Dippers deal

A cold, wet truth

Waddle's breath brushed her ear, warm and steady. The damp air was tickling her cheeks, making her giggle in her sleep. Most people would have a hard time finding sleep after such an exhausting talk with their Grunkle, but not Mabel. They agreed to confront him the next morning and together they would find a way to make Dipper telling them what was wrong. That or she would tickle the truth out of him while Stan would hold him in place for her.

Dipper would tell them, one way or another.

He's her twin, he's family... and together they would find a way out of whatever mess her dear brother got himself into. This confidence and positive thinking made her dreams just as bright and happy as there always were.

So she slept, until the screaming voice of her brother forced her back into reality and to a truth that none of them would have ever thought to be confronted with.

Dipper's high pitched scream made her jump from under her blanket, she took a quick glance to his side of the attic to find his bed empty and abandoned.

"Dipper?" she called.

The answer to her question was a bleating that came out of the bathroom's direction. With a worried frown, Mabel got out of bed, something that finally woke up Waddles as well. The pig just looked at her quizzically before he rolled on the other side of his stomach to continue his resting. So Mabel made her way to the bathroom alone. She knocked on the door, calling out for her brother again.

"Dipper, are you in there?"

A rustling noise was the only response Mabel received. But she could clearly hear his little hooves clacking on the floor. He couldn't see his sister's frown from behind the door, an eyebrow raised skeptically but before she had the chance to speak up again, a rumbling noise made its way up the stairs. She blinked as her Grunkle appeared beside her, his face as white as the washed out walls, climbing the stairs with heavy steps and a- was this a spade in his hand? Stan stopped in front of her, his 'weapon' still raised while he looked around warily.

"What happened? l thought I heard you scream." he explained when he saw Mabel's expression. But Mabel just shook her head, pointing to the still closed bathroom door.

"Nope, that was Dipper. He locked himself up in there." The unspoken suspicion in her voice made Stan's eyes widen for a second before he nodded in comprehension. He turned to the door, setting the spade aside to knock on the door.

"Kid? Dipper? What's going on in there?"

But the only sound to be heard through the door was a low bleat and a crash as something fell on the ground, presumably in Dipper's obvious panic. Mabel's and Stan's eyes met until her little fists pounded against the wood again, her voice worried and uncertain, something that didn't suit the sweet, cheerful girl at all.

"Dipper, please! Open the door! For me, Mabel! Your sister." She swallowed, a small hopeful smile on her face. "Mystery twins, remember? We're supposed to face things together, no matter what..." But the heavy silence slowly clenched at her heart, making her voice tiny. "Dipper?"

Again, no answer. This time it was Stan's turn to react to Dipper's silence. Mabel watched curiously as he took a few steps back, a grim frown on his lips while his eyes focused the door in front of him.

"Get out of the way, Mabel." he said. Mabel just blinked, looking from her Grunkle to the door and back as she questioned his intention.

"What? But-"

"Step aside!" And without another word, her Grunkle literally rammed into the door, making her flinch in surprise. With a cracking sound the wood gave in, leaving Stan on top of the broken bathroom door. Dust was wavering in the doorway, making Mabel cough as she stepped beside the groaning Stan, who rubbed his aching spine.