Dannies, Death, and Dates

Chapter 27

Dani dug through the machine wreckage while Danny shrugged off his bindings. They spread through the lab, calling and searching. 

Dani heaved frantically at the heavy rubble, tears of desperation choking her as she called, "Gage! Can you hear me?"

This was her fault. All her fault! If she hadn't been stupid enough to double check the warehouse, this never would have happened. If she had just been able to hold on a little longer... If she hadn't been so weak...

A faint glow shone through the wreckage. 

"Danny!" she screamed, clawing away the debris. He appeared by her side. Together. they cleared the rubble and dragged Gage out. 

Green blood was streaming down his face from a long gash in his temple. His eyes were closed, and his skin's glow was almost completely extinguished. 

"We've got to get out of here," Danny said, grabbing one of Gage's arms. "Vlad could set off the alarms any minute."

Dani seized Gage's other arm and they took off through the lab ceiling. Cold night air slapped them awake. Over hills and forests and streams they flew. The full moon guided their way through the darkness. Gage hung limply in between them, blood dripping from his wounds. Dani didn't dare look at him. The fear that she might find herself carrying a dead body was too much to think about. They flew on and on until Danny finally panted,

"I think that's far enough."

They set down in the middle of a field. They both changed back to humans to conserve energy as they huddled around Gage. 

"Why did you let him come?" Dani moaned, leaning closer to listen for his breathing. "You know what Vlad's capable of!"

"There was nothing I could do to stop him," Danny said quietly, leaning back on his heels. "I'll say one thing for this guy. He's the most loyal friend you could hope for."

Gage stirred weakly. They both froze, staring at him. His golden eyes slid slowly open. He blinked several times before seeming to recognize them. 

"You... you're okay?" he asked quietly.

Dani nodded, tears pooling in her eyes. 

"Good. I'd hate-" he coughed weakly, "to have this all be for nothing. Is the machine destroyed?"

"Not a functional piece left," Danny confirmed. Gage nodded in approval.

"Can you go on?" Dani asked. 

"I don't know... if I want to." Gage grimaced, feeling at his side. "I did what I came here to do. When you let me out that day... I finished the job. My stepdad left. My mom is safe...You're safe. What else is there for me do to?"

"You still haven't taught me how to ski," Dani laughed, tears slipping down her face.

"You're right," Gage acknowledged. "I could not, in good conscience, proceed to the afterlife without teaching you how to ski."

"We could always use a few ghostly friends," Danny chimed in. 

"Very true. You definitely have enough enemies," Gage agreed. 

"The Nasty Burger would miss your patronage."Dani barreled on.

"Our video games have a third controller for a reason." Danny continued.

"And... I would miss you," Dani concluded, looking at him shyly. Gage looked taken aback, but a grin began to spread across his face. Dani could almost swear she saw color starting to return to it. 

"Well if you insist," Gage said slowly. "I guess I could stick around a little longer."

"I'd like that," Dani smiled, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.