Title: Healing

Authors: Susie and Jenn

Rated: PG13

Warning : A little two on Emotion rape . But nothing graphie.

Summary: Peter tries to help Ray, but will Ray let him? Sequel

to Past, Present and Future

Copyright: 2004

Disclaimers: The Real Ghostbusters are the property of D.I.C.

This story was written for fun and not for profit.

Thanks: To Sandy for the beta

********

The nights of New York City were getting colder but one man

didn't seem to notice. He sat down at his desk running his

hand slowly through his hair. It had been another long night

for him.

Last night had been a year since Ray had been kidnapped and

beaten by Dwayne Hicks. His younger colleague finally appeared

to be getting over the events. Ray had suffered a slight head

fracture that had caused a speech problem. Another blow on the

head had miraculously restored his speech. The doctor had no

idea how that was possible.

Peter figured that it had to be a miracle - something Ray once

said he didn't believe in. He had also suffered two broken

legs and it was some time before he was able to walk. But

after he had caught the ghost of the man who hurt him, Ray was

well on his way to a full recovery.

But on the night of the anniversary of Ray's kidnapping, the

nightmares came back in full force. Peter Venkman had been

lying on his bed reading when he heard Ray's terrified

screams. He shot from his bed and was at his friend's side

before anyone could blink. He held the frightened man until he

calmed down. Once Ray had gone back to sleep, Peter remained

there. And again the nightmares came. So, Peter spent all

night with Ray. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and

turned around to see Egon standing before him holding a cup of

coffee.

"I thought you could use this," Egon said as he gave the cup

to Peter.

"Thanks," Peter said as he took it. "I really could use this."

Egon pointed to a now sleeping Ray. "How is he?"

"I think the worst of the nightmares are over with for now,

but I'm not sure about tonight."

"You could have asked Winston or me to help you."

Peter shook his head. "I couldn't even if I had wanted to. Ray

screamed every time I left him." Peter chuckled softly. "You

must sleep like a stone, Spengs, if Ray's screams didn't wake

you up."

Egon slowly turned away. "I guess I was tired last night. I'm

sorry, Peter. I should have been awake to help you."

Peter stood up. "It's okay, Egon. I'm not mad, but I am

hungry. Why don't you wake Ray while I fix breakfast? How does

eggs, bacon, and home fries sound to you?"

"It sounds fine to me, but Peter..."

"Yes, Egon?"

"Have Winston fix breakfast."

Peter rolled his eyes and nodded as he left the room.

Egon turned back to Ray and saw that he had finally opened his

eyes a little. "Ray?"

"Y-Yeah, Egon?" Ray asked.

"Are you all right?" Egon placed a cold washcloth on Ray's

forehead.

Ray brushed it away. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You were, uh, dreaming," Egon replied.

"I'm fine!" Ray cried abruptly.

Egon stepped back, surprised. "Ray, that isn't like you," he

said.

"I'm fine, Egon! Why doesn't everyone just leave me alone?"

Ray turned away from Egon.

"Raymond, look at me," Egon demanded.

Ray turned back around. "What do you want, Egon? I had a

dream! People have dreams! But why worry about it? You slept

right through the whole thing." Ray threw back the covers and

got up with a scowl on his face.

Egon started to say something but stopped, realizing that Ray

was not in the mood to hear what he had to say.

Peter heard Ray's angry voice and sighed as he stood up from

his desk where he had gone to after asking Winston to fix

breakfast. That was the last straw for him, as far as he was

concerned. He knew Ray needed to get away for a while. He knew

they were all on pins and needles. Even a year's worth of

therapy from Dwight hadn't helped Ray much. Ray was still

tense when anybody tried to help or talk to him.

Peter picked up his phone and made a call. When he was

finished, he went upstairs to the dining area. "Okay guys, I'd

like your attention, please. I'm taking Ray to Coco Beach and

I don't want to hear another word about it."

Winston and Egon stared at each other. "Fine with me, Peter.

Maybe it will help," said Egon as he turned back to face

Peter. "I know I can't do anything with him."

Winston nodded but Ray shook his head. "I don't want to go."

"That's just too bad, kid. You're going," Peter said firmly.

"You can't make me go anywhere I don't want to go!" Ray

snapped. He got up and started to walk away but Egon stepped

in front of him.

"Raymond, listen to yourself!" Egon yelled.

Ray stopped short in his tracks, surprised at Egon's outburst.



"What?" Ray snapped back.

"Ray, listen to how you sound! You yell all the time. You

hardly talk to us, and what scares me the most is that you're

acting like none of this ever happened," Egon said.

Ray didn't say anything. He stared at the floor.

"All I'm saying is give Peter a chance. Ray, please. He's your

best friend. Talk to him," Egon urged.

"What if I don't want to? I want to act like it didn't happen!

Okay? It didn't happen!!" Ray yelled.

Peter sighed. This was worse than what he thought. "Come on,

Ray. It'll be fun. You and me, sunning on the beach... All

those girls..."

"What girls?" snapped Ray. "They'll only be paying attention

to you! As far as any girl's concerned, I don't exist!"

Peter looked at Ray sadly. "Look Ray, I know you... I thought

that this would make you feel better."

"Peter, I know you're trying to help and I understand. Really,

I do, but going to a beach isn't going to help. I just want to

stay home."

Peter nodded his head. "Okay Tex, you win. We'll stay home but

we really need to talk."

"I talk to Dwight. He's my psychologist, Peter. I'll be all

right." Ray left the room.

Peter turned to the others. "I'm going to have a talk with

Dwight. I want to know what the hell he's doing to help Ray."

The guys nodded and Peter left the room. He caught a cab and

headed over to Dwight's office. After paying the cab driver,

he walked inside the building and headed towards Dwight's

office.

The receptionist looked up as he entered. "Can I help you?"

she asked.

"Yes, I need to speak with Dwight," Peter said.

"And you are…" she glanced at him suspiciously, not liking the

idea of this man addressing the doctor by his first name

"Dr. Peter Venkman. My friend is a patient of his," he told

her.

"One moment, please. Would you please have a seat over there?"

She pointed to the chairs on her right. "Let me check if he's

available to see you." She pushed the intercom button.

"Doctor, there's a Dr. Peter Venkman to see you. He's...."

Before she could finish, Dwight came out. "Peter! What brings

you here? Is Ray all right?"

"No, I don't believe he is. Can we go somewhere else to talk?"

Dwight looked at his receptionist. "Dot, do I have any more

patients today?"

Dot checked the appointment book and looked up. "Mr. Moody at

seven, Doctor. Nobody else until then."

"Thanks, Dot." He turned back to Peter. "Okay, I'm all yours.

Let's go get a bite to eat."

*****

The two men sat down in a restaurant not too far away from

Dwight's office and ordered lunch. Dwight waited for Peter to

talk after their food and drinks were set down, but they both

discovered they were rather hungry and conversation was kept

at a minimum.

"I want to know what Ray's telling you," Peter finally said

after they were halfway through with their meals.

"Peter, you of all people should know that I can't break

doctor-patient confidentiality!"

"Damn it, Dwight! He's my friend and I want to help him."

Dwight slowly got up. "I'm sorry, Peter. I can't help you. If

I tell you anything, I'd be betraying Ray's trust."

Peter grabbed Dwight's arm as he stood up. "Come on, I need

something! Ray won't talk to me."

"Peter, I can't and you know it! I've got to go. Thanks for

lunch."

Peter watched him leave. "Yeah, you're welcome - and thanks

for nothing."

After paying for lunch, Peter hailed a taxi and went back to

the firehouse. As he walked inside the office, Janine was

waiting for him. "They got a call." She reached over and gave

him a piece of paper. "Egon said to come as soon as you got

back. Here's the address."

Peter quickly got a cab and went to the address Janine had

given him, but it looked like the guys were gone already. With

that out of the way, Peter headed back. When Peter got back,

the guys were already home.

"Hey Pete, we missed you on the bust," Winston said with a

smile.

Peter returned the smile sheepishly. Ray didn't say anything

to him but just walked upstairs looking angry. "What's his

problem?" he asked.

"He knows why you weren't there, Peter," Winston murmured.

"Oh…" Peter sighed and headed after Ray. "Tex?"

"You can't just let me live my life, can you?" Ray shouted as

he turned around to face Peter.

Peter jumped, startled by Ray's reaction. "What do you mean,

Tex?" he asked.

"You went to go talk to him, didn't you? To Dwight?" he

snapped.

Peter sighed. "Yeah, but he wouldn't tell me anything," he

said truthfully.

"And he shouldn't! He's MY psychologist, damn it! You're not,

so quit trying to act like you are!" Ray cried.

"Fine, Ray! If you want to go talk to some stranger rather

than me, that's perfectly all right by me!" Peter snapped.

"For your information, Mister I've Got to Stick My Nose in

Everybody's Business, Dwight Summers was YOUR friend in

college! You're the one who made me go to him! I didn't want

to, but you made me!" Ray shouted.

"That's because you wouldn't talk to me!" Peter yelled back.

"IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO YOU! IT HAPPENED TO ME! YOU HAVE NO

IDEA!"

Peter took a deep breath to calm down. "No. You're right. I

don't, but I'm here to listen."

Ray also calmed down because he hated getting mad. "I'm sorry,

Peter. I don't know why I'm acting this way. I thought once I

was healed it would go away but it's hasn't and the nightmares

are getting worse."

Peter reached out and Ray went into his arms. "It's okay, Ray.

I'm here if you want to talk."

Ray nodded and suddenly burst into tears. Peter handed him a

tissue.

"You have no idea what it's like," Ray stammered.

"I'd like to know, Ray. I'd like to help you." Peter put a

hand on Ray's shoulder. "But I can't help you unless you talk

to me."

"Nobody can help me," Ray cried, shaking his head. "Nobody

knows what it was like over there."

Peter sighed. They were going back to square one. "Ray, we may

not have known what it was like, but we know that he hurt

you…" Peter didn't mention his name.

Ray sobbed a little. "He hurt me more than I can even tell

you," he sniffled.

Peter waited patiently. Ray slowly got up, walked over to the

coffeepot and poured himself a drink. "I never knew from one

day to the next what they were going to do to me. Peter, I was

so afraid that they would..." Ray took a deep breath. "Rape

me."

Peter clenched his fist. "I'm sorry, Ray."

"Not your fault. My fault."

"No it wasn't. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Ray shook his head and took a big gulp of the coffee, letting

it burn his throat. "One night they even put me in a hole with

rats. They were crawling all over me."

Peter shuddered. "Come on, Ray. Let's sit down. Take your

time. I'm here and I'll listen to everything you have to say.

All of us will help you get through this."

Ray nodded and tried to smile unsuccessfully. "Peter… They

would…torture me, not let me eat for a day or so… and then

feed me some sort of meat. I-I didn't know what it was… It

made me sick…" Ray gulped.

Peter found his hands turning into fists. "It's okay, Ray. I'm

listening… I'm here…" he reminded Ray.

Ray nodded shakily. "O-One time I was naked… Don't know w-why,

s-since they didn't rape me… B-but Peter, t-they saw me…" Ray

looked down.

"Oh Ray…" Peter whispered.

"O-One of them…I think…m-might have been g-gay, because he-he

looked at me…b-but t-they wouldn't let him do anything…." Ray

shivered.

Peter immediately placed his arms around Ray and was glad when

Ray didn't pull away but leaned into him. He gently in a

brotherly way held him as he felt Ray give in to what he had

been hiding all these months. "Let it go, Ray. That's part of

the healing process."

Ray held onto Peter like he was a life preserver. "I remember

the day they broke my right leg." He took a deep breath. "They

had stripped me down to my boxers and after whipping me, the

one they called Mike, I think - took this heavy bar and

slammed it into my leg..." he shuddered. "It hurt so badly. I

screamed, Peter. I didn't mean to. I just couldn't help it.

Hicks said I was a baby that had to be punished and he broke

my other leg."

Peter held him tighter, wishing he could do more. "Why did you

let us think everything was okay?"

"I didn't want you to hate me because I was weak and couldn't

fight them. You would've talked your way out. Egon wouldn't

have been so stupid as to walk into that trap in the first

place, and Winston would've fought his way out. I didn't. I

rolled over and let them hurt me."

"Ray, listen to me! There's no way I could have fought them

off. We bust ghosts! We're not superheroes."

"Peter's right, Ray. You mustn't think we would have fared any

better than you did."

Both Ray and Peter turned around as Winston and Egon walked

in. "How much did you hear?" Peter asked.

"Enough," Egon answered.

Ray hung his head.

"Raymond! Look at me!" Egon demanded. Ray slowly lifted his

head to look at him. "I don't ever want to see you looking

ashamed again. You did nothing wrong. "

"I... I... I'm sorry, Egon."

"Will you stop saying that, Ray? It's getting old."

"I'm sorry, Peter."

Peter sighed. "I know. Just stop, okay?"

"I'll try."

Peter smiled suddenly. "Guys, I don't know about you but I'm

starving." Ray tried to smile also, but failed. "So... Who's

up for pizza?" Peter asked.

"PIZZA!" Slimer shouted as he floated upstairs, excited.

"As long as it's not that pineapple pizza junk, Pete," Winston

said, making a face.

Peter made a face at Winston in return. "That's the best

though, buddy!"

"We'll get half and half, guys - and one for the spud!" Ray

cried, laughing a little.

The guys smiled at him.

"Okay, half and half. Uh, Ray half of what?" asked Peter as he

dialed the number.

"Half with pineapple and half with pepperoni and chocolate

sauce."

Egon put a hand over his mouth.

"Yeah! Yeah! Chocolate sauce," Slimer piped in.

"Chocolate sauce, Ray? Are you expecting?"

Ray looked a little embarrassed. "No Winston, but it's good."

"Yeah! Good! Yummy!" Slimer exclaimed as he rubbed his

stomach.

"So **you** say," Egon muttered, looking positively revolted

at the pizza topping combination being discussed.

Peter shook his head. "Yeah! Hello. I want to order four large

pizzas. One Hawaiian pizza and two with pepperoni and

chocolate sauce... Yeah, you heard me right: chocolate sauce!

Look pal, I'm paying for this and I'll ask for whatever I

want! Yeah. Okay, and one regular pizza. Deliver to

Ghostbusters Central. Yeah... Thanks!" He hung up the phone.

"Jerk!"

The pizza arrived twenty minutes later and the guys ate it and

sat up most of the night talking and laughing. Peter watched

Ray as he and Slimer shared the last piece of pizza. 'I'm

going to help you, Ray. I promise.'

******

The next morning Peter called Dwight's office.

"Hello. This is Doctor Summers' office," the receptionist

said.

"Yes, this is Doctor Venkman and I'd like to speak with Doctor

Summers."

"Hold on. I'll put you through."

A few moments later, Peter heard Dwight's voice over the

receiver. "Hello. Doctor Summers speaking. May I help you?" he

said.

"Hey, Dwight. This is Peter," replied Peter calmly.

"Hey, Peter. What's up? Ray's not due for a session until

Friday."

"I have one thing to say, Dwight."

"Yeah? What is it, Peter?"

"We don't need you anymore!" Peter snapped.

"What?" Dwight asked, not believing his ears. "Peter, are you

crazy? Ray still needs my help!"

"You heard me, buddy. We don't need you anymore. Ray's talking

to me. I'll help him from now on," Peter said.

"Peter, Ray and I have been working together. I don't think

this is a wise idea…" Dwight said.

"That's too bad. You're fired!"

Suddenly the phone was taken from Peter's hand. "What do you

think you're doing?" Egon demanded as he put the receiver down

on the table.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm firing Dwight!"

"Peter, you can't do that!"

"Why not? I can help Ray!"

"You're too close to this!"

"Egon, Ray's finally talking to me!"

"I know, Peter, but the next time he may not. You can't fire

Dwight. That's Ray's decision to do such a thing."

"Let's ask Ray." Peter walked away before Egon could say

another word. He found Ray reading. "Hey Tex, I'm going to

fire Dwight and help you instead. Is that okay with you?"

Ray never looked up. He just nodded. Peter turned back to

Egon. "See? He said it was okay. So tell Dwight he's fired!"

He then turned around

Egon walked right up behind Peter. "PETER CHARLES VENKMAN!" he

cried.

Egon yelled so loudly that Peter turned around, startled. He

was not used to hearing his friend be so loud. "What?" Peter

cried back.

"Do you **really** think I'm that stupid? You think I don't

know what you just did?" Egon asked. "You're trying to take

over Ray's life again, Peter, by doing this!"

"What?" Peter cried, defending himself. "No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!" Egon said. "Go back there, make sure Ray's

listening, and then ask him again. He probably didn't even

hear you when you asked him because he had his nose buried in

that book and you know it! Stop being so damned selfish!"

Peter turned away.

"Hey! Dwight's still on the phone," said Janine as she stood

in the doorway.

"Janine, tell him we'll call him back."

"Okay, Egon."

Peter slowly walked up to Ray. "Hey, Tex. Put the book down. I

want to ask you something."

"Yeah, Peter?"

"Ray, I want to help you so I'm going to fire Doctor Summers.

What do you think of that idea?"

"Whatever you think is best, Peter."

"No, Ray. I want to know what you think."

"I don't want you to fire him. He's doing a great job, Peter.

I'll talk to you too, but there are some things I just can't

tell you."

"Okay, Ray. I understand. Thanks." Peter walked away and Ray

went back to reading.

"Well?" asked Egon.

"Dwight stays on."

Egon nodded. "And are you all right with this, Peter? It's

probably the best thing for Ray."

Peter nodded. "You're right Spengs, and no - I'm not really

all right with it, but at the same time I do know it's best

for him. Being in this profession, I know that I'm too close

to him for him to tell me everything. Heck, he probably blames

me for some of the things that happened to him."

Egon put a hand on Peter's shoulder. "He doesn't blame you,

Peter."

"Oh no? I see it in his eyes, Egon, because we weren't there.

I saw it when we talked the other day, and I see it now."

Peter shook his head. "No, Egon. He blames us and I think

that's why he likes talking to Dwight because he's too ashamed

or embarrassed to tell us that."

"Peter, are you sure about this?" Egon asked. "You can't

presume this."

Peter shrugged. "Right now it's just a guess, Egon. Until he

tells me more, then I won't know so I'm not assuming anything.

Right now, I'm just hoping and praying that it will work

itself out and Ray will be all right."

Egon nodded in agreement with Peter. They were all worried

about Ray and it made them all act a little irrationally. They

were worried that they would never have the fun-loving,

excitement-filled Ray that they used to have before.

The next day, Ray was up and eating breakfast when Peter

walked in. "You're up early. That's not really like you,

Peter."

"I heard you get up. Thought I'd take you to see Dwight

today," Peter replied airily as he poured himself a cup of

coffee.

"No, you don't have to. I'll take a cab."

"Ray, I really want to."

"I know, Peter, but I really want to go by myself."

"Ray... I'd feel a lot better if I went with you."

Ray got up as he finished the last of his juice. "I'll talk to

you later, Peter."

Peter sighed as Ray left and looked out the window, watching

him get into a cab. "Yeah. Later, Ray."

When the cab pulled up, Ray paid for the fare, walked into the

building and he headed for Dwight Summers' office suite.

"Hello, Ray. The doctor will see you in a moment," the

receptionist told him with a smile as she showed him into

Dwight's office.

"Thanks." Ray sat down and leafed through a magazine.

"Hello Raymond," Dwight's friendly voice filled the air as he

walked into the room.

"H-Hi Dwight," Ray sighed. He looked around the room nervously

because he felt uncomfortable lying on the couch.

"Something the matter, Ray?" Dwight asked

"M-Maybe I can come back another time," Ray got up and started

to leave

"Wait a minute. Have a seat, Ray. If the couch bothers you,

you can sit in the chair and talk to me. I won't bite," Dwight

said with a smile.

Ray shuddered when he said that. He decided to go to the couch

instead of having a seat. He lay down, looking up at the

ceiling to avoid Dwight's gaze.

"Was it something I said?" Dwight asked, pulling up a chair.

"Something they did to you?"

Ray had tears in his eyes, but he nodded. "Y-Yes… Well, i-it

was Hicks… When he had me… He said…the same thing, and t-then

he bit my arm…" Ray shuddered again. "I-It was h-his idea of a

sick joke."

"I'm sorry, Ray. I didn't mean to bring back bad memories,"

Dwight said, taking notes. Ray watched silently as Dwight

wrote on his pad. "You said earlier that you weren't raped.

Ray, are you hiding something?"

Ray turned his head toward Dwight. "I wasn't raped."

"Ray, there are different types of rape. You may not have been

raped physically, but emotionally, you were."

Ray suddenly sat up. "Stop saying that! I wasn't raped!"

"Look at you! You haven't been able to cope with anything.

Every sound makes you jump. You're on the edge. You're pushing

your own friends away."

Ray got up and paced the floor. "I wasn't raped. I... I... I

was hurt. The guys deserted me!"

Dwight wrote more down on his pad. "You said that Hicks bit

you and you were naked at one point. Why were you naked?"

"I don't know! Stop asking me that! Peter's right!"

"Peter's right about what?"

"You're not helping."

"I can and so can Peter as soon as you admit that Hick raped

you emotionally."

Ray turned and left without saying a word. Dot watched him

leave, knowing that something was wrong. She hurried into

Dwight office.

Dwight was on the phone. "Calm down, Peter! Yes, he's very

upset!"

"I'll calm down! What did you say to him?"

"I just wanted to admit he was emotionally raped. Once he

does, we can help him."

"No, Dwight. I can help him. I don't care. Ray needs me. I'll

keep you on, but Ray needs me now." Peter hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?" asked Winston.

"Dwight upset Ray. I'm going to go find him."

"Do you know where he might go?"

"I've got a good idea where he might be," Peter replied grimly

as he walked out the door.

******

"I wasn't raped! I wasn't raped! I wasn't raped!" Ray kept

saying over and over in his mind. He kept having flashbacks

and he shook them away, desperately trying to forget them. He

finally burst into tears. He was sitting on a bench right next

to his parents' old house. This place brought peace to him

sometimes, but not today. If he admitted he was raped then it

was true and he just couldn't do that.

The flashbacks wouldn't leave him alone. Ray stood up and

tried to think of something else, something that would block

them from his memory, but nothing worked. He started jogging

around the block and then came back and sat on the bench,

exhausted.

"Have a nice run, Tex?"

Ray slowly lifted his head. "Go away, Peter! I want to be

alone."

"Since when did you become Greta Garbo?"

Ray turned away from him.



"Dwight called me."

"So?"

"He said you got upset with him."

"He said I was raped."

"And?"

"I wasn't."

"I see." Peter sat down on the bench next to Ray. "Tex, what

do you think rape is?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Just a question, that's all."

"When you're forced to have sex."

"That's one type of rape, but there are others. I noticed

those bite marks. Did Hicks do that?"

"Yes," Ray answered, avoiding Peter's gaze.

"And I guess he called you all sorts of names and put you

down. In fact, I bet that he made you feel lower than a

snake."

Ray looked up, tears now escaping from his eyes. "Yes. He did

all that."

"Ray, that's raping someone mentally."

"Peter, please help me! I'm so scared."

Peter reached over and pulled Ray into a hug. "I will, buddy.

I will."

*****

That night back at the firehouse, Peter sat down at his desk

going over some bills. He was thinking about what he and Ray

had talked about. Emotional rape, though not as bad as

physical rape, could still leave behind scars. Peter sighed as

he finished up the bills.

"Hey, man. You okay?"

"Hi, Winston. Yeah, I'm peachy. Just worried about Ray, that's

all."

"Yeah. Me too, man."

"Winston, how are you holding up?"

Winston shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, I'm cool, man. Just wish

none of this happened."

"Yeah, me too, Winston - but it did and we've got to deal with

it."

Winston nodded. "I hear you, my man. I just wish it wasn't

Ray."

"I know. I'd rather it had happened to me than the kid, but

that isn't the case. He's hurting, Winston... He's hurting and

I feel like there's nothing I can do," Peter sighed.

Winston placed a hand on Peter's shoulder. "You're doing

everything you can, Peter, and that's keep us sane as well.

You're doing more than your share, buddy."

Peter nodded, sighing.

Ray came down a minute later. "H-Hi Peter-" he said.

"Hi, kiddo. You want to talk?" Peter asked.

Ray nodded.

"I'll leave you two alone, my man," Winston said, smiling at

Ray.

"Thanks Winston," Ray said quietly.

"What do you want to talk about, buddy?" Peter asked.

Ray stood, nervously staring at Peter. "Peter, I want you to

know that I appreciate what you are doing for me, but there

are just things that I can't tell you right now."

"Why, Ray?"

Ray walked over to the pole and stared down through the hole.

"I guess I feel you won't like me any more."

Peter walked over to him. "You know that's silly, don't you?"

"Yeah, but I can't help thinking it. Dwight told me one way to

get over the bump was to re-act it out."

"What? You mean everything?"

Ray nodded.

Peter turned away for a moment before turning back to face his

friend. "It sometimes works. It lets the victim change the

outcome, but it can also backfire. If you do decide to do

this, I want us to be there."

"I already told Dwight that."

"Good. So, do you want to do it?"

"It might be the only way, but I'm scared," Ray admitted.

"Just remember this time it's not real and we will be there."

"Yes Ray .Peter is right we will all be there ."

Ray and Peter turn to see Egon and Winston.

"Thanks Egon."

The next morning everyone woke up early, even Peter. Winston

woke up to make pancakes for everyone. Ray came out rubbing

his eyes.

"Morning partner," Winston smiled.

"Morning," Ray yawned.

"One pancake or two?" Winston asked.

"Uh… None, really. I'm not too hungry," Ray said as he lowered

his head.

Winston handed Ray a pancake anyway. "Ray, you need to eat

something. So please, don't make me force you. It could get

ugly."

Ray smiled and nodded. Peter and Egon arrived shortly after.

They also sat down and had breakfast. Once breakfast was done

and cleaned up, they all got into Ecto and drove to the

doctor's office. Sitting in the back seat, Ray kept fiddling

with his hands.

"You'll do fine, Raymond," Egon said as he put a hand on Ray's

shoulder.

"I-I'm glad you guys are with me," Ray replied, trying to

smile.

When they arrived at Dwight's office, they were told to go

straight in. Dwight walked over to them. "I'm glad you all

decided to help Ray in this. Now I need to tell you what to

expect. I will place Ray under hypnosis. This way he will be

able to remember everything but the outcome will be

different." Dwight paused when he saw the look on Ray's face.

"It will be okay, Ray. I will have a suggestion word to bring

you out. "

Ray nodded.

Dwight nodded in return before facing the other Ghostbusters.

"Now, you three need to listen to this carefully. While under

hypnosis, Ray will see everything as it was when he was a

prisoner, you three included. In other words, he'll see you

three as the men who kidnapped him. So, if he attacks you or

whatever he might do under hypnosis, I don't want any of you

go off in a temper saying that Ray blames me. If you do, I'll

end this so fast that your heads will spin. Do I make myself

clear?"

All three of them nodded. Dwight took Ray over to a couch.

"Ray, please lie down and relax. Take deep breaths, all

right?"

Ray slowly lay on the couch. "I want you to focus on this and

my voice," Dwight said as he reached over for a large piece of

clear crystal. The light hit off the angles of the crystal,

making little images of rainbows on the wall.

Ray's breathing slowed as he reluctantly allowed himself to

relax. His eyelids began to droop slightly as he focused on

the crystal Dwight held in his hand.

"Ray, you are standing on a hillside. The sun is shining and

the air smells fresh and clean. Can you sense that?" Dwight

murmured soothingly.

"Yes..."

"Now listen to me: when I count to three, you will no longer

be there but in the place you never want to see again. Do you

understand?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to count, but before I do, remember busted. This

word will bring you back. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"All right... One... Two... Three."

They all watched as Ray's features suddenly transformed to an

absolutely enraged _expression as he stood up and stared at

them. He then turned to face Winston, his lips pulled back in

an ugly snarl. "Hicks, you filthy piece of crap, I'm gonna

kick your butt from here to next Tuesday!" Ray yelled as he

threw himself at Winston. "I'm gonna make you pay for what you

did to Winston, that poor girl, and me! Do you hear me, you

piece of slime?"

Ray began punching Winston but the older man was holding the

punches at bay.

"Stop him, for crying out loud!" yelled Peter.

"No, I'm okay. Ray needs to do this!" Winston said, raising

his voice so he could be heard over Ray's shouting. "Let him

be!"

"You bastard! How could you do this to anyone? What kind of a

man are you?" Ray screeched as he continued trying to punch

Winston.

Egon rose to his feet. "Winston, I agree with Peter. This must

stop before someone gets hurt!"

Ray suddenly turned around. "You two shut up! Hicks is gonna

pay for everything he's done!" Ray suddenly placed his hands

on Winston's throat and began squeezing.

Winston remained calm but Peter didn't. "BUSTED!" he yelled.

Ray shook his head and then stared down at his hands around

Winston's neck. "Oh my God... Winston... I'm sorry... I didn't

mean to," he muttered, slowly removing his hands from his

friend.

"It's okay, Ray. I'm okay."

Egon whirled around to face Dwight. "What was that supposed to

do? Ray could have killed Winston!"

Dwight ignored Egon and spoke to Ray. "How do you feel, Ray?"

Ray looked around. "A little confused but I also feel relief -

like something heavy was taken off my back that was weighing

me down."

"It was your fear. Once you stood up to Hicks, your fear left

you." said Dwight. A few more sessions and I think you will be

fine."

Ray smiled. He wiped his eyes when he realized they were

watering. The guys silently walked outside.

Peter put an arm around Ray's shoulder. "Are you feeling any

better, Tex?"

Ray nodded. "Yeah, Peter. I am, really."

Peter squeezed Ray's shoulder. "You don't blame us?" he asked.

Ray didn't answer for a second.

"It's okay, buddy. You don't have to answer right now. It's

like Dwight said, after a few more sessions, you'll be your

old jumpy self again," Peter said with a grin.

Ray returned the shoulder squeeze. "Thanks Peter," he

whispered.

The sessions lasted a few more weeks and Dwight was right -

Ray was finally reverting to his normally cheerful self. The

night after the last session, Peter was sitting down on the

sofa reading over the bills.

"Peter?"

Peter looked up at the sound of Ray's voice and smiled. "Hey,

Ray! Come on over and have a seat."

Ray sat down on the couch and gazed at his friend for a long

time before speaking. "Peter, do you remember when you asked

me if I blamed you and I couldn't answer you?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Well, now I can. I did at first. I didn't want to, but I

couldn't help it. But I don't blame you guys now."

Peter stood up and gave Ray a hug. "I'm glad, Ray. So, are you

up for a game of cards? How about a game of gin?" he asked as

he picked up a deck of cards and they walked into the kitchen.

"Only if you don't cheat."

"Cheat? Me? Ray, I'm hurt!" Peter replied in a mocking voice.

"Ray laughed as he sat down at the table. "Just deal, Peter!

Hey you guys, we're playing gin!"

The other three joined them in the kitchen and they all had a

good time.

The End