Title: Leftover Power
Theme: Tree
Pairing: None
Rating: K

31. Tree

He could tell that she was never entirely better. Too much exposure for too long had taken its toll on her. No matter how she smiled and continued munching on her vegetables, he could see the fear lingering just beneath the surface, nothing how she gasped every time someone exclaimed about what a miraculous green thumb she had, how much better plants did whenever she was around, and how she seemed just a bit weary whenever she walked through the park.

One day, Tucker pulled a leaf from her arm, and she yelped, grabbed the spot like he had pinched her. Then she noticed the leaf in his hand, turned a dark red and raced away, sitting on cold, hard concrete that didn't cry out for her touch, that didn't drive her mad with wanting to…to something and she wasn't sure what.

"Sam?" he asked quietly.

She leapt to her feet, spinning on him and suddenly wishing she had something green to protect her. She reminded herself that Danny was never out to hurt her, and that plants were not there to keep her safe, and whispered, "Danny, I'm gone. Go home."

"Come to the park with me."

"No." She shook her head.

"I want to show you something."

"You don't get it."

"I do." He smiled and took her hand. "I understand, come on."

He took her to the park, made her kneel, and pressed her hands to the earth. She felt seed and roots below her feet, growing and sifting through the dirt. She felt squirrels crawling inside her and birds nesting on her shoulders, and then she felt the child of Danny's hands on hers, his voice by her ear telling her to push. She did, with her hands and arms, and then her mind, and felt the feeling ease away, leaving her dizzy and tired.

He was warm again, holding her up because she couldn't manage to even sit on her own. "Easy, Sam."

"That…" She pointed to a small sapling in front of her. "That wasn't there."

"No. That was you. Just a little bit of growing power to let loose."

She looked up at him with half closed eyes. "Am I evil?"

He laughed. "You can help stuff grow, Sam. You've got less power than the Box Ghost. Even if you were suddenly evil, it's not really a problem."

"So, I'm not evil?" she asked drowsily.

"No," he promised, watching her finally fall asleep. "But you're free to wear that outfit, if you want."