A/N: Before you read this chapter, I'd like to say a HUGE sorry for not updating in a really long time. School has been really REALLY stressful this semester, and it's kinda been taking a toll on my writing time... I really hope you guys forgive me.

Also, (this has been brought to my attention recently) I am not, repeat NOT, going to abandon this story under any circumstances. I know I've been focusing more on my other fanfiction and everything, but I promise you, I'm going to work a LOT harder on bringing you chapters of Every Spark Into a Flame. I love you guys, and I don't want to let you guys down with this fanfic.

Now, let's put all that seriousness aside and get on with the chapter! :)

Mabel was immobilized.

She knew that Dipper wasn't dead. How could he be, after Bill possessed him? Stan, Wendy, and Soos didn't know about Bill taking over Dipper's body, and Dipper was probably still floating around somewhere in ghost form.

But that's not what bothered Mabel.

What bothered her was all of the possibilities. They were all flooding into Mabel's mind, like a giant tidal wave.

What if Bill had left Dipper's body to burn?

How would she get her twin back then?

Or worse, what if Dipper had gotten back inside?

What if he was really gone?

Dipper. Her brother. Her twin. Her best friend.

Gone.

Mabel looked up, facing Soos, Wendy, and Stan, tears forming in her eyes. She began to shake, her mouth opening but no sound coming out.

Stan turned around to face his two employees, silently begging them to leave. If it were any other situation, like Dipper breaking his leg or something of the sort, Stan wouldn't have minded if they stuck around to comfort Mabel. But this was an entirely different issue.

The kid's brother was dead.

As Wendy and Soos left the room, Stan noticed clear trails of teardrops on both of their faces. He let out a long, shaky sigh.

"Grunkle S-Stan," Mabel said in between sobs. Stan turned, his heart clenching when he saw the amount of tears falling down her face. Why did terrible things happen to people like Mabel?

Finally, Mabel spoke in a faint whisper, "T-tell me it's n-not t-true. P-please..."

Stan felt a burning lump in his throat as he responded, "Kid, I wish I could."

Mabel let out a heart-wrenching sob, keeling over her comforter. The nurse from before, alerted by the sobs of Mabel, rushed into the room, her eyes wide with panic.

"Is everything okay?" the nurse yelled, barely audible over Mabel's cries. Mabel only responded with an even louder cry, which led the nurse to turn to Stan. "Please leave, sir."

Stan got up from the edge of the bed, pointing an accusing finger at the nurse. "I'm the only family member that she has right now! You can't kick me out!"

"Sir, I'm only trying-"

Stan's face heated up with anger. "I'm not going anywhere without this kid, you hear me? I'm not going anywhere."

"But-"

"This kid just lost her twin. You know what that feels like? Do you?" Stan screamed, his voice growing louder and louder with every word. "My great-niece needs comfort, and she sure isn't going to get that comfort she needs from you-!"

"Sir. I'm going to have to call security if you don't leave right now-"

Mabel continued to sob in the background, completely oblivious to everything going on in front of her. All she could think about was Dipper.

Dipper. Her other half.

And she didn't even get a chance say goodbye.

Dipper flew through the woods, calling out Bill's name for what seemed like forever.

He wanted to visit Mabel again. He hadn't gotten a chance to ever since the night of the accident, and it bothered him to a large extent. He needed to see his sister.

But he also needed to see Bill, and at that specific moment, that was the first thing on his mind.

"Bill!" he called out again, his voice becoming a little hoarse. Dipper made a mental reminder to add that ghosts' voices still got sore in the journal.

If the journal still existed.

"Bill!"

"Yeesh, Pine Tree, I'm right here. You don't need to scream."

Dipper looked down, partially surprised to see Bill (in his body, of course) sitting on a fallen tree, staring right at him. Bill swung his legs back and forth, similar to how a little kid would, before saying, "What do you want, kid? I have places to be."

"I want my body back," Dipper hissed, coming down to Bill's level. "You've caused enough damage already. You broke Mabel's leg!"

"Not to mention setting a whole theatre on fire," Bill added, mildly surprised that Dipper didn't say that one first. "Look, we made a deal, kid. I wanted a puppet, and I have one now."

"But you promised me the password," Dipper protested, "and I don't recall ever getting that."

Bill smirked, crossing his arms across his chest. "You want the password? Fine. It's MCGUCKET."

Dipper paused momentarily, stunned. "MCGUCKET? As in Old Man McGucket?"

"That's right, Pine Tree. M-C-G-U-C-K-E-T. Not that it's much use to you anymore."

Bill began to walk away, leaving Dipper dumbfounded. It took Dipper a few seconds to wrap his mind around things before he realized that Bill was getting away. "Wait!" Dipper yelled. "What about my body?"

Bill gave Dipper a manic smile before replying, "You can't take my puppet away from me now, kid. The show's only just begun."

A/N: OOH! I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT LAST PARAGRAPH. WOO. POINT ONE FOR AMIABLE HAMBURGLAR.

Once again, thank you OH-SO much for all of your kind reviews, views (2,500?! HWA-?!), and everything in between. You guys are the best of the best.

Virtual hugs for EVERYONE! :D

Yours truly,

Amiable Hamburglar