Chapter Eighty-One: Sudden Visit

Asking Dark for help with anyone would have to wait until Valerie was gone. She stayed for the weekend, then left with Jazz. Danny, Dan, and Dani went to Clockwork's for their usual lessons, but Danny hung back to talk to Dark.

"Hey, Dark? Would you be willing to come into the Real World with us again?" He asked.

Daniel looked over curiously as Dark moved closer to Danny. "Why?" Dark asked.

"…We've been having some trouble. Dan had to fight some dangerous ghosts, but we can't let them know Danny Phantom is back and anyways they're attacking the house." Danny explained.

"Okay." Dark gestured for him to go on.

"…We need help putting up a shield and also help kicking their butts before they cause too much damage. We've been fighting them off as best as we can, but…" Danny took his hands in his, surprising the older ghost. "Please fight with us!"

Dan looked towards Clockwork. "Up to you, warden."

Clockwork looked thoughtful, then nodded. "You may as well live with them when there aren't human visitors to worry about. Perhaps get one of those power-dampeners for yourself."

"That works for me, but what about Daniel?" Dan pursed his lips, looking over at the older Danny sitting nearby.

"They're living with Vlad Masters. A little plastic surgery isn't going to be too much trouble." He hopped down from his gear and walked over to them. "Besides, all Dan does is color his hair and people don't recognize him as Danny Phantom."

"Some people are dumb." Dan snerked. "But, if you want to leave the Ghost Zone, then I guess I'll accept this offer. Tell Plasmius I accept, but I'll need a power-dampener."

"We can arrange that." Danny pointed both hands at him, clicking his tongue. "Alright, better head off to class before I'm late for Ghostwriter's!"

"Oh, hold on." Dan pulled out a notepad, wrote it, then ripped it off to hand to him. "Here, so he won't smack you around if you are late."

"Cool, a teacher's note!" Danny took it and waved. "See ya!" He flew off, meeting up with the others and then flying away.

Dark watched them go, sighing. "Well, guess we're gonna be living in the Real World from now on."

Daniel smiled and hugged him. "Just promise not to leave me for anyone."

Dark chuckled. "Hey, don't worry."

"I still can't believe they agreed to leave the safety of the Ghost Zone." Dani said, kicking her legs as she lay on her stomach on the couch, tickling Lucretius in the belly. "I mean, they seem so content there."

"What I don't get is that Clockwork is letting Dan out! Does he really think he's repented after what happened?" Sam asked, looking up at Danny as she rested her head on his lap.

"Well…" Danny gently stroked Sam's hair, sighing. "I guess he must. Since he didn't blow up anything last time he was let out, Clockwork is giving him a chance to prove he really has changed."

"He was pretty nice to his kid." Dan remarked as he leaned over Dani. "You need more variety."

"I'm just playing with him." Dani stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oh, yeah?" Dan grinned and suddenly picked her up, tickling her. "How's THIS, then?"

"Let me go!" Dani squirmed in his arms. "Dad, help!"

Vlad looked up from his game with Plasmius. "My dear, you are perfectly capable of getting Phantom off on your own."

"I don't think he's interested in her." Plasmius smirked.

"Not like that." Vlad slapped his palm to his face.

Plasmius chuckled and moved his piece. "Checkmate, brother."

Vlad sat back. "I concede." He got up and went to sit next to Lucretius. "Dani, no using your powers to get free."

"But he's not letting go!" Dani huffed, her hands glowing as she tried to escape Dan's hold. He countered with his own hands glowing as he tickled her.

"So, when are we getting the new house-mates?" Vlad asked as he got up and pried Dani from Dan's hands. "That's enough of that, little badger."

Dani got down and stuck her tongue out at Dan before flouncing out of the room.

"Once his bracelet is finished, we'll give him the word it's okay to come over." Dan replied, watching her go.

"I'd rather he arrive sooner so we can have the shield up and running." Vlad admitted. "They've broken through my man-made shields, so having a ghost-made shield is our best bet."

"They're so new, how are they so powerful?" Danny frowned.

"You didn't notice?" Dan looked at him. "Every one of them has a shadow ghost that attacks with them and increases their power."

"…I don't see them as shadows." Danny said, glancing away. "I didn't notice."

Sam smiled and sat up, resting her head on Danny's shoulder instead. "It's alright. I think it's cool that you don't see them as just shadows, it means that you see them as real people."

"Moody people. I swear, they look like they're fresh from a Dumpty Humpty concert." Danny grinned.

"Well, considering how YOU looked as a shadow-ghost?" She raised an eyebrow.

"The cloak did that. I'm able to see how they REALLY look, Sam." Danny explained.

Vlad heard his phone ring and pulled it out, stepping out of the room. "Yes. You're WHAT? And you're already on the way here? Well, why would you think he'd be HERE? No, I haven't seen—you're already—are you DRIVING while on the phone?!"

Danny froze and looked at Dan.

Dan scowled, clenching his fists. "Those people on the plane…they must've recognized me…"

"So much for hiding the fact that Danny Phantom still lives." Danny got up and grabbed his bracelet. "We have to hide Lucretius."

"What's going on?" Sam asked, standing up.

Vlad stepped into the room, lips pursed. "Maddie and Jack are coming over to investigate a Phantom sighting in this area. They've asked if I could let them stay here while they did that."

"Good thing Dark isn't here yet." Sam sighed.

"Did you accept?" Danny frowned.

"He fast-talked me into it and then hung up before I could tell him 'no'." Vlad pursed his lips. "And as we have sort of repaired our friendship…"

"You couldn't refuse." Plasmius finished for him. "Well, the big oaf was coming anyway. I'll go find Dani and tell her we have to hide."

Dan nodded, watching as Plasmius left the room, then pulled his bracelet from his pocket and fastened it on. "Sam, would you be alright staying with Clockwork for a little while? They can't find you here."

"Yeah." Sam nodded. "I like Clockwork; he's a…well, nicer guy than most."

Danny gently kissed her and then picked up Lucretius. "Take him with you and go find Plasmius before he and Dani take off."

Sam nodded and held Lucretius in her arms, watching as Danny fastened the James bracelet onto his wrist and completely disguise himself. She didn't know why, but both Danny and Dan wanted to hide the fact that Danny was a ghost that his father could talk to if he wanted to. Something had happened, not just the Guys in White, that made them both panic whenever their father was mentioned.

"Take care, Samantha." Vlad nodded, watching her go as she left the room.

The rest of the day was spent hiding pictures of Sam, Lucretius, Dani, Plasmius, and any pictures that had the whole "family" together. They locked up Dani's room and ensured that there was no evidence anyone but the three of them lived there. Danny put all of Sam's belongings into a chest in his room and locked it, and then the next morning they were waiting outside in the garden when a white and green car pulled up.

"Jack!" Vlad greeted as they got out.

"Vladdy, my man!" Jack grinned, walking over and hugging him.

Dan silently looked up from the croquet game he and Danny were in the middle of. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton." He greeted.

"Dan!" Maddie smiled. "And James, you look so much better now!" She walked over and hugged him. Danny froze, then awkwardly returned the hug.

"Sorry to impose on you like this, Vladdy." Jack said, smiling. "I just got so worried, hearing that Phantom might be in the area! I mean, after all the times he's attacked you…"

'I thought I'd had him terrified, how can he dare to come after me?' Dan thought.

'Don't show your anger, Phantom. Dan has no reason to hate Jack Fenton.' Danny thought, glancing at him. "Uhm, ma'am, it's…my move."

"Oh, sorry!" Maddie released him and stepped back. "I didn't realize you boys were busy! Ohh, croquet? You know, I'm pretty good player myself! Mind if I join you after this round?"

"Maddie, I'm going inside!" Jack called as he and Jack went inside.

Dan visibly relaxed as soon as they went in and then he nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Fenton."

"Oh, you can call me 'Maddie' if you want to." Maddie smiled. "Your godfather does."

"If you don't mind me being so informal." Dan smiled.

'I never got used to calling mom by her first name.' Danny thought.

'Neither did I, but she wants it.' Dan replied mentally. "So, apparently Phantom was sighted in the area. Valerie wouldn't stop talking about it. Apparently he ruined her life?"

"He and his ghost dog destroyed the lab her father was in charge of protecting." Maddie explained. "And even afterwards they plagued her, destroying the moving van and other things." She sighed.

"Wow, how inconsiderate." Dan chuckled.

"So, she keeps saying she's going to make him pay, and even asked us for ghost-hunting tips!" Maddie beamed.

"I hope she doesn't let it consume her life like I've heard it's consumed yours, though." Dan raised an eyebrow.

"Who told you that?" Maddie blinked.

"Your daughter is Dan's friend." Danny replied. "She visited with Valerie last week, you know."

"Ahh." Maddie nodded. "Yes, well…Jazz had always been critical of our…"

"Obsession?" Danny and Dan asked dryly.

"Yes." Maddie nodded. "She kept saying that it would get Danny in trouble with his peers…but instead…" Tears welled up in her eyes and she brought her hands to her face. "I-It's still…so painful! A-And they won't leave us alone! Harassing phone calls, blowing up the RV…"

Danny felt a surge of guilt run through him and he dropped the mallet, throwing his arms around her. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" He said, holding on tightly to her with his voice trembling.

She smiled sadly, lowering her hands a bit. "You don't have to apologize, James…this isn't your fight."

"I'm so sorry…" Danny said again, tears slipping down his cheeks. "I'm sorry…"

She sighed, gently moving her hands down between them and around his waist, holding him gently. "You're so kind…" She said softly.

Dan watched silently, knowing exactly why Danny was really apologizing. He hadn't been kind…he had been cruel, and he knew it. He waited for a bit, then walked over and hugged her as well. "Yeah…he's pretty sweet…" He said softly, nodding.