Chapter 1: Comfort

"N-No, please… s-stay away…! N-NOOO!"

I shot straight up in my bed, wakened by what I realized was my own screams. Dazed and disoriented from sleep, I couldn't remember where I was at first. However, I was suddenly aware of something wrapped around me. With the nightmare so fresh in my mind, and not even sure if I was still dreaming or was awake, I began to panic and struggled to get away; yet I was held firmly, but gently, in place as a voice whispered softly in my ear.

"Shh… it's ok, Amber… You're safe… Everything is alright…"

I instantly clung to the figure tightly, relieved to hear his voice and feel him beside me. "B-Basil," I whispered breathlessly, burying my face into his shirt. "I-It's the nightmares again…"

"I know, darling, I know," he said quietly, pulling me closer and wrapping his arms tighter around me, trying to comfort me. "It sounded bad. I heard you screaming my name, and I… I-I thought…" he trailed off, but I knew that he had been afraid that I was in danger.

"It was horrible," I said with a shudder, recalling the nightmare. "W-we were running from… from Ratigan… a-and he… he killed you…!" I couldn't go on any further, trembling in fear. The dream had been so vivid, with Basil's lifeless form in my arms as that rat loomed out of the darkness, cackling manically as he came closer and closer…

"I'm so sorry," Basil said with a hint of pain in his voice, kissing the top of my head softly as he gently rocked me back and forth. "It's alright now. I'm here, I'm here…"

Gradually, my heart rate began to slow back down to normal, and I wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my nightgown, frustrated and a little embarrassed to find that I had been crying. The whole situation was embarrassing really; I felt like a child who was afraid of bad dreams, and this wasn't the first time it had happened. At least tonight I hadn't woken the others, though maybe I had and they just let Basil come in to take care of me this time.

"I'm so sorry I woke you," I said a little guiltily.

"It's quite alright," Basil insisted. "No need to apologize. I've been awake for a while anyway."

"You're still having nightmares too?" I asked concernedly, knowing that he had been suffering from them as well.

"Sometimes," he admitted, letting out a tired sigh. "But tonight, I can't even sleep."

I nodded in understanding, knowing the feeling all too well. Even though it all had happened several months ago, sometimes we couldn't escape the memories of what we went through. Being kidnapped by Basil's arch enemy, the nefarious Professor Ratigan; separated from each other so much; seeing Basil in such pain from when Ratigan attacked him; me being forced to join Ratigan's criminal organization so that Basil would be safe; finally escaping the rat's clutches only to be corned again; the terrible fight and the fall down that rocky slope; stumbling through the woods and collapsing in exhaustion and pain from our injuries, afraid that we were going to die… And though Ratigan was lying unconscious in a pile of rubble when we last saw him, if he could survive falling from Big Ben, then he had most certainly survived this. Which meant he could be plotting his revenge at this very moment. And the thought that all that could happen again terrified me.

"I'm so afraid he's going to come back…" I whispered, speaking my fears aloud.

"I am too," Basil replied after a moment, which surprised me a little. I had never known him to be afraid of anything; yet I knew that it was fear for my own safety, just as I felt for his. "But it has been nearly six months since that happened," Basil added quickly. "Surely if he were seeking revenge, he would have done so by now."

Very true. He had been injured pretty bad himself from that fall, and could still be recovering. Then again, he could be just dragging it out to torture us more.

"But it will be alright," Basil continued, stroking my hair gently, still trying to console me, though I couldn't help wondering if he was trying to convince himself also. "Don't let those thoughts torture you so. You know," he added with a small chuckle, "his ears are probably still ringing from you shrieking in his face."

"Yeah, poor thing," I laughed quietly, recalling how I had screamed at the top of my lungs to throw him off guard so that I might have a chance to escape. It was a great relief to share a laugh together. Being separated had made me realize how precious the moments together like this were, and I cherished them dearly. Feeling immensely grateful for his efforts in trying to make me feel better, I reached up to cup his face in my hands, then kissed him tenderly. "Thank you," I whispered.

"You're very welcome, darling," he replied with a smile, his emerald green eyes twinkling in the dim light. "Go back to sleep," he urged, pulling the covers up around me. "I'll be right here."

I nodded again and settled down beside him, leaning my head against his shoulder as he reclined with his back against the headboard. He softly began humming a tune I had heard him play on the violin at times, and I began to relax. Just to know that he was there, safe and sound, was enough to put me at ease, and though those doubts and fears still lingered, I pushed them to the back of my mind. There was nowhere else in the world that I felt more at peace, more at home, than right there in his arms. My eyelids grew heavier, and soon I drifted off to sleep.

…...

I glanced down as Amber stirred in her sleep, listening to the soft sound of her breathing. I lay quite still, not wanting to awaken her when she was finally able to sleep peacefully. Poor girl. I knew firsthand the effects that such a traumatic event could have on a person, and I hated to see her still suffering from those memories of being held captive at Ratigan's castle.

Just thinking of that rat made my blood boil. It was one thing for him to take out his revenge on me. We had been mortal enemies for over a decade, after all. But to drag those I loved into it…

It wasn't that I regretted meeting her. On the contrary, her arrival had been one of the greatest things to happen to me. However, I feared for the danger she was in because of me. She had insisted that it was in no way my fault, but I couldn't help feeling that it was. Anyone who associated with me was instantly at risk, and in my line of work, there were countless enemies that wouldn't think twice about harming them. That was why I rarely allowed anyone to get close to me.

When it comes to things of an emotional nature, I admit I am out of my depth, as I prefer to rely on logic and reason so that my judgment isn't clouded by feelings. I'd experienced anger towards those who committed such atrocious crimes, sadness and depression whenever I failed, excitement when hot on the scent of a clue, pride and happiness when the mystery was brought to a conclusion and the culprits brought to justice. However, any feelings of romance were foreign to me. Yes, I loved my family, my brother Byron and sister Bryna, and my niece and nephew; Mrs. Judson and the Flaversham's, who had become a kind of extended family to me; and Dawson, my best friend and most reliable colleague, who had stayed by my side all these years.

But… but it was different with Amber. I didn't fully understand the feelings stirring in my chest when I thought of her, or when she was near. After some time of getting to know her, I finally took the plunge and asked her permission to court her, and to my immense relief, she obliged. It had created quite a stir in the community, as I was somewhat of a celebrity because of my success and it was strange to now see a beautiful young lady in the company of a sociopath like myself. But I ignored the whispers and gossip. The time spent with her was priceless.

Then when we were captured by Ratigan several months ago, I was forced to confront my feelings for her. Ratigan had apparently been observing us, and he used those feelings against me. And it worked for a time; being separated from her was more torture than the physical wounds I suffered at the hands of that rat. Then when she made that deal with him to ensure my safety, it left no doubt in my mind that she cared just as much for me.

Like Amber, thoughts of Ratigan's revenge plagued my dreams… as well as my waking thoughts. Though I had done my best to assure her otherwise, I feared that he would retaliate soon, and there was no limit to what he might do for revenge. I hated to think of what might happen to her. So long as he lived, his shadow would forever loom over my life; and now it fell across her as well.

I was brought out of these thoughts when Amber whimpered softly, and her arms tightened around my waist. "Shh," I whispered, afraid that she was caught in the grip of another nightmare. I stroked her back gently in a petting motion to calm her. Thankfully, this seemed to help, and she sighed quietly and nestled closer to me. I kissed her forehead softly, and as she lay there in my arms, I felt infinitely better knowing that she was safe… for now. With these fears briefly laid to rest, my own eyelids began to grow heavy, and I too drifted off to sleep.

Author's Notes: Chapter 1 at last! Kinda short really, just Amber and Basil still struggling with the trauma of what happened in "Echoes in the Night." I know Basil seems very out of character, but since this side of him wasn't really shown in the movie, I took some liberties with it. This is fanfiction after all, so I can do what I want! Next chapter he'll have an actual mystery to solve, so at least then he'll (hopefully) seem more like the version we know from the movie.

I went ahead and added Basil's POV as well. Thank you to everyone on deviantARTfor suggesting that. Eh, he's a bit more difficult to write, and I'm still afraid I've made him too OOC. But oh well. Hope you like it!