Chapter Five

Rectified

Author's Introduction:

Since about the time I got chapter two up, I've had ideas for how to end this running through my head, so, Wednesday, when I put pen to paper, this just kinda flowed out. Hope you like

Disclaimer:

I don't own any of the Danny Phantom characters, or references to the show.

The flight through the Ghost Zone was quiet. Danny and Valerie ignored each other for the most part, Sam knew better than to try to get them talking, and Danielle was too tired to start conversation. At one point, Danny broke the silence, explaining that he needed to return the Infa map to Frostbite. Sam refused to leave Danny, and so Valerie and Danielle set off for the Ghost Portal without them. Danielle got Valerie out of Fenton Works undetected, and, from there, the two went their separate ways.

It was now a week after their run in with Electriosis, and life was going on as if it had never happened. Danny was still rarely seen at school, and Valerie still avoided talking about him. Danielle seems to have disappeared from the face of the Earth again, and dreams from the past still haunt Valerie's nights.

She was just driving home from work when a peculiar memory was aroused. It was right after Danny had saved the world and everyone had gone back to their own towns and countries. Tucker had been elected the youngest mayor in Amity Park history and was having his first town meeting. Valerie was a-midst the crowd, watching attentively, her father beside her. Thoughts and words were blurred in the fabrics of the girl's mind. Before long, a sheet was being lifted to reveal a statue of Danny. Valerie cheered along with everyone else, however, her thoughts were scattered with burning rage, regret, sorrow… These feelings brought forth a fear that she had never known before.

A bird, swooping down in from of her car, brought the huntress back to reality. She slammed on her breaks, her fist hitting the horn. The bird let out a started alarm call before fluttering off into the distance. Valerie watched it go angrily. The animal flew right over Danny's statue. As her eyes were brought to the magnificent carving, tears bubbled to the surface, spilling over. She leaned forward onto her steering wheel, holding her head in her hands, her body shaking with her sobs. Nothing was right anymore. Her memories had brought her to the very place she had been avoiding for so long; a place of misery, pain, and fear.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" a voice drifted to her ears.

Taking a deep breathe, Valerie pushed herself off the steering wheel, wiping her eyes with her hands. "I'm fine," she sobbed.

"Valerie?" the voice said, shocked.

Valerie turned her head to see Danny Phantom. Shock overwhelmed her, and she burst into tears again.

"Woah, hey, it's o.k.," Danny said soothingly, phasing into the car and wrapping his arms around the huntress. At first, he held her lightly, no sure how she would react. When she leaned into his embrace, he held her tighter. "Shh," he whispered. "It's alright."

They must have remained like that for five minutes before Valerie's tears subsided and she pulled away. "What are you doing here?" she whispered.

"Patrolling," Danny replied simply. "What are you doing here? You never come this way."

Valerie looked away. "I-I don't know!" she admitted, another tear streaking down her face. "I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know why I'm here… I just…" she stopped, sighing as she wiped away more tears.

"Hey, it's o.k." Danny laughed. "It's not that big of a deal. Here, let me drive you home." Valerie hesitated, giving the boy a quizzical look. "It'll give you time to think," the ghost-boy offered.

"Alright," the huntress gave in. "Key's are still in the ignition."

Danny laughed. "The car's still running."

"Right," Valerie sighed, putting a hand to her head.

The ride back to Valerie's house was quiet. Danny kept his eyes on the road, giving Valerie her space, and Valerie just watched the streets and houses roll by out her window, lost in her own thoughts. When they reached the apartments where she lived, Danny had to pull her out of her reverie.

"We're here," he said quietly.

Valerie looked at the apartments out the driver's side window. "Right, thanks," she whispered, getting out of the car. Danny got out as well, but remained standing by the car as Valerie walked to the door.

"Val, wait!" he called, just as she walked up the steps. Valerie stopped and turned. Danny was standing at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know I ruined everything with that stupid dog, and I know you may never be able to forgive me for that, but I never meant to hurt you. I-"

"Stop!" Valerie interrupted. "Stop, just… Just stop, please." Silence followed and Valerie sighed. "I'm not mad at you," she said. "I don't hate you, and I know you never meant to hurt me. I know it was all an accident, a misunderstanding."

"Then why won't you even look at me?" Danny asked.

Valerie blinked. "I am looking at you."

"That's not what I mean," Danny said.

Valerie sighed. "I'm scared," she whispered. "Whenever I'm around you, or think about you… It's always the same."

"What is?"

"I don't know what to feel. I'm angry because of everything that's happened because of you, and I'm proud because you saved us all, but I'm sad because of all the times… and I didn't know it was you… I regret so much, and this storm of emotions… It scares me," the huntress finished, a tear running down her face.

"It's always scared me," Danny replied gently.

Valerie glanced down at him. "But you never seemed to be scared of anything."

"When I was going to ask you out, I knew I could never reveal the truth to you, but I accepted it. That doesn't mean I wasn't scared."

"I'm sorry," Valerie murmured. "I left like that… I thought I was protecting you."

"You didn't know." Danny looked up at her. "I really am sorry. For all of this."

Valerie nodded. "I am too."

Danny looked at the keys in his hand. "These are yours," he said, handing them to her. "You left them in the car."

"Thanks." Valerie pulled out the key to unlock the door.

As she slipped it into the door knob, Danny laughed. "I have to admit, it was nice fighting along side you again."

Valerie couldn't hold in a laugh. "Yeah, yeah it was," she agreed, before slipping into the building. She made her way through the halls, up to her apartment and into her bedroom. As she closed her bedroom door, she leaned against it, as everything started to fall into place. Danny.

Throwing the keys on her bed, she rushed to the window, hoping she wasn't too late. No, he was still there, just about to fly over the building across the street from the apartments. Pulling open the window, Valerie called, "Danny!" The ghost-boy stopped and turned to face her. "Whenever you need some back up, give me a call!"

"I'll remember to do that!" Danny called back.

Valerie smiled, relief flooding over her as she watched him fly away. Suddenly, everything was clearer. The ghost flying into the distance, he wasn't a ghost, but a dark haired, blue-eyed boy. A boy that Valerie still loved dearly, but she had missed her chance. A boy, a friend.

That night, Valerie slept peacefully, and forevermore, she would never be haunted by memories of hunting the boy.

Author's Notes:

Well, not the best, but, that's what I got. How'd it go? Like, don't like?

And, yes, that was the ending.

My next story is underway!!!!! It'll be called "Escaping Phantom"

Comments and reviews are loved!