Chapter 9: Dad

"Danny!" Jack yelled. He parked his car and ran toward his son. "So all this time you've been ghost fighting, haven't you?"

"I-it's not what it looks like." Danny stammered as he hid the thermos behind his back.

"And... those are my inventions." Jack said, still trying to piece the story together. "I thought someone stole the thermos from my lab. And the Ghost Gun too." Jack said, looking toward Tucker who was still blasting ghosts. "Is this why you've been late?"

"Well you see..." Danny started, prepared to make up some lie to get him out of this, but Sam cut him off.

"Danny, just tell the truth."

"Okay." Danny said hotly, but once again he was cut off this time by Tucker.

"Mr. Fenton, get down!"

A vulture swooped down at Jack's head and Danny just barely had enough time to tackle his father and stop the vulture from clawing him. The vulture turned back, but this time Danny reached for the thermos and caught the vulture.

"Danny..." Jack said his jaw dropped in shock.

"I know, I shouldn't have left the house, and I'm probably grounded for like... forever now, but..."

"No." Jack said, a smile beginning to form on his face. "You saved my life. My son saved my life! How long have you been practicing? I've never seen moves like that except for maybe with that ghost boy, Invis-o-Bill I believe he's called."

"I really hate that name." Danny muttered as he stood up, but Jack didn't hear him. He got up too and hugged his son.

"I'm so proud of you." Jack said.

"Even though I broke the rules?"

"Who cares about rules? They're meant to be broken!"

"Wow, this is the first time I heard a parent say that." Tucker said as he blasted away the last of the vultures. "Do you think you can be my dad too?"

"I don't know. I have to check with Maddie, but sure, why not?" Jack said while embracing Tucker in a hug as well.

Sam rolled her eyes, but she joined the hug too. She was happy that for the first time in a while things were finally starting to look up for Danny.

x-x-x

Jack drove Sam and Tucker home and then he drove home with Danny in the front seat. The whole time he had his hand on Danny's shoulder and excitedly told his son about his new ghost inventions. Danny just listened, smiling. He was happy to be on his dad's good side again.

Finally, after they pulled into the house and stopped the car, Jack looked into Danny's eyes one more time and said, "You know, I can really see you inheriting the family business someday."

"Maybe." Danny answered modestly, also smiling. "I really haven't thought too much about what I want to be yet."

Danny and Jack stepped out of the car. As they came inside Maddie and Jazz were waiting for them similar to when Danny had come home from school. Both girls looked angry, but Jazz was more worried than cross. What if her father found out about Danny's ghost-half? Or even if he didn't Danny would be in more trouble, but to Jazz's surprise her father actually came in looking happy.

Maddie didn't notice this. "You're in so much trouble!" She scolded. "You can't just sneak out whenever you wish!"

"What? Wait!" Danny started.

"Maddie, it's not like that." Jack said quickly. "Guess what our son was doing!"

"Jack, do I even want to know?" Maddie asked.

"It's not bad. This whole time our son was ghost fighting!" Jack said excitedly.

"Oh!" Maddie said, clearly caught off guard. "But he still-..."

"But nothing! Our son is a hero!" Jack took Danny's hand and led him toward the basement where he kept his inventions. "Come on, I've got some more stuff that can help you with your ghost fighting!"

Jazz watched in confusion as Danny and her father left the room. What is going on? She wondered. Did her dad know about Danny's ghost-half now? Or was there something else at work? All Jazz knew for sure what that she had to investigate her brother further.

~ phantom130 5 (November 2013)