"Gruncle Ford!" Mabel called out down the hallway. He had practically vanished the second the doctor came back for him.
"Where does he think he's going?" Mabel huffed.
"I knew he was in a hurry but this is kinda ridiculous," Soos added.
The doctor had already run off in search of his missing patient, leaving Soos and Mabel alone in the doorway.
"Soos we have to go after him," Mable insisted.
"I don't know dude, you're supposed be resting,"
"I don't care," Mabel shouted, "Gruncle Ford wouldn't have just ditched us like that if it wasn't important. Dipper's in trouble I can feel it."
"Dude. You mean like twin telepathy?" Soos exclaimed with awe.
"What? No what does everyone always think that?" Mable grabbed Soos's hand and began to drag him off down the hallway, "We don't have time for this."
As they got closer to the hospital's main exit Soos and Mabel rounded a corner to find Stan propped up against the wall. He was panting heavily and wearing a bathrobe over his hospital gown. Soos had brought it along with a few other personal effects the previous day to try and make him more comfortable.
"Gruncle Stan!" Mabel said with a start. Stan looked up to see Mabel standing barefoot in bandages.
"Mabel what are you doing out here shouldn't you be in bed!" Stan shouted.
"Shouldn't you!" Mabel protested. Stan growled only to have Mabel hide behind Soos. She was afraid of him. It broke his heart.
"I think Mabel has a point," Soos said, interrupting Stan's regretful solemnity. "You just had a heart attack, it's bad enough Mabel won't stay put, but you really need to take it easy ."
"I saw Ford book it down the hall," Stan protested. "I think I know where he's going, I gotta help him."
Soos tried to calm him down but Stan refused to return to his room. In the end Soos was pressured into driving them both back to the Mystery Shack. Ford head already left ahead of them in a cab. Once they got to the shack Mabel proceeded to lead the way to Dipper's private lab.
Periodically Stan would slow down or have to stop to catch his breath. It was infuriating but his chest ached and his lungs burned. He had to keep calm, another heart attack could likely be the end of him.
They arrived just behind Ford. Just in time to find him wrestling on the floor with Dipper.
"Ford," Stan called out as soon as he caught his breath. He immediately regretted it. Dipper had managed to pin Ford down monetarily. He looked up at Stan and plunged the knife in his hand into Fords chest.
He looked him strait in the eye.
Stan's chest hurt, he screwed his eyes shut and clutched his chest. He silently begged that this was all just another nightmare. When he opened his eyes again Ford was scrambling to the edge of the room while Dipper lay on the floor screaming.
"Stanford!" Stan screamed. Without a moments hesitation he rushed to his brothers side. "Now you've gone and done it!" He scolded as he lifted Ford to his feet. Ford said nothing, merely clung to his brother with all the strength he had.
"Dipper," Mabel cried, approaching her brother who was now sitting on the floor utterly mortified.
"No... no, no, no," Dipper stammered.
"Soos go get the truck and hurry!" Stan shouted as he proceeded to drag Ford out. Mabel took her stuttering brother by the arm and pulled him off the floor. Dipper's eyes were glued to Ford's bloody figure and Mabel had to pull him along like a lost dog.
Stan did his best to get Ford out, after what felt like ages of struggling over roots and rocks they finally met up Soos and loaded into the truck. Stan took the sash from his robe and tied it as tight as he could around Ford's chest to try and slow the bleeding. Unfortunately he couldn't remove the knife himself, not without killing his brother. The whole ride to the hospital Stan sat by his brother, one hand gripping Fords knee while the other gripped his chest. He breathing was heavy and deliberate, and he kept his eyes closed.
Once or twice Ford tried to speak but Stan merely told him to keep still. By the time they arrived back at the hospital Ford had lost consciousness. He was quickly rushed to the emergency room while Stan was returned to his own room. Mabel, Soos and Dipper were allowed to wait in Stan's room while ford was being treated.
For hours they sat in silence. Eventually a doctor arrived and told them that Ford was stable and conscious. Dipper and Mabel followed one of the nurses down the hall. Stan was offered a wheel chair, which he was given little choice but to use. However as they neared Ford's room the doctor pulled Stan aside.
"We've done all we can," the doctor explained. "But I don't think he's going to make it through the night. You should say your goodbye's now."
Stan looked through the glass and watched as Ford smiled weakly and ruffled Mabel's hair.
"Thank's doc," He replied numbly.
Meanwhile Dipper stood by, still in shock.
"Gruncle Ford, I'm so sorry," He cried. Ford placed a hand on his shoulder as Dipper tried to wipe tears from his eyes.
"It's not your fault Dipper, you did what you thought had to. You were willing to go so far to protect us, you shouldn't have had to face him alone." Ford said as he held Dipper's face with a gentle hand.
"How?" Dipper asked, "How did you do it?" Bill was gone, Dipper hadn't heard him in hours.
Ford opened his other hand to reveal a talisman that he had clung too even long after slipping out of consciousness.
"Just something I'd been saving for a rainy day," He replied. "It's used to dispel demons, but it only works once," He explained.
Dipper took the talisman in hand, "How did you know it would work."
"I didn't," Ford admitted.
Late that night Stan snuck into Ford's room while he slept and laid out an old rug on the floor. He had asked Soos to bring it by earlier while the kids were talking for Ford. Ford's consciousness had been short lived and Stanley never did get a chance to talk to him before he passed out again. The rug was old and dirty. Stan had always hated, though now he was glad he had forgotten to through it out.
Stan stood by the bed for some time just listening to Ford's slow labored heartbeat.
"I'm sorry I got you into this mess," He said, his voice the only noticeable sound in the darkness. Stan shuffled his feet awkwardly as he tried to think of what to say.
"I know you're probably gonna hate me for this," he said. "But hey, I can't let you be the hero all the time," he gave a sad chuckle. Ford simply lay there, his heartbeat steadily growing weaker.
"This is for you sixer," he said finally.
Ford woke to a strong shock. His chest ached. Without thinking he reached for his heart. Something felt wrong. He looked down at his hand. Five fingers. He was laying on the floor, on a blue rug with little yellow arrows.
"Stanley?!" He jumped up and grabbed the arm of the man laying in the hospital bed. "Stanley please," he begged. Flat line. Just like that Ford watched himself die.