Author Note: I am absolute shit when it comes to timelines. But this will be taking place before 'Secrets' so Artemis doesn't necessarily believe in ghosts, but it is after she joined the team. So this basically will take place roughly in the months of August to October. Anyway, updating today (instead of tomorrow) for the wonderfully beautiful Spawn of Nerdom. PLEASE REVIEW!

~CWA

Chapter 1:

Danny:

I pulled up my hood a bit higher as the sun's rays beat down on me. The sunny, warm weather seemed to contradict my mood like some sort of irony. I scowled to myself. How dare the sun shine today- it's only been a year since their deaths. They can't enjoy the sun anymore when they're six feet under. It sickened me. At least the warmth didn't bother me- one of the perks of having ice powers. Despite my bad mood, I did smile a bit when I saw a small girl with her parents, begging them for ice cream.

Shaking my head, I continued on my way to the museum. I took off the hood so I could get a good look at the artwork around me, and to seem less suspicious. The ring on my finger was a device that Gear made as a holoprojector. It would make it look as if I had no scars- the scars on my face, torso, arms everything would be gone since my scars were the most noticeable and recognizable thing about me (of course I kept the ring on in Ghost form as well).

It was still daylight so I wouldn't steal from it yet. That would be tonight when everyone aside from a few security guards would be there. It would be easy to steal a few pieces to sell the highest bidder. I smirked slightly. Who knew one day I would be so much like Gear?

Now Gear was something else. She was Jazz's best friend growing up, until they were about eleven. Of course, they met up again when Gear was sixteen, a mere year ago. She stayed long enough to figure out I was half ghost and for me to find out that she was a mastermind (a computer genius under the name Quam Tu that not only hacks governments and sells information, but invents things as well- thankfully, no one knew what Quam Tu looked like because Gear never talked face to face to her clients). Thankfully, she didn't stay long enough to get caught up in the explosion- she had left about a few days before my parents even captured me to go to Denver. Apparently she was trying to get allowed back in since she was banned (as to why she was banned, I may never know). Of course she didn't get allowed back in and somehow even got her banishment even expanded. now neither of us were even in the states.

A phone call came from my cell. I looked at the Caller ID- Gear, speak of the she-devil and she shall appear. I answered the phone.

"Hey," I answered casually, glancing around briefly, "What's for diner tonight?"

What's for diner tonight was a code term. It meant what's up for grabs? What piece should I take?

"I can see you on the security cameras. You took off your hood- that's good. I've taught you well. Hoods draw attention, you've gotten better. Now, casually look at the painting to your left. It's the most pricey one there is in this joint. You can get that one along with the one right beside it."

"Sounds good. Thanks."

"No problem dude. I may not exactly like that you're still going on with this whole theft thing, but I'll be damned if I let you get caught. 'Sides-"

"-If you do something you gotta do it right," I said in union with her, amusement in my voice, "Bye."

I hung up with a smirk. Gear was like an older sister. She was the only family I had left since I had no idea where Danielle was. Being family, she'll help me, but that doesn't mean she'll like it. Still, she was the one who was teaching me all about theft and how to do it right so I didn't get caught. Not like they could do much if they caught me anyway. I was a ghost. I snorted to myself as I looked at the painting at the left.

You're mine.

When I got back home, well technically it was actually Gear's home that I was crashing in, Gear was waiting for me. Her blue eyes were sparkling with amusement and mischief. Like usual, she wore her black shorts and black bandeau top that showed a lot of skin that I, being the 'younger brother', didn't want to see. If she wasn't like a sister, I would say she was a pretty hot eighteen-year-old (being two years older than I am). Though the oddest part of about Gear wasn't her long purple hair, nor the yellow tinted goggles on top of her head. It was the large thick metallic belt that she wore that was filled with gadgets and buttons along with the metal bracelet-like contraption she wore on her left arm that took up the area between her wrist and elbow- like the belt, it was electronic and filled with buttons and various features.

"I see you got the painting," she cheered.

I smiled playfully and nudged her,

"Was there any doubt?"

The painting was still in my arms. I was still in my ghost form so I transformed into my human self, my black shaggy hair falling in front of my eyes slightly. Gear snagged one of the paintings out my hands. It wasn't the most expensive piece- that one was still in my arms. She smiled to herself as she looked it over.

"Perfect. This will look great in my personal lab."

My face dropped. Only Gear would disapprove of me being a thief, but totally be up for me getting something for her. It was one of the reasons I was very confused as to where Gear stood with the law and what her morals were.

"You spoke out loud," Gear said, a hand on her hip, "And I'll have you know that the law and I are like ants and boots. I step all over them. As to morals- you're not killing anyone. You're not mixing alcohol with drugs. You're good."

"What if I was just taking drugs? Or just drinking," I questioned.

"If it's drugs, offer to share with me. Even if I say no, it's appreciated. As to drinking, I'd know if you stole one from stash. Now, I can use my connections to get this thing to the black auction, but you'll be the one dropping it off. You cool with that?"

I plopped down on the couch as I turned on the TV. I felt proud when I saw that I was on the news. Well, sort of. The reporter was covering the 'latest theft presumably by the Poltergeist.' Of course it was me, I scoffed, there's nothing to presume. Not only did they catch a blurred image of me on the security cams (blurred because I wanted people to know I existed, but not what I looked like- plus blurred images make it seem like I really am a poltergeist), but I even left my 'calling card.' My card was something I left at every crime scene in place of what I stole. It was a gray card with a neon ecto-green ghost on it.

The reported continued to blab on about the stolen paintings and they even showed a rough sketch of what I was 'supposed' to look like. Of course, they couldn't do a sketch of my face or anything, but they did a rough sketch of my black cloak that hid my face.

"Have I done it any other way," I pointed out, "So what's for diner anyway?"

"Chinese take out and boxes."

I got up off the couch in surprise,

"Boxes?"

Gear rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"Didn't I tell you?"

"You never tell me anything."

"Whoops," she snorted, "But I remembered last night you were talking about keeping up with a whole duo identity thing, which is a pain by the way. And you need to complete your education anyway… So I bought a house for ya under my name, but you'll have a fake name of course. Not the one you're going by now either. You're going to be Daniel Jefferson, legally speaking you're legally independent under that name. I created an alias named Vivian Jefferson- listed as your older sister. If anything it keeps us from looking suspicious if I suddenly visit or shit. I couldn't do shit listed under my real name, Gywneth Gia, since it might grab Vlad's attention. I signed you up for the school too. That last painting you stole actually paid for everything- even the fake records and documents which are a pain in the ass, by the way."

A grin broke my face as I hugged her tightly,

"Thanks Gear!"

I had been wanting to start a new life, an alternative to being a thief, for a while. Actually I've been wanting to do it ever since after the accident, but I never got the chance. I had been on the run from Vlad, the press, and just about everything. I disappeared, became the elusive thief Poltergeist. Now Gear was giving me a shot at a sort of normal life (I'd still be a thief of course) and no one would know it was me. No press. No Vlad. No one except me and her. Gear pushed me away slightly,

"As a thanks, you shouldn't crush me. I still need to breathe."

"So," I asked excitedly, "Where is the home at? Is it in New York City? Or here in France? Is it in another country like Britain? Australia? Germany? I don't know German or Australian."

"Okay first of all, Australians speak English. But yes, it is in another country," Gear said, "Back in America- a little place called Happy Harbor. I visited there. Think you'd like it."