Thank you to BerryBanana05, Energy witch, ImpossibleJedi4, Christina730, Ella Le Hissy, Fantasy Female Freak, BakuganNerd52, and the two Guests for your reviews on chapter ten.
Guest (Nov 9): I actually still haven't decided whether or not I'm going to have Ford find out about those pages. If I do it probably won't be for some time. Don't worry, you weren't being rude. :)
Guest (Nov 11): Probably not. Mainly because I haven't watched enough episodes of that show to include it.
In this chapter Bill has a broken jaw and because of that his speech has been affected. I tried to show that through the dialogue. It'll probably be that way for a few more chapters until his injury heals.
About an hour after the shack closed three sets of footsteps echoed within the forest. Dipper looked up from where he sat on the ground next to Wendy who started the fire. Ford poked his head out of the tent to smile at the girl version of his nephew skipping up the trail.
Not far behind her trekked Stan with a bag in hand and Soos carrying a large backpack. As soon as they reached the campsite, Soos dropped the backpack with a groan. Mabel wasted no time passing by her grunkle to check on the invalid.
Bill sat up and winced at the explosion of pain in his abdomen. He opened his mouth to ask for help, only to receive severe pain on the right side of his mouth. Ford gently helped him to lay back down. Mabel watched with a hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Ford looked away as guilt swam through his stomach.
"Mabel, sweetie, will you watch over him, please?" Ford asked.
The girl nodded. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"I need to make a phone call," Ford answered and stepped out of the tent.
The brightness of the sunset shone through the trees. Ford took a deep breath in the summer air then stepped away from the group. He dialed in the number for the hospital. It took two transfers to be put on the line with Boyd. As much as both he and Bill might not want it, there was no time to wait for the potion to take effect.
"Can your surgeon friend be ready tomorrow?" Ford asked.
"If you have the money," Boyd replied.
Ford bit down on his lip. One glance in the direction of the tent Ford knew he had no other choice. Guilt welled up inside him once more as he made a second call within the hour to his good friend on the other side of town.
After three rings Tate McGucket picked up. Ford politely asked to speak to the man's father. Nearly a minute of waiting and he was greeted by Fiddleford's voice.
"Stanford, I was just a werkin' on that collar ya wanted," Fiddleford exclaimed.
"You are a good friend," Ford said. He swallowed then continued, "Please, I have one more favor to ask you." His heart pounded. It wasn't right and he hated the thought of ruining a recently rekindled relationship. "Remember I-I told you Bill was hurt."
"Yeah," Fiddleford said. "That shapeshifter don't fool 'round."
"I can get him scheduled for surgery," Ford began. "The problem is in order to keep him quiet, I'll-I'll need..."
"Money?" McGucket asked.
With a guilt-ridden conscience Ford confirmed his guess.
"How much ya need?" Fiddleford asked. From the other side of the room Tate shook his head. Fiddleford ignored his son and awaited his friend's response.
"Half a million," Ford answered. He quickly added, "I promise I'll pay you back." Ford's heart raced. He didn't know when he'd ever accumulate the funds to fulfill his promise, but he somehow would make good on his word.
"Ain't no need, Stanford, we go back long time," Fiddleford said with a laugh.
"Fiddleford, I can't do that to you-I won't," Ford argued.
"I gotta spend this money on somethin'," Fiddleford replied. "I'll pay fer yer boyfriend's surgery. I don't want Bill ta be hurt either."
"Thank you, Fiddleford, you are too kind," Ford said. He hung up and wondered why after all he had done in his life he had been blessed with such a good friend.
It didn't take too long for Soos to finish cooking soup over the campfire. He opened the bag Stan brought to fill each of the tiny bowls with creamy broth. There was plenty for everyone to eat up to four helpings, and due to the taste they considered taking his offer.
Stan had helped Ford to move Bill outside. He sat in a folding chair with a soft pillow behind his back and a warm blanket over his legs. As much as it annoyed him that Mabel offered to feed him, she insisted and he didn't have the energy to decline.
After dinner the seven sat around the campfire and took turns telling scary stories and eating s'mores. Bill looked down at not being able to partake in stuffing his face with sweets. He looked over at Ford who despite everything that had happened during the day looked content. Bill turned back to his friend who spoke her tale of woe.
"And when she came to her room she opened the craft chest," Mabel whispered. She shined the flashlight in her face. "She slowly opened the lid." Mabel made a creaking sound with her throat. She leaped up from her chair and yelled, "And there was no glitter! Ahhh!"
Everyone laughed at the punchline. With the flashlight in her right hand the girl bowed then passed the flashlight over to Stan. The brunette took her seat while everyone stared at the new storyteller.
Meanwhile Ford sat down next to Bill. Despite the pain in his jaw he smiled at his boyfriend. They both stared up at the stars. Ford had stargazed with Kellen the several years he spent in Selvrin, but how long had it been since he soaked up the sky of his own dimension.
His eyes landed on his favorite of the constellations: William. His smile relaxed as he realized why he was so drawn to that shape. Feeling a fool for having overlooked it for years he looked over at Bill.
"That constellation was named after you?" Ford asked.
Bill nodded. "I...I in...I insp...," Bill tried. He pointed the binder in Ford's pocket.
Ford reached into his jacket to reveal the journal. He handed the book and a pen over to his boyfriend. Bill flipped tot he back of the journal. He scribbled a picture of the triangular constellation at the top then wrote down a few lines for notes.
The book was handed back to the original author. Ford held the pages closer to the fire light and read: I inspired the great astronomer Geo Moner in the late sixteenth century. He named the stars shaped like me out of honor for my insight.
Ford took a quick glimpse at his boyfriend then looked back up at the stars. He too had once been foolish enough to idolize the demon. For a moment he wondered how many others he approached under the guise of a muse. From what he heard from the other man's mouth in addition to what he witnessed in his Mindscape, too many like him were quick to accept whatever Cipher had told them.
The binder was shut and the old man placed his hand atop the emblem on the front cover. He stood without looking at the blond and said, "I think it's time for you to go to bed."
"'M fine," Bill muttered.
Ford pretended not to hear him. The correct dosage of the potion was poured into the cap and given to the wounded member of their party. Bill accepted the foul green liquid and quickly choked it down before his tongue had the chance to register its taste.
Bill didn't struggle when Ford lifted him. He didn't acknowledge any pain. Mabel pushed back the flap of the tent while Ford laid Bill down on the makeshift bed. Mabel hurried over to cover her friend up with the blanket. Bill grasped Ford's wrist as he moved to leave.
"Y'don' trus...," Bill said. He looked up into Ford's eyes then averted his gaze. "N'ver min'," he said and turned his head to the side.
Mabel offered to sit down beside Bill until he fell asleep. Bill tried to assure her she didn't need to waste her time with him, but she put her finger over his mouth and instructed him to not talk.
The girl pulled a teen romance novel from her bag and opened to first page. The lantern Ford left in the tent provided her with enough light to see the enlarged print.
Bill stared up at the top of the tent while Mabel read aloud. He halfway listened to the tale of the shy girl on her first day of summer break. She promised herself that on her vacation abroad she would find herself a summer fling and return for her senior year with a story to tell. All but the shy part reminded Mabel of herself the previous year. How embarrassing it was to recall her preteen self looking for love.
Upon finishing the second chapter Mabel looked up to see Bill had already fallen asleep. She chuckled at the innocent look upon his face and adjusted the blanket to keep out any night chill.
She stepped out of the tent to see Stan and Ford reminicsing about their days as children when they would spend summer evenings camped out on the beach. Soos sat with his hands folded under his chin and listened to every word of his boss' happier times. On the other side of the tent Wendy and Dipper sat on a log indulging in the last two s'mores.
Wendy looked over at the boy who picked a piece of marshmallow from his hair. He popped it in his mouth which made the older teenager playfully chide him on a gross action. She turned her attention back to her own sweet sandwich.
"Hey, Dipper," Wendy said. The mentioned looked over to see her staring down at her feet. "I have something I need to tell you. It's better that you hear it from me now, instead of someone else later."
The brunet kept his gaze on her as his teeth crunched the graham cracker. Wendy shifted then dropped the s'more on the ground. She leaned back with her hands on the back of the log and her nose pointed towards the stars.
"You know me and Robbie have been together for a while," Wendy said.
Dipper recalled a little over two months ago when Mabel blurted the information in a fit of anger. He nodded and swallowed before whatever the other teen said forced him to choke.
She turned to look over the boy. Sure he had gained teenage status at the end of last summer, but he still held that glow of childhood innocence. There was still a chance he wouldn't understand the nature of what she wanted to tell him.
"Look, Wendy, I get you like Robbie," Dipper said. He gave her a smile. "If that's who you want to be with then I'll support you. Your life is for you to decide, not me."
She caught the slight disappointment in his voice he didn't bother to hide. Wendy figured she'd better get used to hearing people talk to her in that tone.
She smiled then playfully punched Dipper in the arm. The boy laughed and nudged her back. She laughed with a hint of fear that the nature of their play would inevitably change before the end of his summer break. She too would be considered as fragile as Bill in his current state. Right then she decided perhaps she could keep the secret from him for just a little while longer.
Meanwhile Stan was in the middle of a story of how he and Ford nearly got caught by the police that one night they snuck into the cave just off the beach. He looked over at Ford then wiggled his fingers as he told Soos how at that moment both he and Ford got the idea to pretend to be ghosts. He reenacted how they wailed and screeched.
Soos gasped. "Did they believe it?"
Stan laughed and stomped his foot. "You shoulda seen those grown men running!" he exclaimed then laughed harder.
Ford stopped laughing at Stan's story at the sound of his ring tone echoing in the silent of the night. He excused himself from the others. The author walked over to a private area in the clearing. An unknown number displayed on the caller ID. Ford put the phone to his ear and answered.
"Is this Dr. Stanford Pines?" a quiet and croaky voice asked.
"Yes," Ford answered. After a three second pause he asked, "Who's calling?"
"Dr. Penn," the man answered. "My friend Dr. Boyd referred you to me. He said you have a special case."
"I do," Ford replied. "I believe he's already told you the details."
"He has," Penn answered with a laugh. He cleared his throat. "And I'm right in assuming he told you of my fee."
"I'll have the money if you can fix him," Ford said. He then added, "And if you keep this between us."
"It is my silence I'm charging you for," Penn responded. "I have an opening tomorrow night at eleven. Dr. Boyd has given me your address and I'll be there fifteen minutes early. Have the patient ready."
With that the surgeon hung up. Ford lowered his arm and let his thumb press the end call button. He looked back at the tent where his beloved slept. Bill was worth the steep price.
The next morning Bill woke to find Ford lying awake next to him. Bill laid their quietly for a moment to let Ford finish whatever he wrote down in the binder. After a few minutes of writing Ford glanced over to see those gold eyes on him.
With Ford's help Bill was able to stand with still a good amount of pain. The smaller man insisted he was well enough to walk on his own. Ford and Stan (who shared a tent with them) doubted Bill's claims, but trusted he knew his own limitations.
The soup wasn't as welcomed for breakfast as the night before. It tasted nearly the same, but the texture and temperature was not as pleasing. Nonetheless they ate enough to satisfy any morning hunger. Ford instructed Bill to have as much as he wanted as he would not be allowed anything other than water for the rest of the day.
It wasn't a long walk from the camp site to the Mystery Shack. Soos led the way with Wendy and Dipper close behind. Ford and Mabel stayed close to Bill incase he needed any assistance. Soos offered to carry him on his back which Bill quickly denied. Much to his annoyance Mabel opted to hold his hand so she could help steady him. From the rear Stan laughed at the exchange.
"Shoo Star, I'm fine," Bill said.
"Grunkle Ford said your injuries still look bad, so I'm not going to leave you alone," Mabel replied.
Bill shot a glare over in Ford's direction.
As soon as they got home Ford and Soos helped Bill into bed. He rolled his eyes and grumbled that he was perfectly capable of getting into bed himself. Again Mabel put her finger over his mouth then covered him up.
Soos, Wendy, and Dipper hurried to change for their shift in the gift shop while Stan went to greet the customers waiting outside. Ford excused himself to set up the lab for their visitor later that night.
Only Mabel remained in the room with Bill. She sat down in Bill's chair and opened up another book. Bill groaned at the thought of having to sit through another teenage romance, but was surprised to see her holding one of Dipper's mystery books.
"I thought you might like this one since my books put you to sleep," Mabel said.
"It-it wa' a me'cine," Bill lied.
Mabel stuck out her tongue. "You don't have to lie, Bill, I know you didn't like it," she said.
"You don' like tho' kin's a stories," Bill replied.
Mabel shrugged. "If it's anything like Ducktective, I'll be alright," she said. She patted Bill on the knee. "Besides I'm taking care of you today."
Bill smiled. The girl turned to the first chapter and began to read a loud from the book her brother had finished twice.
She finished the first chapter and looked up at Bill to once again see him spacing out. Mabel closed the book with the thought that maybe he wasn't interested in hearing her read. She offered him the hardback incase he wanted to read it himself.
She noticed as she went to place the book in his hand it shook. Bill clamped his hand around the spine of the novel, but it slipped from his hold and collapsed on the floor, the pages sprawled out.
Mabel bent down to retrieve it. She looked up to see Bill trembling.
"Bill, it's okay, Dipper won't be mad," Mabel said and patted him on the hand. He grasped at her hand and took a deep breath. She watched his chest rise and fall at an alarming rate. "Bill, what's wrong?"
"I don' wan' surg'ry," Bill said softly.
"Bill, it's okay," Mabel repeated. "It will be over before you know it."
"I don' wan' be put to sleep," the blond clarified. He recalled the last time he ingested a chemical that put him out. Instead of killing him like the hoped it only trapped him in his Mindscape. Though he knew Kryptos and the other demons no longer had access to his mind thanks to Ford's dreamcatcher spell, it didn't block out any nightmares his own imagination had the power to create.
"It's the only way to fix your mouth," Mabel replied. She gently rubbed her fingers over his knuckles. "You won't feel a thing. And you'll wake up on time. I promise I'll be there to greet you when you wake up."
Gold eyes landed on the girl's smiling face. He clamped his fingers tightly over Mabel's hand.
"Will you be there whe' I'm pu' un'er?" Bill asked.
"Of course I will, Bill-Bill," the girl said. She poked him on the arm. "And Grunkle Ford will too."
Bill's smile faded at the mention of Ford. He recalled what he overheard from Ford and Dipper's discussion yesterday morning. Now would be the perfect time for Ford to do away with him. Deep down he knew he was wrong after everything Ford had done for him in the past.
If only I could still read minds, Bill thought to himself.
"Do you want some water?" Mabel asked and offered him the half filled plastic bottle that sat on the nightstand. Bill nodded and held out his hand. He tilted the water bottle back and let the cool liquid fall down his throat.
At half past ten the entire Pines family and Soos awaited the arrival of the doctor. Bill had gone to the bathroom three times in a thirty minute period which Ford chalked up to nerves.
Fasting for twelve hours brought on the fatigue which would only serve to help him react faster to the anesthesia. For good measure Ford had not allowed him any water after quarter til ten. Bill never felt thirstier than he had over the past forty five minutes.
Everyone save Ford jumped at the sound of knocking. Bill glanced over at the clock and his stomach twisted. Penn was not scheduled to arrive for another fifteen minutes. He announced to the group he needed to visit the bathroom one more time. Mabel sucked on her bottom lip and wished that the procedure could already be over.
Ford opened the door surprised to see not Penn, but Fiddleford on the doorstep. Once the shock wore off he invited his friend inside. The two men walked to the living room where the rest of the group awaited the surgeon. They too were surprised to see McGucket instead.
A little ways down the toilet flushed and the door opened to reveal Bill looking woozy. Ford caught him before he had a chance to faint. The blood shook the entire time he was led to the recliner. Soos covered him with a blanket that did little to stop the shivering.
"I got that collar ya wanted," Fiddleford announced and opened a bag that contained the device. Ford thanked him for his hard work as he looked it over. Meanwhile Fiddleford made his way over to where Bill awaited his fate. He looked up into the kind blue eyes of the inventor. "Heard what that monster did to ya."
Bill nodded. Every tick of the clock turned his stomach to the point he knew he'd eventually vomit. Mabel knelt down beside the chair and put her hand atop his. She mouthed that everything would be okay.
Ten more minutes passed. Stan tried to keep everyone's spirits up with jokes and trying to make light of the situation. Once he succeeding in bringing a smile to Mabel and Bill's faces, but Ford was a different story. Dipper looked ready to fall asleep at any moment.
A heavy knock echoed throughout the shack. Bill squeaked and gripped at the blanket. Mabel put her arm around Bill who hissed at the pain against the wounds on his stomach. Mabel promptly moved away and apologized.
This time Ford returned to the living room with a tall, slim man by his side. The man looked to be in his fifties with a full head of white hair and thin-rimmed glasses. In his hand he held two bags of equipment. He requested that Ford, Soos, and Stan help him move the heavier stuff into the lab where he would perform the surgery.
It took about ten minutes to move and set everything up. Stan was the first to return to the living room where Bill shuddered at the thought of the surgeon coming into the room. Mabel patted his back to no avail.
"Alright, kids, it's time for you two to hit the hay," Stan ordered.
"No, Grunkle Stan, please let us stay up a little longer," Mabel pleaded.
From her left Dipper groaned at the thought of having to stay up any later.
"It's been a long day, and you didn't get any rest last night," Stan argued.
"I promised Bill I'd be there with him," Mabel countered.
"We'll let Dr. Penn decide that," Ford stated before Mabel had a chance to sway Stan.
The mentioned stepped into the room. "It's fine with me as long as she stays out of the way," said Penn.
Penn led the way to the secret room beneath the shack. Soos and Ford helped Bill into the lab. Mabel and Fiddleford followed closely behind.
The five stood in the elevator as it slowly descended to the bottom floor. Bill cradled himself against Ford and inhaled the man's scent just incase it was his last chance. Ford felt the smaller man tremble and tightened his hold, careful to avoid the wounded areas.
Bill's eyes shut tightly as they reached the bottom. He held onto the elevator door and shook his head when Ford ordered him to move. Ford put two fingers beneath the uninjured side of Bill's chin which guided the gold eyes to look up. In that moment Ford could see the fear in the smaller man's eyes.
"You're going to be okay," Ford whispered. "We won't let anything happen to you."
Bill clamped his hand around Ford's and let the larger man lead him to the research table that had been transformed into his bed for the procedure. He stepped atop the white sheet, his legs wrinkling the cloth as he laid down.
All the necessary questions had been asked while they set up the equipment. To be sure Penn asked Bill of his current condition. Shakily he answered each question, none of which would postpone the surgery. Penn readied the anesthesia.
Ford watched Bill tense up and grabbed his hand. On the other side Mabel held his right hand.
"You'll be fine," Ford said.
"You're not go' leave me," Bill said and took a deep breath. "Let him kee-keep me asleep."
"Of course not," Ford replied. "What would give you that idea?"
"But...you don' trus' me," Bill said. Drool leaked down his chin.
"What?" Ford asked.
"I-I hear' you an' Pinetree talking," Bill confessed. "You-you sai' you don' trus' me. You-you would do a'ythi'g you nee' to to keep the family safe, even if it-it means takin' me out."
Ford was about to ask what he was talking about when he remembered the conversation he had with Dipper in the kitchen. Bill's odd behavior in the bunker finally made sense.
"Bill, I was talking about the shapeshifter, not you," Ford clarified.
Bill parted his lips, but quickly shut them. He tried to rationalize Ford only told him lies to pacify him until the end of the surgery. Then again it didn't make sense that Ford would go to all that trouble to have his mouth fixed if he didn't want him better.
"You don't have anything to worry about," Ford said. He pushed that stray curl from Bill's face. "Penn will have you feeling better before you know it."
"If you please, Mr. Pines," Penn said as he approached Bill with the mask. Both Ford and Mabel moved away and went to sit with McGucket in the chairs by the desk.
The mask was placed atop Bill's nose and mouth. He gripped at the sheet once more, but relaxed upon the surgeon's order. Bill was instructed to count backwards from twenty. The demon swallowed then followed Penn's orders. By the time he got to twelve the counting stopped and Penn made sure his patient was out.
The surgeon turned to the others in the room. With his hands folded in front of him he approached Ford with a huge smile.
"Before I continue, I'll need my payment," Penn said.
Ford jumped up. "Fix him and you'll have it!" he snapped.
"You sure charge a large sum fer a simple opp'ration," Fiddleford said.
Penn sneered at the old man. "Mr. Pines has given me special instructions to keep this surgery off of Mr. Cipher's record." He then grinned at Ford. "And to keep from talking."
Mabel gasped. She looked over at Bill who laid there helpless.
Fiddleford reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope that he handed to the surgeon.
"There's yer money, now do yer job," Fiddleford spat.
Penn opened the envelope and his eyes landed on the check for half a million. He then looked at the name and smirked.
"You have Fiddleford McGucket as your benefactor," Penn said and inserted the check back inside the envelope. "What a pity I didn't charge you more."
"That's the amount we agreed on, now fix him," Ford growled.
Penn bowed his head then walked back over to the patient.
The two men watched Penn perform the procedure. About fifteen minutes in the thirteen-year-old dozed off. Ford covered the girl with his coat and paced the room. Every once in a while he glanced over to see Bill lying there unconscious while wires were inserted into his mouth.
The scientist sighed and wrapped his arms around himself. He walked on a little further and Fiddleford hopped down from his chair to follow after his old friend.
Once they were alone he said, "I forgot how fast Shifty can be." Fiddleford lowered his head and nodded. Ford continued, "This wasn't supposed to happen."
Fiddleford put his hand on Ford's shoulder. He turned to hug his old friend, an action he had put off for too long. Fiddleford accepted the embrace and patted Ford on the back. Ford looked up to see Penn finishing up with the procedure.
Ford took a deep breath then composed himself. He and McGucket walked back to where Mabel sat asleep. A look back in Bill's direction he realized it would be a little longer as Penn currently stitched up the gashes on Bill's abdomen. Another fifteen minutes and he finished.
He considered letting the girl get her rest, but knew she would hate him if he didn't wake her in time to welcome Bill back to consciousness. Mabel whined as she stirred. She looked up into the smiling face of her great-uncle and stretched as she yawned. Dabbing at her eyes she took Ford's hand and walked over to where Penn stopped the flow of anesthesia. He then disposed of his gloves.
Gradually Bill regained consciousness. He inhaled sharply and his eyes fluttered. He required help from both Ford and Penn to sit up. Bill stared down at the braces-lined smile that greeted him. He smiled back at Mabel and noticed the wires in his mouth.
"Don't mess with those," Penn said and smacked Bill's hand as he went to touch the wires.
Bill licked the right side of his mouth to discover Penn had reattached his molar as well. He smiled as best he could, but the wires kept him from using his mouth too much.
"Liquids and soft foods for the next five weeks," Penn instructed. "I'll be back then to examine him and see if it's time to remove the wires." He then placed a bottle of pain killers in Ford's hand. "Four times a day as needed."
"I can't thank you enough," Ford said.
Penn patted the pocket that contained the check. "You will," he said and chuckled at the thought of the amount of money about to be added to his account.
Ford grabbed Penn's sleeve. The two men stared at each other for a few seconds.
"This never happened," Ford stated. "Caroline Avery will never hear a word."
Penn grinned. "I've never even met you, Mr. Pines," he said then laughed as he made his way over to the elevator.
"No can'y for five weeks," Bill lamented.
"It'll be okay, you can still have ice cream," Mabel countered.
Ford and McGucket helped Bill over to the elevator. Mabel yawned as she also boarded. When they reached the gift shop the girl led Bill to his room to help him get ready for bed while the men assisted Penn with removing his medical equipment from the lab.
"See, Bill, all good," Mabel said.
"You're calm 'bout it," Bill said.
The girl nodded. A frown crept over her face for a moment as she recalled the time at age five when Dipper had been rushed to the emergency room for stitches when he fell off the trampoline.
"Thanks, Shoo Star," Bill said.
The girl nodded then tucked him in. Left alone in the dark room Bill smiled. Not long after he fell asleep.
I didn't go into detail on the procedure as I don't really know. I did some research on anesthesia, so I hope that bit comes across as accurate.
There's more with Avery and Shifty in the next chapter.