The nurse at the desk didn't look up from the papers she was writing out even when they stopped in front of it.
"Name of the patient? " she said in a voice that sounded like she was talking through her nose.
Stan set his jaw. "Stanford Pines."
The nurse looked up and over her glasses at them. "—and, what seems to be the problem? "
Dipper looked up at Grunkle Stan, who gritted his teeth and said slowly, "Well, my brother was held hostage by some nut job in the woods, and aside from not feeding him for a day and a half, I don't know what else said nut job did to him. That's what the doctors are supposed to find out, right? "
"I see," the woman said, scribbling on a paper. "—and you are? "
Both Mabel and Dipper saw Stan's fists clench and start to shake. Through his teeth he said, "I'm his identical twin brother—Stanley Pines. "
The woman glanced up at him. "All right. Take a seat and the doctor will be with you shortly. "
Dipper grabbed one of Grunkle Stan's hands and turned him toward the chairs by the wall, and Mabel took his other hand and started to lead him there. Wendy and Soos immediately got in between Stan and the nurse at the desk—knowing that at any moment Stan could turn around and take out his anger.
Wendy thought she heard Stan actually growl as they took seats several feet away from the nurses' station, Dipper and Mabel on either side of Stan and Wendy and Soos across from them.
"Darn incompetent…."
"Mister Pines, I'm sure they'll take real good care of your brother. "Soos said, trying to alleviate the tension.
Stan sighed and shot a glare over his shoulder. "They'd better—hopefully no one else that works in this hospital is like Nurse Ratched over there. "
Dipper looked at Mabel, who had a tear in her eye. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, Mabel. Great Uncle Ford is safe, now."
Mabel let the tears fall. "I know—but—why did that awful thing have to do this to him? "
Dipper frowned and looked at the floor. There were some pretty awful things out there—and he and his sister had seen far more of them that summer than anyone their age would have in their lifetime.
Wendy leaned over in her seat and looked Mabel in the face. "Hey, Mabe, Dipper's right. Your Great Uncle Ford is safe, the doctors are taking care of him—"—she glanced at Stan, whose fists were still clenched, and lowered her voice—"—and I think Stan is going to watch him like a hawk for the rest of their lives. "
Mabel grinned at her and wiped a tear away.
Stan exhaled and looked at his watch. "How long are they going to take? "
"So—uh—Mister Pines, how are things coming on the Mystery Shack? "
At first Stan shot a glare in Soos' direction, but he soon realized that the young man was trying to get his mind off of his worrying.
Stan attempted to smile, but it turned out to be more of a grimace. "Well, Soos, it's coming along. Not fast enough for my taste, but whaddaya do. "
"I sure miss it." Soos said.
Stan managed a smile. He knew that Soos looked at him like a father figure. If Stan had ever had a son…
"Well, Soos—even though the Shack's closed, there's still plenty to be done. Come on over and I'll be sure and find something for you to do. "
Soos' face lit up.
"Excuse me—Stanley Pines? "