Phasing the Bullet

Phasing the Bullet

Warning: Off screen death and angst.



Three weeks. It had been three weeks since the Nasty Burger exploded. Danny Fenton laid in his new bed at Vlad Master's castle and just stared at the ceiling. He couldn't get that out of his head.

It had been only three weeks. It felt like months. Months of endless suffocating despair.

Everyone he loved was dead and it was all his fault.

Danny whined softly and curled into a ball. He should get up and eat but what was the point? He wasn't hungry.

His cellphone rang shrilly and Danny's eyes snapped open. He lunged out of bed and fell to the floor before scrambling to answer the phone.

“Tucker?” Danny rasped hopefully.

Danny smiled as a soft quiet sense of peace centered him at the answer.

“Hey Danny. How you been man?” Tucker asked.

Danny closed his eyes and leaned against his bed, “Could be better.” Tucker's subdued chuckle making him relax more.

“Yeah I hear that.”


***

Three weeks ago, Danny had cheated on his C.A.T. test. He had gotten caught, Lancer had set up a meeting with Danny and his parents,  Jazz and Sam had shown up to show support.

And then the giant vat of Nasty Sauce exploded killing everyone but Danny.

However. During lunch Tucker had accidentally eaten Sam's tofu burger. He then showed his allergy to soy  and had to be sent to the hospital for anaphalactic shock.

***


“So how was school?” Danny asked

“Crappy. You eaten today?” Tucker asked back.

Danny flinched and traced aimless patterns on the carpet. After a long guilty silence Tucker just sighed wearily.

“Hey. You promised you'll eat at least one meal a day. Come on Danny. I don't want you starving to death on me.”

“Okay.” Danny muttered as he phased through the floor, “Okay Tuck. I'm going to the kitchen right now.”

“That's great! Anyway about school-” Tucker started off rambling about who was doing what and who was dating who and various other rumors in Amity Park High School. Danny phased into the very large kitchen and smiled. Listening to Tucker made the bleak hopelessness of his situation fell not so bad.

He still felt like crap but at least he felt like he could live with it. Instead of-

“So what are you eating?” Tucker asked suddenly.

“Heating up todays left over spaghetti,” Danny answered, “What did you have for lunch?” He set and microwave and waiting for his food to reheat.

“Oooo, you got any large juicy delicious meatballs? And we had meatloaf. Man, Danny you have got to try my mom's meatloaf. It is so good.”

The timer went off and Danny got out his bowl, got a fork, and then floated over ot the table to eat. He made agreeing noises and asked questions as Tucker's babble washed over him.

He missed Mom's cooking.

Tucker finally winded down as Danny finished eating. There was a long moment of silence then Tucker asked softly, “So how you are you doing Danny?”

Danny closed his eyes and tasted salt.

I wish I could ask Vlad to yank the emotions out of me. I wish I hadn't cheated. I miss everyone so much. I miss home.

I miss Dad working on stuff, and Jazz being overbearing and geeking over chemical reactions with Mom. I miss Sam being Sam.

I wish I was dead.

“I miss them. I don't think I'll ever stop.” Danny said softly.

There was a sigh and then Tucker said, “Yeah. I miss them too. Give it time. It'll get better.”

“How do you know? How does anyone know? What if is doesn't get better?” Danny wailed.

“You'll just have to trust me as much as I trust you,” Tucker said, “Yes it'll be hard, yes it it hurts. You still got to hold on. It'll get better. And hey. At least you got me still.”

Danny bite his lip and then asked, “Promise?”

He wondered if Tucker realized the multiple questions in his plea. The shuffling noises on Tucker's end said he might.

“Yeah. Yeah Danny. I promise.”