The Stiff Sibling - A Gravity Falls Fan Fiction

Chapter Four- Soos's Dinner

It has finally been a week, and Dipper was more than ready to receive the "OK" to stop resting, so Stan took him to the hospital; they're on their way back home now, Dipper laying back happily in Stan's car as he drives.
"I'm so glad I don't have to lay around all day anymore."
"Yeah, I'm overjoyed," Stan says. "Now you don't have to miss out on any more chores!"
Dipper rolls his eyes and punches Stan's arm.
Stan laughs as he ruffles up Dipper's hair.

     "I told her about it re-opening, but she said as long as it has stopped bleeding by now, that's pretty normal," he announces happily. "Long story short, I'm good!"
"Yeeeeesssss!" Mabel yells. "Now I can take you out again in another splash battle!"
"Haha, I'd like to see you try!" Dipper holds up his fists in a challenging manner.
She punches him with her good arm, and they both laugh.
"Dipper, you're all healed up, huh? Sweet!" Wendy says as she pretends to kick him in the leg.
"Oh man, take it easy!" Dipper pretends to be hurt.
"Dude!" Soos says, hugging him.
They all join in, giving him a group hug.
"Alright, awkward reunion over, now! Back to work!" Stan yells.
They all roll their eyes and get back to their business.
"Seriously, Mabel...this is great! We can go back to investigating."
Dipper points to his journal with a big smile.
Mabel hesitates.
"But...let's be careful! I mean, we really shouldn't be going out looking for that one guy..." Mabel tugs on the sleeve of her sweater.
"What? Mabel, that's exactly what we have to do! Don't worry, I'll be more careful this time...last time I didn't realize he was a bloodthirsty monster," he frowns. "We can handle this. We've probably dealt with worse than this."
"I don't know..." Mabel stutters. "E...especially since there are more out there now. We should really just hang back and let the professionals deal with it, right?"
"What professionals? Mabel, we are the professionals when it comes to the supernatural." he argues.
"I just...yeah, I guess so."
Mabel finds she can't meet his eyes.
Dipper raises an eyebrow.
"Are you alright, Mabel?" he places his hand on her shoulder.
"Y...yeah, totally! Just worried about you," she says, poking him.
"Ooookay, if you say so," Dipper shrugs, still suspicious. "Don't worry though. I'll be fine."
She strains a smile and gives him a thumbs up.
After glancing at Mabel one last time, he walks over to Wendy.
Why don't I want him to find that guy? Mabel thinks. I mean, I am really worried about him, but...maybe it's because part of me—
Mabel's thoughts are interrupted by Waddles jumping up on her lap and squealing.
"Awe! What, are ya hungry little guy?" she looks over at his food bowl which is still pretty full.
She notices he is wearing a genuinely worried expression.
"Buddy...it's gonna be okay! I promise," Mabel sighs, petting him. "Which reminds me, I haven't checked on my bite in a while. It hasn't been bothering me too much, it's...just been numb."
Mabel walks into the bathroom and lifts up her sleeve.
She screams and falls backwards.
"Jeez...Mabel? You okay in there, squirt?" Stan yells from outside the door.
"Y...yeah, just saw a spider!" she blurts out.
"Agh, kids...HEY! Dangit, Soos! You cleaned up my couch again!" he yells, and she hears his voice fade away.
Mabel trembles as she coerces herself to look at the wound again.
It isn't bleeding, but...it's rotting.
The skin around the bite is turning green, and the bite has gotten so deep, you can almost see the bone.
Tears well up in her eyes.
There's a thought deep in the back of her mind that's getting nearer and nearer to the surface, but Mabel keeps pushing it away.
"I...I'll just put a little Bactine on it and—!"
But when she sprays the Bactine onto the wound, it's so painful she lets out another yowl.
"What the heck, Mabel! If you're that scared, just open up the door and I'll smash it!" she hears Stan yells from the living room.
Mabel slowly and shakily pulls back down her sleeve.

     "Dudes, I made supper tonight, so I think we oughta eat it together like a family," Soos states, pulling out a pan full of homemade chicken pot pie. "...If you guys are up to it and all."
"Okay...that smells awesome," Wendy approves, sitting at the table.
Dipper naturally scoots himself into the chair next to her, and Mabel sits by him.
"Soos, bring me a slice, why don't ya!" Stan yells from the couch.
"But dude—I mean, Mr. Pines, sir—that kinda ruins the point."
"I don't care, bring me the food!" Stan yells.
"I know, and I'm okay with that." Soos replies, bringing Stan a plate of food.
Mabel shoves a big bite into her mouth, but instantly grimaces.
She coughs it up into a napkin as subtly as she can and then elbows Dipper.
"Have you tried Soos's pie?" she whispers. "I love him, but...it's literally the worst thing I've ever tasted!"
"What!? Now way," Dipper replies in a hushed tone. "I actually thought it was unnaturally delicious."
Mabel raises her eyebrows in surprise, but then realizes everyone else is also chomping down their portion.
"Wait, didn't Soos make this a while ago and you loved it? Remember, you said, 'This is Chef Mabel approved!'" Dipper says through his chewing, remembering.
Mabel recalls that moment as well.
"Weird, my tastebuds just must be—" Mabel starts, but doesn't finish her sentence.
"You...were gonna say changing?" Dipper continues.
Mabel stares at her pie in silence.

     They are all watching tv together as the sun finishes lowering over the horizon.
Wendy and Soos are staying over because it is too dangerous for them to head back to their homes alone.
"Ha! What guy would even attempt to do that?" Dipper laughs at a fail video.
He notices Mabel's been acting more quiet.
"Uh, right, Mabel?" he prompts her.
"Oh...uh, yeah—!" she starts, but has a coughing fit before she can finish.
She clears her throat.
"Yeah...that was...funny..." she finishes with a sigh, resting her head on her knees.
Dipper knows something is wrong.
"Mabel, can I talk to you for a second?" he asks.
Surprised, Mabel glances up and says, "Sure!".
Dipper pulls her by her hand into the other room.
"Okay. What's wrong?" Dipper asks, staring into her eyes as if trying to read her thoughts.
Mabel's face flushes.
"Whoa...come one! What's this about...? I'm fine, I just—!" she is interrupted by another coughing fit, except this time, she falls into his arms.
"Whoa!" Dipper carefully sets her down up against the wall. "Mabel! Something is definitely wrong here! Are you hurt!?"
She pushes Dipper's arm away.
After shaking her head a bit, she straightens back up.
"...It really is nothing, I just have a cold," Mabel reasons with him, rubbing her nose like it's runny.
"I guess so...in that case, you should lay down," he instructs, helping her to their room.
Dipper tucks her in and hands her her favorite stuffed animal, a purple cat with sequins.
She shivers.
Dipper runs back downstairs, and returns with a glass of water.
"...There we go. Don't hesitate to get me if you feel any worse, okay?" Dipper says with a sympathetic smile. "Seriously, you should know that by now."
Mabel nods, and pulls the covers over her eyes.
Dipper stares at her in worry.
Finally, he leaves.
Mabel cries under her covers as she realizes what is really happening to her.
The thought she had earlier that night comes back.
Maybe it's because part of me doesn't want to know what creature that man is...and how contagious he is.

(Note: I've actually managed to write four chapters in two days!! Every time I see a vote, I get encouraged to write more, so thank you all!!)