I DO NOT OWN "The Great Mouse Detective" and "Phantom of the Opera" but I DO OWN Kate, Rose, Molly and Lidie Dunham. So now...enjoy!

Chapter ten.

Basil

I had been smiling all day. Getting any last minute things ready for our dinner tonight. I was ready...ready to tell her...nervous...but excited. I knew her class was almost over as I hear the door open and hear the students come in. Coming down the stairs after finishing the last of my work, but something wasn't right as I see the students in a panic and no Kate.

"Children, what's wrong? where's Miss Kate?"

A small boy of eight years old came up to me, trying hard not to shake as he spoke to me.

"Mi-Mi-Miss Kate...she-she-she got kidnapped!"

"What! please tell me what happened. Every detail counts in me finding her."

He told me about two large mice and a bat grabbing her. Kate told them to run and to tell me "Peg leg Bat". From there I knew who came after her. I told the children not to worry, that I was going to save her and to please not mention it to their parents, that I would.

I spent the last twenty minutes explaining to the parents what happened. That their children made it safely and not to worry. I did go ahead and told them not to worry about class next week.

When everyone left, I spent the whole time whether he would be hiding her in his old hide out, a new hide out or in that theatre where her mother seems to be. When Dawson made it back, I told him what happened as I was
grabbing my coat and hat. then off to Toby's to search the old hide out first and then to check with the police if anything has been reported about Kate's kidnapping.

The theatre was the last place we went to check out, but when we got there I saw a couple of Ratagin's old goons stalking the place. There had to be an entrance to the sewer from inside the theatre, otherwise how else has he been getting in and out without anyone seeing him. I didn't see me getting in there tonight, but I knew I could get in tomorrow.

We raced back to the house. Called up the theatre for tickets for tomorrow nights show. I made it seem like I was still taking Kate out as if I didn't know anything.

That night I didn't think I would be able to sleep, but somehow I had fallen asleep in my chair. I didn't think I could, but I dreamed, at least I thought it was a dream, till I saw Lidie there.

"What are you doing here? this is my dream after all."

"I know, I came to warn you while I still have the strength to. Please Kate is here at the theatre."

"I know, I figured that out when I saw the goons patrolling the theatre."

"Please tell me your coming tomorrow night?"

"Of course, though I don't think I'll be watching you perform..."

"He doesn't have me playing Christine tomorrow..."

"What?"

"He has Kate. He has me as Madam Giry. He plans on Kate singing tomorrow and then...oh god you have to help me save her."

"What does Ratagin have planned for Kate?"

"He plans to replace the phantom himself so he can be with Kate...he wants her Basil...like he wanted me all these years."

My blood felt like it was broiling. I didn't think he could go so low, but this...she's his blood. This I could not let him get away with.

"How would he be able to take her out of there?"

"There's a trap door underneath the couch in the backstage that leads to the sewer. He'll take her through there."

I knew there was a way to the sewers from the theatre.

"You need to be down at the back stage and get her out of there before the dungeon scene. I can take her place, he won't think it's me till it's over. By then I pray you two are far away."

"I'll make sure the police will get there before it's over so he cannot escape, taking you with him."

"That's all fine and dandy, but I want Kate safe first."

"I'll make sure she's safe. I promise."

She gently touched my cheek with her paw and smiled up at me.

"I knew the minute I saw you with Kate that my spell worked."

"What spell?"

"I had to send her where I wouldn't even know where she was... a spell that would send her to some mouse that would love her like no other...and you Basil...I can see how much you love my daughter...even though she is mourning her family right now. Don't worry, your feelings will be returned in time."

"My feelings?...wa-wait!"

Before I could ask her anything she disappeared as I felt something shaking me, finding myself being awaken by Mrs. Judson. She stepped back after I sat up from my chair. Though I seemed to have slept I felt so tired and...sore. I shouldn't have fallen asleep in my chair like that.

"Mrs. Judson, what time is it?"

"Well it's five o'clock Mr. Basil. You've slept all day."

"I feel more exhausted then when I fell asleep."

"It's understandable, the way you slept in that chair when you had the couch to sleep on if you couldn't make it to your room. Now come...I've taken the liberty to make you something to eat."

"No no Mrs. Judson...I couldn't possibly eat."

"Your no good to Kate if you aren't at your best."

"What?"

"I know, Dr. Dawson has already told me everything...and if you are not at your best, then your no good to save her...Now I shall bring in your food and tea, you shall eat, drink. Then go upstairs, clean up and dress as if you are going to the theatre with Kate and then...you save her...and you tell her the truth...never know if you will get a second chance or not."

She disappeared back into the kitchen only to come back out with the food and tea as she said she would. I quickly finished it and rushed up the stairs to start getting ready...after all it was now almost six p.m and the show would start at seven-thirty.

Kate

It will start in fifteen minutes now and I was in my simple white ballet outfit for the first scene. Yes I had watched that movie a hundred times and had practiced all day today, but still I was nervous and I certainly didn't want this to start because then it would have to end...and I certainly won't be alive inside if I can't get away. I felt my mother's paw on my shoulder as I stand there.

"It's going to be alright."

"How do you know?"

"Because I contacted Basil."

"How? we were locked in, with no phone."

"Magic."

"I never thought I would depend on that word so much."

"Well dear, if we survive this...i'll be happy to teach you."

"We'll see...so what did you tell him?"

"What he needed to know."

"Good..."

"Sweetheart...you can love another. Just makes you human...mouse...I
think you know what I mean."

"I do... I just...feel like there should be a mourning time."

"For the dead yes, but you can see them whenever you want...once I teach you. They can't see you. They are the ones that are allowed to mourn. You are the one that in some way got to be reborn into this world...you get to live."

"What about you? Did you miss us? and when did you stop mourning us?"

"Dear...I stopped mourning when I realized the truth...that you girls were doing well and thank goodness you're alive and your father hadn't gotten you girls...at that time. I stopped worrying when I saw you girls were doing okay and that you had all the love I could possibly hope for.

Did I miss you? yes, I missed you girls a lot. Did I miss our time together? Yes I did, but if I only concentrated on the past, I wouldn't be as strong as I am now. You can mourn, just realize that they are living and moving on as they miss you. They wouldn't want you to mourn them forever, just like you wouldn't want them to mourn you forever."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Really? did I hear right? oh my god if I could talk to my old friends they would never believe me. They always said kids wouldn't admit when you're right, but boy are they wrong."

"Mom, now you're being ridiculous."

"There we go, that's a normal mother-daughter moment."

I started to laugh as I saw the performers taking their places on the stage. Getting ready to perform.

"Time to take our places. Let's just hope Basil can come through, otherwise plan B, because you are not going to want to do the underground scene."

"Wait...isn't that where Christine kisses the Phantom?"

"Yup and you know who will still be him."

"Eww!"

"My thoughts exactly. Now let's get going."

It had started and as I was coming up to do my solo "Think of Me". I looked up to see in what seems to be our usual booth was Basil. Sitting up there looking directly at me. He seemed relieved from what I could tell that I'm okay. Which now I'm nervous because no one has ever heard me sing alone, except my husband. Maybe this is that starting point of moving on...lovely.

Though that seemed to make it easier. I just kept my eyes on Basil, as if I was singing to him...and him only. It made getting through this easier. Though before my next scene with the guy playing Raul, I saw that Basil wasn't up in his booth seat. I wondered where he went.

I got onto the roof scene and for some reason Raul was wearing a mask. I don't know why, till he started to sing. It didn't sound like him, but when I looked into his green eyes, standing in Raul's costume singing to me was Basil...I was almost in tears, but I couldn't break character. So i too sang to him and it was the most emotional it felt to me. The kiss...what I had been waiting for what felt like forever.

Though when we got off stage, he seemed to disappear. I peeked back through the curtains to see him up there again...but how? and so fast? Maybe I was just imagining it, but I could have sworn...

Then I saw mother running to me, smiling in a way. I was about to ask till Ratagin...though amazing singer, scared the crap out of me with his part of the song and how real it felt...as if he knew that the Raul with me in this last scene was Basil.

"Okay, that's scary."

"I know."

"Okay so just tell me I lost my marbels, but was that..."

"Yes, he knows how to change quickly. I showed him a short cut to get from here to his booth."

"Did he say why he did that?"

"You mean other then to annoy Ratagin...gee I think you know. With how passionately you two were out there. That's probably best these people have ever seen."

I had of have been blushing, because mother was chuckling at me for it. Though I must admit, if this had to be my last day...I wouldn't have changed this for the world.