Chapter 4:

Since Sam and Tucker had already made plans to stay at Fenton Works that night. To keep Danny company with his parents going to their convention thing. They were able to keep an eye on him, as he talked with the adults. Continually insisting that he was alright, until they were finally convinced.

Though Maddie proceeded to fuse over him. And his father had never ending stream of questions about what he had seen inside the ghost portal. Nether could bring themselves to be mad. Despite no doubt wanting to be. They just couldn't help but feel touched that their son was willing to walk into a potential death machine. To help make their dream come true.

It was with this train of thought that Danny was granted enough civility to finally relax. And almost forgot to worry about loosing control. Or someone discovering his secret.

In fact he was actually able to sit down and watch movies with his friends well into midnight. Without even so much as recalling what had happened to him.

But no good thing lasted forever. As the moment he started falling asleep. The sensation of falling was quick to wake him again. And discovered he was no longer in his room on the second floor, but rather back in the basement lab.

"Ow," He told the darkness. Before the emergency lights came on in response to his movement. Somewhere in the back of her head, he was more annoyed than scared this time. And resigned himself to lay there. Listing to Sam and Tucker rushing down the stairs to find him.

"Dude, are you okay?" Tucker declared. As Danny lifted his hand to study it, realizing he was once again in his ghost form.

"Yeah," He muttered with a loud sigh and sat up. "That is gonna get old," He complained as his friends moved to pull him to his feet.

"Okay, we need to find a way to control this," Sam insisted. "You're gonna get caught, if we don't.

"I agree. The question is how?"

"Well –" Tucker exclaimed. Waving a hand at the room, "Your parents are ghost hunters. Maybe they have some information on the topic."

"Good point," Danny admitted. Before looking toward the computer where he knew his parents kept all their test results. Tucker grinned in understanding. Before walking over to the device and proceeded to break in. For the betterment of science.

Flipping through the flies. He finally came upon a folder titled Ghost Powers, and whopped with glee. Scrolling through the data like a kid on a candy store.

"Basic powers that all ghosts have," He read off. "Flight, intangibility, invisibility, supernatural strength, speed, durability, agility, dexterity and reflexes. Okay, you gotta admit, that sounds cool," He added. Turning to his friends with happiness. Only one of whom seemed to actually agree with him. And it wasn't Danny.

"Says the person who didn't have a rather rude wake-up call, just now," The ghost boy muttered.

"Fine, fine," Tucker relented. Turning back to the screen again.

"Let's start with intangibility. That seems to be the one he struggles with the most," Sam said and the file was opened.

"Intangibility," Tucker read off. "Allows a user to move through solid objects. Ignoring most physical effects in their way."

"Yeah, I've noticed," Danny complained. Folding his arms in annoyance. "How do I shut it off?" He growled and Tucker read a little further.

"Could be activated by fear." He stated, before donning a sheepish smile. "But exact means are unknown."

Danny proceeded to whine at the ceiling in loud distress. "Why is this happening to me?" He begged. Causing Sam to touch his shoulder.

"It's okay. We'll figure it out. There's got to be a way."

"Says here the effects can be neutralized by ghost-proof nets," Tucker added.

"That's a start," She admitted.

"And may require the ghost to –" Tucker began again. Before going quiet as he re-read the line. As if to make sure he had it right. "To – hold their breath," He finally explained. "Well, okay then."

"But I haven't been holding my breath," Danny complained. Only to make a face as he considered it. "At least – I don't think I have."

"Okay, let's start with that," Sam interrupted, moving him over to stand next to a table. And laid his palm again the surface, "Try it now."

Taking a breath, he held it for a moment. The action feeling strangely unnecessary to his ghost form. And, for a minute, seemed to no do anything. Until him fell through the table. In his shock, breathing again, and thus making himself tangible once more. Only to leave him stuck inside the desk.

In a panic, he attempted to pull back. Only to wrench up one of the legs, from where it had been bolted to the floor.

"Super strength," Tucker reminded him. Endeavoring to grab anything he could and avoid it all crashing to the ground.

"Right, right," Danny muttered. Forcing himself to chill out once more again and phased his hand back out without an issue. "Huh," He stated, watching his appendage as he tested it with interest.

"How about we try something a little less – destructive?" Sam suggested. Looking at the screen. "How about 'flight'. That seems innocent enough?"

Tucker agreed and opened the new file. "The power to defy gravity and propel one's self through the air at will," He read off unnecessarily. And his friends gave each other an annoyed look. The techno geek either didn't notice or didn't care. Instead scanning the page. Looking for anything of use. "Say's here that it's activated by the flight response to fear or – happiness."

"Simple enough," Danny said. Backing away several steps, before looking back at them with a little smile. "Where should I go? Texas, France? Maybe I can make it to the moon?"

"Let's start with 'up' for now," Sam stated with a small laugh. Happy her friend had found at least one thing to make his situation bearable. After all, for as long as she had known him, Danny had always wanted to fly.

"Alright," He agreed, before looking at the ceiling with some slight concentration. And, a moment later, began floating. "Well, at least one of them is easy." He proclaimed, even as he continued hovering upwards. Not noticing that he was going too high, until his head came in contact with the ceiling. Hard enough to make his friends wince.

"Ow," He muttered and returned to the flour as he rubbed the offend spot. Causing Tucker to laugh out loud. "Keep it up and I'll phase you into a wall." The laugher died as fast as it had begun.

"Okay, how about invisibility?" Sam inserted. Before someone did something they could regret. And Tucker brought up a new page.

"Invisibility," He quoted. "The ability to become completely transparent to most forms of vision. But susceptible to infrared."

Sam sighed, rubbing at a growing headache. "We know Tuck."

He ignored her and kept reading. "Users may turn invisible if threatened. And revert back when calm."

"So, it sounds like we had the right idea. The best course of action is the stay calm." Danny nodded in agreement. Rubbing at his chin in thought.

"But what about turning back?" He finally asked. Motioning to his otherworldly self. "I can't keep going ghost every five seconds."

"Hey, Goin' Ghost. That could be your battle cry," Tucker proclaimed with a grin. Causing his friend to raise any eyebrow at him and the geek was quick to turn back to the computer. Typing once again. "Or – we could discus it later."

"Why would I need a battle cry? It's not like I'll be doing this much longer?" Danny mussed. Glaring at the portal. Which he was glad had been closed and locked. "Once we find a way to change me back. That'll be the end of this little adventure."

"Have you ever considered staying this way?" Sam asked then. Causing him to look at her in shock.

"What? Why would I?"

"Think about it Danny. You've been given a once in a lifetime opportunity. You have the power to make a difference in the world."

"Like how?" He muttered with sour intention.

"Flight, super strength, invisibility," Tucker quoted. Continuing his search of the once password-protected files. "That's one step up from Superman, dude. Even he couldn't go intangible."

"Yeah and now I know why?" Danny complained. Folding his arms with a dry huff. "He would have never gotten any sleep."

"Figures you'd be the one boy on the planet who isn't thrilled to have superpowers." Sam exclaimed with annoyance. Causing said teen to look at her, before sighing.

"Okay, okay. Maybe your right," He admitted. Letting his arms fall to his side. "I guess I could give the superhero thing a try. But only if I can get control of these powers. If I can't at least do that, I'll cause more harm than good."

"True," She agreed. Looking back at Tucker. "Have you found anything yet?"

"Nope," He announced. Turning his chair to face them. "Sorry, dude. It looks like Goin' Ghost is unique to you," He said with a smile at his own joke.

"But there's got to be something – anything."

"Oh, I don't know," Tucker stated with a grin. "It looked like you were enjoying the quick fix last time." This caused his friends to blush and look away from each other, as the memory resurfaced.

"Maybe –" Danny said absentmindedly. Only to force his mind back on track and continued the statement before anyone could read into it. "But it would be nice to find a more conventional method."

"Good point," Tucker proclaimed with thought. Walking back over to the examine table they had used before. Though he wasn't quite ready to give up on the love he always knew to exist between his two friends. Keeping Danny from being discovered and dissected was still his top priority. "Why don't we see what else we can find in your DNA? We were a little panicked last time. Perhaps a clearer mind we'll see something we didn't before."

"True," Danny agreed and Sam walked over to the table as well. Only to look back when he didn't follow. "Sorry –" He added. "I – really don't like that thing."

"It's okay," She answered. Taking his hand again and smiled. "We're not gonna let anything happen to you."

"I thought I was supposed to be the superhero?" He stated with a little grin of his own.

"Even superheroes need superheroes," She informed him. Finally pulling the ghost toward the table. And allowed him to lay down at his own pace. But still continued to hold her hand. The tangible presence of his friends being the only thing that kept him from bolting.

"Okay," Tucker announced as the machine finished its scan. Thus allowing him to compare it to the last one. Which he'd smartly thought ahead to download on his PDA, before Danny's parents had returned.

"Anything?" Danny asked.

"The ghost energy seems to be building at your core," He explained. "Probably because your molecules are stabilizing."

"That makes sense," Danny muttered. Before looking at the ghost portal again. "Perhaps the ectoplasm from the Ghost Zone has somehow fused into my DNA. Creating a self-generating, but distinct mass of energy. That would explain why I have two forms."

"Yeah – it would. How do you know that?" Tucker demanded. Making a face, as if to ask what had become of his real friend.

"My parents have blathered on about ghosts my whole life. Some of it was bound to sink in."

"Good point," Tuck admitted. Looking back at the screen. "But, under that theory. It would be reasonable to assume that your human self replaces the energy mass when you're a ghost."

"That's what I was thinking," Danny stated. Jumping off the table to stand in the middle of the room. Giving himself plenty of space. "I wanna try something."

With this said, he took a calming breath and closed his eyes. Utilizing a few meditation techniques Jazz had been forcing on him, to focus inward. Until he felt what could only be described as a warmth at his core.

When prodded in the same way as his various powers. That warmth started spreading over his body. Containing the cold, until the two had swapped places. And his more natural temperature was in command again.

"I'm impressed," Sam spoke up. And he opened his eyes. Only to realize he couldn't see her as well as he had a moment ago. But had soon adjusting to the light and checked himself over. Discovering his normal appearance had returned.

"It worked," He quailed with excitement. Rather proud of himself.

"Yeah. How'd ya do it?" Tuck asked. Causing Danny's smile to drop.

"I'm – not even gonna try to explain it," He proclaimed. Causing them to laugh and he smiled despite himself.

"Well, maybe that'll be enough for you to get some sleep anyway," Sam said. As Tucker started turning everything off. Only to be interrupted.

"Wait," Danny called and they all froze. "Can you run one more test? I wanna make sure my human half isn't falling apart or anything?"

"Yeah, sure," His friend answered. After an awkward pause of discomfort. Started the thing up again and Danny settled himself back on the table.

"You look fine," Tucker announced after another minute. And turned the screen so Danny could see it. "In fact, it looks like your human half is becoming more dominant. It was your ghost DNA before. But that's probably because your human side is your most stable and natural form. I bet it'll become your default position from now on."

"Well at least I'm not becoming more ghost," Danny agreed with relief. Sitting up again as Tucker finished shutting everything down. Making sure to leave it all as they had found it. And headed back to the stairs.

"So, you gonna try the superhero thing?" Sam put in with a grin. Causing Danny to sigh.

"You're not gonna let that go, are you?"

"I don't want you to have any regrets," She admitted. "If you take your powers away, you might never get them back again. It's always best to exhaust all resources."

"Why are you always right?" He muttered as they arrived back in the kitchen. And she examined her nails with sass.

"It's a gift."

"Alright, I'll give it a try," He relented with a laugh and she smiled.

"Which means –" Tucker began again. With way too much vigor on his part. "You're gonna need a cool battle cry," He finished with purpose. Causing them both to sigh.

"Tucker. I am not saying that."

"Oh, come on. Just once," He begged and Danny ran a hand down his face. Before glaring at his friend. Who really had done a lot to help him through all the weirdness.

It was with this in mind, that Danny checked the living room. Making sure no one else was awake. Before walking back to the middle of the kitchen. Where he focused on the cold at his core once again and threw his hands in the air, superman style.

"I'm Goin' Ghost," He called out in a whispered yell. Causing the two rings of light to engulf him again. And a moment later he stood before them in his ghost form. "There – ya happy?" He muttered and his friend grinned from ear to ear.

"Ecstatic!"

Danny shook his head, but smiled despite himself. And was about to change back when he noticed Sam frowning at him in a thoughtful manner. "What?" He demanded. Searching himself in fear that he'd gone and grown a tail without realizing it.

"Nothing. I was just thinking. If you're gonna be a superhero. You're going to need a secret identity," She revealed. Causing him to think that over for a moment and shrugged in agreement.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Phantom," She answered immediately with a smile. "Danny Phantom."

…

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