Chapter 13:

Promises that are never broken (part 2)

Jan. 23-24 2001

"I need a shower!" Winston responded. Ray took the stuff doll in his arms and went back to his bed. He lay down and went sleep like nothing was the matter. Peter went downstairs.

"Good morning Janine."

"Morning Dr. Venkman." Peter smiled as he nodded at her. He went to his desk, propped up his feet and opened the paper. All four of them were on the front page again. Peter looked up when he heard sobbing sounds. He knew that Janine just found out that Egon was gone. He came from his office.

"Janine are you all right?" She turned back towards him.

"No Egon's gone. He went back to his uncle's lab to see what the matter was. He says that he will be gone a few days but..."

"But what Janine?"

"I think that if he see what he's missing he'll leave us to stay up there for good." She ran up to Peter and put her arms around him. "I'm scared. I don't want him to run away like this. Not now, not ever."

"Now, now Janine he will be back. I know that he will." He looked up to the ceiling. Why now Spengs, where are you really? You can't hide from the mighty Dr. Venkman. I will find you. Janine kept crying. He slowly rubbed her face with his hand. "It's going to be fine. Trust me." She sniffed a few times then looked up into his emerald green eyes.

"I hope that you are right."

"Come over here." He led her to her desk. "Sit down." Winston came from the stairs. He congratulated her.

"Thanks I think." Tears dripped from her face. He was glade that Peter was there to comfort her. He always had a way with that. He was good at reading people. Winston worked on Ecto-1 with Ray's help. Peter went to the back door to see if Egon had taken his car. As he walked to the basement he heard sounds. To his surprise he met Ray.

"What are you looking for?" Peter questioned him.

"Just a tool that Winston needed for the car."

"Oh,"

"And where are you going?" Peter looked up at him.

"Just checking my truck for the newspaper." He hated to lie but if he didn't Ray would follow him. He saw that Egon had taken his car. Talking about cars Peter's was a mess. Fast-food cups, papers and other trash were everywhere.

"I guess I'll do some cleaning up while I'm out here." He said to himself. He looked at the front seat. I don't remember this. He held up an envelope with this name printed on it. Maybe it's from Egon. He was really reluctant to open it. He thought there might be more bad news in it. Should I? He had to question himself. I better sit down for this. Peter pushed stuff out of the way and climbed in his truck. Much better. He opened the envelope.

"Dear Peter,

Yes, I really went to my Uncle Cyrus' aid. I had to keep my promise with him. I have never broken any of my promises, for you know that. I know that the timing is bad, real bad in fact. I do regret it. I know what you are thinking, that I left because of Janine being pregnant but that's not true. I would do anything for her. It's only temporarily that I will be gone like a few days at the most. Please take care of her. She's going to need you guys for support. I left some money for her in the bottom draw of my bedside table. If she needs anything at all use that. See you guys in a few days. Take care and remember our little secret. P.S. you can call me at (123) 249-3837. Egon"

Yeah right big guy. I will take care of her. You can count on me. He put the letter in his pocket. I can't let anyone see this. He walked back into the firehouse as calm as he could. Janine was sitting at her desk staring into space while she held her letter from Egon. She was dead to the world. Peter thought if he said anything to her that she would have a heart attack. He slowly walked up to his desk and read the paper. He looked at the picture of the four guys together. He thought that that might be the last time that that would happen. He thought that he might never see his best friend again. He could fell tears starting to form in his eyes. What is going to happen to Janine and the guys if he doesn't come back? Would they be able to go on without him or would this be the end of the Ghostbusters? That worried Peter. For Egon was the one that, for the most part came up with the plans to get them out of trouble and fix the equipment when they broke down. Peter believed he could go on without him for a week but didn't have much hope for anything after that. He decided to see what Egon was up to. He knew that he might be mad but Peter wanted to know that his friend was all right. He took out the letter and punched in the numbers.

Florida:

"I need some coffee." Stated a man who was dragging his feet across the tile floor of the hospital. He looked as if he hadn't slept in days. He rubbed his eyes and shouted for the second time for someone to get him some coffee.

"It's coming Dr. Spengler, right away."

"Thank you." Responded the man in the white Dr.'s coat. He sat down at the table in the break room right across from one of his nurses.

"I see you pulled another all nighter Dr. Israel. That's twice this week. You need to take it easy." Responded Julie who was wearing her famous purple scrubs.

"I know. I just can't seem too. There are too many people to take care of."

"Here you are Dr. Spengler, you coffee." Another nurse slid a mug of hot steaming coffee in front of him. "I also brought you a paper. Well, it's the only full one that was out in the waiting room."

"Joy, New York Times." He shoved the paper across the table. Julie picked up the paper and took the front page. After she removed that section the sports page was next. It caught her eyes. She had to look twice. Was she really seeing things? How could Israel be at the game with a bunch of guys in NY while he was down here in Fl working? How could this be? Could it? Could this mean that he has a twin brother in NY? She had to look again. The picture looked just like him. That's too weird it looks exactly like him. If so, why didn't he tell us about him? I'm wondering.

"I didn't know that you had a twin brother." She asked.

"What are you talking about Julie? I don't have a twin."

"See that man in the photo at the NY Yankees World Series Game." She pointed to the sports page. "He looks just like you and has the same last name. Your last name is not that common."

"That's ridiculous. The paper just made a mistake. That's all."

"I don't……" She was cut off when the over head intercom came on. "Dr. Spengler needed in room j12 for surgery."

"I have to go. Leave me the paper I want to read it later."

"Sure thing. I'll put it in your office when I finish." What's with that? I know the paper doesn't just lie like that. Maybe he just doesn't want to talk about his brother but to deny it? That doesn't make any sense. Maybe he's just tired that's all. Julie scooted her chair back and picked up the newspaper. Looks just like him. There's no doubt. Maybe he doesn't even know that he has a twin, that happens all the time now days. After finishing the paper. She walked down the hall to his office. Israel was a sleep at his desk. She quietly placed the newspaper next to him and walked out.

"Thanks." He said under his breath. After he heard the door softly close, he picked up the sports page. Sure enough he saw the same resemblance that Julie saw in the picture. I'm just not seeing things clearly. I need to get some rest.

Ohio:

"Spengler's lab, how may I help you sir?" Peter froze. It sounded just like Janine on the phone. Peter had to collect himself. He cleared his throat.

"Yes, I'm looking for Egon Spengler."

"He's busy sir but if you leave a name and number I'll get him to call you back when he takes a break."

"So he did make it over there all right."

"Yes, sir a few hours ago,"

"Ok, tell him to call Peter at (345) 621-1823 that's my new cell phone number."

"Will do sir." Just as he hung up the phone Janine called out to him.

"Coming Janine." He walked to her and stood by her desk. His eyes meet hers. "What do you need girl?"

"Just someone to talk to that's all." She was still crying.

"I'm here. I'm listening." She sniffed a few times.

"I know," she sniffed again.

"It's gong to be all right."

"How do you know that he really went to his uncle's house?"

"He did. Trust me."

"You talked to him!" She said as her eyes lit up.

"Well, not exactly. I talked to the assistant up there." Peter went to get his chair from his desk. "She said that he arrived a few hours ago and he was busy working. I was glad at that."

"Yeah, that makes things a little better. To know that he is all right."

"Much better I say. I know that you are upset about Egon," he tried to be convincing but not prying into deep. "Is that all that is bothering you?"

"Well, not all of this is about Egon." she had to lie to Peter to keep him from

asking too much. She knew she might give him to many clues.

"Oh," he looked over at her. "It will be better in a few days."

"I don't think so. This may never be right again."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think that Joshua will never come back to me."

"Oh," Peter had to edit his mind so he wouldn't show that he knew anything about Joshua. "Is that the one that got you pregnant?"

"Yeah, and I'm afraid that he will never come back."

"We will be here for you. All of us even Egon." She smiled at that. Did he have a plan to get him to come back she wondered. She laid her head against his shoulder.

"It's going to get better."

"I hope." She mumbled.

"Me too." With saying that, she leaned over and put her head in his lap. She closed her eyes. He laid his head down on her shoulder and closed his eyes as well. Winston and Ray walked by them.

"Shhhh.." Ray summoned Winston.

"Wow, they look a little too close if you know what I mean."

"Yeah," Ray looked over at Winston. "What's with that?"

"You think that's why Egon left because his homegirl is shacking up with Pete."

"Maybe so, I'm wondering if Peter…"

"Ray! You mean, the reason why she's pregnant?"

"Yeah I mean,"Ray looked at the two of them. "They have been spending time together recently and Janine will not tell us who she was seeing. It all fits to me."

"I wouldn't put it passed him and if Egon found out the other day, he might have planned this trip to go to his uncle's and never want to see us again. It makes since now."

"If that's true then Egon may never come back here again. We would then go out of business."

"Let's hope that's not the case Ray. Let's hope."

Ohio:

Egon and Cyrus sat at the long bench in the 2nd floor lab putting wires together. They were wearing a protective space-like suit that had oxygen tanks attacked to their backs just in case something went wrong with the experiments. Egon felt more relaxed working in his uncle's lab. If this worked they would be the first people to go to new dimensions. He knew that that was impossible but it was worth a try to any scientist. His uncle had built a portal out of an old floor length mirror with a lot of wires. That was were the handy work of Egon came in. His uncle hated to put wires together.

"I'm going to get us some lunch Egon," said Cyrus after looking at his watch. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Uh huh." Mumbled Egon though his teeth for he had a screwdriver in his mouth. His uncle went downstairs. His assistant called out for him. He turned and went to her desk.

"There was a Peter that called for Egon."

"Thanks Marry. I'll tell him when I get back." He took the note with the number on it and stuffed in his pocket. "I'm just grabbing lunch for the two of us." Egon was attempting to put the wires into the machine but didn't realize that it was still plugged in. The lights above him started flickering off and on. Egon just thought the power all over the town was flickering. He continued to work. He got the wires to stay in place while he went to the other side of the table to get the pliers. He screwed the last one in place, then sparks flew and followed with a bang. The lab doors that had been closed blew off their hinges and debris went everywhere. Glass and wood splinters lined the floor. Egon vanished into thin air.

To be continued………………………….