Chapter 8

DP

Dearborn, Michigan

The first thing he knew was sound; the sound of machines beeping near him. The second thing he knew was pain; a throbbing pain throughout his whole body. The third thing he knew was the smell of the chemicals all around him. He tried to open his eyes, but all he saw was darkness. And at last he realized that he would never see again. He tried to groan, to open his jaw, but he couldn't. He heard the machines around him beep louder. An alarm went out and he heard a woman's voice yell, "Oh my God! He woke up!" Danny moved, and every movement made pain course through his whole body. He felt hands grab him and he started to struggle more as he remembered.

Vlad! The ghouls! Detroit burning! A loud hum escaped his throat as he tried to scream, but his jaw wouldn't open. "DANNY!" he heard Jazz, Tucker, Valerie, and Sam all yell. "Danny, calm down, you're safe!" Tucker told him. Danny stopped moving and the hands let him go. "Danny, you were beaten badly by Vlad, you have a lot of broken bones, you can't move around too much," Tucker told him. Danny calmed down, wishing he could communicate with them. "Danny, we're going to put a helmet on you that is attached to a computer screen nearby. It will let you talk to us," Jazz told him. Danny nodded slightly and felt the helmet as it was put on his head. "Just think about what you want to say," Jazz told him, and he felt a hand grasp his, Sam's hand.

Danny concentrated hard and he heard a monotone electronic voice say, "Where am I." "You're at the Henry Joy Intensive Care Unit in Dearborn, Michigan. I am Dr. Alice Taniyama, I was the lead surgeon in your operation," a female voice told him. "How long will I be here," the electronic voice that spoke for Danny said. "For months at least, just healing, and that's not even thinking about rehabilitation therapy," Dr. Taniyama told him. "I can't wait that long. Every day I am here, Vlad is out there, destroying everything he can find," the computer voice said then Danny asked the question, "Why can't I see." Every human in the room was silent; all Danny could hear were the medical instruments he now realized were attached to him. "It was Vlad, wasn't it. I remember the last thing I saw were red lasers leaving his eyes. He blinded me," Danny said what they wouldn't.

"Please, leave, everyone but Sam, please," Danny asked through the monotonous computer. He heard feet slowly leave the room and all he could hear were the machines connected to him, and Sam's breathing, she sounded like she was about to cry. "Danny, I'm so sorry I made you go into the Portal. If I knew that it would lead to this-" Danny cut her off as the computer said, "Sam, none of this is your fault. I don't regret anything that has happened since that day. I never blamed you for what happened to me. I chose to use my powers; none of this is your fault." Sam started to cry and held his hand to her face. Danny moved his fingers, even though it hurt like Hell, and he rubbed her cheek.

A thought then occurred to him, "Did the kids see me." He could stand more pain than this, as long as they didn't see him like this. He would never forgive himself if they saw this; he knew what fear would do to them. Sam sighed and told him, "Willie and Morgan haven't. Cammie…snuck out of the Hotel we're staying at and saw." Danny took in a deep breath through his nose, or at least as deep as he could with his chest wrapped and tubes inside of him. He then exhaled and then concentrated and the computer voice said, "Where are the kids now." "They're in the cafeteria. Dani is watching them," she told him.

"Dani is here. Why didn't she come," Danny asked through the computer. "She brought you to the Hospital, and then she left. I only barely ran into her here. She's not leaving yet," Sam explained to him. "Sam, get Cammie and Dani. I need to talk to both of them," the computer voice said. Sam said, "Alright," and left the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. I won't see them again, Danny thought. I won't see them grow up, get married, their kids…It's been so long since I last saw Danielle; she must have changed a lot. Does she have any kids now? Is she married? All this…

Danny heard the door open and heard Dani and Cammie both gasp at the sight of him. "Daddy," Cammie said, she sounded like a little girl, not the confident teenager he knew she was. "Danny, I-" "Don't say you're sorry," the computer voice told Dani, "You have nothing to be sorry about. I wouldn't even be alive right now if you hadn't been there." Danny then concentrated and said, "Where have you been, Dani. I looked for you for years; I only gave up because I had to focus on my kids." Dani sighed and told him, "I didn't want you to find me. I wanted to live my own life, without you or Vlad. I saw how famous you had gotten after you saved the world, and I didn't want to start any 'missing clone' drama for you."

Danny was amazed at how Dani sounded; it was almost hauntingly like his Mother's voice, if only slightly deeper and more youthful. "Did you have any kids," the computer voice asked. "No, had a lot of boyfriends, but never any kids," Dani told him. Danny nodded as much as he could then said, "Cammie." "Yes Daddy?" Cameron asked. "Sweetie, I know how scared you must feel now. There is no shame in that. I have been scared for most of my life. Sometimes being afraid is a good thing, it makes you pay attention, it makes you fight harder, fly faster, and hit harder than you ever thought you could. But don't let your fear control you, don't let it paralyze you. You aren't…WE aren't in this alone. You have Dani, Willie, Morgan, your Mom, Aunt Jazz, Valerie, Tucker, Seras, and Integra to help you. Remember that. I fought against Vlad alone, and this is the result. But if you all work together, you can win," Danny told her.

"I will," Cameron told him. "Dani, that speech was for you too. I need you to look after my family for me," Danny said through the computer. "I'm not letting anything bad happen to my new nieces and nephew," Dani confidently told him. "Thank you," Danny said, and he felt tired, "I need to sleep now, I feel so tired." "It's okay Danny," Dani assured him, "Just focus on getting better and we'll take care of the rest." And with that, Danny fell to sleep.

Hellsing

Hellsing Mansion, England

Sir Integra sat at her desk; she had just finished making preparations for the extra bullets the King requested. She put the phone down and rubbed her eye. This is worse than Millennium. At least with them it was a surprise attack, here I have no idea what will happen but I know that something will happen, and it will be horrible. One of her soldiers knocked on the door to her office and said, "Inspector Victoria has returned." "Send her here as soon as possible," Integra ordered. Integra leaned back in her chair and closed her eye. She soon heard another knock on the door and heard Seras say, "It's me Sir." "Come in," Integra said without opening her eye.

She heard Seras close the door and said with her mind, Lock the door. She heard Seras lock the door and then felt as Seras wrapped her arms around her from behind. I missed you, Seras told her telepathically. I'm sorry I had to be so harsh. But we can't focus on Daniel, we need to focus on the bigger picture, Integra told her. I know, but I still hate it, Seras thought. Seras let go of Integra and Integra stood up and stretched her body out some. "Let's go," Integra said, sounding tired. She unlocked the door and human and vampire stepped out. As they walked down the halls when her butler Gabriel ran to her and said, "Sir, we have a message, from Iscariot! Vlad Plasmius has burned Rome to the ground, and reports tell us that the Pope was killed. Iscariot requests an audience with you to discuss a temporary alliance!"

Integra and Seras both stared at the butler as he handed Integra a letter, she looked at it and the envelope then opened it. Sir Integra read it then said, "Come Seras, we have a meeting to go to."