It was dark, and the tension was already running high. I had managed to snag Spengs for a taxi ride to the place where my Dad and Bassingame were unveiling their new "find", and of course, Janine had managed to jump on board and was now seated between me and Egon. As if I already had enough problems.

"Oh, Egon, isn’t this… romantic?" You didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know what Janine was thinking, or at least hoping for, not with the way she was leaning in close to Egon and batting her eyes at him behind those huge glasses of hers. You could poke an eye out with those things.

Egon looked like Bambi in the headlights of an oncoming truck, much like I expected him to react. Already a year’s passed, and his reaction to her hasn’t changed a bit. His dark blue eyes were watching her warily as he seemed to be unconsciously moving away from her. She leaned in a little closer and gave him a small smile.

I wanted to stop her. That’s not something I would tell most people, but I wanted to stop her. She was cornering him like some hungry cat, and she didn’t seem to notice what he was doing. She was only interested in trapping him and making him hers.

Egon’s not like that. In all the years I’ve known him since college, he’s not one who’s used to having such a predator tailing him. Hell, he didn’t even notice any of the co-eds when they were flirting with him. He was quiet, reserved. He needs careful attention and planning to bring out that side of himself that he keeps hiding. He’s almost as bad as I am, really. He appreciates romance, he sees the little things that everyone else lets go unnoticed.

But the look in his eyes when he glanced at me… Geez. He looked so… uncertain. He was looking to me for *help*. "What do I do, Peter?" his eyes asked me with every flicker of the street-lamps that passed overhead. He wanted me to help him get *her*… and she already wants to tackle him to the floor.

Why Janine? Why do you want to have *her* hold you, Egon? Didn’t I hold you when you’ve had nightmares? Didn’t I hold you on those nasty busts where one of us nearly died? What does she have that I don’t? I mean, besides being a woman, that is… Ahhh, with my luck, just forget I said that.

It hurts. It really hurts when you look at me like that, Spengler. It hurts because I can’t say no to that look.. I can’t say no to you. You want help with Janine?

I nodded. Just once.

Go on, Egon. I want you to be happy. I wish I could’ve done that for you, but… it’s your choice. It doesn’t matter how I feel. You’re the one who’s important now.

"Uhhh… yes." Egon remarked, sounding off-balance, each uncertain word twisting the knife in just a little more.. "I would say so."

It hurts, but I could never say no to you.

As I turned back to look at the road ahead of us where Dad was about to unveil Pyro-Popsicle of the Frozen North, more to give the two their privacy, a flicker of blue brought my eyes back to them.

Egon was looking at me. Could I hope that it was…?

Nah. I’m not that lucky.

THE END