The storm ragged on outside, Tuckers deputy mayor had taken over his duties while the investigation into himself was going on. She had released a press statement to the public announcing that due to the drastic weather change and rising waters flowing over in town people were advised to find a means to higher ground or to evacuate to the city emergency centers. Roads out of town were being closed due to dangerous conditions.
Sam sat and fiddled with the wrist ray down the lab. Spike had returned half an hour ago and was being both grilled and defended upstairs for his attitude. Valerie was fine tuning her board with Tucker in the command center. So here she sat fiddling with weaponised technology that she knew very little about other than to point and shoot. She looked up from the table at Danny floating in the tank almost lifeless, he actually looked like a toy in a box. Her anger gnawing at her core, Valerie why Valerie, she felt there was always an understanding between them that if they couldn't reconcile then they would expect the other to not date within their social circle. She hated that she felt this way, hated the very idea that she was wrong in how their relationship was handled. Danny had his fair share of the fault to, not that anybody was acknowledging it. He never played the supportive boyfriend, always argued against doing what she wanted and even when they did do things she liked there always seemed to be a ghost attack or intruding fans to cut it short or he'd just have an unwanted attitude about being there.
"Why couldn't you consider talking things out with me Danny, all our history together shouldn't we have at least tried" Sam asked the nonresponsive Danny.
"He did try" came Jazz's voice from behind her "every time you'd badger him about going to some ecofriendly restaurant, attending some rally, or any time you shot down what he wanted to do, like the space expo that came through town on the way to the university last year Danny wanted to go because he likes space stuff remember why you went?" when Sam avoided her gaze Jazz pressed on "you went to protest the waste of millions of tax payer dollars that went into space exploration instead of feeding the hungry or housing the homeless, and when nobody paid you any attention you went off on a rant about rocket pollution and the damages to the environment when the rockets freefall into the ocean"
Sam continued to avoid looking at Jazz which irritated her greatly. "you remember dragging Danny to that new mall development and announcing his presence so the news crews, social media influencers would flock there cameras in hand fraudulently using Danny's pubic status to put peer pressure on the developers into backing down costing how many people their jobs? That particular stunt earned Danny some hate from people across town" Jazz then cornered Sam "every time you pulled a stunt Danny tried to talk it out with you about how it was making him feel, how you were making him feel, you accused him of not supporting you. He showed up to your protests, you made it a point to make sure everyone knew Danny Phantom was there in favour of your cause even when he didn't like the publicity. If he took you anywhere you had an opinion on why it was wrong for him to like what he did. Sam you're so used to getting what you want, never being told no that you forget not everyone cares to hear your opinion and even fewer share it, just like Paulina and the other A-listers you think you're above everyone else"
That last comment struck a chord with Sam and she rounded on Jazz. "I am nothing like those shallow air heads they're more concerned with what people think of them and what's the newest trend to follow, at least I focus my concern on more important…"
"Important to you, Sam! Let's clarify that you focus on things that are important to you and nobody else just like the people you claim are shallow. Everything about you can be found in the first two pages of general psychology book in any high school library"
"I am not hearing this Jazz!" Sam snapped at her.
"you messed my brother up you know, Danny spent the two years you two were together thinking he was always doing something wrong that he was never a good boyfriend because you were always mad at him you screwed with his mental state and now you have the nerve to say he didn't try? And even to get mad that he's moved on?"
Sam pushed passed Jazz and stomped upstairs. She wasn't the bad guy here and damn Jazz if she would try to make out to be.
Armen had returned to street level watching people race to their vehicles. Poor fools had no idea there would be no escape from his wrath his spells had isolated the village from outside access. The bay would roil and rise eventually crashing into the buildings and dragging the town into the water the storm would diminish all hope of communicating a call for help but before their final hours, the people would panic and fear would drive them to destroy the town pillaging and plundering their own homes.
His main concern was that boy, the specter who challenged him earlier today. He was still in existence, he failed to destroy him. The boy might actually prove to be a threat when he regains his strength "he was far more human than most other specters I've encountered" Armen pondered. His eyes travelled along the skies the clouds were thickening and the storm was intensifying. The test of human compassion was about to begin. The rain intensified, thunder clapped and rattled and the lightning dashed across the sky with the howling wind drowning out the sounds of society.
"Sweet Zombie Jesus, this isn't even the windy city" tucker gasped from his perch in the garage window. He and Valerie were slightly tweaking the hover board's gyroscopic capability to better keep her balance in this storm. A few more clicks from his P.D.A and quick wire crosses from Valerie and the board was finally finished. Valerie turned on her ghost tracker, yet nothing was reading any scans "hey Val, whose car?" tucker asked.
"Danny's grandpa left it to Danny, don't mention it to anyone else, Spike already through a fit when he learned the car wasn't going to be his"
"What wasn't going…" Spike poked his head in the doorway to check out what Valerie and Tucker were doing. The last thing he expected was to see his grandpas' car parked in Uncle Jack's garage. "wha-what is this doing here? He stammered. Grandpa's vintage car parked here at Uncle Jacks his blood started to churn and slowly boil why was this here? Spike moved towards the car pulling the passenger door handle, only to find it locked.
"Dude you probably shouldn't touch" Tucker told him with concern. Spikes eyes went lifeless the longer he stared at the car, what should have been his car. "Spike, come on man you really shouldn't be touching"
Spike rounded on Tucker driving his fist into Tuckers gut forcing him to his knees in pain. Tucker lurched forward coughing and hacking gasping for air "shut your mouth Tucker" he growled.
"Spike!" Valerie shouted "the heck is your problem? You just gut shot Tucker and for what?"
Spike shoved Valerie aside causing her to trip over some spare boxes to the floor. He charged back to the house in a fit of rage slamming through the backdoor "MOM!" he yelled before barging into the kitchen. Disturbing everybody's coffee "Grandma lied! The cars outback!"
Joanie looked at her son then to her mother "explain please, somebody" she demanded.
Jazz however spoke up first "what were you doing in the garage Spike?"
"that's irrelevant Jasmine" Joanie cut her off "Mom, you said the car was gone why is it here?"
"what I said Joanie, was that your father already arranged the car, and at no point what so ever did I ever say where it went. Yes it was left here by your father's wishes why the hostility?" Evelynn asked. She knew the answer, the second Spike had his outburst she knew where this was going.
"why is it here?" Joanie demanded.
"your father wanted it here" Evelynn retorted.
"Dad knew Spike could use the car and yet he still wanted it here"
The lights flickered with the thunder clap leaving the room in darkness for a few minutes until the backup generator kicked on. The windows were fogging up with thin layer of frost building up around the edges of the panes. The outside temperature was steadily dropping. This wasn't the time for petty family squabbles.
But it appeared Spike wasn't concerned with anything except Danny's car for the foreseeable future. "The car was gifted to Danny, he already signed the ownership it is his there is no sense of crying about it" Maddie snapped.
"Danny once again!" Spike growled. Throwing his arms in the air his envy getting the better of him, again.
The back door slammed shut as Valerie and Tucker entered the house. Tucker still clutching his stomach "Spike! Dude are you freaking serious? You hit me for telling you not touch someone else's car!" Tucker choked.
All eyes suddenly rounded on Spike, even Joanie looked unhappy with the news
"He threw Val to ground for just standing there" Tucker added in.
Maddie's eyes suddenly went stone striking Tucker in their home was one thing but laying his hands on Valerie, or any woman was grounds for Maddie to toss Spike out on his ass. "You struck Tucker, you laid hands on Valerie all in my house?" she rose to her full height (not very tall but no less intimidating) and got in Spikes face "a true Chicago tough guy Spike attacking someone younger and weaker than you and then laying your hands on a young woman" Maddie grabbed Spike by the collar of his shirt and heaved him down the hall to the guest room where Joanie was staying. With one long wind up she threw Spike into the room closing the door behind her. And marching back to her sister in-law. "The instant this storm settles you take that jail bound brat of yours and put him on a bus home! He's no longer welcome in my house!"
"This is my brother's house Madeline! And if you ever put your hands on my kids again you'll…"
"I'll what?" Maddie snapped back "I'll be sorry? You'll sue? Your son assaulted two minors and your brother is my husband hence my house!"
"You're bent out of shape, they're not even your kids!" Joanie snapped.
"My kids or not your son attacked them in my house that whole fact right there, your son, your 20 year old adult son attacked two 17 year old minors and you're sitting here acting like it isn't a big a deal" Maddie argued back.
"He was upset he lost his temper it happens maybe if everybody in this family stopped favouring your freak of nature kids he wouldn't be that way!"
Joanie mouthed off before realizing just what she had said. But everyone else heard it clear as day bot just the words, but the meaning of them.
"wow" Dani whistled "thanks for that Joanie" her face was still, withholding any visible expression but it was the lacking word 'aunt' that made her point. With that she excused herself from the table.
Now it was Jacks turn to be angry, insulting him was one thing, heck he was used to it. Joanie had just insulted his family, while Danny was a capable kid who could roll with the punches, going at Danielle was a low blow he wouldn't tolerate. "Joanie, I'm going to give you a chance just one. Apologise to my kids and to Tucker and Valerie now, do that and there is a chance at salvaging ties with this family, or you take Spike home and don't ever come around here or ask anything from us again" his voice was dead calm but cold a side of Jack that rarely surfaced. "Thorn sweetie if you would you like to stay you can and I'll arrange your trip home when you want"
Joanie stared at Jack and Maddie they were easier to manage when Danny was just C average student and Jazz was some over compensating uptight teenager. She wasn't sure were this backbone came from but she didn't like it. "Are you going to throw Jim and Beth out with me, Jackie? Just cut ties to your own siblings over dads car?" she scoffed.
"This isn't about Danny's car, Jo, you just insulted my kids to my face the days of me bowing down to you are long over either you start showing my family the respect they deserve…"
"And what about my family Jack?" Joanie snapped "I'm a single mother raising two teenagers in Chicago on one income I don't get help from my family! But you, your son reveals what he is and the existence of ghosts and suddenly your worth millions, on top of that Dad still gives you and your kids handouts! Danny could buy himself a brand new car outright, but he got Dads for nothing! Spike could use the car but has to rely on public transit Thorn has to catch the El-train every morning but Danielle can fly! It's not fair. I had the better grades, more profitable career path I made the better choices and yet you the big idiot came from the bottom of the pack to out-due the rest of us! Bethany and I both know you should have at least offered us a share in Fenton works so we could take care of our families! Jim might not think you owe the rest of us but we know better you should be offering to help us!"
"MOM!" Thorn shouted. "my god stop it! Uncle Jack and Aunt Maddie don't owe us anything, no one does! We never saw grandma and grandpa so we have no expectation to anything much less a car. Uncle Jack paid for Spikes tuition remember all Spike had to cover was his own expenses after that. They set up a trust account so I can go to school to. They did help us, and your single income remark, you're a pharmaceutical researcher you make more than enough if you didn't need to front an image! This is sad on so many levels now just stop and save some dignity"
Thorn was cut off by a startling rumble that shook the ground beneath their feet. The hanging lights fell to the floor shattering on impact, dishes fell from the cabinets to the floor exploding like shrapnel. An earthquake in amity.