Author's Note: This is very short. That's because I was looking through my stuff (I've actually written tons on the next chapter already) and realized I'd left this scene out of chapter27. So. I moved things around, and did a really quick post. SORRY 'BOUT THAT! Ahahaaaa. The second scene you read in the previous chapter...though I'm removing it from 27 after this. Yay. :)

Interlude

Sam had cleaned Nathaniel off as best she could using the sink in Jack Fenton's lab, since explaining copious amounts of blood to everyone did not sound like fun.

She had forgotten about the state of Nathaniel's ghost half until he transformed in the middle of the night, in her arms, in bed. Sam, still mostly awake, hadn't been able to suppress a yell.

"Oh gross..." Sam shifted a little, and he squelched. Sam sat up in bed, and came face to face with a concerned Danny Phantom. A moment ago he had been hanging out on her roof, insisting on giving her privacy, yet knowing he needed to stay close by. Nathaniel, now without his wrist band or playpen, could transform at any time.

Danny stared down at Nathaniel for a moment, taking him in. Then he held out his arms.

"Here."

Sam blushed, and handed him over. "Thanks." They both knew blood wasn't her thing, however many vampire novels she'd read. Danny headed toward the bathroom, and she got up, quietly following.

Nathaniel, meanwhile, was just now waking up properly. Danny had found it strange when Sam told him that Nathaniel would fully shift between forms even while asleep. Perhaps, having been born a halfa, each form was equally natural for him.

Danny went straight to the shower, and turned the water on, letting it heat up. Then he sat on the toilet, with Nathaniel blinking up at him sleepily. "D'n Dan…?" The kid looked incredibly sleepy, and a little worried. The sound of running water (for the second time that night too!) didn't bode well.

Danny grinned and ruffled his hair. Then he carefully began pulling off Nathaniel's clothing. Sam watched while leaning against the door frame, her arms crossed. Nathaniel had been upset by things tonight. But even so he was still smiling right now, was healthy, and comfortable in Danny's arms. Whatever had happened tonight, things had turned out all right.

Then she very nearly rubbed green goo on her nose while attempting to stifle a yawn.

That woke her up.

Sam frowned, her thoughts turning dark, and shuffled to the bath tub, running her hands under the tap. She looked sideways to where Danny sat, and spoke quietly.

"Vlad...got pretty beat up."

Danny's smile faltered slightly. "Yeah." Nathaniel's shirt finally came off, and Danny rolled it up into a tight ball. He glanced over at her, raising his eyebrows. "Hey, watch out." Sam moved, and he tossed it in the bathtub. Then he stood up, and smiled down at Nathaniel, who was using Danny's chest for an impromptu game of patty cake. "Guess what time it is, kiddo? It's bath time!"

Sam got the shower going, and moved back, taking the vacated toilet as a seat. She watched as Danny playfully gave Nathaniel a bath, smiling softly.

Her thoughts were still on Vlad. He was infuriating. Sam acknowledged that wholeheartedly. And she was certain he wanted Nathaniel. But right now she was grateful to him, and a little worried too. She didn't want to be. But she had learned to trust her instincts, and tonight's events hadn't been planned, at least not by him. The wounds were genuine, and deadly. And whatever else they meant, they made one thing clear to her.

Vlad honestly cared for Nathaniel. Though knowing him, it was against his better judgement.

Sam smiled wryly to herself, remembering their month's old confrontation. She still didn't trust him any further than she could throw him, of course.

"One fresh, clean baby boy, ready for bed!" Sam startled slightly, and looked up, feeling vaguely guilty at her rather fluffy thoughts. Danny was holding Nathaniel up, who was now wrapped in one of her biggest, softest towels.

Sam threw her hands up. "Woah, wait a sec, I'm still gross!" She jumped up. "Let me..." She raced into the bedroom, and threw together a quick change of clothes, holding them carefully to avoid gooing them up, then returned to shoo Danny out. "Give me a minute."

Sam had a funny thought as she turned to start up the bath again. If Vlad ever came up in conversation, would she be the one trying to convince Danny that...well, maybe Vlad wasn't all bad after all? And that definitely wasn't right. She was the cynic!

When she came back out of the bathroom, Danny and Nathaniel were snuggled up together on the bed. Danny glanced up at her, and she smiled softly at him. He shifted slightly, as if to get up, and Sam quickly raised her hands to stop him. Nathaniel was already back asleep, tiny hands curled into Danny's chest.

Sam came over, whispering. "Stay for now. It's okay." She climbed carefully under the covers, trying not to jostle them. Danny hadn't bothered getting under the covers, so that wasn't too hard to do.

After a moment Danny relaxed again, watching over them both with drowsy eyes. Sam fell asleep on her side, the back of one hand gently touching Nathaniel's back.

He had left just before dawn, when everyone was still slumbering, and he planned to be back before anyone noticed he'd left. Of course, Danny didn't want to leave Sam and Nathaniel even for a few hours, especially now that the playpen and wrist band were gone. But there was something pulling at his mind that wouldn't let him go.

He had to check on Vlad.

They weren't exactly on good terms. In fact their relationship could be described simply: bitter, antagonistic, and lately very distant. Danny would never get Vlad's world view, and yeah…Vlad would probably never get his either.

But Danny was still sneaking around Vlad's mansion, having arrived minutes before, and was looking around for the older halfa.

Just...to make sure.

He finally found Vlad on the second floor, asleep in one of the guest bedrooms.

He wasn't alone.

Danny's older self was slumped forward in a chair nearby, his head pillowed in his arms, which rested on the edge of the bed, maybe a foot from Vlad's side. He was asleep, but looked ready to fall any moment, perched haphazardly as he was.

Danny stood there, silently staring. Studying.

He had seen what he needed- Vlad, fixed up, sleeping soundly, and surely on his way to bouncing back from his injuries, like he always did. Yet Danny couldn't leave just yet.

He hadn't expected to see his older self with him like this, watching over him. But then he hadn't expected to see Vlad get so beaten up while protecting Nathaniel that he couldn't even maintain his ghost form properly, and needed help flying...

There was a thump, and Danny started violently. Then he had to smother a grin; his double had just flopped to the floor, still asleep! He watched, strangely amused, as a gloved hand grabbed the edge of the bed and his older self slowly hefted himself back up. His face appeared, looking groggy.

Then Danny's amusement turned to unease, as their eyes met. He felt strangely defiant. He could've gone invisible. Why hadn't he?

Danny looked away first, feeling slightly embarrassed, and confused. His older self looked surprised, in a tired way, and a little wary. Danny could feel his stoic gaze still on him, as he turned to look at Vlad instead.

It was insane, but Danny realized he was actually jealous. Just a little. Vlad hadn't shown any interest in him for over a year now. Of course, he was concentrating on Nathaniel.

But maybe not. Maybe he'd found another replacement for Danny, after all these years. An heir.

Someone he could trust with his life.

Danny's eyes jumped back to his older self again, and he was caught by surprise to see him looking at Vlad. Dan's face was pinched, as though he'd been through something grueling, but his expression was gentle. Protective. Danny suddenly realized without having to be told why he had flown all the way there.

Vlad's life had been in danger that night.

His older self slowly looked over at Danny again, having felt his gaze, but Danny looked away instantly, deeply embarrassed.

Fear gripped him. Danny turned, and fled back to Amity, to a world that still made sense.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed it. Sorry again for the mix up. (Organizatioooon! It's not my strong point.) Please R&R? :)