A/N Oh man, you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for the comments! They all really make my day!

pokemonfan67: I'm glad you like this! I can't wait for the next episode either!

Extreme Light 9: Well, if you ever get around to writing your version of the idea, let me know! Thanks for the review, I'm happy that you're enjoying this so far!

RockSunner: Thanks as always for the comments! :-)

TMNTGFKittySidekick01: Aw thanks, I'm really happy that you like my stories!

Turquisea: Yeah, I guess he does kinda have that mama bear vibe and even more so in this chapter. :-) Well, don't keep endlessly wondering, I hope you like the next chapter as much as the first! Thanks so much for the review!

DarkRose: Thanks! I'm glad you like it!

shootingstar34: Hey you! Thanks so much for following my stories! Unfortunately I won't be showing Dipper's POV this time around, at least not here. Possibly in the future though as its own short story but I'm not sure yet, who knows?

gravityfalls22: Yeah, I figure it would be an easy mistake for Mabel to make considering she's a little out of it, didn't even know Stanley existed and the fact the two Stan's are twins and all :-) There's so much in this world that exists in my head that will probably never see the light of day, heck most of my stories have tons of details/backstories etc left out that exist solely in my head that I might only get to hint on in the final product which is one of the reasons I have a hard time writing short stories and one shots. One of those little details about this AU is that there was more than one watch (and a laptop) synced up to the Portal. When the Portal was reactivated, so was Stanley's watch, so he knew that he had X amount of time to return to the same spot he landed when he went though the Portal 30 years ago. The vampires have nothing to do with the Wraiths from my other NWHS stories, but I think it's awesome that you like them so much! I have more to say but I'll save that for later. I'm not much of a conversation starter either, but that's OK. Glad Stanley's sacrifice and desperation felt authentic here, that was something that was really important to me when writing this.

Guest: Thanks so much for the huge compliment! Makes me happy to know you're following my stories and that you like them enough to comment! Reviews are like gold to me, so it really means a lot! And yeah, Mabel's pretty tough and could certainly hold her own in a fight (if she weren't injured and all of course...) One of the many things I love about Mabel.

Well, since you guys are so awesome, here, have another chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter Two

The storm raged through the night, and a few times he feared that the fierce winds would knock the little abandoned shack over. He took out his canteen at one point, when the wind had died down a bit and the rain was hammering down in a torrential downpour and went outside to catch the rain to replenish his water supply. When he went back inside he was cold and wet so he removed his coat, hanging it up to dry before he positioned the chair near the fire and sat down, his gun draped over his lap. He spared the girl a glance and heaved a sigh. What to do with you kid? He stifled a yawn, forcing himself to stay awake and leaned back in the chair, facing the door keeping watch for any potential danger.

The sound of the storm outside lulled him into a sort of twilight sleep. His body and mind at rest, and yet still on the alert for any possible threats. To survive, he always had to sleep with one eye open and had quickly taught himself this method of rest a long time ago, as a deep sleep could easily spell doom. A full night of rest was a precious rarity in this world. Too many dangers, too many predators, especially for a human.

But the race to reach the Portal in time had exhausted him, and it was so much more difficult to fight his body and mind's need to fall into a deep, deep slumber. However, with another person's life depending on him, and the dangers that lurked just beyond the wards, he managed to resist the urge to just crash. Will I ever be allowed such luxury? he lamented as he lightly rested.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed when the girl groaned in her sleep, the sound pulling him back into awareness and he opened his eyes to check on her. Her head was rocking back and forth as she became rather restless, mumbling something inaudible as tears fell from her closed eyes. When her movements jarred her shoulder she released a pathetic whimper, her eyes fluttering open as she gasped awake which had him instantly on alert.

"Kid? You with me?" he asked, as he jumped from his chair to kneel down beside her.

She looked around perplexed, too weak to lift her head. "Grunkle St—I don' feel s' good…" she slurred, feebly clutching her stomach with her good arm. She lurched, gagging a couple of times and thinking fast he retrieved the rusted pot that had been abandoned with the shack, snaking his arm under her back to help her sit up. She threw up into the pot, though it didn't look like she had much to throw up in the first place. He combed her hair back out of her face with his fingers, frowning when he realized that her cheeks were hot to the touch. She was burning up.

She moaned, her eyes blinking closed and he moved the pot aside and grabbed his canteen, "Kid, you need to drink," he told her, bringing the spout to her lips. She wasn't fully aware when she took a sip, gagging from the taste at first, but soon she gulped down the rainwater, so much that he had to pull away, "Slowly kid, you don't want to make yourself sick again." Despite being barely conscious, concussed and disoriented from fever and from being in a completely new dimension she nodded and did as she was told.

When she seemed to have had enough he eased her back down and she was out before her head hit the mattress. He took off his flannel shirt and folded it up, tucking it under the girl's head like a pillow, wondering why he didn't think of that in the first place. She sighed in response, a grateful smile crossing her young face.

His overcoat was still wet but he put it back on and headed back outside to empty the contents of the rusted pot and to refill his canteen. The rain was a small blessing, providing him with much needed water but he made a mental note that he would need to find food and a water source first thing in the morning. Something told him the girl would be in no condition to travel for at least another day, something that made him apprehensive. Sure, there were protection wards keeping the vampires and other creatures at bay, but it didn't mean they were safe here. Perhaps he was just being paranoid, but it was paranoia that had kept him alive all these years.

When he went back inside he shivered and hung his coat back up, settling back down on the chair that he now had positioned next to the sleeping girl. He rested the back of his hand on her forehead and frowned at the heat. Travelling through the portal thirty years ago had taken a lot out of him, and it was clear that it was no different for this girl. It must've done a number on her immune system, and in this strange new world for her, the fever wasn't much of a surprise, though it was a problem he didn't know how to deal with. Not with his extremely limited resources.

"You just have to hold on, kid," he sighed, "Soon as I can, I'll take you somewhere safe. The people who took care of me, they'll take good care of you."

I hope, he thought.

It would be a lot to ask of the ones who took him in many years ago, and the idea of leaving her with them, while it was the best option he could think of for now, it made him nervous. This world was no place for a little girl, and there were few places he could consider safe. Indeed nowhere was truly safe here, but the small village that took him in could provide her with food and shelter and there was a healer amongst them who could properly tend to her injuries. It was the closest thing to safe in these parts, but the villagers weren't human like they were, and in a few nights there would be a full moon which would mean danger.

He sighed, closing his eyes briefly, You're more trouble than you're worth, kid. What am I going to do with you? She couldn't stay with his saviours, not for long anyway, but he couldn't keep her either. The nomadic lifestyle he adopted out of necessity was no life for a child. Besides he didn't know how to take care of another person. Heck, some days he could barely take care of himself. Not only that but she would hold him back, slow him down, get them killed. Suppose I could just leave you here, he thought briefly, you cost me everything and I don't even know your name so why should I concern myself so much over your well-being?

He ran his hand down his face with indecision, pinching the bridge of his nose and looked at her. She looked so vulnerable and innocent and he couldn't bear the thought of abandoning her to fend for herself in this dark, cruel world. Besides, something about her reminded him of his son who was about her age when he last saw him. He was never really there for his son, and now he never would be, even though he knew that his son was now all grown up, probably with kids of his own.

I suppose this is my chance to make up for being a paranoid deadbeat, he mused sadly. Maybe that's why I went soft for a minute there and decided to risk my freedom to save you. Stupid move on my part, but…I don't know…I think I would regret it for the rest of my life if I condemned you to die in this hellish place.

The girl whimpered and moaned in her sleep, and he frowned with concern when she began to writhe from pain and fever. She cried out faintly, her eyes fluttering open slightly as she curled on her side, grasping her arm just below her injured shoulder. She squeezed her eyes shut, now rolling onto her back, her body tense as her head twitched and she mumbled something he couldn't quite understand. She wasn't quite unconscious, but she was too out of it to be considered awake. She released a guttural cry, her back arching off the bed as she clutched her injured arm tightly, clearly in the throes of an intense wave of pain.

"Hey, hey kid, shhh…" he exclaimed, leaning forward and gently combing his fingers through her hair at her temples, something he used to do with his son the rare times he saw him when he was small and asleep, "take it easy, you're going to be OK…" I don't know how, but I'm going to take care of you, OK?

She eventually seemed to relax slightly at his touch, but judging by how hot her forehead felt, her temperature had gone up. I can't take the pain away, but hopefully I can do something about that fever.

He took his bandana out of his coat pocket and held it out in the rain until it was cool and damp and sat on the mattress beside her as he gently wiped the sweat, dirt and blood from her face. Should've thought of this sooner…he thought, adding that oversight to the list of reasons why he was ill equipped to take care of a kid. She sighed with relief, subconsciously turning her head towards the cool touch, relaxing when he finally rested the bandana on her burning forehead. She stirred slightly, and despite the obvious pain and discomfort, she smiled as she sought out his hand. Noticing this, he took her small hand in his and she whispered, "Thanks."

"Rest now, kid," he told her softly.

"G'night Gr'nklsta…" she mumbled faintly, snuggling closer to him, her voice fading into oblivion as she drifted off again.

He smiled and combed her hair gently off her face with a sort of affection he hadn't felt in decades and it warmed his heart even as it sent him deep into a state of melancholy. It made him think about his son, who probably resented him for leaving, and his estranged brother whom he had been so angry with back then. He regretted never making amends before he disappeared through the portal. They were the two most important people in the world to him and neither of them had any idea of what happened. He wouldn't have been surprised if they assumed him dead. It was probably better that way, especially now that he knew there was no chance to ever see them again thanks to the girl.

But it's not your fault kid, I have to stop thinking that way, he sighed with pity. You poor kid, you have no idea what happened to you, do you? Here you are, in such agony, thinking I'm someone else, thinking you're safe, completely unaware of the fact that you can never go home again…

The worse part was, she was just a child, a human child, innocent and pure, and that was a highly coveted delicacy for many creatures here. What she possessed was so incredibly rare, a precious gift. But it was also going to be her curse. Her purity, innocence and youth put a target on her back the moment she arrived in this place.

It was in that moment when he realized that her presence was indeed a rare and valuable gift. Her arrival may have kept him from the one thing he desired, but she had inadvertently given him something he hadn't had in a long time. A reason to live. For so long all he had ever known, all he lived for was survival and finding a way back home. But now, home was just an empty dream, for both of them, and without him, she would die. The mere thought of it ignited his long dormant paternal instincts which in turn left such a profound feeling in his lost soul. Just by being there she had given his life new meaning; she gave him a new purpose.

Don't worry, kid. I'll protect you. Can't let my sacrifice be in vain, right? I have no idea what I'm going to do, but...we'll figure something out...Just gotta hold on, OK?

A/N Thanks for reading! As always, I would absolutely LOVE it if you could leave a review! Any kind of feedback makes my day!