Dilemma

Sarah Caultry regarded the rat in front of her with the greatest admiration she had for a man, and given her track record with them it was a very high compliment coming from her. At first, she had thought of him as one of the many. She had grouped him with the intellectuals that believed a woman's place was the home and to birth strong children while cooking meals and cleaning. She could never have been more wrong in her life. After the eventful first impression she had given him, he had grown to think of her as a sort of female foil, his very own Irene Relda. They had been rivals for a time, like he and Basil though their games were nowhere near as dangerous, but every bit as exciting. She enjoyed teasing him, and he enjoyed picking her brain. She had always been a clever sort, and often frowned upon for it. A lady was not supposed to show interest in the advancement of forensic sciences or developments in mathematical theories, or new discoveries in the heavens. She was to play happy homemaker and stay at home, popping out a pup now and then. The rather cruel joke was on her, seeing as she was unable to birth any children due to a dark time in her life she wrote out of her past. But she had moved past it; however this and her intellect was one of the many things that alienated her from other women.

It was also one of the many things that attracted Professor Ratigan along with her lovely appearance. Sarah was one of the Black Rats, and she was already a bit more mouse-like than the other rats, but the sicknesses she would be plagued with left her with a more fragile look. Anyone who thought this would be in for a big surprise, and Ratigan was indeed surprised when he met his feminine match. From their rivalry came an unlikely bond after some trouble with a former husband of hers. Sarah began to come to Ratigan for other things than just small jobs she wanted from London's only consulting criminal. And Ratigan in turn would do these jobs himself instead of having underlings do it for him. Again, the lady found herself in the rat's company, but not for any small task. It was something that had been on her mind for a few weeks now, and only just recently had a dear friend of hers told her to act upon it.

"And what brings the lady into my study today?" Ratigan asked with his best smile, removing the half-moon spectacles he carried around with him. Sarah sat herself in the chair across from his desk. Her usual wit was failing her as she clasped and unclasped her paws. Ever observant, Ratigan's ears perked and he frowned. "My dear, is something troubling you? You look pale. Perhaps it's the cold weather? I am aware of how ill you get this season." His face took on a darker unpleasant look. "Is it Sterling again? Does he need to be taught a more permanent lesson?" Daniel Sterling was Sarah's first of three husbands. He was also a constant thorn in her side with his insistence in ruining everything she made for herself, including her reputation. He was often calling her slanderous names in public if he saw her, encouraging the higher class to avoid her shows, he even vandalized her playbills until Basil of Baker Street apprehended him and forced him to stop. Obviously, Ratigan was not on good terms with the aristocrat and had more than once threatened his life if he dared near Sarah again.

"Oh no, dear, it's nothing like that." Sarah replied, glancing up at him from under her veiled hat. Ratigan raised an eyebrow.

"Then I fail to see what would bring you down here otherwise. Another job, I take it?" Sarah shook her head.

"No James, no jobs for now." Ratigan looked thoughtful.

"Well, out with it, what is it? What has you down here looking as if the world has come to an end?" Sarah sighed deeply.

"I had just been thinking, James." She began. Ratigan shrugged.

"An ability that a great many mice seem to forget they possess," he replied. Sarah didn't laugh or smile.

"I was recalling what you'd said the other day, about your whole siege scheme. I was thinking about what would happen if something were to go wrong." Ratigan's fur bristled a bit, but he maintained a cool head and a calm smile.

"Nothing is going to go wrong, my dear. The plan is one of my greatest and most foolproof yet. You know how stupid the mice of the city are. Sterling should be proof of it, at any rate." Sarah gave him a hard look.

"This is neither the time nor the place for your games! I am being perfectly serious. Things are bound to go wrong. These things usually do. You remember Guy Fawkes, don't you?" Ratigan's ears perked forwards.

"You mean the chap that tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament? I would think any self-respecting Londoner would know about him. But this is not 1605, my dear. This is 1897, and Parliament is not my main point of attack. Once I have the right mouse for the job, you'll see what I mean. This can only end in triumph for all of us." Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut.

"James, please listen to me. When have any of your plots actually been a success? And don't bring up the Tower Bridge Job or the Big Ben Caper." Ratigan was not looking as pleasant as he did when she'd come in, and his hackles were like brushfire. However he smoothed the rough edge creeping into his voice and attempted to smile again.

"You mustn't speak of things you don't understand, my dear. It makes you look foolish." Sarah stood abruptly, looking very angry.

"You're the foolish one! Attempting something like this is going to get you killed, Ratigan! Have you given no thought to what Basil might do if he finds out? You'll get the rope! You'll be finished!" Ratigan scoffed.

"Basil is as likely to find out as Fidget is as likely to fly again." He said with an arrogant brush down of his suit. At her annoyed and defeated look, the rat shook his head. "Where is all this concern for me coming from? You didn't make so much fuss when I robbed Mouseland Yard of their important documents and forged my own papers. What is your game?" He smirked then. "Have you suddenly gained some sort of affection for me, my dear?" Sarah's ears laid flat and she didn't answer. She merely stood there silently, staring ahead in calm infuriation at the rat's nonchalance. "You have, haven't you?" No answer. Ratigan laughed to himself and came closer to her. "I suppose you could say I'm not surprised. Your loyalty to me was endearing, but curious. I doubt any of my employees would care half as much as you did if I were arrested. But then again, I never really gave too much thought to what they think. You, on the other paw..." Before he could get any closer, Sarah slapped him as hard as she could.

"Bâtard," Sarah said, her paws shaking in anger. "Vous bâtard complètement insensible!" Ratigan held a hand to his smarting jaw, unbelieving of the power such a little woman had in on slap. "I react in such a way because I actually lowered myself to thinking that I loved you. I didn't want you to get hurt. I cared about you." Ratigan's ears lowered.

"Sarah..."

"Don't you 'Sarah' me!" She yelled, tears dewing in the corner of her eyes. "Can't you understand? I care about you! I don't want them to kill you! I don't want to lose you! I don't understand it, but it's how I feel!" She looked away. "I know you don't understand it, and I don't know if you feel it too." She sighed. "I came here to see if I could dissuade you, because of how I felt, but now..." she felt him take her paw and despite the scratches on his face, he looked insightful and completely serious for once.

"Sarah, please." He said a little softly. She wiped furiously at her eyes.

"Don't. Don't even try it. That may work on the other girls you've bedded over the years, but not on me." He tilted her chin to look at him again.

"Sarah, I..." he sighed. "You're right. You're right when you say that I don't understand." He used his thumb to wipe away her remaining tears. "I am uncertain of how I feel about you. You fascinate me, my dear. You have for as long as I've known you. It seems even I am not immune to your charms." He smiled then, and it wasn't one of his usual smiles full of empty promises and deceit. In fact, it was such an un-Ratigan like smile that Sarah was sure this was the first time she ever saw him smile at all. "I may not understand it now," he said softly. "But I am certainly willing to try." And with that, he leaned down and kissed her.