Four days passed with the Ghostbusters taking shifts at the hospital to watch over Egon, and remaining at the firehouse to answer any calls. Ray and Winston had the shift at the firehouse while Peter stayed at the hospital. Janine had finally gone home to recover from her concussion and to get a break from all the emotional stress, Louis was watching after her and their romance had seemingly rekindled like they were dating for the first time again. Dana had volunteered to help with the paperwork at the firehouse while Janine recovered.

In the total five days that Egon had been admitted to the hospital the Ghostbusters had helped the nursing staff tend to Egon's physical rehab. Helping to move Egon's limbs to prevent blood clots and bedsores the friends were on top of Egon's care and greatly aiding in the weakened man's overall recovery.

During the days of Egon's recovery the bruises on his arms and legs had begun to fade, his complexion had regained a healthier shade and his eye was far less swollen but still deeply bruised and looked painful. The bandages around his arms, legs, chest and abdomen had been replaced several times in order to keep the wounds cleaned. With each change of dressing it was evident that the lacerations were healing well with no sign of infection.

"Hey Spengz." Peter, who was wearing his normal civilian clothing; jeans and gray t-shirt and red flannel over shirt, was shown into Egon's new room. The night before Egon was released from the intensive care unit and set in a standard recovery room. "You're looking less pale this morning." He teased as was his usual reaction to an otherwise upsetting situation. "At least this room isn't as dreary as the old one."

Flowers and cards poured in from all over the city. Many New Yorkers supported the Ghostbusters and Egon was well respected by his peers back at University.

"Doc says she'll consider taking you off the ventilator today if you cooperate and breathe on your own. You've had five days to heal and your lung congestion has cleared up already, so do your part and breathe for us." Peter carefully lifted Egon's right arm and began to flex it lightly. "No muscle cramps, no excuses!"

Dr. Scott walked into the room with a clipboard in her hands and a stethoscope slung casually around her neck, a nurse was following close behind. "Hello Dr. Venkman."

"Dr. Scott, we were just talking about you." Peter gave her a sly wink as she leaned over Egon. "Think he's ready to take off the training wheels and ride by himself?"

Running the bell of the stethoscope over Egon's chest Dr. Scott listened to his lungs and to his heart before offering her prognosis. "Clear, even breath sounds. And his heart sounds nice and strong. I think we can try extubating him."

"Yes! Finally." Peter was excited for the progress on Egon's condition. "Let's do this!"

"I'll handle everything Dr. Venkman," Dr. Scott gave him an amused smirk. "you just stand back and be patient."

"Hard to be patient when your best friend is already a patient."

"How long have you been waiting to say that?"

"Longer than I care to admit."

Laughing at the silly pun Dr. Scott slipped sterile gloves over her hands and checked the connection of the ventilator to the tube snaked down Egon's throat. "Ready?" She addressed the young dark haired nurse.

"Ready." He confirmed as he approached the ventilator and prepared to shut down the machine and set an ambubag on the nearby crash cart. "Emergency oxygen is set to go."

"Here we go."

Dr. Scott detached the ventilator from the end of the tube. Seeing Egon's chest stop rising and falling made Peter's blood run cold. Fighting off the urge to rush to Egon's side he stood back against the wall and watched curiously as Dr. Scott began gently pulling the tube out of Egon's throat and mouth. As the tube was pulled free the cardiac monitor showed Egon's oxygen levels beginning to drop as he still wasn't breathing and the ventilator was no longer breathing for him.

Pressing stethoscope back to Egon's chest Dr. Scott listened for any sign of respiration.

"Come on Egon." Peter encouraged from the far side of the room. "You can do it, breathe!"

The stats on the monitor continued to drop.

"No breath sounds. His O2 levels are dropping." Dr. Scott stared intently at the display, the bell of the stethoscope running over Egon's chest. "If he drops lower than eighty percent we'll have to put him back on the ventilator."

"Egon, you can do this." Peter approached the bed and spoke louder. Egon's stats were down to eighty-six percent. "Breathe."

Dr. Scott was about to issue an order to the nurse when Egon suddenly inhaled deeply and let out the taken breath slowly.

"That's it!" Peter flashed a beaming smile. "I knew you could do it!"

"Even breath sounds." Dr. Scott confirmed. "Keep him on O2 until he regains consciousness." Turning to look at Peter over her shoulder she smiled warmly. "It seems your friend is going to pull through."

Letting out a deep cleansing sigh Peter leaned down on the edge of Egon's bed and stared at his friend's somewhat peaceful face as the nurse slipped the oxygen mask over Egon's nose and mouth. "And you complain that I scare you! At least I've never been in a coma!"

Back at the firehouse Ray and Winston were sitting together in the rec room watching a baseball game to pass the time. Neither man was invested in the game, but it provided a much needed distraction while they waited for an update on Egon or at the very least a call to respond to.

Dana had quickly taken to filing away paperwork after Janine, much to Louis' chagrin, insisted on stopping by the firehouse to show Dana the ropes. The phone had been uncharacteristically quiet but she didn't mind as the silence gave her plenty of time to get everything organized and properly filed.

Ray wandered down the stairs and greeted Dana at her desk with a forced smile. "Hi Dana. How're you doing?"

"I'm fine, a little bored but I don't mind. It's a good change of pace from changing diapers and trying to travel with the orchestra." She matched Ray's smile with her own. "How're you?"

"Fine. Just... Just restless."

"Can't imagine why." She teased.

"Yeah, never thought it'd be so quiet around here." Ray crossed his arms as he fell into thought. "Egon isn't busy tinkering away in his lab and Peter's not wandering around grumbling about Peck or bills... I miss the noise!"

The phone on the desk suddenly rang which caused both Ray and Dana to jump. Picking up the phone Dana humored Ray. "Ask and you shall receive." Putting the phone to her ear she answered the call. "Ghostbusters. How may I direct your call? Oh, Peter! Hi!"

"Peter?" Ray's eyes lit up with a mixture of joy and fear.

"That's great news!" Dana's mood instantly improved. "I'll let the guys know, thanks for calling! I love you too, goodbye."

"Well?" Ray asked anxiously as Dana hung up the phone. "What's going on?"

"Egon is off the ventilator! He's breathing on his own!"

"Oh... Thank God!" Ray's joy was palpable. "Maybe we should-"

The phone rang again. Ray watched and listened in as Dana answered the call and wrote down some details on a piece of notepad paper. Handing it over to Ray she gave him a playful smirk. "You got a call."

"Later, then." Ray took the address from Dana while she pressed the alarm to sound off the Klaxon. "Winston and I will stop by the hospital as soon as we take care of this bust!"

Peter remained steadfast at Egon's beside at the hospital. While Peter stared intently at his friend, as if he could somehow will Egon to wake up from the coma, two police officers entered the room with the intent to speak with Peter.

"Dr. Venkman," the first officer approached the idle psychologist. "we wish we had better news but it seems as though the person who abducted your friend has managed to completely hide any trace of their identity. I don't think we'll ever find the person responsible. I'm sorry."

Peter just shook his head at the response, never having expected any solid results from the investigation to begin with. "As long as Egon pulls through I honestly don't care." Giving the officer a respectful nod he extended his hand. "Thank you for all that you've done."

"We won't stop looking," the officer took Peter's hand while his partner stood back by the door. "but I fear the case will run cold."

After the police officers left the room Peter reached over and pulled the light blue blanket higher up over Egon's chest. "Do you think if the cops ever figured it out they'd be able to handcuff a ghost?"

"...highly doubtful." A hoarse, muffled voice replied quietly.

Peter froze in place and looked down at Egon in wide eyed disbelief. "Spengz? Did you... did you say something?"

...to be continued...