Chapter 2: A New Start

Bolt looked the window at Macca's, watching Penny sit and talk with smooth haired boy, trying to figure out why she was even looking at the kid who tried to beat him senseless not more than a couple days ago. What are you doing Penny? Don't you remember what this creep tried to do to me? Are you ganging up on me? Don't you care about me? All these questions were flying through Bolt's head when he heard something familiar. "Hey wags!" the familiar voice said.

Bolt spun around to see a familiar black and white cat approaching. "Wha...MITTENS!" he shouted and ran towards his old friend. The animal couple embraced, then Bolt's happiness turned to confusion. "But Mittens, it's not that I'm not happy to see you it's just...well, what are you doing here? I thought you preferred the life of a stray."

Mittens simply smiled at him and responded, "Oh I do, it's just that...well, let's just say L.A. isn't all it's cracked up to be. That and the fact that animal control was enforced, by a lot."

Bolt pondered it for a moment, then his happiness returned, "Awesome! Now you can come live with us!"

The feline's expression went blank as she hesitated for a moment, "Ah...see Bolty, um. Well...I don't really do domestic houses anymore. I'm more of an alley cat at heart, y'know?"

"Oh come on! Penny would love to have another pet! It'll be fun."

"No really, it's okay..."

"Come on, Please?"

"NO Bolt!...It's okay really."

"Well, why not?"

Mittens had hoped he wouldn't ask this, "Because..." she sighed heavily, tears filling her eyes, "'Cause last time I was in one of them...they just left me...wondering what I did wrong."

By now, a single tear was gradually rolling down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, but Bolt had already seen it. He placed his paw on Mittens's shoulder, "I'm...I'm sorry Mittens, but Penny's different. She would never dream of hurting any animal. Please, if you come live with me, you'll get the best love and care possible, I promise you."

Mittens wondered who she could trust, especially since her former master had betrayed her. Then she looked up at the White Shepherd, she made her decision, "Okay Bolt, I trust you, but can I? Can I trust Penny? Can I trust..."

"Yes, you absolutely can," Bolt cut her off. "There's no one in the world you can trust more than Penny."

Mittens noticed Penny inside and stared at her for a moment. She appeared trustworthy, and Bolt said she was, and she trusted Bolt. She sighed heavily again as she turned to Bolt who still smiling. "Alright Bolty...I trust you, are you sure I can..."

"Absolutely," Bolt answered, nuzzling her lightly, not needing to know what she going to say. "You're not going to regret Mittens, I promise."

Mittens smiled at this, but still had her doubts. She quickly changed the subject, "So uh, what's going on in here?" she asked, though it was plainly obvious.

"Oh, yeah that's just some kid who..."

"Aw, she has a boyfriend, that's so cute!" Mittens finished.

Bolt was taken aback by this, it was one of the few thoughts that hadn't crossed his mind. Could Penny be finally falling in love with him. No. No, not that fast, maybe she's just telling him to be nicer or something. "No. She's not in love with him, she's just..."

"Getting to know who he really is?" Mittens theorized.

"Uh...yeah right, exactly. I'm still not so sure about him though. He tried to beat me with a stick."

"Oh come on."

"I'm serious! That guy is no good, and now he's seduced Penny."

"Oh please! Paranoid much? He obviously apologized and she wants to give him a second chance, you know, like a fresh start or something. He's not evil or anything."

"Maybe, but I still don't trust him."

"Shouldn't you trust him if Penny trusts him?"

Bolt pondered this for a moment, he did naturally trust anyone Penny did, "I guess so...but still, it's my job to protect her."

"Yes I know, and you can do that, but just remember, there is such a thing as overly protective."

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, inside Macca's, Penny was explaining how Brady could be less focused on himself, and more on the needs of others, and he couldn't be a showoff with all his new gadgets or anything, he just had act like who he was. After that, despite what she and Richard had talked about, Penny only saw it fair to tell Brady where she had been all that time. So she explained the entire story, about Bolt, and the henchmen at her house and in Joe's pet store, the incident in Highton, the base in Bolivia, and the facility in L.A. Brady listened intently keeping in mind the fact that he couldn't speak a word of it to anyone, though it was tempting. When the story was done, Brady realized what he had been worrying about. The two remained silent for a few moments before Brady spoke up, "Okay, I believe you, but Penny?"

"Yeah?"

"I really was worried about you when I heard," he said softly.

Penny smiled and placed her hand over his, "Thanks Brady, maybe I was a little harsh, but I was just tired of that stupid love chase and from Los Angeles. But I believe you."

The two simply beamed at each other. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.