When Janine had called the team on the CB radio and told them that there was a run-in with the Guardians, they had feared the worst. But when they got back and found the Rookie outside with Abby's old proton glove and blasting some old boxes and garbage bags and Janine inside munching on a rather juicy looking hamburger, there was absolute calm.

"Janine, please tell me there is a reason– that looks really good, actually– why isn't this place mass hysteria if the GUARDIANS showed up here?" asked Peter.

"Technically it was in the street about five blocks down," said Janine. "But the kid the Abby drove them off. He said she put up a good fight."

"Abby, is she alright?" asked Ray, looking concerned.

"About as good as can be expected for someone who just got attacked for a second time," said Janine.

"We should have known the snowman was just a decoy," said Ray.

"He was a very big decoy," said Peter. "But we had to do what we had to do, Ray."

"You might want to check in on her Egon," said the secretary. "I think something must have happened. Last I checked, she was up there experimenting."

"With what?"

Janine shrugged. Egon took one look at Ray and they headed up the stairs. There was an unmistakable chill in the air as they ascended.

"It's worse than we feared," murmured Egon. "Every time they appear the progress climbs even higher." Ray grimaced.

"We've got to keep the Guardians away from her," Ray said.

"Not to sound crass, but why not let them do their job?" asked Winston. "I'm all for saving lives, but at this point, the odds are stacked against her if they keep on coming."

"That's the point, to help even the odds," said Egon. "She really needs our help." He paused on the stairs, making the rest of the group do as well. "If we don't slow down or stop the process, she will no longer be human."

"She'll be a ghost," stated Peter. "But question Ray, Egon. She's human. We've all seen it with our eyes. How will she become a ghost? Is there such a thing as a ghost-human hybrid? A living ghost?"

"Not in this universe at least," said Egon. He frowned when he realized there were still water spots on his glasses from the snow and took out a cloth from his pocket to clean them.

"But then, we're always up for new experiences."

They started back up the stairs. All four of them came to a stop when they saw Abby sitting on a stool, the proton glove, Giga and PKE meters sitting out in front of her. The scary thing was the aura of cold that surrounded her, including ice spots on the floor and the icicles hanging off the worktable.

"What the–?" said Winston. Abby looked up at the sound.

"Sorry guys," she said. "I can't control the cold. On the flip side of things, every time it gets cooler, the psychokinetic energy levels drop further. Granted it goes back up automatically, but that's a good sign, right?"

"How are you not freezing?" said Peter.

Ray went over and felt of Abby's cheek. It was ice cold. She still had a pulse as he felt of her wrist, but it was very slow.

"You're changing," he said softly. "Abby, you need to focus. Please."

"Can't," she said, shaking her head. "They touched my– my mind. Sort of like a spectral possession but they've got a hold of me."

"Abby–" said Ray, his face falling.

"Nothing we can do Ray," said Abby. "It's over." A soft sob escaped her, and tears ran down her cheeks.

"If the others ever figure out how to find me, explain to them what happened."

"No," said Winston coming over to the table. "You've got to fight this. They're not here right now to control you."

"No, but they're still in her head, which is the problem," said Peter. "Out of the way boys." He pushed Ray back to Egon.

"Keep him from being emotional, would you?" Winston nodded to Peter and helped Egon push Ray back downstairs.

"Abby, I need you to listen to me," said Peter. He got closer and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning Abby to face him. He nearly flinched when he felt how cold her skin was even through her clothes, but he held on. "They got to you, I know. The Guardians are assholes, grade A+ ones. They think they own you just because you came through their realm. But they don't own you, okay Abby? The only person who owns you is you. You've got to fight it. Forget the fact that you died. You lived. You came through the fucking barrier between the universes, not to mention the barrier between this world and the ghost realm. That is not a feat that is done easy. Or hell, hard. We, as in every damn human in all the universes, can't cheat death. But you did, you fucking beautiful person you. You showed the whole damn ghost world that they can't hold down Abby Yates, no matter how she lived or died."

Confusion was evident on Abby's face as she struggled with what he said. He could almost feel the conflicting thoughts in her head.

"That's it baby, come back to me," said Peter. "Now, close your eyes and concentrate on them. Your team. You will be going back to them. I need for you to breathe for me. In and out, Inhale in on 1, exhale on 2."

Abby started shaking her head violently. Peter knew where that was coming from. Fear. Fear of the unknown - fear of what was to come, fear of what had been left behind.

Peter put his hands to her temples to steady her head. "Abby, we are not going to let you become a Class IV, Grounded, Reactive, Corporeal, Free Roaming T5, Ultra Dimensional Spectre without putting up a damn fight."

He knew that would hit a nerve the minute he said it. Abby's eyes opened and she glared at him, her green eyes showing anger.

"So you've already got the Classification worked out for me, have you?"

"Well, we do have to document every ghost we come across," he smirked, loving when things worked out like he wanted. He let go of her shoulders and took a step backward. "And when the Guardians do take you, we need something to–"

The resulting punch to Peter Venkman's jaw sent him sprawling to the floor and sliding across the ice patches. Ray was the first one to appear as Abby was shaking her right hand. He went to help up Peter as Egon went over to Abby, inspecting her hand, a grin slowly spreading across his lips.

"Nothing seems to be broken."

"Well, something was broken," said Peter, rubbing his jaw as he opened and closed his mouth. It had been a good punch. "Look at the table." His eyes danced as he grinned. Both Ray and Egon looked at the table and noticed the icicles were gone. Ray put his hand down on the table. The metal was no longer freezing cold. Egon picked up the PKE meter and scanned Abby with it. She flinched at first, but she was still standing defiant at Peter's words.

"What the hell did you say?" Ray asked Peter, looking aghast.

"What I needed to," he said in response. "And it worked."

"I am not a Class IV anything," said Abby. Egon's eyes went to Peter.

"You didn't, did you?" When Peter didn't say anything, Ray rolled his eyes.

"Of course he did." He went over to Abby, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Welcome back."

She sighed. "I should have stayed downstairs with Janine. Then maybe it wouldn't have been quite as noisy in my head."

"That's their job. It would have happened either way," said Egon. "You up for something? I have an idea that I'd like to speak to everyone about."