Chapter 2 – Guilt
A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for all the awesome reviews, I really appreciate it. Sorry for taking some time to update I wasn't feeling well lately, but I'm better now. I'll be updating this story once a week. Here's chapter two!
Enjoy!
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Rain continued pouring down as Stan ran as fast as he could down the muddy path with Dipper in his arms. By the time they made out of the forest it was a full blown storm and he could barely see his way through the rain. They Mystery Shack soon came into view and he was relieved they were back.
Wasting no time he quickly ran to the door. He held the unconscious boy with one hand and used the other to open the door.
He carried Dipper inside to their kitchen and placed him on a chair where he could finally get a good look at him. Stan was shocked at how pale and tired he looked. His orange shirt was muddy and torn and he had a few cuts on his skin. The worst injury however was in his knee and Stan frowned in concern. Those injuries needed to be treated and fast.
It was then he noticed a think black thorn sticking into Dipper's arm. Something about it brought an old memory to him, but he quickly dismissed it.
Careful not hurt him even more, Stan removed the thorn from his arm and tossed it away.
He then placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to wake him up. "Dipper, are you okay. Wake up!" He said, but there was no response. After a minute of trying, the kid finally showed signs of waking up.
"G-Grunkle Stan?" His eyes opened, bloodshot and glassy. Stan breathed a sigh of relief, glad he was okay. "Where am I?" he mumbled weakly. He tried to get up and flinched at the pain in his leg. Grunkle Stan noticed this and frowned.
"You're in the shack. I found you unconscious in the woods and brought back you here. Are you okay? What happened?" Stan asked.
"I…don't know. I don't remember…" he stated rubbing his temples to clear his thoughts. He honestly felt horrible. His head and chest hurt and he couldn't remember a time he felt this sore. It took a lot out of him to keep his eyes from closing. He was even surprised at how hoarse his voice was. "My head hurts," he said and truly there was small bruise on his forehead.
"Hey, it's alright. We're gonna fix you up. You probably hit your head or something back there. Just don't scare me like that again okay kid?" he then stood up and walked over to the closet where the first aid kit was.
He then awkwardly knelt down and started patching his scraped knee making him wince in pain. It was swollen and bruised and he bit his lips to ignore the stinging pain.
The boy had a few cuts and bruises on his arms and legs and small scratch across his cheek, but nothing too bad. What happened to have hurt his nephew this much? He really wanted to know, but he didn't want to push the answer out of him, especially in his condition.
Dipper suddenly felt a chill running up his spine causing him to shiver. Stan seemed to notice this and stood up. "C'mon, let's take you to your room." He stated as he scooped him up in his arms and carried him to the bedroom, carefully placing him on his bed.
"Can I get a new shirt? This one's ruined." Dipper asked.
"Sure thing, kiddo." He walked over to the bottom drawer and started looking for a shirt for him though some of them looked like they hadn't been cleaned for weeks.
"Jeez, does he ever wash his clothes!?" Finally, after searching some more he found a blue shirt that looked clean enough. He walked back and gave it to him.
He then stood up again and cleared his throat awkwardly unsure of what to do. "Hey, uh, need anything?"
"Water…"Dipper said weakly. Stan nodded and went back to the kitchen.
As began filling the glass with water his thoughts drifted back to his injured nephew and he couldn't help feeling guilty for it. He knew better than anyone just how dangerous those woods can be and yet he still sent Dipper out there.
It was his job to take care of those kids, but he had put him in danger. It's his fault things turned out this way.
Sighing, he returned to the bedroom to find Dipper (fully changed into his blue shirt) had nodded off in the minute or so he was gone.
Stan smirked slightly. "Kid, wake up. I got your water."
Dipper opened his eyes and tried to push himself up, but his arms felt like noodles and wouldn't support him. He suddenly felt Stan's large hand slip behind his back and help him sit upright to take his water. Dipper noticed that Stan didn't let go of the glass of water even when he took it and he slowly sipped as he was instructed.
"Thanks…" he mumbled sleepily.
Stan pulled up a chair and sat in it, watching Dipper fall asleep on his bed with a tired look on his face. He was poised ready to help in case something else happens. He suddenly felt a parent-like side kick in from doing this and he flushed slightly.
He wasn't used to situations like this and it made him feel weird, but he was just worried for his nephew. A soft yawn then escaped him and he looked over to the window where the storm continued its assault and for a split-second he thought he saw something moving in the trees.
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A/N: I hope I kept them both in character. Thanks for reading and please review!