Kate smiled as she pulled up her mini van to Ghostbusters Central
once she was out of New York traffic. She walked inside the double
doors. She had decided these guys needed a day out, part of getting
better was going back into the real world, Peter hadn't been
outside since the innocent. She knew he needed to see the outside
world again, even if he didn't want to yet. All the guys needed it
really. She was going to take them to Compo Beach in Connecticut.
It was a small, quiet beach usually, this time of year though, there
would be more people around it, since it was summertime.
"Okay!
This bus is moving out!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.
Janine who was sitting at her desk smiled, "Hi Kate. I'm
ready to go."
Kate smiled back, "Great, what about the
other's?"
"I think they're getting ready too," she
said, "I heard Peter complaining about how early it was."
Kate
laughed, "He's been complaining about that since he started
therapy, this is no different."
Janine nodded. Kate
watched as the other's came down. She smiled as Winston carried
Peter down the stairs, and Ray had Jason in his arms. Dani was
carrying one of the wheelchairs, and Egon the other. Dani also had
beach supplies on the chair.
"I know those chairs were
good for something," Dani joked.
Kate smiled as the guys
laughed. She noticed Ray was being quite again. She wondered if
something happened last night. She made a note to ask Peter about
it. Dani kissed Ray's cheek as they hopped in the van.
"You
sure your okay hon?" she asked him.
"I wish everyone would stop asking me that," he said.
Dani
tried not to look hurt, "Sorry," she muttered and looked out the
window.
Ray put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. She
smiled a little.
Egon entered the van carrying his pack.
"Expecting a ghost Egon?" Peter asked rolling his eyes.
"Peter, you know I never like to leave anywhere for a full
day, without them," he said.
"Egon, you ever hear of the
word vacation?" Ray snickered.
Egon looked at him, "Just wait until I get to say, 'I told
you so," Egon smiled and Ray shook his head.
"That's
Spengs for you, always bringing his work with him," Peter laughed a
little.
Egon always knew how to brighten Peter's mood. No mater what his mood was.
"I'll get the others," Janine sighed. She went to the lockers to get the packs, Winston went with her. They put the packs in the back of the van.
"Alright,
this van is taking off," Kate said as she helped Peter get into the
van. She hopped in front once she shut the door.
"And how
long did you plant his little trip?" Peter asked. He didn't
sound too enthusiastic about it.
Peter nodded. A small vehicle pulled up next to them. Peter looked out the window and smiled recognizing the car right away. It was a leased car that his father had.
"Is this a private party?" Charlie Venkman asked as he stepped out of the car.
"Nope,"
Peter answered, "Come on in Pop."
Charlie hugged Peter,
"How's our hero of the day doing?"
"Fine, Dad, I wish
you would stop saying that," Peter said.
"I
can't help it son," Charlie grinned.
After waiting in
traffic they finally made it to the beach. Charlie helped Peter out
of the van. Peter wheeled over to the first part of the sand
wondering how his chair was going to work on the sand in the first
place. He noticed one of his old college buddies and he started to
turn around but it was too late.
"I-I'm going to take Jason rollerblading..." Ray said smiling.
Peter
sighed, "Jerry blames him Egon," Peter whispered.
"I
can see," Egon said. "But then, I can also see blame in your
eyes Peter."
"Yeah," Peter said, "I said a few things
this morning I shouldn't have. But I can't help it. I mean...I
would die for any one of you guys, but this...? I just...God I get so
frustrated."
Egon nodded understanding. He decided to
stop talking about it for now.
"Yeah ha!" Jason cried putting his arms up as Ray pushed him down the bike path. Ray smiled as Jason grew excited.
"This is great Ray!" he said, "Faster!"
Ray started to go faster, more because he needed the adrenalin rush. He had to get his mind off of everything. They continued down the pathway not aware of the small van that was following them. Ray suddenly had something in his gut telling him he needed to move and fast. Ray turned around and saw the van coming straight on the pathway. He gasped and pushed Jason off of the road.
"Look out!" Ray cried."Ray!" Jason cried as Ray crashed on his blades.
Ray
tried to get the license plate of the vehicle but they took off too
fast. Ray was sweating.
"You okay kid?" Ray asked.
"Yeah," Jason said quietly. "You?"
"I'm
fine," Ray answered. He got up and helped Jason into his
wheelchair.
"Ray?" Jason asked.
"Yeah?"
"Please don't tell Kate about this," he whispered, "If
she knows, she'll never go to the beach with me again."
"I
doubt that's true Jason, but why would someone try to kill us?"
Ray asked.
Ray nodded, "Well, I tried to get the license plate, but I couldn't. Anyway, let's get back."
Jason agreed and they went back to the beach. The guys were sitting on a beach towel when they got back.
Peter had been watching the guys. They were in the ocean, but he just didn't feel like swimming since it was kinda hard for him too. He sighed and tossed a rock in the water.
"Come on Peter," Kate smiled as she ran up to him in her bathing suit. She was soaking wet, "I can help you come in the ocean."
"No thank you," Peter said noticing how cute she looked in that suit, "Look Kate, I really wasn't in the mood for this, thank you though," he started to wheel back to the car.
Kate
looked at him sadly, and was going to say more when they were
interrupted by a scream.
Peter turned around to see what was
going on. Suddenly he saw Ray, Egon, and Winston run back to the
mini van. Luckily, they happened to bring their packs with them,
just in case something were to happen.
"Ghost!" Ray
cried.
Winston smiled at Peter as he grabbed his pack. Janine ran back to the car to get Peter's too. Dani went by Peter and stood with him. She didn't want to get envolved, at least, not since everyone else was and things were confusing enough already.
She and Peter watched nervously as the guys went around the beach chasing the ghost. The crowd was cheering them on. Dani watched Peter, Peter was sitting in his wheel chair looking like he wanted to bounce out of it and go run and help them. She sinced his frustration. She didn't know what to say though, so she didn't say anything. Peter just wasn't talking to anybody about this yet. He wasn't ready to obviously.
"The guys needed this," he made her jump completely in surprise when he said that.
"Yeah,
especially Ray," she agreed, "But what about you Peter?"
"I'm
fine," Peter suddenly became quiet again. Dani sighed and let him
slip into his silence. She knew he'd be better off talking to Ray
or Egon. Dani laughed a little as Ray caught the ghost and was
looking like his normal self again.
That's when she
noticed the reporters and fans going up to the Ghostbusters. Ray
came bouncing back. Egon was by his side smiling.
"Come on
Peter!" he said excited.
"Uh, no thanks...you guys go ahead..." Peter said.
"But Peter....they want to see you too...You're a Ghostbuster," Ray smiled.
"I said go Ray...I'm not interested," with that he started wheeling himself back to the van."But....but..." Ray sighed.
Peter was at the van when Egon put a hand on Ray's shoulder.
"Something's happened to him Egon," Ray whispered, "He's changed.""I know Raymond, and I plan on doing something about it," Egon said.
Ray smiled a little knowing Egon would not let Peter give up like this. Ray ran back to the fans who were crowding around Janine and Winston.
After the beach Peter decided he wanted to stay at the hospital for
the night simply because he had to be there at the butt crack of dawn
the next morning. He would at least get more sleep that way.
Besides, Jason had wanted him to stay with him and Peter was happy
too. They weren't sharing a room, but at least Jason could go and
talk to him when he wished. Peter was becoming pretty attached to
the child. The guys had taken Peter back to his room there, they
were all playing cards. Jason too. Jason suddenly threw his deck
down.
"Ha! Rummy!" he called and started to take the
pile.
"No way," Peter smiled, "You cheated,"
"Did
not!" he said, "How could I have?"
Peter pulled a card
out from under his sleeve, "Like this?" he asked.
Jason
blushed but the other's were laughing. Peter tickled him. Kate
walked in the room smiling.
"Okay, okay, everyone, the
noise level in this room is distracting the other patients," she
was half giving them a hard time, "It's time for everyone under
the age of 10 to go to bed."
"Aww Kate, come on....I'm
not..." Jason yawned, "Tired.
The guys laughed.
"Wanna
bet kiddo?" Peter asked. "I'll take him Kate."
"You
sure Peter?" she asked.
He nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I'm
sure." Peter winked at Jason.
Jason hugged Peter.
Egon smiled as Peter and Jason wheeled themselves out of the room towards Jason's room.
"They
seem to have grown a bond with each other," Peter said.
"Yeah,"
Kate smiled, "Jason really needs friends, and he loves
Peter. He sees Peter as almost a father figure, and I can tell that
Peter sees him as an inspiration."
Egon nodded, "Jason is
the best thing to happen to Peter since the innocent. He has given
Peter some hope."
Kate agreed, "Okay boys, I suggest you
all get some rest before tomorrow as well. Peter will need you here
for support. I'm going to have him try to get more use out of his
legs, and it may get frustrating for him if he can't, this is where
he will really see if he will get his feelings legs back," she said
softly. "He'll need lots of support if he can't..." she
trailed off.
Ray was quiet, "So you mean...if he doesn't
walk by tomorrow..." he said.
Ray nodded, "Yeah..." he said.
The
others glanced at each other trying not to look too worried. But
they knew that if Peter didn't walk by tomorrow, with the way he
has been acting, it would be over for him. Egon knew Peter needed
some form of hope, and soon. Egon sighed. He also knew Peter really
needed to talk about the innocent, he hasn't spoken to anyone yet.
Especially Raymond. Things were different already between the two,
and Egon didn't like it. Egon decided to wait for Peter to return
before they left, they needed to talk. Just the three of them.
"Dani, Janine, Winston..." Egon said, "Would you three
mind excusing myself, Peter, and Raymond for the evening? I feel we
really need to talk."
Dani nodded smiling, "It's about
time," she said.
Ray
was looking down, "I-I already talked to Winston..." he said.
"I know Raymond, but you and Peter need to really talk,"
Egon informed him.
Ray sighed, Dani held his hand, "You need to." She agreed.
Ray
nodded finally agreeing to stay. Winston smiled and left the room
with Janine and Dani. Janine hugged Egon goodnight.
"Get
them to work it out Egon, you always can," she whispered in his
ear.
"Peter?" Jason asked once they were at his room. Gary was there waiting for him. Gary had stepped outside to give Jason and Peter some time.
"Yeah kiddo?" Peter asked tucking him in.
"Can you
tell me a story?" he asked.
Peter smiled, "Sure," he
said. "What do you want to hear tonight?"
"Just a
plain old story," Jason smiled.
Peter nodded and thought
of one his mother told him when he was young. Peter remembered the
story of Hansel and Gretel.
"So then.... the witch said...."
He trailed off realizing that Jason was fast asleep.
Peter
smiled and brushed Jason's hair out of his face. Peter realized
he was happy, for the first time in a while. He wheeled himself
outside and smiled at Gary.
"Thanks Gar," he said.
Gary nodded not saying much. Peter shrugged and wheeled off.
Gary wasn't much of a talker. Or a social person, Peter smiled
remembering how Gary didn't come to the beach. He laughed to
himself thinking about how Gary would look in a bathing suit. He was
definitely not a ladies man. The broad detective didn't even have
the personality for it. Peter yawned as he went back to his room.
The guys were still there.
He
froze at the door. Egon pushed him inside. Peter didn't like the
way Ray was looking down, and the determined look on Egon's face.
"What's going on?" Peter asked. "Where are the
other's?"
"They left Peter," Egon said, "Because I
asked them too."
Peter glared at him.
Peter wasn't in the mood for this, "Yeah, but right now Spengs?" he yawned."Yes now, it has been put off far too long," Egon folded his arms.
Peter shrugged and nodded. Ray hadn't said a word.
"Fine Egon, what are we talking about?" he asked sweetly.
"Damit Peter, I'm being serious, we're talking about you, and Raymond and how your relationship has changed completely!" he snapped.
That got Peter's attention. Peter stared at him.
"Egon I...I haven't changed." He said.
"Yes you have," Ray whispered quietly, "Peter....do you...do you hate me?"
Peter
looked at Ray. His anger suddenly grew, "I hate the fact that I'm
in this wheelchair damit, I can't go on busts, I can't talk to
reporters, I can't be me anymore Ray! How do you think that makes
me feel!? Good!? I look at Jason...he gives me some hope...but then
when I try to move anything I can't! Was it really worth it!?"
he cried, "I mean, I wanted to save you, but for the price of
this!?" he looked angry.
Ray stepped back letting Peter
vent out his anger at him. Egon stood shocked.
"I will go after him," Egon said. "Peter..."
Peter shook his head, "Leave me alone Egon," he said. "I just want to be alone."
"As you wish," Egon whispered hurt; he left the room as well.
Egon went after Ray. He found him sitting in the lobby with his head
in his hands. The nurse was not telling him to leave, and Egon
figured it was because he looked so miserable.
"Raymond?"
Egon asked.
"It's Peter...not me..." Ray whispered, "He
just...one day he's so happy, and the next..." Ray sighed.
"I
know," Egon agreed, "He has been sincerely moody lately, and I am
assuming it's because of his condition. One minute he will have
hope, and another minute he looses hope. After speaking with his
doctor however, Steve said that was normal. Especially since Peter
has not really spoken about it to anyone. Not even me."
"Yeah,"
Ray sighed, "Except just now when I found out how he really
feels."
Egon put a hand on Ray's shoulder, "He does not
hate you Raymond. He is simply venting his anger out on us. You'll
see, when this is over, things will be normal again."
Ray
only nodded.
Peter was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling when Kate ran inside out of breath.
"Kate?" Peter sat up."I-It's
Jason...he's gone Peter!" she cried.
"Call 911!" he
said and she nodded.
Peter wheeled his chair out towards the elevators. He looked around the room for the child.
Jason had been sleeping quietly in his room when he was grabbed by
someone. He noticed that Gary was lying on the floor. Jason
screamed.
"Gary! Help!" he cried. The black man gagged
him.
"You'll
listen to me boy," he said. "Or you die right now."
Jason
nodded scared. He knew who it was, he recognized the voice when the
man shot him and his brother. Jason's eyes watered and he was
shaking as the man picked him up. Jason grabbed his backpack that
was lying on the bed and put it on.
"Hold onto my
shoulders," the man instructed and Jason did so.
Jason didn't know what to do, but then he remembered something. He remembered the story Handsel and Gretel that Peter had told him. He reached into his backpack that he was holding and
started to take out some of his crackers. He dropped some on the floor as the man was leading him towards the swimming pool.
Peter
went to Jason's room first. He saw Gary lying on the floor. He
checked Gary's pulse, there was on so Peter left the room.
"Jason!" he cried frantically.
He
looked around the hallways, and saw that there were crackers on the
floor. Peter smiled. 'Good going kid' he thought. Peter
wheeled towards the crackers and saw that they led to the elevator.
He looked at the knobs. The one that was leading down to the pool
was the one that had fingerprints on it so he quickly pressed it. He
rolled out of the elevator and to the pool area.
"Peter!"
Jason cried.
"Jason!" Peter called back. Jason was tied
up to the diving board. He was crying.
That was when a tall black man with a must ash came from behind the locker room. The man had heard Peter coming and tried to hide.
"Peter!
Lookout!" Jason cried suddenly. Peter turned and suddenly he was
struck by something heavy on his back. It knocked him out for a
second. When he came to, Jason was in the water.
Peter jumped in
after him forgetting about the perpetrator for a second. Peter
grabbed Jason and pulled him out of the pool. Jason was coughing and
soaking wet. Peter then tried pulling himself out of the pool with
his arms that were now stronger. The black man stepped on Peter's
hand and Peter gasped as he was trying to escape. Jason was trying
to pull himself over towards the man to help.
"Peter!" he
cried.
