"Come on. Come on," Ray muttered as he was on the phone. "Dani, pick up."
"I'm sorry, but this number is not available at this time. Please try again later," the prerecorded message stated. Ray hung up the phone in annoyance.
"She always charges that phone," Dr. Stantz said to himself. "Why should now be any different?"
"Are you talking to yourself?" Ray turned around to find his cousin standing behind him.
"I was trying to call Dani. I guess she let the batteries on her phone run out. I keep on getting that stupid message."
"Try again in the morning," Sam suggested.
"Yeah, but she and I said we'd call each other tonight," Ray said. "She's always pretty good about calling. I forget, but she never realizes that. Or she does and doesn't say anything. Dani lets me slide with a lot of stuff."
"You really care for her, don't you?"
"Yeah, she's great, Sam. I never thought I would meet someone like her. I just wish I was spending Christmas with her. It's the first time in a really long time she's actually getting to enjoy the holiday."
"I remember you mentioning something like that," Sam replied. "She didn't have a really good childhood."
"That's just sums it up," Dr. Stantz responded. "Dani lived with a horrible guy for a long time. He almost killed her."
"Who are you talking about, dear?" An older looking woman with slightly graying hair joined the two younger people.
"Dani, Aunt Lois," Ray answered. "I can't get a hold of her."
"I'm sure she's fine, Ray," Aunt Lois told him. "She's with your friends on the way to visit her own aunt. You shouldn't worry too much."
"I do worry a lot," Dr. Stantz admitted. "I just care about Dani." His aunt patted him on the shoulder.
"I know, dear. I saw how you were with her in the car. She's a very nice girl and the both of you are very lucky to have found each other. I'm sure nothing's wrong." Ray wanted to agree with his aunt. "Now, come back with me to the living room and we'll each open a present before we go to bed."
"Okay," Ray said. The older woman and his cousin walked back to the living room. The Ghostbuster looked at the phone one last time and silently hoped his girlfriend and friends were sitting in front of their own fire opening a Christmas Eve present. He turned away and went to join his relatives.
*****
Presents were the farthest thing from Egon's mind as he slowly regained consciousness. He could feel the cold wind blowing against his head and carefully opened his eyes. He did a mental check of where he felt any pain and his head was the only place. The scientist looked around. The car was smashed in several places and quite a few of the windows were broken, but miraculously there was only a crack in the windshield though the front part of the vehicle was covered in snow. He than focused on his friend who sat at the wheel. Peter's head was positioned against the steering wheel and Dr. Spengler could only guess what injuries the pushed in driver's side door caused. He looked behind the seat where his cousin was sprawled out over the seat. She was bleeding from a head wound and one of the proton packs laid on top of her. Egon didn't question how it came to be there because a lot of their items were all over the car. He only hoped it hadn't caused any injuries. Egon turned back around and undid his seatbelt when he heard a soft moan come from the front seat. Peter was raising his head.
"Peter, are you alright?" Dr. Spengler inquired.
"If having a headache that reminds you of the guy in an orchestra hitting that big drum than I'm great," Peter replied. He leaned back than grabbed his left leg. "Oh, damn it."
"What is it?"
"My leg," Dr. Venkman answered. "It hurts really bad." He looked at the door and how his leg was positioned. "The door caught my leg, Spengs. It's stuck and possibly broken."
"Possibly?" Egon replied.
"I can't exactly move it to find out. I just know it hurts. Like my head." He looked at his friend. "I hope Dani's happy. We stopped."
"I don't think this is what she had in mind," Dr. Spengler responded. "Of course, you may ask her when she regains consciousness."
"Is she alright?" Dr. Venkman tried to turn around in his seat, but wasn't having any luck.
"I can't tell. She does have an evident head wound, but some other injuries are not as easy to diagnose."
"Like internal bleeding?"
"Yes."
"Well, I don't think anything else is broken or injured on me," Peter told him. "Just my leg and my head. Your head doesn't look to good either." Dr. Spengler gently touched the right side of his head and felt the sticky blood. He pulled away his hand quickly.
"Fortunately, it seems to be my only injury."
"Stop the car. Stop the car." Egon turned around in his seat to see his cousin shaking her head. "Stop the car!" She shot up and yelped in pain as the proton pack slid off her on to the floorboard. Dani grabbed her chest and lay back down.
"Dani, how do you feel?" Dr. Spengler inquired.
"Horrible," Dani mumbled. "My chest hurts."
"You might have fractured or broken a rib during the accident," Egon said.
"Thank you, doctor," she retorted. "What do you plan to do for your next act?" She shivered as the wind blew in snow through the broken windows. "Damn, it's cold."
"At least it isn't snowing as hard," Peter replied. "Of course, I can't tell. My field of vision is kinda limited being stuck." Egon looked out the back window where he could see the sun rising through the slowly falling snow. How many hours had passed since the accident? He looked at his watch and saw that it was a few minutes past seven in the morning. The scientist hadn't thought that much time had passed. Although he also wasn't sure when they had crashed.
"What are you staring at?" Dani asked.
"Nothing," Dr. Spengler answered shaking himself out of the stupor. "Dani, did you bring a blanket of any kind?"
"Yeah, in my bag. It's supposed to be a Christmas gift for Aunt Katie."
"She'll understand," Egon told her. He started to climb over the front seat and stepped on the part of the back seat Dani wasn't occupying. She gave him a goofy grin as he continued to climb over into the cargo area of Ecto- 1. The scientist shook his head and went into the back. He found his cousin's red luggage bag under another proton pack and dug through it. Egon found a beautifully quilted blanket and thought of his mother. She would like this. Dani had chosen well. He sighed than climbed back over.
"Hey, Spengs, what's the plan on getting out of here?" Peter asked as Dr. Spengler placed the blanket on his cousin. Egon got back into the front seat. "I don't think the car's going anywhere any time soon."
"I suppose I'll have to go find help," Dr. Spengler said.
"No, Egon," Dani objected. "You can't go out there. We don't even know where we are. You could get lost or something. Than we'd all die remembering the last thing you said to us was good-bye and I'll be back with help."
"Nobody's going to die, Dani," Peter told her. "Egon's our only chance of getting out of here. I don't want him to go either, but if he doesn't than we're screwed."
"I don't want him to go," Dani repeated.
Dr. Spengler looked at Dr. Venkman and they exchanged knowing looks. There wasn't another choice. This was the only way. Peter would be left with Dani and the two would have to make sure neither succumbed to further injury nor freezing. Egon would have to rely on himself to make it to the nearest home or town and get help for them before he surrendered to the cold.
"Dani, I must go," Dr. Spengler told her. He looked at the young woman. "I'm sorry. I promise to return with help."
"We're missing Christmas," she said.
"We'll have our own Christmas," Egon responded. "It's just a day. We'll find our own day and celebrate. I know how much you were looking forward to this."
"Yeah," Dani whispered. "You promise to come back?"
"I give my word as a scientist and as your cousin," the Ghostbuster said quietly.
"Okay." Egon turned back to Peter.
"Be careful out there, Spengs," Peter told him. "Don't let some polar bear drag you off for Christmas dinner."
"Polar bears are not indigenous to this are, Peter. I would have thought you knew that much." Dr. Venkman gave him a look. "I shall be careful."
"Maybe you should take a proton pack with you," Peter suggested. "Attract attention by blasting a tree to make a fire or something." An object came flying over the backseat and hit Egon's in the shoulder landing in the front seat between Peter and Egon. The two Ghostbusters saw that it was Egon's PKE meter.
"Your stupid PKE meter hit me," Dani said. "I get to thank you for the wonderful headache." Egon put the meter under his seat.
"You better get going," Peter told him. "The longer we wait the better the chance we have of freezing." Dr. Spengler gave his friend a curt nod than started to climb over the seat. Peter grabbed his friend's arm and Egon looked back at him. "I don't even get a hug?"
"Peter."
"Come on, Spengs. It's Christmas. Tis the season to be mushy." Egon sighed and gave his friend a quick hug than continued over the seat. He crawled over the backseat than leaned back over and kissed his cousin on the forehead. She gave him a sad smile and he carried on to the back door. Egon hit the door with his shoulder and it opened letting in a new wave of snow. He grabbed a proton pack than closed the door forcefully.
Outside was a winter wonderland. The physicist could barely see the road they had been traveling on. He looked back at the car and could only see the back end of Ecto. Egon glanced around for some kind of indication that said where they were or at least a landmark. He found a bent sign a few feet away from the crashed car.
"Cleveland forty miles," Dr. Spengler read. He sighed. They weren't even that far from their point of destination. Egon shivered as the snow meltied and the icy water made its way down his back under the thick sweatshirt he was wearing. "Angonak five miles." Perhaps he could make it to Angonak. Five miles wasn't far. He and his fellow Ghostbusters ran that much in one day on difficult busts. Hopefully he could make it without freezing to death. With one last glance at Ecto-1 than started down the road.
"I'm sorry, but this number is not available at this time. Please try again later," the prerecorded message stated. Ray hung up the phone in annoyance.
"She always charges that phone," Dr. Stantz said to himself. "Why should now be any different?"
"Are you talking to yourself?" Ray turned around to find his cousin standing behind him.
"I was trying to call Dani. I guess she let the batteries on her phone run out. I keep on getting that stupid message."
"Try again in the morning," Sam suggested.
"Yeah, but she and I said we'd call each other tonight," Ray said. "She's always pretty good about calling. I forget, but she never realizes that. Or she does and doesn't say anything. Dani lets me slide with a lot of stuff."
"You really care for her, don't you?"
"Yeah, she's great, Sam. I never thought I would meet someone like her. I just wish I was spending Christmas with her. It's the first time in a really long time she's actually getting to enjoy the holiday."
"I remember you mentioning something like that," Sam replied. "She didn't have a really good childhood."
"That's just sums it up," Dr. Stantz responded. "Dani lived with a horrible guy for a long time. He almost killed her."
"Who are you talking about, dear?" An older looking woman with slightly graying hair joined the two younger people.
"Dani, Aunt Lois," Ray answered. "I can't get a hold of her."
"I'm sure she's fine, Ray," Aunt Lois told him. "She's with your friends on the way to visit her own aunt. You shouldn't worry too much."
"I do worry a lot," Dr. Stantz admitted. "I just care about Dani." His aunt patted him on the shoulder.
"I know, dear. I saw how you were with her in the car. She's a very nice girl and the both of you are very lucky to have found each other. I'm sure nothing's wrong." Ray wanted to agree with his aunt. "Now, come back with me to the living room and we'll each open a present before we go to bed."
"Okay," Ray said. The older woman and his cousin walked back to the living room. The Ghostbuster looked at the phone one last time and silently hoped his girlfriend and friends were sitting in front of their own fire opening a Christmas Eve present. He turned away and went to join his relatives.
*****
Presents were the farthest thing from Egon's mind as he slowly regained consciousness. He could feel the cold wind blowing against his head and carefully opened his eyes. He did a mental check of where he felt any pain and his head was the only place. The scientist looked around. The car was smashed in several places and quite a few of the windows were broken, but miraculously there was only a crack in the windshield though the front part of the vehicle was covered in snow. He than focused on his friend who sat at the wheel. Peter's head was positioned against the steering wheel and Dr. Spengler could only guess what injuries the pushed in driver's side door caused. He looked behind the seat where his cousin was sprawled out over the seat. She was bleeding from a head wound and one of the proton packs laid on top of her. Egon didn't question how it came to be there because a lot of their items were all over the car. He only hoped it hadn't caused any injuries. Egon turned back around and undid his seatbelt when he heard a soft moan come from the front seat. Peter was raising his head.
"Peter, are you alright?" Dr. Spengler inquired.
"If having a headache that reminds you of the guy in an orchestra hitting that big drum than I'm great," Peter replied. He leaned back than grabbed his left leg. "Oh, damn it."
"What is it?"
"My leg," Dr. Venkman answered. "It hurts really bad." He looked at the door and how his leg was positioned. "The door caught my leg, Spengs. It's stuck and possibly broken."
"Possibly?" Egon replied.
"I can't exactly move it to find out. I just know it hurts. Like my head." He looked at his friend. "I hope Dani's happy. We stopped."
"I don't think this is what she had in mind," Dr. Spengler responded. "Of course, you may ask her when she regains consciousness."
"Is she alright?" Dr. Venkman tried to turn around in his seat, but wasn't having any luck.
"I can't tell. She does have an evident head wound, but some other injuries are not as easy to diagnose."
"Like internal bleeding?"
"Yes."
"Well, I don't think anything else is broken or injured on me," Peter told him. "Just my leg and my head. Your head doesn't look to good either." Dr. Spengler gently touched the right side of his head and felt the sticky blood. He pulled away his hand quickly.
"Fortunately, it seems to be my only injury."
"Stop the car. Stop the car." Egon turned around in his seat to see his cousin shaking her head. "Stop the car!" She shot up and yelped in pain as the proton pack slid off her on to the floorboard. Dani grabbed her chest and lay back down.
"Dani, how do you feel?" Dr. Spengler inquired.
"Horrible," Dani mumbled. "My chest hurts."
"You might have fractured or broken a rib during the accident," Egon said.
"Thank you, doctor," she retorted. "What do you plan to do for your next act?" She shivered as the wind blew in snow through the broken windows. "Damn, it's cold."
"At least it isn't snowing as hard," Peter replied. "Of course, I can't tell. My field of vision is kinda limited being stuck." Egon looked out the back window where he could see the sun rising through the slowly falling snow. How many hours had passed since the accident? He looked at his watch and saw that it was a few minutes past seven in the morning. The scientist hadn't thought that much time had passed. Although he also wasn't sure when they had crashed.
"What are you staring at?" Dani asked.
"Nothing," Dr. Spengler answered shaking himself out of the stupor. "Dani, did you bring a blanket of any kind?"
"Yeah, in my bag. It's supposed to be a Christmas gift for Aunt Katie."
"She'll understand," Egon told her. He started to climb over the front seat and stepped on the part of the back seat Dani wasn't occupying. She gave him a goofy grin as he continued to climb over into the cargo area of Ecto- 1. The scientist shook his head and went into the back. He found his cousin's red luggage bag under another proton pack and dug through it. Egon found a beautifully quilted blanket and thought of his mother. She would like this. Dani had chosen well. He sighed than climbed back over.
"Hey, Spengs, what's the plan on getting out of here?" Peter asked as Dr. Spengler placed the blanket on his cousin. Egon got back into the front seat. "I don't think the car's going anywhere any time soon."
"I suppose I'll have to go find help," Dr. Spengler said.
"No, Egon," Dani objected. "You can't go out there. We don't even know where we are. You could get lost or something. Than we'd all die remembering the last thing you said to us was good-bye and I'll be back with help."
"Nobody's going to die, Dani," Peter told her. "Egon's our only chance of getting out of here. I don't want him to go either, but if he doesn't than we're screwed."
"I don't want him to go," Dani repeated.
Dr. Spengler looked at Dr. Venkman and they exchanged knowing looks. There wasn't another choice. This was the only way. Peter would be left with Dani and the two would have to make sure neither succumbed to further injury nor freezing. Egon would have to rely on himself to make it to the nearest home or town and get help for them before he surrendered to the cold.
"Dani, I must go," Dr. Spengler told her. He looked at the young woman. "I'm sorry. I promise to return with help."
"We're missing Christmas," she said.
"We'll have our own Christmas," Egon responded. "It's just a day. We'll find our own day and celebrate. I know how much you were looking forward to this."
"Yeah," Dani whispered. "You promise to come back?"
"I give my word as a scientist and as your cousin," the Ghostbuster said quietly.
"Okay." Egon turned back to Peter.
"Be careful out there, Spengs," Peter told him. "Don't let some polar bear drag you off for Christmas dinner."
"Polar bears are not indigenous to this are, Peter. I would have thought you knew that much." Dr. Venkman gave him a look. "I shall be careful."
"Maybe you should take a proton pack with you," Peter suggested. "Attract attention by blasting a tree to make a fire or something." An object came flying over the backseat and hit Egon's in the shoulder landing in the front seat between Peter and Egon. The two Ghostbusters saw that it was Egon's PKE meter.
"Your stupid PKE meter hit me," Dani said. "I get to thank you for the wonderful headache." Egon put the meter under his seat.
"You better get going," Peter told him. "The longer we wait the better the chance we have of freezing." Dr. Spengler gave his friend a curt nod than started to climb over the seat. Peter grabbed his friend's arm and Egon looked back at him. "I don't even get a hug?"
"Peter."
"Come on, Spengs. It's Christmas. Tis the season to be mushy." Egon sighed and gave his friend a quick hug than continued over the seat. He crawled over the backseat than leaned back over and kissed his cousin on the forehead. She gave him a sad smile and he carried on to the back door. Egon hit the door with his shoulder and it opened letting in a new wave of snow. He grabbed a proton pack than closed the door forcefully.
Outside was a winter wonderland. The physicist could barely see the road they had been traveling on. He looked back at the car and could only see the back end of Ecto. Egon glanced around for some kind of indication that said where they were or at least a landmark. He found a bent sign a few feet away from the crashed car.
"Cleveland forty miles," Dr. Spengler read. He sighed. They weren't even that far from their point of destination. Egon shivered as the snow meltied and the icy water made its way down his back under the thick sweatshirt he was wearing. "Angonak five miles." Perhaps he could make it to Angonak. Five miles wasn't far. He and his fellow Ghostbusters ran that much in one day on difficult busts. Hopefully he could make it without freezing to death. With one last glance at Ecto-1 than started down the road.