Chapter 7 – Empathy

A/N: Hey everyone! Here's the chapter you've been waiting for. Thank you for all your support and reviews. I really appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls.

Enjoy the final chapter of Powerless!

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"Dipper!" Stan yelled as he watched Dipper's body fall to the ground, motionless. Wasting no time, he hurried to his side and tried to wake him.

"Dipper! Are you alright? Wake up!" he muttered, shaking him slightly, but nothing seem to work. The boy didn't even stir. His eyes stayed closed and wouldn't respond to his voice. This was bad.

Stan began to panic. He wasn't sure what to do, but he knew had to do something and fast. Careful not to hurt him, he lifted the kid in his arms and hurried to his car.

"Don't worry, Dipper. You'll be okay." Stan told the unconscious boy in his arms.

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Meanwhile, Mabel was still at the sleepover at Candy's house, watching a movie with her two friends. As she took a handful of popcorn her thoughts soon drifted back to the shack.

She didn't give it much of a thought when no one answered her calls when she wanted to check on them. She assumed her grunkle and brother both slept in. It happened before, but a part of her had a feeling that it was more than this, that something really bad happened. It made her worried.

Deciding to push those thoughts aside, Mabel tried to focus on the movie instead. Dipper and Stan were probably alright so there's no need for her to be worried, right?

Suddenly she heard Candy's home phone ringing. She excused herself and walked over to pick it up.

"Mabel?"

The girl noticed the urgency in her uncle's voice, but smiled anyway. "Hey, what's up Grunkle Stan?" she asked.

"I can't really explain, but I'm sending Soos to bring you to the hospital."

Mabel raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why?"

"Mabel, something happened to Dipper."

Mabel froze, her eyes going wide and felt her body go numb.

Sometimes she hated being right.

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Stan sighed as he sat outside the hospital room and took off his fez. He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. Once they arrived at the hospital he let the doctors take Dipper and he was told to wait outside, but that didn't stop him from worrying for his nephew. He really hoped the kid was okay.

"Grunkle Stan!" Stan's head whipped over to see Mabel coming his way with Soos not far behind. It didn't take long until she began pounding him with questions. "Grunkle Stan, what happened to Dipper? Is he….hurt?" she asked as she stood in front of him, worried.

Stan frowned and rubbed the back of his head nervously, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to make her panic. "Look kid. I'm not really sure. Your brother got really sick last night. I thought it was just a fever, but then it got worse and he passed out today." He explained to her as they joined him in waiting.

Just then, a tall man with short black hair in a doctor's coat came up to them with a clipboard in hand.

"What is it? Is he okay?" Stan asked urgently.

The doctor seemed a bit stressed as he went through the papers he was holding. "Well Mr. Pines, we tried to help him with his fever as much as we could, but he's still unresponsive and his body temperature is high." he said.

Stan frowned in concern, wondering just how bad the kid's condition was.

"Can we see him?" asked Mabel.

The doctor nodded. "Sure,"

They followed the doctor down the hall and into the room where Dipper was being held. Stan gulped at the sight of the boy on the hospital bed and how tired and pale he looked.

"We're not sure what the reason behind that yet so we're going to run a few more tests. Don't worry." With that, the doctor turned around and left.

Stan's attention returned to his sick nephew and placed a hand on his warm forehead. Even in his sleep Dipper looked as if he was in pain. The conman felt a bang of guilt at seeing him like this. This was all his fault. He was supposed to keep those kids safe. How is going to explain this to their parents?

"Will Dipper be okay?" Mabel asked him suddenly, looking close to tears.

Stan stiffened and glanced at the boy again, unsure. He sighed and gave the girl what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

"Of course he will. Dipper has been through stuff worse than this. He's gonna be fine I'm sure."

"Do you really think so?"

At this Stan nodded.

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Night approached quickly. Stan had told Soos to take Mabel back home to the shack while he stayed overnight with Dipper. The handyman said he would stay over at the shack to watch over her which was something Stan was grateful for.

Now it was just him and Dipper.

Sighing, he sat on the chair next to the kid's bed and stared at his pale face sadly.

"Dipper? Hey," he muttered to him. "C'mon I know you're stronger than that. I don't care what those doctors say. I know you can fight through this. It's what you do best. Even when things go wrong you fight back." He paused and looked down.

"Everyone's really worried about you and….I am too Dipper so you gotta wake up."

He sighed and pinched the brick of his nose tiredly, wishing there was a way for him to help the kid out of this.

"G-Grunkle Stan..."

Stan's eyes snapped open to see that Dipper was awake, eyes half open and smiling weakly at him.

He suddenly felt his throat tighten and something inside him swelled at seeing him. He couldn't help cracking a small grin.

"Hey Dipper."

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Two days later

Dipper was lying down on his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in boredom. The past few days weren't eventful. The doctors would come to check on him every so often. His uncle and sister would come to visit him along with Wendy and Soos whenever they could. And while he really missed being at home with everyone at least he was feeling a bit better than before.

Sighing, he sat upright. It was then that he noticed something under his shirt sleeve. He lifted the sleeve up to see a black mark on his shoulder.

Curious, he traced a finger across the mark on his skin and watched as it disappeared. He stared at the spot for a moment and shrugged. Whatever that was it's gone now.

Suddenly, heard the sound of footsteps and someone coming in.

"Hey kid." Stan greeted as he walked over with a small box.

Dipper smiled. "Hey Grunkle Stan."

The conman made his way across the room and sat on the side of the bed, handing the box to him which was filled with cookies. "Your sister made these for you. She says she misses you and hopes you get better." He said.

"Thanks," Dipper said as munched down on a cookie. They were really good and he took another one. He then noticed Stan was shifting in his spot uncomfortably. Something was clearly eating at him.

"Grunkle Stan, is something wrong?" he asked.

Stan flinched and averted his gaze. "N-Nothing…I just…wanted to say…I-I'm sorry."

Dipper stared at him in surprise. "For what?"

"For all of this. If I haven't sent into the woods by yourself none of this would have happened." He stated.

"Stan, it's not your fault."

"But It is!" he insisted. "It's my job to take care of you and I knew the forest is a dangerous place. I should have at least gone with you to make sure you were safe, but I didn't." He turned to him with a guilty look on his face. "Can you forgive your Grunkle Stan?"

Dipper watched him for a moment before managing a soft smile. "Of course, I forgive you."

Stan smiled back and pulled him close to him.

"Thanks, kid."

The End

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A/N: And done! I can't believe it's finally completed. I'm so glad many of you enjoyed this story. Thank you so much for being so supportive.

I would also like to thank everyone who reviewed for Powerless.

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Until next time! :D