Author's note: More often than not, I get these ideas in my head and carry out the full scenes, conversations, and all, and then have to turn them into something. So, here we go. Fuck me at this point.

Betty Cooper made her rounds on the floors of the hospital, body aching with the ever-present exhaustion that only doctors truly seemed to understand. It had been a long night, between the car crash victims to the woman who had an accidental overdose, and Betty wasn't surprised to find herself guzzling coffee like it was water at three in the morning. She'd be more surprised if it were water she was drinking, instead of the coffee. Sighing, she brought her favorite reusable mug to her lips, only for a deep frown to settle across her features when she realized the cup was empty.

"Shit," she sighed deeply, hating the fact that she had finished off the drink without even realizing it. Exhaustion was funny that way. Then again, she lived for saving lives, finding her purpose and pleasure in knowing she could bring a sense of peace to families on the brink of being destroyed with her careful and steady hands alone. Looking into her empty mug once more, Betty's eyes traveled to the clock on the wall, noting the time, and decided she could afford a few hours of sleep before the morning shift technically started.

Making her way towards the room all the interns, nurses, and doctors alike slept in on their breaks, Betty spotted her favorite nurse heading in her direction, head down as he studied the files in his hands. "Sweet Pea."

Sweet Pea, a talk, dark-haired man who had been her brother in everything but blood and her oldest friend, looked up at the sound of her voice, smiling before it fell flat. "You look like shit, Coop."

"Never hold punches," she deadpanned, and he laughed, shaking his head.

"We've known each other far too long for me to do that and you know it. I mean, who's the guy who buys tampons for you?" Sweet Pea asked and Betty laughed tiredly, humming in acknowledgement. He smiled sympathetically before continuing to speak. "I've only been clocked in for a couple of hours. I'll handle the rounds while you get some sleep." He tilted his chin in the direction she had already been headed in, a gentle, "go on", falling from his lips.

"You're the best," she sighed happily, and he laughed, gently pushing her forward.

"Get some sleep," he said. "God knows we don't need you to have unsteady hands during a surgery later."

"I'm not Clayton," she huffed, and he laughed once more before sending her on her way. Betty pressed a kiss to his cheek as they parted ways, him saying he'd come wake her up in a few hours if she wasn't awake by then.

Making her way to the breakroom, Betty spotted Midge Klump, a small, slip of a woman, already laying on one of the cots, sleeping soundly. She smiled at her friend. The two women had grown close when Midge had opened up to her about one of her exes and how he had been horrifically abusive towards her, drunk or not.

Betty, having had a few men and women in her past who had been that way, had understood well enough. She hadn't offered empty words about how Midge had survived the horrors bestowed upon her because sometimes, people didn't want to be reminded of the hell they had to go through to be considered a survivor; but, she did understand when someone was looking for a kindred soul and she could offer that.

Midge had asked if her parents had any issues with her being a bisexual woman and Betty had told her no. That her mother and father was as golden as parents came. Her and her siblings had been incredibly lucky on that front. Polly and Charles, a therapist at an inner-city school and an FBI agent alike, were also two people she counted her blessings for having.

Looking at the smaller woman for a moment longer, Betty smiled softly at the fact that she had gotten herself out of the hell she had been in and rebuilt her life. Took guts. Took courage. With that thought, Betty rolled over, falling asleep within moments.

XXX

It was an angry tirade of loud voices that startled Betty out of sleep what only felt like minutes later. "Not. Happening."

"I'm sorry, sir, but we are moving as fast as we can, so you're going to have to wait," this was Josie, voice sounding tired and borderline like she was on the verge of tears. Betty frowned.

"I cannot wait," a man hissed, and Betty listened intently. "My little sister has a fever that is high enough to be considered threatening. I need you to get someone to look at her. Now." The final word was punctuated with what could only be described as a hand slamming down on the front desk angrily and Betty was throwing back her covers and moving towards the aggression faster than she had time to think.

Then, another voice. "I'm going to need you both to calm down and take a breath here. You'll wake up someone who will not be happy and then you'll both have dug your own graves."

"I'm awake, Sweet Pea. No need for grave digging," Betty said as she walked out of the room, straightening out her doctor's coat, eyes travelling over the scene before her. Sweet Pea stood, tall and upset as his arms were folded across his chest; Josie McCoy, the nurse on registration duty that night, looking as if she was going to cry any moment which was frankly odd. Josie had bones made of steel – no patient or family member ever rattled her. Ever. Frowning, she then looked at the final person and felt herself lose her breath momentarily. Tall, a few inches shorter than Pea, and a chiseled, angular jaw – that did look flexed in anger, truthfully – and blue, oceanic eyes staring at her with open frustration. A look she knew well from family members demanding their loved ones be seen first. Squaring her shoulders, Betty quickly acted.

"Josie, what's the problem?" Betty asked, frowning as the woman's eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill.

"This man – Jughead – is demanding we see his sister, but we already have a line of patients and we just can't make the exception to bend the rules and…and…," her voice trailed off as even Sweet Pea looked at her in concern.

"You okay, Josie?" Sweet Pea asked.

"No! My boyfriend dumped me on our stupid one-year anniversary. Like, who the fuck does that?" Josie hissed. "To make it worse, my cramps are awful."

Betty forced herself to take a calming breath because, yeah, okay, being dumped on your one-year was a dick move and cramps were a bitch. She could extend some sympathy here and, as she glanced at the other man – Jughead, she remembered – she noticed he too had a softer expression than the one he bore moments before.

"Okay, Josie, take the day. If you don't feel comfortable driving home yet, go the breakroom. Back closet, top shelf, there's a heating pad and you know where the painkillers are. Take two. Then, text Kevin to pick up something for you to eat on his way in, he'll be here within the hour. When, and only when you feel stable enough to drive, go home, order your favorite takeout, and get a movie. My recommendation: not a fucking romcom but something good. Horror, preferably. One where the main guy dies – body hacked into pieces, is my advice," Betty instructed, ignoring Sweet Pea's snort of laughter as Josie nodded and stood up, wiping her face as she went.

"Thanks, Betty," she said, and she nodded.

"Get some rest and come back tomorrow," she replied, waving her off. Then she turned to Jughead, who was watching her with open curiosity.

"Where's your little sister?" Betty asked.

"With my friend, in the waiting room," he replied after a moment, giving his head a little shake. She nodded and followed him to a young girl, eight or nine, maybe, and squatted down in front of her.

"Hey, there," Betty said gently. "I'm Betty. I hear you're not feeling well?"

She shook her head, tired eyes staring at her. Betty nodded. "Let's get you taken care of, yeah? Can you tell me your name?"

"Jellybean," she whispered, wincing and Betty knew her throat was sore. She smiled.

"Best candy there is, in my opinion," she said. "Does your throat hurt?"

The small girl nodded, clutching a stuffed dog that Betty noticed for the first time. She nodded, pointing to Sweet Pea.

"This is my good friend, Sweet Pea," she said, and the taller smiled at her gently. "He's going to come back with us, and we'll get you looked at. Jughead, you can come, too."

She knew that children were often scared without comfort and familiarity and, if she were being honest, Jughead looked like he'd yell at someone if he was asked to wait behind. He nodded as he picked her up, shifting her to where she was resting comfortably in his arms and they headed back, Betty mourning the loss of sleep but appreciating the tattoos on Jughead's arms a little too much for comfort. Been way too long since she had had a proper lay.

If the knowing smirk tugging at Sweet Pea's lips were anything to go by, he too realized the thoughts she was having. Such a little shit.

Author's note: Will keep this one going but it'll be slower updates than the others. Would love thoughts! Xx