Chapter 13: Bar Bonding:
Bond:
Ever since I started dating Gear, I admit that for once I was actually happy. Though, I did think she trusted Danny too much. I understood that he was her best friend, like a brother, and he was my friend as well, but I was surprised that she trust him that much. I mean, I knew I should trust him with my life too- we're ghost hunters that never know what's going to happen and need to trust our teammates to have our back- but something about Danny isn't right.
Even in collage, he there was something off. He just...it seemed like he knew something we didn't know- or that he was hiding something. I didn't see how the others didn't notice it. Well, maybe they did just didn't say anything. I shook my head and Gear looked at me concerned. I nearly forgot that I was on yet another date with her. Though, how could I forget when she looks so beautiful. I stared at her. She had a black dress on for the event- a poetry reading at the café. It fit her and her curvy figure perfectly. I was shaken out of my thoughts by a hand waving in front of my face,
"Yo, earth to Bond, do you read me?"
I smiled slightly,
"Sorry, I got lost in your beauty."
Gear flustered slightly.
"Gear," I said, "I have a question, but-"
"Gwyn."
"What?"
Gear smirked,
"You can call my Gwyn."
"I thought you said Danny was the only one to call you by your real name."
"Well, he may be my overprotective brother, but you, you're my boyfriend."
I smiled, yeah, I could never forget that.
"Anyway," she continued, "What's the question?"
"I was thinking...about Danny..."
"What about him?"
"Doesn't he seem...off."
Gear- er, Gwyn blinked. She twirled her food with her fork,
"Well, yeah, but he's psychic."
I shook my head,
"No... No, it's something else. He just seems...like he's hiding something."
"What do you mean," Gear asked. She had her head titled slightly.
I sighed, there was no easy way to explain about Danny. I have seen things I can't explain around him- and not on investigations either. I mean, there was something he was hiding- I was sure about it and it wasn't the fact that he was Daniel Fenton either. I already knew about that- even if the others didn't.
Danny, there was just something about him I couldn't explain. I could have sworn I have seen his eyes turn green or red on occasions. His arm seemed to just pass through things before. He seemed just so...ghostly.
Danny:
I ran a hand through my hair as I worked on my newest invention. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to buy a rather large house- which is why when the Soul Finders (mostly Charlie and Kevin) decide to have a party it's always here. Though, they were never able to find my secret lab that I worked on nor the portal I had made based on my parents' designs.
I wiped the sweat off my eyebrow and then headed upstairs (the lab was hidden in the basement) to clean up. After I had showered, I went into the kitchen. I fixed myself a cup of tea- caffeine in coffee wasn't exactly good for me to have. I looked at the clock- it was almost midnight. I only had a few more minutes until it was the day.
I sighed and left the still warm tea on the table as I headed to bed. If I planned it right then I would be able to sleep all those memories away.
Third Person (next night):
Charlie laughed as Kevin and he headed to the bar. It wasn't a celebration, they just went there every Friday to pick up girls- unlike Bond, they were still single. Though, they still thought Danny was still single too. They never heard him talk about any girl- it was like he wasn't even trying.
Soon, the two immature twenty-something-year-olds were in the high-class bar. It wasn't trashy like most places. It was pretty decent and it even had a pool table and music playing. Charlie headed straight to the first big-chested, pretty-faced woman he saw.
Kevin, however, was headed to a beautiful woman, but he got distracted. He went over to Charlie- who was wet from the woman dumping her drink on him and then leaving. Charlie shook his wet hair and Kevin poked him on the shoulder.
"Hey, dude."
Charlie glared briefly and then sighed,
"What?"
"Isn't that Danny?"
Charlie looked confused and then looked over to where Danny was sitting. He didn't look like the Danny they were used to seeing over the years. His hair was a mess. He had bags under his eyes, though it was hard to see since he was hunched over a mug of beer. He looked so depressed.
Kevin and Charlie shared look. There was only one time they have seen him like that.
"What day is it?"
"September...10th, I think."
Charlie and Kevin shared a look of understanding. They didn't know why- but every September 10th, Danny seemed to disappear. They didn't know where he would go, but the one time that they did see him on that day- he looked just like he did now (depressed).
Charlie sighed and made the decision to confront Danny. He sat down in the empty seat beside him.
"Hey, dude."
Danny kept his head down,
"Hey."
Well, Charlie thought, at least he doesn't seem totally drunk off his ass yet. Kevin and Charlie sighed when Danny didn't say anything. Then, Danny looked up. His eyes were worn and tired, but most of all- sad.
He took a large sip of the alcoholic drink. He didn't even say a word. The bartender came over and sighed,
"If you fellas are his friends, get him out. That's the twentieth drink he's had, hell, maybe even more!"
Charlie and Kevin looked at Danny wide-eyed. Danny scowled at the bartender and tried to stand, but he tumbled. Charlie grabbed his arm,
"Come on, Danny, we'll take you home."
Kevin grabbed Danny's other arm and together they were able to take the drunken Danny to their car. Luckily, neither of them had had a drink yet- making them entirely sober. Kevin sat Danny in the backseat and sat down in the passenger seat while Charlie got ready to drive.
On the drive to Danny's home, Danny started bawling in the backseat.
"Okay," Kevin said, "even if he's drunk, it's weird and oddly heart-breaking to see a grown man cry."
Charlie nodded,
"Yeah...uh...should we call Gear?"
"Why?"
"Well, she's his friend too and well, I think a chick is more helpful in calming down a crying drunk."
Kevin nodded,
"Good point. I'll call her."
***
Ten minutes later, they had arrived at Danny's house to find Gear and Bond waiting. Charlie got out talking to them while Kevin got Danny out of the backseat.
"Why is he here," Charlie asked pointing to Bond.
"We were on a date, brought him with me. Now, what's the deal with Danny," Gear asked.
Charlie sighed,
"Not sure. We found him in the bar, drunk. He's been crying and mumbling the way here about death or something."
Bond raised an eyebrow,
"Maybe seeing ghosts finally made him crack."
Charlie shook his head,
"No...it's something different."
They all looked over to Kevin, who had a crying Danny leaning on his shoulder as they walked. He was crying pretty hard for a grown man,
"They're all dead," he sobbed, "all dead. It's all my fault! I could've done something!"
Bond watched with narrowed eyes, then Danny's words clicked in his head. He pushed aside Charlie and Gear as he went over to Kevin. He put Danny's arm around his shoulder to balance the drunk.
"I'll take care of this."
Bond:
They knew to back off from the look I gave them. Gear...Gwyn looked at me mildly concerned, but she shook her head. My girl, I can't believe I just called her that, knew to trust me. They all looked at me a bit concerned, but they left. I helped the drunken Danny back into his house. Luckily for me, he kept his key in the bushes (we all knew where it was- he told us in case of an emergency).
Danny was still crying into my shoulder. I set him down on his couch, which was a bad idea. He looked up at the pictures on the walls. The pictures that none of us, his friends, asked about because we knew better than to invade his personal privacy.
The pictures were all taken when Danny looked about fourteen or fifteen. Some were from when he was even younger. Most of the pictures were of him, an African American guy in a beret, and a Goth girl. Some showed what I thought was his family- a big guy in an orange jumpsuit, a woman in a turquoise jumpsuit, Danny, and a redheaded girl. Danny looked at the pictures,
"They're all dead!"
I sighed. I may not have been good at sentimental things- I was, after all, still a Goth. I shook Danny by his shoulders,
"Danny, listen to me! I know you're upset that this is the tenth anniversary."
"Ninth," Danny whispered. I sighed,
"Whatever, look, I know that they died- everyone you knew, but you have a new family now, okay?"
Danny looked at me sadly. I sighed,
"You have Charlie, Kevin, and me, we're like your brothers, okay? Gear is your sister now. The Lanes' are your parents, okay? You need to understand to accept things that we can't change, have the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.*"
Danny smiled,
"Thanks, Bond."
*I got the saying from a Justice League movie, Flashpoint or something like that. A newer one and the saying just stuck with me
Bond:
Ever since I started dating Gear, I admit that for once I was actually happy. Though, I did think she trusted Danny too much. I understood that he was her best friend, like a brother, and he was my friend as well, but I was surprised that she trust him that much. I mean, I knew I should trust him with my life too- we're ghost hunters that never know what's going to happen and need to trust our teammates to have our back- but something about Danny isn't right.
Even in collage, he there was something off. He just...it seemed like he knew something we didn't know- or that he was hiding something. I didn't see how the others didn't notice it. Well, maybe they did just didn't say anything. I shook my head and Gear looked at me concerned. I nearly forgot that I was on yet another date with her. Though, how could I forget when she looks so beautiful. I stared at her. She had a black dress on for the event- a poetry reading at the café. It fit her and her curvy figure perfectly. I was shaken out of my thoughts by a hand waving in front of my face,
"Yo, earth to Bond, do you read me?"
I smiled slightly,
"Sorry, I got lost in your beauty."
Gear flustered slightly.
"Gear," I said, "I have a question, but-"
"Gwyn."
"What?"
Gear smirked,
"You can call my Gwyn."
"I thought you said Danny was the only one to call you by your real name."
"Well, he may be my overprotective brother, but you, you're my boyfriend."
I smiled, yeah, I could never forget that.
"Anyway," she continued, "What's the question?"
"I was thinking...about Danny..."
"What about him?"
"Doesn't he seem...off."
Gear- er, Gwyn blinked. She twirled her food with her fork,
"Well, yeah, but he's psychic."
I shook my head,
"No... No, it's something else. He just seems...like he's hiding something."
"What do you mean," Gear asked. She had her head titled slightly.
I sighed, there was no easy way to explain about Danny. I have seen things I can't explain around him- and not on investigations either. I mean, there was something he was hiding- I was sure about it and it wasn't the fact that he was Daniel Fenton either. I already knew about that- even if the others didn't.
Danny, there was just something about him I couldn't explain. I could have sworn I have seen his eyes turn green or red on occasions. His arm seemed to just pass through things before. He seemed just so...ghostly.
Danny:
I ran a hand through my hair as I worked on my newest invention. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to buy a rather large house- which is why when the Soul Finders (mostly Charlie and Kevin) decide to have a party it's always here. Though, they were never able to find my secret lab that I worked on nor the portal I had made based on my parents' designs.
I wiped the sweat off my eyebrow and then headed upstairs (the lab was hidden in the basement) to clean up. After I had showered, I went into the kitchen. I fixed myself a cup of tea- caffeine in coffee wasn't exactly good for me to have. I looked at the clock- it was almost midnight. I only had a few more minutes until it was the day.
I sighed and left the still warm tea on the table as I headed to bed. If I planned it right then I would be able to sleep all those memories away.
Third Person (next night):
Charlie laughed as Kevin and he headed to the bar. It wasn't a celebration, they just went there every Friday to pick up girls- unlike Bond, they were still single. Though, they still thought Danny was still single too. They never heard him talk about any girl- it was like he wasn't even trying.
Soon, the two immature twenty-something-year-olds were in the high-class bar. It wasn't trashy like most places. It was pretty decent and it even had a pool table and music playing. Charlie headed straight to the first big-chested, pretty-faced woman he saw.
Kevin, however, was headed to a beautiful woman, but he got distracted. He went over to Charlie- who was wet from the woman dumping her drink on him and then leaving. Charlie shook his wet hair and Kevin poked him on the shoulder.
"Hey, dude."
Charlie glared briefly and then sighed,
"What?"
"Isn't that Danny?"
Charlie looked confused and then looked over to where Danny was sitting. He didn't look like the Danny they were used to seeing over the years. His hair was a mess. He had bags under his eyes, though it was hard to see since he was hunched over a mug of beer. He looked so depressed.
Kevin and Charlie shared look. There was only one time they have seen him like that.
"What day is it?"
"September...10th, I think."
Charlie and Kevin shared a look of understanding. They didn't know why- but every September 10th, Danny seemed to disappear. They didn't know where he would go, but the one time that they did see him on that day- he looked just like he did now (depressed).
Charlie sighed and made the decision to confront Danny. He sat down in the empty seat beside him.
"Hey, dude."
Danny kept his head down,
"Hey."
Well, Charlie thought, at least he doesn't seem totally drunk off his ass yet. Kevin and Charlie sighed when Danny didn't say anything. Then, Danny looked up. His eyes were worn and tired, but most of all- sad.
He took a large sip of the alcoholic drink. He didn't even say a word. The bartender came over and sighed,
"If you fellas are his friends, get him out. That's the twentieth drink he's had, hell, maybe even more!"
Charlie and Kevin looked at Danny wide-eyed. Danny scowled at the bartender and tried to stand, but he tumbled. Charlie grabbed his arm,
"Come on, Danny, we'll take you home."
Kevin grabbed Danny's other arm and together they were able to take the drunken Danny to their car. Luckily, neither of them had had a drink yet- making them entirely sober. Kevin sat Danny in the backseat and sat down in the passenger seat while Charlie got ready to drive.
On the drive to Danny's home, Danny started bawling in the backseat.
"Okay," Kevin said, "even if he's drunk, it's weird and oddly heart-breaking to see a grown man cry."
Charlie nodded,
"Yeah...uh...should we call Gear?"
"Why?"
"Well, she's his friend too and well, I think a chick is more helpful in calming down a crying drunk."
Kevin nodded,
"Good point. I'll call her."
***
Ten minutes later, they had arrived at Danny's house to find Gear and Bond waiting. Charlie got out talking to them while Kevin got Danny out of the backseat.
"Why is he here," Charlie asked pointing to Bond.
"We were on a date, brought him with me. Now, what's the deal with Danny," Gear asked.
Charlie sighed,
"Not sure. We found him in the bar, drunk. He's been crying and mumbling the way here about death or something."
Bond raised an eyebrow,
"Maybe seeing ghosts finally made him crack."
Charlie shook his head,
"No...it's something different."
They all looked over to Kevin, who had a crying Danny leaning on his shoulder as they walked. He was crying pretty hard for a grown man,
"They're all dead," he sobbed, "all dead. It's all my fault! I could've done something!"
Bond watched with narrowed eyes, then Danny's words clicked in his head. He pushed aside Charlie and Gear as he went over to Kevin. He put Danny's arm around his shoulder to balance the drunk.
"I'll take care of this."
Bond:
They knew to back off from the look I gave them. Gear...Gwyn looked at me mildly concerned, but she shook her head. My girl, I can't believe I just called her that, knew to trust me. They all looked at me a bit concerned, but they left. I helped the drunken Danny back into his house. Luckily for me, he kept his key in the bushes (we all knew where it was- he told us in case of an emergency).
Danny was still crying into my shoulder. I set him down on his couch, which was a bad idea. He looked up at the pictures on the walls. The pictures that none of us, his friends, asked about because we knew better than to invade his personal privacy.
The pictures were all taken when Danny looked about fourteen or fifteen. Some were from when he was even younger. Most of the pictures were of him, an African American guy in a beret, and a Goth girl. Some showed what I thought was his family- a big guy in an orange jumpsuit, a woman in a turquoise jumpsuit, Danny, and a redheaded girl. Danny looked at the pictures,
"They're all dead!"
I sighed. I may not have been good at sentimental things- I was, after all, still a Goth. I shook Danny by his shoulders,
"Danny, listen to me! I know you're upset that this is the tenth anniversary."
"Ninth," Danny whispered. I sighed,
"Whatever, look, I know that they died- everyone you knew, but you have a new family now, okay?"
Danny looked at me sadly. I sighed,
"You have Charlie, Kevin, and me, we're like your brothers, okay? Gear is your sister now. The Lanes' are your parents, okay? You need to understand to accept things that we can't change, have the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.*"
Danny smiled,
"Thanks, Bond."
*I got the saying from a Justice League movie, Flashpoint or something like that. A newer one and the saying just stuck with me