I'm so so sorry for the late update! My entire neighborhood lost wifi last night and I couldn't upload this next chapter! Wifi's back now though, and so I'm updating right away! Thank you for understanding! Now on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I don't own GF in any way, just this fic idea

And as always, thank you HeartOfAKid for betaing this story!

alWays got your bacK

When Dipper's on his way to his locker he hears voices. Loud, hostile, voices. He involuntarily cringes when he realizes the voices belong to a pair of bullies, Sasha and Luke. They are the power couple of the 8th grade, and like to pick on the weaker of the seventh graders. So far, Dipper has managed to avoid Sasha and Luke's detection; he stays quiet and doesn't act out to attract their attention.

He wonders who today's victim is and hopes it isn't someone he knows. Thank goodness their voices aren't directed towards him, but Dipper's heart goes out to whatever poor soul they are directed at. While he himself hasn't been bullied by Sasha and Luke, plenty of Dippers friends have. More than once Dipper has had to comfort them after an encounter.

"Tell my buddy Luke here what you did to my locker, biatch." Dipper hears Sasha exclaim.

Crap, it sounds like they're right in front of my locker, Dipper thinks, How will I get my stuff for my next class? Dipper's brows furrow in confusion, who could Sasha be bullying now? The only lockers over there are Dippers and -

"Your locker looked sad, so I bedazzled it! BWAP!"

Dippers eyes widen as he watches Mabel slap a pig sticker on Sasha's forehead. Meanwhile Luke's eyes narrow and he shoves Mabel against her own sequined locker. She lets out a grunt of both pain and surprise. Dipper fiddles with the strap of his backpack nervously, hoping in vain that Mabel won't say anything to get her deeper in trouble.

"What do you have to say for yourself, weirdo?" Luke taunts Mabel, slamming his hands against the locker on both sides of Mabel's head, effectively cornering her. But instead of looking scared, Mabel looks angry and determined. Dipper shrinks back as her eyes narrow to dangerous slits. Even though the look isn't aimed at him, Dipper can still feel the heat radiating off his sister. He almost starts to feel bad for Luke. Almost.

"I have to say that you're a no-good jerkface who needs to stop hurting my friends!" Mabel jerks her knee up and hits Luke right in the sweet spot. Dipper slightly winces in sympathy, but it's quickly drowned out by his pride for his sister. Luke totally deserved that.

Mabel weasels around Luke and Sasha and the quickly growing crowd, and makes her way to Dipper. The terrifying look is gone, and she's smiling like an idiot.

"Mabel! Are you okay!" Dipper frantically asks.

"I'm pretty good bro-bro! Did you see what I did there!"

"I sure did! That was awesome! Although I think you just got yourself first spot on Luke's murder list."

"Yeah, well, that's why we need to go! ZOINK!" Mabel grabs Dippers hand and takes off running, nearly pulling his arm out of its socket. Dipper stumbles along, doing his best to keep up. They're halfway across the hallway when they hear an angry voice shout out.

"You're so dead, sparkles! You hear me?! YOU'RE DEAD!"

Dipper's heart races in fear and he puts on a burst of speed, pulling ahead of Mabel. Now he's the one dragging her. Dipper knows they can't run forever, but he wants to put as much distance between Luke and Mabel as possible. The only problem is that this is a very crowded hallway, and a glance over his shoulder shows Luke parting the sea of people like Moses.

"Oh gosh, c'mon Mabel! Hurry up!" Dipper pushes people out of the way, not caring who he bowls down. He hears Mabel apologize to each and every one of them as she passes. It's sweet of her but it is not the time. We gotta get out of here, now. Dipper shudders, thinking about what Luke can and will do to them - or well, what he'll do to Mabel. They just have to keep running and hope Luke gives up eventually.

"GAH!" Mabel shouts.

Before Dipper can stop and turn around, his arm is once again almost ripped from its socket. He feels Mabel get yanked backwards and she instinctively lets go of Dipper's hand. He finally turns around and sees Luke holding up Mabel by the hood of her sweater. She gasps and pulls at the neckline, the fabric cutting off her airways.

Dipper's breath catches as memories of the last time Mabel choked flash through his mind. He stands there, paralyzed, unsure of what he should do. Of what he can do.

"What's that? Don't got anything to say to me now?" Luke cackles as Mabel struggles to breathe, kicking her legs out fruitlessly.

No, Dipper thinks, That jerk won't lay another finger on my sister.

"YAHH!" Dipper yells, charging forward. He rams his shoulder into Lukes side.

Luke gasps in surprise and drops Mabel, who yelps in pain as she crashes to the ground. As Dipper watches his sister clutch her leg, he sees red. In a flurry of rage and fists, he attacks Luke. He's caught off-guard and Dipper manages to get a few hits in before Luke composes himself again. One well-placed punch to the face is all it takes to send Dipper sprawling.

"Take that, dweeb! You think you can take me on? Well let's go!" Luke bounces back and forth on the balls of his feet, fists raised and ready to fight.

Dipper winces and rubs his temple, already feeling his eye start to swell. Luke loses patience and yanks Dipper off the ground, then shoves him a few feet away. Dipper sways, his head spinning, but he manages to raise his own fists to try and defend himself.

"Psh, c'mon Luke," Sasha scoffs, walking up and staring at the twins in disdain. "Let's leave these losers and get out of here."

"Babe, you just read my mind!" Luke says, hooking an arm around Sasha and walking away without a second glance. Dipper doesn't spare them one either and rushes over to Mabel.

"Mabel! Are you okay?"
"I am now, thanks to you. Y'know, I always thought it would be me saving your nerdy hide, not the other way around."

"How the tables have turned!"

"At least it's almost summer, then we won't have to see their sorry butts for a while. We'll be long gone, in Oregon!"

"What do you think will even happen this summer? Isn't Oregon like full of grumpy old people?"

"Yeah, and our Great Uncle is bound to be the grouchiest!"

"I bet watching paint dry will be the most exciting thing to happen!" Dipper says, laughing along with his sister. Dipper cuts off with a groan, his eye throbbing painfully from where Luke punched him.

"Oh no! Your eye!" Mabel cries, sobering up immediately. She gently brushes her fingers across his face and Dipper winces in pain.

"It's fine. I'd get punched a thousand times over if it meant saving you."

"Aw, you old sap! Now c'mon, let's get you all cleaned up!" Mabel stands and drags Dipper up with her. They stumble down the hallway to the nurses office, supporting each other the whole way. Dipper smiles, he will always have Mabel's back and he knows she will always have his.

I will always protect you, Dipper thinks and keeps repeating this mantra.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! It would be awesome to hear from you guys and what you thought about it! See you next Thursday (for real this time)