Chapter II
Several hours later, Holtzmann was in her bed reading some files on her laptop which was placed on an overbed table. She had to sleep in a hospital bed with a special mattress that helped prevent bed sores. Next to the bed was the hoyer lift that was used to get her into bed from her wheelchair. Jennifer came into the bedroom with water in a glass and a paper cup that contained several medications Holtzmann had to take those before going to sleep each night. She held out her tongue as Jennifer placed each pill on her tongue and gave her water each time to swallow. The medication rotinue was followed by Jennifer brushing Holtzmann's teeth with an electric toothbrush. Then Jennifer did a final check of Holtzmann's catheter and she made sure the night diaper was secure. That part of the care process still embarrassed Holtzmann and she hated being so helpless there.
Jennifer said, "I know you like staying up on Friday nights reading to me. But, I had a long day at work, so I'm going to sleep now. Don't stay up too late Jillian."
"I'll try to go to sleep at midnight." Holtzmann teased.
The brunette then kissed her on the mouth and the climbed into her bed which was next to Holtzmann's. Holtzmann watched as Jennifer fell asleep. She then read on her laptop until she felt herself tiring. She used the voice commands to turn off the laptop and then used the specialized room system to turn off the lights in the room. She didn't fall asleep right away. She thought about various things, like the fall semester starting on Monday, Jennifer's projects as deputy mayor of the city, and then things about her past.
She thought back to the last ghost bust she and her old crew did.
The Ghostbusters were in a Italian pizzeria in Brookyln. They had been dispatched by the new owners who had been previously told that the pizzeria was haunted by the spirits of two young lovers who had been killed there in the 1950s. They didn't believe it, until they saw the ghosts. The crew managed to capture both ghosts. Abby and Patty were talking with the owners. While Holtzman and Erin were taking their gear back to the Ecto-1.
"Well, that was an easy capture today. We got them together and since they died together, they should remain together in containment." Holtzmann said.
"I admit that I'm jealous of the ghost lovers. They have each other. I hate my love life so much. Things didn't work out with Kevin and last week's blind date with that physics professor from NYU was a disaster. Ghosts have better love life than me." Erin whined.
"Oh, don't beat yourself up Erin. It's like that song You Can't Hurry Love. An intelligent woman like yourself shouldn't be hurrying for love." The blonde said, while getting into the driver's seat. Erin took the shotgun seat.
Erin put some of her hair behind her ear and said, "I know I shouldn't hurry anything. It would be nice to have to someone at home each night. A face and smile to see when I go in. It looks like you and Jennifer Lynch for the mayor's office are getting serious."
"We have only been dating five months. Who knows if we will be together by the end of the summer?" Holtzmann said.
"You two are going away to the Hamptons so that should be a good sign."
"The Hamptons was Jennifer's idea. I'll confess that I don't want to be around Jennifer's snotty family for the next week. But it's important for Jennifer."
A few minutes later Abby and Patty climbed into the backseat and they headed to the firehouse. They went over the ghost bust and then each parted ways for the weekend. Patty and Erin were going to be on call for services. Abby was taking the weekend off to do some work on her apartment and that night Holtzmann and Jennifer drove to the Hamptons, but a few days later things changed drastically for Holtzmann.
Signs of morning crept into Holtzmann's bedroom. Sun was coming in through the cracks of the window blinds. She glanced towards Jennifer's bed and it was empty. Jennifer wasn't in the master bathroom. It was minutes later when Holtzmann heard Jennifer's voice talking into a phone. She could make out some of the conversation which was about City Hall and NYPD.
Then Jennifer came into the room, "Sweetheart, I have to head down to City Hall. Two NYPD officers were shot last night and I have to be there to issue out press statements. I know this puts a damper in our weekend. But, I'll make up to you tomorrow. We can go to Central Park for a picnic."
"It's ok Jennifer. You have a job to do for this city." Holtzmann replied thoughtfully.
"Ok. I called Quinn to come in and help you. Are you sure you will be ok?" Jennifer asked.
"I'll be fine."
Thirty minutes later, Jennifer was dressed up in another business suit. She cut some fruit and fed it to Holtzmann and then the caregiver Quinn Simmons arrived. Quinn was one of three caregivers who worked for Holtzmann. She was a graduate student studying neurosciences at Columbia. She took the caregiver job for Holtzmann because some of her studies involved spinal cord injury and Holtzmann being a spinal cord injury patient was happy to assist Quinn with various questions. Holtzmann had some hope that spinal cord injuries could possibly be cured someday.
Quinn happily greeted the couple and asked Jennifer if there were any specific instructions for the day. She was told it was going to be usual routine of getting Holtzmann showered and dressed and in her wheelchair. Jennifer kissed Holtzmann before heading out the door.
The morning rotinue started. Quinn got Holtzmann out of bed with the lift and into her shower chair. In the roll in shower, she bathed Holtzmann and then got her out. She dried her off and then dressed her in the bedroom and got her into the wheelchair.
Holtzmann and Quinn talked about various scienitific topics.
At lunch time, Quinn and Holtzmann were chatting and then Quinn said, "I ran into a fan of yours the other day."
"A fan?" Holtzmann questioned.
"One of my friend's daughters said she met you years ago at her school. You and the Ghosbusters got ghosts out that were frighetning the kids." Quinn said.
Holtzmann immeadiately remembered the incident. A Catholic elementary school was plagued with the ghosts of nuns. Some of the ghosts were quite harsh to the children. When the Ghostbusters captured the ghosts. The children of the school praised the crew. Holtzmann loved the questions and the attention of the children about how she designed the weapons that fought the ghosts.
She smiled at Quinn and said, "Oh, yes I remember that event. Those ghost nuns were hideous and I remember the smiles of relief on those kids' faces."
"Do you miss it?"
Holtzmann winced and said, "I do all the time. I miss having that kind of fun. The missing driving around the Ecto-1 and helping people getting rid of awful ghosts."
She looked at Quinn and said, "That was another life."
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have mentioned anything."
"It's ok Quinn. Eventually ghostbusting would have ended later on when I go too old to be lugging around proton packs. Things are ok for me here. I get to teach and inspire many and I get to help you a bit with spinal cord injury research. I just need to focus on the positive things." Holtzmann said.
It was almost 7 pm when Jennifer arrived home. She paid Quinn in cash for staying with Jillian for the day. She brought home Chinese takeout and it was around 7:30 pm when she started to feed Holtzmann and herself dinner.
In between bites, Holtzmann told Jennifer about her day. Jennifer in turn told her about the chaos at City Hall dealing with various journalists and the NYPD chief. After they finished up dinner, there were planning to watch a movie and then Jennifer's phone rang. Again it was work and Jillian spent the next thirty minutes hearing Jennifer dealing with city government issues. Sometimes she hated that Jennifer's work interrupted their time together. There wasn't much she could do in the matter, her girlfriend's career had advanced and she had pride in her.
Jennifer finally got off the phone and said, "I'm sorry Jillian. I hate being an awful girlfriend."
"I've said it before. It's ok, it's your job and you do a damn good job as deputy mayor." Holtzmann said.
The brunette put her hand on the blonde's cheek and said, "Thank you for being so understanding. Like I said, tomorrow we will have a picnic in the park and I will try to make the day for just us two. No work. You are starting the fall semester on Monday and you deserve a day to relax."
The following day, Holtzmann and Jennifer were in Central Park. They were at a picnic table watching various interactions in the park and eating some of the food Jennifer prepared. It was halfway through lunch when Holtzmann heard a voice that said, "A rare sighting of former Ghostbuster Jillian Holtzmann".
She turned her chair and saw Erin Gilbert walking towards her. Erin's brown hair was tied in a ponytail. She wore jeans, sneakers, and a MIT t-shirt. It had been a year since Holtzmann last saw her.
"It's good to see you too Erin." Holtzmann replied.
Erin walked closer to the table. She saw the picnic basket and food on the table and said, "Was I interrupting a romantic event ?"
"Oh no it's ok. It's good to see you again Erin." Jennifer responded immediately.
"Likewise" Erin said.
Jennifer then motioned with her hand and said, "Why don't you join us? We have plenty of food."
"I don't want to intrude"
"It's fine Erin. You are one of Jillian's dearest friends." Jennifer said.
Holtzmann winked at Erin and said, "Come on, old buddy we can catch up."
Erin then took a seat at the table. Erin and Jillian chatted away about what was going on in their lives. Later on, Jennifer's phone rang.
Holtzmann looked towards and her said, "Is it work?"
Jennifer nodded and said, "I'm sorry about this."
"Don't worry." Holtzmann replied.
Jennifer got up from the table and walked away to talk on the phone to her colleague.
Holtzmann looked at Erin and said, "Some of the perks of being the girlfriend of the deputy mayor. Constant interruptions."
Erin said, "You don't seem too happy."
"I understand that she has a hectic job. I just wish sometimes things were at slower pace for her and me. I know that's selfish, it can get hard when you are trying to have a good time with your partner and she gets pulled away. I shouldn't really talk because when I was a Ghostbuster things were hectic and fast paced. Anyway, how are Abby and Patty doing?"
"We are all doing fine. We get calls almost daily and we do speaking gigs at paranormal conferences. People always ask us about you at those conferences."
Holtzmann arched her eyebrow and said, "Really?"
"Don't be silly. You were a Ghostbuster and your inventions have enormously aided paranormal research and hunting. Of course, people are still curious about Dr. Jillian Holtzmann. You should speak at some these events." Erin said.
"I'm not sure about speaking at huge conferences. That life is over for me. I don't want to deal with the looks of pity from people towards the former Ghostbuster." Holtzmann said looking down.
"Hey, don't put yourself down. People in the paranormal research world still love you and want you to be a part of that world." Erin said.
The blonde looked at Erin with a slight smile and said, "I know and I miss it. I'm trying to focus on new goals. Teaching and helping invent products for disabled people are my life now. Also, maybe at some point I will get brave enough to ask Jennifer to marry me."
Erin laughed and said, "You a married woman? That would be fun to see.
"We are pretty much living like a married couple. We eat breakfast together most mornings and if work doesn't get in our way we spend evenings together. It's just that I'm not sure if I want to take it to the next step. Maybe if Jennifer's career gets to a slower pace, I'll pop the question." Holtzmann said.
Erin smiled, but inside she was hurt. She had a crush on Holtzmann for a long time. But Holtzmann and Jennifer started dating and then the accident happened. For awhile, Erin wondered if Jennifer would leave Holtzmann and she felt guility for hoping that it would happen. But it never did. The couple moved in together after Holtzmann completed spinal cord injury rehab in Atlanta. Erin was jealous that Jennifer got to move in with the wacky blonde enigineer. Then in time, Holtzmann slowly drifted away from Erin, Abby, and Patty. The Ghostbusters figured that their former colleague needed to make a new life seperate from them. It hurt Erin that things turned out that way.
She continued chatting with Holtzmann before Jennifer returned to the table.
Erin said, "I better get going."
Holtzmann said, "You should come by and visit me at my office at Columbia. I'm teaching Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday in the mornings."
"Sure. If we get some downtime at the firehouse, we'll go over." Erin said.
She then got close to Holtzmann and kissed her on the forehead. She really wished that she could kiss the blonde on the lips.
"It was good seeing you two." She said to the couple.
Jennifer replied, "Thank you for keeping Jillian company, while I was dealing with work business."
"It's no problem. It was good catching up with a friend." Erin said.
Holtzmann said, "Have a good Sunday evening Erin. Hopefully, ghosts won't interrupt that."
Erin say bye and then walked away. She glanced back at the couple and again was jealous as she saw Jennifer kissing Holtzmann on the lips.