I don't own any of these characters. Hope you enjoy!
Jughead found himself sitting in a room handcuff to the table. He remained silent the whole trip to the station. After a couple of minutes Sheriff Keller stepped into the room and took a seat across from him.
"Listen Jughead, the handcuffs are just a safety measure. We don't want you to be a danger to other or to yourself." His voice was honest. "You're a minor so I don't want to interrogate you until I've talked to your dad. We called him, but we haven't been able to get in contact with him. That also means we won't be able release you."
Shit. He thought. His father was out of town. He wouldn't be back until the following night. He'd call it "Serpent Business", which was code for an alcoholics anonymous meeting. Jughead knew his father had started going to them when he was in the hospital last year. He was happy for him to get help. He didn't understand why he was hiding it though. He was going as far to go out of town for his meetings.
"I'm actually here for another reason." The sheriff got his attention. "I've had people step forward who witnessed what happened with Reggie. My son included. I know it was him who started the fight."
Jughead lifted his head at this. People had come out on his behalf. Even after seeing him go crazy. He didn't know what came over him. He felt tears rise and he did his best to push them away.
"Jughead, given the information I don't think this matter has to escalate anymore. The way Kevin described it, it seems that you weren't in control of your actions." Jughead was now paying close attention to what the man was saying. "I'm gonna have a talk with the judge and see if we can get you the help you need."
"And what help do I need?" He was skeptical.
"You went through a traumatic experience last summer. Things like that leave a mark." His face was serious.
"I'm fine."
"Obviously, you aren't." Keller sighed. "I have a friend I think might help. Just talk to them ok?"
"Fine."
Betty sat at the edge of her bed. The clock read past 3 in the morning. She was too angry to sleep. She had rushed to the sheriff's station when they took Jughead away. She'd argued with Keller to let her see him to no avail. It wasn't until her mom showed up after being called. She had to be dragged out of the station. When she got home she got into it with Alice.
"What is wrong with you Elizabeth?" Her mom said as soon as she was in the door. "What were you doing on the southside? At that snake nest?"
"I went to see Jughead. We were talking until Keller showed up and took him."
"He was arrested! For senselessly beating a kid!" Her mother was beyond annoyed.
"It wasn't like that. Jugh—"
"Open your eyes, Betty! He's a no-good thug!" Alice began pouring a glass of wine. "Honestly, I thought we were past this. I was relieved to see you weren't hanging around him anymore."
"Well don't hold your breath cause that's gonna change." She was pissed.
"No, Elizabeth I forbid you from seeing him again. I won't let you get dragged down because of him."
"You can't control me mom." She challenged. "Jughead is important to me. He needs me. And I need him too. I won't let you or anyone else keep me away from him. Not again." She was up the stairs and in her room before her mother could reply.
Now she sat in the dark running through what happened. She sought a way to help Jughead but was drawing a blank. Her mind was suddenly filled with other thoughts. She remembered the moments before Keller showed up. Jughead's tears as she apologized. She had almost confessed her love for him. She got scared and switch the word love for miss. What was he gonna say? He had been interrupted by the cops. The thought of him admitting he missed her filled her stomach with butterflies. She could hope.
The most important thing now was getting him out. She would talk to Reggie. Ask him to drop the charges. She would beg if she had to. Anything to get him back.
Morning came, and it broke her heart to find Jughead missing. To her misfortune, Reggie Mantle was also absent. She didn't get any answers until she was seated with her friends during lunch.
"My dad just texted me." Kevin began the conversation. "Jughead's dad just picked him up."
"Wait, he spent the night in jail?" Betty worried. She had feared that would be the case.
"Yea, he couldn't get released until his parent showed up and apparently his dad was out of town."
"Is he ok?"
"Yea he was in a cell by himself." Kevin said. "Why are you so worried about him?"
"Well someone has to be." Betty said. Then she glared at Archie.
"Betty, I care too." The redhead said. His tone was hurt.
"You called him a criminal."
"He attacked Reggie!"
"He was investigated." Kevin cut in. "You didn't see the whole thing. Reggie started it."
"Kevin! You have to tell your dad. It wasn't Jug's fault." Betty perked up at the information. This could be the answer she was looking for.
"I did." Kevin placed a hand on her arm. "He said he probably won't go to prison. They're gonna look into therapy?"
"Therapy? Why?" Veronica finally joined in.
"They think Jughead lashed out because of what happened to him." Kevin answered. He appeared to be saddened by the information his dad had given him.
The Lodge girl remembered what Betty had told her before. She now felt bad that she had thought negatively of Jughead. She hadn't realized what he might be going through.
"He has PTSD?" Betty could barely find the words. Her heart felt heavy.
"Betty, it's not your fault." It was as if Archie read her thoughts. He wrapped an arm around her.
"Yes, it is." She was crying. "We left him alone and he went through hell. And now that hell haunts him. It's not fair."
"It's not Betty. But my dad knows someone who can help." Kevin assured her. "He's a doctor from New York. He's gonna meet with Jughead and his Dad today."
Betty wish there was something she could do for him. She felt useless sitting at school doing nothing. She should be with him. She felt stronger when she was by his side. Perhaps he would feel the same.
"On other topics, Betty, Cheryl blew a fuse over you skipping Vixen practice again."
"I don't care, there's more important things going on than Cheryl's dumb squad." Betty told her friend. "She can get as upset as she wants. There is so much stuff I have no control of. I still have no idea where my sister is, and the Jason case has gone cold. The least I can do is try to find a way to help Jug. So that's my priority."
"Why Betty? I thought you had given up on your feelings for him." Kevin interjected.
"It's not about that. I may not ever be able to repair our relationship to what it used to be." She replied sadly. "In fact, I doubt he would ever be willing to be with me. But I can be there for him as a friend at least. I failed him once already. I won't let it happen again."
"Well, I'm still uneasy about you rushing to help Norman Bates." Veronica started. Betty shot her a warning glare. "I'm teasing. But I'll support you, B."
"Thank you, Veronica" the blonde replied unconvinced.
"Me too, Betty." Archie joined in. "I'm not sure what's going on with Jughead, but I still care about him. And I care about you. So, anything I can do count on it."
Betty felt relief at his words. She had a feeling the upcoming days would be hard for everyone. Having their support would help get them through it. She had to believe that.
FP had hurried back as soon as he got the messages from the station. He'd been pissed off that his son had spent the night in jail, but the anger had been washed away when he heard about the incident at school. Now he was distraught. FP had been a witness to Jughead's night terrors. He had run into his room after hearing his screams on many occasions. He had tried to help, but Jughead wasn't one to talk about his feelings.
FP Jones had been sober for a little over a year. The morning the police called him to inform him how his son had been found changed his life. Seeing Jughead laying on the hospital bed shattered him. When the doctors told him about the wound to Jughead's chest he couldn't help but break down. He was disgusted with his life. He vowed that he would be better. For his family's sake.
That had been the other altering event after Jughead's attack. Gladys had decided she had enough. Without even checking on their son's status she packed a bag for herself and Jellybean and hopped on a bus. He remembers his little girl's crying, begging to see her brother.
He reached out to Gladys when he hit the six-month mark. Told her how things were better and that they should have another go at being a family. His offered fell on deaf ears. Gladys told him things were really good in Toledo, which was code that she found herself a new beau. Jellybean was probably just handed off to her grandparents.
Now Jughead was all he had. And he had to be there for him. Which is why he sat outside Sheriff Keller's office while his son talked to a psychiatrist inside. He wished he could be in the room, but Jughead had things he wasn't ready to share with him. He couldn't blame him. He hadn't been much of a father in the past. Now all he could do was hope he could mend the relationship with his son.
Once his session was done, they took a trip to Pop's to indulge in the burgers they both loved.
"Jug, I know you aren't comfortable sharing everything with me. But I worry about you. Can you tell me anything?" He approached the subject as delicately as he could.
"Of course, that. I know you care, and honestly this whole thing scares me."
"What did the doctor say?"
"He wants me to meet him once or twice a week." Jughead took a piece of paper from his pocket. "He also wrote me a prescription for medication. Supposed to help me deal with things."
FP felt uneasy at the reveal. Having issues with substance abuse, he feared his son would wound up like him.
"I don't know about that, Jug. I don't want you getting hooked on those things." His voice showed concern.
"Dad" he looked FP in the eyes. "All I want is to move past this. If these pills will help I'm willing to try." He wasn't about to admit that he had self-medicated before. "I don't want to live in fear anymore. Afraid I'll snap again and hurt someone I care about." His thoughts went to Toni and the Serpents. He thought of the blonde with green eyes too.
"Alright." FP exhaled. "We'll get you the help you need son."
Days past and Monday came. It was the start of a new week. Betty sat at her bed brushing through her damp hair. She wondered if the new week meant Jughead would come back to school. She hadn't heard anything about him since Kevin told them about the deal his dad worked out. Reggie had returned to school on Thursday. He had been in a sour mood since his return. Archie filled them in that he couldn't practice for 2 weeks because of the concussion he suffered. His face was still bruised as well. Betty worried about the chaos that was sure to erupt when Jug returned.
She walked to school with Archie. They made idle talk about his music and some ideas she had. She told him about talking to Weatherbee about relaunching the school paper. She thought it was a great idea to have a place to work the Blossom case. Another reason that she kept from Archie was her motivation for Jughead. She would try to persuade him to join her. He would have a place to escape the crowds. Plus, she wasn't complaining about the possibility of having time alone with him.
They reached the school and she began her search for the beanie clad boy. She found him at his locker. People in the hallway were staring at him and murmuring, but he didn't seem to be bothered by it. He didn't even notice her make his way to him.
"Hey Jughead." She greeted somewhat nervous. She hoped for a good reaction.
"Oh, hey." His response was calm and soft. Betty felt relieve until he turned to face her. Then she knew something was off.
She was taken back by his remote expression. His eyes were half lidded and void of light. She studied his face. She noticed things she hadn't the night at his trailer due to lighting. His facial features had matured. She noticed a small scar on his cheek. He sported another one on the end of his eyebrow. He didn't have the look of innocence he used to.
"Do you need something Betty?" He asked her. At that moment she realized she'd just been silently staring at his face. She felt her cheeks flush and she immediately looked away.
"No, uh, I was just wondering how you were feeling." She said looking at her feet.
"I'm doing well." His tone was emotionless. Without saying another word, he began walking away. Betty was left confused in her spot. She watched as he headed to class. Something was definitely wrong. She had expected all sorts of reactions from him but not this. It was like he wasn't really here in mind. Perhaps, everything that was going on had drained him.
Damn it! She thought. She had forgotten to mention the Blue and Gold. She would catch him later in the day. She couldn't help smiling to herself as she thought about working with him. Baby steps. Baby steps. She happily made her way to class.
A/N: This chapter lacked the sweet Bughead Sauce but we making progress. Thank you for reading.
