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Buzz was aware what the afterlife for toys was. Or, at least, what he considered to be an afterlife.
When he first got into and out of it, he could not help but feel something akin of deep dread - as if he glanced into the dark matter between stars and realized, that it is endless. As a space ranger, Buzz was familiar with that fear, but somehow it became much more intense for him as a toy, and that only added to his confusion. Fortunately, he had his new friend nearby to share the experience with. To be precise, this friend was putting a second battery into his case, when Buzz woke up.
Woody had understood him, although he had never experienced anything like this himself. The cowboy doll said, that it was a common thing among the toys who operated on batteries. The separate power source was unreliable and had its limits, after all. Later, Mike the microphone confirmed Woody's words. That was the time, when Buzz completely accepted the fact, that he was a toy.
Since then, Woody paid attention to his batteries and asked Buzz to tell him as soon as possible, when the ranger was beginning to feel the specific heaviness in his limbs and haze in his head. He did not really have to do it, because Andy would notice, if his beloved space ranger action figure stopped "talking", and change the batteries himself. But Woody would not be Woody, if he just stood aside. He did it for other toys as well, but Buzz could swear, that the Sheriff was most careful with him in particular, and appreciated it greatly.
The simple appreciation gradually grew into something deeper over the years. Woody could be a huge pain in the ass, it was an undeniable fact, but Buzz knew his other side, which surfaced, when he maintained Buzz's battery case or Buzz himself helped him to soften his old cotton. Or when they talked through the night, be them on a windowsill or in Andy's bed. Buzz cherished those moments of only two of them being alone, but never told about them to others, because he did not see a need for it.
He could not predict, that it would bite him many years later.
Woody had gone away with Bo to become the "lost toy". Buzz himself had encouraged him, as he had seen the troubled mind of his friend then. He mentally punched himself on his head for that for uncountable times later: not for letting go, but for not helping his friend much, much earlier. There was no wonder Woody decided to leave, as Buzz considered his own actions as outright traitorous. The old rag doll surely had taken them as such, and it led to the decision. The last warm embrace lingered on Buzz's shoulders, making him feel even more blameworthy.
The ranger stood with Bonnie, of course. The others grieved over Woody for some time after they recognized, that it really had happened, but soon, the routine took over. Jessie was busy with newcomers, which Bonnie created at school. Andy's toys helped her, but only so much, and Bonnie's ones took their distance from strange toys made of scraps. Buzz helped a lot, mostly to get rid of harrowing thoughts and to lessen Jessie's burden. The cowgirl was enormously grateful for it, but she admitted, that she was getting more and more tired. She did not look as lively as she used to be around Buzz, and he guessed, why. The whole room was not the same without a certain element.
Naturally, nobody guessed about Buzz's batteries. He never asked anyone to change them in time, too, as he knew by now, what putting extra weight on Jessie's shoulders could cause, and he could not push himself to trust anyone else aside her near his battery case. The memories of Lotso's henchmen were still vivid.
So, he began to slip into the afterlife every two or three months. In the first time, he was expecting to see the starry abyss, like it was back then, but, to his surprise, instead, he found himself in Andy's room. There was no doubt about it: he knew the furniture. Just like thirteen years ago in their second house, aside from wallpapers, which were covered not by yellow stars, but fluffy clouds pattern.
Neither Andy nor Mom were in the room, and Buzz did not feel presence of any human in the house. However, there were toys. Much fewer, then had been in the long gone reality, but Buzz knew all of them. He met Mike, whose microphone was fully functional now, Lenny and RC. He found out, that Wheezy and Mr. Shark became best friends there. He also always took his time to play scribbles with Etch-a-Sketch, making it happy beyond words. Nobody told Buzz, how exactly they ended up there, in the perpetually warm room with pleasant golden rays of early twilight coming from the window, but they insisted, that they had never been more at ease. Toys waited patiently for their owner to come, but did not wish him to do it anytime soon. They did not really want Buzz to stay there, either, and the ranger understood, why. His time did not come, and two threads, which connected him to reality, were still thick.
He always returned, as the first battery was put inside by Mom's or Dad's confident fingers. After it, he continued on his everyday duties, as if nothing happened - and never told anyone about his experience. He knew, that even if the toys on the other side were content, the news would break hearts of his pals and nobody would understand him anyway.
The routine continued until the next slip, and after it, again and again. Occasionally, after more or less calm days, Buzz and Jessie searched the parents' computer for the carnival and its location. Not that it was useful in any way, but knowing, where Woody could be, brought them a strange kind of relief. Jessie was even getting back to her old self after it, which was making Buzz feel butterflies in his stomach.
They stopped doing it after a certain episode, when Buzz found Jessie crying into the mane of devastated Bullseye - without tears, as toys did not have them - in the corner of the closet. He tried to soothe her and to learn the reason, but the only thing Buzz understood was that it was not caused by exhaustion. She huddled to him trustingly, Buzz hugged her back, and they spent an hour together in silence. Since then, Jessie avoided the computer at all costs, even if Dolly or Buttercup encouraged her. Buzz did not want to continue on searchings too, for some reason. Probably, it was an urge to support the new Sheriff, but, most possibly, it was because of a dark feeling inside, as if something vital had snapped.
A month after it Buzz's batteries reached their limits again.
---
The space ranger felt the familiar warmth, like it used to be in early Fall. He opened his eyes and pulled up the dark blue sheet of Andy's bed to get outside. He got used to it by now. Like always, he saw toys - they ran closer to the "entrance" to greet the newcomer. Now, they were more agitated, than usual.
"It's you! Batteries again, I guess?" said Mike fondly. Seeing Buzz's nod, he jumped on place. "Then, come on, quickly, you can't waste your time!"
"What's going on?" asked Buzz in confusion. It was very different from usual peaceful serenity of the locals.
"You won't regret, I promise!" said Lenny, while Wheezy tugged on the ranger's hand impatiently.
Buzz went after them, baffled by the unusual atmosphere. Now, it was like in the actual Andy's room, and his wires grew colder at the first guess. What if Andy..? When he left the bed shadow and looked up instinctively, his wires almost short-circuited.
He saw a thin, lanky figure on the windowsill. Pinkish orange light reflected on a painfully familiar hat and a line of cheekbones.
It couldn't be...
"Woody! Look, who's there!" called Wheezy.
The figure turned around instantly by a clumsy movement Buzz knew so well. Large, brown eyes looked down at the toys and then, at Buzz. The ranger felt his jaw dropping, just like the doll's one.
"B-buzz..?" Woody gasped.
Buzz could only nod.
"Buzz!!!"
In two long jumps, Woody got to him and clinged to his armor by all four limbs, making strange half-laughing half-sobbing sounds. Buzz felt something hard under cotton with his chest, an untouched surface of the vest and a plastic ring with his hand. The voice box was in its place, just like Etch's magnets and Mike's sound plate. That could mean only one thing.
Buzz hugged his friend even tighter and broke down no better, than Jessie did two months ago.
---
"...That's alright." said Woody later, on the windowsill. "It's cozy here, always warm and dry. I like it."
"How did you end up here?" asked Buzz feebly. He was slightly ashamed of his reaction, but Woody did not seem to mind it.
"Not the best story. Let's just say, I don't regret that I decided to stay here." The cowboy looked down, flinching.
"But you could come back to Bonnie!"
"Not in the state I was left in." said Woody and smiled to Buzz. "Had to be more careful, but nobody can forsee what happens next."
Buzz sighed bitterly. He actually could forsee, what the cowboy's reckless decision to save Forky could lead to, and had done nothing about it. And now, his best friend was dead. Probably, torn apart by an animal or some cruel kid, or got irreparable by nature forces, or burnt as trash. There were too many dangers in the wilderness, even more so for a cloth toy. Seeing Woody in such peace hurt Buzz's insides, because he knew the reason for it.
"Will you forgive me?" He asked, not raising his head.
"For what?" Woody frowned in his special manner, which made Buzz feel even worse. He realized, how much he missed the cowboy's expressions.
"For leaving you then."
"It was me, who left."
"No, earlier. I had to help you with Gabby Gabby, but I didn't."
"Oh, this." Woody laughed shortly and put his hand on Buzz's shoulder. "It's good that you didn't go with me then, or it would have ended up much worse for us both. It's not your fault, Buzz. Everything what's happened is not your fault. It's just... Happened, for better or worse."
Buzz looked at his friend suspiciously, to see, if he hid the true emotions, like he used to do. Woody looked straight at him, and his gaze was transparent. Golden sunset reflected on painted eyes and face, which looked like new without subtle scratches and signs of wear.
"Thank you." Buzz muttered. He took the vinyl hand absentmindedly and noticed, that Woody's eyes twinkled a bit.
The cowboy turned his body towards Buzz, as if to see him more clearly. Buzz paid attention to the absence of a badge, which was a bit strange in a place like this.
"What's your fault is that you still haven't told folks about your batteries." said Woody with a sudden spark of mischief in his voice. "Why do you keep going here? Guys told me that you appear from time to time."
"Er... Well..." Suddenly, Buzz found himself at loss of words and rubbed his neck. "Jessie is very busy, you are... were away, and I don't want anyone else to change them."
Woody blinked in concern and put his elbows on his knees, getting even closer to the ranger.
"I see. I understand it." he said seriously. "But I can see something else. Is there another reason?"
Buzz gulped. Woody looked at him sincerely, and without a doubt he still was a toy, but the ranger suddenly felt the difference between alive toys and the locals. He could lie or dodge the question, but Woody would not take it, because he already knew the answer. Buzz was sure of it.
"...I like this place." Buzz sighed, at last. "Usually, I don't want to leave, but I have to. Now, I don't want it even more."
Woody's expression changed. He furrowed his brows, turned away and blinked rapidly, biting his lower lip. Buzz felt an urge to hug him immediately and, maybe, do something he should have done much earlier, but he could not shake away the eldritch presence he sensed a minute ago.
"Yeah, I get it." muttered Woody. "I get it."
"What's the matter?"
"I'd wish you to stay, too."
The remains of the ominous atmosphere vaporized. Now, Buzz saw his friend just like he used to be when they were spending time alone.
"Then, I'll stay." said Buzz.
"No. I..." Woody rubbed his mouth, as if he did not want to speak. "Doesn't matter, what I want right now. Please, leave as soon as you can."
That was like a hit into a throat.
"Why?!" Buzz exclaimed, not getting the cowboy's logic at all.
"I missed you all that time, that's the truth. Missed you so much..." Woody's voice shook at those words. "But we will meet again and have all the time in the world later. It's up to you to decide, sure, but it's not your time yet. And I have one request, which can be done only in your world."
Buzz straightened up in full attention. One request. That sounded as the mission of the first importance for him.
"I ask you to care about Jessie." Woody looked at Buzz pleadingly. "She has a tough time and doesn't need to have it tougher for... Next months."
Buzz caught the pause in Woody's speech and felt shivers going down the spine.
"What do you mean?"
Now, Woody looked like a real lost toy. Not in a sense of a "free spirit", but an abandoned, desperate being.
"I just can see more than you." He said quietly. "She's my set sister, after all. Buzz, I'll be always waiting for you here, but promise me to look after her, okay? And don't even try to shorten your own time."
Buzz chilled at the last suggestion. Woody caught even that brief thought. The Sheriff would not forgive him for such weakness, and, besides, he could definitely be strong, if Woody asked him for it.
"I promise." Buzz said firmly.
"Thank you." Woody beamed, as if he saw something behind the words. "Say, how're the batteries?"
"Don't feel them."
"Oh, then, we have a bit more time on our hands!"
---
"The street looks like it was back then. Is it a decoration?"
"I don't think so. Lenny told me, that he has seen Granny Williams once down the street, and she looked like a young lady."
"Oh. So, humans stay here, too?"
"Maybe, if they want."
"Hey, look! The dog! Looks like our Buster!"
"Oh, here he is. It is our Buster, Buzz."
"He's here too..."
"Yeah, waits for Andy with us and hangs out with other dogs. He comes home occasionally, when he wants to play fetch."
"Isn't it dangerous? He's basically stray."
"What dangers, Buzz? There are none. The largest danger has already happened."
"That's true. It sounds like heaven, to be honest."
"A-ha, I don't think so. Heaven is like an eternal bliss, here's more of a mundane life, just without worries. Not everyone would like it. Bo wouldn't."
"What about her?"
"She's still alive, somewhere. I don't feel her like you, Jessie and Andy. That's unfair, to think, but, at least, honest."
"It's... Interesting."
"That's how you word it, eh?"
"?.. By the way, how do you know, what heaven's like?"
"I've just caught a glimpse. Don't know if toys go there, but if they do, then, I wasn't approved."
"Wise of them, they'd never handle such a restless ass like you."
"Hey! The window is right here, you know?"
"I know."
"Then shut up... Hey, hey, stop, that tickles!"
"I know."
"Wait, wait a second - how're the batteries?"
"No sign of them."
"Strange... Could our guys get at least a bit more of initiative without me hovering over them?!"
"Do you want me to leave?"
"...Not yet."
---
"Buzz?"
"Hmm?"
"The batteries?.."
"Still don't feel them."
"That's good..."
---
The sun hadn't moved an inch down to the horizon. Time was stagnant, so Buzz naturally did not know, how much of it he spent there. Probably, it was the reason for the local toys' patience.
Strangely, he himself felt more at ease in this weird place. It was as if earthy boundaries did not matter anything anymore. Woody seemed to feel like this too. The space ranger thought he had seen all of the doll's sides, the good, the bad and the ugly ones, but, apparently, he missed out something. Only here he saw Woody being actually happy and free to speak and act. Probably, it was the cowboy's real personality, which Buzz could never see, since it had been buried under decades of a need to keep face. The yearn to stay became even more fierce, but Buzz could not forget about the given promise.
Like always, he somehow knew, that the time was up. He finished a sketch on Etch, which was replaced by a sad face image.
"At last, they've remembered about you." Woody sneered, coming closer, and brushed his fingers over Buzz's plate.
Buzz pursed his lips, not looking at the cowboy. Manufacturer knew, he did not want to leave him again.
"Would you look at me?"
Buzz sighed and turned up. Woody had a wide, but crooked smile, his eyes glistened. Without a word, the ranger embraced his cowboy and felt a vinyl cheek on his neck. Just like back then, on the carousel.
"I'll wait for you." said Woody. "Just keep your promise."
"I will, cowboy." Buzz looked at him straightly. He wanted to kiss him again, for the last time, but it was too risky. "Then, to infinity?"
"And beyond."
---
"Here, Bonnie, now, he speaks!"
"Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!"
"Thanks, Mom! The ranger is here!"
Again, he was in the living world. Bonnie played with him, Jessie, Forky and others. It was a great way to delay the upcoming hangover.
To Buzz's surprise, he was out just for three or four hours. Jessie did not change his batteries, because Bonnie noticed her toy not speaking and Mom promised to buy spares. If toys did something by themselves, it would cause unnecessary suspicions. Buzz thanked them all for it, but never told the real reason for his gratefulness.
The last hug and the time spent in the Room left an aftertaste, which lasted for several days. Buzz often found himself not listening to others and barely reacting at the events in the room, especially during golden hours. Eventually, he managed to shake it off, as he overheard Trixie and Dolly gossiping about whom he could swoon over. It was ridiculous and untimely. There were months ahead before the supposed next meeting, and he had to keep the promise.
He discovered the reason for it sooner than he wished to, and it caused a tingle of an ominous deja vu.
Jessie was full of energy and fierce joy, like she always was - in front of others' eyes. With Buzz, she dropped the facade, but only so much, and kept saying, that she was "fine". But more and more often Buzz found her somewhere in a far corner, sitting alone with Bullseye. He wanted to get closer, but it felt like there was a transparent wall between the cowgirl with the horse and the outside world.
He had seen it already. He knew, where it could go. As different as they appeared, essentially the Round-Up duo were the same.
On one night, Buzz got together his wires at last and went to the sulking cowgirl. He has already lost her brother, and he could not let it happen to her.
They sat together, quietly, watching the full moon behind the window.
"I don't feel Woody." Suddenly, Jessie spoke, not turning to Buzz. "I didn't want to tell it to you, but..."
She warily looked at the space ranger, as if waiting for an obvious question. Buzz just nodded re-assuringly.
"I've always felt him, since we've met." Jessie continued. "It was like a tingling in the voice box. Sometimes it was more intense, and that meant, he was in danger and called for help, but mostly it wasn't, and that meant, everything was under control. He said, he felt me in this way, too. It was there even when Lotso said, that he's dead, and it never stopped, when he was in a toy mode. But then, one day, the tingling just grows up and poof! It's gone." Jessie hid her face in her knees and sniffed. "It never came back."
Buzz sighed. So, that was why she cried in the closet.
"He's dead, Buzz. I didn't want to tell you."
Buzz never heard Jessie sounding so hollow. He hugged her by the shoulder, and she fell on his breastplate, sobbing. Stroking her hand gently, he suddenly felt himself a traitor.
"Won't you say something already?" asked Jessie later. "Are you mad at me? I'm sorry, that I didn't tell, I just couldn't..."
"It's alright, Jess. I'm not mad at all." said Buzz, feeling himself even worse now. "I've... Guessed about it."
"What?"
The large green eyes peered at him intently. Shivers ran through Buzz's back: the cowpokes really were not so different. He had to choose words carefully now.
"Well, you know... At least, he's in a better place now."
"WHAT?!"
Like always, he chose the worst ones.
"Buzz, he's dead, you brickhead!" Jessie's yell caused Bullseye to jump. "Completely dead, not in a toy mode somewhere! He was your best friend, I saw, how you looked at him, and now you're telling me that he's in a better place?!"
"Slow down, slow down!" Buzz raised his both hands defensively. "I can explain!"
"You'd better do!"
Buzz hesitated for a bit. Would Woody want him to tell Jessie about the "Andy's room"? Wouldn't it work against the promise? With Jessie, all the possibilities were equal, just like with her brother.
"You see, there's a place, where all toys go after that." Buzz made the decision, which, he hoped, at least was not wrong. Jessie would dig the truth out of him, anyway.
The cowgirl scowled.
"The afterlife. Sure. Buzz, you're a space toy, for Colt's sake, you can't believe this nonsense!"
Now, that was unexpected. But, to think, Woody too considered it a reality only because he tended battery-powered toys himself and heard their tales.
"I don't believe, I know it." said Buzz. "When my batteries shut down, I end up there. It's always the same place, and the toys there are the same, too. They remember our previous meetings."
Jessie blinked owlishly.
"That's ridiculous, but go on."
And so Buzz did.
---
Jessie listened to Buzz with full attention. She tried to catch on inconsistencies at first, but gave up eventually. Bullseye listened too, with his large eyes full of hope. When Buzz described the Room dwellers, Jessie's lips began to tremble. She knew all of them, and could not bear the fact, that those small toys for preschool children were gone. Buzz could not blame her for that, as well as for her breaking into sobs again, after he described Woody and their talk.
"Did he tell, how he...?" asked Jessie at last.
"No, they all don't like the topic. He only said, that he was not in a state to consider to return, and that he had to be more careful."
"Of course he had to. Stubborn idiot..." Jessie laughed shortly, rubbing her eyes. "What else did he tell?"
"He said, that he liked the place. That he wasn't accepted to heaven, though." Buzz felt, as if a stone vaporized from his chest, when he heard Jessie's snicker.
"Oh, who could think he would! What else?"
It was like the cowgirl was clutching at a straw. Even if she did not really believe Buzz's story, she would listen to it nonetheless. She desperately wanted to hear Woody's words. Buzz felt increasingly sorry for her: he had never guessed until now, how strong was their bond. Without it, Jessie seemed to become lost too, even if she still was owned and beloved by the kid and respected by the community. She smiled warmly, looking at her boots, when Buzz told her about what Woody asked him for.
"Why didn't you tell me, that you need to change batteries in time?" She wondered, when Buzz finished his tale.
"You were busy. Usually, Woody did it, but those were calmer times, without youngsters running to the trash bin all the time and scandals starting every day." said Buzz.
"I see." Jessie sighed contentedly. "Thanks for telling me, Buzz. Really." She rubbed her nose. "It's good to know that there's a place after. And that we all will meet again there."
She leaned to Buzz's chest tiredly.
"Did you tell him, by the way?"
"About what?"
"Don't be silly." The cowgirl poked the ranger's knee. "I saw, how you looked at him."
"Er..." Buzz frowned. "...Yes." If only just that. "I'm sorry, Jess."
"At last." Jessie pinched him harder. "How many times I have to tell you it's good, Lightbrain?"
Buzz tightened the grip, hearing the nickname now coming from the cowgirl. He did not even need to hide it, actually. He had never told only because of his leftovers of human boundaries, which remained from his delusional times. Toys did not need to make families, but they needed company and safety, so they mostly valued friendship and trust. Everything humans could view as "romantic" for toys was only one of the ways to show it, so for the most of them the concept of "cheating" was extremely vague. Jessie and Woody were among those toys, even if the cowboy was much more possessive. Buzz could never fully grasp on this alien mindset, so he hesitated until the literal end.
Some things, which happened naturally in the carefree Room, were hard to be admitted in the living world. But the fact, that Jessie did not mind it, eased the burden.
---
Jessie looked better after the talk. Buzz still kept an eye on her, to catch on any subtle sign of the cowgirl slipping into the dark mood, but there were none. She still was not as cheerful, as she used to be, and she lamented about cold emptiness in her voice box, but, at least, she did not intend to take the path Buzz was afraid she could choose after acknowledging, that her set brother waited for her in a better place.
The space ranger was ashamed of himself, of how weaker he was, than the cowgirl. Woody definitely saw it, that's why he asked him to promise. Sometimes, Buzz wanted to take out his batteries himself, but always stopped at the though and continued to work in the room and patiently wait for the next meeting. After all, Woody waited for him, too, but he let Buzz know, that he would not appreciate it happening too soon.
Two months passed. Everything was going on as usual. Bonnie lost interest in creating toys from utensils, to the great relief of the whole room. The remaining ones came in terms with their "new nature" and began to get into the toy society. Forky, who matured a lot by the time, became actually helpful, so Jessie at last was more or less free of "babysitting". Buzz was glad about it, until he noticed something off.
Both Jessie and Bullseye started to sleep more often and for much longer. At first, it looked normal to Buzz, because Jessie could not have a proper sleep for a long time, and Bullseye too, since he felt his rider's mood. But it did not get better even after a week. Actually, it was getting worse. Jessie and Bullseye slept fully through the whole night and during midday, and began to take short naps in-between. They did it more and more often, and, if Dolly scolded the new Sheriff for that, Jessie just snapped at her or brushed the head toy's words away.
Buzz tried to know, what was going on, but, seemingly, Jessie did not know it herself. She kept saying, that she was tired, and then dosing off on Buzz's chest almost immediately. It was not concerning - it was downright terrifying for the space ranger to see the usually overactive doll acting like this.
He got a very bad feeling. Jessie did not look depressed at all, quite opposite - she seemed to be perfectly satisfied with the situation. Buzz reached for her to help, but it was in vain. For the cowgirl, her sleepy attitude was absolutely normal.
On one day, Buzz woke up and did not find neither Jessie nor Bullseye around. He was sure, that Jessie had fallen asleep on him, like she loved to do at night. The ranger searched the bed carefully, - Bonnie was still sleeping, - found no one and slipped under it.
After his eyes got used to the darkness, Buzz saw them. Two toys, huddled to each other in the deepest corner between the bed leg and a table, as if they were hiding from something. As Buzz got closer, it became clear, that those toys were the ones he was searching for. Jessie smiled with her green eyes wide open, Bullseye stared dully into the void.
Not daring to believe, Buzz kneeled next to them, and stroke Jessie's arm. It was cold. Of course, toys' arms were cold, as they did not have their own temperature. It was the other kind of chill, which only the living toy could feel. The living toy, who touched the dead one.
Buzz stared on his hand, then, at the toys. He saw mere playthings. Just things, without a hint of having souls.
Before he could even think, the space ranger found himself hugging the lifeless white and yellow torso and crying openly, without a stop. He childishly hoped to feel small vinyl hands on his arms again and see green eyes flicker with life, but it did not happen.
He has lost her. And he failed to keep his promise.
---
Other toys understood everything as soon as Buzz stepped from under the bed with Jessie in his arms and Bullseye over his neck. Every toy could feel, if their fellow in the still state was alive or dead, right away.
Andy's group was devastated. Jessie got into the family almost instantly, and everyone loved her, even Mr. Potato Head, who enjoyed getting into snark competitions with the cowgirl. They knew, what she meant to Buzz, especially after Woody's leaving. Nobody knew the other reason for the ranger's utter despair, but they did not need to know.
Eventually, Slinky and Mr. Potato Head turned out to be the most helpful of them all. They were older and knew, how toys died. Slinky said, that they usually hid somewhere, akin to cats, when the time was coming. Mr. Potato Head pointed out Jessie's and Bullseye's lethargic state - he claimed that all gone toys he knew were like this a week or two before the end. The words of his friends slightly soothed Buzz. Maybe, everything really happened naturally. Unfortunately, the "elders" could not tell anything useful about the reasons for that, other than not wishing to return. Buzz could only wait to find out everything himself.
The life in the room changed for him. It was painful enough to not see Woody around, but still, there was Jessie. Now, she and her horse were gone, too, leaving only lifeless cotton-filled rag bodies and raw void in Buzz's microschemes. Worst of all, Bonnie continued to play with them, as if they were still alive. The girl just could not know, and Buzz did not blame her, but the room stood silent for long after games, and Buzz wanted to throw up, if only he had anything for it.
His legs and arms became stiff and heavy. It was strange: he did not expect batteries to lose their charge so quickly, as they were much better, than the previous ones. But he did not mind it, even if they made his body rigid and his mind foggy. The sooner they de-charged, the sooner the time of the long-awaited meeting would come.
Buzz never felt so weird, though. It was like his head was soaked in thick syrup. Slower time, slower words, slower movements, a growing empty hole in his core and a great desire to sleep. Of course, he took naps, but it hardly helped. He knew, that Dolly was not pleased with him, but he could not care less. Slinky and Mr. Potato Head kept asking him, if they could help. After several harsh replies they stopped trying and told everyone to not bother the space ranger too much.
On one night, after Bonnie and everyone in the room fell properly asleep, Buzz crawled to Jessie's body, which lay near the closet. He took off her badge and put it inside his helmet. Then, carefully, he went into the closet and hid behind the clutter of various boxes. He did not think, why he wanted to stay hidden so much, or why he bothered about the badge. He just wanted to sleep.
The batteries have reached their limits.
Or not. It did not matter.
---
Once again, Buzz found himself under the familiar bed. He stretched his legs and arms and was satisfied by their returned might. His head was crystal clear, like it was back in the day he came out of the box, but this time he was not caught in a delusion. He remembered everything perfectly.
He pulled up the blanket and smiled, seeing the familiar faces.
"Hello again!" Mike greeted him. "Batteries?.. Oh." He blinked in disbelief.
"Affirmative, they were low on charge." said Buzz confidently.
"Did you get an overpaint, then?" asked Mr. Snake.
"Why so?" Buzz turned his eyes to his arm.
It was clean white, green and purple. No stains, scratches or chips. He opened the lid and found a sticker, which he himself has peeled off and thrown away many, many years ago.
The guess began to crawl over his insides. But... Wasn't it just batteries? Humans would change them, and he would return, like always... Not, that he wished for it, at all.
Buzz shook hands and limbs of everyone, and went to the bed end, towards the puddle of golden light. He was not sure how much time he had and if it even mattered, he just wanted to see Woody at last.
And there he was, the tall figure standing on a desk near the window.
"I'm here." said Buzz, stopping in front of him.
He squeezed his eyes slightly, trying to figure out Woody's expression, but it was useless. He stood with his back turned to sun, which made shadow from the brim of the hat even thicker. The cowboy did not say a word.
Buzz felt his back growing colder. Of course. The promise, which he did not keep.
In his mind, the mere moment slowed down. All of a sudden, the Sheriff jumped from the desk, the shadows became lighter, and Buzz saw his face at last. Woody was smiling at him, widely and warmly, as he rushed towards the ranger at full speed.
"Buzz!"
Cloth arms entangled Buzz's neck, and the pointy nose bumped slightly into resin insides of the helmet.
"Thank you! I knew, you could do it, thank you so much!" Woody said quickly, his voice hoarse from emotions.
Buzz stood still, lost at the unexpected turn of events. He unsurely put his hands on the soft body.
"But I didn't do anything. I couldn't... I've promised to prevent this, but I failed." Buzz sighed heavily.
"You've promised to just take care of her, remember? You did so well, I don't want to recall, what could happen, if you didn't!" Woody peered at Buzz, his stare full of pure amazement.
Buzz frowned. "Recall"?
" You've... You've seen it coming?" he asked quietly.
"I just can see more than you." Woody sighed, repeating his own words from their previous meeting. "I feared it won't be... In her time. But it was. Thanks to you." He shook Buzz's shoulders reassuringly.
Buzz felt warmth gliding down his wires. His friend never looked so proud of him, and it meant a lot. Something was absent, though...
"I've got something for you." Buzz took a badge from his helmet.
"Oh? Oh. Thanks, partner." Woody laughed a bit dorkishly, took the badge and put it on its place. It shone brightly, like new.
"Are they here?" Buzz looked around. If Jessie was here, he knew, how loud her presence would be...
"Of course! They're in the yard, playing with Buster." Woody took Buzz's hand and pulled to the white door. "Come on, let's meet them, before you'll have to go!"
"I'm not sure, if I will." said Buzz.
---
Suddenly, Woody stopped and turned on his heels to him. He silently eyed Buzz, who went out of a shadow, from head to toes, and his eyes grew even larger, as he began to guess.
"...You look good." He said in a feeble tone.
"Thanks." Buzz grinned and put a fist on his hip. "Just like you."
"No, no, no, I mean..." Woody shook his head. "Like when you stepped out from the box. Like... When I saw you for the first time." Woody looked down, as if not believing his own words.
"I hope, you don't hate me like then."
"That's not the point." The cowboy shook his head. "How, Buzz? You didn't... Did you?"
Buzz was abashed by the sudden change of a mood. Didn't Woody want him there? His friend looked at him, as if he was afraid of the ranger's answer.
"My batteries were low, but I don't think it's the cause. I just felt tired and wanted to sleep all the time." Buzz said honestly. "So, I went to sleep, and ended up here."
Woody slowly went to Buzz and put his hand on his helmet. He looked relieved.
"So, it's in time. Couldn't think, it'll be so soon. Guess, age doesn't matter so much for us, eh?" With a sad smirk, Woody added quietly: "You can return, you know. It's still up to you."
Buzz glanced up, saw his brown eyes with an undecipherable emotion in them, and said firmly:
"I don't want to. You all are here, and there's nothing left there, I'll be only glad to stay."
This time, Woody smiled at those words. Buzz tugged him slightly on his bandana, and in the next moment felt vinyl lips on his.
They took their time. After all, beyond infinity there was no need to hurry.
"Thanks, partner." said Woody, when they parted at last.
"And you, cowboy." Buzz cleared his throat and nudged Woody. "Let's go, I think, they're tired of waiting."
---
"Buzz!!!"
The hurricane approached Buzz as soon as he stepped from the yard porch. Jessie might be a nearly weightless rag doll, but it never stopped her from knocking Buzz down by a single jump - especially with Bullseye helping.
"It's you! It's you! You were right!"
Buzz made a strange sound from below the over-enthusiastic rag pile and reached to Woody for help, but the cowboy just crossed his arms with a devilish grin. Thankfully, he gestured Buster to not join, at least.
"How are you doing?" asked Buzz, when Jessie mercifully released him from her hug.
"Better than ever! Look!" Jessie pulled on her string.
"Yodel-Lay-Hee-Hoo!"
"It's working!" Jessie exclaimed over the tinny voice. "I don't even remember when it was working for the last time!"
Buzz scratched his head, smiling stupidly. Despite being here, Jessie looked so much more lively, just like in their old home. Her hair looked brighter, and the paint on the eyes looked so, too. It was such a relief to see her like this again, that Buzz did not want to ever recall the cause of the change. Apparently, Woody told the truth - he really did everything in a right way.
"Hey, you look really great, by the way!" Jessie added, briefly eyeing Buzz. "I can see now, why you were so..." She turned to Woody with a teasing grin.
"Oh, shut up!" The cowboy rolled his eyes.
"Did they repaint you? Or..." Jessie's face slowly changed. She glanced at Woody, saw him thinning his lips, and looked back at Buzz with widened eyes. "It's not just batteries now, right?"
Buzz nodded. Jessie put a hand to her mouth.
"...How?"
"It was like with you, Jess." Woody said softly. "Not like with me or Mr. Snake."
Buzz nodded again, and the cowgirl exhaled, as if she put down something heavy.
"If so, what have you decided?" Jessie's face, as well as voice, had an incomprehensible emotion. As if she tried hard to not alter Buzz's eventual decision.
"I'll stay here."
Buzz did not doubt his words. The thick threads, which had been helping him to get out of the Room previously, were standing in front of him now, and the hollowness in his core, which had been eating him from inside, disappeared. He had only felt himself so completed back in the old home, and he had never felt himself in such peace before. Probably, it was selfish - but he was too tired of being selfless for a long time.
The deafening "Yee-haw!" from the cowgirl, Bullseye's lick on his head and the cowboy's endlessly warm smile only re-assured him.