Chapter Fifteen: I Can't Lose You Again!

Hayley kept whimpering, for her arm was bleeding severely. I only pray that the bullet isn't deep in the skin. But, something kept buzzing in my head. All this time, ever since I came here, Ratigan was in love with me. I felt sick at the thought, but that wasn't what was bothering me. He wanted to keep me all to himself. He wanted me for his selfish needs. Back there was his chance to keep me in the sewers with him…forever. If he loved me, and wanted me all to himself, why did he let me go? Why did he let me go back to Baker Street? For some odd reason, I have a feeling that Ratigan has changed over the year. He hasn't been doing any crime at all. It's like he was through with the life of crime, and started something a new. I don't get it. Maybe I'll never get it. Loretta ran all the way to Baker Street and stopped at the corner where Sherlock's home was placed. It was nighttime. The moon was in full, but no crickets played. The stars were only half as bright. Bill and Gus were with me. They didn't talk to me through the whole trip, except when helping me and my sister down from the cat.

"Careful, now." Bill said. Hayley still whimpered from her pain. I finally got my strength to carry my sister and run to the lower house. Loretta sprinted off with Bill and Gus and disappeared into the night.

"BASIL! DAWSON! MS. JUDSON! AL!" I cried out as I ran to the door. Basil was the first to burst the door open and saw me running. He dashed quickly. "PLEASE HELP MY SISTER! SHE'S HURT!" I started to sob. Basil was quite shocked about seeing my sister in my arms, but it didn't stop him from carrying her into the house.

"Doctor!" Basil called when he entered the house. Dawson sprinted up to see the damage. AL ran to me and hugged me.

"What the hell happened to you? Next minute, you were gone!" She shouted.

"I'll explain later. Right now, my sister's life is on the line." I replied. Basil laid Hayley on his bed as Dawson checked the wound.

"Well, the good news is, she's going to be all right. But, I'll have to take the bullet out." Hayley had her eyes widen. I knew what she was thinking. She never thought of seeing the Great Mouse Detective characters come to life in front of her eyes.

"What, what the heck is going on?" She stammered. Dawson took out a pair of tongs out of his medical bag. "What are you doing with those?" Hayley was terrified.

"I won't lie, so this'll hurt. I'm going to take the bullet out of your arm." He replied. Hayley started to sob. She hates pain. Especially when it involves with doctors. Basil hugged her tightly, keeping her wounded arm out.

"Just bite my shoulder when it starts to hurt." He told her. I held on to her other hand.

"Squeeze my hand, too." I told her. She took my hand and placed her teeth on Basil's shoulder.

"Alright. Here I go." Dawson began. He dug the tongs into her skin and began pulling the bullet. Hayley muffled her scream through her bite. Tears flooded her face. She squeezed my hand as Basil held her tightly. I started to cry, too. I hate to see my sister in pain. It sickens me. Finally, Dawson pulled the bullet out. Hayley drew breaths, sobbing a little. Basil began to hush her. I'm happy he's being a father figure to her, keeping her calm. Dawson cleaned the wound up and wrapped it in bandages. Basil placed her head on the pillow gently. All the crying made her fall asleep fast.

"She'll be fine. Let her rest." Basil helped me up, but I couldn't help, but look at her. We closed the door and Basil sat me on the chair. He took a good look at me. He saw the bruise that Theodore did with his gun.

"Oh God, Kiara. What have they done to you?" AL came up to me, but Dawson stopped her.

"Come on, my dear. Let them be." AL nodded and went into the kitchen to help with Ms. Judson, along with Dawson. We were alone now. It was very quiet, except for the ticking clock. Basil stared into my eyes as I did the same.

"It's…it's all my fault." Came out of my mouth.

"Kiara, I already told you…" Basil began.

"BUT, IT REALLY IS! I JUST HAD TO SAY RATIGAN WAS MY FAVORITE VILLIAN! I JUST HAD TO BLURT IT OUT! I ALMOST LOST MY SISTER WHEN SHE JUMPED IN FRONT OF ME, PROTECTING ME! THEODORE WAS RIGHT! IT'S MY ENTIRE FAULT! IT'S ALL MY FAULT THAT I GOT THAT RAT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH ME!" I screamed out. Basil froze on the last sentence.

"He what?" He began.

"Yes, Basil. He loves me. I even saw it in his eyes." Basil got up and paced a little.

"Do you…love him back?" He asked. I was shocked to hear him say that.

"YOU THINK I'M THAT KIND OF PERSON?! A HUMAN IN LOVE WITH AN RAT?! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME! I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT ME WITH MONEY! I HATE HIM FOR KIDNAPPING ME! I HATE HIM FOR TEARING ME AWAY FROM MY FAMILY! I HATE HIM EVER SINCE HE HURT ME AND SLAPPED ME AROUND! I HATE RATIGAN!!!!!!!"

Tears flooded my face again. Basil took me in his arms. "I'm sorry. That was a stupid question for me to ask. I know you better."

I buried my face in his chest, carrying the scent of mint and pipe cigar. Tears stained his clothes, but he didn't care.

"Oh, Basil. I'm so scared." I cried. Basil hushed me and sat me on the chair, sitting beside me, holding me, caressing me, kissing my hair.

"I know. Shh. I'm here." I kept crying in his chest. "My poor Kiara. I'm so sorry for not being there for you. I promised you that I would return you home. And I intend not to break it." I don't know what made me say this, but I it came out.

"I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with you." Basil looked at me. I could see his eyes watered.

"I wish that, too. But, you have a family on the other side, waiting for you to come home."

"Then, if there's a way to go back there and here again, can I then stay?" I begged him.

"I don't know." He kissed my forehead. "Oh, Kiara. I really want you to stay. You're a daughter to me. I would do anything to make you stay or at least come and visit." He looked at the necklace he gave to me and held it his hand. "No matter where you are, or where you go, I'll always be here. You'll always be in my heart."

"As of mine." I said. He cradled me gently and hummed a lullaby. Basil, you are the one I've always loved to see in the movie. You are a dear friend and loving father to me. From the day you rescued me, you were my comfort. My shelter. My protection. I thought of you no more than that. I don't mean this in romance, Basil, but I want you to know. I love you, Basil. With all of my heart, I love you.

Love. Such a strange word. It can mean in many ways. A love of family. A love of friendship. A relationship between husband and wife. I wonder, did Ratigan ever have parents that loved him? Or friends? What happened in his past? I know of Basil's, but not Ratigan's. What made him like he is now? What was his past? I wonder if Basil knows any of this.

"Basil?" He looked at me.

"What is it?"

"What do you know about Ratigan? I mean, about his past. How did he become evil?" There was a pause.

"I don't know. He just showed up with a mind of a criminal." I began to think. Something must've triggered him when he discovered me in my world.

"But, you have noticed that he's been silent for over a year, right?" I asked Basil.

"Yes, I thought he was dead. But, when your friends, Mary Ann and Kitty, came to me for help and told me everything, I was shocked. But, the only thing that got me out of the house was the concern of you. I mean, Ratigan bringing a human to our world sounded awful suspicious, and I had to act fast." There was a little pause again, and then I spoke.

"Do you think…he's changed?"

"What do you mean?" Basil had a confused look on his face.

"Well, think about it. He would've plotted revenge already on you. He would've start crime once he recovered from his injuries. But, he didn't. Instead, he built a time machine, and found me. I don't think…he was loved back then."

"Are you saying that because he wasn't loved, he turned into a criminal?" Basil asked.

"That's my guess. You see, when I said that comment, something stabbed him. As if Cupid hit an arrow on him. He must've believed that somewhere, there is somebody that loved him."

"But, you said you hate him."

"Yes, I do. At least, that's what I thought. I hated his actions towards me." Basil looked at me straight in the eye.

"Kiara, you're not going to give in, are you?"

"Heavens no! I don't fall in love with animals. But Basil, I love you as a friend and father. I think I should give that kind of love to Ratigan. A friendship love." He got up from his chair and started to pace again. He rubbed his neck.

"I don't know, Kiara. That rat will do anything to get his hands on you. He'll try to make you give in."

"Then, why did he let me go?" Basil's eyes widen.

"What?"

"I think I might know why. The way he looked at me. It was like he lost the battle to have me. I must've done something to change his mind. It's like, he gave up. He couldn't win me."

"He's probably making you think that." Basil protested.

"How do we know for sure?" I got up from the chair. "I'm going back to check it out." I started to walk towards the door, but Basil stopped me.

"No, Kiara. It's too dangerous."

"Then, I'll take the challenge."

"I said no."

"Basil, this is could be the end of the rivalry. Why don't you trust me?"

"It's not that I don't. It's just…"

"What?"

"It's just…you can't. I won't allow it."

"Basil, please. If it is a trap, then I'll face it."

"No!"

"Basil, this is all or nothing. Don't you want it to end?"

"I CAN'T LOSE YOU AGAIN!" He grabbed me and hugged me tightly. I felt tears streaming sown on my shoulder. "I can't. Not again." Basil's voice is breaking. He's…crying. "I lost my wife. I lost my daughter. I'm not losing you, not for the last time."

"Basil…" I hugged him back. I dried his tears with my hand. "You'll never lose me. I'm always here. Your wife and daughter are here with you. Why do you think they wanted you to move on? They wanted you to succeed in life. And now, look at you. The Great Mouse Detective. You're famous to many eyes. And I'm your biggest fan." Basil chuckled at the last comment. "I'll always be with you. I love you, mi padrino." I kissed his cheek. "Have faith in me." Basil sighed and looked at me, smiling. His eyes were still saddened, but a hint of confidence was stored in them.

"All right. Go. But please, come back safely." He hugged me again, only a little longer.

"You can tell everybody where I'm going. Just say a prayer for me."

"I will." He kissed my forehead and opened the door. He whistled and Toby came out of Sherlock's home. "Take Kiara to the Rat Trap. And be quick about it." Toby barked and bent down for me to get up.

"By the way," Basil said when I was on Toby. "Padrino means 'godfather', doesn't it?" I smiled at him.

"Yep." He smiled back.

"Then, let me say this. Mi amo, mi nombre ahijada." Toby sprinted off as I watched Basil shrink into the distance. I knew what he meant. Maybe I could give that kind of love to Ratigan, a friendship kind. There's only one way to find out.

Mi amo, mi nombre ahijada. I love you, my goddaughter.