The case was uneventful and the gang soon returned home. In his room that night Shaggy looked at the photo album. Grace as it turned out was living in New York. So it had to be Lydia but why? Why hide under a hood. What had happened to her? How had she found him? So many questions were running a race through his head. He wanted answers but he had no way of actually contacting Lydia. Velma so far was unable to provide such information to him. It was like Lydia disappeared.

Shaggy nearly fainted when he heard someone knock. He looked around to and found someone was sitting in the tree across from his window. Seeing it was Lydia or who he thought could be Lydia he opened the window so she could come in.

"What are you doing here?" Shaggy asked quite confused.

"I had a feeling you'd like to talk"

"Lydia?"

"Yes Shaggy?"

"What happened to you?"

"That is a long and terrible story. Are you sure you want to know?" Lydia asked with uncertainty in her voice.

"Yes I'm sure"

"Do you remember why my family moved away?"

"You had cancer"

"That's where the story starts"

….

"The tumor is too large now we can't remove it"

"So what happens now doctor?"

"Well you have to options we can try chemotherapy or-"

"What?"

"An old college friend of my is running a research program your daughter is a perfect candidate"

"But she's sick"

"My friend's trying to cure cancer and his last to attempts were a success"

"Let's do it"

…..

"The only problem it wasn't cancer research at all"

"What was it?"

"They were trying to make human weapons"

"What?" Shaggy asked in disbelief.

"They did cure my cancer but after that-"

Lydia was unable to finish her sentence because of the sobs that threatened to escape her. Shaggy gently took her by the arm and led her to his bed so she could sit down.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to"

"I-I need to"

Shaggy waited until she was ready. Slowly she resumed her story.

…

"Okay Lydia medicine time" a woman said coming in with a syringe filled with a yellow liquid.

"No I don't like it"

"You have to take it" the woman said grabbing Lydia by the arm and injecting the 'medicine'.

Lydia cried out as the needle left her arm. She knew what was coming she'd get really sleepy and while she was sleeping they'd run tests. A lot of tests. The effects were starting to show. Lydia hated it. There was nothing she could do about it though. So she climbed into her bed and curled up with her teddy bear as the 'medicine' kicked in.

….

"It was horrible" Lydia whispered.

"I'm sorry I asked" Shaggy apologized.

"It's okay you only wanted answers"

"Lydia?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you wear the hood?"

"I don't want you to see"

"See what?"

"My face, it's awful"

"I won't think so"

"You wouldn't say that if you could see it"

"How do you know that if you won't show me?"

"Please don't make me show you Shaggy I really don't want to"

"I'm not going to force you Lydia"

"I should go" Lydia said quietly.

"Okay can we talk tomorrow then?"

"Yes"

Then she was gone out the window and down the tree. Shaggy crawled under the covers and turned out the light. He was finally getting answers.