I apologize for the delay and the shortness of this next chapter, I was away for most of the weekend and then had to box stuff so carpet could be put down (how do I have so much junk?). Oh, there are several inconsistencies with this universe and the true Buffyverse. At this point I'm just going to say 'oh well' and use the AU disclaimer although I may try and fix it later. Thank you to BlueDove for pointing it out to me and another big thank you to everyone else who reviewed; unlike the animals at the zoo you may feed the author.

CHAPTER 6

"Oh Man, Fred, I don't like this," Shaggy whimpered as they crept through the dank corridor that led to the basement of the school. The dusty wall and ghostly lines of overhanging spider webs were all but invisible in the dim light of Fred's flashlight.

"Oh! Oh! Ew!" Daphne shrieked hopping backing. "I just stepped in rat droppings!"

"Actually, the feces are too big for rat droppings," Velma sighed. "It's most likely a larger rodent. Come on," She said, both amused and annoyed by Daphne's look of horror. "We have to figure out what's going on."

"How do we know there's anything going on?" Shaggy squeaked.

"If you think nothing's going on then why are you so nervous?" Velma countered.

"Cause we're going to visit a Hellmouth," Shaggy squeaked in an even higher pitch.

"Uhuh, Uhuh." Scooby contributed.

"Are you two men or mice?" Velma asked, frustrated for the umpteenth time.

Shaggy and Scooby looked at each other.

"Mice!" they exclaimed together.

"What about if I give you a Scooby Snack?"

"Like, we really ought to figure out where she gets these things," Shaggy remarked as he and Scooby munched contentedly.

"You know Velma," Shaggy said, after a moment. "I get why Fred's into this, but, like, why are you so convinced that something's up?"

"I saw Patrick's picture in one of those all school photos in the main hall." Framed and dated there it was in the main hall of the school. Patrick stood in the second row… with his arms around Willow in the row in front of him. Second row, fifth from the right: Daniel P. Osborne. "I knew there was something he wasn't telling me. There's something strange going on here."

Pointing out that this was a given in a town that required a Slayer to an emotionally wounded Velma did not seem like a bright idea. Mysteries Inc. continued in onward in silence.

They came to another fork and Velma carefully marked the right side passageway with Daphne's least favorite lipstick. Rounding the corner last, Shaggy and Scooby walked directly into Daphne, who had stopped.

"What the hell is that?" Fred asked.