"Hey, Janine", Denise said as she arrived to the firehouse. "Is Ray here?"
"No, he and the boys are doing another job", Janine said with her usual bored tone.
"When did they leave?" she asked.
"A few hours ago."
"They're always so busy nowadays. I wonder what's going on. Where are all these ghosts coming from?"
"Uh, hello?"
Both women turned to see a man coming through the door holding the newspaper ads.
"Can we help you?" Janine asked.
"I'm here about the help wanted ad", he said. "My name is Winston Zeddemore."
"You think you're qualified for this job?" she asked.
"What are the qualifications?" Denise asked curiously.
She had never had about qualifications to be a ghostbuster. She was curious to know what someone needed to be one.
"Do you believe in UFOs, astral projection, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trans-mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?" Janine asked all in one breath.
"If there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say", Winston answered.
"What, that's it?" Denise asked. "That's all it takes to be a ghostbuster? Sounds like comic book geeks have a huge chance at getting a job like this."
She got up feeling very disappointed. She turned as the door opened with Ray and Peter walking in.
"Boy, I got to get some sleep", Ray said. "I'm dying."
"You don't look good", Peter added.
"I don't?"
"You've looked better. You didn't used to look like this."
"Hey, Ray", Denise said.
"Denise?" Ray said. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you", she answered. "Wow, Peter was right. You don't look too hot right now."
"You think so?" he asked.
"When was the last time you got any sleep?"
"I don't remember."
"Here's the paper for the woman out in Brooklyn", Peter said giving the paperwork to Janine. "She paid with visa."
"Here's tonight worksheet", Janine said giving Ray a paper with addresses.
"Oh great!" he said frustrated. "Two more free repeaters."
"This is Winston Zeddemore. He's here about the job."
"Beautiful, you're hired", Ray said tired. "Ray Stantz, Pete Venkman. Congratulations. Can you help me, please?"
He smiled as he gave Winston a couple of smoking traps.
"Welcome aboard!"
Ray led Winston to the basement with Denise following them.
"After you show Winston around, you should get some sleep", she said.
"I know", Ray said. "I need it."
"Want me to tuck you in and read you a story?" she giggled.
He softly chuckled.
"I will if you want me to", Denise said.
Ray smiled. Denise had this motherly charm to her. Must be a woman thing. She would make someone a fine wife someday. Maybe even his wife…if she would have him. He would need to wait until the time was right. Ray and Denise had known each other for almost a month. He was still very shy around her.
"This is where we put all the vapors and entities and slimers that we trap", Ray said showing Winston the basement. "Quite simple, really. Load a trap here, open, unlock the system. Insert the trap, release, close, lock the system. Set your entry grid, neutralize your field and the light is green, the trap is clean. The ghost is incarcerated here in a custom-made storage facility."
"How do you remember all this?" Denise asked. "It sounds more complicated than it looks."
"You get used to it after a while", he answered.
"Alright. Let's get you to bed, mister. You had enough catching ghosts for one day."
She took his hand and pulled him upstairs to the bedroom. Denise turned him away allowing him to get out of his grey suit and get into bed. Ray pulled the blankets up to his waist hiding everything from her. Denise smiled as she turned and sat next to him.
"Sleep well, Ray."
She kissed his forehead then kissed his lips. Ray had no control as he immediately responded and kissed her back. Neither of them expected this, but it felt…nice. True, Ray was tired, but somehow this felt right. Denise brought her hand to the back of his head kissing him a little deeper.
"Ray…you need…to go…to sleep", she said in between kisses.
Ray pulled away as he yawned. Denise smile as she pulled the blanket up to his chin and tucked him in. she gave him one more kiss on his forehead.
"Bye, Ray", she said as she left.
