He slowed to a walk as he neared. "You have a strange way of going everywhere."
Jessica almost smiled. "I...need directions."
"Well, I can help with that. Walk straight, into the building; stay in the hallway until you reach room 17..."
"No, I'm not going back there," Jessica interrupted. "I was thrown away. I'm junk." She turned away from him, wrapping her arms around herself.
"You're not junk."
Jessica laughed, but it reflected no joy. It was cruel and empty. "You're probably right. I was probably disposed of because he was jealous of my good looks."
"Jessica - "
She held up her eyeball, effectively silencing him. He looked quickly away and was only able to look at her when she began to walk away. "Forget it. I'll just try to find it by accident."
"No," his sharp tone made her stop immediately. He sighed. "I'll walk with you."
"You don't even know where I'm going!"
"Then tell me."
Jessica turned and stared out past the fence. "I need to look for a repairman."
Buzz shook his head. "The only toy repair shop in town closed at seven."
"What time is it now?"
"About nine thirty. We can go first thing in the morning. In the meantime we should get some rest." He turned and began to walk toward the daycare, but her voice stopped him.
"I'm not going back in there. Unless," she added quickly, when he opened his mouth, "There's a place I can hide."
"There is."
He waited for her to approach him before walking dutifully toward the daycare. She trailed after him, pulling on her braid and looking nervously for any cars. They entered Sunnyside and stayed in the hallway until they reached room 17. Surprising her completely, Buzz kept going. She followed uncertainly, peering into the room until all she could see was the wall. Buzz led her to the doorway of room 16, where the unfamiliar toys were all in sorry states. Jessica walked past Buzz and entered the room, looking at each toy she passed and empathizing with complete understanding. Stopping in the middle, she spotted several toys crawling out from beneath a cabinet.
She looked at the doorway, but Buzz had already left.
A Peppermint Rose doll approached Jessie with a perplexed look on her tilted face. "I don't recall seeing you before...Are you that good at hiding?"
At the sight of the lovely toy, Jessica shyly covered the open hole where her eye should have been. "I...I just got here. And I won't be staying."
"Lucky you," a caustic grumble came from beside her. She looked to see a stationary rocking horse. "I'd love to move an inch!"
"I know how you feel," she began, and continued when he scoffed. "No, I do! Before I got here, my legs had been torn off. They were right there in my reach, but I didn't even have the needle and thread." She felt brave enough and compelled to take her hand from her eye, revealing it to him. "I envy you. My inability to move was not natural; I was meant to walk. You're whole."
His face softened a little at her words.
"So how long are you staying?" Peppermint Rose asked.
"One night; I need to find a repairman if I have any hopes of being played with again."
Sounds of agreement swept throughout the room. Jessica turned to look at the toys who had come from beneath the cabinet. "May I hide with you?"
They nodded in concord and she approached the cabinet. Dropping to her hands and knees she crawled beneath it. There wasn't enough room to stand, which suited her just fine. If a child came early, or if Buzz came late, she wanted to be as safe as possible.
Rolling over onto her side, she placed her eyeball on the floor and closed her right eye. Sleep was at first elusive, but when the Caterpillar Room grew quiet, and the other toys joined her under the cabinet; her dreams were filled with the gentle kindness of familiar brown eyes.
-0-0-0-0-
"Well, that was fast," Jessie observed, as Buzz came walking into Room 17. "Did you give up, or chicken out?"
"I found her in the parking lot and brought her back," Buzz answered.
"He did. I saw them walk by," Barbie intervened.
"You put them in the Caterpillar Room? Why would you do that?" Slinky asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong with ya?" Hamm added.
"Please, calm down," Buzz told them.
"I don't think you like her!" Mrs. Potato Head said. Her eyes went briefly to Jessie before she added to Buzz, "You hypocrite!"
"Would you just relax? It's weekend; it's fine," Woody hurled the words at her.
"In the morning I'm taking her across town to the repair store," Buzz continued. "She doesn't want to come back here."
"SHE doesn't want to?" Jessie asked quietly.
Buzz turned at her. He was all ready to tell her that the last thing he needed was her headache-inducing guilt trip for not returning a sentiment she should know he felt when he saw how miserable Bullseye looked. Checking himself he turned to face her and began walking. Snatching her hand he quietly guided her from the room.
Rex slowly exhaled and the Potato Heads thawed.
Standing with Buzz in the hallway Jessie pushed the door shut. She would grant him privacy, but he wasn't out of the woods.
"Well, contrary to recent speculations, I'm not a complete spacecase. I know why you're mad - I didn't say I love you. But I do, and you know it."
Jessie was not satisfied. "Really, Buzz? Because you rejected a toy identical to me when she needed a little compassion the most."
He stared at her, suddenly realizing the danger. "I...I don't know what to say. I wouldn't reject you."
"Why, because I don't creep you out?" she snapped. "It's nice to know how easily I can be replaced!"
"Easily? There were only three Jessie dolls ever made, and the other one's across the world!"
She rolled her eyes.
"Which is off-topic," Buzz amended. "The point is, I'm not as guilty as you think. When I first found her she told me to get lost. And I can only get as close to a Jessie doll as she allows." He looked knowingly into her startled green eyes. "Ask me why," he prodded.
"Why?"
"Because I respect the brand. It made a good first impression."
He finally coaxed a smile from her.
When they came back into Room 17 their arms were linked. "Oh, good, is the fight over?" Woody asked.
"Yeah, I can't stay mad at him," Jessie answered. "I like him a lot."
The toys all looked at one another in worry as Buzz made a face. Smiling, Jessie leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. His expression softened at her touch and he lay a hand atop hers.
-0-0-0-0-
The underside of the cabinet was still dark when Buzz came walking freely into the Caterpillar Room. He knelt and grabbed Jessica by the boot, giving it a shake. "Jess," he whispered.
He backed up as she crawled out, then lent a hand and helped her stand. "You ready?"
"Yeah."
They walked to the door and Buzz walked dutifully out of the room and into the hallway. Jessica turned, grabbing the door with her free hand. She looked up to see Peppermint Rose sitting up and stretching. Their gazes locked and Peppermint Rose waved. Jessica waved back and proceeded to pull the door shut.
Turning, she followed Buzz toward the exit. His friends waited in the hall.
"Bye, Jessica," Woody said, extending a hand. "Nice knowing you."
She clasped his hand, suddenly feeling awkward. The last time somebody had bid her goodbye, kindness had nothing to do with it.
She turned to face Jessie.
"I'll miss you," Jessie said simply. Then, completely surprising Jessica, she hugged her; and Jessica impulsively returned the embrace with her free hand. When they parted the rest of the goodbyes were said with kind reserve, and Buzz escorted Jessica down the hall. The entire daycare was quiet. Upon stepping outside Jessica looked up at the sky. Dawn was beginning to paint the horizon, and the moon was setting behind a dark mountain. She pushed the door shut and found herself eagerly following Buzz out of the daycare and toward her new life.