Lyrics by Vanessa Hudgens - Afraid

Sam shut the door to the bathroom, before falling onto the tile flooring. Why did she ignore them when they were talking to her? Why couldn't she just listen?

Sam touched the red cheek, feeling the warmth in her palm. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She deserved that. It was her fault for pushing them too far. And now here she was, so embarrassed by a simple slap that she couldn't even cry in front of her parents.

Sam hugged her knees to her chest, feeling more alone than ever.

~You got a way

of reasoning out of myself

I can't stay but I can't leave

I am my worst enemy

Please understand

That its not you

Its what I do

Just when I'm about to run

I realize what I've become~

Danny was walking in the foggy area, lost. Ever direction presented thick grey clouds around him, contorting his path. He continued walking, convinced anywhere was better than where he stood.

Somewhere along the walk, a silhouette figure appeared. "Sam?" Danny called, speeding up. "Hey, Sam. Wait up!"

But when he caught her shoulder and spun her around, tears were mixed with those violet eyes. Danny felt something within his chest crumble, and it was suddenly difficult to breathe. "Sam, don't cry-"

She shoved his hand away. "Get away from me."

His entire body turned weak. "Sam, please, don't-" He stretched out his hand, and saw a white glove. Danny glanced at his outfit and realized he was Phantom. "Wait, Sam. Don't go. This isn't me. I'm not a monster!"

"No," Sam stopped, and there was anger behind her tears. She clenched her fists and spat, "Being a ghost doesn't make you a monster, Danny. Hurting others does."

Danny gasped, sitting upright. The heart monitor was going off like a ticking bomb. He was breathing so fast he could hardly take in any air. In front of him was Vlad.

"Where's Sam?" Danny demanded in a rough voice. His mind was racing, seperating memories from the dream.

"I'm right here," Sam answered for the scientist. Danny's eyes lifted to the corner of his medical room to where Sam sat on a lone stool.

Danny muscles tensed. He made Sam cry. He hurt her in the worst possible way, both physically and emotionally.

"I suppose you two have some catching up to do," Vlad mumbled, exiting the room. The moment the door shut, Danny's words couldn't come out fast enough.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I lost control. I didn't mean to hurt you or Tucker...Tucker! Is he okay?"

"He's fine."

Danny let out a sigh of relief, hiding his face in his hands. "I don't know what happened. I was just so afraid you'd never speak to me again."

"It's okay, Danny," Sa replied. He glanced over to her in confusion. "I understand. I won't leave again. I promise."

Her words were kind, but her voice was emotionless. Danny couldn't feel the same warmth and passion Sam's feelings usually gave off. He stared at her on the opposite side of the room, sitting completely stiff, and felt his heart plummet. "Then why are you so far away?"

Sam sighed, shaking her head. "I'm not going to lie, Danny. What happened was terrifying." She held her hands together in her lap, staring down at them. "I'm just going to need some time to get used to this, I guess."

"You're afraid of me."

Sam stared at his face, opening her mouth, but quickly shut it. She looked to the floor tiles. "I'm sorry."

Danny looked toward the wall beside him and chuckled. "I guess it's for the best. Who would want to be with a monster anyway?"

"You're not a monster, Danny."

"Really? Can you honestly say that after all the people I've hurt? The pain I've put everyone through?"

"Its not like you do that on purpose."

"But that's no excuse."

Sam stared down at her intertwined hands. "I want to help you, Danny."

"That doesn't do me any good if you're scared of me."

Sam scoffed, suddenly angry. "What do you want me to say, Danny? I can't just accept this. Its not easy for me…" She bit her lip, shutting her eyes. "I'm being cold to you, I know. You don't deserve any of this, but I just can't right now." She stood up and went to the door. Her hand was on the knob when she stopped. "You shouldn't give up, Danny. No matter what anyone says. You're better than that." And then she was out the door.

"I'm amazed you came back," Vlad said, handing Sam a cup of hot chocolate, "after what you witnessed."

Sam choose not to answer, instead swallowing the hot liquid. Her tongue was a little burnt, so she rubbed it against the roof of her mouth.

"No one would blame you if you left." He took a seat across from her, extending his hands on the table. "Even if just for a few days. You seem a little unsettled. Maybe a vacation with your parents will help put your mind at ease."

Sam shook her head. "It wouldn't do me any good to run. It hasn't in the past."

Vlad blinked in amazement. "You're awfully brave. That's an endearing quality." Vlad stood up, brushing dust from his pants. "Maddie and I will take care of Danny's issues, Samantha. There's nothing for you to worry about."

She was silent as his footsteps marched down the hall.

"Vlad." Her voice nearly cracked at his name.

"Yes?"

"Do you have..." She struggled to even say the words. She hated her own fear, and how it ruined her friendship with Danny.

Vlad walked back to her side, pulling something from the pocket of his lab coat. "I thought you might ask."

He handed her what appeared to be a paper weight. Sam looked up at him in confusion."

"You throw it on the ground in front of him. It should activate at the presence of ectoplasm."

"Thanks." It was much smaller than most paper weights, no bigger than the size of her palm. Sam wrapped her fingers around it, sighing. Her thoughts were swarming. Who was the bad guy here? Who's side did she need to be on? Every instinct she had told her to run. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.

"I guess it's for the best. Who would want to be with a monster anyway?"

"No one," Sam answered the memory, "only you're mistaken, Danny. You're not the monster. I am." A tear fell from her cheek and onto the device clutched in her hands. "I'm the monster."

Danny may have had the super powers, the violent instincts, and the total lack of control, but that's not what made someone a monster. A monster could live life ignoring someone else's feelings, and put themselves before others in fear of getting hurt. They didn't care about the mess they left behind, so long as they were safe from danger. Sam came back, and yet, here she was, wavering. Why did Danny care about her opinion? What did it matter what she thought? She didn't deserve his affection, and what's worse, she didn't want it. She'd only hurt him in the end.

Sam wiped the tears from her face, standing. She was completely powerless in this situation. Any move could end in tragedy, but she couldn't stay immobile forever. It was finally time for Sam to face her fears, and test how far she could go before breaking.

I forgot how much I love this story. I can only apologize to you guys for how long it's taken for an update. I had to skim back a few chapters just to remember the mood of my own story. It's pathetic. I fail as a fanfic author.

But here it is. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Also, I apologize for the length. I know it's a short chapter.