Phantom Falls

8: Too Close

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The first thing Danny noticed was how cold he was. He rolled over, pulling his blankets over himself. He heard talking in another room.

"Why . . ." he mumbled, not wanting to get up.

Suddenly his eyes flew open as he remembered what had happened in the woods. "No, no, no!" He stumbled out of bed and crossed the floor, looking in the mirror above a dresser.

He breathed a sigh of relief. He'd managed to stay in ghost form. But there were bandages all over his body, and his hazmat suit looked terrible. The top of it had been unzipped and tied around his waist. There was wrapping around his shoulders and chest where the claws had punctured his skin, as well as around his ankle area.

His ankle . . . his other injuries ached, but that was the spot that hurt the most. He sat back in bed heavily and squeezed his eyes shut. Most of the smaller cuts were gone. He healed quickly, but he was still worried that he'd spent too much time there.

Danny zipped up his suit and pulled on his boots. Ignoring some crutches that were leaning near his bed, he floated through the door and down the hall. He thought about just leaving, but he figured he owed the Pines a debt of thanks.

Slowly he made his way into the kitchen. Dipper, Mabel, and Stan were eating breakfast, and to his surprise, so was Ford. Upon closer inspection, Danny realized that the two grunkles must have been twins, as well.

Mabel noticed him first. "Oh, hey! You're awake!" The other three turned to stare at him.

"Um, how long was I out?"

Ford took a swig of OJ. "Two days."

The halfa wanted to puke. Danny Fenton had been missing for two days? His parents were probably going ballistic.

Dipper wasn't looking quite as thrilled as Danny had expected him to be. "Are you okay, kid?" he asked, concerned. He decided he needed to sit and floated into a chair.

The younger boy seemed excited and anxious at the same time. He glanced at Ford, who nodded. Danny watched the exchange warily. "What's going on?" he almost growled. "What did you do when I was passed out?" Horrifying realization dawned on him. "You didn't take a blood sample, did you?"

"We didn't look at it!" Dipper blurted frantically. "Grunkle Ford analyzed a sample with his computer, but he didn't look at the results. It's on a data stick."

Danny was bewildered. "Why would you do that?"

Dipper couldn't seem to find the words to reply. "I was going to look," Ford told him, "but the twins made me wait to ask you. They have the stick. If you don't want anyone seeing it, then you can destroy it yourself. Unless, of course, you would allow me to do some research-"

"No way!" Danny interjected. He scowled and started to drift off. "Give me the stick. I'm outta here."

"Wait!" Ford protested. "You're still hurt. What if the shifter decides to hunt you again?"

Although he hated to admit it, the man had a valid point. He was in no state for a long flight, let alone a chase through the woods. He scowled as he turned back. "I will stay here," he growled, "until I can breathe well enough to fly where I need to go. Until then, no one comes anywhere near me with a needle. Is that clear?"

Ford looked him up and down. "Whatever you say."

Dipper glanced between the two. "But we can still ask questions, right?"

Danny was a little amused. "Sure. If you want to know about ghosts, I'm your guy."

The boy grinned. "Cool!" He asked about ectoplasmic energy, intangibility, and things of that matter. But soon, his questions were a bit difficult to answer.

"So according to Ford's research," Dipper began, pen poised over the journal, "ghosts always have a purpose for staying in this dimension. All three ghosts I've met wanted revenge. What do you and your dog want?"

Danny wasn't sure how to answer. "Well," he began carefully, "Cujo was a puppy training to be a guard dog. He came back to look for his lost toy. But finding what we're looking for doesn't make us go away forever."

Ford, who had been quiet for some time, spoke up. "But what's your purpose, halfa?"

Danny's head snapped in his direction, fear in his eyes. How did Ford know the term 'halfa'? "Where did you hear that word?"

Ford was silent for a moment, but he eventually caved. "That's what the shifter called you; a halfa. You're different, even for a ghost, aren't you?"

Phantom didn't answer. There was a long, drawn-out pause before he finally spoke. "You know, I think I'd rather take my chances with the shape-shifter than be interrogated. I know you've got a secret of your own, Ford. If you try to find mine, I'll find yours."

Everyone but Dipper looked at Ford in surprise, and Danny didn't take his eyes off of him. "Thanks for the assist," the halfa muttered before phasing outside. He was dreading what he might find if he ever made it back to the mansion.