Chained Reactions
By Lacey52

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

A note: Um…M.O. stands for Modus Operandi…which basically means 'Method of operation' in Latin (loosely translated). Also, semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs, and symbols, and what they stand for.

Also…a tad heavy on the foreshadowing…in a way. Hope you enjoy!

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Chapter Eight: Erudite

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

'[…]for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.'

Excerpts from 'The Prince'

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

The building was a sad sight, the doctor decided with a sigh, stripped bare of all furniture, decorations, and people. Running his hand over the silver lettering across the door declaring the institution, what it stood for, the graying man of fifty-eight years on the mortal plain felt tears begin to form. The abbreviation 'Dr.' was no more a fitting title, and soon would disappear from this, his former office.

He had worked so hard, years of school and the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of loans flashing through his memory. He had given up so much, a laughing brunette with dancing shoes and a swirling polka dot dress returned to his mind, regret weighing more heavily upon his shoulders than it ever had before.

Before. What a strange word.

Before that man had dared play him for a fool, but no, he shook his head, bringing a handkerchief up to wipe moist eyes. No, revenge was not a healthy path to follow, this he knew. He had lost everything he had worked for during the past forty years in under three months. Everything he had fought so hard to make!

'And fight I did,' the man mourned, now burdened with even more debt than ever before, more pain and insult piled upon grievous personal injury, 'Now walk away, my boy. Walk away.'

Slipping his fedora back on, he turned and walked away with his back straight. No, not for revenge was he going to throw all caution to the wind. For the safety of one young man and his family.

'That man will not harm anyone else,' he decided as he slipped inside his Buick, 'I will break my oath of confidentiality for a much greater purpose. He will not get away with whatever it is he thinks he's going to!'

Looking over the only sheet of paper he had dared to smuggle away from the building, he set his car towards Amity Park, a city a few states over from Wisconsin. On the paper were only two names: Casper High School of Amity Park and Daniel Fenton. His only clue as to the family Vladimir Masters was so very dangerously obsessed with.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"And, that's that," the electrician flipped a final switch and power hummed through the building, "Hope it keeps up with the heating for you, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how much more efficient this new heating unit is over that old hunk of junk boiler."

"Well, just thank you for agreeing to finish it so quickly. I know working overtime on a Saturday and Sunday pays well, but no one likes giving up a weekend," Ishiyama shook the man's hand, "Please tell your crew I said thank you on behalf of the faculty and students; and send the invoice on Monday."

"Will do," the man nodded, then moved to follow the woman out of the building.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

'Thank goodness,' Sam melted into the heat of the school hall and began to pull off her jacket, 'At least now Danny will have an easier time if a ghost comes to visit and Valerie won't feel so stressed. Speaking of, there she is with Tucker...no surprise there.'

"Long night or early morning? " Sam teased the tousled looking pair, years of Tucker's poking and prodding coming back to bite him in the butt. The blush on the boy's cheeks was completely worth it.

"Hey, don't drag me into your teasing. Just because you and Danny aren't denying it anymore," Valerie griped, "doesn't mean you get to pick who you want as the new lovebirds around here."

"I'm not the one doing the picking," Sam answered smartly back, "Just doing what all best friends are supposed to do for one another and pointing out the obvious to Tucker."

"Saaam," the boy whined, sweeping his hat off of his head to clench it in front of his chest, "Oh wonderful, merciful one! Please don't doom me to death at the hands of an embarrassed second degree black belt!"

"That's third degree black belt," Valerie clenched her fists as a blush dusted across her cheeks as well, "and if anyone's going to get it, it's going to be Johnny 13 and that damn shadow!"

Sam quirked an eyebrow, even as she took a step back, "Bad Luck Tuck is back again?"

"Don't say it out loud!" Tucker rushed to quiet her, looking nervously around, "Valerie just saved me. Johnny was having a good time laughing at me though."

"Hey, he said it was just a prank," Valerie finally relaxed a little and smirked, "As long as they don't try it again, I ain't getting involved past what I already did."

"You're cruel woman," Tucker smashed his hat back on, pointing accusingly at the huntress, "Now I'm gonna' be looking over my shoulder all day."

"At least today's the rotation day," Sam had been forgotten, much to her amusement as Valerie and Tucker kept talking and started to move off, "He's going back in today, so quit whining."

"It's not whining if it's justified," Tucker huffed as they headed up the stairs, "it's complaining with reason!"

"Right," Valerie's voice faded out, "Whatever you say."

Sam simply stood at her locker shaking her head and rolling her eyes, "At least we weren't so bad that we'd walk off and leave people."

A ghostly chuckle from her side didn't surprise her in the least as a voice whispered, "He'd probably argue with you on that one."

"Let him," she grinned wickedly, leaning slightly to the right to come shoulder to shoulder with the invisible boy beside her, a tickle of deep amusement creeping up her spine, "With all the blackmail I have on him, I doubt he'd try it more than once when Valerie's around,"

"Forget merciful," Danny quipped as the hall cleared and he changed back, "You're merciless when it comes to teasing."

"Only with my friends," Sam smirked.

'And that's good to know,' Spectra observed silently with her head through the floor of her classroom, peeking down at the two. Her off period gave her plenty of time to observe her marks, 'Plenty of time to check this device as well.'

The sparkling silver and gold watch Bertrand had presented her with that morning wasn't exactly her style, but it was serving it's purpose, and had kept her hidden thus far, 'Vladdie, you have outdone yourself!'

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Late afternoon on the fourteenth found Lancer sitting at his desk, relaxing as he listened to the students begin to clear the halls, another school day over and done with. He had a good chuckle as a few comments made their way through his not quite soundproof office door. Everyone, it appeared, was very pleased that the heat was back on and working, 'And so it was well worth the extra money.'

That thought had him frowning back down at the huge packet of budgets Principal Ishiyama had asked him to look over. He wasn't even sure where to begin. Finding an extra three thousand dollars in their school's already tight budget felt like an impossible task, "And yet, it has to be done."

"Don't go around talking to the air, Mr. Lancer," Danny's laughing voice echoed through the room, startling the man at first, "You never know who might answer back."

"Tell-Tale Heart, don't startle me like that Mr. Fenton!" the man sat back glancing left and right, "To what do I owe this sudden, supernatural visit?"

"I was just doing my afternoon rounds," Danny's black and white form came into view near the left corner of the ceiling, catching Edward a little off guard, "Saw some strange guy in a bow tie walking around the math hall. He looks harmless enough, but it looked like he was looking for someone. Thought you might want to know."

"Yes," the Vice Principal nodded as he pushed his chair back to stand, "Thank you for letting me know."

"Of course!" Danny threw a salute before fading from sight through the ceiling, "See ya' later, Mr. Lancer!"

Sighing to himself at how strange it was for such an occurrence to have become so casually regarded in his mind, Lancer moved toward the door and out into the hall. He was happily surprised to see a man, in a bow tie, being escorted towards his office by their temporary hire, Ms. Pen. He wouldn't have to waste his time searching, after all.

"Oh, there he is!" the young woman cheerily waved, "Mr. Lancer, this man was looking for Principal Ishiyama. Since she was already in the departmental meeting, I figured I had better bring him to you. Didn't want to leave him wandering around."

'And getting into something he shouldn't,' Spectra thought darkly to herself, 'The less human adults around, the better!'

"Thank you Ms. Pen," he smiled congenially back, "I'll take it from here, Mr.?"

"Dr. Rhymann, actually," the men shook hands, "Thank you again, Ms. Pen."

"Oh, of course. Have a good afternoon," she replied airily, walking away quickly as she had...other things to attend to.

"What can I help you with, Dr. Rhymann?" Lancer congenially showed him into his office, "I'm sorry Principal Ishiyama isn't available, but I can assure you I'll be as helpful as I can."

"Thank you," the older man answered as he took the proffered seat, then sat collecting his thoughts as Edward patiently looked on, "Mr. Lancer, was it?"

"Yes," he answered, curiosity gnawing at him, "but please, call me Edward."

"Actually, Mr. Lancer, I would prefer to keep this professional," the older man sighed heavily, "for you see I am here on rather urgent business involving one of your students."

Though he was surprised, Edward Lancer hid it well, "Please continue Dr. Rhymann."

"To begin with sir, I am...rather, was, a professional psychiatrist. I held that title for well over twenty years and until recently had ownership of my own institution, in which I actively supervised our highest profile patients," here he paused as though to consider the other's reaction to this, "I was stripped of my business and title recently by false accusations and..."

Here the man seemed to falter, but pulled himself together, deciding to himself to forge ahead to the heart of the matter, "You see, Vladimir Masters, the owner of local Axion Labs, was a patient of mine. He had a rather unnerving fascination with a Daniel Fenton, who I believe is a student here, and had himself released from my care. He then took it upon himself to destroy my business and my professional image. I am greatly concerned for the Fentons."

"I see," Edward Lancer felt a muscle in his jaw jump, "Danny has mentioned him to me multiple times. You needn't say another word."

"I feel though, that I must justify how easily I am breaking confidentiality," the doctor started before Lancer's raised hand cut him off.

"Dr. Rhymann, I have known Daniel Fenton these past four years and have become something of a confidant to him," he reached for pen and paper, "and when I say you needn't utter another word it is because I understand. That man has threatened the child on multiple occasions, and managed to get away with it for far too long in my opinion. Danny has told me more ludicrous stories about that man than I'd care to repeat."

Dr. Rhymann sat in silence, shock and gratitude clear on his face, as he shakily accepted a hastily written address with a note underneath, "That is Danny's address. Just give him the note if he is there when you visit. His parents will take a great deal of convincing-"

"As Mr. Masters was their college cohort," the doctor nodded, "A very, very close friend apparently."

The two sat in lost thoughts for a moment before Dr. Rhymann stood, Lancer following suit, "Thank you, sir, sincerely. You may well be saving this family a great deal of strife."

They shook hands and the older man tiredly shuffled towards the door, "Dr. Rhymann?"

At his pause, Edward continued, "I understand the urgency, but Danny's family can...handle themselves for one more day. You appear exhausted, please consider resting before you visit them."

"Yes, yes," the worried light in his eyes eased slightly, "Perhaps you are right. Thank you again, Mr. Lancer."

And the good doctor was on his way. A shiver passed over Edward and he had the feeling he wouldn't be seeing this man again.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Thomas Rhymann leaned the seat of his car back as far as it would recline, settling in for the night in the nearly empty parking lot of the twenty-four hour shopping center he had just purchased a heavy blanket from. The last fifty dollars to his name had gone into it, outside of credit of course. He was trying to circumvent racking up any more debt than he had to, though it seemed as though it would no longer be avoidable.

'At least I will stay warm in this abominable weather,' he thought to himself as he settled in for an uncomfortable night, thoughts drifting between what he would say...and worry over the Fentons not believing him, 'After all, what reason do they have to believe a stranger who had his license revoked?'

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Saturday morning dawn bright, beautiful, and unbelievably cold. Winter had set in full force and a light dusting of the season's first snow painted a white line on every rooftop.

Danny would have found it more beautiful if he hadn't currently been arguing with Johnny and Kitty over semantics, "You guys had your turn, you're already supposed to be back in the ghost zone. The Lunch Lady isn't going to wait forever. She warned me that her cookies were getting stale!"

"So what?" Johnny leaned forward into Danny's face slightly, "We're staying out. I had my week, now Kitty gets hers."

"That's not how it works," the halfa folded his arms, legs splayed slightly as he 'stood' in the air over downtown, "You've been out before, why cause problems now?"

"Because we're trouble makers, duh," Kitty rejoined, "That's like, our whole reason for existing. Young rebels in love."

"That's right, babe," Johnny wrapped an arm around her waist, French kissing her noisily to get a rise out of Danny, "In love and in trouble."

"Yeah, yeah," green eyes averted as he waved them off, thinking quickly, "I get you M.O., but I can't let you guys stay out for an extra week. The other ghosts will be after you worse than I am."

"Us against the world," Kitty looked smug.

"No," Danny stressed, speaking more to Johnny now, "You against the Ghost Zone. And not just ghosts like the Lunch Lady. Fright Night wanted out this week too, and you or Kitty are going to be the one to explain why he can't get out."

"Hey man, he'd mess us up," Johnny suddenly backpedaled, "You can't do that!"

"Wouldn't be me doing anything," Danny shrugged, knowing he finally managed to get it through their thick skulls, 'Or well, whatever we have...'

"Look, we'll go back in," Kitty tried bargaining one last time, but Danny was too tired to even listen, "but we want back out next week."

"Nope," Danny replied, tiredly, "There's a list for a reason. You guys have to wait just like, Technus, Ember, and everyone else. But...if you want to talk to them about it..."

"Yeah, alright, we get it," Johnny sounded slightly bitter, but resigned, "We're going."

As Johnny revved his bike's engine, Danny drifted to the side, giving the other ghost room to shoot forward on his motorcycle and slip through a rip created with a replica of his original device. A resonating tingle, not unlike what he felt when Sam was feeling excited about something, shot through his system...only it wasn't exactly an emotion and it wasn't from Sam.

No, this had something to do with his powers reacting to something around him. He always got little tingles here or there when he figured something new out; like levitating objects through what his parents termed telekinesis. He just liked to call it moving stuff...with his powers. Not as technical, but it made him feel less like a circus sideshow, 'Not that I'm not already one.'

He quickly shook off that glum thought and headed for home, satisfied that word would get around the Ghost Zone that the pair were back 'in' and the next group could finally get 'out'.

Another tickle on the edge of his conciseness let him know Sam was waking up, and searching clumsily through their link to find out what he was doing. With an amused chuckle he provided her with an image of Amity Park from above and a general feeling of good. That was apparently enough for the girl and he felt her drifting back into the contentment of sleep, 'Lazy bones.'

When Danny made it home, he had every intent to copy his girlfriend and fell backwards onto his bed to catch a few hours of shut eye before his mom got enough of matches and let the dog pounce on him. Alas, it was not to be as he heard the doorbell, Matches barking at the noise downstairs.

'I'm already up,' Danny stood and started down the stairs, pulling a long-sleeved shirt on as he went, 'might as well get it.'

"Coming!" Danny shouted, bouncing towards the door as the doorbell sounded again. Peering through the peephole, Danny found himself looking at the same man that he had seen at school the day before. He opened the door, a friendly smile on his face and a slight tightness to his muscles, "Uh, hi. Can I help you?"

"I was going to ask if this is the Fenton residence," the tired-eyed man glanced upwards with a chuckle, "but I believe the neon sign says it all."

"Oh, yeah," Danny rolled his eyes as he opened the door slightly further and leaned against the doorframe, "You must be here to see my parents. Are you their new investor, Mr. McMallion?"

"No, I'm Dr. Rhymann," the gentleman extended his hand, "Thomas Rhymann, psychiatrist."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Danny," the young man shook his hand firmly, "Come on in and make yourself comfortable. My Mom will probably be down in a minute. I heard her getting up when I came down the stairs."

"Actually, Danny," the man stopped him and handed him a note, "Mr. Lancer, your Vice Principal, told me to give you this first. I haven't read it."

Curious, Danny reached for the paper, glancing between it and the man before him as he read:

'Danny,

Dr. Rhymann has news about Vlad Masters.

I believe he is serious, but please be cautious.

Perhaps have Foley look into his information, but legally!

-E. Lancer'

"Guess you're not here to see my parents," Danny's jaw clenched, the note crumpling in his hand, "What's Vlad doing now?"

"Perhaps I should speak to your parents at the same time as you?" he started cautiously, then stopped in surprise as the young man started to shake his head with a sad look on his face.

"Won't work," he laughed with no trace of humor, "My sister Jazz and I have been trying to get them to believe us that he's a fruit loop for years. Then again, you're a head doctor right? Maybe they'll believe you."

'He clearly resents the lack of faith his parents have in him on this subject,' the doctor studied the youth, 'I hope this doesn't bleed over into trust issues in other areas concerning his parents...'

"Danny? Who's at the door?" Maddie called from the top of the stairs, the jumpsuit catching Dr. Rhymann's attention immediately.

"Uh, Vlad's psychiatrist, Dr. Rhymann," he spoke lovingly to his Mom, respect clear in his actions. The boy may have resented their lack of faith, but it obviously wasn't enough to damage their bond, which spoke very highly of the people of this home.

"Hello," the red headed woman moved to shake his hand, then gestured towards their kitchen, "I'm Maddie Fenton, Dr. Rhymann; is everything okay with Vlad? My husband Jack should be down in just a minute. Can I offer you some coffee or tea?"

"Oh, coffee please," he requested, "I'm afraid Vlad isn't quite as alright as you'd like. This may take some time to discuss."

After getting situated with his glowing coffee, with an aside to Danny about it's drinkability and assurance that it was safe, the man sat patiently observing the family in front of him. Jack's rather large and intimidating frame lumbered through the kitchen entry way moments later and introductions were made. This family was loving, open, honest, and slightly quirky. A direct approach would probably work best, but he had so much to tell them...

"Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, Danny," he started once they had all seated themselves, "I have a great deal to tell you, but I will simply start with this; I believe that you may be in some danger in regards to Mr. Masters' behavior as of late."

A pause, and then laughter from the two adults. The only face as concerned and serious as his own belonged to the youngest among them.

"Oh, that's a good one!" Jack's booming laugh finally started to quiet, "Did Vlad put you up to this?"

"No," he answered in a measured tone, catching their attention immediately, "I'm afraid you don't understand the gravity of the situation."

"Now just a minute, mister," Maddie held up a finger, "I know Vlad had been in an...institution to recover from that awful ghost possession, but this is a little ridiculous. Vlad would never hurt our family."

"Yes, he would!" Danny erupted, standing so suddenly that he jarred the table and caused their coffee cups to rattle, "I've been trying to tell you for years! So has Jazz, Mom, and you know it, but you guys just keep brushing us off!"

"Danny," his father's hand landed heavily on his shoulder, "Calm down son."

"No," he faced his dad head on, "For once there's someone else, an adult who's actually got a license to practice psychiatry, trying to tell you guys that Vlad is one messed up fruit loop, and you're going to blow him off the same way you do your kids!"

"Danny!" his mother started, but Rhymann quietly cleared his throat and once again gained the spotlight.

"Please, let me start at the beginning," he held up his hands to mediate, keeping his gestures slow to calm the situation that had blown up so quickly, "If at the end you still aren't satisfied with what I have to say, then by all means, let me leave and I will never bother you again."

Sitting back in her chair with her arms crossed, Maddie shot her son a look that plainly said, 'Sit Down and Behave.'. Danny did as silently instructed, as did his father.

"While Vlad was under my care, he spoke often of your family," he glanced between the three in turn, "so often in fact, and with such fixation on your son, such obsessive detail about your wife, and such disdain about your husband, that many red flags went up in my mind. He referred to Danny many times as his wayward son and his heir apparent, if only the boy would understand."

The man paused to take a slow sip of coffee as this sunk in, then continued, "He has an unhealthy fixation on your family's dynamics, and a very strange desire, that he tried very hard to hide. To the point that I missed it, honestly, until our last session. I am now trying to rectify the situation."

"What are you saying?" Jack slowly ground out, growing impatient as Maddie sat with a very thoughtful look on her face.

"That he wishes to take over your position as head of this family, effectively making Mrs. Fenton his wife and Danny his real son."

"How can you be sure?" Maddie glanced at her son's hardened face, something flickering in her eyes.

"Our last session was...difficult to interpret, but when he handed me that book," the man's eyes grew unfocused for a moment, "Well, that part is conjecture, but you don't spend your life devoted to the study of the human mind without becoming very good at listening to your gut about people. Our following meetings during the lawsuit he levied against me only furthered my fears."

"Lawsuit?" Danny finally rejoined the conversation, "He sued you?"

"No," here he sighed unhappily, "I sued him. He purchased the land my offices were on from the bank somehow, though it had to have been an illegal deal. I've owned my building and my land for the past seven years now, having finally paid off all my business loans."

"In the end, I lost everything. He took my land, the bank took my building, and the state," he choked up, then cleared his throat, "The state revoked my license...citing an anonymous source who had supposedly presented them with indisputable information concerning malpractice. My record was flawless previously, and no actual evidence was offered for me to contest, leading me to believe that I was..."

"Duped," Danny filled in with a sigh, "Just like good, ole' Uncle Vlad does to everyone."

"I know that, after telling you this, I must not seem the most credible source. Indeed," the once doctor continued quickly when it looked as though Maddie might speak, "I must seem out for revenge or as though I'm trying to ruin him, but I've gone to no one else with these concerns save Danny's Vice Principal to locate your family and warn you. I do not know what Mr. Masters plans to do, if anything, but I caution you, no...I warn you against letting him into your home."

"I honestly don't know what to say," Maddie shook her head, leaning more towards her husband for emotional support, "He was always such a good friend."

"Always helped us out in a pinch," Jack furrowed his brow, "Been my best friend since school. I just can't see him...doing something like this."

"Yeah, well I see it all the time, and so does Jazz," Danny leaned his chair back dangerously far, balancing on the two back legs as he folded his arms, "Come on Mom, what about that one time in Wisconsin?"

"What time in Wisconsin?" Jack sounded almost as if he didn't want to hear.

Maddie sigh tiredly, then began her story. The stranding and ghost attacks; which now that she thought back over it conveniently drove them straight to Vlad. His insistence on them staying with him and his strange behavior that, at the time had seemed ridiculous, but now seemed like overt flirting and innuendo.

Slowly, a sort of understanding lit in the adults' eyes, followed swiftly by betrayal, anger, disbelief, and a swirl of other emotions that would have been difficult to keep up with for the person feeling them, let alone someone who was an outside observer. The good doctor could take a very good guess though.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

A few cups of coffee and a rather in depth conversation over what, exactly, Vlad might be interested in Danny for found their conversation to be rounding the two hour mark. A knock at the door had a goofy smile spreading over Danny's face. His parents looked on with a smile as he quickly hopped up and headed for the door.

'A girl,' Thomas Rhymann laughed silently as he heard a soft, feminine salutation that the boy returned, 'but of course.'

At the door, Sam and Danny stood watching each other silently after their quiet greeting, emotions slipping slightly as the young woman let out a breath of relief. Moving towards the living room, Sam greeted an overly enthusiastic Matches and began to remove her winter over clothes and shoes to hang near the door.

"I got worried," she said quietly, listening to the Fentons talk with an unfamiliar man, "You weren't answering your phone or answering me, you know, up here."

Sam had pointed to her temple, which made Danny smile lightly, "Sorry, it's just someone is finally here to tell Mom and Dad that Vlad is a certified, dangerous fruit loop."

"And now I know why I feel like I could kiss some strange old guy in a bow tie," Sam stated sardonically, "Got worried about our relationship for a few minutes there. And I sort of want to buy the man a drink…which is not a normal feeling for me either."

"Nah, I'll take credit for that one," Danny moved them back towards the kitchen after their whispered conversation, "Dr. Rhymann, this is my girlfriend Sam Manson. Sam, Dr. Rhymann was Vlad Masters' psychiatrist."

"That fruit loop," Sam eyed the doctor, then smiled, "Glad to see you made it out alive."

"I'm sure the feeling is mutual," the doctor replied in surprise. The two said their goodbyes to let the adults talk further and moved back towards the living room. The conversation from the kitchen lulled and rose, their voices weaving in and out as Danny and Sam talked over what had been revealed.

"I think it's time to call in the rest of Team Phantom," Sam glanced between the kitchen doorway and the dog resting flanked by them on the couch, "We might need everyone's help if Vlad is back in the picture."

"Mr. Lancer said to get Tucker to check the doctor out, just in case," Danny began to nervously run his hand back and forth across his neck, "He's going to want revenge Sam."

"I know," the girl sat still, letting Danny's worry wash over her and trying to take some of it on to ease his burden.

"He's going to be after us again," the halfa sighed, "I think you're right. I think we're going to need everyone's help on this one. I have a feeling Vlad isn't going to hold back anymore."

Nervous and worried, Sam and Danny both sat on the couch for the rest of the morning, only moving when Dr. Rhymann made to leave. Sam memorized the lines of the man's face, his wrinkles painting a picture of a hard, but satisfying life. She wondered over each one as she told him good bye, to be safe, have a safe trip.

She wondered over the regret and worry written clearly across those same lines.

And suddenly she wondered if she'd ever have the chance to meet Dr. Thomas Rhymann again.