Chapter Fifteen: Love

The dull week had finally passed, and Jack went over to the box and opened it. "Danny? Are you awake?"

Phantom shot him a glare; he was starting to REALLY hate that greeting. Danny shifted and slowly raised his head from Phantom's chest, nodding. Jack nodded and stepped back, motioning for him to step out as a Wraith Wrangler kept Phantom in check.

"Let's take a look at your stitches." He said, leaving the box open but Phantom still bound as he led Danny to the table. Danny climbed onto it and Jack didn't bother with the binds as he unbuttoned his shirt to look at the stitches. "You're improving nicely. You might be able to do the test today." He glanced at the two boys sharply. "Provided you don't attempt any escape plots once we go outside."

Speaking of improving, Phantom was not only fully healed but his clothes had recovered from the incisions, aside from the glove that Jack had stolen when he first cut into him. He gave Jack a scowl as Danny buttoned up his shirt and climbed off the table to stand next to him.

"I'll put you back in the box for now, and bring you out when the Guys in White are back with the boar." Jack said, handing Danny their breakfast. "Eat up, you need your strength." He gestured to the box, which Danny went into. As soon as he was in, the box closed and the Wraith Wrangler released Phantom before Jack left the door, the door shutting behind him.

"You gonna be okay out there?" Phantom asked as they split…what was it? Breakfast? Lunch? Whatever. Food. They're splitting food.

"Not sure." Danny admitted. "That boar looked awfully big…"

"Well…" Phantom sighed. "I got nothing. I can't even offer to help you."

"Geez, you're really insightful today." Danny playfully punched him in the arm.

Phantom gave a mock-gasp and rubbed that area. "Don't you know your own strength? What if I bruised my lovely, ghostly skin?"

Danny laughed, then handed him a piece of bread. "Stop kidding around, Phantom. We both know I'm not nearly strong enough to hurt a ghost."

"Yeah, but hopefully you're strong enough to catch a boar by the horns and throw it." Phantom sat back after the plate was empty and looked towards the closed doors. "I don't want to see you hurt, Danny."

"Same with you, Phantom." Danny placed his hand on Phantom's smiling softly. "I'm sure he'll come to his senses soon. Then we can merge with the Fenton Ghost Catcher and everything will be back to normal!"

"I wish I could share your optimism, Danny, but we both know there's a very, very, VERY slim chance of that actually happening." Phantom said, smiling sympathetically.

Too soon, Jack came back and opened the box, once against restraining Phantom and gesturing for Danny to step out. He came obediently, and then they were on the way to the elevator again.

"Now, you'll behave this time and won't run off, right?" Jack asked as they got into the elevator. "You know what I'll do to Phantom if you try anything like that again."

Danny glanced at him and nodded, looking forward again as the elevator doors opened, letting them out into the field again.

It was morning this time and they could see more clearly that they were in the middle of nowhere. Phantom looked around them, but Danny's gaze was set forward, his lips pursed and his fists clenched. Before them were the Guys in White, a large boar between them. At a silent nudge from Jack, Danny stepped towards the boar, different fighting style that might come in handy running through his mind.

The Guys in White released the boar and stepped back, and then the boar and Danny were facing off, tangled together in a mess of legs, arms, horns, and grunts of adrenaline. As much as Phantom wanted to look away, he knew he couldn't. He had to see this through.

Finally, the boar was down and Danny was slowly getting up, blood slipping from where he'd been gored a few times. He turned to them and limped back over to his father, looking up at him. "Did I do good, dad?"

Jack nodded. "The experiment was a success; we'll upgrade you to a stronger foe after you've had some rest." He nodded to the Guys in White. "Thank you."

The men nodded and loaded the unconscious boar into their truck again, driving off. Jack nodded and led Danny in, pulling Phantom along behind him.

In ways of medical treatment, Danny's wounds were bandaged but that was it. Jack was counting on the ectoplasm in him to do the rest, and as they were returned to the box he gave him an approving pat on the head like a dog would get and then shut it.

"I HATE him!" Phantom said, glaring at him once the box was completely shut.

"That's our dad, you know." Danny said, massaging a wound on his leg.

"So? I still hate him!" Phantom snapped. "How can you still love him, after all this?!"

"He's my dad." Danny replied.

"Yeah, but—"

"He's. My. Dad." Danny said firmly, clearly not wanting to discuss Phantom's hatred for him any longer.

"…Right. Sorry. He's your dad. Right." Phantom looked down, sighing.

Danny nodded, then looked at Phantom before leaning against him. "Just…hold me, like you've been doing. That's the best we can do. Just hold on to each other. Yelling hateful words is only a waste of breath when he can't hear them and it makes the air tense."

Phantom looked at him, then wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. "Okay. I'll hold you until I can't hold on anymore."

Danny chuckled, resting his head in the crook of Phantom's neck. "Thanks. It feels nice, being held like this. It hasn't happened for years…"

Phantom rested his chin on Danny's head, holding him as tight as he could without irritating the wounds. "I'll hold you as much as you want, Danny. All you gotta do is ask."

Danny nodded, his hand clutching at Phantom's suit. "I miss everyone…how long have we been gone, do you think?"

"Maybe only a week." Phantom sighed. "We've got a while before they start asking questions."

Danny held on a bit tighter. "I'm still…hoping dad will come to his senses, and we can put this behind us."

Phantom groaned. "Stop being so forgiving, Danny. Just stop it. He's done worse to us than Dan or Vlad or anyone will ever do, and you still love him?!"

"Yes." Danny said flatly, sitting up. "I do."

"…How can you love such a monster?" Phantom asked softly, shaking his head. "Such a…beast?"

Danny didn't answer, just looked out where his father was taking notes or doing readings or whatever it was he was doing. Phantom couldn't understand how his human counterpart could still have any amount of love for someone who had all but KILLED him.

Maybe that was something that made them different. Danny was human, he understood that humans had faults and was willing to forgive. Phantom was a ghost, and looked at anyone who hurt him as an enemy that needs to be destroyed. Hell, he might've killed that poor woman ghost back in the haunted house during Spring Break, instead of offering her sanctuary like Danny granted.

Danny was gentle, weak, and almost pitiful in his generosity. But, when hit, he didn't hit back. Phantom always hit back much harder than he was hit. He was quick to danger, and he made more enemies than friends. Danny may not have many friends, but he sure treated the ones he had well.

Together, they were strong and gentle, aggressive but merciful. The perfect diplomat between humans and ghosts, a hybrid that wouldn't just let things be if he saw trouble. Together they were Danny Phantom, hero of Amity Park and target of ghost-catcher/hunters worldwide. Apart, they were just Danny Fenton and Phantom. Two pieces of one person; split when they shouldn't be.

Danny leaned against Phantom again, breaking the ghost out of his thoughts. "What're you thinking about?"

"…Us." Phantom admitted.

"That sounded creepily romantic and just cheesy." Danny said bluntly.

"Not like that!" Phantom slapped his palm to his face. Danny laughed in reply, and Phantom smiled. It was good to see the human boy smile, even better to hear him laugh. It was something they had been missing in this place.

He hoped he could hear it a few more times, before Danny succumbed to the loneliness and pain.