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

Chapter Nine

Basil

For the rest of the week I've kept myself occupied with answering the mail, case after case, but no matter what I do it keeps coming back. What Dawson said keeps coming back to me. I hadn't wanted to, but after watching her session with her first student; an eight year old girl who was nervous and scared. Watching her talk to her like an equal and even cheering her up with snacks and goofiness...

"Ugh! It's true! I am in love with her!" I shouted to myself in my room, where hopefully no one could hear me.

"But when? How? She was just a client...a girl who needed help...no...not a girl...a woman...one who has matured, had lose in her life. She's different... she's..."

"More then you expected, but everything you need."said Mrs. Judson as she stood at my door way.

I'll never admit it, but because I didn't realize she was there I sqeeked in surprise.

"Couldn't you have knocked first?"

"I did, but you didn't answer."

"Well...how much did you hear?"

"More then enough to know that you can't hide it forever...now I'll say one more thing and then I'll leave you to yourself."

"What's that?"

"Whether she's ready to hear it or not. If you don't tell her, the only thing you'll say at the end is if only...don't let her be your one unsolved case."

I watched as Mrs. Judson left and just as she closed the door I'd fallen on to my bed. I wouldn't admit that she's right...but she is. I want to tell Kate...I want to tell her how she makes me feel...how much I want to be there...how much I want her in my arms...how much...how much I just want her...Oh you darn fool...fool for her...but how do I begin to tell her?...I got it! I know exactly what I have to do...good thing she's going to be busy with lessons for the next week or so.

Kate

This last couple of weeks have been the busiest. With me teaching again I've not only been able to help with groceries...when Mrs. Judson will let me. I've also have had my first art class as well. Taking them outside to the park for fresh air and inspiration as I gave them their lesson for the week, which reminds me I need to plan tomorrows lesson.

With all of it going on I haven't really thought of anything else...except maybe home sometimes...wondering how they're doing. I've thought about seeing mother and asking how she does her crystal ball thing, but with Ratagin there it wasn't worth the risk.

Then there's Basil. Since that day he's been busy. Cases I would assume, but oh how close we were. How close we were to kiss...I shouldn't be wanting this...I should be mourning after all its only been four weeks since I died in my world...almost a month. I should be mourning...so why do I feel that I've moved on. Is there even a mourning process for when your the one that's dead?

I had finished my last violin lesson for the week and had been cleaning up when I felt a pair of arms snake around my waist. Pulling me into his embrace.

"Well hello Basil."

"Hello Kate. Are you busy tomorrow evening?"

"Well I do have my art class, but that end at four. Why you ask?"

"Good, if you're not too tired would like to go out to dinner with me?"

"Um...yes. that would be nice, we haven't really had any time to talk lately."

"Excellent, meet me down here at seven o'clock tomorrow."

"So where are you going now?"

"I still have a lot of work to do, but don't worry...I'm never too busy for you."

I don't know why, but I blushed at that. I guess its been a while since someone told me that. It seemed like everyone was always too busy ...or I should say they just had better things to do. The only ones who always had time for me was my husband and rose... I wish I could see them.

The next day I put my big girl panties on and went on about my day. Starting with taking the students back out to the park for todays lesson. It's such a nice day for this as we sat underneath a bench. Though what bothered me was as we were starting to pack up for the day I had seen a couple of suspicious looking mice walking around in our general direction for the last twenty minutes. I had the students walk close to me as we were heading back, but one of them had screamed as one of those same mice grabs me as well as a bat that I hadn't seen...wait...a peg leg...crap! Fidget! They're taking me to Ratagin. No!

"Kids run! Tell them peg leg bat."

I watched them run as I fought the two mice and fidget off of me. I kept punching and kicking till the last I remember was a pain in my head and blacking out.

When I finally came around that pain was still there, but now there was something holding me down in my seat. At first the light was blinding when I opened my eyes, but once they adjusted I realized I was in mom's dressing room, but where's mom?

My question got answered as the door opened and there stood my mom with Ratagin behind her. She rushed over to me yelling:

"what have you done to her?" Holding me as if trying to keep him away.

"Oh Lidie, I didn't do anything. I did tell them not to hurt her, but just like you she's a fighter. She certainly busted them up."

"Untie me and see what I could do to you."

"Oh my dear, do you really want to beat your father?" said Ratagin with a smile across his face.

"I don't know...never met him. Although I've heard he's a dirty, disgusting, mad sewer rat!"

"Shh, Kate don't antagonize him"

"It's okay Lidie, she's a lot like you. Spunk and sass...just as pretty too."

"If you untie me I can paint you pretty too."

"Kate please."

"Oh don't worry so much Lidie. We're just bonding here. After all I haven't seen our little girl for twenty-three years. I'm just spending time with our princess."

"Oh believe me...I'm no princess."

"Yes...well you will be once they see you on stage tomorrow."

"What?"

"Well I have been keeping an eye on you for years...after some coercing towards Lidie here, I know you are a great singer my dear and tomorrow night you shall premiere in the show as Christine and Lidie now as Madam Giry."

"I will not! I don't do live performances and how did you even find me?"

"your ad of course. At first I didn't think it was you, but once I heard that land lady say your name when I paid a young woman to call I knew it was you that had that ad put in, then it was just a matter of waiting."

Oh poor Mrs. Judson, how was she suppose to know that this woman was calling for Ratagin.

"And...you will sing my dear."

"Why should I"

"Because...I know that you've been living with Basil...and I have no problems bringing him here...just to kill him in front of you if I have to...or better yet...how about your family back in your world...I can kill them there just so I can kill them here...or better yet...I could just force you to choose...your husband and child...or Basil...who seems to be an interest of yours."

"NO! Leave them alone!"

"Then...you shall sing."

I've seen the movie, I've seen the results of what he's done to my family...I couldn't allow him to hurt them...or Basil. So with my head down low I agreed to his sick plan.

"Excellent, I'll have someone come in and fit you into your mother's dresses, except the last one. That one I'll have them make a new...since I'm going to be playing The Phantom tomorrow night!"

"No! she's your daughter! you...you can't have her like that."

"Ah, but I can. I will take her however I want...daughter or not."

I didn't quite get it at first...till he said that and I knew what he really wanted...Oh my god, NO!

"I was right...you are disgusting."

"Well, at least then Basil will not want anything to do with you little alone touch you...I shall see you both on stage tomorrow night."

He slammed the door as he walked out, locking us in. Mother starts to untie me, letting me out of my rope. Holding her I knew i had the look of asking "Is he serious?"

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I didn't know about this part, I promise I will find a way to get you out of here before he could truly try anything."

"But what about you?"

"I can handle him, I just care about you is all."

"Mom can he truly bring my family over? I-I-I can't let him do that."

"I know dear and honestly I don't think he can do it. One person takes a lot out of him, for someone who isn't born into magic. So I think that is a ruse, but till tomorrow let's not push it.

"Alright...I know this may seem like bad timing, but could I see my family please.

"No no dear, it's okay. I understand, come and I'll show you."

My mother once again brings out her crystal ball and shows me what both my husband, rose and even Molly have been up to. My husband is having the same problem as I seem to be as he has been hanging out with a friend of ours...he seems to be feeling something, but he's not sure what it is.

As for Rose she seems to be watching the movie a lot lately. At the same time she seems to still be playing with her friends and...doing her best thanks to Molly; who has moved in with them to help around the house.

"I'm glad... they got each other."

"They miss you so much Kate. Molly thinks this is all her fault...she thinks the bakery she got it from got it wrong and put that artificial sugar in it. Wishing that she made it more clear."

"Molly...just like her. I don't suppose there's a way I could visit them...in ghost form or something and...say good bye."

"Well...there is a spell in that book I gave you, it's hard to find because of some of the spells being in Gaelic, but maybe when this is over and you escape..."

"I won't leave you here with him mom."

"...as I said, when it's over and you escape find someone who can translate it for you and when you do, you should be able to perform the spell."

"Okay mother."

As she ended it I went over to her lounging chair I saw in the corner and laid across it, staring at the ceiling...hoping the children made it back to the house alright...back to Basil.