Chained Reactions
By Lacey52

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

A note: Well, here we go…another chapter and a little excerpt from 'The Prince'…I think I'm going to start putting them at the beginning of each chapter…if they apply. Really guys, this story is becoming painful for me to write, so don't expect updates like I normally do. And for that I'm sorry, sorry, sorry! I just wish that this one would flow for me like my other ones do.
But, my vow to myself still holds...if I don't enjoy writing a story, I'll stop until the spark comes back. We'll just have to see what happens with this one. I mean, it's all planned out, I just have to get up the desire to write it. Ah well, 'Que sera, sera.' Hope this chapter isn't too sucky...and it's only halfway edited so you know the drill.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Chapter Three: Calculations

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"…always have an ally…"

"If your allies win, you benefit whether or not you have more power than they have."

"If you are more powerful, then your allies are under your command; if your allies are stronger, they will always feel a certain obligation to you for your help."

"If your side loses, you still have an ally in the loser."

-Excerpts from 'The Prince'

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"You are so certain of your plans Masters," the voice drawled out the last name, sickeningly sweet in the timber and oh so malicious in the meaning, "but you've yet to offer me anything in this one. What do I gain by assisting you in this little scheme of yours?"

"As far as my intelligence informs me," Vlad unhurriedly stirred the tea in his cup, letting the sugar cubes dissolve, "not only do you hold a grudge against one, Danny Phantom, also known as Daniel Fenton, you once desired to use his unique DNA structure to mold yourself a new body. You must be incredibly intelligent to be able to design and nearly succeed in such an endeavor…"

'Flattery will get you everywhere Vlad Masters,' the figure laughed to herself, the tone somewhere between seductive and decidedly cruel, "You still sound so sure and you've offered me nothing."

"I offer you a chance for revenge," a gentle puff of air left his lips, swirling the steam rising from his cup, "I offer you the chance to make a hero fall from grace. And of course, if things continue to fruition, you will have succeeded in ending a truce that several ghosts have found very inconvenient."

"Tell me more," Spectra purred as she leaned congenially across the desk Vlad sat behind, "Like why you need me to do this…"

"I'm sure you already know," Vlad answered stiffly, the game finally coming to the dangerous middle ground where dominance would have to be established, though it mattered not to him at the moment which she would perceive him as, "I no longer have my powers thanks to the same halfa and his counterparts. You have a knowledge of the youthful psyche, which will more than come in handy with my plans. Also, you have one other talent…"

"Ah," the ghost leaned back, straightening her clothes, though they had not a wrinkle on them, "I see. Your plans are certainly…elaborate."

"Yes."

"You certainly are confident."

"You've mentioned that several times, but I assure you," his lips finally graced the edge of the tea cup with their presence as a long, drawn out taste was taken with full pleasure, "I have no plans to ever fail again. There will be no other attempt and I have more than done my homework for this."

A binder of information that had been carefully collected before the entire fiasco of loosing his other half was laid before her. Details of the lives of three certain teenagers. Pages upon pages, beginning early in their freshman year and ending a few months before he had been admitted to the institution. Spectra was impressed.

"All or nothing, I see?"

"Quite."

A thoughtful pause was taken and all options were weighed carefully on her part. If they succeeded, she would undoubtedly be the best off, benefit the most from the situation. And if they lost, what would it matter to her…the halfa's wrath would be spent on the man before her. She'd have to make plans of her own to ensure that. Like Masters, she was more than confident in her abilities to arrange things to her liking.

"I'm in and I'll start tomorrow."

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

The morning light stretched itself across the messy floor of the teenaged boy's room. Bottles of soda, cans of juice, two empty pizza boxes, one dog, and two bodies were cast in golden tones as the sun rose higher.

A bang had Sam sitting straight up, Matches popping up beside her and cocking his head sideways. His tail began to wag excitedly as the boy on the floor beside Sam sat up as well.

He immediately began groping for his glasses.

"Man," Tucker groaned as he finally found them, "did we all fall asleep on the floor or did Danny leave us to be stiff and sore and sleep on his bed?"

Sam raised an eyebrow as another thud sounded from somewhere below, followed by shouts of "Ghosts!" and "Hey, watch it! That stings!"

"I think he fell asleep here by us," Sam began to pet the dog beside her, "I distinctly remember the sound of snores to my left and right around four this morning."

"Coming through, sorry!"

Danny shot up out of the ground, a thud hitting the floor right where he had passed through, before reforming a pair of legs and sitting heavily on his bed. He looked tousled and had a tear across his right shoulder, though nothing appeared to be hurt.

"You look like something the cat drug in," Sam stood and went to sit beside Danny, "Better change back, Matches is staring at the door."

Indeed, Matches was staring at the door, tail wagging slowly and one ear tilted to the side. A cute look, or so thought Danny. Danny changed just as Jack and Maddie burst through the entry to his room. Neither appeared to notice anything until they spotted both Sam and Danny sitting on the bed.

"Sam! You spent the night," Jack slid in between the two, before turning to Danny with a frown on his face, "We don't need to have a talk do we, young man?"

"I hope not," Tucker cut in, "because I was sleeping right beside them. We all crashed in front of the T.V."

"Oh good," Maddie smiled congenially, "All three of you are here, so while I make some breakfast, you can help Jack clean up the mess in the kitchen."

"Mess in the kitchen?" Sam leaned around Jack's bulky form to gave a meaningful look to Danny.

"Heh," he laughed weakly, "must've been what those noises we heard were. Sounded kinda' bad…like a table…and the contents of the cabinets…and a couple things of juice and milk and…"

"Great," Tucker groaned again as he flopped back down onto the pillow he had borrowed, before popping back up hopefully, "At least we get breakfast, can I have some bacon and eggs Mrs. Fenton?"

"As long as you help clean," she replied knowingly.

"Fine, fine," Tucker said cheerfully, getting up and stretching, then heading out the door with his backpack over his shoulder, "but first, I'm gonna' change."

"Change in the room with Danny!" Sam shot up and pulled him back into the room, "I get the bathroom."

"I was just being nice," Tucker smiled mischievously.

"Okay, kids," Danny and Jack both rolled their eyes at their behavior, then looked at one another, Danny in slight horror, Jack with a far-away look of pride.

"Tell me I didn't just do that."

"You did! That's my boy alright!"

"Going to change," Sam grabbed her backpack and set out for the bathroom, "You boys have fun and play nice…not like you ever do…"

"Grumble, grumble, grumble," Tucker and Danny both laughed, though Danny shut up much more quickly, a wave of annoyance roiling through his belly.

"Grumpy much," Danny stood and stretched, mumbling under his breath as Jack and Maddie moved out the door.

"No, no," Tucker smiled brightly, "I'm actually feeling pretty good."

"Not you," Danny smirked and shook his head, "Sam's just in a mood."

They started to get dressed, changing in silence, before Tucker shook his head and started laughing, "You know, you've got to be the luckiest guy on the planet."

"How do you figure that?" Danny pulled a fresh shirt over his head, "I have an arch-enemy, I've been fighting nearly everyday since I turned fourteen, my girlfriend, who still refuses to acknowledge the words 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend' knows exactly what I'm feeling all the time, and my parents threaten my alter-ego every time they see me."

"Yeah," Tucker wiggled his eyebrows, a mischievous glow in his eyes, "but you know exactly what your woman is thinking. You're the only man on earth with that power."

"You're wrong you know," Danny shot his best friend a look while they headed out the door and to the stairs, "I may know what she's feeling, but I have no clue what in the world she's thinking. You know that."

"It's close enough," Tucker shrugged.

"Not really," Danny laughed, "you can never rely on a woman's emotion to figure out what she's thinking."

"Sure you don't want to take that back?" Sam's laughing voice was behind them on the stairs, amusement passing between the girl and her halfa, "Because even though I'm laughing, I'm sure I could kick you in the shin right now."

"How about after we clean up," they had made it to the kitchen, and it was totally and utterly wrecked, "because I don't think shin problems will help…"

"Deal," Sam smiled sweetly, "now march."

"Aye, aye," Tucker saluted and grabbed a mop. The Fentons returned from the hall with cleaning supplies in hand and assigned each of the teens a job. Sam, thankfully, was given a job that kept her away from any meat products. A smile split her face every few seconds as a warmth wrapped itself around her heart. Danny was in a very, very good mood.

A brief flash brought an even bigger smile to her face as she wiped up flour from the counters, a perfect picture of her snuggled into his side as the sunlight crept across her face. It was probably when he had first woken that morning and saw her.

'He feels like he really enjoyed that,' she blushed a bit to herself, reaching up to push a stray lock of hair from her face, 'Not that I didn't like waking up next to him too. It's the first time we've ever slept next to each other like that…well, like a couple…'

Danny started humming happily as her feelings began to blend with his, and he moved over to tap her on the shoulder. Sam turned to see what he needed, but he simply grabbed her hand and spun her.

'He's dancing,' her eyes laughed, even as she shook her head and blushed, 'Danny, you are entirely too happy this morning.'

"Okay, already," Tucker bumped against them, "You're cute together, we get it."

"Oh Tucker, dear," Maddie laughed, "leave them alone. There's nothing wrong with being cute."

"Mom," Danny stopped their impromptu waltz, "Geeze, can't a guy be happy and dance with his girl without the comments?"

"Since when do I belong to you?"

Jack, Maddie, and Tucker just started laughing as Danny did a one-eighty to face the suddenly irate Sam. She was tapping her foot, and looking dangerous, but the laughter that he could feel trying to get out of her was making him smile.

'God I love her,' he shook his head, reaching up to push back the flour-white streak of hair as she had previously done. The image suddenly passed between them and that was that.

They both promptly burst out laughing, leaving his parents confused and Tucker shaking his head as he turned back to his work. It was going to be a long, fun, Sunday morning…

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"So, how're the classes going?" Dash slid up beside Sam Monday morning as she twirled her combination lock, her eyebrows lowered in a frown as she concentrated on the right numbers, "Twenty three, seven, nineteen."

An eyebrow was raised before she tried the numbers and finally got her locker opened, "It's the second week of school. How in the world do you know my locker combination?"

"I only stood here every day the first week, listening to you mumble your numbers every single time you opened it," Dash responded with a snort, "I'm not that stupid, Manson."

"Coulda' fooled me," Sam smirked as she teased her friend, "Anyways, classes have been fine…you?"

"As good as they ever get," he shrugged noncommittally, "How's…everything going?"

'Ah yes,' Sam sighed, 'The ever touchy subject that we always talk about without ever saying anything.'

"Everything's been alright," she smiled a little too brightly, before shivering, "but I think things are about to get interesting unless it's cold for something other than my significant oth…"

"Not me," Danny raced around the corner, bright, green eyes searching, "Have you seen…"

"Danny Phantom!" Paulina raced down the hall to throw herself at him as Sam's jealousy roared to life in Danny's mind, and other people roared down the hall to get away from the impending ghost fight that they were sure was about to occur, "You've come to visit me?"

"Uh, no actually Paulina," Danny phased himself from her grip, "There's a ghost around here somewhere…except I can't find it anywhere."

Sam got the hint as his eyes pleaded for some form of escape from the overly clingy cheerleader. He was practically shouting for help in her mind, as nervousness, discomfort, and a hint of worry leaked over.

"Uh, there!" Sam suddenly pointed wildly, hoping that whoever was left would buy it, "I swear I just saw something with reddish eyes disappear around that corner. It was all dark and spooky…and uh…"

"Thank you for the tip, pretty young miss," Danny floated up to her and smirked deviously, playing up his 'hero' status a little too much for her taste, "It's greatly appreciated."

"Riiiight," Sam rolled her eyes, and pointed once again, "I bet that ghost is going to get away."

"Right, right," and he was off with a small wave. Paulina looked between her 'ghost boy' and Sam with her mouth flopping like fish before stomping off. Dash just chuckled.

"Getting a little obvious," the blonde shook his head, before continuing in a quieter voice, "I think he's in loooove."

"Keep talking and die," Sam slammed her locker shut, before banging her head on it, "I didn't get my stuff out…"

"Twenty three, seven, nineteen."

"Shut up."

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Tucker was beginning to worry.

He really hated worrying, especially when it was so early in the school year and involved his two best friends. He had the feeling that he was going to have ulcers before he hit twenty at the rate he was going. The worry stemmed from several incidences throughout the day. It was either Danny sensing a ghost lurking around and not being able to find it, or Sam getting the shivers from sudden cold spots. Of course, after the fifth time she found herself shivering, Sam had let Danny know.

This had led to Danny turning into a giant worrywart and scolding her for not mentioning it sooner. This led to a short, but spirited fight between the two that resolved quickly with Danny saying they'd just have to watch Sam and see if they couldn't catch the ghost.

That meant that Sam was not to be left alone, or so he had said in no uncertain terms. Valerie was currently hanging out with the girl in question, even though she kept insisting that she was quite capable of taking care of herself, thank you very much. Danny wasn't taking the chance, and with all that had happened, Tucker didn't really blame him. Sometimes, Danny had the right to be paranoid.

Dash just saw it as an excuse to tease the two about being too in love. He got a bigger kick out of it than he ever got out of stuffing Danny into a locker. All in all, this went into the making of a very unpleasant day for the entire group of friends as Sam became more and more annoyed with Danny's worrying, which just made Danny grow more and more grumpy over all.

'They either need to find a hall closet and have a make out session,' Tucker tiredly rubbed at his eyes, holding his glasses off to the side, 'or talk about this and …God it's cold all of a sudden.'

Tucker looked around cautiously, trying to decide whether it was just Danny passing by for some reason, or an actual threat. In any case, he didn't like feeling as though he was being watched.

"Danny, I swear, what do you want me to?" Sam's voice was heard around the corner and Tucker hurried to find them, feeling awkward with the cold hovering around him. He found a laughable sight as he rounded the bend and tried his best to keep a straight face.

"I know," Sam wrapped herself around Danny, who was suddenly turning red, "I'll just have to love you…"

"Sam," he looked around, before a flash of recognition flashed across his face and he began playing along, "I love it when you're like this…"

"I'm so glad," she replied saucily, "wouldn't want to disappoint…"

"Oh, get a room already," Dash rolled his eyes, "You two make me sick, Fen-turd."

"You're just jealous," Danny shot back. Tucker felt the cold that had been hovering over his shoulder suddenly disappear. Strange…

"Alright, alright," Dash sighed heavily, "I'll walk Sam home today, geeze, just stop it with the cute shit."

"So what's all this about?" Tucker finally made his presence know, not that they hadn't taken notice of him, "Having fun with the pda in the hall?"

"I was just about to ask the same thing, Mr. Foley," Edward Lancer appeared through one of his many classroom doors, "Would you care to join your 'significant other' in detention today, Ms. Manson?"

"No sir," she smiled sweetly at the older man, then turned to her thus named boy, "See? Someone respects my wishes…"

"Oh come on," Danny pleaded cutely, "Just one time, I'll even help you say it…'boy-friend'…see? It's not hard."

"Shut up, again," Dash stepped forward and smacked Danny on the back of the head, "You're such a girl…what the heck is wrong with you?"

"Nothing," the halfa growled out while rubbing his injury gingerly, "I can't want for my girlfriend to call me her boyfriend?"

"As much as I enjoy the intricacies of your group's conversation," the vice-principal cut in, "You owe me an explanation, and then you all need to get to class."

"Well," the famous nervous gesture that Danny had seemed to have perfected was performed, namely he rubbed the back of his neck, "Sam keeps feeling cold spots, and my ghost sense keeps going off, only no one ever sees the ghost. I wanted Dash to walk Sam home since I can't, and Tucker has some research to do in the library…anyways, we were just goofing off to annoy him into agreeing."

"I see," Lancer's left eyebrow raised slightly, "Now, shall we all go to our assigned destinations?"

"Right away, Mr. Lancer," Dash shot his winning smile at the man. Then he shivered. As a matter of fact, they all did, then watched in slight awe as light blue mist proceeded from Danny's mouth.

It was always an odd sight, even if you'd seen it time and time again.

"I'm not even going to try," Danny shook his head, "It's just not worth it…"

"Well, if it makes you feel any better," Sam gave him a quick hug before stepping off to her next class, "Boyfriend. One time only."

Tucker and Dash just laughed, while Lancer watched on with a small smile. Danny's smile could very well have split his face in two if it were even physically possible. Sam was heard happily laughing her way down the hall. As they went their separate ways, Tucker quickly pulled Danny off to the side to inform him of the cold spot following him for a bit. Neither boy knew what to make of it, so they decided to not worry.

Or at least Tucker decided. He knew Danny would anyways, so it was no use trying to convince him otherwise…

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

'Again?' Valerie questioned herself as a shiver racked her body, 'I'm inside the frickin' building, for goodness sake, it's kinda' obvious when a ghost is around!'

She had felt this about three times today, and didn't quite know what to do as she couldn't see the offender…and with Danny having troubles finding the ghost, she seriously doubted she would be able to catch it.

"Danny?" she finally caught up with the halfa, "I felt it again. It's not just Sam like we thought, even though it was following her all Monday morning."

"I know," he tiredly ran a hand through his hair, "Tucker felt it a few times this week, and it's been around me and Dash more than once today and yesterday, too…"

"Well, who's out of the ghost zone this week?"

"Let's see," Danny thought back over who he knew were out on their turn, "Johnny and Kitty are out again…and Ember, Dora, and Poindexter. And Huey…I think."

"That's six ghosts! I thought that you didn't agree to that many being out at once," Valerie was obviously upset, and that made Danny shift nervously in his spot, "Don't you think that could eventually be a problem with so many out at once?"

"Well," the boy stopped shifting, gratefully letting the gentle, reassuring sweep of feelings from Sam wash over him, "I know Dora and Poindexter pretty well, and we're on good terms. Same with Huey. Johnny and Kitty are only kinda' bothersome, but all they really want to do is hang out with each other. Ember would be the only one I'd have problems with, but with you, I doubt it would be too difficult."

"For you," Valerie shivered as another cold spot drifted over them and Danny's blue mist was seen again, "Great!"

Danny quickly looked around, eyes shinning slightly green, though Valerie didn't know whether it was from anger or worry. It probably didn't matter in that moment, and she knew that Sam was soon to appear what with his feelings becoming pronounced enough to change his eyes.

"Hey," Valerie gently lay a hand on the halfa's shoulder, trying to calm him down and save Sam a trip from the third floor to the first, "We can't do anything about it right now, we don't even know where the ghost is at exactly. Just knowing that there is one, that's the important part."

"Yeah," Danny turned back to his friend, "You're right…sorry, I just…"

"It's cool," Valerie laughed, ready to open the door, before Danny caught her in a hug, "Uh, Danny?"

"Just thanks," the halfa released her, grinning sheepishly, "I haven't been a very good friend lately with how weird things have been. I'm just thankful to have a friend like you."

Valerie blushed, the cold spot disappeared, and their Thursday continued as per usual. The fact that life was starting to get interesting again was not lost on any one in the little group that had formed around Danny. The only problem was, none of them were prepared for just how interesting things would end up being…