Chapter Four: Ectoplasm is Thicker Than Blood

"Maybe we should try a six-week plan next time." - The Fairly OddParents

I regain visibility the second I'm back in the living room. I give everyone no time to recover from my sudden reappearance. "We need to leave," I hiss. "Now!"

The look on my face has their attention. Mira recovers first. "It's that bad?"

I point down the hall and say as quietly as my panic will allow. "Those two are not dispatchers. They are government agents, and this is not a safe place for ghosts." I quickly recount what I heard in the bedroom. "Get your coats. Hurry!" Andrew and Natalie rush to grab and put on their coats. Mira starts to open a portal, oblivious of the ray gun that crawls out of a panel on the wall behind her. I practically leap on Mira before she can open so much as a pinprick. "They have ghost sensors." I spin her around and point to the small gun. She squeaks and covers her mouth. No longer sensing Mira's powers, the gun sneaks back into the wall. "Basic things like invisibility and intangibility don't seem to be a problem though. We'll have to phase through the door and open a portal outside."

Mira nods without a word, and she and I start for the door. Something small tugs on my shirt, and I turn around to find Bub wearing the saddest expression imaginable. I'm not sure how much of this he understands, but it must be enough.

"Why are we leaving?" he asks miserably, his little hands are balled into fists in front of him. "You said parents love you no matter what. You said!"

I want to hold him and never let him go. "I was wrong. I'm sorry, Bub. I… I was wrong."

Bub's little lip quivers, and his red eyes have a green sheen that wasn't there before. My heart is in pieces and my core is stabbing at my insides with them as I coax Bub into my arms. He buries his face in my neck and whimpers, his eyes dampening my skin.

I quietly shush him. "It'll be okay, little man. I'll make it okay."

He says something, but I can't tell if it's "Danny" or "Daddy." I don't know if he's begging for my help or his father's love. I don't know how to tell him that he's only getting one of those.

"Come on, come on!" Andrew urges as I run to the door with that precious gift from above in my arms. "Let's leave before they come back!"

Mira phases her parents through the door, and I'm right on her tail with Bub. Once we're all outside, Mira starts to form a new portal.

And, her father slams into her, knocking her out of the way of a huge laser that almost hits her. Bub starts crying, and I lightly bounce him as I look up at the ray gun that had appeared on the roof. Andrew helps Mira to her feet.

"We must still be in range of those sensors," I say, Obsession putting my fear on the back burner. "We need to get farther away. I'm going-" loud engines interrupt my battle cry, and three white cars pull into the front lawn "-nowhere, apparently."

Our group is silent as people in crisp white suits leap out of the cars. Even Bub has quieted, though ectoplasm continues to drip from his eyes and he has my shirt collar in an iron grip. I hold him tighter and turn so that my body is somewhat between him and the Guys in White. This position backfires when Zac and Richelle burst through the door with ecto-guns in hand.

Bub whimpers, and this time I know he's saying "Daddy."

"I don't think your daddy's going to help us, Bub," Natalie says.

"Yes, he is," Bub insists.

Such faith. Such innocence. Was I ever like that?

There are so many barrels turned our way. One Guy commands, "Release the teenager, ghost."

Mira throws her hands toward me. "I'm not even touching him!"

"I'm talking to the little one," the Guy clarifies.

Bub. He means Bub, who is still curled against me. Something feral awakens at the realization. I crush Bub against me, and the words that rip out of me are deep and throaty, what Mira refers to as my angry bear voice. I'm certain my eyes are a glowing neon green, and I don't care. "If you hurt this child, you're done for!"

All eyes are on me now. A female Guy says, "Kid, it looks and sounds like you've been over-exposed to these ghosts. You're gonna have to come with us so we can get you decontaminated."

Oh, crud.

Mira leans over and whispers to her mother. A moment later, Mira disappears, and Natalie is encased in a soft white glow.

"Natalie" looks down at herself and says, "Whoa, I'm old. I mean, ha ha!" She raises her fist in the air. "I have taken possession of this…pathetic human! How's that for contamination?"

Mira uses her mother's eyes to give the rest of us some meaningful glances. I see what she's doing and so does Andrew, who puts his hands on his cheeks in mock-horror and shouts, "Oh no! That evil ghost overshadowed my wife!"

While the agents discuss going after her, I give Andrew a look that he must understand. He nods, and I conjure a duplicate to enter his body. I turn myself and Bub invisible, and "Andrew" runs over to "Natalie."

"Hey, Jerks in White," the duplicate taunts before striking a pose. "You can look, but I bet you can't touch."

Those two high-five and run off with some evil laughs. The Guys in White come to the conclusion that "the green girl and the little one" are the overshadowers - which is half-true - and decide that the third ghost will come out of the woodwork to help its "partners." As such, they all chase after the overshadowed duo.

Leaving their vehicles behind. I cautiously walk up to one and pull on the door handle. It opens. And, the keys are still in the ignition.

Have I mentioned that the Guys in White are total morons?

"I don't have a car seat, and this is the last place an infant should be sitting," I say as I get into the driver's side and set Bub in the shotgun seat. "But, you're already dead, so who cares?"

I strap him in, though only the lower portion of the seatbelt is any use for him. I buckle myself up and start the car.

Before I can pull out, Bub says, "Can't you go ghost and fly?"

"They're already looking for a third ghost," I explain. "I don't want to draw attention to us. I say as I hijack a government vehicle," I add as the stupidity of what I'm doing crashes over me. "Whatever. It's their own fault for not locking it."

I'm a horrible influence. The situation is too dire for me to care.

As tempting as it is to drive the way my dad taught me - floor it and ignore all traffic laws - that would definitely draw attention, so I force myself to drive the way that got me my license: correctly. Luckily, the car operates the same way a normal car does, though there are some buttons I'm not familiar with and will not be pushing.

"Where are we going?" Bub asks after a while.

"Out of the city," I say as if I'm not white-knuckling the steering wheel. "We'll figure out the rest later."

We reach a red light, and I use the opportunity to check on my duplicate. It and Mira have exited Mira's parents' bodies, and the vision breaks when Mira pulls them into a telephone wire. Yes, into it. Good. That should keep the Guys in White off their trail.

I feel terrible about leaving them to their own devices, but I remind myself that my duplicate is just as powerful as I am and thinks the same way as well. And with Mira's Electrokinesis as transportation, they should be fine-

Honk!

I jump and realize that the light had turned green. I drive until we reach the city limits. Then I go farther until I'm almost on the highway. I pull off into the grass and hope no one blood-thirsty - well, ectoplasm-thirsty - will find us. There isn't much to see out here. We're smack in between the city and a bridge that leads on to the highway.

I release the breath I'd been holding and turn to Bub. His seatbelt is clenched in his hands, and he is looking up at me with so much trust that I almost let out the tears I'd been holding in as well.

"Are we safe, Daddy?" Bub asks.

I unbuckle myself. "I hope so." I move to undo Bub's seatbelt and freeze. "W-what did you call me?"

Bub ignores the question. He pulls on the strap covering his waist and his tummy. "Daddy," there's that word again, "I don't like this thing."

I unbuckle him robotically as that word bounces around in my head. This isn't the first time he's said it around me today. I thought he'd been talking about the man who sired him. Now I remember that he said his daddy was "super nice and protects people from bad guys." And, I can still feel his tiny hands clutching my shirt as he curled against me. He'd whimpered that word against my skin, and I had no idea that he'd been calling me that.

And, I thought the Guys in White were morons.

Does imprinting go both ways? I never thought about it, but it would explain a few things. Like why I'm so eager to see Bub every time I visit. Why holding him feels so natural. Why I almost went feral when he was threatened. Why I was so touched the night after Christmas when Bub casually told me he loved me.

How long has this been happening? When did the imprint take effect? And, why me? Sure, I use my powers to keep people safe, but anyone can do that. I'm nothing special. I'm anxious and awkward and hard on myself to the point that there are times when I don't even like myself. Why would Bub imprint on me?

"What now, Daddy?" Bub asks, busting me out of my thoughts.

Obsession reactivated. "Let's get out of the car for now. I don't wanna be anywhere near it when they realize it's been stolen."

I scoop Bub into my arms and exit the vehicle. I start to walk away, and Bub looks around and asks worriedly, "Where are Mira and Andrew and Natalie?"

A quick check with my duplicate tells me that they're on the opposite end of the city from us. They've given their pursuers the slip, and now they want to find me and Bub.

"They're fine," I say with no shortage of relief. "My duplicate will be able to track me. Let's stay in this area until they get here."

"What if the bad guys get here first?"

My core pulsates at the thought. "I'll make them wish they hadn't."

Bub snuggles into my chest and looks up at me with too-wet eyes. "I'm scared."

I hold him tighter and kiss his forehead as that feeling I couldn't name - love it was love I am so stupid - pours over me. "That's okay. I'll be brave for you."

Bub sniffs and wipes his little fist over his eye. "So I don't get hurt, right?"

A smile pulls at my lips. "You remembered. Do you understand it now?" He shakes his head. "Like I said, you'll get it someday."

"That's far enough." A woman's voice. One I was hoping not to hear again.

I turn around. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed the nondescript gray car park in the grass on the other side of the road. Now two people are a short distance away and pointing weapons at us. The freckled woman has a ray gun, and the bespeckled man has what looks like a tricked out rifle.

Bub's parents- No. They're not his parents. They lost that title. Zac and Richelle Pierce must have followed us. No matter what you call them, this is bad.

"Stay behind me," I command. Bub floats out of my arms and latches on to my back. His fearful squeaks send my core into overdrive.

The sensation is a familiar one that reads, protect save him safety protect protect. But, there's another feeling, a subtle pulsation underneath the main one. An almost possessive, mine my son my ghost mine.

Imprinting must go both ways. Because if anything happens to my little man, all hell will break loose.

At the same time, I don't want to hurt these people. For better or worse, they are…the people who sired Bub. When we were talking to them in the living room, I could see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices. When I was spying on them in their bedroom, they'd radiated grief.

There was a time when they truly loved Bub. And, that feeling hasn't gone away.

"This is your child," I say, letting everything I'm feeling flow into my voice. "I know he looks different and has powers, but he's still a person. Ghost, human, or something in between, he's still your son!" Suddenly, images of my own parents flicker in their place, cutting into my heart. "You love him. I can tell. I can't imagine what-what his death must have felt like-"

"Exactly!" Richelle shouts brokenly. "You can't!"

"Rish," Zac chastises before turning to me and lowering his rifle slightly. "Danny, was it? Danny, we can see that you mean well. I don't know what this ghost told you-"

"Use his name!" I scream. "I don't care which name you use, but use one!"

Bub whimpers and shrinks against me. My core rages. Help him my son protect him mine.

Zac goes on. "We don't know what…what…Bub told you." It's clear that he stopped himself from using Bub's living name. "But, you say your parents study ghosts, so surely you must know how dangerous they are."

That old argument? Are you kidding me? "Humans are dangerous too!" I argue with a pointed look.

"True," Zac admits. "But, they don't have the sorts of abilities ghosts have. Moreover, they…they don't feel things like we do." His voice quakes, his grief palpable.

I battle the moisture gathering behind my lashes. "What do you mean they don't feel like we do? Can you not see how Bub's cowering behind me? He's terrified! That's an emotion. That is an honest to god emotion, and this baby is feeling it because of you!"

"Daddy?" Bub squeaks.

I realize that my whole body is quivering with rage, fear, sorrow, love. All things that ghosts feel as strongly as humans.

Richelle continues the argument. Unlike her husband, she still has her ecto-gun prepped and ready. "Ghosts are…" She pauses to regain control of herself. I pity these people as much as I despise them. "When people become ghosts, they become m-monsters." If Bub wasn't still clinging to me, I'd take that gun and jam it down Richelle's throat. "By destroying them, we're not just protecting humanity, we're helping the people who lost their own humanity. We're ending the madness that overtook them."

What kind of fucked up logic is that?

…Is it the same kind my parents use? I recall them mentioning something about that once. Do Mom and Dad and all Guys in White think that way as well?

Zac misinterprets my silence. "We're the good guys, Danny." He takes aim once more. "Now please get out of the way so we can save…him from that fate."

He's still refusing to call Bub his son. The ones who created this child on my back - this wonderful little bundle whose core has intertwined itself with mine - are so willing to destroy him.

The scene is eerily, heartbreakingly familiar to me.

Something primal coils within me. A low, low growl rumbles in my throat, but I am calm. My blurry vision goes green as the water in my eyes turns to ectoplasm. My eyes must have turned either green or black, the latter being something that they've taken to doing when I'm particularly upset. I take a deep breath and let twin teardrops roll down my cheeks.

Because ghosts can cry too.

And, I'm about to do something much dumber than stealing a government vehicle.

"Bub," I whisper over my shoulder, "fly away."

"Huh?" he gasps.

"I'm going to distract them. I want you to hide until our friends find you."

Bub is eyeing the pale green streaks on my face. "Are you scared?"

I don't answer that. "I'll be okay. But, I'll be more okay if you're not here for what happens next."

I turn back to my opponents as Bub releases his grip on me. "If you're gonna treat me like a villain, then I might as well act like one. I'm going-"

Bub shoots around me and floats in front of my face. "Go away!" he shouts at our attackers.

I'm going to have a heart attack.

Bub's hands are curled into fists at his sides. "You're mean, and I don't like you! Go away!"

Zac and Richelle are thrown off by Bub's act of courage. An act that is going to get him destabilized if he doesn't stop!

The one time I don't have the Fenton Thermos with me.

"What are you doing?" I breathe.

Bub looks at me over his shoulder, and the sheer determination in his gaze sends a mix of pride and terror through my veins. "You're scared, so I gotta be brave."

He wants to be brave so I don't have to. Just like I told him I do for people. He understands it now.

And, this is the worst possible time for it.

"Please don't," I beg. This time, clear water fills my probably-human-again eyes.

Instead of listening to me, Bub turns back to our attackers and flings his chubby arms out. "Leave us alone! We hate you!"

Richelle lets out a sob, and Zac says to her in a tight voice, "He's a ghost now, Rish. He wouldn't be saying that if he was still our son."

"I know," Richelle croaks out.

A stuttered breath escapes me, sending fresh tears down my cheeks. "Bub," I grab him and try to pull him out of the line of fire, but he doesn't budge, "stop it." I jump in front of him and wrap my hands around him. He's so small, so fragile. "Get out here, and let me deal with them!"

"Danny," Richelle calls, "move! We're trying to save him!"

I whirl around to scream things I shouldn't in front of an infant, but that infant flies back in front of me with a louder cry of, "Go away!"

He's so brave and stupid. Ancients beyond, he's already taking after me. I'm already ruining him. "Bub-"

"Go a-WWWAAAAYYYYY!"

I squeeze my eyes shut and crouch down with my hands over my ears. The action is useless against what can only be described as the loudest sound in the universe. Either the earth is shaking or I am. Terror like I've haven't felt in a long time seeps into me. I want to run and hide and beg for mercy from the thing making that awful noise.

I know I have nothing to fear from the source; the Ghostly Wail just has that effect on people.

After an eternity of hoping I don't wet my pants (I don't), the deep, guttural shriek is gone. I straighten just in time for Bub to moan and fall out of the air. I catch him and cradle him in my arms. His eyes are half-closed and unfocused, and he is limp in my grasp. Another effect of the Ghostly Wail.

Reaper said that Bub might gain one of my powers, and they were right. Bub got my Ghostly Wail. It's a little disappointing, since this isn't a power we can practice together without causing horrific damage to both ourselves and our surroundings. Still, I've never been more proud of anything in my life.

A breathy chuckle escapes me. "My son."

"Daddy," he says groggily, "I don't feel good."

"Yeah," I say sympathetically. "That power is called a Ghostly Wail. You'll feel like this every time you use it, but you'll feel better after you rest."

When I use mine, I revert back to human-form, and I still feel winded. I don't know how long Bub will be in this state. I need to get him to safety before every Guy in White in Tennessee shows up. When I bust out the Wail, it becomes the talk of the town because I'm pretty sure even the deafest person alive can hear it. From the next town over. Zac and Richelle wouldn't need to call for back-up.

Speaking of which, their car - what remains of it - has been thrown way back into some trees that have also been knocked down. A huge dirt path has been made where the ground was torn up by the shockwaves, and the part of the road that was caught in the blast has been scattered. Thank god it's not rush hour, though the commuters are going to face some headaches. Zac is flailing his arms, trying to claw his way out from under the hunk of metal he's trapped under. Richelle crawls over to help him, and even from this distance, I can see that there's a gash on her head and her leg is bent at an odd angle.

There isn't a drop of guilt in me. Not directed at them, anyway. Too bad about the road.

I debate taking the undamaged car and decide that it would be less conspicuous at this point to not be driving a stolen government vehicle. Instead, I flee down a steep hill I'd parked close to, grateful for my supernatural speed and agility. I'm not as fast in my human-form, but I could keep pace with a cheetah if I wanted to.

Now, if only all the exercise I get from fighting would transfer to my human-form.

I'm deep into the woods by the time I can't run anymore. I lean against a tree, huffing and puffing and hoping my knees don't give out. My heart beats too fast, though it might be close to a normal rate for a full-human. Bub is still in my arms, clutching my shirt like it's the only thing keeping him on the mortal plane.

He looks up at me with slightly clearer eyes. "Are the bad guys gone?"

"For now," I pant. My lips pull upward as I gaze at him, remembering what he did, how much courage he showed. I caress his soft cheek. "Bub…you were incredible. The bravest little boy in the world."

His smile is tired but genuine. My core is soothed, and my heart is full to bursting. I kiss my son's forehead, right over his bangs. His hair is the same color as my ghost-form's. It's a coincidence, but it doesn't feel like one.

"Listen to me," I say firmly. "The Ghostly Wail is very, very powerful. You saw what it did when you used it. And, you still feel weak, right?" He nods. "That's another thing about it. It leaves you vulnerable for a while. I have the same power."

"You do?" he asks, eyes brightening along with his smile.

"I do. So, I know firsthand what it does to both your surroundings and your body. And, even the ones you aren't using it on are affected by it. When you used it, even though you were trying to keep me safe, I was so scared. The Ghostly Wail strikes fear into anyone - anyone - who hears it." I suppress a shiver at the memory of that fear. I do shiver when I remember a ghost with an older version of my face using it on me. "The fear it creates is…is unlike any other fear in the world."

Bub frowns and whimpers, "I'm sorry."

Now I feel bad. I soften my tone. "Don't be sorry. You did nothing wrong. It's just how that power is, Bub. It has nothing to do with you. I'm telling you all this so you understand the kind of damage the Ghostly Wail can cause. It's an amazing power, but you shouldn't use it if you don't have to. Promise me that you will only use it if you absolutely have to. When there are no other options. When your opponent is too powerful and there's nothing else you can do. When you're trapped and there's no other way you can think of to escape. Those are the only times it's okay to use the Ghostly Wail. Got it?"

Bub nods, and I know he understands.

The world is gone. It's just me and the tiny gray spirit in my arms. My savior, my brave boy, my little man.

My son.

A warmth wraps itself around my heart, spreading out until all I feel is joy, affection, love for this child. I press him against me, and he nuzzles my chest, right over my merged heart and core. I wonder if he can hear them pounding in time-

A sharp, icy breath - my Ghost Sense - bursts out of me, and the moment is shattered. Hell, no. Not now. Not when my son is still weak from his first go at the Wail.

I finally go ghost, barely feeling the frigid blast that comes with the transformation. My core is clawing at my insides at the potential danger to my baby. I bare my teeth in a deep snarl and crush Bub against me, prepared to destroy anyone who comes within ten feet of him.

God, is this how Mom and Dad feel when Jazz and I are in danger? No wonder they're such beasts in combat.

"Down boy!" a voice that's both mine and not mine says.

My core calms in an instant. Mira is flying to us with her mother in her arms, while my irritated duplicate is carrying Mira's father, who looks more frightened now than Bub has since we left that house.

"This guy's already choking me," the copy complains. "Don't freak him out any worse."

Andrew glares at it. "I don't like heights, alright? And, I'm not exactly accustomed to being carried bridal style through the sky." My duplicate sets him on his feet before removing itself from existence.

"While being hunted down by the government on top of it," Natalie shakily adds as Mira sets her down.

I look at the humans' pale faces and Mira's nervous tugging on her clothes, and guilt slams into me. "I'm sorry. I should have stayed with you."

"Your duplicate was with us," Mira reminds. "It thinks and acts like you, so you were basically there."

I shouldn't have brought you at all, is what I meant to say.

No, what I should have done was listen to Reaper and ask Santa about Bub's birth parents. All of this could have been avoided if I hadn't been so stubborn.

I put too much faith in the fact that Mira's parents were so accepting of her. I wouldn't let myself think about the alternative. An alternative that I would have to face if Mom and Dad knew the truth about me.

"All that matters," Natalie says, unaware of the emotional turmoil I have to push down, "is that we all got away. From both the Guys in White and," she shivers, "whatever monster made that horrible scream."

"Mom," Mira says, "the duplicate explained it to us. That was Danny's Ghostly Wail."

Natalie scoffs. "I find it hard to believe that this sweet boy can make a noise like that."

I chuckle. "Actually, it was Bub's Ghostly Wail."

Natalie tosses her hands at her sides. "That's even harder to believe!"

"Well, believe it," I say and gaze down at my son. "Sometimes baby ghosts inherit another ghost's powers. And, my son got one of mine."

Bub turns to the others. "I was brave like Daddy. It was hard, but I did it!"

The Scotts are staring at us. Andrew points from me to Bub and back. "Uh, I'm hearing the words 'son' and 'daddy' being thrown around. Did we miss something?"

Oh, right.

I'm about to explain, but we hear commotion in the distance. Back-up must have arrived.

Mira turns around. She presses the backs of her hands together and pulls them apart. The atmosphere splits open in the form of a swirling yellow-green portal. She turns back to us. "How about you tell us at Reaper's?"

On that note, we all step into the portal before we're found.