Chapter Three

Peter sighed as he slowly lowered himself into the wheelchair, which Janine was pushing, Winston sat beside him in another wheelchair, which 'Big' Ed Zeddemore was pushing. He had remained with them for the two days they were in the hospital. He would be going home as soon as the boys were settled back into the firehouse.

"If you boys want any help, just give us a call," Ed said easily. He was a tough man, strong and secure, but he was afraid for Egon and Raymond.

"We'll be fine pop, we'll let you know as soon as we find Egon and Ray," stated Winston, Peter couldn't help but add the small if there. He felt horrible even thinking it, but truth was it was an 'if'. They didn't know if they'd ever find Egon or Ray alive, and personally Peter wasn't sure he would, that's what scared him the most.

Peter had tried to keep his mind off his two friends for two days now, and he was now completely filled with worry. Unfortunately he knew Austin, all too well, and knew the man had a substance problem when it came to things such as PCP and other various drugs. That had been on of his convictions, the use of illegal drugs.

They arrived back at the firehouse and an hour later they were sitting around Janine's desk.

"So Now what do we do?" Janine asked, positioned on Peter's right side in a chair. Peter was seated on the desk looking at her, Winston in another chair nearby.

"We wait, plain and simply, we wait...and pray," stated Peter, the last part quiet and withdrawn.

"Why don't you tell us some more about this Austin guy, we don't really know very much," spoke Winston. Peter nodded and thought for a moment.

1978

Peter was fast asleep in the apartment he shared with Egon Spengler and Raymond Stanz. Ray had been studying earlier that evening for a large physics test, Egon and Peter had come in from a class only to find him fast asleep on his book at their kitchen table. They quickly put an end to Ray's studying and sent him to sleep, although he never made it to his bedroom, just the couch.

A loud banging on the door awoke Peter from his nightly hibernation, arousing him and his two friends. Peter groaned something as he entered the living room area to see his girlfriend of two years sobbing in Ray's very surprised arms.

"Ashley?" Peter said, clad in only his boxers, Egon right behind him, in his pjs. Ray was still wearing his sweat pants and a t-shirt that said Got-Science on it.

"Peter, I didn't mean for it to happen!" She sobbed into his arms as Ray had handed her over to him. Ray had slipped into the kitchen with Egon to make some hot chocolate.

"What happened Ash?" Peter asked nervously, taking her over to the couch and sitting down on it.

"I...he raped me Peter, oh God, I feel so..." she stopped crying harder into Peter's arms. Ray looked over at them, then Egon.

"Who?" Peter asked gently, trying to remain calm at only twenty-four he didn't know what to do. Egon at twenty-six did and was now on the phone calling the cops. Ray handed Ashley a hot cup of coco.

"I...David Austin," she whimpered. Ray, only twenty-one looked nervous and angered.

"Honey, what can I do?" Peter asked gently.

"Just, hold me please," she whimpered in his arms.

Peter looked up at Janine, who had tears trailing down her cheeks, and Winston who looked shocked and sickened.

"Austin denied it, Ray and I quickly decided to go after the man. We made a big mistake, we found Austin in his apartment, crashed out on PCP, and as we all know PCP isn't something you wanna run into when someone is on it. We both nearly got stabbed, well anyway, Austin was pulled in for the attempted murder of us, and rape of my girlfriend. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison, six weeks later Ashley committed suicide. He was going to be a grad student, in Narcotics research."

"Don't worry Pete, we'll find them," Winston whispered. All their minds filled with horrible images.

Egon had lost all sense of time, he had sat with Ray in his arms for a long time, until at some point someone came down and took him away, watching Ray's retreating form, Egon feared the worst. He didn't want to know what they were doing to him. Knowing it had to do with PCP, Egon understood that he would have to care for Ray while they were here. He sighed and tried to think back to the first time he had met Peter, trying to get his mind on something good, to pass the time.

1975

His junior year in college: that had been what his mind was on when he had first met him. Egon would be spending roughly another two years at Columbia in grad school. He sat in the parapsychology class waiting for it to begin, Egon Spengler was a good student and always showed up early for every class, so he could acquire a good seat. He was tall, about 6 feet, with lengthy blond hair and sky blue eyes.

The man who trotted into the class almost late for the class, was Columbia's top Quarter back for the football team, he had dark brown hair and emerald green eyes. He looked tired, as though a ten o'clock class was too early for him. He ended up sitting right beside Egon, simply because a good portion of the other seats were taken, and because Peter didn't want to walk up the rest of the steps.

Egon knew about Peter, he was a sophomore this year in college, and something of a jock. Although Egon was sure Peter had to have brains somewhere in that big ego of his, because he had made it to his second year in college. Egon did however, hear snickers from behind him, about a jock in a class such as parapsychology.

"I'm Egon Spengler," Egon introduced, no reason he should join the others. The emerald eyes met his, and for a moment Egon swore he saw thanks in them.

"Peter Venkman, aren't you that physics major always blowing up things?" Peter asked smiling.

"Aren't you that jock?" Not a good start.

"No, I'm that football player majoring in psychology and parapsychology," Peter corrected. It didn't go well from there, and Egon didn't exactly remember how the class ended.

Egon was sitting in the library later that day when Peter came up to him, slamming his books on the table, uncaring to anyone else. Egon looked up at him and glared slightly.

"Can I help you?" Egon said annoyed.

"Yeah, I've got a test to study for tomorrow, and I need your help, seeing as you've taken notes, I haven't and I've been in that class for three weeks now," Peter said.

"What makes you think I'd want to help you?"

"Well, you introduced yourself," Peter said.

"So that makes me your friend?" Egon stated.

"No way, not by a long shot pal, however it does mean I need help and you're a genius," Peter stated.

From there it had been sailing, not smooth or rough just sailing. Egon and Peter had become study friends, and slowly friends as well, Egon had pushed for the friendship, and in the long run, knew Peter was glad. All the thoughts raced through his mind as he sat on the floor. Unfortunately sitting down in this stupid basement gave him way too much time to think, more than usual. He had spend a lot of the time thinking about when they had first met Ray. Back then he had been shy, and quiet. Almost withdrawn from the world. Egon had met him in physics class he had been helping in. The young man had been all alone doing experiments, Egon had decided to change that quiet rapidly. He had introduced himself and made friends with Raymond. He found the younger man to be easily trusting, but very frightened of others. He had continually wondered if Egon was going to just leave him, although he had always been very forgiving.

Egon wasn't sure how long he had been asleep when he heard another moan, besides his own. Groaning he sat up, leaning against a wall, he wrapped an arm around his stomach, feeling a chill run through his entire body. Looking around, it was dark out side the windows high above him, the moon light shining through the windows.

"No, momma, please...no, don't leave me....PETER!" Cried the voice. Ray's voice, he suddenly realized, moving over towards the figure. Ray was propped in a corner across from him, clutching at his stomach, his breathing slow and shallow, his shirts damp with sweat, but his body shivering as though he were in the Antarctic without a jacket.

"Ray," Egon called lightly, his friend's eyes closed, he had bruises on his face, a cut above his right eye, a bruise on his temple, his left cheek bruised and slightly swollen. Egon was sure that was not the extent of his injuries. Moving over towards his friend he jumped when Ray screamed and opened his eyes. The golden brown eyes big, his body rigid in fear. Obviously he wasn't seeing Egon.

"No, please, not again, please," he whimpered quietly.

"Raymond, it's me Egon," Egon said trying to reach out, but Ray whimpered more then moaned.

"You're injured, stay still Raymond, Egon is here, I'll help you," Ray shook his head no, and tried to force himself into a standing position, the wall however was no match for the vertical trouble he was having, for he began to sway the moment he was close. His face lost all color it had left in it, Egon got a good look at Ray's body, although it was still slightly stocky, his face was gaunt, and taut, his skin was pale and probably clammy.

"Please, don't..." his words slurred as he fell to his knees, crying out in pain, moments later he was dry heaving. Egon placed a hand on his friend's back. Ray continued to cry.

"Raymond, I know you aren't really thinking straight, but I want you to calm down, and lie on your back, so I can examine your injuries."

"No, please, I won't do it again, promise," whimpered Ray, his words slurred and confused, but frightened.

"Shh, its okay Raymond, I'm here now," Egon replied.

"Hurtss, 'gon," he murmured as tears continued to run down his face. Egon gently helped him so Ray's head was lying in Egon's lap. Feeling the side of his neck, Egon felt the low pulse rate, and the harsh thumping of the pulse.

"I'm right here Raymond," whispered Egon, as he gently wiped the spittle from the corner of his friend's mouth. Ray moaned again, Egon was sure the younger man wasn't really seeing him, but something else. He knew illusions and hallucinations were part of PCP addiction and withdrawal.

"Pete....peterrrr...peettttterrrr....'sssss deeeadddd?" Whimpered Ray in a slurred voice.

"No Ray, I believe with all my heart that Peter and Winston are alive," Egon said, not adding the well, knowing in his heart that as long as they weren't there neither man would be fine.

"Sawww 'emm ssshottt," groaned Ray as he shifted slightly and winced, Egon was sure he had cracked ribs. Deciding that when Ray was asleep or out of it, he would check for further injuries, until then he'd just have to keep him still.

"It's okay Ray, I'm sure they're alive and looking for the two of us, okay," Egon whispered. He watched Ray continue to wriggle before he finally was out.

Chapter Four

"No! Don't touch them! GET AWAY!" Peter screamed suddenly sitting up right in his bed. Looking around he was all too aware of the two empty beds on the other side of the room. The Mr. Stay Puft Marshmallow Man staring at him.

"Peter?" Came the soft voice, the friendly voice, but it wasn't the voice Peter needed or wanted to hear. He wanted to scream, yell throw things. Crying wasn't his way of dealing with things when one of his friends was hurt or missing. He either searched for them or yelled at everyone in a five mile radius until they were found or better.

The problem was until now, he had always known his friends or friend would be found, would be fine. This time he wasn't so sure. That scared him, he was afraid that if he looked for Austin he would find his friends dead, one or both of them, that thought terrified him. Caused a chill down to the soul, part of him thought maybe they were already dead.

"They're alive Pete," came the voice again, a hand touched his shoulder, causing Peter to turn around and glare at Winston. The black man looking stronger than ever.

"How would you know!" Bit Peter, fear finally getting the better of him. Winston sighed.

"I just know Peter, trust me."

"I can't do that Winston, you know that better than anyone, I can't know until I see them, touch them, hold them," Peter bit.

"Peter, looking inside yourself, do you feel empty?"

"What?"

"Let me ask you a question, Peter. You, Egon and Ray you guys have been friends for how many years, nearly fourteen or so, well, you guys are like brothers, you have a bond, just like brothers, and any friends, you have a bond formed that most people don't have. Does it feel like they're gone?" Winston asked looking into Peter's broken emerald eyes.

"I'm not sure I understand," Peter whispered.

"Well I mean, don't you think you'd feel something if they were dead? Right now you're just assuming, because you can't touch them, hold them and see them. You're assuming that they're dead because Austin is a brutal man, but we don't know that. Look into your soul, Pete, deep inside and tell me does it feel like they died? Do you feel empty inside? Like you've lost something deep inside that you shared with both your two best friends, your brothers? Is there a hollowness there that you've never felt before?" Peter opened his mouth to answer, then closed it, realizing he wanted an honest answer, so Peter sat for a second, letting the rain fall on the building sheltering them. He closed his eyes and trying to imagine how he really felt deep inside right now.

"No," was the only word he said, a tear falling from his eyes to his cheek. Winston smiled gently and clasped Peter's shoulder, he knew it wasn't over, that he and Peter would have a few more conversations like this, none as calm, but he was ready. In his heart Winston did believe his friends were alive, and wouldn't stop looking until they were found.

"I believe in my heart that they will survive, just like I believe that we will find them. Now I think you need to believe too," He whispered.

"I'm afraid Winston, I don't handle fear well," whispered Peter.

"I know m'man, neither do I, but trust me, Egon is one strong man, and so is Ray. We don't give that kid enough credit for some of the shit he's been through, he's no wimp. He can handle what is thrown at him."

"I'm sorry if I woke you up," muttered Peter.

"You didn't," Winston stated plainly and then headed back to his own bed, as he lay there, quiet, listening to the rain fall he heard Peter's soft prayer.

"Please God, if you're really there, let them be alive and okay please," Peter muttered, another tear trailing down his cheek, the same prayer echoing in Winston's mind.

Nothing really made sense, just random shapes in space as Ray tried to get a good glimpse of the room, he felt arms around his shoulders, and for a moment he thought he just had a bad case of the flu and Peter was holding him to make him feel better.

Peter had a way of doing that, when Ray was sick, he always spoke of how his mother had done the same thing for him when he was just a little boy sick with something. Peter would gently wipe Ray's forehead with a cloth and cool water, and sit with him, talking to him while Ray drifted in and out of awareness. Peter was always there for Ray when he needed him. So was Egon, and Winston. Ray was so lucky to have three wonderful friends who cared about him.

However, Ray quickly discovered that it wasn't Peter, but Egon holding him up, and his vertigo was not the flu, but something else. He couldn't remember anything from the past few days. He didn't know how long he had been sitting here. His mind began to wander, wondering why he was so cold.

His stomach was painfully churning, having to keep himself from vomiting was something that was quickly zapping his energy. He felt hot, yet he was shivering, he wanted to hide within the arms that held him so tightly, so lovingly.

"Ray, I'm here," came the bass voice, all too familiar, but seemingly so distant. He tried to move, and felt the arms wrap tighter around his shoulders and chest.

"Mmphlf," came the murmured reply from Ray, unable to form words, which instantly angered him, he couldn't feel his arms and legs. He only felt a slightly tingling feeling.

"Ray, don't move, you've got a couple cracked ribs," Egon's voice sounded in his left ear, making Ray very nervous for some reason. Had this been the first time he was actually with it, enough to understand people. He felt the long fingers work their way through his auburn sweat plastered hair.

"Mmm, 'Gon, feelsssss gooddd," Ray voiced, finding his words slurring.

"Shh, it's okay Ray, just hold still, I've got you now."

"Hurtsss, stopppp it 'gon," murmured Ray.

"I know it does Ray, and I wish I could Raymond, I really wish I could," whispered Egon, as a tear made its way down his dirty cheeks. He pulled Ray closer to him, the two huddling for the warmth, Ray was barely aware of it, but somewhere inside he knew the love and warmth was there and being offered. The two seemed to draw strength from each other as they clung to one another.

"Peter, we cannot go search the entire Manhattan area, do you have any idea how long that would take, and by the time we even got close to finding them, they'd be dead, and we'd probably die of old age!" Winston hadn't meant to be so harsh, but he had the feeling that currently that's what Peter was in need of, the harsh realities, "It would be like looking for a thimble sized needle, in a hay stack the size of the jolly green giant." Winston wasn't angry at Pete, but he was quickly getting frustrated with Peter's gung ho attitude.

"We've gotta try!" Yelled Peter, he was scared, and Winston knew it, but Winston also knew he was about an inch away from killing the man. Going into every house, warehouse, and apartment would be a waste of time and energy on their parts, as well as Egon and Rays. It would take years to comb that entire area, and they would still come up empty.

"No, we need to narrow the options, before we go off half cocked trying to find them. You're the psychologist Peter, get into that guy's head, and find out what he's most likely to do, or most unlikely to do. Come on Peter, you're smarter than that, use your head, not your heart. Don't let your rage towards him cloud your genius you have. You're scared, I know that, I am too, but we need to pull it together," Peter said nothing, but slowly and finally nodded, showing Winston he understood and agreed.

"He's been planning this for ten on Winston, we're running outta time!" Peter said suddenly hurrying towards the Ecto.

"Where are we going!?"

"To the cops, I have an idea."