Chapter 4 "Ain't Even Done With the Night"

Janine's Birthday Late October 1984

(Song suggestion- Ain't Even Done With the Night by John Mellencamp)

Lucy

Around three thirty in the afternoon, I arrived to take Janine to lunch for her birthday after my last class for the day.

"Happy birthday," I enthusiastically greeted, walking into the quiet firehouse and towards her desk, "let's go to a late lunch. My treat!"

It didn't take a lot of persuading on my part to convince Janine to go to lunch at her favorite Mexican restaurant, La Casa, in Manhattan. The food was flavorful, and most importantly, their margaritas potent.

"Perfect, I am starved! Your timing is impeccable. I have so much to tell you," Janine agreed, putting the answering machine on and grabbing her purse. She rose from her chair and joined me in walking toward the Firehouse's door.

"Cute birthday outfit, do you have a date? Love those earrings!"

"Hmm... I am not sure, really," Janine cryptically answered, rubbing her temples. We walked to the subway station and down to the underground. Although it was a chilly Autumn day, I was OK with my lightweight blue jacket.

Janine filled me in with the details of this week and the vision and Egon's mysterious appearance in her apartment as we took the subway.

"What do you think Dr. Spengler is planning," I excitedly asked, reapplying my pink lipstick.

"No idea. He had to enlist Wendy's help, though," Janine interjected, "Egon acted like my boyfriend for the last few days. Very protective and caring. "

"Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to go to a rock concert in Queens to see my new beau, Chris, but it sounds like you have plans," I craftily announced, smiling, "I'm joyful for you. You and Egon are supposed to be together."

My friend had that lovesick smile on her face that she always had when she spoke about her beloved, and it made me grin happily.

"I'd like to meet Chris soon since that's all you talk about now," Janine teased, and I jokingly told her that she was one to talk. My pretty redheaded friend laughed at my comment in agreement.

We exited the subway station and walked a block further to La Casa. I gushed about Chris for a while as we were seated, and someone brought us some chips and salsa.

"Dos margaritas, por favor," I ordered in Spanish, then I informed Janine, "my boyfriend is Puerto Rican, and I'm practicing my Spanish."

Two hours later, we were back in the Firehouse, and I was drunk because I drank two medium-size drinks, whereas Janine only drank half of a small one. She was such a petite little thing, large amounts of alcohol went straight to her head. I went into my brother's office and took a nap on the sofa for a while as I sobered up.

Janine

Having lunch with Lucy is always an adventure because her enthusiasm and zest for life were contagious when one was with her. Although I had a headache and she knew I was worried about the Ghostbusters, she ensured I had an entertaining time.

The wait staff put a giant black decorative sombrero on my head and sang the "Happy Birthday" song in Spanish eagerly with Lucy, and then she requested that one of them take a picture of the two of us holding up our drinks merrily. My friend gave me the Polaroid of the picture, and I felt a particular fondness for Lucy. She was an excellent friend.

I hoped that the drink would give me a brain freeze and then rid my aching head of pain. Fortunately, it did. When we returned, I put my head down on my desk and took a short nap afterward until the guys showed up, although I was only a little tipsy earlier.

During the guys' entrance to the firehouse at six fifteen in the evening, I heavily sighed in relief when Ray parked Ecto One, and all four Ghostbusters exited the car, safely, particularly Egon. The nap worked well, and my head wasn't hurting. Also, I slept off the effects of the alcohol.

Lucy woke up an hour later sober and then took the subway to Queens to assist her boyfriend in setting up for his concert. It was great to see her excited about Chris because she was heartbroken after her ex-fiancee cheated on her a couple of years ago. Furthermore, Lucy was rightfully hesitant to go back on the dating scene, but she participated in a couple of unfulfilling physical relationships, including one with Peter this summer.

Everyone had plans for the evening- Peter had a date with Dana Barrett, and Winston and Ray were researching Gozer at various locales in the city. That meant that Egon and I were alone for two hours, and once everyone left, he requested my presence in the lab.

My mind curiously pondered Egon's surprise for my birthday and I was thrilled about spending time with him tonight. Tempestuously, I ascended the stairs.

"Hi, beautiful," Dr. Spengler greeted when I entered the lab as he put his work away. Blushing with the compliment, I straightened up what I could in the lab. I turned the radio's volume up before replying,"Hey there!"

"Hello, New Yorkers! Have something you want to get off your chest to say to someone ? Call in and dedicate a song to a person. The request lines are open," the enthusiastic man with a smooth voice on the radio said.

"Should we call in for a joke," Egon asked me as I walked around the lab.

"And say what exactly?" Hi, My name is Janine, and I'd like to request a song for my birthday," I saucily responded with a sparkle in my eyes.

"Uh, huh, and what song would that be," he teased, walking towards me to grasp my hand and guide me to sit down on the sofa.

"I loved when he held my hand," I thought,"there was a quiet reassurance about it."

"Uhm,' Birthday' by the Beatles," I finally decided, shocked but elated by his unexpected action. Then I lowered myself onto the leather sofa.

"Good choice," Egon smiled, agreeing, maintaining eye contact with me and sitting down next to me.

"Ok, now your turn," I protested, throwing my head back while laughing, " you aren't getting out of it."

Ergo, he didn't say anything and checked his watch.

"Just wait five minutes," Egon mysteriously remarked.

"I-I- I don't understand," I stammered, while my heartbeat rapidly in my chest as Egon shrugged his shoulders and rose from the sofa to get a coke.

He offered to retrieve one for me, but I declined. Egon turned up the radio and sat down on the sofa next to me when he came back. Suddenly, I heard his deep voice on the radio say,

"I'd like to request "Every Little Thing She Does" by The Police for Janine, it's her birthday, and the song fits her perfectly. I want to let her know I love her very much."

"And who am I speaking to, please" the DJ questioned.

"Egon," he answered.

"Alright, Janine, here's to wishing you a delightful birthday; this, this is from Egon," the DJ announced.

When the song played, my mouth was agape. Egon chuckled softly, put his coke on the table then gazed at me expectantly.

"Aww," I swooned as he rose from the sofa, "this is beyond sweet."

Shyly, Egon then offered his hand to see if I'd accept a dance with him. I stood up while he clasped my hand in his, feeling my heart beat vigorously against my chest at a rapid rate as he pulled me closer and put his hands on my waist. Next, my ex sang with a crooked smile on his face, and I couldn't help but giggle. Happily, he sang and I simpered even more because it was so cute.

Egon twirled me around during the chorus as he did at the gala almost a year ago. I spun around, not controlling my laughter as it increased, and I felt loved by his action. Egon chuckled happily as he did so, observing my reaction.

When the song ended, I was disappointed because we had to stop dancing.

"That was fun," I confessed," too bad it ended so soon."

After that , Egon wished me a "happy birthday." My heart was full of love for him, and I felt tingly all over. Both of us were euphoric about spending time together.

"This is right," I thought to myself, "why do you fight it?"

"Shhh," Egon quieted me, with a finger to my lips for a split second, "stop analyzing."

"What?!" His touch tickled me, causing me to giggle then I ached for his lips to be pressed tightly against mine in a kiss.

"As you analyze problems, you have this look on your face. That look, " Egon pointed to my face and explained.

"How do you know that?!"

"What did you tell me once? That you knew me. Uhm, and I know you. Janine, too," he divulged, with a slight grin, "just as you know me."

"Here's another request from Egon to Janine 'Ain't Even Done with the Night,"The DJ announced.

"One more dance, please," he requested.

Without hesitation, I leaned into him and put my arms around his waist. I could smell his cologne again and inhaled it happily. Egon kissed the top of my head, causing an uproar in feelings to spread over my body, and we both sang the song together softly.

"Oh Egon, this is a perfect surprise," I moaned, putting my head on his chest.

"This, Angel Janine, is not it, but I am exuberant that you are enjoying yourself. I adore dancing with you," he mentioned, pulling his thin body backwards so I could see his earnest expression. Egon started to sing again.

"What?" I exclaimed, but he put a finger to my lips to silence me.

"Don't worry, Janine, you will find out later," he huskily murmured. His voice was so very sexy.

"What else can Egon do? Geez! " I bewilderedly questioned myself, shocked. My mind was fantastically diverted when he lowered his head down towards my neck and gripped me a little tighter. Our bodies pressed against each other fabricated the warmness and familiarity of our bond together.

"I would be a fool not to take him back," I pondered.

As I could feel Egon's warm breath, he brushed his lips slowly there on my neck. The stimulation that I perceived from his action was so powerful that I moaned lightly, and I felt I was floating on cloud nine. Snickering in his deep voice, I could feel his lips turn into a grin against my neck. I was so exhilarated with the situation.

"It's time to go home, and I ain't even done with the night," he whispered into my ear.

"Will he kiss me? Please, Egon. Tell me that you can't live without me and that you won't hurt me again, please," I questioned inwardly.

That thought made my pulse quicken with the idea of his lips touching mine. We held on to each other slow dancing and swaying to the music. Everywhere our skin touched each other felt like it was static electricity.

"Ohhh, Janine," Egon groaned into my ear happily, and I simpered as the song ended.

"The last one from Egon to Janine, this time the request is 'Leave a Tender Moment,'" the man on the radio declared. My eyes teared up, and so did his a little, but he continued to serenade me.

That's when the deep banging on the Firehouse's door occurred. For a second, we disregarded it, because neither of us wanted our romantic moment to end. It occurred again, and we lunged apart in astonishment. Reluctantly, I commented with a smile trying to conceal my frustration with the interruption, " I will be back."

"Crumbs," I heard Egon curse as I strode to the door and regained my composure.

After I opened the door and spoke to the police officer, I came back hurriedly to retrieve the good looking physicist breathlessly proclaiming, "Egon, there's a police officer here with a possessed looking man."

My initial reaction to our visitor's inopportune emergence was perturbation because it stopped our lovely sentimental evening. However, there was an immediate sense of dread that saturated me afterward.

Detecting my concern, Egon grabbed the PKE from the table and reached for my other hand. He then squeezed my hand as I walked behind him to the door. Before Egon opened it, he turned around to face me, kissed my hand, and let go of it. His lips felt exciting to my skin and a shiver went down my spine as a result.

"Later," Egon promised, pointing back at the lab.

With a sigh, my favorite Ghostbuster unlatched the door and ventured outside. As he examined the short bespectacled man with the PKE, I watched it register an excess of paranormal activity that the needles nearly broke off.

"You better bring him in," he responded to the police officer with a serious look and turned to walk in the Firehouse.

We found out that it was Vinz Clortho, keymaster of Gozer. A terror overcame my body as Egon ran tests on him, and my head began to ache once more. It wasn't as intense as Monday, though.

Peter

Everything with Dana went off the rails when Zuul showed up for our date, and she behaved very differently than the elegant Ms. Barrett. Disappointed, I left her apartment and mulled over the ruined date on the taxi ride back home.

To my shock, Janine was still at the firehouse although it was almost nine thirty. She was visibly concerned about the estranged man's unexpected appearance, and informed me that she would assist her favorite physicist in locating Ray and Winston, who had vanished into thin air.

Our secretary's pretty face showed a frown line, and a couple of other "worry" lines on her forehead. Once in a while, she would glance at Egon anxiously while biting her lip. I privately questioned Egon if his plans worked with Janine in the hall to the lab.

"How did it go with Janine," I asked, knowing that my friend was anguished already because Vinz broke his plans.

"Wonderful, until Vinz/Louis showed up. We were dancing to the third song, and I was about to kiss her," Egon replied exasperatedly, running his angular hand through his dark wavy hair, "What are we going to do with him?"

"I can give him the same meds as I gave Dana or Zuul. She'll be sleeping for a while," I suggested, feeling as thwarted as my friend felt, " Doesn't Janine need to leave for the second part of this surprise?"

"Yes, would you help persuade her to go home, she's too petrified to listen to me," Egon inquired, his brown eyes pleading with me.

Clapping his back with my right hand, I left the hallway and joined Janine on the sofa. She was making calls to different locales to find Winston and Ray, but without success. It took a long time, but I convinced her to take a taxi home. Our secretary pouted as Egon and I examined Vinz as she waited for it to arrive. Spengler was understandably nervous about convincing Janine to take him back, and also about this new oddball who showed up at random.

Fifteen minutes later, she left for Brooklyn, upset that Egon ignored her when Vinz appeared after their romantic moment, not realizing that there was more to come.

"l have to go, Peter. I can't miss this opportunity. This is probably the last one," Egon stated fearfully after reading the test results from Vinz.

"Go get your Juliet, Romeo. I have your back covered, just like you have covered for me so many times. Good luck," I encouraged Egon, who looked preoccupied.

"Thanks, Peter," Egon replied, giving me a grin, and ran down the stairs.

Egon

As soon as I was outside, I hailed a cab and then waited for one to stop at the curb. My mind was focused on Janine and only her. The Keymaster had to wait until tomorrow, and I trusted Peter with taking care of him.

My hands were sweaty as I was about to find out the truth quickly. Earlier, it seemed like she still had feelings for me. Janine certainly loved the dedications on the radio, and I chuckled remembering her reaction. It was like watching a child getting their favorite toy on Christmas. When we danced together and I sang, I had to do everything in my power not to kiss Janine. I adored observing her as we swayed to the music, and as I twirled her around.

By and by, a cab halted,and I opened the door then responded to the driver's question with,

"Brooklyn Heights, Chatham Olive apartments, please."