The Phantom Anomaly

Chapter Six

"What's wrong?" Danny asks immediately.

"I heard your conversation with Samantha earlier." Clockwork responds slowly.

"Sam." Danny corrects absentmindedly. He blushes when he realizes what he said. "Sorry. Go on."

"I'm afraid that your human half no longer takes 49% of your being." Clockwork, as impassive as ever, waits for Danny's reaction.

Danny's face twists into a slight grimace. He runs a hand through his dark hair and turns away.

"........I was afraid of that." He says quietly. "I feel...faded. But stronger..."

"The sudden influx of power granted by your crowning gave your ghost half more precedence. I'll let Tucker fill you in on the exact numbers once he tests you." Clockwork starts to turn away, but he pauses. In a sudden burst of emotion, he places a hand on Danny's shoulder. "Don't worry. It all turns out fine."

Danny raises an eyebrow. "I thought you couldn't tell me about the timeline."

Clockwork smiles mysteriously, dropping his arm. "Well, as King, you are my equal in secret-keeping. I'm sure the Observants won't protest too much."

The two share a laugh. Then Danny looks up towards the stairs and sighs.

"You two can come out now."

"Sam! I told you he would hear us!" Tucker complains.

Sam wordlessly walks into view and looks down at Danny. Her eyes are watery, something that Danny rarely sees.

"Can we start in a few hours, Clockwork? We have had a long day." Danny asks, his eyes locked on Sam's.

"Go ahead."

Danny stops himself from transforming and flying to her. Instead, he runs up the stairs to pick her up into his arms. They share a long hug.

"Goodnight, Tuck." Danny says to his best friend, nuzzling his face into Sam's neck. The first sob rocks her body.

The boys share a sad smile before Tuck nods. "Goodnight, bro. Night, Sam." The technogeek disappears into his room.

Danny, his arms secure around his girlfriend, walks towards their shared room. After a pause and a mumbled apology, he makes them intangible so that he can walk through the door. Sam's sobs are now shaking her entire body.

Danny sits down on the bed, carefully setting Sam down onto his legs, facing him. As soon as she is secure, she wraps her arms around him and buries her face in his chest. As her body shakes and his shirt soaks, Danny hugs her back. His fingers take the green string from his wrist and he holds it in one hand while the other rubs calming circles in Sam's back.

Hearing a sniffle, Danny reaches over to the tissue box on the side table. He grabs a Kleenex and wordlessly holds it to the side. Sam raises her head, sees it, and takes it from him. She blows her nose, her sobs slowing down.

"It's....my fa...fault." She stutters. "If I...hadn't...." Her sobbing starts anew.

Danny grabs her hand and takes the used tissue away from her deathgrip. Then he puts her hand over his heart.

"I'm still alive." He says simply. "I'm still alive and kicking, Sam. We've gotten ourselves into a big mess, but you know what?" He guides her face up to meet his eyes. With a gentle smile, he wipes away the tears. "I don't regret any of it."

Sam shakes her head, but her crying slows down.

"I love saving people, Sam. And I can do that as Phantom. I love flying. You know my old dream to be an astronaut. That was probably never going to come true, but now I can still be close to the stars. But Sam," he pauses, waiting for her to look up again. "Most of all, I love you."

Sam sobs, one heavy sob, and she looks at him.

"It doesn't matter if I'm Fenton or Phantom. I will always love you."

"Danny..." Sam says, quietly. Her face is still red, but the crying has stopped. With sudden confidence, she surges forward to kiss him. He responds in kind.

When they break apart, Danny chuckles to himself and shows her the string he had prepared.

"I thought you might need this to calm down." He explains. She laughs too, quickly followed by a hiccup. They both laugh again, until a second hiccup works its way up her throat.

"We should-*hicc*- do it anyway." Sam says." I think you-*hicc*- need a brush up."

"Me?" Danny asks incredulously. "What about Tuck?"

Sam rolls her eyes, preparing a game of Cats Cradle with his green string.

Half an hour later, Sam is sound asleep under the covers, her back facing Danny. Danny kisses her just behind her ear before phasing out of the bed. He drops through the floor to the main room, where Clockwork is waiting.

"Ghosts don't ever need to sleep, I guess." Danny remarks to his mentor. "We might as well start now."

"Then let us begin."

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A//N: Ugh. Romance. :P
I hope I didn't just butcher it...
Also, if anyone thinks Sam is too girly, then I'm sorry. Strong tomboys cry too. I should know. :)