Author's Notes: I apologize! I meant to get this out yesterday but it was a crazy day for me! Thanks!
A soft pale, almost translucent hand brushed up against exquisitely soft sheets. Bo Peep had not been in a comfortable bed for ages. She would have been in complete bliss resting there if it hadn't been for the soreness in her leg and the hint of the headache she'd suffered previously…
She jerked her head up after it struck her that she had no idea where she was.
The aftershocks of the migraine met her with the sudden movement, making her vision blurry. She clutched her throbbing temples, attempting to sort shapes and colors.
Bo was startled to find a figure by a window. After noticing that she was up, it started to move toward her. She snapped into defensive mode.
"Not another step!" she managed to fumble out, pointing a finger at the shadow.
It stopped, raising hands out of surprise.
"Bo, what's wrong?" cried a very distinct voice.
Her vision was clear now. There was no denying it. "Slinky?"
Slinky sat down on the bed beside her. "You alright?"
She wasted no time in throwing her arms around him. "Oh Slink, it's so good to see you."
He patted her gently. "You too, Bo. Didn't know what to think when we'd lost contact with you. Last thing Woody had sent to us was that you'd been kidnapped…"
Bo released Slinky and placed her hands on his shoulders. "How did I get here? I-I can't remember. I was in the desert…" She rubbed her temples, trying to concentrate.
Slinky looked puzzled. "You were found collapsed outside of Potatohead's place. Gave him quite the shock."
"But… How? Oh Slink, so much has happened I don't know where to even begin."
Slinky studied her for a moment. "How 'bout we head over the doctor's place to get your leg looked at first? You can start to explain whenever you're ready."
Jessie couldn't recall how long she'd been awake. Perhaps an hour or two now, or at least that's what it felt like. She remembered finding herself on the cold hard familiar white tile that was unmistakably a Star Command vessel. Her head still hurt. One of the Rangers had conked her on the head in the cave. It was probably Buzz, seeing as the other Rangers would have been satisfied to leave her dead in the dark, but she liked to pretend it wasn't him.
The second thing the cowgirl noticed after waking up was the blaring red lasers serving as the means to keep her imprisoned. Her little cell was small and cramped, which gave the redhead horrendous flashbacks. At the very least, it wasn't completely dark. The white glow from outside of her cell kept her hopes up a bit.
She heard footsteps down the hallway, and bits and pieces of a conversation.
"She'll say anything to make you doubt yourself," Jessie picked out as the voices grew closer. She sat up and leaned against the back wall.
McNairy and Buzz rounded the corner into view. The cowgirl eyed McNairy with disgust. He had never been a pretty face to look at, but more than ever he seemed utterly repulsive with each little beady eye fixed right back at her, protruding teeth flashing dangerously.
"I will extract the information needed, Secretary," Buzz stated firmly. Jessie shifted her attention to the Ranger. His body was rigid and devoid of emotion.
"Very well, Lightyear. Alert me of any new information." McNairy waved a claw and stalked off, leaving Buzz and Jessie alone.
The cowgirl raised an amused eyebrow as she watched the Ranger approach her.
"You gonna let me out or what?" she remarked, crossing her arms.
"Ms. Pride, do you know why you are still alive?" Buzz asked coldly.
"Because you know deep down that you love me."
"It is because Secretary McNairy believed you might contain useful information in regards to the whereabouts of Bo Peep."
Jessie scoffed. "Tell yourself whatever you'd like to believe."
"I don't understand how you can be so unbelievably overconfident in your present situation."
"If we're talking about overconfidence, let's talk about your pal McNairy. He left us in a room alone, convinced that I wouldn't be able to reach you when I already have."
For the first time, Buzz allowed agitation to be read on his face. "You were muttering something about Ms. Peep in your sleep. Care to elaborate?"
"You were watching me sleep?" Jessie grinned.
The Ranger practically punched a panel next to the cowgirl's cell, causing the red lasers separating the two to disappear. Jessie's smile dropped. She couldn't help feel the fear creeping up the back of her neck. She didn't move.
Buzz approached her, squatting down to eye level, emotion once again vacant from his face. Jessie was used to being able to read his thoughts based on his eyes alone. Now the cerulean eyes staring back at her were without any depth. It was almost like they were painted on. He didn't speak, which frightened the redhead.
"I don't know where Bo is, anymore than you do," she told him, pretending like it was still her Buzz under the suit. "They didn't know I was gonna do what I did. And I can say with complete honesty that we didn't even have time to make plans. Bo and Woody could be anywhere by now."
"Then your existence has become obsolete…" Buzz said while turning to leave the cell.
"Wait!" Jessie caught his arm. The touch seemed to electrify the Ranger, and momentarily he stood as if suspended in time. Not long after, however, his agitation returned in full force. He grasped the cowgirl's hand and threw her downward. She shrunk away, pressing against the back wall of her cell, eyes as wide as plates.
It hadn't hurt, not physically anyway. But the pain that grew beneath the surface made was worse than any bodily harm she had ever experienced by far.
Buzz stared at her a moment as Jessie fought back tears. He hid his emotion well, but the redhead could have sworn she spotted sadness ebbing at his cerulean eyes.
The lasers returned.
"If I am no longer of any use, what will you do with me?" Jessie asked softly after swallowing the lump formed from crying back down her throat.
"Do you remember why you are still alive?" Buzz asked with his back turned away, possibly to hide his face.
"You asked me to marry you."
The Ranger stiffened. He remained silent, but did not move.
"Do you know the real reason why I caused that cave in?" Jessie tried again. "I know it should have been because I wanted Bo to get away, and I guess that was a part of it, but really it was because I had to get to you.
"They did something to you Buzz. McNairy wants to use Bo's blood to control the Universe and you are only a tool to manipulate us. But you can beat them, I know you can. You just have to remember us. You have to remember me."
Buzz remained still for a few moments, and then walked out without looking back leaving Jessie alone with her thoughts.