Realizing their secret was out, the Elite Brigades thawed. Buzz and Woody put them down so they could walk with dignity on their own. Woody didn't want to explain it all again, so when one of the action figures looked at him, all he said was, "Long story."
The action figure seemed to accept it, walking silently ahead. Woody crossed his arms and leaned on the wall, watching Janey.
Buzz turned his head to look at Woody. "So. This new Jessie say anything?"
Woody turned his attention to the damaged cowgirl, who smiled at him from her place on the floor. "Her name's Jessica."
Buzz nodded. "So, she's staying?"
"Nah. If anything she'll check out Sunnyside, but she says she wants to go everywhere."
"Everywhere!"
"Yeah. Said she was trapped in a box for forty-three years, couldn't even move."
Buzz stared at the worn version of his girlfriend. "That's...so sad."
"Yep."
Buzz looked at him again. "Can you imagine?"
Woody shook his head. "No. No, I couldn't."
"I wonder if she's claustrophobic, too," Buzz said idly.
"She certainly isn't complaining about all this space," Woody answered, and turned his eyes up to the crystal chandelier. "Andy sure did okay." He looked at Slinky, who spoke with Bullseye. Both of them were wagging their tails. Then Slinky turned and called, "Hey, Woody! Buzz! Get over here a second!"
They obliged, approaching their friends. "What's going on?" Woody asked.
" 'Member how you said Sunnyside was a nicer place?" Rex asked Buzz.
"Yes."
"Maybe we should just...live there," Rex continued. "All of us. With Ken, Barbie, Jessica - "
"And I happen to think that even the Prospector would love it there," Mr. Potato Head cut in. "Why, I believe the Caterpillar Room is perfect for him!"
"You know, I could not agree more," Woody answered. He looked at the nearest Elite Brigade. "You guys want to come with us?"
He saluted him, and the simple gesture made Woody's thoughts turn quickly to the green army men they had known twenty-seven years ago. It saddened him to realize how long it had been since he had remembered them. Bo had been gone even longer, and yet not a day went by...
He pushed her out of his mind. "Perfect. I'll extend the invitation right now." He turned and walked toward the hall, with Jessie looking at him in worry.
Wandering down the hallway, he called for him. "Prospector? Hey, you still here?"
There was no response. It was when he was walking past the bathroom that Stinky Pete lunged at him, hooking his pickaxe around his neck. Woody made a surprised noise, putting his hands on the handle. "Don't move," Stinky Pete ordered.
Woody went still. "Look, I'm not here to make trouble. I was actually going to invite you along."
"Why would I want to go anywhere with you?"
"It wouldn't be just me! Jessie's coming, too."
"Which one? My Jessie? Or the garbage one?"
In the kitchen, Jessica froze at his words.
"She's not garbage! She's a good friend! Every bit as good as - as - "
"Go on, Woody. Say it. The good Jessie."
"The old Jessie!" Woody yelled. "And I was trying to offer a truce. You could be played with by kids all day long, five days a week!"
Stinky Pete continued to pull on the pickaxe as he walked, forcing Woody to stumble backwards after him. "Why would you offer a truce?"
"I thought if you had purpose again, you might be more pleasant!"
Buzz came charging around the corner just as Stinky Pete released Woody, who got to his feet. "Though on second thought, you might not be suitable for children," he grumbled. "I don't know why Andy hasn't just fed you to the dogs!"
His words triggered another memory for Jessica, who put her hands over her ears and leaned against the wall, trying to block it out.
"I was trying to be nice," Woody continued. "There was no need to raise a weapon."
"I was finally in that museum," Stinky Pete snapped. "Finally, after so long...I didn't even want to be taken out of that case."
"Well, how was Andy supposed to know that?" Woody asked.
"I wish he had."
"We all wish he had," Woody retorted.
Buzz put a hand on each of them, keeping them apart. "This invitation is cancelled."
"You won't hear me complaining," Stinky Pete said. "But mark my words, Woody, I will get even. For all you've done to me, I'll put you in worse condition than that garbage toy."
Suddenly Daniel's hand engulfed him, rendering him immediately powerless as he lifted him into the air. The pickaxe clattered to the floor. "Put me down! This will not stand!" Stinky Pete yelled.
"Nobody's stopping me." Daniel carried him into the kitchen and stopped near the sink. He opened a cupboard underneath, revealing a trash compactor. Ignoring his screams, Daniel tossed him in and quickly closed the cupboard before he could jump out.
Then he turned. "Anyone have any objections?"
Jessie looked at Woody, then back at the trash compactor.
"No."
Daniel pushed the button, and a loud whirring noise drowned out Stinky Pete's screams. When the noise ended, all was silent.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, Woody bent and picked up the pickaxe, then walked over to Daniel, who took it from him. "You probably don't want to look in there," Daniel told the toys. He opened the compactor and threw the pickaxe inside.
As he took out the garbage, Jessie and Woody approached one another. "Are you okay?" she asked him.
"Yeah. I am...What about you?"
Her hesitation was only brief. "I think so."
Her eyes moved past his shoulder, and he turned to see Jessica slumped at the wall, her head on her knees. It looked like she was crying.
Woody realized his error. "Oh, no."
"What?" Buzz asked.
He ignored him, running awkwardly to the miserable toy. "Jessica, I am so, so sorry." He knelt and put a hand on her shoulder.
She slapped him away like he was a disgusting spider, then got to her feet. Her good eye glared at all the toys. "You're all monsters," she said roughly. "I can't believe how awful you are."
"Me? What - what did I do this time?" Woody asked.
"You let him. He tore that toy apart and you let him." Her eyes never left his, but her words were directed at all the toys.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I forgot..."
"You just didn't care." With a glower contorting the functional side of her face, she pushed on his chest and walked out into the hall.
The toys were silent for a few seconds.
"She knew a Prospector, didn't she?" Buzz asked.
"Yeah," Woody muttered.
The toys, Janey and Andy all looked at Daniel.
"Hey, you had the chance to save him," he reminded them. "What I did saved you."
Woody looked away, and his eyes found Jessica. She stood in the hall, staring up at the doorknob. As he walked toward her, she hesitantly picked up the hanger and jumped, but she was just a little too short. She landed awkwardly on her newly attached legs, catching her balance before trying and failing again.
"I said I could help you."
"I'll never learn for myself if you do everything for me," she snapped. Her voice was an emotionless void once again.
"You're too short; you need my help."
"I'm fine, just back off!" Again, she tried, and again she failed. Suddenly Janey skirted around Woody and pulled open the door just a crack. Jessica looked up at her, gave a curt nod, and squeezed through the gap. Janey closed the door.
Jessica only took a few steps before a car blew past. Then another. She came to a halt, watching as a third vehicle, a big logging truck, trundled slowly and dominantly down the lane. She stared up at it, backing slowly toward the Davis' house. When the leaves touched her head, she stepped gratefully into its concealment and sat on the grass; wishing she had left the minute she could walk again.
Putting her head on her knees again, she thought about the Prospector from her past.