Disclaimer: I do not own either Danny Phantom or Criminal Minds.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, and added this story (and me) to your assorted lists. The response has been amazing, and I hope you all enjoy this final installment of Behavioral Science and Ghosts. I offer everyone pumpkin pie and apple cider in thanks.

Chapter 7

Once the team had sorted out their plan of action, they all split to their various tasks. While Hotch and Prentiss called the Illinois Field Office, Rossi, JJ, Morgan and Reid went to Casper High. A quick conversation with Principal Ishiyama, and the four agents waited for the students in the classroom JJ and Reid used that morning.

The door soon opened to admit Jazz Fenton, followed by her brother Danny, Sam Manson, and Tucker Foley. All four were clearly nervous as they took seats in front of the agents. Jazz hovered protectively beside Danny, who rubbed one arm as he studied the four adults. Sam, dressed all in black, tapper her combat boots on the floor impatiently.

Tucker, almost in awe of Morgan the moment he saw the taller African-American, nervously tugged his beret and twitched as he fought not to pull out the PDA sticking out of one pocket of his khakis. The dark teen quickly decided that the tall, muscular agent was the height of cool. This is what he wanted to be when he grew up! He didn't care what he had to do to get there! Chicks would so dig him! He'd be beating them off with a stick!

JJ opened the conversation, giving the four teens a gentle smile. "I just want to remind you all that no one is in trouble, here. We're only searching for the truth." As the teens all relaxed marginally, the Communications Liaison continued. "I'm Agent Jareau, and these are my colleagues, Agents Rossi and Morgan, and Dr. Reid." Each of the men nodded as their names were given.

Jazz perked up. "Of course! I remember you, Dr. Reid. We had such a great conversation this morning! And I remember meeting you, too, Agent Jareau!" She nodded to the other two agents. "I'm Jazz Fenton. And this is my brother, Danny. And Sam Manson and Tucker Foley."

Tucker decided his initials, 'T.F.' for 'Too Fine,' was a great line, but inappropriate here.

The blonde agent nodded. "Thank you for that pleasant introduction, Jazz. Now, your teachers have told us that you four are the best ones to talk to about Danny Phantom."

Flattered at this, Tucker offered, "I'll say!"

Danny perked up a bit and asked, "What do you want to know?"

JJ told him, "Well, we're trying to understand the differences between Danny Phantom and other ghosts."

Danny asked, "What have you found?"

"Well, we've been talking to people around town, and there have been some interesting discussions about Phantom's motives."

Sam crossed her arms. "Like what?" She didn't snarl, but it was a close thing.

Rossi raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Slow down, kiddo. Just remember: Whatever we found, nobody's in trouble."

Sam nodded distrustfully, but released her arms. "Ok."

The older agent continued. "You see, the police," all the teens drew a sharp breath, "seemed rather uncertain about him. Some were convinced he's a menace, and others thought he's just trying his best to help. I listened to an interesting conversation between two officers debating the issue, and they basically said that Phantom has an undeserved bad rap."

Danny let out a pleased "Huh!"

Jazz thought, 'I knew they'd catch on.'

Tucker announced, "Took 'em long enough!"

"The greatest negative attention he received," Rossi explained, "was due to a lot of misunderstandings and an instance of operating under duress."

Danny and Tucker both looked confused for a moment, but Jazz clarified, "He was forced in some way." Both boys nodded in understanding, and all of the teens relaxed a bit more. Maybe the FBI wouldn't decide to arrest Danny Phantom.

Morgan now spoke. "I actually witnessed a ghost fight this morning." Danny's eyes widened in recognition for a moment before he managed to school his expression into one of vague interest. "Phantom was annoyed about having to fight a ghost when he was supposed to be in school. That was odd in itself, since it seemed unlikely for a ghost to need regular schooling."

Jazz raised her eyebrows, shooting her brother a glance. Danny turned his head and thought, 'Oh, crud!'

"Then, when the other ghost threw a television at my partner and me, Phantom was visibly scared, and protected us before destroying it. And the kid got upset about humans being put in danger."

Danny preened a moment. "Yep! That's Danny Phantom all over!"

The agents smiled at Danny's preening. Morgan tipped his head to the side. "You know, Phantom is far more concerned about humans being hurt than any other ghost we've been told about."

Jazz noted, "I've been observing ghost behavior, myself. I would have to agree with you, there."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Well, duh!" Sam discreetly kicked him under the table and shushed him.

Reid raised a finger in the air, and got ready to explain his conclusions. "When JJ and I spoke to the teachers, most of them were impressed with Phantom's desire to protect the students. Mr. Lancer, in particular, called him a hero."

Danny lowered his head. "Awww."

"He even told us that Phantom 'always tries to be helpful, and protective of his fellow students.'"

Jazz seemed impressed at how well the agents had presented their evidence. Sam and Tucker shared a glance and tensed, as though preparing to protect their friend. Danny's eyes went particularly wide at this.

Reid settled himself against the desk in front of him, arms spread apart to show he wasn't going for his weapon. "Danny, we know that you're Danny Phantom."

Danny looked up at the agents, arms crossed protectively over his middle. "What are you going to do?"

JJ pulled her chair over beside the uncomfortable teen. "What do you want us to do? No one is in trouble."

All of the teens looked at her in disbelief. Sullenly, Danny told the agent, "Tell that to the Guys in White."

Rossi scratched his beard absently. "Why don't you tell us about the Guys in White?"

The four teens were soon going over every time the Guys in White got involved in the ghost activity in Amity Park. They started with the bounty, though they seemed to know who the anonymous benefactor was that offered the bounty. Danny, Sam and Tucker brought up other general complaints about their persistence and how they ignored most other ghosts when Danny Phantom was around.

Jazz told them, "After Danny saved Amity Park from the Ghost King last month, he was given a 64% approval rating. But the government also passed the Anti-Ecto Control Act, which declared that ghosts don't have any rights. The GiW have declared their intentions to experiment on any ghosts they capture."

"I mean, I'm an American citizen," Danny declared. "I'm not a different person just because ectoplasm bonded to my DNA. But the Guys in White won't care about any of that. So what will you do with this?"

Morgan answered, "We'll tell the Guys in White the truth: Danny Phantom is a good kid."

Reid added, "We'll explain that Danny Phantom is different from other ghosts because he's half human, but we won't tell them who his human half is."

Danny suddenly thought of Vlad Masters, a.k.a. Vlad Plasmius. "Um, what about other half-ghosts?"

Recalling the team's earlier conclusions on the 'Wisconsin Ghost,' JJ reassured the teen, "Like any other citizen, any half-ghost is innocent until proven guilty. Unless we have evidence that leads us to suspect a person of having committed a crime, that person is free to live their life."

Danny and his friends all sighed in relief. Vlad had made threats regarding the revelation of this secret. It was good to know they wouldn't have to worry about that yet.

Rossi offered, "You know, Danny, I think you should tell your parents." At the worried looks on the teens' faces, he told them, "I'm sure you'll be alright. We can help you with that. You should probably also talk to a teacher about it. Mr. Lancer already seems to be aware of your secret. If you tell him, he can help mitigate any problems with missing class for ghost fights." At the teens' reluctant nods, he added, "And if you ever need help, or anything, feel free to call." He pulled out some business cards to give to the four students, as did the other agents.

Later that afternoon, the team met at the Guys in White facility. They were to give the profile to Operatives O and K and their Director. They assembled in the office of the Director, Hotch holding two files in one hand.

The Director asked, "SSA Hotchner, I understand that you and your team have already worked out a profile on Danny Phantom?"

Hotch nodded. "We have, Director."

"May we hear it?" The Director's eagerness was clear to hear in his voice.

Presenting one of the folders he held to the Director, Hotch told him, " First of all, based on all the evidence we've gathered, Danny Phantom is a good kid trying his best to help the people of his town. All of the negative press was based on simple misunderstandings. The students and teachers of Casper High mostly consider him a hero."

Operatives O and K were livid. O announced, "We asked you to profile this kid so that we could catch him!"

K agreed. "Now, it sounds like you want us to stop chasing him!"

Rossi stepped forward to cut these idiots off. "The other thing we learned about Phantom is what makes him different from other ghosts. The kid is half human. That means that he has the same rights as any other American citizen. Unless you have proof that this kid is a danger to others, you have to leave him alone!"

Finding all of their reasons to hunt Phantom cut off at the knees, O and K stuttered almost in unison, "B-but what about the bounty?"

Morgan didn't bother to hide his fury. "The U.S. Attorney General considers the bounty tantamount to selling the kid into slavery! You try collecting on it, and we'll put you away and get this joke of an agency shut down for condoning it!"

Before the Operatives and their Director could recover, Hotch handed over the second folder in his hand. "Director, this folder contains a restraining order. You go anywhere near Danny Phantom or any of the humans of Amity Park he regularly associates with, and we will have you in jail so fast, your heads will spin!"

All three of the Guys in White nodded their heads meekly. "We understand, Agent Hotchner," the Director reluctantly conceded. "I will make sure the rest of our Operatives are aware of this."

Hotch smiled grimly. "Good." At that, he turned and left, followed by the rest of his team. It was time for them to return to Quantico. It would be a relief to return to their regular case load.

"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice the reality for all of God's children." – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.