Human Chapter 7: Missing in Action, a danny phantom fanfic

Phantom stood in Danny's room leaning against the window staring out at the sky. He was wearing Danny's clothes and listening to Danny's music from Danny's i-pod plugged into Danny's dock. Maddie watched him silently from the door, Phantom too caught up in his own thoughts to notice her. Or perhaps he just pretended she wasn't there in order for him to feel alone with his thoughts.

Maddie wondered what those thoughts were; she tried to discern what the small frown on his face meant and what those vacant longing eyes were looking for. She tried to figure out what the slight tapping of his right forefinger signified and what that deep sad sigh meant. But she couldn't figure him out. Everything she thought he'd be happy to return to life. Especially with his hero complex, he wouldn't want to be an evil ghost. But… he didn't look happy. He didn't look happy at all. More sad than happy, angry too.

After the spectacle at the table Maddie was hoping that she could talk to him try to get to know him but he was strange. Very strange. His eyes, those deep emerald eyes that looked toward the sky, they were hollow, empty. He had not life in him even though he'd come back from the dead. It seemed only bitter emotions were left over. Phantom issued another sigh eyes turning from the window and fixating on her. Maddie suppressed a shiver, those were lifeless dead eyes.

"You aren't going to leave are you?" Phantom asked his face blank and lifeless. There was that word again, lifeless. How could a living, breathing, human being be so dead?

"Are you alright?" Maddie asked. She though she saw a flicker of emotion across that blank face but it was quickly quashed down.

"I'm fine." He answered atomically, "Sorry." He said his voice flat. Maddie nodded.

"Well, if you want to finish…" she trailed off Phantom looked away rubbing the back of his neck, were his eyes red? Were they puffy? Had he been crying?

"I'll be down soon." Phantom said sighing and turning back toward Maddie. Maddie nodded and left walking down the stairs a bad feeling in her stomach. She felt like she did something wrong. Something horribly wrong?

But what was wrong? Maddie shook her head. She shouldn't be feeling this way, bringing a boy back to life was a miracle. Yet something told her she was wrong, Maddie shook of the feeling and took a deep breath. Everything would be fine wouldn't it?

Danny closed the door and leaned against it after his mom had left. He closed his eyes and felt the cool painted wood on his back. He ran his hands through the carpet feeling the dusty rough fibers. He stared at the ceiling looking at the familiar paint figures the familiar lines and cracks in the ceiling. There was one that almost looked like him in the portal from a certain angle and another that looked like a giraffe from another.

Danny's fingers clenched into fists the creases in his palms to the scrape of his nails against the skin all right there in the forefront of his senses. How his feet in their socks felt with the strange texture of the carpet underneath them. How his pulse beat through every fiber of its being with a steady almost too fast thump.

Thump.

Danny felt sick.

There was this horrible feeling rising up in his chest clenching at his heart twisting its way up his ventral body cavity and filling it with an empty heat.

Danny laughed. How could heat be empty? But it was.

Danny wanted to press his face into snow, to let himself be buried in it, to slow down the clamorous beating of his heart.

Thump.

His green eyes roamed the room, he breathed heavily his face flushed with fever. He just needed to get somewhere cool. To lay down in a cold bed, somewhere where he could breathe air that wasn't tainted with thick sweaty empty heat.

His breath came out in little huffs as he stood shakily fighting off delirium. The sun outside seemed too bright the room to warm. His clothes too confining and heavy. His sweaty palms grasped the doorknob clumsily as he tried to get down, down to the cold.

Danny leaned against the banister stumbling down the stairs where his mother looked up surprised. Danny's feverish deep green eyes rolled sickly upward to behold her visage as he then stumbled and tripped his face hitting the ground the warm rough carpet on his face.

Thump, thump.

Eyes clouded as Danny lay there he didn't perceive his mother rushing toward him or her calling to her husband alarmed, he just remembered the heat. Then wondering if he would ever feel that Cold again.

"Where's Danny? He should be home by now!" floated into Danny's field of awareness. Groggy and feeling a bit nauseous Danny tried to sit up to tell his mom he was right there. A cold, or rather formerly cold, washcloth fell from his face as he propped himself up on his elbows and stared at his mother who glanced over at him briefly her gaze flickering away before returning.

"Oh, Phantom." Maddie said concerned, "How are you feeling?" she asked. Danny's eyebrows knit together perplexed as to why she was calling him Phantom and ready to dodge the hell that was sure to be raised. Then it hit him. He was Phantom and Phantom was now human. Danny groaned and rolled over hoping to erase the nightmare from his mind. Maddie came over feeling his forehead as Danny lay there upset.

"Well your fever has gone down and you don't look as flushed." Maddie said. Danny looked up at her trying to figure out if she was serious. He hadn't gotten sick since the time when he first fought Desiree; even then he suspected his parents just might have been right about it being a ghost virus. Then he was again reminded that he was human now. Had a year of ghost fighting finally caught up with him? Danny sat up.

"I'm fine now, I think I… I think I was just a bit upset and still not used to you know being alive again…" Danny rambled rubbing the back of his neck. Maddie nodded but stared at him strangely.

"Well I can't exactly leave you alone… and it probably wouldn't be for the best to leave you with Jack… so would you mind coming with me to look for Danny. Both his friends and the school said he wasn't at school today. When I find that boy I'm going to give him a piece of my mind." Maddie said vowing her motherly wrath. Danny looked away.

"Yeah… I guess." He said. Maddie stared at him. Was he still feeling sick? He looked back up and something in his eyes moved her but just as she was about to reach out to him and ask what was wrong he stood up and walked over to where he had discarded Danny's shoes and put them on. Maddie sighed heavily then followed him out the door. Sam and Tucker were walking by. Phantom froze. Sam and Tucker froze.

"Uh…" Phantom rubbed the back of his neck nervously something she'd seen Danny do plenty of times.

"So…" Tucker said looking around then his eyes resting on her, on Maddie. Sam stared at Phantom and Phantom back at her as if they were having their own silent conversation then they abruptly looked away Phantom shuffling awkwardly. Sam with a slight blush to her cheeks, Tucker stared at them and opened his mouth words coming to the tip of his tongue as it poised ready to strike, but then glancing at Maddie he swallowed those words.

"Um… Mrs. Fenton?" Sam asked finally kind of breaking the tension.

"Yes?" Maddie asked expecting questions from anyone who saw her with Phantom.

"Who is this?" Sam asked but the words seemed a little off. Phantom kind of shuffled looking around nervously then rubbing the back of his neck.

"This is Phantom. Danny Phantom." Maddie explained proudly, "I'll explain the specifics later once I find Danny then you three can all talk to him." Maddie said. Sam and Tucker exchanged looks then looked over at Phantom who was making some sort of signal but stopped once Maddie looked over at him rubbing the back of his neck yet again.

"Uh… sure, that sounds great." Sam said while Tucker seemed to be nursing a new wound to his arm, Sam grabbed Tucker's arm and started to drag him off then she paused looking back. "And Mrs. Fenton… when you see Danny… tell him…" a heat rose to her cheeks, "that we're really worried about you, so you better take care of yourself no matter what happens!" Sam stared right at Phantom though as she said this and Phantom nodded. Maddie stared at Sam pretending she hadn't noticed the whole exchange as she contemplated what it could mean.

"I will." Maddie promised.

Sam turned away and Phantom sighed hanging his head and examining the ground around his feet. Maddie stared at him. Then she turned toward the RV and let Phantom in before going around to the driver's side and opening it sliding into the seat then looking over at Phantom as she closed the door.

Phantom had a small crease above his brow as he thought, his fingers picking at the fibers of Danny's ripped jeans. He looked sad. Maddie watched as his large oversized hands move, fingers moving across the fibers slowly rhythmically pick, pick, pick, picking. The pants already had evidence of Danny's fingers, before Phantoms, probing and pulling the cotton fibers from the pants. Then Phantom turned to her his deep green emerald eyes asking her something, an inquiry in the gem like depths. Maddie waited wanting to know this question. His face was familiar, his eyes blinked twice as he stared lips parting.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare or do you want me to run through hoops or a maze or something." Phantom asked. Maddie blinked, of course, he was wondering why she hadn't started the RV. Maddie's fingers kissed the keys then she hesitated wondering if Phantom was ready to go out into public yet. Maddie looked over at the white haired child sitting next to her who was staring at her with a "well?" expression. She decided he'd be fine and she started up the RV.

The low rumble of the engine seemed to ease Phantom a bit and he watched as they eased out of the driveway and onto the road his eyes taking in the scenery as it passed somewhat bored as he slouched into the seat.

"Do you have a favorite color?" Maddie asked. Phantom jumped a little.

"Uh… I thought I was just your science project? Right? You don't have to know things about me like that." Phantom remarked nervous.

"Just making conversation." Maddie said defensive. She didn't want to treat Phantom as just another experiment now that he was human but… well she wanted to know more about her subject.

"Oh." Phantom remarked shuffling awkwardly in his seat. He looked around then back at Maddie his breathing starting to pick up in pace. The light in turned red and Maddie stopped the RV grateful for the interruption to her driving.

"Are you ok?" Maddie asked.

"Yeah fine, I was just thinking of telling you something because I probably should have told you a long time ago... but at the same time I really was scared to tell you… but then I realized it was a stupid thing to do because you probably wouldn't believe me anyway and… really I have no evidence to back it up except my word and you'd probably rationalize that all way anyway but… what if you did believe me what would we do then I meant it's not like I can fix this or you can its… all just so… messed up and I was thinking telling you might help… but then I kind of still don't want to tell you at the same time but… I see no reason not to in the situation I'm in… but I really still can't prove anything and…" the loud blare of a honking horn interrupted Phantom. He jumped so abruptly he nearly hit his head on one of the many buttons place around the RV.

Maddie, and Phantom, had been so caught up in what Phantom had been saying that Maddie hadn't even noticed that the light had turned green. Phantom sank into silence as Maddie drove through the intersection quickly trying to avoid upsetting anyone else that day.

Phantom seemed to be trying to calm down; he was practically going into hysterics as he was talking to Maddie. She wondered what could make him so upset and thought back on his words. Something he should have told her a long time ago… something he was scared to tell her? But what could I possibly be?

Most of the trip was spent in silence a couple awkward attempts to start conversation littered throughout the drive. It was when the street lamps came on and the sun went down that Phantom eventually fell asleep to the rhythmic roar of the engine and the sound of the tires moving along the pavement.

Maddie sighed Phantom's stomach growled in his sleep and he shifted uncomfortably before falling back into that lull. Maddie realized her own stomach was giving protests as well and decided that she should probably head home. She could ignore her body's wants for food, but Phantom… she'd almost forgotten that he wasn't a ghost and had to eat. He still had the same flippant air, and he was as human as he'd seemed on the roof when she shot him reminiscing about his life as a human. But Phantom seeming human and being human were two completely different things. Maddie turned the corner and began the drive back to Fenton works the street lamps illuminating the face of Phantom every so often.

He gave out a slight snore and seemed to relax even more his cheek scrapping along the window as he slid down. The noise of his cheek was a subtle squeak like a trapped mouse as the boy slept.

The rumbling sound of the tires on the pavement, the constant sound of the engine, the reoccurring illuminations of light from the street lamps, the soft snores from the boy to her right. It was almost hypnotic, soothing, reassuring.

The sign from Fenton Works came into view and Maddie pulled into the drive way of the house and tried to shake Danny awake.

"Mmmmm…." Was all that came from his mouth as he tried to curl up further into the window.

"Wake up." Maddie said giving a gentle shake. Phantom closed his eyes and wrinkled his nose in distaste to those words then fell back into a relaxed state. Maddie smiled remembering Danny when he fell asleep on long road trips, remembering when he was younger and Maddie would pick him up out of his car seat while he slept, how he would snuggle into her chest comfortably as she carried him in.

"Wake up Danny." Maddie said attempting to wake the teen up once more.

"Mmoooommm…" Danny groaned, "noooooo schoollllll… mm…." Phantom replied. Maddie froze as Phantom looked over half asleep and stared over at Maddie. For a second in the dark she thought she saw her own Danny, sleepy and tired and somewhat sick. Even his voice had matched Danny's tones to a T.

"Phantom wake up." Maddie corrected. Phantom instantly shook himself awake the same confused look flickering across his face for a moment before he sobered up and blinked.

"Oh…" Phantom said, "We're h- back?" He said opening the door and climbing out of the vehicle. Maddie shook of the strange sense of déjà vu that had been associated with Phantom and her son then climbed out behind him he was about to go upstairs when Jazz intercepted him and took him to her room. Phantom going willingly though looking a bit annoyed. Maddie smiled a bit thinking Phantom was in for one hell of a psychoanalysis from Jasmine.

Going to the fridge Maddie pulled out the food Phantom had abandoned and a couple other left overs making some plates up for the four of them. Maddie was getting worried about Danny and she put her finger to her lips wondering where he could be, if something had gone wrong on the way to school, or if someone had maybe kidnapped him. Perhaps that's why the phone call she got for a political survey had scared her so much. Every time Danny seemed to go missing she was afraid he'd pop up in a body bag or that he'd end up in the back of some white van. Maddie tried to laugh at this image. Danny would never be so dumb to get into a van with strangers for the promise of a bike or candy, he was smarter than that, even when he was younger.

However… if his enemy hadn't used bribes but had fought Danny, knocked him out and dragged him away… Danny wouldn't stand a chance. There were often times when Maddie thought that maybe she should teach him some karate, after all she could be qualified to teach as a Master. The time just never seemed right, and Danny seemed happy as he was with his friends. It was impossible to believe anything bad would ever happen to him. The microwave dinged and Maddie plated out some of the food putting Phantom's on his plate and placing it on the table. She then served a bigger plate of some leftover steak and potatoes to Jack and a smaller one for Jazz. She herself to some of her leftovers from lunch and served them up placing them on the table followed by forks and napkins. Then she placed the usual drinks around the table, chocolate milk for Jack and Phantom, a bottle of sparkling water for Jazz, and just whatever Maddie felt like drinking which tonight happened to be a tall wine glass of Apothica Red.

Satisfied Maddie ventured upstairs and to Jazz's room she went to knock on the door but paused curious as to what psycho-technical talk was occurring beyond the threshold of the door. Waiting by the door Maddie listened to the conversation with in.

"What do we tell her?" Jazz was asking.

"I don't know." Came Danny's… no Phantom's voice, "what can we, or rather you, tell her? I'm pretty much useless like this. And Fenton… well truthfully I have no idea where he went… I think the only way I might be able to find him would be Clockwork or Frostbite. God I wish Clockwork would have warned me!" Phantom said frustrated.

"Well ghost master of time must have a reason." Jazz said trying to cheer Phantom up. Maddie frowned, how did she know the ghost that Phantom spoke of.

"I don't know… the only time he's interfered with my time, besides that time I went back and dad was all half ghost and mom was married to Vlad." He stopped here and inserted an "eww" before continuing, "Was when my evil future self was going to take over… or rather had taken over the future, and to save you guys when you were about to be splattered sky high by condiments." Phantom said.

"Gross Danny." Jazz said and for a moment Maddie wasn't sure who was in there, her Danny or Phantom Danny.

"Yeah well, I guess it's that old cliché, you live long enough to see yourself turn evil, or you die a hero." Phantom sighed, "My hero life is over, ironically it's because I'm alive."

"Don't worry we'll figure this out." Jazz said.

"Yeah that's what Sa-" Phantom broke off causing Maddie to jerk away from the door and for Jazz to open it. Being a couple paces away from the door by now, having back pedaled embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping on them, Maddie put on a smile.

"I was just about to come get you it's time to eat." Maddie said with a smile. Jazz nodded.

"Ok." Jazz went down the stairs Phantom left siting awkwardly in the room.

"Uh… I guess I'll go wash my hands then." Danny said walking towards the bathroom leaving his mother in the hallway staring after him before she descended down the stairs. Danny sighed as he washed his hands avoiding the mirror and its lying truths. It lied that mirror and Danny decided that he hated it. Hated those deep green eyes that were like deep green mid-summer grasses, he hated them. They weren't his, but at the same time they were, they were his eyes in his face.

Danny wiped off his hands on the towel not wanting to think about it anymore and descended the stairs to the smell of food.

The late supper of people gathered around the table was a tired dull affair. Jack was scarfing down his food then raiding the fridge, Danny picking at his left over Mexican food and then slowly eating it Jazz analyzing the situation, Maddie analyzing Danny. Danny finished his food last sitting at the table as always beyond the time that everyone else had retired to the living room and to the dull noise of the TV. He sat there picking at the last of his food and slowly scrapping the rice onto is fork till the plate was clear. Afterward he scooped up his plate and fork and finished off the milk left in his cup placing the dishes carefully in the dishwasher before starting it then leaning against the sink hanging his head over the edge using his arms like the bottom of a rocking chair for a moment.

"Hey." Maddie came in. Danny visibly cringed expecting another awkward talk with Maddie trying to figure out what kind of life he lived before he became a ghost. Something he couldn't explain truthfully without explain halfas and the portal accident and all of the horrible cartoon like misadventures that had happened in his life. Danny stood erect leaning against the counter waiting for his mom to talk. Maddie gave a sigh and looked at him.

"I think I understand you a little bit more. You're like my Danny…" Maddie sighed remembering that Danny still hadn't come home and Danny froze knowing that he wouldn't, "You're a teenage boy, dying once and becoming a ghost and acting like a hero… then coming back to life… even so you're still a teenager, you like your privacy, you're secretive and you have your own hobbies and lifestyle. I'm just some lady to you… perhaps you really do think that I think of you like an experiment and I admit it started out that way but you… you're human… you feel, you think, you're not just an experiment. You're human and you have your different sides and your trust and doubt… so if I start trusting you… will you trust me?" Maddie asked. Danny stared at him mom for a minute then sighed.

"Sure, sounds fair." Danny replied turning away. Maddie nodded.

"Alright… I'm going to go out to look for Danny again, you should get to sleep… Jazz has a trundle." Maddie said moving out of the room. Danny sighed, of course he couldn't sleep in his own bed because his mom was thinking that he was going to be sleeping in it. Danny made his way upstairs carefully getting dressed in the pajamas Maddie had left out for him then making his way over to Jazz's room who was reading a book on the bed the trundle mattress pulled out and prepared for him.

"Just like old times?" Jazz whispered with a sad smile.

"Yeah." Danny smiled a little as well then laid down on the bed, "goodnight."

"Goodnight Danny." Jazz smiled nudging him with her foot. Danny didn't even protest because after a whole day of being called Phantom by his mother… being called Danny was nice.