Egon was resting in a recovery room with his oxygen mask replaced with a nasal canula. His head hurt from the rush of adrenaline, his chest hurt from all the smoke and he was exhausted on a physical and emotional level after enduring the catastrophic events at the hotel. The privacy of the room was very much a blessing as Egon needed a moment alone to think about everything that had happened and how close he had been to death, and how Peter had been even closer.

"Egon?" Ray was shown to the room by the nurse. "I was told what happened at the hotel, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Egon confirmed despite his outward appearance. Smoke and ash stained his face, neck and hands. His jumpsuit was tarnished with small burns and dirty soot. "Smoke inhalation. They want to keep an eye on me for a few hours. How's... How's Peter?"

"I don't know." Ray admitted as he put a reassuring hand on Egon's arm. "They haven't told me anything about his condition."

"He... He took a fall and was submerged in the smoke. I know he had burns on chest but I didn't examine the burns close enough to determine severity."

"How did the fire start?"

"The ghost. It had been using fear to manipulate Peter, and tried to get him to burn down the hotel out of revenge."

"Oh man," Ray's face paled. "Peter... He didn't actually start the fire did he?"

"No. The ghost of Alvis had him locate a very old lighter hidden in the penthouse but Peter restrained himself and pushed through his fear. Alvis couldn't get Peter to light the fire so in the end Alvis had to do his own dirty work."

"That ghost should've known better than to try and mess with Peter's mind." Ray joked lightly. Egon wasn't amused, not that Ray expected him to laugh or even smirk, he just wanted to lighten the mood. "Well, before I was told about you and Peter Dr. Robinson took Winston off the ventilator. He's breathing on his own and may even wake up soon!"

"That's good." Egon's shoulders slouched as the tension lessened. "Very good."

Egon's tending physician walked into the room with his stethoscope at the ready. After listening to Egon's chest he determined that the physicist was out of danger and no longer required the oxygen treatment. "Dr. Spengler you're going to make a full recovery." He removed the canula and checked Egon's pupils with his penlight.

"What about Peter? How is he?" Egon asked without flinching as he cooperated with the examination.

"Unconscious. Your friend suffered from first and second degree burns across his chest and his right shoulder. In time the burns will heal without complication."

Ray asked the next logical question. "Can we see him?"

"Soon." The doctor confirmed. "My colleague, Dr. Robinson has informed me that another member of your team is currently under his care. He has arranged to have your two friends located in the same room."

"Thank you."

Edward had been allowed back into the room and was holding onto Winston's hand in a strong but gentle grip. The injured man had made a drastic improvement in his recovery in a very short amount of time; no longer requiring the ventilator as he was able to breathe normally on his own once again. The slightest of movements in Winston's hand in response to his father's voice was all the more reassuring.

Peter had been wheeled into the room and gently placed on the unoccupied bed beside Winston's. His chest was heavily bandaged and created an unnatural mass that was evident from beneath the fabric of the hospital gown. An IV of antibiotics to stave off infection and an IV of saline to rehydrate the Ghostbuster ran into his left arm. He was still on oxygen, but like Egon he had the oxygen mask replaced with a nasal canula.

Dr. Robinson set up the proper monitors for Peter before returning his attention to Winston.

"His hand is moving." Edward stated happily. "Is he waking up?"

"It's entirely possible that he had woken from the coma but is still unconscious." Dr. Robinson explained as he once against checked Winston's eyelids. "His pupils are normal in size and react to the light, all very good signs."

"What about him?" Edward nodded in Peter's general direction. "What happened to Dr. Venkman?"

"There was a fire at the hotel."

"The same one that Winston..." Edward's grip tightened on Winston's hand. "Doc, do you believe in curses?"

Dr. Robinson gave Edward an amiable smile. "In this line of business I'm ready to believe anything!"

Ray and Egon walked into the room quietly. Ray gave Peter an apprehensive glance but didn't shy away from his unconscious friend. "Two down..."

"And two to go." Egon tagged on. "Has anyone called Janine?"

"No, not yet. I was-"

Edward's voice cut in unexpectedly. "Winston? Son? Can you hear me?"

Egon and Ray exchanged hopeful glances as they approached the bed. Winston's hand was slowly tightening around his father's hand, his head was lolling lightly back and forth over his pillow. Ray watched as Winston's dark brown eyes slowly opened and stared blankly at the ceiling above.

Egon put his hand on Ray's arm. "I'll go get Dr. Robinson."

"Son?" Edward put his ran his other hand over Winston's short, dark hair. "Are you with us?"

Winston's distant gaze drew downward from the ceiling and focused on his father's face. A small smile creased his lips as he swallowed once. "Hi, Pops." His voice was hoarse and strained but still there.

"Hi yourself." Edward replied jovially. "Good to see you awake."

Dr. Robinson marched into the room with Egon following. "Mr. Zeddemore, welcome back!"

"How long-" Winston winced at the pain in his throat. Fortunately everyone knew the question he was trying to ask.

"You were out for almost two days. Do you remember what happened?"

"Not really..." His voice was still pitiful though he himself seemed to be regaining his strength.

"You took a nasty fall and hit your head, you also broke your leg; both your tibia and your fibula." Dr. Robinson went into detail without speaking too fast. "You suffered a small fracture to your occipital bone in the back of your skull which put you in a coma. There was also some swelling of your brain tissue but we managed to relieve to pressure with some clever surgery."

"Surgery?" Winston question with a perplexed stare. "Am I-"

"You're going to be fine." Dr. Robinson confirmed honestly and cheerfully. "You're going to have a nasty headache for a few days, but that's normal. You'll also need a pair of crutches for the next six weeks but we'll worry about that a little later on. All in all I'd day you're well on your way to a full recovery."

Winston closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Always good to hear."

Ray finally spoke up. "It's just good to hear you talking again."

"Hey Ray." He spotted Egon standing just behind Dr. Robinson. "Egon, you look like hell. What happened?"

"It's a long story." Egon admitted. "I'll tell you later. Just know that we may not be asked to return to the Sedgwick to deal with anymore ghosts."

"Where's Peter?" Winston looked around but didn't see the mouth psychologist anywhere.

As Ray and Egon turned to look at the bed where Peter was laying a whispering voice responded. "Present."

"Peter!" Ray walked over to the bed as Dr. Robinson did the same. "How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough to know Winston's awake." Peter lightly turned his head to look over at his friend. "Hi partner."

"Hi Peter."

Ray gave Egon a sly glance and motioned for the door. Egon took the hint and decided to excuse himself from the room so Peter and Winston could talk in private. Edward stayed behind however, he didn't want to leave his son behind after he had just gotten him back. No one faulted him for the decision.

Dr. Robinson, satisfied that his two star patients were stable, joined the two retreating Ghostbusters out in the hallway. "You two need to rest." He decided with a sincere affirmation. "I'll be back in an hour or so."

While Ray and Egon stood against the wall side by side the two men took the brief respite to appreciate how much they could've lost, but didn't.

"Think Peter will tell Winston the truth?" Ray asked feeling a little disgusted with himself for asking at all.

"I do." Egon's answer was definitive and swift. "Based solely on Peter's actions and reactions to the situation at hand I'm confident that Peter will be upfront with Winston and express his most sincere of apologies for what had transpired."

"You don't still blame Peter, do you?"

"No." Egon's eyes became heavy with guilt. "I was wrong to ever suspect Peter of intentionally endangering any of us out of pure selfish gain or even out his instinct self preservation. I was angry and I wanted someone to act as an outlet for said anger."

"It's okay Egon." Ray reassured his friend. "I was also mad at Peter and, well, a part of me blamed him too. I guess it's just human nature to want an answer, an explanation for our problems; even if it breaks down to simple finger pointing and shouting."

An entire week had passed before Winston was finally discharged from the hospital. Peter was allowed to go home after only two days, provided that someone was with him at all times to assist him. Having Egon, Ray and Janine at his side at the firehouse made the condition easy to comply with; much to Janine's chagrin.

As Ecto-1 backed into the garage of the firehouse Egon and Peter greeted the car and its three occupants.

"Welcome home!" Peter all but shouted as he threw a small handful of white confetti into the air. "We kept your room just the way you left it!"

"Thanks Peter." Winston climbed out of the front passenger seat while his father climbed out of the back. Winston leaned against the car as his Edward handed him his crutches. "It's good to be home."

"I still think 'home' should be with me and your step-mom in Philly."

"Sorry Pops," Winston gave his father a sly grin. "that's too far to drive if we get a call right here in the city."

Ray exited the driver's side of the car with Winston's bag over his shoulder and looked at the bits of confetti on the floor. "I'm not cleaning that up."

"Don't worry about it, Janine will get it." Peter proclaimed loudly. "Right Janine?"

"Dr. V I'm glad you're okay and all that," she shouted from her desk. "but if you keep bugging me I'm going to put you right back in the hospital!"

"Love you too, Janine!" Peter retorted without missing a beat.

Egon cleared his throat abruptly, trying to stop the fight before it spiraled out of control and escalated into a full blown 'prank war'. "Peter you need your dressing changed."

"Yeah, yeah." He subconsciously began scratching at the bandages concealed under his black t-shirt. His chest was sore but healing just fine. "Let's get this over with."

Ray helped Winston to walk up the stairs and into the bunk room while Egon took Peter into the small private lab located next to Peter's office. Edward followed his son and Ray up the stairs, taking in the unusual work environment that Winston had affectionately referred to as home.

"You sure you don't want to go back to Philly?" Edward pressed as he watched Winston made his way slowly into the rec room. "It won't be a problem, we can make room."

"I'm sure Pops." Sitting down at the small table in the corner of the little kitchen Winston set his crutches down on the floor beside him and pointed at Ray. "I trust these guys with my life!"

Ray smiled broadly. "Right back at ya' pal!"

-The End