"Good night, Hamtaro, and don't worry, I'm sure you'll be ok." Laura said as she switched off the light. Laura's mum had phoned the vet, and booked in an appointment for the following afternoon, right after Laura finished school. Hamtaro lay there in the darkness, shaking. Eventually, his eyes drooped and he drifted into an uneasy sleep. Again he dreamed of fields, and of Bijou, but this time dark clouds rolled over the sky, and instead he became lost in dark tunnels, Boss's voice echoing down the passages.

"Traitor."

"Betrayed me."

"MAKE you sorry." Hamtaro found himself attacked from all sides by shadowy figures, and his eye stung again and again. He woke with a start, the pain being unbearable, and lay in the darkness, shivering, too afraid to go back to sleep.

……

A new day dawned. Although not raining, the clouds that had rolled in overnight still hung in the sky, and the air was slightly damp, as if threatening that there could be more rain at any minute. However, by mid-morning it had still remained dry, as Bijou made her way to the clubhouse. The hams had agreed the day before that they should go see Boss first at the clubhouse, in the hope he had calmed down, And both Bijou and Hamtaro agreed. It would at least give them another opportunity to apologise to Boss. She reached the Clubhouse door, and pushed it open, worried as to what might be going on inside. However, the clubhouse was buzzing with activity as usual.

"Bonjour." She said, looking around the clubhouse. She frowned. "Is Hamtaro not here?" She asked.

"I thought he'd be with you, actually." Said Oxnard. "Hope he's OK."

"I'm sure he's fine." Said Boss from somewhere over the back. "Morning, Bijou." He added.

"Morning, Boss." Replied Bijou, slightly taken aback that he was even talking to her.

"He's been a bit weird all morning." Whispered Sandy, as she and Maxwell came over. "He keeps acting as if yesterday didn't happen, and he's like being far too cheerful." Maxwell glanced over at Boss, who was attempting to tell Snoozer some sort of joke.

"Not to sound too suspicious of him," started Maxwell, "But I think he's trying to hide something. He's acting way too oddly this morning, considering all that happened yesterday." Bijou looked over at him, concerned. He finished off whatever he had been telling Snoozer, and was almost forcing himself to laugh.

"Hmm, and Hamtaro as well," Pondered Bijou. "I do not think he would have forgotten about meeting me back at home."

"Maybe he just woke up late or something," commented Panda behind them, who was still working on the stage lamp.

"Maybe." Said Bijou, though she didn't sound convinced. "Maybe I should go round, see if he is at his home."

"That sounds like a good idea." Agreed Maxwell.

"No!" Cried Boss from the other end of the room, causing all eyes to turn to him. "I mean, you said yourself he's not likely to be just late." He stammered. Drawing himself up, he continued in a more authoritative voice. "And what if he's ill or something? You don't want to catch something." Bijou's eyes widened in horror.

"Ill? Oh my, I had not thought of that? What if it's serious? That is it, I am going to see him." And she dashed out the clubhouse door. Boss made to go after her.

"Oh no you don't," Sandy stood in his way. "She can go find him if she wants."

"I just don't think it's a good idea, that's all." Retorted Boss, once again trying to push past her.

"Look, just leave them to it, Boss. What's up with you this morning anyway, you've been behaving very oddly?" She asked, in a slightly accusing tone.

"Nothing, nothing." He muttered in reply. "I just didn't sleep well, that's all." He said, staring at the Clubhouse door with a grim look on his face. Oxnard frowned slightly. He wasn't sure why, but he had a horrible feeling whatever Boss was keeping from them was not going to be a nice surprise. He glanced over at Sandy. The look on her face told him he wasn't the only one who was thinking along those lines.