"No," Peter muttered. His head turned from side to side. "No." A gunshot echoed in his head. "No!" Dr. Venkman eyes shot open and he found himself staring at the ceiling of a hospital room. Actually, one of the rooms in the psych ward at St. Vincent's. He'd been in there for the past three days trying to deal with what had happened. Peter had talked with the resident psychologist and only managed to get only textbook answers from the man, which only managed to piss the Ghostbuster off. He didn't need that. Peter wanted a way to be able to talk to his friends again without reliving everything over. The man just wanted to see his friends. The doctor had not mentioned them except to tell him Dani was recovering quickly.

"Damn it," Peter muttered. He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. The man silently wished he had a phone in the room so he could call someone. Anyone. He really wanted to talk to someone who wouldn't judge him or bring up some horrible memory from his past.

"Dr. Venkman, how are you feeling this morning?" Peter looked toward the door to his doctor coming in.

"Physically or mentally?" Peter retorted.

"Are you feeling well enough for a visitor?" Dr. Venkman narrowed his eyes in slight confusion.

"A visitor?" The Ghostbuster repeated. "Who is it?"

"The young woman. Dani Spengler I believe." Peter couldn't help, but grin a little. Dani had decided to change her last name from Pearson to Spengler after an article that had come out talking about the Ghostbuster's and their latest win. The reporter apparently hadn't listened to the blonde after someone mentioned she and Egon were related. He went right ahead and put Spengler after her name. She didn't argue and just changed her own name legally. She said it was amusing and after some convincing Egon did as well. Janine was the only one who hadn't. Dani had talked to the secretary making Janine realize that she'd get an opportunity to hold the name as well someday soon and that Dani wouldn't probably have Spengler following her last name for very long if everything worked out between her and Ray. Apparently, though, for both Dr. Spengler and Dr. Stantz, marriage was a word they both avoided like the plague.

"Okay," Peter said finally. The doctor walked out and the door closed behind him. After a moment the door opened again and Dani walked in with Ray right behind her. Peter looked at Dr. Stantz who avoided the gaze and pretended to find the floor rather interesting and wandered over to the barred window. The psychologist than looked at the blonde who looked a bit pale and had her left arm in blue sling. She gave him a small smile.

"Hi, Peter," she told him gently. "How are you?"

"That's the question of the day," Dr. Venkman replied. "How about you?"

"Pretty good. I lost quite a bit of blood, but I'm recovering nicely according to the doctor. I just can't have any fun for about a week or so. Something about muscle repair and stuff." She shrugged. "Not that I've been having any fun. The moment I got back to the firehouse I was ordered by Dr. Stantz, Dr. Spengler, Dr. Zeddemore and Dr. Melnitz to stay in bed. Today I decided not to take the advice."

"I think they were just watching out for you," Peter responded.

"Yeah, but who's watching out for you?" Dani asked. "Some resident psychologist who only knows how to spout textbook crap?"

"You talked to him?" Dr. Venkman replied with surprise.

"Had to," Dani answered. "Only way they'd let us in here. God, he sucks. I'm so glad you aren't like that."

"Instead he goes crazy," Ray interjected from the corner.

"Ray, stop it," the blonde told him. She looked at the Ghostbuster. "I told you to be nice or be quiet."

"And I told you this was a bad idea." Dr. Stantz walked over to her. "Yet here we are."

"You didn't have to come."

"I had to. You need someone to keep an eye on you. There are dangers that lurk around every corner." He glanced at Peter. "Sometimes in every room."

"Stop it, Ray!" Dani shouted. She poked him in the chest. "I know you hate him! I know how you feel! I just want him to know that not everyone feels that way! I want to help him!" Ray stared at her as if she had just grown another head. The young woman touched her arm. "Damn. That hurt."

"Did you take your medication?" Ray quickly inquired.

"Yes," she snapped than shook her head. "Did you hear one thing I said?"

"Yes."

"And --?" The auburn-haired man looked at the floor. She sighed and walked over to Peter's bedside. "Peter, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."

"It's okay," Dr. Venkman replied. "I was beginning to wonder if you ever got mad at him. Normal relationships usually have a little anger."

"Well, maybe that's the problem. None of us has a normal relationship."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ray asked as his head shot up and he stepped next to the young woman. "That we're messed up?"

"No," Dani said. "I'm just trying to say that some of us have gone past normalcy in the relationships we have with people. You and I are fine. The problem is with you, Peter, Winston, Egon, and Janine. The five of you have spent so much time together that you think none of you can do no wrong. That there's no room for imperfection or the occasional stumble." She paused a moment looking from Dr. Venkman to Ray. "Well, someone's stumbled and there's no one to help him back up."

"Dani, think about what he did," Ray replied. "He shot you and would have killed us all too without hesitation. He was about to. You can't just forgive someone instantly for something like that."

"I didn't ask you to. Just help him off the ground and start from there." Dr. Stantz looked at his fellow Ghostbuster.

Ray did feel horrible for thinking his friend was the most evil person on the face of the planet just after a few other people and things he could think of. He couldn't help it. All he could think about was his girlfriend lying on the kitchen floor bleeding profusely on to the floor. Ray had felt better when he saw she wasn't dead, but only just. The paramedics had gotten to the firehouse and taken her to the hospital. The young man remembered all the yelling in the emergency room when she had coded and it took Winston and Egon to pull him out of the way of the surgeons. The blonde physicist had told Dr. Stantz that he didn't wish to lose Dani either, but what happened was out of their hands. They would just have to be patient and wait.

"I can't," Ray said.

"Yes, you can," Dani countered. "All you can think about is that one bad moment. I want you to think about the good times. Like the first time you met Peter. Or how you guys started the Ghostbusters." She sighed. "I know this isn't the first time there's been a wedge between any of you and I'm positive you managed to work through it. This time it might take longer, but you have to do it. Peter is an important part of your life, Ray. You don't want to lose that."

"I don't either," Peter added. Ray looked at his friend again. "Ray, I know what I did was horrible and I should probably never be forgiven, but I just want a chance." Dr. Venkman got off his bed. "The first sign that I'm not deserving you can kick me out on my ass."

"I don't know," Dr. Stantz stuttered. "I want to forgive you and everything, Peter. I understand what Dani is saying. I just don't know. If I take you back to the firehouse than the guys and Janine will probably kick me out on my ass."

"Language, Ray," Peter chided his friend. Ray smiled a moment than it fell just as quickly as it had appeared. "I know what you mean, Tex."

"I say we do it," Dani said. "It doesn't matter what the others say. If they really have a problem with it we'll just get him a room at a hotel. Or- -" She smiled mischievously. "--he can hide in my room."

"No he won't," Ray responded. The young man sighed than looked at his friend. The anger and hurt was almost completely gone from the occultist's eyes. "You're coming home, Peter, but it doesn't necessarily mean everything is alright."

"That's okay," Dr. Venkman replied. "I'm not looking for absolute forgiveness right away. Just maybe a sign or two. Like this. The fact Dani and you did come."

"How about this?" Ray asked. He held out his hand and Peter took it. They shook and as soon as they released Dani gave him a one arm hugged. He hesitated a moment before returning the gesture. It started to like everything would work out.

Than everything started go downhill. Ray and Dani had talked to the psychologist asking him to discharge Peter. The doctor did so with a warning that there was still a possibility Dr. Venkman could have a relapse. They understood the warning and promised to watch Peter closely. The following day Dr. Stantz and Egon's cousin had returned to take Peter home. The three returned to the firehouse with icy stares. Janine pretended Dr. Venkman didn't exist and rebuked Ray for bringing the Ghostbuster home. Dani tried to explain, but the red-head wouldn't listen and went home leaving the blonde to take over her job. Egon and Winston were just as touchy. Ray continued to get the short of the stick from both the older gentleman.

Dr. Spengler allowed Ray to bring Peter into the lab for a very brief five minutes. Egon though didn't really pay attention to Dr. Venkman, but to rather their young colleague. He lectured the young man about the kind of danger he could be putting them in. Peter tried to step in and defend him only to accidentally knock a book off a nearby shelf and hit Egon in the head. Right after that Egon had forcibly pushed both men out of the lab and locked the door.

The two found Winston in the basement doing some work with the containment unit. He listened to Peter for a moment before yelling at the psychologist. Than Zeddemore promptly scolded Ray about bringing Dr. Venkman home without consulting anyone. Winston would have said a few more things, but luckily the alarm rang signaling a job and the black man sprinted out of the basement after quickly telling Ray not to come. Winston said he and Egon would handle it and left the two dejected Ghostbusters in the basement.

(Continuation in the next chapter.)