The chapter you've all been waiting for!


The deafening crash finally died down. Everybody was still a bit shocked from the slight earthquake that had just occurred by Rex. Chase had fallen on top of Buzz, and was dizzily rolling his eyes as Buzz shook his head to get his composure back. Bo Peep tried to sit up, shaking while Slinky lay in her lap, wide-eyed. Woody was on his stomach next to them, squinting and glancing around. Ryder had fallen backwards, the Paw Patrol pups had been tossed to and fro, Mitsy was sprawled across Bullseye who had fallen to the ground, Mayor Goodway, Alex, and Mr. Porter, along with Councilman Hammer had all landed in a heap on top of each other, with Mr. Phoat pinned beneath them. Mrs. Phoat had been inside her husband's pickup when it happened so she had only rolled onto the floor as the tremor happened. The other spectators had fallen to the ground and were now rising to their feet, as was everyone else attempting to.

"Is...is everyone okay?" Woody asked, coughing up dirt and taking Bo's hand to help her stand up. She was a little wobbly kneed.

"I...I think so," Ryder gagged as he stood. "I...I hope so."

"I'm good!" Marshall barked. Woody, Chase, and Ryder ran over to the other citizens to make sure everyone was okay. The cloud of thick dust finally evaporated and everybody could clearly see each other.

"LOOK!" Buzz hollered to whoever could hear him. His eyes were fixed on the pile of rocks they'd been hauling away all this time. The huge, stubborn one was gone! And there were many, much smaller ones now.

"Come on!" Woody shouted and they all jumped onto the stones, excitement filling their bodies. They scrambled onto the rocks and easily pried some away, and the larger ones had good-sized cracks between them. Woody was sure that he could see underneath them! "Buzz, Ryder? Guys, look!" It was dark, but below a few boulder ledges, they were sure that they could see a hole, leading farther down into the earth.

"Chase, your spotlight...quick!" Ryder commanded. Chase obeyed, leaning the light straight down. He howled excitedly.

"Deputy Jessie spotted! I can see her!" Chase barked. "She's way down there, but I can see her!"

"You can?!" Woody, Buzz, Ryder, and how many others sputtered in unison.

"Sure can!" Chase announced. "Looks like she's about 15 feet down, but we can get to her now!"

"YES!" Bo, Mitsy, and Mrs. Phoat all hugged each other. The pups howled for joy and the crowd cheered. Buzz immediately started to climb in, but Woody gripped his shoulder.

"Hang on, Buzz.. That hole is pretty narrow," Woody explained. "I don't think you'll fit with your spacesuit on."

"I don't care. We've got to get her out!" Buzz growled.

"Take it easy, Space Ranger. I'll go down and get Jessie. You stay up here and be prepared to help her out when I come back up." Woody said calmly. Buzz grimaced.

"Yeah." Ryder said. "We can let you down, Sheriff Woody, with Skye's rope and harness. We'll attach it to Chase's wench hook."

"That sounds perfect." Bo Peep smiled.

"Okay," Buzz groaned in exasperation. As Woody prepared to rescue his sister, Chase pulled out his megaphone.

"Deputy Jessie?! Can you hear us up here? Do you see us? You'll be out in a couple minutes. Don't worry!" Chase said confidently.

"Jessie! JESSIE! It's me...BUZZ!" The frantic Space Ranger shouted into the shaft. He hoped with all his heart that she would look up or call back, anything to let him know she was okay.

"Chase, keep your light stayed on Deputy Jessie." Ryder instructed.

"Chase is on the case." The police pup nodded.

"Okay, here it goes." Woody smiled. "Marshall? Come on! You come with me. I might need you." The fire pup excitedly hopped onto Woody's back.

"Ready to help, Sheriff Woody." Marshall smiled. "Ready for a ruff, ruff rescue."

"Okay, let me down." Woody instructed, hanging onto the rope.

"You've got it." Ryder agreed, and pressed Chase's wench lever. The cable started to release, and Woody carefully began his descent.

"Come on, Woody!" Bo cheered.

"Get her out!" Rubble barked worriedly. "Quick!"

"Go, Dad!" Mitsy shouted.

"Careful, Sheriff!" Mayor Goodway called. "Get her out! Get her out! Get her out!"

"Hurry, Woody." Buzz said nervously.


Jessie was huddled in a fetal position on the ground, tightly clenching her knees and shivering violently. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Oddly, she wasn't gasping this time, just whimpering.

Woody was climbing down against the crevices of the upward tunnel, trying to be careful not to slip. He kept looking down at his sister as they inched closer down to her, and Marshall turned on his fire pup helmet light. "Jessie? Oh, Jessie?" Woody called gently. "Jess, it's me. We're right up here. Look!" Jessie was still shaking, but she slowly opened her green, frightened eyes. She had to squint as there was a super bright light shining in her face. At first she was afraid she'd only been hearing things but her eyes widened when she did see her brother descending down to her! She was being freed at last!

"W-Woody," she said weakly, and with some effort, sat up against the rocky wall, holding her dead iphone. She watched and waited.

"We're coming to free you!" Marshall woofed. Just a few more feet, and...Woody was standing on the ground right next to her! Jessie's face grew sad, and she reached her arm up for his hand. He took it and pulled her to her feet.

"Oh, Woody," she only managed to sigh, sadly leaning her head on his shoulder and hugging him tightly. Woody patted her back.

"Aw, it's all right, Jess." He said kindly. "You're okay. Don't worry, I've got ya."

"Don't worry, Jessie. You're gonna be just fine." Marshall smiled, wagging his tail.

"Just hang on to me, Jess. We're getting you out of here!" Woody exclaimed with one arm securely around the cowgirl and the other hanging on to the rope. Then he called back up to the rescue party. "Okay, guys! Pull us out!"

"Go ahead!" Slinky barked. He was halfway down the tunnel, waiting on a ledge, and holding the rope.

"Got it!" Ryder exclaimed and pushed the lever for retraction.

"Hold on tight, Marshall," Woody slightly glanced back at the pup leaning on his shoulders.

"I'm good." Marshall replied. Jessie clung to Woody and he could feel the tremors in her body against his own. Yet, she was only quietly crying. That concerned Woody a little bit, as normally she wouldn't have been so calm. Well, there was no time to think about that right now. They were getting closer and closer to the light above their heads!

"I see 'em! I see 'em!" Slinky barked.

"Is Jessie with him?" Buzz asked anxiously.

"Sure is. And they're almost up here."

"Come on up out of there now, Slink." Bo Peep said. And the dachshund quickly scrambled up to his friends. Buzz heavily sighed in relief. Jessie was free at last!


"Get ready, Buzz!" Woody called and the Space Ranger leaned closely over the hole, ready to assist in whatever way. His heart and stomach fluttered in relief and nervousness as his eyes fell on a bright red head of hair emerging out of the darkness.

"Here, Woody. Come on." Buzz said, and the whole crowd hollered hysterically as Woody's and Jessie's heads came up out of the ground. Woody climbed up and handed a very weary-faced, over wrought, dismal Jessie to Buzz, who gently took her into his strong arms, bridal-style, and holding her safely in his grip, backed down carefully back on the grass. She just lay her head on his strong shoulder. Marshall hopped off of the cowboy.

"JESSIE!" Several different voices all chorused together, but she was too wiped out to notice.

"Oh, thank God!" Mrs. Phoat cried, clasping her head in her hands.

"A-woo!" All the Paw Patrol pups and Slinky howled together and jumped excitedly up and down.

"They did it! THEY DID IT!" Mayor Goodway shouted excitedly at the top of her lungs, running around and waving her arms. Mrs. Phoat copied her right off.

"Cool rescue." Alex smiled.

"Yes! YES!" Mitsy cheered, then grabbed Bullseye's head and hugged him. "You see, boy? Jessie's back!" She smiled. The horse who was furiously wagging his tail, happily licked her face then she kissed his nose. Bullseye dashed onto the rocks, up to the cowboy and started smothering him with kisses.

"It's okay, boy," Woody sighed, but the horse moved up even closer, making Woody back up. "It's all right. You can just...wha? Whoa!" Woody staggered dangerously on top of the rock he was standing on, then fell backwards, disappearing from everyone's sight! Bullseye was taken aback, and whinnied frantically.

"Woody!" Bo Peep cried and ran toward the now mini rubble.

"Dad?!" Mitsy shouted, and the pups along with Ryder ran after the sheriff's wife.

"Oh my goodness! What's going to go wrong next?" Mayor Goodway blurted.

"Woody?!" Buzz called out, watching with Jessie still in his arms. She slowly turned her head toward the demolition she'd just been pulled out of.

"Woody," she sadly whispered.

"Oh, Dear, are you all right?" Bo asked as she peeked down into the hole. Mitsy, Ryder, Slinky, Bullseye, and the pups were all around her.

"I-I'm fine," Woody growled. They could see him, down on the ledge Slinky had waited on, trying to sit up, but his face was grimacing. "I-I'm okay."

"What did you do?" Bo asked, half worried and half sternly. After being married for 7 years, she'd learned to know better than to believe her husband when he said that.

"I'll be fine." Woody replied through clenched teeth. His right leg was bent underneath him. Marshall hopped down to him.

"Where are you hurting, Sheriff Woody?" Marshall asked, cocking his head. Woody's face clouded over.

"I'm okay, Marshall." He growled again. "Just leave me be and let me get up." He tried to get to his feet, but squatted back down after another dash of pain shot through his leg.

"Here, I'll help you." Marshall smiled.

"No!" Woody declared, exasperated and the Dalmatian cowered back a little, whining and tears started to fill his eyes. Woody sighed heavily and patted the pup's helmet.

"I'm just trying to help." Marshall said sadly, hanging his head.

"I know, partner and I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine...really." Woody said more softly now. "I really want you to go tend to Jessie and make sure she's okay. She needs your medical attention right now a lot more than I do. I'll get out of here just fine. Now, go on." Marshall hesitated.

"Okay," He said lowly. Chase shot down his net and the fire pup climbed up back onto surface. He ran to Buzz who was standing in his remained spot, Jessie still in his arms and leaning her head on his shoulder again. Her eyes were closed.

"Is he all right, Marshall?" Buzz asked.

Marshall shook his head. "I really don't think so," he replied, "but he won't let me help him. Come on. Let me look at Jessie and make sure everything's okay. Follow me."

"Make way! Make way. Coming through!" Buzz demanded as he tried to carry Jessie through the crowd of on-lookers who all wanted to see the rescued cowgirl.

"Come now, let's move back, folks." Mayor Goodway said, and the citizens obeyed her. Buzz followed Marshall to the pup's emergency vehicle so he could give Jessie a thorough checkup. Bullseye followed close behind.

Bo glared down at Woody. She could read by his body language that he wasn't as okay as he insisted, plus she was peeved at his harsh outburst to the puppy. "Nice going, hard head." She huffed. "I have a good mind to leave you down there for a while."

"That's okay," Woody retorted back. "Maybe then everyone would just leave me alone."

"Dad," Mitsy groaned in sad protest. She didn't like to see her parents arguing, though this wasn't the first time. Plus she was also annoyed at Woody's behavior.

"Quit being so darn, macho stubborn, Woody." Slinky growled. "You need help. I sure hope Jess is being a better patient than you are." Woody sighed heavily with rolled eyes.

"Hush. You stay out this, Slink." He groaned.

Chase pulled out his megaphone and aimed it straight down into the tunnel. "Listen to your friends!" He shouted.

"Ah!" Woody sputtered, shaking his head. Chase's voice echoed in the hollow tunnel and was making Woody's ears ring. "Lower the volume on that thing, will ya? What are you trying to do, box my ears out?"

"Nice work, Chase." Ryder chuckled and gave him a thumb's up. Chase chuckled and squinted narrowly at the sheriff.

"Hey, Chase? D'ya mind if I borrow your megaphone sometime?" Bo asked jokingly. "I never realized how helpful it could be. Boy, do I wish someone had given me one for a wedding present!" Everyone laughed, except Woody.

Chase shot down his net again, and Woody, gasping and groaning, slowly climbed up out of the hole. He crouched on the ground, grimacing and dragging his right leg. Suddenly, he was flattened by some confining object. "What the heck?" He groaned, trying to turn and see what had stopped him. It almost looked as if he was in a spider web. Then it dawned on him. "Hey!" He hollered. "What do you think you're doing?" He was being held down by Chase's net!

"He's fit to be tied." Rocky remarked.

"Ha, ha, ha. Real funny, Rocky." Woody retorted. The recycle pup just shrugged and giggled.

"Don't let him out, Chase." Ryder snickered with his hands on his hips.

"These paws uphold the laws." Chase replied, with his head held high.

"What do I look like anyway? A runaway child?" Woody huffed, feeling crammed. His friends surrounded him, the pups all laughing.

"No. Just an adorable, but hard-headed, handsome, impatient, lovable, yet exasperating man I love." Bo smiled. Woody looked annoyed. He knew she meant the positive words, but the negative ones were true too. Her tone had been a mixture of aggravation and cuteness. He slightly smiled.


Jessie was limply sitting halfway up on the stretcher, letting Marshall look her over. She wasn't speaking though. She only nodded or shook her head when he asked her questions, quizzing her about any pain. Her eye lids were drooping heavily with exhaustion, and she appeared extremely dazed. She just stared straight ahead. Buzz stood at the foot of the stretcher, anxiously watching as the medical pup did his job. He was relieved that Jessie didn't appear to be injured, but all at the same time concerned about her almost blank, physical appearance. He nervously shuffled his feet. Bullseye was standing behind him.

"How's she doing, Marshall?" He finally asked. He couldn't wait any longer.

"Arf, arf. Looking pretty good," Marshall replied. "I don't seem to see any significant injuries. I think she'll be a little sore for a while."

"But...but she's not," Buzz gulped. "Why is she acting so..."

"Yeah. She's in a mild state of shock right now." Marshall said. "I'm going to give her a sedative. She needs plenty of rest. After that, she should be fine."

"You sure?" Buzz asked uneasily.

"Aw, sure. Just trust me on this." Marshall gave Jessie any injection, which she barely flinched at.

"Well, Marshall? How's Jessie?" Bo Peep asked as she and Ryder appeared.

"She'll be okay." Marshall answered, wagging his tail. "She's in shock right now, but she should recover just fine. She needs lots and lots of rest though."

"Oh, she'll get plenty of that at home." Bo smiled and walked over to the side of the stretcher. She leaned over and smoothed out Jessie's hair, and warmly gripped her hand. "Don't worry, Jessie. You just take it easy." She kissed the cowgirl on her forehead. Jessie didn't reply, she only tilted her head down in Bo's direction.

"How's Woody?" Buzz asked. Bo rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please." She grinned. "You know how he gets when he gets hurt."

"It looks like he hurt his leg, but he insists it's nothing." Ryder said.

"Yeah. He has a habit of doing that." Buzz grinned.

"Better get Jessie home soon, and try to keep her as comfortable as possible." Marshall instructed. "And keep the place quiet too."

"Thanks a lot, Marshall." Bo smiled. "Buzz, could you help me get Jessie in the patrol car?"

"Sure thing." Buzz smiled. He came over to the stretcher, slipped his arms underneath the drained cowgirl, and carried her to the car. Bullseye trotted behind.

"Come on, Marshall. You'd better take a look at Sheriff Woody. Well...try to." Ryder shrugged, grinning.

"I'm on it." Marshall answered.


"Come on, you guys. Let me out of here!" Woody grunted, scowling. Chase hadn't released him yet.

"You're not going anywhere, Sheriff Sir." Chase said firmly.

"Okay, bad cop. Fine." Woody rolled his eyes in aggravation. His leg was killing him, but he was trying vainly to hide it.

"Why is he so grumpy?" Rocky asked Mitsy. She sighed.

"Cause he's stubborn, that's why." Slinky answered.

"I think because he actually did hurt himself, but he's trying to tough it out." Mitsy replied, shrugging. "He's putting on a front so that we won't know much he's actually hurting." Bo and Ryder appeared. "Mom, is Jessie gonna be okay?" Mitsy asked hopefully.

"Marshall seems to think so." Bo replied. "I'm going to take her home." Woody sighed in relief. He'd been just as anxious about Jessie as everyone else.

"Do you need me to come too?" Mitsy offered.

"Thank you, darling, but you can stay here and help Ryder. Mrs. Phoat is coming and insisted on helping me for a while. You can help when you get home."

"Okay. Tell Jessie I hope she feels better, and that I'll see her later."

"I will, Sweetie." Then Bo sternly turned to her husband and stared him down. "You be good!" She shook her index finger straight in his face. Woody returned her headstrong gaze.

"I don't have much choice." He huffed. "At least, not with all these babysitters."

"Babysitters?" Rubble sputtered.

"What babysitters?" Zuma asked in confusion, cocking his head.

"My dad's making a joke." Mitsy explained, shaking her head.

"Oh!" Rubble replied.

"Oh. I knew that." Zuma chuckled.

"Please keep in touch, Mom." Mitsy said.

"I will. Well, I have to go." Bo said, then she left. Ryder stepped forward as Alex and Mayor Goodway appeared too.

"Cool rescue, Ryder, and Paw Patrol." Alex declared, waving his arms.

"Oh, Ryder, you all were just amazing!" Mayor Goodway exclaimed. "And Sheriff Pride? Oh! You were superb!"

"Thanks." Woody mumbled.

"Okay, Sheriff Woody. Just let me look at your leg and it'll be all over." Marshall said as Chase pulled his net away.

"All right," Woody sighed in resignation. He gingerly removed his cowboy boot from his foot and rolled up his jean pants leg up to his knee. His right leg was full of a dusty purple color and quite swollen.

"Youch! Ooo. That's gotta hurt." Rubble yiped.

"It looks awful," Skye remarked.

"I don't even want to look at it," Rocky turned his head away.

"It's the worstest broken leg ever!" Alex cried.

"It's not broken, Alex. Calm down." Woody said. "Believe me, I'd know if it was."

"Let Marshall be the judge of that." Chase corrected the cowboy.

"How did that happen?" Mitsy asked.

"Oh, what did you do?" Mayor Goodway asked.

"When I staggered backwards like a stupid fool, my darn boot became caught in the rope and cable!" Woody moaned. "Then when I fell, I guess I just landed wrong."

"Mmm-hmm." Ryder grunted skeptically.

"Can you move your leg, Sheriff Woody?" Marshall asked. Woody moved it up and down, back and forth, grunting as he did. "Well, it's not broken. That's good." Marshall said as his X-ray screen went back into his Pup Pack. "But it's definitely going to hurt for a while. You need to elevate it for 24 hours and ice it."

"Ugh." Woody shook his head.


Inside Woody's police car, Buzz sat in the front passenger's seat, Bo was at the wheel, and Mrs. Phoat was in the backseat cradling Jessie in her arms, and gently stroking her face. The exhausted cowgirl was leaning on the older woman's shoulder. Though she looked extremely drowsy, she still stared straight ahead with a sad countenance. Buzz couldn't peel his eyes away from her. He hoped that she truly would be okay, but he wasn't so sure. Bullseye was cantering alongside the vehicle.

Buzz finally turned to face Bo. "Do you think she'll really be okay?" He asked.

Bo smiled. "Don't worry, Buzz. I hope so, but Marshall wouldn't lie to us. Let's just get her home where she can rest."

"Right." Buzz nodded and nervously twiddled his fingers in his lap.

Jessie finally lifted her eyes in a different direction. She glanced up at the ceiling, then...then her eyes widened. From her view, the ceiling was moving! It was stretching, becoming larger and larger, coming closer and closer, until it appeared as if it was right on top of her, about to trample her. Jessie shrieked as she tried harder and harder to breathe, but it seemed that she just couldn't!

"Jessie? Is she okay?" Bo asked worriedly, but trying to keep her eyes on the road.

Buzz had already whipped his head around at the sound of her cry, and what he saw made him feel as if he was being punched inside. Jessie was gasping frantically, and her eyes were filled with fear. "Jessie! Jessie, it's okay. I'm here!" He cried, leaning toward her. Mrs. Phoat was clasping the frightened young woman closely in her arms, trying to calm her.

"Sshh. Shhh! Jessie, Sweetie, it's okay." She tried to say soothingly.

"The...the wall!" Jessie cried out. "It...it's clo...closing in! I..." She couldn't say anymore as it took all the energy she had to try and catch a breath.

"Bo, stop! Pull over!" Buzz demanded. Bo Peep pushed down hard on the gas pedal. The car halted. Bo and Buzz removed their seat belts and turned toward Jessie and Mrs. Phoat. Bullseye had halted too. "We need to get her out of here!" Buzz ordered. "This car space is too narrow." They opened their doors and climbed out of the car. Buzz reached in the backseat from behind Jessie and pulled her away from Mrs. Phoat. He heaved her out of the car, but she was trembling horribly, and still straining to breathe. "It's okay, Jessie! It's all right, I've got you. You're safe now." Buzz spoke reassuringly. Jessie clung to him. Bullseye was whimpering, but he quietly came over and nuzzled her face. Jessie still gasped, but it was starting to not be as rapid. Her sad horse began gently licking her face over and over. He didn't stop until she'd started to slowly calm down, much to everyone's relief. Mrs. Phoat and Bo Peep both stood close by, Bo gripping Jessie's hand and Mrs. Phoat rubbing her shoulder.

"Good boy, Bullseye. That's a good boy." Bo smiled.

"Bo, you go on ahead and I'll be there. I think Jessie would do much better out in the open, with fresh air." Buzz said.

"Okay, Space Ranger. Everything will be ready when you get there." Bo agreed.

"You'll be all right, Jessie." Mrs. Phoat crooned, then followed Bo back into the car.

"Here, Bullseye. Come here." Buzz said cheerfully. The horse knelt down on his front knees as Buzz carefully set Jessie on, then mounted himself. Jessie leaned on him and he kept one strong arm around her. "Okay, boy, let's go." Bullseye panted happily and trotted homewards. The fresh, outside air was so relieving to Jessie. And the horse odor plus the bumpy swaying back and forth of his body was soothing to her. Though she was still shaking, she seemed to be much more relaxed riding her horse.

"Th...thank you," She whispered faintly to Buzz, slightly glancing up at him with her head resting on his shoulder. Then she closed her eyes.

"There…there is...there isn't..." Buzz was annoyed that he found himself stammering, at a time like this! "Ahem. There isn't...there isn't any...there isn't anyth...blast it, Space Ranger! There isn't anything...I...I would...wouldn't...do...There isn't anything I...I wouldn't do for...for...for you." There! He'd gotten the words out. He sighed in relief and grinned widely. But then he glanced down at her. Jessie was sound asleep! Buzz's face dropped. She...she didn't hear a word I said, he thought painfully. I don't know now if I can ever tell her...that...that I love her! But, but I have to! Now, more than ever!


There! Jessie's safe now.