Here's an original epilogue that eventually ties us into the sequel. In the sequel there are some things that you just wished were explained (like why Peter and Dana broke up for example) and I'm gonna try to explain 'em here before I start the next one.
Oh, and rest assured, there will be no Sinjin/Cat pairing in the sequel because I myself ship the Egon/Janine and Sinjin and Cat together is just sorta unnatural.
So here's the final, original chapter.
In contrast to a sudden business boom, business was now declining for the Ghostbusters. In addition to decline in business, the Ghostbusters were being sued by the city of Los Angeles (most likely due to Dickers) among other businesses for property damages. On a slightly positive note, with Sinjin as their accountant they were saving money on taxes…but that money (if any) went into paying off any tickets or lawsuits.
The Ecto-1 pulled into the firehouse and Beck and Andre stepped out. "Hi guys," Tori was now working as secretary alongside Cat. "How did the job go?"
"It was some crazy whackjob claimin' he saw the ghost of his mother," Andre put his proton pack in his locker. "So we asked him how long ago his mother died and he said his mother wasn't dead."
"That's…that's a little weird."
"Any messages?" Beck inquired.
"Just more lawsuits," Tori handed Beck a huge pile of court papers. "Then there're the usual telemarketers or robotic recordings."
"Any personal messages?"
"Yeah, Jade said she's got something important she has to talk to you about."
"Doubt it; I bet whatever it is it's gonna start another argument."
"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you guys get along."
"Yeah," Andre agreed, "you're always fighting."
"True," Beck didn't deny this, "that's basically what our relationship is…but the make-up sex is fantastic."
Tori made a disgusted face. "Didn't need to know that."
"I think I lost my appetite," Andre commented.
"Good, 'cause Slimer ate everything in the fridge again…except Cat's cooking."
"I think I'll go hungry…or order pizza."
"With what money genius?" Beck reminded.
"Dang Beck! I think some Jade has rubbed off on him," Andre then shuddered. "Great, now I created another bad image of you and Jade rubbin' each other!"
"Oh Beck," Tori was ready to remind him about something, "don't forget about Jade's play tonight."
"What time does it start?" Beck asked.
"Seven."
"Okay, I've got an hour and a half til her show starts. I guess I'm gonna take an early leave and…" the Ghostbusters' phone rang, "…get ready after this call." Beck answered the phone. "Ghostbusters…an actual ghost…yeah, we'll bust it…what's the address…Maestro's Restaurant…oh, that does seem like a big deal…rest assured, me and my time are on it." Beck hung up. "There's a ghost at Maestro's Restaurant and it won't leave. They want us to get it out before the mayor and the president arrive."
"The president of the United States?"
"Yeah, the owner isn't sure if there're any more ghosts so he asked that I bring all the guys. This is a really big job. Tori, ring the alarm- get the other guys over here."
"You got it boss," Tori hit the alarm on her desk. Almost instantly, Robbie and Rex slid down the fire pole. "That was fast."
"Robbie was losin' at checkers," Rex did his chuckle.
"I was letting you win!" Robbie protested.
Beck went over to his locker. "Suit up gentleman, we got a call."
"I call shotgun!" Rex ran to his locker.
The boys suited up, got into the Ecto-1, and the car took off like a bat out of Hell. "Guys," Robbie looked back at the red light they just ran, "I think we just violated another traffic law."
"We'll write off the ticket with the money we get from this gig," Beck assured. "The equipment ready to go?"
"Yuperooni!"
"Don't blow this guys, this is really important."
"How important?"
"President of the United States important."
"That important huh?" Rex asked.
Andre pulled the Ecto-1 in the practically empty parking lot of the restaurant, where the manager stood outside waiting. "The ghost must still be in there."
"So let's bust it and go back to our lives; I got a date with a North Ridge girl."
"When are you gonna date a local girl?"
"When are you gonna make a move on Tori?"
"Tori and I are really good friends, I don't wanna ruin our friendship. Plus her dad's the police chief and I'd be afraid of what could happen if I was a bad boyfriend."
"Boys," Beck cleared his throat, "as much as I love talking about relationships, we have a job a do."
"Good point."
"Let's bust this sucker." Beck led his crew over to where the restaurant owner was waiting. "You called about the ghost?"
"Yes," the owner replied, "I don't know where it came from or if there are any other ghosts. And I don't mean to rush you, but the president should be arriving at any moment so…"
"Relax, the Ghostbusters got this," Beck continued leading the guys into the restaurant. "I think we should split up if we wanna find this thing."
Robbie pulled out his ever-ready PKE meter. "I'm getting some strong readings from this direction." The PKE meter led him to the kitchen. "The ghost is definitely in the kitchen." Robbie opened the kitchen door as the others joined him at the scene. "Did any of you guys bring the spectral goggles?"
"I knew I forgot something!" Andre's response implied a 'no'. "My bad."
"You sure it's even in here, Rob?" Rex questioned.
Robbie waved his PKE meter. "Positive. It's hiding somewhere."
"Then we're just gonna have to start blasting," Beck readied his gun. "Andre and Robbie you start on that side of the kitchen, Rex and I got the other side. Don't use a lot of power though. You guys ready?"
"Ready," the rest of the team answered.
"Start blastin'!" On Beck's command, the four of them fired their proton guns throughout the kitchen, not hitting a single thing. However, they did manage to scare away the ghost, who flew into the dining area while hiding under a chef's tote. "It's headed for the dining area!" The men ran out of the kitchen and into the dining area. "If necessary, increase the power slightly. Fire!" The guys started to fire at the ghost.
Eventually, the ghost was in front of the entrance doors. Robbie, who was closest to the ghost, saw this as an opportunity. "I got him!" He fired at the ghost, but the ghost was fast. Robbie and the guys didn't have to notice that something else was hit in the process. "He's coming right at you Andre!"
"I see him!" Andre tried to blast the ghost, but it got away from him too. "Heads up, Rex!"
"I'll get this ghost!" Rex fired at the flying tote, but missed. "It's all you Beck," Rex proclaimed as the ghost started flying at Beck.
"I got it!" Beck was ready to fire at the ghost. "Give me all you got you son of a-"
The ghost removed the tote from its blobby green body. "Beck!" the ghost appeared to say. It flew over to Beck and gave him a slime covered hug.
"It's Slimer!" Andre noted.
"Slimer!" the tone Robbie and Rex used when they said his name made Slimer realize he was in trouble again.
The owner entered the restaurant at this inopportune time. "Am I to assume this ghost belongs to you gentleman?"
"Unfortunately," Beck tried to clean himself off of the slime. "But we can assure you that we had no idea he was here." Similar to when the chandelier fell in the hotel ballroom, the chandelier in this upscale, fancy restaurant came crashing down. "And rest assured, we'll pay for any damage."
"Um, Beck," Andre pointed to the scene over by the front door. Mayor Lane and two secret servicemen were aiding the President off of the floor- the four of them having been hit by Robbie's blast. "I think we've got another problem."
…
"Officer," Rex motioned for the guard to come toward the cell, "can I state for the record that I am not affiliated with these guys?"
"Didn't you use that excuse last time you guys were here?" it was the same cop from their first arrest.
"No, that was my…evil twin, Dex. He is affiliated with them."
"Sure," and again, the cop didn't believe him.
"Can I get that one phone call? See-"
"You got a date with a North Ridge girl and you have to cancel?"
"Yee-ah, I'm gonna go join my pals over there."
"Good idea." The cop watched as Rex took a seat at the end next to Andre.
"Hey guys, can you let me have that one phone call?"
The other guys seemed focus on their own things. "I can't believe we blasted the President of the United States with our proton guns," Robbie bemoaned.
Andre turned to Robbie and raised his eyebrow. "We? Robbie, that was all you."
"Great! I'm gonna go down in Los Angeles history as the Ghostbuster who blasted the president!"
"At least there's a chance you'll have your girlfriend when this is over," Beck sighed. "It's 7:23 and I'm gonna miss Jade's play. She's probably gonna cut my balls off or something worse."
"What could be worse than having your balls cut off?" Rex inquired.
"She could shave my head."
"Yeah, that does seem worse."
"Honestly," Andre began, "I'm kinda worried about Slimer."
"I'm not!" Beck was adamant on that issue. "I say good riddance to that garbage disposal."
"Oh come on, he doesn't eat everything."
Robbie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I was running some tests and I figured out he's deathly afraid of broccoli."
"Who isn't?"
"He doesn't eat Cat's nasty cooking either," Rex reminded.
"Hey!" Robbie defended his woman.
"What? The woman can't cook!"
"True," Robbie sided with Rex on that debate.
"Alright Ghostbusters," the cop unlocked their cell, "you made bail."
Andre raised his eyebrow in skepticism. "We did?"
"Who posted our bail?" Robbie asked.
"The mayor," the cop's response suddenly made the guys anxious. "He wants to have a chat with you guys." That remark sent shivers up their spines.
The mayor walked over to them. "Well, well, well, we meet under these circumstances again, Ghostbusters."
"We really didn't know that ghost was our ghost Your Mayorship," Andre fessed.
"I don't really care to hear this. I felt as though I owed you guys one for saving the city, so I convinced the president this was one big misunderstanding."
"Thanks a lot Lane," Beck thanked.
"He agreed to let me post your bail on one condition."
"What?"
"He wants you guys to give up this ghostbusting business."
"What?" The four of them were in disbelief.
"I'm sorry boys, but I had to side with him on this. There haven't been any ghost sightings, you guys are being sued left and right, and I'm pretty sure that's draining you financially…and I don't know what ghostbusting is doing for your personal lives, but I'm sure it's not positive either." The boys just stared in silent disbelief. "I think this is for the best, and in time I'm sure you'll agree with me. Why don't you go on home?"
The Ghostbusters shuffled out of the jail in silence unsure of what was going to happen next.
…
One thing that Beck had to do was get to Jade. By the time he made it to the community theatre, the show was over. He sweet-talked his way into getting backstage so he could talk to Jade.
"Care to share?" Jade was visibly upset when she saw him.
"I kinda, sorta got arrested and the Ghostbusters were shut down."
"That all?"
"It's the truth. I really didn't wanna miss this."
"Well Beck, ya did. Thankfully my stalker was here," she pointed to Sinjin, who was obviously waiting for her. "I think he cares more about a relationship he and I will never have in contrast to our relationship."
"No offense, but I really don't want to start anything right now. Okay, Tori said you had something important to tell me."
"Yeah, and I was sure you were gonna say no; but now that you don't have a job, it seems like a definite possibility."
"What?"
"Earlier we had a performance for a critic and he talked to me afterwards. He says I have great potential too good to be wasted here, I agreed, and he offered me a better job in a more prestigious acting troupe."
"That's fantastic!"
"The troupe is in London."
"London, England?"
"Where else jackass? I wanna take it, but a part of me cares about you and this relationship and I wanted to know-"
"Is this what you see yourself doing more than anything in the world?"
"Yes. How did you see me in your future?"
"I saw us. I saw us together living in a house in the Hollywood Hills, I saw us with kids and a pet that doesn't slime me, and the Ghostbusters are still together."
"Sounds like a nightmare."
"This was my dream!"
"Well this acting troupe is my dream!"
"And I want you to follow it!"
"You do?"
Beck sighed. "I do, but I don't wanna lose you."
Jade tried to compose herself. "I don't wanna lose you either."
"But I can't go with you to London."
"Why not? There's nothing here for you. You can come with me and there's a chance you'll still have all that you wanted."
"LA is my home, this is where I belong. I'm sure this thing with Lane will blow over and business will be back. I can't abandon all I've ever known and all my friends."
"If you love me like I love you you'll come with me."
"And if you love me you'll stay!"
Jade fought back tears, but a little one managed to escape. "Look at us Beck! All we do is fight until one of us gets our way and leaves the other one unhappy. What kind of relationship is that?"
"Ours! It's our relationship, Babe."
"Well, I don't want it anymore."
"So you're saying we should break up?"
"If you really love me, you'll fight for me." Jade left him hoping he would follow, but he just stood there staring at the floor, hands buried in his pockets. Jade took one look at him, but he didn't look back at her. So she left the theatre in tears.
"I LOVE YOU JADE!" Sinjin, however, obsessively followed Jade out of the theatre.
…
Now everything seemed to be collapsing. There had been no evidence of ghosts so Lane didn't change his mind and the Ghostbusters were shut down.
The four pals stood outside the firehouse as Slimer hovered over them. "I guess this is it for us?" Rex inquired.
"Well, this doesn't mean we won't still see each other," Andre assured. "We're still gonna stay in Los Angeles, right?"
"Los Angeles is a big city, Andre, but it doesn't give guys like us big opportunities."
"Well, I ain't got no other place to go. If you ever wanna look me up, I'll still be living at the firehouse."
"What about your grandma's house?" Robbie asked. "Didn't you pay those three mortgages on it?"
"Yeah, but what am I gonna do in a big house all by myself?"
"You'll have ol' Slimeball," Beck pointed to Slimer, who was sort of crying. "He can keep you company. And if anything happens the three of us could move in with ya."
"Negative," Robbie shook his head no. "I took an internship in the science department at UCLA."
"Good for you Shapiro," Rex congratulated.
"What about Cat?" Beck reminded.
"She's gonna come with me of course. I told her she could be my own personal secretary."
"Speaking of secretaries," Beck turned to Andre, "what's gonna happen to Tori?"
"I asked her yesterday," Andre admitted. "Tori's still staying with her folks, her dad said he could get her a steady job somewhere near where they live."
"How 'bout you Rex?"
"I gotta stay at least another year at my new apartment," Rex informed. "I contemplated moving to North Ridge, but…eh, I thought I'd give the local girls a try."
"What's gonna happen to you Beck?" Robbie inquired.
"You know me," Beck shrugged, "I go with the flow."
"You have no idea, do you?"
"Not a clue. I guess I could give acting a try, see why it was such a big deal for Jade."
"And hopefully get good enough to transfer to London," Andre knew Beck's true intention.
Beck smiled at them. "You guys know me well."
"We are your best friends."
"Yeah, you are."
A taxi pulled up and honked its horn. "That's for me," Rex informed. "I lined me up some job interviews at places close to my apartment."
Robbie looked at his wristwatch. "I should get going too. Cat and I are gonna go apartment hunting."
Beck couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Movin' in already, huh?" Robbie blushed as he shrugged. "Well, I'm not one to judge. Hold on to this girl, Robbie." Beck then addressed all his friends, "I wish you guys all the best."
"Same goes for me," Rex added.
"Ditto," Andre agreed.
"Likewise," Robbie finished it off as he noticed a car pull up behind the taxi. "That'd be my lady."
"Feels weird sayin' it, don't it?"
"Yeah, but weird in a good way." Robbie waved to his friends as he walked to the car. "Goodbye you guys."
"I best be off too," Rex went to his taxi. "See you dudes whenever."
"Keep in touch," Beck acknowledged them. The taxi drove away first, followed by Cat's car, Cat honking to them twice as they left in a different direction than the taxi.
"Hey," Andre put his hand on Beck's shoulder. "It's not like this goodbye is the end of the world," the two of them couldn't help but laugh. "Stay cool, Beck."
"Yeah, you too Andre," they gave each other a hug and Beck walked off his way.
Slimer blew his slime-filled tears away. Andre took a deep breath. "Yeah, buddy, I know. Come on; let's go watch some TV or something." Slimer muttered some gibberish. "Yeah, I'll make you a snack." Andre noticed the Ghostbusters sign hanging on the door. With a sigh, he took it down and went inside the firehouse.
To Be Continued…
Until we meet in Ghostbusting is Still VicTORIous, peace out!