Apprentice {Gravity Falls}

Lab Accident

Tw: Brief mentions of burns. Requested by Fanfiction1090

A soft whimper sounded from the other side of Ford's lab. Ford's head snapped up and he turned to see where the noise came from. "Dipper?" He called out, "Are you alright?"

He walked to the other side of the lab where Dipper was located. "Uhh... yeah..." Dipper said. He didn't seem too sure of himself. Ford raised an eyebrow.

"I'm fine!" He exclaimed, "I just bumped into something! That's all!" He claimed, and it wasn't exactly a lie. He did bump into something. That something just happened to be extremely hot.

"You're not hurt, are you?" Ford questioned.

Dipper laughed this off, "I'm fine Grunkle Ford! Don't worry about me."

This was genuine enough, "Alright, my boy. Let me know if you need anything!" Ford exclaimed, ruffling Dipper's hair and walking back to finish his own studies. Dipper himself was unaware of the fresh burn now painted on his back.

*   *   *

In fact, it wasn't until about an hour later Dipper first noticed something wrong. The nerds had decided to take a break from their studies and headed upstairs for a snack. However, when Dipper sat down at the table and leaned back in the chair it felt as if his back was on fire.

Unnoticeable to Ford, Dipper flinched from the contact. Dipper rubbed his back and cringed as it was painful. Why did touching his back hurt so badly?

"I'll be right back..." Dipper mumbled as he headed to the bathroom. He took off his shirt and looked in the mirror so he could see his back.

The boy winced at what he saw. A dark red burn covered much of his upper back - right where he bumped into that object. To make matters worse, there were blisters starting to form where he'd been rubbing.

He could feel his face heat up as his thinking became foggy. He started to panic. Before that could continue, he took a deep breah. 'I'm fine,' he thought. 'It's just a small burn. Nothing to panic over. I have this under control,' he was able to successfully calm himself down.

He put his shirt back on and looked in the mirror. The burn was unnoticeable. Dipper sighed, 'I can take care of this myself. I don't need anyone!'

Dipper continued on as if nothing was wrong. He was careful to avoid aggravating his burn any further. Sure, he couldn't sink into the sofa cushions like he enjoyed, but it was fine. The burn would heal in a few days and no one would know anything was ever wrong.

*   *   *

"Did you notice something off with Dipper?" Stan asked after Dipper went to bed.

"I thought it was just me. He was avoiding any contact with his back. I doubt that can be a comfortable position to sit in."

Stan shrugged, "Maybe he bruised himself?" He suggested.

"Maybe..." Ford sighed, "I just hope it isn't anything too serious. I'm sure if it was, he'd tell me, but I can't help but be concerned."

"You know Dipper," Stan began, "He doesn't like asking for help. If something was wrong, you'd have to pry it out of him."

Ford started walking up stairs. He was about to see what was really going on with his boy until Stanley stopped him.

"Hey!"

Ford looked back at Stan.

"The kid's asleep. Wait until tomorrow." Ford sighed. First thing tomorrow he'd figure out what was really going on.

*   *   *

"What happened to your back?"

Dipper's heart dropped, "Wh-what?" The two were back in the lab and Dipper was being as careful as possible not to accidentally bump into anything else. He didn't want to aggravate his already searing burn, and he definitely didn't want to get burned again.

"You were avoiding any contact with your back at all. A bit strange to say the least. Can't imagine that type of position is comfortable," Ford explained.

"Just a bruise!" He claimed quickly.

Ford looked at him, "Can I see?"

"The bruise?" Dipper asked, confused. Ford nodded. "No!" He yelled, before pausing, "I-I mean why-?"

"I'm just worried, that's all," Ford stated, "If it really is just a bruise, you wouldn't be reluctant to show me, would you?"

Dipper was silent.

"You're actually hurt, aren't you?"

"Well, n-not exactly-" Dipper stuttered out.

"Show me the injury, Dipper!"

Dipper was almost frozen as his hands fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.

"Now, boy!"

Dipper flinched from Ford's tone and took off his shirt to reveal the burn covering much of his upper back. Ford sucked in a breath. He carefully touched the burn when Dipper flinched, "Ow! Ow- Grunkle Ford, that hurts!" Dipper whined.

Ford immediately dropped his hand. "That's going to need some gauze..." he mumbled to himself.

"Is it really that bad?" Dipper questioned.

"It looks like a second degree burn. I'm sure hiding it from me didn't help either," Ford commented. "Luckily, it doesn't look to be infected."

Dipper sighed out, "That's good... right?"

Ford didn't answer. "Come with me so I can get it treated. In the meantime, you can explain why I'm just now finding out about this!"

Dipper swallowed roughly.

*   *   *

"So, when did this happen?" Ford asked as he applied ointment to Dipper's burn.

"Yesterday... in the lab I think. When I bumped into something. Whatever it was, it was extremely hot. However, I didn't notice the burn until a bit later," Dipper explained.

"So, you noticed you were hurt yesterday, and you didn't tell Stan or I?" Ford repeated.

Dipper sighed, "Yeah..."

"Why?"

"Well, first of all I didn't think it was that serious. I've had burns before. Not burns of this severity, but burns," Dipper started as Ford started to wrap the injury in gauze, "I guess I also just... don't like asking for help."

"Stan said as much," Ford commented.

"He did?"

Ford laughed, "Said if something was actually wrong, I'd need to pry it out of you."

"Oh..."

"I still don't understand why you do that," Ford mentioned.

"Do what?"

"Hide injuries from others, don't ask for help," Ford explained, "Do you think asking for help makes you weak? Is that it?"

"Well, I..." Dipper gathered his thoughts, "I just figured I should be able to take care of myself,"

"And asking for help isn't taking care of yourself?"

Dipper was silent. Ford continued, "So, theoretically, if I was injured badly. Let's say a broke my arm. And I decided not to get help for that and handle it myself, would that be taking care of myself?"

"No!" Dipper exclaimed right away, "That would be reckless!" He was silent for a moment, "Oh..."

Ford finished applying the gauze. "Getting help is taking care of yourself, Dipper. Sometimes it's the strongest thing you can do!"