Disclaimer: The below is a work of fan fiction. The author does not own any of the characters in the story and is not uploading for monetary purposes.

"This Year's Janine"

1. Monster

Janine Melnitz had created a monster and it had four heads, eight arms, and eight legs. At the moment, she was backed up against a wall, her wit her only dependable weapon against the enemy. What she really wanted to do was to grab onto the nearest particle thrower and start shooting at the monster she'd single-handedly brought to life.

She only had herself to blame for its inception. What had started out as a small suggestion to beef up marketing for the Ghostbusters had turned into a wild success for the team. It had helped them with their goal of reaching the 25-35 female demographic, thus boosting their revenue significantly. They were hitting the target they wanted, and business was picking up once again, thanks to the steamy calendar the Ghostbusters released. There was a renewed buzz about them around town.

Now Peter wanted to follow that up while the getting was good with another calendar. But this time, it wouldn't be the guys showing off a significant amount of skin, oh no. This time - it would be Janine.

A monster, Janine thought, knowing she'd really painted herself into a corner. These guys were out for blood, for payback. It wasn't easy what she had them go through for that first calendar.

"Come on, Janine," her boss, and supposed friend, Peter Venkman said. "We showed them ours, now show them yours. It's only fair."

"How's that fair?" Janine said, her voice taking on an indignant edge. "You guys had three months each between the four a'you!" It was true – each Ghostbuster appeared three months out of the twelve and only had to pose nude once.

"Don't you trust us, Janine?" Ray Stanz said. Ray. You'd think Ray would've at least tried to defend my honor, Janine thought, shooting Ray the dirtiest look she'd ever given him. Now here he is selling me out just like Venkman! Ooh I can't believe it!

Winston went down on one knee in front of their angry secretary. "Please Janine," he said. "Take one for the team!" he couldn't resist adding.

"What are you so shy about anyway?" Peter said. "You've got the goods, Melnitz, and don't try to act like a prude all of a sudden."

"You're skating very dangerously towards sexual harassment, Dr. Venkman," Janine said.

"I wouldn't even joke about that if I were you," Peter said, taking on a hurt tone. He looked at the other guys for support. "We don't even need to put it to a vote, seeing how the majority has already spoken."

At this, Egon cleared his throat. He hung back watching the entire scene unfold. He had ambivalent feelings about the turn of events. True, seeing Janine near naked was in his top three "must-see before I die" list (followed closely by the invention of the Large Hadron Collider and by a farther degree, the Lost City of Atlantis), but if she were truly uncomfortable with the idea, then perhaps it was best that the discussion be dropped, or at the very least, tabled for now.

"Yes, Egon?" Peter said, turning his head to his esteemed friend and colleague. Honestly, he couldn't wait to hear what Egon's contribution to this particular conversation would be. Dr. Peter Venkman was very interested. Paranormal stuff he was able to deal with on a daily basis. Mounting sexual tension between mutual friends that always threatened to explode but never did? That drove any well-meaning pal over the wall. Peter took any excuse he could get to hurry things along between Egon and Janine. The Janine calendar idea was like hitting at least two spooks with one beam.

"Like I said about the first calendar, as long as the shots are done in a tasteful manner, then I don't see any reason for objection," Egon said, taking his glasses off to clean them so he wouldn't have to see Janine's expression. Forgive me, Janine, he thought.

"Well there you go!" Peter said. "Egon's okay with it, Ray and Winston are okay with it."

"Oh, we are so okay with it," Winston said, throwing his arm around Ray. Ray nodded and gave the thumbs up signal.

Janine stood up. "FINE!" she shouted. Leaning forward so she could get into Peter Venkman's smug face, she said, "But I want to negotiate the terms and conditions!"