Valerie could spot a prick from a mile away.

It was a talent that she found more and more useful as she grew older. Of course, despite her ability, she had accepted the job offered to her by the Chicago branch of the Guys in White; or more specifically, offered to her by the head of said branch.

Hindsight was 20/20, and she couldn't help but feel she should have trusted her instinct about the man back when the job was first offered. She sighed as she gently placed a framed photo of her and her father into the cardboard box on her desk. Now, thanks to her own lack of trust in her gut, she was paying for it.

"How's it going Ms. Gray?"

What do you know? Speak of the Devil…

"Great!" Valerie replied. "I love uprooting my life to return to the one place I could live my whole life without seeing again." Her voice was thickly laced with sarcasm as she closed up the box on her empty desk. She glanced around at the newly bare office that she would no longer be calling her own.

Ronald Penny sighed as he entered and picked up one of the boxes still on the floor. Valerie walked past, holding a box of her own and pointedly avoiding eye contact with her former boss. He caught up with her in the hallway, easily matching her strides.

"Valerie, I don't understand why you're so upset." He frowned when she still didn't acknowledge him. "This is technically a promotion."

She froze in the middle of the pristine white hall, unconcerned with disrupting the flow of traffic. Not that anyone here would speak negatively to her. The florescent lighting accentuated the angry wrinkle of her face.

"A promotion? In what world is sending me to Amity Park a promotion?" She asked, voice sharp.

Ronald frowned and gently reached out to pull her to the side so they weren't taking up so much space. "Amity's branch of the GiW is the largest, which you already knew. This is a huge honor. Some people here work their whole lives hoping to be transferred there."

Valerie snorted at that and continued walking. "Right." Ronald once again fell into step beside her. "Well, as someone who spent my whole life trying to stay away, I can't help but be kind of upset."

Ronald sighed. "Look, Director Hayes asked for my best. If I sent anyone but you, he'd be furious."

Valerie rolled her eyes. "That was dirty of him, and I'm sure he knows it." She said as they walked through the automatic doors and out to the parking lot. "He knew I was here." She placed her box on top of her car and dug out her keys so she could pop the trunk.

When the trunk opened, Ronald placed his box inside, pushing it towards the back so she could fit the rest of her things inside. "Look, I thought it was strange too." He moved to the side so Valerie could place her box inside as well. "My best guess is that he didn't want anyone knowing the Red Huntress is coming back."

"Exactly!" Valerie agreed, slamming the trunk closed. "Which is suspicious, and you know it." She leaned against her car, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm sorry Val," Ronald said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Look, I've never asked you about your past, or your time at Amity. I get it. But my hands are tied on this one."

Valerie sighed. "Yeah, I know Ron. I'm just… Not ready. I left for a reason, you know?" And that reason almost definitely had to do with a boy and a conversation she never had with him.

Ronald frowned. "I really am sorry Valerie." He was quiet for a moment. "By the way," His mouth twitched slightly, "Would it be too much to ask for you to get Phantom to sign something for me?"

"PENNY!" Valerie snapped. She punched his arm as he laughed, and did her best to stifle her own laughter.

He rubbed his arm where she hit him, smile still on his face. "We really are going to miss you Gray."

"I'll miss it here too."

Valerie didn't like airports.

Actually, she didn't like crowded places in general. Crowded areas meant it would be difficult to find somewhere to change into the Red Huntress. Crowded areas also meant higher potential for civilian casualties.

She glanced down at her phone as she waited for her suitcase to appear on the baggage carousel. Director Hayes wanted her to stop by this afternoon, and had decided to send one of his agents to pick her up from the airport and bring her there immediately.

She frowned at the text, already irritated from the flight. Just her luck, her new boss was uptight, almost definitely a control freak, and probably less than considerate of basic human needs, like a long shower after a 5 hour flight.

Her bag appeared onto the carousel, and Valerie grabbed it, plopping it onto its wheels and ignoring the stares she received for her aggressive handling.

She shoved her phone into the deep pocket of her sweatpants, and stomped forward towards the pickup area. It crossed her mind for a moment that she had no idea who it was that Hayes had sent to pick her up, but she figured whoever it was would be wearing the gaudy white suit she had grown accustomed to in her time working for the GiW.

Valerie almost missed him in her search for said uniform. In fact, if he hadn't called for her, she wouldn't have noticed him.

After all, Danny Fenton was practically unrecognizable.

She opened gaped at the man before her. The first thing she noticed was that he was tall. And broad. And smiling at her and his smile is exactly how she remembers and she can't think right now.

"Valerie!" His voice breaks her out of her slight trance, and she is suddenly very aware of her current appearance. She's wearing old sweatpants, her shirt is too big, and her hair is frizzy and matted in the back from the headrest.

"Danny?" It comes out of her mouth more as a question as he steps forward and engulfs her in a hug. She returns it almost hesitantly. She's kind of surprised, really. The hug lasts for longer than she expected, and Danny is holding onto her tightly, like she might disappear otherwise.

He steps back after a moment, hands on her arms as he looks her up and down for a moment.

"Man Val," He starts, smile melting into more of a smirk, "You're so short."

Her eyes twitches. Then she pulls back a fist and lands a very solid punch to his arm. He gasps in pretend pain and grabs at his arm, but Valerie can still see his smile, and she can't help it when her own lips start twitching.

"Man Fenton," She starts, picking up her luggage and handing it off to him, "You're still an idiot." She heard him laugh as he followed behind her. His much longer strides allowed him to catch up easily. They made their way through the crowded airport terminal towards the parking lot.

"Seriously Valerie, you look great!" He said, still grinning like an idiot. Valerie rolled her eyes half-heartedly.

"I look horrible right now." She said, reaching back to try to shake out her hair a little bit. "But thanks, I guess. You don't look so bad yourself."

Danny shrugged at that as they walked outdoors. It was beautiful out. Sunny, but with a slight breeze that kept it from getting too hot. "Hey, give yourself some credit, it was what? A five hour flight?"

Valerie nodded as she readjusted her carry on book bag. "And the best part about it? I get to meet my new boss like this." Danny stopped next to his car, which was blue and otherwise pretty nondescript. He didn't take after his parents then.

"Serves him right for forcing you to come in now." His voice had a hard edge to it. Valerie cocked her head in interest as he popped his trunk and placed her luggage inside.

"Is that some resentment I hear?" She asked, mouth curling up into a smirk.

Danny rolled his eyes as he shut the truck and walked to the driver's side of the car. "Maybe. Personal opinion on him aside, it's still kind of a dick move." He ducked his head as he sat, and Valerie followed suit on the other side.

"You're telling me." She grumbled. She leaned back in her seat, eyes sliding closed. "How did you get to be so lucky anyway? I didn't even know you worked for the Guys."

Danny shrugged as he pulled out of the parking spot. "Well, it's not so much working for them as working with them." Valerie stared at him for a moment after said that as he pretended he couldn't feel her stare.

"Excuse me? As in… as in you work with them as Phantom?"

He sighed heavily, still keeping his eyes on the road. "Yeah." He glanced at Val for a second. "Hayes was one of the Twenty."

Valerie's stare turned into a look of understanding. He had been there at the North Pole, when Danny had somehow saved them all and revealed his identity to the twenty humans present. They had all been sworn to secrecy, then left to somehow sit on the knowledge they now had like everything was normal. But it wasn't, of course.

Danny shook his head. "So yeah. When he was promoted to Director he called me, talking about how it was my civic duty to 'help him help me'. I turned him down, of course." His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. "I didn't need his help. I had you, kinda. Sam, Tuck, Jazz."

Valerie frowned at that. After she found out, she was a mess of emotions. They were friends only by the barest definition of the word, and even then there was a lot left unsaid about the situation as a whole.

"Then," he paused for a moment, "Then Jazz graduated and left. And then we graduated. And Tucker left. And you left. And Sam… I made her leave." He shrugged. "Suddenly I needed the support."

Valerie couldn't help the guilt that forced its way into thoughts. "You made Sam leave?" She asked.

Danny laughed at that. "Absolutely. She was accepted to NYU. It was her dream school. I wasn't going to hold her back." His posture was relaxed. There was obviously no regret in that decision. Valerie shifted slightly.

"Why didn't you go to college? I mean, the Guys in White are idiots, but they're pretty good at what they do. Especially now that they're getting funding. They probably could have handled it."

Danny glanced at her again. "Maybe." He frowned as he saw traffic ahead and began to gradually slow down. When he eased to a stop, he turned his gaze on Valerie fully. "Can I be honest with you Val? I mean… I haven't told anyone this. Not Sam, or Tuck, or Jazz. I mean, I didn't even realize for a while and… yeah."

Valerie blinked in surprise. "I… Yeah, of course." In truth, she wasn't sure what kind of secret Danny would be willing to keep from his loved ones but absolutely willing to divulge to her, someone he hasn't talked to in years. "I have to ask though… Why me?"

He smiled at that. "Because, you're the only person I know who remembers that I'm just as much ghost as I am human." Valerie nodded.

Their friendship was difficult after she found out about his dual nature. Mostly because she constantly questioned him about his ghostly tendencies, and was more than willing to call out behaviors that were distinctly inhuman. It drove them apart while in high school.

Danny moved the car forward a few feet before stopping and meeting her eyes once again. "So, I'm pretty sure Amity is either my lair or my obsession. Maybe both." He shrugged. Valerie thought about it for a moment before nodding.

"It makes sense. Although," She looked away before speaking again, "I'm a little surprised it wasn't Sam." She turned when she heard Danny's laughter.

"Honestly? Me too." He admitted.

"How are you two anyway? I imagine you at least attempted long distance." Valerie asked.

"We broke up after a couple years of her being away." He told her. "Believe it or not, the break up was probably the most human interaction we've had since the accident." He grinned at Valerie. "No ghostly interference. No 'I'm doing this to protect you' nonsense. Just good old fashioned 'we're far away and want a chance to date other people' type stuff."

Valerie nodded, smiling back at him. "And how's that been going?" She gave him a quick once over. "Pretty well, I imagine."

Danny snorted. "Are you checking me out Valerie Gray?" He cocked an eyebrow at her as traffic continued in its stop and go rhythm. She laughed.

"Nah. Just kind of amazed that scrawny Danny Fenton grew into this." She made an offhand gesture at his person. He laughed openly at that.

"I would have been pissed otherwise, what with all the ghost hunting. Not even to mention how jacked evil me was."

Valerie grinned. She was glad he was comfortable talking about it, now that he was sure it would never become a reality. The first time he had ever told her about that awful alternate timeline had been far more serious an interaction. Only days after she learned of his secret did he tell her the story, the sole purpose for doing so being that he wanted her to be prepared should the worst happen.

They had made a contingency plan together. She was pretty sure that drove a wedge between them as well, especially when he told her that he had chosen her to create said plan with because he wasn't sure Sam or Tucker or his family could do it.

Finally the traffic began to break up. "So when's your stuff getting here?" Danny asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I believe." She replied. Danny grinned at her for a moment before turning his gaze back to the road.

"Good. Because I was going to offer for you to stay at my place tonight, and that means you don't have any better options."

Valerie raised a brow at him, though he couldn't see her expression. "Oh really?"

"Yes really!" He glanced at her again. "Besides, I know you would like a tour of Fenton Works, and we have the whole thing to ourselves since mom and dad got a new place."

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I think you're just lonely in that big old house." Her tone was joking.

Danny didn't answer immediately as he took the exit that would lead them to Amity. "Well, you're not wrong." He shook his head slightly. "It'll be great. You, me, alcohol, and ghost hunting equipment."

Valerie grinned at him. "What could possibly go wrong?"

The Amity branch of the GiW was located at the very edge of the town, far enough to be generally ignored, and close enough for quick response should Phantom need it. It was a plain looking building. Unimpressive, easily overlooked.

The hallways stretched out in the same pattern of every other headquarters, and though Valerie did follow Danny towards Hayes' office, she was almost certain she could have made it there herself. She had half-heartedly pulled her hair up into a ponytail in the car and applied fresh deodorant in an attempt to seem slightly less disheveled.

Danny led her to the office, it was exactly where she thought it would be, and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Said a voice from the other side of the door. Valerie fixed her face into a mask of professionalism as Danny opened the door. He held it for her as she walked in. He moved to join her inside when Hayes spoke. "No need Daniel. This will be short."

Danny grumbled slightly at that, but nodded all the same. "I'll be waiting right out here Val."

"You'll wait outside the building Daniel." Hayes said, fixing Danny with a hard stare. "Wouldn't want you overhearing."

"You're not my boss." He retorted. Valerie glanced back at him, eyebrow raised in interest.

"No," Hayes began, standing from his place behind his desk, "But this is Guys in White business. You are only a consultant, and I don't need your opinion on this." He gestured towards Valerie as he moved to the front of the desk and leaned against it. "Goodbye, Daniel."

Valerie watched as his jaw clenched in anger. His eyes were bright, but not quite glowing. Finally she spoke. "Danny," He turned his gaze to her, "It's fine, I'll meet you outside."

He looked from her to Hayes before nodding sharply and exiting. Hayes stared at Valerie and said nothing. She quickly grew uncomfortable.

"So…"

"My apologies Huntress," Hayes spoke, "Daniel has eerily quiet footsteps, so I have to wait for a moment to make sure he's gone. Of course, I'm sure you've noticed this… quirk of his."

Valerie nodded. The man stood straight, adjusting his suit jacket so it fell properly before offering Valerie his hand.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself. William Hayes."

She shook his large hand as she took him in. He was terribly broad, but not as tall as Danny. His dark skin was smooth and his head bald. Everything about him was pristine, and Valerie found herself feeling even more inadequate.

"Valerie Gray. I apologize for my appearance." She wasn't really that concerned, after all, it was him who demanded to see her so soon.

"Nonsense. I didn't expect you to be flying in uniform." He smiled, it was large, and it made him look young, approachable. Valerie found herself returning the grin.

"So, what was so urgent you needed to see me so soon?" She asked, cutting to the chase. He laughed at that.

"I like that. Right to the point. I'll do the same then." He moved behind his desk and sat once again. "I need you to watch Phantom. You're our… leash, if you will."

She blinked at him a few times before schooling her face. She crossed her arms over her chest. "And why do you need that?" She asked. She raised an eyebrow. "Has he not been compliant?"

Hayes shook his head. "No worries Ms. Gray. I know you two have a past. I'm not going to ask you to hunt him down because he catches an attitude or anything like that."

"Good," Valerie said, gaze hard, "Because I wasn't going to."

Hayes sighed. "I know, Ms. Gray. I only requested you be transferred here because all of our scientists agree: his powers are expanding. Which is only concerning because he's already easily one of the most powerful ghosts we've ever recorded."

Valerie pursed her lips. "I don't see why you're concerned at all. I mean, Danny is working with you guys," She remembered what she told him about Amity being his lair, "And he's not going to hurt this town or anyone in it."

Hayes held up a hand. "I know that. But that sentiment doesn't extend to anywhere else." He leaned back in his chair, meeting Valerie's hard gaze unflinchingly. "He's alone here Valerie. Alone and incredibly powerful. The last thing we need is for him to get cabin fever."

"I don't understand my objective." She interjected. "You want me here to keep him entertained?"

"Sure." Hayes said, throwing his hands up. "Keep him lively. Make sure his mind doesn't wander too far into the realm of 'it can all be mine'. Ghosts tend to get the urge to extend their territory Valerie. Daniel is not just a ghost. But he's not just a human, either." He leaned back into his chair. "And from what I understand, you have always remembered that."

Valerie frowned as his words sunk in. "So… You think that me coming back, us rekindling our old friendship, will keep him satisfied?"

"Yes. We're hoping that it makes him feel like he's improved his lair. After all, you are a wildly talented ghost hunter. Powerful allies are always important when it comes to building great empires." Hayes smirked.

"OK. So let's say this works. What happens in a few more years when I'm not enough anymore?" Valerie asked, moving closer to his desk.

Hayes shrugs. "Well, that depends on whether he becomes violent or not. Valerie, I believe that you are the only one who can ground him to his humanity." Hayes answered.

Valerie snorted. "I think you have the wrong ex-girlfriend."

"I believe you are the only who can ground him to his humanity because you are the only one who remembers that he isn't human. The only one who can confront that in the way it should be confronted."

Valerie stared at him for a moment. "Fine. I don't know if you're right but… But I'll try. I," She paused, turning her gaze elsewhere in embarrassment, "I did miss him."

Hayes grinned. "Once again, the Red Huntress is going to help save the world. How's it feel?"

"…Good."