Together, at last; Danny had started to think the day would never come. The second he got home, his parents had pounced on him and driven his ghost half away. They may have been cautiously grateful, but that didn't mean they were going to invite a ghost inside for coffee.
Everyone had been gathered there except for Kat, and all of them were somewhat confused as to what they were doing there. Maddie and Jack, of course, decided that a ghost was involved; they weren't too far off. Valerie must have agreed because she snuck off to change into her ghost hunting gear and go after Phantom. Paulina had expressed general distaste for the accommodations and disbelief for the story. Upon opening the front door to leave, she had abruptly changed her mind and insisted that Jazz drive her home. After expressing their concern and desire for all of the more interesting details later, Sam and Tucker had gone as well.
It had taken all day before his parents finally left him alone, but they eventually went to bed, allowing him to sneak down to the basement. It had been another hour before Phantom had arrived, and they were able to go back through the Fenton Ghost Catcher and become one again.
Having two sets of memories was a strange sensation, and it made him a little dizzy. Surprisingly (or not), he still had no more insight into Silver's mentality than he already did, except that she had started as a sociopath. He would talk to Jazz later.
He drifted through the cool night sky, perfectly happy for the first time in a long time. Sure, he would probably have some interesting nightmares for a while, but it was over, and everyone was okay. There was just one more thing to do.
Kat had not been at her usual karaoke bar, nor had she been at the cemetery. He was actually very happy that he wouldn't have to stand around with a bunch of corpses. Even underground, just being there for the few minutes it took to decide she wasn't there had freaked him out a little. He dove through the roof of Casper High and was surprisingly happy to see that it had taken little damage. Slayers had been there, and there were a few dead mainliners still lying about, but the only damage was to some lab equipment and a few doors that had been torn off their hinges.
He slipped into the auditorium to see a very unexpected sight. Kat was too far away for him to see her, but one of her mini portals hovered in the air behind her father. Technus glanced over and noticed him. He seemed about to say something, but Kat must have intervened. Instead, he simply sneered before retreating back into the Ghost Zone.
"What was he doing here?" Danny demanded.
Even up close, the astral gremlin was still rather faded. It didn't stop her superior attitude, though. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she teased.
The ghost boy huffed and changed the subject. "Are you okay? Did Silver hurt you?"
Kat thought for a moment. "Name doesn't ring a bell…but yeah, I'm fine. I've just been trapped in the power lines."
So she had been helping him; he had thought it was something like that. He shook his head. "Never mind. She's gone for good anyway. I just wanted to say thanks for your help."
"What help?"
Danny blinked, confused. "Wasn't that you? I mean, every time I stopped for too long, or when something was about to attack me? That wasn't you making things blow up?"
Kat thought for a moment, then started to laugh. "No, dear. That wasn't me."
The boy continued to stare at her, then his eyes drifted over to where Technus had vanished. "You…have…got to be kidding…"
"Oh, don't worry. He was helping me, not you. Helping you just happened to be a side effect."
Well, he thought he could live with that. They said their goodbyes, but he waited until Kat joined her father in the Ghost Zone before returning home. The whole way there, his gaze kept darting around, waiting for Killjoy to show up or maybe Silver herself. He dropped down into his room and switched back to human mode.
Suddenly, though not unexpectedly, time slammed to a halt. For just a second, Killjoy stood between Deadeye and a very brow-beaten Darwin. Then they were gone, and the doctor's voice spoke from his radio.
"You see, my boy? A cure, at last! Did I not say that I am a miracle-worker? But no matter. I do believe you will be alright, but don't think for one second that I won't stop to check up on you once in a while. So many of my patients fall back into their old ways out from under my watchful eye. Still…very well done, my boy. Very well done, indeed. Now, if only our dear Meryll would oblige…"
A/N: Yay! Done with Silver, at last. I got to say, the angst was getting to me. Next up, Erik. And I'm sure a handful already know what it's about just by the title. By the way. I know in the beginning, I said I'd write a parody next. Well, I did. I'm just not ready to post it yet. It's number fourteen. But you guys are going to love it when I get there. /evil grin/