"Grunkle Stan, shouldn't we take Great Uncle Ford to the hospital? " Dipper asked.

"No…" Stanford mumbled, his eyes now closed, "How will you explain…"

"You're going to the hospital." Grunkle Stan insisted. "I may not be as smart as you, but I'm good at telling stories. I'll think of something. "

There was no answer from Stanford. His breathing was slow and steady.

"Aww. He fell asleep. "Mabel said.

"He probably hasn't slept well at all." Dipper said, looking over at the wall where his great-uncle had been tied up.

Stan gave his brother a squeeze. "Aw, Stanford, why do you do this to me?"

"Do what, Grunkle Stan? " Mabel asked him.

"Aw—bullies used to pick on Stanford a lot when he was a kid—"their Grunkle explained.

Dipper looked down at one of Great Uncle Ford's hands and sighed.

"—and It broke my heart. Made me flamin' mad, but it broke my heart. Usually it was because of those six fingers of his…so he had twelve fingers, so what? I always felt awful for him then—and I would have beaten anyone who messed with him into the ground. Now this had to go and happen. "

"But, Grunkle Stan," Mabel said, walking around her sleeping great uncle putting her hand on her "Grunkle"'s arm, "You did beat this—well, this 'bully' into the—well-. "

Stan sighed and grinned slightly, casting a glance at his great-niece. "Yeah, sweetie, I guess I did. "

Just then Soos perked up. "Hey, you hear that? "

Mabel and Dipper looked toward the door. They heard the vroom and sputter of the Mystery Shack work truck. After a moment a door slammed, and then Wendy came in.

"Guys, sorry it took me—"

She saw Stanford was asleep, and lowered her voice. "Sorry it took me so long. "

"Thanks for getting the truck, Wendy." Stan said, looking over at his brother and hating to wake him up. "Soos, could you help me? "

Stan got behind his brother and put his arms under Ford's, wrapping them around Ford's chest. With a couple of grunts, he stood up. Soos went to Ford's feet, first replacing the socks and boots that Wendy handed him, then picking Ford up by the legs. Stan looked distressed when Ford groaned a bit.

"It's okay, Stanford. It's going to be all right. "

Dipper and Mabel cast grins and glances at each other as they followed Soos and their Grunkle Stan toward the door. Stan kept saying, "Careful…" as Soos walked backwards toward, and then through the door. Once outside Stan situated Ford, who somehow remained asleep, in the middle of the front seat. Wendy got in the driver's side, and Stan in the other side next to his brother. Dipper, Mabel, and Soos clamored into the truck bed.

"All right guys, let's go. "Wendy said as she started the truck, then spun it around and went back across the meadow.

For a few minutes, there was silence in the cab of the truck except for Ford's breathing. Finally Wendy asked, "Stan, what are you going to tell them at the hospital? "

Stan had placed his arm protectively around Ford's shoulders. "The kids asked me that, too. Like I told them, I'm good at telling stories. "

Wendy just nodded. There was no arguing with that.

For Stan it took far too long to get to the hospital—which was just outside of Gravity Falls' city limits.

Wendy parked right in front of the front entrance, and ran inside. While she was gone, Soos, Dipper and Mabel got out of the truck bed. When an orderly came out the door with a wheelchair, Stan got out of the front seat and pulled his brother out. He and Soos got him situated in the wheelchair, and the orderly took off.

Stan drew a deep breath. "Here goes. "

Everyone went inside, and another orderly stopped them. "You're with the man who was just brought in? "

"Yes." Stan answered. "Where—"

"If you'll please give us your information at the desk—"the orderly said, pointing to a desk where a woman sat to their right—we'll get you settled as soon as we can. "

Stan cast a worried glance down the hall.

"Come on, Stan, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can see how you're brother's doing. I'm sure they're taking care of him. "Wendy assured her boss.

Under his breath Stan said, "They'd better be," then followed Wendy to the desk.