9/17/2024: I finished the previous chapter fairly late and started this one the next day.

As mentioned in the last chapter, there's some action in this one. It's a bit of foreshadowing of what's to come.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.

–

Chapter 5: Lethality

–

Word of Phantom's return had begun to spread like wildfire. It made enjoying a simple day at the park quite troublesome.

Jazz, Tucker, Chase, Sam and Danny were in the park at the playground. This April had seen slightly warmer temperatures than normal, so it was the perfect day to enjoy.

The gentle breeze rustled the newly sprouting leaves, the varying color of new flowers sporadically dotting the landscape. The grass was just starting to grow, slowly turning the landscape from a muted brown to a tapestry of green.

Jazz had Chase in the little swing meant for toddlers while Danny floated in front of it invisible. He would make his head reappear when the swing came towards his face and say "Boo!", causing his nephew to go into a fit of giggles.

Tucker and Sam were off to the side throwing a baseball back and forth to keep themselves busy, chatting and occasionally laughing at the small child's excitement. DJ was running between them begging for the ball.

It had been a week since Vlad's funeral, and while the group was getting slightly nervous, they were still hopeful the billionaire would return.

Tucker threw the ball to Sam, once again glancing over at the nearby picnic tables. "They're still staring."

The goth shrugged. "Let them stare. Whether people believe in ghosts or not, it's common knowledge that those that die can return. It's not like it's that big of a surprise."

The dark-skinned male caught the ball she threw. "Yeah, but it's not everyday the town hero comes back to life."

Sam nodded. "Okay, I'll give you that one."

Tucker grinned as his son giggled again. "It's not just that. You keep kissing him," he commented before throwing the ball back.

Sam caught the ball and held it, raising a brow. "And?"

The techno geek sighed. "It's going to take time for people to accept that a ghost is with a human. They think he's dead, so they don't know any better," he explained.

She scoffed. "I'm so tired of this," she commented before throwing the ball.

Tucker smiled with understanding. "I know, but it's going to take time, and possibly some education," he said as he caught the ball. He paused then, turning when he heard his name called.

"Yo, Foley!"

Tucker smiled and waved as Dash walked over to them. He sent Sam a light glare when she rolled her eyes. "What's up, Dash?"

The blonde walked up to them, giving Tucker a hand shake in greeting. "Is that really Fenton?" he asked, indicating towards the swings with his head. He then leaned over to give DJ some scratches when the collie excitedly greeted him.

Tucker nodded. "Yup."

"So, Todd was Danny, wasn't he?"

The dark-skinned man looked sheepish. "Figured that out, huh?"

The blonde shrugged, straightening up. "I heard you guys call him Danny on the way out of the veterinary clinic."

Sam walked over to them. "Smooth, Foley," she said.

Tucker groaned. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know he could hear us."

Dash shook his head. "You know I wouldn't have told anyone he was Danny. But I get why you tried to hide it."

The goth crossed her arms. "He was being pursued by the people who took him. We had to try and keep him safe." She looked towards the swings where she could see Danny's head fade into existence to make his nephew giggle again. "Obviously, that didn't work," she added softly.

Dash followed her gaze. "No, it didn't. But he's here, and that's all that matters, right?"

The goth nodded, agreeing with the former jock for a change.

Dash gave her a sidelong glance. "Don't let what other people are saying get to you. Even in high school, it was obvious you two belong together."

Sam looked at him, her mind rapidly thinking before she gave him a small smile. "Thanks," she replied. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't so bad afterall.

A moment later they were surprised when Danny suddenly materialized in front of them. "What's up?" he asked before noticing the jock. "Oh, hey Dash."

Dash smirked. "What's up, 'Todd'?"

The ghost blinked at him. "Alright, guess you figured that out."

The blonde laughed, reaching his hand out for Danny. The ghost took the offered hand and shook it. "It's nice to see you again, Fenton."

Danny smiled, letting go of Dash's hand. "You too, though I go strictly by Danny Phantom now. Fenton is gone."

Dash inclined his nod. "Noted," he responded, before giving Jazz and Tucker a smile as they joined the group. Chase toddled behind them, every now and then reaching down to rip a dandelion from the ground.

"To what do we owe this grace of your presence?" asked the redhead as she took the ball from her husband and finally gave it to the begging dog. DJ pranced around, proud of his new toy.

The jock shrugged. "I'm off and it's a really nice day. Then I saw you guys and I heard rumors Danny was back so I thought I'd come see for myself."

"We didn't have a chance to catch up like we planned since, you know, someone decided to die on us. Wanna sit and talk?" the techno geek asked while pointing to a picnic table.

"Sure."

As they made their way over to the table, Chase found another dandelion, this one with white puffy seeds. He picked the little white pom pom and shoved it in his mouth, promptly coughing.

Jazz sighed and bent over. "Chase, sweetie, you're supposed to blow on those, not eat them," the mother said while trying to get the seeds out of her son's mouth.

Tucker chuckled. "Poor kid has eaten more dandelion seeds than I can count. It doesn't matter how many times you tell him not to."

Dash shook his head with a smile. "He's a toddler, you're lucky it's not something far more gross."

"Amen to that," Jazz replied, getting the last of the seeds out of her squirming son's mouth.

The group sat at the table and talked amicably for nearly an hour, exchanging stories and jokes. The jock was quite surprised at all they'd been up to regarding Danny's rescue and attempt at hiding.

"That's too much excitement for me," Dash commented.

"Meh," Tucker said, shrugging. "We're used to it."

The jock quirked his mouth. "Yeah, you guys have been doing crazy stuff, like fighting ghosts, since high school."

"We weren't very good at it back then," Sam chimed in, now laying her head on the table, face away from the group. DJ, happy his owner's face was so close, bounced around before licking her cheeks. "Ugh, DJ, stop," she admonished, wiping her face.

Danny smiled softly at her and rubbed her back. "You're pretty good fighters now, though."

Dash chuckled. "A few years ago I came across these three running down a ghost. Tucker managed to trip over air and face planted, butt in the air. Jazz tripped over him, and then Sam threw her hands up like she was done with the whole thing."

"I was done with the whole thing," the goth practically mumbled.

"Are you okay?" Dash asked.

Sam sighed. "I'm just tired."

Tucker made a face. "You're always tired."

"I'm pregnant, you dingus, of course I'm always tired," she growled, still facing away from the group.

"Dingus?" Danny repeated with a raised brow.

"Well, I can't call him what I really want to with a toddler around," she replied, earning a chuckle from her boyfriend.

"You're pregnant?" the blonde asked. "You guys are gonna have a kid?" He looked between Danny and Sam. At the ghost's nod he grinned. "Man, that's awesome! Congrats!"

Danny beamed with pride while Sam simply groaned. The ghost chuckled lightly and rubbed her back in larger circles. Then he went rigid as his ghost sense went off.

Sam felt his response through the hand on her back and sat up, warily looking around the park.

Dash noticed their sudden alertness. "What's up?"

"Is it your ghost sense?" the redhead asked.

Danny nodded, staring in the direction he could feel the presence. "Take Chase and go somewhere and hide," he commanded.

Tucker grabbed his son and urged Dash up as well, Jazz pausing a moment at the confused look on her brother's face. "What's wrong?"

"It doesn't feel right," he answered, floating up and bringing Sam with him. "My ghost sense feels…hollow? It's hard to explain." He urged Sam towards Jazz, the goth protesting.

"I proved I can fight, Danny," she said with a glare.

The ghost looked at her like she was crazy. "You're pregnant. You aren't fighting while pregnant."

"I'm not an invalid!" she argued.

Sam saw the moment Danny became a steel wall, the look on his face leaving no room for argument. He was not going to back down on this. "You make one attempt to fight and I will trap you in an ectoplasmic shield," he practically growled.

Even Jazz's eyes widened at his words.

It just made the goth angry. "You can't control me."

The ghost scoffed. "Dammit, Sam, that's not what this is! You aren't the only one you need to worry about anymore!" He glanced in the direction he could feel the ghost. It was coming closer. "I don't have time for this, you need to get to safety."

She could feel Jazz tugging on her arm as she mulled his words over. He was right, if she got injured and lost the baby, she'd never forgive herself. Finally, with a shout of indignation, she relented and turned, following Jazz to a gazebo nearby. "Come on, DJ!" she called for the collie who dutifully followed behind.

The redhead made sure Sam was safely in the gazebo with Dash, Tucker and Chase before heading back to Danny. She received her own glare from the ghost, which she ignored in favor of pulling a Fenton Ghost Wrist Ray from her purse and putting it on.

Danny raised a brow at her. "Planning on fighting?"

His sister gave him a no-nonsense look. "Ghost's are something we're familiar with and you need to get used to not fighting alone. We used to be a team, remember?" She tossed her hair out of the way. "And I'm not pregnant, so you can't force me away."

Her brother worked his jaw in annoyance, but let it be, especially as he felt the ghost getting closer.

His ghost sense was confusing him. It seemed to pick up on a ghost, but it didn't feel normal. He looked around, trying to determine if the ghost was invisible or not, when his eyes landed on a human male casually strolling over to him. He furrowed his brow in confusion but he still could not pinpoint the exact location of the ghost.

The man, who was wearing a plain blue polo and cargo pants, raised his hand in greeting with a smile as he approached. "I'm sorry to bother you," he started with a nervous chuckle, running his hand through his light brown locks. "But I'm new to town and a little lost. The kind people over there aren't sure where the address is I'm looking for."

Jazz nodded to Danny to indicate she'd help the man while Danny continued scanning for the ghost. She guided the man a few steps away. "Sure, I can try and help," she offered.

"Thank you so much," he said, sounding relieved before his gaze fell on Danny. "Say, is that Danny Phantom? I just moved here but everyone seems to be talking about him."

The redhead nodded. "It is."

The man's hazel eyes sparkled. "Man, he's so cool!" he said with excitement. "Oh, sorry, got distracted," he laughed as he remembered what he needed to ask. "I'm looking for this address here." He handed Jazz a piece of paper.

The woman took the piece of paper with a small smile. However, once she saw the address, her face fell. "Are you sure this is the address you're looking for?"

The man grinned, putting his hands in his pockets. "Yup! Do you know it?"

Jazz watched him, more reserved now as her metaphorical hackles rose. "May I ask why you're looking for this address?"

"Oh sure. You see, the guy who lives at this address," he started, "murdered my leader," he finished darkly.

Jazz wasn't quick enough. The man struck out, grabbing her by the arm and wrenching it behind her, eliciting a scream.

Danny's eyes blazed a brighter green, preparing to launch at the man, but his enemy jerked on Jazz's arm again. "Ah, ah, Danny-boy! You come closer and I'll rip her arm off."

The ghost stopped, gritting his teeth against the overwhelming need to get to his sister. Dash kept a strong hand on Tucker to keep him from bolting out of the gazebo.

The enemy smirked before bright blue beams of energy shot from his eyes at Danny, startling the ghost who managed to erect a shield in time. Danny's glare darkened. "So you're why my ghost sense went off. You're one of those half ghosts the Headmaster created, aren't you?"

The man smirked. "Bingo."

"Abomination," Danny spat.

His enemy feigned looking offended. "Now, that's just rude. You were half ghost once, too, yeah?"

The full ghost steadied himself to keep himself in check. "I was, but the way I was made is different. You…you don't feel right," Danny sneered. "I can feel it with my ghost sense. The way you were made is unnatural."

Danny's gaze switched to Jazz. She was holding herself together extremely well now that the surprise had worn off. She nodded almost imperceptibly to her brother, gently waving her index finger on her free hand in a countdown.

"It doesn't matter how I was made, only that–"

He was cut off. Jazz had finished her countdown, eyes never leaving Danny's. He took off, flying towards her as she flung her head back, nailing the man in the nose.

He recovered far more swiftly than expected.

The enemy let Jazz move away, the arm he was holding extending out as he still gripped her wrist. When her arm fully extended, he brought his free arm down, grinning at her scream as he broke her arm with a crack.

Danny saw red, simultaneously grabbing his sister and landing an ecto-blast on his enemy's shoulder that sent the man flying.

Dash was unable to hold Tucker back this time. The dark-skinned man handed his son off to Sam and wrenched himself out of the jock's grip, bolting for his wife.

Danny saw Tucker coming and quickly handed his now crying sister off to him, hastily pursuing the half ghost who had decided to take off after getting hit. The man was fast, flying at a speed Danny would've thought out of reach for a half ghost.

Luckily for him, he was now full ghost. He tapped his core and shot off, sending a small shockwave across the park, startling the onlookers and knocking a few over.

His deep scowl marred his features, his eyes reflecting his murderous intent. They blazed brighter, as well as his body, making him a brilliant streak in the sky. The man, who moments ago had been so cocky, glanced back with fear in his eyes.

Danny didn't care.

He slowed down, chasing his enemy until he was beyond Amity. It wouldn't do well for his reputation for people to see Phantom murder someone.

The man had not anticipated how strong Danny had become as a full ghost. He tried sending ecto-blasts behind him to slow the ghost down, but they went wide in his fear and sporadic flight.

Danny accelerated once outside of town, catching the man by the throat before aiming them down, slamming the unnatural half ghost into the ground and creating a crater the size of an SUV.

Surprised his quarry was still alive and conscious, though barely, Danny glared hard. "You will be the warning to any other abominations like you to stay out of my town."

The man gasped, "She…will come…for you…"

That gave the white-haired ghost pause.

Best to think about it later. He shook his head and sneered, tightening his grip and holding it until the man no longer drew breath.

Danny sat back then, glaring with hatred at the enemy who hurt his sister. Part of him was afraid of this side of him, this wild, untamable side that seemed so much stronger as a ghost than it ever did has a half ghost. The other part didn't care. This man got what he deserved and he would do the same to any who threatened his family.

–

He made his way back to the park, landing not far from where Jazz was being taken care of by Tucker, Sam and Dash. Dash was holding his nephew, while Sam tried to keep Jazz's arm still. Tucker was doing his best to comfort his wife. There was a small crowd around them.

The ghost could hear the sirens of an ambulance in the distance, the sound echoing off the buildings.

"Danny!" Sam yelled when she saw him, the crowd parting to allow him through. He knelt next to the redhead, inspecting her arm.

"May I?" He asked before gingerly taking her arm and applying some of his ice powers. Jazz breathed a sigh of relief as some of the pain ebbed away.

"Who was that, Phantom?" Danny heard from somewhere in the crowd.

He looked up, gaze shifting from person to person, all afraid and all looking to him for guidance. He swallowed hard, unaccustomed to being put on the spot in front of so many people. The ghost had never addressed so many at once and it made him nervous. He looked back at his sister, giving her a light smile, before he stood and looked out among the gathered crowd.

He donned his 'commander' side, as Tucker liked to put it, and grew serious. "That man was an artificial half-ghost. More than that, I cannot say, but I have a feeling more are coming. If any of you see a human using ghost powers, you need to let the Fenton's know immediately. They are extremely dangerous."

"Weren't you half ghost?" A woman called out.

Danny nodded. "I was, but these guys are different. They don't fight for you, and they don't fight for good. I will do what I can to protect this town and its citizens, so make sure you report anything you see. Do not engage them alone."

At that point, the ambulance pulled in and the EMS were quickly ushered over to Jazz. Danny returned to her side and focused on helping.

One of the EMS men gave the ghost a nervous look but remained professional in getting Jazz on the stretcher. The other gave Danny a nod for his help, seemingly unbothered by his presence.

It was now that the crowd began to disperse, realizing that this was a personal thing they were witnessing.

Tucker went to Sam who was still holding Chase on her hip. "Are you okay watching him?"

"Of course," she responded, waving him off.

Once Jazz was loaded, Tucker got in with her and waved as the doors closed.

Dash, Sam and Danny stood there watching it leave, a feeling of lead in their stomachs.

"You were right," the goth commented.

"I wish I wasn't," Danny responded.

"Right about what?" Dash asked, holding onto DJ's leash.

The ghost glanced at him. "I had a feeling this wasn't over."

The jock looked towards the direction the enemy and Danny had originally flown off in. "You mean he's part of the ones who kidnapped you?"

Danny nodded. "I didn't recognize him, but that means nothing. The Headmaster was able to turn herself half ghost and said she had the technology to keep doing it. He was half ghost, but…wrong. He felt off." He thought a moment before turning to Sam. "There's something else, and you're not going to like it."

Sam set her jaw, running her free hand over Chase's locks. "What is it?"

"He said 'she will come for you'."

The goth looked alarmed. "You don't think she came back do you?"

"Like Danny did?" Dash questioned.

The ghost nodded again. "It is possible, we know that."

Sam worked her jaw, digesting this information. Then, she clicked her tongue. "Well, you're far stronger now than you were before. And if Vlad comes back, too, he'll be healthy enough to fight with you."

"What happened to the guy?" the jock asked, thumb indicating in the direction he'd flown off.

Danny gave him a deadpan look that made Dash uneasy, before stalking off.

The confused blonde looked at Sam who sighed. "He's dead, Dash. Just leave it at that." She indicated with her head towards where Danny was going. "Come on, let's head out. We need to drop off Chase and DJ with Maurice and Angela and get to the hospital."

–

9/19/2024: Two days, so not bad! I also posted the first chapter on 9/17/24.

I am slowly checking off events on my outline/timeline. But I also keep adding more LOL.