SWITCH

Description: Jules has been kidnapped by the League of Darkness (don't they have anything better to do?). Before Count Gregory can carry out his latest scheme, the others come to rescue Verne, but things go awry ….

Comments: This was going to be a much shorter story - get the heroes in trouble, get them out - but once I got them into trouble, they insisted on having their say before resolving things. Also, please note that this was written to have the feel of watching the show, rather than reading a book, so there is less descriptive detail and some chapters are rather short.

Disclaimer: Phileas Fogg and Passepartout belong to the real Jules Verne, and they, plus Rebecca Fogg, the fictional Jules Verne, Chatsworth and the Count belong to whoever owns the rights to the TV series. The other characters are mine, thank you. I expect no profit from any of this; it's just for fun.

- 1 -

"Phileas?" Rebecca's voice preceded her down the hallway of Phileas Fogg's London townhouse. Passepartout jumped to open the bedroom door in time for her to sail through. Phileas, absorbed in arranging his cravat, ignored the intrusion.

"Have you seen Jules?" she asked.

"Hmm?" said Phileas, studying his reflection. "I don't like this pin, Passepartout. The ruby, I think."

"Yes, Master." Passepartout started to hand the tie-pin to Fogg, but Rebecca intercepted it, holding it just out of her cousin's reach.

"Passepartout, my pin." Looking around for his valet, Phileas finally noticed Rebecca. "Rebecca? May I have my pin please?"

"Now that I have your attention," she replied, moving instead to place it precisely in the folds of his cravat, "have you seen Jules?"

"Verne? Not today. Why?"

"I can't find him."

"He's probably off exploring London," Phileas replied unconcernedly as Passepartout helped him into his coat. "He wanted to see the City on his own." He straightened his cuffs and headed for the door. "I shouldn't worry. He'll show up."

"Yes, but he was engaged to meet me this morning," she countered. "We had a date to ride in the park."

That stopped Fogg in his tracks and he turned to look at her. Jules Verne might want a bit of a break from his wealthy friends in order to see the less fortunate side of the city, but he would never voluntarily break an appointment with Rebecca.

"Passepartout, when was Verne last home?" he asked sharply. Jules had been given a room in the townhouse to use whenever he was in London.

"Two days ago, Master," replied the Frenchman, looking worried. "I thinking he finds friends to stay with so I am not mentioning it."

"Two days? A lot could happen in two days," Rebecca said. "Jules has a positive talent for getting into trouble."

Phileas sighed. "I suppose if we're going to comb the back streets of London in search of the boy I'd better change into something a little less conspicuous. And I had just gotten this cravat done perfectly."

Rebecca sighed as well and shook her head.