Thanks for the great reviews. You guys really know how to inspire a girl! LOL.

Chapter Six:

"Aunt Krystal!" Sam called as she entered her home.

She heard her Aunt talking on the phone, "Yes, well if you find her, please call me."

Sam looked at Krystal questioningly. After Krystal hung up the phone she looked at Sam, "What's wrong?"

"Who were you talking to?" Sam asked.

Krystal looked down at the kitchen counter, "The animal shelter."

"Why are you talking to them?"

"Sam, it's about Joey," Krystal said, avoiding Sam's eyes, "She ran away."

"No, you're joking right? Joey has never run away. She wouldn't do that," Sam said calmly, as she blinked away tears.

Krystal's heart broke as she saw her neice's own heart break. She knew that Sam would be upset because Joey meant more to her than anyone or anything but that didn't mean she was prepared for the look in Sam's eyes, "Baby girl, it'll be fine. We'll find her. She must be trying to find you or something."

"We've got to get signs made up and everything. Aunt Krystal, how could you let her get out?" Sam yelled as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"I didn't mean to Sammie. I opened the door to go out and get my cell phone from the car and she shot out the door. I chased after her and called her but she didn't come," Krystal lied.

"This can't be happening. Not now," Sam sobbed as Krystal hugged Sam to her.

"Oh come on Joey, you'll only be here until tomorrow," Jason said, not believing he was talking to a dog like some person. He couldn't help it, the dog hadn't eaten or anything. She just layed on the floor near the door, whining.

Jason tried to think of something that might make the dog feel a little better. As much as he wasn't an animal person, he couldn't stand to see a dog so depressed. When he saw Joey lift her head for the first time since she'd been at his penthouse, he smiled and bent down onto his knees, "Come here Joey."

Joey looked at him with a 'Come to you? Hell no' kind of look. Jason sighed. No one could say he didn't try. That's when it hit him. The picture of Sam and him. He quickly got up off of the floor and ran upstairs to his bedroom. He grabbed the picture off of his nightstand and ran back downstairs.

He slowly walked up to Joey but when he heard her growl, he jumped back, shocked that such a noise could come out of such a small dog. Jason gently put out his hand with the picture in it and smiled at the dog, "Look Joey. It's Sam."

At the mention of her 'Momma's' name, Joey jumped up and began to look around. Jason shook his head, this dog was nuts. He lowered himself to the ground and put the picture a few inches in front of him and watched as the dog walked up to the picture. He laughed silently as he saw her turn head to the side and looked up at him as if saying, 'That's my Momma?'. Joey sniffed the picture and moved closer to it and lied down next to it. 'This is going to be a long twenty four hours' Jason thought.

As Krystal had said, signs for the "missing" Shih Tzu were posted by the next morning. Jason got the number off of the sign that Krystal had to of slipped under his door. He called the number off of the flyer and waited until on the second ring, someone picked up.

"Hello?" the voice said.

Jason could tell it was Sam's voice and it sounded as if she had been crying.

"Hi, is this Ms. McCall?" Jason said.

"Yes it is," Sam replied.

"Ms. McCall, I think I have your dog."

Sam began to talk really fast as she replied, "You do? Is she okay? Is she hurt? Where did you find her? How long ago did you find her?"

Jason smiled as he talked into the phone, "Don't worry. She is just fine. She was walking outside of my penthouse building late last night."

"Oh my God, I'll come and get her. Where do you live?"

"At Harbor View Towers. Penthouse Four," Jason replied.

"Okay, I'll be right there!" Sam said excitedly and hung up the phone.

Jason looked at the Shih Tzu who was just looking at him, panting, "Okay Joey. I'll need your help to get Sam to stay. How about we go to the kitchen and I'll give you something to eat?"

Joey barked causing Jason to laugh, "You sure are a strange dog."

Within only ten minutes, Jason heard a knock on his door. He took a deep breath before opening it and tried to force a smile without revealing the nervousness he felt and didn't know why he felt it. He looked at Sam's shocked expression.

"You? You found my dog?" Sam said, wide eyed.