Here's another. Not too sure about this one, but I decided to post it anyway. I'm starting to run out of ideas. I don't know if I'll start a separate story soon or what. Time's ticking though before the busy season of life arrives once again. Oi, cant waiiiit.
After Andy's toys discuss their escape plan from Sunnyside, Woody wants to ask Jessie a question that leads to a conversation neither of them expected.
DISCLAIMER: Do not own Toy Story, Disney, or Pixar.
Spoilers: Come on, you haven't seen it yet?
Reassurances
Rated: K
Genre: Family/ HurtComfort
Pairings: Buzz/Jess, Woody/Bo
Playtime was about to commence. The dispersed cries of the young children on the playground grew in volume as they gathered in a line near the classroom door. The teacher's calls abruptly interrupted the huddle of toys underneath the classroom's large puppet show theatre. They began to glance to the door before a loud whisper recaptured their attention.
"Guys! Does everybody remember the plan? Hamm? Potato head?"
The group turned back to their leader.
"Yes, Woody." Jessie answered for the rest. "We'll be ready!"
"Do I really have to go back in the box again?" Mr. Potato head griped, straightening his moustache.
"It's not like you're gonna be stuck in there all night." Hamm corrected from beside him, beginning to walk to where he was left before recess.
"Turning into a living disc of bread ain't any better!" The plastic potato retorted, throwing up an arm in exasperation.
Jessie laughed slightly at their antics. Sure, the topics they talked about were not things to laugh at generally, but she felt more elated and anxious than entertained. She had felt stressed and discouraged since their imprisonment the night before, but their leader, Woody, had returned to them. In just a half hour, he managed to set up a highly complex, yet reasonably designed escape plan from their prison. The toys' hopes electrified to life, relieved they once again had the cowboy's support. Jessie could barely wait to initiate their plan, wanting nothing more than to get out of Sunnyside.
She walked to the curtained opening of the puppet theatre but stopped, watching as the others resumed their inanimate positions on the tile floor. Groaning lightly, Jessie unconsciously rubbed her sewn shoulder, which had grown sore after a little girl had thrown her against the wall earlier.
The class of toddlers prepared to renter the Caterpillar Room. The cowgirl remained where she stood, having no desire to be played with. She felt guilty though, hiding when her friends could not felt unfair.
As Jessie readied herself to run to her previous spot, a hand firmly gripped her shoulder. Turning around quickly, fearing one of Lotso's henchmen had found her hiding, she came face to face with Woody. She let out a sigh.
"Sweet gold mines, Woody!" The cowgirl whispered sharply. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry." He murmured, not removing his hand. "Can we talk?"
More than anything, Jessie wanted to say yes. However, she turned her head toward the playground door, the guilty expression once again crossing her face. Before she could answer, the door suddenly burst open and dozens of children flooded the room, grabbing any toy or game they could find along the way.
Woody automatically pulled Jessie away from the puppet theatre's opening and dragged her until they safely hid behind several piled boxes. They watched the chaos for a moment before Woody tugged on Jessie's arm again.
"We're gonna go up a level." He pointed upward, beginning to ascend the boxes.
Following him closely, Jessie reached the second floor to the theatre without a problem. It was probably the calmest part of the entire room, secluded from the main play area and too difficult for toddlers to reach. Their childish screams, however, remained louder than ever.
Woody glanced around for a moment, a natural precautionary measure for him. Soon enough, though, he sat down and motioned for Jessie to come closer so they could talk quietly.
"So what's this about?" Jessie asked curiously.
"I just want you to tell me what happened after I left." Woody explained bluntly. "Every detail."
"Why?" Jessie raised an eyebrow. "We've already told you a lot."
"I need to make sure everything will work as flawlessly as possible. We only have one shot at this." The cowboy defended, gazing toward the screaming toddlers. "I especially need to know about Buzz."
A small wave of sorrow passed through the cowgirl at the mention of the space ranger's name. When they discussed their plan earlier, she personally tried to avoid the topic involving him. Their group eventually decided to try to reset him back to his old self, tasking Barbie with extracting the information out of Ken. She deeply hoped it would work, but she could not help but feel a twinge of doubt. What if they couldn't change him back?
"What about him?" Jessie inquired softly, her eager demeanor growing somber.
"When did he turn on you guys?"
"He did not turn on us, Woody!" Jessie argued indignantly. "Lotso turned him against us!"
She refused to believe the space toy willingly agreed to be reset. At first, she truly believed he had betrayed them, but during their imprisonment, Slinky quietly explained to her the ranger's deluded past in a nutshell. Yet, Jessie could not help but feel a little unsure. When he first attacked them on Lotso's orders, she felt deceived, angry, and, as much as she tried to hide it, abandoned. She did not want to believe it any longer.
"Alright, alright!" Woody cried quietly, holding his hands up. "I know he didn't, it just came out wrong. Now, please?"
"Well, I tried to encourage everyone to leave despite Lotso's threats," Jessie began, "but I ran into Buzz, already messed up in the head. We were excited to see 'im, since he was gone for about an hour, but he attacked us and heaped us up in a dog pile. Then Lotso's gang threw us in them baskets." She thumbed to the shelves under the nearest windows. "I got away from my first captors, but I didn't get too far before that octopus got me. I tried to convince Buzz of our friendship, but he refused to listen, callin' me a temptress and what-not."
"A temptress?" Woody chuckled, covering his mouth so he could prevent himself from bursting out laughing.
Jessie gave him a sour look, pursing her lips in annoyance. Her cowboy look-alike took a moment to laugh silently before calming himself down. He held up a hand as she impatiently waited.
"I'm sorry, Jess." Woody whispered, taking a breather. "But, wow. Didn't know it was that bad."
"What's that bad?" The cowgirl's curiosity peaked.
"Nothin'." The cowboy shook his head. "Just don't worry about it."
"Well, you're makin' a big joke outta it!" Jessie countered. "Spill it!"
"You haven't noticed by now?" Woody sniggered.
The cowgirl paused for a moment, eyeing him defensively. Yet, she suddenly felt nervous and embarrassed. She knew what; she wasn't that stupid. Talking about her intimacies never made her feel comfortable, though, especially when the discussions referred to Buzz. So instead, she decided to play dumb.
"N-noticed what?" She tilted her head.
Woody just stared at her for a moment, an incredulous expression on his face.
"You can't be serious?"
"No, seriously Woody. What?" She egged him on.
"Oh, don't lie to me." Woody sat up straighter, looking into her emerald eyes for answers. "You know."
"Know what?" Jessie's voice raised above a whisper.
"Just hush, alright?" Woody waved his hands, indicating her to lower her voice. "You're gonna get us caught by arguing about something stupid!"
"Look, cowboy," Jessie stood as she pointed at him roughly, her annoyance returning, "The 'stupid thing' probably don't even matter anymore! Buzz doesn't remember any of us, not Andy, not me, and especially not you!"
The air grew quiet, despite the continuous screams in the background. The two Roundup partners averted their eyes from one another, both irritated and flustered. The conversation did not go as they planned, having reeled out of control and winding up nowhere near their previous topic. They remained silent for many moments, unsure about where to continue. Jessie, however, finally took the initiative.
"Lotso made us believe they killed you." She muttered softly. "We thought we lost you. Buzz…Buzz said you deserved it for disobeying Star Command or whatever it's called. He had no recollection whatsoever of your friendship. If he doesn't remember that, then he doesn't remember…"
Woody picked his head up, glancing at her solemnly. He wasn't used to seeing the cowgirl so…defeated. He remembered the last time he saw her act as such and he promised himself he would not stand to see it again. Jessie faced the fear of losing someone she loved, a situation Woody had already painfully experienced. Yet, the memory of Bo's everlasting smile reassured him. He would not let that happen again.
The cowboy walked over to Jessie and placed his hands on her shoulders. She continued to stare dejectedly at her boots, but his firm grip influenced her to shift her attention. He gave her a small smile.
"Well, you didn't lose me," Woody corrected calmly. "And I promise you, we won't lose Buzz either."
A smile crept onto her lips as well. She quickly enveloped him in a hug, wrapping her arms around him tightly and he obliged to do the same. Hope enlivened her nerves and emotions once again, confident he would keep his promise. She rested her chin on his shoulder, grateful for his comfort.
They soon realized the childish screams that once filled the room had ceased. The sun was setting gently beyond the cinderblock walls in soothing reds and oranges. The time had come to set the plan in action.
"Just promise me one more thing, Sheriff." Jessie commented as she pulled away, ready to join her other friends before the evening's roll call.
Woody raised a brow as he smiled lightly.
"What's that, deputy?"
"Don't go leaving us again," She smirked. "'cause next time, I'm keepin' the hat."