Lyrics by Phillip Phillips - Home
"Danny, I want you to meet someone important. He's here to help financially with the project Mommy and Daddy were working on."
The eight year old boy stared at the tall, lanky man before him and then his flustered mother. "What does that mean?"
With practiced patience, the man patted the remains of a cigar into their rundown staircase. "It means your broke, poor, in-dept. Simply put, you need help and only I can give it to you." He squatted so they were eye level. "Vlad Masters," he introduced. "It's nice to finally meet you, Daniel."
~Settle down
It'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble
It might drag you down
If you get lost
You can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm going to make this place your home~
The next day, Sam impatiently tapped her number two pencil as she stared at the classroom door. After hours of mewling over things, she decided Danny deserved an explanation. After all, she had been whisked away by some giant bird and he had no way of knowing where she was, let alone if she was alive. Groaning, Sam realized he'd probably called the police or the fire department on her whereabouts and sent a swat team to school.
But this morning had been rather unexciting as Sam ran to Mr. Lancer's English class. Maybe Danny hadn't said anything. He was a delinquent. With a sinking heart, Sam realized Danny wasn't even in school today.
Was he out looking for her? Did something happen? Maybe the bird was upset when it lost Sam and decided to eat Danny instead? Thoughts ran wild in her mind. Maybe she should go to Fenton Works and check on him-
A face appeared in front of her, making Sam jump. The boy adjusted the red beret on his head with careful consideration, scrutinizing her face behind thick ray-bans. "You're Sam, right?"
"You're Tucker. Danny's friend." She let out a breath. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't he be?"
Did Danny tell his best friend? By the look on his face, she imagined he didn't. Tucker took a seat in the desk in front of her, crossing his arms over the back of the chair. "Relax. Danny ditches a lot." He waved his hand dismissively with a PDA in grasp. "He's probably at the Nasty Burger or something."
She was still for a few moments. Then all the theories she made spun wildly in her head, only now she felt stupid. Of course he didn't call the police. Danny didn't really care about her, so why was she obsessing over this guy? It wasn't her business.
Sam shook her head. "Idiot," she said under her breath. She looked back at Tucker, realizing this was their first conversation. "Why are you friends with him?" she asked. "No offense, but you seem like the type to get beat up by Danny."
Tucker laughed. "Danny's not the guy you think he is. Not by a long shot."
She was a total hypocrite.
Sam silently followed Tucker as he made his way to Fenton Works. She hadn't been following him from the beginning. She didn't think Tucker would be going to Danny's, but halfway through the journey she realized they were walking in the same direction. From that point on she made sure to be extra careful he didn't notice her.
And now she had officially taken on the title stalker. Just like Danny said. Ugh, she could picture that condescending smirk of his as he teased her relentlessly, but something Tucker said struck her. There were a lot of odd facts about Danny that didn't fit his image. She wanted answers, and she was going to get them.
But standing outside in a nearby bush didn't get her very far. She couldn't tell if Danny was alright. Tucker left a few minutes later and she debated going inside as she paced on their front porch. The door opened though and a tall, stick like man opened it, frowning.
"Can I help you?" His voice sounded the exact opposite of helpful.
"I...um..."
"Oh, you must be one of Danny's friends." A friendly woman appeared at his side. She was dressed in a teal colored jumpsuit. "Would you like to come in?"
With no clear objective, Sam simply nodded. The woman led her into the living room despite the man's protests. "Maddie, are you sure that's best?"
"Of course. I've been waiting for the day Danny brought home a girl." She smiled at Sam. Sam was too tongue tied to correct the woman's statement.
The man sighed. "Very well. I'll be in the lab if you need me."
Lab? Sam raised an eyebrow as he made his way downstairs. They had a lab in their house?
Maddie brought Sam cookies and juice from the kitchen. "So, what's your name?"
"Sam. It's short for Samantha."
"That's a beautiful name." From her tone, Sam figured anything she said to Maddie would be considered "beautiful," but unlike her mother, who annoyed Sam with her constant cheery attitude, Maddie's kindness felt genuine.
"Oh, where are my manners? Can I take your coat?" Sam shrugged out of her jacket. When Maddie held her hand out for the scraf, Sam shook her head.
"Its, uh, more of a fashion statement," she lied.
"I see."
Sam stared as Maddie went over to the closet and hung her coat. Her hand shook as she picked up a cookie. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course." Maddie shut the closet door, taking a seat across from Sam.
"Is Danny home?"
Maddie paled, though Sam couldn't figure out why. The woman cleared her throat. "My son is always out. Why do you ask?"
"I'm worried about him." Surprisingly, it didn't come out sarcastically. Sam was honestly concerned, and she wouldn't feel better until she knew Danny wasn't some bird's late dinner. "Please don't tell him I was here. I...don't want to seem worried." Don't want him to get the wrong idea, Sam corrected herself bitterly.
"Sam..." Maddie sighed, shaking her head. She watched her carefully before mumbling, "Come with me."
She walked up a narrow staircase, taking Sam to some room down the hall. From the subtle change in color, Sam could tell this part of the house had been added in addition to the original structure. They continued until Maddie came to a door, opening it with a key-card.
Inside the room were machines of all sorts. Blinding light came from overhead and a mess of white covered every inch of space. In the center was an unconscious Danny lying on a hospital bed.
Sam ran over, gripping the railings of the hospital bed. "Is he okay?"
Maddie walked calmly over. "Its alright. This happens a lot." She took a seat at her son's side, squeezing his hand. "Ever since Danny's father died he's been having seizures. Sometimes he slips into comas." Her voice turned raspy.
Sam shook her head in disbelief. Danny couldn't be sick. He couldn't. "Why isn't he at a hospital? Shouldn't there be a doctor watching over him?" She had a flashback of getting a cold when she was younger. Her parents hadn't been there, but several doctors had been in her room observing her. With an expression of annoyance, they recommended chicken noodle soup.
"Danny has a very serious case. We've been working on-" Maddie stopped herself, realizing she had said too much. "Look, no one can know about Danny's condition, Sam."
"Why?"
"Vlad fears people would begin to accuse us for his current state. That's why he's here. We deal with Neuroscience. We might be able to help Danny, but not if people know what we're doing."
Horrified, Sam uttered, "So you're using him as a guinea pig?"
"Heavens no." It was Maddie's turn to be horrified. "We love Danny. We'd never put him in danger. I will personally test out any solution before giving it to my son."
She had never met any parent willing to sacrifice their life for their child. Sam looked down at the sleeping Danny. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
"It's alright." Maddie smiled. "I'm glad he gets another visitor for a change. Vlad's been working so hard in the lab, and we won't allow Tucker in here."
"Why did you let me see him then? I'm no one."
"Oh, I'd hardly say that." Maddie laughed. "I've just met you and I know you're honest, caring and brave." Sam blushed at the compliments, not sure how to take them. "I also know you genuinely care about him."
Sam looked to the side. "You don't know that."
"I do." Sam turned to the woman's knowing smile. "It's hard to resist a woman in love."