A/N: Okay, you cracked me. I didn't think I'd ever upload this chapter. Pretty sure this is the end 😋

***

Danny sighed. His parents had been fussing over him all week. He'd finally healed enough to go back to school. Jack Fenton parked outside the school.

"Now son," he started. "If anything happens I want you to call me."
"Okay dad." Danny smiled weakly and got out the car.

He was putting his books in his locker and he hadn't seen his friends yet. Where were they?

"Hey Fenton! Haven't seen you in a while!" Dash bellowed.

No. The halfa thought. This can't happen.

Before he knew what was happening he was pinned against the locker.
Dash grinned. He raised his meaty fist and hit Danny in the gut.

The bully had done it hundreds of times to almost every nerd in the school. The recipient never coughed up blood.

Danny gasped in pain as his injury wasn't quiet healed.

"What the?" Dash said puzzled and slowly released him.
Danny was slumped on the floor. "Happy now?"

***

The bright light was blinding. Danny squinted. The last thing he remembered was getting hit by Dash. What happened? He didn't even need to look. The smell of disanfectant indicated that he was in the infirmary. The teenager sat up and realized the nurse sat in the corner chewing her pen.

She smiled, noticing he was awake. "Mr Fenton, I'm glad you're awake. You're parents are already here. They are with the principal discussing how you got those injuries."

Danny looked puzzled. "It was Dash. A dozen other kids can back me up."

"Yes, yes," she replied. "We have already spoken to them. However, what Dash did would not result in those injuries."

The door creaked open. It was the Fenton parents.

Maddie smiled. "You ready to go home?"

The nurse gave a concerned look.
"We've sorted everything out, no need to worry." Jack Fenton reassured.

Danny carefully got out of the bed and followed his parents out of the room.

***

The car ride was agonisingly awkward. They sat in silence the entire way home.

The Fenton's regretted sending their son back to school so soon. They knew he needed more time, but they made him go any way.

Danny slammed the car door behind him. He stormed into his room feeling pathetic and weak. Getting sent home the first day back? Lame.

He lay face down on his bed. How did things go so wrong? 2 weeks ago his only problems were ghosts and grades. Now he had to add his parents to that list.

Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, a breath of cold air left his lips.

He jumped off his bed, and went ghost. There wasn't any point in asking his parents of he could go out. They'd just say no. He grabbed the Fenton Thermos that was hidden under his bed.

All that he wanted things to go back to normal - well, as normal as it was. Danny hopped out of his window and flew up.

Feeling the wind in his hair again, free of gravity, felt amazing. But he couldn't enjoy it for long.

"Where is the Ghost Boy?!" Skulker was tearing up the sidewalk of Amity Park.

Why'd it have to be him, Danny mentally prepared himself for the fight as he dived down.

He planted his feet firmly on ground in front of the bulky ghost. Skulker smirked, he couldn't wait to get his revenge.

Skulker aimed his gun at Danny's head and activated it. "This time Ghost Boy, I won't miss."

Danny scanned the street. It was clear. "You just don't know when to give up, do you?"

The ghost fired, but Danny Phantom wouldn't be defeated that easily. He jumped into the air and uncapped the Fenton Thermos.

***

Unfortunately for Danny, Skulker wasn't defeated easily either. He seemed more determined than ever to capture the halfa, which made the fight even harder.

Maddie and Jack arrived shortly in their van after Danny had sucked Skulker back into the Ghost Zone.

That gave Danny time to get home and expect his injuries.

He stood in front of his full length mirror and rolled his shirt up.

There was a large purple mark in the centre of his chest. He didn't know if it was Skulker or Dash who made it. But he did know one thing, it hurt like hell.

His bedroom door was pushed up, he didn't have time to pull his shirt down.

In the reflection of the mirror, he made eye contact with his sister.

"No, Danny," she pressed her hand over her mouth in horror.

"This isn't any different from other times. I fight ghost's, I get hurt." he tried to reason, knowing what she'd say next.

She walked towards him. "You were already injured. And today with Dash, and now again with Skulker... you need to tell mom and dad."

"What good is that going to do, Jazz?! Okay, so I've had a bad week. But everything will go back to normal soon!"

Jazz tried to stay calm with her little brother. "Danny, they've seen your scars. The school - they've seen your scars. Danny Phantom can't be a secret anymore! It's not possible!"

"I-" He tried to come up with an argument, but couldn't.

He looked at his broken and damaged body in the mirror, then back at his sister.

She knew best. Not always. But on this one, she did.

Danny nodded and gulped.

It could go two ways. And Danny never wanted to find out which way it would.

***

Jack and Maddie were whispering over the kitchen table when their children entered ominously.

They had been discussing the threats the school had made if they couldn't explain Danny's injuries.

"I need to tell you two something..." he mumbled, and shifted side to side uncomfortably.

Jazz placed a comforting hand in his shoulder.

"What is it, son?" Jack cleared his throat.

"Well," he sighed and looked at them for the first time since entering. "It might beat if I show you."

Jazz stepped back and smiled.

"Okay," he balled his fist and closed his eyes. "I'm going ghost!"

A blue ring appeared round his body, and split into two as one rose up and the other one went down. It transformed his legs into a tail. His hair was now snow white, and he had glowing green eyes.

No longer Danny Fenton. But Danny Phantom.

The room was silent. Each of them waiting for the other to say something.

Jack had his face in his hand. Maddie was frozen.

Danny wanted to run, and never come back.

But Jazz shuffled next to him, grabbing his hand.

Danny looked around the room, seeking contact, begging for acceptance. He bit his tongue.

"I knew it," Jack finally shook his head. "I always knew it."

He knew it?

Maddie's head spun. "What do you mean you knew?"

"I always had a feeling," Jack lifted his head up to look at his son. "But I didn't want to believe it. It was always there."

Maddie stood up, her eyes tearing up. "So when you said you got attacked by Skulker, you were fighting him?"

Danny nodded, squeezing Jazz's hand.

Then Maddie looked towards Jazz. "And you, you knew?"

She nodded.

Maddie stumbled her children. Water dripping from her eyes. Her arms wide open. She grabbed them both, pulling them into a hug. She felt so guilty, that he never felt he could tell her. She regretted everything she ever said about the Ghost Boy. About her son.

"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I'm so sorry."

Jack, as strong as ever, stood up to and moved towards his family. He wrapped his meaty arms around his wife, and closed his eyes.

Danny smiled, tearing up a little bit himself.

It was finally out. There was no going back.