A new lease on life

New lease on life

A Danny Phantom fan fic by Wega the blue sun

No copyright infringement is intended, the DP characters don't belong to me, only the OC's in this fic and the story itself.

Vlad goes to desperate lengths to attain his hearts desire. Story contains adult situations, mature themes and nudity. Rating will increase with further additions. This chapter contains crude language.

Ch. 5

Maddie fiddled with the radio dial until old fashioned country music filled the air. "That's about the only stuff you'll pick up, plus a gospel station. Reception is pretty lousy in the mountains", Alicia said while she accusingly jerked a thumb towards the rolling hills punctuating the horizon. "I can see why you like it here, it's beautiful" Maddie said wistfully as she scanned the vivid landscape. "Wait until you see the cabin! Prettiest place in the world and not one man in sight. Now, how about you quit stalling and start 'fessing up?" her sister replied with a grin. My thoughts exactly, Plasmius thought while impatiently tapping his fingers on the truck railing.

Maddie sighed deeply. "Nothing's really changed, Vlad is about the same, angry and at war with the whole world." "I think you should have dumped him long ago", Alicia snapped. Nobody cares what you think, bitch, Vlad fumed. Don't give her any ideas!
His anger quickly subsided when Maddie vehemently shook her head in denial. "No way! That's what everyone else did and it nearly killed him! I'm all he has now. College, his research, his friends ... all gone." "Yeah, that's tough, but it's been a while since the accident. Are you going to stick around forever waiting for him to get off his ass and get on with life?" Alicia shot her sister a quick look.

"It's not like that, Vlad isn't lazy or aimless, it's just ..." Maddie's voice drifted off and Plasmius leaned in closer to catch what she was about to say. "That accident completely shattered his perception of what his life would be like. Even though I was right there when it happened, I'm still just an outside observer." No one knows the pain of the halfa, Vlad thought with a bitter smile. Apparently his counterpart had not yet confided in Maddie, which was only understandable. After all, it took Vlad 20 years to reveal his dual nature, and then only to Maddie's son Daniel, because the boy shared his affliction and he'd hoped to turn him against his father.

"Everyone's got problems, but I guess Vlad's had more than his fair share of shit dumped on him", Alicia said. Hovering only a few inches away in the truck bed Plasmius shuddered at the mental image her words brought to his mind. But was that a hint of sympathy he detected in the woman's voice?

"I've tried to get him to open up, but that only made things worse. I've suggested moving, but he won't consider it, even though a fresh start is exactly what we, I mean he needs. It's like he's afraid to leave the house where he grew up, because it's the only safe and familiar refuge in a hostile world." Maddie continued. "I want to help him, but I just can't get through to him," she said with a sigh. Oh darling, the world is hostile! If only you'd been there for me I would have kissed the dirt under your feet in gratitude, the ghost hybrid thought while his gaze remained fixed on the young woman just a few inches away.

"Sounds like he could use professional help", Alicia said. "You should have seen him when I said that!", Maddie rolled her eyes dramatically. "He was beside himself, shouting he'd never go near a doctor or a hospital again, not that I blame him for feeling that way. Then a few weeks ago he caught me talking to Jack and he had another meltdown." "That's the guy who caused the accident?" Maddie nodded. "Jack's been trying to get in touch with Vlad to apologize, and he just doesn't understand that Vlad hates him now. Jack's a bit thick headed that way, but he's genuinely sorry about what happened. He's sorry?!, Plasmius thought angrily. And thick headed wasn't the word for Jack, how about terminally math challenged and idiotically careless instead?

"Somehow Vlad's got it into his head that I'm seeing Jack on the sly, he just about said so to my face", Maddie sighed again. "Well, are you seeing him?" Alicia asked sharply.
Plasmius held his breath. By now he was pressed flat against the rear window in his eagerness to follow the conversation. "I don't cheat!" Maddie shot a disgusted look in her sister's direction. "Come on, Jack and I were friends, but nothing more!"

"To sum it all up, your pimply boyfriend is cold towards you, ungrateful and paranoid. Now tell me again, why exactly are you still with him?" Alicia asked. Maddie simply smiled. "I love Vlad, I always have." Plasmius's heart now beat loud enough he feared the two women would pick up the sound. This Maddie loved him! No, he corrected himself, this Maddie loved the other Vlad.

"But does he love you? It's not just about his needs, but you have a right to a decent life as well, you know." Alicia said while she guided the truck ever higher up a steep dirt road. "I think Vlad still loves me, he used to. We had such great times ...And just for that I'm not yet willing to give up on him. You can understand that, right?" Maddie looked hopefully at her sister when suddenly the strains of "Stand by your man" filled the truck cab and both women exploded in a fit of laughter. "That's fitting!", Alicia chortled.

The hidden halfa in the truck bed smiled as well. It was clear now that this Maddie was just as loyal and committed to her less than ideal relationship as her counterpart in his reality. And that was quite surprising, considering what they had to work with, but then women like Maddie were tough enough to accept hardship on behalf of those they loved, he thought.

In his own reality Vlad had been forced to face the future and his fate utterly alone, always wondering how different his life could have been but for a loving presence to guide him. And yet his younger self didn't seem to gather much comfort from having such guidance in the form of sweet Maddie by his side. And come to think of the boy, it was just about time to check up on him, Plasmius considered. Maddie would be in good hands with her sister, even if the cabin that came into sight was about the size of a modest garden shed. "I built it myself!" Alicia proudly proclaimed and Vlad had a vivid image of her cutting down live oaks with her bare hands while fighting off hostile natives.

"It's wonderful! I love it!" Maddie gushed as she leapt out of the truck. "Yep, it's all mine. I'm going to add an outhouse soon and maybe later I'll dig a well, but for the time being I'm comfortable", Alicia said. And who wouldn't be, Vlad Plasmius thought as he hovered over the little cabin. Most people would jump at the chance to live in a wooden shack without power, toilet facilities and running water. He thought back to his own luxurious mountain chalet and suppressed a laugh. His idea of a mountain retreat was just a tiny bit different from Alicia's.

"We're really going to rough it for the next two weeks!" Maddie grinned and Vlad was surprised to note a complete lack of hesitation in her voice. The pioneer spirit runs strong in this family, he mused. "Wait a minute, I forgot to call home!", Maddie suddenly burst out. "There's no phone up here, just one down by the store we passed a while ago", Alicia replied. "I really did promise Vlad I'd call ..." Maddie pleaded. "Let him wait for a while, maybe it'll sweeten his disposition!" Alicia replied with a smirk. "Tell you what, let's eat first and then we'll drive back, OK? You up for some beans and jerky?"

Vlad decided this was his cue to leave. Good-bye my love, he thought, I will see you soon. There's something I have to do before you get back.