Stanford sat up, breathing hard. He could have sworn he heard something outside. Standing up he walked quietly to the door, hand automatically swooping down towards the crossbow beside it.

He had been laying on the couch, trying to both rest and stay awake at the same time, an accomplishment seldom sought for, when he heard it. A muffled thump.

Tensed for any possible outcome, Ford flung open the door. The cold wind swept over him as he gazed outdoors. The first thing he noticed was a car, a strangely familiar car that definitely did not belong to him. The second thing was the red lump on the ground at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the porch.

Ford narrowed his eyes in suspicion, could this be a ploy? A clever trick by Bill? Reaching into his trench coat he brought out a flashlight and made his way towards the body slowly. Using the tip of the still loaded crossbow, he tipped the body over. He gasped.

Kneeling down he quickly checked his brother's eyes for the telltale yellow glint of Bill. When he found none he sighed in relief but stayed alert. Questions flew through his mind as he dragged his brother's unconscious body into his house. What was Stanley doing here? Why was he unconscious? How did he know were Ford lived? Why was he so light? Wait…

Ford dragged his brother into the house and dropped him with a thump onto the only cleared surface in the house- his couch. Ford sat at his brother's feet and studied him closely. Stanley was definitely worse for wear. He was skinnier than Ford ever remembered him being and smelled like he hadn't had a shower in at least a year, not that Ford was any better. Jumping off the couch, Ford realized he had left the door open and quickly moved to close it.

What was he going to do? He is trying to disable a portal that could destroy the universe, is slowly falling into insanity and his no good brother shows up, unconscious no less, on his front porch! He couldn't handle this! No, maybe he could drop Stanley off at a hospitable or-

Ford lurched out of his thoughts as a groan emanated from his brother. Ford was at his side in an instant. Ford spoke softly, despite his nearly paralyzing stress and paranoia.

" Stanley? Are you awake?"

Ford watched as Stan blinked back into reality. When Stanley seemed to realize who was in front of him, his eyes glinted with recognition and joy.

" F-For...Ford?" Stan sounded exhausted.

Stan tried to sit up but fell back with a huff of defeat. Ford was battling with annoyance and concern and curiosity. He ended up with a strange mix of all three. " Stanely, what are you doing here? How did you find me? Why were you unconscious?"

Ford stood and started pacing as his questions came faster and faster.

" Why are you so...nevermind. Is that your car? Why-"

Stan cut him off with a sharp huff.

Ford was effectively distracted and turned his attention back to Stan who looked like he was trying to say something.

Stan's eyes kept fluttering open and shut like he was struggling to stay awake, his mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he managed to say anything.

" S-S-Sixer." He stuttered out the old nickname in barely more than a whisper before it seemed to tax what little energy he had left and his eyes slipped back shut. Ford started to panic, what if Bill…?

" Stanley? Stan!? No, don't you dare fall asleep! C'mon it isn't safe! Just…"

Ford watched, both relieved and impressed (Not that he would tell stan that) as Stan's eyes flickered back open, looking slightly annoyed, but brown. Not that awful yellow…

Ford sighed in relief and went back to questioning him. " Are you alright? Can you speak? Do you need something?"

Ford wasn't exactly going to give his brother anything big, but if he needed a meal and a place to stay for the night...well maybe not the latter, but he could spare a meal, surely?

Ford frowned as he saw he brother seemed to have an epiphany of sorts, his face falling into one of recollection and panic as he tried to sit up again.

Ford pushed him back down with a grunt. " Stan, it's obvious you aren't in any state to move just now, could you just explain what is going on?"

Ford was freaking out, Bill didn't have to have done something to make Stan so panicked, right?

Stan coughed as he fell back onto the couch. The cough was loud and wet and made Ford wince in sympathy, Stan must be sick, Ford thought.

Stan tried to speak again but ended up coughing again. Ford waited patiently for him to stop and was surprised when Stan managed to speak, and even give him a small smile. What was going on?

" Hey, Sixer. I-cough-thought you lived in-cough-Oregon?" Stan's voice was still only a whisper, but he seemed to be getting more stable by the second.

Ford's brows furrowed. What? " I do live in Oregon, Stanley. That's where we are. Gravity Falls Oregon. You are in my house."

Stan's brows raised in disbelief. " What are ya sayin' Ford? That ya kidnapped me? I was in Mexico last I checked." He coughed again, one arm around his mouth and the other around his chest. The hacking coughs sent his entire body trembling, and he nearly fell off the couch. Ford instinctively went to help him before thinking better of it. He was getting worried now though. That was a nasty cough…

" Stanley are you alright? I'm just as confused as you are. I found you on my front porch."

Ford didn't think it was possible for Stan's eyebrows to go any higher. Ignoring the pain it took to talk, Stan voiced his disbelief.

" What?! Look, Ford, If ya missed me there are better ways to go about seein' me again then kidnap, ya know?"

" Stanley! Stop. Listen closely. I did not kidnap you. And please answer my question, are you alright? That cough doesn't sound too great-"

Stan cut him off quickly. Too quickly. " I'm fine."

Now it was Ford's turn to give him a disbelieving glare. " Liar."

Stan grinned. " That's me. The family fraud. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get goin'..."

Stan made a move to get up again, but Ford pushed him back down with an exasperated huff. What was he doing? Isn't this what he wanted? To get rid of- no. He needed answers.

" look, Stanley, First off, you are not well. That much is obvious. Secondly-"

" You sure are fond of lists," Stan muttered. Ford ignored him.

" Neither of us is sure how you got here and I'm not leaving until I get some answers. Now tell me once more, are you alright? What hurts? Is it just the cough? Why were you in Mexico? What was the last thing you remember doing before you woke up?"

Stan relaxed into the cushions. It was gonna be a long day.