Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Scooby Doo, Mystery Inc or the related properties. I wish I did though, that'd be awesome!

ALL STAR SCOOBY DOO

Chapter 2 – Of Fathers and Men

JONESIN'

If I have to start a club to be Class President then that's just what I'll do! Freddy thought. Fred Jones had never been one to back down from a challenge. His father had taught him at a young age that a person's failures were only because that person was a quitter. "Freddy, if you want something then you go out get it, 'cause this world ain't gonna give you anything." Freddy's view was a little more optimistic than that of his father's. His Dad was now Chief of Police in Coolsville, but had been a beat-cop for many years. Freddy imagined that was where his Dad got his more negative views of the world, by having to see all those crime scenes over the years. His Dad was hard on him, sometimes too hard, but Freddy believed that it was all done out of love.

Freddy's Mom used to joke that Freddy's Dad was really married to the job and not her at all. That was when she was alive. When Freddy was only eight years old, his Mom had contracted a rare form of cancer that had got in her blood stream and ate her up from the inside out. By the time that it was detected, it was too late. His Mom passed away two days before Freddy's ninth birthday at age thirty-four, leaving Freddy to be raised by a father that was already married to his job. Freddy's Dad never re-married, nor would he even speak of Freddy's mother much.

To try to fill the void left his mother's early passing, Freddy lost himself in books. He particularly loved the "who-done-it?" children's mystery books. His father had allowed this love to flourish stating that it may help Freddy later in life in his career in law enforcement but his father really wanted Freddy to be an athlete. He pushed Freddy very hard to be the best in all the sports that he signed Freddy up for: football, baseball, basketball, track and field and soccer. Freddy never cared for sports much but since he didn't want to disappoint his Dad he worked harder than the other children, practicing for hours on end, sometimes until the wee hours of the morning. Over time, his hard work had paid off. Freddy became one of the best athlete's at Coolsville High. But Freddy knew that being "One of the best at Coolsville" didn't get you a full ride to any of the NCAA College's that his Dad had hoped for. So straight out of high school, while all his friends were going off to college and to see the world, Freddy would be heading to the police academy, to begin on work on his father's other plan for him to be a career police officer.

As much as deep down that Freddy didn't like living his life for someone else, having them make all of his decisions for him, it would actually be nice right now to have some help in picking out what type of club that he was going to start. He knew that he only had three weeks, and he didn't have time to be indecisive and he also knew that the club had to be something that was going to draw a crowd, or at least a crowd of four, which was the minimum requirement. He knew that none of his jock friends would show up to join a club and all the standard clubs like, Book Club, Chess Club, Latin Club, were all taken. The more that Freddy thought about it the daunting a challenge this seemed to be. Then it hit him and Freddy couldn't believe that he hadn't thought of it before; Other than athletics, his true love had always been mysteries and in more recent years he had seen a surge in popularity in the paranormal investigation reality TV series'. Freddy would start the first ever Coolsville High Paranormal Mystery Club! It's got to be a hit! Freddy thought, clapping his hands together in delight.

LIKE WHOA MAN, NOT COOL!

Shaggy stood down at the creek in the wooded area on the Roger's property; he was crying. This is where Shaggy would come to be alone and to get away from his Dad. Tonight had been the third night this week that his Dad had come home tanked looking for a fight. When Shaggy was younger, his Momma would shield him from the abuse by taking the beatings herself, telling Shaggy to run and hide. Now that Shaggy was older, he now took the beatings himself instead, protecting his Momma from his father's drunken wrath.

It wasn't the pain from his Dad's punches that caused Shaggy to cry. Shaggy at sixteen years old, was already 6'3" and had the body of a grown man. His Dad's drunken punches felt like only fly-swats, not the devastatingly hard punches that Shaggy remembered as a child. He didn't cry from the pain he felt after the fights, he cried from the situation. He cried because he knew that as long as his Dad was alive that he could never escape from him. Shaggy's Mom would never leave his Dad and as long as Momma was there, Shaggy knew that he'd have to stay to protect her. There would be no college for him. There would be, no owning your place, no being his own man, no independence. He would be subjected to his Dad's drunken tantrums for as long as his Dad lived.

Scooby jumped up on his hind legs, placing his paws on Shaggy's shoulders and began licking away Shaggy's tears. Ya know Scooby, finding you is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Shaggy thought hugging his massive dog. "I love you Scooby Doo."

When Shaggy got back to his families trailer, his Mom was still up waiting for him; his father was passed out snoozing in his bedroom. "Oh Sugar, let's have a look" his Mom said walking across the kitchen, grabbing Shaggy gently around his face.

"I'm alright Momma." Shaggy said.

"Oh he did a real number again, didn't he?" Orlean Norville said looking at the bruises on her sons face.

"Momma I'm fine, really." Shaggy insisted.

"Couldn't you like get out of the way or something when he hits you?" She asked, "Nevermind that. What's done is done."

Shaggy stood still letting his mother look him over. No matter how many times this happened it was not something Shaggy could get used to. He felt embarrassed and ashamed, even if it was just Momma who saw the bruises.

"Ya know you're gonna have to wear Momma's make up again tomorrow." Orlean said.

"Aw come on Momma." Shaggy protested.

"Don't 'come on Momma' me. You know what would happen if you went to school all bruised up. They'd have Child Protective Service's out here first thing. And what do you think Daddy would do then? Huh? No, you'll have to wear some make up; maybe just some foundation to cover the bruises. I promise Momma will make it where no one can tell. Okay?" Orlean asked.

"Okay Momma."

"Now you go to bed and try to get some rest and take Scooby with you." Orlean said returning to her seat.

"Okay. Come on Scooby." Shaggy said turning to leave the room.

"I love you Baby."

"I love you too Momma."

Bloatman's Corner: So kind of a dark chapter right? With this story I really want to bring a sense of realism to the Scooby Doo world. Sure there will be all the over the top, larger than life action and comedy that you've come to expect from Scooby Doo cartoons and movies but I really wanted to give the main characters a reason as to why they are the way they are. These are real teens with real teenage problems. Think of it as Breakfast Club meets Scooby. Each of the characters meets an archetype and all are kind of loners or alienated in different ways but come together to make this awesome team known as Mystery INC.

I really hope that you are enjoying this story. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! Please leave a review and let me know what you think. I'll try to update soon! - Bloatman