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One Night In Heaven

Chapter Two

LEAVES rustled in the oak tree as night's cool breeze swept in over the fields. The rope of the old tyre swing creaked gently as the sounds of our excited conversation carried into the air.

“Off the crossbar and in!" I said, tilting my head to the right to gaze upon the White German Shepherd beside me, his pristine fur practically glowing in the moon's hue.

“Swear to God, Bolty, I haven't seen something that accurate since you flung Doctor Calico's Frisbee Bomb into that ventilation port in Season Two!" I laughed.

Bolt and I lay on our backs on the picnic rug atop a tall hill overlooking the green fields of neighbouring rural properties, roughly fifty metres on the back side of the barn, the house all but out of sight.

“Oh my goodness, I forgot about that!" Bolt chuckled, his exquisite moon-lit brown eyes sparkling with joy.

“I distinctly remember the look on Penny's face though. Same face you made, actually!" Bolt laughed.

“My face? Really?" I chuckled as I gave his soft cheek fur a rub.

“Oh yeah! I couldn't tell what was more ridonkulous! The look on your face when Kopi's goal went in, or the face you made when Penny fell on you!" Bolt said.

A blush burned in my cheeks for a second as Bolt glanced across at me.

“If I didn't know any better, I'd say you enjoy cuddles from Penny as much as I do!" he chuckled.

My heart froze for a second, and I quickly averted my gaze down to his midsection.

“I-uh, well…" I stammered.

Bolt's smile faded as he did a double take, ears dropping in concern as he rolled to his side to face me.

“You alright?" Bolt asked, reaching a big forepaw out to my chest.

“Was it something I said?"

I swallowed uneasily and cupped his paw in my hand, soft, warm fur rubbing along my palm.

'I can't hide this anymore. I need to tell him…' I thought to myself as I caressed his sturdy forepaw.

I exhaled through gritted teeth and tried my best to meet his curious gaze once more.

“Um, Bolt. I'm not sure I've been entirely honest with you…" I said, my chest tightening and butterflies rising in my stomach.

Bolt lowered his ears a little with a look of sympathy.

“What do you mean, John? Are you OK?"

The weight of guilt pressed down on my chest as I admired Bolt's sincerity of the situation.

“It's a tough one, buddy. I don't know how to say it…" I replied, releasing his paw and rolling away from him to completely avoid eye contact with the concerned canine.

“This is serious, isn't it?" Bolt queried from behind me. I sighed a frustrated sigh.

“I told you, mate, it's complicated. Maybe I just need a minute, I don't know…" I sighed, defeated, staring at the grass rolling down the hillside and to the green fields beyond.

I felt the picnic rug below me move and heard a rustling of fabric, waiting to hear Bolt walk away through the grass.

But he never did.

A deep sigh from behind me brought me back to reality.

Curious, I rolled onto my back and looked over at Bolt, who now sat tall and steadfast beside me, the same stern look on his face that was once painted across the side of a New York City skyscraper.

“Fine. Then we'll have to do this the hard way." Bolt replied, deadpan as he lowered his eyes to meet mine.

“Do what, Bolty? I'm a little too heavy to dangle off a freeway bridge like you did to Mittens." I said with an annoyed wave of my hand in his direction.

“Where there's a will, there's a way…" Bolt shot back, his pointed ears glowing with the light of the moon that made me think of 'Batman' momentarily.

“You're relentless!" I said, rolling my eyes trying to get him to drop it.

“Well… maybe old habits die hard." Bolt winked, his self assuredness in full effect.

“I might not be chasing Green-Eyed Men anymore, but there's one superpower I know I still have!" Bolt answered.

“Sure thing, John McClane. What will it be? SuperBark? Heat Vision? Maybe a Karate Pawww-oh NO!" I said, my eyes widening with the realisation that Bolt was saving his best trick for just this moment.

“Oh yeah!" The cocky canine replied, a knowing smile across his boxy muzzle as he proudly flashed a toothy smug grin.

“Bolt, no!"

“Take no prisoners."

“Please don't."

“Mercy's for the weak!"

“That's cheating!"

“All's fair in love and war!"

“BOLT!"

But it was too late. The White German Shepherd sat before me, dropped his ears, tilted his head slightly to the left, and looked up.

The Dog Face!

In full effect, Bolt's brilliant brown eyes caught the full moon's glow in very much the same way his person's did.

He was absolutely gorgeous.

Goddammit!

I groaned audibly, running my hands through my hair as I looked up to the sky.

“OK! Alright. You win, Bolt!" I sighed, my heart beginning to race.

Bolt relaxed and sat tall once more, a smug smile plastered all over his muzzle as a cold dread started to creep over me.

I took a deep, shaky breath, my body feeling numb as if I was about to plunge into an ice bath.

But, with every ounce of resolve and courage I could muster, I met Bolt's gaze, exhaled, and spoke.

“I'm in love with Penny, Bolt!" I blurted, Bolt's eyes widening and his jaw dropping in shock.

“Y-you are?" Bolt replied, stunned.

“Yes! I think I've always known, but after today, I can't hide it anymore. And I tried to find the right moment to tell her, but I couldn't pull the trigger, buddy…" I spewed in sheer panic.

“It meant this much to you, and you hid it from us!?" Bolt replied, a mix of anger and hurt in his voice.

“It's not that easy, Bolt!" I snapped back.

“Why not? When have you ever kept a secret from me!?" Bolt scowled, a flash of white teeth against the frustrated curl of his lips, the hurt in his voice now evident.

“Because what am I to her when she has you, Bolt!?" I admitted, my heart sinking at my own words.

A painfully silent few seconds passed between us before Bolt spoke.

“W-what?" he asked, ears dropping and head tilting, puzzled at my reaction.

“You ran into a burning building to save Penny's life, remember?" I exclaimed.

“You would have done the same!" Bolt replied, steadfast.

“You crossed the entire country for her!" I retorted.

“You flew halfway around the world for her!" he retaliated.

“For all of you!" I countered, pointing a finger defensively at his muzzle.

Bolt cocked an eyebrow with full confidence.

I gave a curt nod of defeat at his response.

“It's not the same thing..." I uttered.

“So why did you stay the night when you were supposed to be flying back to LA for the game?" Bolt sniped.

My face flushed red and I lowered my gaze to the dog tag dangling from his collar.

'To be with Penny' was the painfully obvious answer that hung in the silent tension between us.

I took a steadying breath and returned my gaze to Bolt's, which remained unwavered.

“She's your person, Bolt! Why aren't you mad at me!?" I said, exasperated.

“Oh, boy…" Bolt sighed, bringing a paw to his face with a shake of his head.

I blinked in confusion at his reaction, my frustration fading in an instant.

“What?" I queried.

“Ignore the grey hairs on my muzzle for a moment, you're going to have to wait another pawful of dog years before you evade my detection!" Bolt laughed.

“Evade your detection? What the heck are you on about, Bolt?" I asked, bamboozled.

“The way you look at her, John. And more importantly, the way she looks at you!" Bolt replied, a wag in the tip of his tail.

“Huh?" I said, with a confused shake of my head.

“You. Make. Penny. Happy!" Bolt insisted, eyes transfixed on mine.

“Every time I've seen her today, she's laughing, she's smiling, she's blushing. She's happy, alright. But more than that…" Bolt paused, his eyes locking with mine for what seemed like forever.

“Penny trusts you!"

I froze for a moment letting his words sink in. If anyone knew Penny, it was her boy. Her Bolt.

“And I trust you." Bolt said, eyes full of sincerity.

“Bolt…" I uttered, heart fluttering, vision blurring momentarily as tears burned in the edges of my eyes.

“Superdog or not, my mission objective never changed. Protect Penny from the forces of evil." he replied.

“And I watched. And I hoped. And now I know…" Bolt started as I rose to my side to meet his gaze, nerves still on edge.

“That I have an ally on this mission."

“Oh, Bolt!" I cried, pulling him into a hug quick as a flash, hot tears running down my cheeks and into his chest fur as sheer relief flooded my chest.

“I love you so much, you silly dog!" I sobbed.

Bolt nuzzled his nose against the back of my neck.

“Hey, it's OK. I love you too, John." he whispered.

Wiping away my tears with the long sleeve of my jersey, I rolled back to stare at the stars once more.

“Gosh… I just wish I could have told her before tomorrow comes."

“Well, Penny's the smartest person I know, she might have caught on! Not much gets past her, after all!" Bolt stated matter-of-factly, as I failed to notice his eyes catch something and his ears perk up momentarily.

“Jeez, Bolt. Me acting like a big numpty around her doesn't mean she knows I have feelings for her. She probably just thinks I'm drunk." I said, closing my eyes and running my hands over my face.

“Uh, I'm pretty sure Penny might have it figured out!" Bolt replied, as I was once again too preoccupied in self pity to notice the urgency in his voice.

I let out a long breath, slid my hands off my face, and looked up at the stars helplessly.

“I love your optimism, buddy." I mumbled. “But it's not really helping the situat-mff!"

My response was cut short as a flash of auburn gleamed across the night sky above my eyes and two warm hands cupped my cheeks gently; moments before soft, delicate lips embraced mine in a tender kiss, the taste of strawberry chapstick on my lips.

I twitched in total shock, eyes bulging as I suddenly found myself staring up at a beautiful freckled cheek, my mind barely able to comprehend anything through a rush of endorphins.

The kiss ended as abruptly as it started and I drew a sharp inhale, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest.

I stared up bewildered as two beautiful brown eyes gazed back down on me, fiery locks flowing elegantly from a small, tight ponytail in the night breeze, glittering with the light of the full moon.

“Penny!" I squeaked. I shot up into a sitting position, my body coursing with adrenaline as I turned to face the beautiful woman who had seemingly materialised out of thin air.

Penny knelt on the rug beside Bolt and I in a white long sleeve shirt and grey tracksuit pants, her form bathed in the full moon's glow.

“Penny! I-uh, h-how long have you been there!?" I said, blood running ice cold through my veins, my stomach feeling like a ton of bricks had dropped into it.

Penny gazed at me, her big brown eyes shimmering with the light of a billion stars.

“Long enough." she said, the slightest of smiles on her lips.

She receded into a sitting position, Bolt instantly at her side, curling up next to her with his head in her lap, adoring the feel of his person.

“There's so much I should've told you, John…" Penny said with a slow shake of her head and a deep, mourningful blink.

I stared at her and twitched as nerves rose in my stomach, desperate to know what she meant.

Penny lowered her gaze to the rug, a pensive look in her eyes as she took a deep breath.

“Do you remember when we first met?"

I nodded as hundreds of images flashed through my mind at her words, one lasting memory hanging in my mind's eye of a thirteen-year-old Penny standing on the beach, fiery hair flowing in the wind, brown eyes blazing with the light of a sunset.

“Cairns?" I asked as I snapped out of my daydream to focus back on the current day Penny.

She nodded as she stroked Bolt's pristine fur, her own personal comfort device as she spoke.

“During our final season with the show, we flew over to Australia and went up to the Daintree Rainforest to film the external shots and bigger stunts for the Bolivia mission episodes..." Penny began, as Bolt's ears went rigid and his head rose from her lap, eyes wide and jaw dropped as he looked up incredulously at his person.

“Sorry buddy. Spoiler alert!" Penny winced at her perplexed canine, patting his head softly.

Bolt silently accepted the fact that he had never been to Bolivia, but had unwittingly been to Australia, and slowly receded back into his snuggled position.

“I had rest days in between filming while the crew shipped the props over for the big stunts, but I'd be completely alone. The studio said Mum couldn't come, anything 'unneeded' had to stay behind to save on costs." Penny scoffed with an irritated scowl.

“And the fact that we were overseas meant Bolt had to be kept completely secure at all times, so I saw him even less than usual." she revealed with a heavy sigh, glancing down at her canine, fingers running through his soft pelt.

“I'd be putting on a brave face for Bolt while the cameras were rolling and then wiping away tears in the green room in between scenes." she continued, her voice cracking with emotion as Bolt tenderly licked and nuzzled her hand comfortingly.

“The producers didn't care, they got the exotic escape they lobbied for by convincing the studio to let them film in Australia, they were having a ball…" Penny muttered, with a frustrated shake of her head.

“But not me. My Mother was on the other side of the world and Bolt was locked down like Fort Knox in the command trailer. I had no one to reach out to. I was emotionally empty." she said, eyes tinged with sadness, as I felt a pang of sympathy shoot through my chest.

“So, on my last day off, I left the set. Against the orders of the studio and absolutely against the orders of my security detail. I dressed as incognito as I could and snuck onto the first bus down into Cairns city to try and clear my head." she divulged.

“I walked along the beach, just trying to feel something, anything, to get me through the final round of filming."

A genuine smile finally crossed Penny's lips as her next thought was brought to the surface.

“And then… This lanky, goofy Aussie comes bounding out of the 'Shore Shack' with an ice-cream cone in his hand." she smirked, her moonlit eyes meeting mine with a glimmer.

My heart soared at the memory of this young, beautiful, fiery-haired American girl walking up the boardwalk adorned with a baseball cap and dark polarised sunglasses on that warm, tropical North Queensland afternoon.

“All of a sudden I'm sipping down a strawberry milkshake, while trying to explain how my dog was 'lost, but not lost.'" Penny chuckled, quoting the air with her fingers.

“You didn't have any idea who I was, the show hadn't debuted in Australia yet, but you just took it upon yourself to make me feel better. And for the first time since we'd landed, I was genuinely happy!" she said, eyes resting on me with a joyous sparkle.

“You took me through the trails to the far beach and we petted the little rock wallabies, and before I knew it the day was ending and I had all but forgotten about my worries! And even more, when I looked into your eyes, something inside of me came alive again!" Penny continued.

“Half the world away from anything I had ever known, someone outside of Bolt and Mum saw me as something other than a marketing tool; just a face to make a profit from!" she said, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

I reached out a sympathetic hand almost instinctively, her fingers interlocking with mine for a brief moment as Bolt further nuzzled his head into her belly comfortingly.

“Johnny, you hung on my every word. You cared! You listened! I wasn't a celebrity to you. I wasn't your 'little superstar'. I wasn't the lead guest on 'The Tonight Show' spilling mindless soundbites for my Agent to plug!" Penny growled as tears escaped down her freckled cheeks, enacting a tender lick from Bolt.

“For the first time in nearly three years, I was just a girl again!" she cried, bringing her shirt sleeve to her eyes to wipe away her emotion.

“A whole day of being a normal person doing normal things! For those hours spent alongside you, I was free, John!" Penny said, shakily, a resolve seeming to build within her now.

“And when I stood on that beach and said goodbye to you, I swore to myself that when we got back to Los Angeles I would make it my personal mission for Bolt to feel what I felt that day. A normal dog living a normal life!" Penny proclaimed, Bolt now rising to a sitting position and rubbing his head lovingly against Penny's shoulder.

“And the rest, after a bump or two…" Penny giggled, a proud look in her eyes as she ran her fingers around Bolt's muzzle and lifted his gaze to hers before a tender kiss found its way from her lips to his nose. “Is history!"

My mouth hung agape at her confession.

“Penny! I-I had no idea!" I said, dumbfounded.

Penny scooted to her knees and hugged me tighter than she ever had, her soft hair against my cheek as I embraced her back, a long exhale of joy and relief leaving me as I savoured the feelings of her in my arms.

“You picked me up from one of my lowest moments without even knowing it! The best version of you I ever met was the one where you were just being yourself. That's what I love you for, John!" Penny whispered against my shoulder.

“I know you're intimidated by the history Bolt and I have. But I also know that's because you respect what Bolt and I have!" she said, before slipping back from the hug, her hand remaining on my chest.

“Your heart and your intentions are just as pure as the day I met you, John." Penny said, pushing me onto my back firmly as I found myself now staring up at her, brown eyes glimmering down from the stars themselves.

Bolt sat with a knowing smirk as his person seemed to form a plan in real time above me.

“I never should have made you second guess yourself. And I never should have waited this long to tell you…" Penny added, slipping her leg over my pelvis and straddling me to the picnic rug as she had done earlier.

But this time there was an intent to her gaze as she lowered her head to mine, hands gripping my shoulders as the tip of her nose ran along the side of my face before she pressed her warm cheek to mine, her mouth now right next to my ear.

Her lips curled in a wicked smile as she uttered her words.

“But I'm not waiting another goddamn second to finally thank you!"