Thanks Jae B, KTrevo, Samian, MsFrizzle, Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet, BiblioMatsuri, nycorrall, YumeTakato, Pterodactyl, DarkFoxKit, GhostEnvy, Invader Johnny, Aurora Marie Williams, TrustyFoxy, and iloveyugiohGX93 for their reviews!

Phantom, Danny

The story you know from the very beginning.

…and from a slightly different point of view.

Chapter 11: The Phantom

-Day 25-

"Ghost!" The Danny screamed as it tumbled towards the ground.

Stop falling, he told it.

"I can't," it yelled as its tumbled became a spin.

You will never learn to fly like this. He reached out and took control of the body just long enough to stabilize it. Fly.

"No, I'm done for the day." It was focused carefully, keeping itself from falling, but only barely. "Please take over."

With a roll of his eyes, he grabbed hold of the human body and twirled it through a few barrel rolls and loop-the-loops before swinging up towards the scattered, blotchy clouds. "I do not understand what you find so difficult."

I'm human. We're not made to fly.

"I am a ghost, we are not made to eat or write or read or-"

I get it. The Danny curled away from his thoughts. You can stop.

He snorted and rolled onto his back to eye the moon. It was mostly full, looking large and bright in the sky. Stars speckled the blackness. He felt the human pause and come back to watch. "You like the stars," he told it.

Of course. Don't you?

"I do not dislike them," he said after a moment. "They are far away. They hold no bearing on my existence."

But someday we'll get up there. We'll be able to go see what they're like, and find out if they have planets with life on them.

He stared up at the stars. "Why would you want to? Is this world not enough for you?"

The human mind laughed. Of course it is. But aren't you curious about what's out there?

A breeze whipped his hair in front of his eyes. "No."

That's boring.

"That is not my fault." He allowed his hold on the air to relax and he started to fall backwards. Rolling over, he turned his fall into a dive. The air rushed past as a howl in his ears.

Thankfully, the human had gotten so used to this by now that it didn't complain. Where're we gonna fly tonight?

"I'm not sure why you insist upon being awake when I go flying," he said into the howl of the wind. The lights below were resolving themselves into signs and windows and streetlights.

I don't want to run into a building and die in my sleep.

He rolled his eyes and started to angle out the dive, going as fast as he was able. The Danny had said this was called 'terminal velocity' and was somewhere around two hundred miles an hour. He wasn't sure if that was considered fast in this world, but it felt fast to him. "I will not run into anything, as we have previously discussed."

And yet, it doesn't help me sleep.

"That is also not my fault." He whipped through the town, angling left and right to miss the worst of the tree branches, simply phasing through objects that were too big or seen too late to avoid.

Have you ever noticed how nothing is your fault?

He rolled, came to a stop, and landed in a small area surrounded by trees. Finding this particular house had been much easier by the light of the moon than he'd been expecting. "Thank you for noticing," he told it, running a hand through his wind-swept hair. "Now you will hopefully stop commenting on it."

Yeah, that's not what I meant, it muttered. What are we doing here?

Turning his gaze towards the building just hidden behind the bushes and trees, he pointed towards it. "Sam lives here."

The human was still for a moment. Yes, she does. So?

"You have never been inside."

It was still again before answering. I don't like it when you dig through my memories. And no, I haven't. Why are we here?

He paced back and forth a moment, eying the house. "I thought of something today that I wish to try."

And we need Sam?

"I think you might," he said. "Most humans sleep at night, correct?" He phased through the bushes and started walking towards the darkened house.

We're not waking her up in the middle of the night!

He paused. "Why not?"

For one, she's asleep. For two, she's a girl. For three, she's my friend and I don't want to freak her out by waking her up in the middle of the night because the ghost in my head told me to! A sharp tinge of -Protectiveness- colored its thoughts.

He studied the house and the large windows. "You are protective of her."

She's been my friend for a long time. She's like family.

"You would not let her get hurt."

It bristled in his mind. Not from anyone. Not even you.

He waved his hand dismissively. "I do not want to hurt her. She will be fine." He started to walk again, but the human mind started to fight him. Pain lanced through his body and speared into his mind, making him stop and wince, rubbing at his head. "Please stop."

Not until you tell me what's going on.

"Can you not just take the memory you wish?"

I don't dig around in other people's memories. Even ones that are sharing my head.

He sighed. "Fine." He started to walk slowly towards the house. "You have been trying to figure out how to return to the ghost state you saw."

He felt the human's interest perk. Yeah…

"I believe I have a solution. However, it will require outside assistance."

Why?

He pressed his lips together, then shook his head. He was standing next to the door leading into the house. "Because I believe the reason we are failing is because I am the one doing the work. I believe you must do it."

You're the ghost…

"I am not sure that is completely true," he whispered, pressing a hand against the door. "And I am not so sure you are completely human anymore." When there was no comment from The Danny, he tilted his head. "May I wake her up now?"

It felt -Unhappy.- Why can't we wake up Tucker?

"I do not like Tucker."

What if her parents catch us?

"Nobody can catch me if I do not wish them to. I am a ghost."

The unhappiness grew, which was all the answer he needed. With barely a thought, he was through the door, invisible, and slowly combing through the house in search of its human inhabitants.

Fortunately, the second room he checked was the correct one. The Sam was sitting up in her bed, a little light on, reading a book. He smiled a bit, walked across the room, and then lost his invisibility.

"Hello, Sam," he said pleasantly.

It did not go nearly as well as he would have thought. Perhaps he should have listened to The Danny's worries a bit more. The book was chucked at his head – which hurt quite a bit – and the scream that came out of her mouth was impressive.

The human instantly took over. "No, Sam, wait!" it said, holding out one hand and putting the other to its head. Warm liquid was spilling from the place where the book had hit.

She quit screaming, stared at him a moment, then a look of pure fury washed over her face. "Daniel James Fenton! What the hell are you doing in my bedroom at two in the morning!" Her anger was a hissed whisper. "How did you get in here? Why did you get in here? And don't you dare bleed on my bed!"

"Sammikins?" It was a voice from the hallway.

The Sam and The Danny tensed. "I'm fine, Dad," The Sam called back. "Bad dream."

The doorknob clicked and turned, then opened.

Go invisible! he hissed to the human. Now!

Surprisingly, that was all it took. The Danny was invisible and quietly scooting out of the way in less than a heartbeat. He huddled in the corner of the room, hand pressed firmly to his head, trying to stifle his breathing.

"Are you sure you're okay?" The human that came into the room was an adult. It settled down onto the bed next to The Sam. "That was a pretty nasty scream."

The Sam smiled thinly. "I fell asleep when I was reading." She held up a book, seemingly as proof. "Scary bit. Shouldn't have been reading it right before bed. Sorry to wake you."

"Ah," the other human said. "You don't have to apologize." It leaned forwards and gave her a hug. "Just try to get back to sleep, okay?"

"Yes, Dad." She smiled at it as it left the room. "Good night."

The door clicked behind it, just as The Danny tumbled out of invisibility and sank to sit on the ground. Even holding its head, it smiled and felt -Pleased.- "I did it!" it cheered quietly.

The Sam pulled a blanket off the bed to wrap herself in, then strode over and stood over The Danny. "You haven't answered any of my questions yet," she said, her voice a furious whisper.

"Sorry, I saw you were awake," The Danny babbled, "and I just thought that you could help me do something, you know, because you said you would help and you were awake and…"

The Sam frowned. "It's two in the morning."

Why does she care? She was already awake?

The Danny pushed him away from its thoughts. "Sorry," it repeated. "I just thought, since you were awake. But if you don't want to, I'll go."

"How did you get into my room?"

I am a ghost. I go where I please.

The Danny pushed at him again. "Ghost powers," it said, shrugging and going for a grin. Then, seeing the look on her face, held up its free hand. "I've never done it before and I'll never ever ever do it again, on pain of death."

Death is not painful.

Finally, the dark, angry look on The Sam's face melted. "What do you need help with, other than getting head wounds?" She grabbed The Danny and pulled it towards her light. "Let me see that."

"It's fine. Just a scratch."

"Yes," she murmured, pulling its hand away from its head. More of the red fluid leaked out, so The Danny put his hand back. "It'll need a bandage. Stay here." She left the room, padding down into the dark hallway.

"Don't distract me when I'm talking," The Danny hissed, obviously talking to him.

I do not like being ignored, he replied easily. Was this not my idea? I did not ask you to take over.

"This was a stupid, crazy idea that I shouldn't have let you talk me into," it said furiously. "I should've known how Sam was going to react."

What is that red liquid?

It was still tense and unhappy, but it answered. "Blood."

He was silent a moment, trying to remember where he'd heard of blood before. Is it bad that you are leaking?

"Yes," it said sourly.

But you will stop leaking?

It rolled its eyes and sank down so its back was against The Sam's bed. "I'll heal. It's just a scratch."

"Who are you talking to?" The Sam said from her place by the door.

"Nobody," The Danny replied, looking away uneasily. "I was… I was just talking to myself."

"Uh-huh," she said, but she didn't look convinced. She walked over, a washrag in one hand and a bandage in the other. "Move your hand." She fussed over its head a moment, wiping at it before setting the bandage on it.

The tan-colored fabric stuck to its skin. Almost unconsciously, he took control of a hand to reach up and brush his fingers against it. There was a sharp pain when he touched it, but the fabric was soft and smooth.

"Thanks," The Danny said as it reclaimed its hand.

Silence fell over the room as The Sam stared down at it. "What do you so desperately need my help for that you woke me up in the middle of the night?"

She was already awake.

The human parroted him without thought. "You were already awake."

Her eyes narrowed. "Do you want my help?"

The Danny nodded.

She stuck a finger near his nose. "Then you should be nice to me, Mr. Snuck Into my Bedroom at Two in the Morning."

The Danny nodded again. "Yeah, of course Sam," he said.

We need to go outside so we don't wake the humans up.

It climbed to its feet. "Can we go outside? I don't want to wake up your parents."

She hesitated, but nodded. "Let me grab a jacket. I'll meet you in the backyard. I assume since you snuck in here, you can sneak back out." She turned and walked into her closet, leaving The Danny standing in the room.

The Danny shook its head and walked over to the door. It stood there, staring at the door. "Ghost?" it hissed.

You wanted to take over, he told it, settling back in its mind. Have fun.

The Danny made a strangling gesture with its hands, then put its hand against the door and focused. It was getting better and better at controlling the energy flowing around it. This time, energy came easily at its command, fluttering uselessly around its body. It didn't know how to get out of phase with the living matter.

Capitulating, he tapped the swirling energy and pushed it in the right direction. A strange tingling feeling swept through the human's body as a grin spread on its face as it stepped through the door.

Invisible – at least most of the time – it crept through the house, only needing the occasional help. By the time it reached the backyard, The Sam was already there, hands in the pockets of her jacket, waiting.

"What took you so long?" she asked when The Danny lost control of its invisibility in surprise.

"How did you get out here so fast?" it asked.

He felt a warm glow in his mind at the slow smirk that spread across her face. The Danny just felt vaguely annoyed.

"That's for me to know and you to find out, ghost-boy. What'cha need?"

Tell her about the ghost you saw.

The annoyance grew, this time pointed in his direction. No doubt it didn't like being told what to say. "You remember when I got into the accident?"

The Sam arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Are we doing some sort of idiot's memory test?"

The Danny shot her a glare. "And you know how I looked different, just for a few minutes."

She nodded slowly. But when The Danny didn't continue, she said, "And…"

"And…" It trailed off, blinking, and shifting its weight. Suddenly there was a flare of frustrated annoyance from it.

I though you did not wish my help in this conversation, he told it.

It scowled.

"You'd better have woken me up for a better reason that that inane question and to glare at me like this," Sam said grumpily.

"I didn't wake you up," it pointed out moodily. It's mind poked at him.

You need her help to do it again.

Before The Sam could turn around and stalk away, The Danny spoke up. "I need your help to do it again. I think I can, if I tried."

She hesitated, clearly looking interested. "What can I help you with?"

Because a human needs to explain it in words you'll understand. I can't. And you're too stupid to figure it out on your own.

The Danny positively bristled. "I just need someone to talk it through with," he said after a moment. "Please?"

Her arms came down from their place across her chest. "Alright. What's this idea, then?"

You need to call all the energy together and let it take you over. You need to give in. The Danny wouldn't, not without talking the idea through with someone it trusted.

It chewed on its lip, then shook its head. "I think I have to… just… give in."

"To what?" The Sam asked.

Nervous energy flared in the human mind. It started to pace. "The ghost energy."

"That's bad?"

The Danny shrugged, and looked up at the moon. "I… I just… It's not normal, Sam. Normal humans don't have ghost powers!"

"True," she said slowly. "But when you ever been normal?"

It shot her a frustrated look. "That's all I wanted, you know. To be normal."

She snickered and leaned her shoulder against a nearby tree. "Yeah, you lost the 'normal' race when you were born to a family of ghost hunters. Give it up, Danny-boy." She smirked, but softened the look with a sigh. "It's more than that, isn't it?"

The Danny shrugged again, staring back up at the stars. "I don't want to be a… ghost."

"You're not. You're still human."

One of the groups of stars it was staring at, Cassiopeia, seemed to glitter down at it. The story behind the constellation fluttered through his mind, making him scowl and push it back away.

"What if it's… this ghost energy… it's contaminating me in some way? What if it's making me something less human?"

It paused in its struggle against the memory, staring at the human mind. He'd been thinking something similar (if exactly opposite) not that long ago.

"Well." There was the soft feel of The Sam's fingers touching its arm. "You know that Tucker and I aren't going to let you get too ghosty. And you're too normal to be that weird."

The Danny finally looked back at her. "I like flying," it admitted.

"I would too," she shot back.

"And I kinda enjoyed being invisible."

"I can see the positives of that," she admitted. "But that's just… normal, Danny. It's human to like to get to do things like that."

Some of the nervousness had worn off. "And you'll let me know if I get too weird?" it asked. "You and Tucker?"

Or just her, he had to add, which caused the human's mind to jab at him..

"Yeah, of course. We're your friends." She took a few steps back. "Now, it's two in the morning as we both have school tomorrow. Do this thing."

It still felt nervous and scared. It bounced on its toes and closed its eyes, but it didn't reach for the energy inside of it. It seemed to be waiting. Still debating what it wanted to do.

I fear the same thing, he told it quietly. I fear that your human mind is contaminating me. I have begun to enjoy feeling things and touching things and seeing things. I have even started to not mind other humans being around.

It paused, clearly listening.

He sighed, poking at the human mind. I fear that one day I will get the chance to be free, and I will no longer want it. I worry that the more time I spend as a human, the less time I will wish to spend as a ghost. There are many new things that you have brought to my existence that I do not understand.

Its shoulders relaxed slightly.

There are many things about this world and the future that I do not know. I am not a master of time. But I do know that you are human. A short period of time in a ghost form would not change that.

It poked him, curious.

Can you not tell the difference between us? Now do as the human female requests. Let go. Relax.

It did. It pulled energy out the world and, for once, didn't fight it or try to control it. Energy curled around and through The Danny's body in a cascade of power. He felt it shudder and draw back.

No. Let go.

It let out a long breath, its shoulders relaxing the rest of the way. Energy surged. And then the world felt like it tipped on its head. There was an almost painful wave of tingling energy that raced from its toes to its fingers. It gasped and collapsed backwards onto the ground.

It was still breathing, but there was something… odd. All of the feeling had seemed to drain from the world. Emotion wasn't nearly as strong. The slightly chill breeze had vanished.

It was almost like being home. Only, it wasn't.

"Wow," came The Sam's quiet voice.

Slowly it opened its eyes. The world was much brighter and more detailed than before. It sat up, staring down at its hands. They were covered in strange-looking gloves that had a supernatural glow, and were translucent. Shadows and bits of twigs were visible through its arms and hands. The hairs that dangled in front of its eyes were white.

"Wow," The Danny repeated, flipping its hands over and over.

The Sam crouched down in front of The Danny, reached out, and touched its hand. The sensation of touch was dim and weak. "You're really cold," she whispered.

It shivered. "I'm not sure I like this," it muttered. It pulled away from Sam's touch and clenched its fist a few times. It could barely feel its fingers press against its palm. "Is this what being a ghost feels like?"

Let me take over.

"What can you do?" The Sam asked.

It looked up at her.

She shivered slightly. "Woah, your eyes are the strangest color."

Please, Danny.

It flexed its fingers a few more times, then nodded faintly. He felt the human mind step aside and grabbed hold of the body.

He'd never had a body as a ghost. The little bit of energy he'd controlled had been too piddling to allow for a real form. Here he was, doing something he couldn't even have imagined. A smile flickered across his face.

"You okay?" The Sam asked.

"Yeah," he answered, then he pushed into the air. It took the smallest amount of thought – so much easier than when he'd been lugging the fleshy human body around. "Awesome."

What are you doing?

"I'm going to go fly," he told The Sam.

She smiled back. "Can I go back to bed?"

"I guess," he said with a shrug. "Want a lift?"

No. Don't pick her up.

"A lift?" She arched an eyebrow, the little smile not leaving her face. "You couldn't fly well enough to keep yourself from face-planting off the rock last time we tried."

He flipped around so that he was lying behind her, head height, almost like he was relaxing on the ground. "I think I can handle it."

She stared straight into his eyes. "Cocky much?"

"I've been practicing," he said, rolling onto his back so that she seemed to be upside down. "See?"

"Alright," she said slowly. "You promise not to drop me-"

No, Ghost, leave her alone-

He swept forwards, grabbed her at the armpits, and swooped up towards the treetops. He heard her gasp, startled, and felt her reach for his hands. "I won't drop you," he told her. If he could lug around The Danny's heavy human form, he could easily carry The Sam. Keeping the barrel rolls to a minimum, he slipped over to her open bedroom window and carefully set her down on the ledge.

I can't believe you just did that! The human mind quietly ranted in the background of his thoughts.

"Wow," she said again, turning around and gazing at him. "Yeah, I'd say you've been practicing." She sounded a little out of breath. "Don't stay out too late, Danny."

He sketched a little mocking bow in the air. "Yes, ma'am."

She took a tiny step forwards, toes on the very edge of the ledge, reaching out to grab onto his arm. She yanked him a little closer. He felt his breath catch in his throat as he stared into her eyes. She narrowed her eyes very slightly. "Don't sneak into my room without permission. Ever. Again."

He floated backwards, startled by the anger in her voice. "Yeah, I promise."

"See you at school tomorrow, then." Sam let go of his arm, turned around, and headed back towards her bed.

He hung in the air outside her room a second before shaking his head and twisting around and heading up towards the moon.

I can't believe you did that! the human mind said again, this time accompanied by a jab.

"Did what?" He twisted effortlessly in the air, so much lighter and weightless than he'd ever been before.

You… you… you gave her a ride back to her room.

"So?" He laughed as his body followed every command and thought without the smallest hesitation. "This body is so much better than your human one, Danny." However, the sensation of speed was missing. As was the heart racing, and the flushed feeling of a successful flying maneuver. He frowned slightly.

I completely disagree, it said furiously. And you were flirting with Sam!

He wrinkled his forehead. "What is flirting?"

I… you… but… Really? You don't know what flirting is?

He sighed and headed towards the human's home. "Is it a human emotion? I have informed you that-"

You like her.

"I have already told you that Sam is one of the few humans I find pleasant enough to be around. The rest are disgusting things." He broke into a dive when the roof of the Fenton's odd-shaped home back into view. With ghost eyes, he could see much farther and better in the night.

No. Yes. But you can't like her, Ghost!

He shook his head, slowing down and angling himself to land gracefully on the roof. "Why can't I? You are not my master." His feet carefully touched down. He could barely feel the roof under his feet.

She's my friend!

"Can she not be my friend as well? We are trapped in the same form."

She doesn't know you exist. She's my friend. You can't like-like my friend.

Letting out a long breath, he sank into a crouch on the roof. "I do not understand what you are complaining about." He started to pull the energy back in towards himself, corralling it deep within his soul, closing his eyes to focus. Almost like he reached the center on a teeter-totter, he felt the world shift around him. In a painful rush, the world slammed back into existence.

Feeling. Seeing. Hearing.

He opened his eyes and peered down at his hands. They were human again. When he brushed his fingers together, he could feel the slightly rough surface of his skin. There was something reassuring about it. "That was not so bad, Danny."

It sounded frustrated and annoyed still. I'm not just going to drop it because you don't understand. But yes, it was horrible, and we're not doing that again.

He stood up, brushed at his clothes. "Have you forgotten that you were the one that wanted to in the first place?"

It scowled. I've changed my mind. We're not ever doing that again.

"Then you have discovered a way to free me?"

It grumbled and tunneled deeper into his mind.

"Thought so," he whispered, pushing himself out of phase long enough to drop through the ceiling and into The Danny's bedroom. He settled down on the bed with a sigh and a glance at the clock. Just before three in the morning. Propping his head on the pillow and crossing his feet, he closed his eyes and let the body relax.