Broken Hearts
Chapter Ten
Evening Phantom
"For me, singing sad songs often has a way of healing a situation. It gets the hurt out in the open into the light, out of the darkness."
~Reba McEntire~
Titan's Tower 2400 Hours
Phantom slowly opened his eyes and looked around the darkened room. He quickly realized that he was actually in his own as he noticed the stars above him, and he wondered if everything was a dream until the pain in his back slowly made itself known. He gasped as a quick shot of pain exploded up his spine and into his head. He let out a long, quiet groan and rolled over on his side hoping that it would die the pain down a little.
"Phantom," Robin whispered blinking his eyes and realizing that his friend had woken up. The boy wonder had fallen asleep next to the hybrid's bed when he found out that Cyborg and Starfire had cleared out the city and that there wasn't a trace of the army. They told him that the villain's goal was only to hurt Phantom's chances of being a true hero. Raven and Jake had recovered and Jake was trying to figure out what happened to his case. He sent to the next city over when they needed backup on a robbery. He put his hand on Phantom's shoulder to prevent the ghost from trying to get up. He really didn't need Phantom to bleed out anymore if he ripped out his stitches. He was worried that he would lose his friend, but Phantom had pulled though and he was glad. "It's okay. It's out, but there was a lot that I to do in order to get it out. Even with your healing, it'll still be sore for the next couple days," Robin warned hoping that Phantom didn't do anything to tear open the wound again.
"What…" Phantom began as he slowly blinked his eyes trying to process what Robin had said.
"The glass wasn't straight. It had a curve in it, and when Beastboy tried to get it out by just pulling made it worse, but he said something about you getting kicked across the room which caused it to go in deeper," Robin stated as he picked up a glass of water. "Here, the anesthetic I used normally causes dehydration."
"Thanks," Phantom whispered slowly sitting up careful not to injury his back any farther than it was. The pain was slowly starting to die down a bit, but he could still feel where the glass had been and how much damage was actually done. He leaned against the head board of his bed and took a drink while looking around the room. Holding the glass in his hand, he realized how thirsty he really was. There were two cots in the room, and the other one had Beastboy laying across with his arms and legs hanging off of it. Phantom smiled knowing that they were caring enough to at least stay with him so that they knew he was safe. Robin took the glass from Phantom with a stern expression.
"Jake got kicked off your case," Robin explained making Phantom tense and slowly start shaking. He may have known part of that, but he was hoping it was just something his mind created trying to get him to stop trusting people again. "Johnson, the new case leader, has a warrant for your arrest."
"So, what now?" Phantom asked looking at Robin sadly knowing either Robin was going to tell him to run or arrest him. Robin gave a small smile.
"I have a plan. There were a few citizens who know the truth, and they said that they'll help us get your name cleared. The villain wasn't quite careful enough when fighting Cyborg and Starfire, and they heard the plan," Robin explained hoping that Phantom trusted them enough to go ahead and go with it. "Tomorrow, they'll be at the City Square where I told Johnson I'll have you. You'll have a public arrest, but you'll also have several citizens behind you telling them that it's wrong. Jake will be leading them, and we'll get your name cleared," Robin stated knowing that Phantom was probably freaking out.
"What if they don't release me?" Phantom asked looking at Robin seeing that it'll open him up to be experimented on and never seen again if they were to lose track of where they took the ghost. "What if…"
"You're in the public eye, and they have to make sure that you can be seen and heard from. The citizens will not stop the protest until you are back here," Robin smiled trying to lighten Phantom's nerves. "We're not abandoning you, but if you run, there's almost nothing we can do. If you go with this, you'll be held in a jail house that some of the normal cops run. I told them that with your condition that you need to be taken care of without people hurting you. Some of the cops agree that you shouldn't be taken since they were there at the fight trying to make sure that the citizens were safe. After I told what you needed, they believe that there is no way you could have attacked Jump."
"So I have cops on my side," Phantom whispered knowing that they would try to do their best in not letting him get hurt.
"Yes, and then each day a member of our team will be there to make sure that you are getting what you need," Robin explained. "Johnson refuses to believe that you can't do anything, but once he realizes what the citizens want, and what really happened since it's hard to really be in full weight and suddenly lose fifty pounds in twenty four hours, he'll have to release you hopefully in the next week."
"So, no one can move me then from that prison?" Phantom asked looking at Robin worriedly. Robin shook his head.
"No, not without my permission. I told them I would hand you over on those conditions. If they were to go against, I would have my team break you out," Robin explained. "I also told them that I would file charges against them for harassment and abuse giving you time to go ahead and run. We have members throughout the world, and we'll tell them to watch out for you. If you need anything, they'll be happy to help."
"So, I go to prison on your terms," Phantom whispered knowing that Robin was only trying to help, but the feeling of being betrayed was slowly starting to overwhelm him even Robin told him that if he had to, he could run again and still be protected by the Titans. Robin sighed and looked at the floor in thought.
"I was hoping to get you to stay in our custody, but Johnson isn't as good a detective as Sheriff Halls is. He won't look into something if the obvious makes sense," Robin explained. "In order for this to work, I have to pick up the role. I didn't before because I wanted you on the team, and I found it a conflict of interest, and I was afraid that people would think I made half the things up."
"So you hoped that Jake would take care of my reputation while you worried about my actual condition," Phantom whispered trying to keep himself from seeing the bad in this. He didn't want to run again, and he was afraid that whoever was behind this did enough damage to make him run again. "Who was it that Cyborg and Starfire faced that told them this? It wasn't the copy, was it?"
"They said something about another ghost in white with a cape, but they don't have his name," Robin stated wondering if Phantom knew him.
"The only ghost that I can think of that is like that is Plasmius," Phantom stated looking at the leader worriedly. "Robin, he'll do anything he can to get his hands on me. He thinks I should serve him because I'm half ghost, and so is he."
"So we're playing against your bad guy?" Robin asked knowing that they need Phantom for this then. They needed Phantom's lead. Phantom would know everything about what they would need in order to beat him.
"Unfortunately," Phantom sighed stretching his back out. It popped and Robin tried to prevent himself from laughing at the hybrid's face. It was of relief, shock, and pain, but sadly it had a bit of comedy in it. "Okay, I'm not sure what happened there."
"It sounded like it hurt," Robin smiled knowing that Phantom was slowly pulling himself out of the hole again. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Phantom answered looking at Beastboy who just rolled off his cot. "Did you guys sleep in here?"
"He is sleeping in here, and I only was asleep for about an hour. I didn't want you to wake up and no one was here to explain anything," Robin explained. "I didn't want you to freak out. However, I would rather you stayed asleep the entire time," Robin looked at the clock. "It's going to be a long day."
"Thanks," Phantom whispered as Robin sat on the cot. "You still plan on sleeping in here?"
"I know you don't trust us completely," Robin stated looking at him. "I told you what is going to happen later, and I don't want you to feel like we are leaving you. You want to run again, and I really don't want you to disappear like Terra did."
"I don't want to run anymore," Phantom whispered looking at his hands. "I just don't want to go to prison for something that isn't my fault. Terra, from what I gathered, ran because she was afraid you guys would shut her out for not knowing how to work her powers."
"I know, but you have people fighting for you this time," Robin assured as he lay back down on his cot. "You'll be fine; I promise. If I feel like we can't protect you there, I'll get you out, and you can run. I'm not letting anything get to you again. You don't need to keep running from them, and from yourself, and with Terra, you at least know what to stay away from. She wasn't quite all there, and I believe that she was working for Slade when we first met her."
"Thanks, and I met her when you guys knew she worked for Slade, but I don't know what to think about anything else. I can't say much else on it," Phantom gave a small smile as he slowly slid back under the covers. He looked over and noticed that his cloak had been cleaned and hung up. He watched the fabric shine in the little light that was in the room as Phantom slowly let his mind wonder until Robin mentioned something else.
"My other reason for staying in here was because it's late and I don't want to walk to my room," Robin smiled as Phantom chuckled before letting darkness come.
Central Square Jump City 0900 Hours
"Where is Robin?" Johnson asked glaring at Cyborg who was watching the crowd chanting to leave the ghost boy alone.
"Probably making sure that Phantom's injuries hold up in travel," Cyborg answered glaring at the sheriff. Johnson scoffed and looked out at the distance while the crowd slowly parted letting Robin and Phantom though. They were slowly making their way forward, but every other step Phantom would stumble and about fall over if Robin wasn't holding him up. Robin stopped for a quick break while the crowd remained completely silent.
"Well, he looks fine to me," Johnson stated as they watched Phantom slowly start limping while Robin was making sure that Phantom wasn't going to fall. Cyborg glared at Johnson who looked like he wanted to take what he said back when Phantom stopped and started coughing violently. Robin gently placed his hand on Phantom's shoulder trying to comfort the ghost somewhat. Cyborg jumped off the stage and headed for them.
"How is he?" Cy questioned as he put Phantom's right arm over his shoulder to help him. Robin slipped out from under Phantom's other side, and stretched his back out since he was slightly hunched over in trying to help the younger teen.
"Sore, and wishing that people would leave me alone for a few days," Phantom answered glaring up at the stage where Johnson was trying to keep the officers from letting the crowd get to him. The officers even looked like they wanted a piece of the sheriff for making the poor teen come outside Titan's Tower. The citizens were ticked, and Johnson was seriously regretting taking over Hall's case. There was too much at stake now that the city fell in love with the ghost. He would have a hard time getting anything done with almost the entire city fighting against him. The only reason he was able to get the warrant was because the judge was so busy that he was only half listening to the evidence Johnson was giving.
"Well, there's not much we can do at this moment until the city demands a better investigation. The jury will be citizens who probably are in this crowd now," Cyborg stated. "I was able to get a quick set up. You'll get your trial here in two days. Think you can last that long without deciding to run? Can you hold out?"
"Maybe," Phantom mumbled as Cyborg pretty much carried him on stage. Johnson took out his cuffs and jerked Phantom's arm behind him making him hiss in pain. The crowd began booing and aiming fruit at the sheriff. Somehow, no one accidently hit Phantom which he was grateful for. Johnson yelled at an officer to take Phantom away. Johnson jerked Phantom again making him about fall and pushed him into the officer who gently stopped the hybrid from falling on the ground from that force. The officer glared at his boss and gently led Phantom to the cruiser parked behind the stage hoping not to hurt the hybrid anymore than he already was. He also made sure that Phantom didn't fall and that he was stable.
"It's okay," the officer whispered. "I'm Officer Manson." Phantom sucked in a breath at the last name and looked up into the blue eyes of the officer as flashes of Sam dashed though his mind. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Robin would probably have my head."
"I have a question," Phantom whispered looking into his eyes and seeing similar features that were on Sam's father and even Sam herself. Manson nodded as he gently helped him into the cruiser making sure that Phantom didn't hit his head on his way into the backseat. "Do you have family in Amity?"
"Yeah, I did," he whispered remembering his brother and his niece. He didn't much care for his brother's wife. "But they moved after their daughter was killed in the school. I heard you were in there when it went up?"
"Yeah, and I knew her," Phantom smiled looking at him. "She was my best friend." Manson looked up at the stage hearing Johnson yell at the crowd to be quiet and stop throwing things. He could imagine the grin that Cyborg and Robin held at it too. He was kind of wishing that he could also be throwing things at his boss, but that would be in bad character, and he had to get Phantom to the police station without getting him hurt worse that he already was.
"You're Danny Fenton, aren't you?" Manson asked looking at the teen who tensed up. "Don't worry. She never stopped talking about you, and that's probably why I figured it out. She told me about everything except for your powers. She said something about how you would never let anyone get hurt, no matter what they had done to you. I think that was the biggest giveaway since you seem to protect everyone you possibly can."
"You won't tell anyone then?" Phantom asked looking at him with pleading eyes. Manson shook his head.
"No, but my daughter always wanted to meet you. Every time we were in Amity, she was always asking to meet the infamous Ghost Boy," Manson chuckled. "She's seven and always asked in some silly manner. You wouldn't mind if I brought her to work tomorrow to see you?"
"That's fine. I don't mind," Phantom smiled glad that there were people outside Amity that thought of him as a hero. In fact, it seemed like more people thought he was hero outside of Amity Park than Amity's own citizens. He didn't know how that worked out. "Although, I always wondered what Sam's cousins were always like since she hated babysitting them."
"It wasn't this Sam," Manson stated. "My daughter was named after my niece because my wife loved how Samantha was always rebelling against her parents and their ways and fought for what she believed in. Even when she was young, and I miss her dearly. Even though she was Goth, she always seemed so much more cheery than her parents."
"So do I. I miss her so much," Phantom mumbled feeling like he was going to be just fine. He couldn't believe his chances of really meeting anyone who was related to Sam in Jump though and wondered if Clockwork had something to do with it. However, the officer made Phantom feel so much better about this now. He showed that he was going to protect and help Phantom for what is to come.
Manson was now in the driver's seat and started heading out hoping that the crowd wouldn't get in the way and force him to slam his brakes and jerk Phantom around. He really didn't want to hurt anyone especially Phantom, but he had to follow orders so he didn't lose his job and some morons take Phantom back to the station.
"My daughter has actually taken many of her clothes because her parents wanted to get rid of them. They couldn't go into her room anymore; it hurt. They just took out the clothes and gave them to us while they locked the room off. They didn't want to change anything, but then they decided to sell the house and move to Florida," Manson explained as he headed towards the station. Phantom looked out the window and adjusted himself so he wasn't sitting on his hands. He leaned forward slightly hoping to get pressure off his back, which wasn't working as well as he would have hoped. "We don't see them anymore. They cut themselves off."
"They hated me," Phantom muttered letting a small smile come across his face. Manson laughed.
"I know, and they wouldn't stop complaining about it either," Manson grinned as he pulled into the station's parking lot and parked near the entrance. "They were afraid you were only using her. They were typical parents, but by the way Sam talked about you, I knew you were different. She never started referring you to her boyfriend until the last visit."
"I was her best friend before I was her boyfriend. We always told each other everything except that we liked each other. Tucker actually was the one that tricked us into going together," Phantom smiled remembering his friends as Manson got out. He walked around and opened Phantom's door. Phantom slowly scooted over the seat and slowly stood. His legs about gave out as pain shot up his back again. He closed his eyes tightly hoping that the pain would doe down a little to give him enough time to get his bearings in order.
"You okay?" Manson asked knowing that Phantom's back was probably brothering him from sitting for the ride. Phantom nodded, and they slowly walked into the station where they had set up a special place to keep the ghost so he wasn't with any other criminals. "Phantom, if you are in pain, we can just get you to the hospital bed set up in your cell. It wasn't a requirement, but I figured it'll do more good than the ones we have for everyone else, and cleaner since we just got in a new supply of medical beds. The others started falling apart."
"Thanks," Phantom mumbled leaning onto Manson trying to keep the weight off his back as pain shot up his spine causing him to stop and pant. Manson let him catch his breath before resuming their walk into the building.
"Manson," the lady at the counter smiled. "Who is the crazy this time?"
"Phantom," Manson growled glaring at her. She dropped her pen and looked up at the young ghost.
"Johnson said that he was violent, and that…I don't understand," she muttered as she dropped the papers that they had to fill out.
"Johnson doesn't know violent. Phantom can't do anything anyway. He's too underweight and in pain to do anything," Manson explained angrily helping Phantom to lean against the counter instead so he could take care of everything. "He really shouldn't have left Titan's Tower to begin with."
"Well, I seen pictures of him destroying downtown, but there is no way this is the same Phantom," the lady stated really looking at Phantom's condition. "Johnson doesn't do his homework and now it's going to bite him in the butt by the time that this is over."
"Yeah, well, it's our job to make sure that Phantom's safe now. The Titans can only do so much now," Manson explained writing down Phantom's name and everything that he knew already, which was a lot since Sam pretty much told him everything about the ghost. "Phantom?" Manson asked seeing the ghost leaning heavily against the counter with his eyes closed. "You still awake?"
"No," Phantom mumbled slowly blinking his eyes open and looking at Manson. The lady smiled and left to get something from the back room. Manson sighed and put down the pad of paper and got out the fingerprint kit to get Phantom's prints. Phantom watched him wearily.
"It's something that has to happen no matter what," Manson stated setting everything out while Phantom groaned and banged his head on the wall. "Hey, don't hurt yourself farther."
"I'm tired, and I really just want to be left alone," Phantom mumbled looking at the pad of ink Manson had just opened. It smelled like burnt candy for whatever reason.
"Well, when we get this done, I'll take you to your cell," Manson stated grabbing Phantom's right hand and took off the glove so he could get the prints. Phantom started pulling against him when he started the process of putting the fingers in the ink, and Manson let go afraid he may have hurt the ghost. Phantom was shaking and holding his hand close to him with his eyes closed trying to calm himself down.
"Can…Can you just tell me what you need me to do?" Phantom asked shakily. Manson suddenly realized that Phantom was probably scared. Robin had mentioned something about the ghost being terrified of people because of what the Guys in White had done to him. The reasons why he was so untrusting to others.
"Alright," Manson whispered looking around and making sure that no one else was in the room. "Here, I need your index finger here," Manson went on explaining where each finger needed to be placed. Phantom would gently lay his finger in the ink and gently press onto the paper to make sure that his print would stay. Manson noticed that Phantom's hands were shaking. "Are you okay?" Manson asked with worry in his words.
"I don't like this," Phantom murmured closing his eyes again and taking in a deep breath hoping that would calm him down a little. Manson gently put his hand on Phantom's shoulder.
"You're doing fine," he praised hoping that Phantom would continue. He looked up at the time and knew that it was about the time Robin wanted them to change Phantom's bandages. Phantom opened his eyes and continued on with his left hand.
"What'll happen now?" Phantom whispered as he finished the last part. Manson gently guided him to a room where they planned on taking his picture. Phantom froze and refused to move from the doorway at seeing how small the room was. Memories of his cage at the Guys in White flashed in his eyes as pain exploded in his mind. He shut eyes tightly and refused to move any farther.
"Phantom, come on. It's the last thing we have to do," Manson stated noting that Phantom was frozen in fear. Phantom opened his eyes to look at him when another officer came with the kit Robin had put together for them in order to redo Phantom's bandages.
"What's wrong now?" the officer sighed wishing that they didn't have to do this. He just wanted the night to be easy, and he really didn't want to take care of some ghost that had people issues. The Titans could have handled this, but Johnson just had to stick his nose where it didn't belong. Manson looked back at Phantom's dilated eyes and shaking form.
"He's terrified," Manson answered gently turning Phantom around and heading down the hallway. Phantom moved freely, but Manson figured that something happened to cause Phantom to be afraid of small spaces. "What do we normally do with people who are claustrophobic?"
"Force them in the room," the officer answered, but stopped as he realized what that meant. "Okay, maybe we can come up with something for Phantom since we were told that if he freaks over something not to push him."
"No duh," Manson grumbled as Phantom looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry," Phantom mumbled getting their attention. Manson looked at the hybrid sadly before turning him to face the young officer.
"Phantom, you have nothing to be sorry about," Manson comforted knowing that Phantom was probably so tired that he really just wanted it to be over with. "We'll get something together, but for now, let's get your bandages changed."
"Okay," Phantom whispered. The young officer nodded and started thinking of a plan to get Phantom's picture without making the poor ghost go into the small space. Manson gently led Phantom down an empty hallway, and he could feel the shakiness and fear rolling off of the ghost like water.
"It's okay; you're safe here. I didn't want you near any of the other criminals, so I made sure that you were just in the back away from them," Manson informed as he opened a cell where they had a hospital bed set up. Phantom slowly walked in while Manson shut the door.
"Thanks," Phantom whispered as Manson gently undid the cuffs. Phantom pulled his wrist away as soon as Manson let go and began rubbing them hoping to get rid of the soreness. Manson noticed the slightly flinch the ghost gave and wondered why he was jumping. Normally he seen that in abuse cases and he knew that Phantom had a painful past, but abuse never really crossed his mind. He shook his head of the disturbing thoughts and continued on with what needed done.
"Can you take off your shirt? I need to get to the bandages so I can change them," Manson informed opening up the kit that had many dressings and wraps. Phantom complied and gently unzipped his top and let it fall off his thin shoulders after unclipping his cloak from his shoulders and laying it on the bed. Manson tried not to show anything, but the teen was so thin that he couldn't help it. His mouth opened and just hung there. The ghost wasn't just thin either; scars danced and twirled around the young teen's body like a canvas. Painful looking burns that had scarred over were mainly on Phantom's back, but there were many running across his shoulders and arms before hiding behind the hybrid and the bandages.
"Are you okay?" Phantom questioned quietly seeing that Manson wasn't moving. Manson blinked and slowly bought himself back into the real world.
"How are…How are you still alive?" Manson asked realizing how bad Phantom was and how extremely underweight he was. The scars played part of a role, but the officer knew that he had a few scars from his job, and what Phantom's was in Amity. He was surprised that the teen still has limbs.
"The Titans helped a lot," Phantom whispered looking down at his chest. There were bandages wrapped around, but you could still see the ribs and bones of his body very clearly along with the array of scars and stories. "If it wasn't for them, I would be dead."
"There's no way you could have done what Johnson said now," Manson whispered as all doubt left his mind. Phantom had risked too much as it was in order for him to really throw it all away. Manson hadn't really been completely sure at first, and it was his instinct as a cop but the wounds Phantom had had proved enough that Phantom was willing to do whatever it took to protect those around him. Phantom looked up with a small smile.
"Robin said it's the only thing that'll really get everyone to listen," Phantom murmured as he gently placed his hand over the bandage while his eyes traced the burning scars.
"It shouldn't look this bad for as long as the Titans have been helping you," Manson stated gently unwrapping the current bandage. He knew there was nothing they could do about the scars, but the thinness of the ghost worried the experienced officer. Phantom flinched as Manson passed over his wounds on his back.
"It's been more stress than anything else that's been keeping me from gaining anything. Surprisingly, it's been worse," Phantom muttered looking at his hands. They weren't quite as thin as before, but they were still bony looking. Manson took the rest of the bandage off and grimaced at the sight of Phantom's back. There was a long stretch of skin that was inflamed an angry red. It was all zigzagged, and looked extremely painful. Johnson gently added a soothing cream to help keep the pain down and keep it from getting any worse. He heard Phantom sigh and relax as he gently spread the medicine around. Phantom slightly leaned into the touch as the medicine relieved the burning and pain to some degree. Manson gently made sure that the ghost wasn't going to fall over while Phantom seemed almost completely relaxed. Manson smiled and gently placed new dressing over the wound and slowly started wrapping it back up.
"I have an idea," the young officer from before exclaimed running into the room and making Phantom jump a little. Manson glared at the officer as he stopped talking and just stared at Phantom with surprised written all over his face from the horrid sight. Manson quickly finished wrapping the wound.
"Well, what is it?" Manson demanded standing in front of Phantom hoping to knock the officer back into the real world so Phantom could get ready for whatever the plan was to get his picture.
"I have a camera and we can just take the two pictures in the hall since I wrote the lines on it with the measurements," the officer explained peering around Manson to watch as Phantom slowly put his suit back on. Phantom looked back at the officer and slightly flinched as memories clouded his mind for a few short seconds causing a small shudder to rack his battered, abused body.
"Alright then, go get it set up so the picture doesn't look all weird, and someone thinks that they have to redo it and then force him into that room," Manson demanded sending the officer away again.
"I'm just going in the hallway then?" Phantom asked as he finished locking the zipper so it didn't fall down. That would be really embarrassing. He was also relieved that Manson was going out of his way and respecting that there were some things not to be questioned. Phantom took a small deep breath knowing that Manson was going to protect him just as the Titans have been.
"Yeah," Manson stated handing Phantom his cloak. The light reflected off of it causing patterns to appear on the ceiling. Phantom looked up quickly and smiled as memories of Sam came to mind. He was glad that it didn't hurt as badly as it had, but that didn't mean everything was okay. He knew that there was still a lot of healing left to do, but he was slowly starting to heal his past. Phantom smiled slightly and clipped it back on. It gently wrapped around him as his nerves slowly settled from the tension of being in the situation. "It shouldn't take very long."
"Alright," Phantom muttered following Manson out of the cell. Phantom let a small smile grace his lips as he let himself get lost in the wonderful times he had with his friends.
Titan's Tower 1200
"I can't believe he drugged me!" Beastboy exclaimed bursting into the living room where Starfire and Raven were mediating.
"Well, it was a quiet morning," Raven muttered as she gently sat on the ground in annoyance. Starfire giggled.
"I don't care. I thought we were all going to the…" Beastboy started only to be stopped by a glare from Raven.
"Robin didn't want you out there and mess something up," she stated as she stood up. "We stayed to make sure you wouldn't interfere with anything. You tend to get over protective of Phantom and he was afraid that you would start something."
"Does he really have that little trust in me?" BB asked quietly looking at the ground. Starfire floated up to him.
"Don't worry," she smiled. "Robin said that we all didn't need to be there and that it would be a bad idea if we all were. He was afraid that we would keep them from taking Phantom."
"He didn't trust himself to let the ghost go, but he didn't want to have Phantom be on the run again either," Raven explained as Robin and Cyborg entered the living room. Beastboy turned to them hoping for information on their friend.
"Phantom is now in the custody of the Jump City Sheriff's office," Robin stated though gritted teeth. He was hoping that Johnson would go ahead and give up before they even took the ghost away once he realized that's what the people of Jump City wanted. "We have to prove Phantom's innocence now."
"How?" Raven asked looking at her leader. Everyone turned to him wondering what he planned on doing next. They all knew that they were going to be assigned something. "They have everything, including Phantom."
"I'll find a way. I promised him that I wasn't going to let him be in an unfair trial, and that I was going to protect him," Robin informed walking up to the computer and sitting down. He refused to let a good friend rot in some lab because he didn't really do everything to keep him away from the Government. "I'm working, and I hope you guys can think of something in order to help clear his name."
The team parted, each taking part of their friend's past in hopes of figuring out what had happened and why he did what he did in hopes of helping clearing the young hybrid's name.
Jump City Sheriff Office 0900 Hours
"Morning," Manson greeted the lady at the counter. She smiled seeing his daughter yawning behind him. She smiled at the lady with sleepy eyes.
"I didn't think you really would bring her with all the crazies going around today knowing that Titans were trying to do something else," she stated waving at the young girl and knowing about Manson trying to make seeing Phantom a surprise. She didn't want the girl to know what was going on until she was there.
"Well, I told her that I had a surprise, but honestly, I trust here more than the streets at the moment," Manson answered playing along and headed for the back cells.
"Daddy, what are we doing?" the young girl asked looking up at him. He smiled secretly at her, making her want to know what was going on.
"To see a friend, Sam," he answered as he arrived at the cell. Sam looked in it and seen a small bump of silvery white on the hospital bed. She grinned recognizing the cloak of her hero. She held on to the two small stuff toys in her hand. One was a small figure of Phantom and the other was a small white horse. Both meant everything to her, but the sight of her hero made her while world light up from the pain of everything else she had been though in the past few months.
"Is that really?" she asked looking at her daddy disbelievingly. Manson smiled as he opened the door.
"Yep, that's Phantom. I asked if he wouldn't mind if you came to see him, and he said that he didn't care, but first we have to take care of his wounds," Manson explained getting out the kit quietly. "We have to be quiet so we don't get ourselves hurt. You don't want to startle him; he's in a new place."
"He won't hurt us," Sam stated walking over to her hero. She gently started climbing on the bed, and Manson hoped that Phantom wouldn't hurt her if he was startled. Sam slowly made her way to the sleeping teen with an exacted face. She still could barely believe that her daddy was able to get her to meet her favorite hero. She stopped at the hybrid's shoulder and gently started shaking it.
"Phantom?" she asked quietly holding her toys closer as her nerves began rising. Phantom groaned and scooted over to the side of the bed and away from her. She giggled and looked at her dad. Manson gave a hesitant smile slowly kicking himself for not thinking this though. He wished he would have woken Phantom up before letting Sam in. Phantom shifted a little more in the bed making Sam grin again. Sam picked up his hand with a giddy grin. "Phantom? Are you awake?"
"Sammy, please be careful," Manson stated not wanting to get any closer in case of making Phantom freak and end up hurting his little girl at the same time. He was so afraid that would happen. He had no idea how badly Phantom was to wake up, and hoped that the ghost would know that they didn't want to hurt him. Sam looked at him before sitting in front of the ghost and pulling his hand up. Phantom's eyes shot open startling the young girl.
"Eep," she squeaked scooting backwards and heading off the bed, but before she completely got there, Phantom had his arms wrapped around her protecting her from falling. Manson was only standing there in shock. Phantom gently leaned back on the bed with the little girl in his arms.
"Are you okay?" Phantom asked letting the girl go back to sitting on the bedside opposite of him. She was grinning ear to ear at her hero. She nodded her head unable to form any kind of words. Phantom looked back at Manson confused not sure who it was.
"She's my daughter; you said yesterday that you wouldn't mind," he stated not sure what else to really say, but figured that's what Phantom wanted to know. Phantom looked back at her and smiled. She was so different from his Sam, but she had the same mischievous glint in her dark blue eyes.
"Well then," Phantom smiled taking her hand and kissing it with a small smile hoping to calm both the girl and himself from the suddenly exciting morning. "It's very nice to meet you." Sam giggled looking at her dad before wrapping her small arms around Phantom's neck in a huge hug.
"She's always talking about you, but I'm not sure why she's not talking now," Manson stated as he walked over to the ghost who was lightly shaking. Manson figured it was because she was so excited or nervous to meet the person she pretty much worshipped.
"Yeah," Phantom mumbled knowing that Manson probably wanted to change the bandages again. Sam let go and looked at her dad before holding out her hand to Phantom. Phantom smiled lightly and took it as he got off and helped her off the bed.
"Alright, same deal as yesterday," Manson stated with a smile making sure that he had the cream and the wraps ready. Phantom unclipped his cloak and wrapped it around Sam's shoulders and clipped it in place. She giggled again as Phantom smiled at her knowing that she wasn't going to hurt him.
"Keep that safe for me, will ya?" he asked as Manson shook his head in amusement. He was surprised at how easy going Phantom was with kids. He figured that it was just older people Phantom was nervous around since they didn't have that spark of curiousness that kids did and that Phantom had probably been tortured by older people as well if his nervous demeanor wasn't a clue.
"I was worried that you would freak out when she woke you up," Manson stated when Phantom unzipped his top and let it fall off his thin shoulder again. Phantom looked at him with a small smile.
"I understand, but it was a relief seeing someone so small instead of an officer. It made me feel a little safer since I knew she wouldn't hurt me," Phantom mumbled smiling as Manson started unwrapping the bandage. Manson was glad to see that the wound looked better than they did the day before. It looked almost completely healed, but it stilled was inflamed a little.
"I'm guessing you have fast healing," Manson stated taking the cream and gently applying it. Sam walked up and handed her toys to Phantom with a grin.
"Keep these safe for me," she whispered as she went back to her dad and helped him spread the cream around Phantom's back. Manson smiled at his daughter as she helped him get Phantom ready for the day.
"Here, you really want to get the parts that are red," Manson guided her hand on over the largest red part of Phantom's back. "You have to be extremely gentle because you don't want to hurt him either.
Phantom sighed as the medicine slowly died the pain and burn down a little. He looked down at the stuffed toys and smiled seeing that one of them was actually him. He was glad that there was still people who believe in him that were so young and innocent.
"Now what?" she asked knowing that was done when everything seemed to dry. Her hands felt funny, and she just grinned up at her father shaking her hands showing that the medicine also affected her. Manson smiled and handed her the dressings.
"Now we gently lay these across the wound and hold them until I can get the wrap around them so they don't fall and cause discomfort later in the day," Manson explained as Sam gently pressed them against Phantom's back and held them as Manson got the wrappings out. Phantom stayed completely still, but he had a small smile on his face from care being given. He was glad that they weren't forcing anything on him or down his throat like what had happened before. He was happy that they were calmly taking care of him, but the fear of getting hurt from saying something wrong was still there.
"What happened?" Sam asked looking up at her hero who was only staring at the toys in his hand while he was lost in his own thoughts. He never answered her making her feel sad and like he didn't care about her. Pain ripped her heart, but she looked up at her daddy with bug sad eyes. Manson gently tapped Phantom's shoulder making him jump a little.
"Phantom, you okay?" he asked concerned for the hybrid. Phantom nodded and looked out the cell door as Johnson walked up with a scowl.
"Why did you bring your own child to a known violent criminal?" he demanded slamming open the door making Phantom slowly take a defensive and protective stance in front of Sam. Manson growled and pointed out of the door.
"He's not dangerous unless you make him feel threatened," he stated back pushing his boss out. Sam wrapped the cloak around herself. She never really liked Johnson and he gave her the creeps. Phantom slightly relaxed but noticed that Manson had yet to finish wrapping the bandage. He laid the toys on the bed and finished wrapping it around himself as Sam helped him get it around his back.
"Thanks," Phantom whispered with a small smile. Sam just grinned up at him realizing that he probably wasn't paying attention to her at the time because he was forced on something else.
"No, thank you," she grinned as Phantom zipped his top back on. He laughed as she crawled back on the bed and picked p her toys and held them out. "Look, it's you, and this is Scarlet."
"She's white?" Phantom asked confused as to why the young girl would pick that name. Sam just smiled wider.
"Yes, but when her friend found her, she was brown and covered in blood," she explained holding up the toy Phantom and wrapping it's arm around the horse's neck while setting them up next to each other. "They saved each other."
"Oh," Phantom mumbled wondering what in the world made the girl decide on that. Sam patted the spot by her bed hoping that Phantom would sit down. He smiled at her and gently sat next to her on his bed.
"What kind of powers do you have?" she asked looking up at him with big blue eyes that held all the innocence in the world. Phantom grinned and held up his hand creating a small ice crystal that was in the shape of a diamond.
"Many, my favorite is flying however, and next would have to be my ice powers," he smiled handing her the small crystal. "It won't melt unless it's super heated."
"Cool," Sam smiled taking it and looking at. Light blue swirls danced over the surface. "It's so pretty."
"Just like you," Phantom retorted getting her to giggle. She looked at him and grinned. "And then I have the normal ghost powers like invisibility," he explained all of them and giving small demos if he could. Sam just grinned though the whole thing so happy that she could spend time with her hero. Phantom would secretly get a peek at the door wondering where Manson was, but he was happy to keep Sam entertained.
Titan's Tower 10000 Hours
"What have you found?" Robin asked walking into the living room with a small stack of papers. Cyborg turned to him with a smile.
"Well, first off, the robberies he had apparently committed are officially proven false. I was able to get some video, and Phantom's eyes are red along with the fact that everything was returned since Freakshow had it," Cyborg explained as he put everything into a file and handed it to Robin.
"Phantom also saved the entire town from the Ghost Zone when it disappeared," Raven stated handing the file to Robin as well. "He had taken the Fenton's battle suit without permission, but he was the only one who had the power to defeat the King of Ghosts. Plus we knew that he had a right since it was his parents."
"Friend Phantom was also blamed for the kidnapping of the previous mayor, but that was already figured out by the police since the mayor couldn't recall anything about it. He was deemed as overshadowed by another who was trying to take over the town," Starfire explained piling the last bit on Robin's pile.
"Where's Beastboy?" Robin asked looking around. Beastboy ran into the room.
"Guys, Johnson is trying to get Phantom into the normal system with our normal bad guys," Beastboy warned. "The Officer who had taken Phantom to the presence is fighting against it, but Johnson has more power."
"That's going against our deal," Robin growled setting the papers on the table. "If he goes through with it, I told him I wouldn't hesitant to break Phantom out."
"What now?" Cyborg asked knowing that something had to happen in order to protect Phantom. Robin looked at Raven.
"Raven, go check on Phantom; make sure they are at least making sure he is getting what he needs," Robin ordered. Raven nodded and disappeared. "The rest of you, I want everything to show that Phantom is a hero. I already found several articles, but I want more." The team nodded and went to work.
Jump City Sheriff Office 1400 Hours
"You do know that doesn't really happen," Sam grinned as Phantom made some weird gesture with his hands.
"Oh, but it does, young one," Phantom began in a strange voice causing the young girl to laugh even harder. "It will always…"
"Phantom," Johnson growled causing the hybrid to tense and stop in his story. Sam moved slightly behind the ghost. "You have a visitor."
"O…okay," Phantom whispered wondering what was going on. Raven appeared glaring at Johnson.
"You didn't have to yell at him," she stated angry that the sheriff was going to put Phantom's recovery back. He could have just calmly stated that Phantom had someone here to see him instead of yelling at him like a common criminal.
"I doubt he would have listened then," Johnson sneered walking off with Raven trying to keep herself from destroying the sheriff. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath to remind herself that she needed to mediate when she got back to the Tower.
"Hey, Raven," Phantom greeted with a nervous smile. Raven slowly walked in and took in everything. Phantom was alone in the hallway, and they seemed like they were taking very good care of the ghost while he was awaiting trial. "What's going on?"
"Robin sent me to check on you," she stated seeing that he seemed a lot more laid back than he had been in while.
"Well, I have such great company," Phantom stated looking at the little girl behind him who was staring at Raven in awe.
"You're Raven from the Teen Titans!" she grinned hugging the cloak and her toys closer to herself.
"Well, you made friends with the little people," Raven smiled as the girl wrapped her arms around Phantom's neck since she was so excited.
"I was just telling her about the time I was in the Ghost Zone and one of my enemies kidnapped Sam in order to marry her," Phantom explained. "She doesn't believe me either."
"Ghosts can't marry humans," Sam stated with a grin looking at Phantom. "They wouldn't be able to live together for as long as they live."
"She has a point," Raven stated knowing Phantom was considered among the living since he was half human.
"What would you think about someone who is both then?" Phantom asked wondering what the young girl would do.
"I don't think that's possible. You are one or other," she stated feeling smart. Phantom laughed.
"Well then, I'm living proof that it can," Phantom smiled touching her nose. "I never died, but I have ghost powers."
"That's different," she stated looking at him strangely trying to understand. Phantom smiled gently.
"There has to be a balance between worlds, correct?" Phantom questioned hoping that it didn't sound too insane to her.
"So you play the balance? That would mean you are in a different role altogether. You can have whoever," the girl grinned holding up her toy Phantom. Raven smiled slightly shaking her head.
"You've been doing this all day then?" Raven asked sitting on the normal bed in the room. Phantom nodded.
"Yeah, Manson had to go and do his job. He thinks that she's safer here with me than at school at the moment since for whatever reason, crime has gone up," Phantom shrugged as Sam sat on his lap. Raven smiled knowing that this was probably helping Phantom open up more than just sitting around at the Tower. He's not completely closed off from the world. He still enjoyed hanging around kids that were still in his maturity level.
"Johnson is trying to move you," Raven stated knowing Phantom wouldn't be able to hang out with the girl if he was put with everyone else. Manson probably wouldn't bring her back either for fear of getting her into trouble with the monsters.
"Johnson may have power over Manson, but Manson is in charge of what criminals go where," Phantom explained. "Johnson can complain about where I am all he wants, but in the end, it's Manson who tells where who stays."
"Really?" Raven asked slightly confused. Phantom smiled.
"It's to prevent one person from having more power than the other and using it to their advantage. Manson explained it to me this morning when Johnson first said something about it," Phantom stated as Sam just watched Raven. "I think she likes you."
"Yehay," Raven muttered sarcastically. Phantom grinned as Sam giggled.
"See, Raven is a meanie beanie, Sammy," Phantom stated getting the girl to giggle while also getting Raven to glare daggers at him.
"Hee, Phantom was telling me all about you guys!" Sam exclaimed with a grin. Phantom looked at her with a small smile.
"She's also been bothering me to let her met you, so I would suggest not wringing my neck until you actually met her. I wasn't caring at first, but I'm slowly starting to worry about my sanity," Phantom grinned confusing the young girl. Raven shook her head slightly amused by Phantom's antics.
"She's doing more in one day than we could in a week, I say that's progress," Raven stated standing up glad that there was some positive coming from this mess. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
"This is my sarcastic thanks," Phantom grinned making Raven shake her head. She stopped before exiting.
"Have they been taking care of your wounds?" she asked as that thought come to mind. Robin was worried about that more than anything else.
"Yep, my daddy let me help!" Sam answered with a huge grin at being able to help her hero. Phantom looked at Raven with a smile that said 'help me'.
"They also left your door unlocked," Raven stated realizing that it was shut, but wasn't locked.
"Yeah, Manson wanted to make sure that we were able to get out if something happened we could get out without anything getting in the way. Or if something were to happen in here, they wouldn't have to worry about opening the door," Phantom explained as Sam grinned.
"Alright, I guess we'll see you tomorrow at the trial," Raven stated hating to leave, but knowing that she didn't want to make any more reasons for Johnson to do something to Phantom.
"Hey, Raven," Phantom called jumping off the bed and setting the girl on it. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah," Raven responded stopping the door from fully shutting.
"If they find me guilty, what'll happen?" Phantom asked as concern intertwined his words. Raven looked at him seriously.
"You won't be," she stated with a small comforting smile. "No one in this city thinks you are guilty of anything except for Johnson."
"But what if…" Phantom started only for Raven to cover his mouth.
"Phantom, you'll be fine. They already have the jury and your trial is the first one of the day," Raven explained hoping that Phantom would just take a break. "You're going to worry yourself sick again. We really don't need that either." Phantom nodded and looked down as doubt clouded his eyes. Raven removed her hand.
"Alright," Phantom whispered.
"Plus, you're a Titan, and no one is going to leave you," Raven smiled handing him a communicator. "It's official. Congrats."
"I thought you were dead set against me being one?" Phantom questioned taking the small device and studying it not believing that they had finally completely agreed to it.
"You stayed with us though all this; I figured you deserve it, but I'm still watching you," Raven warned still with the doubt, but she was starting to open up to him. She had seen the loyal side of him more than anything else. He showed more loyalty to the team than what Terra ever did when she was a Titan.
"Probably a good idea with as often as I get myself into trouble; you go looking for something about me doing something wrong and you find out I'm held up in some secret Government base," Phantom grinned trying to ease his nerves a little. Raven shook her head.
"You'll find some way to get into trouble," she stated turning and walking away.
Phantom looked at the small device with a wide smile. He hadn't gotten a new one after the Guys in White destroyed the first one. He couldn't believe that they trusted him, and he knew they would protect him until the end. He planned on making sure that they were never hurt by someone like Terra again.
Titan's Tower 2100 Hours
"Raven?" Robin asked seeing her in the kitchen. "How's Phantom?"
"He's doing better. The officer that's in charge of him left his daughter there to keep him company," Raven explained pouring a cup of herbal tea. Robin smiled.
"So, he's not by himself and he's not with other criminals?" Robin asked glad that something was at least distracting him from everything.
"Yeah, she's been annoying him and doing all sorts of things. The officer won't move Phantom either. I also went ahead and gave him the communicator for putting up with us," Raven explained. Robin smiled glad that she had finally decided to let him in. Everyone else was ready and willing to let him be a member except for Raven, so Robin decided that letting her have Phantom's communicator until she thought that they could fully trust him would be a good idea. "He's opened up more to the girl though. I think him being around someone so much younger than him has actually helped his recovery."
"Really?" Robin asked surprised. He was glad that Phantom had someone to at least keep him out of trouble while he was stuck in the jail house, and that said someone was also helping the ghost to open up more. "What were they doing?"
"Phantom was telling her about one time when saved his friend from being married off to a ghost. The girl didn't believe him, but he couldn't really bring himself to care. She also had on his cloak along with a toy of Phantom and a small horse. It was kind of cute seeing her wrapped around his neck," Raven stated with a small smile. Robin stopped and just stared at Raven for a few moments. "What?"
"You thought something was cute?" Robin asked only for her to throw him across the room.
"Yes, and tell anyone else, I will tell them about a few things you have been hiding," Raven stated turning around and leaving Robin with a slack jaw. He never would have thought that Raven would say that anything was cute
Jump City Courthouse 0900 Hours
"It's okay," Manson comforted noting that Phantom was extremely tense. Sam was waiting behind the young ghosts stand. Manson hoped that her presence would help calm the hybrid since they had bonded the day before. He looked out the door and seen the Teen Titans behind his girl and several other citizens. The other side of the room had almost no one except for Johnson and the prosecutor who looked like he didn't even want to be here. The favor was for Phantom since everyone wanted the ghost to go back to the Titans, but there was still that small chance.
"I can't do this," Phantom whispered pulling at the cuffs that were around his wrists. Manson grabbed the young teen's arm tightly hoping to keep him from disappearing.
"Yes you can. You've fought several other bad guys, and went up against some of the strongest people there. You can sit though a small trial; that'll let you go. Just be patience and keep your head level," Manson explained hoping that Phantom would get the picture and go with it.
"What if…" Phantom trailed off as the bailiff walked in.
"Phantom, please walk this way," he explained gently setting his hand on the hybrid's shoulder and led him out. Manson watched as the ghost slowly walked to his side of the room. Everyone cheered and gave him some encouragement.
"You're gonna be just fine," Manson whispered as he headed back to do his job. He knew that everyone was going to give Phantom the chance he deserves.
Danny: Okay, this would have been up ten minutes ago if the site wasn't being a pain
Me: I'm sorry that it took so long, but I have been like doing everything and anything. However, I did do my best edit on this, so it should make sense. I had to redo most of it since my computer decided to delete it...it originally didn't have Phantom actually going to jail, but the idea just kinda struck me as epic, so that's where that went.
Danny: Also she is trying to update as fast as she can. She has a lot of work to do for college and then the fair is coming up.
Me: August, never except consist updates because I'm usually the one running around like a headless chicken trying to get everything together.
Danny: So review, and tell us what you think about this chapter so far!
Me: Phantom's a Titan now~ (o.o) (^-.-^) (o.o)