You Can Run, But You Can't Hide [R.I.P]

Undone Damage

Dipper's P.O.V

"Dipper?" 

Who is that? Why does their voice sound weird? 

"Dipper!" Mabel? 

I try to swallow, but a tube is in my throat. My head feels numb, and I can tell that I'm in a bed. It reeks of bleach and medicine. It's everywhere. 

My eyes flutter open, and Mabel is watching me with worried eyes. 

"The doctors told me you had a low chance of surviving," she explained sadly. Oh, right. I totally forgot that Mabel would eventually find me. I turn my head, a terrible spike of pain shrieks up my back. I give out a low groan. 

"No, don't move! They had to fix your back, Dipper!" Mabel cried suddenly. 

I hear a door open. Mabel turns to the sound, and a doctor is standing there. "You're awake," the doctor says calmly, "that's good. How're you feeling?" 

Honestly? Everything hurts. I can't talk, so I show a weak, trembling thumbs-up. Holding a clipboard, the doctor takes a step into the room and walks up to me. 

"I'm Dr. Nelson."

I turn my eyes to my arms. They're covered in bruises and an IV has been injected into my left hand. 

"Tired, huh? You did quite some damage." 

I nodded. Mabel suddenly intercepted. "Shouldn't he be...?" 

I should be what? I don't understand. 

I want to talk, so I slowly reach for the tube that's in my throat. The doctor notices and grabs my hand, stopping me. "Dipper, you can't take that out just yet." He instructs. But, I'm feeling impatient, so I jab my thumb at the tube. I want it out! I want to tell Mabel! I want...I want them to know what Bill did to me! I want them to know why I broke my skull and my spine! 

I start whining pathetically. Suddenly, another doctor steps into the room. Somehow, she seems to be in higher power than Dr. Nelson. Her name tag reads MATTHEWS.

"Sir," she starts, "your patient is awake and wants to speak. The respirator can be removed by patient permission, or for emergency reason." 

Sighing, Nelson reaches over and starts unstrapping the sticky wrap off my face and gently pulls the tube out. It feels like I'm barfing frozen noodles. Matthews walks past my bed and turns off a machine that looks a bit like a mini-oxygen tank. 

By the time the tube is long gone, I inhale through my mouth hesitantly. I can breathe pretty well, but it still hurts a bit. My throat itches, and it's annoying. 

Matthews looks at me with a perplexed look.

"Is there something wrong?" I'm surprised that my voice sounds crystal clear, but with a hint of hoarseness. Matthews shakes her head, smiling a bit. 

"Nothing," she says, "it's just...we expected severe brain damage and loss of mobile function. But, standing here...none of that is evident." 

Mabel laughs nervously, "well...Dipper's okay, then!" 

Nelson nods, "Yes, he's fine. But, expect a long road ahead." 

"Okay," I mumble, nothing bothering to swallow. 

What did you do now, Cipher?