Okay, short chapter this time, but I wanted to give you all something for the long(er than normal) delay. I have finished my other multi-chap story over in the Bleach fandom and this story is now my first (and only) priority. If school promises to cooperate, I see faster updates in the future.
DISCLAIMER: Toy Story and all its characters are owned by Disney and Pixar. I am only borrowing them for creative control. :)
Chapter Four
"So, what's the plan, boys?" Jessie asked, looking around the cargo hold of the plane once more.
Woody sighed. Honestly, he had no idea. The way he saw it, they had two options: stay on the plane and pray it would return to the states, or risk climbing back into Al's suitcase and ending up wherever. Like the Prospector had said, the museum was only interested in a complete set. Even with Woody, it would still not be enough—besides, what would happen to Buzz even if it was?
"I don't know," Woody sighed, deciding to voice his thoughts. "Either we stay on the plane or get back in Al's suitcase; and right now, I'm honestly leaning towards the suitcase. At least then we're certain where we'll end up."
Buzz nodded, agreeing with Woody like he always seemed to do for the majority of the time. They looked to Jessie who didn't quite as fond of the idea.
"Jessie?" Woody asked, wanting her input.
"I-I don't know…" she mumbled. "Without Bullseye and the Prospector, we may end up in storage. I…I don't think I can go through that again."
"Again?" Buzz asked. Jessie wouldn't look at him and Woody only mouthed he'd tell him later.
Woody placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled sympathetically.
"We'll be in there with you, you know," he tried to console her. "Anyways, I'm sure we'd be able to get out."
"And who knows," Buzz added, "When Al realizes he lost half the set, he may return home!"
Woody grinned. "Exactly! It'll be okay, Jess. I promise."
"Me too," Buzz added to the side some-what shyly.
Jessie huffed. "Alright…" she gave in. "I just hope you two will know how to get outta this if it turns bad."
Woody and Buzz shared a knowing look.
"Oh believe me, we've been in situations similar to this," Woody said.
"If we did it once, we can do it again," Buzz stated.
The three of them were thrown to the ground as the plane bounced several times before landing on the runway. They felt the plane gradually slowing down as they picked themselves back up.
"Well guys," Woody said, straightening his hat. "You all ready?"
"Ready," Buzz responded to which Jessie only nodded.
Woody led them all over to Al's case and held it open for them as Buzz and Jessie clambered in. Woody froze momentarily before getting in himself, rethinking what they were doing. After finalizing there was no better option available to them, he sighed and climbed in as well.
xxx
For the next hour or so, all the three could comprehend was movement and that they were getting closer to reaching Al. They slid down inclines, were jumbled around in a vehicle, and now found themselves making slow, repetitive circles. All of it had been done in the dark, the toys too afraid of opening the case even in the slightest. They had no idea how busy the airport could be and weren't willing to risk it.
Finally, Woody, Buzz and Jessie felt the case being picked up and set into the constant movement of being carried. A light humming could be heard from outside if they cared to listen hard enough, and Woody would've easily realized they were back in custody of Al had he done so.
"What do you think he's gonna do with us once he finds out Bullseye and the Prospector are missin'?" Jessie asked again, quietly this time. "And what do you reckon he's gonna do with you, Buzz? I mean, you just randomly appeared!"
"We'll be fine, Jessie," the space toy told her. "Try not to think about it."
"Remember," Woody told her, "we're all in this together. None of us is leaving the other."
Jessie tried being reassured by what they were saying but they didn't know what storage was like. They had never experienced it before and didn't have to constantly worry about ever ending up there again. It may not seem like it, or seem foolish at first, but storage was scarring. Even with Bullseye at her side 24/7 and the Prospector's voice to soothe her, it had left a mark on Jessie. The dark terrified her now. She couldn't stand closed spaces anymore. She couldn't go back. It would kill her.
Jessie felt herself shudder before feeling a strong hand grip her shoulder. Jessie looked behind her and saw it was Buzz who was comforting her this time, not Woody. He gave her a smile, illuminated by his glow-in-the-dark paint, and tightened his hold on her shoulder ever so slightly. Jessie smiled back.
At least it wouldn't be completely dark if they ended up in storage this time.
xxx
The toys felt the case being thrown on a bed before Al ever reached to open it. When the case was finally opened, they were met with Al's ugly face, grinning at them out of lust.
When he realized some things were astray, however, that face turned to one of panic.
"What the-? Where did the horse and old guy go?" he yelled throwing Woody and Jessie onto the floor carelessly. Noticing Buzz, he picked him up and turned him over in his hands. "And where did this come from? Ugh, I told that airline guy to take good care of this case and look what happened! My case was rummaged through, two of my things were stolen, and I gained a random space guy that will be absolutely no help at all here!"
Buzz soon joined Woody and Jessie on the floor. The three exchanged a semi-worried look, but couldn't help but feel proud of Al's distress. When the man turned to face them again, they froze and put on their fakest smiles for him. Al looked down at them and only began to whine again when all that greeted him were the toys' 'cheerful' smiles.
Woody watched carefully as Al pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. He began to pace as he waited for someone to pick up on the other line.
"M-Mr Kinishi!" Al greeted in a nervous tone. "Y-Yes, I'm here in Tokyo, but there's a slight problem. W-Well two pieces of the collection seemed to have been…misplaced during the flight." He looked over at the toys briefly. "Yes, I still have him, the cowgirl as well, but…" He paused and Woody watched with dread as Al's eyes gleamed. "Really? Oh, you're the best! Yeah, yeah, you can take off that extra zero on the price, anything!" Al took the phone away from his ear as he jumped up and down excitedly and praised some higher entity.
Pulling the phone back to his ear, he responded to the man on the other side. "Sure, I can get them to you by tomorrow! I will be there first thing in the morning!" He then stopped to look at Buzz. "I did pick up a toy during the confusion though… I don't know what it is, definitely not from the same collection… It looks like some kind of space toy," Al explained. Again, his eyes lit up at the man on the other line. "Really? Y-You're serious? … Of course you can have him, then! I'll bring all three of them over tomorrow! Thank you very much, Mr Kinishi!"
With that, Al hung up and threw his phone up in the air of excitement. Then, he turned and stooped to pick up the three toys he had unceremoniously discarded before and gave them a big, toothy grin.
"Even without the rest of your little gang, you all are gonna make me big bucks!"
And as Al let out a victorious chuckle, Woody and Buzz risked stealing a glance at the other. Well, this certainly threw a wrench in their plans…
