(I forgot to add a TW: Reference to self-harm)
The drive back to the shack was mostly silent, Dipper looking out the window again and Mabel fiddling with Waddles' ears.
"Guys…I'm sorry," Dipper said from the backseat. He had his legs pulled up to his chest.
Wendy raised a confused brow. "For what?"
"For freaking out in public."
"Dipper, it's fine. Everyone has their freak out moments," Wendy assured.
"Even you, Wendy?"
"Once you meet my family, then you'll know why I'm as cool as a cucumber."
"What about you, Grunkle Stan?" Mabel asked.
Stan looks at his niece through the rearview mirror.
He smiles. "That's right, pumpkin."
"Yeesh. There's so much sweetness going on around here. I can feel my teeth rotting," Wendy smiled. The Pines in the car laughed a little.
"So…Mabel, I noticed you've made some new friends," Dipper said to his sister.
"Oh! Yeah! It was awesome! I even took pictures!" Mabel said as she took out her smartphone and showed the photos to her brother. "The girl with forks taped to her fingers is Candy Ciu and the other girl with this super cute iguana is Grenda Grendinator. No joke. That is her last name."
Seeing his young wards smiling and happy again, Stan sighs in relief.
All seemed well.
The tick-tock of a clock was the only sound in Ford's office as he waited anxiously for the return of his family.
"Alright…The people at the facility have picked up the specimen and everything is packed and ready to go!" the man said to himself. "Now, I'll have to wait until they return." Ford goes quiet, seated at his desk with a state-of-the-art computer monitor in front of him, bearing the McGucket Gadgets symbol below the screen. To Ford's right, nine security monitors mounted on the wall, each displaying a different part of the shack property.
"…Is this really a good idea?" Ford asked himself. He got up from his swivel chair and started pacing in the smallish room. "What if they get hurt? What if they get scared? What if a–" He shook his head "No! No, I want to do this! I want to show them what I do. Yes, it's dangerous. But, there is also beauty in it! And, who knows, they could be interested in the studies of anomalistics as well! Well, at least Dipper. I do recall his interests in conspiracies and the paranormal."
A small alarm goes off and he sees on a security camera of Stan pulling up.
"Right on time!" Ford grabs his things and goes to leave his office. His outstretched hand paused, hovering over the door handle.
Ford takes in a slow breath. "Everything will be fine." His voice shook a little from rising nerves. "He won't do anything…He can't do anything…It will be fine…"
Dipper exits the car and Wendy approaches him.
"Hold on a sec, Dip," she said.
"What's up?"
"I wanna show you something."
Wendy shows Dipper a series of texts from her friends on her phone, asking how he's doing and the like.
Lee – [Hey, Wendy, is the little dude doing okay?]
Nate – [He can join us some other time when he feels up for it.]
Thompson – [I'll do my best!]
Mabel shows him her texts from her new friends, who also wish for his good health.
Candy – [I can recommend some incense that could help.]
Grenda – [AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, I WANNA PUNCH HIS ANXIETY AWAY!]
Dipper smiles gratefully at the girls. The group heads for the door, which opens courtesy of Soos. His face was still swollen and red.
"Welcome back, guys!" Soos greeted cheerfully.
Everyone stares in shock.
"Wow," Mabel said.
"The heck happened to you?" Stan asked.
"Oh, it was the…uh…" Soos trailed off.
"Raccoon," Wendy reminded him.
"Right. The raccoon."
"What raccoon leaves suction marks?" Dipper asked.
"The rabid kind. Dr. Pines already gave me the ointment for it, so all is good," Soos said. "How was the tour?"
Dipper and Mabel exchanged glances, not willing to share what happened at the cafe.
"Pretty good," Mabel replied. "Made some new friends. I even got a playdate scheduled for Waddles."
"And I might have a laser tag thing at a later date," Dipper said, feeling better about himself. He looks up at Wendy. She smiles and winks.
"Awesome!" Soos said.
"Sounds to me that you two had a swell time," Ford said as he came into view. Dipper frowned at the sight of him.
"Uh, yeah! We sure did!" Mabel said, trying to keep up the good vibes.
"Good. Now, may I ask if you two have any other plans for the day?" Ford asked.
"Why?" Dipper coldly asked. Everyone looked in his direction, but didn't say anything.
Ford, for his part, didn't appear affected by the response. "I've been thinking that it is time for the three of us to spend some quality time together."
Dipper's glare lessened at that. "Really?"
"You mean it?" Mabel asked excitedly.
"Yes. I mean it." Ford saw Soos giving him a thumbs up. He nodded at him. "And I have the perfect place for us to go."
"Where?"
"There is a spot in the forest that I would like to show you both. A spot that no one in this town has been to," Ford replied cryptically.
Hearing this, a smile formed on Dipper's face. "You're actually going to take us into the forest?"
"Uh…Ford?" Stan voiced, his concern evident.
"There is nothing to fear, Stanley," Ford assured with confidence. "The spot in question is a safe haven of sorts. Very rarely did anything go amiss during my visits there."
Stan didn't seem too convinced. He didn't want either kids to go into the woods, but…if it's his brother taking them… "…If you say so." Stan walks away, heading to the direction of the kitchen.
"So…what do you say?" Ford asked the younger twins, hoping that they would say yes.
"I'm gonna go get one of my camo sweaters!" Mabel exclaimed. She runs off, heading up stairs.
Dipper and Ford share a laugh with the latter feeling relieved.
Dipper stops, looking ashamed. "Great Uncle Ford, I'm sorry for my attitude earlier."
Ford shook his head, getting at eye level with Dipper and putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "No need for apologizing, dear boy. It was I who's been pushing you and your sister aside. I am the one who should be apologizing."
Hearing this, Dipper puts hands on Ford's arm, a silent forgiveness. "So, is there anything specific I should pack?"
"Nothing much." Ford straightens back up, slipping his arm from Dipper's grip. "I've already packed up the essentials, but feel free to pack anything you feel you might need." There was an odd look on Ford's face. "Except for a sleeping bag. I don't plan for us to stay out until dark."
"Yes, sir!" Just as Dipper was going to run for the attic, his path was blocked by Stan.
"Hold on a sec, you two," Stan frowned as he approached the pair. "Before you two head out for some nerd time." He places their newly warmed, untouched breakfast in front of them. "Eat."
Dipper and Mabel prepare for the trip, Dipper grabbing his backpack and Mabel stuffing some things into her homemade, knitted tote bag. Once they were done, they darted down the stairs.
They are momentarily stopped by Stan. The man smiled. "You kiddos better have fun, ya hear?"
"We will!" Dipper and Mabel exclaimed. Stan ruffles their hair.
"Oh, and give this to Ford," Stan said. He hands Mabel Ford's smartphone. "He's always forgettin' his phone. Now, get going, squirts."
The kids run outside to see Ford standing next to the shack's golf cart, talking to Wendy, who was leaning on the vehicle.
"I appreciate the offer, Wendy, but it will be fine with just the kids and me," Ford said to the ginger.
"Alright. Probably for the best. I don't wanna butt in on some quality time that was a long time coming." Wendy knowingly smiled.
Ford awkwardly laughs and sees the kids coming. "Are you children ready to go?"
"Yes, sir!" the young twins exclaimed.
Wendy removes herself from the cart. "Call me if you're stuck in a jam, Doc."
"Right." Ford feels around his person for his phone, digging into his pockets, be it his pants and the ins and outs of his trenchcoat. He couldn't find it.
Mabel hands it to him. "Beyoop!"
"Ah. Thank you, sweetheart." Ford graciously takes the device and turns back to Wendy. "Yes, I will call you if we're stuck in a metaphorical jam, not preserved fruit."
Wendy chuckled. "Later, dorks." She looks at the twins. "Have fun."
"So, where are we going?" Mabel asked Ford. "Is it one of your research sites?"
"Yes, Mabel, it is," Ford replied.
"Are we allowed to go there?" asked Dipper.
Ford nodded. "Yes. That area is deemed safe. I've made sure of it."
He goes to put their things in the golf cart. As he did, Dipper notices a hip holster with a gun attached to Ford's belt peeking out from the man's trench coat. Before Dipper sees more, Ford turns around and the gun is out of view.
"Are you kids ready to go?" Ford asked the kids.
"Yes!" Mabel grinned.
They get on the golf cart and drive into the forest with Ford behind the wheel. As they drive, the twins take in the natural beauty, the light of the sun's rays shining through the needles of the pine trees around them.
At some point, Dipper swore he saw…something in the trees.
After driving for several minutes, Ford stops the cart near what seems to be a remnant of a brick wall.
"We walk the rest of the way," Ford said. "Is that fine? If you need help, don't hesitate to ask."
They gab their stuff and continued their trek on foot. Dipper keeps getting the feeling that they were being watched. He looks around the woodland area and noticed a tree with a triangle carved into it. He hurries past it. The closer they got to the area, there was a shimmer, like Mabel sprinkled some glitter.
When they reach the grove, Dipper and Mabel are at awe of what they see.
"Great Uncle Ford…what is this place?" Dipper asked.
Ford smiled with great pride. "What I have been researching…Anomalies."
Before them was the Shimmering Grove and the twins felt like they had walked into a mirage, like there was a soap film over every surface of tree, bush, and blade of grass. There was a glow too, as the surfaces reflected the sunlight. And that wasn't just the flora that the twins gapped at.
There were jackalopes. Actual jackalopes, hares with real antlers sticking out of their heads! They ran off once they saw the humans in the area, but the twins were able to spot them. Tiny, fluttering creatures made themselves known. At first, Dipper and Mabel thought they were bugs, but once the critters got closer, they saw the teeny-tiny, humanoid bodies.
Fairies?
"It's…It's amazing," Dipper said.
Mabel beamed at what she was seeing. "Beautiful!"
Ford felt his lips grow into a smile, happy to see that his niblings were thrilled over this. He reaches into the messenger bag he carried to take out two journals, a dark magenta one and a dark cyan/teal one.
"Ready to have fun?"
Stan feeds Waddles what remains of Ford and Dipper's breakfast and goes to relax on his recliner. With nothing else to do, he decided to go back to his original idea of relaxing in the den.
He rested his eyes, enjoying the peace. It lasted for a few seconds until he heard creaking floorboards of someone walking close. He opens a single eye and let out a small yelp by the sight of Soos' swollen face.
Soos chuckled. "Sorry, dood. Just popping in to ask if you want anything from the store."
"You sure you wanna go out lookin' like that?" Stan asked.
"It'll be fine. The swelling's gone down. So, want anything from the store?"
"Uhhh…no."
"Okay!"
Soos leaves and Wendy comes in.
"Well, someone's about to be on tomorrow's front page news," she remarked as she watched Soos leave the building.
"Why are you still here? I thought Ford let you off for the day," Stan said.
"Just sticking around for a bit before heading out. Sooo…are you really okay with Ford taking the twins into the woods?" Wendy asked. To her surprise, Stan starts laughing.
"Believe it or not, Ford asked the same thing while the kids were gettin' ready," Stan said.
"He did?"
"Yeah…he was second guessin' himself." Stan recalled his brother's nervousness as he waited for their niblings. "And I'm gonna say the same thing I've said to him. I have faith in him. Sure, I got irritated every time one of those things got on the property, but he always managed to keep damage control. I just…lost my temper." He still felt bad over that. It's not like Ford was leading the creatures to the shack. Weird stuff happens all the time around here.
Stan figured that it's because of his new role as the kids' legal guardian.
Wow.
Stan noticed Wendy smirking.
"What?" Stan asked. That smirk usually means that Wendy knows something that Stan doesn't.
But, it would appear that Wendy isn't up for sharing her thoughts.
"Nothing. Later, Mr. Pines."
And now it was just Stan and Waddles, at least until Soos returns. The piggy was done with his meal and was now looking up at Stan.
The swine oinked.
"What are you looking at? Got something to say too, pig?"
Dipper felt the happiest he's ever been over the past two years. The only thing topping this moment was his reunion with his sister. Great Uncle Ford had finally shared a part of his life that Dipper had been very curious about.
He listened to Ford carefully as he used his teal journal to sketch a stationary fairy that rested on a leaf.
"My field of study is anomalistics, researching the unknown," the man said as he wrote down in his own, dark red journal. "That's why I'm here in Roadkill County. Years ago, evidence told me that this area is a hotspot for strangeness, like a magnet for weirdness, and Gravity Falls seems to be the epicenter." He notices a fairy fluttering by and held out his hand towards it. The tiny creature played around the man's waiting fingers. "Imagine my surprise when I stumble upon sights and entities that are beyond our current understanding of natural science!"
"Does the school you work for know about this?" Dipper asked, eager to learn more.
"Indeed, they do." The fairy flies away to join its colony. "In fact, it's more of a secret branch of the biological science department at Tri-Arc Institute."
"…A school with a pseudoscience class…" Dipper does his hardest to hold back a squeal.
Mabel runs up to Ford with a polaroid camera in hand. "Grunkle Ford, is it okay if I can take pictures for my scrapbook?"
"Scrapbook?" Ford questioned.
"Something I've been doing since I was five. I wanted to commemorate every moment and new chapter in mine and Dipper's lives," Mabel explained. Ford stared at her with an emotionless expression, making Mabel rethink her decisions. "...And this is a major chapter in our lives now. I wanted to make it extra special?"
Her fears of crossing a line were tarnished when Ford smiled at her.
"I don't see why not."
Mabel gleefully takes a picture of the scenery. An idea then struck ehr.
"Hey, can we take a group picture?" she asked. "Our first outing with Grunkle Ford!"
"I'm up for it if Great Uncle Ford is," Dipper said.
"I don't see anything wrong about that," Ford said.
Mabel positions the camera on a nearby rock and sets the timer on. She hurried over to her great uncle and brother and all three smiled until a click was heard. Mabel goes back to the camera as a photo slipped out.
"Scrapbook-ortunity!" she exclaimed.
"So, are there other towns that have stuff like this?" Dipper asked Ford, recalling the man mentioning the county as whole.
"Yes. Aurora Valley and Crystal Springs have their own assortment of oddities," Ford said. "I have yet to study them myself. I'm still in the process of cataloging Gravity Fall's anomalies for Tri-Arc."
Mabel halted her picture taking to give Ford a confused look. "Really? But, haven't you been here for decades? I'd imagine that by now, you'd have, like, 20 of those nerdy, cryptid books."
Ford goes silent.
"Great Uncle Ford?" Dipper spoke, curious of the reaction.
Ford looked at something else. "…Um…"
"There you guys are."
To their surprise, Stanley Pines emerged from the bushes, looking quite grumpy at the moment.
"Grunkle Stan? What are you doing out here?" Dipper asked.
"Looking for you knuckleheads. You forgot something."
Ford eyed his twin suspiciously. How did he get here?
"Really? What?" As Dipper walked over to Stan, Ford took out his phone. Maybe he missed a message? He sees a recent text from Soos.
Soos – [Look at this, Dr. Pines. Mabel's gonna love it!]
It was a picture of Waddles laying on a disgruntled Stan's lap.
Taken just about nine minutes ago.
Meaning the man currently with them wasn't Stanley!
Ford notices something attached to 'Stan's' back.
"Dipper, stay back!" he shouted urgently.
Dipper turns around. "Huh?"
'Stan' grabs Dipper by the arm. In one quick motion, Ford takes out his gun and shoots a blast of energy at the fake, stunning 'him'. 'Stan' let out an animalistic roar and Dipper took the chance to pull his arm out, a cut mysteriously appeared on him. 'Stan' turns into hair-like tendrils attached to a tail.
"Wha…?" Dipper breathed, shocked at what he was seeing.
He heard Ford shout, "Hurry!" and Mabel calling out his name.
"Dipper!"
Dipper runs back to them as the creature reveals itself. It was huge and lean, with the body of stag and cloven hooves. It had a lion's neck and the head and stripes of a hyena. A long tail, akin to a lion's, swished behind it and a growl passed bony ridges that replaced teeth.
The thing snarled and charged at near lightning speed at the three humans. Ford moved in front of his niblings and took out what looked like a tube. However, with the press of a button, the 'tube' extended out into a long staff. Just in time for Ford to block the creature's jaw from clamping shut on him.
The impact caused Ford to be pushed back, his feet digging into the ground and leaving a trail, but the man kept his stance.
The creature growled at Ford, who subtly growled back, baring his teeth at the vicious anomaly. Ford twisted the staff to the side and pushed the creature back. Once it let go of the staff, Ford swung it at the anomaly, smacking it across the face.
The creature stepped back and growled before preparing to charge again. Ford doesn't let it happen as he takes out his gun again and shoots it at the ground near the anomaly. It growled at Ford, but the man stared at it down, his lips curled into a snarl.
Seeing it as a lost cause for now, the creature decided to leave, running off into the trees.
Ford watched intensely, keeping his eyes where the creature, until he heard a light hiss of pain coming from Dipper.
"Dipper!" Ford was at his nephew's side. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah, little," Dipper said. He was a little shaken and despite the cut and the light stinging, he was fine. But, that wasn't what was on his mind right now. "That was…That was amazing, Great Uncle Ford! Where did you learn to do that?"
"Yeah! You were all SWOOP and then BAM before a SMACK and a BANG! Can you teach me?" Mabel asked.
But, Ford doesn't answer either question. His dullish-blue eyes were scanning Dipper's injury, a faint soft blue light swirled in his irises. It wasn't deep, thankfully, but it was long, stretching from wrist to elbow. Another silverlining Ford found was that it didn't hit any major arteries and was not bleeding, but…as he scanned the injury, he couldn't help but notice the pale scars that riddled Dipper's arms. They were hard to spot at a distance, but became clear once up close.
Just…how much had Dipper suffered?
"Great Uncle Ford?"
"...This was a mistake."
"What?"
"I-I shouldn't have brought you two out here," Ford quavered. "I'm such an idiot! I should've known this was going to happen! There are so many things that can harm the both of you out here." He quickly rises to his feet. "Let's hurry back to the cart and return to the shack. Once there, we'll look over your wound and you two will take refuge in your room."
Dipper felt his heart stop at this… That's it? They weren't going to do this again? "Are you serious?" He got back up on his feet and glared at Ford. "You're just gonna turn around and hull us in the shack over a cut? It's not even bleeding!"
"Dipper…" Mabel murmured.
Dipper wasn't done. "Newsflash, Ford, this is the least that I have dealt with over the past two years. I'm sure you already saw the scars…" A dark shadow loomed over Dipper's eyes. "...One minute, everything was fine, I was helping to make lunch with one of the nurses and then the next I was cutting myself with a knife and that same nurse tried to hold me back!"
"Dipper–" Mabel tried to interject, but her brother wasn't giving her the chance.
"And just when I thought I could finally have freedom…to finally be able to go outside and spend time with my family…I'm gonna be locked up again? If that's the case, then I should've stayed at the asylum! At least they still gave me chances!"
"Dipper!"
Dipper took in heavy breaths, his heated eyes glaring daggers at the only adult with them.
Ford looks paler than before and somehow looked more exhausted, albeit a bit stoic. Mabel could notice his hands trembling before his fingers curled inward.
"…Dipper, please understand that I am doing this because I care," Ford said. There was a light quiver in his words, but he tried his best to remain steadfast.
Dipper scoffed. "You care, huh? Then, why all the secrecy?"
He remembers his first time meeting Ford. He was nervous at meeting a stranger who is apparently family. That nervous feeling felt seen when he learned how nervous Ford was at meeting him too.
He also remembered seeing Ford swiftly hiding whatever he had on hand and making his way towards the basement.
"Why lock yourself in the basement?"
Dipper remembered times that Ford would hide himself in the guest bedroom, admitting to Dipper that he just wasn't used to being around people. Dipper gave him space and time and, before long, Ford let him in so they could both wind down from being around people.
But, Dipper has no access to Ford when he's in the basement, as he doesn't know the passcode to the keypad.
"Why are you avoiding us?"
He remembered when he first asked Ford to play DD&MoreD with him and the man obliged. That memory was replaced by a similar moment a few days ago, only for Ford to decline.
"Why do you keep pushing us away?!"
"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU AND YOUR SISTER OVER MY MISTAKES!" Ford shouted. His voice echoed the now silent forest, his knuckles white from how tight his hands were clenching. His niblings looked up at him with stunned stares. And it hurt him. It hurt him to do that to them, but...
It was for their own good.
Ford let out a weary sigh, looking like he was deflating, his shoulders slumping. "…We need to go." His tone was tired, but firm. "Before that thing comes back. Once we're back at the shack, no one is permitted to leave the property until that anomaly is dealt with."
He turns away from a devastated Dipper. Mabel hesitantly approached her silent brother. "Dipper…" He doesn't respond. After some thinking, Mabel puts a gentle hand on Dipper's shoulder. "Hey, how about we get back to the shack to get this treated. I've got a bunch of dino-bandages with your name on it!"
Dipper turned to his sister, his brown eyes meeting her own. She looked just as emotionally hurt as he is. He looks back at Ford, who kept his back towards them.
He glared at the man.
"Fine."