but calmed down when Sam winked at him. Smiling softly, he turned invisible and flew off.
"Because if it does," Maddie continued, unaware of the ghost boy's disappearance. "Then I suggest you find a nicer one. One that doesn't involve this type of risk."
"I'm sorry, miss," Agent K said, fingering his gun threateningly. "You seem to have the wrong idea. Our task is to find the ghost kid- just like our sources say you are-"
"Our practices are much more conventional," Maddie said irritably as Jack nodded solemnly beside her.
"It is our duty to keep the world safe from ghosts such as this one," Agent K gestured behind him, to where Phantom had been. "Collateral damage is to be expected."
The woman gasped in outrage, disbelieve widening her eyes and causing her to tremble with fury, but it was Jack who voiced her thoughts.
"Collateral damage?" he asked with disappointment evident in his voice and body language. "Expected? And to think I used to respect you Guys in White."
Both agents turned to face each other.
"This conversation is unnecessary," Agent O spoke first. "Should we refocus our attention on the ghost kid?"
"Agreed."
Sam was surprised at how hard it was to not laugh at the expressions on the large men's faces. The shock they were experiencing was clear and easy to read on their features, comical in its intensity.
As everyone but Sam and Tucker watched in stunned silence, Sam fancied that she could hear Danny's quiet chuckle somewhere above their heads.
AN:
Hey! pale-blue11 here!
I'm sorry for this chapter- I know it's terrible :( had a really tough weekend. Our cat got sick and we had to rush her to the vet. She died Saturday night, so I couldn't write much. I'm sorry. I hate this chapter.
Anyway, I leave for camp in... 8 hours. I should try get some sleep :P four nights of sleeping in a tent... in the end of Autumn... and walking all day... sounds fun! :D But I'll miss the internet :(
Hey- how 'bout, to make up for this poor excuse for a chapter, I submit a picture I drew earlier? I'll put it on Deviantart now :) my username is the same- pale-blue11. The name will be... ummm... 'melted.' Also, thanks to Deborahpflover for showing me how to draw melting people (didn't work too good :/)
13 reviews for one chapter! :D I LOVE you guys! Thank you so much :) and thanks to all the people who have favourited and/or followed, too :)
Oh! and if you've PM'd me and I haven't replied, sorry :/ I'll reply as soon as I can!
Please review, favourite and/or follow this chapter :) that's all...
Have a nice week!
pale-blue11