Danny laid still on his bed, an expression of contentment on his face. A stream of blue light slipped past his lips, but, surprisingly, he didn't move a muscle; almost as if he was expecting a visitor.

He cracked an eye open. "I got 'em for you, good, didn't I, Jazz?"

"It could've been a little less like a splatter movie, but…I'd be lying if I said I wasn't flattered." Her voice echoed in the room.

"You know, it would be nice to see who I'm talking to."

"Fine." The spirit slowly appeared. It was Jazz, as she always looked - long hair, dark shirt, blue pants - only as a green-tinted ghost. She brought a hand to her head. "Woooh. I've got to get the hang of this."

Danny sat up in his bed. "I'll help you. I still can't believe how calm you're being about this."

"I have to admit that, for a while, I was pretty scared. I ended up in this…void, I guess. I saw all kinds of ghosts. Some of them were mean. I learned to avoid them pretty quickly. And then, I came across other kinds of ghosts; ones that were as lost as I was. It was like a support group." Jazz exhaled as she floated next to her brother. "All this time, Mom and Dad have wanted to eliminate ghosts when what they need to do is understand them."

"Well, with their kids as ghosts, they don't have too much choice." Danny chuckled a little.

"Irony is a very cruel thing."

"I hear you."

There was a knock at Danny's door. "Danny? Is everything okay in there?"

"Fine, Mom!" Danny whispered to the ghost at his side. "Jazz, I've decided to tell them."

"Then are you ready to come downstairs?"

"In a minute!"

"Okay, dear."

"But, Danny…"

"You said it yourself: they need to understand ghosts. Who better to start with than us?"

"I meant after a while."

"If I've learned anything from all of this, it's that you shouldn't keep important things from family. You may never get the chance to tell them."

"Danny…" She sounded very worried for her brother.

"I have to, Jazz. I hope you'll understand."

She looked down. She hated him for wanting to take this chance, but sort of understood that it was unavoidable.

XxXxXxXxX

Danny glanced at this parents from across the living room. They looked at him expectantly. The boy took a deep breath.

Maddie leaned forward on the couch. "Danny, if you have something - anything - to tell us, it would be a good idea to let us know."

Another breath from the young man. "It's just that…I can tell you what happened. That's simple, but…" Danny puts his hand up, palm down. "It's pretty much layer upon layer of explanations, and they might get a little unbelievable." He moves the hand gradually toward the floor for effect.

"Son…", Jack started. "All your mother and I ask is that you're honest with us. It doesn't matter how unbelievable your story may be. As long as its not some elaborate lie."

Danny smiled inwardly.

"Now, first off, why were the inventions knocked over downstairs?" The woman's voice was kindness mixed with confusion.

"Well, Spectra had flipped the table they were on. Thankfully, none of them were broken…"

"Wait, wait. Spectra was in here?"

"Yeah. She was waiting for me."

"Oh, my." The woman put a hand to her mouth.

"Sounds like we need to step up security around here." Jack rose from his seat and was about to rush off, but Maddie's arm tugged at his.

"Maybe we should hear Danny's story, first."

He obliged his wife and sat down. "Fine."

"Please go on, Danny."

"Thankfully, none of the inventions were broken. I used the Fenton Peeler on Spectra…and, by the way, that thing is incredible. The way it stripped Spectra…wow…"

XxXxXxXxX

Danny's explanation of his multi-layered ordeal went on for a good forty-five minutes. His parents occasionally interrupted him to get clarification on some things. At the beginning, they listened with parental concern, but, by now, the adults were riveted to their seats.

"…Jazz was giving her speech, I was fighting with Spectra outside the gym."

"Did you have any weapons?"

Danny rubbed the back of his head. "Not really", he stated haltingly.

"Then how were you able to fight her?"

The boy took a breath. "Now, you're my parents, and I love you, and you know I'd never do anything to hurt you, right?"

"Of course, Danny."

Danny closed his eyes and concentrated, balling his hands into fists. Two rings of light developed around his waist and traveled at the same time. One went toward the floor, while the other rose to the ceiling.

The rings dissipated, leaving a figure in a tight black suit with snow white hair and green eyes. Jack and Maddie stared at the unfamiliar being, eyes agog and mouths open. The very next thing they did was to move a hand to each other's faces and close their mouths.

The figure that was once Danny shrugged its shoulders. "So…what do you think?"

Maddie stood up and nervously stuck her hand out to him. "Wh-what happened to you?"

"It was a little mishap with the ghost portal. I'm half-ghost. You should see what I can do…"

Whatever Danny had to say was immediately cut-off by his mother's crushing hug. She buried her face in his shoulder. "Danny." She looked into his eyes, no longer the blue she had known since his birth. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"Well, there was kind of a shock when it first happened. Like static electricity times a thousand."

Danny, followed not too long by his mother, turned to Jack. "Well, what do you think?"

The large man could only stare at his unusual-looking son. "This throws my entire perception of reality into question."

"I know you've spent a while trying to catch and…" Danny gulped. "…eliminate ghosts. I can only hope that this won't change things between us." The boy closed his eyes, expecting the worst. He could feel his mother letting go of him. Seconds later, he felt an even bigger hug. Danny opened his eyes and saw that Jack's arms were around him.

"Danny, even if you decided to grift your way through life. Heck, even if you dropped out of school, shaved your head and joined one of those freaky Midwestern cults, you're still my son, and I love you."

Tears dripped from Danny's face. Both parents were hugging him and crying - pretty much the opposite of what he expected if and when he decided to reveal this.

From behind an upstairs wall, Jazz glanced at the touching scene. She turned away. She never expected this from her parents. One of the things that ran through her head seemingly non-stop after learning Danny's secret was how their parents would react. Given their past reactions to all things ghost-related, she was annoyed and fearful at what would become of her little brother.

Looking back to her family, she was overcome with a new feeling: calmness. Worrying about her family and her schoolwork, she had denied herself this important emotion while she was alive. She should've counted on things working out at least once instead of fretting over the details. They may have been her ghost-hunting parents, but they would always be…her parents.

Jazz appeared at the foot of the stairs just as Jack and Maddie, their backs to her, released Danny.

"I suppose that things are going to change around here in terms of ghosts", Maddie half-inquired, half-mused.

"Um, speaking of issues that are 'ghost-related'…" A cheesy segue, if ever there was one, and Jazz knew it.

Danny waved his hand, beckoning her to come. Jazz obliged.

Jack and Maddie turned around. If their mouths hung open with Danny's surprise, then they threatened to unhinge their jaws at seeing their daughter.

Jazz nervously waved hello to her parents. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad." She tried smiling through her tears, but it was a challenge.

Maddie reached a hand out, as did Jazz. The appendages went right through each other. The women shivered as they retracted their hands, feeling the peculiar sensation.

Jack stepped forward. "Hello, Jasmine."

Danny watched this and thought for a moment. His eyes perked up. "I think I have an idea."

He placed an arm around both parents, rendering them intangible. Jack and Maddie looked around.

"You can try it now." Danny walked his parents to Jazz. Because of their varying interests, the family seldom (if ever) engaged in group hugs. This time, such an outpouring of emotion was entirely warranted.

XxXxXxXxX

It had been a few days before Danny re-entered his high school. His parents wanted to run tests on him. They were mainly to test his health and stamina; they certainly didn't want to risk taking him to a doctor, lest a new firestorm of controversy rain down on the Fenton home.

From what Mr. and Mrs. Fenton could see, their son was the picture of health but for this non-fatal anomaly.

Danny looked up at Casper High. It surprised him to admit this, but he missed the place. He missed the feeling of camaraderie among his fellow students, the chance at a good education, the social hierarchy and the condescension that came with it, the…so maybe it wasn't completely missed.

XxXxXxXxX

"Tucker!"

The African-American boy turned in the direction of the voice. There was only one person in the school who'd call him that who wasn't a teacher:

"Danny!"

The students ran toward each other and hugged. After a moment, they broke apart. Masculinity usually trumps emotion.

"It's good to see you, Danny."

"It's good to be seen." He looked around eagerly. "Where's Sam?"

"Sorry about not visiting for a while. I got grounded and my parents forbade me from going out or using technology…"

"That's too bad. Where's Sam?"

"It was such a nightmare. I can't even begin to tell you…"

Danny grabs his friend's arms. His patience is at its end. "Where…is…Sam?!"

Tucker groans. "I didn't want to have to tell you this. I knew I would have to, but I didn't."

"Did a…" He looks at the students passing them. "…you-know-what get her?"

"No! No. She's fine…as far as I know."

"As far as you know? Tucker, what happened?"

"After we snuck out that day and came back, we got detention."

"Yeah, you told me that."

"My parents weren't happy and neither were Sam's. In fact, they were…mad enough to pull her out of Casper. Said you were a 'bad influence'."

Danny banged his head against a locker. A brunette girl walked up to him and poked his shoulder. "Can I get to my locker, please?"

The boy moved down a few doors and resumed. "I've lost my sister and now, I've lost one of my best friends. A real banner month for me." With one final bang, Danny walked down the hall alongside Tucker.

XxXxXxXxX

Throughout the day, Danny found himself paying more attention in his classes. Perhaps, the experience of having his freedom taken away taught him to show more appreciation for what he has. Moreover, he did it for the two girls he lost because of this ordeal; the girls who, whether he realized it or not, inspired him to be a better person: his sister and his best female friend.

On the way out, Danny was stopped by Mr. Lancer, who requested that the boy speak with him.

"Mr. Fenton?"

"Yes, Mr. Lancer?" Danny nervously took a seat.

"I heard about what happened at your trial. It's not easy for an educator to admit their mistakes, but I do hope that you'll accept my deepest apologies. I should've known that you'd never do anything to hurt your sister."

"It's all right. I'm just happy that the truth came out."

"If you need anything; a free period, leniency on class projects…"

Danny put his hands up. "I don't want any special treatment. I just want to work on my education on my own merits."

"Well done, Danny. Jazz would be proud."

"I have a feeling you'd be right about that", the boy said, looking wistfully out of the window.

XxXxXxXxX

At various points during the day and the walk home, Danny felt a pang of sadness for Sam. He tried to visit her at home, but her parents refused to let him in. For any other boy, this would be a problem…but for a boy with ghost powers, it was just a matter of silence. He ducked into an alley and shifted into ghost form.

He flew through the walls until he ended up in Sam's room. It dawned on him just how little he had seen of the room when he heard a door opening.

"…girls can be such bi…" Sam stopped in her tracks. It was almost as if she could sense that she wasn't alone. She dropped her backpack and took a defensive stance. "All right, whatever you are. Show yourself!"

Danny faded into sight and put his hands up. "It's okay. I come in peace."

"Danny!", she yelled in a whisper. She ran to him and hugged him. "I missed you so much." She let go of him.

"I missed you, too…" At this moment, Danny got an eyeful of Sam's outfit: a blouse with the first few buttons undone, a plaid skirt, knee high socks and Mary Janes, size 2. The open blouse afforded him a glance at a black bra encasing her modest bust.

"Danny?" The sight of his best friend's assets had frozen his expression. Sam snapped her fingers in his face. "Danny?"

He shook his head. "Yum. I mean, um, I…I don't…I mean, I'm sorry. Not for you; you look nice, but for stare-- was I staring?"

Doing up her buttons, Sam nodded.

"Sorry about that."

"I probably should've seen this coming. They make us wear these stupid things at that stupid school 'for Wicked, Wayward Girls'."

"So, there's a whole school of girls your age wearing the same outfit?"

"Yeah. It's a nightma--" Sam looked right at Danny. "Don't even think about it, Danny Fenton!"

"Hey. Give me a break. All I've had to look at in the last month was Spectra. A guy can have some trouble readjusting to the outside."

The girl snickered as she disappeared into her closet. "Speaking of her, what happened to her?"

"It's a long story. Jazz helped me catch her, but then it turned out that Spectra's lapdog was pretending to be Jazz. Then the real Jazz shows up to help."

"Sounds crazy." Sam reappeared from her closet dressed in her black top and skirt. "That's better."

"It was crazy, though I wouldn't call that better."

Having walked to her bed, Sam tossed a pillow at him. "Oh, grow up." Danny turned invisible, allowing the pillow to fly through him.

"Samantha, who are you talking to?"

The girl blanched. She turned her head to the door. "Nobody, Mom."

"Time for me to go?"

"Time for you to go. Tell Tucker I said 'hi'."

"You can tell him yourself. I'm coming back tomorrow." Sam stood up and looked ready to protest. "And before you say it's too risky, I'm not going to let a little something like this break up our friendship."

"That's nice, Danny, but I was about to say that you should wait a few minutes before bringing Tucker over. If you reacted to my school uniform like that, I can only imagine what he's gonna look like if he sees it."

Danny let out a nervous chuckle. "Good point." He shifted to ghost mode and flew from Sam's window. She followed him as he soared through the sky.

XxXxXxXxX

Slowly but surely, Danny's life returned to normal. He succeeded in his schoolwork, thanks to the assistance of his dear sister, Jazz. She, herself, had adjusted to her post-living state with surprising ease. In addition to helping her family (and garnering a better understanding of their quirks), she made for a talented and effective analyst to the ghosts. All told, she was much better at understanding what made ghosts tick and how to help them than her immediate predecessor - one Penelope Spectra.

Much to Danny's surprise, the ghost attacks slowed to a trickle in Amity Park. At first, he thought that it might have had something to do with what he did to Spectra. Ultimately, he was informed of his sister's progress in helping the ghosts get to the root of their problems. After a while, many of them didn't feel the need to attack humans. There was, however, an exception to the rule…

Vlad Masters had heard about the entire situation. Not long after it had passed, he decided to pay a visit to his former classmates. In his typically verbose and assured style, he attacked the Fentons, but they were able to defend themselves, with help from their son. Following the onslaught, Danny sat his parents down and explained the whole story to them: how, when they visited him, Vlad revealed how he acquired ghost powers and used them to build his empire. They were significantly skeptical, at first (particularly Jack, who was convinced that they had been good friends way back when), but they trusted their son…and recognized the smooth voice that was delivering the taunts.

The Fentons invited him over one night. Vlad was all too happy to attend. The night took an interesting turn when they slipped little hints about his other half. They made a deal with him: they'll keep quiet about his ill-gotten gains and his…added abilities if he left the family alone forever; no visits, no calls, no messages, no gifts, not even a sympathy card at their funerals. Begrudgingly, the millionaire accepted the terms. Of course, they mentioned nothing about their son's friends…

Something that Danny and Jazz managed to consider. Given how well Sam and Tucker handled themselves during what was ultimately known as the 'Sitch with the Witch', they were up to the challenge, gaining sort of a rush from battling ghosts. Vlad backed off…but not before making a few calls to Sam's parents about the company she still kept. In no time at all, Sam was sent to live with her aunt and uncle upstate, not far from her new school.

Of course, Danny visited her, when it didn't interfere with his life too strongly. They reminisced about the fun they had. From time to time, Danny brought Tucker along and, eventually, got a peek at Sam in the uniform. It was impossible for him to wipe the smile off of his face. More often than not, the boys were nearly caught. Completely understanding of the risks they were taking, the boys decided that contacting Sam through e-mail was the best way to go.

It was amazing how the time flew before the friends ended up in college. Tucker's grades were such that he could get into any school he wanted. Danny took his improved marks to a state school. Though his social standing improved -with more than a few ladies wanting to know him better - he was more concerned with how his friends were doing. He e-mailed Sam and Tucker every day, but it never felt the same, and he had no desire to flunk out of college. Sam, meanwhile, enjoyed a stay at Yale.

It was around the time of their respective graduations that two events shook Danny to his core: he heard that Sam was engaged to a man she met in her final year and his sister disappeared without a trace. He searched the Ghost Zone high and low for Jazz, but she couldn't be found. For a while, Danny possessed a bitter attitude toward life, the kind not seen since his imprisonment. Some years later, he found himself in Amity Park, sitting on a bench and staring. Given how much had happened, he figured he'd be traveling; seeing the world.

XxXxXxXxX

Danny was so upset, he didn't seem to notice, much less care about the person that sat down next to him.

"This seat isn't taken, is it?"

The young man was ready to yell at the person offering the lame cliché. At seeing the woman's longish dark hair and sweet expression, his bitterness melted away. "No, of course not."

"It's good to see you again, Danny." The young woman was just as attractive as when she was a teenager. Danny knew this, but had been apprehensive about saying so. Even at her wedding, when he easily could've gotten away with it, he mumbled something about 'how the groom was very lucky' and that was it.

"Same here. So, what brings you to Amity Park?"

"I don't know. I guess I wanted to see the folks again. Like 'em or not, they're family. How's yours doing?"

"They're…doing. Last I checked, they were working on a book: 'Understanding Ghosts'. They were going to dedicate it to Jazz. Kind of fitting, since she did a lot of research for it. I haven't heard from her in four years."

"Come on, Danny. It's not like she'd fall off the face of the universe. My God, there's so much to catch up on. What have you been doing with yourself?"

"Office job. It's not too glamorous, but it keeps the wolf away from the door."

"What about your dream of being an astronaut?"

"Packed away, Sam, like so many white shirts. I have a record, now. People like that don't get to go into space."

"Danny, that's just bull. They let convicts into every other aspect of society: the fast-food industry, politics, show business…"

He couldn't help but laugh. He missed the way Sam would rail against various groups in the name of what's right.

"Your husband must be proud." Before he could even register what he was saying, the words spilled from Danny's mouth.

"Oh, don't even get me started on that yutz. Doesn't even have the decency to tell me to my face that he's cheating on me. No way I was gonna stand for that. I hope he and his trollop are very happy together. How about you?"

"Well, I'm unattached at the moment."

"Come on. Stud like yourself? I figure you'd be wallowing in girls." Sam's voice held a certain sardonic tone.

"I didn't want girls." Danny hoped that she'd see the look in his eyes that all but yelled, 'I want you.'

"I heard that Tucker was doing pretty well for himself…"

"Yeah. Computer engineer with a degree from MIT and a cute girlfriend."

"I guess he just needed to go someplace where the girls didn't know him." The two friends were surprised to find that they had the same thought, much less vocalized it together. They shared a laugh at the occurrence.

"Oof!"

"Be careful, honey!"

Danny looked out to the small girl dusting herself off and getting back on the swing. "Who's that?"

Sam took a breath. "Perhaps the only good thing to come from that marriage."

The young man looked out at the child, who couldn't have been more than three years old. She had red hair which was tied in a ponytail and held in place with a teal headband, the same color as her dress.

"Jane! Jane!" The girl jumped from the swing and ran toward her mother.

"It's not time to go yet, is it?"

"No, sweetie. I just wanted you to meet an old friend of mine. This is Mr. Fenton. Say hello."

Jane gave a slight wave. "Hello, Mister Fenton", she said in a small, adorable voice.

"Isn't she the sweetest?" As Danny picked her up, Sam tried to stop him. To her surprise, Jane cooed and giggled at the man's touch.

"That's weird. Usually, when a stranger reaches out to her, she starts to scream and cry."

"I guess I'm not a stranger, then." He put her behind his head and she held on to him. Sam took a few steps down the path followed by her friend.

Danny could feel the girl hug his head. "I missed you, Danny."

He glanced up at her. "Excuse me?"

"Danny, don't tell me you don't recognize me."

He tried to put what little pieces he had together: the kindness at his touch, her knowing his name…"Jazz?!"

Sam turned around. "What about Jazz?"

The girl looked at Danny and shook her head. "I just really miss her is all."

She continued walking, leaving the man and the girl alone. "I was…reincarnated, Danny." She struggled with the five-syllable word. Her spirit knew it, but it was a matter of getting her three-year-old brain to understand it. "I got to come back."

"Will wonders never cease?"

"I know you like her. Remember, I studied…psychology." Four syllables, this time, but it was a challenge.

"Take it easy. There'll be plenty of time for big words later. Right now, just enjoy being a girl."

"Okay, Danny."

"You know, I wasn't that great a brother to you, but I hope I'll be a good caretaker."

"Danny, you were always a good brother. You just didn't know it."

The man took Jane's hand and kissed it. She smiled and hugged him again. Danny looked to Sam, who was a few paces ahead of him. He fast-walked to catch up, mindful of the bundle of joy at his shoulder blades.

"Sam, if you're not doing anything tonight, do you think we could, I don't know, get together."

"That sounds nice, Danny."

"Good." He wanted to kick himself as much as possible. 'Get together'? Sure, and maybe they could share a milkshake at Pop's Choklit Shoppe. He wanted her ever since her wedding, and perhaps long before that. He was afraid of taking the chance of losing her in case she didn't feel the same way, even though he hoped in his heart that she did. All he needed was a sign. He glanced toward the heavens for a sign that might never have come…

"Oh, and Danny? My school uniform still fits. Just thought you'd like to know that." Sam offered a naughty smile with her declaration.

Danny took his female friend by her hand and clasped it tight. If that wasn't the sign, nothing was.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: A long time ago, I watched "My Brother's Keeper" and the idea of Danny failing to save Jazz and suffering the consequences would not leave me alone. I remembered there being two stories that followed this path back when the episode first aired. One was a sweet take while the other was, I imagine, meant to be as dark as I tried to make this one; it was never finished. One of the authors of those stories was nice enough to give their opinion and I am quite thankful.

One thing I like about the show and one thing that the show seems to take for granted (coughSecretWeaponscough) is the relationship between Danny and Jazz. The kitchen scene in MBK is one of my favorite moments in the show, and I really wanted to expand on that.

And to the person who inquired: Danny not revealing himself in this story…bad, but Danny not revealing himself on the show…good? Whatever!

Thanks for reading and reviewing and have a nice day.