It was a tough night for everyone in the small town of Riverdale and Veronica Lodge was fairly certain it was only going to get worse. Something in her bones told her 'just you wait'. It's heartbreaking when you find out the person you admired and looked up to the most was actually a monster. Worse that a monster, even. She wanted to cry. Hell, she's really only a child. Sure she never felt like she was but in reality that's exactly what she is. So, if she wants to run into her room and curl up under her covers and cry then why can't she? She can't because she's in a war and it's far from over. It's a pity that she had to end it hating her father. It's a shame that her mother had lost all self respect. It's a crime that she has to deal with any of this, really.
Just as she was walking into her bedroom, her phone rang. She looked at the ID. Something inside her eased. It was almost like she felt a small bit of weight lift from her shoulders. "Juggy. I've been meaning to call you all day. Are you alright?"
"Veronica."
Something in his voice made the weight that had just left her shoulders pile back on. Her body tensed and her heart rate picked up. He sounded so terribly sad. "Are you okay?"
"I love you, Veronica."
Veronica closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Her eyes began to burn as tears welled in them. "Juggy, babe, are you okay? You're scaring me."
"I just wanted to make sure you heard that. You're an incredible person Veronica. I love you."
Veronica felt a single tear slide down her cheek. "I love you too."
"Stay away from your father."
The line went dead. Veronica slowly released a breath, more tears falling now. Her grip on the phone tightened as she took it from her ear. Her breathing shook just as much as her hands did. She quickly dialed Archie's number. "Pick up, pick up, pick up-"
"Ronnie. What's up?"
"Jug just called me and it sounded bad Archie."
"Are you crying?"
Veronica sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "Archie, are you with Betty? You guys need to get FP and find Jug." Her eyes closed as she tried to compose herself. "I'm going to the trailer. We need to split up. Please hurry."
"Absolutely." And he hung up.
Veronica tried to compose herself. "Pull yourself together. You have important things to do. You have to find Jug." She wiped her tears again and reached for her coat. She flung her door open, not even bothering to close it, as she stormed towards the door.
"Mija! You can't go out there, it's a riot!" Hiram called for her, sitting with her mother who looked beside herself with anger.
"Try and stop me." She glared at him before closing the door behind her. Nothing mattered in that moment beside Jughead. Where is he? What's happening to him? Those thoughts pushed her through the riot, past the crowds, dodging trash and weapons. She didn't care. She has to get to Jughead's trailer. It took her maybe 15 minutes to get to his trailer. She didn't even bother knocking, just threw the door open. "JUG!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, breathing hysterical as tears fell again. "Jug please!" she started in his room. Nothing. His dad's room. Nothing. The bathroom. Nothing. He isn't here. Veronica stood in the kitchen, fear coursing through ever fiber of her being. There, on the wall, were Jughead's articles of evidence. Pictures and newspaper clippings and print outs all with lines connecting them.
She stood there in silence, her breath hitching as she fought not to cry. This was it. All of this is the cause of all their problems. Her picture was the first one she ripped off the wall. Then her father's. Then she went crazy, grabbing every article she could and ripping it off the wall, throwing it behind her. She screamed and screamed until her throat began to hurt. Once all of the articles were gone she slammed her back against the wall and slid down it. She let herself go as she slid to sit, sobbing hysterically. She hates her dad. Her boyfriend is missing, possibly hurt. Her whole life is upside down. She's only 16.
Then her phone rang. She rushed to pull it out of her pocket, praying for it to be Jughead. No, Archie. "Hello?"
The first thing she noticed was the sound of crying from her ex. She knew Archie's tears all too well. The way his voice hitched, the way he breathed, the way he stuttered to say anything. There was screaming and commotion in the background. "Ronnie. It's Jughead. FP found him in the woods. It's bad, Ronnie. It's so bad. We're rushing to the hospital now." And there it was, the voice in her head saying 'just you wait'. "Ronnie, he sold himself to Penny."
Just you wait.
"And the Ghoulies."
Just you wait.
"And Ronnie? He sold himself to your dad."
And there it is. It felt like the floor gave way beneath her and sent her directly to hell. She let out a small whimper and leaned forward, clutching her stomach with one hand. This is on her. This is because of her. She shook, her teeth chattering a little. She couldn't cry. She couldn't breathe.
"Ronnie, you need to get to the hospital now!"
And the phone hung up. Or maybe she did. She couldn't be sure. Jughead is hurt. Jughead might die. Her Jughead. Her Juggy is hurt because of her. That sweet face that smiled seemingly only for her, might never smile again. His face, his arms, his love, his words, him. Gone, gone, gone. She couldn't breathe.
Despite being 99% sure she was having a panic attack, she pushed herself to stand up. She was lightheaded and her limbs felt numb, but she pushed herself towards the door. Her heart was racing, her breathing was shallow, her vision blurry. Jughead, gone.
It took her longer than she would have liked to reach the hospital. It was hard to gather the strength to move when the guilt and panic was eating her alive. The first thing she saw when she walked in was Toni and Sweet Pea and Cheryl. Cheryl was holding Toni who had her hand on Sweet Pea's shoulder. When she entered they all looked at her. Cheryl looked like she wanted to hold her too. Moving further into the hospital she saw Betty and Archie. Archie was holding Betty, kissing the top of her head and whispering to her to try and comfort her.
When Archie and Betty saw her, they pulled apart a little. "V." Betty wiped her tears away. "V it's bad. I don't know if he's going to make it." Betty looked up at Archie for guidance, but Archie was too busy trying to keep himself standing.
Veronica felt like she was in a haze. Like this was all a dream. Like she's on auto pilot. But somewhere through the mist she heard FP shouting. She blinked towards the hallway she heard him in and started to follow his voice. Archie called after her but she ignored him. Everything was moving in almost slow motion. People were running past her, around her, almost through her. The air seemed thick and she was having a hard time stepping through it. But she did. She soldiered on until she heard FP again. She should have taken a moment to prepare herself, but instead she just pushed the door open.
"You do what you have to do to help my boy!" FP was screaming.
Veronica heard him, but she ignored him, because just past him, surrounded by a Doctor and two nurses, was Jughead. The first thing she saw were his boots. She would recognize them anywhere. Then her eyes traveled up his ripped jeans to his torn up shirt. His arm, where his tattoo had been, was bloody and cut apart. Finally, her eyes landed on his face. She barely recognized him with all of the blood covering his features. He looked terrible. He looked like he was already dead. One of the nurses lift his shirt. Blood and deep dark bruises were all over his shattered body. Bones looked misplaced, ribs probably cracked. And was that a stab wound?
Veronica didn't realize she was rushing forward until FP's arms wrapped around her, stopping her just before she reached him. "No!" she screamed so loud she shocked herself. "NO! No!" Her screams turned into sobs. "Jug, no!" She fought against FP. Jughead needs her. "No!" she cried. FP pulled her to his chest and walked them back towards the door. Once they were in the hall way he hugged her, holding her tight. She kept screaming and sobbing against him. "This is on me!" she cried to FP, pounding her fist against his chest.
"Not in a million years, Kid." He kept his arms tight around her to comfort her and to stop her from going near Jughead. He needs the Doctor's full attention now. "This is your Dad. This is Penny. This is the Ghoulies." FP's voice shook now. She wasn't sure if it was anger or sadness. Both, she assumed. "They'll all pay."
"I am my father." Veronica cried, finally pulling back from him and sitting on a chair in the hallway. She buried her face in her hands and tried to focus on her breathing. He's going to be okay. He's going to be okay.
"You are no more your father than Jughead is his. You're both much better versions of anything we could ever dream of being." FP sat beside her.
Veronica turned her head and looked at Jughead's father. For the first time she really noticed him. He had blood on him. His eyes were red. She remembered what Archie had said. FP found him in the woods. God. He must be hurting. Veronica reached over and put her hand over his, squeezing it. They have become close over the past couple of months because they shared a common interest in protecting Jughead from, well, himself. Sometimes he had ideas and he ran with them and then things went south. They had been trying to stop that and protect him, together. Obviously, they had failed. Jughead had really needed protecting from her, not by her. "I'm sorry you're going through this. I can't imagine a parent finding their son like... that." She looked back towards the door. She didn't save him.
But maybe the time for protecting wasn't over. Maybe she has one final stand to save Jughead from herself. Maybe she can make a small right out of this big wrong. She let go of FP's hand and stood up. "I'll be back."
"Veronica, where are you going?"
She ignored FP and walked back down the hallway towards the entrance. She didn't even both paying attention to the crying Betty and Archie, but went straight up to Sweet Pea. "Give me your gun."
Sweet Pea looked up, surprised. "Why? You gonna finish the job? Just like Daddy-"
"Sweet Pea! Enough!" Toni shoved him and reached into his pocket, taking the gun. She handed it to Veronica. "You do what you need to do. You avenge him." Toni maintained eye contact with Veronica as Veronica took the gun. Veronica nodded, appreciating this girl once again. With the gun safely in her possession, she walked out of the hospital.
I'll be back, Jug.
