"Shaggy, what is this?"
"Dorothy, I would like for you to meet Sally McKnight. She is, at the moment, a very close friend of mine and someone who Jasmine admires very much." Sally felt herself smile at this. But then she looked up and wondered who this woman was and why she seemed so upset. Suddenly there were tears brimming in Dorothy's eyes.
"But I thought we had something special." The black haired man behind her seemed to twitch at this and tried to step forward. Dorothy interrupted him, however. "Not right now, Douglas." Dorothy then turned her attention back to Shaggy. "How can you do this to me, Shaggy Rogers?"
"What are you talking abo-" Shaggy was cut off as Dorothy grabbed him into a kiss. It was passionate and energetic and Sally felt her cheeks getting red at it. She wanted them to stop.
"That is what I'm talking about."
Everything stopped for a moment as a waiter came running over to the table.
"Mr Rogers, please come quick! There is a phone call for you."
Shaggy froze. He wasn't sure he could leave both Dorothy and Sally alone at this table. He pulled the Waiter aside.
"I'll take it. Thank you. Please escort Ms Blake back to her table and bring them both a bottle of the finest wine on me. Be kind enough to do the same for Ms McKnight if you would." With that he turned and walked away, terrified of what he would return to. Even though the waiter and Douglas tried, Dorothy settled down into Shaggy's chair.
"So why are you here?" Dorothy offered an angry look at Sally, who just stared back.
"Because Shaggy invited me."
"And that required a kiss?"
"No, that was just because he felt like it."
"Yeah? Well it was nothing like our kiss."
"So? It was our dinner, did you have to intrude?"
Suddenly both women were aware of the stares they were getting from around the room. Dorothy was a famous race car driver, Sally a famous rock star. This news would travel. Sally quickly stood. She didn't want to put this kind of pressure on Shaggy right now.
"I'm leaving." With that she turned to the waiter. "Would you please tell Mr Rogers I'm sorry for making a scene?" When the waiter nodded and whispered something in her ear, she turned and ran, leaving a stunned Dorothy sitting at the table. Douglas had given up trying to get her to come back to their table and had left. So Dorothy was all alone when Shaggy walked back up. It took a moment for Dorothy to notice the look of shock planted on his face.
"Whats wrong Shaggy?"
"Its Scooby…He was hit by a car."
"Is Jasmine alright?" Shaggy was numb. He wasn't sure what to say. Then he noticed that Sally wasn't there. It was then that the waiter strolled up to relay her message into his ear. Dorothy was not happy about not being answered and repeated her question. "Is Jasmine alright?" She did not expect Shaggy reaction.
"YES! Scooby got hit pulling her out of the road. The Jones are there watching her right now. Now if you don't mind, Dorothy, I need to go see my best friend."
Shaggy stormed out, leaving a rather shocked Dorothy behind him.
As Shaggy reached his car, he sat down and cried. He had already lost Fred, Daphne, and Velma. Now there was a chance he could lose Scooby too? He really wasn't ready for this. Shaggy wasn't sure he would be able to handle that kind of a loss.
In fact, as he started the car and began to drive home, the only thing keeping him moving was the fact that if Scooby was gone too, Jasmine would need him. She only seemed to be able to sleep and relax these days when he or Scooby were around. Otherwise, the poor girl seemed too sad.
Well, except when she was at the Hex Girls concert.
Hex Girls. Sally.
Suddenly Shaggy's head fell. He was heartbroken. He'd planned a nice quiet night for himself and Sally and then between his revelation, Dorothy, and this, there was probably no chance he would ever see her again. Shaggy knew why it upset him so much to think about that.
He loved Sally McKnight.
Pity he hadn't admitted that sooner and told her that.
As Shaggy pulled into the driveway, he felt the car stop and turn off, though he did not feel entirely aware of his actions. There in the street, Shaggy could still see the car and the damage to the front of it. The door to the house was wide open, so Shaggy rushed in. He sprinted to the couch where Scooby lay. The Jones were hovering around as was the local vet. She was still examining Scooby when the Jones came over.
"I'm so sorry Shaggy. We don't know what happened. All we've heard was that he pushed Jasmine out of the way but couldn't get out of the way himself."
"It's ok Mrs. Jones. Thank you for coming over to take care of him and Jasmine." As he said that, Shaggy realized he did not see Jasmine around. Shaggy wasn't sure what it meant. "Where is Jasmine?"
"Your friend came and offered to take care of her while we got the vet. She said Scooby desperately needed help. We had to agree, he is such a great dog after all."
With that both Jones hugged Shaggy. Not knowing what else to do, he wrapped them both back into a hug. Then he knelt beside Scooby, carefully rubbing the unconscious dog behind the ears. Through his tears, Shaggy offered a sad smile. "Get well soon old buddy old pal."
With that he stood and turned to head in the direction of Jasmine's room. If it was someone who the Jones trusted with Jasmine, he really shouldn't worry, but he couldn't help it. Shaggy took a deep breath and rushed up the stairs in the direction of Jasmine's room.
As he reached the door, he listened for sounds coming from the other side. Hearing none, Shaggy carefully turned the knob in order to open the door. As it opened wide enough, he peered in. As he did, a smile crept over his face. Lying there in the bed, peacefully asleep, was Jasmine.
And her arms were wrapped around the neck of a sleeping Sally McKnight.