The Mystery Machine was slower than the small black Toyota it was chasing, but it was clearly being driven by a much better driver; the corners were what were losing the Toyota the distance it needed, and Freddy, albeit in a larger vehicle, was gaining on the little car.

In the back of the Mystery Machine, Shaggy, Scooby and Velma were clinging to each other and their equipment, trying to stay in place as the van swerved and sped down the interstate highway, officially right now a police pursuit vehicle and accompanied by several real police cars, many of which were faster. They sped ahead of the van, and Freddy pressed his foot to the metal, commanding the van to give everything it had and praying that the radiator- which had very much earned its sarcastic title of "Old Faithful"- wouldn't give out on them. In truth, he was revelling in the chase; a dog after a rabbit that had stolen his dinner would be an appropriate metaphor. The rest of the gang were enjoying it a little less, since they were being thrown around like cats in a speed dryer, but the chase was in there, the atmosphere was there, and they were desperate for the driver of the Toyota to be caught as well, especially Daphne, who grabbed Freddy round the waist for support as they surged along. She gave him a sheepish smile and he raised his eyebrows at her as she untangled herself, but he didn't mind (in fact, secretly, he had enjoyed it). Daphne watched out of the front window, trying to keep an inappropriate smile off her face as she saw the Toyota ahead, clearly displaying the somewhat inappropriate back sticker: The car in front is a Toyota. At the moment, it would be a whole lot better if the Toyota was at a standstill.

And then, with a crash worthy of an industrial factory explosion, the Toyota careered into the barrier and spun round, smashing into the opposite barrier with the force of a tsunami.

Mr Rogers leapt from the van as soon as it was at a standstill and rushed across, but a police officer was already dragging a very shell-shocked and slightly battered man from the crushed driver's seat. "You're lucky to be alive, buddy," he remarked, clapping the man in handcuffs and leading him over to Freddy.

"This the one, son?"

Freddy nodded, disgust in his eyes as he looked at the captive. The police officer firmly led the man away as he spat at Freddy, every inch of his face alive with malice and anger. Daphne glared after him and turned back to Freddy as he watched a tow truck that had been passing at the time (talk of coincidence!) loading the smashed Toyota up onto the back and take it away.

"How dare he…"

Freddy put his arms round her gently.

"It doesn't matter, Daph. Let it go."

Daphne smiled and hugged his arms back, leaning back against him and breathing in his smell of boy and deodorant, so familiar to her after so many years of living with him and somehow comforting.

"You OK after the car journey? It wasn't the smoothest ride we've ever had."

Daphne smiled.

"You could make a real career of being a police pursuit driver."

"You weren't bad, Freddy, let's put it this way," Mr Rogers interjected, turning and smiling at them. Freddy smiled back, relief flooding his face as he realised that the charges were going to be overturned and everything was going to be back to normal after this horrible episode. Daphne smiled as the same thought hit her.

"Thank goodness there won't be any charges."

Mr Rogers smiled.

"No, I think we'll be overturning the charges and giving Freddy a reward instead of a jail sentence. That guy will be in the same cell as you were, I think, Freddy- it's only fitting that he has the same treatment as you. I'm just sorry all this happened to you; I knew you would never do anything like that as soon as I recognised you in the electronics shop."

Daphne smiled over at her fellow gang member's father, nodding.

"Freddy wouldn't."

Freddy squeezed her gently by way of thanks, and she gently pulled his arms away and turned around to face her.

"Freddy?"

"Yeah?"

She smiled up at him, still holding his arms around her, holding him close.

"Kiss me."

The smile spread to his face as well, and he leaned his head down and she leaned hers up and they kissed, passionately, lovingly, the kind of kiss that made Daphne's insides melt like lipstick on a radiator and started fireworks in Freddy's.

Mr Rogers looked over at his son and grinned at him.

"Someday, Nor… Someday you'll be doing that too!"

Shaggy sighed at his father and Mr Rogers laughed, then walked away to see what was happening with the man now in the back of a police truck.

THE END

PS: I hope you enjoyed the story, I did it all in one night (tonight) and it may be a little rushed. Please, please comment, any comment makes my day and I'm floating on Cloud Nine for ages afterwards… So please, tell me what you think! Thanks, Jazzola