A/N: I LIIIIVVVEEE! Behold, this fic is not yet relegated to Ghost Writer's to-write list of abandoned stories. Sorry for the 4-year wait, I was busy working on what I hope to be my first book (...which is on draft 5 right now lol). However, the important thing here is that I am keeping my promise: I told everyone who asked that this was not abandoned. I have come to finish it! … Though there's still a number of chapters left to write lol. On the bright side, my adventures with my own writing have definitely improved my ability to just plow through writer's block!
My writing style has changed, though, so it's weird to go back to this one, which I'm trying to keep somewhat consistent so it's not too jarring...
As usual, Read/Review! I'm curious how many will still be around (especially since FF now only sends out alerts if you have them enabled and they automatically turn off after 90 days? Guess it explains why I can't recall the last time I saw a FF email…)

Chapter #34: Too Late

Darren struggles to sit up as the Fentons enter. They'd been wary of him earlier, but the concern in their eyes is what drives them forward. Dani trails sleepily behind them, looking a little worse for wear, but the expression on her face tells him all he needs to know about his own state.

"It's not good, is it?" he questions softly.

Maddie Fenton sighs, reaching out to check his pulse again, "How are you feeling?"

"Worse than I'd think 'half-dead' is supposed to feel," he tries to laugh it off, but his lungs spasm and he breaks into a cough, "if…uh, the 'Dannies' are a reference."

"They have their own circumstances," she responds, "I need to confirm something: The suit, is it pumping ecto-energy directly through you? It's not just utilizing it as a power source?"

"That's correct," he confirms.

"It's closer to Danny's situation, then," she mutters, "But why…?"

"It's not exactly the same. Danny's was all 'wham!' and done, right?" Jack responds, "Maybe the speed of dosage matters?"

"That's probably part of it," Sam answers from the doorway, "Danny's always saying that death is just the absence of life, and ghosts are more like…anti-life. Basically, still energy, just in the opposite way."

"But even so, what's so important about–"

"–It's because Danny died, right? Briefly," the voice that interrupts is soft, cracking.

"Jazz," Sam's expression is heartbroken, violet eyes trained on someone beyond Darren's sight.

She steps into the room, her normally lively expression drawn and eyes puffy and red. A new, unfamiliar headband adorning her head, she clutches a few books to her chest.

"Jazz, are you…?" Dani starts.

"I'm fine. I…actually, I'm not fine at all, but I'll have to deal with it later," her smile is tight, her lips trembling.

"...What…?" Darren questions, lost.

He makes eye contact with Dani, who shakes her head softly.

"There's also the splitting and re-convergence of the soul," Maddie hums, "But obviously neither of those things are the case for Dani," she motions to her adopted daughter.

"Dani's an outlier," Sam interjects, "So Danny and Masters are the best examples. Masters didn't 'die', did he? Based on what he told Danny."

"That's true, he was hospitalized with a nasty case of exto-acne, but he didn't die," Maddie frowns, "So that's not what's–"

"–Are we sure about that?" Sam seems confused by her own question.

"Of course," Jack answers, "He got a face full of the stuff, we immediately took him to the hospital, and he didn't die there, so…"

"Sam, is Danny saying he thinks otherwise?"

"Danny?" Darren mutters, looking around. The renowned ghost isn't anywhere to be seen.

"I mean, we didn't know that Danny died for a moment, either," Sam whispers, "He walked in, there was the light, the scream, and then he stumbled back out. He experienced all of…that in those few moments. It's possible Vlad did, too…" her eyes grow slightly distant, "... and that the side that merged with 'humanity' was the impure side, instead, the one that wanted…" her gaze drifts to Maddie, who grimaces in understanding.

"Honestly, I'm still confused that there are three Dannys," Jack shrugs, "But let's say Vlad did die. Does that mean he needs to…?" he gestures at Darren.

"Y-you can't be serious," cold sweat trickles down Darren's back.

"We can't test that…ethically," Jazz assuages, "Best we can do for now is stabilize you, honestly…if we can."

"Do you think the ecto-dejecto will work for him like it did for me?" Dani questions.

"It could have the opposite effect," Maddie shakes her head, "Unless…" she disappears down the staircase, dragging her husband behind her. Dani follows behind after making eye contact with Sam, leaving Sam, Jazz, and Darren alone.

"What does Danny think?" Jazz asks.

"He doesn't have much more of an idea than Maddie on that one," Sam shrugs, "it seems like it could go either way. It could sap too much of his life away, but it could also possibly balance it out with more ecto-energy? Maddie will have to run the calculations."

"Um…" Darren weakly raises his hand, "... Why are you all talking like he's here?"

::Oh, right, you don't know,:: Darren jumps at the sound of Sam's voice, echoing in his skull. However, her mouth remains motionless.

::Wait…are you…?::

::Telepathic. Yeah. Danny's the only one I can contact at a distance, though. I couldn't while we were in the Mortal Realm, but I can hear him just fine here.::

::He survived that?::

::Duh. Did you come to save him thinking he was dead?:: She rolls her eyes.

::I…guess not, but…it's just crazy to think he's shrugged off a sword to the chest and is talking to you.::

::It's not the craziest thing that's happened to Danny…:: she answers evasively.

::... So what's up with Jazz? Dani was giving me the 'don't ask' look earlier…is she okay? Stupid question, she said she isn't but…::

::We're in the Ghost Writer's library. He saved you and Dani and then us. They…your coworkers hit him with that red blaster. He dissolved…after a rather heartbreaking confession of love from Jazz, which he returned with his last breath.::

As she speaks, he can see flashes of the scene from her viewpoint, his hands clenching as he sees the agony on the ghost's face, and the way Jazz's heart broke as he disappeared.

He never wanted this.

He thought back to the ghosts he'd eliminated in the past, wondering if they had suffered a similar fate. Had they truly deserved a second death?

He swallows the apology on his tongue, looking at Jazz. She plays with a decorative section of the headband, one that gives the illusion of small, white, star-shaped flowers behind her ear. There are some other, purple flowers as well.

Jazz's drifting attention snaps back to Sam, with a blush tinting her cheeks even as her eyes mist again.

"You'll just have to wait for Maddie," Sam tells Darren, "We've got some stuff to do, so…rest up, I guess. Sounds like sleep's the best thing for you right now."

"Y-yeah…"

Jazz offers only a small smile before leaving. The two girls disappear further down the hallway.

"Jazz…" Darren leans back, "... I'm so sorry," the words finally escape his lips.

I…

They're not that different from us…

… I…

… I should've realized sooner.

ZzzzzzBREAKzzzzzZ

"...Jasmines and Gladiolus, huh?" Sam smiles, sitting next to Jazz on the bed, "That's cute."

"The Jasmines are for my name, but…what does purple gladiolus mean?"

"It has a couple of meanings," she answers, "One is a desire to take a relationship to the next level."

"O-oh…" Jazz blushes, "I mean, I guess I shouldn't be surprised but…oh gosh, he was going to give this to me last Christmas!"

Unbidden flashes of memories assault Sam's mind, of digital firelight and hot chocolate.

"It also supposedly motivates and inspires people to pursue their lifelong dream," Sam adds, "Pretty fitting, when you think about it. He really thought about this… He must've had it custom-made."

Jazz removes the black headband, tracing her fingers along the fake petals, "... Why didn't he give it to me sooner?" she asks, voice cracking, "Why?!" Tears fall from her eyes, and Sam offers her hand, unsure if her sister-in-law-to-be wants more.

Jazz takes her hand, nearly crushing her fingers in her grasp as sobs rock her body. She pitches to the side, her head against Sam's shoulder, and the goth takes the hint to wrap her arms around her shoulders, fighting back her own tears.

"I'm so sorry, Jazz," she whispers hoarsely, trying to block out the wave of emotion washing through her mind.

::Cecil! Cecil! … Cecil Crawford, you idiot!

::Why didn't you say anything?! I… We…!::

Jazz clutches the smaller book to her chest as though protecting it, her mind racing through what could've been.

::Why didn't I realize sooner?!::