Okay…it's 12/4/19. Time to rewrite this chapter…yay. Hopefully…I don't take much longer writing this. It's been so many years and I know the fandom is getting older.
With this upload, this is officially the longest story I've written for fanfiction!
Disclaimer: I do not own DP.
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Chapter Ten: Truce
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A few hours later, Danny was startled by pounding on his bedroom door. One of the servants had shown him here after he had stomped out of the living room. He growled and stalked to the door, wrenching it open. Tucker stood there, glare boring into his taller friend. But he refused to be intimidated.
Tucker forced himself into the room before turning and pointing at Danny. "Where do you get off speaking like that to him?"
Danny slammed the door and sneered. "I have every right."
"No, you don't! You don't know him."
The half-ghost stepped closer to his smaller friend, hiding how impressed he was when Tucker refused to give way. "I don't need to know him. I know enough." He stepped around Tucker and went to the closet.
Vlad had clothes in each room and Danny was disgusted—but not surprised—that the man had clothes that fit him. He reached in for sweatpants and a light shirt. He turned back to his friend when he heard scoffing.
Tucker shook his head. "I know it isn't your fault you weren't here, but you weren't. You didn't get to know Vlad like we have. Why can't you just give him a chance? Or, at the very least, just be civil or ignore him?"
Danny growled. "I can't simply forget what he did to me!"
"I'm not asking you to!" Tucker shouted. He started pacing. "We haven't forgotten either. But we're adults now. We've learned how to move past it."
Danny's mood darkened. "You calling me a child?"
Tucker stopped pacing, mulling his options. Finally, he nodded, stepping directly in front of the very angry half ghost. "Yes. I am. You need to grow up, Danny. Your experiences don't give you a free pass to be an asshat." With that, the dark-skinned man turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
Danny shouted, throwing his sweatpants and shirt at the door. He seethed, balling his fists and trying to keep control. How dare they? They were choosing that man over him!
He'd show them!
He went invisible and slipped through the floor. He could guarantee with one conversation he could shatter their perception of that crooked old creep.
He searched the mansion carefully. He knew it fairly well, despite the years. This late the man would likely be in his study, a room no one was allowed to enter but him.
Imagine Danny's surprise when the door was open, and Sam was in the study with Vlad. She sat in an armchair next to the one Vlad was in, coffee table in front of them, DJ at her side. A small fire was going in the fireplace.
Danny held back, unwilling to lose his temper in front of her. Well, he'd already blown that, but his temper was much hotter right now. He carefully cloaked his ecto-signature and got closer. They seemed to be deep in conversation.
Vlad took a sip of tea. "I can't believe you just left your job and flew to China. Tucker is right, a blurry video isn't much evidence to go on."
She smiled. "No, but I knew it was him."
"It is your instinct that has kept my own hope alive, Sam. I'm afraid I became very much like Tucker in my thinking."
Sam placed a hand over Vlad's. "It's okay. I know you never thought he was dead." She sighed, pulling her hand away. "And, truthfully, after a month in China with no sign of him, I was beginning to believe Tucker was right myself."
"There are a lot of people on this planet. Finding one is extremely hard. But you persevered." He reassured her.
Sam smiled again, but it didn't last long. "Listen…I'm really sorry for what he said to you."
Danny glared. This was it; Vlad would reveal what he truly felt now that he wasn't in the room.
This time it was Vlad's turn to sigh. "It's quite alright, my dear. I fully understand his words. I would feel the same, were the situations reversed."
"But it isn't fair to you. You don't deserve that." She shook her head.
Vlad took another sip of tea. "You are right; I don't. But he doesn't know that. How could he possibly? I spent his whole half-life tormenting him and his family—including you and Tucker. He doesn't see that I deserve anything other than malice." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "To be honest, I feel I do deserve his temper. I'm not sure anything I could do could change what I've done to him."
Danny's fists went slack as he watched the exchange. It wasn't that he believed Vlad's words—he could still be putting on a show in front of Sam—but the man sounded sincere. It caught the younger halfa off-guard.
Sam played with the hem of her sleeve. "I don't know if he'll ever come around. But I hope he does. I want him to know the you we know."
Vlad smiled and set his tea on the end stand before pulling her hand in his and covering it with his other hand. "I wish only the best for young Daniel. If continuing to hate me somehow benefits him, I will endure it. But I hope so, as well." He smiled and she returned it.
Danny floated away, unable to listen any longer. He did not suddenly have a soft spot for the older man. But even he could admit he had never witnessed the tenderness he just saw from him. He wasn't willing to let go of his hate just yet; that had been festering for too long. But perhaps he could be civil as Tucker asked.
–
Late the next morning Danny made his way downstairs. He absently scratched at the mostly healed wound on his neck from the tracker. His ecto-bullet wounds were taking a little longer to heal, but didn't really bother him.
The mansion was large and felt empty despite the number of guests and staff. His ghost sense told him where Vlad was located and figured his companions were there as well.
As he rounded a corner the smell of chlorine assaulted him. He scrunched his nose as he entered an entertainment room. On one side was a lounge area with large leather chairs. On the other was a long solid wooden bar full of alcohol. Just off the bar was an indoor pool area surrounded by glass. He could tell by the laughter that his sister and friends were in the pool area.
"You never really get used to it."
Danny startled and stopped, staring at the older hybrid behind the bar. He hadn't seen him. With a light glare he walked over. "Get used to what?"
"The smell," Vlad elaborated as he cleaned a glass. "They will get used to it, but our senses are too strong to ever truly be rid of the smell."
Danny nodded. He debated just going out to where his friends were but decided to see what Vlad had in stock. He took a stool. "Got anything good?" he asked.
Vlad raised a brow, not just at the request, but also because Danny wasn't giving him attitude. He set the glass down and swept his arm over his collection. "Only the finest. I do recommend the Glenfiddich 21 year for a smoother finish."
"Alright. Can I have some of that?"
Vlad watched the younger man a moment before nodding. "I think that can be arranged." He pulled a squat round glass from under the bar and pulled the bottle from the shelf, pouring a small amount into the glass. He slid the glass to Danny. The halfa took it and sniffed the alcohol, humming appreciation. "It sure smells smooth." He took a swig and smiled. "This is good."
Vlad nodded again, picking up another glass and wiping it. "Indeed. Not many your age have an appreciation for scotch."
Danny scoffed. "Age is just a number." He watched Vlad rub the glass and then choose another. "Don't you have, you know, people for that?"
The older man smiled. "I do have 'people' for this, but I enjoy menial tasks from time to time."
"Danny!" said man turned to see Sam glaring at him. "You're drinking? It's eleven in the morning!"
Danny shrugged. "Not like it matters. I can't get drunk. Trust me, I've tried." He raised his glass to her before taking another swig. He missed her worried glance.
"Actually, my boy, I have alcohol that can get you drunk."
Danny stared at Vlad in disbelief. "Vlad! Don't tell him that!" Sam admonished.
The man chuckled. "Our metabolisms do not allow for normal alcohol to inebriate us. We need ghostly ingredients to do that. And besides, Sam, what's the harm? Normal humans get drunk once in a while."
She crossed her arms. "Because it's eleven in the morning and from what he said," she jammed her finger in Danny's direction, "He probably shouldn't be near any kind of alcohol."
Danny frowned. "I'm a grown man. I'm even of legal age; I can drink if I want to."
Sam really wanted to say, 'Someone who's been through what you have really shouldn't have access.' But she didn't want to push him. She did, however, glare at Vlad as he poured more into Danny's glass. "I'll show you my secret stash later," Vlad told him with a wink.
Danny raised his glass to him and then hopped off his stool, heading for the pool area. Sam stayed behind.
"I can feel your glare, Samantha."
"You're only doing this because you want him to like you," she accused, finger hovering just before his chest.
He smiled. "Not quite. I simply know what it's like to miss out on these things. I used to enjoy a light buzz as a younger man. I could no longer when I gained my ghost half."
She shook her head. "I don't like it. What if he uses it as a crutch?"
Vlad made a noncommittal shrug. "You have to be a stronger crutch." He placed a glass down and started putting them away. "He's right. He is an adult and can make adult decisions. Trying to forbid it will only hurt your relationship. You have to let him make the right choices. You can subtly guide him to it, but you can't shove him at it; he will only come to resent you. Trust me, I have a little experience in that area."
Sam sighed, putting a stray lock behind her ear. "You're right, of course."
"Of course." He smiled. "Now, go out and enjoy this time. The next few weeks will not be very fun for either of you. Enjoy some downtime while you can."
She nodded, sending a smile his way, before turning and heading to the pool area.
Laughter greeted her as she walked out onto the cement surrounding the large heated pool. Tucker was in the water hanging over the side while Jazz and Danny were in lounge chairs. DJ was on his back, snoozing with his legs splayed in different directions. Sam shook her head at the dog. 'Lug head.'
Sam took a seat next to Danny. "What are you guys talking about?" she asked.
Tucker grinned. "All the stupid stuff we got ourselves into when we were first trying to ghost hunt without Danny."
Sam's face went red. "Don't tell him that stuff! It's embarrassing!"
Jazz chuckled. "But you didn't do anything wrong. Out of all of us, you knew what you were doing the most. I spent most of the time shooting air and Tucker spent his time tripping over air."
This time the goth smiled. "You're right. But I still did stuff wrong in the beginning. Remember I couldn't read that ghost detector, right?"
Jazz snorted and Tucker could barely contain himself, bouncing a little in the pool. "Dude," he said to Danny. "She caught a raccoon!"
Danny chuckled. "They can be pretty nasty, though."
"Right!" Sam said, arms in the air. "And at least I still caught something!"
Tucker feigned indignance. "I caught something!"
"What?"
"A cold!"
The four friends ended up in a fit of laughter. Danny held his sides and couldn't help but be grateful for the opportunity to be with his sister and friends again.
As the laughter died down, Tucker took a lap around the pool. "It's like a bath in here. You guys should get in," he said.
Danny shook his head. "No thanks. I'm not even wearing trunks."
Sam stood and removed her towel, glaring at Danny when he chuckled. "What?" she snapped, hands on her hips.
"It's just very like you," he replied. He was referring to her completely black one-piece suit. The front was covered with straps crisscrossing the back. She shrugged and walked into the pool.
Tucker was doggy paddling in the deep end. "Wifey!" He shouted. "You should get in, too!"
"I'm perfectly happy with my book, Tuck."
"Nerd!"
Jazz set her steely gaze on her husband from above her book. He shrank. "I mean, my beautiful wife."
"Dang, you're whipped." Danny yelped as he was now the target for his sister.
"He isn't whipped!" She cracked. "He's just a gentleman who knows when he's wrong!"
Danny rubbed his arm. "Jeez, woman. What are you, a boxer?"
He yelped again, this time from being drenched. He stared at Sam in shock. "Be nice to your sister! She birthed your nephew!"
"I helped!"
Sam and Danny made disgusted faces while Jazz rolled her eyes. "You helped make him, you did not help birth him. In fact, you weren't much help after you fainted."
Danny laughed. "You fainted?"
Tucker pouted. "I don't like hospitals, remember? And there was a lot of blood!"
"Gross, dude, please. That's my sister!"
Jazz groaned. "Can we stop talking about what came out of me?"
"Gladly." Danny made a dry-heaving gesture. He then glared at the water on his clothes. "You know, I didn't come down here to get wet."
Sam gave him an innocent look before launching another torrent of water in his direction. He sputtered and growled, flailing his arms. "Alright, that's it!" he yelled. He launched himself out of his chair and at Sam. She shrieked, not believing he'd actually come after her, and tried to get away. She was unsuccessful as Danny jumped, landing on her and taking them both under the water.
The commotion woke DJ, who jumped up and began excitedly pacing the side of the pool, barking at the splashing.
Danny came up for air, water flying in all directions, and pulled Sam up. He gripped her around the waist and lifted her above his head. She shouted to be put down, her smile betraying her true emotions.
"I've got you, Sam!" Tucker said bravely before he wrapped his arms around Danny from behind, trying to pull him backwards. Danny simply stopped moving, Sam still above his head, and looked back at Tucker with a raised brow. It was obvious Tucker wasn't going to move his giant muscular friend, especially in ghost mode.
Jazz stifled a laugh at the scene. Her husband was trying so hard to pull Danny over, but he wasn't moving an inch.
Vlad made his way over to a chair and sat down, a small glass of scotch in hand. He set it on a table and smiled lightly at Tucker failing to move the larger half-ghost.
After a few minutes, things settled and Danny came out of the pool, clothes dripping chlorine water. He went to the towel rack and grabbed one before wringing his clothes out.
Vlad picked up his glass and swirled its contents. "So, from what Sam told me, you are all here hiding from the people who took you, Daniel."
Danny paused before nodding, wringing out his pants leg. Jazz lowered her book. "They followed us to the hotel," she said.
"So I'm told," Vlad responded. He looked at Danny. "I heard you didn't come away unharmed."
Said halfa gave Sam a light glare. "Yeah. They have ecto-guns with ecto-bullets designed to shock ghosts. They're more effective against full ghosts but it still hurts like a bitch."
"It's my fault," Jazz started. "If I hadn't called your name…"
Danny walked over to her and squeezed her shoulder. "It's not your fault. And I'm fine. I've been through worse." He walked to his chair, unaware that his words failed to comfort his sister.
Vlad decided to change the subject. "I can understand you coming here as opposed to home, as I have better means of hiding all of you. However, I cannot help but feel there is more to it."
Danny shook his head. "Nothing more, just need a place to lie low so we can come up with a game plan."
Tucker stopped his laps and came to the side of the pool next to Sam, who was currently running her hands absently through her border collie's fur. "That could take a while. And like you said, Vlad, you can hide us better—and probably longer—than the Fenton's."
"Are you sure? Because I sense something more," Vlad stated, taking a sip of scotch.
Danny sighed. "No, there's nothing more."
Vlad nodded, watching the liquid swirl in his glass. It was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "It couldn't be because you've yet to return to your human form?"
The mood shifted. Danny's features darkened and Sam, Tucker and Jazz exchanged worried glances.
"Ah, there it is," Vlad said, taking another sip.
"Astute old man," Danny said darkly.
The statement shocked Sam as Danny had yet to acknowledge the issue; it was simply something she, Tucker and Jazz discussed on the side. She turned to Vlad as he replied.
"So, you're stuck, hm?"
Danny said nothing, keeping his eyes on the ground. His jaw worked, the muscles in his neck moving in time with it. He wanted to lie to protect his friends and sister, but it was obvious the old geezer had figured it out. He had been afraid of that. "Yes," he admitted through gritted teeth.
He could feel the eyes on him. He knew they had talked about it, but he had chosen to ignore it until now. "I can't change back. I've tried."
Sam grabbed Tucker's arm. Jazz laid her book down and watched her brother.
"How long has it been, my boy?" Vlad asked, setting his glass down.
Danny ran a hand through his white locks. Again, he wanted to lie, but what was the point? Did it matter how long? Didn't it only matter that he couldn't? He shut his eyes. "Over three years."
This time there was a collective gasp. Even Vlad was shocked. "What happens when you try?" He leaned forward.
Danny sighed, rubbing his face. "I don't know. I reach for it and nothing happens." He did lie this time. After their reaction to how long it had been, telling them he couldn't feel his human side at all was likely to cause a very bad reaction. It seemed to work as Vlad nodded his acceptance of the answer.
"You don't know what triggered it?" Jazz tentatively.
Danny turned to her. "No," he responded. "I just woke up in this form one day. I fell asleep human and woke up ghost. I've been like this since."
Vlad rubbed his goatee, deep in thought. "I think the key to figuring this out is finding out what prompted it in the first place. I think if we can pinpoint that, we can reverse it."
Danny instantly shifted to defense mode. "What does that entail, exactly?" he asked nervously.
"I have a machine I would need to modify, but I think it can help us. You likely remember a lot, but due to the nature of your…captivity I am sure you've blocked much of it. I think I can get this machine to dredge up those memories so we can properly delve into the issue."
Danny stiffened. "No," he said ominously.
"But Danny—"
The halfa growled, cutting Sam off. "I'm not some reality star. I'm not here for your amusement!"
"I never said you were," Vlad said calmly.
"We aren't talking about this," Danny snarled, rising from his seat. "That's private!"
"We just want to help, dude," Tucker reasoned. He gulped at the look he received.
"I don't care," Danny scowled. "It's not your life." He started out of the pool area but paused when Vlad spoke again.
"We do not wish to cause you harm, Daniel. We only want to help. Also, remaining in ghost form so long can cause harm to your human half. You will eventually die without changing back."
Danny digested the words, a spark of worry now in the back of his mind. But that didn't suddenly mean he was ready to face it. So, he walked out and went back to his room, leaving four very concerned people behind.
–
Guess what? It's 12/6/19. Took just 2 days to rewrite this. I remember the pool and bar, but I don't remember at all what the actual contents of the chapter was that I lost. Oh well.
I hope you liked it. We're beginning to get into the meat of this arc and what it's about—which is finding out what, exactly, happened to Danny and why he can't change back.