Hello, my friends! I've missed you all very much! I haven't been on here for a while because I've been working so much and I by the time I get to the computer to write, I'm so tired I can't see straight. Each passing day that I don't complete and publish an update on any of my stories, I feel bad. I have been working on chapters, I promise. They're just not ready yet.

Plus, the passed few months have been rough with financial struggles, my sister's health challenges, and taking care of our grandma. Our sweet grandma passed away yesterday! She's been on hospice for a while, but the other night she had a horrible time, physically then declined quickly yesterday. I'm so thankful to know she won't ever have to go through any more suffering again. She loved Jesus, so I absolutely know she is at peace.

Bonnie had been home for four days now. It was wonderful having their kid back! They were all together, they could slowly feel the serene circle of life begin to surround them again. Slinky and the others were still shook up, but Bonnie's delightful presence was a cathartic distraction to them, as they began to bounce back into the routine of looking forward every night to playtime with Bonnie the next day.

Woody and Mitsy's bodies no longer bore the brunt of their torture. However, their minds were still full. Mitsy was still skittish, especially at night and she always stayed inside the house.

Wheezy and Jiminy were fitting in just fine. The penguin seemed to be warming up to his new home, especially since he was no longer alone and surrounded by his old friends.

Slinky still seemed anxious when it came to greeting his friends in the morning, so convinced that they were judging him for be a scaredy cat. And loud noises and now heights rattled him. Slinky didn't want to admit it, but Woody, Buzz, and Jessie had convinced him to see Dolly at the clinic and let her check him over. Dolly had reached the conclusion that poor Slinky had now developed a fear of heights and loud noises, a symptom of PTSD from his near death experience. Slinky felt humiliated.

"Don't be ashamed, Slink." Jessie encouraged him. "You're not a coward. Not you! You've thrown yurself into plenty of trouble to give your pals a paw. Naw, Slink. You are brave." Jessie rubbed his ears.

"I was brave." Slinky corrected her, his head droopy. "But what about the next time? I don't wanna freeze up, unable to help my pals!"

"Slink," Jessie murmured, "do ya think I am a coward when I have those terrifying panic attacks?"

"Jess-"

"Do you?"

"No, Jess. 'Course I don't." Slinky said firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because you can't help it. You don't choose it. It just comes on you."

"And what makes my panic attacks different from yours?"

"It's just-" Slinky began, but clapped his chops shut. Jessie hugged him. Slinky remained silent. He was done talking about this.

Woody was feeling a bit more like his old self, taking on responsibilities as co-lead toy with Buzz, Jessie, and Dolly. He had flashbacks in the night of the Spikes Toy Gang, but he no longer woke up screaming, much to his relief. Bonnie was a spark of renewal to her playmates.

Every night when Buzz and Jessie checked on Mitsy, she was awake but assured them that she was okay. Her mind screamed the opposite, Have to stay awake! Have to stay awake! I don't want to hurt my friends, even if it is an accident! What if I can't control it? What if I REALLY hurt them?

"Hey! Blondie?" Buttercup teased, nudging Mitsy's arms.

"What?" She groaned icily, confused.

"When are you going to snap out of it? You've been doing nothing but walking around like a rain-cloud all the time. And half the time, you rudely ignore everyone."

"Maybe you would too if you'd almost gotten killed!" Mitsy snapped.

"Come on." Buttercup sighed. "When are you gonna get back into the swing of things?"

"And have we mentioned that you're about as attractive as faded cologne?" Hamm added. "Have you taken a good look in the mirror lately?"

"Just-shut up!" Mitsy cried. Grasping her head, she raced away.

"Leave her alone!" Slinky growled, coming into view. "What's the matter with ya?"

"Oh, brother. Don't get your coils kinked, Slink." Hamm said.

"You two don't have a darn clue what it feels like to-"

"To mope around all day?" Buttercup asked. Slinky glared and stomped away.

Mitsy staggered around in a daze. He head hurt, her legs felt like concrete, and the room was becoming more and more cloudy. She collided into something hard that scraped her nose. "Ugh!" She gritted her teeth, shaking her head, blinking.

"Whoa, you okay, Mitsy?" Buzz asked.

"I'm fine." Mitsy said flatly, struggling to get back up.

"You don't look fine, Princess. You look really bad." Buzz pointed out. Mitsy just shrugged and clumsily rose to her feet. She kept blinking to see straight. "I think Dolly better-"

"I'm fine, Buzz!" Mitsy curtly cut him off. "Just...have to...go...to...ket…"

"Alright, that's it." Buzz said firmly. "You need a rest."

Mitsy waved him off and stomped away-well, more like stumbled away. Have to...stay...awake...have to…

"I suggest we tweak the rules for the playground." Jiminy said to Dolly, Woody, Jack, Chuckles, and Jessie. "I've noticed the kids have been playing rougher lately."

"Probably overexcited now that Bonnie's home." Jessie sighed.

"But Jiminy's right. They need to learn to play fair, and know where to draw the line when it comes to being rowdy." Woody said.

"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late." Buzz stated as he took a seat next to Jessie.

"We've barely started, Buzz. So you're good." Dolly smiled.

"By the way, have you all looked at Mitsy lately? She's looks exhausted." Buzz remarked.

"I have noticed!" Jessie agreed. "Woody, have you tried talking to her?"

"Yeah, but she says she's just sitting tight." Woody said.

"When was the last time she slept?" Buzz asked.

"I don't know." Jessie shrugged. "But it hasn't been enough!"

"Well, soon as we're done, I'll take a look at her." Dolly said. "Maybe I can convince her to get some rest."

"Would appreciate it, Dolly." Woody smiled. "We should make a call on Bobby's toys. They-"

"Guys!" Rex hollered shrilly.

"What is it this time?" Jessie sprang to her feet.

"Help!" Rex wailed. But he was scurrying over to them before they left their meeting circle. He was carrying Mitsy in his arms. "She's...she's...ohhhh! I think she's dead for sure this time!" Rex declared.

"Calm down, Rex! Will you?" Woody scolded.

Jessie caught Mitsy in her arms and Dolly waddled over to her. The princess was unconscious. "I think the sleepless nights have finally caught up to her." Dolly said. "Lets' put her in the clinic so she can rest quietly."

"Right." Jessie nodded and walked into the cardboard box Bonnie had fixed up as the medical facility for her characters when they were hurt or sick.

"You think she'll be alright, Dolly?" Woody asked worriedly.

"If she doesn't sneak out like other certain hard-heads I know, yes, she will." Dolly said with her hand on her hips. "Though, honestly, I think she's too out to make the attempt. I'll look after her. You all finish up. I trust you to make the right decisions."

"Thanks, Dolly." Buzz nodded.

"Maybe she'll finally get some real rest." Woody said wearily. "I've noticed she's been really out of it."

"Yeah. But she'll be alright, Woody."

"Sure she will. Well," Woody stretched, "back to work, partners!"

That night while Bonnie was at a school function with her parents, Dolly kept Mitsy in the clinic. She was totally zonked. Woody, Buzz, Jack, Jiminy, Chuckles, and Jessie gathered the kids together and told them of the new playground rules they'd be enforcing, which the little greens were not thrilled about. Jessie promised that if they cooperated like good little ones, she'd teach them some real cowboy rope tricks as a reward. They were more eager to please after that.

Slinky's ears instantly perked up and he lifted his nuzzle off of Bonnie's small fingers. He stood anxiously and leaned harder toward the window to heighten his hearing. There it was again! "Uh oh!" He breathed. He scampered over to Woody. "Woody! Woody!" He whispered loudly, shaking the cowboy's shoulder.

"Wha-Slink, what's wrong?" Woody yawned.

"I hear something skulkin' aroun' outside!" Slinky replied.

"You sure?"

"Are you seriously gonna ask me that?" Slinky glared.

"Alright, alright! Sorry." Woody assured him, getting up. "Get Buzz!" Slinky slid down to rouse Buzz in the bean bag while Woody cautiously approached the window.

"Woody! What's going on?" Jack murmured.

"Something's out there!" Woody whispered back. Jack instantly hopped to his feet.

"Any intel on our mysterious intruder, Woody?" Buzz asked quietly, following him and Jack with Slinky in tow. Woody shook his head. He held his index finger to his mouth, then waved to the opposite side of the window sill, indicating that Buzz and Slinky should make their way over there so that they could all catch the phantom without him having much chance to escape. The space ranger and the slinky dog were in place. Jack prepared to leap over the sill and pin whomever was sneaking around.

Buzz made a number three hand signal and silently lipped the countdown. Jack lept over the sill as did Slinky, growling and snarling. "Hey!" A familiar voice cried, guffawed.

"Got him, Woody!" Slinky called.

"Bring him in!" Buzz yelled back, aiming his laser up.

Jack and Slinky both peeked back over the wall of Bonnie's bedroom. The two had a flailing figure between their paws. "Hey, fellas! Tell them to put me down!"

"Matt?!" Buzz and Woody froze.

What does he want?