Chapter 2

"Howdy there Sheriff!"

Woody just stared at her like a deer caught in the headlights. "Hi…hi there…not Sheriff- girl."

She gave him a puzzled look. He never talked or acted that way around her before. "Did that snake make its way from your boot to your brain?" She took both hands and shook his head really hard. Her reaction sort of took him off guard, sort of in that he knew she would do something goofy and rough like that, just not sure of the details. He did feel like a dufuss for how he greeted her.

She stopped the violent motion and he held his head trying to regain his composure. "What's eating you cowboy?"

"Uhhhhhh…" He gave her a look of uncertainty and as he did this he caught a glimpse of her eyes. For the first time he decided to get a good look at them. They were big and a lovely shade of green. He had to admit that they actually were pretty. How had he not noticed before? She stood there confused and didn't know why he was staring at her like that. The gaze was so intense and the cowgirl slowly realized what that it meant. Woody exclaimed, "Oh heck!" All of a sudden he grabbed a hold of Jessie and pulled her close to him. Then he loudly kissed her!

Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln! What is this crazy cowboy doing?

After a few more moments, Woody finally snapped out of the trance he was in and realized what he had impulsively done and was still doing. He jerked away and awkwardly laughed. Woody feared how she would react. He took a step back and slowly looked up at her. Jessie's mouth opened wide in shock and both were silent. She spoke up but didn't look at him, "Did that really just happen?"

"Yes, it did. I'm sorry for just smacking one on you like that and freaking you out."

Eventually, she brought herself to look him in the eye. "Why did you do that? I'm your best friend's girl. If he finds out-"

"I already have found out." The cowgirl and cowboy gasped and turned to where the loud stern voice came from, which was part-way up the staircase.

As much as Woody was nervous about Jessie's reaction, it failed in comparison to the fear he had now. "Heeeey Buzz. How are ya ol' pal?"

"Don't even talk to me." He hadn't looked that mad at him since he accidentally pushed him out of Andy's window all of those years ago. Woody remembered being attacked by him at the gas station and how Buzz almost pulverized him. He knew he was really in for it now.

Jessie ran over towards him, hoping that he wasn't angry with her as well. "Buzz!"

"Don't worry," he told her in a completely different tone of voice which really surprised her. He gently continued, "I could tell that it wasn't your fault. He's the one who kissed you." Jessie gave a huge sigh of relief and put her hand to his face. He gave her a warm smile.

The couple held hands and the space ranger firmly said, "Let's go." Woody started to go up with them but froze when he heard from his buddy, "Not you." He watched them go up the stairs back to Bonnie's room and wondered what to do.

"Do ye wanna talk about it darlin?" asked Jessie softly.

"Not right now. I'd like to be alone for a while. I wanted to get up here so soon because I didn't want to say or do anything that I'd regret to Woody."

"Good thinking. You're always so logical." He let go of her hand and snuck underneath the bed for some privacy. She sighed. Jessie hated to see Buzz this way. The door creaked as Woody came in, still apprehensious about facing Buzz. The cowgirl turned to look at him and gave him a sorrowful expression. He felt especially guilty then.

"How is he doing?"

"He wants to be alone right now and is under the bed."

"Has he talked to you about what happened?"

"No. He just wants to think about it on his own."

"I'm really sorry for putting him through all of this. I definitely didn't want to hurt him."

"Why did you do it? Since when are you attracted to me?"

"I don't know. It just was a stupid thing I did at the spur of the moment. I didn't think it through. I let my feelings control me. Honestly, I don't know why I feel this way about you. I felt funny after the two of you got together."

"Are you sure it was because you like me and not just cuz' we reminded you of what you used to have?" Woody's eyes bulged out. After that brief moment of surprise, his eyes went back to where they were before. He looked like he was about to shed tears if he had any. Since he was a toy he couldn't for real.

"You might be on to something there."

"When you kissed me, it was like being kissed by my brother," she said as she made a face like she'd be sick.

"Heh, it felt funny to me too. Not like kissing my brother though." At this they both laughed. Finally, something to break the tension if only for even a little bit.

"How 'bout my sister," he remarked with a chuckle.

"That's more like it." She chuckled as well.

"Ye see partner, we do love each other, just not in that kind of way." They sweetly smiled at each other and hugged.

"Maybe I am a little protective of you. I don't want you get hurt. I'll watch out for you like a big brother should."

"Thanks bro."