Chapter 2

Dipper collapsed in the yellow plaid chair in The Shack, as Mabel slowly climbed upstairs.

"Ah, Shack sweet Shack! Dipper: I'm gonna take a looooong nap. DON'T wake me up, even for dinner!"

"Got it. I'll tell Stan."

"Thanks." And she closed the door to the upstairs bedroom.

Exhausted from the convenience store adventure Dipper was contemplating a nap right there in the chair when his phone chimed. His display showed a smiling Wendy. He sat up and answered.

"Hey Wendy! "

"Hey Dork. Got time to chat? (snif)"

"Uh… yeah. Everything OK? You sound like …"

"Yeah Dipper, I'm good, just…allergies man."

"Oh. Right." She never had allergies before…the forest is a bad place to live if you have allergies. "So, like, thanks again for taking Mabel and me to the store. I'll never forget that! Haha. Did you like…rethink everything? About the wall and stuff?"

It was quiet…seconds ticked by…

"Wendy? You still there?"

"(snif) yeah man, sorry I…(cough). Maybe I'm coming down with something. Maybe…oh Dipper, can I…come back over? I really need to talk to you about something and it…well…it just isn't working out over the phone."

"Sure! Anytime Wendy? When?"

"Right now, OK?"

"Sure."

"Kay man. See you in a few."

The gang better not have made fun of her for…for sticking up for me. What if…what if they found out about the Lamby Dance? What if they made her tell the truth? Dipper's ears began turning red.

If she had to tell them the truth well…that's OK. I …can live with that…I don't want her to feel bad just because of my stupid dance. After all, I was the one who saved everybody. They gotta respect that at least! So what if I …was dressed up…like…a…

He sank deeper into the chair, hands in his shorts pockets, his hat pushed up in the rear by the chair back as he slid down further and further until his cap hid his eyes. He was thinking the worst.

…

The door knocked. Dipper woke up and jumped out of the chair. "Wendy!"

He ran to the door and opened it with a smile. Then he stopped smiling.

"Hey dork."

Wendy's eyes were red, dark bags under her eyelids making her look tired and worn out. She had obviously been crying.

"Wendy! What's wrong?" He grasped her hand softly and gently pulled her outside. "Let's talk out here where no one can hear." She nodded but said nothing, only sniffling as she followed Dipper out back behind The Shack, to his "thinking place", a clearing in the forest behind the shack with a large rock where he would sit when he wanted privacy without Mabel, or anyone else.

He sat on the boulder and then patted a place next to him.

Adorable little man. Taking charge when he knows I am not…not doing so good.

Dipper still held her hand even as they sat. Wendy wiped her eyes with her other hand, and then leaned back on the rock, looking up at the sky. Dipper leaned back too, folding his arms behind his head, while Wendy held her hands together over her tummy.

"(snif) Dipper, I need your help man."

"Anything Wendy. What? What kind of…help? Did someone hurt you? Are you in trouble? Did the ghosts come back?"

"No!" she sat up suddenly. "I wish they WOULD come back! I mean, She. I wish SHE would come back." She punched her open left hand with her right fist.

"You…you do? Why?"

Then she slowly turned to Dipper and her face softened. "Not those ghosts. There is another ghost…well…I think she's a ghost…I need her to come back." She looked down at the rock she sat on.

Dipper watched her carefully. Suddenly it made sense. I never knew where her mom was, and I never cared enough to ask…so freaking busy trying to get her to like me, that I never…He closed his eyes and then opened them, looking at her, letting his expression show that all he cared about was listening to her. I assumed it was because no one could possibly stand living with her dad. Anyone would leave him. But now, she says a ghost, calling it She…could it be…

Wendy looked up at him, determination in her face.

"Dipper, I need you to help me find my mom."

He swallowed. Of course. It makes sense. And if I can do this…but… what if I can't?

"Of course Wendy. But…I need to know about her. I need you to tell me about her. Unless it makes you, you know…we don't have to talk right now, whenever you're ready…"

"I'm ready now Dipper. And thanks. Thanks a lot." She squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.

She let go of his hand and then lay back down, looking up at the sky.

"I don't even know if she is a ghost. I kinda hope she is, 'cause I got a million question I need to ask her about, you know?"

"Yeah. How…how did she…uh…"

The red head sniffed, and then wiped her nose with her arm, and then relaxed back down again, facing up with her eyes closed.

"She died when Josh was born. She had been hemorrhaging while still in early contractions, and the bleeding was internal so they didn't know for hours until it was too late and well, the blood bank was too far away, and…" her voice cracked on the last word. She stopped and sniffed again, and now Dipper could see the tears trailing away from her eyes, to drip onto the hard granite stone. He touched the wet spot on the stone and rubbed his fingers together.

"Sorry I had to ask Wendy." He gently touched her shoulder. "Where…where exactly was it?"

"At the old hospital on Badger Road."

"The old…that's a convalescent home now."

"Yeah, that's the place. The hospital moved to where it is now, in Valley."

"Wendy…"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever…seen or heard anything that may have been your mother…since then? Any…phenomena? "

"No! That is why I need your help! Why would she just…die? Die and never …never come back…and…" now she whispered. "…never come back to talk to me?" She coughed. "Damn post nasal drip!" She wiped her eyes.

Dipper now knew his challenge. I've got to help her find her mom! But…where and how…

He sat up, and placed his hand gently on top of hers.

"I'll help you Wendy. Somehow I'll find a way."

"Thanks Dipper." She wiped her nose with her sleeve again. "I know it's a lot to ask, but…I want you to know it's OK if you don't find…anything. I am asking the impossible, I know."

"I'll try my best Wendy."

She smiled at him and then she leaned towards him and hugged him. Close. Dipper could feel her warmth, and her softness. He blushed.

"Come on, let's go the old folks home."

…

Badger Retirement Home was home not only to indigenous Gravity Falls residents, but to many who came from neighboring counties. Still, most of the old hospital building was empty, especially the operating rooms which could not be converted to "apartments" like the offices and other areas. The visitor entrance to the large sprawling concrete complex was guarded by a large middle aged woman in a white nursing uniform with short brunette hair under a nurses cap. She looked up from behind the desk.

"Hello young man, who are you here to visit?"

"Oh, uh, sorry, I am just…"

Wendy spoke up.

"We're researching retirement homes for his great Uncle!"

"Oh uh, yeah! My Grunkle Stan. Not for right away, but just, you know, in case."

"Stan …Pines? Well it's about time! I think he should have been put to pasture a long time ago." (Gravity Falls is a small town, almost everyone knows everyone else!)

Wendy and Dipper smiled at each other and nodded.

"Yeah, so…can you show us around? So we can get a feel for the place?"

"Of course." The nurse opened a drawer and grabbed a large key ring with many keys. "Follow me."