Glowing Green Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Tucker sighed as he hung up, a cough stuck in his through before he turned to Sam standing at the basement stairs. “Val and her dad’s on their way, he knows.”

“Ok.” Sam said, nodding her head. “And Grandpa called Anita to let her know. She said if she can get away from home, she’ll be here.”

“How?”

“Dani, I think. They are friends.” Sam shrugged.

Tucker looked at his friend for a moment, watching as the girl stared down the dark stairs case as she almost held herself together with her arms. “Come on, at least sit down. There’s nothing we can do.”

Sam turned to her friend and sighed, dropping her arms to her side. “You’re right, it’s just…”

Tucker pulled out a chair from the table and opened the cabinet to find two mugs.

“What are you doing?” Sam asked, sitting down.

“Making hot chocolate.” Tucker said, measuring out the water and filling the tea pot. He placed it on the burner and turned it on before explaining. “Mom does this for me if I come home exhausted.”

“Your mom really is a cool mom.” Sam admitted.

Tucker pulled out the tin of cocoa mix and sat it next to the mugs. “Ya, she is.” He admitted, remembering the conversation before breakfast. “She doesn’t even know what’s all going on.”

“Really?” Sam asked, sitting straight at the news.

“No. I guess she was in shock from Danny’s parents coming after him to really hear me.” Tucker shrugged.

A knock at the door caught their attentions. “That’s probably Valerie. I’ll get it.” Sam said, pushing herself up to her feet. She went to the door and opened it only to be surprised at seeing both her parents and Tucker’s. “The Fentons are busy at the moment.” Sam tried, only to find herself stepping aside to let the four in, shutting the door behind them.

“Well, get them free. We need to talk.” Jeremy said, eyeing his daughter.

“We can’t.” Tucker said, appearing in the doorway from the kitchen.

“Why not?” Maurice asked, his tone matching Jeremy’s.

“Maurice!” Angela scolded. “They aren’t in trouble so quit sounding like it.”

“Look, Danny got hurt and his family’s the only people who can help him.” Tucker said. “If you wanna talk to them, wait until Danny’s life doesn’t hang in the balance.”

“Then he should be in a hospital.” Jeremy said.

“We’ll wait until they’re done.” Pamela said, seating herself down on the sofa. She straightened out her skirt and looked up at the two teens. “While we wait, maybe you two could enlighten us?”

The tea kettle whistled, getting Tucker to sigh. “I have to make more hot chocolate, don’t I?”

“Tea would be more preferred.” Jeremy said, taking the seat next to his wife.

After making four cups of cocoa and two cups of tea, the six found themselves sitting in the living room. Sam and Tucker taking chairs from the kitchen for there to be enough seats.

“Alright, where do you wanna start?” Sam asked, holding her mug in both hands.

“Maybe how Danny became half ghost and  put the two of you in danger?” Pamela asked.

“So you all know?” Sam sighed as only Angela nodded in response. Sam looked at Tucker only for their answer to be cut off by another knock at the door.

“Come in.” Tucker called out.

“Sorry it took us so lo…” Valerie’s voice trailed off as she took in the number of people in the Fenton’s living room, and not a single Fenton to be seen. “Uh, hi?”

“Welcome to the extended knowers of Danny’s secret.” Sam said sarcastically.

“You’re making your own cocoa.” Tucker said.

“Sure?” Damon closed the door behind himself. “How is he?”

Sam shrugged. “We haven’t heard from them since we got back really. His grandparents are down there too.”

“And Jazz and Lancer?” Valerie asked.

“The hospital’s supposed to released them any minute now and they’ll head here when they’re able to.” Sam informed.

“So Lancer knows too?” Valerie asked, getting nods.

“Sixteen humans, wow.” Tucker commented, doing the quick math.

“Who’s the sixteenth?” Valerie asked, taking the chair adjacent to the couch as her father pulled in a table chair from the kitchen.

“A girl in Suffolk.” Sam explained.

“Anyway.” Pamela drew out, getting attention back to herself. “Could you explain how this all started?”

“Right.” Sam nodded towards her mother. “When we started high school, Danny went into the ghost portal and ended up turning it on from the inside. Jazz thinks it was a mix of the electrocution and the ectoplasm their parents had put in the device to get it working that gave Danny ghost powers instead of outright killing him.”

“It was about a month later that he realized he wanted to use his powers to save everyone from the ghosts that now escaped the portal.” Tucker put in. He noticed his father’s face and added, “We were going to be there for him no matter what he decided.”

“So he really is Danny Phantom?” Angela asked, it setting in as she spoke.

“You all are taking the news rather well.” Sam realized.

“We’ve had a bit to think about it, really.” Maurice admitted.

“Ya, how did you all find out?” Tucker asked, it just hitting him.

“When I was talking to Maddie, she said it.” Pamela admitted.

“She called us afterwards and told us.” Angela filled in only to stare at the doorway to the kitchen, getting everyone’s attention towards the new comers.

“Anita? Dani?” Realizing the two would’ve come from the Ghost Zone, Sam jumped to her feet and asked, “Did you see Danny? How is he?”

“We couldn’t see too much.” Anita said as she took off her work hat. She attached the back to a belt loop as she admitted, “They’ve set up a plastic decontamination bubble down there.”

“Who’s them?” Dani asked, nodding her head towards the group in the living room. Her eyes stopped on the dark skinned girl and smiled. “Hey Valerie.”

“Hi Dani.” Valerie waved back.

“Ok, what’s going on?” Jazz’s voice asked as she walked into the living room with Mr. Lancer and Vlad behind her.

“Wow, now everyone’s here.” Tucker admitted with a smirk.

“And most of you are going to have to leave.” Robert’s voice said, drawing everyone’s attention to the skinny elder who was placing a hand on Anita’s shoulder. “We’ve done what we can but Danny needs peace and quiet while recovering.”

“Before we leave, how is he?” Valerie asked, keeping her seat.

“He’ll recover.” Robert nodded. “I’m told to tell Sam, Tucker, Dani, and Anita they can stay.” He glanced over to the door and quickly added, “You too, Jazz. Everyone else has to go.”

“Samantha, I’d rather you not stay until all of this is worked out.” Pamela said as she stood up.

“Mom!”

“Don’t ‘mom’ me.” Pamela grabbed Sam’s wrist and forced eye contact. A moment passed before Sam sighed as behind them Lancer glanced at Jazz.

“Take care, Jasmine, and don’t worry.” Lancer smiled as he saw the surprise in the girl’s face. He laughed, cutting her off. “I know you. You’ve always put your brother first. I won’t tell anyone about him.”

“Tucker, I’m trusting you on this one.” Angela said.

“It’s not like I’m leaving.” Tucker tried.

“I’ve got a feeling, ok.” Angela pushed, grabbing her son’s hands to hold. “Be safe.”