A/N: Hi! Here chapter three! Don't worry dearies, the exciting scenes are COMING probably as soon as the next chapter! Review and lemme know whatcha think!

Chapter 3 - Big Brother

Fred woke to the sound of Shaggy's voice echoing through the hall, slipping into the bedroom. His voice sounded strong, but you could hear the old familiar fear creeping out.

"Sydney, things are going to work out. I promise." He smoothed. Fred couldn't help, but to continue listening in on his conversation. Gathering the feelings from his team would help him help them in the long run. A leader needed to be a counselor as well. That's what makes a good leader, he thought.

"No tears Syd. I'm gonna come home, marry you and we'll be together forever afterwards. Don't doubt me." He insisted. "Because you have to just trust me here. It's not easy, but call your sister." He suggested, pacing in front of Fred's bedroom door. "Take the savings out and go away for a few days. Take your mind off everything and go with Sarah." He paused, listening to his fiancé on the other end. "I'm sure. You've deserved a break away." He said, his face showing a small smile. "I love you too Sydney. Remember that when you're feeling blue." He said sweetly. "Bye." He hung up but gazed into the screen of the phone. It was a photograph of the two of them together in what looked like a restaurant. "She's going to be a pretty bride." Velma spoke. Shaggy turned around to find Velma looking around his shoulder. "Like yeah, that's what I tell her." He sighed dreamily. "I know what you're going through." She stated, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Saying goodbye to someone you love so much isn't easy. In fact, I may have cried myself to sleep last night." She informed. Shaggy looked concerned, they walked over to the dining room table. "You've always been the best at hiding emotions." He recalled. Velma shook her head. "This is different. And you know it Shag. This is, scary." She muttered, as her face turned a light red tone. "I know.." He replied softly. "As confident as I am that we'll be okay, it's so scary to know I may never see my husband again." She said solemnly. Shaggy rubbed her back gently. "I understand Velms. We'll just have to fight our way through. Everything we're about to do is to protect them." Velma nodded in silence as she allowed a few tears to trickle down her freckled face. "I'm not usually like this." She said, letting out a slight laugh out of her. Shaggy smiled friendly and patted her back. "I told you for years there's nothing wrong with being afraid." He reminded. She laughed briefly. "Thank you Shaggy. I'm glad you're here. You understand where I'm coming from."

Fred came from out of his room, he stopped ease dropping in after Shaggy hung up with Sydney.

"Good morning Mrs. Nettle and Mr. Rogers." He formally greeted. They smiled. "Morning, Fred." Velma replied, reminding him they were friends and not just coworkers.

"I ordered room service. Should be here soon in time for us to group up and form a plan before we leave." He glanced at his watch. "Is Daphne up?" Velma shrugged. "No clue." She answered. "Like Scooby was still sleeping when I woke up." Shaggy said. Velma smiled. "I saw him video calling his girl when I walked by." She informed. Fred laughed. "Doesn't get much cuter than that." He noted. "I'll go see if Daphne's awake." Velma volunteered, entering the door of Daphne's bedroom.

She walked a few steps in and realized Daphne wasn't in her room or her bathroom. "She's not here Fred." She confirmed. Fred looked concerned, but before he said anything the apartment entrance door opened. Everyone awkwardly stared at the strawberry blonde dressed in her jogging shorts and a light purple tank. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and headphones were in her ears. "Good morning..is everything okay?" She asked, observing their reactions. "Uh..yeah." Velma answered, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "We were looking for you." Fred implied. Daphne pressed pause on her iPod and popped out her earbuds. "Oops! Guess I forgot to mention I go for morning jogs." She said innocently. "It's been a long time since I had to inform someone on my whereabouts." She noted. Fred didn't like the fact she didn't tell them she was going out, but then again he wasn't about to jeopardize his chance at communicating with her. Trust was a big deal for her, and he'd have to earn it in another way than scolding her for being out unannounced. "I'm glad you're here now. Breakfast is on its way and we're going to discuss a few important details.

At Breakfast...

"I studied the map monitoring the motions. This is going to be more like a trip around the world." He began, taking a sip of his steamy hot coffee. "Are we at all equipped for this?" Velma asked. He placed his cup aside and flipped through papers he'd neatly sorted and prepared. "That's something else I need to discuss with you. I've been told we each have uniform protective gear and weapons. We're not allowed to threaten or harm the "creatures" we come in contact with, but simply take secret photos of them and try to get down to the bottom of why these things are surfacing so close to humans." He explained diligently. "Like we seriously can't harm them?" Shaggy asked. Fred sighed heavily and scanned back at the paper in his hand. "No, because it would pose a greater threat to the world than they are now. One wrong move and they could turn. I know it sounds bizarre-" Shaggy cut in "Totally!" Fred continued "I'm not finished, but we have to somehow find a way to negotiate with them and keep them where they belong." You could practically see the wheels turning in Velma's head. "This isn't much of mystery solving, more like delivering a message." She spoke. "This is just my strategy. My goal is to keep peace to keep everyone safe and bring you all home alive and well." Fred explained, leadership weighing heavy on his chest as he did so. "Can we trap the beasts?" Daphne questioned. "I think that's one of the only ways we can get through to them one on one." He answered professionally. "If any of you feel it right or needed, shoot, fight and do what it takes to protect yourselves." He concluded, folding his hands together. "I wish I could promise everyone an assurance of their health and safety, but I unfortunately can't." He sighed, the reality of the situation slamming in each one of them hard now. "But I never could, even with simple cases in our past. No one is promised safety returning, but I can't say I'll fight to death for any one of you. I'm confident you could do this without me. I guess what I'm trying to say is from this point forward, risks will be taken, lives could be lost or spared, abs sacrifices will be made...but I'm going to try my hardest to make sure you come home to your families and loved ones." He finished, leaving Velma with tears rolling down her cheeks. Shaggy and Scooby comforted one another. Daphne in silence stared at the table below her. "We can do this." He said softly, nearly chocking on his words. Suddenly the professional and efficient man was the old best friend, walking over to hug the youngest of the four.

He wrapped his generous sized arms around the small brunette woman, she sniffled into his chest. "I'm sorry for being crying like a baby, I've turned into a giant softie." She cried, laughing softly when she wiped the tears away. Fred smiled warmly and squeezed her tight. "Don't apologize Vel. You've got someone who loves you and you love them, it makes it ten thousand times as hard to leave." He smoothed, letting go of her and looking through the thick glasses lens. "You're still like a big brother to me Freddy." She smiled, making his smile bigger. "and you my little sis." He replied playfully messing with her hair.

"Like can you hear my knees rattle?" Shaggy asked nervously, trying to cover his scared look. Fred laughed. "Only a little." He admitted, throwing his arm around his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I'm trying to suck it up and be more heroic and less of the coward I've always been." Fred heard the sadness coming from his voice. He freely hugged his old best friend. "You willingly left your soon-to-be wife back home to come fight and protect her and the entire world. I don't see that as a coward, but as a man of bravery and strength. You've got this." Shaggy smiled gently, appreciating his caring ness.

Velma, Shaggy and Scooby looked at Daphne who sat alone at the dining room table scanning through the papers Fred had left out. Fred slid in the chair next to hers. "You okay?" He asked softly. She looked up and nodded. "I'm fine." She answered solemnly, returning to her study. The three exchanged looks, but shortly left to pack their things up. "That's a simple answer for a woman whose about to embark on a journey to the end of the world." Fred said, sliding the papers away from her reach. She looked up at him. "And those were long counseling moments for a leader." She smirked. "I'm still their friend. Despite how long it's been. When they're so far away from the ones that love them the most they need someone to be there for them." He replied calmly, ignoring the sassy tone in her voice. She nodded. "I agree." She said. He looked into her eyes and placed his hand on hers. "And you need someone too." She pulled her hand away and tucked it under the table. "No, I'm not use to having anyone that listens. Therefore I won't miss or need anyone here for me." She explained, continuing to talk with no emotion at all. Her words cut through him like a sharp bladed knife. She really meant what she said.

"Well I'm here if you need someone to listen. I hope you know you can count on me, Daph." He said so causally she almost felt like she'd went back in time. She smiled briefly at him. "I know you are." He smiled back at her.

"It's time to meet for the leave soon, we better get busy."

TBC

Leave a review please!