For All the Tomorrows
Disclaimer: Scooby Doo and all related characters are owned by Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., and/or Cartoon Network. All other characters, names, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, locals is coincidental.
Chapter One: A Bad Spill
Part One: The Christmas Kiss
The four friends had always met the weekend before Christmas for their own private party and exchange presents before the pressure of the season and family obligations would make it impossible.
He had stolen glimpses throughout the evening; watching, admiring her brown sugar colored hair; the way she moved. Normally she didn't wear that much make up if at all; tonight she had added a peach lipstick and eyeliner that brought out her dark brown eyes and added to her natural beauty.
The fireplace seemed the best place to begin the attack; he timed the attack by passing her at just the right spot several times. With place and timing set, all he could do was to wait. And watch.
She started into the living room; he started toward her. He looked up at the mistletoe hung on the ceiling; she followed suit, looking upward just as he had planned. When her head was tilted at the right angle, he attacked.
Arms snaked around her waist holding her firmly; his lips found hers, the light smell of her perfume, the smell of the shampoo she had used, even the sweet taste of her lips was intoxicating. He held the kiss; the deep indrawn gasp of surprise was expected, planned for.
She tried to pull away (also planned for); and then her hand was caressing his chest, tightening into a fist, pulling him closer. She returned his kiss (hoped for but not planned), leaning into the kiss. She would never ever admit it but the kiss made her pulse race; her knees weak, a warm tingle of pleasure started in her toes and ended at the top of her head. A tiny seed of hope had been planted in a field of despair and longing.
"Merry Christmas" he whispered. He wanted to give voice to all the emotions he felt but couldn't find the words at this, the critical moment. He turned and walked away.
"Merry Christmas" she said in a hushed whisper he didn't hear. She turned to walk in the direction she had come, humming a tune. The rest of the evening would be spent in a state of bewilderment; she couldn't remember why she had entered the living room only the shiver she felt every time she thought of his lips on hers.
He began to plan the second attack.
Part Two: Morning, five months later
It's funny how you can wake up one morning safe and warm in your own little world and by the end of the day your safe warm world doesn't exist anymore.
"That was a bad spill you took. How do you feel?"
"With my hands Fred, how else?" Shaggy smiled weakly at his feeble attempt at humor.
Fred, Daphne, and Velma were gathered around Shaggy's hospital bed. Seeing Shaggy lying in the bed, so pale, his head swathed in a bandage that made Velma think of surgery not the few stitches it covered. The three friends showed the tension of the past hours.
A cold clammy feeling had settled in Velma's stomach like a snake coiled, ready to strike. Daphne stifled a sob, forcing herself to laugh at the puny joke. Fred's eyes were bloodshot and worry lines had formed over his eyebrows.
That morning they had gathered in the mountains, setting the trap for a sheep rustler. Fred's trap had actually worked this time; but Shaggy had fallen backwards over Scooby tumbling down a ten foot embankment into a dry riverbed.
"Shaggy! Look Out!" Velma cried out and before Shaggy had bounced off a rock outcropping Velma had jumped down the bank; losing her balance, sliding the last five feet on her rear end.
"I feel a pulse; he's unconscious and bleeding from a gash on his head!" Velma called out, turning to find Fred beside her. Fred picked Shaggy up like he weighed less than ten pounds, carrying him up the embankment like it was a walk in the park.
The police were there to take charge of the rustler; one officer opened the door to his cruiser offering to take Shaggy to the hospital. They didn't hesitate as it would take hours to get an ambulance this far out and that didn't count the ride back into town.
"You go with Shag Velma, Daph and I will follow." Velma used the sleeve of her sweater to wipe the tears from her face, nodding 'yes' with Fred positioning Shaggy on the seat, Velma guiding his head to rest on her lap.
"Thanks Fred, see you guys there…Officer, can you call ahead, see if they can have a private room ready. He's going to be held overnight I'd guess." With flashing lights, siren and a rooster tail of dirt and gravel they were off.
At six feet, one hundred sixty pounds, crammed into the back seat of a police cruiser that smelled like someone had lost more than lunch, comfort is relative. Velma could only caress his cheek. And Cry. 'What if he ends up in a coma?' and worse thoughts nagged Velma's mind; she and Shaggy had been friends a long time. It was Shaggy that she had gone to if she needed to talk or just hang out with no romantic pressure. During their mysteries, it was Shaggy she had run to.
She kissed two fingers, placing them on his dry lips, "please get well Shaggy" she whispered. She had no way of knowing if he heard her or not but it did make her feel better to think he did.
Shaggy became conscious, turning his head enough to look her in the eyes---and wink!; quietly whispering four words so low Velma had to lean forward to hear, "I love you…surrender…" and then lapsed back into unconsciousness.
The nursing team was ready when the cruiser killed the lights and siren, pulling into the emergency parking area. They removed an unconscious Shaggy from the cruiser, efficiently placing him on a gurney.
"Thank you officer" she called back as she took Shaggy's hand, walking beside the gurney until one of the nurses informed her she would have to wait in the waiting room. She leaned down to kiss his unresponsive lips a brushing kiss and then making a beeline to the ladies rest room. Once inside the rest room the tears flowed unhindered; her body shook and not all from the sobs.
"What did you mean by 'surrender'?" she asked the tear streaked face looking back from the mirror. There were no answers only more questions. She washed her face and with an unstable walk and trembling body she made her way to the waiting room to meet Fred and Daphne. It would be a troubling wait.
--------Xxxxxx
Velma held back as Fred and Daphne said their good byes.
"Are you okay?" Daphne asked.
"Yes, I'm okay" Velma lied to her best friend.
"You want us to wait?" she asks.
"No need to, I want to talk to Shaggy. You guys go ahead" another lie; she needed someone to talk too and it couldn't be Shaggy. She was getting good at lying.
Alone, Velma approached the bed. 'What am I going to say' she thought taking his hand.
"Hi there, you really scared us" 'couldn't think of anything dumber to say?' her mind asked.
'Shut up!' she answered.
"Hi, I didn't think you'd be back; thought I'd scared you off."
"You did drop a bomb in my lap. What do you mean, 'surrender' what do I have to surrender?"
"Your love, to me, unconditionally" he replied.
"Shaggy, I may love you as a friend, but surrender? I'll never surrender to any man. Don't push our friendship!" Velma made a hasty retreat, letting the door close behind her without looking back.
"Yes you will" Shaggy whispered to the closed door. There was enough time to make a phone call; the person he needed to talk to would still be awake.