Time waits for no man, or mouse, and a month passed unusually swiftly. In that time, Leesha had become very handy with a cane, and finding her way around Basil's house was easy. Dr. Dawson had done the best he could, but the filth in Ratigan's claws had infected her eyes. The damage was permanent.

"Don't worry, my dear," he said sincerely, "You did a very brave thing. Olivia has finally recovered and wants to see you soon. Mr. Flaversham dug into his rainy day savings and was able to pay a good plastic surgeon and burns specialist to heal her skin. She looks good as new! And Basil, well…" he sighed and patted her shoulder, "At least he's eating on his own again."

"Still won't speak t' no one?"

"No, he still won't speak to anyone."

Leesha smirked. Dr. Dawson meant well, but she had lived on the streets too long to relearn proper speech patterns.

"Ach! My cakes! My cheese crumpets!" The smell of burnt pastries reached her shortly after the housekeeper's shrill voice.

"Ah, excuse me dear," Dr. Dawson mumbled, "I must try to calm her down. Those precious cheese crumpets of hers and all. Here," he shoved a loaded tray into her hands. "Would you take this up to Basil? It's nearly tea time." He sighed sadly. "He did so love his tea."

"I'm not yer dear," she muttered, but carried the tray upstairs to Basil's room.

Opening the door, she counted ten steps until she reached his bed. Gently, she whispered, "Da? Da, ye awake?" A slight rustling of the covers answered her. She gently set the tray in his lap. "Eat up, Da, smells like a feast. If I'm not wrong, tha's yer favorite mint leaf tea wit' a big ol' helping of unburnt cheese crumpets." She laughed quietly. "Yer poor 'ouskeeper's drivin' us all mad wit' 'er obsessions. Every'tin's got t' be perfect fer when ye snap out'a it. Da? Ye will snap out'a it, won't ye?" All she heard was the crunch of cheese crumpets, followed by the occasional sip of tea.

When she thought he was finished, she moved the tray out of the way. Cuatiously, she sat on the bed and took his smooth, furred paws in her own fleshy ones. She stroked them softly as she sang.

Alone on th' vast an' wildest sea

I 'eard th' wind cry out t' me

"Go back t' yer home, yer needed thar

Yer mother's tears soak thru 'er hair

Yer father's silent fears scream loud

An' covers 'is mind in confusin' shroud."

An' so I screamed unto th' sea

"I'll come no more, nor sail on thee

My absence caused me fam'ly grief

If I start I'll be 'ome by th' first green leaf."

But th' sea called back

In fury quite black

"We'll not let ye go, ye can't leave now

Ye've served us long, jus' keep at th' prow."

But I shut up me ears and turned me ship 'ome

An' I ne'er looked back on th' watery foam

I look back on me years, an' I solidly know

I made th' right choice, an' it's caused me no woe.

"Leesha?" She gasped. She hadn't heard that voice since the night she'd come to kill...

"Da?" she asked hopefully, "Da, is it you?"

"Leesha."

She felt for his face and stroked his cheek. She felt a smile pull at his face as he touched her hands and slipped into a peaceful sleep.

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"A little left. Good, now straight ahead."

Basil leaned heavily on his daughter's arm as he directed her path. Though he had recovered from the damage in his mind, he would never fully regain his strength. Dr. Dawson often commented worriedly about how Basil's tan fur had gone silver overnight, but Basil always dismissed him with a witty remark.

Leesha smiled proudly. My Da's so smart.

Ever since she'd woken her father from his shock, she'd been getting bits of information about her past. She had been seven when Ratigan took her, and had spent seven years serving him, which made her fourteen. She was thrilled just to know how old she was!

Also, Dawson had calmed Basil's fears, informing him that Ratigan wouldn't bother him again. Apparently the night they had been rescued, Toby had spotted the enraged rat and had bitten his head off. Basil had smiled weakly, relieved that he could rest safely at last.

"There, stop Leesha. We're here." She halted and eased him to a sitting position. The smell of fresh, green grass was everywhere, and birds sang in the sky. I never 'eard none o' this b'fore, mebbe th' extra hearin' and smellin's a blessin' reserved fer th' blind.

She knelt down and Basil placed her paws on a smooth slab of marble standing upright. "This whar Ma is?"

"Yes dear, this is where I buried Filly."

"Da?"

"Yes, Leesha?"

"I'm glad I'm yer Dear."

They sat in silence. No words were needed, so no words were spoken. Each knew that an deeper healing had begun.

The End