Gravity Rises (S3)

TTF: Part Nine

When Ford didn't come home, Lee became seriously worried. The sun was setting, and Ford was nowhere to be seen. Surely he wasn't out adventuring? The one thing Ford had instilled in Stanley since his arrival was that he should always be home by sunset. The forest could get very dangerous at night. So where was Ford?

Lee's suspicions easily landed on Fidds' shoulders.

"You must know where he is," he said. "You were here when I got back from the bunker. Where's Ford?"

"I don't know," Fidds said for the umpteenth time. "I was at my knitting club for most of the afternoon, I haven't—"

"Oh, cut the scrabdoodle, Fiddleford," Lee snapped, twisting the word cruelly with his tone. "We all know you're not going to a knitting club."

Fidds' eyes widened. His mouth worked, but no sound came out.

"Not even going to try to deny it, huh?"

"What do you know?" Fidds finally asked.

"I know you've been lying to us. I know you care more about your life's work than you do about my brother. Where is he?"

"I don't know!" cried Fidds, exasperated. "I haven't seen him since earlier this afternoon! I'm not lying about that!"

"Then we've gotta go find him." Lee went to the kitchen and grabbed a large flashlight from a cupboard, slipping his brass knuckles onto his fingers from where they sat in his pocket. "You're coming with me, Fiddsy, don't try to get out of it."

"Shouldn't we wait until morning?"

"He could be dead by morning!" Lee shouted.

Fidds held up his hands. "It's dark. We have no idea where to start looking. The forest is going to be just as dangerous for us as it is for him. If he's out there, he would've taken supplies. He can get to the bunker for safety, or hide out with some of the friendlier creatures out there. He'll be fine."

"Or maybe you just want to get rid of him."

"What? No!" This was too much for Fidds. "Your brother is my best friend, Stanley! It's you I want to get rid of!"

The two men stood in the living room, glaring daggers at each other.

"Well," Lee finally said, "you can try to off me while we go look for Ford. Come on."

He took his supplies and walked out.

~~~~~

Fidds didn't follow Stanley.

Everything was crashing down around him. He couldn't be around Stanley or Stanford or anyone. He needed guidance.

He needed Bill Cipher.

So, instead of helping Stan look for his brother, Fidds went to bed. He took some herbal tea to help him sleep, but it was extremely hard to fall asleep when you knew you'd been found out. Fidds found himself desperately practicing the meditation techniques that he learned from Lilith Crypt, wishing he could fall asleep and dream and talk to Cipher.

Luckily, Stan didn't come back looking for him. Fidds finally fell asleep.

"He followed you," Bill said, appearing as soon as Fidds started dreaming. He made no pretense; he didn't even tell Fidds he was dreaming. "Ford followed you to the Order, and he saw Percy."

The words yanked Fidds into lucidity, and the dream world spun around him. "What? I — I searched the area!"

"He was on the roof," Bill said. "Nobody ever looks up. I shouldn't have expected anything better from you. Now, Percy. . . he'll receive his censure."