[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place in 1995, and involves Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, and Richard Elfman. However you will not be seeing Rachael Rowan, simply as I've NO damn clue when Richard met her (But it certainly wasn't 1995 anyways). As for Caroline Thompson I don't care if Danny was seeing her at the time or if he wasn't, she's not making her way into MY fic! Also there was one seen with Danny's father but I cut it, rememering his most unfortunate death earlier this year. Anyways, enjoy.]
"Why can't you ever turn up the heat in this damn lab of yours?" Tim Burton whined as he rubbed his arms.
"Simple, Timothy old boy," Danny laughed. "To get on your last nerve."
"You want this job or not?"
"Not really, no, but I'm gonna do it anyways." He took a seat in his favourite leather chair, indicating for his collaborator to sit opposite him. "Please, make yourself comfortable and I'll play for you what I've done." He cracked his knuckles as he turned a few dials. "The Mars Attacks thing has really been amusing me I must say. It's nice to get to work with you again after all that time."
"Indeed," came the reply. "Howard Shore was nice enough, and Randy Newman was great but....Ed Wood lacked that certain musical quality. Know what I mean?"
"Exactly, yes. Here it comes."
Tim reclined in the chair as Danny hit the play button the beginnings of the main theme coming across the main speakers. He nodded his head in time to the rhythm, closing his eyes as he pictured the film in his head...
"So, what do you think?" came the question a moment later when the piece had ended. "I've worked out the things you wanted fixed, I think it sounds pretty good..."
"Splendid, Danny, just as I envisioned it. Perfect job as usual, I can actually see the spaceships. We'll set Steve Bartek to work orchestrating it now, then finish this off." He stretched. "Well I'm glad that's over with then. You and Rick still heading out to supper with myself and Lisa Marie?"
"Of course, Rick's looking forward to it. He'll be arriving within the half hour."
"Superb, so will Lisa."
A nod as Danny scractched his goatee. "Where is she today?"
"Shopping with a girlfriend apparantly. How thrilling."
"The freestyle sport of women everywhere." Laughter.
"Oh, indeed," Tim chuckled. "Hey Dan, you mind if I use your bathroom?"
"No problem."
"Great, be right back." He disapeered, leaving the composer alone in the downstairs composing lab. He just sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes. He had this much of the work done, but now lay the dreadful task of actually setting it in front of the orchestra; a task which would take at least a week in itself to finish.
He replaced his eyewear, looking around the room. The many knick-knacks he'd gathered over the years, pictures of his daughters, his parents, Richard, his girlfriend....things to keep him going through this hell he called his Job. Bits of encouragement. He smiled as he picked up a picture of Mali and Lola, his heart bursting with pride. His little girls, both growing up. Twelve year old Mali and seventeen year old Lola stood in front of their sprawling Los Angeles manison, hugging each other and grinning as Dad snapped a photo. Both were wonderful girls, never could he wish for any better. And the fact that Lola was adopted had never changed how much he cared for her. He'd never had taken her in had he not intended to love her with all his heart, which was one thing he would always do.
He yawned now, sitting back in the chair and closing his eyes. If only he didn't have to go out tonight, if only he hadn't made plans with Tim...he'd sit at home nice and comfortable, take a nap, avoid any and all forms of society. But alas he had his commitments, and he couldn't back his way out now....
He was just thinking about getting up when he heard the creak of one of the basement windows. He just shrugged to himself--just the wind. Odd though, it had been quite lovely earlier. A nice mid-August day. But no bother.
He made a face when he heard the creak of a floorboard. "No need to try and scare me, Tim," he said. "I can hear you." Nothing. "Don't worry about it, have fun with whatever you're up to. Just don't break my equipment or it's coming out of your pocket." More silence. He didn't say anything else though, just sat there in his comfort.
"Fuck, I'd better get up outta this," he muttered. "Alright, hold on Tim. Lisa's gonna be here any second anyways." Opening his eyes he blinked a couple of times, rubbing his lids wearily as he stood up.
And that was the last thing he remembered before the pain in the back of his head sent him crashing to the floor....
Upstairs the doorbell screamed, just as Tim was stepping out of the bathroom. Turning on the fan to cover up his foul deed he headed to answer it, Rick and Lisa Marie standing out there.
She smiled when she saw him, sharing a kiss with Tim. "Hey there," she said. "Danny ready?"
"Dunno, he's downstairs."
"Ah, hibernatig once more, huh?" Laughed Rick. "Typical of him to hide from his big bro. DAN, WE'RE HERE!" No reply. "He'll come up soon I'm sure, or else we get to take the liberty of beating him severely."
Lisa Marie giggled. "I don';t know, I think Tim would enjoy that too much."
A frown. "Ha ha."
She just stepped past him and into the kitchen, opening a cupbaord and pulling down a glass. "Well, I'm gonna get a drink while we're waiting." She grabbed the jug of milk from the fridge, pouring some out and downing it quickly. "Hope he doesn't mind."
"Too late now," Rick laughed. "Dan finish that Mars Attacks thing, Tim?"
"Yeah, the main title is all fixed up, and it sounds absolutely great."
Yeah?" A nod. "Can't wait to see it in theatres, Danny's been raving about it." He checked his watch. "Damn that kid. COME ON DANNY!!! I don't think he can here us, let's go get him."
"Sounds good." They headed down to the basement together, Tim leading the way down the narrow steps. "Dan, ya coming? Hey, man...." He stopped short at the bottom step.
"What is it, Timmy?" Lisa asked carefully as she laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn't reply, just moved aside so she could see. The both of them gazed on in shock and horror.
The chair Danny had been in was now on the floor, a puddle of blood staining the floorboards. One of the windows were open, the wind sending some papers whirling about the room.
"Oh my God," Lisa whispered. "This has got to be one of his sick jokes, it's gotta be."
"No, it isn't," Richard replied. "I grew up with him, this isn't style, he wouldn't try and pull this. He's only into harmful little games, not anything like this."
Tim just took Lisa's hand, staring at the blood. "C'mon, we've gotta call the cops."
The first thing Danny felt when he regained consiousness was pain--a throbbing ache in the back of his skull, like a jackhammer drilling into his brain. He let out a groan as he tried to open his eyelids, blinking past the dried blood. His arms felt like he couldn't control them, as well as his legs. And as his eyes adjusted, he saw why that was--he was tied between two large pillars, his wrists and ankles cuffed and attsched to large chains. He wore only his boxers, black silk ones he'd gotten during Chanukah last year.
As the humility of this sank into him he began to wonder exactly where the hell he was. This entire setting looked very familar, it felt like he'd been here before somehow. That water fountain, those houses, this very building itself--it all seemed so recognizable.
And then with the weight of a thousands bricks it hit him---Halloween Town. But that was impossible!
....Wasn't it?
That was just a figment of Tim's imagination, something he'd created some 13 years ago. It couldn't be real! Yet it seemed that it was, indeed he was in a place that looked a hell of a lot like it. Could it be someone's idea of a sick jopke? To create this rich and elaborate set in order to fool him? No, impossible again. He was definately in the outdoors, and sure as hell wasn't a set of any kind. Everything extended for miles, He could even see the spiral hill in the distance. "Ooooh, God," he moaned desperately. "Please don't tell me...."
"Don't tell you what?" came a voice. "That you've been kidnapped and dragged to Halloween Town? Or that you're encountering the last thing in the world you expected to be real?"
"Both of the above," he replied. "Who are you, I want to see you."
"Why, don't you remember me?" came the saddened reply. He looked down from his perch to see exactly what he had feared.
"Jack," he whispered. "Jack Skellington. But no, that's impossible."
There stood the fabled skeleton before him, same black pinstreipped suit and all. Two werewolf guards stood beside him, decked out in heavy armour. "No, it isn't," he replied now. "I am indeed reality, and this is truly happening." A sigh. "I suppose that damn film is what's confusing you...well, let's put it simply. One year Tim Burton happened to encounter the King of Halloween and, well, he eventually found his way to Town. He got a few ideas after that, blah blah, blah, and out came that goddamn movie."
"So....you're real?"
"What do you think?" came the reply. "Of course I am!" He just laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, please excuse me Mr. Elfman, I'm sounding quite rude. I should get on to the meaning of this."
"I should say!" came the reply. "I insist upon knowing who did this to me and why I am here!"
"Within good time," he answered. "Well first off, the persons responsbile for bringing you here are Lock, Shock, and Barrel. As always, they were only too eager to do a favour for me. And, I might add, they did a fantastic job of getting you here. They even shackled you up here outside of Town Hall, a nice little touch. I hope your head doesn't hurt too much though, we gave you some medicine for it."
A groan. "I'll live."
"Great. Anyways, as for my reason for wanting to see you, I required a bit of a....favour out of you, Mr. Elfman."
"Which would be?"
He began to pace. "Well you see, currently the local theartre group is attempting to put off a play, specially adapted from a human story to be one of the scariest horrors ever put off in town history. However, we wanted a special touch to it...a special musical touch." A faint glimmer in his eyes. "Which is where you come in. I want you to provide that touch."
Danny glared at the Pumpkin King. "Then you didn't damn well have to kidnap me and all of that! You could have at least contacted my agent..."
"But don't you see, you'd never have been interested in our production. I very much doubt you have dealt with anything of its...proportions...in the past."
"Oh really? Try me."
He grinned. "It's the story of a happy family of bunny rabbits, my dear man, who live in a peaceful little home together. One of the little bunnies is quite the troublemaker and, sooner then later, gets into some trouble in a cabbage patch. I like to call it..." He paused for dramatic emphasis. "The Tales of Beatrix Potter!"
"NOOOOO!!!!!!" Danny hollered as his eyes flashed wide open with fear. "You wouldn't!"
"I would! This shall be the master of all horror productions, our audiences will be petrified for months! And it is YOU, Daniel Robert Elfman, who will give my goal it's final touch!"
"I won't!" he yelled. "You can't make me! No, I won't allow myself to be forced into this, there's no way you can blackmail me into such a deed!"
"Oh come now," Jack pouted. "How can you say such a thing?"
"I wouldn't mind if was a spinoff of Silence of the Lambs or something. That would actually be quite enjoyable. ANYTHING except Beatrix Potter though! Hell, I'll take R.L.Stein, just not her!"
The King of Halloween was mightily displeased, crossing his arms. "Are you saying you won't do this?" No reply. "You're flat out refusing to, when quite possibly your very life is on the line here!" A laugh. "Fine then, let it be that way! You will be sorry, Danny Elfman, mark my words. When it is all said and done, I will be the last one laughing!" With that he snapped his fingers, indicating for the werewolf guards to take action. Immediately they advanced on Danny, unshackling him and dragging him inside the building. He kicked and squirmed but their fingers held tight, Jack hurrying ahead of them and pulling open a cast iron door on the stage. "This will be your new home for a little while, sir, until you can learn a lesson or two." The guards pushed him inside the cold, dark room, shackling him up once more. "Perhaps then, you'll come around to my way of thinking."
And so, the days passed. Danny was left in the chamber night and day, with no permission whatsoever to visit the world outside. Jack visited from time top time to see if his standpoint had changed any, but of course, it hadn't. Each time he was denied he flew into a rage, having the guards torture him in hopes that his prisoner would bend. But to no avail--Danny would not bend to their will.
This went on for a long time, this continuous process. Every two or three days a glass of water was shoved at him, plus some bread. And as he grew weak he knew he would most likely die here. He'd never see his daughters again, his brother, his parents....he would be left to roam this hell hole for all of eternity.
But so be it, he thought.
He would not reduce himself to the level they expected of him, even if it meant his own life.
"So you're telling me you've still got nothing," Richard demanded of the officer. He stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed as he stared at her. "You're supposed to be the LAPD, but you can't even tell me who took my brother. For Christ's sake we're talking about Danny Elfman here, the composer, shouldn't that at least boost what you can do for us? Cops always give celebritys more important status!"
"Sir," the woman started gently, "I'm afriad we are doing all we can at this point but the evidence we have gathered thus far is not sufficent enough to get us a suspect, let alone an arrest. And as for celebrity status, I've never even heard of him before."
A frown. "Of course. Thank you, ma'am."
She just nodded, hurrying back downstiars to the scene of the crime. It had been nearly three weeks since the disapearance, but he still had faith that his brother was alive somewhere. That they'd get a ransom note, a clue anything that would help them.
Tim came into the room at that point, looking more frazzled then usual. "This is all so...so horrible," he sighed as he shook his head. Warner Brothers has postponed the release of Mars Attacks in hope that Danny will turn up, but they're losing confidence...."
"But we can't let that happen," Rick simply said. "No way in hell."
"Lisa's very distraught, she never imagined that anything like this would happen. But I guess we've all got to come to terms with it."
"Sooner or later...." sighed the lone Elfman.
Suddenly the front door was flung open, Lola dashing into the room. "Uncle Rick, Tim, you have to come," she breathed. "Mali's gone too!"
"You know Jack, you ought to feed him something more then a bit of bread," Sally said one evening at dinner.
He gave her a look. "Huh?"
"Mr. Elfman, you ought to feed him more."
"I know what you meant, but....why?"
She shrugged, putting down her fork and dabbing at her mouth with her napkin. "Well the way I see it, he obviously can't compose for you if he hasdn't the strength to hold the pencil now, can he? Think about it."
He did, frowning slightly. "Dammit, you're right," he frowned. "No fair." A sigh. "Well, you do it then, since it was your idea."
She just smiled. "Whatever you think, Jack dearest."
"Come to ridicule me some more?" Danny asked when he heard the cast-iron door open. "You'll never win Jack, I've told you that before. I won't stand for your sick ideas." A shrug. "Besides....I don't much want to compose anymore..."
"It's not Jack," came the voice then. "It's his wife."
He immediately looked up, startled. "Oh, Sally, hello there. I....I never knew it was you!"
A smile. "Don't worry." She held up a plate of food, chick and rice. "Special meal, just for you."
He was now genuinely confused. "Real food? But...why? How?"
"Let's just say, I was too smart for him," came the giggle. "You know I love him, but he's a bit of a blockhead."
"You're telling me," he muttered. "Well Sally....thank you very much." He then nodded towards the shackles. "Unfortunately though...."
"Don't worry about it, I've got a key." She pulled it out, undoing the heavy metal bracelets. As they came off Danny let out a groan, rubbing his wrists as he collapsed to the ground. "Oh God, it feels good to be free," he sighed. "My arms, I can scarce move them they've been out of use so long...."
"Do you want some help eating?"
"If you wouldn't mind, yes...."
She just smiled, sitting on the floor in front of him. The dinner plate she kept in her lap, cutting off some of the chicken. This she fed to the composer, chuckling as he closed his eyes. It felt so good to be eating real food again, something so delicious.
He smiled as he rubbed his mouth. "It's good."
"Thanks. I don't usually cook human food, but I tried."
"And it's perfect!" he laughed. "Simply great!"
This went on until the food was all gone, she feeding him as they chatted. He spoke of his daughters, his job, his home, all sorts of things. And she listened, putting in her input where she felt neccessary.
"...That was great," he said when it was good. "Actually I could have fed myself long ago, I just a kick out of you doing it."
She laughed. "Oh, go figure." She lost her smile. "But you know, I have to put the shackl;es back on you...."
A sigh. "Yes, I know...I wish I didn't have to, but what else can I do? I'd love to go home but... whatever. That's all you can do." He stood up, walking around a bit. "I'd love to go running right now, just a long jog through the country. But that's not much of an option." Without another word then he headed over to the chains, stetching out his arms for to be imprisoned. Shaking her head Sally rose, pulling out the keys. His left arm she affixed back in the chains, making sure they were nice and tight. Then she stopped, looking at his face.
"It's quite a shame," she said. "That Jack has to act this way, that is. He's always had a horrible habit of going about getting what he wants, you know. I remember one Christmas, he created such a horrible mess of things. That actually wasn't too long ago. But goodness, what a fuss that was. And now, this," A sad shake of her skull. "I'm sorry, Danny."
"Isn't your fault," he said silently. "I don't blame you at all."
She didn't reply, just stood there for a second looking at him. Then she leaned in, kissing him softly. At first he was a bit surprised yet he relaxed into it, wrapping his free arm around her waist as they remained locked here.
He was wide eyed when they separated, gazing at her with wonder. "Sally....what about Jack?"
"What's a kiss?" she shrugged. "Good luck, Danny, I know you'll pull through this. Sooner or later, Jack will break." She finished shackling him, then patted his head. "Keep your hopes up." She turned around then, stepping out of the room and bolting the door behind her.
Danny didn't say anything at first, then smiled. "I will, Sally," he said at last. "I'll try my damn hardest."
"This is weird," Lola said as she shook her head. "Uncle Rick, why would anyone want my dad, my sister?"
"Sick bastards with no lives, that's who," he frowned. They were in his apartment eating supper, one of his gorurmet meals. Neither were much in the modd for eating though, and were mainly shoving their food around their plates.
"I heard one of the investigators say they were thinking of pronouncing them both dead," she said. "They want to quit on them, as if there were no hope!"
"Well dear, that's not going to happen," he reassured her. "We're oing to keep working on this, I promise you."
"It's so weird how it happened with Mali though," she replied. "We were just over to grandma and grandpa's. I went with nan and pop downtown and when we got back, there was a pool of blood just like there was with dad." A shudder. "I wish I knew what was going on."
Rick just rose, dumping his dinner into the garbage. "I wish I did too, Lola. But I fear that I'm starting to give up hope as well."
"Ah, Monsieur Elfman!" Jack laughed wickledly when he visited later on in the week. "I've got a very pleasant treat for you today, I think you'll be most surprised."
"And what would that be, an extra beating?" he snarled. "Thanks, I can't wait."
"Tsk-tsk, my good man. You ought to be grateful." The guards came to unchain him, each of them holding an arm firmly. "You're going to have to follow me in order to see it, it's just outside Town Hall." A little motion with his finger. "This way please." He didn't want to go but really he had no choice, as the hulking guards at his sides were dragging him along for the ride.
The King stopped when he reached the main doors, turning to look at his prisoner. "Better prepare yourself," he smiled. "You might get a bit of a surprise." Then he opened the door, only to reveal a sight that drove a stake throguh Elfman's heart.
There, tied to the poles as he had been, was Mali, her back to him. He could hear her sobs, the pitiful cries of those in agony. "Mali," he said then. "Mali, my daughter..."
Immediately her crying stopped. "Dad," she whispered. "Dad, where are you? I want to see you..." Jack just made a motion to the guards, who went to get her down. Immediately they did, setting her in front off Danny.
A moan went up his mouth as he looked at her. Her clothes were nothing but tatters, her wrists and ankles sore from the chains. Without another moment of hesitation now he gave her a hug, tearsd rolling down his own face. "Oh my little girl, what have they done to you?" he asked. "Oh, Jack, that horrible evil man...."
"Dad, you've lost so much weight," she gasped. "You nothing but skin and bones!"
"Oh, that hardly matters," he said as he pulled back a little. "How long have you been here, how did they..."
"Around a week or so maybe, I don't know. Lost track of time. All I know is they got me over the head, and hard."
"Yeah, same here. Lock, Shock, and Barrel."
They were interrupted then as the guards pulled them apart, holding them back. Mali let out a cry as she tried to free herself, but in vain.
"Let her go, Jack!" Danny demanded. "You hasve no reason to hold her captive like this!"
"Maybe not, but it's a good way to blackmail you." He grinned. "Now here's the deal. You do for me what I asked, and I let her go free. You don't...." The guard who held her pulled out a knife, holding it to her throat. "...then I shall have to gt rid of her." She let out a frightened cry, shutting her eyes tight at the sight of the weapon.
"You can't do this, Jack," he hissed. "You can't!"
"I can and I will," he replied heatedly. "Now decide!"
He flinched when he heard his daughter scream in terror. "FINE, fine, I'll do it. I'll do whatever you say, now please, let her go. I bed of you!"
Jack laughed, snapping his fingers. Immediately, Mali was release. "Very good Danny," he said. "I'm pleased to hear that you've come around to the logical path of reasoning. I promise you, Mali will be taken home immediately." He looked at the girl. "Don't worry, Danny will be home in two weeks tops."
"TWO WEEKS?" he yelled. "To do something like THIS?"
A shrug. "You could have had longer, but you had to go ahead and be so fussy about it. Now, say good-bye. you've got a lot of work to do."
He just sighed. "See ya Mali," he said. "Tell everyone I'm alright, and that I'm coming home."
"Alright dad," she sniffed as she blew him a kiss. "Love ya."
Danny just smiled. "Love you too, dear. Never forget that."
***************************************
TWO WEEKS LATER
***************************************
When Rick found Danny he was in his composing lab, pounding out a strangely merry tune on his favourite keyboard. and evil laugh escpaed him as he did so, hunched over the keys and grinning. "Listen to it, Rick!" he declared when he heard his footsteps. "My masterpiece! Beatrix Potter! HAHAHAHAHA! You hav to hear it, you have to listen..."
"Dan, where the hell have you BEEN?" Rick cried. "First Mali reappears, now this? What the hell happened, she wouldn't say anything other then you'd be okay..."
"And I am, Rick," he said quietly. "I'm simply perfect, can't you see? I wrote somethng new, something wonderful, and isn't it perfect?" A wicked giggle. "I must write more Beatrix Potter! I simply must!"
A strange look. "Beatrix Potter? What the hell are ya talking bout, kid?"
"Perfect," was all he said. "Simply perfect....perfect..."
Rick just backed up, reaching for the ohone. "I'll bet you are, bro," he said. "How about I call the doctor now, huh? Make you even more perfect?"
"Yes, Richard dear," came the heppy reply. "That sounds most enjoyable. Will they have Beatrix Potter there?"
"Of course they will, now just hold tight."
Tim shook his head as the ambulance took off, his arm around Lisa Marie's shoulder. "So what do you think happened?"
"I don't know," Rick said. "And Mali won't say. In fact she won't talk to anyone, she just stays hid up in her bedroom all the time. Didn't even want to come out when she heard Danny was back."
Lola shook her head. "I do hope dad gets better, it's horrible seeing him like this. Whatever went on while he was gone, it must have been pretty awful."
"Too true," Tim replied. "The hospital will fix him up though hopefully. Then he'll be better then ever before."
"Hopefully," muttered Rick. "But you know, he kept going on about Beatrix Potter when I first found him, and he was playing some new melody of his. It wass so weird...."
"Huh? Potter?" Lisa piped. "That reminds me of something I founds in Danny's mail. I checked it for him earlier today before he came back...." She riffled through her purse for a moment before pulling it out and handing it to Lola. "Ah, here we go. Take a look."
"The Halloween Players present Peter Rabbit, A Tale by Beatrix Potter," Danny's eldest child read aloud. "Playing at Town Hall nightly, 9:00 PM, tickets 5 dollars. Music by...." She paused.
"What? By who?" asked Tim, who couldn't see the paper from his angle.
She looked up, a look of pure shock and confusion on her face. "Danny," she said. "Danny Elfman."
