Ratigan woke up groggily, wondering where he was. He then felt he was on bed, and looked to the side, seeing Neil and Thomas looking at him. He sat up with a groan and rubbed his temples.

"What happened?" he groaned out.

"You had a panic attack" Neil said, "You need to take an easy."

Ratigan then looked around the room.

"How did I get here?"

"Thomas brought you in when you collapsed."

There was then a knock at the door and Basil walked in. He and Ratigan locked eyes and the detective looked at Neil.

"How is he?" he asked Neil, but Ratigan just stood up and groaned a little.

"I'm fine. Did you analyze the cloth yet?"

"I haven't gotten to it yet."

"Why not?!" Ratigan growled, facing Basil, "That's our only lead!"

He then took a deep, calming breath.

"We have to find her." He grounded out, making Basil suddenly scoff.

"Well, isn't this interesting."

"What is?" Ratigan retorted.

"That you now know how it feels whenever you kidnap someone."

Dead silence engulfed the room, Neil and Thomas wondering if Ratigan was about to maul Basil, but the Professor just took a deep breath and walked past Basil, heading out the door and slamming it close. Thomas quickly went after him, concern on his face. Neil turned to Basil and glared at the detective.

"Look, I know you don't like him, but you kick him in the guts like that again, I'm kicking back."

The genius steely gaze unnerved Basil and he sighed.

"The professor changed. He's changed since I last saw him." He said, making Neil chuckle.

"Yes, that will be Isabelle's doing." He said as Basil went to his chemistry desk.

Thomas found Ratigan at the corner, smoking a cigarette. He scribbled something in his notebook and tapped Ratigans shoulder, getting his attention.

"What?" he asked curtly.

Thomas held up his note, which said;

"Should you be smoking? After what happened to you?"

"Thomas, right now, my health is the furthest thing from my mind."

But he sighed and stubbed out his cigarette.

"Is this a punishment?" he said, making Thomas tilt his head in question.

"Isabelle getting kidnapped and hurt…is this some sort of divine punishment for my previous sins? Is it worth her safety, our relationship?"

Thomas stared at him in surprise and hurriedly scribbled.

"Do you regret being with Isabelle?" he wrote.

"Of course not!"

"Then don't think it as punishment."

Ratigan was about to say something when Neil ran up to them.

"Basil analyzed the cloth. We got a lead."

AN: And here we have our professor recovering from his panic attack and Basil then says hurtful words that are also true. So, now Ratigan is doubting him and Isabelle's relationship, since being with him puts her in danger. You know, this like the first time I write Neil actually defending Ratigan, lol, he's growing on him.

I originally wanted to put him having a heart attack, but I thought that was too severe.

Anyway, enjoy and comments are loved! I don't own GMD, just Neil, Thomas and Isabelle!