Closet Ghosts

Out of the two parents, Jack knows he's considered the worst of the Fenton pair.

Neighbors may whisper quietly, but they are frequent, enough to slip up.

Jack is better with the dead, than he is the living.

He knows this.

So when he wakens to Danny whimpering, it surprises him. Because Maddie was usually all over the nightmares in the middle of the night business.

A slight adjustment of the body, and the turn of the head however, confirms Jack's suspicion.

Earplugs.

He was tearing down a rainforest with his snores again.

"Daddy," Danny whispers from the door. He knows Jack is awake now, sights set on him. "Daddy!" he whispers harder.

Jack looks to the small child hovering by the door, partially wondering why he never comes into the room itself. "Yes Danny,"

"There is a ghost in my room."

Now usually Jack leaps at the words 'ghost' or 'spectra'. But Jack is still half asleep, slow to wake up. And even with his limited parenting knowledge, Jack knows kids sometimes see things that just aren't there.

"Where is Mommy?"

Danny is used to Maddie fixing the problems. So is Jack.

"Mommy's tired kiddo, hang on I'm coming."

Danny waits while Jack rises from bed, pausing only to pull a Fenton Spector Detector from the nightstand. The moment he exits the room, Danny grips onto his much larger hand with as much strength as a five year old can muster.

The room is empty, softly illuminated by the rocket ship night- light in the corner. The detector beeps quietly, no higher signature than usual.

"No ghost in-"

"He's right there!" Danny points, "Right by the closet!"

Jack points the detector, but the readings remain average. "Danny-"

"Just stay until he goes away! Please Daddy!"

So Jack scoops up Danny and settles onto his son's bed. Staring hard at the empty air by the closet. "Is he gone now?"

"No," Danny whimpers, "He says he wants to play Hangman," Danny starts to cry, "But I don't wanna-"

"Shhh, shhhh," Jack hushes, "It's alright Danny. Why hangman?"

The boy looks at him, "Cause he's a kid ghost that's why." he states it as if it's an obvious fact.

"A kid?"

"He's says adults can't see him."

Jack ponders on this. A child ghost? He and Maddie have never seen one . Perhaps only children can see them, just as Danny states. Perhaps even, unable to show up on the Spector Detector.

"Daddy…."

Jack makes a mental note to write a sticky note for the subject later. "Yes Danny?"

His five year old is leaning heavily into him, "Please make him go away."

So Jack does the one thing he knows makes people run, the one thing to annoy every person he's ever met.

He begins to talk about work.

Gibberish made up pieces of course, to make Danny laugh. Like future ghost fighting equipment. Perhaps a thermos to suck in ghosts, and fishing line to catch them, a dream catcher to separate them, an RV to drive in.

The more he goes on, the more extravagant they get, to the point where he considers building a few of his on the spot ideas.

A ghost portal. An old idea, hasn't thought about it since college. It's far from reach, but now once again plausible.

Children can be so inspiring.

Danny suddenly bursts into a fit of giggles.

"Is he gone?"

"Yeah," Danny laughs, "He says you're too boring."

Jack grins.

Danny yawns, "Thanks Daddy, I'm glad you fight ghosts."

"Glad someone thinks so kiddo."

Danny hums content, and immediately falls asleep.

Jack slowly leans back against the bed frame, no point in waking him just to reposition. He runs his fingers through his son's hair, slowly slipping back to sleep himself.

He's not the best parent. Jack knows this. But he also knows, that Danny considers him good enough for the job.

Which is just fine by him.