The four men sat out in the waiting room waiting for the doctor to return. Egon had called Janine's parents, so they and her sister were there also. Egon had explained to them briefly what had happened in the park, and the changes in her.
Finally the doctor walked into he waiting room, and they all looked up. "Mr. Melnitz?" he asked. Janine's mom stood up. "We're Janine's parents," she said, motioning towards her and her husband who was now standing. "I'm Dr. James," he said, addressing them. "Your daughter is fine, however we do have a couple of questions."
"What's wrong?" Peter asked. The doctor looked at them.
"These are part of my daughter's extended family," Mrs. Melnitz said, "They have just as much right to know how she is."
"Maybe you can help also then," Dr. James stated. "There are several old lacerations on her body, especially on her back. They look maybe a little under a year old, and it's obvious they didn't heal well, as apparent from the scaring. Is there any reason you know of as to why she would have these scars and why she didn't seek medical attention?"
"I went shopping with Janine a week before she disappeared," Doris said, before anyone else spoke. She didn't have anything like what you described on her back. They have to be new." "That would be feasible, but she's only been gone for a little over two weeks," he asked, looking at the nods. " These scars are at least a year old." he continued, before anyone could offer a suggestion. "Other than that, she was slightly malnourished, but we can take care of that. She can leave tomorrow at the earliest, although I would recommend that she stay here at least another day or two to recuperate before she returns."
"Whatever you think is best, Doctor," Egon said.
The man started to speak again, when a animal like wail rose from the other end of the hall, freezing everyone. The four Ghostbusters looked at each other all knowing at once who it was. Peter, being closest to the door, was the first out, with Egon and Janine's mother following closely behind.
Peter threw open the door of the semi-private room, to find Janine awake, and hysterical, ripping the IV out of her arm. Blood splattered over her, but she didn't notice. At the sound of the door opening, she looked up, her eyes wide in fear.
"My bracelet," she cried, trembling. "My lord, they took it, the men in the woods. I swear I didn't remove it."
Peter turned to the doctor, who'd just entered the room. "There was something on her arm. Where is it?"
Dr. James stopped suddenly. "There was a type of bracelet. We have to remove it with wire cutters..."
"Get it." Peter told him.
"I really don't think..."
"I said get it!" Peter snapped. The sound of Peter's voice seemed to rouse Janine out of her wailing. She stopped suddenly.
"Lord Michael..." she pleaded, her voice still trembling. Peter looked at her, confusion in his eyes. Then he saw her. Not Janine Melnitz, the feisty red headed secretary of the Ghostbusters that had disappeared over two weeks ago. Janine, the scared young woman who had had an ordeal of some sort somewhere else other than in New York, that left her scared, alone, and unsure in this room. And she was looking towards him, in the guise of this Lord Michael, for help and for answers. He needed to play along, for her sake.
Rising himself to his full height, he looked down at her. "Janine," he snapped. "Your bracelet is being returned to you as we speak. Now, kindly stop your sniveling, and do what they say."
At once, Janine was silent. "Yes, my lord." she muttered.
Behind him, Janine's mother stifled a sob, clutching Egon's hand. It was obvious she wanted to rush to her daughter's side, but didn't dare. The door opened again, and the doctor walked in, carrying the bracelet. Peter took it from him, and walked over towards Janine. She didn't budge as he approached her. He handed her the bracelet, feeling somewhat sick that someone would put this on her and even more that she had come to accept it as being someone else's "property". She took from him, her eyes no longer frightened, but strangely comforted. "Now," he said in the same tone of voice. "You will listen to the doctors, and I expect you back to normal no later than tomorrow."
She smiled slightly at him. "Of course, my lord." she muttered.
Peter stepped back, allowing the doctor to step foreword and take care of the ripped IV. He pushed Egon and Mrs. Melnitz outside before Janine could see them. Once out in the hall, he was confronted by the others. "What is going on?" Winston asked.
Peter shrugged, putting his arm around a now sobbing Mrs. Melnitz. "I don't know. Hopefully she'll be better tomorrow and we can ask her them."
Janine awoke to the sunlight streaming in the window. Her eyes sprung open. She was late. Sitting up, she looked around. This wasn't the castle. Where was she? Then the events the day before came flooding back to her. The same force that took her from New York, had brought her back. She was home. She was free.
Pulling her legs towards her chest, she quietly looked around the hospital room, as tears started streaming down her face. They took her from slavery, barbaric customs and a man she loved, to stick her back in a job she'd had forever, more barbaric customs, and a man who didn't love her. She wasn't sure which world was more cruel. She had her family, friends and freedom, but she didn't have Christopher.
The door opened slightly, and she turned towards it, seeing her mother peek her head in. Janine cried out, reaching towards her mother. Mrs. Melnitz rushed to her daughter, enfolding her in her arms, and sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her daughter as she cried.
"I thought I lost you," Janine sobbed.
Mrs. Melnitz cried along with her daughter. "You're home now. We were so worried. When Doris came back from the retreat two weeks ago and found out you were gone, we were terrified, and Egon..."
Janine pulled back, dazed. "Two weeks ago? Mom I haven't seen you for fourteen months. I thought you'd forgotten about me."
Her mother frowned. "Janine, you've only been missing for two weeks."
