AN: Huzzah, chapter three! I really loved writing this one, especially the exchange between Danny and Tucker. I noticed a tragic lack of Tucker in most of my other fictions, so I hope to fix that here by making him a much more important character. I do love Tucker, after all, he's a fun little geek. 3 A few hints on the things that have happened with Danny during his three years as Phantom come to light as well.

Graveyard Shift: REDUX

Chapter Three: Change

Why was it that time always passed so strangely when you were waiting on something important?

That was the question that drifted into Sam's mind as she sat waiting for someone to tell her about what was going to happen to her parents. She had been sat outside the surgery rooms where her parents had been rushed to what had seemed to be like hours ago. In fact, it had only been about twenty minutes.

She sat there, her hands clasped tightly together, placed in between her legs. She was slightly hunched over, her feet moving up and down as if she really wanted to get up and pace. She wasn't sure what to do with herself. This was the first time she had been to a hospital under such circumstances.

Danny hadn't even made it this far.

The thought of Danny once again brought the worries to her mind, and she bit her lip, trying to press them back. Her parents would be okay, wouldn't they? They had gotten here and they were in with the doctors now. There was no reason why they wouldn't be alright!

She had to keep telling herself that, she thought. If she thought even for one second that they might truly leave her, then they would slip away from her grasp. Such a thing wouldn't happen, the logical part of her knew, but it sure felt like it.

A few more minutes passed on, crawling slowly by. Her heart was pounding in her chest to the point where she thought it might actually explode out from it if this kept up. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so nervous in her life. She didn't know what was going to happen next. What if the worst should happen?

She shook off the thought then, trying not to think about that possibility. They would be alright, she reassured herself. There was no way they would let themselves die like this. Of course, they didn't really have a choice in the matter, but still. Sam let out an annoyed sigh, leaning back so that her head met with the wall. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, but it was hard. She couldn't really make herself focus on anything. She was worried and afraid, and she didn't know what was going to happen, to either her or her parents.

She kind of wished she had someone with her now to tell her that everything would be okay. Maybe she should have called Tucker. While it was true that they didn't hang out that much ever since Danny had died, it wasn't like they weren't friends anymore. They still liked each other well enough, but they just didn't mesh as well as they did when they had Danny there.

He was kind of like the glue that stuck the two opposites together. Really, the only thing the three ever had in common was the fact that they were all outcasts. Misfits, really, that didn't belong to any clique or particular group. Sam kind of liked it that way, she enjoyed having two friends she knew that would be with through thick and thin.

Nobody ever expects the unexpected.

If she had known that his death was going to be the result, Sam would have never encourage Danny to try and help fix his parent's malfunctioning ghost portal. It was stupid of her, really. They shouldn't have been messing with something that neither of them really understood. But she had been so fascinated by it at the time, and the prospect of seeing a real ghost...

Now the town was filled with real ghosts, and the price wasn't anywhere near worth it.

If she could do it over again, Sam thought, she would do it in a heartbeat. Then all three of them might be sitting here together, instead of just one, admittedly rather lonely girl.

"Wait, whoa." Phantom held up his hands. "Back up there, Tucker. Who did you say called you?" He asked, not quite sure he heard him right.

"Jazz, Danny." Tucker sighed. "Jazz called me."

"Seriously?" Phantom asked, looking confused. "She hasn't talked to you or anyone from Amity since the accident." He frowned, not really liking where this was going. "What did she call you about anyways?"

"You're not going to like this." Tucker told him, but Phantom could have gotten that from just the expression on his friend's face.

"Not going to like what?" Phantom asked. "Spit it out already, Tuck."

"They're moving back." Tucker told him, meeting his friend's eyes. "Jazz, your parents, they're all going to be coming back to Amity Park." He frowned. "She said they'd be here in a few days, and she wanted to let me know."

"But why?" Phantom asked, stunned by the news. "From the way they ran out of this place after I died, I thought they would never want to touch it again. They couldn't get out fast enough!" He motioned towards the abandoned house as if to emphasize his point. "It doesn't make any sense. Why come back now?"

"I don't know, Danny, she didn't tell me over the phone." Tucker heaved a sigh, taking a seat on the couch that had been left behind. "They'll be moving back here, too."

Phantom groaned, taking a seat next to him. "Well, that's going to make everything more complicated." He said, running a hand through his hair, trying to brush it out of his eyes. "How am I supposed to send ghosts back to the Ghost Zone if they're going to be here?" He asked.

"Come on, Danny, that can't be the only thing you're worried about." Tucker glanced over at him. "Why don't you just come out and tell them anyways, man? They are your family."

"Yeah, and they're also ghost hunters." Phantom said bluntly. "Look, Tuck, I know since we're friends and all, you might not really be aware of it, but people don't actually seem to like me a whole lot." He leaned back against the couch. "Especially not after that happened."

"Danny, you know that wasn't your fault." Tucker told him, sounding worried. "You've got to stop beating yourself up over it, man. It's not good for you."

"Yeah, I know it's not my fault, but besides you, nobody else does!" Phantom shouted, getting to his feet. "You don't know what it's like Tuck. People want me gone, you know?" He looked back at him. "Why would my parents be any different?" He asked. "Even if I was their son at one point, do you really think that would stop them? I mean, look at me, Tucker. I'm a ghost now."

"I'm sure they wouldn't be like that." Tucker tried to assure him, but he couldn't help but admit that even he was uncertain. "You are their son, and they love you, you know that. I don't think they'd treat you like another ghost, Danny."

"Yeah, I was their son." Danny heaved a sigh. "Tucker, they wouldn't even recognize me now. I've changed, Tucker, and I know you know that." He told him after awhile. "I'm not the first ghost of a person who has died here that has shown up in Amity, but I am the only one that nobody seems to realize who they actually are! Not even Sam knows who I am, Tucker! Sam!"

Tucker paused for a moment, not really knowing how to respond to that. He was right, he had really changed. Tucker had known who he was instantly, but that was three years ago, and besides, the two had known each other since they were in diapers. They used to live next door to each other until his parents had decided to move to a smaller place when he was around eight. They had bought the house next to the Fentons at first thinking they were going to have a lot of children, but it never quite turned out that way.

Danny was still pretty much the same as he was in life during the first few months that he was a ghost, only more confused and frightened. But gradually, he had changed, not only in his looks, but with his personality as well. Tucker couldn't help but think that if he had first met Danny as he was now, he wouldn't recognize him either.

"Well, yeah, maybe she doesn't recognize you, but it's not like she's every actually met you as Phantom, dude." Tucker tried to reassure him. It was Sam after all- he knew that the girl had loved him before the accident took away his life. How could she not recognize the person that she loved?

"Ah." Phantom paused, a slightly guilty look washing over his face. "Yeah, well, there is that."

Tucker gave him a look, arching an eyebrow. "I don't like that look on your face, Danny." He paused for a moment, before it dawned on him, and his eyes went wide. "No." He said, sounding stunned. "Danny, please tell me you didn't do what I think you did!"

"Well, that would depend on what you think I did." Phantom pointed out, but he looked kind of nervous. Okay, there was something about Danny that hadn't changed. He was still terrible at trying to keep secrets from him. Tucker had been around him long enough to know when he was keeping something from him.

"You met her, didn't you?" Tucker asked, crossing his arms and looking sternly at his ghostly friend. "Ah, don't even try to lie, Danny. You can't keep things from me. I've known you for too long." He heaved a sigh, sounding both irritated and worried. "I thought you promised that you were never going to go anywhere near her. You know, because of the whole ghostly obsession thing? Remember how worried you were that you were going to end up doing something really stupid to her?"

"Well, yeah, I do." Phantom rubbed the back of his neck, not quite meeting his friends gaze. Tucker could get pretty mad when he wanted to. "It wasn't like it was on purpose, really, I just made a mistake. Besides," he looked over at him now. "It's not like she realized anything anyways. She was called away before I even had a chance to really say anything to her."

Or do anything. He thought.

Tucker stayed silent for a moment, before he heaved a sigh, shaking his head. "Just try and be more careful from now on Danny." He told him. "I know what you feel for Sam is something I'll never be able to understand, but just try and control yourself, alright?" He asked. "You remember what happened last time when something like this got out of hand. We don't want a repeat of it."

"Hey, that wasn't really my fault." Phantom protested, holding up a finger. "I was goaded on. Besides, it won't happen again, anyways. That guy's long gone now. We watched it on television, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember." Tucker nodded. "But still, keep in mind that you have enemies, both ghost and human that would really like to see you gone. Some of whom would do anything to get that result." He told him. "Remember Spectra?" He asked. "That lady tried to kill me, so just imagine what she would do if she knew about Sam. It's best that you just stay away from her, Danny. I know it's difficult for you, and I really don't like it either." He admitted.

"Really, I would like for all three of us to be able to be friends like we used to, but..." He paused, not sure how to put it in a way that wouldn't sound offensive. It wasn't that he thought Danny was a monster, or anything, it was just that even as part of him wanted to deny it, he knew that he was different now. Things couldn't go back to the way the used to, no matter how much the two of them might want it to.

Sometimes Tucker even thought he wanted things to be normal again even more than Danny. Part of him knew he had changed, but part of him actively tried to deny it, trying to convince himself that he had always been this way. It really didn't help matters that he had begun to forget what Danny was like from before he became Phantom.

"But I'm a ghost now." Phantom finished, to which Tucker meekly nodded. "Yeah, I know, Tuck, I know, trust me." He assured him. "It was just one slip up. It won't happen again. I promise."

Tucker seemed satisfied with that. "I'll talk to her tomorrow just to make sure she doesn't know anything is up." He tucked his hands in his pockets, smiling at his old friend. "Look, it's getting late, and I kind of have to sleep myself. We've got a couple of days to go until your family gets here, so we'll talk about what we're going to do tomorrow."

"Yeah." Phantom nodded, reaching out to pat his friend on the shoulder. "Be careful on your way home, okay? Do try not to look too much like a potential mugging victim." He grinned at him. "I know that's difficult for you, though."

"Pfft." Tucker rolled his eyes, shaking off his hand. "I think three years of helping you fight ghosts has at least made me a fast runner, if nothing else, Danny. I'll have you know I'm more physically fit than I ever have been!"

"Which isn't really saying much." Phantom couldn't resist adding on.

"Well, you don't have much of a place to talk either, you know." Tucker arched an eyebrow, but he was grinning. "You were just as out of shape as I was, Danny. At least I'm trying to get into shape in a more rational manner."

"Oh yes, because fighting ghosts is totally rational." The white haired ghost shook his head. "Ah well, I know what you mean, Tuck. I'll see you after school tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll see you." Tucker waved at his friend, as he headed towards one of the broken windows, getting ready to climb out of it. "Don't dwell in here for too long, Wednesdays are always a busy night for ghosts for some reason."

"It's when the movies start breaking out their ghost discounts, you know?" Phantom joked, grinning. "Now get home before your parents think you've been abducted by ninjas or something."

"Yeah, I'm going." Tucker went through the window, pulling it shut behind him once he hit the ground.

"Miss Manson?"

Sam's eyes snapped open, startled. She found herself lying on the waiting room bench, someone had pulled a woolen blanket around her at some point. When had she fallen asleep, she wondered with mild panic. How long had she been out like this? She must have been more tired that she thought.

"Y-yes?" She stammered, trying to clear her groggy head and focus on the person talking to her. It was a doctor, it looked like, and she felt her heart clench in her chest. "My parents, are they...?" She began to ask, looking wide-eyed at them. She knew she must have looked like a wreak at the moment, but she really couldn't bring herself to care.

"Your father is going to be just fine. He took a lot less damage than we first anticipated." The doctor assured her, which caused her heart to both leap in joy and sink at the same time. Her father? What about her mother, then? Was she not alright? She felt her throat tighten, anticipating the worse.

"Your mother took a lot more damage, I'm afraid." He told her in a calm manner, obviously trying to keep her from panicking. "We've done all we could, but we don't know if she'll be able to make it." He explained to her. "If she makes it through the night, she'll probably be in the clear, but it's all up to her now."

There was silence for a moment as she let the news sink in. It wasn't as bad as she had been expecting, but it wasn't that great, either. Her father would be okay, that really made her feel a lot better. But her mother... even though the woman was the one who most actively encouraged her to try and be her idea of a perfect girl, Sam still found herself very worried.

I mean, if not for her mother, she wouldn't even be here, right? It wasn't like they fought all the time, they did have nice family moments together, even recently.

"Do you think she'll make it?" She asked him after awhile, not even sure if her voice came through.

The doctor paused, obviously thinking about his answer. "I think she has plenty of reasons to do her best." He said after awhile. "I don't want to tell you anything that I don't know is certain, miss, but I think the thought of leaving a child behind is a good reason for any parent to try and get through the night."

There was another pause then. "Even if she does come through, both of your parents are probably going to be kept here for awhile." He told her. "Do you have anyone you can stay with in the meantime?" He asked. "A relative or a family friend of some sort?"

"Yeah, I think I do." Sam nodded. Maybe she could ask Tucker. She was sure he wouldn't try and turn her away, but failing that, she could always ask Mr. Hansaw. She paused for a moment, realizing that by this hour, the Foley family was probably asleep. Perhaps Mr. Hansaw then, at least for tonight. She was sure he wouldn't mind, and she knew he had an extra room that he never used.

"Very good then." The doctor nodded. "I would really like to let you stay here overnight, Miss Manson, to watch over your mother, but I'm afraid we can't allow that. I will have someone call you the first second we have any news. Do you have a cell phone?"

"Um, yes." Sam paused, digging the phone out of her bag and relying the number to the doctor. "Do call as soon as you can." She told him, to which he nodded. Sam got up then, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. The doctor said his goodbye and departed, leaving Sam behind. She yawned once, still tired.

Somehow she didn't think she would be getting very much sleep tonight, though.

AN: For those of you who are curious, don't worry, the condition of Sam's mother will be revealed next chapter. Along with a few other goodies, maybe. Or maybe I'm lying. I don't really know. Also, for the record, Truth and Lies, Lost and Found, and Moonlit Bane are all on hiatus as I do some plot tweaking, but they will eventually be continued as well. I still love them. 3 Some blurbs for new, possible stories are up in my profile as well, so look over them if you have a chance!