Caged and confused

-J-

Clockwork and I looked on from the other side of the one-sided glass. We watched as Danny paced around his room; suddenly he turned and ran towards the door. Pounding his fists on it, screaming at the top of his lungs. Then he turned just as fast and began darting around the room frantically clawing at the furniture, knocking things all around. Before settling in the far corner of the room curling up in a ball, quivering.

"What is happening to him Clockwork?" My voice cracked. This was my little brother. Someone I had known for as long as I could remember. My first friend and nemesis. Someone I was responsible for. Someone I cared for. Watching him so deluded, he could barely remember his own name, was more than heartbreaking.

"His powers are coming into their full fruition due to Soul Change." The Master of Time answered just as melancholy. His eyes glued to the broken teen before him. "He is having a reaction to it."

I shook my head in dismay as I watched my little brother crawl on the floor as if he were a toddler. "His powers have never done something like this before."

"He has never received powers like these before." Clockwork replied. "Jasmin, Daniel's soul is expanding, his sense of being, his true self, everything he is; is growing bigger, greater, and more powerful than it has ever been. Sections of his mind that were once closed have now been opened. Parts of himself that were out of reach are now much too close. The change is disorienting."

"This goes beyond disorienting!" I screamed gesturing at the boy who was now trying to pull the blanket off of his bed with his teeth. "He has gone completely mad, there is no recollection there. No reason. Its like-" I choked. "like Danny is gone."

"He is not gone, Jasmine." Clockwork reassured me, placing a hand on my shoulder urging me to look up into his all knowing and comfortable eyes. "This experience will change him but the boy we know is still in there somewhere, we just need to find him and guide him back."

The inspiring psychiatrist looked up into the ghost's eyes helplessly. "How? He can't stay focused for even a minute."

A kind smile came onto Clockwork's face. "That's why I called in some help."

"Clock!" a young voice echoed through the tower. A curly haired ten year old boy with play cloths was running full sprint towards the time ghost. Despite appearances I was almost certain that the kid was not a ghost and knew this thing was also not human. Or not just human. The second he had entered the room everything felt slightly heavier and off kilter. There was a pull, almost like the wind was pushing me but instead of pushing, it was pulling everything towards the child. I adjusted my footing to keep myself still but it was slightly disorienting especially in the Ghost Zone. The young boy latched onto the time ghost's arm.

"Hi, Hi, Hi, Hey, Hello."

"Hello to you too Orbit." Said an amused Clockwork before turning to me. "Orbit this is Jasmine, the sister of our soon to be member. Jasmine this is Orbit. Keeper of Gravity."

The young boy beamed at me. "I also help the planets move, tides come and go, and I even power roller coasters." He turned back to Clockwork. "I love roller coasters."

"Orbit this is Danny." Clockwork said gesturing to the window.

I jumped when I saw Danny standing just on the other side of the glass staring straight at Orbit even though there was no way he could see him through the glass.

Orbit walked even closer to the glass looking curiously at the black haired teen.

"Good, it's already working." Clockwork said.

"What is?" I whispered.

"Danny can feel the pull of Orbit's aura. Hopefully we can use that to keep him focused."

"How is that supposed to cure him." I ask

"There is no cure." Said Orbit turning towards me, the boy's voice taking a mature tone. "No one can stop what is happening or make it better, he just has to learn how to live with it."

Clockwork nodded. "Once he adapts and channels his powers correctly, he will be well enough to return to society."

"Once again, how do we do that? He forgets everything in one minute intervals. " I ask my frustration sill very much present.

"That is why Orbit is here. His aura can act as an anchor for Danny, keep him focused so we can help him."

"Okay so keeping Danny focused, then what?" I followed.

"Next you and Compass help him manage and navigate through his mind and illusions." Clockwork explained.

-D-

"What is that?" I wondered aloud looking at the mirror. I couldn't see anything but I felt a pull like a friend was calling to me to come join them in a game.

"That is Orbit." Came a voice. I turned sharply to see a woman with the darkest complexion I had ever seen. Her hair was a weird wash of red, orange and yellow. Her eyes were pure white and I swear her freckles glittered and flickered like stars.

"Who are you?" I asked vary confused. My ghost sense hadn't gone off but she had snuck up on me.

"I am Compass." She answers with a dazzling smile. "The Keeper of Space in all its forms"

My eyes roamed the room. Nothing looked familiar. It was nice. Too nice to be a holding cell of any new or old enemies, but not quite nice enough to be Vlad's doing. I eyed the lady again. "Where am I?" I asked cautiously.

"Clockwork's tower." She said still smiling pleasantly.

I was surprised. "Are you a friend of Clockworks?"

She nodded. "Friend and colleague."

"Why am I here?" I asked looking around.

"Because you aren't feeling well."

"I feel fine."

"It isn't your physical state, it is your mind that is sick."

I felt myself pale. "Dan?" I asked softly.

"No. This is something knew. You see-"

"Who are you?" I interrupted her babiling as I stood from my place, sitting on my bed; trying to get distance between me and the strange lady in front of me.

"I am Compass." She said with a smile. "The Keeper of Space in all its forms"

The smile was getting on my nerves. I keyed into my senses. I felt something I had never felt before. It was a sucking, pulling feeling to my right. Turning I saw nothing but my own reflection.

"What is that?"

"That is Orbit?" Came a voice. I turned sharply to a woman I had never seen before.

"Who are you?" I asked wearily, she was obviously not human or not just human.

"I am Compass." She said with a smile. "The Keeper of Space in all its forms"

There was something in her smile and what she just said. It dug in the back of my mind. "Wait... We've done this before." I said weakly raising a hand to my head.

"Yes we have." Compass said smiling even wider. "Quite a few times actually."

"But-" I said confused and frightened. "Why didn't I remember? Why don't I remember?"

"Because your sick, Danny." She answered gently. "But we are going to help you get better."

"But what is happening to me?"

"You're expanding, Danny and it is making you confused."

"And forget?" I asked.

"Yes."

"But how can I fight something, when I forget that I'm fighting it?"

"That is why Orbit and I are here, to help guide you."

"Who is Orbit?" I whispered confused as to what this weird lady was talking about. Feeling a strange pull I turned. "And what is that?"

"That is Orbit."

I turned sharply to the voice.

"Who are you?" I asked the lady with the weird hair.

"I am Compass."

-J-

"That's the longest he has stayed coherent so far." Clockwork spoke sounding pleased.

"Yeah." I said glumly.

"Do not despair, Jasmine. Even small progress is still progress." I nodded helplessly, eyes locked on my brother who was reliving the same moment, the same conversation over and over again. A hand landed on my shoulder. "Why don't you take a break." Clockwork suggested. "We have this under control right now. You won't be needed until later when he is more grounded."

Moving with all the life and speed of a slug, I made my way to the kitchen careful to keep a wide berth between me and Orbit who was playing on the floor. I didn't even wonder why Clockwork had a kitchen. The tower was huge, much bigger on the inside then the exterior suggested. Why wouldn't he have a kitchen? I slunk around the room opening every drawer until I found what I was searching for; pulling out a bowl, spoon, milk, and box of cereal. It was me and Danny's go to food when we were hungry and there wasn't anything else safe to eat, or there was no time to make anything.

I sat staring at the colorful circles that floated around in the milk. My mind wandering back when I questioned Danny as to why he gave Vlad the nickname of his favorite cereal. It could not simply be a jab at the man's sanity. There were many ways to do that. Instead he insulted his 'arch nemesis' with something that he himself loved more than any other food. The discussion that followed was fascinating as my brother explained the connection and opposition between him and Plasmius. I had never felt closer to my brother then I had in that moment, which was sad because it was then that I realized how different we were.

Danny had changed. I knew that. I have known it for a long time but I never realized just how much, or how it affected him. He acted human, talked human, looked human (most of the time), and all around was human, but he wasn't. No matter how much he acted like he was, and pretended he was a normal person, he was not. There were parts of him I could not understand. Things he could only talk to ghosts about, and then there were things that he could only talk to another halfa, to Vlad, about.

Only he didn't talk to Vlad about it. They weren't on that level of a relationship that was one of the reasons I wanted Danny to get into journaling before this whole fiasco. A sigh escaped me as I finished the last of my soggy cereal, drinking the milk at the bottom. I could feel Danny drifting away from us. His powers, his abilities were taking him farther and farther from a normal human. Which was all Danny had ever wanted to be. Growing up in a crazy family made you long for normalcy.

I slam my head down onto the counter, not too hard but enough, and groan. I was thinking too much again. My head was a whirlwind of thoughts, analysis, hypothesis. I needed a distraction but something told me reading would not help my predicament this time. Not knowing what else to do I pulled out my phone and dialed Sam.

She picked up on the second ring. "Jazz?" she said her voice hopeful.

"Hey Sam." I said trying to be upbeat and failing spectacularly.

The goth let out a nearly inaudible sigh at my tone. "Hi, how's Danny?" she asked, much more depressed.

"He's a little better." I said honestly. "Clockwork called in some friends to try to keep him focused. So far he has managed to remember what is going on for a few minutes before forgetting again."

"Well that's…something."

"Yeah…" my voice trailed off, my previous thoughts beginning to return. "So how are things in Amity?"

"Valery is keeping up alright. Tucker and I haven't had to make contact yet but we are ready to." Sam said voice becoming stronger as we stepped away from our topic of worry. "We think it is best if all we do is give her information and more equipment when she needs it. She may be more friendly lately but she did hunt Danny for awhile and even worked for Vlad a bit. But if she needs back up, I will be more then able to lend her a hand. She has been fighting ghosts long enough. She knows what to do. She just needs to adjust to being the head hunter."

"Has anyone noticed Phantom's disappearance?"

"Not yet." Sam replied. "It will probably be awhile. Not many people keep track of when they last saw him."

"Except his 'phans'." I replied smiling at Danny's rant about his crazy 'phan' girls.

Sam laughed. No doubt thinking of the same thing. "Tucker is actually working on a hologram of Phantom just to keep people off of Danny's tail. It probably won't be done until after the town notices he's gone and we can't do it for fights; but maybe next time Danny has to disappear, it will help if Phantom is seen 'flying around'. Separate Danny's disappearances from Phantom's."

"Good idea. Excellent actually." I congratulated.

"Yeah."

"Speaking of problems, any news on our darling mayor?" I asked sarcastically.

"No." Sam said confused. "Which is strange because he would be the first to notice Danny gone and would come round, demanding to know where he is."

"Unless he knows where Danny is." I mumbled to myself mind swerling on what I had been thinking moments before. Out of all of us Danny knew Vlad the best and thus could calculate his movements the best. But we all had enough experience dealing with him to pick up some of his usulle behavior.

"You don't think he'll try anything do you?" asked Sam worriedly. "Because the last thing we need is Vlad screwing with Danny, making him more confused."

"I don't think Vlad knows that Danny knows Clockwork exists, let alone that they are friends. Even if he did know, Clockwork is omnipresent. The nut isn't getting anywhere near Danny while he is here."

"But didn't Clockwork say that he can't see Danny's future anymore?"

I nodded even though I knew she couldn't see me. "But he isn't alone." I said trying to convince myself and Sam. "Like I said, Clockwork brought in some friends to help, between all of them, Vlad would not stand a chance of getting to Danny."

"If you're sure. He's your brother." Sam said, not sounding convinced. "Do you have a plan for when your parents come home and you and Danny are gone?"

"Yes, actually." I said rather proud of myself. "I will call them a day before they come home asking for their permission to take Danny out of school so I can take him on a college tour with me. If they make a fuss, I can say I'm trying to get him to start thinking about his future. We can even give that excuse to the school. The time between his disappearance from school and my excuse for our parents may not line up, but the excuses will, that will be enough for Mom and Dad."

"That sounds like it will work." Sam said, actually sounding a bit impressed. " As long as they don't come home early. How much time do you think that will buy you?"

I sighed. "The way things are looking, not enough."

"…What if the college is really far away and on the way back you are delayed by the weather?"

"That might work, as long as Mom and Dad don't look up the weather."

"Are you kidding?" came Sam's voice. "You know how jittery they get after those conventions. They usually hold themselves up in there lab for at least a month as they build everything under the sun until the inspiration dies down. I bet we could just tell them you and Danny got home and they wouldn't notice that they haven't actually seen you two in person."

"…We will keep that as a backup. All it takes is someone coming to the door and asking about us for that plan to fall apart. Then we will have a mess on our hands."

"Oh… yeah that does not sound good." I could hear the grimace in her voice.

"Well I just wanted to catch up and keep you updated."

"Thanks. And don't worry about Amity or your parents. Tucker and I will take care of things on our end . You just focus on helping Danny."

"Deal. See you later Sam."

"Later Jazz."

The other line went dead leaving me in a cold and silent kitchen. The knowledge that everything hinged on Danny getting better and how long it would take. I sent a silent prayer for help and strength. For my brother, for me, for Tucker, for Sam, for Valery, for my parents, for the citizens of Amity Park, and the world.

-)(-

-J- Jasmine Fenton (Jazz) point of view

-D- Danny Fenton (Phantom) point of view

Hopefully this makes up for the last chapter being super short.

This chapter is the first after a major writer's block. Keep in mind I have chapters written well before I post them. The reason I wait before posting is I like to have them edited by a third party.

And if that wasn't enough I couldn't decide on the order of the chapters for a while so I had to write everything out and juggle it around until I was happy. But I didn't change all of the titles of the chapters so it was still all scrambled when i went back to edit it.

A big mess I tell you.

But on the up side I can now say all of the chapters are written...kinda.

I do not own 'Danny Phantom'