Uncertainty - Stanford Pines x Reader (female)

Chapter 64

Soon enough, I heard the soft sound of footsteps, and Ford appeared in the doorway, holding a plate with a sandwich in his hand. He gave me a small, distracted smile as he approached the bed.

"I thought you might be getting hungry." His voice was still tinged with exhaustion, but there was a warmth in it as he set the plate beside me. "Here, this should help."

"Thanks." I smiled back at him, picking up the sandwich and taking a bite.

As I took a bite, I studied Ford for a moment, seeing the fatigue etched on his face. The bags under his eyes were more pronounced now, and there was a weary droop to his shoulders. It was clear he was pushing himself too hard.

But I knew better than to point it out outright. He was more likely to double down on his work if I did, so I just hummed appreciatively between bites.

"So.", I asked, between bites, my voice playful. "What did you tell the others, anyway? About me... staying in here with you?"

Ford glanced up at me, the faintest flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. He straightened up, wiping his hands on a rag before he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Ah, well..." He hesitated, clearly choosing his words. "I told them you had come down with some sort of... really bad flu, something contagious. Thought it was best to avoid raising any suspicions."

I raised an eyebrow, a small amused smile on my face. "A 'really bad flu'?", I repeated, trying not to laugh. "And you honestly think they bought that?"

He gave a sheepish shrug, a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "It was the first thing that came to mind."
He stepped forward, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "But it doesn't matter. They won't question it, and they certainly won't come near the lab while there's an 'infection'."

He looked at me, something lingering in his gaze. It was the same look he usually had when he seemed to be contemplating something, his brain working overtime.

"I guess that works.", I said, shaking my head fondly as I finished off the last of the sandwich.

Ford nodded in satisfaction, returning to his work with a focused intensity. I watched him, still a bit concerned about how little he'd slept.

Minutes ticked by, and the quiet was comfortable—except for the low whirring and clanking of metal and machines. I couldn't help but admire the way he worked, his hands moving with purpose, his brow furrowed in concentration. Every so often, he'd murmur to himself, adjusting something or making a mental note, but his movements were fluid and practiced.

Eventually, after what felt like hours, I saw him step back from the machine, a grin spreading across his face. His eyes met mine, and something in them sparkled with accomplishment.

"It's done." He beamed at me, his voice laced with excitement. "It's finished. Finally."

I felt a mixture of relief and nervousness bubble up inside me. After all this time, it was finally happening.

"You mean...?"

Ford nodded, his grin only widening. "Yes. I'll be able to secure your brain from Bill. It'll take a few hours for it to clear everything, but once it's done, we'll have a much better chance of keeping him out of your head. You'll be safe."

I nodded, swallowing back the rising nervousness in my throat. This had been a long time coming, and now that it was finally here, I couldn't deny the small wave of fear that crept over me.

"Will it hurt?", I asked quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Ford hesitated for a moment, then gave me a reassuring smile. "Not physically, no. But the process can be a bit... overwhelming. Your mind will be essentially in a holding pattern while the machine works through the mental interference, clearing out the effects Bill may have left behind. But trust me—this is the best way. You're going to be fine."