#gotta have someone nearby to explore when Dipper and Mabel can't!

[crossroadsdimension]

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Man, what’s with all these one/two-word titles? Eh, it fits anyway.

So, this is a part of the “Brain Trauma AU” that @radioactivedelorean, @witete, @a-million-chromatic-dreams and others came up with a while back -- and one that I joined earlier this week to flood with fluff. Considering that I’ve been focusing on Ford’s recovery from being stuck in his own body as it shuts down around him, I think you can all guess what it is that this particular title means. :)

You can find all the other stuff we’ve written here!

The town of Gravity Falls was buzzing with excitement as people stood in the town square.

Fiddleford, who had come dancing down from the mansion an hour ago, wove through the crowd, offering confirmation from what he’d heard and letting people see the little card with the frilly lizard that he’d received as proof of it.

“I cannot believe Mabel got to go to another dimension and didn’t take us with her!” Candy scowled, then shook her head as the scowl softened. “But family is more important, and I understand that.”

Pacifica huffed and tossed her hair back with a hand. “I’m wondering about this giant alien woman everyone’s been talking about. Only McGucket’s seen her, and he’s shorter than the rest of us. I really doubt that anyone’d be able to carry Dr. Pines around, anyway.”

“I COULD CARRY HIM!”

Multiple heads turned. “Shhhh!”

Grenda ducked her head. “Sorry.”

“That’s just because you’re abnormally strong,” Pacifica responded with a shrug. “I doubt that any alien would be able to stand up against you in a test of strength.”

“Indeed!” Candy adjusted her glasses. “And--”

The air suddenly rippled in front of the crowd, causing all conversation to cut off suddenly as a rip in space appeared in front of them.

Bodacious T -- formerly known as Toby Determined -- started to bring up a bat covered in nails, but Fiddleford pushed it down and gave the reporter a look that caused him to stumble back.

“It’s okay. I know it looks dangerous, but this one doesn’t go anywhere bad,” Fiddleford said seriously. He paused. “At least, that’s what I think.”

The hole of space ripped a little, and then Dipper and Mabel stepped through, hand in hand, with bright grins on their faces.

“Dipper! Mabel!” Wendy started waving a hand wildly in order to get their attention.

“Wendy!” Dipper waved back as Stan came out of the portal behind them. “Long time no see!”

“Mr. Pines!” Soos’ voice wavered.

“Hey, hey, don’t you dare start crying on me.” Stan gave Soos a pointed look, and the man-child sniffled and rubbed at his nose. His expression softened. “It’s good ta see you too, Soos.”

“Where’s Dr. Pines?” Candy asked.

“He’s comin’, just give ‘em a second.”

The portal rippled again, and Jhessie stepped through, a rather disgruntled Ford in her arms.

“--can walk, Jhessie,” Ford was saying. “Put me d-down!”

Stan snickered, and Ford shot him an annoyed look as Jhessie carefully lowered Ford to the ground. As Ford’s sandaled feet settled on the ground, he leaned against a cane made of dark purple wood that shimmered, as though made of pure glitter. The grip at the top of it appeared to be made of silver, carved in the form of a little lizard-creature with frills on the sides of its head.

“I simply wanted to make sure that you had passed through my portal safely.” Jhessie patted Ford on the head kindly, making his disgruntled expression soften a little.

“...okay, I take back what I was saying before,” Pacifica said. “That is a really tall alien.”

“Ford!” Fiddleford scrambled out of the crowd and grabbed his friend in a hug. “Yer walkin’!”

Ford’s frown melted instantly into a grin as Stan burst out laughing.

“He’s been walkin’ fer a good two days now!” Stan said. “Took ‘im a bit, though.”

“Well, I’m just glad that yer able ta move around again.” Fiddleford smiled brightly.

“As am I,” Ford agreed.

“Cool cane, Stan Number Two.” Wendy slipped out of the crowd. “Did Mabel have a hand in making that?”

“Yup!” Mabel bounded over to the redhead. “Jhessie let me dunk it in glitter! Isn’t it awesome?”

“For sure!” Wendy held out a hand, which Mabel promptly high-fived.

“What’s with the little lizard thing?” Pacifica asked.

“I-it’s an axolotl,” Ford corrected.

“The Axolotl is an important deity in the multiverse,” Jhessie explained. “My temple is dedicated to him.”

“What, you mean the place where you took them?” Pacifica pointed at Ford and the other Pines.

“That is quite so. The technology I have available to me in my dimension was able to do far more to assist Ford rather than maintain the state he was in. I have done everything I can, and although he is capable of moving about on his own, he will not be without his scars.” Jhessie put a hand on Ford’s shoulder. “I would stay and answer more questions, but I am afraid that I must take my leave of you.”

“You mean you can’t stay a day?” Mabel asked, disappointed. “But -- but you have to meet everyone in Gravity Falls!”

“While that is true, I’m afraid I have other versions of your great-uncle to assist in recovery, so they may continue traveling and eventually find their own ways back to their dimensions.” Jhessie looked at Mabel kindly, then turned her attention to the townsfolk. “I will now take my leave of you.”

With a slight bow of her head and a small smile, Jhessie turned and stepped back through the portal, which winked out of existence.

There was only a short pause before the Pines were peppered with questions on all sides from the people of Gravity Falls.

“COOL IT!”

Mabel’s yell caused the questions to trickle to a halt.

“Thanks, pumpkin.” Stan ruffled her hair before looking at the townsfolk. “I know you guys are worried, but ya mind givin’ us a bit ta get settled back in the Shack an’ arrange fer a ride back ta Piedmont fer the kids? We’ve, uh..we’ve got a lot ta think about.”

“Don’t you mean get back to your boat, Mr. Pines?” Soos spoke up.

“Nah, Soos. Unfortunately, those days are behind us, short as they were.” Stan clapped a hand on Ford’s shoulder, being careful not to throw him off balance. “We can probably find other things ta do around here.”

Ford nodded, but his eyes had a bit of a melancholy expression in them now.

“What do you mean?” Wendy frowned. “That was your dream, wasn’t it?”

“Well, yeah, it was. With how Ford’s legs are he’d never adjust ta the sea too well, so we just figured we’d stay on land where it’s easier.” Stan frowned. “Sides, Jhessie shot down the idea pretty fast.”

“Sh-she’s j-just c-concerned for our w-w-wellbeing.” Ford made a slight face as his words stumbled over each other.

“Yeah, but we don’t need a second mom.”

“If you’re not gonna go out to sea, then what are ya gonna do?” Fiddleford asked.

“Hang around town.” Stan shrugged. “Ford’s got a couple things he can do yet.”

“P-papers to write,” Ford explained. “Sc-scientific dis-s-scoveries to record.”

“Ya ain’t doin’ more field work, though.”

Ford shook his head sadly at Fiddleford’s questioning stare. “Th-those days are behin-nd me.”

“Then you’re going to need help, old man. Right?”

Ford looked up as Pacifica folded her arms across her chest.

“Pacifica!” Gideon hissed from somewhere in the crowd. “Ya don’ talk to the Author that way!”

“Shut up, I can do what I want,” Pacifica called back. “Look, Dr. Pines, if you want to keep doing research on stuff here, you’re gonna need help. Candy and Grenda have already been running around bugging the gnomes and doing who knows what else -- they’ve probably managed to find some stuff that you haven’t.”

Ford’s eyes narrowed.

“Pacifica….” Candy adjusted her glasses nervously. “I really doubt that we have found things that Dr. Pines has not discovered yet.”

“I bet he hasn’t studied a Hawktopus before!” Grenda grinned widely.

Ford reeled back with a spluttering noise. Stan burst out laughing.

“He labeled that thing ‘too stupid to study’ in his journals, so you got him there!” Stan laughed as Ford shot him a sour look.

“YES!” Grenda threw a fist in the air. “We can fill you in on all its awesomeness!”

“I highly doubt it’s that ‘awesome,’” Ford muttered, scowling.

“You shall have to wait and see,” Candy said with a knowing wink. “We will come by when you are settled in.” She turned and walked out of the plaza, Grenda following after her.

“We’ll bring you the one that I’m keeping in my house!” Grenda called back.

Ford spluttered again.

“Guess I’ll see you around. Or something.” Pacifica shrugged and followed after them.

Ford stared after them with an incredulous expression as Stan burst out laughing.

“Those kids are a hoot,” Stan said as he recovered himself. “You’re gonna like ‘em, Poindexter; I guarantee it.”

Ford looked at him with a lidded stare that suggested he might think otherwise.

Stan chuckled and patted Ford on the shoulder. “Come on; let’s get back to the Shack and get things settled in. I’m gonna have to drive down to where I’ve got the boat to get our stuff, obviously, but I think I left a few things here to make do for a couple days.”

“We could call Mom and Dad and get them to bring the stuff up,” Dipper suggested. “I mean, they are gonna want to pick us up.”

“And they’re gonna wanna see you, too!” Mabel chirped. “So we could do that, right?”

Stan tapped his chin in thought. “Well, I don’t see why not. Would save money on two bus tickets. We’ll call ‘em when we get back to the Shack.”

“They’re gonna be so happy to know that Grunkle Ford’s okay!”

Ford smiled at Mabel’s exclamation as she started to dance down the street towards the Mystery Shack.

“We’ve got a car nearby if you guys need--”

“We’ll be fine walking, Soos.” Stan waved off Soos’ suggestion. “Ford’s been stuck in bed long enough.”

Ford smiled a little at Stan’s statement.

“We’ll come by the Shack and make sure you boys are settling in later.” Susan smiled at the two of them and winked her lazy eye. “Wink!”

Stan spluttered a little as the townsfolk scattered back to their homes. Gideon and his father remained there for a moment, but a look from Dipper and a raised eyebrow from Stan caused them to bolt.

“That kid’s got a few more things ta learn before he’s gettin’ anywhere near yer research,” Stan muttered.

Ford grunted in agreement. He turned and started moving down the street, cane clacking against the ground with every slight-unsteady step. Stan followed along next to him, Dipper staying ahead. Mabel was already a pink, sweater-y blob in the distance.

“It’s definitely gonna be different from here on out, huh?”

Ford gave a short hum and nodded in response to Stan’s question. The grip on the axolotl-handle of his cane tightened a little. “M-my research is g-g-going to be dif-f-ferent.”

“Yeah, since ya can’t be out there yourself.” Stan nodded. “Some of the time, anyway. Those kids’ll be a big help, though, I can guarantee that.” He gained a sly look. “So, what was it about that ‘Hawktopus’ that made it too stupid to study?”

Ford groaned.