Chapter 21

Plans

"Achoo!"

"Bless you," a girl's voice said.

I opened my eyes as a shiver ran through-out me. Why was I so cold? I pulled the blanket draped over my shoulders closer. Where was I? I looked around, seeing a bookshelf with dated boxes, a map of Gravity Falls on the floor, and a gun safe. The bunker.

Sniffling next to me turned my head to see Ford sat there, his skin close to white as he rubbed the blanket around him on his nose.

"They're on their way."

I looked towards the voice and saw Mable pocketing our phone with Mason and Pacifica. "What happened?" I asked.

"You were frozen," Mason said, the three turning to me. He took a step closer, placing a hand to my forehead, and asked, "How you feeling?"

"Freezing," I admitted, my teeth chattering just for more proof.

Mason took his hand back at turned to Ford, doing the same. "What happened? Do you remember anything?"

It felt like my brain was still thawing out, it taking me a moment just to understand what Mason was asking, "Uh…" My brain stalled, trying to bring up what had happened." Sue!" I exclaimed, remembering.

"Sue did this?" Pacifica asked. "Who's Sue?"

"That other demon," Mable offered.

"Why?" Mason asked.

I squinted my eyes together, trying to remember. "Something about Bill."

"She wants to prevent Bill from coming back," Ford said.

I looked up, surprised he wasn't shivering. He rubbed his nose again before sneezing into his blanket.

"Well then why kidnap you?" Pacifica asked. "We don't want Bill back anymore then she does."

"I think she might fear him," Ford offered.

I looked up, something sparking in my memory. Something that happened and didn't happen all at the same time. "Mabel?" I started, getting my sister to look at me. "Do you remember that thing with Blenden last summer?"

"You mean the Globnor or the pirate thing or when he-"

"The pirate thing," I interrupted.

She nodded her head with a "duh" expression on her face.

"The axolotl found us," I said, closing my eyes as I tried to keep hold of this memory. "Saw his own dimension burn, misses home, but can't return. Says he's happy, he's a liar. Blames the arson for the fire."

"You've talked to the axolotl?!" Ford asked.

I opened my eyes and looked up at him, giving him a nod. "Yeah, but it didn't happen? I'm not quite sure."

"The axolotl lives outside time and space, and more powerful than Time Baby," Ford offered. "That'd be why you don't fully remember it. But he said all that?"

"When I asked him about Bill," I nodded my head.

"But if Sue's the arson, Bill could still be after his own revenge," Mason said. "That could be why she doesn't want him back to the point of getting rid of you two."

"Ford? Dipper?" McGucket's voice called just before the old man walked through the doorway with Stan right behind him.

"Glad to see you, McGucket," Ford said as the two walked over to us.

I eyed the old man as I noticed he was caring an old doctor's bag. I knew his memory had come back but it still didn't calm the nerves I had when he reached into the bag and pulled out a stethoscope.

"You three can go outside, Wendy and her friends should be here soon," Stan said.

I watched McGucket check Ford first as Mabel, Mason, and Pacifica walked out, Mabel throwing me a last look.

"Ford, why didn't you tell us?" Stan asked, once the three were out of the bunker.

"Tell you what?" Ford asked as McGucket put the stethoscope to his back.

"Breathe," McGucket ordered.

"That you two have pieces of Bill in you," Stan said.

"Breathe," McGucket ordered again after moving the piece.

Ford took a moment before answering his brother. "I wasn't even sure until Sue did what she did last night," he admitted. "She just gave me more proof."

"So do you have a way of getting rid of him?" Stan asked.

"I'm working on it," Ford said.

"Breathe."

Ford did as ordered before adding, "Given a few days, I should have it operational."

The old man went back to his bag and pulled out a thermometer and handed it to Ford. "Here."

Ford put it in his mouth as McGucket turned to me. He leaned over and put the stethoscope to my back before ordering, "Breathe."

I took a deep breath and watched as Stan turned to take in the bunker. He took a step to the food and pulled out a box to look inside.

"Breathe," McGucket ordered after moving the bell end over my back.

I did as asked as Stan asked, "What, no canned meat?"

"There should be, check the bottom," McGucket said before ordering me to "Breathe" once more. McGucket's eyes went wide, getting me to panic. The old man turned around and yelled, "You better not eat any o' that!"

Stan quickly shoved the contents back into the box and shoved it on the shelf it belonged. He turned to look at McGucket, only turning his eyes to anything but the old man.

McGucket turned back to me, placing the stethoscope on my chest and ordered again "Breathe." I did so, getting a nod from McGucket before he pulled it away. He went back to his bag, putting the stethoscope up and pulled out another thermometer. He handed it to me just as Ford's let out a beep, getting McGucket's attention. He took it from my great uncle, looking it over, and mumbled, "Low, but reasonable."

I tucked the thermometer under my tongue and pulled my blanket closer as a shiver ran through my spine.

"What we need to focus on now is how to trap Sue," Ford said now that he was able to speak.

"Yeah, Stan told me we needed to draw up some eye?" McGucket asked, pulling out alcohol from his bag and a cloth. He poured some of the clear liquid on the cloth before cleaning Ford's thermometer.

Ford started to go over it again but how to get Sue where we want her? She wouldn't be stupid enough to fall for a normal trick, so using Ford or me for bait, not sure if I'd wanna be bait really, I doubt she'd fall for that. What could be something she wouldn't be able to resist? My eyes widened, not even able to think the name. I felt my heart go faster but it was the only thing I could think of that would work. And it would require making a deal with him.

"Dipper?"

I looked up to see the three old men looking at me, concern on their faces.

I realized the thermometer had been beeping and pulled it out, handing it to McGucket. He looked it over as I said, "What if… we brought Bill back to life," not believing the words coming out of my own mouth. "To lure Sue to the eye."

"The kid's lost it," Stan said, turning around as he put his hand to his head.

"Dipper. Bring Bill back?" Ford asked, shock on his face.

Stan turned back around, dropping his hand, as he said, "Dipper, did she mess with your memory? We aren't going to just bring him back."

I noticed McGucket hadn't responded, only froze with fear on his face. I looked back at my great uncles and offered, "Well she clearly fears him too. And if she's the arson, he would want to get his revenge." My heart kept pounding but I kept speaking. "If anything, I could make a de-"

"No." Ford stopped me. I looked up, surprised to see his so furious. He took a moment, breathing deep enough I could see his nostrils flare as he tried to control his emotions. I commend you for thinking out of the box but Bill is out of the question."

"I… I hate the idea as much as the rest of you, but…" McGucket started, his knee bouncing as he twisted his thumbs, "is there any other way of capturing Sue?"

Stan looked over at Ford as Ford dropped his hands, showing me the strange star tattoo on the side of his neck as the blanket shifted, and said, "We'll keep that as a last resort." He turned to me, his face hardened, as he added, "And you are not making a deal with him."

I nodded my head. I knew that part had been stupid, shoot, the whole idea was borderline insane.

"I wish we knew more about how Sue attacked," Stan said.

"Mason might know," I said. "He did live where she rued."

"We'll get you two back to the shack and then you can work out a plan," Stan said, holding out a hand to his brother.

Ford took the hand and helped himself up to his feet with a smile.

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