As soon as the DVD was picked up Velma was re-tied to the chair, everyone took their positions and waited. Velma sat in the chair awaiting the arrival of the monster I told Shaggy to tie me so it looked real, but I can barely move, still shouldn't be long now... she thought.

"Monster has just entered the water and is heading in this direction." said Sergeant Williams looking at the video feed from the camera attached to the model plane.

"Places everyone" shouted Fred, everything was sent, everyone nodded that they were ready. The time seemed to drag until

"Incoming! We have incoming!" shouted Sergeant Williams. A few seconds later there was a crashing noise and the building shook. The monster came crashing through to the room where Velma was waiting.

Velma appeared hypnotised as the monster loomed over her. "NOW!" shouted Fred and Daphne in unison when the monster was almost on top of Velma. They pulled on ropes and two large Dewers of liquid nitrogen emptied down chutes onto the creature freezing it to the spot. The monster arched its back, some of the liquid nitrogen threatened to envelope Velma "Freddie, emergency water" shouted Daphne, Fred heaved on another rope and warm water started to rain down on Velma from two large shower heads. The quick release rope she remembered, the next second her hands were free. Scooby rushed out and handed her an oxygen mask then dashed off, seconds later he returned with an umbrella which he held over both of them. With one hand Velma held onto the mask and started to free herself with the other. Shaggy picked up the sledge hammer, and headed for the monster like a thing possessed. He struck the created in the frozen area with the sledge hammer, Polly threw a bucket of boiling water at the same point and its back shattered. Shaggy rushed back to finish freeing Velma the rest surged over the monster.

McKleef was dragged kicking and screaming from the wreckage by Fred and Daphne,

"You meddling fools, do you think that you can stop me? These local cops won't keep me for long" he shouted

"It won't be local cops who hold you" said a voice form behind them. All of a sudden McKleef was grabbed from Fred and Daphne hands by two heavy-set figures dressed in black and wrestled to the ground, more black-clad figures, all armed, entered the room followed by Dr Nemkenstein. "Ha! I've always wanted to be in the cavalry" he chuckled as a protesting Mckleef was lead away. "Our friends from the FBI here will take good care of him for a long time in a maximum security federal prison."

Back in the conference room at the lab everyone was in a jubilant mood

"Aside from the work here I also do a lot of consulting on defence projects" said Dr Nemkenstein "Velma's description of the bubble that imprisoned her reminded me of a project I advised an a while back. It was for a casualty evacuation module for use in contaminated environments, it used a chlorine based system to decontaminate itself. One of the problems they could never crack was when the bubble changed shape; it would leak a small amount of chlorinated fluid on the inside.

"That's what I could smell, I thought it was hydrochloric acid" commented Velma.

"It was that which reminded me of the project and following further discussion with Velma I decided to alert the authorities. McKleef, it appears, had worked on that project after leaving us and stole one of the prototypes. That act alone will put him inside for over 20 years, that's before they take into account his other crimes." The gang had to hang around for the rest of the day while the FBI took statements and collected evidence. That night there was an even better party at Polly's house. Late the next morning the gang got ready to leave for home.

Velma walked hand-in-hand with Shaggy to the Mystery Machine and was smiling to herself. Things were definitely on the up, her own species and her own Shaggy all in a couple of days. Fred and Daphne were a short way ahead she's going to hurt herself if she keeps trying to look back at us thought Velma as she stared at Daphne rubbernecking every few steps. She had already discussed with Shaggy how they would deal with Daphne. If she had her way we'd be walking up the aisle tomorrow, she means well, but we'll take that walk when we are good and ready, perhaps sometime next week Velma gave a little laugh.

"What's up Velms" asked Shaggy

"Nothing much Shag, just thinking about us" she replied coyly. Shaggy smiled back and squeezed her hand.

It was a couple of months later and everything was back to normal at home, It was Saturday and Daphne had decided she deserved a lazy morning in bed. She had successfully crept down to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast before anyone else was up and was back in bed enjoying doing nothing much. She was pondering the change in Shaggy and Velma's relationship; things were definitely cooking between them now. She wondered how to find out exactly where it was going, taking Velma on another pamper session should do the trick or perhaps she could get some quality time alone with her at the convention next month. But there were more important considerations to come first, her breakfast. That completed she lay back and dozed off. She was just getting into a really romantic dream when she was woken by the sound of knocking on her door

"Daphne, are you up? We've got some presents in the post" said Velma. Daphne signed, why were those kind of dreams always interrupted?

"Come in" she said, still presents weren't too bad.

Velma came in with a large box. "Present from Polly for you"

Daphne sniffed the air "Ohhh chocolates, very good chocolates by the smell of them" when it came to chocolates Daphne's nose was almost as good as Scooby's.

"What did you get Velma?" asked Daphne, all Velma was holding was a letter,

"A letter from State-U hospital giving me the all clear for ice hockey" squealed Velma "I've already faxed this to the rink, I'm back in the team for the charity ice hockey marathon.". The girls high-fived, that news was as good as the chocolates, almost.

Daphne opened the box. To her delight the first thing she found was a couple of pounds of top-of-the-line Belgian Chocolates from Dr Nemkenstein.

"Lock the door Velma, I don't want to be disturbed" said Daphne. At this point the rest of the gang came looking in attracted by the noise

"Looks like you're dumped Fred" said Shaggy "At least until Daph finishes those chocolates." Also in the box were two ECBio lab coats, one each for Velma and Daphne, both with their names embroidered on them. There was another E. velmadinklei plush toy and a snake-like purple plush toy with big eyes and eyelashes.

"This is cute" said Daphne looking into the toys eyes. At the very bottom was a letter addressed to Daphne. "You read it Velma," asked Daphne "I need to check out these chocolates" As Velma read the letter a wicked grin appeared on her face

"Wow Daph, it's your chance to be famous in the make-up business" said Velma as innocently as she could

"Really?" said Daphne getting all excited

"Yes," replied Velma "that toy is of a new species on nematode worm they want to name after you in honour of your efforts in saving me and capturing McKleef. Say hello boys to... Pelodera daphneblakei." Velma showed the boys the purple worm with the big eyes and eyelashes

"Make-up, you did mentioned make-up" said Daphne weakly

"That's right" replied Velma, her grin had returned "This beauty lives on human eye lashes and feeds off mascara." Daphne paused only to collect her chocolates and make-up remover before running screaming into the bathroom as everyone else collapsed in laughter.

(Authors Note: Daphne's nematode worm is related to one that causes dermatitis in a number of animals including humans. After this comes 'Shaggy and Velma Get a Clue or Two')