Don't Let Go | Sequel to "Been Here All Along"

Chapter 23

Monday seemed like a weird day to have a memorial, but we did what we had too. The day after Great Uncle Ford passed, Grunkle Stan was still in a lot of distress and just wanted the whole ordeal done and over with as soon as possible. 

Mabel and I had drove back the day after his passing, after packing up things from the apartment and fooling around for God knows how long. When we returned back to the shack, we slept for a while, and when we woke up, we did it all over again. I was so exhausted, but I knew how upset Mabel was about me leaving. I hated me for having to leave her like this. I even caught her crying one of the times. I demanded we stopped, and I held her for a while. This is what I was going to miss more than anything. Not having sex, just holding her in my arms. I felt myself begin to cry to, but I refused to let her see how much this was tearing me apart. I had to be strong for Mabel. I had to be strong for us. 

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After Mabel went to bed that night, I carefully and quietly snuck out and went downstairs to find Soos, who had been living at the shack for the past year since his abuelita passed away. He was on the couch, watching one of the local news programs. I coughed to distract his attention and he immediately looked up at me. He turned off the TV and sat up, gesturing me to come sit on the couch next to him. 

"Dipper? What are you doing up? You're usually never up this late." 

"I just needed to talk to you...about Mabel." 

"Is she alright?" Soos asked worriedly. I nodded. 

"She's fine...in a sense, I suppose," I said, making sure not to let anything slip about our relationship.

"What's going on, Dip?" 

"I found a note in Grunkle Ford's office...I have to complete one last mission for him. I have to drive all over the country, collecting stuff, and...I don't know how long I'll be gone. I'm leaving Mabel all by herself after we just moved, in a new town, with no car and I just...are you able to help her? Check up on her? Take care of her while I'm not around?" I pleaded. Soos nodded immediately, reassuring me he would take care of my sister while I took care of business for Grunkle Ford. I felt some stress be lifted from my shoulders, but I knew until I was back home after this whole ordeal was done and over with, I wouldn't know what sane would feel like.