And here is the next chapter. I'm trying to get this done as quickly as possible, but there are a lot of little details I must pay attention to.
Enjoy...
"You know that slime really clashes with your hair, Tex," Peter told Dr. Stantz as Ecto-1 drove into Ghostbuster Central. "It's good to know though that not all the goopers we chase automatically go after me." Ray gave his friend a look.
"I'm quite sure that Peter will allow you to have the first shower," Egon said as he glanced at his friend sitting in the backseat with him. The physicist looked back at the meter in his hand. "However, I will profess this is quite amusing."
"You're definitely redder than usual," Winston added. He turned off the engine and Ray quickly exited from the vehicle. The engineer peered back into the vehicle with a wicked grin on his face.
"You know," Dr. Stantz started. "This means war." Ray closed the door and started up the stairs. As the Ghostbuster reached the second floor he could hear voices coming from the area outside the kitchen. It was more than the two voices he usually heard from Janine and Dani.
"Have you ever noticed that little look he has when he doesn't exactly get what you mean?" The voice was familiar to Dr. Stantz, but he couldn't instantly place it. Where had he heard before? And who where they talking about? "His nose crinkles a bit and he kinda puts his lips together like he's about to kiss you. He looks downs at the floor like he's thinking, but you know there's just something inside him unwilling to admit he's wrong."
"Luckily, it hasn't turned into full blown Venkman-itis." This was Janine. Ray knew her voice. "That man will not willingly admit he's ever wrong. The only time you ever here him say it is when Egon proves he is"
"Tex, what are you doing? I thought you were gonna take a shower." Ray looked back to see Peter coming up behind him.
"They're talking about us," Ray told him in a semi-hushed voice. "Janine and someone else. I think Dani's up there too, but I'm not sure."
"Well, why don't you just go up there and take a look?" Dr. Venkman asked. "What are they going to do? Kill you to keep you from talking?"
"Do you know that it isn't nice to eavesdrop?" The two men looked up to see a familiar blonde leaning over the railing. There was an amused grin on her face. "And if you are I suggest you do it more quietly."
"Hey, Dani," Ray greeted. "I wasn't eavesdropping. I just heard talking and I didn't know who it was."
"Come up here and see," the young woman told him. "I guess you can come up too, Peter. You do live here after all."
"Gee, I feel loved," Peter muttered. Ray and Peter went up the rest of the stairs. They both saw the two visitors sitting at the table. One they both recognized, but the other was new to both of them. The women stood.
"Oh, my gosh. Elaine?" A huge smile formed on the young man's face. "Elaine! It's great to see you." He walked over to her and gave the woman a big hug than quickly backed away after realizing he just shared some of the ectoplasm he was covered in. She looked down at herself in slight disgust realizing some of red slime was now soaking through her white blouse and the jeans she wore. "I'm sorry. I totally forgot."
"It's okay," Elaine replied with a forced grin. "It's been a while since this has happened, but I know the drill. You're forgiven for now."
"I don't get a hug?" Peter gave the curly haired woman a slightly hurt look.
"Venkman, I remember what you did last time." Dr. Venkman smiled. "No. It wasn't funny. Stop thinking about it."
"I want to hear this story," the last unidentified woman with dark hair said. "I think I've heard all the other ones." Peter smiled as he looked at the woman. She had a body that would make any normal male look twice if they passed her in the street. Even in the jeans and t-shirt she wore. "I guess no one's going to introduce me. Hi. I'm Penny Moore." She walked around the table over to Peter. "And you're Dr. Peter Venkman. Resident psychologist and loud mouth." She glanced at Ray before Peter could say anything. "And you're the reason I'm here." Ray looked at Elaine.
"It's nothing big," Elaine said. "I just felt like coming for a visit." Penny let out a cough that seemed to disguise something else she wanted to say.
"Well, it's nice to see you," Ray told her. "It's been a while. I'm sorry I haven't called. Sometimes we just get so busy around here."
"I know, Ray. I was around here for a little while," Elaine replied.
"I told you I didn't hear the shower going," Winston interjected as he and Egon joined everyone on the second floor. "And I guess we know why."
"Elaine, it's nice to see you," Dr. Spengler said with a smile. "Are you here for business or pleasure?" Furman gave her friend a warning look and the athletic woman just rolled her eyes than pretended to find an instruction manual sitting on the table interesting.
"I guess you can say pleasure, but I prefer to say visit," the curly haired woman answered. "I had some time off from work that I haven't used yet and I thought I'd spend some time in New York."
"Well, nothing's really changed since the last time you were here," Winston told her. "Just a few more spooks in the containment unit and the mayor changed, but otherwise pretty much the same."
"I'm new," Penny interjected. "I met Elly at the museum after I decided to move to Morrisville. Boring town, but I've met some interesting people."
"Are you staying here long, Elaine?" Ray inquired. He hadn't exactly registered the fact that Penny was there.
"A few more days," Elaine told him. "I just had to come to New York. It was kind of important."
"Maybe you and Penny could stay for dinner," Dani jumped in. She walked up next to Egon and leaned against her cousin. "It could be fun." Dr. Spengler glanced down at his cousin.
"Egon and I actually have plans," Janine said. "I believe you and Ray were included in them as well. We were going the theatre, remember? It was your idea. You made a big deal about seeing Hugh Jackman sing and dance."
"Oh, yeah." The young woman giggled.
"Well, Peter, you can go with them," Dr. Stantz said. "I'd like to catch up with Elaine."
"Its okay, Ray. We can have dinner another night." Penny nudged her friend in the side, which looked a bit awkward considering the dark haired woman was a bit taller than her friend. "Actually, tonight might be better."
"But I don't want Peter to come with me," Dani protested. "He'll just sit there making fun of the whole thing. I remember what he did during The Producers. We were lucky Nathan Lane didn't come down to the seats and kick us out personally. You can go with Elaine and Penny, Ray, but I'm not taking Peter."
"I feel hurt," Dr. Venkman commented. He clutched his heart and his eyes fluttered as he looked at the young woman. "Why not? I can be a good boy." Janine glanced at Winston.
"No," Zeddemore told her. "I love spending time with you guys, but going to a play just to hear women swoon over some Australian actor is not my idea of a good time. I'd rather sit down and work on some books I've been meaning to read."
"So, can I come?" Peter asked. His two women friends gave him a pair of surprised looks. "What? I don't have any work I need to do. I'm pretty sure Zed doesn't want me bugging him as I read and I don't think Ray wants me hording in on his visit with Elaine. She remembers too much about last time." Dani glanced at Ray again whose focus still seemed to be on Elaine. He looked at her almost questioningly and she shrugged despite the fact there was a small alarm going back off in the back of her head. She ignored thinking it was just something else.
"Yeah, Peter," Dani said turning to Dr. Venkman. "Let's head out."
"Has anyone else noticed how distracted Dani is?" Peter asked Egon and Janine as they lingered in the lobby during intermission. The blonde in question had gone to get a drink at the bar.
"What do you mean?" Janine asked giving the psychologist an unsure look. He often could tell what a person was thinking by just looking at them. It was something Peter did often to his friends after a rather stressful case.
"She let Ray go out with Elaine and Penny," Dr. Venkman answered. "If I was her I would have stayed with him."
"Dani knows Elaine's an old friend of Ray's," Melnitz told him. "That's what we were discussing before you guys came back."
"Was it ever mentioned Elaine dated Ray for a couple of months? Or that is Dani is his current girlfriend?" Peter inquired. Janine gave him a startled look and blinked as she thought about the questions.
"No."
"I rest my case."
"What you're insinuating is a bit far fetched, Peter. Ray and Elaine departed on amicable terms. I highly doubt after so many years she'd wish to resume the relationship," Egon told his friend.
"It's been three years, Spengs. And I don't think it's far fetched. I've started dating old girlfriends again."
"But this is Ray," Melnitz argued. She wanted to say what she knew about the Ghostbuster, but he was still thinking about the whole idea. For now she'd have to settle for the facts that everyone knew about Ray. "There's also no proof. You're trying to make a mountain out of a molehill."
"A snake can shed his skin," Peter responded. Janine rolled her eyes.
"Raymond would not do that," Dr. Spengler stated. "You know him as well as I do. He's incapable of such an action."
"Maybe so, but remember everything that went on while Ray and Elaine were dating? Ray actually skipped busts to go out with her."
"I believe if Dani was to ask that of Raymond he would, but she understands more completely what's involved with our job. She has had a more hands on experience and actually is able to find something to occupy her time. Elaine was a visitor to the city as well as the world Ray lives in," Egon said.
"Alright, alright. You got me."
"You'd better not tell Dani," Janine warned him. "I'd hate to see her hurt more than she already is."
"Hurt more?" Dr. Spengler repeated with concern. "What do you mean?" The redhead bit her bottom lip. Why is it that she knew so much about everyone in the firehouse and no one else even had an idea? "Janine, if this is important than you should tell us."
"I can't," the woman told him.
"Why not?" Peter asked.
"I promised her," the secretary answered. "She said she wanted to deal with this on her own." Peter and Egon looked at each other and in silent realization understood what the woman was talking about.
"I'll talk to her," Peter told his friend. "I am the psychologist. She might be having flashbacks. They are rather common after something she's experienced." Egon spotted his cousin coming back towards them munching on a large cookie.
"Wait until tomorrow," Egon said in a hushed voice. "And be sure to tread lightly."
"Tread lightly?" Peter responded with an amused grin. "When have I ever treaded lightly?"
"Possibly never," Dr. Spengler answered.
"Anyone want some of my cookie?" Dani asked as she joined the group. "It's really good and I don't think I'll be able to finish it."
"Yeah, sure," Peter said as he took a piece. She looked at him as did so and the psychologist could almost see the young woman was hiding behind the perky façade at the moment. Like something was bothering her now, but she didn't want anyone to know. Dani focused back on her cookie. Egon gave Dr. Venkman an inquiring look and Peter just shook his head.
Winston looked up from his book when he heard a set of footsteps come towards him. He saw Ray walk into the living room with a confused look on his face. The engineer sat down on the couch and Zeddemore put his book on the coffee table in front of the armchair he was sitting in.
"Something wrong?" Winston inquired.
"Elaine's friend Penny asked me a lot of weird questions," Ray responded.
"What kind of weird questions?"
"It was almost as if she was trying to figure out if I was marriage material or something. She wanted to know how I felt about kids and if I'd ever quit being a Ghostbuster," Ray replied. "I had to get out of there."
"Maybe she likes you," Winston said with a grin. "It's kinda hard not to."
"I just met her and I really don't want to again."
"Are my ears deceiving me or did Ray Stantz finally meet someone he doesn't like?"
"It's not that I don't like here. She's just a bit much. Almost the female version of Peter. I'm sure over time I might get used to her, but hopefully that won't happen." Winston chuckled. "It was nice to see Elaine though. Kinda made me wonder where we'd be if we hadn't broken up, but than I remembered Dani and how I'm happy with her." Dr. Stantz furrowed his brow. "There's just the thought."
"Of course," Zeddemore said. "But I think you should remember what happened when you two were dating. She almost had you convinced for a moment to go back to Morrisville, leaving your job here and becoming a professor at the small college there."
"Yeah, but it might have been nice," Ray responded with a shrug. "It's good to have options."
"You wouldn't have been happy," Winston told him. "You would have only been doing it for Elaine because she didn't find the same joy you have in ghostbusting and had no interest in moving to the city. Did you really love her enough to do that?"
"Maybe," Ray answered.
"What about now? If she asked you again, would you go?"
"Well, no," Dr. Stantz said. "I couldn't leave Dani like that. I love her."
"So why is there a thought?"
"I don't know." The auburn haired man stood up. "I think I'm going to bed. I'll talk to you tomorrow." He started to leave the room. Winston shook his head with a sigh and turned his head towards his friend.
"Ray, wait. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that." The engineer looked back at him and shook his head.
"I know what you meant. I'm just tired." Dr. Stantz turned back around and walked out of the room leaving Winston to go back to his book.
Ray stuck his hand in his jacket pocket and felt the small jewelry box. Spending time with Elaine and Penny hadn't exactly helped him decide what to do. It was true that he did love Dani, but there was still a place for Elaine in his heart. She had been his first love and though the time they had seriously dated had been problematic it had been nice, but Winston was right. Ray wasn't ready settle down just to turn around and give up everything he had worked so hard for. If he did marry Dani than he wouldn't have to move or give up the job he cherished, but those weren't the only reason he wanted to marry the young woman. Besides Egon, Peter and Winston she was the only other person to get close to him and on levels his friends were unable to rival.
Ray walked into the bunkroom and saw that Slimer was sleeping on Peter's pillow. Despite all the warnings and threats the ghost still loved to sleep in Dr. Venkman's bed. Ray sat on his own bed and pulled out the box. He looked at it for a moment before sticking it into the drawer of his nightstand. There was no reason to worry about it anymore for the time being. He wasn't ready yet to ask Dani and he needed time to sort out some thoughts. Before he reflected on the idea again, he got ready for bed than went to sleep and unbeknownst to the Ghostbuster, Slimer joined him.
That's it for now. Stay tuned...