Anti Gravity (S1)

Episode 9: Gideon Returns | Part 2

"Thank you for letting us stay here," Dipper said to Soos's grandmother once she stepped into the living room with a tray of cookies.

The group had settled in comfortably with an abundance of blankets and pillows surrounding them. The rain continued to pour outside. Thunder occasionally rattled the walls. Soos would hide under his blanket whenever lightning illuminated the windows.

In the corner, Stan stood by the phone. He anxiously twirled the cord in his fingers while the phone was dialing. He stiffened when a low, gruff voice finally answered.

"Dan Corduroy. Who is this?"

Stan sighed. He hesitated continuing the conversation. His hand twitched at the appeal of hanging up the phone.

"It's Stan Pines."

"Stan?" Dan repeated. His voice switched from monotone to fear, something Stan had never heard Dan express before. "Wendy never came home from her shift yesterday."

"That's what I was calling about. . ."

"Do you know where she is?"

Stan began to open his mouth again, but stopped. He stared at an old photo of Soos and his grandmother that hung on the wall opposite of where he stood. His hands trembled. He swapped the phone with his other hand to wipe his sweaty palm on his pant leg.

"No. . .um. . . I don't know. I don't know where she is."

It wasn't the truth, but it wasn't a complete lie either. Stan knew that Wendy wasn't in the house before the explosion. For all he knew, Wendy could've been on her way home as he spoke. The risk of word spreading around town about the supernatural was too high to gamble with.

Stan heard Dan took a deep breath from the other line. "I'll call the sheriff's office."

"Is there anything I can do?" Stan said, even though he knew very well that the problem was out of his hands.

"Just. . . keep an eye out, if you can," he said. "I hope she's safe."

Stan stared at the floor. "Me too."

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Dan hung up. Stan kept the phone lifted to his ear for another minute before setting it back down on the table.

He left the hall and entered the living room to join Soos and the twins. They turned from the TV to greet him with half-smiles.

"Dipper, Mabel," he said. "I need to talk to you."

Mabel stood up and began helping Dipper by slinging his arm around her shoulder to support his balance.

Soos jumped up and walked towards Stan.

"We're going back, right?" he asked. He looked back and forth at Dipper and Mabel."Is this going to be another mission?"

"I just need to talk to Dipper and Mabel for a minute. Besides, I'm not letting anyone leave this house. It's too dangerous."

"But I can help!" Soos exclaimed. "Pretty please?"

"He's right, Soos," Mabel said quietly. "We've got to stick together."

Soos looked at Mabel in shock. He moved his toes and shoulders together like a turtle retreating back to its shell.