Just a little life update. My work schedule changed because corporate reasons. I'm not gonna have as much free time - switching from night shift to doing the same job but crawling over the day people who are there for my entire shift now ugh - and we'll see how it affects my writing time. I was hoping to at least finish this story before the change, but that didn't happen. Thanks ahead of time for your patience.

Chapter Five: Eileen

"If you have a problem with me, call me. If you don't have my number, then that means you don't know me well enough to have a problem." - Unknown

"Larry Poppins offered his Haunt to me." That had been my answer when I came home last night, looking God knows how awful, and Jazz asked what was wrong.

Her response was a bemused, "You have got to stop speaking in code, little brother."

I didn't tell her what my "code" meant. I just shrugged and put on the same smile I'd worn through training. When my training partners didn't buy it, I just said that I was bummed that it was the last session. To which, Mira had playfully punched my shoulder and said that she'd train with me any time. Eileen gave me a look like she knew I was full of it, but she didn't ask questions. Only the Box Ghost knew what was up.

I ponder my talk with him as I eat my cereal without tasting. Sure, sometimes there's some ghost detector or repellent or whatever, but I can avoid that stuff for the most part. The stuff I can't avoid is usually pretty harmless. And, it's not like Mom and Dad are abusive. Even when I've let them down, I've never once felt unwanted by them.

Of course, that only applies to Danny Fenton.

A traitorous voice reminds me that I'm only safe as long as Mom and Dad don't know I'm a ghost. Even then, I could easily end up strapped to a table and vivisected one day. Maybe I'd transform into a human in the middle of it, and they'd see just how badly they screwed up. Or, maybe they'd become even more interested and just keep digging into me.

My appetite vanishes, not that it was there to begin with. Maybe I should take up Boxy's offer after all.

"Danny?" Jazz says, setting her spoon back into her own bowl. "Don't tell me you're okay. You weren't last night, and you aren't now."

No. I'm not. "I'm fine, Jazz. I'd tell you if I wasn't."

Jazz sighs in defeat. "Something's been on your mind for a while, and I don't think it's the black eyes thing."

My head shoots up. "Has that happened again?"

Jazz shakes her head. "Not that I've seen. But, you implied that that was what was troubling you, and I don't think that's it."

I get up to empty my bowl and put it in the sink so she can't see my face. "It's just ghost stuff. If I didn't think I could handle it, I'd say something."

"Alright," Jazz says, barely pacified.

Our parents come into the kitchen, fully equipped and ready for ghosts. Going out on patrol? Though, they look pretty serious for just a routine patrol. Some call about a ghost, maybe? Must not be close by or else my Ghost Sense would have gone off.

"Danny," Dad says, "your mother and I were talking, and we don't think you should go to school today."

Um, excuse me? If it weren't for his and Mom's expressions and my own gut-feeling, I'd be totally fine with that. "Uh, why not?" I ask. "Is something wrong?"

"We staked out Casper High up and down yesterday," Mom explains. "We didn't find the ghost you mentioned," because it didn't exist, "but we did detect high levels of ghostly activity."

"But, there have been ghosts at Casper before," Jazz points out. "What makes this time any different?"

"Because the readings indicated that there's been a high concentration of ecto-energy for a while. Maybe as far back as the beginning of the school year."

Eileen. She's been using her Shapeshifting for the entirety of every single school day. And, I know she uses Compulsion on occasion. And, Duplication at the end of the day. I've been letting off some energy by using my own Duplication more often, but that can't hold a candle to how much Eileen must be putting out.

I spy the Fenton Ghost Peeler on Dad's belt.

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing," I say, with forced nonchalance.

When my parents start to argue, Jazz cuts in. "Alright. Let's assume there is a ghost at Casper High. How do you know it's looking for trouble? Maybe it's just, I don't know, hanging around and wants to be left alone."

"Jazzypants," Dad says, "we know you like to see the best in people, and that's not a bad thing, but don't forget all the problems this town's had since ghosts became public knowledge."

"Now that they've stopped trying to hide," Mom adds, "they've also stopped limiting themselves. Who knows what could happen if this ghost is left unchecked."

I can't keep listening to this. Not when Eileen's safety is at risk. "But, what about Danny Phantom? When those ghosts captured me and Ms. Mae, Phantom came to help us. I'm your son." I fight to keep my voice steady and brace myself against the counter so my hands won't shake. "Surely, it means something that he tried to save me and my teacher."

My parents' eyes soften. "Sweetheart," Mom says. She reaches for me, but I step away and try not to feel guilty at her flash of hurt. "Your father and I weren't there, so we may not know exactly what happened. But, if Phantom truly was trying to help you, why was he first to leave when we showed up?"

I can't answer, no matter how much I want to. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I shouldn't have removed my copy so soon!

"I'm sure Phantom had a good reason," Jazz pleads.

"The only reason would be that he had a hand in their capture," Dad argues.

Something inside me snaps. "Oh, so because someone's a ghost, they can't be a decent person? Danny Phantom looks after this town day in and day out and asks for nothing in return, yet he's clearly evil? Does that make any sense?" I'm slowly raising my voice. My family is stunned because I don't act this way. I don't care. "He is living proof that ghosts don't have to be bad! What if- What if I was a ghost?" My parents flinch. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jazz's face go pale. I lower my voice for her sake and hers alone. "What if I died and became a ghost? Would you still hunt me down?" Now, Mom and Dad's face are white and horrified. But, they don't answer. Do they even have an answer? Tears sting my eyes and tint my vision green as the fight drains from me, but I refuse to let them fall. I toss my hands at my sides. "Of course you would. It doesn't matter who I am-"

Suddenly, I notice Jazz gritting her teeth and pointing frantically at her eyes. And, I realize why everything looks green. Human tears don't do that.

Are my eyes glowing? Are they black? Who cares because Mom and Dad can see it! My pulse races as Mom and Dad's shock is replaced by a carefully concealed fury and oh my God I need to get out of here!

"I-I-I'm so sorry I yelled," I stammer, swiping at my eyes and inching away as Dad slowly lowers his hand toward the Ghost Peeler. "You know, you're right. It's not safe to go to school. Maybe I'll…check out that new pizza place! All the way on the other side of town. That's a great idea! Bye!"

I hear Jazz trying to stop our parents as I bolt from the kitchen and phase through the front door. Why should I use the knob like a human? Mom and Dad already know I'm something else.

I duck into an alley and switch to my ghost-form before taking invisible flight. My visibility doesn't matter if Mom and Dad still have the machine that detects the use of ghost powers, but better safe than sorry.

I need to get to school and warn Eileen. There's no way my parents believe that I'm going to get pizza when I just had breakfast. Even if they do go there first, the way my dad drives, they could be at school before the homeroom bell rings. Jazz can only hold them off for so long.

I launch myself behind the school hard enough to form a small crater upon landing. I switch forms and run around the building and see that the courtyard is full of students, including Tucker and Sam, and faculty just getting in. That's good, right? Surely, Mom and Dad wouldn't cause a scene-

Oh, who am I kidding?

I see Eileen in her human disguise walking up to the entrance and I sprint to her. Screw subtlety. There's no time.

She yelps out my name when I grab her by the arms. "We gotta get out of here."

"Danny," she tries to break free, but my panic has me holding strong, "what are you doing? People are staring."

And, that is the only reason I lower my voice to barely a whisper. "My parents saw my eyes change." Eileen's own eyes get bigger, and I feel her tense up.

Sam and Tucker run up to us. "Dude, what's going on?" Tucker asks when they get closer.

Should I tell them? Would that put them in danger? How could I explain why I need Ms. Mae to get away without revealing her secret?

Eileen gently pushes me off of her while I'm distracted. Her voice is calm as she addresses the onlookers. "Return to what you were doing. Nothing to see here."

And just like that, we are no longer a spectacle. I wonder how far her Compulsion can stretch.

"Will you teach me to do that?" Sam asks.

"Me, too," Tucker says.

Eileen didn't compel them? Of course she didn't, I think. She knows I trust them. Still, I wish they didn't have to get involved in this. But, I also know that they, especially Sam, would kill me the rest of the way for not telling them.

"Long story short," I hiss, "my parents know I'm a ghost." When my friends cast fearful looks at Eileen, I add, "And, Ms. Mae found out yesterday."

"Saw him change," Eileen says. It's not a lie.

They hum in acknowledgement, then Tuckers asks, "Is it that bad?"

Ssscccrrrreeeeeccchhhh!

"I don't think it's good," Sam says.

Thanks to my father's driving skills, if you can call them that, the GAV stopped in front of the school in record time. My stomach drops as my parents leap out of the vehicle and burst into the courtyard. We're a spectacle again, but when I see the flashes of green metal in my parents' ears, I know Eileen won't be able to compel us out of this one.

Obsession takes over and I step forward. "Get Ms. Mae out of here," I command softly. "I'll keep my parents busy."

"Shouldn't we get you out of here?" Tucker asks.

"No time to explain. Just go." I hear their footsteps despite Eileen's protests, and I can breathe the tiniest bit easier because of it.

My parents stop a safe distance from me, and Mom spreads her arms out to her sides. "Everyone stand back. That boy over there isn't what he seems."

I hold up my shaking hands placatingly. "Look, I don't know what you saw, but I'm sure I can explain it."

"Oh? You can explain how human eyes are capable of turning completely black out of nowhere and can conjure up tears that are obviously made of ectoplasm?"

"I…plead the Fifth?" I say stupidly.

Meanwhile, everyone around me starts whispering, and I struggle to stay on my feet. Is this it? Is this how my secret identity is revealed? Surrounded by my peers who are indifferent to me at best and downright malicious at worst? By the ones who are supposed to love me no matter what? I hope Sam, Tucker, and Eileen are far away from here by now.

A light blue car pulls up behind the GAV. Jazz's car. My sister jumps out of it and runs into the court, calling my name.

Dad holds an arm to stop her. "That's not your brother, Jasmine." He never uses her real name. His normally cheerful face is twisted into an ugly rage as he shouts at me, "How long have you been impersonating our son?"

"And, what have you done with the real Danny?" Mom demands, pulling a small ray gun off her belt and taking aim.

They think I'm a ghost who's impersonating their son. I don't know if that's better than them knowing the truth or worse. Actually, it's definitely worse. If they think I'm a stranger, then they are guaranteed to do horrible things to me.

Dad whips the Ghost Peeler off his belt, the updated one that doesn't waste time forming a robotic exoskeleton over its wielder. Jazz grabs his arm and begs, "Stop! Please! You're causing a scene. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for all of this."

Mom pulls Jazz off of him and holds her back as she struggles. "It's okay, sweetie. We'll get this sorted out. Jack?"

Dad needs no further instruction. He aims the Ghost Peeler. At me.

I should move. I should run. Fly away. Phase through the ground. Something. But, I'm paralyzed. My parents have attacked my ghost-form plenty of times, and that's scary enough.

Now, they're attacking my human-form, and it's all kinds of wrong.

Jazz, Sam, and Tucker scream my name as Dad presses a button. A blue light emanates from the device-

Something slams into me, sending me rolling over the grass. A scream follows.

My core wails in my chest.

Dad sees his mistake and almost turns off the Ghost Peeler. Mom stops him, releasing Jazz and pointing at what the blast from the device is still hitting. In my place stands a black woman who's screaming in pain. Cracks form over her skin, her clothes, every part of her. The lairs of her disguise peel away, revealing an incredibly thin ghost with off-white skin, a flowing gray dress, and long, long black hair.

The Ghost Peeler deactivates automatically, its job complete. Eileen collapses on to her stomach. The courtyard is silent except for my father's startled, "She's a ghost? I mean, she's a ghost! I knew it!"

"Uh…" Eileen drawls groggily. She grins, the kind you show when you're cornered and on the verge of a panic attack. "Class dismissed?"

Then the whispering restarts, only it's not about me this time. Students and faculty gather closer, muttering their surprise, their fear. "Ms. Mae's a ghost?" "Whoa, she's really a ghost?" "Check it out. She's a ghost!"

It should be me lying prone in the grass and being gawked at. Instead, Eileen pushed me out of the line of fire, and now she's the one whose cover is blown. I shouldn't have come here. I should have just left town, maybe gone to the warehouse or even flown to Nebraska and stayed with Mira and her family. Better yet, I should have circled back to the Ghost Portal once my parents left the house and fled to the Ghost Zone. Now, Eileen has been exposed, and it's all my fault.

When Tucker and Sam run to my side to help me up, Tucker says weakly, "We tried to stop her. She…phased through us."

"Danny," Sam says, slightly accusing, "didn't you tell us she wasn't a ghost?"

And now, I feel even worse. "She wasn't ready to tell anyone. I promised I'd keep her secret. She isn't bad."

As if to prove that, Eileen props herself up on her elbows, still weakened by the Ghost Peeler, and says, "Danny's not a ghost. He's been around me so much that he must have picked up some of my energy."

No…

"You contaminated our son?" Mom snarls. "And, who knows what you've done to the other students!"

"Nothing!" Eileen pleads. "I would never hurt a student! All I wanna do is teach!" Her voice is shaking. She tries to pull herself up further, but she's still too weak. "But, if that's a problem, I'll go without a fight."

"No!" I shout, my core still screaming for me to help her.

I start to run for her, but Eileen stops me with a firm look. "It's okay, Danny. This was bound to happen eventually."

My heart breaks at the grim acceptance in her eyes. Damn the consequences. Damn the people around us. Damn everything but the woman who shared her death with me and held me when I cried and helped me perfect my powers just because she wanted to.

"No." I sprint into the fray and stand between Eileen and my parents, the latter blinking in shock at my actions. "No, you won't touch her."

My mother is the first to recover. "Danny, we're sorry we accused you. We shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, and we'll talk about it later. But, for now you have to get out of the way-"

"So you can waste her?" I snap. "So you can punish her for existing? She did nothing wrong!"

"Danny, your eyes are glowing now," Dad points out. "Anyone can see that you've been contaminated-"

I throw out my arms in frustration. "Well then I enjoy being contaminated! I don't care that she's a ghost! She is gentle and kind and supportive-"

I feel a slight tug on my pant leg. Eileen looks up at me pleadingly. "Danny, stop. This is only going to make things worse."

Mom points her ray gun. "Don't touch my son," she growls.

I step in the way. "She can touch me wherever she wants. That came out wrong, but you know what I mean."

"Danny," Dad says carefully, "if you're as contaminated as you seem to be, then she's obviously done something to you."

Your Ghost Portal something to me, I want to say. But, I hold my tongue. Not here. Not like this.

"Once we take care of this ghost," Mom says, "we'll take you home and get you fixed up. For now, we need you to get out of the line of fire."

This is going nowhere. Nothing short of going ghost right in front of everyone will get them to stop. Even if I do that, Lord knows what would happen next.

Unless I… Yes. Yes, that could work. Please let it work.

"I don't care what you think," I say. "You may hate ghosts, but I don't. Not since Danny Phantom came around and showed me that ghosts don't have to be evil."

It's working. All around me, people start murmuring their agreements and catching my parents off-guard. Spurred on by this, I keep going, letting a faint but familiar tingle run over my skin.

"I've been biting my tongue for the past two years, and I'm sick of it."

"What's happening?" Jazz blurts, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists over her chest.

"Dying doesn't make a person evil. If someone becomes a vengeful ghost, it's because they were already a jerk and just became a jerk with superpowers. Good people can and will use their powers for good. How can you not see that by now?"

"That's enough, Fenton Jr.." the voice comes from above me. My voice but not quite.

Paulina gasps and points up at the sky. "It's the ghost boy!"

Close enough.

I fight a triumphant grin as my duplicate descends in front of me and gives me a smug but secretive grin. "I'll take it from here." I nod and step back to help Eileen to her "feet."

"What are you doing?" she whispers, fighting a grateful smile.

"Just applying what I've learned," I reply, and her eyes fill with tears.

"At ease, Fentons," my copy says when my parents take aim.

Jazz touches Mom's shoulder and says with barely concealed pride, "I think we should hear what Phantom has to say." My parents glance at each other then reluctantly lower their weapons.

My copy looks around at the people surrounding us, who are waiting for "me" to speak. The majority of them trust me. They know I protect the innocent. If I'm protecting Eileen, they have to realize that she's a good person.

When my copy finally speaks, even my parents listen. "I know you're all scared, confused. But, I promise you that this ghost has no ill intentions. She was a dedicated teacher in life, and she isn't letting her death change that. She loves her students, myself included."

Someone pipes up, "Was she your teacher when you were alive?"

My copy pauses at that then recovers. "Actually, she helped me with my powers. In fact," I bet the story forming in its mind is the same one forming in my own, "she was one of the first ghosts I met when I died. And, she showed me that ghosts could be good, kind people. I owe a lot to this woman, and I'm not going to let anyone hurt her."

My copy's tone is calm, sure. It doesn't raise its voice at all, but that voice carries. The words spoken are honest and passionate. It takes a moment to register that, though I'm not physically the one speaking, it's still my voice, my thoughts. I'm no stranger to public speaking when it's something I care about and need people to hear, but I've never actually seen myself in action.

Damn, I'm good.

When it's clear that my copy has said its - my - piece, Sam speaks up with a tentative smile. "I mean, she's got Danny Phantom's approval."

"How bad can she be?" Tucker adds.

Paulina grins. "If the ghost boy likes her, then she can't be bad at all!"

"I have to admit," Dash says, "I kind of respect Ms. Mae. I don't like her because she gives me detention. But, having a teacher actually punish me is…weirdly refreshing."

My turn now. "And, thanks to Ms. Mae's tutoring, my grade point average is up to a B. Not too shabby, considering what it was."

"And, we're proud of you for that, hun," Mom says. "But, what was all that at the old warehouse? If these ghosts are so nice, explain why they brought you there."

Crap. I'd hoped they'd forgotten about that. "That was…"

"A training exercise that got out of hand," my copy explains, coming up with the same half-baked excuse that I did. "But, no one got hurt, so bygones and stuff."

I point to my copy. "What he said."

"Look," my copy goes on to everyone, "your teacher may be a ghost, but that doesn't mean she's out to hurt anyone. She's been like a-" Mother, it almost says. I realize with a pang that it's true. My copy's voice shakes, and I know mine would too. "She's someone I can count on." It clears its throat. "And, I know I'm not the only one who feels that way."

Eileen puts her hand over her mouth, crying softly as students start talking about how patient she is with them. How she stands up for them. How she's always there when they need to talk. It starts out quiet then gets louder and louder until my parents are shrinking back at the sea of voices telling them leave Ms. Mae alone.

My core calms to a gentle hum. A smug smile pulls at my lips at my parents' defeat. "You came here hoping to take down a ghost. Are you prepared to take down all of us?"

Finally relenting, Mom and Dad put their weapons away. "No, we can't fight kids," Dad says. Then he turns a hopeful grin at Mom. "Can we?"

Mom glares at him. "No, Jack." Mom looks out at the crowd, who quiet down at the relent. "You're all serious? You're okay with having a ghost at school with you? Even you, Danny? We thought you were afraid of ghosts."

"I was. I'm not anymore." It's the most true thing I've said to them in a while.

Someone clears their throat. Principal Ishiyama steps forward, and I, my copy, and Eileen all freeze up. The principal is known for her poker face, and now is no exception. There's a knot in my stomach as we all wait for her to speak. "While we will certainly be discussing this," Eileen ducks her head in shame, and my copy and I reach for her hands, "it is true that Ms. Mae, or whatever her name is, has never given us any trouble at this school. And, no one can argue with such a glowing review from Danny Phantom. So, unless anything…untoward happens, I see no reason why she can't continue her duties at this school."

Cheers break out. Eileen starts to collapse with relief, but my copy and I catch her in a group hug which she graciously returns. "I'm so proud of you," she whispers tearfully. We snuggle against her.

When the principal calls for everyone to quiet down, Eileen swipes at her cheeks and speaks up. "Thank you. Just…thank you. And, um, well, first of all, my name is actually Ms. Merryweather. But, that's a bit of a mouthful, so Ms. Mae is fine." To my surprise, she shifts into her human disguise. "And, this form might be a little less distracting in class."

"That's what you think," Tucker calls out. He waves finger guns at her and goes, "Ha cha cha!" When no one reacts, he scowls. "Oh, I know I'm not the only one who thinks she's hot." He is pacified when the boys and a girl or two mumble their agreements.

"Alright, alright," the principal says. "Show's over." The bell rings, and she sweeps her hands toward the building. "Everyone to your homerooms. Including you, Ms….Mae."

Students and faculty alike bustle into the building, talking excitedly. Word about this will be all over the school by first period. And, the news tomorrow.

I remain standing as adrenaline wears off and everything crashes over me. I mentally tell my duplicate to fly away and disappear where no one can see it. Danny Phantom isn't needed right now.

"Danny?" Jazz rests her hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

No, but I nod anyway. "You should get to school, yourself. You're late."

She kisses my cheek. "It's worth it."

As she walks away, Eileen takes her place, wrapping me in a side hug and rubbing my arm. Cold, familiar, safe. I throw my arms around my torso and lean my head on her shoulder. My parents are right here. I don't look at them.

"I really owe you," Eileen says.

"No, you don't," I argue.

She laughs and pats my back. "Your friends are waiting for you, kid. Let's go face the music."

I watch as she walks toward the entrance and uses the door like a human. Habit? Or, is she still trying to blend in despite everything?

My parents reach for me, but I fast-walk away from them. Sam and Tucker are waiting for me at the entrance. No accusation, no betrayal over the fact that I kept such a big secret from them. They each put an arm around my shoulders and lead me into the building, not mentioning the tears on my face.