Wednesday afternoon sees the Art Building in full bustle as all the students are putting things together for the art show. Among them is Kaity Klingbeil who is putting the finishing touches on her charcoal drawing before hanging it up. She examines it proudly as she dusts the charcoal off on her sweatpants.

She then notices a professor handing students envelopes as he examines a clipboard. After he walks past her she pushes the hair from her eye and chases after him and falls into his stride.

"Professor, I'd like to get my tickets if possible."

"Oh, Kaity." He looks at his clipboard and frowns. "I didn't mean to skip you, but earlier you indicated you intended no guests."

She winces and gives a nervous smile, a little uncomfortable. "That was the beginning of the semester. Now I have a few people I'd like to invite. I really want them to see what I've done." He smiles at her and hands her an envelope.

"One for every piece of art you have on display," he explains. "So that's-"

Kaity beams. "Six, which is perfect. Thank you." She tucks them in the pocket of her sweatshirt and walks off quite happy.

"I'm sure your family will enjoy it."

Kaity pats her pocket, still smiling. "I'm sure they will too."

XXX

Meanwhile, Lori Fitzgerald stands in her closet adding a second jacket to the one she has already put on. She turns to face her roommate, Hannah Frost, who is fiddling with her laptop. "So does this give the look of my boyfriend's a soccer star?"

Hannah glances up briefly. "To me it screams you've never sat through a game in your life. You're going to be freezing. At least wear a hat and gloves."

"Right," Lori comments, returning to the closet to grab those items. She is clearly a little out of her element. "So our team's the ones in blue, correct?"

"Yes," Hannah guffaws. "And if they win this game they have won their National Conference, which is a big deal and why he wants his significant other there for support."

Lori adjusts the hat on her head. "How are the locked files?"

"They're not going fast enough that you can insist this is going to be over soon enough that you don't owe him an explanation," Hannah states flatly. "I almost wonder if he could figure it out."

Lori takes a moment to grapple with this fact, face betraying a moment how worried she is that this might come to pass. "Well, that is my problem," Lori dismisses after a long moment. "I'm going to handle this the way I see best. He has a National game. The last thing he needs is to worry that his girlfriend chases Disney characters." As if on cue, the filing cabinet vibrates in their bedroom. Her face falls. "Oh no." She runs and grabs the book from within it just as it lets off a burst of light. "Shoot!"

Hannah sticks her head in, noting Lori's distress. "I could round up the boys while you go to the game. We can handle-"

Lori takes a deep breath and obviously sets her mind to something. "Hannah, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Sure. Name it."

XXX

So follow me down

Lori stands with the glowing Disney Encyclopedia. She sighs and pulls out her phone.
Where to?
Outta this town

Charlie examines his map and grabs his flashlight.
With you
Girl, you're movin way

Hannah is typing away at her computer.
Too slow

So follow me down

Michael grabs his first aid backpack and throws it on his shoulders.
Which way?
Down, down, down

Ben looks at his phone, adjusting his tie.
I'll show you around

Kaity is drawing pictures of the group absently in her dorm room.
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

Finch puts the two fingers to her temple and her eyes glaze over.

Follow me, follow me

Lori, Charlie, Hannah, Michael, Ben, Kaity, and Finch are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces.
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground.

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode Eighteen: Not Entirely Hopeless

XXX

About an hour later, Lori enters the theater with the book and her flashlight. She is followed by Ben Prescott and the program Finch.

Ben crosses his arms, the group obviously in conversation. "I still think it was a stupid decision. This is exactly what I was warning you about when you entered this relationship. You shouldn't be pulling stunts like this," he lectures.

Lori turns to him, temper flaring slightly. "You're not telling me anything I haven't thought of myself, so can we drop it? I know it's absurdly unfair to him, but what if the character was something that needed to be taken care of right away? I'm doing the best I can given the circumstances."

"You should have let me transform back into your image," Finch cuts in. "Then Shawn Zimmerman would have thought-"

"I considered it, but that wouldn't be fair to you," Lori tells her sympathetically. "You're still trying to discover who you are. I'm not going to add pretending to be me to that load. I'm never going to use that with you to cheat." The group enters the stage and starts combing through the seats.

"That at least makes sense," Ben continues. "The other stuff-"

Lori is officially annoyed. "Listen, I really appreciate the honesty. Always do. But it's my life, not yours. I get to make the choices, and I believed I have earned the right for all of you to trust me when I make them."

"I just…"

"I deduce the young man is just trying to tell you that he cares about you, but he is still quite awkward given your past relationship," a cocky voice echoes through the room. "Though obviously that is in the past seeing as his heart harbors another." Lori looks under the seats, kneeling down, and comes face-to-face with a mouse in a coat and deerstalker cap.

"Basil of Baker Street," she smiles as he strides up to her.

"Lori Fitzsimons," he responds grandly.

"Fitzgerald actually," she corrects as Ben and Finch gather around her.

Basil ignores her comment and takes a puff from his pipe. "I deduced you right off the spot."

This makes her smirk. "What gave me away?"

The mouse starts pacing across the linoleum. "Ah, that is a detective's secret. Now I imagine we shall reconvene in your quarters to deduce what service I can provide you. Though it will be hard to work alone without Dawson. Perhaps you have a sidekick you could loan me?"

She extends her hand and he immediately hops into it. "I'll see what I can do. You heard the mouse," she tells her Companions. "Let's head back."

As they start back, Finch nudges Ben. "What is a detective?"

"They solve mysteries- things others have trouble solving. They're actually kind of like you since they gather data and analyze it."

"Fascinating," she whispers.

"I am not just any detective though, my dear girl. I am by far the most qualified, brilliant mind that's ever been seen."

Lori taps her finger to her chin in thought. "I don't know. Have you ever met someone called Sherlock?"

XXX

Meanwhile, on the soccer field the game comes to a grand finale with the Trinity soccer team having a definitive victory. The stands begin cheering and celebrating as people rush the field, girls tackling their significant others.

In the middle of the chaos, Shawn Zimmerman spins and turns, desperately looking for someone. He quickly realizes she's not there and his face falls. A moment later he sees a bundled-up Hannah approaching him.

"She didn't come, did she?" he says, voice very harsh. "She sent you out here to do her dirty work. Right?"

"She planned on it- was really excited too," Hannah appeals, desperately trying to keep the situation under control. "She was dressed and ready to go out the door… but something came up." He kicks at the ground, obviously very upset. "Always does."

"Don't- she feels terrible and is really sorry," she tries. "She wanted to be here and she wouldn't want this to ruin the fact that you just won."

"What happened?" he says suddenly, catching her off guard. "What's the emergency?"

"I can't say," she tells him after a long moment, making him scoff. "She should tell you. It's not my place."

"You guys are always so diplomatic. I don't know what it is about her that has all of you willing to sit for hours in the cold to cover for her," he spits.

Hannah takes step back, still calm. "I would hope you do… seeing as you are her boyfriend."

"Thanks for coming, Hannah." He turns away.

"If it makes it any better I recorded the whole thing!" she shouts holding up her phone. He doesn't turn nor respond. "Obviously not. Uggh. Lori, you so owe me," she groans, clutching her coat tighter in the cold and heading back to her car.

XXX

The next morning, Michael Harms is sleeping peacefully in his bed. This comes to an abrupt end when Charlie Prescott smacks him upside the head with a pillow. He groans and rolls over. "Chemistry lab was cancelled today, remember? That gives me three extra hours to sleep in and I'd like to utilize them."

"That's too bad because we have a mission," Charlie says, pulling his arm.

"From Lores?" he questions.

"For Lori," Charlie corrects. He sits up interested. "She's really worried about Shawn figuring things out, she didn't say so but as her best friend I know this obviously. So we are going to see how long it would take him."

Michael blinks sleepily. "I'm lost."

"I've even recruited us the greatest mouse detective the world has ever seen. He's in the living room. So get dressed and let's do this."

Michael knows when he's fighting a losing battle. "Alright. Give me two minutes." Charlie heads out into the living area where Basil is waiting anxiously.

"May I just say that the lot of you called the right person. I've been knighted by the Queen for her work," he brags. "Now Chip, we must-"

"It's Charlie."

Basil starts pacing, ignoring this. "We must make sure we have all the necessary supplies for the venture. Pad and paper for notes?" Charlie holds the two items up. "Disguises?" He shrugs holding up two fake mustaches. "Intuition? An all-seeing eye that misses nothing? Pure deduction?"

"We'll go maybe on those last few."

Basil nods and takes a puff from his pipe. "Now I stayed up all last night with what Lori called her "computer" watching this delightful program about a detective such as myself- though he wasn't quite up to my standards. But as I understand, this device allows for a lot more than watching moving pictures." Michael emerges from the bedroom and takes a seat on the couch.

"Well, it does," Charlie explains. "You can look up almost anything. Michael, grab your laptop." Michael immediately rises again and goes to grab it. "His is the most basic, so thus it will be an excellent control."

"First-rate deduction! You make an excellent Dawson!" Michael sets it on the table. "So let us start from the beginning. This boy knows that there is something funny about Lori. What gives him this impression?"

Charlie thinks for a moment. "Well… she always has to cancel or move things around, she seems like she's not telling him everything and it makes her seem closed off…"

"I have an idea," Michael cuts in and starts typing. "So he knows something's off because a lot of weird things happen around here in general." He displays a page on incidences at Trinity and looks at the oldest date. "But they didn't start happening until last year when she started on campus."

"He has now made a possible connection," Basil muses. "Good show! Now let us follow this. Would he then confront her?"

Both shake their heads. "No," Michael voices. "He knows she'd deny it away. So he's going to have to go at her with evidence she can't deny or refuse."

"He thus needs evidence, but where does he get it? There is physically no object or item he could obtain?" Basil questions.

"There's the book," Michael offers. "He could grab it and read the poem-"

Charlie shakes his head. "He doesn't know it exists. And the poem might not appear for him."

"So what else has he got?"

Charlie thinks for a long moment before snapping his fingers. "From one of us. He's not going to get her, but he may go after one of us."

"But we wouldn't say anything," Michael reasons as if it's obvious. "Another dead end."

"Unless, it manages to be the perfect timing where someone goes over what Lori wants for what they believe she needs," Charlie says in a tone that conveys that in the past he has thought just that. Michael makes a face that shows he's thought the same exact thing before as well.

"So, the only way he's going to find out-"

"Is if one of us tells him," Charlie concludes.

Basil starts clapping, having been taken in by their back and forth. "Excellent work! We've followed the clues and found our suspects! In which case anyone who cares about her is likely to fold, which makes all of you suspects. Brilliant! Quite the twist!" Charlie and Michael both smile, but the look they show with one another expresses concern at their findings.

XXX

Friday evening, Kaity stands towards the entrance of the art building expectantly. She is wearing a dress with her hair curled. A moment later Lori, Hannah, Charlie, Ben, and Finch all duck in from the snow and she beams. Everyone is dressed up to a degree except Finch who is in her normal attire. They present their tickets to the professor and walk to join her.

"Thank you so much for coming," she tells them, voice showing how happy and excited she is. "I know it was last minute-"

"Kaity, we wouldn't miss it for the world," Hannah tells her as the others nod. "I'm excited to see all of your hard work."

"Michael says he will bolt over the moment he's finished with work," Lori comments about the absence of the Doctor. Kaity nods.

Ben comes up next to her. "Any possibility you could give us an inside tour?"

"Of course. Follow me everyone." She starts walking with them. "We're going to start with the photographs." They stop in front of one of a sunset with it red and everything else yellow. "I think this one is a great case of minimalism." Everyone stands and examines it.

"I really like the colors," Ben smiles. "It's very warm."

"I don't get it," Hannah comments.

Kaity raises an eyebrow at her. "Any experience with art?"

"Nope," she shrugs. "I'm more of an ones and zeros kind of person. I'll just spend the evening smiling and nodding. But I do understand the hard work that goes into this stuff." They keep walking, Finch remaining behind to stare at the photo.

"Lori, please tell me you're cultured," Kaity whines.

Lori bites her lip. "I don't think that's one of the adjective that is used to describe me, but I'll give it an effort." Ben notices Finch and heads back to her.

"Something catches your interest?" he asks the projection.

"You called it warm," she repeats, puzzled. "I am just trying to understand your intention. My programming is for some reason not grasping the situation."

"Oh, well… there's nothing to really grasp. Art just is supposed to make you feel things. I don't doubt you can, but it may take some practice," he tries to comfort her, seeing her frustration.

"What do you feel?"

He stares at the photo. "I feel… happy. You see they use bright colors to make you feel like that. It's supposed to uplift you in a sense."

"All that from just looking at that. I am trying not to be frustrated at my limitations, but I am experiencing some disgust towards myself. I should have an emotional response elicit, yet I find myself incapable of doing so."

He puts a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's just going to take time." It phases through and she looks even more down. "Come on," he comforts. "We'll gather some data on some other paintings to help you out." They catch up with the others at a photo of a black shadow. "Wow, a brilliant look of the world at war," Ben gasps.

"Exactly!" Kaity smiles, throwing her hands up.

"Did you get that?" Lori whispers to Hannah.

"I thought it was a recreation of the dogs playing poker," Hannah whispers back. The group keeps moving and she looks up to come face-to-face with Brett Edwardson, her smile instantly faltering.

He senses the situation, clearing his throat. "Oh, hello."

"Hi," she says polite and terse. "It's nice to see you here."

"I wouldn't miss an art show," he explains. "I wasn't aware you enjoyed scholarly pursuits such as this."

Hannah narrows her eyes. "Oh, goodness no. I'm here for my friend. I'm an uneducated hick- that was the reason you dumped me right?" She pushes past him roughly. "Jackass," she mutters.

He turns to her. "Hannah-"

"Shove it." She catches up to Lori, who looks at her concerned. "Well, that was the worst thing that could happen tonight."

Lori then notices Shawn across the room. He has spotted them and is making his way over. "Are you sure about that?" Lori whispers, mentally panicking as she is not ready for this. He comes to a stop in front of her. "I know we need to talk," she says, trying to play it nonchalant.

"Not with you posse'," he says bitterly.

"How about the sculptures?!" Kaity says with a clap of her hands. Everyone nods and practically runs from the room.

Lori sees his anger but tries to keep casual. "Look, I understand you're mad…" Nothing. "Angry…" Still nothing. "Pissed…" This earns a nod. "You have every right to be. I let you down."

He puts his fingers to his nose, sighing. "Just tell me the excuse. Just… spit it out so I can understand, forgive you, and move on. Tell me."

She clearly has not had time to prepare something, but does her best. "It was… Charlie. Emergency with Charlie," she says convincingly. "False alarm ultimately, but…"

"Of course," Shawn says almost to himself. "You ran right to him. I come second fiddle to a kid."

"He's my best friend," she says, becoming a little angry with the comment.

"And I'm your boyfriend," he fires back. "I get it. I get you two have that connection. It's great. But you could have texted or called. You didn't need to send your roommate to videotape it!"

"She did that on her own accord, I assure you! The videotaping part, I mean. I'm doing the best I can," she admits.

"I really wonder about you sometimes." He walks past her.

"Should I skip our run tomorrow?" she asks his back, sadly.

Shawn takes a deep breath. "No. I'll see you at the usual time. Just don't expect me to have a lot to say for now."

"I can understand that," she admits. "Don't expect me to stop trying to make it up to you though, either." He turns and looks at her a long moment before exiting. She then heads into the bathroom and start hyperventilating at one of the sinks. Kaity enters a moment later and she instantly reigns it in. "I'm fine," she says with a smile.

"Come with me," Kaity says simply, extending her hand. She takes it and they start walking. "I want to show you my favorite." They stop in front of the painting of the footprint.

"You kept this?" Lori questions, looking at her shoeprint.

"I consider it my masterpiece, actually," Kaity says proudly. "It represents a pretty big day in my life. It's the day I met my hero and I didn't even know it at the time. In fact, I chased after her with the intention of killing her."

Lori smiles. "It was a mistake though. I didn't mean to step-"

Kaity holds up a blue ribbon. "It was, but now it won first place. And I think that really says something." They stand for a moment staring at it. "The others are by the sculptures." They walk over to the others who are in front of her new sculpture of an open book.

"Of course I understand this one," Ben tells Hannah.

"Enlighten me then, because I'm lost," she pleads.

"It's us," Finch voices. "That's our book and you can see us in the pages. Its makes one feel connected and inspires belonging in the sense of a story. We own a story, but we also are in a story."

Kaity beams as everyone looks at her. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Ben gives Finch a thumbs up. "Like I told you. It's a learning curve, but you're doing great."

"I just read the note card on the side here," she admits. In a beat everyone is laughing, including her.

"Nevertheless, progress I suppose," Ben says grandly. "It looks great." Kaity smiles at him and he holds her gaze for a moment before everyone moves on.

XXX

In the training room, Michael is frantically finishing up cleaning the tables and counters, constantly glancing at the clock. Suddenly, Shawn enters.

"Hey, I'm actually closing up. I want to get over to the art show before-"

"Is she worth it?" Shawn asks, causing him to just look lost. "Is she worth the arguing and the secrecy and the flighty behavior? Because there must be a reason the group of you all sticks around her. I'm just having trouble seeing it."

"She's just a very secretive person," Michael offers. "It takes a lot for her to trust you with everything."

"You're not answering my question," Shawn says, frustrated. "At the end of the day when all is said and done, is she worth it?"

Michael stares at him, intense. "So worth it. You have no idea."

He gives a nod and starts to head out. "Alright then."

"Though the fact that you're questioning that cannot mean good things for a relationship," Michael admits to him.

"I'm well aware. I've been at this place before."

"I can assure you she's not cheating on you. She doesn't have an interest in anybody but you."

"I know she's not. But for some reason I don't quite believe in that second statement. Enjoy the art show. It's pretty amazing."

Michael nods after him. "I will. I hope everything works out for you. She's really special and you'll see once the walls come down."

"Right," Shawn says, still disbelieving. "She must be if all of you stick around."

"She is. Trust me," he pleads.

"Somehow I do. More than her actually. And that's starting to become a red flag." He exits and Michael sighs, leaning against a table.

"And there goes him solving the mystery."

XXX

That evening after the art show, Lori sits on her bed with the book. "Is it bad that I don't feel guilty?" she asks Hannah suddenly. "Because I just feel like I did what I had to do."

Hannah puts her computer down. "Would it really be so hard to show him the book? Maybe he can read the poem and is meant to do this with us."

Lori shakes her head, resolute. "Why should I bother him when we're almost through with this anyway? As soon and you and Finch unlock those files we'll know where to ship the book too."

Hannah is becoming frustrated at what a brick wall she's being. "Lori, we know what happens when you put all the eggs in one basket. We have no guarantee-"

"I won't do that to him. A relationship with me should come without the burden of Disney characters because it wouldn't be fair otherwise. Just… trust me. Because I trust myself that I'm doing what needs to be done."

"Okay then," Hannah backs off. "I hope you end up happy, because that is what you deserve." Charlie and Michael enter with Basil.

"I finished the last episode, but I'm afraid it left my on quite the cliffhanger," the detective informs Lori. "Though I obviously have a theory as to how he survived the fall."

"And we did some detective work of our own," Charlie tells her proudly. "We have concluded that the only way Shawn will ever discover you secret is if one of us tells him."

"So you can rest assured, because we all know that's your call- not ours," Michael voices with confidence. Lori lets out a deep breath, a weight obviously being lifted from her.

"Right…" Hannah whispers to herself.

Basil hops onto a desk. "So with that out of the way, I believe it is time I take my leave. But I simply must return to find out what happens in the next episode when it airs. Send me a letter to 221B Baker Street, Ms. Fitzroy."

Lori rolls her eyes. "Fitzgerald. I swear you do it on purpose."

Basil looks oblivious, but then gives her a quick raised eyebrow. "Ah, that is a mystery all its own." She opens the book to a glowing poem. "And if you two gentleman ever need work, I'm sure Dawson could do with a vacation." They both nod at him.

"Thank you, Basil the Great Mouse Detective," Lori says dramatically, earning a final bow. "Hey fellas I'll take off all my blues Hey fellas There's nothing I won't do" He vanishes in a burst of light and she shuts the book. "I don't know, but that lesson seemed pretty weak."

"I'm just getting over how dirty that song is," Hannah says with disgust.

"I think it was giving you some necessary piece of mind," Charlie says coming next to her. "You wouldn't say but obviously this is weighing pretty heavy on you."

Michael salutes. "Glad we could provide some service." She laughs. "It'll be fine, Lori. If you and Shawn are meant to be it'll work out."

"You're right. You know what would make me feel better?" she asks. Michael looks at her. "If you sang. I hear you have a lovely set of pipes." Hannah bursts out laughing.

"Ain't happening," he tells the two. "Good night ladies." The two exit after Charlie gives her a quick hug.

Hannah offers a high five. "Solid attempt."

Lori takes it. "Yeah, I think next time if I work up some tears it'll work." She climbs back on bed and lies down. "He won't find out," she whispers to herself with a smile. "He gets to keep his life. The rest I can manage."

XXX

Kaity exits the art show after everything has ended and been cleaned up, Best in Show trophy in her arms. She steps into the snow to see Ben standing there.

"Ben, its one-o-clock in the morning! You must be freezing!" She walks over to him. "What're you doing out here?"

He smiles. "I just wanted to give you these." He hands her a bouquet of lilies. "Congratulations on your stellar work."

"Top three in every single one… and my footprint was best in the whole show." She smiles, sniffing the flowers. "Thank you. This was unbelievably sweet of you." She notices something. "There's a note in here."

"Really? Imagine that?" She smirks and hands him her trophy so she can open it.

"'Kaitlin Klingbeil, will you do me the honor of being my accompaniment to the First Annual Friendship Banquet this Saturday?' Do I still get to keep the flowers if I say no?"

Ben stumbles. "Well… I… I wasn't-"

"Then of course I'll go with you." She links her arm in his and they start back. "So far the end of this semester is shaping up to be pretty great."

"I'm glad," Ben voices. "If anyone deserves it, you do."

XXX

Tune in next week for the penultimate episode of the season as Lori and her Companions attend a Banquet that has a shifty character lurking in the background with the intention of permanently changing the game.