Overprotective

Chapter 8: The Search

Dipper was up by 5 am. Photocopying maps of the area, posters with Mabel on them, and calling local newspapers to get their help. By the time Stan woke up, he found Dipper half asleep on the sofa with a pen in one hand and a poster in the other. "Your pushing yourself too hard kid, maybe you should get some rest" he said. "Grunkle Stan, Mabel went missing under my watch and who knows what danger she could be in right now. I'm not going to rest until we find her. One way, or another" he said fighting back tears.

The turn out was huge. Anyone who was anyone in Gravity Falls showed up. Even people from the nearby town were there. Dipper and Stan explained to everyone what to do. Everyone had a map, and a location to search. Any evidence found that could possibly lead to finding Mabel was to be reported back to either one of them. By 10 am. The search had begun.

Dipper was walking down main street when he spotted Henry. "Oh my gosh Dipper I'm so sorry about taking so long, I was up half the night worrying about Mabel, then I slept in and-". 

"Hey its alright" said Dipper interrupting Henry's sentence. "Here's a map of the area. You help the people in this region in the search" he said pointing to a small wooded place. "If you find anything, report it back to the shack or to either me or Stan, got it". "Got it and don't worry Dipper, we'll find her I promise" said Henry giving Dipper a pat on the back. "Thanks man, and look, I'm sorry I doubted you yesterday" said Dipper. "Once this is all over I promise I won't get in between you and Mabel". Henry looked at him with an expression both pleased and masking his true self.

The first day barely turned up anything. By day two many groups had finished searching their areas. Dipper could only send them back to look again so often. By day 3, many people had left the search. They had other work to attend to. By the afternoon of day four, every area that could be searched, had been searched. By that evening it was only Dipper, Stan, Soos, Wendy, and a few others they knew that were still searching. And of course, Henry. Through out it all, he had searched the most areas and had been providing Dipper and Stan with moral support. Dipper had come to think of him as a good friend by now.

By day 4, even Dipper had begun to fear the worst. He tried not to let those thoughts in, but while searching around the bridge over the cliffs, they hit. It was here he had entered Mabel's bubble to save her from Bill, and before that he had jumped from the cliffs to save her from the Gideon bot, and now, he had lost her again. Dipper broke down on the bridge in tears. His screams for Mabel fell silent to the wind. He was at his end. He started to walk back to the shack, now fearing more then ever that Mabel was really gone. Maybe for good. And it was all his fault.