(The continuation.)
Dani took the sling off her right arm and slowly extended it. She winced at the slight pain she felt as it ran from her shoulder to her fingers.
"Dislocated shoulders suck," she muttered. The young woman took one of the pain pills Dr. Foster had given her and followed it with a sip of soda she was drinking. She jumped when Slimer came through the door of the bathroom and went right for her.
"Dani okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Slimer. I was just stretching my arm."
"It hurt?"
"I dislocated my shoulder, which hurts a ton. Of course, it was the second time so it wasn't a bad, but still hurt." Slimer nodded in the attempt to act as if he understood.
"Guys get hurt." Dani quickly looked at him.
"What? Now? Are they okay? I didn't have a vision."
"Not now. Other times. Dangerous job."
"I bet. Chasing ghosts and demons. I can only imagine."
"Dani want to be a Ghostbuster?"
"I wish," she replied let out a deep breath. "There's no way. I mean I can't really see them letting me. I don't even think I'll be here for very long. It's not like I'm going to stay here forever or anything. They're only being nice to me now because I asked for some help. I don't expect them to offer me a job or a home. Peter kept on talking about being friends and stuff, but I just can't help feeling they'll kick me out when I finally get all better."
"That's not true!" A voice shouted on the other side of the door. Dani banged her right arm on the sink and yelped in pain. "Dani!"
"I'm fine." She went to the door and opened it to find Ray standing on the other side. "Are you spying on me now?"
"Kind of," Ray admitted. "You haven't really said a lot lately and I was just curious. Slimer was the spy. I just wanted to know you were alright."
"You could have asked," Dani replied. "You didn't have to send in Slimer." The green ghost floated by the two and left the room. The young woman brushed back some of her long, blonde hair and leaned against the doorway of the bathroom. She looked at Ray with her piercing blue eyes. "So, what's not true?"
"That we're just being nice to you to kick you out later," Ray responded. "You can stay as long as you want, Dani. If you want you can even work here. As of now you are an assistant to the Ghostbusters." She raised an eyebrow.
"And what does this job entail?" Ray eyes quickly darted around as he thought of an answer.
"I don't know. I just made it up, but you get to assist." Dani gave him a small smile.
"I kinda got that part considering the first part of assistant is assist."
"So you'll stay?" Dani looked into his brown eyes.
"That is the stupidest question in the world," the young woman told him. "Ray, think about it. I have no where else to go and you guys are the only people who seem to be willing to put with a person who can't decide whether she'll actually sit down and talk or mope the entire day thinking about what a horrible life she's had and where it's going to go from here because she has no plan whatsoever."
"Make a plan," Dr. Stantz suggested. "What do you want to do with your life?"
"I don't know," Dani answered. She shrugged. "I never really thought about it. I did want to be a Ghostbuster because of all the articles and stuff I read about you guys. I really admire what you guys do. I'd like to find a nice guy and settle down." She gave him a look. "Maybe have some kids and live to nice, ripe age of ninety." She shrugged again. "I don't know, Ray. I really don't. I could barely decide what shirt I wanted to wear this morning." Dani glanced at her ensemble that included a borrowed jumpsuit that was halfway unzipped and a slightly large black t-shirt that probably was borrowed from Peter. "Of course, I'm still trying to figure out what led me to this outfit."
"It's relaxing," Ray offered. Dani smiled and her blue eyes twinkled. "See. Now you're happy and that's what you should always be."
"I'd really like to, Ray. Forever and ever. Like a fairy tale."
"Maybe your fairy tale will come true."
"I don't know. My prince charming is kind of oblivious." Ray blushed a little and realized the mood had changed between the two. It was no longer just two friends talking, but two sexual beings both probably looking for the same thing.
"Maybe prince charming doesn't know what to do." Dani looked at him.
"I know." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Ray's first reaction was to pull away at the sudden action, but he reached out slowly put an arm around her waist. She ran her left hand up his right arm and stopped when it reached the side of his neck. They moved out of the bathroom doorway and walked together with their lips still locked towards his bed. When they approached the footboard Dani pulled away. "I can't, Ray. Not now. I don't think I'm ready."
"Okay," Ray replied. He gave her an understanding look. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine," Dani answered. She touched his hand than stuck her hand in a pocket of the jumpsuit she was wearing. "That was different."
"Yeah," Dr. Stantz agreed rubbing the back of his neck. "I think I have some work to do." The alarm went off in the firehouse. "I guess I've really gotta go."
"Yeah. Go do your job." Dani watched him leave the room. She followed him and stopped in the doorway of the sleeping quarters. Ray stopped on the stairs just before his head disappeared below the floor. He smiled at her and she smiled back than watched as he disappeared. The young woman heard the car engine come to life downstairs and went to the window just catching a glimpse of Ecto-1 before it zoomed out of sight.
*****
"You, dog, you," Peter told Ray as they sat in their car heading to their job. "You finally got a girl."
"Yeah, but I don't know if Dani and I should have this kind of a relationship," Ray replied. "Is it right?"
"She initiated it, Ray," Peter responded. "I would think it would be alright."
"Raymond, if you feel that these new feelings are incorrect than perhaps you should tell Dani," Egon interjected.
"Hey, Egon, this is the first time in a long time that Ray has been kissed by a girl," Dr. Venkman said. "I believe he should go for it. He needs this."
"Peter, I believe Ray should decide whether or not he wants to have a relationship beyond friendship with that should be his decision," Dr. Spengler told him.
"Will both of you stop?" Ray asked. "I don't need the both of you discussing my love life."
"You said love life," Winston interjected from the driver's seat. Ray groaned.
"Look, guys, Dani's like ten years younger than I am," Dr. Stantz said. "I don't really know much about her and, well, the whole fact she's not quite alright."
"Ray, if you don't want her I'll take her," Peter said. Ray shot him a look. "Okay, buddy, I understand the age thing, but just to be fair you have a tendency to act younger than you are so for all you know she could be a very mature young woman under it all. She also doesn't know much about you either aside from the fact you're a Ghostbuster and sleep with stuffed animals. And you're not quite alright either. You've seen serious stuff that affected you, Ray. In that respect you're even."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Dr. Stantz said. "We've got a job. Let's focus on that."
******
Janine looked up from the paperwork on her desk when she felt someone was looking at her. Dani stared at her from the other side of the desk.
"Something I can help you with, Dani?" Janine inquired.
"Janine, you're a woman," Dani said.
"I have been for a very long time," Janine replied.
"How many boyfriends have you had?" The secretary was taken aback by the question.
"Quite a few. Why do you ask?" Dani shrugged. "Are you interested in one of the guys? Well, you can't have Egon. He's mine."
"It's Ray," Dani told her. "Egon reminds me of my dad. Besides I see the future you two will have and I'm not exactly on the receiving end of anything except a bouquet." Janine thought about the vision for a moment than shook herself out of it. Maybe Dani would tell Egon for her.
"So, you've got a crush on Ray?"
"I don't think it qualifies as a crush anymore," Dani responded. Janine looked at her in surprise. "I kinda kissed him earlier and he kinda kissed back."
"Congratulations," the red-head commented. "You may have just gotten yourself a Ghostbuster boy toy."
"Is it right?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean is it right for me to date Ray?"
"I don't see why not. You should make sure Ray feels the same way than the two of you can do whatever your hearts desire."
"The whole fairy tale thing," Dani muttered. "It started that way and I hope it ends that way."
"Well, with this group fairy tales do come true," Janine said. "I just hope you don't end up like Sleeping Beauty. Or Snow White."
"But Prince Charming came for them," Dani protested.
"Yeah, but in the real world and when it comes to the Ghostbusters, fairy tales sometimes come with unhappy twists."
"Has anything happened to you?"
"I don't get as many problems. I'm not always on the front line battling the evil, but I get my fair share. If you stay around you're gonna get it to."
"I was thinking about that," Dani replied. "I've told the guys a lot of stuff about my problems and what Newton did, but there's one thing I haven't told them."
"And what's that?"
"I'm rich."
"What are you talking about?"
"The only reason Newton didn't send me away when I was younger even though I knew he wanted to because he wanted my money. My parents were millionaires and I was to get all their money when I turned twenty-one. I got it and Newton kept on pestering me to give it all to him. I tried to say no, but it was almost impossible to tell him that. I gave him quite a bit and he has only kept me around to get all of it. I still have over ten million dollars to my name and I don't want him to get it."
"Why are you telling me this? Peter's really the money guy around here. I'm sure he could tell you what you should do it. Like give to him."
"I kinda want to do that, Janine. I want to give something back to the guys since they're being such a big help. I haven't felt so free in a long time. I've actually been able to walk around without being yelled at because I left a dish out or my bed's unmade. I don't have to cringe every time someone says my name. I like it here and I do want to stay. I really do. I don't want to leave."
"You don't have to. I'm sure the guys have told you that."
"Peter and Ray have. Ray even offered me a job as an assistant to the Ghostbusters so I would stay." Janine laughed. "That's not totally funny. He sent Slimer to kind of spy on me and heard everything I told the little spud."
"Ray's a worrier. He's got these emotions that are kinda hard to control. He'll do something without giving it a second thought. Ray is one of the bravest idiots I know and I know three others."
"Is that a good thing?"
"It's a great thing. Egon, Peter, Ray, and Winston would gladly give up their life to save anyone. Their really good guys, Dani."
"I know. That's why I like it here."
"Me too. Just don't tell Peter that. I like to pick on him a lot."
"I promise I won't." Dani yawned. "I think I'll go take a nap. That pain killer is doing a really good number on me." She headed for the stairs.
"Hey, Dani." The young woman turned back to the secretary.
"Yeah?"
"Welcome home."
(Yeah, sounds like a nice ending. Well, I hope you haven't forgotten about Dr. Newton. He's still going to pop up and try to ruin everything.)
Dani took the sling off her right arm and slowly extended it. She winced at the slight pain she felt as it ran from her shoulder to her fingers.
"Dislocated shoulders suck," she muttered. The young woman took one of the pain pills Dr. Foster had given her and followed it with a sip of soda she was drinking. She jumped when Slimer came through the door of the bathroom and went right for her.
"Dani okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Slimer. I was just stretching my arm."
"It hurt?"
"I dislocated my shoulder, which hurts a ton. Of course, it was the second time so it wasn't a bad, but still hurt." Slimer nodded in the attempt to act as if he understood.
"Guys get hurt." Dani quickly looked at him.
"What? Now? Are they okay? I didn't have a vision."
"Not now. Other times. Dangerous job."
"I bet. Chasing ghosts and demons. I can only imagine."
"Dani want to be a Ghostbuster?"
"I wish," she replied let out a deep breath. "There's no way. I mean I can't really see them letting me. I don't even think I'll be here for very long. It's not like I'm going to stay here forever or anything. They're only being nice to me now because I asked for some help. I don't expect them to offer me a job or a home. Peter kept on talking about being friends and stuff, but I just can't help feeling they'll kick me out when I finally get all better."
"That's not true!" A voice shouted on the other side of the door. Dani banged her right arm on the sink and yelped in pain. "Dani!"
"I'm fine." She went to the door and opened it to find Ray standing on the other side. "Are you spying on me now?"
"Kind of," Ray admitted. "You haven't really said a lot lately and I was just curious. Slimer was the spy. I just wanted to know you were alright."
"You could have asked," Dani replied. "You didn't have to send in Slimer." The green ghost floated by the two and left the room. The young woman brushed back some of her long, blonde hair and leaned against the doorway of the bathroom. She looked at Ray with her piercing blue eyes. "So, what's not true?"
"That we're just being nice to you to kick you out later," Ray responded. "You can stay as long as you want, Dani. If you want you can even work here. As of now you are an assistant to the Ghostbusters." She raised an eyebrow.
"And what does this job entail?" Ray eyes quickly darted around as he thought of an answer.
"I don't know. I just made it up, but you get to assist." Dani gave him a small smile.
"I kinda got that part considering the first part of assistant is assist."
"So you'll stay?" Dani looked into his brown eyes.
"That is the stupidest question in the world," the young woman told him. "Ray, think about it. I have no where else to go and you guys are the only people who seem to be willing to put with a person who can't decide whether she'll actually sit down and talk or mope the entire day thinking about what a horrible life she's had and where it's going to go from here because she has no plan whatsoever."
"Make a plan," Dr. Stantz suggested. "What do you want to do with your life?"
"I don't know," Dani answered. She shrugged. "I never really thought about it. I did want to be a Ghostbuster because of all the articles and stuff I read about you guys. I really admire what you guys do. I'd like to find a nice guy and settle down." She gave him a look. "Maybe have some kids and live to nice, ripe age of ninety." She shrugged again. "I don't know, Ray. I really don't. I could barely decide what shirt I wanted to wear this morning." Dani glanced at her ensemble that included a borrowed jumpsuit that was halfway unzipped and a slightly large black t-shirt that probably was borrowed from Peter. "Of course, I'm still trying to figure out what led me to this outfit."
"It's relaxing," Ray offered. Dani smiled and her blue eyes twinkled. "See. Now you're happy and that's what you should always be."
"I'd really like to, Ray. Forever and ever. Like a fairy tale."
"Maybe your fairy tale will come true."
"I don't know. My prince charming is kind of oblivious." Ray blushed a little and realized the mood had changed between the two. It was no longer just two friends talking, but two sexual beings both probably looking for the same thing.
"Maybe prince charming doesn't know what to do." Dani looked at him.
"I know." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Ray's first reaction was to pull away at the sudden action, but he reached out slowly put an arm around her waist. She ran her left hand up his right arm and stopped when it reached the side of his neck. They moved out of the bathroom doorway and walked together with their lips still locked towards his bed. When they approached the footboard Dani pulled away. "I can't, Ray. Not now. I don't think I'm ready."
"Okay," Ray replied. He gave her an understanding look. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine," Dani answered. She touched his hand than stuck her hand in a pocket of the jumpsuit she was wearing. "That was different."
"Yeah," Dr. Stantz agreed rubbing the back of his neck. "I think I have some work to do." The alarm went off in the firehouse. "I guess I've really gotta go."
"Yeah. Go do your job." Dani watched him leave the room. She followed him and stopped in the doorway of the sleeping quarters. Ray stopped on the stairs just before his head disappeared below the floor. He smiled at her and she smiled back than watched as he disappeared. The young woman heard the car engine come to life downstairs and went to the window just catching a glimpse of Ecto-1 before it zoomed out of sight.
*****
"You, dog, you," Peter told Ray as they sat in their car heading to their job. "You finally got a girl."
"Yeah, but I don't know if Dani and I should have this kind of a relationship," Ray replied. "Is it right?"
"She initiated it, Ray," Peter responded. "I would think it would be alright."
"Raymond, if you feel that these new feelings are incorrect than perhaps you should tell Dani," Egon interjected.
"Hey, Egon, this is the first time in a long time that Ray has been kissed by a girl," Dr. Venkman said. "I believe he should go for it. He needs this."
"Peter, I believe Ray should decide whether or not he wants to have a relationship beyond friendship with that should be his decision," Dr. Spengler told him.
"Will both of you stop?" Ray asked. "I don't need the both of you discussing my love life."
"You said love life," Winston interjected from the driver's seat. Ray groaned.
"Look, guys, Dani's like ten years younger than I am," Dr. Stantz said. "I don't really know much about her and, well, the whole fact she's not quite alright."
"Ray, if you don't want her I'll take her," Peter said. Ray shot him a look. "Okay, buddy, I understand the age thing, but just to be fair you have a tendency to act younger than you are so for all you know she could be a very mature young woman under it all. She also doesn't know much about you either aside from the fact you're a Ghostbuster and sleep with stuffed animals. And you're not quite alright either. You've seen serious stuff that affected you, Ray. In that respect you're even."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Dr. Stantz said. "We've got a job. Let's focus on that."
******
Janine looked up from the paperwork on her desk when she felt someone was looking at her. Dani stared at her from the other side of the desk.
"Something I can help you with, Dani?" Janine inquired.
"Janine, you're a woman," Dani said.
"I have been for a very long time," Janine replied.
"How many boyfriends have you had?" The secretary was taken aback by the question.
"Quite a few. Why do you ask?" Dani shrugged. "Are you interested in one of the guys? Well, you can't have Egon. He's mine."
"It's Ray," Dani told her. "Egon reminds me of my dad. Besides I see the future you two will have and I'm not exactly on the receiving end of anything except a bouquet." Janine thought about the vision for a moment than shook herself out of it. Maybe Dani would tell Egon for her.
"So, you've got a crush on Ray?"
"I don't think it qualifies as a crush anymore," Dani responded. Janine looked at her in surprise. "I kinda kissed him earlier and he kinda kissed back."
"Congratulations," the red-head commented. "You may have just gotten yourself a Ghostbuster boy toy."
"Is it right?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean is it right for me to date Ray?"
"I don't see why not. You should make sure Ray feels the same way than the two of you can do whatever your hearts desire."
"The whole fairy tale thing," Dani muttered. "It started that way and I hope it ends that way."
"Well, with this group fairy tales do come true," Janine said. "I just hope you don't end up like Sleeping Beauty. Or Snow White."
"But Prince Charming came for them," Dani protested.
"Yeah, but in the real world and when it comes to the Ghostbusters, fairy tales sometimes come with unhappy twists."
"Has anything happened to you?"
"I don't get as many problems. I'm not always on the front line battling the evil, but I get my fair share. If you stay around you're gonna get it to."
"I was thinking about that," Dani replied. "I've told the guys a lot of stuff about my problems and what Newton did, but there's one thing I haven't told them."
"And what's that?"
"I'm rich."
"What are you talking about?"
"The only reason Newton didn't send me away when I was younger even though I knew he wanted to because he wanted my money. My parents were millionaires and I was to get all their money when I turned twenty-one. I got it and Newton kept on pestering me to give it all to him. I tried to say no, but it was almost impossible to tell him that. I gave him quite a bit and he has only kept me around to get all of it. I still have over ten million dollars to my name and I don't want him to get it."
"Why are you telling me this? Peter's really the money guy around here. I'm sure he could tell you what you should do it. Like give to him."
"I kinda want to do that, Janine. I want to give something back to the guys since they're being such a big help. I haven't felt so free in a long time. I've actually been able to walk around without being yelled at because I left a dish out or my bed's unmade. I don't have to cringe every time someone says my name. I like it here and I do want to stay. I really do. I don't want to leave."
"You don't have to. I'm sure the guys have told you that."
"Peter and Ray have. Ray even offered me a job as an assistant to the Ghostbusters so I would stay." Janine laughed. "That's not totally funny. He sent Slimer to kind of spy on me and heard everything I told the little spud."
"Ray's a worrier. He's got these emotions that are kinda hard to control. He'll do something without giving it a second thought. Ray is one of the bravest idiots I know and I know three others."
"Is that a good thing?"
"It's a great thing. Egon, Peter, Ray, and Winston would gladly give up their life to save anyone. Their really good guys, Dani."
"I know. That's why I like it here."
"Me too. Just don't tell Peter that. I like to pick on him a lot."
"I promise I won't." Dani yawned. "I think I'll go take a nap. That pain killer is doing a really good number on me." She headed for the stairs.
"Hey, Dani." The young woman turned back to the secretary.
"Yeah?"
"Welcome home."
(Yeah, sounds like a nice ending. Well, I hope you haven't forgotten about Dr. Newton. He's still going to pop up and try to ruin everything.)