A/N: So, yes, the last chapter was short…this one's a little more normal! But I couldn't possibly put the last one with another section to make it longer, so…short it was. (One more vote for Library Love!) Anyway, to the reviews!
JC: Oh, just wait, it gets better. I have reasons for EVERYTHING, if you haven't noticed by now. :D
Great: I don't know…Only Clockwork does. Then again, Clockwork is ALWAYS the only person who knows, isn't he?
Chapter #15: Exodus to the Far Frozen
The first thing he hears is the alarm. The Ghost Exodus Alarm.
His eyes snap open, burning green, and lock on his clock – one minute past midnight.
7 Days…
He leaps to his feet lightly as his father's heavy footsteps sound from further up the hallway. His mother's quicker, lighter steps follow him. Danny grasps the ice in his soul and dives through the floor and then through the kitchen to the laboratory below, which is bathed in red light.
"Danny-O?" Jack stumbles down the last step, "what-?"
"Seven days, remember?" he hisses back, glaring at the display. Ghosts are moving, yes, but not towards the Mortal Realms. They're all converging…on the Far Frozen? He allows himself to fully transform, and concentrates his thoughts on the point just beyond the Fenton Portal. Energy gathers at his fingertips, which he forms into sharp claws.
He drags them through the air in front of him, the fabric between dimensions tearing away like tissue paper, and leaps through the portal, pulling it closed behind him. Assured that he isn't leaving an open portal in his wake, he turns to survey the situation.
Something feels…wrong.
He spreads out his senses, but can't pinpoint an exact reason. It's the same feeling one gets just before a disaster, that feeling of tension…something he's horribly familiar with.
He sets his sights on the Far Frozen and begins to fly. Soon, he's surrounded by ghosts, all flying the same direction. Possessions are gathered in their arms.
I don't know most of them, he realizes, who…are they?
He's now shoulder-to-shoulder with them, and slowly grinding to a halt. Ahead, he can see Frostbite speaking with one of his warriors. He drops the chill in his chest, summoning the fire, and returns to human to phase through the crowd. He can hear startled exclamations as he ducks down, worming his way to the Yeti King.
"Frostbite!" he shouts.
"Great One!" he bellows with a toothy grin – to someone who doesn't know him, such a sight would cow even the bravest of hearts.
"What is going on?!"
The yeti has the grace to look sheepish, "I was planning on sending an envoy later, when you would be awake. I apologize – you are not usually up this time of night, are you?"
Danny's face darkens, causing the large yeti to take an unconscious step back, "It's him, isn't it? Plasmius," he spits the name from his lips.
"We don't…exactly…know," Frostbite admits quietly, "Possibly. All we know is that someone…" he swallows nervously, "…someone now wears the crown."
"Don't push! Stay calm!" a yeti shouts, directing the crowd. More than one unfamiliar face glances the halfa's direction before dissolving into hushed whispers.
"But why…" Danny gestures at the masses, "why are they all coming here?"
"Whoever wears the crown is no one good," he answers quietly, "You can feel it, can you not? The…darkness," he shudders.
"But why here? It's not like–" he stops suddenly, sucking in a sharp breath.
"You do not have a lair of your own."
The blood in his veins turns to ice, and the noise of the exodus fades away. Even his heart seems to fall silent.
But if there was a threat, they would come to you for help.
…a king would render them obsolete.
Ever get that feeling that you might not have a choice?
"-eat One? Great One?" Frostbite's grasping his shoulders, shaking him softly. His red eyes have gone wide with worry, "Great One?"
"And I'm supposed to protect them all?" Danny whispers, turning his blue eyes to the crowd that still files towards the Far Frozen. His heart seems to resume its proper course, pounding harshly in his ears. His vision swims momentarily, the suit's counter drops down to zero…
He shakes himself, carefully detaching the worried claws of the yeti king, and begins to laugh, the edge of it bitter.
So this is the path you've placed your faith in, Clockwork?
"…Great One?" Frostbite questions hesitantly, his brow still drawn together with concern.
"…Focus on evacuation and settling everyone in. Send out for information as well," Danny answers, "I'll be back in a few hours."
"Understood," the yeti grins, relieved, as the halfa grasps his ghostly form again and tears another portal back to the human realm.
-BREAK-
Jack snores soundly at his desk, and Maddie glances up from the computer screen as Danny steps back into the lab with an outpouring of green light. His face is drawn.
"Danny, what–"
He rushes for the nearest garbage can and begins to heave. Only then does she notice the trembling in his hands. She rushes over, brushing his hair from his face. A knot forms in her own stomach.
Danny's seen awful things – he's experienced awful things. More than she knows she can possibly imagine…yet, he's never shown fear. He's always just smiled – sometimes a little nervously, if you know his tics – and saved the world.
That something would unnerve him to this degree…
"Danny? What's going on?" she whispers softly, stroking his hair as she did when he was a child.
"I'll explain later," he pants, "Just…" haunted blue eyes – when did he revert to his human form? – turn on her, "I just…I need to rest. Just…" he runs a trembling hand through his hair.
Then he smiles.
"It'll all be fine. Nothing worth losing sleep over."
It breaks her heart.
All of the blood has drained from his face, and his eyes are deeply shadowed and red-rimmed. He quivers nervously, and as he struggles to his feet. Yet, he still tries to smile for her.
He'll die that way – she knows. She's dreamt of it. Her son lays bleeding on the concrete, and he looks at her and smiles, even as he coughs blood from his ruptured lungs and his eyes lose their shine, he just smiles and tells her that everything will be okay.
As though everything doesn't include himself.
She places a steadying hand on his arm, "Come on, let's get you some water," she smiles back. He relaxes a little, relieved that she isn't pressing the issue.
A few minutes – and several glasses of water later – she closes the door to his bedroom. Her feet feel heavy as she returns to her own – she'd left Jack downstairs, which is just fine.
Her door clicks softly closed, and her legs give out, her shoulders beginning to heave with sobs.
-BREAK-
"Danny?"
His thrumming heart calms, and he takes a deep breath. Her fingers are hot on his skin, brushing back his hair and cupping his chin.
"…Danny?"
"Sam…?" he manages to mutter.
"How are you feeling?" she asks, massaging gently at the base of his skull.
He hums contentedly, "..Did you have fun last night?"
"Don't try to redirect this conversation," she growls.
"Dani was pretty bummed that she had to come home early – school night, you know."
"Yes, I know," she frowns, "I was there. Now answer the question, Ghost-Boy."
He hums, "I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Really," he cracks open a blue eye.
She studies him for a moment, and he breaks into a sheepish smile.
"…no luck, huh?"
"No," she snorts.
"…Am I allowed to eat first?"
"You can eat and talk," she answers.
"That would be rude," he grins, earning a smirk in return.
"It's as though you're forgetting something very important, Mr. Fenton," she leans in, her forehead touching his, ::I can hear your thoughts.::
::I'd kiss you now if I didn't taste like bile,:: he instead opts to touch his nose to hers.
"Wait here. I'll go get your food," she laughs.
"I'm not sick, Sam," he returns, sitting up and tossing his blanket aside.
"Stay there," she hisses.
For once, he doesn't argue, raising his hands in surrender and propping his pillows against the headboard. He takes a steadying breath, stilling himself when he thinks of the traffic jam by the Far Frozen.
"I just hope your faith isn't horribly misplaced, Clockwork."
Where else would I place it?