Chapter 15 "Round and Round" (July 2, 1984)

( Song suggestion: "Round and Round" by Ratt)

Peter

Ray went to the kitchen and unearthed our whiskey bottle and shot glasses in our pantry. Slumping into a chair, I was emotionally exhausted. I hoped that Lucy could console our plucky secretary, but she was pretty hysterical. My adrenaline was pumping through my veins like mad, and my heart rate had tripled its pace.

"Yes, we all need a drink," I agreed as Stantz brought the bottle and glasses to the kitchen table.

"Jesus, what a mess," I groaned as he poured a shot for the both of us.

"Yeah, what do you think will happen now?"

"Who knows? Janine's heart hasn't healed from him breaking it the last time," I warily commented.

"How is it that two people so idyllic for each other have so much drama," Ray caustically questioned, and we downed our shots after touching the glasses together.

"I don't know," I responded, and Lucy came out of my bedroom a few minutes later. Once again, we decided to have another shot, and his sister joined us at the table.

"Hit me up with a shot, big brother," she requested.

"When Janine said she wasn't sure about Victor, I didn't think that he would hit her," the youngest Stantz sibling declared after drinking her whiskey shot, "What an asshole!"

Winking, Lucy gave me a very sly expression because her brother wasn't watching her.

"Luce, don't go crazy with the booze," Ray warned, taking her shot glass away when his attention returned to her.

"Ray, come on," she heatedly replied as she rolled her violet eyes upwards. Lucy grabbed the shot glass back when he wasn't paying attention, and poured herself a shot.. We all drank another shot silently, and then the youngest Ghostbuster stepped into his shared bedroom with Egon.

Now Ray's pretty brunette sister and I were alone, which wasn't a good idea. Lucy was eyeing me like she was on a mission to get laid, and she rose from her chair. Seductively, she lowered her body on top of my lap and rubbed my dick with her dainty hand.

"Ahhhh," I murmured, and I shut my eyes thinking that she had definitely gotten my attention.

"I want you, Peter Venkman," Lucy whispered into my ear as she persisted in arousing me then stopped rubbing my sex. She planted a hungry kiss on me. Being the man I was, I wasn't going to insult a lady who was kissing me by rejecting her, and it was clear to me that the fight aroused her. Then I kissed the hell out of Lucy, who muttered some filthy actions into my ear that she wanted to do.

"Holy crap," I replied, my eyes bulging out of my head. For close to thirty minutes, we made out like lovers who hadn't seen each other for a couple of months. It promptly ended when my bedroom door opened. Our secretary was still an emotional train wreck, although she was dressed for an evening out. Groggily, Janine padded into the kitchen.

For a brief time, the Brooklynite sat with us and drank a whiskey shot without saying anything. I attempted to counsel her through the situation, but she wasn't ready to deal with it yet. Pushing a person in the middle of a psychological conflict would not be beneficial, and I acknowledged that so I didn't ask Janine anything. Lucy went to check on Ray and Egon for a while, and Janine eventually joined them.

"What should we do?" Ray inquired, looking anxiously back at his room with Egon.

"Play Donkey Kong on the Atari," I announced definitively, " Romeo and Juliet have to figure it out by themselves."

"Agreed," Lucy stated, walking to the Atari system to turn it on, "I am playing first. Who wants their butt kicked first?"

Janine

Sitting on a chair next to his bed, I observed Egon sleeping and I placed an ice pack on his swollen eye. The room had grown dark due to the late hour, and I had turned on the overhead light to observe him. It pierced my heart to see Egon's black eye and swollen nose. Honestly, I felt uneasy about the "talk" we would have- most likely, he would ask me to forgive him, and I didn't have an answer. Although our love wasn't the problem, the possibility of enduring another break-up was intolerable for me.

Egon was pleased to see me when he awoke, and he told me so with a half grin.

"I guess you are my knight in shining armor coming to my rescue," I sweetly commented, evading his query. His valiant behavior generated my heart to swell up with pride and love for him, and I happily smiled down at him.

"Did Victor slap you before," Dr. Spengler questioned a moment later, bewildered at my date's actions.

"No, he didn't," I answered.

"Why did he hit you?"

Unexpectedly, Egon removed the ice pack from his face so he could beam into my eyes as he questioned again. He wasn't going to drop the topic.

As a result, I fiddled with my hands in my lap nervously. I didn't want to tell him although I suspected that he knew already, so I let time pass before meeting his eyes before admitting,

"I told him that I couldn't go out with him anymore because I was still in love with you. "

Egon regarded my admission with a large shiny smile.

"Janine, I have never stopped loving you despite my stupid actions," the scientist gently confessed, with an adorable lopsided grin.

"That may be true, but you are out of chances, Egon," I explained firmly. On the inside, I felt myself melt from his declaration.

There was a momentary pause before I persisted in saying, " I can't handle another heartache from you."

"Yes, I know, Janine," Egon grudgingly conceded as he put the ice pack back on his eye.

Excusing myself in a mutter, I stood up and ran into Venkman's room before my tears started to fall again. I felt horrible for leaving my hero alone, but I needed to regroup. Peter, Lucy, and Ray played Donkey Kong on the Atari meanwhile.

"Arrrgh, I am so confused," I moaned as I threw myself on Dr. V's bed. For a time, I laid down and shut my eyes. Sleep eluded me, so I did some relaxation techniques to cease my crying. When I returned to see Egon's progress, I gingerly lowered myself on the chair next to the bed, and his expression lit up like a Christmas tree. Egon removed the ice pack from his eye so he could peer into my eyes while sincerely saying,

" I realized that I made the wrong decision in May, and it has me depressed, unfocused, and moody. I was an idiot for letting you go."

"Honestly, I can't go through another emotional trauma with you," I sternly responded, crossing my arms over my chest.

" What is stopping you from breaking up with me again after a few months?"

"An excellent point that I don't have an answer for. Since May, I have evaded you as much as possible because I didn't want my actions to produce more suffering for you," Dr. Spengler mentioned.

"You made that choice; I didn't want that," I pointed out, my voice choking up with emotion.

"Yes, I did make it, " Egon remarked flatly. Tears were filling up in his coffee eyes, and he was tremendously vulnerable right now. I couldn't stand seeing that man anguish, desolate, angry, depressed, or any other negative emotion without feeling anything but love for him.

" You are struggling with things that I can't decide for you, and I don't want to be caught in the middle of them," I timidly sighed, feeling tears leave the corners of my left eye.

Egon didn't look happy at my remark but he attempted to remain unphased.

"You took heroic action by defending me from Victor, and I love you all the more for it. I appreciate that you put yourself in harm's way. However, I cannot reunite with you when I am constantly fretting that you will change your mind about our relationship."

"You can't stop me from trying, Janine, unless your heart is set on moving on, then I will," Egon said fearfully, his eyes darting side to side, "Is that the case?"

Rising from my chair, I leaned over to softly kiss his forehead without speaking. I couldn't talk without the waterworks flowing, so I removed myself from the situation. Frankly, I knew that I didn't want Egon to cease his attempts, but I wasn't sure if I wanted him to know that yet.

"Hey Ray, would you take me home, please," I inquired as I entered the landing. The clock on the wall read eleven- fifteen p.m., and I sighed in exhaustiveness.

"Sure, let me finish my turn, and then we can go," he answered, and I went to retrieve my overnight bag from Peter's room.

Ray

Remaining silent,Janine sat in the passenger seat, staring outside of the window as I drove to Brooklyn. I tried making small talk, but It was evident Janine felt overburdened by the night's events and her former lover's injuries. Therefore, she didn't speak much. Opening her car door, I grabbed her bag as she exited the vehicle.

"Thank you, Ray. You are wonderful, friend."

Side by side, we walked in silence to the apartment building. Janine stoically declared when we reached her apartment door while removing her key from her purse,

"Ray, I am calling out tomorrow and possibly Monday since Saturday is the fourth of July. I- I-I can't go back there right now with Egon, but I am not quitting. There are "sick" days I can take if you can persuade Peter to sign off on them for me because I am not going to be well mentally."

Janine opened the door, and I entered tentatively just to drop off her clothing bag.

"That shouldn't be a problem, J; Venkman will approve it," I confidently answered. Wendy and her boyfriend sat dumbstruck on the sofa at our appearances.

"Don't. Ask. I can't, I can't, " Janine wept, running into her bedroom and slamming the door.

"What the hell happened," her roommate incredulously questioned, so I gave her the short version of it.

"Janine's shaken up badly. I don't know what happened when she took care of Spengler after he woke up, but something else upset her," I added, putting her bag in the lazy boy's chair.

"Oh My God," Wendy shrieked, " thank you for taking her home, Ray. You have met my fiancee, Roger, right?"

Nodding, I said hello to him and then explained to Wendy that Janine needed time alone. Eyeing her roommate's door, she agreed, and I told her that she would be taking a couple of days off.

"Poor girl," Roger groaned sadly,"She's been through hell with Egon this year."

"I concur with you," I said, then wished them a good night and left the apartment.

Peter

When Ray took Janine home, Lucy and I started screwing in the landing. I guess it was better than make-up sex because it was abrupt as she had ended her casual relationship with me in mid-June.

"What is bringing all of this on," I inquired of Lucy as I began undressing her on the sofa.

"Shut up, Pete and fuck me," she hissed, kissing me with a renewed intensity, and I didn't ask any more questions. We both focused on the task at hand.

"Is this a one-time thing," I later asked, buttoning my shirt as Lucy pulled her cotton panties back on her long legs. She was a really good-looking woman. Like Ray, Lucy always had a little extra around the middle. The weight did give her some magnificent cantaloupe-like breasts, though. Lucy's jerk ex-fiancee made her lose forty-five pounds and she barely ate to have his approval.

I thought she looked anorexic and I suggested that Ray speak to her about having an eating disorder. He requested that I do some therapy with her. Still, Lucy didn't feel comfortable about it, so I recommended a female psychiatrist for her to go.

Healing, she gained about twenty-five pounds. and looked healthy, albeit a little thick. Ray informed me that it was hereditary from their paternal side that they tended to be a little overweight. I just thought Lucy was beautiful the way she was, even though I knew she wasn't "the one" for me, but I did care about her.

My former "fuck friend" gave me a murderous stare as I zipped my pants up, and Egon came hobbling out of his room to see us getting redressed in the landing. She didn't want to answer my question and she quickly put her shirt on as she was in her white bra.

"You have got to be kidding me," Egon groaned as he wobbled into the kitchen in search of food when he saw us. He looked like Frankenstein with a black eye, a swollen lip, and a nose.

Shrugging, I disregarded his comment, but we didn't glance at each other because I knew it was a one-time deal. Lucy didn't want anything serious because of her jerk ex-fiancee. However, I found myself yearning slightly for something more than just a good lay. Maybe.

"You hungry, Spengs? I think dinner is a good idea. What do you want, Lucy?"

"Mexican, maybe," she replied, giving Iggy a wink and placing a finger on her red lips to make the "Shhh" motion.

"Ray is going to kill you. You know that", Spengs grimaced as he touched his bruised eye softly with his fingertips, " and I am not going to defend you, Venkman. He told you..."

"Spengs, I don't need your help. I can take Ray, if I need to, in a fight," I replied casually.

"You are NOT beating my brother up, Peter Venkman," Lucy declared boisterously, "You can take the ass whooping!"

"But I am the one who is hurt, not you," I exclaimed loudly in vexation. Rolling her eyes, Lucy turned her attention to Egon.

"Go lay back down and rest, and it's not every day that you get in a fight, Dr. Spengler," she gently scolded, escorting him back to his room.

"What kind of snack do you want? Venkman will get it."

Picking up the phone, I placed the order at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Since we ate out regularly, I already knew what Egon and Ray wanted.

When Lucy returned, I quizzed her about her order for dinner. She replied and then began playing Donkey Kong. After I ordered our meals, I teased Ray's sister,

"You aren't very good at that game, Ms. Stantz, and you have been practicing tonight."

Lucy held her middle finger up in the air, causing me to chuckle, and I strolled to Egon's room to knock on the door.

"Hey Spengler, I brought the snacks you ordered," I joked, then opened the door to view him lying down with his eyes fastened. Egon had the ice compress over his bruised eye, and I put his snack of pretzels, twinkies, and a sofa on his nightstand.

"Hello Peter," he replied monotonically, "Thank you."

"How are you holding up, Iggy," I wondered, pulling up a chair to his bed.

"Been better, to be honest," he revealed, opening his eyes for a second to observe me, and we remained quiet for a while.

"I thought you were going to kill Victor," I mentioned.

"So did I. I-I-I lost it when I saw he...hit her," he conceded, "my blood still boils over it, but I'm trying to relax. I am meditating."

"To be fair, you have been very jittery about Janine dating again since you broke up with her," I concluded.

"Yes, this is true. I have not handled Janine reentering the dating scene well," Egon spoke in a deep anguished tone.

"I love her so much, Peter. I have blundered my relationship with her so many times."

"True, but you both are deeply in love with each other. Don't you believe you are meant to be together ?" I questioned, surprised.

"I do, but maybe I was right last year when I told you I wasn't cut out for a relationship," Iggy said, with a pained expression.

"You don't truly believe that, do you, Iggy," I exclaimed, wide-eyed, "if you did, you wouldn't have defended Brooklyn's honor."

"My head is aching, I am bleeding in two different places, and my body is sore. However, my heart is full of love for Janine. I am not sure what I believe right now," he stated, depressed, " I know that she isn't here with me, and God, I wish she was!"

"You have given her things to think about, Spengs. Janine will need to process everything- just the shock of having a man slap her is traumatizing. On top of that, she saw you defend her then become injured. When you were out, Janine was frantic about your well-being. I almost had to give her a tranquilizer, but she took a nap for a short while," I divulged to my dark-haired friend. Egon sat up, shocked at this information.

"I didn't want to cause her to anguish, and I- I- wish I could have assisted her," Iggy stammered.

"See, Peter, I have caused Janine all of this emotional trauma. What good am I to her?"

Egon's brown eyes held so much pain that it made me feel sorrowful as he opened his coke can and took a sip.

"You have encouraged her to complete her degree during periods of her insecurity, you love her unconditionally, and you just defended her from a complete jerk. Those are just a few things and aren't those enough," I questioned, raising my eyebrows at him.

"Janine's not here with me, is she," he snapped in anger as his brows furrowed. Egon apologized with an embarrassed smile, and I dismissed it with a wave. I knew it wasn't personal because he was overloaded with many emotions today. Spengler was also out of control, and he hated that feeling.

"Be patient. Like Janine was with you last year when you were unsure about pursuing a relationship with her," I countered, trying to assuage his frustration.

Egon exhaled and mumbled, "Yes."

"Plus, Janine is in the middle of doing research that never seems to be good enough for her professor," I commented, standing up from my seat. I lit a cigarette and stated,

"Get some rest but don't doubt Brooklyn's love for you. You and she are one of those storybook love stories; you, you just haven't reached your happily ever after yet. Instead, you are in the climax, the tough part."

"How poetic, Venkman," Egon sarcastically grumbled, putting the ice pack back on his bruised eye.

"Just think about it," I responded in awkward silence.

When Ray returned twenty five minutes later, we were eating our food. Stantz informed me, almost immediately, "Janine's taking tomorrow off because she doesn't feel well enough. Possibly on Monday, too, and she is afraid you won't sign off on it."

"Of course, I will," I automatically replied.

"I couldn't imagine Brooklyn coming back tomorrow after all that occurred. In the morning, I will call her and inform her that she can take as many days as she needs," I promised, feeling frustrated at her minor concern.

"Excuse me," Egon interrupted suddenly, rising from the table, " I don't feel well, and I think I will return to my room."

Lucy, Ray, and I exchanged concerned looks as he left scurried out.

"Go check on him," Ray's sister urged, putting her hand on my arm.

Reluctantly, I did after a couple of minutes. Egon probably couldn't communicate anymore if he wanted to tonight- he was as emotionally drained as Janine was, I'm sure.

Knocking on the closed door softly, I inquired about his health.

"Please leave me," he whispered in a barely audible tone but one full of feeling.

Withdrawing, I made a mental note to call Egon's therapist to see if I could get an appointment tomorrow. He would need to process everything. Then I remembered that Janine would need one too.

"What will become of this," Lucy wondered as I sat down at the table, "will this bring them together or keep them apart?

"Only time will tell," I replied as I watched her play Donkey Kong with Ray.