Chapter VII


Pip lay in his hospital bed, looking out the window sadly.

I was ever so scared. Kenneth had left me, I was sure of it. It had been four hours, thirty-seven minutes and twelve… thirteen… fourteen… seconds, since he last visited me. Kenneth didn't even call. I doubt he wanted to even look at me after what he'd done to my face, maybe he was mad at himself, but it hurt even more that he won't see me. I knew my face was a mess, I looked worse than usual, but I had hoped Kenneth wouldn't have found my face too foul to view.

Kenneth should have known I will always love him, no matter what. He has helped me so much and made me so much more… Alive? Yes, that's it. Kenneth has made me more alive than I ever was before. I've never been happier than with Kenneth. Certainly, my face had never been in so much terrible pain, but this is just the extent I'm willing to go for Kenneth.

"Oh hiya Pip!" I heard the cheery southern voice of my good friend, Butters Stotch, as he looked at me from the doorway.

"Hello, Butters." I forced a smile. He was not quite who I wanted to see.

"You ready to go home?" Butters rubbed his knuckles together, one of his many unique traits.

"I suppose… I'll need help."

"Of course! Why that's what I'm here for, Pip!"

Butters carried my crutches over to me. I had had a difficult time with the nurse as I tried to walk with them for the first time. I had wished so badly Kenneth would show up to comfort me, but that never did happen. They really did hurt my arms. The nurses had gotten me some towels to make them a bit more comfortable, but it really changed nothing. Butters helped me out of bed and handed the wretched things to me. Hopping like a fool, I followed Butters out of the hospital as he guided me home.

"Is Kenneth at my house?" I asked hopefully as we turned to my street.

"Oh shucks, I don't think so! Kenny's in the hospital!"

"WHAT?" I stopped abruptly. Butters kept walking and talking for a few feet before he realised I had stopped.

"What's wrong Pip?"

"Kenneth's in the hospital? He didn't listen to me, did he? He tried to hurt himself!"

"Oh golly no Pip!"

"Then WHAT?!"

"Well, you see Pip, Kenny's in the special hospital. I think that kindergarten teacher Ms. Stevenson went there once…"

"Kenneth is in a rehabilitation center?"

"Yeah, for drinking. That seems a bit silly, if Kenny stops drinking, why, he'll get dehydrated!"

Despite Butters' foolish logic, I had never been happier. All I could do was lean on my crutches in the snow, smiling more than I had in weeks.

"What's so great, Pip?"

"Oh, you wouldn't understand, Butters."

"Try me!"

"Kenneth checking himself into a rehabilitation center is the most loving thing he could ever do for me."

"You have a fetish for boys in rehab?"

"No Butters… Come on, we have to go see him!"

"Aw shucks, do we have to?"

"Yes! Right away!"

Butters grumbled something under his breath and we turned around. I limped as quickly as I could with my crutches to the South Park Rehabilitation Center. I could see plenty of townspeople going in, and nearly as many coming out. I joined the crowd of people entering and quickly asked for Kenneth McCormick.

"Mr. McCormick?" A nurse peeked her head into Kenny's small room.

"Mmhm?" Kenny managed to mumble, looking up from his bed.

"You have visitors."

"Oh God, it is my parents?"

"They're a bit too young to be your parents I believe."

"Fine, let them in."

Pip slowly entered, making Kenny shoot up from his bed to help him. Kenny carefully guided Pip to the bed and sat him down.

"What are you doing here, Pip?"

"I had to see you when Butters told me you were here!"

"You need to go home and rest."

"No! I want to see you!"

"Pip… You have to go home. We shouldn't see each other anymore. It's too dangerous."

"I don't care."

"I do! I never want to hurt you again… You don't deserve a drunken bastard as a boyfriend. You're better than that. You can find someone else."

"But I don't want to!"

"Well you have to."

To Kenny's surprise, Pip let go of one of his crutches and smacked him across his face.

"I thought you said you loved me." Pip whispered angrily.

"I still love you Pip! Too much to let you date a little fuck like me."

"Well what if I want to date a little fuck like you? Did you think of that?"

Kenny stared, stunned, at Pip's enraged face for a minute, until he burst out giggling.

"Why are you laughing?" Pip glared, "This is serious matter!"

"You… You said fuck!" Kenny continued giggling.

"So? You do all the time!"

"But you never swear!"

"I know! But I'm angry!"

"Oh, Pip… I love you, you perfect little Brit." Kenny threw his arms around Pip's shocked body and hugged him as tightly as he could.

"Aw, well isn't that sweet?" Butters said as he watched Kenny kiss Pip's brow repeatedly. Pip giggled softly and clung to Kenny.

"Visiting hours are over boys… Oh, er, perhaps I should let them finish up… You boys have five minutes." The nurse gazed at Kenny and Pip, both oblivious to those around them.

"Pip! The nurse lady wants us to go." Butters said as the nurse left.

Pip looked sadly at Kenny, who returned the sad gaze.

"I'll visit you tomorrow, Kenny, I promise." Pip smiled slightly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Alright… Have a goodnight, Pipkins."

"You too. Cheerio, Kenneth!"

"Cheerio Pip."

Pip giggled softly and with Kenny's help, stood back up and walked to the door with his crutches.

"Oh, hey Pip, wait!"

Pip turned his head.

"I bought this before I got in here." Kenny walked over to Pip and carefully put a new, golden locket on a chain around his neck.

"Oh… It's beautiful, Kenneth. Thank you! I hope it wasn't too expensive…"

"Don't worry about it. I love you."

"I love you too, Kenneth."

Kenny gave Pip a final kiss on his nose, carefully dodging any bruised skin, before Pip and Butters were obliged to leave.

Kenny returned to bed and picked up the book he had been viewing before his visitors arrived: His photo album. Kenny flipped through pages of he and his best friends as children, pictures from his old beer bashes and, his favourite pictures of all, the ones Butters had so kindly taken of him and Pip Pirrip together.

It was going to be a long recovery.