CHAPTER 2 – Problem
Woody walked under the table and nudged the sleeping spacebot with his foot.
"Ugh. Five more minutes." Buzz muttered sleepily, as Jessie crawled under the table too, forgetting her feelings for a moment, wanting to watch what was going on. Woody nudged Buzz a second time.
"No Mommy, I want to stay home and bake with you today..." Buzz turned over. Jessie couldn't believe it. She'd never seen the sleep talking side of Buzz, and it was hilarious! She watched as Woody leaned down and shook the sleeping space ranger.
"Buzz," he hissed, "wake up..." Buzz muttered something Jessie didn't hear and turned back over.
"What?" he said, pulling himself upright and staring around him. His eyes landed first on Woody, then as he shifted in position, his gaze met Jessie's, and despite herself, the cowgirl blushed.
"You were dreaming, pard'ner," Woody gained Buzz's attention again, "And boy...that's a nice sleep technique you've got there. The whole thumb sucking thing." Now it was Buzz's turn to blush.
"I haven't done that since I was a space cadet," he confessed, pulling himself to a standing position and turning to protect himself from the amused stares of both of the others.
"It's ok, Buzz, we won't tell, will we Woody?" Jessie stepped forward and kicked Woody lightly on the back of the leg.
"Ow..." Woody whipped his head round, and Jessie glared at him. "Oh. No...I guess not..." Woody concurred, rubbing his leg. Buzz turned back and threw Jessie a grateful smile, which she returned before turning to wander back out into the early morning light, afraid she would laugh in Buzz's face. She needed to keep him on her good side after all!
Under the tea table Buzz and Woody looked at each other. A moment of awkward silence passed between them. "So..." Buzz started to say, but Woody stopped him.
"Look, Buzz," he admitted with a sigh, "I said to Jessie I wouldn't say anything, and I won't. But you have to admit, you have a problem."
"It's just a method of comfort, Woody. There's no harm in it." Buzz countered defensively.
"Comfort? What on earth do you need comfort for?" Woody hissed in amazement. "You've got a nice kid, a roof over your head, three square playtimes a day, who could want more than that?"
"I guess it just never really hit me how lonely being a toy really is. It's ok for humans, I mean, look at Andy, he's all grown up, in a few years he'll be back from college, with a girlfriend, maybe even in a few more years, a wife and kids of his own..." Buzz trailed off. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that toys need lifelong companionship too. Not just from a human, but from each other."
"But Buzz, we're all friends here. There's no Lotso's in this room. The other toys have been really good about Bonnie taking us in, even Trixie, who's probably used to being the only dinosaur in the place since Rex arrived."
Buzz gave a long drawn out sigh, turning and walking a few paces away , coming to a stop by the edge of the table, and resting one hand on the wooden leg there. "I'm talking about something more than friendship, Woody. I don't expect you to understand..."
"Not understand?" Woody hissed loudly. "You don't expect me to understand the complex issue of...this...infatuation thing?" Buzz turned to look at the cowboy doll as Woody continued, "Don't forget, I lost Bo. I understand what it is to feel a connection with someone..."
"Whoa, cowboy." Buzz held up his hands to stop Woody's tirade. "I'm not saying you don't know what it is to feel a connection. I'm just saying, I'd like to have that sort of...relationship with someone as well." He looked straight at Woody.
Woody was a bit taken aback. "Let me get this straight, you, Buzz Lightyear, thumb sucker extraordinaire, (he ignored the glare Buzz threw at him at this point), Mr To Infinity and Beyond...wants a relationship?"
"Is that so difficult to believe?" Buzz folded his arms and continued to stare at Woody.
"Well yes, for one reason. Who in their right mind would take you on?" Woody shot Buzz a look out of the corner of his eye.
"I...I don't know?" Buzz admitted sheepishly. Woody had to laugh.
"Well, there's not many to choose from after all this. I mean, Bonnie doesn't have a huge inventory of toys like Andy did...she's more...careful with her selections I suppose. I mean, apart from Buttercup, who I guess isn't the right species...and Trixie...who's also the wrong species, and Dolly...well, she's sweet but not the most level-headed toy in the trunk...the only other girl around here is Jessie."
"Ugh." Buzz winced. "Jessie would be like dating your sister."
"She is my sister!" Woody retorted. "What, is there something wrong with my family connections?"
Buzz blinked. "No."
"Then why isn't she good enough for you?" Woody glowered.
"She's just...she's like family. I've known her years, but she's not...she's kind of not in the zone."
"What zone? The Twilight Zone?"
"No, Woody. She's just...I feel there's a line there, and if I was to cross it, I'd be..." Buzz paused.
"...incredibly happy?" Woody finished with a sly smile.
"Yes...no. I mean...oh I don't know!" Buzz covered his face with his hands. Woody came across to the space toy and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You can't help it if you like her, Buzz."
"What?" Buzz uncovered his face and looked up. "I didn't say anything of the sort."
"Your demeanour tells me otherwise."
Buzz coughed and drew himself up to his full height again. "Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed, and marched off. Woody watched him with a smile. "We'll just see who the ridiculous one is," he murmured to Buzz's retreating form.