The Kiss That Never Happened
Chapter Two: Patrick Offers a Theory
"What happened?" Velma became aware of a wet cloth wiping her forehead.
"You fainted," Patrick pushed her back when she tried to sit up, "nearly scared us to death. You need to rest. What did happen, Velma?"
"I've got a splitting headache for one. Patrick, hand me my purse will you please?" Her answer wasn't what Patrick was expecting but he did as requested. She pulled her cell phone out, hitting the Autodial for Daphne's phone, "help me up, please." This to a perplexed Patrick who helped her to stand but insisted on her sitting in a nearby chair.
"I hate to ruin dinner but could you take me home?" She asked Patrick who nodded reluctant agreement.
"Daph?" She asked when the other end of the phone answered.
"No, It's Fred. Velma?"
"It's me, Fred. Where is Daph?"
"She fainted! Out of the blue, she just fainted!"
"Try to stay calm Fred. Is she okay now?"
"she's coming around, complaining of a bad headache. Come to think about it, so do I. What's going on Velma?"
"Fred, I don't know for sure. Can you put Daph on?"
"Velma! What's happening? Fred and I both have really bad headaches."
"I wish I could give you an answer. Tell me what happened to you and Fred."
"we were...we..."
"Come on Daph! I'm a big girl. This is important! Tell me!"
"We were...only kissing okay? Then there was a flash of white light that really hurt. Fred says I fainted. Velma, Fred is saying the same thing happened to him! The light, everything! Velma, I'm scared and I don't care who knows! What's going on!"
"I don't know Daph. Wait! Oh my god! If this happened to us...Daph, get to headquarters as quickly as you guys can. Patrick said he'd bring me home!"
"Now, you are really scaring me!"
"Daph...Shaggy is alone! We'll probably get there first but meet us there as soon as possible!"
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"I still think you should go to the ER; get checked out first, but here we are and no argument, I'm staying at least until Fred and Daphne get here." Patrick parked in front of headquarters.
"Thank you for offering, I was going to ask you to stay anyway." Then she was running, fearful of what she would find when she opened the door. The pain in her head had subsided some but it still hurt to move, to think, the jarring her head took in the few quick running steps to the door made her want to cry. And then she couldn't find her keys! They had been in her purse, had she lost them?
"Here, let me if you don't mind me going through your purse," Patrick took her purse, found the keys, and had the door open in less than thirty seconds.
"Shaggy?" Velma called out as soon as Patrick swung the door open, walking into the room.
"Relma?" Scooby lifted his muzzle from Shaggy's chest.
"Scooby! Where's...Shaggy!" She ran to him, kneeling, "Scooby, what happened?"
"Ronster!"
"Patrick, could..."
"Already done, Velma. Ambulance is on it's way." Patrick put his cell phone away.
"Thank you" a tearful Velma said as the front door burst open, Daphne entering first followed closely
by Fred.
"Velma?!" Daphne knelt by her petite friend, "Is he okay?"
"Ambulance is on its way. I don't want to move him until it gets here."
"Any idea what happened? Why the headaches?" Daphne asked.
"Not really, Scooby said there was a monster. Whatever happened, happened to all four of us."
Before she could continue the ambulance siren died as it came to a stop. Patrick opened the door and Paramedics entered the room, rushing to ascertain the disposition of the man lying on the floor. Three men worked quickly on Shaggy while a fourth asked questions to which there were no answers past the basic age, height, weight, and general health.
The paramedic pulled out a cell phone, "General, we have a twenty five year old white male, he's unconscious and unresponsive. Ready to transport." Within minutes they had Shaggy secured on a gurney and on his way to Coolsville General, siren blaring.
"Mind if I tag along?" Patrick looked at the three friends. All three rubbed their foreheads in a futile attempt to ease the pain. The pain would depart only on its own timetable.
"Date me, date Mystery Inc. Come on" A slight smile, the first since her fainting spell, played along the edges of Velma's mouth, then disappeared. She took his hand as they headed for the hospital.
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It had been an hour since the ambulance had left Mystery Inc headquarters. A long hour while Velma, Daphne and Fred waited anxiously for any word about Shaggy. Patrick stood to the side, watching while he too waited. The doctor, dressed in a white smock, entered and every one gathered around, asking questions. The doctor held up a hand.
"Your friend is resting. He's going to be fine. He's asleep right now and should sleep through the night. We'll keep him overnight for observation."
"May I sit with him?" Velma hopefully asked.
"Of course, but I don't expect him to wake before morning. I'll tell the nurses."
"Is the cafeteria still open?" Patrick asked.
"Yes, it has a limited menu late at night but it is open all night." The doctor turned, leaving the room and the friends looking at each other.
"May I ask every one to join me for something to eat? I've been watching and may have a theory about what has been happening. Velma and I didn't get to have dinner." Patrick offered.
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The cafeteria, busy with patient families, also waiting for news about their loved ones, was no five star restaurant. Cold, impersonal, it served food effectively. The only good thing that could be said was the food was hot. At least it was when served. White steam rose from the untouched food as the four sat around the table.
"So what's your theory?" Daphne asked Patrick, stirring the mixed vegetables from one edge of her plate to the other.
"First," Patrick responded, "let me test my theory. Fred, how is your headache?"
"It's gone! Completely gone." Fred replied after a moment of contemplation.
"Daphne?" Patrick looked at the red head.
"Still in the back of my mind but not as bad as...even an hour ago."
"And if my theory is correct, I think it'll be completely gone within an hour. Velma?"
"Not as bad as before but it's bad enough," Velma wondered where this theory was going; but she had an idea she knew, and she didn't like her thoughts, "Where is this going?"
"If I'm right, the three of you have had a psychic experience. And Shaggy is at the center of it! One of two things has happened. Either Shaggy tried to reach the three of you all at the same time..."
"Or..." Velma was right, she didn't like where this was headed but she couldn't stop it. She knew what Patrick was going to say before he said it.
"Or Shaggy tried to reach you first Velma, then you reached out to Daphne, who in turn tried to reach Fred. Fred's headache is completely gone, Daphne's will be gone soon, Velma, your headache will take the longest to dissipate."
Velma shivered. She knew Patrick was right. She hadn't told him everything about her fainting spell; not wanting to admit it, seconds before the bright light she had heard a voice screaming in her mind.
"Why weren't you effected, Patrick?" She wouldn't acknowledge that voice or what she had heard! She would not! "You were holding me, stopped me from falling!"
"That's the simple part Velma. I'm not a part of Mystery Inc.... and I'm no friend of Shaggy's!"