AN: Sorry it's been a while since I've updated all. I wanted to do something last week for the TS3 dvd release but then I got sick and bah. Anyway, here's a new one-shot. More in the work soon-ish (as always, suggestions are welcome). Also working on another story that I really should think about updating

Title: Mostly Armless
Characters: Jessie & Buzz
Summary: Something happens to Buzz during playtime and Jessie tries to figure out what
Notes: Another idea that I can't really tell you the origin of. A bit of it was an RP then it just kinda sprang to life. It ended up being longer than I intended and it took longer than I expected. Just more playing around with the toys (mostly Jessie as per usual :P) Early apology for the pun of a title

The playroom was in a state of panic; that was the only way to describe it. The second the door had shut and the toys had sprung to life they began running around asking questions and worrying. Woody tried to gather everyone up, hoping to make sense of the ordeal. All anyone knew was that playtime had been going as expected- aliens, giant mutated muffins, ancient prophecies, a normal Tuesday- when suddenly Bonnie took off out of the room crying out for her mom. She hadn't gotten hurt or anything dire like that, but she had run off with Buzz in her hands.

"Hey, Jess…" Woody tried for the third time, needing help and attempting to get the cowgirl's attention. Though she was doing a remarkable job of hiding it, no toy was more worried at the moment than Jessie. She stood near the door and finally perked up at Woody's call hurrying over to the others. "You were closest," Woody continued, "Did you see what happened?"

Jessie shook her head, "No, it's like you said, one minute we were all playing and the next something happened and Bonnie bolted."

"Ohh" Rex moaned, nervously, "I bet something awful happened."

Jessie shot him a glare that could freeze a snowman and the dinosaur quieted immediately though he continued rubbing his tiny hands together.

"Probably wasn't anything big," Hamm scoffed, "Buzzy boy probably busted a light bulb or something."

"Or maybe she hit that Spanish mode of his," Mr. Potato Head chuckled to the pig but they too both shrunk when Jessie turned her glare on them.

"I'm sure it's nothing guys," Woody, always the voice of reason, said, "Bonnie was probably overreacting and she and Buzz'll be back here in no time."

As if someone had thought to make the Sheriff's words true, Bonnie's voice could be heard coming up the stairs and toward the bedroom door. The toys quickly scrambled, running back to whatever place they had been when Bonnie left. They had been mixed up so haphazardly because of the game that she wouldn't even notice that Buttercup and Pricklepants had switched places. The door opened and Bonnie trudged through the room.

"It'll be alright hunny, you'll see." Her mom said from the door way. "Just leave Buzz over there were he can't get hurt again and we'll get him fixed up later."

As her boots stomped across the floor Bonnie mumbled "But how's he suppose to save the universe now."

"What was that young lady?"

"Nothing," Bonnie sighed defeatedly. She walked over to the closet and set Buzz on the highest shelf she could reach.

"See, he's fine. Now, let's go. We have to meet your aunt for lunch in twenty minutes." Bonnie sighed again beginning to make her way out of the room but hurried back over to the closet and kissed Buzz on the head whispering "I'm sorry" before running out after her mom.

The toys stayed frozen a little longer than normal after they left. It was partially to make sure the coast was clear partially because no one knew what to do. Woody moved first, peering down at the others from his spot on the bed and motioning them toward the center of the room. Quietly, the toys all followed the cowboy's lead and made a small circle, all of their eyes fixed on the closet doors. They weren't completely shut but there was no sign of Buzz yet.

Woody shared a glance with Dolly and the small rag doll started addressing the gathered toys. The cowboy tried to hide his worry as he stepped over toward Jessie who was a little ways from the group, subconsciously messing with her braid and staring at the doors. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder but she nearly jumped in surprise. "I think you should go check on him," he told her quietly.

Jessie pursed her lips. "Are you sure it shouldn't be you?" Woody looked at her pointedly and she fixed her gaze back on the doors. "Can you handle them?"

"I wouldn't be much of a sheriff if I couldn't calm down the citizens would I?" Woody smiled.

Jessie smiled as well and took a deep breath. As she approached the darkened closet her smile faded. She was worried enough about not knowing what had happened, but the fact that Buzz hadn't come out yet worried her even more. Her mind had been working overtime and her imagination over actively since the incident. On the plus side, she was prepared for almost everything from dead batteries to broken wings to the space ranger's entire head having popped off. Jessie shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts from her mind. She took another deep breath as she stepped through the open doors.

"Buzz?" she asked the darkness quietly, happy her voice didn't shake. There was no answer. "Buzz are you in here?" she tried again straining her neck to look up at the shelf Bonnie had placed the toy on. Nothing moved, but she could make out the soft glow of the ranger's suit set back closer to the wall. Jessie frowned at the silence. "I'm coming up there," she warned and when there was again no answer she began making the perilous journey.

The path to the high shelf was usually a tricky one but it was even more so when Jessie's mind started racing with nightmare scenarios again. Maybe Hamm was right, maybe Buzz had switched modes again. The last time he went Spanish though he had been far from silent. He had been flamboyant and just a little bit nuts. Jessie was sure if "El Buzzo" was around he definitely wouldn't be hiding from her or the others. A sudden thought hit her and she nearly lost her precarious footing on the edge of the hanger she was perched on. She quickly recovered but couldn't stop her brain from continuing. What if he had been reset to Space Ranger mode, the one who thought he was the real Buzz Lightyear? Jessie tried to push aside the memories of Sunnyside that infiltrated her consciousness. She refused to let that fear stop her. With new resolve she hurried on to her destination. Whatever was wrong with Buzz she needed to know.

When she reached the shelf, she carefully pulled herself up and onto her feet. Readjusting her hat on her head, she scanned the area. There, in the far corner against the wall, was Buzz. He was motionless as if he still wasn't aware she was there. His suit still glowed brightly and from what she could assess he was in one piece. Jessie took a few steps toward him and tried to get his attention again, "Buzz?"

He still didn't move and she began to wonder if maybe he was still in toy mode. This theory deteriorated though as she examined his face. There was no sign of a toy grin or vacant gaze, just a deep frown and down cast eyes.

"Buzz you're starting to scare me. What the heck's going on?" As her boot fell again she noticed the space ranger wince ever so slightly. Jessie froze. Did he really not want to talk to her that badly?

Buzz didn't look up but when he finally spoke his voice was distance and sad, "I'm fine. I just want to be alone right now."

The words hurt almost more than him physically shrinking away. Jessie knew she had a short temper and she was pretty sure up until this point she had been very patient, but she wasn't about to let him push her away like this. "You're obviously not fine Buzz or else you wouldn't be hiding. Look I don't know what happened down there, but I can't help you if you won't talk to me."

There was a heavy silence as Buzz continued to avoid her gaze. Jessie was doing a fairly good job of glaring a hole through his plastic head. Finally he looked up at her with those melancholy blue eyes. Jessie flinched slightly, overcome with an urge to hug him, to hold on and never let go, but that obviously wasn't what he wanted. "Fine," she said, her words coming out with more ice than she had intended. "I'll leave you alone. But if you do end up wanting to talk, we'll all be down there and we're all worried."

With the last bit of guilt trip Jessie started to make her way back across the shelf away from Buzz. She was so upset she wanted to hit something or spit nails, but she tried her hardest to keep her emotions in check. It seemed like every time she though she and Buzz were getting closer they took another step back. He had been so good about being open with her lately that this sudden system shut down hurt that much worse.

"Jessie, wait," his voice was so faint she almost wasn't sure he had wanted her to hear it. The cowgirl turned on her heels and looked back at him. In those short moments his dark eyes had somehow managed to look more upset and mad as she was she couldn't hold on to her anger. "I.. I'm sorry."

Jessie slowly made her way back over to the space toy and crouched down next to him. She gingerly placed her hand underneath his chin and tilted his face up so his gaze met hers. "What happened?"

"It was, it was my arm," he admitted turning toward her enough that she could see his left side for the first time. There were arm should have been was nothing, just a big vacant hole. Jessie blinked at the sight as he continued. "It's an old injury. I guess the joint just wasn't strong enough."

Jessie knew about the old injury, part of the crazy story of Sid's house and the one called Mrs. Nesbit but didn't realize that it still affected the space ranger. "Is that it?" She said plainly and he looked up at her again with wider blue eyes. "I thought this was something life shattering."

Buzz continued to look at her in confusion, "I… it is! My arm is gone Jessie."

"And if you give mom two seconds when she gets back and she'll have it popped back in."

"Yeah, but…"

"But nothing. Buzz, we're toys, we break sometimes, it happens."

"Says the girl who's never even popped a stitch."

"Well, what can I say," she smiled, "they just don't make toys like they use to." Buzz still wasn't seeing any humor in the situation and Jessie sighed. "Look, I may have been lucky to go this long without anything happening but it's inevitable one of these days. Heck, Woody's from the same decade as me and you remember his arm falling off too. He pitched a fit and where did it get him?"

Buzz looked away from her, "You're right, it's just…" he trailed off for a second collecting his thoughts, "I mean, you heard Bonnie. How am I supposed to defend the galaxy like this?"

"I'm sure Star Command has a great disabilities package. You'd probably be set for life." He finally smiled and Jessie couldn't help but grin back. She was happy to make him feel better but deep down she still wanted to kick her for trying to push her away in the first place. "Kidding aside, you know Bonnie's crazy about you and she'd play with you even if you had no limbs at all. She's wants you to get back to saving the day asap and she's worried about you just like all those toys down there are. Just like I am."

"I'm sorry I worried you all," Buzz sighed but looked far less upset that he had earlier, "I should have just let you know what happened and dealt with it instead of hiding and sulking. You're right."

Jessie's eyebrow rose playfully, "You should know by now that I always am. Come' ere" As he rolled his eyes at her, Jessie took hold of his good arm and pulled it over her head firmly placing his hand on her waist. She settled back into his embrace and smiled contently, "See, you can still do important things with one arm."

Buzz smiled as well and kissed the top of her head lightly. Their quiet moment was interrupted suddenly by the sound of Woody's voice down below. "Hey Jess! Are you up there? I can't hold them off much longer. Is Buzz okay?"

Jessie immediately jumped from Buzz's hold and scurried over to the edge of the shelf, peering over the edge and at the sheriff. "He's fine," she called back. "His arm fell off though."

When she looked back at Buzz, his mouth stood agape as if she had just shared his deepest secret with the world. Before she could say anything Woody spoke again, "Is that it? So everyone will stop freaking out"

"Is that the best idea?" Jessie asked.

"Why not?"

"Cause if we explain it then you'll have to explain to Bonnie's toys the story of how his arm got loose in the first place. Do you really want to tell them about trying to push Buzz out the window?"

It was Woody's turn to look like a fish gasping for air. "I…" he squeaked out. "I didn't push him!"

"Didn't push who?" Buttercup's voice came from outside the closet.

Woody quickly launched into damage control when he heard Hamm and Potato Head start telling the story of Buzz's arrival in Andy's room. He raced out of the closet leaving Jessie and Buzz alone again.

When Jessie turned back to Buzz he was smirking instead of glaring at her like she feared he would. The cowgirl got onto her feet and walked back to the space man again. "We should probably get down there so everyone calms down," she said offering him a hand.

"I'll probably need help to get down," Buzz admitted, as he took her hand and got to his feet, "

"I won't let you fall," She said, kissing his cheek lightly and making her way to the edge of the shelf, "Though I've heard you've been known to fall with style."