Chapter Four: How NOT to Take A Shower

Not taking notice that his ghost portal had shut close behind him, Danny swiped his phone off a surprisingly clean table and headed for the stairs. As he walked to the living room, he transformed back to his human self effortlessly. He hesitated when he found the number he never ever called in his list of contacts. He reached the hallway on the second floor and just stood there looking at Vlad's number on his phone. Labeled under "Fruit Loop DO NOT ANSWER" of course. Like he going to openly put that man's name on his phone.

"This could be all his doing." Danny said to himself. He still stared at the number when he walked into his bedroom and started to strip off his clothes. He took a glance at the clock. The teen cringed. It was already 4:15. He'd spent a good hour in the ghost zone...time to hustle it up. Sam would most likely be here around 5:00. So much for that sleeping he wanted to do.

He decided to stop clowning around and just call the crazy old bat. Danny pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear. His eyes turned to his mirror catching a look at the bruise on the naked torso. He sucked his teeth in disgust at it. Though it was almost healed by now thanks to his ghost half's speedy healing abilities...it was still kinda ugly. He gently rubbed the bruise, using his ice powers to freeze the tips of his fingers. The cold felt beyond amazing against his bare skin. Ice packs be damned! Danny let out a loud moan in ecstasy as he rubbed at the bruise.

"You have reached Mayor Vlad Masters."

Danny flustered instantly, cutting his moans short by the voice of Vlad in his ears after about three rings in. Thank god Vlad didn't answer! That would...not be good. Oh great, this meant leaving a voice message. This was probably going to be awkward.

"I am obviously not able to pick up the phone right now so please leave your name and callback number. I shall return your call when I can. God bless."

"God bless? God bless?" Danny let out a snort laughing at the comment. "I take it he's trying to get on the religious peoples good side.. Funny coming from a leechy ghost vampire."

Beep!

Danny shut up immediately. He tried to think of something to say. He even considered just hanging up and calling later-no this had to get addressed now!

"Hey Vlad." He paused. "This is uh...the...Danny. I uh...yeah I need to talk to you. We need to talk. Together. Civilly. I have something to ask you. So yeah bye. God bless!" Danny hung the phone up and just started at it with a small laugh "I knew that was going to be awkward."

With that, the lanky teen grabbed a towel, heading to the bathroom to take a shower. He dialed up Tucker's number and decided to let him in on what was going down ghost wise. The door of his parent's room, that was wide open, caught his eye. He had to make sure his Dad meant the real dice game and not what he feared. He strolled right in, not even concerned that he was running around the house naked. No one was here. He could do whatever he felt like! Except throw parties.

"Hey, dude. What's up?" Tucker answered in less than a ring.

"I just made a trip to the ghost zone. Nothings going down. Everyone's...busy complaining about each other. When I get the time, I'm hitting up the ghost zone again. " Danny sighed wearily. He opened the drawer carefully, then just threw it open to see the small box that was labeled a mini Yahtzee game. "How is Team Lily?"

"Pleasant. I'm at the Nasty Burger waiting for Val, Star and Kwan to get here. Star can be surprisingly cooperative when I'm not flirting with her."

"That sounds right for just about anyone, Tuck."

"So If I stop flirting with you then you'll listen to me?" Tucker teased.

Danny laughed gently. "Oh no! I am always flattered when such a big strong black man compliments me on my handsome looks." He opened the box and saw there were no dice at all in it...instead endless...ENDLESS CONDOMS. Danny looked on in pure terror at all the different...flavors of condoms! Flavors goddamnit!

"The blue of your eyes are brighter than the sky...your hair as dark as night...your skin as light as a peach!"

"Wow dude, If you wanna get it on just ask." Danny laughed as his terror was replaced with curiosity. Opening a strawberry flavored condom and sniffing it. It smelled pretty good.

"Can we get it on?"

"If you treat me to McDonald's afterward."

Tucker burst out laughing. "Whore. You get a Happy Meal."

"Yay! Free toy!" Danny cheered through the phone. He had to let Tucker know what was going on in Fenton Works. "Tell me why my Dad directed me to a box of condoms falsely labeled as Yahtzee."

"Wooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Dude that is seriously disturbing." Tucker said, at the Nasty Burger he leaned all the way back in his seat as if someone slapped him across the face. "Are they...flavored?"

"Yep." Danny furiously nodded...his tongue meeting with the plastic protector and it tasted...like rubber flavored strawberries. "I don't know what's more disturbing. The fact that my parents use these or the fact they think I'm having sex."

"My parents knew...and just gave me 5 bucks to go get my own."

"Your parents are normal. Besides the Foley's endless food consumption. That's not normal."

"So when are you going to get lucky?" Tucker asked curiously.

Danny did not want to answer that question right away so he closed the lid and stuffed the disturbing box back in the drawer. He was quickly making his getaway, until he remember he left the wrapper on the floor and ran back to fetch it. "When I find the right girl. I'm not in a rush."

"Dude. You fight ghosts and risk your life on a daily basics. You have so much tension built inside of you, you could finally be able to release it."

"I have no idea if you noticed but all the girls in Amity Park hate me. " Danny spat sourly. He made it to the bathroom and pulled the door with him. It didn't close all the way...but a small force closed it own it's own without Danny's acknowledgement. "I couldn't get sex even if I paid for it. My only good chances at healthy relationships died in the same year. Even then they weren't healthy. Really Tucker, who wants to screw a half dead guy?"

"Paulina."

Danny had to slap his forehead. He was actually trying to be serious here! Oh well...it wasn't important enough to complain about...obviously. He turned on the shower water and thew his towel on the lid of the toilet. "Well...that sounds promising expect for the part where she hates Danny Fenton."

"Well we did talk about this before...you seem to be picky about girls...maybe you should expand your horizons."

Danny stood there stunned at Tucker bringing up...THAT conversation. "I thought that conversation NEVER HAPPENED?"

Tucker quickly countered "I'm trying to help you out. We're brothers no matter what. I just don't want you to-"

"-Tucker. I am already a enormous freak." Danny held his phone between his ear and shoulder, starting to count off by his fingers. "I am half dead. I am a loser. I am awkward. I am the only virgin in Casper High. My parents are ghost hunters instead of middle class working adults. My sister is at Yale becoming the next Bill Gates while I'm scrapping to get C's. The last thing that needs to be added to the list is...that. I'm already not as manly as...other men. I don't need the official seal of approval stamped on my head. Or have people go 'Oh that's why he's so strange...I knew it.' No. No. Nooooo."

It was silent for a moment. "See, this is why you need to get laid. By anyone and quick. You just took everything WAY out of proportion. No need to be so defensive about it."

Danny sighed wearily "I'm sorry Tuck...I just...really had a bad day."

"I know. It's alright, Danny. Thus too shall pass. Sam will be there soon, she's better at prodding you than I am."

"I just. Don't want to think about those kinds of things right now. I gotta shower before Sam gets here."

"Alright. See you later dude. Sorry for working you up like that." Tucker apologized sincerely.

"No worries." Danny smiled warmly, hanging the phone up and tossing it on the towel.

He suddenly felt like an idiot for how he snapped out at Tucker like that. Tucker was only speaking the truth. His best friend could see right through him. He saw conflict going on with Danny in that department. Tucker's interest in technology was still strong...but the interest of people around him was growing as well. He had started taking sociology and physiology classes to give him a better understanding. He observed all kinds of people. Even sitting in the Nasty Burger he could look at people and be able to tell them about about themselves...which made great pick ups for the ladies.

Tucker confronted Danny one night. Pretty recently, during the summer break. Danny couldn't throw the memory out of his mind no matter what he tried to do. The duo were innocently watching a movie in Tucker's bedroom. Siting on the floor pigging out on Pizza, popcorn and soda. It was a nice feeling. Just being in Tucker's company. Having him simply there. If a ghost decided to attack he wouldn't have the worries of running off without someone knowing where he was. He wouldn't be ambushed because a very capable ghost hunter was by his side. Someone would be there to save him if needed. During a commercial, Danny's drowsiness had caught up to him, thus finding himself slummed on Tucker's shoulder. Just as he got cozy...

"Danny are you gay or...bi?"

The halfa stepped into the warm shower. His body relaxing instantly against the beating of the water on his body. He smiled joyfully, pulling the curtains closed as he always did when in a shower. Just the extra sense of privacy put him at ease. Danny was a man who loved his showers and valued the small alone time to get away from ghosts...and people. Mostly people.

That one line ran through his mind every time he questioned himself. He thought he liked women. No...he liked women! He just..."Okay Fenton shut up. Shut up. Shut up. You are a man of tacos. Not sausage. You really want to disappoint your parents more?" The shower continued blazing upon him. "Didn't think so. I just need a nice Sam...err girl...fucking crap!" He growled annoyed at himself. Okay no more talking. Or thinking. Just breathing and hand movements from now on, Fenton!

Finding some concentration, Danny washed every nook and cranny of his thin body until he felt refreshed again. His previous sleepiness was finally tossed away and replaced with hunger. If it wasn't one thing it's something else. Danny stood there in the shower soaking up the last bit of heat. Not really wanting to get out but knowing he had to. Sam would be here soon...and the godforsaken project was right around the corner.

One more minute, Danny thought to himself. He slicked his black hair back as the water sprayed upon his face. His mouth opening up a bit to catch some water...then spitting it out. It was one of those weird things people did in the shower. He thought he was the only one who did it...until Tucker got him into Reddit.

CRACK!

The shower stopped running. Danny's eyes shot open but looked at nothing but darkness. The teen stayed frozen in the pose of his hands in his hair. The sudden lost of light and water caught him off guard beyond belief. It was pitch black in the bathroom. It was only 5:00ish! That just made no sense.

Danny gulped lightly. His heart was pounding in his chest like no tomorrow. He quietly lowered his hands and took a step back in the tub. He didn't hear anyone come in...he obviously couldn't see anyone or anything.

'Calm down, Fenton. A ghost is probably doing this. Get your shit together. You have been though worse.' Danny snapped out of his frightened stupor and held his hand out. A green glow emitted from it casting light in the shower. Nothing. 'See! Every thing's fin-'

"That's new." A deep male voice said in a tone that shot fear into Danny once again.

"WHO ARE YOU?" Danny shouted angrily whilst forcing his limbs to move. His eyes glowed bright green through the darkness, looking for any signs of life. There was nothing there. His ghost sense didn't even go off. It was supposed to around a ghost...maybe it did but he was too freaked to notice. "ANSWER ME!"

"You are an interesting specimen. Your form seems to change when your safety is threatened."

"Why don't you actually show me your form! I'll make sure to change it for you. As in beating you to a plup!"

The voice seemed to laugh at the boy's remark "Fine, since you're showing me yours."

Danny reached over to tear down the shower curtain..but it didn't budge. He pulled hard on it with all his might but it didn't move. He felt panic sting at every nerve in his body. "Fuck this. Going gh-ahh!"

He yelped when he felt a force pulling him down. Both of his hands lit up with green glowing energy. It revealed the tub was full of some black goo looking substance. He tried to step out of it but dark hands grabbed at his ankles, pulling him down like quick sand.

"What the hell is going on here?" He cried out, shooting his ecto-beams at the hands dead on but it didn't work. They bounced right off the goo and was sent right back at Danny.

He couldn't catch his balance and fell back first into the black substance. He struggled to keep his head above the foreign substance but the hands grabbed around every inch of the ghost boy, pulling him down hard. "I...I can't break free! What the hell are you?" Danny gasped when goo started to rise from the end of the tub. It didn't look like goo this time. It looked like pure darkness taking a form. It was just an outline of a form. No detail besides it's bright orange eyes.

"So the humans have really forgotten. No matter. This is easier than expected. Now...prepare to be consumed human...ghost..." The creature paused for a second. "Whatever the hell you are. You are to be eliminated."

"You can't be a ghost..." Danny realized in terror. No way. Ghosts weren't like this. This was another different species all together. He felt he pull getting stronger. "HELP! HEEEEEEEEEELP!" He cried out not considering the fact that no one was in Fenton Works at the moment. His cry was cut short when the hands came out the substance and slapped themselves on Danny's mouth.

Danny tried biting, kicking, screaming, anything...to no avail. He didn't want to give up. He didn't want to...but he slowly was. The green glow of his eyes faded back to a dulled baby blue. He looked up into the darkness. All he could feel was the pull that was just too strong to fight against. The orange of the creature's eyes looked down to him. The eyes looked...satisfied.

"That's right. Just ease into it. It'll hurt for a bit but soon...you won't feel anything. You won't be so confused." He whispered into the boy's ear.

'This..isn't happening...' Danny's will was slowly draining from his entire being. He just didn't want to fight anymore. His mind was going blank. Nothing was registering except the cold words of the creature above him. The dark figure enjoying watching they boy's slow demise. Maybe this is for the best. No one was going to come save him. He was the savior...not the saved.

No. He couldn't go down like this. He was not going to die like this. In his own bathtub none the less! The orange eyes turned to confusion when he saw Danny's blue eyes regaining life back into them. Through the darkness, Danny somehow manged to break an arm free from the hands. He found, what he thought was, the creature's neck and held a tight grip on it. Though the boy was still unable to speak, his determined eyes spoke for him. The blue eyes shot out beams of ice right at the creature.

Danny let out a loud gasp, his body shooting forward with ease. His eyes were wide and alert. Everything slowly came to him. He was sitting in the tub. There was light now. The shower poured heavily against the back of his body. He was alive. He was sitting in the wet tub. No darkness..no icky goo crap. His whole body was just trembling, his lungs nearly busting open to get air in them. "What the heck just happened?"

Breaking out of his shock, Danny turned off the water and climbed back to his feet. He shakily stepped out of the tub, the curtains moving out of the way effortlessly. The cold air stung every inch of his skin when he broke out of the steamy shower. He went to grab his phone off the towel to cover his shaky frame but he was taken by surprise when the phone went off.

He stood there and just looked at the phone in annoyance. "Great. Now the rest of the night will be me being a spaz." He sighed, roughly picking up his phone. The ringtone indicated it was just a text message. He raised an eyebrow when he saw who it was from.

From: Fruit Loop DO NOT ANSWER [555-932-3422]

Sent: Today, 5:02pm

Message: I received your little voice message, Daniel. I must say I am intrigued, but busy at the moment. I will make sure to call you back later on tonight. Have a good evening, little badger. ;)

Danny backed up a bit in surprise. He was just so surprised at the simple fact that someone over 40 could send a text message! Unless Vlad manged to somehow hurt himself in the process...like his father did when he first taught him how to send a text message. The jaws of life were almost called on in that situation. It was very very bad.

"Danny? You in there?"

The halfa had lost count what number heart attack this was today. No knocking, just random yelling at the door. The phone slipped from his wet hands but he caught it right before it fell. He was relived when he realized it was just Sam. More relieved she didn't take it upon herself to walk in...on him. Yeah maybe he should put on a towel now.

"Yeah I'm in here." Danny wrapped the towel around his waist and opened the door. Sam stood there looking up to him a bit worriedly. Oh damnit. Sam could tell something was wrong and he only said four words to her. How the hell could she see right through him like that? Besides...the fact he's a ghost. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Are you alright? You seem a bit shaky." Sam asked while inspecting the slightly taller figure.

"I'm fine. Just took a cold shower." Danny smiled pleasantly, leaving Sam's sight as he headed right to his room. Sam following right after. "Did Dash even bother calling?"

Sam looked at him with an eyebrow raised. Danny blinked wondering what that look was about. "Danny, your phone has been ringing non stop since I got here 15 minutes ago. Didn't you hear it?

"No..." Danny hummed to himself. The shower wasn't that strong to block out the terribly loud phone of the Fenton household. The ring had to be loud as possible since the Fentons spent their majority of time in the basement where the house phone wasn't hooked up into. "Who was it?"

"Dash."

"What did he want?"

"I dunno...I just saw his family name on the Caller ID."

Danny looked confused "Why didn't you answer?"

"So he can yell at me because you're ignoring him? Pass." Sam said dully. Danny laughed a bit. To Sam it sounded a bit..forced. That was it.

"Is there something wrong, Danny? You look like you just seen something terrifying we don't fight on a regular basics." Sam asked pretty bluntly. If she didn't force it out of her friend he was never going to spill it. Her amethyst eyes stayed locked on his slender frame that stood before her.

"I did, but right now we have this project to worry about." Danny quickly taking Sam's hands before the goth had the chance to protest against his decision. He looked into her eyes. Taking the girl back a bit with his sudden closeness to her. Sam kept quiet, wanting to hear what her friend had to say. "Listen Sam. We can talk about this another time. Right now we have to pretend to like Paulina and Dash so we can get this project out of the way. It was nothing. I'm fine. Okay Sam?" He said in the most gentle voice he could muster up.

Sam's stern gaze warmed by his words. Great. Danny was learning how to get her to stop prodding him into telling the truth. "Fine. Fine. But you better tell me what happened when this is over!"

"Promise." Danny nodded as he hesitated to let go of Sam's warmer hands. Sam didn't look like she didn't like it...but he didn't want to make this awkward.

Too late.

At that moment, Danny's towel slipped right off his waist, falling down to his feet. Danny stood there frozen in embarrassment. All his blood going to his cheeks. Danny and Sam had seen each other with only under garments before...but not...naked-naked.

Sam's eyes fell upon Danny's manhood then climbed up to his frozen red face. "I'm going to let you get dressed." With that she turned and headed out of his bedroom, not looking back. Danny just looked down at the towel that covered his feet.

"Way to go Fenton. You almost die in your own shower...and now the only girl you ever had a chance with is unimpressed by your cock. Good game."