A/N: Summary: In which Maddie and Jack went to the reunion without the children. Jack went insane when a ghost took over his body, and Maddie wanted a divorce. Vlad works his charm, and Maddie becomes married to him, making him the step-father to Jazz and Danny. Danny decides to run away from the house to avoid the new father figure that had invested his life. Neither Vlad or Danny know that the other is a half ghost...

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom

Off the Radar

He had managed to fall of the grid for a few weeks, but somehow that jerk had found him. Danny glanced up and glared at the man who was approaching him. The teen hated how he had that smug look on his face. Actually, he hated everything about him.

"Daniel," Vlad addressed as the teen visibly clenched his fists in response to the blatant disrespect of him. The older man would always call him by his full name instead of his nick name. The young halfa knew it was just to get under his skin. "You have your mother quite worried," he stated as Danny crossed his arms across his black leather jacket. Vlad glanced around the area and found that it was truly an abandoned run down hotel. "And your living conditions are less than satisfactory," he mused as he met the boy's eyes again.

"How did you find me, step-douche?" Danny asked, getting right down to the point. "Pretty sure I covered my tracks this time…" He trailed as Vlad took a step forward, and Danny took a step back in response. Vlad clenched his teeth as he tried to not scowl at the boy, "In fact, I think you have someone stalking me."

Vlad let out a chuckle, demeaning the boy as he thought the outburst was childish at best, "Daniel, I'm a millionaire, I could find anyone I wanted using the proper resources," he boasted as Danny rolled his eyes in response, "Besides, there isn't anywhere in Amity Park that you can hide. At least, not a location that you've already been at."

Danny took a step back again, "You'll never be my dad," he stated, causing Vlad's eyes to narrow, "Sure, go ahead and impress my mom…Bribe Jazz…But I'll never accept you," Danny spat out as Vlad closed his eyes. Danny was sure that they lit up slightly when they were closed, an eerie red color, but he passed it off as his imagination. He had already viewed the older man as the devil himself anyways. Vlad opened his eyes again and countered with a smirk, now seeming to compose himself.

"How long is this cat and mouse game going to continue, my boy?" Vlad asked as Danny shrugged his shoulders.

"As long as it has to," Danny challenged, making Vlad shrug this time in nonchalance, "You'll never win. I always slip away from you," he taunted as Vlad's smirk increased.

"We'll see," Vlad taunted as he straightened his suit, "Because this time, little badger…" He trailed as he rose his hand in the air, making Danny tense up at the unexpected action. What was he doing? "I don't intend to let you slip from my grasps again," he stated as he snapped his fingers.

As soon as he did, three green floating vultures appeared. Danny didn't know that Vlad had ghosts working for him. He hadn't fought a ghost in a few months, so he might be a little rusty. In fact, ever since his parents went to Vlad's reunion, he had never morphed into Phantom since. "Ghosts?" Danny asked as he took a step back at the challenge, "You do know I'm a ghost hunter's son?" He asked sarcastically to Vlad who shrugged in boredom.

"I do hope you have acquired your mother's talents. Your father on the other hand…" Vlad trailed as his smirk returned to his face.

"I've had enough of you talking shit about my dad!" Danny yelled as he took a step forward towards them, but stopped before he let his emotions control him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, "Just leave me alone!" He complained as he took off deeper into the hotel.

One of the vultures looked over at Vlad, "Should ve go after him now, boss?"

Vlad put his arm in front of him and checked his watch-less arm with a grin, "Give him a few minutes…" He trailed as the vultures took off with maniacal grins on their faces after the boy, "Ooh!" Vlad chided as an evil smirk appeared on his face, "Seconds, minutes! It appears I'm as bad at math as poor Daniel is!" He exclaimed as he placed his hand down and started to walk out of the building; waiting for his minions to capture his step-son with minimal effort. After all, how hard could capturing a human fourteen year old boy be?

Danny heard the laughter from behind him and knew that Vlad had been serious about his promise earlier. He was pulling all the cards to capture him. Danny scowled as he hid behind a beam, "Probably to impress my mom again, the sick freak…" He trailed as he willed himself to become invisible.

"I hope ve get a raise for getting him!" One vulture called out to the other.

"Plasmius vill pay us vell!" The other responded with glee written all over his bird face.

The other vulture clawed the other two as it took the lead, "Focus! Ve need to find the boy, first!" The leader ordered as they all flew past him. Danny let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding and dropped his invisibility.

"When the day comes that step-douche knows that I'm a halfa…" He trailed as he turned intangible through the walls and exited out of the building, "It will be the end of the world," he grumbled as he found the entrance of the building and noticed his step-father standing against the building. Danny landed on the concrete in front of him and held out his middle finger to him, taking satisfaction that Vlad couldn't see it.

"What is taking those bird brains…?" He began to state, but stopped himself when he felt a ghost nearby. He stood away from the building and looked around with a glare. Danny noticed the change of behavior and decided to not overstay his welcome and flew over Amity Park.

When he was a safe distance away he let out a whimsical chuckle, "I can't believe I managed to escape that! If I didn't have my ghost powers, he would have gotten me for sure," he stated as he spotted a familiar roof and landed on it, knowing who was most likely on his computer this time of night. He phased through the roof and landed on the carpet of the bedroom, letting his intangibility drop. "Hey, Tuck," he said as he plopped down on his bed.

Tucker, who was playing a computer game, fell backwards on his desk chair and let out a shriek. When he found who it was, he let out a grumble, "You know, I really hate when you do that," he said in a dry monotone voice as he picked his chair up.

"Sorry," Danny said with a grin, "This wasn't my plan for tonight," he stated as he leaned backwards onto the bed with a sigh.

"Which can only mean one thing…" Tucker trailed as he sat back on his chair and wheeled it over to where his bed was, "Step-douche found you," he stated as Danny nodded with his eyes narrowed at the ceiling. "Man, I think he has stalkers after you or something. That's the second time this week!" He exclaimed as he rolled his eyes in disbelief.

Danny ran a hand through his hair, "He did," he said as he closed his eyes. Tucker opened his mouth to respond how creepy that was, when Danny kept on, "They were these ghost vultures," he explained as Tucker stood up in shock.

"Dude, no way! There hasn't been any ghosts in Amity since…" He trailed as Danny nodded.

"Since my parents split up, I know," Danny grumbled as he sat up as well, "The thing that bothers me is that Vlad hired ghosts to get me," he said as Tucker looked at him and nodded, gesturing for him to continue, "I mean, he could have hired a mercenary or something…A top gun to do the job."

Tucker let out a snort, "The way you're talking, it's like he plots to kill you," he joked as Danny rolled his eyes, "I guess with step-douche you never know. Have you been to see Jack at all?"

Danny groaned in annoyance, "Not since step-douche denied me access from visiting him at the centers," the teen said as he placed a hand on his face and shook his head, "I haven't seen him since he got admitted."

"Well, you could always go home and talk to your mom about it. Then, after that, you can totally ditch and do your whole 'system' that you've got going on," Tucker argued.

"If I did that, they'd probably lock me in my room or something. Make sure that I couldn't run away again. I don't know," Danny said in slight defeat that Tucker thought he was exaggerating.

"Your mom wouldn't do that, Danny," Tucker responded.

Danny stood up as he fisted his hands, "Vlad would," he hissed under his breath with resentment. "He's completely psychotic, maybe he plans on kidnapping me and keeping me in a locked place until I see him as my father."

Tucker crossed his arms, "Okay, now you're exaggerating…" He trailed as Danny gave him a raised eyebrow. "Well…After tonight, maybe not…" he mumbled as he looked over to his shelfing unit in his room and had a bag of pretzels. He tossed the bag to his best friend, who caught it with ease. "You can have that. I'm sure you didn't eat much today, considering I didn't see you at school."

"School's stupid…" Danny mumbled as he opened the bag and took a single pretzel and put it in his mouth.

"You haven't gone in almost two weeks, Danny," Tucker lectured and Danny walked towards the window, getting ready to bail, "And I know you've had your reasons," he supported Danny, "Ghost vulture stalkers plus a frootloop of a step-father isn't something everyone needs to deal with."

Danny let out a chuckle as he plopped another pretzel in his mouth, "Frootloop…I'll have to try that one…" He muttered as his mouth was full.

"But with those two things against you, they'll find you in a second. You can go to school and at least get Vlad off your back slightly," Tucker supplied his opinion and Danny nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I'll go to school tomorrow," Danny sighed dejectedly, though had a smile on his face, "I just hope I can raise my grades up enough to make up for what I missed…" He said as he looked out the window and spotted three vultures in the distance.

Tucker stood up from his chair, "With Sam and I to help you, you'll be fine," he stated as he looked out the window, "You weren't kidding about the vultures…" He deadpanned, making Danny grin at him. He shoved the bag of pretzels in his chest.

"I'd better get going. I don't want step-douche to know that I was here," Danny stated as he turned intangible and left through the window. Tucker shook his head as he looked at the bag of pretzels and found them half way gone.

"What a pig," he mused in a joking tone as he placed them back on his shelf before returning back to his computer game.

Danny walked through the school doors feeling out of place. Caspar high school seemed to be so unfamiliar to him since he hadn't gone in half a month. He rubbed the back of his neck and hoisted his backpack up on his back some.

"Danny," Sam breathed his name as she went running into him. "I haven't heard from you in a week!" She yelled as she hugged him.

"I know…" He trailed, the guilt eating him up. He didn't want step-douche to involve them in their little drama problem. "I'm sorry," he apologized as Sam pulled away from him. Her eyes softened, and he already knew what she was going to say, "No, things haven't gotten any better. Still living on the streets and trying to hide from him."

Sam nodded, "You know he'll find you here, right?" She asked him as he nodded stiffly.

Tucker entered school and saw his two best friends. His face lightened up, "Reminds me of the old times!" He exclaimed in nostalgia as the 'ghost fighting days' were considered the golden days to the small trio. Before the divorce had happened, before Jack had fell mentally ill…Before Vlad integrated himself into Danny's complicated life.

"Yeah," Danny said with a grin, "Let's enjoy today like we used to," he encouraged as Sam placed a hand on his arm, "Step-douche might know I'm here already, so let's make the best of it."

"I thought I was supposed to be the depressing one?" Sam asked sarcastically, already reverting to her old self.

Tucker laughed, as well as Danny. Sam smiled, and the bell rang, making the laughter come to a halt. They all looked at each other before making their way to Mr. Lancer's class. When they arrived, Mr. Lancer rose his eyebrows in surprise, "Mr. Fenton," he addressed as Danny did a little head nod in his direction.

Danny sat down in his old seat and found little notes on it. All were in some way of saying 'come back'. A colorful note was from Dash, 'If you don't come back, I'll need a new target, Fenturd!' Danny rose his eyebrows at them before shoving them in his desk. He looked back up and saw that Mr. Lancer was staring directly at him. The teacher then glanced towards the phone and Danny shook his head. Mr. Lancer then looked back up at Danny with a nod before beginning the lesson.

"That quiet conversation was gold, Danny," Sam mused as Danny let out a breath of relief.

"I didn't want him calling you-know-who so early in the day," Danny complained as he leaned back in his seat, "I at least want some sense of normalcy before I get locked away."

Tucker let out a chuckle, "Dude, I don't see why you're so worried. If worse comes to shove, you can just use your powers to get out," he argued as Sam leaned forward in her desk.

"Phantom can, but Fenton can't. They'll be suspicious if he breaks out of someplace a normal human can't," she supplied as Danny nodded. Before Mr. Lancer could go on teaching, Vlad Masters walked into the classroom, his eyes spotting the one teen he was looking for.

"Daniel," he addressed as Danny let out a sigh in response.

"I'd ask how you found me, but at this point it's not surprising," Danny mumbled under his breath. He noticed Vlad tense slightly at what he had said, but then the older man relaxed immediately. Danny thought it was a little strange that he had heard what he said when he was halfway across the classroom. He gathered his things and walked to the front of the class.

Mr. Lancer noticed the disappointment on Danny's face and narrowed his eyes, "Mr. Masters, you can't walk into my classroom and take one my students-!" He began to argue but Danny glanced towards him.

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Lancer. He would just find a way to bypass the system since he has the," Danny brought his hands up to the air and made air quotations, "Resources to," he said as he placed his arms back down.

"Maybe you can learn something," Vlad muttered to him as he grabbed his upper arm roughly and hauled him out of the classroom. They were walking down the hallway and Danny growled at being man handled the way he was. He tried to get out of Vlad's grasp, but found out that the older man's grip was too strong. "I don't know how you got away last night," he started as Danny rolled his eyes at the inevitable speech, "But you will never be getting away again."

"Wow, are you going to lock me up someplace until I actually like you?" Danny asked sarcastically, already regretting his decision on letting himself get caught. "Because that's going to take years for that to happen."

Vlad smirked down at the boy, "I can wait," Vlad stated in a serious tone that made Danny be filled with fear and worry. At seeing the boy's emotions, he chuckled, "Of course not, Daniel, don't be absurd."

Danny growled as he tried to get him to let go of him, "You just might be crazy enough to do it," he scowled as he found that his attempt for freedom was hopeless. He wondered if Vlad was taking muscle enhancers, "Would you let go of me already!" He yelled as Vlad let go of his grip slowly. Danny then took to rubbing his abused arm which Vlad was holding too tightly. It had left a hand shaped mark under his shirt sleeve.

"Ah, sometimes I don't know my own strength," he said nonchalantly as Danny rolled his eyes.

"So, since I'm going back home, when will I be able to see my dad?" Danny asked in genuine curiosity.

Vlad let out a smirk as he looked down at the boy, "What makes you think that you will be able to see him, Daniel?" He asked as he tapped his chin in mock thought, "Last I recall you were denied access from seeing him. That hasn't changed, at least, not that I know of."

Danny stopped walking, which made the older man stop as well as he glanced behind him slightly at the boy, "Okay, first, my name is Danny. It's always been Danny. And two…" He trailed as he looked into Vlad's face and noticed the amused smirk on his face. "Forget it," Danny hissed as he kept walking.

"Perhaps, maybe if you've changed your name to 'Masters', I'll consider letting you visit your father," he taunted as Danny fisted his hands and glanced at the man out of his peripherals.

"That's never going to happen," Danny stated in a dark tone as they had reached the doors of the school. "Let's see what my mom has to say about my dad," he said as Vlad shrugged. At seeing no change or the threat of unimpressing his mom, Danny rose an eyebrow, "What? You're not bothered by my threat?" He asked, letting his confusion be heard in his voice.

Vlad crossed his arms, "Go ahead and tell her whatever you want, Daniel," he pressed as he walked down to the limousine with a grin.

Danny shook off his confusion as he slowly made his way to the limo, "Why would you say that?" He asked as Vlad smirked at him.

"After your delinquent behavior, do you think she'll really listen and or believe what you have to say?" He asked as he sat in the limo, patting the seat next to him, "Now get into the limo, Daniel."

Danny stared and knew that Vlad was right, "You…" He spat out as he put a hand up to his head and felt dizzy. He grabbed the limo with one hand, but saw that his arm went intangible though the vehicle, and he fell flat on his face.

He groaned as he sat up, knowing that his face was all scratched up, and possibly bleeding. "Daniel!" Vlad yelled as he was next to the teen in a second. He hadn't even heard the older man walk over to him. "Are you alright?" He asked in concern.

"I slipped," Danny lied on instinct as he refused to look up at Vlad's face. He walked into the limo and sat down, staring at his hand. "How did…?" He asked as he shook off the feeling and placed a hand on his face as he leaned his body forward. He knew it was because of the shock he was feeling. He thought he had his ghost powers under control, but it turned out he was wrong.

Vlad had an eyebrow raised as he got into the limo as well. He knew that there was something about Danny. After all, he had managed to avoid his ghost vultures. The fact that he has alluded him for so long in general gave raise to suspicion. He also didn't forget about the ghost he sensed the night previous, he never did find out what ghost dared to invade his new territory. Amity Park was Vlad Plasmius' and it would stay that way.

END