Sully sat alone in his cell. It had been almost 10 years since he got put in there, after being caught going to Boo's room yet again, and Mike got a few years for being his accomplice with putting the door back together.
He hated that place, it didn't have anyone else he liked but himself, and Mike only came to visit once a week, but lately the guy had been coming less and less and it was beginning to scare Sully.
During his time in confinement, he had been aging a bit noticeably. His hair wasn't as blue anymore and some gray started to show, it was partly from being so stressed from depression, and some from aging. 'You don't need to be so hard on yourself,' He reflected back to Mike's words that he said when they first got detained.
Those words carried with him through the many years that he had been there.
Days had passed in a blur, during his time there it had become easier to put on a good face and talk to people he might consider his friends, but he was in a place where they could suddenly turn against him, so he always has caution around them.
There were many nights he would look at that little clipboard with the piece of the door and the picture of him and Boo, and now there was a new one that Boo had drawn after the door had been repaired, it was of the three of them.
He smiled at the drawings then started to tear up. There was a counselor that came once a week to work with the cellmates who needed it, but all they ever said was the usual encouragement crap and tried to explain to him why humans were diseased and dangerous. But he knew that was all a lie, it was just something made up by the government many years ago and everyone believed it, still did to this day.
The days were coming closer to when he would be released, he had begun to mark down his calendar.
Now he only had about 2 weeks left, and he knew he should be happy, which he did, but knowing there would be no Boo again made him sad again. 'C'mon Sullivan,' He berated himself, 'This is no way to live, Boo was an incredible part of your life but she won't be returning and you can't let that invade the rest of your life, now just let yourself be at peace with the memories.' And that calmed him some, but even those mere words could not replace Boo herself.
Mike did not return until the day before his release. "Hello Sully," Mike said, with his usual bright grin. "Hello Mike," Sully said, but did not return his smile.
"Erm, how you been?" He asked awkwardly. "How do you think? And more importantly, where have you been?" Sully replied bitterly. "S-sorry, I've just been busy with work lately."
Since their confinement they had both been terminated from Monsters Inc. and Mike went on to do construction.
"What are you working on this time?" Sully perked up a bit, not wanting a bad visit. "Well there's this new super mall, that looks like it's from the future, it's replacing the old one." Mike replied.
"So their finally tearing down the old one, eh?" The building was ancient and in need of hefty repairs, so it was probably a good thing, but a little depressing to see it go at the same time.
"Looks like it, though it was kind of a drastic move, but at least something is being done with it, it was depressing to even look at, let alone enter." That is something anyone could agree on.
"So what else is going on out there?" "Well there's a few new small cafes and shops, some have also gone out, sorry to say, but Freezy's is also gone." He half-grinned. "Aw, that was my favorite." Sullivan sulked playfully, though he really did like that place, they made the best Ice Cream he had ever tasted.
"And, well, Celia is getting married." He looked down at his lap, the smile gone from his face.
"I'm sorry Mike, are you - doing okay?" He asked cautiously, not wanting to upset him more. Celia was Mike's girlfriend for quite some time, but when he got put in jail she would come visit him, then she started to grow impatient, then quit visiting one day and when he got out, she was already with someone else.
"I'm not sure, sometimes I think I am and am happy for her, then other times I see them together and get really sad, then angry and despise both of them.
I know it's wrong to feel that way, but the deep love they have for each other was the same we had for each other and that makes me sad." There was an unmistakeable gleam of tears beginning to form in his eyes.
"Hey don't beat yourself up over it, I know how important Celia was to you, but you can't let it eat you up." 'I'm also the same.' Sully thought and sunk back into his chair.
"You're right, thanks man." He smiled and his sniffling started to slow. A guard looked over to them and warned they had 5 minutes left.
They talked a few more minutes until the guard said he had to go. "Well it was fun today, see you tomorrow." Mike said and smiled. "Yeah, see you tomorrow," Sully said and smiled back, no longer dreading his release.
There was something important he had forgotten, Mike was still there, his best friend who had been with them since they were kids.
Today was the day, he was finally getting out of this dump.
No more mystery food, or random fights, or even worse. He could finally be home with his good friend, and getting everything back in order.
Mike came to pick him up at 1:30. They got into the car, they had a new one since their old car got reposessed while in jail, this one was larger and had more room which made Sully happy.
They arrived at a different apartment complex. "I was going to get one at our old complex, but this one is a little cheaper and a little bigger so I think you will be pleased," He said with a bitter, but playful tone referring to the comment his friend made about his old car.
They entered the apartment, it was a little messy, but true to Mike's word, it was definitely more spacious.
"S-sorry about the mess." Mike said rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "It's okay, I'm just glad to have a proper place to live again after that hellish place." Sully said truthfully.
"Well I am glad you are home again, it's been lonely around here without anyone." He sighed.
"So, um, what would you like to do on your first day out?" "How about a little sight seeing?" Sully suggested. "Since it's changed so much while I was locked away." "Fine by me," Mike agreed.
They soon found themselves back in the car. "Where would you like to go first?" "Hmm, how about the old Monsters Inc?" Mike sighed, it was a place he didn't like seeing, even now, but he didn't want to deny his best friend's request.
They passed by the old building. It still looked just the same, lunch break was about over so other monsters were returning, Sully saw a few people he recognized, and many that he didn't. He felt kind of sad knowing it was a place he would never work at again, but also knew it was for the better.
His stomach growled telling him he needed something to eat. "Can we do lunch now?" Sully asked. "You got it, there's actually this new place that just opened up and it's really good, are you up to try it?" "Sure."
They pulled into a semi-fancy looking resturaunt and walked inside.
The interior wasn't as grand as the outside made it look, but it was pleasant nontheless. They took up a seat at a booth and soon a waitress made her way over to them.
"Hello my name is Sarah and I will be your server." She was purple with spikes on her back and had a rather large build which did not match her voice, she was rather attractive.
"Can I start you boys off with anything to drink?" "Sprite for me," Mike said. "I'll do a jack," Sully replied. " You got it, the lady smiled, and mike turned to his best friend.
"Sully, I haven't seen you drink in a long time." "Well Mike, it's been a long time since I've been out, I want something refreshing.
"Well okay, but only the one, I don't want you getting all loopy on your first day out of prison" "Deal." Soon the lady returned with their drinks.
"Now are we ready to order?" "I think we are," Sullivan replied. "I will have the Burger basket." "And I will have chicken tenders." Mike said.
"Got it, I will be back soon." "So what do you think of the new Monstropolis?" "It looks nice, all new buildings, old ones repaired. The roads have even been paved over, still miss some of the stores that have closed."
"Yeah," Mike eyes lowered, "It wasn't any easy change for the town, on hardly anyone, but some stores just couldn't keep up with the funds anymore, and new business came, so out they went, but it isn't all bad. Chester's is still down the street."
"Old man Chester, how is he doing?" Sullivan asked enthusiastically, Chester has been around for years, he was a good friend to many in the town, practically a historical figure in Monstropolis.
"He is doing good, he might retire soon." "Oh." Sully looked sad. "But he'll still be around, and he will make sure the store is kept up properly and nothing changes." Mike said quickly. "Well that's good then." Sully smiled.
"And that little antique store is still around, along with Mimi's, but Mimi is no longer with us." He lowered his head. "Sheila passed away? How?"
''She was just getting old, it was her time." "That's too bad, she was a wonderful lady." Sully replied. Sheila had been around for quite some time, she was like everyone's grandmother," Mike smiled. "Yeah," Sully smiled back.
Mike paid the bill and they left the diner. "Is there anything else you'd like to do?" He asked his friend. "Actually, it's been a long day, let's just go home and rest." Sully replied. "That sounds like a good idea." Mike agreed.
They pulled into their apartment complex and walked up to the building. They put on a movie and Sully eventually caved in to his tiredness, not wanting to bother him he just put a blanket on him and headed to bed himself.
"Goodnight Sully," He said to his friend with a sigh, he was happy to have friend again, but the poor man looked so different now, and in ways his personality felt different. This did not feel like his Sullivan. He turned off the light and walked down the hall and right into his own bed.
Sully woke up to the sound of the grease frying in a pan, followed by the smell of bacon, one of his favorite foods. He immediately got up and walked towards the kitchen.
Mike was making a big breakfast that consisted of eggs, bacon, and toast. "Man it's been a long time since I've seen that." Sully said in awe. "Yeah, well it's the least I could do since, uh." He didn't finish his sentence, but there was no need to.
"So there's this project I've been working on." Mike said. "Oh yeah, what is it?" Sullivan asked. "Well it's sort of a surprise, how about I show you after breakfast?" Sully faltered a little, but perked back up, it was less than an hour away. "Works for me." He replied.
They quickly finished up, and Sully did the dishes. "Okay Mike, what's the big surprise?" "Well close your eyes and wait right here."
So Sully did just that, during his wait he heard some rustling, and what sounded like he was going bowling. "What could the surprise be?" The blue monster thought to himself, and began to grow suspicious as to what it could be.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now." Mike said. Slowly, Sully began to open his eyes. He was greeted by white with pink flowers, he recognized it instantly: it was Boo's door.
"Mike, what the hell?!" The green monster jumped a little, this is not the reaction he was expecting. "Come on Sully, this took a lot of work." "How did you get the door anyway?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself, I thought they burned the door, but one day I started recieving pieces of it in the mail, and put it together, then the tubes appeared at a later time. Finally I had a door again, I hadn't tested it yet, I figured that was a job for you."
"I can't do that, not after the stuff we went through. Besides, Boo is much older now, she probably won't even remember me." Sully's arm slunk at his sides.
"C'mon Sully, Boo is important to you, and to me too, I can see how hurt you were when you lost her the first time, and the second." "And that's exactly why I don't want to go through it a third time. I couldn't deal with the hurt again."
"Sully, I know what Boo meant to you, and how much it hurt when they broke the door. This is taking a big risk, but now is your chance to see her again, James P. Sullivan, are you willing to take this risk, too see Boo again?"
Sully hesitated, it was true, Boo was one of the most important people to him, and he would do anything to see that sweet little girl again.
But, he just couldn't handle the hurt of losing her again. "This is too much right now, Mike. Give me a night to think it over, then we'll talk." Mike's face fell. "Well, alright, if you insist."
He couldn't entirely blame the man, Boo was his whole world, if only for that little time, and he was hurt the most, it was probably too much seeing the door subject was not brought up again that day, and the door was placed back into the closet.
Sully tossed and turned all night, he was mostly restless. Images of Boo kept flashing through his mind, how she called him Kitty, her warm hugs, even that goofy monster costume.
It had eaten him up from the inside after she was taken from him, 'maybe Mike is right,' he thought, 'maybe I need this to happen.' Suddenly light flitted through the windows, it was morning.
Slowly Sully opened his eyes, the sun flittering through the curtains, and he was in a bed, his own bed, he was happy.
"Good morning," Mike greeted when Sully entered the living room, he was making a couple waffles, "would you like a few?" Sully nodded, waffles did sound good, he hasn't had any since before he went to prison.
"So," Mike started while they were eating, "have you thought about it?" The green one asked.
Sully sighed, "Yeah, let's do it."
"Excellent," Mike said. After they cleared their plates, they went to the area where the door was stored.
"You can do it," Mike said, indicating at the device that powers up the door, Sully pressed it.
They watched as the machine roared to life, and the light above the door turned red to indicate it was ready to go in.
"Well, are you ready?" Mike asked. "Yeah, I am," Sully replied, but seemed hesitant to open the door. "Go on," The green one pushed at the taller, blue monster, "it's okay.
James P Sullivan took a big breath, muttered to himself and said, "here goes nothing."
Then he opened the door.
"Boo?"