Jughead guided Betty through the Wyrm, acutely aware of her trembling form. He had one arm wrapped around her waist and was letting her lean heavily into him to keep the majority of her weight off her injured foot. He noticed out his peripheral that her fist was clenched and his heart ached for reasons unbeknownst to him. As he got closer to their destination, he was cut off by a middle aged man who stepped in front of them. Gritting his teeth, Jughead stared at Roger.

"Who do we have here?" Roger asked lowly, appraising Betty like a piece of meat. Jughead had the sudden desire to punch the stupid smirk off Roger's face and had to take a steadying breath to remind himself of who were his elders in the gang.

"This is Betty," Jughead said quietly, stomach clenching uncomfortably as Roger cupped her cheek. He watched as Betty tensed and Roger sneered.

"She's delectable," he groaned, and Jughead found himself seething. FP had always raised him to respect women. He gently squeezed Betty's hip, an action to remind her that she was safe. And, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Roger.

"Claiming your territory, Jones?" Roger queried, and Jughead's jaw flared.

Biting back his scathing remark, Jughead inhaled deeply to control his anger. "FP wants to see her so if you'll be so nice as to get out of our way…"

It was as if he had said the magic words; Roger automatically bowed his head a little and stepped to the side, knowing better than to hold them up when FP was expecting them – no one questioned their leader's authority.

Jughead gently led Betty around Roger, hand placed at the small of her back.

"You're alright; you're safe," he murmured, but she just stayed quiet. He sighed, not sure who he hated more at the moment: Roger or himself.

Eventually, they reached FP's office and Jughead knocked on the door, entering only when his father instructed him to.

"Hey, Jug," FP said, looking up from the paperwork he was bent over. Jughead appraised his dad, taking in the fact that he looked exhausted. Kidnapping a young woman would do that to a person.

"Hey," Jughead replied. FP's eyes traveled to Betty, frowning slightly at how tense she was.

"You can remove the blindfold, Jug," FP said, and Jughead nodded, feeling relief settle in around his bones.

"Don't be afraid, please," he implored lowly as he gently undid the blindfold for a second time. Betty blinked, looking around the office before her eyes landed on FP. She stared at him uncertainly, waiting, it seemed like, for him to say something.

"Elizabeth," FP began.

"Betty," Jughead interrupted. "She goes by Betty."

FP looked at Betty. "Is it alright if I call you Betty, then?"

Betty bit her lip, looking at Jughead, who nodded encouragingly.

"It's alright," she whispered after another moment's hesitation.

FP nodded, eyes kind. "Well, Betty, I'm terribly sorry about what's happened."

Jughead could hear the burning sincerity in his father's voice and knew he meant every word.

"Thank you," Betty murmured, eyes downcast. Jughead fought the sudden impulse he felt to hold her hand. Not out of a romantic gesture of any kind but for a way to allow her to tether herself to some idea of safety. Although, he wasn't sure if she truly believed him when he said she was safe. He wasn't sure he would believe it if he had been the one who was kidnapped.

"What do you know about the Serpents, Betty?" FP asked. Betty looked at Jughead, clearly unsure if she should speak or not. He squeezed her shoulder, hoping to provide a source of comfort.

"It's alright," he assured her kindly.

Licking her lips nervously, Betty waited a beat before slowly starting to speak.

"I don't know much," she began cautiously. "Only…"

"Only what Alice and Hal Cooper have filled your head with? The nonsense they spew in that rag of a paper they write for?" FP asked calmly.

Betty bit her lip, clasping her hands in front of her nervously.

"I'm sure Jug has already told you this but I'll reiterate it anyways: we're not looking to hurt you, Betty. Not in the slightest," FP said softly.

"Then, why kidnap me?" Betty asked quietly but firmly.

FP sighed. "We need leverage against the Northside."

Betty laughed bitterly. "And, what? You think I'll be able to help you? News flash: no one cares when the shy, bookworm goes missing."

That can't be true, Jughead thought to himself. Surely, someone must care for her.

"What about your dad?" Jughead asked quietly.

"What?" Betty asked.

"Hal Cooper would surely have an issue with you being taken," Jughead said.

Betty sighed. "Even if that were the case, even if he did care, my mother's word is final. You saw how easily she handed me over tonight. Trust me, the only thing she'll lose sleep on is if she actually has to meet demands about what you've done."

Jughead ran a hand through his unruly hair, looking at his dad. He watched the way his old man studied Betty, an almost sad look in his eyes.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, Betty," he said eventually, but Betty just shrugged, wrapping her arms around her slim frame and didn't say anything,

FP cocked his head to the side, eyeing her, before a knock on the door interrupted their meeting.

"Come in," FP called, and Jughead watched as Tallboy walked in, taking in the scene before him. When his eyes landed on Betty, he smirked. Jughead grit his teeth.

"How you feeling, princess?" Tallboy sneered.

"That's not my name," Betty muttered, fists clenched.

"What was that?" Tallboy challenged.

"I said, that's not my fucking name," Betty repeated firmly, snapping her eyes to meet his in a fierce glare.

"Well, would you look at that, boss?" Tallboy smirked at FP. "Blondie is a little spitfire."

Jughead glared at him. "What do you want Tallboy?"

"I wasn't talking to you, now was I, boy?" Tallboy sneered, and Jughead resisted the urge to punch the idiot in the face once more.

"What is it, Tallboy?" FP asked, keeping Jughead in check with one look.

"Peabody is here. Wants a word with you," Tallboy said, and Jughead was sure his face mirrored the same surprise on his father's. They both schooled their expressions and FP nodded.

"I'll go meet her. Jug, take Betty back up to your flat. She's under your care," FP said, before going to squeeze her gently on the shoulder. "It's going to be fine, Betty. I promise you, no one will hurt you."

Jughead saw Tallboy shift slightly out of the corner of his eye and realized then that he'd be a problem. Fucking great.