Carter, the Conclusion

[bloodcount]

He Is Green With Evil




"DIRTY DEEEEEDS!" The car's stereo pounded as it sped down the street. The ominous lyrics punctuated by harsh breathing, "Dirty Deeds and they're done DIRT CHEAP! AAAAAAAAIIIIIIGGGHH!!!"

How appropriate, thought Egon, as he followed calmly and very quietly behind James Carter down the sidewalk. Egon felt rather like a dangerous criminal. Certainly what he was about to do was justified? For the good of everyone? Can a wrong make a right? What if Winston or June ever found out? He decided to deal with that when and if it ever came up. For now, he had to concentrate. As the instigator of the plot it should have been Peter that had the honor of carrying it out but he had lost the coin toss.

As carefree as a man could be, who was ignorant of having a disgruntled evil genius creeping up behind him, Carter reached his apartment building and headed up the stoop. Slightly winded from his long climb up ten steps to the front door he began to search his pockets for his keys. Some kid had left a toy soldier on the welcome mat. Carter recognised it as his son's and impatiently kicked it out of his way.

"Mr. Carter," a satanically deep voice behind him intoned.

Carter whirled, "Damn!" and recognised the long, cool figure of Dr. Egon Spengler ascending the stairs. He was carrying a clipboard and...and seemed to be sizing him up. Carter didn't like the sudden queasy feeling in his gut.

He didn't like it at all.

"Do you always creep up on people like that?!" he snapped. Egon reached him and Carter had to crane his neck to squint up at the tall man.

"Most people don't notice." Egon reassured him. "Until it’s too late."

Carter found his keys and jerked them with what he hoped was a threatening jingle out of his pocket. Was this about that stupid church? He'd apologised to that Winston fool already. "Doctor, I've got to be heading in."

"This will only take a moment." Egon indicated the papers on his clipboard. "As their doctor it really should be Peter giving you this information but he is currently indisposed so I shall do it. I have here the results of all of our preliminary observations of Meghan and Kenny's recovery following the Bogeyman's attack. The short and long term effects."

"Look, June handles all that, I'll send her down to talk to you." What was wrong with the door? It seemed welded shut.

"June is not home."

Carter did a nervous double-take. "How do you know? You just got here!"

"Janine has taken June and the kids to the Zoo. They should be back this evening. So, we will have no interference." He flipped through his papers. "Will we?"

Carter would have sold his soul for any interruption. "Could you come back later? I just got off work and I'm tired." He jammed his keys into the lock again and turned. The door still refused to open. Looking through the window he could see that no one was in the lobby so kicking and screaming to be let in was not an option. Oh, Hell.

"Now, to begin with, the short and long term effects of an attack by a Class Seven corporeal entity are, at least, rather disturbing." Egon settled his weight on one leg, completely at ease.

Carter reluctantly turned back to the scientist. "Disturbing?"

"Yes. It seems Meghan and Kenny possess some slight genetic 'differences' that have proven to be psychically attractive to supernatural creatures. This may be what brought them to the attention of the Bogeyman."

"What did you just say?"

"Your children are Weird Magnets," Egon clarified. "Ghosts and other beings that go 'bump' in the night may, and probably will, seek them out."

Carter stared up at Egon, jaw practically unhinged. "Monsters? More monsters are going to be coming into my home?"

"It appears so, yes. The Bogeyman was simply the first. He shall probably be followed by any number of manifestations up to, and including the more deadly classes of entities. Hopefully, you and your family should be able to adapt to the incursions providing you all survive. If Meghan and Kenny live to adulthood they could become mediums or even powerful witches. Are there any witches in your family that could help them?"

"Witches?! Not on MY side of the family...and...and there's no such thing as witches!"

"You said the same thing about the Bogeyman a month ago. But I understand your disbelief. Since my own family is crawling with witches I can give you a small demonstration."

With great deliberation, Egon slowly folded one of his sheets of paper into a square and, as soon as Carter had reached the breaking point from suspense, threw it into the air. "Carpe Nocturne!"

It suddenly blazed into a bright, wicked green flame that illuminated Carter's horrified face before disappearing. Bright afterimages flickered in Carter's sight and he blinked rapidly. He failed to remember that he had seen magicians on TV perform the same, simple trick dozens of times but at this moment, and under Egon's eerie influence, it seemed vitally real and dangerous. True Sorcery. Carter flinched back from the ash swirling at his feet as if it were poisonous.

Egon exulted. Ray, an amateur magician, had worked with him for half the night to perfect the sleight-of-hand and it had worked beautifully. Ray had wanted to teach him some real magic but Egon had decided to keep things simple. "You shouldn't be too alarmed. Meghan and Kenny may adjust easily. They're young, after all. Besides, all of the Ghostbusters are Weird Magnets and mystically enhanced as I've just proven and we've managed to reach a healthy and normal adulthood. We've even made a business out of it."

"You…you’re healthy and normal?!"

"Don't you think so?" Egon pinned a sputtering Carter with a hypnotically blue stare.

"Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure."

"Thank you. Now for the short term effects." Egon consulted his clipboard again, "This is Dr. Venkman's psychological profile of the children. His diagnosis should not be seen as set in stone, you're welcome to a second opinion, however, Venkman is a gifted psychologist and a notable leader in the field of Parapsychology and Psychology and a second opinion will only prove useless and expensive. Or so I truly believe."

"There's more?!" Carter was sweating, Egon noticed with satisfaction and he kept up the pressure by stepping just so much closer.

"Yes, your children are in need of further therapy. They've had a very traumatic experience and extra sessions are necessary to help them move past it and to stop burning things. We could also cover how to deal with upcoming visitations. And, I hate to mention this, but, as leading experts, our time is very valuable." It was true. Much valuable time was taken up this morning watching Janine cut dead fronds off her ferns.

"You're going to start charging me?" Carter’s eyes became wet.

"Should cost be a factor in considering your children's delicate mental health?" Egon scratched his ear.

“Delicate!”

Suddenly, Clop! Clop! Clop! A horse and rider cantered into view. The horse was midnight black and the man on his back matched his somber appearance. Black, black, blacker than death, as bleak as despair they rode down the street. Drawing level with the apartment building the rider drew on the reins and paused a moment, casting about, searching for…something or someone. Carter couldn’t understand how he knew the rider was looking for something as the rider…the Black Rider…

…had no head.

The horseman paused, fixating on the apartment building and then slowly turned his headless regard towards Egon and Carter. Carter cowered. With a sudden swirl and snap of his long cloak the creature turned away and Clop! Clop! Clop! The two morbid beings disappeared. Literally. Only the echoes of the hoofs striking the street could be heard turning the corner and then they, too, faded away.

Carter began to tremble.

"Hmph. We should be getting a call about that one pretty soon," Egon mused aloud. “Probably from you.”

That was entirely more strangeness than Carter was capable of handling at the moment. Even on his best day he would not have withstood that. He hit the door again and began to frantically jerk at the knob. "Puh..probably.”

"As I was saying, Mr. Carter please stand up, this is important, as I was saying your children aren't that dangerous YET but, if left untreated..." Egon scratched his ear again and the door flew open.

Sweating, almost hyperventilating, Carter fell through, got up and slammed the door in Egon's face.

Wounded to the quick, Egon left the stoop and turned up the street towards home. He could still smell Carter's fear and he fought to hide an evil grin. Would it work? How would he escalate Carter's gaslighting if the man wasn't intimidated now?

Ugly, bloody scenarios passed through his mind as he passed the tall hedge bordering the apartment complex. Suddenly there was a flurry of leaves, a laugh and Egon found himself dragged off his feet and into the bushes. The papers on his clipboard flew loose and scattered all over the sidewalk and street. It was too much. He was laughing too hard to fight back, even when his attackers sat on him.

"Did you see him?" Ray gasped. "Did you see his FACE?"

"I can't breathe, OFF! Get off!" He kicked at them, uselessly.

Peter leaned in close, "GINO! Dat was Beeyooteeful!!"

"Thank you, Boss. And you two handled the hologram projector and the magnetized door perfectly." Egon turned his face away from Peter’s and closed his eyes, suddenly apprehensive.

"You're not having second thoughts, Egon?"

"Ah, no, if I were, its entirely too late now. I only hope Winston and June don't find out." Wrapping long arms around Peter's waist he was able to twist and throw the shorter man off. The bushes rustled and Ray and Peter laughed again.

"Peter told June exactly what you told Carter. Y'know," Ray grinned. "Her kids are gifted and we don't mind babysitting. If Carter takes that the wrong way and runs like hell then..." He threw his hands up in a helpless gesture.

"I feel sorry for June," Peter put in. "This is all going to land right on her head."

"Evidently, she has money. Money and property in New York. Also friends and family. She'll hold up. We'll help. This is all for the best." Egon gave a decided nod and that ended that argument.

"I’m guessing what you’re up to is a sin and illegal but I’ll ask anyway," An amused voice floated through the leaves. Egon flinched and Ray’s eyes went wide. It was Miss Evelyn and she was gazing at them through a break in the foliage. “What are you boys doing in the bushes?”

“Nothing!” Peter whispered salaciously. “Come on in!”

“Not me, child!”

"Darling!" Scattering leaves and paper everywhere Peter dove for her feet. If she had a cane she would have pounded him with it. As she was unarmed all she could do was call for the police. Softly.




At Last, My Love Has Come Along



Winston punched in a selection and the vintage juke box flared into life. "Hit the road, Jack! And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, No More!" It was five standing feet of gleaming chrome, glass and flashing lights and filled with a selection of R&B, Soul and Dr. Demento. Winston had replaced Ray's radio with a vengeance. "What you say?! Hit the road, Jack! And don't you come back no mooooore!" The sound reverberated off the walls and the red and yellow lights lit up even the farthest corners of the basement lab. Ray was going to just shit.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around...and froze. "June!"

"Janine sent me down!" She shouted over the music. Winston scrambled for the volume control and cut Ray Charles down a peg. He wanted to call someone, anyone, for backup since June was probably here to deliver a progress report on her kids and she really should be speaking to a parapsychologist or psychologist or anyone but him. That impulse was suddenly overridden by the simple desire to have her all to himself, if only for a moment. He inspected himself quickly. Did he look OK? He hoped so. Winston pulled up a bench and they both sat down. June seemed drained. Tired. But pleased, somehow.

"So!" Winston gamely began, feeling like an idiot. God, she was pretty, even when she was upset. "What can I do for you?" He tried to give off the persona of good 'ol solid, reliable Winston and hoped she couldn't see through it to the manic man underneath.

June smiled. Winston was trying to be so casual, it was very flattering. "Well, I'm going to test our friendship."

"Wuh? Uh. Really?"

She smiled. "I need you and the guys, oh, and Janine, to help me move."

Winston's throat dried. "Move? Sure! Anything! Where?"

"I inherited an old purple Victorian at 221B Baker Street at Pell."

Winston startled. "I know that place! I love that house! They used to have the Sherlock Holmes fan club meet there until they sold it about five years ago. And its just a few doors down," his relief showed plainly.

"They sold it to my Grandmama and she passed it on to me a few years ago. I’ve finally got the chance to move in."

"That's so GREAT! I'd love to live there! I bet it could use some work?" he asked hopefully.

"Mostly cosmetic work. It’s a good, sound house. Me and Kenny and Meghan should have a lot of fun fixing it up. It's split in two halves, we could rent out 221A if we can find the right people."

Me and Kenny and Meghan? "James too busy at work to help?" Too critical, cool it down.

"What James does is his own business. It's me and the kids from now on." June sat up very straight. She looked directly, defiantly into his eyes.

Oh. God.

"You left James?" Winston asked quietly. He suddenly realized that she wasn’t upset. She was relieved. So relieved she was almost boneless.

"James left me. I came home last night...do you want to hear this? I'm not making you uncomfortable?"

"NO! No, go on." Damn, his palms were sweating again.

"I came home last night and found a note. We had grown apart, it said, and he needed space and time to think...blah de blah...I felt…I wanted to sing to be perfectly honest. But then he came back."

"He came back?!"

"Yeah, either his Mama wouldn't take him in or he got hungry, I don't know. I don't care. I wouldn't open the door. I mean you can only try and try for however long to make something work but this thing with the Bogeyman was the last straw. I've had it."

Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus' filled the basement. They both looked up, startled. Oh, the jukebox. Winston got up and went over to it, fiddling with the volume again. He wanted to dance. He wanted to cry. He wanted to crawl over to June on his hands and knees and bite her. He decided to be more discreet, instead.

"How are the kids doing?" he asked, sitting down again.

Pleased that he had thought of them, June patted him on the hand. What strong, kind hands. "They're fine. It's just the three of us again, like it was when James was traveling so much. We're all going to be...we ARE fine. Just like you all said we would be." She beamed at him. "Are you going to help us move?"

"YES! Hell, yes. Anything you want me...us to do, anytime, anyplace!"

"Thank you, Winston. I..." June simply didn't have the words. "Thank you." She took his hand in both of hers and shook it in the most ridiculous fashion. Winston was overcome. He shook her hand, too and they sat on the bench and grinned like village idiots. Together at last.

What a beautiful feeling.

Spying through a crack in the basement door Peter reached back and Janine pressed her palm to his in a silent high-five of victory. Wait'll Egon and Ray hear about this.

They did it. What's more, they'd gotten away with it! Who said crime doesn't pay?





Crime Doesn't Pay




Peter hefted the last heavy box of books into the Victorian's living room and dropped it with an echoing THOOM! Tired and sore, he sat down on it in disgust. Ray and Egon were setting up a bookshelf. Ray looked to be near tears and Egon was actively sulking but trying to hide it.

"WELL, boys!" Peter slapped his thighs. "What goes around comes around, huh? No good deed, or in our case, bad deed goes unpunished. We are reaping what we have sown."

"I have no regrets," Egon interrupted stubbornly. "We did what we did for the best of reasons and we succeeded. Winston is happy. The kids are happy. June is practically glowing."

"Yeah, but we didn't expect this!" Ray grabbed up a nail and almost stabbed himself in the thumb. "Don't you think it's a little early for Winston to be moving in?"

"Why should they have waited? What June and Winston have they have for life. Life! I feel it in my gut."

"But they've only been together a few months!"

A cold breeze swept the room as Janine walked in bearing a goldfish bowl in her gloved hands. "Winston!" she called. "Where does Bruce go?!" Bruce the goldfish darted excitedly back and forth in his bowl.

"On the bedside table in mine and June's room!" Winston shouted back from the kitchen.

"Figures." Egon heard Janine mutter and she stomped away, cursing the blissfully unaware fish.

Winston is still a Ghostbuster, Egon reminded himself. They would see him every day, if a call came through he'd be ready when they came by in Ecto to retrieve him. Luckily the Victorian was only a minutes drive to the firehouse. He hadn't moved away from his friends or his job. Just the firehouse. Egon pounded his finger with the hammer and Ray and Peter were entertained by several select and exotic curses.

Winston continued to lay low in the kitchen, assembling a baking hutch as slowly as he possibly could. His going away party had been a bitter affair even though his friends tried mightily to conceal it. Too much laughter, too loud. Winston was perversely gratified that his friends felt terribly about his leaving. They were great friends, great people and they would get used to the new arrangement. He hoped they'd be as happy as he was now, someday. As for now, he continued to hide.

Janine returned and joined Peter on his box just as June arrived home from picking Meghan and Kenny up from school. Another clean, cold breeze swept the living room and the mood lightened immediately. June beamed at them.

"EEEEGONNN!!!" Egon abandoned the bookshelf and got up to help them out of their coats. This involved picking Kenny up and shaking him by the feet while Meghan filled him in on the latest vagaries of one Levy Joe Malcolm, a second grader that was driving her CRAZY! Egon happily sympathized. No, he had no regrets at all.

June had quickly joined Winston in the kitchen. "Oh, Gomez!" Peter teasingly called after her. "It's been entire minutes since we've been apart!" He could hear her giggling. Amazing how that woman had come alive the past few months. Damn her.

Janine gave an unhappy whine and Peter leaned in close, "Look at it this way," Unsurprisingly, Ray also moved closer."It's fate. No matter how unhappy it makes us. What are we going to do? Break them up to get Winston back?" His friends sadly shook their heads. They'd done enough evil and, like Janine had predicted, they were getting their butts kicked for it. Winston had moved out. "There's just no beating destiny," Peter continued, "Even if it’s not at all what you want or expect." Ray looked thoughtfully at Janine. She didn’t notice, she was watching Egon.

"Destiny, huh?” She said, annoyed. “I hope you're still so accepting when it’s your turn!" She groused.

Smugly secure (wrongly so as the future would prove) Peter just laughed.




End