Hope grows
Disclaimer/Author's Notes: All Scooby-Doo characters are property of Hanna-Barbera/Warner Bros. The original lyrics to the songs quoted in this chapter and the music are the property of the respective author, artists and labels. All other characters are part of the author's vivid imagination (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions as he is barely responsible for himself much of the time….). This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.
A/N Forward:
This is Chapter 2 of Story 2 of the HAHJC arc, and more angst, drama, excitement, humor, romance, and tragedy is coming than you can shake a case of Scooby-Snacks at: you'll read about some of it in the story itself and the afterward.
And now, with no further delay:
Chapter 2: Nacht und Tag
---
"Well, the 'cat's out of the bag,'" Jonathan observed as he muted the set during the commercial. "It's ironic that the official announcement occurred at 10:01: a mirror time, if there ever was one."
"I prefer the 'genie out of the bottle,' myself," Fred responded as he leaned over and kissed Daphne on the forehead.
"How about: 'the pizza's out of the oven?'" Shaggy asked, and Scooby Jr. jumped up, looking for food.
Mary Jane hit him on the back of the head.
"'Madam President! Please,'" Velma grinned, and Mary Jane groaned.
"Why didn't you tell me, Velma? I kept wondering why I got those strange looks in the airport when I landed," Mary Jane held her head in her hands.
"To be honest, Mary Jane, I wanted to see the look on your face when I did tell you, and we got sidetracked last night, and the topic never came up:
"'Gee, Mary Jane, your plane twin is the President of the United States' doesn't fit into normal conversation," Velma added, and Mary Jane just groaned, again.
"Mrs. Rogers? Part of those looks occurred because of the detail that you didn't know you had acquired upon landing," a young woman in a dark suit and sunglasses and an earpiece had walked up from the back of the now-almost emptied chapel, and she opened a badge holder.
"I'm Lisa Jane Catera, United States Secret Service, Washington Plane, Mrs. Rogers. President Davidson assigned me to you as the lead agent of a five-person detail to ensure your and your family's safety while you're in our plane," Lisa explained as she held her badge out for Mary Jane's inspection.
"Why…why…why…?" Mary Jane was sputtering, and Velma answered for Lisa.
"You're an opportunity target, Mary Jane, because you could be mistaken for President Davidson."
"That's correct, Mrs. Davis; in addition, President Marshall has named agents for you in the Jefferson Plane, as well: we'll be performing handoffs whenever you travel between planes," she continued as she replaced her badge in her inner coat pocket.
"Does...that…mean?" Mary Jane couldn't bring herself to ask.
"Yes, ma'am, we are armed," and she opened her coat enough to reveal a shoulder holster, "and, yes, ma'am, should it come to it, I will take a bullet for you," she added with a feral smile as Mary Jane shuddered.
"Well, we know that one thing has changed as a result of the announcement," Jonathan stated with a sad smile. "but we can make the best of it." And he turned to Agent Catera.
"Agent Catera, do you like pie?" and Lisa looked perplexed as both Mary Jane and Daphne moaned, and Velma laughed.
---
The drive home was a bit different than the one to the center:
First, the drive home had a full military and police escort.
Second, a second set of vans were outside ('the decoy vehicles," Lisa informed Mary Jane, and Mary Jane just shook her head, trying to keep her stomach from churning any more than it already was).
"What have we done, Jonathan?" Mary Jane asked after they left the center.
"You haven't done anything, Mary Jane; I've unlocked Pandora's Box."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember all of the good that came out of the box, and the evil, as well? That's what now out, Mary Jane. There will be advances on both planes in all areas, the likes of which we could not have imagined without each other."
"And…?"
"Those advances will likely include violence that we have likely not seen since 9.11 or 7.4, Mary Jane," Jonathan looked down, then lifted his head and looked at Mary Jane, tears beginning to form in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mary Jane," Jonathan was visibly shaken. "I can't talk about it right now; I'll tell you in the morning, all right?"
"That's fine, Jonathan," but Mary Jane looked worried.
"Jonathan, you've got to tell us what the heck is going on," Mary Jane commanded.
"Yes, Madam President."
"And, I want more pie."
"No, Madam President," and the van filled with laughter.
---
"Now," Shaggy grinned when he stepped into the house, "I'm taking the President to bed," he grinned. "Now, there's something I never thought I'd say!" he laughed, placing his arms around his wife's waist and pulling her in.
"Shaggy, once again, your idea is wonderful," Fred concurred, wrapping his arm around Daphne's lovely waist and pinching her curvaceous bottom ever-so-gently.
"Are you coming, husband-of-mine," Velma gave him a seductive look, and Jonathan smiled.
"No pie tonight; my vote is for sleep!"
All concurred.
---
"All right, Jonathan, our friends and the kids are in bed, the agents are fed and out doing their 'agent-y' thing,'" Velma and Jonathan were now getting ready for bed. "Now, give, Pie-Man," she smiled, and Jonathan stepped into his pajama bottoms.
"What Agent Catera told me, Velma, was that we just had our first case: a cross-plane murder has happened," and he pulled on his pajama top and buttoned it up, smiling as Velma removed her lovely gown and stood in her underwear.
"WHAT?"
"It's true," Jonathan sat on the edge of the bed.
"On the return crossing from Washington to Jefferson, a gentleman came across and shot a man on the Jefferson plane. When questioned, he was convinced that this man was the person who had run off with his wife: his ex-business partner. How he got across, agents from both sides are still attempting to determine.
"Even with the message tonight, we know that there are one-planers out there: those that won't believe and will do whatever they can to break the connections permanently."
Velma listened, removing her heels and hose carefully and balling up the hose while she watched her husband carefully turn back her side of the bed. She could tell he was deeply worried just by the look on his face.
"There are still 'people,'" Jonathan almost spat out that word, "that want to continue the 7.4 and 9.11 attacks on both sides: you know that, Velma," and she nodded, "but we are hoping to identify as many of them as possible and keep an eagle-eye on them.
"Both Presidents, the religious leaders from both planes, and the United Nations organizations on both sides agreed that the risks were worth the gains that we as our planets would make from the announcements." He fell into his chair and put his head in his hands.
"Jonathan," Velma stood and padded over to her husband in her bra and panties and took her husband's hand, sitting on his lap., "I don't know what's gonna happen, my love, but you made the right decision; I know that, just after hearing David Advisor sing tonight.
"I'm with you, Jon. No one person should stop the advancement of a plane, Jonathan."
"Velma," Jonathan smiled at his wife, and a tear leaked from his left eye. "You should know: if I had to do it all over again, I'd destroy the equipment before you ever came over. I'd give it all up, Velma, to protect you.
"Believe me, Velma," Jonathan's face was now visibly wet, "If I had known what could have happened, back before the first test, I would have destroyed everything, even if it meant I would never have met you, no ever having you in my life, never having a chance to kiss you, to hold you, Velma," and he squeezed his wife's hand, "or hold and kiss our children. I would have given it all away if I had had even the smallest inkling that I would be putting you and your friends – no, our friends, now," and Velma smiled through her cloudy eyes, "in harm's way," and by now, Velma was wiping his face, tears dropping onto his pajama top.
"You would give up your life, your children, me, to keep this from happening?" she asked, and Jonathan took her hands in his, squeezing them gently.
"Velma," he began, "I would give the world for you, but if my not having you or our children here would save your life and leave me lonely," he pulled her closer and kissed her. "You are my life, Velma, and I would give my life to keep you safe, even if it meant I'd never have seen you, except on television. To only have you in my dreams, but safe, Velma, would be worth more than having you here and dying in my arms."
"I'm not dying on you, Jonathan: get that through your thick skull," Velma grinned through her tears. "We'll make it though all of this, my husband, and we will survive," and she reached up and kissed her husband.
"Now, Jonathan," Velma grinned as she reached down and got Jonathan's attention, "take me to bed, Pie-Man, and end this day with me happier than I ever thought I could be," and Jonathan stood, with Velma wrapped around his neck and waist, and carried her to bed and gently placed her down, stopping only to turn the bedside lamp and hit the controls to turn the room lights off.
"Ooh, you're bad, Jonathan," was the spoken word that was heard; afterwards, only giggling, followed by soft, sensuous moans.
---
(Washington Plane)
"Well, what do you think?"
"I think the announcer was right, even though he never came out and actually said it: we should never have let those 'things' over here."
"So, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know right now, but I know what we have to do:
"We have to eliminate that scientist, all his work, everyone around him, and those," she almost spat at the thought of what she was going to say, "those 'things' that are an abomination to all of us 'real people,'" and she stood from behind the desk and walked around, taking his hand.
"Those 'cartoons,'" he smiled, "won't know what hit them," he leaned down and kissed her.
"I can't believe that he actually married that 'thing,'" she looked up at the tall, blond man.
"Well, he does have excellent taste, Valerie," he grabbed her and hugged her, kissing her with fervor.
"Calm down, Felix," Valerie pushed him away.
"We need to focus," and she donned her glasses and grinned.
---
(Jefferson Plane)
"We must contact our brothers in the other plane."
"How will we do that? We're under constant surveillance, and it's not like we can just take a flight over there," he argued.
"We will find a way: it is his will that we should complete our tasks from 7.4, and the Americans both here and there will learn that they cannot continue to subvert the entire world to their ideas," and Iman Ivad smiled as he contemplated the terror that they could reek across the planet.
"We will show them that Allah smiles on the faithful," and he stood, looking at the image of his doppelganger in the Washington Plane in the television.
"Some will have to learn that lesson."
---
(Washington Plane)
"Mr. Davis."
Jonathan sat up from a sound sleep to see a male Secret Service Agent at the foot of his bed.
"What?"
"Sir, you need to see this," and he clicked on the television in their bedroom.
"What time is it?"
"It's 6:45 AM CST, sir," and the set came on to the picture of neighborhood entrance gate.
"…and, the house of Jonathan Christopher Davis and his wife Velma Dinkley Dace Davis, is in this gated community. The noted cellist and award-winning physicist shocked the world last night with the announcement made by the President that 'We were not alone,'" the announcer was quiet as the picture cut back to him, looking like he'd been up all night.
"This is continuing coverage of "New Plane, New Dangers?" coming to you from the Network of News on Cable, NNC. We'll be back in a moment," and the agent turned off the television.
Velma woke up, looked over the covers, and screamed:
"WHO THE HECK ARE YOU?"
"Special Agent Will Smith, ma'am," and he pulled out his badge and opened it.
"We were added to your detail last night after the news went out, Mrs. Davis, by direct orders of President Davidson," he smiled as he closed his badge and handed Jonathan his bathrobe.
"WE?" came from Jonathan's mouth, and the agent nodded.
"You have a full team, sir, for you, your family, and all of your guests, Sir, Ma'am, through the weddings and until they all leave. The Davis team remains, sir, until ordered off by the President or…" and Agent Smith smiled and patted his coat.
"I'll leave the room, but I'll be right outside if you need me, Sir, Ma'am," and he nodded and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Velma looked over at her husband, rising and pulling his robe on.
"I love that rear view, Jonathan," she purred, and he swung around as he tied his robe.
"But, not as much as I love yours, Velma," as Velma started to throw her covers back, then stopped:
"Is he coming back in, Jon? I don't need to give the Agency a 'free shot,' especially an agent as young as him."
"You're safe, love," Velma tossed her covers back and sat up, reaching for her robe.
"Where are my bra and panties, Jon?" she asked as he stood, watching he pull her robe over her glorious figure and stand up.
"Jonathan?"
"JONATHAN!"
"Sorry, love, but you know what you do to me," he smiled and pointed at her night stand.
"He saw my things?" she grabbed them and shoved them into her robe pocket.
"He didn't see everything, and for that I am eternally grateful: for, the 'everything,' Velma," Jonathan walked around the bed and took Velma in her arms.
"Are you ready for the brave, new world I've unloaded on all of us, Velma?" he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Not good enough for a 'world-changer,' oh husband-of-mine," and she pulled his face down and kissed him with fervor.
"You get the first shower, Velma, and I'll go start the coffee for everyone," Jonathan said as let her go, swatted at her rear, and headed for the door, turning the knob.
"'Michael' is on the move," the agent spoke into his headset, and Jonathan shook his head as he headed for the kitchen.
"Coffee, Agent Smith?"
---
Jonathan waited until the kids had all headed back to their rooms after breakfast before springing the news on Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, Mary Jane, Harold, and Marilyn.
"Wow," was all that Harold could say.
"A first," came from Shaggy, "but why am I not surprised?" he asked the air, and Mary Jane smiled.
"I'm in, Jonathan," Shaggy announced after a few seconds of silence.
"So am I, Pie-Man," Mary Jane added with a smile.
"Daphne and I are in, too, Jonathan," came from Fred, standing with Daphne's hand in his.
"I'm sorry, Mary Jane: I thought about all of the good that could come with the disclosure. I never dreamed, even after discussions with others, of the evil that could be unleashed, or that you and my friends, my wife and children, would be in the line of fire.
"Believe me, Mary Jane, if I had known what could have happened, back before the first test," he started to leak tears fully, his face becoming visibly wet, "I would have destroyed everything, even if it meant I would never have met Velma," and he squeezed his wife's hand, "or kissed our children.
"I would give up all my happiness, if I doing so would keep you all safe from harm," and Mary Jane's face was wet.
"No, Jonathan: if it hadn't been you, it would have been someone much less honest and fair, someone who would have done it to make money for themselves, and we'd end up in a much worse situation, believe me," and Agent Smith had to look twice to be certain that he wasn't listening to President Cat Davidson.
"We're all in this, together, and we'll make our dreams come true, no matter what.
"So, Agent Smith," and the agent's head popped up, fully attentive.
"What do you know about wedding gowns?" The laughter that exploded out came from the living room: three of the other agents assigned to the Davis' were laughing at the single Agent Smith.
"The world has changed, dramatically," Shaggy said as he pointed to the rioting on one television and the cheering on another.
"It's like night and day, depending on where you are," he added, and Fred nodded.
---
"Daddy!" David's daughter ran into their bedroom and jumped on top of him.
"Hun? Are you awake?" Amy Advisor, David's wife, asked as the air went out of her husband when the fiver-year-old landed on his stomach.
"I am now," he wheezed as he grabbed Allison, his daughter, and hugged her tightly.
"Momma!" Adam, their three-year-old son, padded in. "There's a big basket of fruit in the room, Momma, can I have a banana?"
"Wha-?" Amy got out of bed and, taking Adam's hand, walked into the front room of the hotel.
"DAVID!" David grabbed Allison and put her on the floor, then pulled his threadbare robe on as he stood and headed into the front room.
There was a large Christmas tree, the ground underneath filled with presents, and two large baskets of fruit sat on the coffee table.
David took a card off of one basked, and Amy read the card from the other basket.
"'Thank you, Advisor family, and Merry Christmas…Brad Marshall, President, Jefferson Plane,'" Amy read out loud.
"'I'm sorry, Mr. Advisor, but I hope that this is the beginning of a new day for you and your lovely family…Have a late and joyous Christmas…President Catalina Davidson, Washington Plane,'" David read, and he looked up at his wife.
"I told you, Daddy: we went to the right place last night!" Allison grinned and held her hands out, indicating that she wanted 'up.'
David picked her up and hugged her, then reached over and held his wife's hand.
"Guess Allison was right, Amy," and the knock on the door interrupted them.
David slid the latch on and opened the door a crack.
"Room service, sir," the gentleman announced, and David closed the door, slid the latch off, and opened the door. The room was suddenly filled with wonderful smells from the four carts rolled in, and the ladies and gentlemen uncovered each cart.
"Enjoy your breakfast, sir, ma'am, and call us when you're finished," and the head waiter shook off the tip that David held out, Amy having slipped back into their room and pulled David's wallet out for him. "All gratuities have been taken care as part of the arrangement for the room," and he nodded.
"Wonderful son, sir: I cried when I heard it last night.
"Later, if it's all right with you, Mr. Advisor, I'd like your autograph," and David nodded as the man smiled, turned, and left the room as the last person out.
"I'm hungry!" Adam announced, and David smiled and looked up.
"Thank you." he whispered, and only Amy heard him and saw the tear slip from his eye.
---
chapter now complete….
---
A/N afterward:
---
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please accept my apologies for the delay in updating this story: a serious personal medical issue as well as a massive mental block on this story prevented me from updating until now. More detailed information on what happened to me can be found on my profile.
I do not anticipate months between updates, again; expect days between updates, now.
---
The impact of the news is beginning to sink in for our group, and it's also hitting some other individuals that are not as happy about it as others are.
Goodness and evil have begun to both take heart of this announcement, and both will act, and at all different levels, from individual to world-scale.
What happens to the weddings? Stay tuned for them and other surprises, both happiness and angst galore!
---
Thank you for reading, and please review.
…cpneb
2007.07.11