"Dr. Newton, there are some gentlemen here to see you." Dr. Newton looked
up from his work at a young man wearing a lab coat. "Actually, they're
looking for Miss Dani, but since she isn't here I figured you would like to
talk to them."
"Where are they?"
"Out in the hallway."
"Thank you, Barney. Do me a favor and call security, but tell them not to come for at least five minutes."
"Sure thing, Dr. Newton." The young man walked away and Dr. Newton went out into the hallway finding the four Ghostbusters waiting.
"Dr. Newton, we need to talk to Dani," Ray said.
"No, Dr. Stantz, I believe you don't," Dr. Newton responded. "She is to have no contact with you and your friends. I believe you will be a horrible influence on her."
"Influence?" Peter replied. "We're not here to bully her. We just want to talk to her and ask a few questions."
"Purely scientific," Egon interjected. Dani's father turned to the blonde scientist.
"Dr. Spengler, I've talked to Cyrus Spengler in Ohio," Dr. Newton said. "He said you were a brilliant scientist and you decided to waste your time with catching ghosts that do not exist."
"They do exist," Winston jumped in. "I didn't believe it either until I saw it."
"Dr. Newton, we aren't here to convince you that ghosts exist," Dr. Stantz said. "We need to talk to Dani. What happened to her yesterday has possibly caused her to obtain abilities that could provide extremely useful information in the world of the occult and parapsychology."
"Occult? Parapsychology?" Dr. Newton repeated. "I don't need my daughter listening to all of that bunk."
"Dr. Newton, there's also the possibility Dani could be in danger," Egon added. "We need to run a few tests."
"No. The only danger here is you four. My daughter is a very fragile person who doesn't need you all to come in here and destroy everything she knows, " Dr. Newton replied. He saw four security guards coming up behind the men. "I believe it is now time for you all to leave. If you even try to come here again I will make sure you all are thrown in jail. If you talk to my daughter again I will make sure you are thrown in jail."
"Basically, you just want us thrown in jail," Dr. Venkman said.
"Quite correct. And I will take any chance I can get." The security guards each took a Ghostbuster and led them out of the building. They got into Ecto-1 and headed back towards the headquarters.
"Well, he was a nice guy," Winston commented.
"I wonder where Dani is," Ray said. "It was kinda of odd. Especially the way Dr. Newton was talking. Something just isn't right."
"Don't worry. She's a big girl, Ray. She probably went out to have some fun. I'd have to if my dad was like that," Dr. Venkman replied. "Of course, I can't really speak personally. Egon, you had an overbearing dad. What did you do?" Dr. Spengler gave his friend a look. "Oh, yeah. You weren't a normal child."
"Would you like to define normal, Peter?" Egon inquired. Ray chuckled as he saw Peter's reaction in the rear view mirror. The phone in the Ecto-1 rang and Winston picked it up.
"What's up, Janine?" Winston asked into the phone. "The hospital?"
"Is Janine hurt?" Egon quickly asked. Winston waved a hand at him signaling for him to keep quiet.
"Alright, we're on our way," Winston told her. He hung up. "Ray, we're going to Saint Vincent's."
"Why?" Dr. Stantz inquired.
"Dani," Zeddemore simply answered.
*****
"You must be the Ghostbusters." Ray, Peter, Egon, and Winston looked at the middle aged woman with her hair pulled back. She wore a lab coat with a stethoscope around her neck. "I'm Dr. Maria Foster. I admitted Dani Pearson."
"Pearson?" Ray repeated. "Her father's last name is Newton."
"Dr. Newton is not her real father. He's her foster father," the doctor informed them. "I've seen Dani come in and out of this hospital more times than I want to count. She's either a very clumsy young woman or it could be something else."
"Why did you call us?" Egon inquired.
"I asked her if she had anyone else I could call besides Dr. Newton. I really don't trust that man," Dr. Foster replied. "She handed me the Ghostbusters card."
"Dr. Foster, are you saying she's been abused?" Peter asked.
"I'm not saying that, but I believe it is actually a good possibility," Dr. Foster responded. "I ask her, but she never answers. Newton tells me she just falls or runs into something. I've watched her come in here since she was six and she's twenty-three now. I think there's definitely something going on, but I can't do much. If Dani doesn't say anything than there's nothing anyone can do."
"That's not right," Ray said. "Nobody should hit other people."
"Perhaps you should tell her that," Dr. Foster suggested. "I realize this isn't your area, but Dani must seem to trust you on some level to ask me to call."
"Yeah, that's Ray for you," Winston interjected. "He could make friends with a Terror Dog if given half a chance." Dr. Stantz looked at his friends.
"Go, Ray," Egon told him. "Dani seems to be in need of a friend."
"Yeah, but what do I say? I don't what to say. I'm not a psychologist."
"You don't need to be a psychologist to give a person some help," Dr. Venkman informed his friend. "Just talk to her. See what's going on. Give her a friend she can trust."
"Okay," Ray said. "You guys will help, right?"
"Absolutely," Egon answered.
"Come this way," Dr. Foster said. She led the men down the hall to the elevators. They got off on the third level and went to Room 315. "One at a time. Ray, you come in with me first." Dr. Stantz followed the lady doctor inside the hospital room. Dani looked toward the two as they came in. Ray saw that her left eye was almost completely swollen shut and her right arm was in a sling. He wasn't sure about any other injuries the young woman had. "Dani, I believe you remember Ray."
"Yeah," she replied quietly. "He saved me from the ghost."
"Than you saved me from the truck," Dr. Stantz responded.
"I'll be outside," Dr. Foster said. "Give you two some privacy." The two young people watched the woman leave the room. Soon nothing was making any noise except for the few monitors Dani was hooked up to.
"So, how are you doing?" Ray asked.
"Okay," Dani answered.
"Dr. Foster was telling the guys and me about Dr. Newton. He isn't your real father?" Dani shook her head slowly.
"No, my parents died when I was younger," Dani said. "I was only five and I don't remember them much. I know I was happy though. Really happy."
"I know how that feels."
"Newton became my guardian because my parents had made him that in their wills. I never understood why they had made wills when they were so young. They were barely forty. Their death is still a mystery. I keep trying to look into it, but I run into so many damn obstacles like I'm not supposed to know."
"What happened?" Ray asked.
"I don't know. That's what I just said."
"No. To you, Dani."
"I fell down some stairs," Dani lied.
"Dr. Foster thinks it's something else. You seem to come in here a lot according to her." Dani looked away.
"I'm clumsy. So sue me."
"I am too, but don't think I've landed in the hospital as many times as you have." Dani turned back to him and he could see tears streaming down here face.
"He hurts me!" She shouted. "You happy now! He hurts me!"
"Dani, I'm sorry," Dr. Stantz apologized. "I want to help you."
"Forget it. Just leave. I'll deal with it by myself."
"No. You need some help. I can help you, Dani. Egon, Peter, and Winston can help too. All you need to do is ask."
"Why would you want to help someone you barely now?"
"Because you evidently want it or you would have never asked Dr. Foster to call us. That says a lot right there, Dani. Peter's a psychologist so I would now. " She looked into his brown eyes and saw all the concern he felt for her despite the fact they barely knew each other. Deep down she felt she could trust him because he was kinda like her.
"Alright," she whispered. "I need help, Dr. Stantz."
"Call me Ray."
"Ray."
"Where are they?"
"Out in the hallway."
"Thank you, Barney. Do me a favor and call security, but tell them not to come for at least five minutes."
"Sure thing, Dr. Newton." The young man walked away and Dr. Newton went out into the hallway finding the four Ghostbusters waiting.
"Dr. Newton, we need to talk to Dani," Ray said.
"No, Dr. Stantz, I believe you don't," Dr. Newton responded. "She is to have no contact with you and your friends. I believe you will be a horrible influence on her."
"Influence?" Peter replied. "We're not here to bully her. We just want to talk to her and ask a few questions."
"Purely scientific," Egon interjected. Dani's father turned to the blonde scientist.
"Dr. Spengler, I've talked to Cyrus Spengler in Ohio," Dr. Newton said. "He said you were a brilliant scientist and you decided to waste your time with catching ghosts that do not exist."
"They do exist," Winston jumped in. "I didn't believe it either until I saw it."
"Dr. Newton, we aren't here to convince you that ghosts exist," Dr. Stantz said. "We need to talk to Dani. What happened to her yesterday has possibly caused her to obtain abilities that could provide extremely useful information in the world of the occult and parapsychology."
"Occult? Parapsychology?" Dr. Newton repeated. "I don't need my daughter listening to all of that bunk."
"Dr. Newton, there's also the possibility Dani could be in danger," Egon added. "We need to run a few tests."
"No. The only danger here is you four. My daughter is a very fragile person who doesn't need you all to come in here and destroy everything she knows, " Dr. Newton replied. He saw four security guards coming up behind the men. "I believe it is now time for you all to leave. If you even try to come here again I will make sure you all are thrown in jail. If you talk to my daughter again I will make sure you are thrown in jail."
"Basically, you just want us thrown in jail," Dr. Venkman said.
"Quite correct. And I will take any chance I can get." The security guards each took a Ghostbuster and led them out of the building. They got into Ecto-1 and headed back towards the headquarters.
"Well, he was a nice guy," Winston commented.
"I wonder where Dani is," Ray said. "It was kinda of odd. Especially the way Dr. Newton was talking. Something just isn't right."
"Don't worry. She's a big girl, Ray. She probably went out to have some fun. I'd have to if my dad was like that," Dr. Venkman replied. "Of course, I can't really speak personally. Egon, you had an overbearing dad. What did you do?" Dr. Spengler gave his friend a look. "Oh, yeah. You weren't a normal child."
"Would you like to define normal, Peter?" Egon inquired. Ray chuckled as he saw Peter's reaction in the rear view mirror. The phone in the Ecto-1 rang and Winston picked it up.
"What's up, Janine?" Winston asked into the phone. "The hospital?"
"Is Janine hurt?" Egon quickly asked. Winston waved a hand at him signaling for him to keep quiet.
"Alright, we're on our way," Winston told her. He hung up. "Ray, we're going to Saint Vincent's."
"Why?" Dr. Stantz inquired.
"Dani," Zeddemore simply answered.
*****
"You must be the Ghostbusters." Ray, Peter, Egon, and Winston looked at the middle aged woman with her hair pulled back. She wore a lab coat with a stethoscope around her neck. "I'm Dr. Maria Foster. I admitted Dani Pearson."
"Pearson?" Ray repeated. "Her father's last name is Newton."
"Dr. Newton is not her real father. He's her foster father," the doctor informed them. "I've seen Dani come in and out of this hospital more times than I want to count. She's either a very clumsy young woman or it could be something else."
"Why did you call us?" Egon inquired.
"I asked her if she had anyone else I could call besides Dr. Newton. I really don't trust that man," Dr. Foster replied. "She handed me the Ghostbusters card."
"Dr. Foster, are you saying she's been abused?" Peter asked.
"I'm not saying that, but I believe it is actually a good possibility," Dr. Foster responded. "I ask her, but she never answers. Newton tells me she just falls or runs into something. I've watched her come in here since she was six and she's twenty-three now. I think there's definitely something going on, but I can't do much. If Dani doesn't say anything than there's nothing anyone can do."
"That's not right," Ray said. "Nobody should hit other people."
"Perhaps you should tell her that," Dr. Foster suggested. "I realize this isn't your area, but Dani must seem to trust you on some level to ask me to call."
"Yeah, that's Ray for you," Winston interjected. "He could make friends with a Terror Dog if given half a chance." Dr. Stantz looked at his friends.
"Go, Ray," Egon told him. "Dani seems to be in need of a friend."
"Yeah, but what do I say? I don't what to say. I'm not a psychologist."
"You don't need to be a psychologist to give a person some help," Dr. Venkman informed his friend. "Just talk to her. See what's going on. Give her a friend she can trust."
"Okay," Ray said. "You guys will help, right?"
"Absolutely," Egon answered.
"Come this way," Dr. Foster said. She led the men down the hall to the elevators. They got off on the third level and went to Room 315. "One at a time. Ray, you come in with me first." Dr. Stantz followed the lady doctor inside the hospital room. Dani looked toward the two as they came in. Ray saw that her left eye was almost completely swollen shut and her right arm was in a sling. He wasn't sure about any other injuries the young woman had. "Dani, I believe you remember Ray."
"Yeah," she replied quietly. "He saved me from the ghost."
"Than you saved me from the truck," Dr. Stantz responded.
"I'll be outside," Dr. Foster said. "Give you two some privacy." The two young people watched the woman leave the room. Soon nothing was making any noise except for the few monitors Dani was hooked up to.
"So, how are you doing?" Ray asked.
"Okay," Dani answered.
"Dr. Foster was telling the guys and me about Dr. Newton. He isn't your real father?" Dani shook her head slowly.
"No, my parents died when I was younger," Dani said. "I was only five and I don't remember them much. I know I was happy though. Really happy."
"I know how that feels."
"Newton became my guardian because my parents had made him that in their wills. I never understood why they had made wills when they were so young. They were barely forty. Their death is still a mystery. I keep trying to look into it, but I run into so many damn obstacles like I'm not supposed to know."
"What happened?" Ray asked.
"I don't know. That's what I just said."
"No. To you, Dani."
"I fell down some stairs," Dani lied.
"Dr. Foster thinks it's something else. You seem to come in here a lot according to her." Dani looked away.
"I'm clumsy. So sue me."
"I am too, but don't think I've landed in the hospital as many times as you have." Dani turned back to him and he could see tears streaming down here face.
"He hurts me!" She shouted. "You happy now! He hurts me!"
"Dani, I'm sorry," Dr. Stantz apologized. "I want to help you."
"Forget it. Just leave. I'll deal with it by myself."
"No. You need some help. I can help you, Dani. Egon, Peter, and Winston can help too. All you need to do is ask."
"Why would you want to help someone you barely now?"
"Because you evidently want it or you would have never asked Dr. Foster to call us. That says a lot right there, Dani. Peter's a psychologist so I would now. " She looked into his brown eyes and saw all the concern he felt for her despite the fact they barely knew each other. Deep down she felt she could trust him because he was kinda like her.
"Alright," she whispered. "I need help, Dr. Stantz."
"Call me Ray."
"Ray."