Winston was under Ecto-1 making minor adjustments and repairs. He'd been at
it since lunch. The guys hadn't had a job all day so they decided after
lunch to just take the rest of the day off. Egon and Janine had decided to
go see a movie after much pushing from Peter. Ray had gone to his favorite
comic book store, but not before fretting over where his girlfriend was.
Peter had distracted the young man by reminding him the new collector's
issue of Captain Steel was out and he'd better hurry to go get it. Winston
had no idea where Peter went, but he could guess the psychologist would go
somewhere to find some pretty girls.
Zeddemore knew Ray wouldn't completely forget about the young woman. He was really protective of her at times. All of them were. She was still a bit uneasy about everything at times. Ray was just about as bad as Egon though. The physicist watched out for her because she was his cousin and felt it was his responsibility. Ray did it because he really cared for her. The two usually spent a lot of time together doing chores or having just fun going out to the movies or the museum. Winston hadn't seen two people made for each like they were. Peter was often telling Dr. Spengler to be more like Ray towards Janine, but that would cause Dr. Stantz to start to turn red and Dani to giggle. Winston knew Egon was going at his own pace with Janine and the secretary wasn't complaining.
The black man was pulled out from his thoughts when he heard the familiar squeak of the firehouse front doors. He'd often considered fixing that, but at times it came in handy. He watched as a pair of red and black plaid sneakers started going by the car. The Ghostbuster knew whose shoes they were. They belonged to Dani. She had returned with them on a shopping trip she took with Janine. Somehow the young woman had managed to get the redhead to walk into this store called Hot Topic and they returned with a few outrageous articles of clothing according to Egon. Dani's favorite piece of clothing was the pair of sneakers that she wore whenever she had the chance.
Winston got out from under the car and looked at the young woman. She was going through the stack of mail she must have brought in. He did a double take when he realized there was something different about her.
"Dani? What did you do?" The blonde looked at him and he could tell her eyes were a bit puffy indicating she had been crying. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she answered. The young woman set down the mail on Janine's desk and ran a hand through her now shoulder-length blonde hair. "I decided to get it cut. And I thought the color might be fun."
"It's red," Winston stated.
"I was going to dye it purple, but I decided that might be a bit much. I just went for the streaks. They wash away in a few weeks. I can't wait to see Egon's face."
"Why?" The young woman shrugged. "Did you spend all day doing this?"
"No. It took like two hours."
"Than how come Janine said you were gone before she even got here this morning?"
"I was here. She just didn't look hard enough."
"Your car was no longer parked outside, Dani. That usually means a person is gone."
"I went to the gym than shopping." She shook her head before becoming defensive and almost shouting at the man. "I don't have to tell you why I was gone. I'm not a little girl, Winston. And you aren't my father." The Ghostbuster noticed the pain in her eyes. "I'm going to go take a nap." She picked up her messenger bag off Janine's desk and started towards her room under the stairs. Winston went after her and grabbed her arm. She looked at him and he saw the red lines around her blue eyes.
"Is this about your parents?" Winston inquired.
"No," Dani quickly answered. "It's nothing. Let go."
"Not until you tell me."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You've been doing this for the past week. Don't think we haven't noticed, Dee. We just haven't had the chance to talk to you because it's been kinda busy. Pete's convinced Egon you're just going through a phase, but Ray doesn't believe that. I don't either. Getting up before Janine gets here and not returning to almost mid-night is not a phase. It's avoidance. There's something here you don't want to face."
"How do you know it was mid-night?"
"You slam your car door and I sleep right next to the window."
"Well, I'm not avoiding anyone. I'm just keeping myself busy. I technically don't have anything to do around the firehouse except keep you guys posted on my visions."
"That doesn't mean we don't like you around. You live here too. This place is yours just as much as it's mine, the guys, and Janine's."
"Look, Winston, I appreciate the talk, but there's nothing wrong. I've just been spending a lot of time working out, shopping and today doing my hair. I never knew any of those things were a crime. Now let go."
"I just want to help, Dani."
"I'm getting help, Winston. I don't think I can take much more." Winston let go of the girl's arm and looked at her in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been seeing a psychologist."
"What? Pete has an office outside of here?"
"No. Peter suggested this guy. He knew I wouldn't be able to tell him. I've been seeing Dr. Grobin for about a month now and recently I've been taking longer sessions because of a nightmare I've been having."
"Does it have to do with Newton?"
"Yes and no."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now. I already talked for four hours today."
"That's a long time," Winston commented. "I'm sorry. I guess I was just taking my turn to worry about you." She gently touched his hand.
"Thank you, Winston. I really appreciate it. I should have been more open about what I was doing." She removed her hand and gave the man a serious look. "Although I wasn't lying. I go to the gym early to avoid those people who want to know about the Ghostbusters because now I'm getting recognized and I've been shopping for the perfect Christmas presents. You guys are really hard to shop for." The black man laughed. "And as for my hair." The young woman ran a hand through it. "I was just trying it out."
"Well, it is different," Zeddemore told her. "It'll take a little time to get used to though."
"Peter's probably going to tell me that I'm rebelling or something. Frankly, I'm a little tired of being called Egon's little sister."
"You two are related and do look a lot alike. The same hair color, eye color, and the same body form. Fortunately, you aren't as tall or Ray would be intimidated."
"Don't call me short," she told him. "I'm taller than the average woman and you won't believe how hard it is to find pants that actually look right on me." She glanced down at the paint splashed jeans she was wearing. "I had to get these specially made. Do you believe that?"
"I don't believe that you actually wanted those."
"You sound like Egon, Winston. He gives me this look whenever I wear something that isn't one color or completely covering every inch of my skin. Is it a crime to want to look trendy and/or sexy?"
"I don't think I'm the person to answer that. I have a girlfriend and after she met you she gave me a really long lecture." This time it was Egon's cousin turn to laugh and Winston smiled. Her face brightened up and any sign of her earlier unhappiness had vanished.
"Hey, you're here." Dani turned to see Ray coming towards her wearing an unsure look. "I was worried about you." She went up to him and sprung a hug on the unsuspecting man. He gave Winston a look and the black man shrugged than returned the hug. "Are you okay?" She backed up a step and he noticed her hair. "You're hair. You cut it and turned it red."
"I streaked it," she corrected him. "And I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
"I was worried. I hadn't talked to you or really seen you for a while. I was wondering if I had done anything."
"No. Perfect as usual." Dr. Stantz blushed a bit.
"I'm not perfect."
"You are to me, Ray Stantz. I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend. Of course, you have to take into consideration you're the only boyfriend I've ever had." He gave her a look. "Never mind. You're great." She kissed him. "So, where did the others go?"
"Egon and Janine went to a movie, but than I think they'll go back to her place for dinner. I have no idea where Peter went. He dropped me off at Forbidden Planet than went off on his own."
"He probably went to some club or something to pick up an unsuspecting lady," Winston interjected. "Must feel left out sometimes that he's the only one without a girlfriend."
"I bet Dana will come back," Dani said. Ray and Winston exchanged a glance.
"Just don't talk to Peter about it," Winston told her. "He's pretty much given up on her. You'll only drudge up some old memories and Peter hates dwelling on the past. Especially the past with her in it."
"Alright than let's look at the future," the red-streaked blonde replied. "Like what we're going to do for dinner."
"Pizza?" Dr. Stantz suggested.
"We had that last night," Zeddemore responded. "Remember, Ray, we're trying to change our eating habits."
"Oh, yeah."
"You know what," Dani said. "I'll make dinner. Winston, call up Tammy and tell her to come over. What's a romantic dinner if you can't share it with a loved one?"
(To be continued)
Zeddemore knew Ray wouldn't completely forget about the young woman. He was really protective of her at times. All of them were. She was still a bit uneasy about everything at times. Ray was just about as bad as Egon though. The physicist watched out for her because she was his cousin and felt it was his responsibility. Ray did it because he really cared for her. The two usually spent a lot of time together doing chores or having just fun going out to the movies or the museum. Winston hadn't seen two people made for each like they were. Peter was often telling Dr. Spengler to be more like Ray towards Janine, but that would cause Dr. Stantz to start to turn red and Dani to giggle. Winston knew Egon was going at his own pace with Janine and the secretary wasn't complaining.
The black man was pulled out from his thoughts when he heard the familiar squeak of the firehouse front doors. He'd often considered fixing that, but at times it came in handy. He watched as a pair of red and black plaid sneakers started going by the car. The Ghostbuster knew whose shoes they were. They belonged to Dani. She had returned with them on a shopping trip she took with Janine. Somehow the young woman had managed to get the redhead to walk into this store called Hot Topic and they returned with a few outrageous articles of clothing according to Egon. Dani's favorite piece of clothing was the pair of sneakers that she wore whenever she had the chance.
Winston got out from under the car and looked at the young woman. She was going through the stack of mail she must have brought in. He did a double take when he realized there was something different about her.
"Dani? What did you do?" The blonde looked at him and he could tell her eyes were a bit puffy indicating she had been crying. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she answered. The young woman set down the mail on Janine's desk and ran a hand through her now shoulder-length blonde hair. "I decided to get it cut. And I thought the color might be fun."
"It's red," Winston stated.
"I was going to dye it purple, but I decided that might be a bit much. I just went for the streaks. They wash away in a few weeks. I can't wait to see Egon's face."
"Why?" The young woman shrugged. "Did you spend all day doing this?"
"No. It took like two hours."
"Than how come Janine said you were gone before she even got here this morning?"
"I was here. She just didn't look hard enough."
"Your car was no longer parked outside, Dani. That usually means a person is gone."
"I went to the gym than shopping." She shook her head before becoming defensive and almost shouting at the man. "I don't have to tell you why I was gone. I'm not a little girl, Winston. And you aren't my father." The Ghostbuster noticed the pain in her eyes. "I'm going to go take a nap." She picked up her messenger bag off Janine's desk and started towards her room under the stairs. Winston went after her and grabbed her arm. She looked at him and he saw the red lines around her blue eyes.
"Is this about your parents?" Winston inquired.
"No," Dani quickly answered. "It's nothing. Let go."
"Not until you tell me."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You've been doing this for the past week. Don't think we haven't noticed, Dee. We just haven't had the chance to talk to you because it's been kinda busy. Pete's convinced Egon you're just going through a phase, but Ray doesn't believe that. I don't either. Getting up before Janine gets here and not returning to almost mid-night is not a phase. It's avoidance. There's something here you don't want to face."
"How do you know it was mid-night?"
"You slam your car door and I sleep right next to the window."
"Well, I'm not avoiding anyone. I'm just keeping myself busy. I technically don't have anything to do around the firehouse except keep you guys posted on my visions."
"That doesn't mean we don't like you around. You live here too. This place is yours just as much as it's mine, the guys, and Janine's."
"Look, Winston, I appreciate the talk, but there's nothing wrong. I've just been spending a lot of time working out, shopping and today doing my hair. I never knew any of those things were a crime. Now let go."
"I just want to help, Dani."
"I'm getting help, Winston. I don't think I can take much more." Winston let go of the girl's arm and looked at her in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been seeing a psychologist."
"What? Pete has an office outside of here?"
"No. Peter suggested this guy. He knew I wouldn't be able to tell him. I've been seeing Dr. Grobin for about a month now and recently I've been taking longer sessions because of a nightmare I've been having."
"Does it have to do with Newton?"
"Yes and no."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now. I already talked for four hours today."
"That's a long time," Winston commented. "I'm sorry. I guess I was just taking my turn to worry about you." She gently touched his hand.
"Thank you, Winston. I really appreciate it. I should have been more open about what I was doing." She removed her hand and gave the man a serious look. "Although I wasn't lying. I go to the gym early to avoid those people who want to know about the Ghostbusters because now I'm getting recognized and I've been shopping for the perfect Christmas presents. You guys are really hard to shop for." The black man laughed. "And as for my hair." The young woman ran a hand through it. "I was just trying it out."
"Well, it is different," Zeddemore told her. "It'll take a little time to get used to though."
"Peter's probably going to tell me that I'm rebelling or something. Frankly, I'm a little tired of being called Egon's little sister."
"You two are related and do look a lot alike. The same hair color, eye color, and the same body form. Fortunately, you aren't as tall or Ray would be intimidated."
"Don't call me short," she told him. "I'm taller than the average woman and you won't believe how hard it is to find pants that actually look right on me." She glanced down at the paint splashed jeans she was wearing. "I had to get these specially made. Do you believe that?"
"I don't believe that you actually wanted those."
"You sound like Egon, Winston. He gives me this look whenever I wear something that isn't one color or completely covering every inch of my skin. Is it a crime to want to look trendy and/or sexy?"
"I don't think I'm the person to answer that. I have a girlfriend and after she met you she gave me a really long lecture." This time it was Egon's cousin turn to laugh and Winston smiled. Her face brightened up and any sign of her earlier unhappiness had vanished.
"Hey, you're here." Dani turned to see Ray coming towards her wearing an unsure look. "I was worried about you." She went up to him and sprung a hug on the unsuspecting man. He gave Winston a look and the black man shrugged than returned the hug. "Are you okay?" She backed up a step and he noticed her hair. "You're hair. You cut it and turned it red."
"I streaked it," she corrected him. "And I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
"I was worried. I hadn't talked to you or really seen you for a while. I was wondering if I had done anything."
"No. Perfect as usual." Dr. Stantz blushed a bit.
"I'm not perfect."
"You are to me, Ray Stantz. I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend. Of course, you have to take into consideration you're the only boyfriend I've ever had." He gave her a look. "Never mind. You're great." She kissed him. "So, where did the others go?"
"Egon and Janine went to a movie, but than I think they'll go back to her place for dinner. I have no idea where Peter went. He dropped me off at Forbidden Planet than went off on his own."
"He probably went to some club or something to pick up an unsuspecting lady," Winston interjected. "Must feel left out sometimes that he's the only one without a girlfriend."
"I bet Dana will come back," Dani said. Ray and Winston exchanged a glance.
"Just don't talk to Peter about it," Winston told her. "He's pretty much given up on her. You'll only drudge up some old memories and Peter hates dwelling on the past. Especially the past with her in it."
"Alright than let's look at the future," the red-streaked blonde replied. "Like what we're going to do for dinner."
"Pizza?" Dr. Stantz suggested.
"We had that last night," Zeddemore responded. "Remember, Ray, we're trying to change our eating habits."
"Oh, yeah."
"You know what," Dani said. "I'll make dinner. Winston, call up Tammy and tell her to come over. What's a romantic dinner if you can't share it with a loved one?"
(To be continued)