Chapter
Four
"Mom
is with him now, he hasn't spoken yet, but I think she
can
help him more than the four of us can by going in there and
scaring
him beyond sanity. That won't do any good. He's scared,
doesn't
understand what's going on. I don't think he has amnesia,
I'm
positive about that, but I do think he's been scared to
silence,"
Peter stated as he sat beside Egon. Winston in a nearby
chair,
and Janine was standing on the other side of Egon.
"Would
a psychiatrist help?" Egon asked, unsure if he really
wanted
someone talking to Ray without him knowing.
"I
think it would help a great deal, and that may be your
only
hope at getting him to talk for awhile," Nick said walking
into
the
room.
"So
what are we supposed to do, just sit here and wait for
the
doctors to bring out friend back to liking us?" Winston
asked,
unsure
if he understood.
"No,
you are supposed to show him that nothing will change
because
of this, and while things will be different, they don't have
to
change radically. Ray needs to know you guys still love him,
still
care for him, and will still back him up, with or without this
drug
problem, because gentlemen, he will have a drug problem. You
don't
get dosed up with PCP, nearly die and wake up without any
problems,"
Nick stated.
"We
know doc, we've all seen or read about it," Janine
whispered.
Even she knew PCP wasn't a good idea, her little brother
had
messed with it for awhile, he was better now, but she remembered
how
big a mess that had been.
"I
suggest you arrange it so that one of you is with him
around
the clock, there to support him and show him you do care. I
will
tell the nurses your are allowed in there, Egon I'm discharging
you,
but I don't want you staying with Ray for another three days.
You
need rest as much as him, you're getting over pneumonia, you
don't
need a relapse."
"He'll
follow doctor's orders Nick, I promise," stated Peter.
"Good,
and I plan to hold you all to that promise. It's
nearly
six, go home, get changed, take a shower, one of you come
back
here and stay the night with Ray," stated Nick.
"I'll
stay," Peter said quietly. Winston looked over at
his
friend.
"We'll
call you tomorrow morning Pete," spoke Janine
softly,
understanding
how Peter felt.
Peter
sat watching Ray, it was late, two in the morning
maybe,
normally Peter would be sleeping soundly in his warm bed,
but
generally
Ray was sleeping in the bed across from him too. Instead
here
he was sitting in a semi-comfortable chair, watching his best
friend
wriggle around in the bed moaning and groaning. He never
muttered
any coherent words, just jumbles of nonsense. Peter sighed
and
placed a hand on Ray's head, as though trying to soothe him,
it
worked
for a few moments, Ray seemed to calm instantly under
the
touch.
Peter
ran his hand continually through the auburn locks as
Ray
continued to moan and fight the withdrawal, his arms bound to
the
bed, having attempted to claw at himself earlier when he had
a
hallucination
about bugs all over him.
"He...lp,"
whimpered Ray, making Peter's heart lurch, he
hadn't
heard Ray speak in nearly four weeks, and the first words Ray
said
were help. Unfortunately Peter was unable to help his
youngest
friend.
"Shh,
it's okay Ray, Uncle Petey is here now. I love you
buddy,
just hang in there," Peter said softly. Ray continued to
dance
in and out of awareness. When he slept nightmares plagued him,
when
awake he suffered horrible cramps. One minute he was burning
with
fever, another he was freezing cold. Peter and his friends
would
sit through it, day in and day out. They would hold him while
Ray
vomited, talking to him through the horrible pain of the
cramps.
"Ray,
do you remember when we first met in college? Egon
used
to call me a bad example..."
1978
Egon
watched from afar at the young eager student he had
come
to know, Raymond Stanz, was an interesting subject. He was
quiet
when around people he didn't know, with drawn from them, and
quiet.
As though he was afraid they would hurt him. However, when
Egon
spoke to him, or spent a study time with him, Ray seemed
excited,
happy and out going.
"I'd
like you to meet him Peter," Egon stated confidently
from
where he sat at the pizza diner. Peter had a football game in
four
hours, and Egon had offered him pizza if they won, Peter had
insisted
upon the pizza before the game though.
"Egon,
what makes you think I can help this kid on iota, you
said
yourself, he's withdrawn from people he doesn't know, and I'm
the
star on campus, the womanizer, the quarter back," Egon knew
for
once
Peter wasn't strutting, he was stating the obvious truth.
"Peter,
your easy to talk to, and be around, Ray may find a
friend
in you, if I did he certainly can!" Egon said. Peter looked
at
him.
"All
right, let's go find the kid," Peter said. Egon smiled.
They
didn't have to walk very far, Ray was carrying his own books
right
into the diner, as though to camp out and study while eating.
Peter
nearly ran into him.
"Who
Tex, easy there," Peter said smiling. Ray looked up
and
stuttered,
then blushed.
"Hello
Raymond," Egon said gently. Ray looked up and was
unsure
what to say.
"Dr.
Spengler!" He said, go he had just made a fool out
of
himself.
"Easy
Raymond," Egon said smiling.
"Gosh,
I'm sorry...I didn't know you were...."
"Raymond,
you don't call him Raymond do you? Sounds like
your
reprimanding him. Hi Ray, I'm Peter Venkman," Ray said
nothing
and
blushed further.
"I
know....your our quarter back," he spoke in a small voice.
Egon
tried to hide his smile, so did Peter.
"Yeah,
I am, You must be Egon's prize student and apprentice
he
keeps telling me about," Peter said smiling. Ray blushed
crimson
red.
"I...I'm
just helping in the lab, for a little money,"
whispered
Ray. Peter nodded, yes, he knew all about the little money
the
kid was raking in, and even more he knew some of the reasons as
to
why.
"Peter
and I were just about to come looking for you
Raymond,
wondered if perhaps you'd like to attend the foot ball game
today?"
Egon asked.
"Ah...sure,"
he whispered.
"Don't
worry Tex, I don't bite, I'm a nice quarter back,"
Peter
said.
"Although
he does bite, sometimes," Egon said smiling.
"Only
the women," Peter poked. Ray watched, he hadn't seen
Dr.
Spengler friends with anyone like Peter, he hadn't...that made
him
feel
bad.
"What's
wrong Ray?" Asked Peter.
"Well,
to be perfectly honest Dr. Spengler, I don't see you
being
friends with anyone such as Mr. Venkman, no offense sir,"
Peter
chuckled as they made their way across campus.
"None
taken Ray, I'm a jock, Egon is a scientist, and not
many
see us as anything else. What do you see when you look at Egon
Ray?"
Peter asked. Ray stopped and thought about it.
"Someone
who believed in me, for the first time...since I was
ten,
a teacher, a genius, a man who looks at things logically,
and
interpret
them. A man who...whose..." Ray stopped.
"Who
is interested in the supernatural, just like you?"
Peter
said smiling. Ray looked up and nodded.
"What
do you see when you look at me?" Peter then asked.
"A...quarter
back, a ladies man, someone who...doesn't study, I
guess,"
Ray whispered ashamedly.
"Well
good, you see what I want you to see. Want to know my
major?"
Peter asked, he wasn't trying to hurt the younger man, he
was
trying to show him there was more to someone then what you see.
You
have to look deeper.
"What
is your major?"
"Psychology
and Parapsychology, and I met Egon through a
parapsychology
class my sophomore year, we didn't hit it off.
Believe
me, actually I went to Egon for help studying. He actually
did
willingly help me, and soon he grew on me like his mold. We
soon
found
out we had more in common than we thought. We both have the
same
interest in supernatural and things like ghosts and sprits. We
are
going to be sharing an apartment next year. Ray, do you live
on
campus?"
Peter asked suddenly, he didn't know what it was about this
kid,
but he really liked him, almost wanted to protect him.
"Yes,
my roommate...doesn't like me very much though,"
whispered
Ray.
"How
would you like to share our apartment Ray, I mean it
would
be easier for all of us on rent, and it would cut down some of
your
spending for room and board?" Peter asked. Egon was
slightly
shocked,
but hid it quickly. He had the feeling Peter got the same
feeling
around the young man, as though he had to protect him from
the
world.
"Really!?"
Ray said with excitement.
"Yeah,
you wanna live with us? Egon snores, and I get home
late,
and neither of us are perfect...but,"
"Are
you kidding, you guys are the best...wow I've never
really
had friends before, thanks!" Ray said, suddenly blushing.
Peter
chuckled and pulled the kid in for a quick hug, not caring
what
anyone thought.
Peter
looked at the sleeping form of Ray, never in a million
years
would he have guessed that twelve years later they would have
been
practically bound like brothers. He hadn't really thought about
the
future and his friends, part of him had been sure he would have
ended
up like his father.
That
was another thing he owed to Egon and Ray, without them
he
probably would have. Egon had come and made a difference in his
life,
then Ray came along and gave him unconditional love, something
Peter
seemed to need a lot of.
Just
then there was a knock on the door, Peter looked up at
a
nurse, she was very pretty, and if Peter had been in the mood
he
probably
would have hit on her.
"Yes?"
He said.
"There's
an officer Frump out here to speak with you," she
said.
Peter nodded and looked at Ray.
"Don't
worry, I'll stay here with him," she whispered.
"Thank
you, what's your name, I've never seen you before?"
He
asked her.
"Carla,"
she said smiling. He nodded.
"Thank
you Carla, I'll be right back."
Peter
approached Frump and looked at him seriously, normally
Frump
avoided the Ghostbusters, so whatever he had to say was
nothing
to joke about.
"Venkman,"
he said looking at the man.
"What's
going on Frump? You didn't come down here to check
on
Ray, or ask me how I'm fairing."
"You're
right on the second account, however I do care about
Stanz,
he was in bad shape, and I hope he's going to be all right,
we
need more of his kind. However, you're correct I didn't come
here
just
for that. Austin died in prison today," stated Frump. Peter
felt
his head spin, dead...Austin was dead.
"Are
you sure?" Peter asked.
"Positive."
"How?"
"Beat
to death, doctors said he bled to death,"
Frump
explained.
"Hope
the bastard died slowly," Peter said vehemently.
"My
guess is he did Pete, look tell your friend I hope he's
going
to be okay. To be honest, I wish Austin wouldn't have been
beaten
to death, I would have liked to see him face the injection.
However,
that's not how it happened, get over it and help your
friend.
I'll see you later," with that Frump left.
Peter
glared after the man as he walked away and sighed, he
then
headed back towards his friend's hospital room, trying to think
of
a way to tell his friends.
Chapter
Five
She
was medium height, had long brown, her eyes huge puppy
brown,
she had a skinny figure, but well built as well. She walked
with
confidence as she strode towards the room, a briefcase on one
hand,
and a file in the other. Looking to the side of the room, she
saw
room 4102 on the board and nodded, this was the room,
ICU,
tower.
Inside
the room lay her patient, quiet, staring into space,
an
older woman, probably the mother, sat off to one side, and a
younger
man, probably a little older than her patient, sat his feet
propped
up on the bed, reading a magazine.
"Hello,"
she said, drawing the three people's attention,
Peter
stood up, staring at her, obviously taking in her looks.
"Hi,
I'm Peter Venkman," he said, the woman smiled and shook
his
outstretched hand.
"Lydia
Patton, I'm the doctor you called yesterday," she
said,
unsure how the patient would react to talking to a
psychiatrist.
She looked over at Raymond.
"Ah,
yeah, Dr. Patton, this is my mother Margaret Venkman,
and
this is Ray Stanz. I have two other friends you'll meet at some
point
named Egon Spengler and Winston Zeddemore," he
explained
smiling.
She liked his smile, but planned to only like him as a
friend
and nothing further.
"Hello
Ray, I'm Lydia Patton, you can call me Lydia or Dr.
Patton,
which ever your more comfortable with, I'm a psychiatrist,"
Ray
just looked at her, she knew he probably registered it, but
didn't
feel ready to speak.
"He
hasn't spoken yet, believe me, usually once he starts,
we
can't stop him," Peter moved towards the head of the bed
and
looked
down at Ray, "I know you know me buddy, and I also know you
have
always trusted me. I spoke to Lydia, and I have friends who
highly
recommend her. Ray, you and I both know I could easily help
you
through this, but right now I'm too close. You understand that
don't
you buddy?" He watched for a reaction. Ray said nothing.
Peter
sighed
and ran a hand through his friend's soft hair.
"Ray,
I don't know how hard this is for you, but I can only
guess,
I understand you're scared, but believe me when I say the
guys
and I stand behind you, we don't think any less of you because
of
this. Please believe me Tex," Peter said.
Lydia
could see how deeply their bond must have been, for
while
Ray didn't speak, she could see the trust and faith in his
eyes,
she could feel it coming from him.
"Lydia
is going to talk to you for about an hour okay, we
don't
expect you to talk or anything, we just want you to get better
okay.
I'm going to take mom to get some food and check on the guys,
we'll
be back in an hour all right?" Ray looked at him. Part of
Peter
wasn't even sure his friend heard him, another part was sure
but
afraid.
"Hang
in there kiddo, we're here for you," he whispered then
looked
up at his mother. Maggie moved over and smiled at Ray and
Peter,
gently she ran her hands through his hair.
"Be
good, we'll be back," she whispered pressing a soft kiss
to
his forehead then they left.
"Hello
Raymond," she said. Ray just looked at her, unsure
what
to say or do.
"How
about we start off with a little about me, all right,
I'm
twenty nine, surprising right, I'm engaged and have a two year
old
daughter. I've worked with many people. Ray, my goal isn't to
hear
all your secrets or make you feel like an idiot, my goal is to
help
you overcome something horrible that happened, because you're
friends
are worried about you, and they want to know you'll be
okay
eventually."
Ray
continued to just watch her, as though memorizing her
every
move, memorizing who she was and what she was all about.
"Ray
can you physically speak?" She finally asked, no anger,
or
frustration in her voice, just a blank expression, much
like
Egon.
"Yes,"
came the soft whisper, surprising Lydia to no end.
Almost
to the point where she thought she'd fall out of her chair.
"Why
don't you talk around your friends, and let them know
you
understand, or at least Mrs. Venkman, she seems to know you
well,"
no answer.
"Was
it Austin, did he do something to scare you so much you
averted
to speechlessness?" again no words.
"Ray,
do you want to get better."
"Yes,"
the voice came again.
"Let's
start simple, how old are you Ray?"
"Twenty-seven,"
"Raymond,
what do you remember from before you were taken?"
"Not
much, I...remember being grabbed, caught, scared for my
life...I
remember seeing the gun go off, Peter slump to the floor,"
she
smiled and nodded, he had said more than he meant to, but
obviously
when something would come out, she knew it was going to
come
quick.
"Now
Ray, Peter and Egon will be here any minute, I want you
to
remember what I said, take your time, they're here to help you
and
so am I. I'll be back next week if you're up to it, maybe by
then
you'll be well enough to move out of here. Start small Ray,
that's
easier," she said smiling at him. He nodded and watched her
walk
out.
Ray
looked up at the ceiling and sighed for a moment,
thinking
about the horrible memories he had, they were currently
running
him on detox when they could, flushing whatever was left in
his
system, his worst moments were when he was trying to sleep, he
would
have flashbacks and hallucinations, both from the days he was
being
drugged and from other things.
"Hey
Ray, how do you feel?" Asked Peter as he walked in. Ray
looked
over at him with a small attempt at a smile, it never reached
his
lips though, or his eyes. Peter tried to smile as well and
dropped
a hand to his friend's shoulder.
"I've
got a surprise for you, I know a few days ago you
weren't
up to it, and neither was he, but I've got someone here who
wants
to see you really bad," Peter turned and allowed Ray a glance
up
at Egon. Ray felt his breath catch in his chest. Egon tried to
smile
and stepped closer to Ray, for the first time they saw a
real
reaction
out of Ray, as he sat up gently and wrapped his arms around
Egon's
broad shoulders.
"Hello
Raymond, how are you," Egon whispered hugging the
younger
man tightly. For a moment both me were sure the younger man
would
say nothing, give no way to show he even knew who they were,
but
after a second Ray wrapped his arms around Egon's shoulders and
clung
to him tightly, as if believing finally he was home safe
and
sound.
"Egon,"
he whimpered as he rested his head on his friend's
shoulder.
"I'm
here Raymond, I'm here, we're all here," Egon whispered
as
he held his friend tightly. Peter tried to hide his sadness, to
watch
the two friends show affection so easily was unnerving. Egon
was
the silent type, hid his feelings until he was so confused
or
frustrated
that he broke down, usually in Peter's presence, or until
Peter
finally caught on, and would speak to him about it.
"Hang
in there kid," Peter whispered and touched Ray's
cheek.
"He's
not read to go home yet Peter, has it dawned on you
he's
only been awake three weeks, his injuries aren't all healed, he
won't
even talk, what makes you assume he's capable of walking. He
hasn't
even been out of bed yet, I'd really like to keep him at
least
one more week, he's still going through withdrawal. Granted
he's
getting better, but this takes time Peter," Nick stated,
Peter
shook
his head.
"I
know that Nick, but he wants to be home, you've said
yourself
the worst is probably over."
"He's
only seen Lydia four times, is he comfortable with
her?"
"She
says he is, and that he's getting better, very slowly,
he's
still very quiet, but Lydia says he's strong, you've said
it
too."
"Peter,
moving him right now could kill him," Nick stated.
"Or
could help him, Nick he's scared here, thinks Austin
could
randomly come out and kill him. He'd know he's safe at the
firehouse.
Maybe he'd be more open, more comfortable. Look the only
way
to find out is try it."
"Peter,
I don't like it..."
"Lydia
thinks it might do him good, help him get stronger
sooner,
he doesn't need the machines, and he's eating better too. I
know
he's still real quiet doc, and he's still injured, and he's
still
fighting the drug problems, but he's getting
better."
"Peter..."
"Nick,
please, for Raymond, it may be the only way to get
our
Raymond Francis Stanz back," Nick sighed and rubbed
his
forehead,
groaning. He looked down at the charts for Raymond. It was
true,
Ray was physically well enough to go home, his withdrawal
symptoms
were quickly fading, due to Ray's healthy body before the
capture.
His ribs were healing nicely, his other broken or
fractured
bones.
"All
right, two more days, Saturday evening, if his fever is
completely
gone, you may take him home, I'll be calling every week
for
a check up, if anything happens you call me, or the hospital.
Lydia
will arrange times with you after he leaves."
"Of
course doc," Peter smiled and left, they would be taking
Ray
home.
