Ford picked up the newspaper Mabel dropped on the floor and read it. He shook his head sadly. "Poor Mabel."

Dipper gave the slightest of smiles as he stared at Brad's mugshot. "Stan, did you give that guy those two black eyes?".

"Yeah, but in my opinion, he deserved much worse." Stan looked up the stairs Mabel had retreated to. "We should go talk to her."

Stan started to stand when the doorbell rang. They looked over to see Lazy Susan standing at the door.

Ford opened the door for her. "Yes?"

"Hello, uh…Ford, right?" Lazy Susan asked. "Where's Stan? We wanted to ask him how Mabel was doing. Poor thing."

"Mabel is…having some difficulty right now…wait…we?" Ford looked behind her and saw that several people were also here to check on Mabel.

A little Asian girl Ford recognized as Mabel's friend, Candy, came to the front of the crowd. "How is Mabel? Does she need a shoulder to cry on? Tell her her friend, Candy, is here for her."

"I will, just…"

A larger girl, whom Ford recognized as Mabel's other friend, Grenda, came up as well. "Where is he? I'll punch his face! And then his balls! And then his face again!" Grenda said motioning the punching motion into her hand.

"The, uh, assailant…Brad is…um…"

"Come on, man! Tell us what's going on!" said a goth-looking teen Ford identified as Robbie.

"I…she's…um…

Stan gave a sigh from behind his brother, whom he was watching become nervous speaking in front of a crowd like he did when he was young. He stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll take care of this, Sixer. You and Dipper go upstairs and talk to Mabel."

Suddenly the idea of speaking in front of a crowd didn't seem so nerve-wracking anymore compared to speak to Mabel when she's in such a fragile state. "Stanley, you know I love the girl with all my heart, but I..." Ford was overcome with shame as he realized how little time he actually spent getting to know Mabel. He loved her more than anything, and that immense love blinded him to how little bonding they've actually had. How can a traumatized young girl be comforted by a neglectful uncle? "I think it would better if you go."

"I need to take care of this crowd. You're dying up here." Stan put his hand on Ford's shoulder. "You're her family too. She needs you."

Ford took a deep breath. "You're right."

"I'll go with you Ford," said Dipper.

Ford gave a small smile relieved that at least Dipper will be with him. They went upstairs only to find that Mabel wasn't in her room. Ford heard the distinct sound of loud running water from the restroom. It hadn't occurred to any of them that Mabel hadn't even had the chance to shower since the nightmare began.

Ford gave a tender knock on the bathroom door, "Mabel, honey, are you alright? Do you need anything?"

They became worried when Mabel didn't respond. Ford leaned an ear against the door and could hear muffled sobs. He was nervous, but he needed to check on her. He slowly opened the door and walked in with Dipper trailing behind him like a scared puppy.

Mabel was curled up in the fetal position in the corner of the shower still wearing her nightgown from last night. She was covered in soap. Her face was red and her eyes were redder. It was hard to tell where the water from the shower began and the natural tears ended.

"Why...can't…I...feel...clean?" Mabel asked in a shaky voice as she scrubbed harder and harder. She was scrubbing so hard, Ford was afraid she would hurt her skin. He gently took the soap from her hands, turned off the water, wrapped her in a towel and lifted her out of the tub. She didn't resist, but she did sob harder.

"Shh...it's going to be ok honey." Ford soothed as he rubbed her back. Dipper wrapped his arms around Mabel, silently crying along with his sister.

"Where's...Grunkle...Stan?" Mabel asked.

Ford had to admit his feelings were slightly hurt that she preferred the comfort of his brother to him. But he couldn't blame her. He hadn't given her the attention he had given Dipper. It was easier to relate to Dipper due to their similar interests. What if Mabel mistook his shyness around her for favoritism?

"Stan is downstairs, honey."

"Talking to all the people outside?" Mabel had seen them all through the window. She ran into the bathroom in shame and tried to clean herself before anyone saw her. But she doesn't think she'll ever be clean.

"There are lots of people who want to make sure you're okay because they love you," Ford said as he put a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Don't they think I'm...you know a..." Mabel began sobbing again unable to make proper words.

"No," Ford said firmly despite his voice threatening to shake. "No one thinks any less of you because of this. As no one should."

Mabel calmed down a bit, but she began to shake from the coldness of her wet clothes. Ford used the towel to clean her face.

"Dipper, will you please bring some dry clothes for her?"

Dipper nodded and went to retrieve clothes for Mabel.

Ford, wanting to help his shivering niece get dry as quickly as possible, started to take off her wet clothes.

Little did he realize that was a big mistake.

Mabel let out a scream and smacked Ford's hands away. He stared at her completely dumbfounded. "Mabel…?"

Mabel stared at him with wide-eyed fear. She backed herself against the wall like a cornered animal cowering in fear from a hunter.

"Mabel…sweetheart…I would never hurt you," Ford said with a pleading expression. "You know that, don't you? I would never hurt you."

This was all too much for her to handle. Mabel ran past Ford out of the bathroom and past Dipper who was walking down the hall with her new clothes. She went into the attic and locked the door behind her.

"Grunkle Ford, what happened?" Dipper asked, concerned.

Ford couldn't answer him. He just stared stunned at the door Mabel just went through. The way she looked at him…for a moment, she thought he was capable of hurting her. She thought he could be a monster like Brad.

"Go…go check on her, Dipper," Ford said trying to steady his wavering voice.

"What about you?"

"I think…" Ford swallowed. "I think it's best she doesn't see me at the moment."

Dipper, seeing how upset his uncle was at whatever just happened, didn't ask any more questions and went to knock on the door. "Mabel, you okay?"

She didn't answer. Dipper tried to turn the doorknob. Unsurprisingly, it was locked. Dipper pulled out a pin from his vest and worked on picking the lock.

Ford just stood there watching, feeling more helpless than ever.

Dipper got the door open and went inside. A moment later, Ford heard him scream, "Grunkle Ford!"

Protective instincts kicked in as Ford bolted up the steps into the kids' bedroom. He was greeted by the sight of Dipper standing alone in an empty room looking at their now wide-open window.

Dipper turned to Ford with a worried expression. "Mabel's gone."