CHAPTER 10 – The Book

[Thank you to dmwcool1 for the comment in my email! I have tried to incorporate your thought into the following chapter! This one's for you chick! Enjoy!]

Jessie continued to pet Bullseye long after Bonnie's mother disappeared from sight through the garden gate. Her eyes were as red as her hair by this point. The other toys had heard the commotion, and they were all gathered at the foot of the desk, mourning the loss of Buzz.

"If only I knew where Mrs Windermere lived," she sniffled, smoothing Bullseye's mane. From behind someone nudged her, and she turned to see Buttercup coming to settle down besides her.

"How're you holding up?" the unicorn questioned softly. Jessie shook her head.

"I don't know, Buttercup. I don't think I'm thinking about anything...I'm just scared he's not coming back." She choked back another sob.

"You're fond of Buzz, aren't you?" Buttercup probed gently, with a smile.

"Yes," whispered Jessie, with a faint smile. "I don't think I've ever met another toy like him, certainly not a space toy, anyway."

"I would have to agree with you. I've only known Buzz a few short days but I can tell he's very sociable, lively, and I bet he would do anything to make his way back here. He's a keeper, Jessie." Buttercup confided. Jessie looked surprised.

"You really think he's all those things?

"Why, don't you?"

"I think he's more than that." Jessie gave another faint smile.

"Well there you go then. You don't need my opinion," Buttercup chuckled, and Jessie reached out to ruffle his head.

"Thanks, Buttercup. I appreciate it. I just didn't think we were going to be apart so soon. I told him we should come up back here together. He said no, said he'd follow me, and...oh Buttercup, it's all messed up again. Just as I find him, I lose him."

Buttercup gave Jessie such a look it startled the cowgirl doll. "Lost him? Sweetheart, he's gone to Mrs Windermere's. Not the other side of the globe. I bet Mrs Windermere lives the next block over or something."

Jessie stared at him. "Do you even know how big the block is?"

Buttercup shook his head, "Not a clue!"

Jessie rolled her eyes impatiently. "I have to find him. I have to at least know where she's taken him."

"Oooh, the computer!" Buttercup exclaimed, and Jessie glanced across at him, "We used it to help Woody find his way home. We could help you locate Buzz."

"But I still don't know the address of where Mrs Windermere lives." Jessie reminded him.

"No problem, Dolly can assist with that," Buttercup reassured her, "Just leave it to us." He held out his hoof and gestured to Jessie, "Come on, let's get you away from the window."

Jessie raised herself up, her legs shaking. Bullseye, noticing the weakness of his mistress, gave her a helpful push, and the two of them followed Buttercup towards the computer.

"Hey Dolly," Buttercup called down to the plush toy, "Do you mind getting The Book?"

"The Book?" Dolly blinked up with big eyes at Buttercup, "What do you need The Book for?"

Buttercup sighed with irritation, "Do you think you could act first and ask questions later for a change?"

Dolly coughed. "I can get it. It'll cost, mind."

"Yes, Dolly - I will give you a ride to Fairyland on my back," Buttercup pacified her, "Now just go and get it for me, please?" When Dolly left Buttercup turned to Jessie. "Sorry. Dolly has a fantasy about visiting Fairyland, land of fairies, mermaids, unicorns, and so on. I've tried to explain I come from Mattel (TM) but she won't hear of it. She thinks I descended from another realm," he laughed weakly, and Jessie smiled back at him.

"Aww Jessie, come on, cheer up. He's only been gone a hour," Buttercup indicated the clock.

"Really? It feels like forever, "Jessie said in a low voice.

"Bless you Jessie(!)" Buttercup was appreciative of such emotion.

"Got it!" Dolly called from below. She was walking to the edge of the desk, below which was a little toy boat. From the boat she fished out a small net, and placed The Book into it. "Now remember Buttercup," she continued, as Buttercup lowered the fishing rod line attached to the porcelain figure of a gnome sitting on the desk, "...remember you owe me!"

Buttercup nodded mutely, and waited for Dolly to attach the net to the end of the line, and then winched the line up. "Jessie, grab the net when it gets close enough," he called. Jessie walked over to the computer edge and retrieved The Book from the net. She looked curiously at it. "What's this for?"

"This? This is something the humans use to keep a list of addresses in," Buttercup grinned. "If Bonnie's mother is a close friend of this Mrs Windermere of yours; and we're lucky enough - we'll find her in here," He took the book from Jessie and set it down on the desk. "Now. W." He flipped the pages. Jessie and Bullseye bent over looking at the pages with him.

"Oh," Buttercup frowned. "There appear to be three Mrs Windermere's...hmm." he paused and scanned the page in front of him. "Aha! Here we go," he exclaimed after a moment. "Agnes Windermere, 1152 North." He turned to the computer and began tapping in a website address.

Jessie blinked. "How do you know it's that one? It could be one of the other two!"

"Simple...the first one is labelled Australia. And the other...well unless tall shrubs do very well on balconies of apartment complexes, I doubt it..." Buttercup didn't turn.

"Oh." Jessie said quietly. "But it could be the second one."

"But I doubt it," Buttercup repeated. He ran over and moved the mouse so the pointer on screen wiggled across the page, and pressed with her hoof on the left mouse button. Then he jumped back to the keyboard and tapped a few more buttons. A map pinged up on the screen with the words "calculating distance", and then the message disappeared.

"Oh boy," Buttercup sighed. "Looks like we've got our work cut out. According to the map, Mrs Windermere lives a block and a half away." He pointed to the screen, where the arrow on the screen travelled a fair way. It was almost 180 degrees south from where they were.

Jessie was daunted at the prospect of travelling so far. "But we have to rescue Buzz," she reasoned out loud, and Buttercup turned to look at her.

"Jessie, it's a suicide mission, travelling a block and a half across town? Not to mention the roads, the dangers of an unknown house..."

"But it's Buzz, Buttercup. We have to bring him back home...back to his home...back to me," Jessie admonished him. "Besides, it wouldn't be the first time these toys have set out to rescue someone...they rescued Woody years ago...and Buzz has risked his life for me before, I couldn't bear to know he's somewhere else, and that I didn't lift a finger to help him in return."

Buttercup sighed. "You're right, Jessie...you are...just, I don't think it's safe. But then, I'm used to this house, I don't set a hoof outside unless Bonnie takes me somewhere." He glanced across, "but then I guess you cowboy and cowgirl dolls are built for action," he added. "It's only natural to explore and rescue others."

Jessie smiled and nodded, "I think you may be right." She looked around, "I need to go and find someone to help me go rescue Buzz. Thanks so much for your help Buttercup!" She leaned across and hugged the plush unicorn tightly before turning to hop off the desk and down onto the floor, running across in the direction of Bonnie's bed.