Talks

Red Huntress and I parted ways after I showed her how to release the ghosts in the Fenton portal. She tried to give me back the thermos but I insisted she keep it. "You're a ghost hunter, you need something to catch ghosts with." She definitely knew something was up now. I may have been able to keep what was happening to me on the down low as Fenton but Phantom was a different story. So I didn't give her the chance to question my actions, flying off instead.

For once I actually did what every teacher at Casper High thought I did, I skipped the last few classes. Only taking the time to call Tucker over the Fenton phone and reassure him I was alright. He let me go with the promise that I would call him if I got lost.

Jokes on him, you can't get lost if you don't have a destination, which I didn't. I didn't worry about people bothering me. I was just some kid or if they knew me I was 'that Fenton kid'. I crossed streets, cut through alleys and parking lots, my mind a buzz on what I had done and what I had to do.

I know I can't defend Amity forever. I know that at some point I have to stop; and I knew that it was going to be sooner rather than later when I learned about my soul change. But it didn't really hit me until now. I CAN'T defend my home anymore. I just can't. If I keep fighting I was only going to get myself and others killed.

And now it was too late to prepare. Too late to train Valery, give her pointers, ease the transition. It was too late to initiate her into the group as a full member. Even if I told her my secret today it would take time. Not to mention Tucker, Sam and Jazz are too busy keeping me from making a scene. Valery would be on her own. At least until I relocate to the Ghost Zone.

I stopped walking, my eyes zero in on the nearest bench. Sitting down I mull that thought over. It wasn't that the Ghost Zone bothered me. Sure at first it gave me the creeps but I had gotten used to it now. I loved it there, almost as much as I loved Amity. It housed so much mystery and magic. I had more friends there and more people respected me among the dead. In some ways I wonder why I don't just pack up and live in the GZ permanently. Screw high school and just be a ghost.

My eyes rise and I look around the town as memories of my childhood bombard me. When I was little, we were always moving from town-to-town-to-town. We would buy a house, get unpacked only to have to pack everything up again and move. My parents were menaces. Dad drove erratically. Mom shot experimental weapons in our backyard There were at least two explosions per week somewhere in our house. That was just the tip of the iceberg. Mom and Dad knew how to get out of legal problems and they could easily sell their equipment for a pretty penny and buy any lawyers needed. But the towns would always find a way to get us to leave.

Until Amity Park. Amity Park was the only place we actually stayed. When we first moved we were somewhat welcomed as a way to add flavor to the long running ghost lore. Amity was a small town and City Hall was trying to draw in tourists, and having 'the greatest hunters in the world' looked great on a pamphlet. They even let Mom and Dad customize the house so tourists would have something to look at. And did they look!

Growing up It was always us; Mom, Dad, Jazz and me, that was all. With Amity came a second chance. A chance to make friends, a chance to live, a chance to be normal. Well, as normal as a Fenton could be. Amity Park gave us a chance when no one else would and they continue to put up with all of us to this day. That was why I defended it. Why I loved it. Why I swore to protect it, the same way I protect my family.

…But now I can't.

The ghosts are going to keep coming and someone has to keep fighting them. Now I have to step down, step aside and let the new hunter take over. And because I waited so long I can't even help her through it.

-0-

I was expecting a lot of things when I finally returned home. I expected my parents to converge on me like a pair of vultures for skipping school 'again'. I expected Tucker, Sam and Jazz to engulf me in worriness. I was even expecting Valery to hunt me down as Fenton and try to 'befriend' me so she could empty her new Fenton thermos when the time arose.

I was not expecting Vlad Masters to be sitting on my family's couch waiting for me with a predatory grin. I froze just inside the door the second my eyes locked on his. Damn. I was not prepared for a confrontation with Vlad. I didn't know how to act around him, what was normal for us.

"Skipping school again Daniel?" he scolded me mockingly.

Just like that I knew what he was here for. I rolled my eyes shutting the door behind me all the while keeping my eyes on my nemesis. I couldn't afford to show weakness in front of him. "You finally convinced them that you should 'talk some sense into me?'" I asked silently praying that it was close enough to my 'normal' behavior.

Vlad's smiled widened.

I rolled my eyes again, trying to keep my cool as I turn and start to ascend to the second floor. "Good luck with that." I called. Trying to keep my voice even and unaffected when I was very much freaking out inside. The second I was out of sight I screwed walking and flew intangibly to my room ripping out my journal and turning to the section about Vlad. I didn't have much time. He would be following me up soon. I caught him off guard… I hope… but he would soon recover.

Vlad could not know how confused I was. He could not know that I had memories of him being a father to me. Memories of me joining him, of him being good or me being evil. He could not know. If he did, he would take advantage of it, and I would lose myself forever.

I was on the second to last paragraph when a knock came at my door. I didn't bother with a reply. I was too busy reading over what was real. There was a pause before the door opened. I finished the last sentence just as Vlad stepped into the room, his shiny dress shoes clacking smartly on the ground. Closing my journal before Vlad's superior sight could read the words. I set it on my nightstand. Turning towards the man giving him a 'I'm annoying you and loving it' smile as my mind is turning on what was real trying to keep myself natural and relaxed even though I was freaking out a lot more than I should be right now. I'd have to lie my tongue off if I was going to get out of this without making him suspicious.

"Skulker came by today." Vlad said picking lint off his suit. "He said you were acting strange."

…okay without making him more suspicious.

I gave a chuckling snort. "I'm flattered he would even notice." I say, turning to lounge on my bed. According to my journal Vlad and I remained civilized when we 'visited' each other in human form. It was just an unspoken rule that had come between us.

"So, you admit to the strange behavior."

Struggling to fight my cringe. "What is there to deny? Press will have it printed soon enough and even if they didn't…" I locked eyes with Amity's esteemed mayor. "I'm sure you've already seen. After all you have bugs all over town."

Master's expression dropped into anger and slight astonishment. "How did you know about that?"

I felt a pang in my chest. Damn I thought we went over this months ago and it became an ongoing joke-jab. Keep cool, keep chill, keep cool, keep chill. I shrugged again. "Oh, you know. I have my ways."

Vlad's eyes skimmed me suspiciously. I held my breath. "You're awfully calm about the idea." he commented.

Shit! I overdid the chill attitude!

"A rich, single, middle-aged man is stalking a teenage boy." I said and then nodded. "What's creepy about that?" I asked sarcastically. Please buy it, please buy it.

Vlad's eyes narrow a touch more.

Damn! He didn't buy it. He knows something is going on.

Slowly Vlad stalked forward and sat on the edge of my bed by my feet. Silence settled between us for a moment. "You gave Miss Gray a Fenton Thermos." Vlad said emotionlessly.

I smirked hiding any discomfort that i may or may not have at having the man so close to me. "Afraid that I'm stealing your foot soldier?"

Vlad's expression became deadpanned. "No. I am concerned at how you gave a weapon to an enemy."

Was Valerie still my enemy? Damn I can't remember. Go with the flow. There is no time for hesitation or weakness. "What I do is my own damn business." Vlad blinked in surprise. Okay maybe swearing aloud was too harsh. "She is a good hunter. It's about time she moved on to the next level." Why was I still talking? "Just because she stopped working for you does not mean she is giving up ghost hunting. She will hunt with her bare hands if she has to. So, I might as well equip her the best I can, so she doesn't die biting off more than she can chew." What was I even saying anymore? Damn mouth.

Vlad's face was expressionless as he surveyed me for several long seconds. I kept my stubborn face unwavering meeting his gaze head on. "Only a fool arms his enemies, Daniel." Vlad said. "and while Miss Gray and yourself have become slightly less aggressive towards one another, I have a hard time believing you would forgive her so quickly."

"unless-" a sly grin over took his face. "you are equipping her to take your place."

Damn, again.

I smile condescendingly. "Take my place, please, I love ghost fighting I would never stop." I paused making a show of tapping my chin. "Though it would be nice to have a break here or there." I perked up. "You know that is actually a great idea. With Valerie and me working together I might just get my grades up, then Mom and Dad won't have to make you come talk to me every time I 'act out'."

Vlad grit his teeth in frustration. Yes, victory! Please be less suspicious.

Vlad stood, smoothing out his suit. "That will be the day Daniel." My nemesis threw me a look before taking a half-step closer and ruffling hand through my hair like you would a little kid. I slapped the hand away.

"Yeah, creepy stalker guy is now touching me. Get out of here before I scream rape or something."

Vlad retracted his hand rather quickly looking slightly uncomfortable. Okay so those jokes were not normal, hopefully he will brush it off.

"Well, ahem, have a good day Daniel." I kept my eyes on Vlad as he walked awkwardly to the door and left.

The second the door closed I collapsed on my bed. That was so hard. My relationship with Vlad is complicated enough as it is. There is no way I can replicate it. Vlad was going to be suspicious now and go snooping around until he figured out what was what. We would need to prepare and hide the evidence. Without thinking I activated my Fenton phone promptly calling the others.

"Hey, Vlad was here. He is definitely on to us, we are going to have to meet to come up with a game plan."

"Sounds good." came Tucker

"I'm free." jazz chirped

"How about my place?" Sam offered.

I smiled at the support even though I myself felt miserable. "Sounds good. Jazz can you get me there? I'm at home."

"No problem little brother."

Just like that we all signed out. I lied on my bed for a time reflecting on the insanity that was my life. A knock came at the door. I got up and reached over for my journal on the nightstand only to touch nothing. Glancing around confused until I remembered how it was in my backpack that I left at school. Tucker or Sam would have grabbed it. Feeling oddly naked leaving my room without it, I powered on. Jazz would keep me in line until I could get it back.

-0-

"Danny are you okay?"

"You just disappeared man. We were worried about you."

"I'M FINE!" I all but shouted over them. "I just needed some alone time to think some things over. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." I said collapsing in Sam's bean bag chair.

"Then what's up?" asked Tucker doing a belly flop onto Sam's bed earning a glare from said goth.

"Vlad has picked up that something is going on." I said glumly.

"Shit!" exclaimed Sam.

Tucker looked shocked and worried.

Jazz's expression was dark. "How much does he know?" she asked.

"Not sure. But he has cameras all over town so he knows I am acting strange, don't think he knows why."

"Dude, he cannot know. If he figured out what was going on he would take advantage of it."

"I know" I said glumly. "but he's too observant for me to fool. Especially with all the mistakes I am making lately."

"Wait Vlad has cameras around town? How do you know this?" asked Sam.

I paused thinking back. "Well… I thought he was spying on me with a bunch of secret cameras so I mentioned it; and then he confirmed that he did have cameras up."

"Wait. Your vision, memory thingy was actually right!"

I thought a moment. "Yeah. I guess it was." All my other visions were of things that weren't real.

"Well I guess it had to happen eventually." Said Jazz.

I wonder if other parts of my 'memories' were true.

"Danny!"

"What?" I asked

Sam frowned. "I was saying that I think it is time for you to let Valerie catch the ghosts. "

I opened my mouth.

Sam cut me off before I could speak. "I know you don't want to give it up but it is only logical."

"I-"

"You can't fight the ghosts like this man." Tucker jumped in.

"If you would listen-"

"They have a point little brother." Great now Jazz was doing it. "You can't protect the town like this-"

"I KNOW!" I screamed "and if you would shut up I would tell you that I already gave Valery a Fenton thermos and showed her how to empty it."

The others froze. "Really?"

A small smile twitched to life from their astonished and hopeful expression. "Really." I answered. The others smiles widened.

I blinked.

-0-

I was sitting on a bench along some street. Shaking myself confused. I looked at my watch. Only several minutes went past. Looks like I hallucinated the talk with Vlad, and the thing with Sam, Tucker, and Jazz. I sighed rubbing my face exhausted. Standing, I called the others over the Fenton phone so they could guide me back home. This was really getting old.

-)(-

I do not own 'Danny Phantom'