Stan had had his share of huffs and puffs getting Ford back. He'd had one just a few minutes ago, when he was forcing his body to quickly get to the shack. He'd had one when he single (or not so single) handily sent Gideon to jail. And the time he'd saved Waddles from the dinosaur. And... Hot Belgian Waffles, he'd done a lot of running that summer.
Back to the subject at hand. Stanford was there, walking towards Stan. He was wearing a mask and goggles, which obscured his face, but Stan knew that it was Ford.
Ford took a single strong step out of the portal, and almost instantly his knees began to shake. He lifted his right hand up to the front of his chest, and a muffled wheeze broke through the silence, followed by a horrid dry cough.
Ford kneeled down on the ground, and leaned forward, pushing the front of his body onto his left hand while his right reached higher up and ripped his mask off.
For a second Stan stood still, watching Ford try to get air into his lungs. Then a series of rattly gasps came from the dark figure, who had both hands on the ground now.
Stan's mind was blank for a moment. He didn't know what to do in a situation like this! If it was a wound he could handle it. But this? What was he supposed to do?
Luckily Stan didn't have to think of a brilliant plan. Mabel rushed past him, and placed a hand on one of Ford's shaking shoulders. She asked him something in a quiet voice, then she helped Ford sit down, and dust his hands off.
Ford let Mabel stick her hand into one of his pockets, she pulled something out, and stuck the grey object into Ford's mouth. Stan wanted to protest, an old feeling of over-protectiveness coming over him.
Ford finally spit the object out after what felt like a million years. He looked up at Mabel and flashed her a tired smile. He said something, and coughed again, but it wasn't quite as bad as the last time. Mabel patted his arm, then picked the grey cylinder up and handed it to Ford.
"Thank you." Ford said, and his voice sounded awful, like he'd been gargling kerosene.
Stan rushed forward, and looked at Ford with concern. He opened his mouth several times, but didn't say anything for a moment.
"Are you alright?" He finally choked out, kneeling down so that Ford didn't have to look up at him. Stan reached a hand out, and almost placed it on Ford's shoulder, but thought better of it just before he made contact.
"No thanks to you." Ford mumbled. There was a deep waver in his voice, he sounded like he'd been smoking. Stan took a second to process Ford's sentence, his mind more focused on the state of his brother. But when he finally did he furrowed his brow.
"Oh, I'm sorry I'm not Mr. Perfect." Stan said, straightening, and glared down at Ford, who scowled right back up at him.
"I never said you should be." Ford said, pushing himself to a kneel with his right arm. He breathed deeply, and there was a high wheeze in his breath, like a squeaky toy was jammed in his lungs.
Stan rolled his eyes, "Can't keep up with you obviously. What was that anyway?"
Ford tentatively pushed himself all the way up, straightening to stare at Stan. "Imagine traveling to a thousand different universes, each with their own specific air structure. Imagine doing that for thirty years. Just think of the stress my lungs have faced."
Stan bit his lip. "You're okay, right?" He asked, glancing over at Mabel, who was still standing at Ford's side. Her eyes were flicking between the two men, a protectiveness in them that made Stan even more proud of her.
"I'll be fine." Ford said, lifting his grey tube up, Stan caught a few glyphs that weren't in English, but then Ford shoved it back into his pocket. "Mabel helped me get my inhaler."
"Inhaler." Stan stated simply, "Is that like with asthma or something."
Ford groaned, then immediately began to cough again. He stuck the bottom of his face into the crook of his elbow and just coughed and coughed, his shoulders shaking slightly again.
"I'll take that as a yes then." Stan said, watching Mabel step towards Ford's free arm and pat it. "But how did you know..." He asked her, and she smiled softly at him
"Dipper used to have it." She clarified, just as Ford gained control of his body again. There were tiny tears that had gathered in his eyes, but Stan chose to just not point that out.
"Can I get a glass of water?" Ford asked, glancing at Mabel, who smiled up at him. "Sure!" She said happily, "I'll go get it for you Mr. Ford."
Ford nodded, and Mabel was about going to turn around when Stan exclaimed, "Wait! The government!"
Mabel facepalmed. "Oh yeah. I had forgotten about those guys." She said, spinning around to face Stan again. "Grunkle Stan, what are we going to do?"
"I... I don't know." Stan mumbled, "I wasn't really thinking about after the reunion..."
Ford raised his eyebrows, and glanced between Stan and Mabel. "Government?" He asked, "Grunkle?"
"Great uncle." Mabel said, "He's me and Dipper's grandpa's brother."
"Dipper's and my," Ford corrected, but his voice sounded more pathetic than harsh. "And who is Dipper?"
"I'm Dipper," Dipper's voice called out from behind the three of them. "Who are you? How do you know my uncle?"
Ford slowly turned around, and looked at Dipper, "I know your uncle very well." He said quietly, "You see... I'm his brother."
Dipper's eyes widened, and they flicked between Stan and Ford. "Oh my..." He breathed, just as Stan took a step to stand next to Ford and add, "That's not all. He's also the Author of the Journals."
Dipper's jaw dropped, and he stared at Ford, who glanced over at Stan. "You let him read my Journals?" Ford asked, folding his arms. Stan shrugged, "I have a good explanation." He told him.
"You're the Author of the Journals!?" Dipper cried, bouncing slightly, "You are the Author of the Journals! I- I don't... I..."
Ford gave him a shaky smile, "It appears that you liked them?" He asked, watching Dipper begin to hyperventilate a little. Dipper nodded, and sat down on the ground, Mabel at his side.
"So... What should we do about the government?" Mabel asked, once Dipper waved her off. Stan glanced at Ford, who held a hand up to his jaw. "I don't know..." Ford said, glancing at Stan. "And I suppose you don't have any brilliant ideas."
"No." Stan said. "But I'm sure you could think of one."
"While he's doing that..." Mabel said, sitting cross-legged on the ground next to her brother. "You can tell us your entire mysterious backstory!"
One backstory and memory wipe later, the Pines went into the kitchen.
Mabel got Ford a glass of water, and Stan started a pot of hot water for tea. Soos said goodbye and headed home, though Stan heard him call Wendy as he headed out.
Stan walked over to the table, which was littered with pieces of the ceiling, and he sat down across from Ford, who was slowly sipping at the cold liquid in his cup.
"So... How long do you think you'll be like this?" Stan asked, watching Ford set his glass on the table.
"I'd say anywhere between a few days, and a year." Ford said, "I didn't really have much time to test that."
Stan winced, and he placed a hand on the table, staring at his outstretched fingers sadly. "I'm sorry." He said quietly, and was surprised to see Ford hand reach out and land on top of his.
"I'm sure you are. If you had known..." Stan looked up at Ford's face as he trailed off.
"I wouldn't have done it even if I knew you'd be healthy as a horse." Stan told him. "I really didn't mean to push you through."
Ford nodded. "We will have much to discuss in our present reality, there isn't time for what-ifs..." He suddenly was attacked by another coughing fit, and he took his hand off of Stan's. Stan watched him drain his glass sadly.
"Now..." Ford said, thumping his empty glass back on the table. "About my house..."
Hello! I'm back! How are you?
I had this idea a few weeks ago, and I stuck it in my idea notes. Now I have written it! Yay!
There isn't much to say about this. So... Thanks!
Special thanks to TFD, annabethchase'sdagger, Biancamanda16, kiana1132 and Til isPUMPKIN for the reviews.
And FYI, I am still taking prompts (I'm still working out yours TFD, don't worry...). Thanks in advance!
As always, stay happy, healthy, safe and sane.
-BrilliantLight