Fidget and Olivia were in Mrs. Judson's kitchen, helping Mrs. Judson with dishes. Suddenly, Fidget, who was scrubbing a difficult pan was feeling frustrated. Why wouldn't the sticky, disgusting residue come off?! He started to curse.
Seeing this Olivia said to steady Fidget, "Fidget, how about a glass of water?"
"Yes, that'd be nice, Livy," Fidget said, relieved.
She picked out a clean cup and filled it with water from the sink. Basil's sink water usually tasted good as their own sink water in their home. "Here you go," Olivia said, handing him the glass.
Fidget started to drink his water and stretched and yawned.
"Fidget, you must be exhausted," Basil told him, "Why don't you rest on my chair and take a nap?"
Fidget yawned again. "Thanks, Basil. I think I will." He made his way to Basil's chair.
Mrs. Judson put a pillow on the arm chair and a blanket on the seat, making Basil's chair like a bed. Fidget climbed onto the chair, covered himself with a blanket, and fell fast asleep.
"Basil, mind if I join him?" Olivia asked, making her way to Basil's chair, where Fidget was sleeping in and started cuddling with Fidget.
"I'll leave you two alone," Basil said with a smile as he left the two alone to bond.
…
"Do you feel better, Fidget?" Olivia asked as he started to wake up.
"Yeah," Fidget replied with a smile and playfully tipped her hat down forward and Olivia did the same with his cap. Next, Fidget took her hat and put it on his head. "I know what you're doing, Fidget," Olivia scolded playfully and tickled him. He tickled her in return and all went well for the remainder of the hour.
…
Hours later, Fidget was sitting alone, still smiling over his bond with Olivia.
"Hello, Fidget," Basil said as he sat down next to him, "What are you grinning about?"
"Hi, Basil," Fidget replied.
"So, how do you feel about punishment?" Basil asked.
The bat's smile faded at Basil's sudden change in subject. "Why would you bring this up?"
"I was just wondering."
Fidget stood up and said, "You know what, Basil? Maybe we can encourage them and treat them how we want to be treated."
"That's a great idea!" Basil agreed.
Basil's and Fidget's friends shortly arrived to know what was going on.
"Good because you can help me write down alternatives once you get the chance."
Basil nodded and said, "You must be pretty tired." Looking at Fidget in his exhausted eyes, he added, "Why don't you get some rest? It's bedtime."
Fidget began to crawl onto the rug and recline next to the fire. Olivia joined him, too.
Unbeknownst to Basil and his friends, Ratigan overheard Basil's punishment from inside the whole time. Hmm…Basil had been punished for something, he thought. "I must see what he's up to now," he said to himself and barged inside.
"Hello, we meet again, Basil."
Basil jumped at the sound of his enemy's voice and stood up. "Ratigan, what are you doing here?" Ratigan took out a knife he had hidden in his breast shirt and put his knife to Basil's throat.
"Oh, I just came in for that slip up you made," Ratigan replied wryly.
"Ratigan, it's already been done with," Basil retorted quietly, making sure he didn't wake up Fidget, who was a heavy sleeper much to Basil's relief. "I haven't done anything wrong. We were just having a discussion."
"Aww, he's sleeping," Ratigan said with a smirk as he withdrew the knife from Basil's throat and put it back in his breast shirt, "And he's cute whenever he sleeps. I'm going to wrap him up in my arms."
Ratigan, you wouldn't! was what Basil wanted to say next, but he knew that filthy rat all too well. He was pretty predictable.
"Fidget," Ratigan said, "Remember me? I am your boss."
Fidget could not hear a single word he said. Sleeping was more important to hear such nonsense from a sewer rat. "Oh, and you and your little friend look adorable sleeping together."
The rat eyed the fireplace and the flames, which were shaped like Fidget and Olivia. "The fire is so beautiful. Do you ever think about maybe walking through it?" he asked, mostly to Fidget and snickered as he scooped up the peacefully slumbering bat and girl mouse. Then, Ratigan rubbed his nose onto Fidget's. Then, Ratigan walked out the door with him. He wanted both Fidget and Olivia to die before dawn.
…
Meanwhile, Ratigan came across a wooden post and tied Fidget and Olivia to it. Ratigan had to wait for them to awaken just before killing them.
…
As for the mouse detectives and Mr. Flaversham, they were in search for Toby until they had hidden beside a wall when Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson arrived, discussing yet another case.
Once the human detectives were out, the mice looked for Toby. Basil whistled and out went Toby. "Toby! Fidget and Olivia have been kidnapped by Ratigan once again!"
Toby whimpered and growled, but let on his riders and they were off to find and stop Ratigan once and for all.
…
Fidget awoke to discover where he was. What am I doing tied up? he wondered.
Where are we? Olivia wondered as she, too woke up.
Both Fidget and Olivia had shivered, sobbed, and whimpered, waiting to be let out of the bonds from the ropes for good until Ratigan approached the scene.
He laughed wickedly. "Oh, Fidget. It's good to see you awake and you as well, Miss Flaversham. Now, Fidget, the sentence for your reformation and you solving mysteries with Olivia is death, but tonight is the night you make your choice." He grabbed a match and lit it. "Me or the flames?" He pointed it in Fidget's direction. Fidget and Olivia spat in his face. Ratigan glowered at them as he wiped the saliva off his face.
"Very well, it looks like your choice is death," Ratigan said as he nearly lit up the bottom of the wooden post. Just as he tried to, Fidget and Olivia bit his hands and Ratigan let out a yelp.
Flaversham had chosen to risk his life for Fidget (although he remembered the time Fidget kidnapped him and his daughter) and Olivia, who was just as important. Not only had Flaversham done it, so had Basil because Flaversham allowed it. Slowly, but steadily, they untied the rope and grabbed hold of Olivia and Fidget.
The now loose rope bounced onto Basil, making Fidget giggle in sheer delight. "Oopsy!"
"That's funny, isn't it, Fidget?" Olivia giggled with him.
"What a mess," Basil said as he untangled the loose rope and removed it from himself.
The victims laughed until they coughed.
"Let's get you in," Basil said softly and once they were inside, Basil poured the girl and the bat a glass of water. "I went through the same ordeal you had. Do you think you can drink it?"
Fidget and Olivia nodded and drank all of it, thoroughly.
"Good boy and girl," Basil said, "Now let's go before anything else happens."
But the rat started chasing them. When will he ever stop harming them, kidnapping them, or putting them to death?
When they returned to Toby's home, something caught Fidget's eye! Aha! A paddle! He'll use it as a weapon.
"You think you're through with me, Fidget, but I will always return to haunt you and all who you love!" Ratigan ranted.
"We'll see about that!" Fidget retorted defiantly.
Toby growled at him.
"AHHHHHHH!" Ratigan screamed as drove him away from London like lightning until the rat was nowhere to be seen. Then, they'd gone home to the Baker Street residence.
"That scoundrel's gone," Dr. Dawson said.
All an exhausted Fidget could do was nod and blink sleepily.
"Are you ready to go back to bed, Fidget?" Olivia asked.
The bat blinked and smiled sleepily at her.
Basil noticed the bags under the little bat's eyes. "It looks to me that you need to go back to bed because I see bags under your eyes. Oh, and you were right about everything earlier."
Fidget blinked, yawned, and plopped down to the floor, overwhelmed by his next encounter with Ratigan.
Basil bent downward to scoop up the sleeping bat.
"Goodnight, Toby," Dr. Dawson whispered.
Everyone, except Toby, started for the living room. Basil and Dawson slept in their armchairs, while Olivia and Fidget, who had his ears lopped down to his shoulders, slept on the carpet together, except, Mr. Flaversham had a sleeping bag and all that night was peaceful.
