Just the Way You Are

When the guys got back up to the main floor, they surveyed the damage. Pauline and Rosa were still behind the file cabinet. Janine’s distinct Brooklyn drawl could be heard from in front of her desk. “Get her offa me!”

“I’m trying!” Kel answered, her voice strained as if she were struggling to lift something. “I’m a bit of a sissy, mate! She’s rather weighty!”

The guys smiled and went to help her. Ray paled when he realized that Alice was unconscious. Janine saw his expression. “Don’t sweat it Ray. She’s just out because of the power I had to put into her. She’s okay. She’ll come to in a bit.” Ray relaxed some, but still looked worried.

Peter lifted Alice off Janine and handed her to Ray before racing over to see about Dana and Louis. Ray took Alice to lay her on the table behind the files.

Peter was relieved to find Dana and Louis laughing hysterically. The mood slime had them in a very good mood. It was clearly artificial, as they were both wide-eyed and trembling, but at least they weren’t totally freaking out.

“They’re okay!” he informed the others. Egon sighed in relief, clapping Winston on the back.

Kel and Janine smiled at each other. “Thank you,” Kel said.

“Me?” Janine was shocked she was thanking her instead of the guys. “For what?”

“For blasting that creature when it tried to attack me.”

“Oh. That. No biggie.”

“I beg to differ. He had every intention of killing me, and I think my life is a very big deal. At least to me.” She winked at the other woman.

“And me. Thanks, girlfriend.” Winston pulled Janine into a bear hug, lifting her off her feet.

“Aww, Winston! There go my ribs!” She playfully slugged him on the shoulder. “Anytime.” Egon helped Janine into her chair, just in case Winston’s affection was too much for her.

“I suppose you’ll have to give her a nickname too,” Winston smiled down at Kel.

She pulled his arm around her shoulders. “Hmm. How does Thatcher suit you, Janine?”

The secretary made a very unladylike sound. “Yeah, right! Have you seen Margaret Thatcher?”

Peter led Dana and Louis over to the others. They were smiling lovingly at everyone, dazed out of their heads. “Man! We should sell this stuff to junkies. We could put drug dealers out of business!” Peter joked.

“No more crime fighting, Venkman. I’m tired of being a hostage!”

“Only joking, Big J.”

“Big J?” Kel asked. “You’ve already got a bloody brilliant nickname!”

“Yeah, Dr. V and Big J. We’re both pretty lazy when it comes to nicknames.”

“I love your nickname, Janine.” Dana smiled lovingly at her friend.

Janine stared back at Dana. “Thanks.” She couldn’t help feeling guilty about being angry with her. Dana was grinning hysterically, but in her eyes was a trace of the torment she must have suffered while Zuul repressed her mind.

As far as Janine was concerned, Dana was innocent. Louis too. She could see that they had suffered and hadn’t been in control of their actions. “You poor things. Are you both okay?”

“I’m fine.” Dana smiled even broader, if that was possible.

“Me too!” Louis beamed.

Peter led Dana and Louis over to the table where Alice was just coming to. Janine, Egon, Winston and Kel followed them. Dana sat next to Pauline. Louis sat in Pauline’s lap and kissed her. “I love you, Pauline! And I missed you!”

Pauline’s face was covered in slime. “Yuk! Get off me, Louis! I . . . you . . . I love you too!” It didn’t take long for the slime to take effect.

Peter smiled in a way that made him look just like his conman father. “Hey Egon, can we . . .”

“No, Peter.” He didn’t even want to know how Peter wanted to market the slime, but he suspected as an aphrodisiac. He grimaced.

“But it’s . . .”

“He said no, Venkman!” Janine frowned at him. He held up his hands in defeat. He had his Dana back, and that was all that mattered.

“I love you, Peter.” He turned to look at her. Her eyes were haunted, but her smile was broad. He glanced at Louis and Pauline who were sucking face like there was no tomorrow, slime and all. He pulled a face.

“I love you too, Dana, but I’ll just wait to kiss you until you wash the slime off your face if you don’t mind.” Screw it. No aphrodisiac was worth that yuck!

Peter took Dana into a loose embrace, as not to get slime on himself. Winston was sitting by Egon, with Kel in his lap. Ray had his hip propped on the table with Alice resting in his arms. Janine was leaning into Egon’s shoulder.

The four Ghostbusters and their secretary looked around at each other and smiled. Their little family was growing. It was in the near foreseeable future that they’d all be moving out of the firehouse to pursue family life. Perhaps they’d need to hire some help soon, eventually pass the business down. It wouldn’t be all that long before the Junior Ghostbusters were old enough to do their job.

The end of an era was fast approaching.

They felt a wave of sadness and excitement at the prospect. No matter what the future would bring, in that moment there was no doubt how much the five of them all loved each other.