Chapter Text
Relief flooded Sam as Valerie stepped forward, her ecto-gun aimed at the approaching GIW agents. Without hesitation, Sam nodded gratefully, knowing they couldn't afford to waste a moment.
"Tucker, help Kwan," she instructed, her voice firm as she shifted Danny's weight in her arms. With Tucker's support, Kwan limped forward, his jaw clenched in pain but determination burning in his eyes.
Together, they hurried towards the waiting car, the engine humming softly in the darkness. Dash was waiting inside, his expression tense as he watched them approach. "What's going on?" he demanded, surprised to see the state that Kwan was in.
"No time to explain," Sam replied breathlessly, carefully settling Danny in the backseat. "We need to get out of here, now."
"What about Val? She was supposed to meet you in the woods," Dash said, voice filled with concern, looking past them, seeing Valerie, holding her ground, her ecto-gun blazing as she fought off the advancing agents.
Tucker shook his head, his grip tight on Kwan's shoulder. "We can't risk it," he said, his tone heavy with regret. "Valerie knows what she's doing. She'll find a way out."
Dash's expression twisted with worry, torn between the urgency of their situation and concern for Valerie. But he knew they couldn't afford to wait any longer.
"Alright, let's go," Dash said, determination firming his voice as he revved the engine. Without another word, he put the car into gear, tires squealing as they peeled away from the compound.
“We’re almost there.”Dash said, voice cutting through the silence as they approached the school.
As they approached the school, a tense silence filled the car, the gravity of their recent ordeal hanging heavy in the air. Dash's knuckles were white against the steering wheel, his focus solely on navigating the familiar streets as quickly as possible. Sam sat in the backseat, Danny cradled in her arms, his breathing shallow but steady. She kept a vigilant watch over him, her heart still racing from their narrow escape at the GIW base.
Tucker, seated beside Sam, glanced back at Kwan, who winced in pain with each bump in the road. "Hang in there, Kwan," Tucker said, his voice laced with concern. "We'll get you patched up once we're back at the school."
Kwan nodded, his jaw set in determination despite the pain. "Just get us there, Dash," he said, his voice strained but resolute. Dash nodded in response, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as they turned onto the street leading to the school. He looked back to make sure that they weren't being followed, catching a glimpse of a streak of red flying through the sky, heading in the same direction they were. The familiar sight of the building loomed ahead, a beacon of safety after their harrowing ordeal.
As they pulled up to the school entrance, relief washed over them, mingled with a sense of exhaustion that threatened to consume them. Dash brought the car to a stop, the engine falling silent as they sat for a moment, catching their breath.With a collective sigh, they piled out of the car, their movements weary but determined. Sam carefully helped Danny out of the backseat, supporting him as they made their way towards the entrance.It felt surreal to be back, as if they were returning from a nightmare into the safety of reality.
The school doors swung open, Mr. Lancer opening the doors as they approached, a disheveled Valerie by his side. Kwan followed closely behind, his steps faltering slightly with each stride, but his determination unwavering. "We made it," he said, a sense of relief evident in his voice. "We actually made it."
Sam's arms wrapped protectively around him, a sudden shiver ran down his spine.
With urgency Sam and Tucker sprang into action, guiding Danny towards the school infirmary dragging him through the dimly lit hallways of the school. Dash followed closely behind, his usually cocky demeanor replaced by a look of intense worry. His mind raced with questions, but the need to act overshadowed any desire for answers.
The infirmary’s fluorescent lights flickered ominously as they burst through the door, their breaths ragged and hurried. Danny was gently but quickly laid down on one of the beds, his pallor and labored breathing making it clear just how dire the situation was. The A-listers, who had gathered at the commotion, now hovered around Danny with a mix of concern and trepidation.
Sam's eyes narrowed as she examined the track marks on Danny's arms, evidence of the injections he had endured at the hands of the GIW agents. Tucker's brow furrowed as he checked for any other signs of trauma, his mind racing with potential complications from Danny's ordeal.
"You kids did a good job," Mr. Lancer said, his voice firm but not without a trace of concern. His eyes swept over the scene with an authoritative gaze. "Ms. Manson, Mr. Foley, Mr. Baxter, you three work on stabilizing Phantom. Ms. Gray, I need your assistance in patching up Mr. Kwan."
Tucker nodded his fingers deftly working to unlock the electrified chains binding Danny’s wrists, with a soft click the restraints fell away, revealing bright green Lichtenberg figures along his wrist.
Dash moved forward, turning his attention to the track marks on Phantom’s arms. Carefully cleaning the wounds as Sam and Tucker set up to track Danny’s vital signs. Paulia fetched clean towels and blankets. Across the infirmary, Kwan sat on the other cot, his own injuries being tended by Valerie and Mr. Lancer. Valerie worked with a practiced hand, her brow furrowed as she applied antiseptic to Kwan’s wounds. Mr. Lancer, though focused on Kwan, cast occasional glances towards Danny, his concern evident.
As the team worked, Dash took a step back, his eyes never leaving Danny’s prone form. He felt a deep-seated guilt gnawing at him, an ache in his chest as he realized the extent of Danny’s sacrifice. All the times he had idolized Phantom without understanding the true cost—now it was painfully clear. Danny had given so much to protect them, and Dash felt he had never truly appreciated that.
Danny lay on the bed a gasp, two white rings appeared around Danny’s middle, the telltale signs of his transformation becoming evident. Danny let out a strained groan as his body contorted, the white rings spreading out over his form leaving Danny Fenton in Sam’s arms. Panic flashed in his eyes as he struggled to control the sudden change, his secret exposed to the A-listers.
The A-listers stood frozen, their shock palpable. Paulina’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief, how could the ghost boy possibly be a loser like Fenton. Dash pulled his hands back in shock, his confusion shifting to dawning realization. The pieces of the puzzle began to click into place, and he felt a surge of understanding mixed with his earlier guilt.
Valerie’s eyes widened as she looked between Danny and Kwan, her focus shifting from one crisis to the other. Mr. Lancer's face, usually composed, showed a rare moment of surprise. He glanced at Danny with an expression that combined shock and empathy, realizing the gravity of what had just unfolded.
“Fenton?” Dash’s voice trembled, each syllable heavy with disbelief. His gaze was fixed on Danny’s now-human form, the reality of the revelation hitting him like a freight train. The invincible hero he had once idolized was now lying vulnerably in front of him, the truth shattering the belief in Phantom’s invincibility. The whole room seemed to hold it’s breath as the A-Listers and Lancer struggled to reconcile what they knew about Danny Fenton, to what they had thought about Phantom.
We need to figure out how the GIW found him," Tucker said, his voice grave, attempting to refocus everyone on what they needed to do. "And make sure they can't come after him again."
Danny looked up from the bed looking between his friends, former bullies, and his English teacher, trying to gauge their reaction, worried that they would decide that now that they knew he was Fenton, suddenly they might be more willing to sell him back to the GIW.
Paulina stepped forward looking resolved. “We’ll figure out a plan.” she said, looking over towards Valerie and Kwan.
Valerie nodded “We’ll have to keep a low profile, the GIW aren’t exactly going to give up easily, not after the mess we made for them.”
Similar sentiments were echoed amongst the rest of the A-Listers all reaffirming their commitment to protecting Phantom. Danny’s heart swelled with emotion, at the outpouring of support, knowing that this was likely just the beginning for them, and that Team Phantom had officially gotten a lot bigger.