When they arrived at the house, Stanford walked in unusually slowly. On the way to the kitchen he quietly slipped away to the basement. Dipper got Stanley and Mabel a Pitt cola and had them sit down with him at the table.

"I just don't know what's wrong with him…he's never done something like this before," said Stanley.

"Grunkle Ford needs to cheer up," said Mabel. "Maybe he needs ice cream…with sprinkles! Or maybe some stuffed animals! Or a pretty new sweater!"

Dipper looked down a little. "Guys…I did some research on depression when Grunkle Ford was in the hospital…and this is not good. When someone who is depressed seems to be getting better, that's actually when they are most at risk."

Stanley's eyes widened. "Oh no…We should check on him."

They rushed downstairs to see Ford standing in the middle of the room…with a gun against his head. His hand was shaking a little. Unaware of his family's presence behind him, he started to pull the trigger, but Stanley ran over and seized the gun before he could. "WHY DO YOU WANT TO KILL YOURSELF SO BADLY?!"

"I'm sorry." Ford's tone was cold and emotionless, but his entire body was shaking now.

"You can talk to us, Stanford. We're your family," Stanley urged. He removed the bullet in the gun and put it in his pocket. It was the only one there. Ford had hidden the other one in case he had gotten caught. "Come on…we can talk this out. Okay?"

Ford's legs gave out from under him and he fell onto his knees. His voice remained unemotional. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

His thoughts were gone…Ford could only apologise for what appeared to be nothing. His family walked him into the living room to talk with him.

"So…what's up?" Stanley asked once they had settled down. Ford was absolutely silent. "Come on, Poindexter…it can't be that bad."

"Can't be that bad?" Ford repeated with anger, rising to his feet. "You have NO IDEA what I've seen…what I've done…so many innocent people…" He fell back into his chair and threw his head into his hands. "I can't see that again…not you…"

"Grunkle Ford…what happened in that portal?" Dipper asked. He reached across the table and took his uncle's hand.

"Watch the stitches, kid!" Ford hissed.

Dipper released his grip immediately. "Sorry!"

"I'm not going to mention any of the details. Not ever. That information is just too awful…for anyone. You'd hate me if you knew the truth."

Everyone seemed to ponder this for a moment.

"I know what you need, Grunkle Ford," Mabel said, walking over to him. She wrapped her arms around him. "You just need hug therapy."

To everyone's surprise, Ford bent down to her level and hugged her close to himself, burying his head into her sweater. Nobody could tell that he was weeping.