"You're right, Bill. You're just as human as the rest of us."
The shot contained only a small dose, so Ford had to act fast. He dropped the empty syringe onto the table, praying he hadn't accidentally touched the needle. He released the clip from the magazine of the pistol and threw it across the room. He knelt down next to Bill and placed the gun beside him. Somehow despite threatening Ford more seconds ago, Bill looked peaceful. As much as Ford would love to just drag and throw the dream demon into his cell, Ford wasn't sure which Bill would wake up. The ki-demon was light in this form, so Ford had no trouble carrying him to his bed. He quickly stripped the room of anything that could even be thought of as a weapon before leaving and knocking the door behind him. The door was layered with locks and deadbolts and, on top of that, it was locked mechanically as soon as it shut. Ford signed and dusted himself off. He glanced at the gun, still on the floor.
I've got to get a safe for that.
The demon wasn't going to be out for forever, and Ford was not ready to deal with any of it. He needed advice. As much as he hated to admit it.
"Dipper, look I'm Robbie!"
Mabel had flipped her hair, so it covered her forehead and most of her eyes. She was wearing a gray hoodie and had her hands in her pockets.
"Ugh, the world is so terrible," Mabel groaned in her deep "manly" voice, "I hate everything. I secretly love unicorns, but I'm too afraid to admit it."
Dipper smirked at his sister's shenanigans as he gave the customer her change back.
"Have a nice day and be sure to sign up the next Mystery Shack tour!"
Mabel fixed her hair and turned her hoodie back around to show a fluffy kitten made of rainbow glitter. "This is so boring," she groaned, "We've had like three customers all day, and it's been all old people." Mabel scrunched her nose up at the thought.
Dipper rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with old people? I think they're very wise," he told Mabel as she sat in her swirly chair.
"Oh, really? Even old man McGuckett?"
"Hey, he helped us stop the apocalypse, give him some credit."
Mabel kicked her feet and spon the chair furiously. "Ugh, fine. But they still smell weird!"
Suddenly, the vending machine swung open, and Ford come rushing out. He frantically turned to lock the machine in place.
Mabel sprang up, "What's wrong Grunkle Ford?"
Dipper quickly glanced around the store, "Grunkle Ford, you cant just do that whenever! Someone one could have been in here!"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Ford looked at the twins, "We need to talk."
Mabel swallowed and hoarsely asked, "About what?"
Dipper's eyes flipped back and forth, "Grunkle Ford. Where's Bill?"
Ford sighed, "Let's get Stan. And then we'll talk."
All the Pines sat gathered around the kitchen table. Ford was making tea.
Stan slammed his hands on the table, "Can you just tell us what's going on?! You've got us all here. Get it over with, Ford."
"You're right," Ford took his seat at the table.
"Is Bill hurt?," Mable asked with tears starting to fill her eyes. Dipper looked upset.
"No," Ford quickly assured, "well, not exactly." Ford sighed. "I went down to the lab and found it in ruins. My research was everywhere and chairs were thrown about the room. I thought someone had broken in. Then, I saw what papers were missing. I've been trying to find a way to give Bill back his memories. And, all my papers on that research, were gone."
Dipper's eyes widened. "It was Bill," he whispered.
Ford nodded. "Somehow he was back. Bill, the demon, he was himself again. He found my gun. I managed to disarm him and inject him with something to knock him out."
Ford looked at them, "He's in his cell now. I don't know what's going to happen with he wakes up."
Mabel sniffled and wiped her nose on her sweater. Stan just sighed.
"Is he back now then?" Dipper glanced around, "Like actually him?"
"He was, for an instant there, but I don't know who we'll be dealing with when the medicine wears off."
Dipper nodded and narrowed his eyebrows, "If he is back, we can't take any chances. We have to kill him."
Mabel almost punched him, "Dipper! What are you talking about? He's been so kind the past few days!"
"Maybe it was all a facade! I don't want another apocalypse, Mabel!"
"Stop arguing!," Ford shouted. "We need to figure out what our plan is. We are not killing him. Even if he is good old-fashioned Bill, we have him contained. But he might not be. So we will not have the conversation until we're sure we need to. What I came to you all for is advice on how deal if he isn't his regular self. If he wakes up with no memory of holding a gun to me and can't understand why he's back in his cage again, what do we do then?"
Everyone was silent.
Stan was the first to talk, "We can't have him just walking around. We don't even know what triggers these... relapses. He's not allowed to be around my grandniece and nephew."
"They're my niece and nephew too, Stan."
"We don't get any say?," Mabel exclaimed, "Bill is MY friend! We're 14 now! We can make our own decisions!"
"You are children," Stan fired back, "I'm not letting either of you around a bipolar dream demon! That's final."
Mabel clenched her fists as tears welled up in her eyes. "I hate you, Grunkle Stan!" Mabel turned and dashed upstairs.
"I'm trying to protect you!," Stan shouted. "I'm not doing this," he said standing up fron the table. He put his hands up, "I don't want any part of this. Do what you want with the dream demon, Ford. Just keep them away from our family."
Stan mumbled something about this being a toll on business as he went back to run the shack.
"Dipper? You haven't said anything. What's your thoughts?," Ford asked.
Dipper whispered something Ford couldn't hear.
"I can't hear you, Dip."
Dipper looked furious, "I SAID does it even matter? You're just gonna do whatever you want. Why do you ask for our advice when you don't take it? Are you just going to torture him again?! Was once not enough?!" Dipper was shouting.
"I did what I had to do. I've protected you all. I saved this entire world!"
"WE. WE saved the world. You, me, Mabel, Stan, we all did!"
Ford was quiet.
"You want my opinion? Stay treating him like a demon. He isn't. Not anymore. He's a fucking kid, he's my age! He doesn't understand anything that's going on, and what he does understand, he hates himself for!"
"I...I can't just.. let him go. Like free, Dip. He could go ballistic again and hurt someone."
Dipper take a deep breath, "I know... just don't treat him like a monster. Maybe.. explain things to him. I think he'll understand."
Ford was surprised. Explain things to him? That never occurred to him.
"Alright. I'll talk to him. Tell him the truth."
It was Dipper's turn to be surprised. "...really?"
"Yeah, Dip. I know I've been... arrogant as of late. And I'm sorry. I should have listened. I, uh, I hope you can forgive me."
Dipper almost looked embarrassed, "Of course Grunkle Ford. I shouldn't have talked to you like that."
Ford stood and patted Dipper on his shoulder. "No, Dipper, I needed to hear that. Being on my own for decades, it's made me self-reliant.. and selfish. Thank you for calling me out on it." Ford hugged his nephew.
"Talking time it is," Ford sighed, "Wanna help?"
Dipper determinedly nodded, prepared for the worse.