Chapter Fourteen

Meg: The authoress is slightly concerned. This story is already almost longer than any other fanfic she has already written, and it's not even halfway completed yet! So if it's getting too long, just tell me. I will either listen to you or ignore you, depending on my mood, haha.

JWJ: That was just pointless.

Meg: Just like your blonde highlights and your love of politics. Pointless.

Rose felt numb she was led into a waiting room the next morning. Elaine McGeady stood up and ran to her daughter. Rose stood still as her mother embraced her, twelve hours after she had been put in the cell.

"Rose! Rose! Oh, we thought you were dead!" Elaine cried. Rose patted her back, feeling even emptier inside. Her mother had a public face and a private face. The girl could tell that her mother's public face was in full swing.

After much crying on her mother's part, Daniels sat them down and told Rose that she was no longer a suspect, that they were letting her go home with her mother to start her life anew.

"A suspect? A suspect in what?" Elaine asked anxiously.

Daniels sighed. "Well, it's a long story ma'am."

He explained the Big Ben Caper to Elaine, who immediately turned on her daughter and said, "You weren't a part of this, were you?" in an accusing manner.

Rose shook her head. "No, Mother."

"Because if you've been doing something you shouldn't have been doing…"

Rose wanted to tell her how she had helped Ratigan just to spite her, but she held her tongue.

"No, she was far away from the scene of the crime," Daniels reassured her.

"Oh, good. Please Inspector, could I take my daughter home now?"

"Certainly," Daniels said. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Miss McGeady."

"It's all right," Elaine cut in for Rose. Her daughter blushed. "Come, Rose."

"Goodbye, ma'am."

Rose wondered what had happened to Basil. He had disappeared shortly after she revealed her true identity, and she had not seen him since.

Unfortunately she was now stuck with her mother! Rose's fingers rose to the locket around her neck. Her mother saw the gesture, but did not say anything until they got into a carriage.

She glared at her. "Well, I suppose all that that cracked detective told us was a lie. I told your father to use the police, but did he listen? No. And look at you!"

"Mother?"

"Your dress is in rags! This is what I have to deal with, bailing my dishonorable daughter from jail! Where's that bag of things you packed, Rose? Huh? Tell me!"

"I don't have it anymore!" Rose said defensively, ready to cry.

"Why is that?"

Rose did not answer.

"Answer me!"

Rose was reminded of Ratigan, except that Ratigan was not an insane woman who yelled at others because she hated her own life.

"I don't have it anymore because it was stolen."

"And that necklace? What does that say?"

Rose put her hand protectively around it, but Elaine leaned over and moved her daughter's hand. "What's the 'R' stand for? Did you buy this?"

Rose felt like the police were interrogating her again. "No. I've had it for years. I think Father bought it for me, when I was younger."

"I've never seen it before. It looks too expensive for his tastes. Oh, your father! Thanks to you, Rose, they've all left! They all blamed me for your selfish, selfish act! And your father, he is so selfish! He took your sisters and left! It's all your fault. If you hadn't run away, they would have never left! See what trouble you've caused? They could have died on that ship crossing the ocean, and all because of you!"

I think I should mention that part of the reason for Rose's strong guilt-complex was on account of her mother making her feel like she was to blame for so many events that were beyond her own control.

"Maybe they left because you're insane," Rose blurted out.

Elaine gasped dramatically. She looked like someone had shot her.

"I have never heard such a daughter! No daughter has ever been as disrespectful as you have been! And after I fed you and clothed you and gave you a good education and cooked and cleaned for you and loved you and did everything I could for you! After I have been a mother for you! Even after I bailed you out of jail!"

"You didn't bail me out. They didn't make you pay a shilling to let me go."

"I came here and got you. That's bailing you out."

Her mother was always making up untrue definitions for words to make points.

Rose folded her arms. "Then why did you come and get me?"

"Because, unlike you, I am a loving, unselfish person. I actually care about my family."

Rose knew why her mother had gotten her. She was too miserable alone, with no one to pick on when she was in a bad mood and no one to support her. She wanted Rose begging to be accepted back into her good graces.

The carriage stopped at Victoria Station.

"We will continue this discussion later!" Elaine hissed as they got out of the carriage. "Our train leaves in a half-hour," she said in her public voice, the voice that seemed to turn on by the flip of a switch.

They spent the next fifteen minutes looking for the right platform. Rose stood numbly by her mother as she bought the tickets. She closed her eyes, and fingered the locket. Home. She would soon be in Exeter. Home…

But was it home? Could it ever be a home again, with her father and sisters gone? Could she mend her relationship with her mother ever again?

She wanted to go home…

"Don't stand there. We've got to catch our train," Elaine said impatiently.

Rose followed her to the train, feeling like she was losing a part of herself, like some inner part of her was slowly being poisoned. She feared the poison was going to grow and consume her very soul. It had already started to, here in London, while working for Ratigan. But she was certain that leaving London for a home that was not really a home would flood her system with it. She dreaded this thing, this poison, that she knew would take hold. It was already starting to rise within her.

Elaine made Rose go ahead of her to board the train. Suddenly Rose stopped in her tracks.

"I'm not going with you," she blatantly stated.

Elaine pushed her a little. "Don't start with me," she hissed. "I've already had enough trouble from you. Get on the train."

Rose hesitated; she almost weakened. She thought of how she ahd lied to the police; surely resisting her mother could not be more difficult. "No! I am not going with you! You don't want me, and I really don't want to have to deal with-"

"Rose!" Elaine grabbed her arm and gripped it. "Come on!" she almost snarled, digging her nails into her daughter's arm. "Don't make a scene!"

"You're hurting me!"

"I'll hurt you more if you cause any more trouble!"

The poison surged through her veins. With her free hand she went for her mother's neck, smacking her head against the train. Elaine screamed and let go of her arm. Rose immediately let go of her mother's neck, shocked at what she had just done.

Her mother dramatically gasped for breath as she rubbed the spot where her head had hit the train. People were staring at them.

"You… you tried to bash my head in!"

"I was trying to get you to stop hurting my arm!"

"How… how dare you!"

A few men stepped forward and began to ask what was wrong.

Elaine burst into tears. "You have anger management problems! I knew it! You're so selfish, so hateful, so self-absorbed-"

Rose could not believe her mother's dramatics. "Then I guess you don't need me around. Goodbye, Mother."

Rose turned around and fled.

She ran, trying to block her mother's pitiful shouts out of her mind. But already she was sobbing. She gasped for breath and sobbed and knew she looked so stupid, but she did not care. All she wanted was a familiar face, a friendly face…

Someone grabbed her arm, jerking her back. Rose turned around and saw Gerald.

"Gerald!" she spit out, trying to clear her throat and wipe her eyes. "What… what are you doing here?"

"What just happened back there? Who was that woman?" he asked.

"My mother."

"The Yard let you go?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I swear I didn't betray any of you! They had nothing against me, telegrammed my mother, got her to come get me. I told them I was homeless. I didn't betray him, Gerald!"

"So I've heard. Come with me; we're going back to the lair."

Rose could have cried out for joy. Someone here, just when she needed him! She could tell that Gerald was worried about something, however, so she said no more as he led her through the crowd.

After a long and confusing trip through the sewers, Rose finally found herself back at the lair. She was worn and weary, and all she wanted to do was sleep.

Gerald gently led her towards the throne room. "The Professor wants to know about you being back and all."

Rose nodded, unwilling but uncomplaining.

She walked into the throne room, to be met with a random chorus of "CONGRATULATIONS!" and "SURPRISE!" as all of Ratigan's thugs jumped out from behind furniture, loot, curtains, and doorways.

Rose sort of gaped in shock. She glanced behind her, thinking that perhaps they had made a mistake, and were cheering for someone else.

A few of them laughed at her behavior.

She turned back around. They were all clapping for her, patting her on the back, propelling her forward, and she had no idea why.

And then Ratigan was at her side, taking her arm and walking her up to the throne. He made her stand next to the throne, and then turned to the thugs, who were already filling up on beer and champagne. He cleared his throat; the talking and laughing died down.

"My friends, last night's endeavor was an absolute success."

There were assorted cheers.

(A few thugs later reflected on Ratigan's feelings about 'last night' the night before, and wondered how he could have forgotten his preliminary reaction so quickly. I am no expert, but I believe that the morning newspapers, filled with headlines like, AN CRIME OF UNSPEAKABLE PROPRTIONS, CRIME OF THE CENTURY, BRITAIN IN PERIL, had something to do with it.)

"And why was it a success?"

"Because you planned it!" someone shouted out.

Ratigan gave a short laugh. "Yes, that usually is the case, isn't it?" he said with a meaningful chuckle.

A few thugs laughed as well.

"And despite the fact that several of you failed to follow orders, our success was made complete by Miss McGeady's aide." Ratigan handed her a glass of champagne. He raised his own glass to her. "To our Rose among you pathetic thorns."

The thugs raised their glasses, some exclaiming, "To Rose!", others "To drinks!", some others "To thorns!", and even one fellow shouted out, "To Marlene!"

Ratigan sighed, exasperated. "Well, you get the general idea," he said a bit apologetically to her. He took a sip.

She had never tasted champagne before and had no urge to start. The party atmosphere in the throne room, however, convinced her that now was not the time to be picky. She took a small sip. It was bubbly, and actually burned in her mouth. She felt like she was going to be sick again.

She quickly set down her glass and tried to take deep breaths. "How… how did you know that I didn't betray you?" Rose asked Ratigan as the thugs let themselves go with the liquor.

"I have connections everywhere, Rose. I knew at around four this morning that Miss Abigail Williams had changed her identity back to Miss Rose McGeady while not changing her pitiful story. Imagine, having to live in a sock!" Ratigan said the last part in a mocking, high-pitched voice. He laughed. "While I can't say that I would have personally picked such a story, it was believable enough."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For the story. I'll try to think of a better one next time."

Ratigan shrugged and then sat down on the throne. "Go ahead if it will ease your mind. I am personally counting on it not happening again. The Yard already has a file on you, and I heard that Basil even paid you a little visit."

"He did, sir."

"What did you think of him?"

Rose looked at her feet. "I hate him, sir."

Ratigan laughed again. "Oh, really? Is it because of his wonderful reputation down here?"

She shook her head. "Begging your pardon, sir, but I formed my opinion of him without anyone else's help."

"What did you form your opinion of him on?" he asked, suddenly looking very interested.

Rose wished that he would offer her a seat; she was getting tired of standing up here, and was even more embarrassed to be in her ragged dress in front of everyone.

"On my own experiences," she said.

When she did not go on, Ratigan asked her to specify. So she explained to him why she had run away, and all that had happened to her that he was not aware of. She explained to him about her mother, about Basil's mistake, about Greg's death, and when he asked, about her time in jail and what happened there, including Basil's short meeting with her and her mother's arrival and their departure at the train station.

By this time she felt like she could barely stand up for another five minutes. Ratigan was looking at her thoughtfully.

"Well, that's quite a story," he said.

Rose nodded, trying to read his reaction, to see if he cared or not. But his face was expressionless.

"So Basil already knew who you were?"

"Yes, sir."

"Hm." He was silent.

"I… I didn't know you, sir, when I went to see him that one time."

Ratigan seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. Rose felt hot, lightheaded, and dizzy. She tottered a bit, and grabbed on the throne to steady herself. She could tell that she was going to faint soon, but she was almost afraid to sit down.

Her vision became hazy. After while, she could not see at all. She reached out blindly, hoping to grasp something, anything! She could not even tell whether she was standing up anymore.

Suddenly she felt herself falling, falling into nothingness… she felt something, a pair of hands, someone sitting her down, someone speaking to her…

"Rose! Can you hear me? Rose!"

Someone was airing her, dabbing her neck with a wet cloth, and she was slowly revived. Her vision came back to her in a rush of color and detail and light. She was back in the throne room, sitting on the throne. Gerald was quickly waving a fan back and forth towards her face.

"She's pale," Gerald was saying to Ratigan. Fidget also stood nearby. The other thugs, many of them already drunk, were not even paying attention to them.

"Sorry, sir," Rose said weakly. "I'm sorry…"

Ratigan burst out laughing. "Look at her! She almost split her head open on my throne, and here she is, apologizing!"

Rose closed her eyes. She felt strong hands dab at her forehead with the cool, wet cloth. She opened her eyes again. Ratigan lifted her head and put the cloth behind her neck. That, and the cool air coming from the fan Gerald was rapidly waving in her face, felt so good.

"I think she's had enough of this little fête," Ratigan said. "Rose, you're staying down here for a few days. That little incident with your mother at Victoria Station might convince Basil to reconsider you as a suspect of the Caper." Rose did not see how what happened at Victoria Station could make her look suspicious, but she did not argue the point. She did not want to go up to the surface for a long time.

"Yes, sir," she said more to herself than to him. "I'll stay here."

For as long as I am wanted and needed.

Meg: We've run into another problem.

Emma: What?

Meg: Erm… This branch we're sitting on is breaking.

(Meg and Emma fall off the branch and down onto the roof of the car.)

Meg & Emma: OUCH!

Emma: I think I broke my back.

Meg: Oh, (censored).

JWJ: You just swore! The author just swore! Man, some role model you are!

Meg: (angrily) Hey, do you want to help make sure Emma didn't snap her spinal cord!

Emma: (sitting up slowly) I think I'm ok.

Luke: Yeah, I think we better go.

Meg: And help us?

Luke: And help ourselves, because that very huge rat is walking down the street in this direction.

(Everyone runs away)