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Broken Hearts

Chapter Six

Protector Phantom

"Be good to others, that will protect you against evil."

~Abu Bakr~

Titan's Tower 1800 Hours

"Robin," Sheriff Jake Halls smiled. "Heard Phantom was a new member on your team."

"He's not really a Titan, but he has wormed his way into our home," Robin smiled glad that everything was going smoothly.

"Do you have him in custody or is he clueless about everything?" Jake asked knowing that if Phantom was part of the team, even if not a Titan, Robin would want to delay the talking.

"He's in the interview room. I just want to warn you. He won't hurt you, but he is scared half out of his mind," Robin stated as they headed below the Tower to the cells and interrogation rooms. "He's like a trapped animal; you don't want to scare him off. You have to give him time and be patient. That was the only way I even got him to agree to this."

"At least he knows it's coming," Jake responded. He was good with kids, and that's why he volunteered for this. Everyone else had heard stories, but they also knew enough to not believe them. He wanted to know the real Phantom, the ghost of Amity Park. Robin stopped in front of the door.

"Phantom doesn't really have anything to keep him here. If he runs, he's gone," Robin explained looking at the sheriff. "We don't have anything to keep him here. He can get out if he wants to. He does have cuffs on, but that is only for trust, to show that he's trying."

"He has trust issues?" Jake noting that Robin really didn't want to let him in.

"Especially with people he has never met. I have to be in there with you. He'll look to me for help. Phantom has been beaten and tortured by people all his life. There hasn't really been anyone there for him except his friends and sister," Robin explained. "That's why you have to be careful, and remain calm yourself. Even if he seems to get threatening, don't let that make you get out of control. Don't reach for your gun or do anything. That'll only make things worse. He'll calm down once he realizes you want to help him and don't plan on hurting him. He doesn't like new people."

"What if he starts using his powers?" Jake asked getting slightly worried that maybe a more seasoned investigator should have taken this.

"That's the one thing about Phantom that's nice. As long as you don't try to hurt him, he won't even use them. Don't threaten him yourself, and he won't attack. Even if you did, the worst he'll do is vanish," Robin stated as he opened the door. Jake looked in and noticed the small ghost that was laying his head on his arms. They were straight out with the cuffs on his wrists. His head was turned away, and Jake looked at Robin who had a small smile.

"He's been though a rough couple days, but at least he is now relaxed," Robin answered the unasked question while walking up to the ghost and gently shook his shoulder. "Hey, Phantom, Jake is here for the interview." Phantom groaned and slowly looked up at the black haired man that was standing in the doorway. Phantom's muscles tensed as Robin kept a hand on the ghost's shoulder to prevent him from running. "Jake, this is an awake Phantom."

"Hi, I'm Sheriff Jake Halls," Jake greeted as he held out his hand. Phantom blinked and looked at it unsurely while he started to shake. Jake sighed. He knew he should be starting the interview, but Phantom's nervousness was amazingly distracting. He was use to somewhat nervous teens that had actually done something, but Phantom's was about just having someone else in the same room as him. The sheriff sat down across from the hybrid and opened his file. He noticed a small notebook next to Phantom and wondered why Robin would keep something like that in here. "I'm guessing that Robin told you what the charges were." Phantom nodded trying to get his chair to move back. Robin had made sure that they were bolted down, but he could feel Phantom using his ghostly strength in trying to get as far from the sheriff as possible. Jake noticed the worried frown Robin held. Robin knew that this was just going to be too much for Phantom. "I want your side."

"I…" Phantom tried but he was so panicked that he couldn't think. Robin held him down and nodded to someone in the other room.

"What's going on?" Jake asked as Cyborg came in and handed Robin a small vial of something. Robin took it and gently rubbed one of Phantom's shoulders before sticking it in and releasing it.

"He's easily panicked," Robin asked as Phantom's wide eyes drooped slightly. "Phantom, you okay now?"

"I hate needles," Phantom responded trying to stay at least somewhat coherent. His head hung while he blinked out some sleepiness. Jake frowned. He had to talk to Phantom while he wasn't drugged. Phantom slowly looked up at the sheriff in front of him still silently panicking. Jake sighed.

"I can't do this with him like that," he stated standing up causing Phantom to jump. He didn't do anything but about scare the crap out of Robin from the sudden motion.

"He'll be fine. It doesn't do anything expect calm him down. He'll still tell you what you need to know, but what I said about being patient, it applies now," Robin explained as Phantom looked up at them. Jake sighed and sat back down.

"Masters is saying that you had kidnapped him right before the election telling him that you needed him," Jake stated grabbing out the witness statement he had gotten from Amity Park Police. Phantom was silent knowing that this was a complete lie. He would take credit for the harassment since he was actually guilty about that to some degree. "You wanted him to clear your name and your record."

"I didn't do anything," Phantom mumbled. "All I did was make everyone laugh at him." Jake stopped for a moment realizing what the ghost had just said about what happened around that time. He held back a grin.

"You were the one that had given those news crew the chance to…" Jake started, but couldn't finish knowing that he would start laughing.

"Yeah," Phantom gave a shy smile. His body gave one last shudder as he started relaxing. Robin sighed glad that Phantom was finally able to control himself. Robin backed and leaned against the wall. He watched as Phantom slightly tensed, but then relaxed again.

"Well, Masters didn't say anything about that," Jake stated realizing that the ghost probably thought that was the harassment part. "He did say something about you entering his office constantly and trying to get him to do something after he won the election."

"Oh," Phantom mumbled tensing again. Robin went to walk forward. "That's…here," Phantom stated pushing the notebook to the sheriff. "This is everything and everyone Masters has hurt since I became involved. Mainly me, but this is everything he has done and then some. It might explain a bit more than I wanted to, but I don't think that there would be any other way out of this without something happening to me, and then Masters gets off."

"What is it?" Jake asked opening the book. It had dates and times and then a list of businesses, ones that had been robbed or conned out of a ton of money. There were lists and dates of businesses that Vlad owned himself that had illegal experiments going on in the labs. Then the next page held four names, each ending with Fenton.

"Everything that I know Masters has done," Phantom whispered slightly hugging himself. It was hard with the cuffs, but he needed something to help calm his quickly beating heart. That notebook held not just Masters' secret, but his own as well. Robin watched as Jake skimmed though it before stopping and looking at the hybrid in front of him.

"You…" Jake began looking at the names on the page. The reasons why Phantom was elusive became extremely clear in those two little sentences. Written in quite nice handwriting was something that was almost impossible.

Vladimir Masters is a half ghost hybrid like myself. He goes by the name of Vlad Plasmius in ghost form.

"You have…" Jake began wanting to know more about the ghost. This information was amazing.

"I'm a hybrid, but my human side no longer is believed to be alive. I prefer it that way," Phantom stated looking at the man. He had never shared that with anyone he didn't think he could trust, but he knew it was going to be the only way he could get past this so he could stay with the Titans.

"Okay," Jake stated. "You mind if I take this?"

"I don't want people knowing about my status," Phantom stated. "You are the only one allowed to look at it. You can copy anything you need, but not that page. Any of it." Jake nodded.

"I can do that," Jake smiled. He had the case of a lifetime here. Everything Vlad has done in the past year was on here. "So, pretty much everything he said is wrong."

"I did go into his office to talk him into getting rid of those laws he placed after he won," Phantom stated. "My status as hybrid was key there though. I didn't want anyone else knowing, and with all the cameras everywhere, I couldn't do anything to make sure that my home was safe. He had done it on purpose because he knew who I was. He wanted me to give into him and be his son."

"The Guys in White were doing a pretty good job of keeping everyone safe," Jake inquired trying not to think of the last two sentences Phantom gave. That was just a little too creepy for him. Phantom started shaking again. Robin walked up, but Phantom suddenly stopped and looked sharply at Jake.

"Not from Plasmius, they weren't. They only caught ghosts that had been hired by Plasmius to begin with," Phantom growled. "Half of them weren't even real. The only thing those agents are good for is getting in the way."

"Phantom," Robin warned. He gave Jake a look telling him to change the subject.

"Okay, you never did anything that he said about kidnapping," Jake stated with a hint of fear in his voice. Phantom's voice could be deadly and scary if he let it. Jake felt the power around the ghost condense into something dark. He knew he hit an old wound, but Phantom wasn't about to talk about it. He hoped Robin could give him a clue about that.

"No," Phantom shook leveling his eyes at his lap. Jake was surprised at the change in Phantom. Robin seemed to slightly relax now that Phantom was no longer fired up.

"Alright, I'll take my finding put them together, and then see where we'll go from here," Jake stated standing up and grabbing the files and notebook. "You're free to go, but don't leave the city. Unless Robin has to use you for something somewhere else, but you will be considered in his custody then."

"You never know with these kinds of things," Robin shrugged pulling the key out of his pocket and undoing the locks. He gave Phantom a look telling him he was going to be in some trouble later. Phantom looked away knowing that he let his past get to him. Robin and Jake walked out while Phantom stayed seated knowing Robin still wanted to talk.

"Can I ask?" Jake questioned. Robin growled slightly.

"Everyone on my team is on the same page as Phantom when it comes to the Guys in White. They don't help, and they tortured Phantom. That's why he was terrified to begin with," Robin explained closing his eyes as screams of pain ran though his head. "I don't think I've ever felt like killing someone until the night when we had saved Phantom from them. He was in extreme pain from the beatings that they given his already burnt body. They didn't care, and…there are some things that they have done Phantom hadn't even told us about. He was fine, but when those monsters are brought up, he changes into something dangerous trying to protect himself."

"I heard he was in the school when it went up," Jake stated as they headed up to the garage floor. Robin looked at Jake seriously.

"He watched his friends and family die in there. He was running himself into the ground hoping to die so he didn't have to suffer any farther, but he still wanted to live. He looked us up and tracked us here," Robin stated. "He's still here with us because we gave him something to actually live for. He wanted to die, and he was extremely close to getting there. He still is. You noticed how thin he was."

"Yeah, but I figured that was just a play on lights and the stress," Jake answered as the elevator opened to the garage where his cruiser was parked at. Robin sighed.

"There are times where I think he looks better, but he had to of lost at least twenty pounds these past few days, and he couldn't afford to lose any," Robin stated as Jake put everything in his car. "He needs help, and that's why we have him. I think that once he's back up to health, he would make a great addition to the team as Titan."

"You want him clean of any records then," Jake stated looking at him. "He's on thin ice if I let him go. Anything could get him thrown into prison."

"I know, but I'm not letting anyone take him without a proper investigation. If there is enough evidence, I'll take him down and bring him in," Robin stated knowing that this was probably what Masters was really aiming for. Make it so Phantom's record was fragile and easily messed with. He just hoped that if that happened and they had to take Phantom in that they would keep custody until his hearing. It would be easy for Masters to get his grimy hands on the ghost if he went though the normal court system.

"I can respect that. You don't want a friend to go into the system, and he turns out innocent," Jake smiled. "I hope he feels better."

"Thanks, Jake," Robin smiled and watched as the sheriff drove off. He frowned and headed back to the interrogation room where he left Phantom. When he entered Phantom had his head buried in his arms again. Robin sighed knowing that the ghost was so tired, but he needed to tell him what he knows. He walked up to him when Cyborg entered as well.

"He shouldn't be like this," Cy stated making Robin stop before he could wake the young ghost up. "He shouldn't be sleeping like that. Even with the bed he was sleeping on, he should be able to stay awake."

"You think something's wrong?" Robin questioned watching the hybrid's back rise and fall with his breathing.

"I think he's sick, but I don't know if it's something normal that's just taking a lot out of him, or if we are missing a big piece," Cyborg stated looking at the hybrid as well. "Want Raven to check him out?"

"After I talk to him and get him back to his room. If something is wrong, we can set everything up in there. Phantom feels safe in there," Robin stated knowing that if Phantom panicked, that would be where he was going to hide now.

"Alright, just tell me," Cyborg acknowledged heading out. Robin sat across from the sleeping ghost wondering what he was going to do. Phantom shifted slightly as Robin reached to wake him up.

"Phantom, I need to talk to you," Robin pressed shaking the teen's shoulder. Phantom groaned before opening his eyes and looking at Robin.

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" he asked knowing that this probably wasn't going to go well. Robin knew enough about Phantom to know that he would get angry when those monsters were mentioned.

"Not as much if I didn't know the real reasons behind it. That is the only thing keeping you out of prison at this moment," Robin warned. "You almost messed it up."

"I didn't mean to," Phantom mumbled as his muscles tensed. Robin sighed. "It's hard."

"I know, but you can't lash out like that," Robin informed. "If it was any other cop, they would have dragged you off by now."

"That probably wouldn't have gone well either," Phantom muttered realizing how dangerously close he came to just that. Robin stood up.

"Come on, Cyborg wants to make sure that nothing's wrong with you," Robin stated as he headed for the door. Phantom stood up and followed with slow uneven steps.

"I think that there is," Phantom whispered as he leaned against the wall to avoid falling to the ground when he lost his balance. Robin stopped and turned to him.

"Have you felt like this before?" Robin asked walking up to him and pulling the ghost's arm around his own shoulders to help balance him.

"When I had a cold, my ghost side was acting up trying to figure out what was wrong, but I was just really tired all the time," Phantom whispered as Robin headed for the elevator to take Phantom to his room. Robin noticed that Phantom was so light now. It worried him that Phantom was now sick. He really didn't need all this at the moment. After he was back up to weight or at least gained fifty pounds, then Robin wouldn't mind too much, but Phantom was too thin to be getting sick.

"Just hang in there," Robin stated as they headed up into the Tower. He could feel Phantom's heavy breathing. "Where have you been at?"

"I don't know. It had to be somewhere in the city," Phantom answered looking at the boy wonder. "Or even here."

"No one else is sick," Robin stated as the doors opened on the level with Phantom's room on it. They headed in that direction when Phantom tripped a little. Robin felt the ghost tense ready to be hit. "It's okay."

"This is also a different environment," Phantom whispered trying to force himself to relax. He knew Robin wasn't going to hit him, but after that debacle at the labs he was unsure of everyone. "We had a sub that day when we learned about how animals react, and she made it pretty interesting."

"It might be something we are use to and you're not," Robin stated remembering that Phantom lived in Amity Park which was halfway across the country. They came up to Phantom's room, and the door opened to reveal Raven and Cyborg talking. Robin felt Phantom's tension sky rocket as he started shaking.

"How is he?" Cyborg asked knowing that something was wrong. Robin dragged Phantom all the way to bed since the ghost was so scared he couldn't walk. Robin sat him on the bed.

"Sick, but we don't know where from, and he's scared of everyone and everything," Robin stated as Phantom watched them wearily. He was so wore out that he was surprised that he was even conscious at the moment.

"Phantom," Raven stated sitting next to him. "Can I see something?" Phantom was tense waiting for her to hit or slap him for something.

"What?" Phantom asked timidly. Raven stood up and walked around him before closing her eyes. She chanted her spell and let her powers surround Phantom. Phantom stilled not sure what she was trying to do. "Raven?"

"He just has a cold," Raven stated reeling her powers back in. "He'll be fine in a couple days, if he was up to weight."

"Why do you guys talk about me like I'm not here," Phantom pointed out trying to get something from them.

"Phantom, you're in trouble," Robin reminded. "I don't think it matters at this moment."

"Thanks," Phantom responded sarcastically. Cyborg let out a chuckle while he got out the IV drip.

"You're gonna get yourself into deeper trouble with that attitude," Cyborg stated holding the needle up for Phantom. Phantom sighed and held his hand as still as possible so Cy could insert the tiny needle.

"Sorry, it's just…never mind," Phantom shook his head not wanting to go on into that memory. Cyborg looked at him worried that he was hiding something. Terra hid everything from them, or tried to at least. Phantom was just untrusting and unsure about everything that went on. It wasn't that he didn't want them to know more as in he was terrified they would use it against him.

"What is it?" Cyborg asked pushing it. Robin walked up to them while Raven left. Phantom looked away.

"Just a painful memory," Phantom answered shakily. He had to go over his past at some point, but right now, he was so tired that he could barely think straight. Memories danced behind his eyelids.

"You realize that keeping everything bottled up isn't a good idea," Robin stated knowingly. He learned that first hand and experience.

"I know, but not now," Phantom whispered crawling back up the bed. He was happy he had his own, but it was terrifying at the same time. He didn't want to put the Titans in danger with all the ghosts that come after him. There is no ghost portal, and all he had at the moment was a thermos. He would have to find a way to get them back in the Ghost Zone. Cyborg smiled and left, while Robin watched the ghost slip his cloak off and then use it as a blanket. He was curled up under it and was slowly beginning to fall back asleep.

"Phantom," Robin began causing the ghost to turn enough to look at him. "You have a few stressful days ahead of you. You ended up skipping lunch, but you are eating from now on. Cyborg will move the bowl of fruits that you like so much in here so you have easy access to them."

"Okay," Phantom whispered turning back around. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to even stay in a couple days. He was wishing that he just left and let them think he was dead. No one would be looking for him, and he would be able to just live a somewhat normal life on the road.

Amity Park South Side Fields 0300 Hours

"Ecto-blasts are at full power. They're not as strong as Phantom's but they are a little more precise," O observed watching the copy shoot. His eyes were blank and dull, but the power was strong. K grinned at the results.

"I think he is ready. All we need to do is make sure Phantom is not around the Titans when he attacks, and then Phantom is ours," K reminded knowing that this was going to work. Masters walked up with a surprised look on his face.

"The copy is working?" he questioned seeing them working with it. Masters watched the copy with gleam. He was ready for battle.

"Wonderfully, a few more tests, maybe a couple power ups, and he'll be able to take on the Titans," O grinned typing commands into the computer. The copy stopped firing and stared at them waiting for verbal orders. Masters grinned knowing that this was perfect. Phantom would never know what was coming, and the Titans would easily fall in the fight and blame the ghost. It was the perfect plan to get the son he always wanted.

"Send him to Jump City tomorrow. Check to make sure Phantom stays home. I filed charges against him which are being investigated, and if everything goes well, he'll be stuck at Titan's Tower, or even a prison cell," Masters grinned heading out. He was ready for Daniel to come running to him. He'll be punished of course, but Daniel would understand why. He's been extremely bad, and he should have known better than to leave the way he did. Masters frowned a little as he left feeling the scar being rubbed against his collar. He never knew Phantom could be so powerful when in distress.

Titan's Tower 0900 Hours

"Phantom?" Robin asked walking into the living. Phantom was in the kitchen with the IV drip beside him making something. The ghost froze and slowly turned around.

"Hee, Morning?" he greeted unsurely. He was holding a burrito that looked like it had eggs and bacon inside.

"How did you get that?" Robin asked knowing that Phantom wasn't supposed to leave the Tower.

"I made it," Phantom responded kicking the drip so it was ahead of him while he held his plate. He sat at the bar while the drip stand hit the table and about fell over if Phantom hadn't leant against it to prevent it from falling.

"Is that how you've been getting around with that thing?" Robin asked slightly amused by Phantom's antics. He was still unsure that Phantom was all there, but it made great entertainment.

"Only if I don't have hands," Phantom smiled sitting down.

"How'd you make that?" Robin inquired wondering what the ghost did. It looked really good. Phantom looked at it.

"My parents couldn't cook eatable food to save their lives," Phantom smiled gently. "My sister and I would always have to cook. There were some days were we ate early or late so we didn't upset our mom about her cooking. There were times where it was okay, but it was still scary."

"You cook breakfast a lot?" Robin asked wondering if he could get the ghost to go ahead and cook for everyone. Then maybe the breakfast fight would end if Phantom could use tofu.

"Actually, this is the first time I attempted this," Phantom grinned. "I don't know yet."

"You experiment," Robin smiled heading for the kitchen to make himself something. He looked around for what Phantom used only to find that everything had been cleaned and put away. "Did you clean up?"

"Yeah," Phantom whispered feeling awkward. He really didn't want to be around anyone at the time. He got up later than he wanted, but no one else was up so he figured he had maybe a half hour or more. He had that, but Robin had gotten up. He just played with his food, and Robin noticed he stopped eating with people around.

"Are you okay?" Robin questioned knowing that Phantom wasn't acting right.

"I'm fine, or as fine as I can be at the moment," Phantom whispered putting his fork down and staring at his food. He wasn't hungry anymore. Robin walked behind the hybrid and put a hand to his neck feeling around. Phantom tensed not expecting Robin to suddenly do a checkup.

"You're a little warmer than yesterday, and you seem slightly paler," Robin stated looking at the teen. "I know you have a cold."

"Yeah," Phantom mumbled hoping that was just it, and it would go away in a couple days. Robin noted that Phantom wasn't even sure.

"If there is anything you need," Robin trailed off wanting to know what was bugging Phantom.

"I think it's just the cold," Phantom responded. Robin knew that Phantom was worrying about himself as well, which always backfired on the poor ghost. Robin turned back to making his own breakfast when a light flashed on his belt. He picked up the phone.

"Hello?" he asked wondering who would call him this early.

"It's Jake. Robin, I think Phantom isn't exactly who he says. Yesterday in Amity there was a ghost that was spotted blasting the South side. It looked exactly like him."

"He was here though," Robin stated looking back at Phantom who had pushed his plate away and laid his head back on his arms. "I don't think that was him."

"I don't know, but whoever it was is heading here now. Phantom is either part of it, or he's the target."

"Probably the target," Robin mused watching as Phantom fell asleep again. "I have to force him to eat now. He's going downhill with all this going on."

"My wife works with teens with mental issues. I can have her come and help, or I can give you her number and she might be able to give you some advice."

"Send me her number. I'll see if I can. I have a plan, but I'm not sure it'll work anymore. He was working with me, but lately, I think he's giving up again," Robin informed. He truly was worried that Phantom was only going to bury himself again.

"I'll send it to you. I have to go. There's a call. I'll talk to you later."

"See ya, Jake," Robin stated before he hung up. He looked at Phantom again before grabbing the ghost's plate and shoving it under him causing him to jump. "Will you eat it already?"

"I…I…" Phantom stammered trying to get his heart to slow down enough for him to think.

"I looked in your room before I came in here and all the fruit was still in there. Normally you have an apple and an orange during the night," Robin stated letting some worry appear in his voice. "Then two apples by noon and then two oranges and another apple by night fall."

"I slept the entire night," Phantom stated looking down at his food. He was pretty sure it was cold now.

"Phantom, you need to eat. You can't afford not to. I know you're stressed and that usually makes it harder to eat, but you don't have anything to lose," Robin warned trying to coax the young ghost into eating at least half of it. Phantom looked at it for a moment before sighing and picking his fork back up. Robin relaxed a little as Phantom started eating it slowly. Robin moved back to his own cooking when he heard the doors open again, and Raven walked in. She ignored them in favor of getting her tea started. Once that was done, she headed out to the roof to mediate. Phantom had stopped eating again.

"Robin, I don't think…I can…" Phantom stuttered not sure how to put his own uncertainties into words. Robin turned back to him and realized he had only taken a couple bites.

"Phantom, whatever is bugging you, you can tell me or any one on the team about it," Robin stated hoping to help the teen open up a bit. Phantom sighed and started moving pieces of his burrito around. "Did you forget something for it?"

"Actually, it's perfect, it's just…" Phantom began only to stop again. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but he was terrified. He wasn't sure why either and it felt like something horrible was going to happen even though nothing was. He was starting to consider that he really was going insane.

"Phantom? Masters can't do much," Robin stated really wanting to know what was going on Amity Park. Jake had said something about Phantom being something else, but that just didn't sound right. Phantom was too timid to really be…well so was Terra. Robin started worrying that maybe Phantom was a bad idea. Maybe he really was like her. He wasn't as trusting, but then again neither were they. "Phantom, someone in Amity Park seen you yesterday blasting an area in the southern parts."

"Why?" Phantom asked looking at Robin weirdly.

"Why would you blast a random area in Amity?" Robin asked narrowing his eyes.

"I was here. If it was sometime when I was who knows where, then I could understand, but yesterday I was with you guys," Phantom answered not sure what exactly was going on.

"Well, there's someone there that looks like you," Robin stated knowing that either Phantom had something to do with it, or something really big was about to happen. Robin really hoped that it wasn't going to cause a huge mess, but with the way Phantom was acting now, there was a plan in play.

"Maybe they weren't supposed to be seen," Phantom suggested looking at Robin. "Who seen him…me…it?"

"Don't know, Sheriff Jake Halls told me about it when he called," Robin stated. Phantom seemed not to have any idea, but that didn't mean Phantom was completely innocent. "Someone noticed though and reported it."

"What else?" Phantom asked feeling really sick to his stomach now. This is so going to destroy the rest of his life. Suddenly Phantom shot up. "Masters."

"Masters is in Amity cleaning up everything and getting everyone ready for the new mayor," Robin stated annoyed at the ghost. Masters had to be extremely busy.

"Yeah, but let's say that you think I did something, and I really didn't, so I took off," Phantom began looking at Robin seriously. "My life would pretty much leave me running for the rest of my life."

"Yes, it would," Robin stated not quite getting where Phantom was getting at. The ghost seemed to have figured something out.

"Masters…Plasmius, he wants me as his son. Destroying my life would force me to do something. He wants me to come to him," Phantom explained looking out the window towards the city. "I'm on thin ice, so if something were to happen…"

"You would end up being chased out," Robin finished getting what Phantom was getting at. If that clone framed Phantom for something, and the ghost ended up on the run, Masters could get him from the prison by paying off people, or corner him.

"Robin, there's not much…" Phantom was cut off by a sharp glare from Robin.

"They will be heading here while you are at your weakest," Robin stated letting a grin appear. "They don't know your condition. That's how we'll get the proof that you didn't do it."

"They don't know I'm so underweight that I can barely function properly. Wonderful to know that actually has its uses," Phantom stated slamming his head on the table. Robin let out a chuckle.

"You're not going to get better overnight, and at the rate you're dragging yourself down, I highly doubt there is really anything they can do. That copy might attack, but people who know you, and know your condition will back you up."

"You think I'm dragging myself down," Phantom whispered catching on. He looked at his food and realized what Robin meant. He may not have meant to say it out loud, but Phantom knew that he thought he was going downhill again. Only this time more by choice since there is no more excuses not to eat.

Robin stopped his thinking once Phantom spoke. He looked at the ghost and realized how his words at the beginning hurt him. "Phantom? I didn't mean…"

"It's okay," Phantom mumbled. "I understand."

"Are you sure?" Robin asked not wanting to let it drop. If Phantom wanted to drop, Robin wasn't going to. "Phantom, you are running yourself deeper into the dirt."

"I know," Phantom whispered playing with his food again. He really didn't know what he wanted. He was sure that if they didn't have the IV drip stuck in him, he would have passed out from dehydration or something by now. Robin watched the young ghost while he realized that he overcooked his own. He sighed and gave up, throwing everything away. Phantom was shaking in his chair knowing that he really should at least finish his breakfast if anything else.

"Phantom, you're not telling us what's wrong, and we don't know what to do to help. That's why you came here, right?" Robin asked hoping to get the right words.

"I don't even know what's wrong," Phantom sighed looking at Robin. "How can I get help when I don't even know what's wrong anymore?"

"What's going on? At least tell me what you think is wrong," Robin asked grabbing an apple and sitting across from the ghost that was just staring at his plate. Phantom looked up to Robin sadly.

"I have no idea where to even begin," Phantom answered tiredly. Robin got up and walked back around the table and started adjusting something on the IV drip.

"You still have to eat; you can't really live on this. Until we figure out what's going on, you are stuck with it," Robin explained looking back at Phantom.

"Okay," Phantom mumbled picking up his plate. Robin stopped him from throwing it away.

"Take it to your room. I want to see it gone by lunchtime," Robin stated helping guide the ghost. Phantom held on to the plate with both hands while Robin followed with the drip stand. He could see Phantom shaking the entire time. He was probably stressed and depressed, and that was what Robin figured was wrong. The ghost just didn't know what to do anymore. He was lost.

Jump City Pier 1200 Hours

"How'd he do?" Masters asked seeing the clone standing there with several wires and tubes in him. The agents were carefully pulling them off and taking them out.

"We had a couple scares, but otherwise, he traveled well," K answered with a malicious grin. O finished up.

"Phantom was let free, and we need him on lockdown before we can release the copy," Masters grinned. "Add muscle to him, Phantom has a little more muscle. We don't want people knowing about the copy."

"Got it," K acknowledged typing more into a computer and getting the ghost to start working out on the small equipment they had there. "We have a picture of Phantom, but we don't have anything that looks like his cloak."

"I'll get that. It's easy," Vlad grinned turning around and leaving the agents who were watching the copy with glee as it started doing pushups. They started making sure that everything about the copy was working correctly. They couldn't wait until the Titans faced their creation.

Titan's Tower 1300 Hours

"Where's Phantom?" Beastboy asked running into the room. "I just found something that… We have a team meeting or something?"

"We already know you want Phantom a Titan," Robin stated glaring at the changeling. "Right now we are trying to figure out what's wrong with him and if we should continue trying to get him ready to be a Titan."

"I thought he was just sick?" Beastboy uttered not sure what was going on. Cyborg sighed as Raven walked up.

"We think he's digging himself into a hole," she explained. "He needs help, and there is only so much we can actually do."

"You really think Phantom is giving up again?" Beastboy asked with concern lacing his words. Robin nodded.

"I think he doesn't want to deal with any of this stress anymore. If Masters hadn't filed those charges, he might actually be trying again," Robin stated. Starfire looked at the ground with worry.

"I hope our friend will be okay," she muttered.

"Giving him space will only open the door for him to actually beak down, but it could also cause him to decline even faster," Cyborg stated not sure what to do.

"He's mourning his family," Beastboy stated letting an idea come to mind. "We made his room, but we didn't put any pictures of his family. What if you pulled some strings and got some?"

"That actually sounds like a good idea," Cyborg stated impressed with BB's idea. Sometimes the changeling was useful. "We could get a bunch and create a collage for him to hang in his room. He won't feel like they are completely gone."

"Raven, can you go to Amity and maybe see if you can get some photos from his home?" Robin asked looking at her.

"As long as the house is still there and no one messed with anything," she stated. "I might be able to come up with something, but it's been a while and since the entire family is gone, they may have just gotten rid of everything."

"Look into it," Robin ordered, and Raven disappeared heading for Amity. "We need to make sure Phantom is at least eating three times a day. He barely ate anything this morning."

"What should we get for lunch then? If he's not going to eat much, we have to make sure that it'll help get him weight on without making him sicker," Cyborg wondered looking at the leader.

"I don't know. It's lunchtime now though, and I think we may just have to stick with pizza for now because honestly I don't feel like cooking something for him that he's not going to eat right away," Robin stated grabbing the phone and calling for the pizza. Beastboy sighed.

"Where is Phantom then?" he asked looking at Cyborg.

"Probably in his room," he answered watching the changeling run out of the room.

Beastboy followed the path to the young ghost's room before getting to it. He looked at the door and felt a wave of pain come to his heart. Phantom may have been healed somehow, but he had to be pain just from being so thin. He raised his hand and knocked on the door. Nothing happened so he opened the door to see no one in there. He turned on the lights and started searching. The bathroom was empty, and Phantom wasn't hiding anywhere.

"Phantom?" Beastboy called hoping that maybe the hybrid heard him coming and just turned invisible to annoy him. "Are you there?" Beastboy looked under the bed and everywhere, but couldn't find him. He ran out the door and in the hallway calling for the young ghost. He walked into the living where Robin and Cyborg were talking about something while Starfire was watching her fungus show.

"Beastboy?" Robin asked wondering why the changeling was running around.

"I can't find Phantom. He's gone," Beastboy shouted with worry. Everyone turned to him and headed in the direction of the ghost's room. They looked everywhere, but Phantom was nowhere to be seen, so they decided to start a search of the Tower.

Phantom walked over the roof with his cloak waving around. He watched as the waves pounded against the shore of the small island. He could see why the Titans would pick a place like this to set up. The sun rose over the city and fell behind the Tower casting wondrous glows from the ocean. He had never really been to the ocean before, and he loved it. The sounds of the wildlife and the noise that the ocean created were calming. The smell was salty, but oddly refreshing. He was amazed that it was so peaceful. He was always in the Tower, but he felt cramped and crowded inside. He sat on the edge and watched as the water glistened in the afternoon sun.

"I wish that they were here with me. They would love this," Phantom sighed letting the wind open his cloak. His thin and bony body dulled the feeling. He watched as the city bristled with people who would never know the hardship and trouble the young ghost had. "I wonder what they would think now." He faintly heard someone calling his name from inside, but right now, he felt calm up here. He didn't want to leave. It was beautiful, peaceful. He leaned over and watched the waves crashing into the little island. If they really wanted to find him, they would look up here. He didn't even use his powers to get up here, so they would figure it out eventually. He closed his eyes and let his power rein free along his body. The air grew cooler as green and blue floated above his chest causing the air to become lighter and more fitting to the day.

"Where could he have gone?" Robin asked pacing the living room. He was sure that the ghost would have stayed in there when he felt stressed.

"We looked everywhere, man. I think he left," Cyborg stated getting the feeling of déjà vu. Robin looked up.

"The roof?" he asked looking at the team. Everyone looked at each other like 'I thought you checked it'. "I'll go," Robin sighed ignoring their silent fight. He walked up the stairs. He doubted it since Phantom was almost terrified of everything outside the Tower; at least that's what he thought.

Phantom froze as he heard the door open. He waited for whoever it was to notice him. He was afraid that they would get mad or something. He wasn't expecting them to really look up here.

"Phantom?" a voice asked walking up behind him. Phantom remained still not wanting to get hurt, but feeling like it was going to happen anyway. "What are you doing out here?" Phantom felt Robin sit next to him. He looked over, prepared for Robin to do something, but he seemed to have relaxed and seemed relieved.

"I just needed some air," Phantom whispered looking back out at the ocean. Robin looked out as well.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? I can't seem to get enough of it," Robin stated. He was glad that Phantom hadn't left the Tower, but at least telling someone where he was would have been nice. They wouldn't feel like he was another Terra, they might not be so paranoid about it.

"I've never really been near the ocean before," Phantom mumbled. "We never had to money to really go out and do something. Amity had a lake, but it's not the same. This is so amazing."

"I think I've always been near some kind of ocean," Robin mentioned figuring that maybe just having a normal conversation with the ghost would help him trust them more. "I can never get enough of it either."

"It's calm. That's really something I haven't seen in a while," Phantom muttered wrapping his arms around himself. Robin looked over and noticed that Phantom had taken the needle out and put the bandage over the small prick. "It's really nice."

"That's why I like it, too. Sometimes it's nice to get out from all the craziness," Robin stated looking back out at the ocean. He wanted to bring up how Phantom scared them, but he couldn't bring himself up to punish the ghost. Phantom was just as stressed as everyone else, but he had more issues with it due to his condition. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just…I just really wish that they were still here," Phantom answered looking at Robin sadly. "I know they're gone, but it just doesn't feel like it. I feel like if I went home, they would be there waiting for me and to yell at me for leaving."

"It'll take time to get use to it," Robin stated knowing that Phantom was finally opening up a little more.

"Sometimes I wake up and think I'm in Sam's room after a night of hunting ghosts," Phantom whispered. "But then I look up at the pattern across the ceiling and know that it's really just a memory that I'll never relive."

"It'll get easier to live without them; you are someone who won't be able to actually forget them since they played such a big role, but one day you'll be able to wake up and not feel so depressed," Robin smiled trying to encourage the ghost that it was okay. He was safe, and he could take the time to heal. "You don't have to live in the past. The only way to go is forward and move on."

"They…I asked Sam to skip that day with me. I wanted to spend it with her," Phantom whispered. "I wish that I could have forced her. Maybe she would have been saved."

"There's nothing you can do now," Robin stated watching as tears streamed down Phantom's pale face. He seemed broken and confused. "It's happened. All you can do now is move on or dig yourself a hole and die. What is it that you want? That's all you have right now."

"Thanks for laying that out for me," Phantom muttered sarcastically. Robin sent him a glare, but he wasn't paying attention. His focus was on the waves that were gently crashing into the shore.

"Phantom, you don't have much left, and you know that," Robin stated. "But you are riding on the 'dig yourself a hole' part."

"I'm trying not to," Phantom mumbled realizing that they were all probably worried about him. Robin put an encouraging hand on the young teen's shoulder.

"You just really need to let your pain go. It's what dragging you down, and right now, you need to get yourself to relax more. Raven might be able to help you and you can mediate."

"I'm not one to sit still," Phantom smiled. "Sam tried to get me too once, but I was so twitchy that she kindly kicked me out of her room."

"Kindly kicked you out?" Robin questioned wondering how that was possible.

"She didn't use her boots," Phantom grinned thinking about all the times Sam kicked Tucker for saying something stupid. "That was her weapon, and my other friend always had the short end."

"And you?" Robin wondered seizing the opportunity to learn more about the ghost and his past.

"I was her boyfriend," Phantom stated with a dazed look on his face. He was no longer in the present Robin realized. He was reliving times with his friends. "At first we danced around the idea, but then we finally were able to get together. Sam chased Tucker for three days when she learned he was the one to set it up. I didn't care; I had the girl of my dreams."

"Sounds nice," Robin mused listening as Phantom's breathing slowed slightly, and his eyes drooped.

"It was wonderful. She…she was always there for me, and no matter what happened, or what crazy adventure we went on, she was right by my side," Phantom smiled sleepily. "She sometimes was the only person that could push me though hard times."

"I'm guessing that she would keep you from falling into a depression like what you are in now," Robin stated. He learned that Phantom had cared a lot about someone, and that in itself showed that he would protect the Titans as well. He cared, and that was something that would prevent him from turning against them as easily as Terra did.

"She always knew what to say. Everyone, they always called her a freak because she was different, but she was the happiest person in the world. Sometimes it was hard, and I would be the only one who could get her to smile," Phantom reminisced. "She loved the environment and animals. She was unique, and she was also the one that convinced me to check out the portal. I have my powers because of her, and I wouldn't change that for the world."

"Would she want you to suffer like you are?" Robin asked hoping to use that to get Phantom out of it. She may not be there, but that didn't mean her memory was gone. Phantom looked at him with a smile.

"She would want me to fight, and continue fighting until everyone and everything was safe," Phantom grinned. It was painful, but she was the only one that he was having trouble letting go. She was the one that had done so much for him, and he felt like he let her down.

"Did you…?" Beastboy started as Robin walked in. Phantom followed with a guilty smile.

"Sorry, I was outside," he smiled. "What's for lunch?"

"Pizza!" Cyborg exclaimed sensing that Phantom wasn't as depressed anymore. Phantom gave a grin.

"Sounds awesome," Phantom put in as Beastboy ran up to him.

"Dude, why were you on the roof?" he questioned wondering why his unstable friend was out there.

"The sight was beautiful," Phantom answered walking around him to sit down at the kitchen table as Cyborg began talking about something randomly to himself. No one was really paying any attention until the doorbell went off as the Pizza guy entered the garage.

"Pizza's here!" Beastboy exclaimed running to get it with Cyborg. Starfire smiled brightly at her friend who seemed in a much better mood than what Robin had described earlier that morning.

"Friend Phantom, you are okay, yes?" she wondered hoping that her friend really was okay. Phantom just smiled at her hoping that it seemed genuine.

"Yea, I'm fine for now," he answered as he laid his head on the table. He did eat everything that was his breakfast, it was just really slowly. He watched as Robin got the plates set up. "Where's Raven?"

"She is..busy with something," Robin smiled wanting what she was doing to be a surprise for the ghost. Phantom blinked and then laid his head deeper into his arms on the table while Starfire giggled.

"Fresh and hot," Cyborg yelled walking in. "Just the way I like it."

"Oh yeah, vega pizza, here I come," BB exclaimed as Phantom looked up at him.

"You are extremely strange; you know that?" Phantom grinned as Beastboy pretended he was shot and fell to the floor. "Well, more pizza for us then."

"You like that stuff?" Cyborg asked feeling slightly betrayed that Phantom would side with BB's choice.

"My girlfriend was ultra-recylco vegetarian," Phantom smiled as he took a piece from the box Beastboy had carried in. "Sometimes we had what she liked. Some of it is really good if you try it."

"I don't know you anymore," Cyborg stated turning away from him dramatically. Everyone laughed as Beastboy stood back up with a smile.

"Oh yeah, two to one, what now!" Beastboy exclaimed as Robin shook his head.

"Beastboy, you are forgetting the rest of us," he informed while the changeling's face fell.

"Nah, we don't count you," Phantom grinned brightening Beastboy's face again. Robin started laughing as Cyborg glared at them.

"I will bring you back, Phantom!" he exclaimed overdramatically while a grin threatened to appear.

"I will drag you down," Beastboy growled standing protectively next to Phantom who was laughing so hard that he was having trouble breathing, and Robin was laughing just as hard. As Beastboy and Cyborg narrowed their eyes at each other and began circling each other, Phantom fell out of the chair trying to catch his breath. Everyone suddenly stopped to make sure that Phantom was okay. He just laid there with a giant smile.

"I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time," he whispered as Robin helped him up. "Thanks."

"You…you are going to hurt yourself," Robin smiled not sure what else to say to the hybrid that had a big goofy grin.

"Wouldn't surprise me," Phantom chuckled as he sat back down. He grabbed a couple slices and watched as everyone else just sat and calmly ate sometimes asking a couple questions to each other. It was peaceful, and Phantom couldn't help but smile at them. He felt so much better; a little under the weather but better than he had in a long time.

FentonWorks, Amity Park 1600 Hours

Raven quietly flew though the damaged city. Car alarms were blaring while police and fire trucks tore through the streets. She stopped and watched as they headed in the direction of the school. Suddenly everything disappeared, and the streets were clear with people walking the streets happily. She blinked, not understanding what she seen. She quickly found the home of the Fentons. It was a little worse for wear, but everything was still there. Police tape crossed the door as she passed though.

Everything in the living room had covers over it. The dust was thick making everything dead. She sighed knowing that everyone who lived there and grew up was gone. Her heart felt sick at the fact that this was where Phantom lived and that this was where he would spend his time with family. She quickly buried her emotions planning on doing some serious mediating when she got home. She uncovered the table that looked like it had pictures on it. She smiled slightly seeing the black haired, blue eyed teen that was so happy and proud in them. His entire family was with him, and she didn't think he could be any happier than the one photo where he was with his friends and family. A black haired girl sat on his lap while a dark skinned boy was pointing and laughing at something off camera. She noticed that this was a recent photo by the look of protectiveness Danny held.

Raven looked around the home for things she thought that might help Phantom out of the hole he buried himself in. She walked up the steps.

"Danny, give it back," Jazz cried as Danny ran up the steps holding her Bearbert.

"Come and catch me!" Danny taunted running into his room and locking the door.

"DANIEL!" a woman yelled pounding on the door causing Danny to stiffen. "Give Jazz her bear."

"Okay, mommy," the young child whispered unlocking the door and holding out the stuffed animal. Jazz grabbed it and held it close while the women looked at Danny disapprovingly.

"Danny, you know better than to take things that don't belong to you. Say sorry," she demanded pointing at the bear.

"Sorwy," the little blue eyed child whispered looking at the ground. The woman nodded her head, and the young girl disappeared.

"Danny, you can't just take something that doesn't belong to you. You could have gotten hurt or even in big trouble," the mother warned running her finger though his hair. The young child looked up at her.

Raven blinked as a past memory in the house haunted her. She felt the lives that lived there. Everything the house had seen was amazing. She walked up to a blue door that had been blasted a few times. She gently opened it, and the sight horrified her.

"Danny, it's time for school!" Maddie shouted looking up the steps waiting for her goofy son to appeared with a silly grin, saying some kind of sorry. Instead he stumbled out of the hallway into the light, and he looked like hell. "Daniel?" she cried running up to him. "What happened?"

"I…I was attacked," he decided to say. It was technically true. Plasmius decided to drop by and say a few words…with his ecto blasts. He just hoped that she wouldn't go into his room and see the bloodshed that was there. He would clean it up after school since he knew his parents would be in the science lad 'helping' with a project.

"It was the Phantom Punk, wasn't it?" Maddie demanded as her anger grew. Danny flinched.

"No, it…it was the Wisconsin Ghost," he corrected. He didn't need his ghost half getting hunted even worse, but Plasmius's would be entertaining and relieving to know that they would back off Phantom if they had a better reason to go after Vlad.

"That monster has been showing his face more and more lately," Maddie growled trying to think of something. "We'll get him, don't worry, Sweetie."

"Whatever," Danny mumbled walking a head of her and down the steps. She noticed the same flinches he gave from pain, but he would never say anything. She was so worried about him, and she wanted to know what was wrong. She was going to have a talk about it when they got home.

Only she would never get to come home, none of them would ever see their home again. That morning would be the last morning that they spent together as a family. The last morning to tell anything that needed to be, but there was one thing that had shown that they still loved each other.

"Danny, I'll see you at school. I love you," Maddie called as Danny got ready to leave. He turned and smiled at her.

"I love you too," Danny called back dashing out the door hoping to meet his best friend and girlfriend.

He didn't know that would be the last time he heard those words; he didn't know that he was slowly running out of time. All he knew was that he had some troubles, but otherwise, he couldn't ask for more. He was happy, and that was all he ever wanted.

Danny: She is extremely stressed now, and you might not see anything for a while

Me: I had this typed up already, and I was editing when my mom screamed that our garage was on fire...FYI our garage is attached to our house, so I had to get out. Be happy that it didn't spread any farther or you would be out a story...all of them because I wasn't to retype them anymore...

Danny: So the insurance person will be here tomorrow and she has to make sure that she has all horse equipment prices ready...

Me: I have a flippin headache...I also wonder how the hell can people text and drive while I was trying to call and drive at the same time. I found it highly difficult because I had one cat behind me crying, a dog on my sister, and then another cat trying to get on my lap while I'm trying to get to my friend's house so I could pass out...

Danny: She was shaking...like Phantom is in this story

Me: So, now I ask you to review, and give me some motive to actually write more. It's not writer's block, because the ideas are giving me a headache, but the fact I can't think straight...so help me get my thoughts in order and hopefully I'll be able to see you all next week

Please review and always make sure that any fire you make is properly put out. If you see anyone whose house is on fire, please let them know, because that's what saved us