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

Chapter eight

Kate

I heard the door open and close, but wondered if that was mother that had done that or if it was...supposedly father. Though he seemed to be staying out of my view of sight, but I certainly could hear him. He sounded familier to me, but from what little I could see to begin with I don't think I needed to see to know that Basil recognizes it from how he seems to be squeezing my paw. I wanted to say something, but couldn't take the risk of him hearing me, so i just sat here and listened.

"Hurry up Lidie, i've grown tired today...lucky for you im not in the mood."

"Yes...it's certainly a blessing."

"Don't get sassy with me Lidie. After twenty years here do you still honestly think you can get away with it."

"With your dying libido of course I do."

"Your trying my patience Lidie...and who was in here?"

"A fan, bringing me their undying love."

"Funny, who'd love a old betty like you."

"Once upon a time you did."

"Yes and look what time does...speaking of time it has been sometime since I asked...where did you leave her!"

"I told you I don't know...it was dark and raining."

"Well for your sake she better have not been found by Basil!"

"Why?, you're afraid that he might sweep her off her feet..."

"DONT finish that sentence. I wouldn't allow it, my daughter to...to..."

"to date...to be infatuated...to be in..."

"Don't...say...it...her with my arch nemesis is worst then death. I wouldn't allow it!"

"How would you stop her? she's twenty-six. She's well independent and stubborn. She'll knock you out before you could finish a sentence."

"I'd find a way...but first...tell me...where she is...I know you know."

"Oh but don't you know that I know that you know that I know..."

"Don't play that game with me Lidie...if it wasn't for that book and Kate you wouldn't be alive tonight."

"Yes, it's why I haven't pushed it James."

"And how many times do I need to tell you not to call me James! It's Ratagin!"

I almost cried when I heard that name, but Basil quickly covered my mouth to keep me quiet. Hoping that somehow he didn't hear me.

"Yes Ratagin. Now if you'll let me finish getting ready, I'll be out in five minutes."

"You better Lidie, no more then five."

The minute I heard that door open and close again I burst out of that closet and grabbed onto mom.

"Ratagin! he!...he's my..."

"Yes. Sadly he is."

"But...but mom...you're married to...to that!"

"You gotta understand sweetie, twenty-eight years ago he was wonderful, sweet, kind, caring...and a lot better looking as a human then a rat."

"But...but...I'm half rat?"

"Not really. He was human when we made you and were human when you were born. Though now that you're here you may be half rat...but you look all mouse to me."

"Thanks mom. Now I'm gonna have nightmares...oh my god he's my father."

I felt like crying...but at the same time I felt like I couldn't look at Basil either...I'm the daughter of a mad rat...who he wants...eww!

I knew mom didn't have much time, so as I was saying good bye, there was one more then she wanted to tell me...to have actually.

"I need you to take this. Somehow I was able to take this book with me, Ratagin wants it because there's generations of spells from our family that he want to use for his own greed. Please take it and hide it. He's started searching here now and I can't keep moving it, hoping he won't find it. If it's with you then I know it's safe."

I would have figured it was a large heavy ancient looking book, well it does look ancient...the leather does, otherwise it looks like a old hand-made leather book...one that I can easily slid into what room i have left of my corset...lucky me.

I slid it in before we left, kissed my mother good-bye and once again Basil grabs me by the wrist and we run for it.

During the whole trip Basil wouldn't say a word, nor look at me. I should have guessed that finding out that Ratagin being my father would put a taste in anyone's mouth including mine...especially Basil as well as to top it off with him still alive. I wondered what he has been thinking? I didn't want to, but my own mind went into full speed on all the possible things he could be thinking...but mostly him seeing how far he can get away from me.

I'm not him!...I'm nothing like Ratagin...right?

The cab stopped and he hopped down first, not even bothering to wait this time as I hopped down too. At least he left the door open as he walked in. I watched as he tossed his jacket onto the side, grabbing his pipe and starts pacing as he lit it.

I stood there for a moment, wishing he would say something to me...but maybe it's better this way. I start to walk past him so I can just go to bed for the night, but I felt a paw on my arm as if trying to stop me. It was Basil and he looked...concerned?

"Basil...what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I got caught up in my own thoughts. Wondering how the blazes he survived that fall. The one off of..."

"Big Ben, I know."

"Of course. I mean I know I did, but I was lucky to have that propelling piece of his transportation at hand."

"Well people have assumed that he did something as simple as using his cape to escape, but that was torn in the gears, or possibly used his coat, but I think he tore it as he was running after you... As silly as it sounds, it makes sense. He had to have gotten into my world somehow...well what if my mother's wish as powerful as she is ripped a hole in between the dimensions and he just happened to have fallen through, having the park that where mom first met him broke his fall not as a rat, but as a human so he would have survived."

At this point I found myself rambling and sounding silly, but Basil honestly looks like he was giving it some actual thought to it's plausability.

"You know...that would explain why his body was never found. Excellent Kate!...and now..."

He had me turn to face him as he gently put his paws on my arms and looked me in the eyes.

"If I worried you...or upset you because of my behavior...I'm sorry."

I smiled as I breathed a sigh of relief. Pushing some of his hair out of the way as I looked at him.

"It's okay. I know what it's like to loose yourself in something."

"Well speaking of something, where's that book your mother gave you. I'm...curious to what's inside."

"Oh, give me a second it's in my corset...oh gods!"

It was stuck! right between these two melons of mine.

"What is it? did you lose it?"

"You could say that...it's stuck."

I gave Basil a minute to realize what I meant and he got it when a blush rose on his face as well as his eyes growing big.

"Well...um...maybe we should look at it tomorrow then."

"That's a good idea, but I'm curious too. So give me a few minutes to get out of this death trap and into something that can't contort me."

At least i got a chuckle out of him as I headed upstairs to change.

Basil

I took a moment to sit down and absorb it all. Kate's death saved her daughter so I could only guess all of this has been a blessing. Her father...her father is Ratagin...never would have seen that one coming. Still...finding out he's her father...it hasn't changed how I see Kate...nor has it changed how I feel about her.

Also with finding out how he managed to escape death, I can have him arrested now. I just need to make sure the police are at the theater when he goes to get Kate's mother...and that's something else to absorb ...magic...and that book...it runs in Kate's blood. So I wonder if she could stop Ratagin with it? or...I wonder if she would use it to try and get back to her family...I mean her physical body is gone, but I wonder if she would prefer to be close to them over there then alive here...

Oh snap out of it old boy. You don't even know what's in that book and your already assuming she'd leave...and that's another thing...how did that book get stuck in her corset?...wait...that might be a thought for another time as I see Kate coming down in her night gown, robe and her hair coming in waves down past her shoulders.

I got up and had us take a seat on the couch. Opening it a lot of the writing seemed as old as the early 1500s, possibly older since some of it seemed like leather as well. It was amazing to look through it.

"Have you tried reading any of it?"

"Yes, there's some for what my mom does with the crystal ball, some about being able to travel to other worlds...by spirit of course. Can't take the physical form with you...and then there's the one my fa...Ratagin has performed on Mom and I."

"And there's no reverse is there?"

"No...but I don't think I would want one. Me not being there saved my daughter and I don't think my husband and I could survive that. Not when I have been having a hard time trying to conceive another...so I wouldn't want it any other way."

I was surprised. Even if there's a chance she would go back possibly knowing what might happen, but then again a reverse would mean she wouldn't remember any of this...including not letting her daughter go back to school...she wouldn't remember her mother being here or who her father is...or ever meeting me...I won't say it out loud, but I'm glad there's not a reversal spell.

We spent the whole night going through that book, then when we were done I had her hide it somewhere that she believed no one could find it...I have no clue, she had me close my eyes, in case he somehow finds out that Kate has been here and he kidnaps me to try and get information out. Of course this is her thinking and I couldn't blame her.

So for the rest of the night we just talked, though I don't know when we did, but we managed to fall asleep on the couch...in a way that would get me a look and possibly a smack on the head.

Kate was laying kind of on top of me, cuddled against me actually and I was holding her close in my arms, nuzzling my head on hers. With me still in most of my clothes from last night and Kate in her night gown and robe that has untied during our sleep apparently, revealing a little of her cleavage.

I pulled her robe to cover her more and stayed that way for another few minutes when she started to wake up. I smiled when she seemed too cozy to move, but laughed when she realized where exactly she's at and blushed as she sat up.

"Did we sleep the whole day here?"

"I can't imagine the whole day."

"No, just the morning." Said Mrs. Judson as she came out with tea and sandwiches.

Now I was blushing. The whole morning? And she didn't wake us up?

"Oh and thank you for falling asleep with your clothes on. How awkward it would have been to come down here otherwise."

Both Kate and I did a full face blush, at least I know I did. I could feel it instantly as we try to save face.

"Mrs. Judson please we've done no such acts as you think."

"We were only talking, honestly."

"Oh don't worry. I was only yanking your chain. I know Mr. Basil is much more of a gentleman then that. It certainly wouldn't have happened out where anyone could have walked in...now lunch is on the table here and Kate I got two messages about that ad. The messages are on the tray as well."

"Thank you Mrs. Judson"

I watched till Mrs. Judson left when I got up to get one of the sandwiches as Kate soon follows, picking up the messages and looking them over while she ate. I watched her as she read them, how she seemed to think them over. Then standing up with a smile on her face.

"Well I got some appointments to make for this week. If you can help it try not to shoot or blow anything up."

"Now wait just a min..."

All I wanted to say slipped as I felt her kiss me on my head. It wasn't the lips, but I felt like I lost all sense either way when she did and when she smiled at me. Well I wasn't going to have any of it as she walked away, I got up and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Nope, they can wait. You got lunch to finish first."

"But I need to call these people. They've probably been waiting all morning."

"Then they can wait a little longer. This is our lunch time."

"Ours?"

"Yes, ours. Honestly they're just stubby stuck up rich people who's children you're teaching."

"Then this is no different when I taught high school."

"High school?"

"Yes where young adults from ages fourteen to eighteen go to learn what's left to learn before college and becoming adults in these large buildings for six hours of the day."

"Sounds like prison."

"That's how they describe it."

"Well at least you don't have to go anywhere."

"Yes while teaching snobby brats how to pluck while plucking their deep pocketed parents."

We both laughed till we fell on the ground. I landing on top of her, she turned herself, facing me while she was still laughing. She has an amazing laugh I thought as I looked at her.

We were so close...I wanted to close that gap between us...and the way she was looking at me said she wanted to as well. I could see her moving closer as I did. I could almost feel her lips...till I heard Dawson coming through the door with stacks of papers and such. I got up right away, frustrated with this interruption. I helped Kate up, then went to help Dawson as Kate went to make her calls.

I sat down after helping Dawson and finished my sandwich, frustrated still with how close I was...more so Kate was moving towards me as well. I don't know why, but apparently I looked like I was having cabin fever more then irritated as Dawson spoke while handing me the mail.

"Maybe there's a case or two in there today."

"Hmm, done...done...done and done. I'll write them with the results later tonight."

"Basil are you alright?"

Besides being so close without the alarms going off and instead I get interrupted.

"Yes...sort of. We got our answers last night, though the main one...her father is Ratagin...and he survived."

"There's no way possible."

I sighed as I go on to explain everything that happened at the theater and what Kate and I discussed.

"This...is certainly the strangest case we've ever been apart of."

"It certainly is Dawson, but..."

I lost my concentration as I watched Kate come down from the stairs, which I assume she went up there after she made her phone calls. Coming down in a white buttoned up shirt with the top two buttons undone, sleeves rolled up and in a lovely blue skirt. Skipping as she came over towards me and...hugged me.

"Um...well Kate...what brought this on?"

"I have my first session this Wednesday at one p.m. I'm so excited."

"Well good for you Miss Kate. I'm sure you will do excellent" said Dawson

"Thank You Dawson."

I know it was her way of showing appreciation, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of...jealousy? am I feeling jealous that Kate just gave Dawson a hug for his words? but she smiled at me...like a secret smile. One only for me...or I might be reading too much into this...till she came over to me and hugged my head and then kissed it.

I smiled as I watched her skip and spin away to the kitchen, more then likely to tell Mrs. Judson about her first session. I snapped out of it when I heard Dawson chuckling over in his seat.

"And what pray tell your you laughing at my friend?"

"You...just admit it Basil...you love Kate."