Infected Chapter 8: Epilogue: Making up for Lost Time!

Well 8 chapters later and it's now over. Thank you every for reading Infected. If you've been reading it since chapter 1, thank you. If you've just begun, you're about to start an adventure like no other.

Summary: When one by one, the Pines family start falling asleep from of a mysterious illness, Ford and Dipper must venture out into the Oregon wilderness to find a cure. But when things take an unexpected and unplanned turn, another Pine must takeover. A Mabel and Ford bonding story. Cover art by siriuslymeg on Tumblr.

Chapter 1: http://aminoapps.vertvonline.info/p/l1thrm

Chapter 7: http://aminoapps.vertvonline.info/p/8haiyes

Chapter 8: Epilogue: Making up for Lost Time

One Week Later

Life had pretty much returned back to normal. Mabel stayed by her family’s side until the following day when they were given a clean bill of health by the doctors.

Now a week on and the Mystery Shack was back to regular business, Stan was back scamming people, Mabel was back knitting sweaters and Dipper was back helping Ford downstairs.

Eventually, Dipper Mabel and Ford went on their much-anticipated camping trip. They cooked smores, told ghost stories and watched the stars until sunrise. For once, taking a break from the scientific side of it all, Ford had more fun then he ever could have dreamt. With this trip, he really felt he had connected with both twins. And in a way no science experiment could ever do.

As much as he felt better though, Ford still didn’t fully feel like himself. Something still nagged at him. That fact became evident when Mabel left one day to have a sleepover at Candy and Grenda’s place. Dipper could tell he was not feeling well that evening.

“Is everything alright Grunkle Ford,” he asked.

“Oh, yes Dipper, I’m fine. You know, just, I don’t know,” Ford said.

The question left Dipper more confused than relieved, “you still thinking about what happened with you and Mabel that night with the bear,” Dipper asked.

Ford looked at him surprised, “how did you know,” he said.

“Mabel told me about it. You know she doesn’t blame you for that? You we’re just protecting her,” Dipper replied.

“I know but…. I still feel awful about it. I mean, if I hadn’t yelled at her, she wouldn’t have run off and then the bear wouldn’t have gone after her and…”

Dipper put his hand on Ford’s lap, “Grunkle Ford, it’s okay. Mabel doesn’t hate you for that. The bear survived like you said. And you kept her safe. And she saved you later that day too. I think you both cancelled out what you owe each other because of that.”

Ford smiled. He still felt a bit of guilt in himself for scaring Mabel so much that night and he feared it had strained their bond more then Mabel was letting him know.

“And you know, Mabel told me she’s ready whenever you are to go adventuring again,” Dipper said as he walked off.

“Ready whenever you are,” repeated Ford. It gave him an idea. He went down to the basement, and looked through the phone book for Candy and Grenda’s number, before calling it on his old rotary phone.

“Hello, is Mabel there, it’s her great uncle Stanford,” he said.

The next morning Dipper walked downstairs for breakfast. As he opened the fridge, he noticed Ford outside packing the golf cart up.

“Hey Grunkle Ford, what are you up to,” he asked.

“Oh, good morning Dipper. I’m just getting ready to go on a trip into the forest to look for an elusive Trumpet bird. I’ve never seen one in person but according to local reports, it looks like a trumpet and can even sound like one too Often even a saxophone. Probably the reason why it’s been nicknamed the flying jazz band by locals,” Ford said showing Dipper a drawing he drew in his journal of what it may look like.

“Woah, that looks awesome,” said Dipper.

“It sure is. I’m hoping to study one up close and see if it’s a mutant trumpet or a mutant bird. But I can’t do this alone,” Ford said.

“Oh, just give me five minutes, and I’ll be ready to go and….”

“Oh no Dipper. This isn’t a Dipper and Ford mission,” Ford said interrupting him.

“It’s not,” Dipper said.

“Nope,” said a voice from behind him. Dipper turned around.

“Sorry bro, bro, but this is a Mabel and Ford mission,” said a very excited Mabel as she loaded her backpack into the golf cart.

“Don’t worry Grunkle Ford, I packed all the granola bars you wanted me to get. We’ll be set for the day,” she said.

“Perfect. Now come one Mabel, the Trumpet birds migrate earlier than other birds do,” Ford said as he climbed into the golf cart.

“So, I’m guessing you took my advice from last night,” Dipper said as he approached Ford.

“I did. I also ed that Mabel is the only one of us who can make good bird calls. And I’ll need someone who can do that well,” said Ford.

“Wait Mabel? You can call birds,” Dipper asked.

“Well duh I can. You and Grunkle Stan just never let me show it. Good thing Grunkle Ford here knows a good bird call when he hears one,” Mabel replied. “Don’t wait up on us.”

With that, the golf cart with Mabel and Ford set off into the woods on an adventure. Dipper looked on with a ive expression before walking back inside. On one hand he was happy seeing Mabel and Ford finally bonding. But on the other hand, he did feel a bit jealous Mabel got to hang out with Ford today.

He walked back into the kitchen to eat his breakfast. Stan was seated there too. He could notice Dipper was looking a bit upset.

“What’s the matter Dipper? You look tenser than usual,” he said.

“Oh, nothing Grunkle Stan. Do you ever feel surprised when you see two polar opposite thinking people hanging out,” Dipper asked?

“Yeah. Me and my ex-wife of three hours. Woman tried to steal my car and made it half way to the county line by the time they got her. Last time I saw her was after she signed the divorce paper in prison. First time I got a restraining order on someone rather than vise versa,” Stan said.

“No, I don’t mean that. I mean like Mabel and Ford. I mean, the two just left on an adventure together. I know I should be feeling happy for them, but I still feel a bit, I guess jealous about the whole thing. I guess I’ve just been hanging out with Grunkle Ford too much. What do you think,” asked Dipper?

“In my opinion, it’s long overdue. Those two need some time together. I just wish Ford got to know Mabel better last year when that whole apprenticeship junk with you and him was going on. I mean, at least get to know the girl whose brother for twelve years you’re about to take away better before doing that, yeesh,” Stan said.

“What I’m saying Dipper, is that you shouldn’t be mad or jealous Ford did not take you on this one. But instead be glad he’s finally hanging out with Mabel. Those two desperately needed it. I call it a balance of family relations sort of speak,” Stan added on.

Dipper smiled, “thanks Grunkle Stan. I guess you’re right. Who knew us getting sick because of a bad pizza would get them to finally bond. But I still don’t know what to do tonight. I mean, nothing good is on TV today,” he said.

“Well speaking of that pizza, if you want to, you can help me tonight,” Stan said.

“Is it anything illegal,” Dipper asked.

“Well sort of. I overheard that gas station we bought the pizza from got shut down by the health department. I was thinking about going there and, giving them a “Pines family thank you” if you know what I mean,” said Stan, implying to Dipper that he intended on vandalizing the gas station as pay back for giving them all a near deadly sleeping virus.

“What do you say Dipper? You and me go knock down a gas station. If Mabel and Ford are bonding, how about we even things out,” Stan said.

“I…I don’t know Grunkle Stan,” Dipper said. He then walked away.

Stan didn’t know what to say. Did he hurt Dipper by saying that? The answer came moments later.

“I mean, if you’re gonna vandalize a gas station, you need these,” said Dipper walking in with two baseball bats.

Stan smiled as he got up, “Wow, you catch on fast. And don’t worry, I got more. You’re looking at a guy with ten guns. We move at dusk,” said Stan.

“I’ll be waiting for you by the car slow poke,” responded Dipper.

The two laughed.

Meanwhile deep in the forest, Mabel was showing off yet again her bird calling talent to Ford. It made him smile with pride to know that he was finally bonding with his niece. He always wanted to deep down, but until now he hadn’t been able to find an adventure or experiment she could be suited perfectly to help him with.

As Ford thought this, a bird with a distinct trumpet like sound flew into view and landed in the clearing ahead.

Ford grabbed his journal and began to take notes as Mabel looked on smiling.

She had shown Ford at last her capabilities. And as she looked on at him happily writing away in his journal everything he could see about the trumpet bird, she knew that this was not the last time she and Ford would be adventuring together.

Their bond had now become, unbreakable.

The End

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