Chapter 4 – Comfort

A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for all the reviews! Now that I completed my other story I'll be able to update this more often. Here's chapter four.

Enjoy!

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Dipper stirred slowly and cracked his eyes open, feeling somewhat groggy before sitting up. A soft yawn escaped his lips and he glanced over to the window to see that it was morning and the storm has passed. He then looked over to the empty chair next to his bed. Grunkle Stan must have woke up before he did.

He's probably downstairs. Dipper thought, rubbing his throbbing temples. While sleeping did help him feel a bit better, he still felt pain in his head and chest. His throat still ached when he swallowed and a dull headache throbbed at the back of his head. His whole body just felt sore. Why do I feel like this?

Sighing, he looked over to the window thinking of the journal and all the things he could be doing right now. There was no way his uncle would let him go exploring today.

As if on cue, he heard footsteps sounding his way and someone coming in.

"Oh morning kid," Stan said as he walked over to him. He then placed his on his forehead and frowned. "Still got a fever. You, uh, okay?" he asked. Dipper grunted in response.

"I feel like my insides are rotting," he told him.

"That can't be fun," Stan muttered. "Alright, how about I get you some breakfast. Sounds good?"

Dipper's eyes widen and quickly shook his head, his stomach churning violently at the mention of food.

"Kid, you gotta eat something or you're gonna feel even worse." He insisted.

"I don't want to throw up again," Dipper said, clutching his stomach tightly. Doing it once was enough for him.

Stan sighed and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Okay, how about simple stuff like oatmeal and toast. Something you can probably keep down there and won't make you throw up." He offered.

Dipper thought about it for a moment and decided that was a better option. "Okay."

His uncle nodded and stood up before making his way downstairs towards to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Moments later, Grunkle Stan returned with a tray full of dishes and set it on his lap which had a bowl of oatmeal and a plate of toast for him. Dipper gulped hard hesitating before he slowly reached for a spoon and dug in. The food was actually good and he managed to finish about half the bowl and took of a few bites of his toast.

"See? That wasn't so bad." Stan said as he lifted the tray and placed it on the nightstand before turning around to leave.

"Grunkle Stan?"

He stopped in his tracks and looked back to him. "Yeah?"

"Can you…help me get downstairs to watch TV? It's kinda boring here." Dipper asked weakly. Maybe watching some TV will keep him distracted from how sick he is.

"Sure, kid." Stan scooped him up in his arms and carried him downstairs to the living room, slowly placing him with a blanket in his favorite armchair in front of the TV.

"There's a mixing bowl right next you in case you…..felt like throwing up again. Just yell if you need anything, okay?" he asked and Dipper nodded. With that, the conman left the room.

Dipper spent about an hour watching TV and he actually felt close to normal. Maybe he'll feel better at the end of the day. Soon enough, his eyes began closing and he dozed off.

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"Ugh…"

Dipper woke up some time later with a painful headache. Slightly dazed, he closed his eyes and clutched his pounding head as the world spun sharply around him.

"Grunkle Stan?" he called out, but none answered. Slowly, he got off the armchair and winced at the pain shooting in his leg.

Those injuries were still fresh from last night and while his uncle did a good job bandaging them they still hurt, but he tried to ignore them as he wobbled out of the room searching for his older relative. It didn't take long until he found Stan in the gift shop.

Grunkle Stan was in the middle of making fake gold nuggets when his nephew stumbled into the room clutching his head tightly. He immediately left whatever he was doing and hurried to his side. "Kid, what's wrong?" he asked worried.

"Hurts," Dipper whimpered weakly, clutching his head as the pain continued coursing through his skull.

"Wait here. I'll be right back." Stan told him quickly before leaving. Carefully, Dipper sat against the wall, biting down his lip when the pain was becoming hard to ignore. He felt as if his head would explode any minute. Soon enough, he felt something wet rest on his forehead which was a relief to his aching head at the moment.

"Here take these. They should help." Stan then passed him two tablets and a glass of water.

Dipper gratefully took the pills and washed them down before handing the glass back to Stan. His uncle then took him back to the living room and left him on the armchair to fetch the thermometer.

It took a while for the reading to be ready. Stan took it from him and studied the red line. "102. No wonder you're so sick. I guess you shouldn't be doing anything today." He stated.

"Bed?" Dipper asked hopefully.

"Alright, c'mon." Stan then lifted the boy bridal style and carried him upstairs.

He suddenly felt Dipper's arms wrap around his neck affectionately. Stan raised an eyebrow at this before smiling slightly. "Let go kid, you're choking me." He teased, earning a soft chuckle from his sick nephew.

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A/N: Aw, I love those two knucklehead. Thanks for reading and please leave a review!