Project: Iron Maiden

Disclaimer: Scooby Doo and all related characters are the property of Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., and/or Cartoon Network.

All other characters, places, and incidents are figments of the author's imagination.

Chapter one

Just outside Houston November 20th

Twilight. It would be dark soon, almost time to leave. He would miss this safe house. It had been a good one over the years. Some place he could call home and come back to. Not anymore.

A last bite of cold chicken finished the TV dinner he had been eating while watching the news. He had planned to leave after the news but decided to stay; the woman who turned the cards to reveal the letters was pretty.

He felt old, too old for this. The last project had proven that fact. One last project and he'd retire, disappearing into the background. He laughed mirthlessly.

They would be watching of course, he didn't care anymore.

Outside, hidden from the house, Dove handed the Styrofoam cup of coffee to the tall, slim man; "We watch, wait and report, how dull." She glanced over his frame; slim yes but well muscled under the striped sport shirt and sweater. 'I wish he'd ask me out'.

Raven accepted the cup, taking a sip of the welcomed hot liquid before he spoke,

"Those are our orders. I don't like it any more than you do. Thanks." He looked at Dove through the steam. He saw a very pretty woman, not beautiful, but she did have the most beguiling eyes and attractive lips. 'Maybe when this is over I'll ask her out.' They had worked together before, but that had been strictly business. Dating between operatives was discouraged but not unheard of; most turned a blind eye if two people wanted a little relaxation together.

Dove and Raven watched their target, code named Rabbit, because every one had figured he'd run sooner or later, walk out of the house, get in the car and drive slowly down the dirt driveway. "Rabbit on the move" Raven spoke into the portable com unit.

"Let's go" Dove was already walking toward their cars, thoughts of a date thrown away with her own Styrofoam cup.

The explosion behind her made her drop instinctively. A second of worry for Raven passed over her thoughts; turning, she saw he was in a similar position. The house, or what was left of it, was in flames, visible over Raven's left shoulder. 'He's not coming back' .

Dove and Raven relieved the secondary watchers once on the free way; falling into a preplanned game of cat and mouse. The difference was this game had four cats and one Rabbit. Dove took the lead, Raven as backup and the secondary team dropping back in support positions.

They had traveled only a short distance when Raven heard Dove exclaim, "Damn, lost him; eighteen wheeler blocked my sight for a second."

Raven felt the jar as someone tried to pass; it jerked the wheel out of his hands. Before he could gain control of the skid, the car was in the drainage ditch. "Rabbit is behind you! My car is out of the hunt! Repeat, Rabbit is behind you! Minotaur how close are you? I need a ride. Centaur, report to base: Rabbit is out of his pen and running. Will need a tow truck to get this car out of the ditch. I'm going after Rabbit."

A sleek Crown Vic came to a smooth stop, Raven jumped into the car, "Go, Go, Dove is in danger."

A minute and a half later, they spotted the wreckage of Dove's car.

He settled back behind the wheel, popping a CD into the slot. He took the I-10 East

Exit heading toward Beaumont. Forty eight hours later, he entered Coolsville.

'One last project, then I retire' . Project: Iron Maiden had begun.

--

Five days later, Coolsville, Thanksgiving day, 6 PM

"That's it! I'm done! Excellent dinner girls" Shaggy pushed his chair back from the Thanksgiving Day feast.

"What!? The Shagman full? Call 911! I hear the ambulances run 24 hours!" Fred quipped good naturedly.

"Not another bite! Not even Vel's homemade pumpkin pie!"

Velma looked lovingly at her husband of five months. Shaggy had been everything and more of what she thought a husband should be: loving, caring, thoughtful and considerate.

"Good, I'm glad you liked it. We girls cooked, guess who gets to do dishes? We can just cover the food in case someone wants a snack later"

Shaggy rose, walked over to Velma's chair, leaned down to kiss her cheek, whispering,

"I knew I should have bought those paper plates." She took his hand, caressing the back of his hand with her cheek. "Come on Fred, KP duty waits for no man" Shaggy turned his attention to the dishes and kitchen patrol.

"Come on Velma, let's get out of here before he regains his sanity" Daphne picked up her drink.

"Let's go into the den, it's quieter and we wont be disturbed by the sound of breaking glass" Velma joined her long time friend.

"How are the lovebirds making out? Any juicy tidbits I should know about?" Daphne jested, a smile playing with the corners of her mouth as she chose a seat on the sofa.

"Not that I'd tell you about" Velma shot back with a smile, taking a seat on the nearby love seat. "I would like your input on something though" she continued.

"Well, there are these bees, they want to pollinate these flowers…I'm not sure where the birds come into the picture…" Daphne said.

"I know about the birds and the bees; you told me remember?" which began the girls laughing at remembered antics of days past.

"Okay! I'm not going to laugh any more…I promise…what did you want my input on?" Daphne was still giggling but working on getting it under control.

"Shaggy has been wonderful these five months, even took care of me and the store when I caught that cold…"

"Yeah I remember, he wouldn't even let me bring you some chicken soup, insisted he was going to cook it himself. And what's this with his not eating? I remember Thanksgivings when we had no leftovers at all between him and Scooby" Daphne put in.

"He's turning into a good cook. As far as the eating, from what I gather from our talks he has come to realize he used the food as a substitute for love. Now, he doesn't need the food" Velma explained.

"Which tells me you two are good for each other; he doesn't need the food and you, thankfully, don't need those yellow sweaters, I like that shade of green on you, by the way."

"Thank you, I see you are still in purple" Velma observed.

"No need to mess with perfection…so tell big sis, what the problem is."

"It's just I like being alone sometimes; Shaggy has been great as I said, but he's always at my elbow. I like that most of the time but not ALL the time. I wanted your input on something I've been thinking about. I'd like to find an old antique car he and Fred could restore; get them both out from under foot."

"I think that's a great idea; they're always tinkering with the Mystery Machine.

Fred and I had the same problem; as much as I love Fred, it can get annoying when you're not used to having someone around all the time. I've talked to several couples and they've all said the same thing, it just takes some time to adjust to being married and having so much togetherness so soon. I will tell you what a very smart lady told me once: tell him how you feel then hold onto him until he understands."

"Speaking of the Mystery Machine, I think I miss the excitement of a good mystery…

What are we going to get for the McDuffs? I was thinking you and I could take Mari while the guys took Long John, then each couple could get something for Tommy. And that wise saying sounds familiar" Velma offered her Christmas plan.

"It should. It was you, and look what happened. The idea about the McDuff's is a good one."

"How about that old sled of mine" Shaggy offered as he and Fred joined their wives. "It's still in good shape; just needs refinishing; the runners are still good. It's not like he'll need it in Bermuda."

--

When he had entered Coolsville, he had only 3 goals: First was to find a safe house; he had. Not as good as the one in Houston, but it would do; a warm bed and three squares a day. Second was to find the Iron Maiden and where she lived; he had. Not too hard when you knew what questions to ask and who to ask. Third had been to gain access to her home; he had. The security system had been child's play; he could go and come as he pleased. He had taken his time; everything had to be done right, not quickly.

He slipped away from the window where he had been eavesdropping on the conversation; back into the covering darkness, a dark form against the darker night. This night's work completed.' So she wants a mystery? I'll give her the mystery of a lifetime!'.