Disclaimer: I am an alien. I have no need for any form of Earth currency, nor am I expecting any fiscal compensation for lost sleep. (I.e. I'm not making any money.) I also don't own nada. Someone else does. Although I think they don't care for them. (I.e. where's season two? And what happened to the videos?!) Valid where prohibited, no purchases necessary, see game piece for details.

The Cards You're Dealt

By Icka! M. Chif

Eduardo carefully watched his three opponents, looking for an opening. This wasn't a game, no matter what they had said before. This was every man for himself. He studied the opponent on his left cautiously. She was a tricky one, never letting her strategy away, keeping all of her cards close to her chest, letting no emotion show. She watched him expectantly now, waiting for him to make his move. The one across from him how ever, seemed smug as he crunched noisily on some of his spoils. He was one to keep an eye on, a braggart, always acting like he had an ace up his sleeve some how. Footsteps echoed in the dark background, probably Egon. He ignored the noise. Egon would be no help to him here. Eduardo glanced at his last adversary. The one to his right wasn't as laid back or confident as the other two. He was too jumpy, though he tried to cover it, but it seemed he might fold if pushed hard enough. He swallowed audibly, glancing around nervously as if trying to see outside the small, lighted area. Not that it was going to help him any, the four of them were in this until there was only one left standing. Eduardo frowned to himself, plotting his strategy for his next move. It didn't look good. Fortunately, he didn't have to deal with the all the cards he had in his hand. He had made his decision, and knew what he had to do.

"Three."

Kylie took the three cards he set down and handed him three new ones.

It was poker night at the firehouse; five-card stud, aces and deuces wild. Kylie, sitting to his left, was dealing. She also had the largest amount of chips due to the fact she had an unreadable poker face when it came to her cards. She would however break it every so often to smile when some one made a really dumb move. Both he and Garrett were about tied by the looks of it and Roland had the smallest amount by a noticeable difference. He wasn't a good bluffer when it came to poker. Eduardo looked at his cards while the others glared at Slimer, who was circling for another raid on their 'poker chips'. He had gotten a 10, the King of hearts, and a Jack to go with the Ace and Deuce he had kept. Man, he shouldn't have thrown away the 10 he had had. He would've at least had a pair that way.

Roland had found a stack of poker chips hidden away in a closet and had inquired about it. Egon had then told them about the ritual Friday night poker game the original Ghostbusters had staged back when they had still been together. Janine had suggested they try it, just for fun. They weren't using the poker chips Roland had found but some munchies instead. Egon had frowned but hadn't said anything when it was suggested that they use the old poker chips. Evidently he didn't want to get them damaged by inexperienced players. So instead they were using small knotted pretzels for 5's, potato chips for 10, cookies for 50s and a few Twinkies that Slimer had over looked for 100s.

Garrett suddenly looked up, a big grin on his face. "Whadda say to the loser of this hand has to give Slimer a bath?"

Slime-ball had been stinking up the place a lot lately and Janine had jokingly commented that he needed a bath. Nobody wanted to do it; not only would it entail getting ecto all over one's self, but one also had to catch the spud first. Garrett's hand must have been either really good or really bad and he was bluffing to get out of it.

Eduardo checked his cards again. He could make two pairs using the Ace and Deuce, as well as the King and Queen. It might work.

Roland shrugged. "Sure. I'm game."

Garrett glanced expectantly at him.

He scowled back. "Why not?" He slowly agreed.

They looked at Kylie. She pondered it a moment, probably figuring out just what her chances were. She finally nodded. "All right." She finally sighed, scooping up two pretzels. "Dealer starts the betting off at 10."

"You call that a bet?!" Garrett scoffed. "Let's at least try to show a little enthusiasm here, people! We've got a wager in the balance!"

He tossed in two pretzels, matching her bet, then added two potato chips.

"Now *that's* a wager." He smirked. "It's yours Rolster."

Roland looked a bit nervous, but matched the bet and raised it a pretzel much to Garrett's obvious dismay.

He frowned at Garrett, and raised it another potato chip.

Roland began to sweat. Kylie showed no reaction to it at all and met his bet easily, raising it by another two chips.

Garrett grinned. "Now that's more like it!" He tossed in the wager and raised the stakes by four more potato chips and a pretzel, raising it up to a hundred.

Roland folded, shaking his head. A safe choice on his part. He wouldn't have to give Slimer a bath, but he wouldn't get a chance at the munchies either. The 'honor' of washing Slimer went to the person with the worst hand when it came time to show the cards.

Eduardo raised Garrett's bet by five pretzels, not quite a dare, but not playing it very safe either.

Kylie raised his by 50 with out batting an eyelash.

Roller-boy almost seemed to dance in his chair with glee as he raised it up to two00.

Eduardo checked his cards again.

"Whatcha waitin' for?" Garrett asked, smirking. "Your hand to improve?"

He frowned and raised the bet to two50.

Kylie raised again, and then Garrett, then he again. The stake was up to 500, Kylie's turn.

She shook her head. "Too rich for my blood." She said, folding.

Garrett smiled triumphantly at Eduardo. "Just you and me, pachuco."

His frown deepened as he re-arranged the cards in his hands. Dang. He'd have to bluff it.

Garrett's eyes sparkled maliciously as he pushed his entire stack of snack foods to the center of the table, daring him to try and beat him.

He looked at his cards again, an idea slowly forming. He glared at Garrett under his bangs, and pushed his entire stake forward. It was all or nothing.

Garrett, in true showman fashion, set his cards down making them click as they touched the table. Aces and eights. Dead man's hand.

"Whadda have to say about that, amigo?" He asked smugly, sitting back in his chair.

Eduardo scowled at him, slowly setting down his cards.

"Hope you've got plenty of soap, pachuco." He said softly.

Silence for a moment as they stared at his cards in shock.

"Royal Flush." Kylie breathed, in something akin but not quite to awe.

Roland let out a breath he had been holding in a loud 'whoosh'.

"No way!" Garrett exclaimed, leaning forward again. "Lemme see those."

Kylie passed the cards over for Garrett to inspect.

Ace, King, The Deuce, being a wild card was his Queen, then the Jack and the 10. Royal Flush, fair and square.

Garrett looked at the cards in horror. "I don't believe it." He declared.

"Believe it." He smirked, allowing himself to relax and lean back in his chair for the first time since they started playing.

"Looks like someone gets to wash Slimer after all." Roland chuckled.

Garrett glared at him.

Eduardo scooped his prize forward, filling the empty snack bowl he'd kept by his chair, then stood up. He'd noticed Slimer had disappeared shortly after the bet was announced and didn't really care to be involved with the process of getting Slimer to his bath. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go see if anything good on TV."

Kylie and Roland rose as well, walking off to various tasks with their smaller piles of munchies, both with slight smirks on their faces.

He plopped down on the couch, grabbing the remote and turned on the boob tube with a satisfied air around him.

Some times you just had to deal with the cards you're dealt.

Fin.

Special thanks to J.R. Dyer and AnneL, for without them both, this fic would be a lot less understandable. Here's to many more fics!

Comments, questions, jokes, send to icka_IMP@hotmail.com

Thanks!