Danny Phantom Fan Fiction ❯ You Can't Escape My Love ❯ Chapter 4

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Hours later found the pair back at home, the small Goth worn out from crying as well as the fact that she had just spent hours in the booth recording more than five songs. Though Dan had been ready to take her back home after her break down, the small woman had been intent on finishing her CD before they left. Dean had promised that it would be on the radio before the day was thru and while Dan had been proud of her he could see that she had pushed herself too far. He was worried, the small woman in his arms curled up in his arms as he took her to their room where he deposited her on the bed. She mumbled something as she turned over, the raven haired male sighing as he turned to leave her in piece. He wanted to curl up around her, but wasn't feeling particularly sleepy at the moment, so many thoughts running thru his head. The main one that kept creeping back into his thoughts was about his younger half. What had the brat been thinking when he had uttered whatever he had said to make the strong female break down.

He had seen it in her eyes as she sang. Those words, those actions of that day were still in her brain, still in her heart and they were tormenting her every second. He knew how that felt. He was still seeing his Sam's death in his mind, the scene always the same, the feeling of loss as the Nasty Burger blew up before him. His eyes flashed red as he recalled the anger he had felt for the teacher that had brought them all there. He had never felt such rage for the balding male, though he had been irritated with the male for always siding with the popular kids. Sam shouldn't have been there, but like a good friend she had come to defend him, to try and make the teacher see something that she couldn't really explain. She couldn't reveal his secret, but maybe she had hoped to help him in another way. Either way, his friends should not have come to that doomed destination. His parents shouldn't have been there and it was truly his fault that they had been there. He had been tempted by something, a free pass after all he had done to protect his town.

He still blamed the adult for doing something as dangerous as bringing them to the burnt remains of the fast food restaurant. He was a grown man for fuck's sake and should have known that after the initial explosion that the place was not a place to be, but he had wanted to shock his parents and him into understanding where the young halfa would end up, not that Dan would have really cared. He had realized after spending years in the thermos, that had he not cheated on that test that his parents might have been upset, but once they had found out his secret or even without knowing it, they would have been okay in the end. They would have accepted him for who he was. He would have just ended up joining his parents with hunting down ghosts. Hell, Danny had revealed his identity and they had been upset, but they had accepted him for who he was. Had he known that his life would become better in a few more years he wouldn't have done it. He would have just failed the test and maybe found a way to help his grade. Sighing he sat down in their main room on the couch. He hoped that Jazz relayed that message to the young male because even if the halfa had hurt Sam, and he knew that she would walk away from him, the pair of them belonged together. While he would never have that chance to be with his Sam, the Goth deserved to be with the one she wanted... the one she loved.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

That particular person was still driving, the RV and him both intangible. Danny hadn't planned on doing that, but he had seen how long it would take for him to get to his destination... Thirty-two hours! That was just a day and a half, but he knew that upon Jazz finding out about her being with Dan, the Goth could run. He wasn't sure if she would, but still, it was frustrating to think that he was so far away with the unknown ahead of him. That frustration built up forced his anger to rise with it. Figuring that he would need to calm down as, while his powers had grown stronger over the years, he would need to conserve them for this long trip. He doubted that they would last the whole trip, but it would shave hours off his drive and so leaning over he turned on the radio, a song just beginning as the soft sounding music immediately failed to calm him. He needed something to rock out to and so he went to change it when a female began to sing to his surprise.

"I don't want you to give it all up and leave your own life collecting dust," the female sang, her tone full of remorse and sadness. He pulled his hand back, his green eyes on the road as he continued to listen. "And I don't want you to feel sorry for me... You never gave us a chance to be!" What had started out as a slow song began to build, the last words spoke by the unknown singer rising in volume as her once soft voice became rough with anger. Her voice sounded so familiar and yet he couldn't seem to pinpoint when he had heard this particular artist. "And I don't need you to be by my side and tell me that everything's all right." Her tone was rather soft again, though there was a rough sound to it, like her anger was struggling to rise to the surface. His mind began to scream in frustration that he knew this person who was singing! He couldn't peg a name down. "I just wanted you to tell me the truth. You know I'd do that for you!"

The words began to fill his head, the fact that this woman was almost singing about his relationship with a certain raven haired woman. He had done just as she had said in the song. He had left his life behind at that moment, his long term relationship, to chase after Sam. The fact that he had been her one time lover... The way he had tried to smooth things over after the act... The next words reflected what Sam was doing right now. "So why are you running away? Why are you running away?" Her voice was husky with emotion, the anger and pain over whoever she was singing about.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Goth in question found herself a day later behind a easel, a large canvas before her and Dan sitting on the bed before her. Though she couldn't see the look of discomfort on his face she knew the male was probably scowling at her. "And why did you need me to pose?" he asked, the tone telling her that she was right and when she peeked around the canvas to look at him, a big smile on her face, he was indeed scowling.

I did enough to show you that I was willing to give and sacrifice

"You are the right person for the role in my painting," was her response. "Though, could you lay on your side, you know, lean over onto your hand...and keep scowling." The older halfa snorted, but complied with her instructions. After he had gotten posed the way she wanted the Gothic female stood up and heading to one of the suitcases located a deep green shirt, the article of clothing laid against his lower body, just below his belly button. It didn't cover much, but she was just testing out ideas for her painting. She had the pose in her mind and an idea of what she wanted... partially, but she was still missing part of the idea. Smiling at the male before her she leaned over and with a quick peck on his lips turned to head back to her easel.

And I was the one who was lifting you up when you thought your life had had enough

It didn't take long for her to start sketching out what she wanted, her small frame moving quickly to outline her subject and another thirty minutes to have most of him filled in. Dan lay there, his cheeks still slightly flushed at her quick little kiss even if he was still holding the scowl. After finishing up some of the finer details after another thirty minutes she told him that he could move. The large male felt the ache from sitting that way as he sat up to stretch. After getting the blood flowing in the numb part of his body he went to check on what she had created, but Sam was quicker as she stood up to block his way. The dark haired male raised a brow at her sudden movement.

And when I get close you turn away, there's nothing that I can do or say

"No peeking at it until it is done," she stated, moving to push him back. Dan chuckled at her. "I mean it, Dan." She tried to look tough, but compared to his large and bulky form she was tiny and easily overpowered if he so wished to do that. He shook his head with anther chuckle let it be with a promise to wait. "You won't have to wait long," she promised. "I plan to have it done in a few days so I can put it in the gallery." That was surprising. He knew that she would paint more art for the gallery that she was working in, but of him? As if she could read his mind she clarified, "I don't know if I will sell it or keep it." Knowing by the look on her face he could tell that she was torn on that subject. She was here to learn how to run a gallery, but artists in that position rarely kept their own work.

"You should probably sell it," he stated. Now she raised a brow. "That is what you are supposed to be doing with the art you create while working for the gallery, is it not?" The small woman nodded. It was true. She had come here to do a job and part of that job was supplying the gallery with artwork. She did want to keep it for the sake of having at least one tangible memory of the male before her. "We can get a camera if you want."

So now I need you to tell me the truth. You know I'd do that for you

"That's a good idea," she said with a soft smile. "Why didn't I think of that?" He smirked.

"Because I'm smarter than you." The raven haired woman frowned at him, but realizing that the male was just poking fun at her, rushed at him, her small body landing on him and knocking him to the ground even as he tried to fight the gravity. Letting out an oomph as he hit the ground he looked up at the woman on top of him as she smirked in triumph. Thinking quickly he tossed her on back, the smirk disappearing as she growled.

"Hey! That's not fair!" she said with a scowl. He laughed, his whole body vibrating against hers.

So why are you running away? Why are you running away?

"Who said that I play fair," he replied before his lips found hers in a crushing kiss. Sam moaned as she pressed her body against his, his weight crushing her in a rather pleasant way. He groaned against her lips, his body becoming harder as he pushed his lower body against her own heat. She responded in kind, a soft whimper leaving her lips as she pleaded with him by rubbing her body against him. He read her loud and clear as he floated above her, his arms wrapping around her to take her with him to the bed where the pair resumed their passionate embrace...

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hours later found Danny just a state shy of California, his energy dwindled down to nothing so the halfa had had to pull over and sleep. He had found a hotel just in time and with the funds from his allowance that he had been saving, he got a room. As soon as he was in the small room, the raven haired male crawled into be, his dreams filled with the Goth that he was chasing, the song from before repeating itself in his brain.

Is it me? Is it you?

He was sure that he had fucked up when he had stuttered out his apology to the raven haired ghost fighter, but he hadn't been saying that he hadn't wanted to be with her, though the words that had exited his lips had been ones of regret. It had been regret for the fact that he had overstepped himself. He hadn't wanted the Goth to think that he was using her as a rebound, but she had been so upset, so hurt by those words and had reacted in a way that was Sam. She had punched him, her way of removing him from her space. The Goth had been known to to do that when she was hurting. She pushed you away, but she had been so mad that the woman had punched him.

Nothing that I can do to make you change your mind

Was that true? Was there nothing he could do to correct his mistake? Was Sam unwilling to forgive his mistake and allow him to make amends. He had made so many mistakes regarding her over the years, hell, according to Tucker and Star the halfa had failed to realize how strong Sam's feelings for him were and while she had stood on the sidelines, only protesting to one particular girl and for good reason, he had continued to date the one person who had hated the Goth.

Is it me? Is it you?

Why hadn't she come to him with these unspoken feelings? Was it the same reason he hadn't spoken up? Had she been afraid to ruin their relationship or had she hoped that they would pass? How long had she had these feelings? He could recall a few times where he had felt something for the raven haired woman, and all those times he had brushed aside as either him being controlled or as a crush that he had on the one woman that had been a constant strength and weakness in his life. She had been there for him when he needed her, but at the same time she had been kidnapped several times because of her close relationship to him... That wasn't her fault, but then there were times that she had made less than wise decisions that had led to instances where it could have gone down a dangerous path.

Nothing that I can do... Is it a waste of time?

Though it was scary to think about that next step in their relationship it was a step that beckoned him. It wasn't a waste of time to see if they could make it work and while it was starting out rocky with their first intimate time together he was willing to give it a try... after all there wasn't any going back after what they had done. Not that he would take it back. It had been like coming home for the halfa, the words spoken to her though he knew that he had spoken words of regret. Had he been hoping that she would turn him away or had it been his way of telling her that he hadn't wanted to ruin what they had?

Is it me? Is it you?

Nothing that I can do to make you change your mind

No, there was no way that he wouldn't convince Sam to give him a chance, to prove that he truly loved her! He knew he loved her, it had just been a fear of ruining their friendship because a friend like the Goth was a rarity. Someone who knew when to speak up and tell you that you were making a mistake because it was dangerous waters and that same friend stepping back and letting you figure it out on your own. Sam had gone beyond that in his case. She had stood by after talking him into stepping into the portal, though had never told her that he truly had been curious about the inactive invention of his parents.

So why are you running away?

Why are you running away?

He had let her run, had let her leave him with only a lie to keep him off balance. She had hoped for a certain reaction or had assumed that he would make a certain choice and while he had no idea what was going on in her head he knew that this was the right step on the right path. She was his destination and he would never make a detour away from her again. He didn't want to lose her and even if they never got together he wanted her to know of his feelings and to stay by his side.

(what is it I have to say?)

So why are you running away?

(to make you admit you're afraid)

Why are you running away?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Danny made it into town the next day just past noon, and after getting a hold of Jazz made his way towards her place with plenty of questions about what she had seen at that meeting with Sam and Dan as well as other questions as to what was going on with the pair. Without realizing it he passed the home of said Goth, the raven haired female climbing out of bed with a smile as she headed for the shower. She had another couple of days before work at the gallery and she needed to finish her painting before then. Dan lay sleeping in bed, a smile on his face as she disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of the shower filling the room as she quickly cleaned herself.

The halfa got up just as she was coming out of the bathroom, a black towel wrapped around her body. She smiled at him as she hunted for some clothing in the suitcases, choosing to wear tight black pants that stopped at her ankles and a large purple shirt that fell to her knees. Heading back to the bathroom she shut the door. The raven haired male smiled at the door. Even though he had seen, touched, and tasted every inch of her skin the Goth was still all dressing in the privacy of the bathroom. That was Sam though. She might have become a woman just weeks ago, but she was still innocent in so many ways. Getting up he grabbed a pair of clean boxers, a pair of blue jeans and a red shirt. Once he was done he walked down the hall to another bathroom to take his own shower.

Sam came out and noting that her companion was in the other shower just shrugged. Heading for where the easel with her unfinished work sat waiting for her, she uncovered it and began to paint it after turning on some music, the sound of it mixing with the sound of the shower just down the hall. It was just another lazy day for the pair to enjoy each other's company and while the nagging feeling that it was all about to change entered her thoughts she pushed it down. She didn't want to think of that.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Danny arrived at Jazz's apartment, the red head looking like she had gotten little in the way of sleep, though she was in college... "Why are you home anyway?" he asked with a dark brow raised. "Don't you have class?" His sister shook her head.

"Only had two today and those were this morning," she replied as she shut the door after him. "What are you going to do about Sam?" She changed the subject, the real reason that he was there. "I really think that they are keeping a few things to themselves, though I find that I believe Sam about Dan being free and not breaking free from his containment." The pair sat down in her living room, the small space cramped with all the unpacked boxes that lined the walls and the books that filled the cracks between the boxes.

"Honestly, I have no idea I am going to go about it, though I do plan on going to that gallery where you were," he stated, still looking unsure about how well that would go down. "That was where you found them, right?" She nodded. "So you saw Dan then?" Again she nodded and began to fill him in on what she had seen during that short meeting with the couple, the image in Danny's head making the halfa feel angry and his heart clench at the fact that Jazz was right. It appeared that the two were closer than just a pair of friends. No, it seemed that Sam felt comfortable around the older male enough to fall asleep. While he was upset with what he was hearing, the fact that Sam hadn't heard Dan issue the warning to Jazz to pass along to him gave him hope.

It meant that the older halfa had said it knowing that Sam wouldn't hear him or it had just been timed just right, but Jazz clarified that Dan had been aware that Sam had passed out. In fact when Jazz had asked that very personal question of the older male he had looked positively ticked off, but instead of blowing up he had kept his tone low. It meant he hadn't wanted to wake the woman leaning on him. If anything Jazz felt that the warning hadn't been made to tick off Danny, but to let him know that the Goth needed him, but she was willing to leave him behind without warning... possibly never to darken their doorway again. He had seemed to want the halfa before her to come and find Sam.

"So, you think that he wanted me to come even knowing that Sam might be upset with me being here?" the halfa asked in confusion. That wasn't something he had been expecting to hear from his sister, though she had claimed that Dan wasn't really evil, just so unprepared to deal with the hand that life had dealt him at such a crossroads in his life. Her points had made sense to him, but at the same time he still found that he didn't like the male, that his actions were like something Vlad would do. Jazz had asked Danny what he would do if Sam were to die right before him, even at this age he found his heart stop at the thought that his long time friend dying. He knew that she had been the glue holding him together. She had wished their friendship away and when he recalled how his life would have gone he had realized that the step into the portal had been something he had needed to do. If he hadn't then what would have happened concerning Vlad and his plans for his parents or the people of Amity.

Sure, with the portal inactive it might have stopped the ghosts from coming from his home, but Vlad's portal, the one in Wisconsin, had been active for a while before theirs. He had had his ghost powers long before Danny and had been waiting to attack Danny's father, kill him if need be, all to get with his mother. He had even wanted to claim Danny as his own son. Removing the ghost from inside him had been the wrong move, but who was to say if he wouldn't have done the same thing without the Goth at his side telling him like she always did that his power wasn't a bad thing unless he used it like Vlad had. His ghost was only another side of him, a force that could be used in a good way or bad way. His parents had yet to learn of his powers and while Jazz had figured it out she hadn't done like Sam had. She had assisted him, but she didn't know what to think of him having such powers or how he had gotten them and then there was Tucker. He could be a great friend, but he had caused so many problems during their ghost fights, even putting Sam in danger.

"See, you can't say you wouldn't have gone down that same road, Danny," the red headed female stated. "As for Dan, I think he loves Sam and might be transferring his affections from the fact that he never got to express his own feelings to the Sam from his time while she is using him for the same thing, though she hasn't really lost the chance that he has..." she faded off and Danny could see that she was trying to figure out why the Goth had run from Amity and into the arms of their former enemy. "I can see that like him using her for his Sam that she is using him as a replacement for you, but we both know that she's not that kind of person so there ha-"

"God damn it, Jazz. I slept with her!" The teal eyes looking at him grew large. Blushing he turned from her and muttered something under his breath. Jazz leaned forward and asked him to repeat what he had said. The halfa muttered it again, this time louder, but the red head couldn't understand all of it.

"You slept with Sam... and said what?"

"I, um, I told her that I made a mistake," he hissed, guilt in his words and shame in his tone. The older female frowned at her brother, realizing why Sam had taken off and had hooked up with the older halfa.

"Ho-" she started, the halfa before her cutting her off.

"I didn't mean it how it sounded!" he growled throwing up his hands. "I didn't get to explain as Sam punched me in the face." Jazz socked him in his arm, the attack not really hurting him as much as it hurt the red headed genius. Jazz wanted to rip into him, hell, there was no reason not to at this point of the conversation, but before she could lay into him the halfa turned around to an open door was. She sputtered as the raven haired sibling stood. She stood as well when she realized the look on his face was one of confusion.

How do you fall in love?

That voice was the same one from the radio in the RV and yet it was a different song. Jazz followed behind him into her room, the place cluttered save for her bed and a desk with her laptop on it. The music was coming from the speakers of the computer.

Harder than a bullet could hit you

He turned to her, the music still playing in the background, and asked her, "Who sings this?" She frowned at him, sure that he was trying to change the subject to get away from the verbal beating she had been about to bestow on him. "I heard her on the radio earlier and, well, she sounds familiar." The red head blinked.

"The name of the singer is Alexandra, but we are not done talking about what you did to Sam," the older sibling stated as she crossed her arms.

How do we fall apart?

"Alexandra? Why does that sound familiar too?" Why couldn't he think of the answer to this mysterious singers identity. Jazz sighed and sitting down at the desk began to type away on her keyboard to look up the artist of the song she had just heard for the first time today. After a few words and a hit of the 'enter' key they found that the young woman behind the music was not listed under any more than her one name, the rest of her information blank. Now that was strange... Even a brand new singer, one that had yet to hit it big, would have their information for a fan to find out more, but this woman was different. There was nothing about her, not even her age or anything.

Faster than a hairpin trigger

"That's weird," she muttered. Scrolling down she found out when the music had been released, her head tilting to the side as she turned to him. "She only has information pertaining to the song, but not her self. The song itself was released just a day or so ago." The incident with Sam and Danny was forgotten for a second as a new mystery appeared before them. Jazz had no stock in the mystery singer, but for Danny to be sure that he knew the woman singing the song and that the name was also something he recognized made her wonder if it was more important than she even thought it could be. It was just another singer joining the mass of artists out there. "Danny, you need to clear the air with Sam before what Dan said comes true." That brought him out of his stupor as his sister turned off her Pandora radio station, the room going quiet.

"I know," he stated sounding rather helpless for a moment before he said, "I need you to take me to that gallery to do that." Jazz looked skeptical about that, sure that if Danny were to go to that gallery that the Goth would turn him away, but then again at least it would show the raven haired heiress that Danny was aware of what he had done.

"That will have to wait another two days though as that gallery is only open on the weekend," she stated as she stood, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder. "That should give you plenty of time to figure out a plan of action to make her see that you two belong together, like everyone has been waiting for for a long time." With that she left her brother alone to work on something for one of her classes, the dark haired male plopping down in the chair before the desk with a sigh. Now that he knew where to find her, well, save for where she lived, he just had to figure out how to get her to listen to him.