Chapter 15:

The risky trip

Jan. 24-29 2001

New York:

After finishing up folding the guys laundry, Janine went upstairs where she noticed an envelope under Peter's cell phone. What's this? What is Peter hiding now? I have to know the truth. She picked up the letter and read it. "Dear guys, I got a phone call from Egon's uncle. I had to go to Ohio to see what happened to Egon. He says that Egon was sucked into some dimension portal that they were working on. I wanted to know; if the guy was pulling our chains or not. I know that he doesn't like us. I don't know, maybe he is telling me the truth. I guess that could happen but, knowing what Egon's uncle thought about our nonsense business, and us; he might have done it on purpose. I want you guys to look after Janine while I'm gone. She is going to need a lot of comfort. I had to hurry out this morning to catch up with Cyrus. I'll be gone for a few days. If Egon is really gone, I 'm going to go looking for him. I promise I will go to the ends of the earth to find him. Talk to you guys later. Call (123) 249-3837 before 5pm and we can talk.

Love you, Peter." Why didn't Peter tell me straight up? I know he's trying to protect me but I can handle myself. I think I'll call him. She said as she folded the letter back up.

Ohio:

Cyrus was explaining to Peter what happened that morning.

"How could you let this happen to him?" Peter asked as they reached the 2nd floor lab.

"I left him to go to store and thought he would be all right by himself. I guess he got the machine to work right."

"Oh, that's great!" Glass particles crunched under Peter's boots. "Poor Egon." He just stared at all the debris. "Egon where are you!" he went around the room screaming. Peter got on his knees and shifted the debris around looking for any sign of Egon.

"We have checked most everything in here sir and no signs of him." Cyrus called.

"I know," Peter yelled upset, "but I want to do it myself."

"Sure thing." Cyrus backed off and lets Peter do his thing. Peter shifted all the material to one side of the lab and noticed that the mirror portal, half broken now, was plugged into the wall.

"You left it plugged in when Egon was working on it?"

"I did?" Cyrus looked concerned now he knows it was all his fault. "I...I guess I forgot to unplug it when I was showing Egon how it was suppose to work. What have I done?"

"Ah... Stupid scientists." Peter bolted out of the room.

"Mr. Peter. I...didn't " but Peter was already downstairs. Cyrus went to the first floor holding the cube. He saw that Peter was on the couch crying. "Mr. Peter.." he cleared his throat, "I have an idea of how to get him back but..."

"Really." Peter looked up and smiled.

"Well, I can not be sure where he is, but this cube will take someone in other dimensions."

"How's it work?"

"It's risky and it might not be the right dimension that Egon is in."

"What do I do?" Cyrus hesitated remembering the last time that thing was used. Oh the horror and the time that it took to get back home.

"Move this box," he held out the yellowish-green box towards Peter. "to make a triangle movement. Each time a correct one is form you go to another dimension."

"Let's do it then." Peter had excitement in his voice now. What a change in his mood? I wonder if he does that all the time?

"You also have to say: magic, magic for I shall fly, way passed all to a new dimension."

"That sounds easy enough, I think I can handle that." Peter reached for the cube.

"I ...I don't know." Cyrus held on to the cube.

"Come on you said it was our only hope." Peter gave him a puppy eyed look that he couldn't reuse.

"Well," he hesitated, "It might be the only chance but the last time that I went though this I was gone for more then a year. I can't remember just how many dimensions there are. You may get lost in there and never find Egon. There is no way to tell where he is."

"I'm willing to take that chance even if it takes that long or longer. I would go to the ends of the earth to find my friend."

"He means a lot to you doesn't he?"

"Yeah, we have been friends for over ten years now and I would do anything for him." The phone on the table next to Peter went off and both of the men almost jump out of their skins. Peter reached over and answered it.

"Hello."

"Dr. Venkman, good I reached you."

"Yes," he couldn't think of whom it was to save his life. "Janine!"

"Yeah, I read the letter you wrote the guys. What's wrong with Egon and where did he go?"

"Well," Peter didn't want Janine to worry any more but felt like she would worry more if he didn't tell her. "He's somewhere, say in a new dimension. I'm going to go look for him. Cyrus has a way I can travel to other dimensions but I don't know if I will find Egon or not. He can't tell me how many dimensions there are or which one Egon is in. It might be years before I find the right one and him." Peter heard a sniff on the other line. Janine must be crying again.

"I know," she sniffed again, "I know you will find him." She tried to have confidence in him. "Please be careful."

"I will. You know I will go to the ends of the earth if I have too to find him."

"I know but I'm worried about you two. You will come back right?"

"Well, I can't be certain for sure but I must do this. I owe it to Egon as a friend." He smiled, "I guess I better get ready and get started."

"The faster you begin your journey the faster this nightmare will be over."

"I hear you on that one girl. Take care and try not to worry too much."

"I can't help it. It's in my blood." She swallowed, "You are family, all of you!"

"Thanks," Peter smiled. He placed the phone in its cradle, looked at Cyrus and gave him thumbs up. "Let's do this. I'm ready."

"Not so fast," Cyrus headed for the stairs. "You need to wear a protective suit like Egon has on." He returned to Peter with the astronaut suit and air tank.

Florida:

Israel threw the newspaper on the coffee table in his den. "I'll look at that later when I'm more awake. For now I need a hot shower and some rest." He kicked off his shoes. "Ah, much better." He took a shower and let the hot water run down him. The phone in the background kept ringing. "I'm not home." he yelled out, like someone was actually going to hear him. The answering machine picked up. It was the hospital again. "They can just leave me a message. I'm not going in again. I need some rest." He sat on the bed and yawed. He pulled the covers back, climbed in and fell asleep. The next thing he noticed it was dark in the room. He looked over at the red glowing numbers of his clock. It was six hours later. "I was asleep that long?" he sat up. "I have never gotten that much good sleep in a long time." He stretched and then started to the kitchen to get something to eat.

He walked passed his den and saw the newspaper. "I think, I'll eat something and read the paper." He bent down and picked up the paper. His kitchen was a mess. There was mail and newspapers still in the plastic on the table, dishes piled up in the sink and trash that was overflowing the trashcan. "It looks like I have some cleaning to do first." Look at this place. Israel cleans up the mess and then cooks himself some dinner. Well, it should be late night snack. He pick up the paper and started to read the front page.

He looked down when he though he heard some strange noise in the den. He saw the sports page. He saw the same thing that Julie thought she saw earlier, the man in the photo at the World Series Game. He does look a lot like me. There's no way though. I just know it. Mom and dad would have told me if I had a brother or would they? There's only one way to find out for sure. I know that mom would never lie to me about this. I will call her tomorrow and find out for sure that either I have a brother or I'm going crazy. He kept staring at the picture. This is not real. It's too unbelievable.

NY:

Janine sat down on Peter's bed. Now what? I have two of them lost and I can't do anything about it. Will Peter be able to find Egon? Oh, I hope so. Will he himself find a way back home? She stared at the ceiling and a tear dripped down her face.

"We're home." yelled Winston from downstairs.

"Where is everyone?" Ray inquired as he looked over at Winston.

"I bet Janine went home and Peter's upstairs sleeping."

"Um...I have bad feeling that something's not right here." Ray looked towards the stairs. Winston had a dirty thought of Peter and Janine having sex upstairs.

"Go check it out Ray while I clean out the traps."

"Sure." He saw Janine coming down the stairs. "Hey,"

"Hey there Ray."

"What's wrong? Where's Peter?" She didn't answer but gave them one of her seriously concerned looks as she sat down at her desk.

"Don't tell me girl." Ray called out. "He left too."

"Well, something like that. He's really gone like Egon is." she handed the note to Winston.

"What do you mean really gone like Egon?" Ray responded, as he reached Janine's desk where she was sitting. He looked at her with the most, sad look on his face.

"Is he...dead?" Winston had to ask.

"Well, I guess you can say that about both of them," both guys just stood there with horror looks on their faces. "Egon was in an explosion earlier this morning. He supposedly fell into a new dimensional portal. Peter went to Sepengler's lab to find him. I called over there, about 20 minutes ago. Peter and Cyrus came up with a devise to find dimensions. Peter went after Egon but may not find him. We may never see either one of them again. I really am losing my family one by one." She put her hands up to her face to hide her tears.

"We aren't going anywhere. We are here to stay." Winston said as he went to stand on the other side of her.

"It's going to be alright Janine, the guys will come home. I just know they will." Ray spoke with confidence even though he didn't have any.

"We can only hope Ray." She sniffed a few times.

Ohio:

Cyrus helped Peter into his space-like suit.

"Let's go already." Peter called out.

"Ok, Ok almost done son, relax."

"I will when I find my friend."

"Finished, take this," Cyrus held out the cube "And say: Magic, Magic for I say fly, way passed all to a new dimension." Peter took the cube in his hands and stared at it. He looked up. This is for you, Egon.

"Here goes nothing." He looked at Cyrus "Thank you for letting me do this."

"No problem," Cyrus hugged Peter, "Find him."

"You know I will." Peter said the words and the ground began to shake. A bright light came and engulfed him. With a flash Peter was gone.

To be continued...