Sorry for the long wait. I dont know if there still is interest in the story but I thought i needed to get the next chapter out. It had been sitting on my desktop for a while now and i couldnt wait on me writing the next chapter. I hope you like.

Same rules apply. I dont own anything other than the plot. I hope you enjoy. R & R thanks.

Chapter 7

The next morning Shaggy drove Velma and himself to the Jones estate. Daphne pulled up shortly after. Shaggy knocked on the door, he then checked the knob and found the door to be unlocked.

Shaggy turned to Velma who was standing behind him. She was wearing a pair of hip hugging brown bell bottoms an orange t shirt and a pair of white trainers. Velma gave a shrug and followed as the police officer entered the residence. Shaggy pulled out his gun, which he kept holstered in the small of his back.

The red shirted cop stepped silently as he looked around the corner. He found Fred sitting staring at a white dry erase board. Shaggy nodded to Velma and put his gun away before saying, "Fred, we are here."

Fred fell down from where he was sitting with a yell. He then stood back up dusting his pants off with a yawn. He then scratched his belly and said, "Is it morning already?"

Shaggy responded, "Yeah, like, man you left your door unlocked all night."

Velma couldn't help but give a laugh, "Same old Fred. Absent-minded as always."

Daphne called out as she entered, "Everyone here?"

Fred walked to the foyer and looked at her, "Yeah everyone is here."

Daphne nodded as she walked past Fred and entered the den. She then turned to look at him, "So how are we going to do this?"

Velma stepped up, "Well we got a shard of the disk. I am thinking if it were E. or Prof. Pericles we have to look out for something bigger than just arson."

Shaggy nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest, "Right but still the missing persons angle makes me think we should question their business partner."

Daphne thought a minute before she asked, "Shaggy, you aren't a detective are you?"

Shaggy shook his head, "No, but I can easily get a transfer. Dad always thought I should have went investigations rather than K-9. I can give him a call."

Velma then asked, "How about you working with civilians?"

The lanky 20 year old smirked, "I can explain things to him." He then pulled out his work cell and called his father, Commissioner Sam Rogers.

As he was on the phone, Velma, Daphne and Fred looked at the board. Velma picked up the marker and began adding what she and Daphne had found.

Fred hesitated as he watched, "So the place was pretty far gone, I take it?"

Velma nodded, "Yeah, professional job. The whole place was burned to the ground. It was luck we saw the disk at all."

Daphne pointed out, "So they had been living in the city for the past 18 years?"

Fred nodded, "Yeah, it's odd you know."

Velma shook her head, "Not really, Fred. The Freak literally had them over a barrel. If they had tried to come after you, he would have had you killed."

Daphne exclaimed, "Jinkies! That is harsh."

Shaggy returned to the gang, "My old man said he will push the paperwork through. Like, the only thing is I have to do the official questioning and such. You guys can help with the evidence gathering. I have to make the arrest."

Everyone nodded to Shaggy and gave their agreements. Shaggy sighed, "I just hope that we don't have to deal with any monsters."

Soon they were all ready and headed to Shaggy's van. However, as Fred went to the driver side, Shaggy quirked his eyebrow, "What are you doing, Fred?"

Fred stopped and looked at the van and gave a laugh, "I guess I was thinking it was the Mystery Machine."

Shaggy shook his head, "Sorry, but you aren't on the insurance. Like, get in the back with Daph."

They soon found themselves on the way to Reefdale. The silence was different. They didn't have the camaraderie they once had. Velma looked out the window, her chin resting on her fist. Shaggy drove, though looked over to his friend every so often. He took one hand from the steering wheel and patted her on the knee, reassuring her that things might become like they once were. Velma looked back to Shaggy with a smile.

Fred took out a notebook, which he started jotting down notes he remembered from the whiteboard at the house. He couldn't help but think back about the night everything fell apart. His thoughts drifted and the scene played out in his head.

Fred yelled, "My whole life is a lie!"

Daphne pleaded, "But what about us? What about the gang?"

Fred continued to yell, "Mystery Incorporated is dead!" He then started to walk off.

Daphne in a plea yelled, "Shaggy, Scooby, do something!"

Shaggy began to walk up, "Fred." However, he was stopped by his mother and stepfather stepping in front of him.

His mother placed a fan against her chin and with a smirk commented, "I think it is time we enrolled you into military school."

Shaggy was a gasp, "Wait, what. I'm, like, a eater not a fighter."

"Doesn't matter," she commented off offhandedly. "Your bags will be packed come Monday."

Fred walked off silently by himself.

Fred came back to the present and went back to writing. He said quietly to himself, "I was an idiot."

Daphne watched the scenery pass, her chin resting in her palm, responded, "Yeah you were." She looked over at him with just her eyes, "When I got home, I threw tantrums of all tantrums. Then I realized, Fred, you weren't worth it. You seriously hurt me that night. Unless you've changed in the last two years, I'm not going to let you in that close again."

Shaggy at that moment announced, "We're here."

"Here where?" Fred asked.

Shaggy pointed at the apartment complex, "Your place. Unlike the rest of us, you didn't get a shower."

Fred didn't know what to think of that remark. He then asked defensively, "Hey, how do you know where I live?"

Velma responded, "He's a cop, Fred."

Fred raised an eyebrow, "And?"

Shaggy replied, "Like, with as many times you were arrested for god knows what. You didn't think I would keep an eye on you?"

Fred simply replied, "Oh." He got out of the van and walked into the complex.

Shaggy looked back at the others, "I'm going to get my badge from the office and my transfer paperwork. Who is staying and who is coming with me?"

Neither girl got out. Velma with smirk asked, as she placed her head against the headrest, "Honestly, Shaggy, did you need to ask?"

He nodded as he put the van in gear, "Just giving the option."

Daphne responded, "Nope, seen enough issues of Traps Illustrated when I dated him. Really, Traps Illustrated, if you didn't know better you would get the wrong idea."

"At least he got rid of the ascot," Velma replied as she looked out the window. She put a trainer covered foot against the dash.

Shaggy watched her, biting his lip a moment, "Hey, Velma. Like, if you're going to do that, could you please take your shoes off?"

Velma looked over to him, her head still resting against the headrest and smiled. She slipped her white trainers and ankle socks off using only her toes. Upon putting her petite feet back against the dash, she spread her toes.

Daphne watched the interaction between the two, "Jinkies, you have seriously lightened up, Velma."

Velma got a mirth filled smile on her face, "I reflected on things. I learned that it's okay to not have all the answers. The clues will always lead you right. I found that I am happier and more comfortable in my own heart."

The redhead smiled, "I can tell. It suits you."

The girl in orange smiled, "Thanks."

The rest of the drive was in silence. Shaggy pulled up to the precinct, and parked. They got out as soon as Velma put on her trainers.

Daphne asked, "I've been meaning to ask, why sneakers?"

Velma shrugged, "Practicality. With all the running involved in 'ghost' hunting, lets just say Doc Martins are hell on a girl's feet."

Shaggy met a plain suit just inside the lobby, "Hey, Kim." The Asian detective shook his hand.

"Rogers. Finally, got you out of K-9 and in Major Crimes, where you belong," Detective Kim responded. Detective Adam Kim was a slender, thirty-six year old half-Korean. He was dressed in black slacks, a violet shirt and no tie.

Shaggy laughed, "I liked K-9. Plus I get to keep Scooby this way."

Kim nodded with a chuckle, "Yeah, yeah. But Major Crimes is where you belong. Any way. Those the civilians I got briefed on?"

The shaggy haired cop nodded, "Two of them. The other is Fred Jones. His real parents are the fire on Mayflower."

"Hold up. The missing persons aren't Jones'," the dark haired detective responded.

Shaggy smiled grimly, "The names on the mortgage are fake too. The vics are Brad and Judy Chiles."

Kim with his eyebrows scowling asked, "How do you know all this? And take it nice and slow."

The brunette sighed, "You remember the Freak of Crystal Cove case from two years ago?"

The Asian nodded, "Barely. I know county was light on details."

Shaggy grimaced, "Of course it was. Sheriff Stone had to lock up his best friend. Mayor Jones was after the pieces of a key. It is called the planisperic disk." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "That was the last of a series of cases dealing with the shards. If history repeats itself i expect to see a costumed criminal."

Detective Kim stopped him, "Mayor Jones?"

The former K-9 officer nodded, "Mayor Fred Jones. He scared off the original Mystery Incorporated twenty-three years ago as The Freak. That team like the one I was with in school consisted of high schoolers. They were Brad Chiles, Judy Reeves, Cassidy Williams,and Ricky Owens. They were also betrayed by Owens' pet parrot." Scratching his head he continued, "Five years later Brad and Judy returned with their newborn. The Freak kidnapped the child. He then threatened the Chiles' to leave and never return or he would kill the baby."

Kim nervously asked, "And the baby?"

Shaggy smiled grimly, "He is Fred Jones Jr. the private investigator."

Kim simply nodded, "Well in any case, here is your badge and keys to your new unmarked vehicle." He hands the new detective the items, "It's a Magnum. It should hold all of you and Scooby."

Detective Rogers nodded, "Thanks, Kim." He then went back to the girls.

Fred stood in the walk in shower of his bathroom. The water pounded against the base of his neck. The bare torso was more ruggedly built. However, it now was covered in many scars. The fingers of his right hand played over a scar on his left side as he remembered how he got it.

He grimaced, "Stupid."

A year ago Fred was looking for a missing sixteen year old for a mother. He took it pro-bono. He wasn't expecting to find a drug den.

The blond tried to show the teenager's picture to the bouncer at the door, "Excuse me,sir. I'm searching for this girl. She is sixteen years..." The rest of the words died in his throat when he saw her just inside with a needle in her arm.

The girl was gaunt. The once bright blond curls were faded and grimy. There were deep purple bruises under her eyes from lack of sleep. The scars from her bindings just starting to fade from her wrists.

He tried to sidestep the bouncer but was stopped by a hand against his chest. Fred pointed towards the girl, "She is right there. Let me take her home."

The bouncer pulled a knife. It was one of those that had serrated edges. The tall thug responded, "The trick needs to work for her blow."

Fred's face contorted, "Work for her blow? You have her turning...for cocaine?"

The thug laughed darkly, "Well right now, she's on somethin' new. Makes you feel like a hero. Get ..."

Before he could finish, Fred slammed his fist into the guy's mouth. The much larger man stumbled back. The blond nineteen year old bared his teeth, "You're filth. You kidnapped her. You get her hooked on drugs. Then you pimp her out." The private investigator paced, "You disgust me."

The thug ran at him. The big man swung his knife wildly. Fred kept back pedaling until one of the slashes caught his forearms. The blond teenager screamed as his back touched the brick wall across from the door. Fred's eyes went wide as the Hell's Angels wannabe stabbed him in the side.

As he blacked out he heard a voice he hadn't heard in over a year, "Stay right where you are. Don't move or..."

The next sounds he heard were the heart monitor and oxygen. The next was that of the voice of Shaggy Rogers, "Don't move. Your lung is punctured." The uniformed cop walked up to Fred's bed, "What were you thinking?"

The blond looked away from Shaggy, "I wasn't. A girl was in trouble and I acted."

"With no way to defend yourself?" Shaggy asked exasperatedly, "I checked Fred. Like, I didn't even find pepper spray."

Freddie yelled back, "What do you care? I am not even really Fred Jones Junior. Never was." The teenager then had a fit as he had trouble breathing.

Officer Rogers grabbed his hat from the visitors chair, "That's the way it's going to be. I'll let you get back to your self loathing. Just so you know, your Jane Doe is in detox. She was full of rufies, cocaine, heroine and other trace drugs."

The teen looked out the window, "Her name is Meredith Foreman. Her mom wanted to know whatever I found. Her number is in my coat."

The brunette nodded and got the number. He then left without saying another word to the private investigator.

Fred opened his eyes back in his shower and reaffirmed, "Stupid."