DP: M. of the Spirit Gems chp3

Shortly after giving the head security officer the order to close the doors at four, Tucker found himself exiting Town Hall with his best friend. Plenty of people still walked in and out of the building, on their way to see the ghost expo.

"Everything in that room will be moved to the museum tomorrow," Tucker announced as he and Sam walked over to Sam's sports car. "I'm gonna look it over to make sure everything's safe.  Danny's mom will come and lend me a hand too, until you finish your job and head over. Most of it is just documentation about different samples and legends. There's a list of all the ghosts that have haunted Amity Park too."

"Including Danny Phantom?" Sam said with a grin.

Tucker smiled back. "Why would I forget the guy who protected us all these years?" he asked. "I think his stuff is actually more popular than anything else. Most of the questions at the conference were in reference to him and how I came across so much information about him. Luckily for me, Danny and I were great liars."

Sam laughed softly as they came to a stop next to the car. "Yeah, too well, sometimes," she replied.

Tucker shrugged in reply before looking down through the passenger window of the car.

Andy was sitting in there, drawing another picture of Danny Phantom. He waited patiently for his mother to finish business with his uncle.

"He looks so much like Danny," Tucker whispered. "The hair, the eyes, the face… it's amazing how much they resemble each other."

"Except for the fact that Danny's half ghost and Andy isn't," Sam replied. She sighed. "Thank goodness he isn't; I don't know what I'd do with a kid who's half ghost and a husband who is too."

"Does that mean you plan on marrying him when he comes back, Sam?" Tucker asked with a sly grin.

Sam looked at him and blushed. "So I just blurted something stupid out, but maybe I do," she replied. "Besides; I've already given Andy his father's last name. He likes it better than Manson, anyway."

Tucker stuck his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, so do I," he muttered.

Sam narrowed her eyes and punched him in the shoulder, making Tucker yelp and rub his arm. "Come on, Sam, you know I was kidding!" he said with a painful laugh.

Sam smiled slyly back before walking around the car and opening the driver's door.

"Considering you didn't actually drop anything off for me, I figured you just came to talk," Tucker added.

Sam winked back. "Just checking up on my best friend." Before stepping into the car, she looked up at Tucker. "Just keep trying, Tuck," she said. "We'll eventually find it. And when we do, he'll come home. And everything will be back to the way it was."

"Save the squirt in the front seat," Tucker teased, pointing at Andy. When he looked at the boy, the five-year-old stared back at him. With a grin, Tucker waved.

Andy smiled back and waved in reply.

Sam got down into the car and closed the door before starting it. The passenger's window rolled down and she leaned over her son to look at Tucker again. "I'll see you tomorrow for lunch, then?" she guessed.

Tucker smiled and saluted her in reply. "Just as scheduled," he replied.

Sam smiled back and pulled herself away. Andy waved cheerfully. "Bye, Uncle Tucker!" he said as his mother pulled away from the side of the road and drove off.

Tucker waved back and watched as the black car disappeared down the road. He sighed and stared up at the sky before looking at his watch. "Time for supper and then a bit of video games," he said, turning and walking to the parking lot where his motorized scooter was waiting.

*****