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

Chapter five

Kate

The trip there was pretty quiet, but that was okay. I enjoyed the view of the city as we rode in. Although the only real view I was taking in was of Basil and how he sat so calmly. My sister was right I was so taken in by him when I was small and sitting here right now with him, what could I possibly want more. This was an amazing birthday despite the situation. We made it to the theatre and it was grand. Taking in the sight as basil helped me down from the cab.

"I do apologize for my silence on the way here. I tend to keep to myself most of the time."

"Don't apologize. I'm the same way. I don't usually go out so I don't socialize."

He smiled as once again he held out his arm to me, taking it as we make our way in.

Basil.

What I hadn't told her was the second I saw her coming down those stairs I was speechless. Yes I've seen plenty of lovely ladies in my time, but nothing like her. She was beautiful and the shyness and the blushing just made it more so. That's why I hadn't said anything on the way to the theater. What could I say?

I walked with her arm to arm as we get the ticket and walked up to our booth seats. I watched as she looked around when we got there, seeing how fascinated with everything.

"I take it they don't have these kind of buildings up in...Carson city?"

"Well that's not really where I'm from. Its just the only one I could think of because the city I actually live in doesn't exist yet... and to answer your question no, not really. Nothing this grand anyway."

I nodded as she spoke. It was understandable to lie when your not sure the people around you would believe. Especially if you come from a city that doesn't exist in this time period. Though I must say human or mouse, future or present, I was taken in by her.I know she's a married woman, but I can't stop looking at her.

"So what show are we seeing?"

"Phantom of the opera. I've heard it's very popular in France."

I smiled when I heard her giggle, as if I'm missing something here as I catch her smiling.

"And what prey tell is so funny?"

"Oh nothing...just never thought i'd see the original opera performed. I've only see variations and a short version of this very same one."

"Well then, I do hope you enjoy it tonight."

She stood as she looked around for another moment before the lights started to dim and she sit back down. The whole time I was watching both the opera and Kate as she expressed such joy during the show. At one point I hadn't noticed, but I had my paw in hers and I only had noticed because she gave a small squeeze during the scene between Christine and Raul. I also noticed that she was moving her lips during the music, though no sound came out.

The whole time I had hoped that she hadn't noticed me looking. When it was over we gave a standing ovation as the performers came out and the owner of the theater announced each one. Though as they got to the one that played Christine, Kate had started to slow her clapping and tilted her head in curiosity. As they were finishing the rest of the names Kate sat back down with her paw to her chin.

"Something wrong?"

"The woman that played Christine...what did they say her name was?"

"Lidie...Lidie Dun...ham?"

"Lidie...was what my aunt called my mother; Lidia. I'm sure it's just a coincidence..."

"But your curiosity has you thinking otherwise."

"Yes."

"Well then, I'm sure we'll be able to get to her dressing room. If you truly want to know, I suggest we leave now."

Her eyes grew wide, like she wasn't expecting this. Then again I can be unpredictable sometimes and thus held out my hand to help her up. Taking it at will we rushed down the stairs and towards the backstage.

It didn't take long to find her dressing room, not with all the flowers at her door. We knocked at first to see if she was in there yet, but when we heard her tell us to come in, Kate all of a sudden seemed shy as we stepped inside to see she was still in her costume from the end of the performance. She still had her back towards us as she was taking her jewelry and hair down.

"Well hello there. Don't mind me, I'm just trying to make myself more comfortable. Wearing this stuff is trying sometimes."

"Hello." Kate said in what seemed like a voice much smaller then her.

Lidie had stopped what she was doing and turned around. She had a look of recognition. As if she knew the woman in front of her. Then I noticed a marking of some kind on her right shoulder; A heart with two letters on it "K & M" I wondered if that would have any meaning to Kate.

"Excuse me Miss Dunham if you don't mind me asking, where did you get such an interesting tattoo?"

I saw the look on Kate's face from the corner of my eye when I said that. I also saw how Lidie all of a sudden got shy about it and tried covering it with her other hand.

"I had this made...when my daughters were born."

"Kate and Molly?" said Kate. Though I now see what is acknowledge of what she thought earlier.

Lidie didn't say anything, but she did look at Kate with sadness as she nodded.

"Then you know who I am."

"Of course I do, that's why I had hoped it wasn't."

"Why? because then your shame of running away from your family...your daughters would come into the light. Is that why your having a hard time facing me? did you not want to be a mother anymore."

I could hear the hurt in her voice as she said it, but she stood tall and shed no tears for the woman in front of us.

"No! I had and always will want to be a mom to you girls, but you don't understand, I didn't come here by choice."

"How could you not have a choice?"

"Kate...please, maybe you should let her explain." I told her as i placed a paw upon her shoulder.

"I didn't have one because he didn't give me one."

"He?"

"Your...father."

"My what! father?"

"Yes, you see a year before i had you I met your father after wishing hard for a good man to come into my life. All of a sudden one day in the park after I had been rejected for another job, he just came over and sat with me. He was so nice to me as he let me vent and I didn't vent to anyone. He was so kind. Within the next six months he helped me, took me out, he made my life so wonderful. Then one night he popped the question and I said yes.

Three months later I was pregnant with you and from there we lived four beautiful years together. You, me, Molly and your father. Then I started to notice something about him. Something that didn't settle right with me.

When I saw him come home one night with blood on his hands I confronted him and he told me. He told me what he really was and where he really came from. He told me he was a mad man who enjoyed the kill and stealing and if I didn't like it, that was too bad and if I tried to leave him he'll take you girls with him.

I couldn't allow him to do that so I did the only thing I could. I sent him back to his world, banishing him from ever being able to physically come back. You were only three when that happened. Well almost two years later he did return, not in his physical form, but in a form. Kate he... separated me from my body the night I presumably disappeared and severed my connection to my body...sweetheart I'm dead in our world. I've been lying somewhere up in the mountains for twenty years."

The look of great sadness was all I could see on Kate's face. This would have also been a hard story to believe if Kate wasn't here; An impossible girl, but she is here and somehow so is her mother; A human turned mouse. Most of all a mother who was murdered by her deranged husband, leaving her two children behind.

"Mother...you...you can't be..."

"Here in this world this is my physical body, here I'm alive, but he killed me back in our world and pulled me into this one, forever his slave and wife to death do us part."

"But what happened to me?"

"This is the hardest part sweetheart. He knew your birthday was coming up. He wanted you...he had been planning on getting you for days..."

"But...my wish?"

"Wishes or not, he had planned on it days before you made your wish...sweetheart I'm so sorry, but you cannot return home..."

"I...what?"

"I tried to stop him. Honestly I did, but before i could stop him, he severed your cord to your body...I'm so sorry sweetheat."

"No...NO! I cannot be dead! I have a husband and a child back home mother!"

"I know, honest to god I know. Here just let me show you today in our world."

I was in as much shock as Kate, though her more is likely. I watched Lidie bring out what appears to be a crystal ball and though I do not believe in those things, with everything that's happened it doesn't seem to surprise me. Something then came up in it and it showed a human woman sitting in what looks like a reclining chair, being shaken by a man. Calling out to her.

"Kate...Kate! Molly call 911 and don't let Rose come out here. Kate! please you got to wake up."

Watching as he's trying to breath into her and push on her chest I would only assume to get her heart started. We watched the whole day. The doctors telling her husband she's gone and the heart break of both her husband, daughter and sister. I was also watching Kate, seeing her ready to break down, but she didn't. When it stopped all I could do was rub her shoulders in some comfort.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart."

"Why...WHY!...why me?"

"Because your the oldest...because he's watched you for years...and to him your at your peak...and he wants you now."

"Eww! gross!"

"Tell me about it, but I wouldn't let him take you. After he severed your cord I grabbed you and ran back into this world where I knew you would be able to have a physical body and continue to live, but I couldnt let him have you. So with what magic I had left before I passed out I had you sent where you would be cared for and loved. I had to do it that way. So there would be no way of him trying to get it from me."

"Why couldn't you have just left me there..."

I was saddened, but not shocked she said that. At least she would be close to her family if she was left there.

"Because he wouldn't have. Instead you would be here, in my place...and I couldn't take the risk."

"Alright, but who is my father?"

Then we heard a loud scruffy noise coming from down the hall, sounding like it was calling for someone...Lidie.

"Oh no! quick you must run!"

"But?"

"If he catches you here you will have no chance to escape. Please dear go now! Come back a week from now. I will be happy to tell you, but there is one thing you must know...your daughter...because of this she lives.

"What do you mean?"

"If you lived she would have died. Please sweetheart go now!"

"We will be back in a week Miss Dunham." I said as I grabbed Kate and ran for it, not wanting to wait and see what this brute would do if

he did find Kate, though the problem is...the voice sounded familiar.