Disclaimer: Don't own DP.

Le gasp! I'm updating! This is the final chapter, everyone! Can you believe it? Either way, I'd like to thank you all for your love and support! :) You guys are awesome.

This chapter is dedicated to phycotic writer, who's persistence inspired me to update. Thanks.

Living On the Edge

Chapter 17: Reconnaissance

Their gazes locked for seconds, minutes, hours, or so it seemed. Time sped up and slowed down, and neither could look away. Sam's eyes widened at the ghost's tears, something pulling deep within her.

"…Danny?" she whispered uncertainly. Among the destruction, the ghost's form was intimidating, powerful. Terrifying. Strange wisps of bright green twisted and twirled around his form. And when he looked up at her, her heart stopped

Tormented green pleaded for forgiveness. "Sam." Rough with exhaustion, his sorrowful voice reached hers, and it chilled her spine. It echoed with such inhuman intensity that it reverberated off the walls in absolute power.

In those moments, Danny sought to explain his actions, his life, but he was frozen. What could he say? What was there to say to explain? His tired muscles couldn't hold his head up, and he looked back down at the floor. His vision blurred with tired tears.

I'm a murderer…

Sam hesitantly stepped forward. "…Danny, are you-?"

"-Don't come near me!" he commanded harshly. She froze, eyes wide. He never looked up, even as he added, "Please." Something desperate and terrified tinged his voice. "Please, Sam." He didn't want to look up. He didn't want to see the fear in her eyes. Not again.

Murderer…

"I'm not afraid, Danny." Although her voice shook in uncertainty, Sam steeled her nerves.

"You weren't supposed to know," he whispered. Almost in a hysteric whisper, he added, "I'm a murderer."

"You can't scare me, Danny," Sam called to him. "I know it's you. I know you're still you."

"How do you know?" he asked roughly. In his fear, his voice echoed with its unnatural pulse.

Hesitantly, she walked before him and kneeled down to eye level. She tentatively lifted his chin, and he ashamedly looked away. Tears trailed down his cheeks, testaments of his internal struggle.

He was cold, and her hands tingled with an electric shock at the contact.

Her purple eyes were stormy with so many emotions… "I thought you were dead," she whispered.

He glanced at her, emerald eyes unearthly glowing. "I am dead, Sam."

"Then how can you still be here?"

"I don't know."

Suddenly, she threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly. "You've gotta be okay," she whispered, more to herself. Unbidden tears rose to her eyes, but she tried to blink them away. "You've gotta be…" She tightened her grip. "You can't be just a ghost if I can still feel you…" Sam leaned her cheek against his shoulder, reveling in Danny's familiar scent. "Right?"

He didn't answer.

Danny hugged her back. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear, voice echoing quietly.

The ghost was warm and cold; firm and yet gentle.

And they stayed that way for the longest time.

"Yo, Foley!" Tucker jumped in his seat, nearly ripping the headphones from his ears.

"Shh!" he fearfully stressed to the intruder. His teal eyes flashed in desperation. "Be quiet!" He waved to the radio system, which directly linked him to Danny's earpiece.

The intruder stared. "That Danny on the other line?"

"Yep."

"With Sam?"

"Yep."

The man blinked before pulling out a box of popcorn in excitement. "Dude. Got a headphone splitter?"

"Danny?"

"Hmm?" He ran his gloved hands down Sam's neck, smoothing her hair.

She struggled for words. "I guess, I guess I just don't understand. Your back should be broken a hundred times over, you shouldn't be able to see straight, and there's not one mark on you." Her trembling fingertips trailed down his temple. "You're not human," she whispered in amazement. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He darted his eyes to the ground, too uncertain to stare in her gaze. He didn't answer her question, and silence fell between them.

Sam's hand had slipped from his temple to his chest, where his insignia rested. With a sigh, she nearly pulled away her hand.

Danny immediately grabbed it, cradling her palm within his.

"Why didn't you run away?" he demanded quietly.

The woman looked up at him in confusion. "What?"

Danny's gaze suddenly locked on hers, completely serious. "Why didn't you run? Why weren't you afraid?" He pulled her hand and tightly pressed it against his heart. "Didn't you realize I was a monster?" Why did you try to fight for me?

She was startled to feel nothing beneath the palm of her hand. No heartbeat. She looked back up at him, eyes silently questioning so much and yet accepting. "Well, why didn't you turn me away?" Sam challenged. "When you learned I was working for Vlad, that I betrayed you, why did you still save me?"

The ghost's expression suddenly scrunched in thought. "Well, I just…I dunno…I guess I wasn't really thinking of that." He released her hand, fingertips brushing just a little too long. "I…I mean…"

I love you.

He gave her a sheepish smile. She wrapped her fingers around his gloved hand and leaned into his caress.

"You kissed me," she accused him, violet eyes darkening playfully. "And I was barely even awake to notice it." Her memory was fuzzy from the time she spent on the brink of consciousness and unconsciousness, but some things she remembered clearly.

"Should I ask next time?" he asked her, voice suddenly intense with emotion.

Her violet eyes locked on his. "Will there be a next time?"

"Only if you want one."

"Well, maybe I do."

In the blur of the moment, he crashed his lips upon hers. It was a raw and honest kiss, pure with a type of love that had been lost to the ages. Desperation deepened the kiss, and Sam found herself drowning in an emotion she didn't think she had.

Love.

One second.

I'm just a ghost…

Two seconds.

I'm just a traitor…

He instinctively ran his hands along her body, and she tangled her fingers in his white locks. Five seconds.

He suddenly broke away from her, just long enough to trail kisses down her neck as she gasped for air. "God," he whispered roughly in between kisses, "I think I could love you…" His voice was deeper, eyes darker.

He pulled her closer, and her fingers dug into his jumpsuit. "I think," she said breathlessly, "I like you…"

He was always so far away, never close enough. Starving…

His lips trailed down to her collarbone. "Only like?" he whispered against her skin. She was the most beautiful taste; he couldn't stop himself.

"I could learn…to love you," she gasped as an afterthought.

His lips found their way back to hers. "I could teach you," he whispered against her lips, stealing kiss after kiss. "Just say yes." Desperation filled him. "Please, Sam…"

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she broke apart long enough to ask, "How many have you taught before?"

He smiled as he closed the gap. "None."

"Then yes," she whispered. A feverish desire overwhelmed her, and when she stared into his green eyes, she saw not a ghost, not a human, but a man.

A man she loved.

She matched his passion with her own, and her lips moved in synchronization with his as their kiss deepened. He wrapped his strong arms around her, and he leaned her against the machinery. Her hands gripped his shoulders.

A gasping moan rumbled from Danny's throat as Sam's fingernails dug into his jumpsuit, into his skin. "I'm sorry," he pulled away, panting breathlessly, "that I never told you I was a ghost."

"Doesn't matter," she whispered back. "You're still Danny." She lifted her hand and gently caressed his left temple, brushing back his unruly locks.

He suddenly couldn't stop kissing her. Happiness. Contentment. He'd finally found home. She accepted him.

Sam was home. And he was never gonna let her go.

"I love you," he whispered again against her neck. He could feel the racing pulse of her blood beneath his lips…

Static filled the gasping silence. "…Uhh, hey guys?" Tucker laughed nervously, voice tight. "What's up?"

Suddenly, Danny and Sam broke apart, eyes wide.

Awkward.

Tucker won a lot of money that day, and he celebrated said victory by dancing around the room and spouting, "Ha-I-told-you-so" to everyone he saw. The language and syntax agents of the room rolled their eyes. The man with the popcorn continued to eat popcorn, intensely focused on the gasps of surprise and muffled swear words coming from the opposite end of the radio.

One of the agents translated to the Hispanic janitor in the back, who in turn held out his hand with a big smile. The translator sighed sadly before handing over a twenty dollar bill.

And for some reason, everything felt okay.

It was three hours before the CIA and Interpol arrived at the scene.

Danny gently lifted Sam away from the rusting machinery, holding her close as he spiraled them above to the roof of the warehouse. Her fingers dug into his jumpsuit in fear, in excitement, as the floor disappeared underneath her. "So," the ghost said casually, attempting to distract her, "how do you think we should kill Tucker?"

Sam's lips twitched into a half-smile, despite her fear of heights. "Well, we could tie him down in the janitor's closet without his PDA."

The ghost winced before whistling appreciatively. "That'd destroy him." His expression grew thoughtful. "But then I guess I wouldn't have to hear his spiels of, 'I told you so.'" His fingers caressed Sam's back. "Tucker's foresight for this kinda thing is way too on target."

The girl leaned her head against Danny's chest. "Yeah." The rushing winds of outside whipped her bangs into her eyes and ruffled her clothes.

"I'm sorry, Danny."

A sad smile twitched his lips. "It's not your fault, Sam." He sighed. "Maybe it's better this way anyhow."

She hummed sympathetically in return, closing her eyes. "Maybe. But I can't help thinking that you're still hiding something from me."

As the roof closed in, Danny gently set Sam down, her tennis shoes softly connecting with the concrete. "There's so much you don't know," he admitted, reluctantly letting go of her. He still floated above the ground-a strange sight to behold. "And I don't know if I should tell you, Sam. It's not like normal-people problems."

"Just as long as it's more interesting than ex-girlfriends, I'll be okay," she answered, a wry smile on her face. The smile dropped into something more serious. Sam swallowed. "I know I haven't been the poster-child for it lately, but you can trust me, Danny. You know that, right?"

"I know." His unearthly glow dampened as his feet touched the ground. Strange circles of light appeared at his waist, rushing upwards to reveal his human form. His blue eyes sparkled. "If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't do this." His hands, human hands, raised to brush back her unruly hair and tuck it behind her ear. She covered his hand with her own, her eyes locking with his. Danny kissed her, and the rising sun peaked over the far hills. A new day.

And suddenly, they were surrounded by helicopters, police cars, and blaring lights.

Danny watched, eyes troubled, as they carried Vlad's body away from the rubble in a gurney. The flashing lights of an ambulance reflected against the dark dawn. Sam's hand intertwined in his own, and she squeezed his hand in comfort. "Are you going to be alright?" she whispered.

He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. "I will be," he answered tiredly. Sam leaned her head against his shoulder, and he leaned his head against hers. His human form was so much warmer…

A familiar figure made its way through the crowds and clean-up crews, occasionally ordering people around. It was the Head Agent, and he was searching for someone. As soon as his eyes landed on Danny, something changed in his demeanor. It was sad and hopeful, determined and yet lenient. "Daniel!" he called over. "Let me have a word with you."

The younger agent sighed and pulled away from Sam. As the Head Agent made his way over, Danny noticed something in his hand.

"Glad to see you're still alive." The Head Agent handed Danny an envelope. "I know this is a hard time for you, Daniel," he said, "but the agency still needs you."

Danny's eyes hardened as he hesitantly accepted the envelope, heavy with paperwork. "You want me to go back?"

With a sigh, the elder agent admitted, "As much as you've earned a rest, there's a big stack of papers. I'd like to re-initiate your training. Perhaps the beginning of next month, we can rebuild the facilities for you?"

Danny's tired eyes stared wearily. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

"Well," the Head Agent sighed. "You've got options, Daniel. We can't force you to accept, but know that your…abilities are an asset the world cannot lose. You could save so many."

Nothing was perfect. He would always feel guilt for the death of his partner, he would always feel as though Vlad's death was unneeded. But when Sam's hand came to rest on his shoulder, he felt warmth, and her touch melted away the coldness within him.

"I'll think about it," Danny said finally. The Head Agent nodded in understanding, and he clapped the younger agent's shoulder.

As the Head Agent walked away, he suddenly turned around. "By the way, should you choose to return, I will permanently instate Sam as your partner."

Sam's eyes widened, mirroring Danny's, and they looked at each other. A small smile worked its way onto Danny's face, and he squeezed her hand. The Head Agent glanced between them. "This is what you want, right?"

The world wasn't perfect at all. But at least he had Sam. And that made everything worth it.

"Yes," Danny answered for both of them, heart content for the first time in years.

Within the envelope was an acceptance of terms, and a new title to boot. Senior Agent First Class Daniel Fenton, with a permanent partnership to Agent Samantha Manson. Later that night, when he penned his name along the dotted signature, he realized his cursive letters had intertwined with Sam's.

He smiled softly.

Danny awoke to the pounding on his door. Groggily, he fell out of his bed and lied there on the wooden floor. The pounding continued. He groaned. "Who gets up before noon?" he complained, rubbing his eyes as he stood up and pulled on a t-shirt. He was tired, he was achy from the flight home, and all he really wanted to do was sleep. Half-stumbling, half-walking, he grumbled at the indecency of it all.

All this changed the moment he turned the knob.

A bright image greeted him, along with the rising sun. "Hey." Sam threw him a gun, which he caught out of pure reflex. She was smiling. "Train with me."

The boy's sleepy eyes suddenly became alert. How could he refuse? "Okay." He yawned, shedding his tiredness, and then added, "That is, if you think you can handle me."

"Oh, trust me." She leaned against the doorway, giving him a knowing look. She tried not to giggle at the teddy-bear boxers he was wearing. "The real question is whether you can handle me."

Lightning blurred into blue lights, and suddenly she was nose-to-nose with his ghost form, his emerald eyes dancing merrily. "Bring it on, Sammy."

"Oh, it's already been brought, Dan Dan," she replied, raising an eyebrow.

Without warning, he stole a kiss from her lips and raced away as she indignantly gasped. Danny laughed as she chased after him, loading the gun with anti-ghost blasts. Sam tried to look mad, but try as she might, her happiness won over.

Danny spiraled up into the sky before dive-bombing down beside Sam, ghostly aura twisting around her as he kissed her again.

Agent Daniel Fenton was awake now, and nothing would stop him.

God! Finally, it's done! HAHAHA! Oh my goodness, this moment feels really good. I've struggled through this story so much, it's borderline ridiculous! But now it's done! It's finally complete! A small part of me feels just a little sad, though, as I'm sure all authors do when their brain children are all grown up. :P

Well, I sincerely hope that you enjoyed this last chapter, and I'd like to thank everybody who's read, everybody who's reviewed, and everybody who's kept on my case until I updated. :) Thanks so much, to everybody!

With much love,

Lightning Streak