Chapter 17 "Somebody's Baby" (Early October 1983- Second Week)

(Song Suggestion- "Someone's baby" by Jackson Browne)

Dr. Egon Spengler

Peter and Janine were arguing tumultuously downstairs late on a sunny Tuesday morning, so much so that I had to go downstairs to cease it. I was already agitated chiefly at myself for being so distracted by Janine when I was around her. The more I tried to ignore her, the more she was on my mind; however, I managed to cut our interactions down to a bare minimum.

As I crossed the landing, I scanned the firehouse for Ray by peeking over the handrails, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. Usually, he kept the peace between those two when they argued because he could defuse the situation efficiently.

"Where was he? Stantz mentioned something about having coffee with someone. Was that yesterday," I thought as I descended the stairs, and I felt reluctant to be involved in Peter and Janine's argument.

"Regardless, Stantz was not here now, " I thought when I made it to the bottom of the stairs and immediately felt the tension in the atmosphere, causing me to scowl.

Indignantly, Janine, dressed in a long-sleeve solid blue dress that went to her knees, had her thin arms folded across her chest, and Peter had his index finger in her face when I made it down there. The two appeared to be in a stand-off of some sort, and I knew she hated it when my friend did that as it was one of her pet peeves. First, I stood in between them and immediately held up my hands.

"Janine, when I ask you to do something, you do it. I'm your boss," the brown hair psychiatrist countered, moving back a step or two but still visibly upset.

"I've quit better jobs than this, Dr. Venkman," Janine threatened, her thick Brooklyn accent visible.

"I'm not your housekeeper, your babysitter, your grocer, and your date calendar coordinator."

"Ok, that's enough," I remarked firmly as the two glared at each other. Both my friend and our secretary disregarded it.

"You are a big..." Venkman started but paused because I was there between them. When Peter glanced at me, I viewed a flicker of mischievousness in his brown eyes before he completed the sentence with a significant emphasis on the word, "'bitch' in a small package."

My disposition is even usually, but it flared up like gas on a flame with Peter's insult of Janine. Her mouth dropped, and that was it for me as I felt my whole body transform into a giant knot of pressure suddenly. Now my entire body temperature rose to a boiling point, and my temper raged. I firmly grabbed both sides of Peter's blue shirt collar with my hands and then tempestuously threw him against the wall behind us. For once in his life, he was stunned into silence.

"Don't ever say that again," I admonished him in a voice that shook in anger, then added, "apologize to her now."

Peter didn't say anything, too surprised, probably. Clenching my teeth, I waited for a while, but it felt like an entirety. As time went by, my temper only grew, and I felt a headache coming.

"Apologize," I spitted out through gritted teeth. Once again, I pushed Venkman up against the wall with coercion. He apologized to Janine, who looked a mixture of frightened and astonished, and I let go of his shirt collar.

After I stepped away from him, I felt extreme disbelief that I had just acted that way and stood there scared by my actions for a moment. Then I rapidly climbed the stairs two at a time and headed into the lab to calm down. My thoughts spun around in my mind like a top, and my heartbeat was like a loud drum in my chest.

"If Peter claimed that he knew how I felt about Janine, why would he say that? " I thought out loud, embittered.

Unfortunately, I felt like my displeasure knew no bounds. In my opinion, there was not a valid reason for him to call her that word, and I had never been so pissed at him as I was now.

When I made it upstairs, I was still frenzied, and I needed to assuage my anger and stress. On top of all of the exasperation inside of me with Venkman calling Janine a bitch and ignoring my intense feelings for her, I felt like something had to give. I stormed past the kitchen and went into the lab, slamming the door obtrusively behind me.

"What the hell is going on with me," I questioned myself loudly, feeling mortified. My head hammered as I paced around the lab in circles with my hands on my head, trying to take deep breaths. Peter's words kept replaying in my mind over and over, and I couldn't stop them. Finally, I punched the glass in the fire extinguisher case with my right hand in extreme vexation.

The glass broke over my knuckles, shattering to pieces on the floor and cutting my skin pretty severely. However, I didn't even feel the sting of the glass lacerating my skin at the time. Bleeding, I sat in the corner of the room furthest away from everything, cross-legged, with my head down, taking deep breaths, and trembling visibly. I tried practicing some meditation, but it didn't seem to help even as Peter ran into the lab.

Janine

Aghast, Peter apologized profusely with genuine remorse in his voice. Egon's rampage scared me quite a bit, and I worried since he was so out of control.

A clamorous racket came from the lab upstairs, causing me to jump in apprehension, but it sounded like broken glass. I gasped, and my heart jumped to my throat as Venkman ran upstairs to the lab, and I followed him anxiously. My pulse raced as I paced in the landing because Dr. V. didn't let me in the lab right away to save me from the sight of seeing Egon hurt. A minute or two later, Peter requested if I could retrieve the gauze from the bathroom, along with cotton balls, scissors, rubbing alcohol, Neosporin, and some medical tape.

"Janine, Spengs is ok, I promise. Will you please give me a few minutes to talk to him? I would like to make this right if Iggy listens," he pleaded repentantly.

Feeling a little relieved at my boss's reassurance, I nodded my head up and down. I heard the imperceptible warble of the radio playing in the lab.

Running to the bathroom to find those items, I wondered about Egon's damage to himself. I returned with Dr. V's requested items and scanned the room. Confused, I didn't see either of them in their usual spot near the lab table.

"Over here," Peter called. I followed the sound of my boss's voice and saw he was in a chair in front of Egon in the corner of the room. Slowly, I strolled over to them, unsure of the situation. I could see the back of Dr. V in a chair and Egon's legs in a chair, but the former blocked the latter's face.

When I saw blood on the floor as I walked steadily to him, I yelled, "Egon!" However, my favorite physicist did not notice. Still, I observed more blood than I wanted to see on a towel as I came closer. I felt sick to my stomach when Dr. V. removed it to show me Egon's knuckles, and I gasped. To my ultimate dismay, his skin was bright red, and there was a fair amount of blood and cuts on his hand. I felt nauseated, but my darling's face was expressionless.

"Thank you for bringing the supplies," Peter commented quietly. Then he reversed his body to look up at my shocked face and met my eyes, and I thought he looked at least as concerned as I did.

Venkman tried to calm Egon down for a short time by encouraging him to take deep breaths. He didn't seem to hear Peter as he leaned over his knees, and his face turned downward with his eyes closed and arms trembling. My heart was split into two when I saw him, and tears formed in my eyes. He stood up from his chair then motioned for me to sit down, and I did after putting the supplies on the floor. Dr. Venkman chose to stay standing behind me and stated,

"Ok, Iggy, will you take a deep breath for me, big guy? I'm sorry for insulting Janine, and she accepted my apology."

There wasn't a response from the physicist.

I politely requested in a calm voice," Dr. Venkman, may I trouble you for a glass of water for Dr. Spengler ?"

Peter recognized this was an opportunity for me to assist our friend in calming down, so he agreed. Still, I felt a little nervous that I would be able to do it. As a result, Venkman put a supportive hand on my shoulder before he went on his errand run and whispered, "good luck, you got this, kid."

Egon's hands were on his knees, but I didn't want to do anything rash to perturb him further. Carefully, I loosened the rubbing alcohol bottle and grabbed a cotton ball from the open bag at my feet. I poured the liquid over it and requested gently,

"May I have your hand, please?

Although it took a while for my love to open his eyes, he did, and I waited for him to nod. When Egon did, I clasped his bleeding hand tenderly into mine. I hesitated a second as I tried to keep the shock out of my face before touching his bloodied hand.

"This is going to hurt, Egon, but I have to do it so I can clean your cuts," I warned, keeping my voice neutral.

"Ouch," he grimaced in pain, sucking in his breath and yanking his large hand away.

"Egon, I want to help you. Will you allow me to, please" I requested, in a comforting voice, a moment later after giving him a small smile.

Egon moved his hand closer to mine without saying anything, and I grinned up at him. He made eye contact with me for half a second, and I saw the pain in his eyes. I had never seen it previously, and it tortured me, causing my heart to fall to my stomach and commence aching. Frustratedly, I glanced at his wounds on his knuckles and attempted again with the rubbing alcohol.

Egon didn't jerk his hand but still made a face. As I gently blew on one of his cuts, I wanted to make eye contact to reassure him but wouldn't push it. Smiling inwardly, I thought I enjoyed playing nurse to him, although I didn't want him hurt.

"It's OK, you will be alright," I commented reassuringly.

The song on the radio was one of my favorite Jackson Browne songs. As a result, I sang softly, "Just look at that girl…"

When Peter returned to the lab, he brought a dustpan and a broom, and curiously, he watched as I sang "Somebody's baby" with Jackson Browne on the radio. At the same time, I cleaned my crush's wounds. Dr. Venkman then carefully swept up the glass on the floor into a dustpan and put it in the trash. Afterward, he cleaned up the blood on the floor between us with some cleaning products without attempting to speak as I unwrapped the gauze and estimated the amount I needed.

"I forgot scissors, Dr. Venkman, sorry."

He stood up and left again.

"I try to shut my eyes…," I sang.

Suddenly, I heard singing coming from Egon- " …but I gotta… over my fright..."

Taken aback, I glanced up at him as I heard his beautifully deep singing voice join in softly with me. His brown eyes made contact with mine, and my face lit up like a Christmas tree as I smiled. Egon blushed, and the corners of his mouth turned up. We continued singing together as I waited for Peter to return.

By the time Dr. Venkman returned, the song was almost over, and we were singing the chorus.

"What the hell," my balding boss started to say when he saw us singing. Turning around, I glanced up at him and shook my head to prevent him from making a smart-aleck comment. Peter had learned his lesson already today and stayed quiet, for once, and Egon wouldn't look at him still.

Grabbing the scissors from him and turning around to face my patient, I wrapped the gauze around my love's hurt fist, cut and secured it with some tape. I smiled brightly at Egon, who was watching me bandage his fist cautiously.

"Ok, you are getting a raise, no joke," the Romeo of the Ghostbusters stated.

"It's not a big deal," I replied, shaking my head and dismissing him with a wave of my left hand.

Peter went downstairs when he heard Ray pulling Ecto 1 in the firehouse. When the song ended, we looked at each other with smiles on our faces.

"All better," I said soothingly and then paused before adding, "thank you for defending me, Egon. That was so thoughtful and sweet."

Finally, he spoke but with a harsh sharpness in his voice, "Venkman knows better than to say those things about you around me."

This was uncharacteristically open of him, but I was pleased. As I stood from the chair that sat in front of him, he clasped my hand in his unhurt hand abruptly.

"Will you stay for a while, please? I am still not 100% tranquil," Egon requested, looking dazed, and then kissed my hand gently.

"Sure," I blissfully commented and lowered myself down into the chair. When he began to rub his thumb over the top part of my hand, I simpered.

"You can't let Peter provoke you," I reminded, squeezing his unhurt hand, "I shouldn't either. He and I are too similar in some ways, so we butt heads."

"I will hit him if he says something like that to you again," Egon confessed in a grave tone.

After a long while, he admitted, " You have a calming effect on me, Janine, and I appreciate it.

We didn't converse but gazed at each other because I still sat in front of him. Although Egon's blank face, his eyes weren't as they seemed to dance happily as we held hands.

Ray

When I returned from my coffee with Phoebe, the firehouse was empty and silent. That was until Venkman ran down the stairs to report the situation as I got out of the car.

"Stantz, well, I called it. One day Egon's emotions and frustrations would erupt like a volcano, and that's what happened. I didn't mean to cause it," Peter announced and then went into more detail.

"You always provoke Janine, and she's been on edge because Iggy's been avoiding her again. Janine's frustration is understandable. Did you apologize," I inquired, lighting up a smoke.

"Of course! I feel horrible about calling her a bitch, and I still want to speak to her privately about my stupid comments. Ray, I don't know why I like to provoke people the way I do. I just do; it's not right, I know," Venkman responded guiltily.

"What about Spengler," I questioned, concerned, flicking the ash off my cigarette, " Is his brain broken? I mean, he just lost his cool over you calling J a bitch, and he has been attempting to clear his mind of her again. I am assuming this is the first time he has ever defended a woman."

"I don't know, Ray. Iggy has come a long way with admitting his emotions since I have known him and with Janine. I just don't know, but he is on an adrenaline rush now," Peter confessed, shaking his head.

"Let's go check on him, quietly," I suggested, and we ascended the stairs.

We tiptoed into the lab peeking around the corner of the room to discover Janine sitting in front of Egon in a chair; and they were holding hands, and he appeared pretty calm. We observed them gazing into each other's eyes wordlessly and seeming very much like two people in love.

"I at least owe him a moment alone with Janine," Venkman admitted as we strolled back into the landing, and he sat on the sofa. Afterward, I retrieved my Nikon camera from my room that I shared with Spengler since taking photos was my hobby. Janine and Egon made sense to me, and I held both in high regard. I had an intuition about them, so I took photos capturing this moment for them, quickly and silently.

Egon

My heartbeat roaringly while Janine and I sat holding hands in the lab, and it felt like a drum line was playing in my ears. Although I planned to ignore Janine again for the last two weeks, I couldn't fight my feelings for her today. The fact that she took care of me made me feel exceptional and cared for, and when she started singing, I couldn't help but join her. Janine looked so happy when she sang, and I loved it. Even though I had calmed down, my emotions were high strung at the moment.

At first, I knew the Brooklynite was concerned about me by the look of fear and astonishment in her blue eyes when I grabbed Pete's collar after he called her an unkind word earlier. Her presence calmed me down, albeit gradually. I couldn't even hear Peter until I asked Janine if I could hold her hand because all I saw was red. Contrastingly, when she grasped my hand, we looked into each other's eyes, communicating non verbally. All I saw and felt was love.

Time passed, and eventually, the phone rang. My angel looked at me and then to the phone on the table on the other side of the room. She was about to get up and leave my side when Ray yelled from the landing, " I got it, J."

"Are you feeling better," Janine inquired, hopefully.

"I don't think I will be punching anything," I replied drily, turning to look at her, "but no, if it means that you have to get up."

She squeezed my non -injured hand and rose from her chair to move it next to me as she laughed. After Janine sat down again, the lovely woman put her head on my shoulder as I put my arm around her petite body.

Janine

After a while, I realized that I hadn't been working, I checked my watch for the time, and it confirmed it.

"Oh no, it's almost been twenty-five minutes! ! I have to go back to work or Peter will have my head," I exclaimed, shocked at the time.

"Let him try," he responded in a low growl, then after a second, a little more calmly stated, "yes, of course, you should go back to work."

Before I headed downstairs, Egon thanked me for helping him as I rose from my chair. Out of the blue, he stood with a cute small half-smile, then stepped closer to me until his body was in front of mine. I knew he would kiss me, and I felt tingly everywhere in anticipation as I felt the heat from our bodies. There was a shiver running down my spine when his lips touched mine and Ishut my eyes, enjoying the magic as we snogged each other. While we kissed, our arms slid around the other, and we pulled each other so close that our bodies were pressed together. I allowed myself to feel his taut, muscular back with my hands as we passionately kissed, and I became lost in the moment. When we broke apart for a moment, Egon opened his beautiful shiny brown eyes with a smile on his handsome face. Then we swayed back and forth, staring at each other, hypnotized.

"Why was he so resistant to the idea of us," I wondered to myself. Although I knew the answer, I didn't comprehend it. Instead, I pulled his mouth down to me again for another one opening my lips to deepen it, and forgot everything else.

Ray

"It is hushed in there," I mentioned as I read through some of Spengler's notes from last night's bust.

"What time is our first client this afternoon," Peter asked me a while later, and I went downstairs to look at Janine's computer.

Unfortunately, I did not know, so I read the schedule from Janine's desk. Climbing the stairs, I checked my watch, groaning.

"Venkman, we have a client in less than an hour in the Bronx, " I informed him, motioning towards the lab and probing," what are we going to do about that?"

Sighing, Pete suggested that we get ready and pack the car so then all we would have to do was wait for Spengler to change his clothes.

Egon

"Kiss me again, Egon, please," Janine requested softly, holding onto me tightly. There weren't any more comforting words that she could utter right then or ever. My lips were on fire, and only my Janine could put them out.

Behind us, someone was clearing their throat. Agitated, I growled, "go away." That worked for a short while as we continued to canoodle, but one of my business partners came back into the lab.

"Spengler, we have to leave now, " Ray informed us in an edgy voice.

Reluctantly, Janine pulled back from me when Ray returned.

"How much time do we have," I asked, watching Janine's angelic smiling face as her blue eyes twinkled happily. Instantly, I felt captivated by her again. Ray liked to be early to busts, and so did I, usually. However, I didn't want to leave her this time and feared the moment would pass us by.

"We had waited a while for this opportunity to appear again, but wasn't that my fault for trying to avoid her?" I thought to myself.

Unfortunately, Stantz's voice broke my reverie by saying,

"After you change clothes, none. We are going to be late, Spengler, otherwise I wouldn't interrupt you".

Troubled, I sighed crestfallen as I viewed Janine step back from me and remove her soft and cozy arms from my body.

"I will still be here when you return, Dr. Spengler," Janine flirted, rewarding me with her bright 1000 watt smile, and she smiled at Ray while strolling out of the lab happily.

Dazed, I wasn't in any shape to catch a ghost as I watched her walk out of the room. My heart was complete, and I couldn't think straight. Well, except for Janine.

Peter

When Janine emerged from the lab, she looked like she was floating on a cloud with that dreamy smile on her face.

"Thanks, J. I didn't want to interrupt," Ray apologized profusely, but she ignored him as she strolled downstairs.

When our secretary suggested, sarcastically, that I call her a b—- more often, I snickered, but not until after she was out of range to hear.

"Yes, I need more ass whoopings, " I moaned to Ray, drily, and he laughed. Egon emerged from the lab with all the medical supplies and went into the bathroom to put them up. He looked calm but stupefied. Iggy didn't say anything to either of us.

I smiled at her then opened the passenger door to sit in the car, and Egon was right behind me but still not talking. Then I realized that the smile was for him and not me, and I kept my mouth shut smartly.

"J, can you call - and tell them we will be there in a half-hour? And the one after that," Ray breathlessly inquired as I opened the door to Ecto One.

"No problem, Ray," Janine replied. That silly smile was still on her face.

"There's not one until four after that," I reminded Stantz, looking at the worksheet and exclaimed, "and nothing tonight. Yes, I can go out on a date with Victoria!"

As we sat in traffic, Ray put some disco music on.

"No disco, Stantz. It's dead, haven't you heard, " I complained, looking at a map of the Bronx directing him. It was fifteen minutes later, and traffic was at a dead stop on the way to Staten Island. Egon was looking out the window absentmindedly. I knew I needed to apologize to him eventually, but he wasn't himself yet.

"Shoot," I answered as we stopped again, and then Ray turned the radio up to irritate me.

Frowning, Egon reached up from the back seat and turned it back down because he didn't like disco music either.

"Where the flip were you before Spengler slammed me against the wall, " I questioned Ray, taking a cigarette out of my fresh pack.

" I told you that I was having coffee with Phoebe earlier and didn't think it would be a problem, " the chubby Ghostbuster informed. He glanced at Egon in the rearview mirror and then diverted his eyes back on the road.

"How did it go with her," I inquired slyly, knowing that he had a crush on his former student. He answered that they would drink together in a couple of nights, and I gave him a knowing wink.

"It's not like that," Ray innocently protested, turning pink in the cheeks.

"Ray, yes, it is like that, and Phoebe is a sweet girl who has had a thing for you since she was a junior," I replied.

We argued back and forth for a while before I realized I needed to apologize to Iggy again since he seemed somewhat receptive now.

"I guess this is where I apologize again," I explained to Egon, turning my body to face him from the front seat, "I'm sorry."

He didn't respond, so I let it go for the time being. Ok, maybe he wasn't ready to hear anything yet after all.

"How's your hand," Ray inquired.

"Fine," my friend responded, quietly and in a monotone voice, and glanced at his left hand and the bandages Janine put on it, scrutinizing them.

"Why were you bleeding, Spengs, " Ray asked, finally able to drive the car forward without being caught in stand-still traffic.

"I punched the glass in the fire extinguisher case, " Egon stated like he did that every day.

We completed the first job sloppily without our on-point man, not at his best, but it was completed. Sometimes, that's how it goes.

Egon

With everything that happened that day, I needed to process it all. I didn't have the time to do so the busts. Still, I recognized that a couple of significant events happened, I lost my temper, which proved that I was indeed falling in love with her despite my attempts to halt it. My fervid emotions instigated my spirit to flare up, and of course, I recognize that.

I had never shoved someone against the wall like that ever, and it horrified me that I was capable of that behavior. Even though Peter shouldn't have insulted Janine, my reaction was too aggressive. I knew that I would apologize to Peter eventually about that behavior when I was ready, and I had anger issues to work on. I additionally already saw a therapist twice a month to assistance in the recognition of my feelings. Sighing, I felt overwhelmed with it all. I didn't understand why I had these problems with my emotions and other people.

On the other hand, I admitted my feelings to Janine, if I hadn't already, by pushing Peter against the wall when he called her a curse word. I felt extraordinarily fortunate that she felt the same admiration for me that I felt for her.

Usually, I calculate and create a plan before taking action. Today all I wanted was to spend time with Janine and hell with everything else. When our moment in the lab ended, I hoped that reality would not set in by the time I returned to HQ. My brain might fight back with the rational thinking that I prided myself in usually having. Now I hoped that those thoughts would evacuate my mind and allow me to give my love to Janine freely.

On the way to the first bust, I attempted to straighten out the slew of thoughts and emotions in my head and heart At the first location in Staten Island, the first category five wouldn't be challenging to capture on any other day. Still, it took an hour to catch a slimer because I couldn't get it together.

My hand started to throb in pain.

"Crumbs," I winced when the pain started to become unbearable.

"Yeah, I knew that pain would kick in eventually," Peter commented as he heard me.

"Let's get something to eat but get some pain killers at the convenience store down the corner," Ray suggested.

When he stopped, Venkman popped out Ecto One and purchased some pain relievers for me.

"You probably need something stronger than this, but that's all they had," he returned with a small package of two Advil.

"Thanks," I replied.

We decided to eat at Colonel Sanders/ KFC near the subsequent bust in the Bronx, and I took the aspirin with water there. As we ate, there was uncomfortable silence at first.

"Venkman, I...Uhm..apologize... for my actions," I finally confessed.

Peter accepted it with a handshake, and we ate in silence. It wasn't disagreeable, though. Until Ray broke the silence by inquiring,

"Iggy, why are you so adamant about avoiding Janine when it seems that circumstances keep on pushing you together and that you both care for each other?"

"When I was growing up, I was taught to focus only on my achievements and that people or relationships were not necessary. The problem is that I think Janine is becoming necessary to me and my life, and I don't know how to manage both," I responded truthfully.

" I am sure that she's mystified by the cat and mouse game that you seem to be caught up in, emotionally," he replied, taking a sip of his Pepsi.

"Yes."

"I want you to know that you will end up deciding because she won't be willing to do that eventually, Iggy," Peter added.

Nodding my head, I met my friend's eyes. The advice he was giving me sank into my brain, and I analyzed it. My Ray smartly chimed in with,

"The decision you make will be going to tear you up inside because you are in love with Janine. You have to do what you think is best for you. I understand that you were brought up only to focus on your work, but it might not be the best advice for you. Life is never as black and white, like science."

"Gray areas are not in my wheelhouse of strengths," I admitted weakly with a heavy sigh.

"And you realize that it might not end up working out with Janine. I think you two are perfect for each other and hope you will be happy together. Life is about taking chances. How many chances have you taken in your life, outside of science or your work," Stantz questioned, lighting a cigarette.

I analyzed the question for a moment and shook my head then replied, earnestly, "I think I hear both of you correctly, and I don't have a response. Ray, I have probably taken very few chances in life outside of my work."

"Just be careful with Brooklyn and her feelings. Consider how hard it is for you, and then ponder how this would be for her. Janine cares about you, and you go back and forth with going on dates and avoiding her," Peter added.

" I had never considered Janine's side of the situation," I guiltily thought to myself.

"No, but your actions are inconsistent since you two were dancing at the bar, and it might be time to explain this to Janine. She may not understand, but at least it would be in the open," Ray remarked, blowing smoke in the opposite direction from his cigarette.

" When we went to get ice cream a couple of weeks ago, I explained to her that I bury my feelings because I don't like being out of control," I divulged to my friends, truthfully.

"You did? That's great! What did she say?" Peter exclaimed, surprised.

"Nothing really- Janine wanted to ask for clarification. However, I don't think she comprehends, but truthfully, I don't either," I stated, shrugging my shoulders helplessly.

"You scared the crap out of her earlier," Venkman said, pointing to my knuckles.

"I didn't want Janine to see the blood and you upset, but I also realized that only she would be able to calm you down. You didn't even respond once when I was talking to you. Did she tell you any of this?" my friend demanded.

My face turned bright red as I felt a large amount of guilt, then responded sheepishly, "No."

"I don't know how Brooklyn was able to persuade you to let her clean your cuts, but I do know that you two were singing together when I came back with the broom. You have to make sure you show her how much you appreciate her," Peter explained emphatically.

"You are right," I agreed, considering my options knowing that she loved candles, plants, and music for sure.

"This is the time you ask her to go to the gala, and not when your brain kicks in later on or tomorrow," Ray urged.

On Friday, we received invitations to the city's business gala in the mail. It was an opportunity for local businesses to network with others. At first, I just waved it off and decided that Peter could go for me since he dealt with the social aspect of the business. I decided that I would request that Janine accompany me today, and I thought that having her company would make forced socialization much more agreeable. Besides, I would have the loveliest date there by far.

"I agree. I'm going to ask Janine today after our bust," I responded, feeling a little nervous about it.

We had friendly banter for the next hour before returning to the Firehouse. I was out of sorts still thinking about asking Janine to the gala, but I didn't feel like a complete wreck and helpless to the team. It was now five-thirty in the evening when we arrived back at HQ. Taking a deep breath, I walked downstairs to her desk after taking a shower and cleaning up. As I brushed my teeth, my hands were sweaty with the anxiety of asking Janine to the gala. I didn't put a suit on, but just some khaki pants and a long-sleeved red polo shirt. Breathing deeply, I approached her desk.

Janine

"Good afternoon Janine, ahem, how are you," Egon questioned politely.,

"Well, thanks. How are you," I answered, smiling at him, glancing up from my computer screen. My heart loudly thumped in my chest as I fell silent awaiting his response.

"Better."

There was a lull in the conversation as my adorably handsome physicist swayed back and forth, with an anxiety that made him so adorable, in front of me. I gave Egon a supportive smile, prompting him to continue. I knew that he had more to say because of his actions, and I felt excited at the possibilities. Finally, Egon requested,

" Would ...you ...please...Uhm, attend the gala...Uhm... with me? I would...ahem, consider it an honor...if you would join me?"

"I forgot all about the gala," I thought happily.

Impetuously, I popped up from my desk to give him a quick embrace while stating, "I'd love to!"

For a second, we grinned at each other as we held onto each other loosely in an embrace, ecstatically, before the phone rattled from my desk.

I spun around from Egon and towards my desk to answer the phone quickly, in an annoyed voice,

"Ghostbusters, whaddya want?"

When I left for the day, Egon came home with me and we spent the evening together.

Dear Diary,

Egon defended me when Peter called me a bitch today at work during an argument. He didn't just protect me but threw Venkman against the wall in anger. Later, I assisted in calming down Egon after he punched glass in the lab- we held hands and had this very romantic moment. All of this reminded me of how much I cared for him. Then Egon kissed me after two weeks of avoiding contact, and they were just as great as I remembered. My desire seems to be increasing every time with every kiss and touch from him.

Later on, Egon asked me to the gala next week, and then I invited him over to finish Grandmother's pot roast after my shift. We spent the evening together, lost in each other's arms in our little world.