"Okay, that's enough. Come on, Lightning." Penny put down her camera and carried Lightning down to the ground. The red dog seemed to be able to stand on his legs now.

Lightning lay down on the floor, sleeping.

Penny noticed Bolt and Mittens standing at the front door of the room. She walked over.

"Heya, guys." She patted our heads with her free hand.

Mittens purred and Bolt kept a straight face.

Bolt's expression made Penny stop for awhile. About twenty seconds. "Um, okay. I'll just get these pictures printed. Could you keep Lightning company for awhile?" she asked.

Mittens meowed and walked over to Lightning slowly. Bolt paced ahead, keeping the same face.

"Okay, then. Bye!" she said. And walked out the room.

Bolt growled. "I can smell his danger…"

Mittens cut in. "He's asleep! Besides, do you really think a lost dog would have the nerve to hurt Someone as nice and kind as Penny?"

Bolt eyed the sleeping dog. Well, he did look a lot less dangerous asleep.

Or maybe he didn't look dangerous at all. Maybe it was just Bolt's own opinion.

He remembered-he thought Mittens was an evil affiliate of the green-eyed man. But she was his friend too.

Maybe more than a friend…

"Bolt?" Mittens suddenly chimed.

"Yeah?" he reacted.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Bolt blinked twice, realizing that he wasn't looking at Lightning anymore. "Oh, nothing just-" he cut his sentence short and looked back at the dog lying on the floor.

"Maybe he is a friend," he thought. "Maybe we can help him…"

It was silent for about thirty seconds.

"Bolt, look!" Mittens signaled. Lightning was waking up.

Getting up, Lightning groaned. He seemed to be doing a lot of groaning while he was there.

Now he was up on all fours. Opening his eyes to see Bolt and Mittens staring at him. He jumped back in surprise.

"Ah! Are you guys spying on me?" he exclaimed.

"No! We were just checking if you were okay." Mittens assured.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked.

"About three minutes." Bolt growled. A little angry for an answer if you ask me.

"Oh…" he said, a little disappointed.

Bolt suddenly saw a black paw appear in front of his face and pull him to the side. Before he knew it, he was facing the other way, face to face with Mittens.

"What?!" Bolt whispered. "I didn't hurt him or anything."

"I know you didn't but could you be a little more sensitive? (Even though I know you already are) This guy's lost." She suggested.

Lightning looked over from his place. "Um, can go? I seem to be interrupting something."

"Oh, no. Just stay there, but don't leave." Mittens instructed, leading Bolt a little farther.

Mittens and Bolt turned to each other.

"What can I do?" Bolt asked.

"Ask what you would normally ask a dog separated from his master."

"Like what?"

…this might take awhile…