Chapter 5

Hold on

Jughead woke up the next day with red eyes to a knock on the door. He sat up to Alice coming in the room. "How is she?" She asked. Jughead slipped out of bed and shut the door behind him as he met Alice in the hallway. "She had four nightmares, woke up screaming." Alice sighed.

"But she is finally sleeping soundly." Alice nodded. "And you? Have you slept at all?" she asked. Jughead shrugged. "I slept when I could. But what's important is Betty." Alice smiled. "You are your father's son. So thoughtful."

Jughead smiled. "Well, I have to head to Sheriff Keller and talk to him. The cop is going to escort me. I think your friends are still outside." Jughead nodded. "Okay, be careful Mrs. Cooper." Alice nodded. "Watch over Betty." He nodded. "Always."

Alice nodded and headed out. Jughead walked back into Betty's room and watched her sleep. She started to whimper and thrash. Jughead walked over and tried to wake her. "Betty. Wake up." She started to scream. "Juggie! Please come back to me!" She screamed. Jughead shook her slightly.

"Betty, wake up." She shot up, wincing in pain. She was panting. She looked over at Jughead and she hugged him as she sobbed. "It's okay Betts. I am right here." She just clutched him to her as she cried.

"Calm down." Betty separated from him and looked at him. "I just want to sleep. I just wanna sleep and not worry about waking up everyone in the house. I'm tired of feeling like this!" She yelled in anger.

Jughead rubbed her back. "I know. It'll get better. Just take it day by day. It will also help when Hal is caught." She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. "I just wish he would just disappear."

Jughead sighed and hugged her again. "I know. Do you want to try and get some more sleep?" Betty shook her head. They separated and she looked at the circles under his eyes.

"But you need some more sleep." She said, caressing his cheek. He shook his head. "I'll be okay." Betty shook her head. "No, please get some more sleep. Please for me." Jughead sighed.

"If you try to sleep more for me." Betty sighed and nodded. She laid her head on his chest. Jughead wrapped his arm around her.

Betty was finally able to fall asleep. She woke up about an hour later and she looked at Jughead as he slept. The rise and fall of his chest. She laid her head back on his chest and just listened to her boyfriend's heartbeat.

She was also in a war with herself. She didn't know what to do about Hal. Should she tell Jughead? Or does she keep her mouth shut?

Jughead stretched and opened his eyes and met Betty's. "Hey, did you sleep well?" she asked. He nodded. "Yeah, did you get a little sleep?" she nodded. "Do you want or need anything?" She shook her head. Jughead looked at Betty's alarm clock and saw it was 1 Pm. He looked at her.

"Do you want me to go and grab some Pop's?" She looked at him and nodded. "Yes, that sounds great." Jughead nodded. "Okay." He got dressed. He kissed the top of her head. "I'll be back."

She nodded. "Please take one of the Serpents with you." Jughead sighed. "I'll be fine Betts. They need to be here and take care of you and Polly." Betty sighed and nodded.

Jughead jumped onto his bike and rode to Pop's. "Hey Jughead, how is Betty?" asked Pop. "She's doing well. She's on bedrest right now. But she's doing well." Pop nodded. "The usual for you guys?" Jughead nodded. "Please," said Jughead. Pop nodded. "Jughead?" He turned to Archie and Veronica.

He walked over to them. "Hey," said Jughead. "Hey, how are you? How's B?" asked Veronica. Jughead sighed. He opened his mouth and Kevin came over and sat down. "Hey Jughead, how's Betty?" Jughead sighed and sat down. "She's doing as well as she can. She's struggling with everything." Jughead said, looking over at Archie.

"Well, I have to head home. I'll see you guys later," said Kevin. They said their goodbyes. Jughead sat back down. His two friends both looked at him.

"How is she doing?" asked Veronica. Jughead sighed deeply. "Honestly, she's doing terrible. She can barely sleep without having a nightmare. She hasn't had a good night's sleep since she was shot."

They both look at him. "You look like you haven't gotten much sleep yourself Jug.," said Archie.

Jughead shook his head. "I haven't. I'm the only one that can help Betty get through her nightmares and her anxiety. She doesn't want to rely on her meds to keep her calm. They turn her into a zombie. All she wants to do is sleep. And she doesn't like feeling like that."

"Do you think that she would want to see us?" asked Veronica. He shrugged. "Maybe. I can ask her." They nodded. "I miss her," said Veronica.

Jughead nodded. "Did they figure out who attacked us?" asked Archie. Jughead looked at them. He sighed deeply. "I am only telling you to make sure that you guys are safe." They nodded.

He leaned in. "Apparently after he attacked you and Betty, he had a run-in with Sheriff Keller. And he got shot." He looked directly at Archie. "It was a direct match to Hal Cooper." They looked at him in shock. "No way," said Veronica. "Poor B, no wonder she's a mess," said Veronica.

"Well along with a deputy, there are always three or more Serpents watching the Cooper House. Hal is never going to touch Betty," said Jughead. Pop signaled that their food was ready. "I am going to head back to Betty's and I will let you know about coming over." They both nodded.

Jughead returned to the Cooper household. He came into Juniper and Dagwood playing on the floor with Polly. They looked at each other. "Is Betty okay?" asked Jughead. Polly nodded. "She's up and reading I think." Jughead nodded. "Thanks." He headed back to her room. He came to an awake Betty.

"Hey, how are you feeling?' asked Jughead. "Better now that you're back. I was worried about you." Jughead sat the food on her nightstand and sat on the bed.

"You don't have to worry about me. I will be fine. I can take care of myself." Betty nodded. "I know. That doesn't mean I can't worry." Jughead gave her a small smile.

He kissed the top of her head. "I ran into Archie and Veronica. They were wondering if you were up to see them later?" Betty sighed deeply.

"I'm surprised that Archie even wants to see me." She said, looking down at her hands. "Why wouldn't he?" asked Jughead confused. She looked at him. "Because of what happened to Mr. Andrews."

Jughead sighed deeply. "Will you stop doing that." Betty looked at him. They locked eyes. "You have got to stop this Betty. What happened to Fred wasn't your fault. Your father did that. Are you afraid that Archie can't or won't make that distinction?"

Tears filled her eyes. "Jughead, he is my best friend and you saw what happened to him. How he changed. And I can't help but feel some responsibility for what happened."

Jughead hugged her. "Please, Betty stop this. Stop blaming yourself. This is not your fault. Archie loves you still. You're still his best friend and that will never change no matter what Hal Cooper does."

Betty nodded against his shoulder. They separated. She looked at him. "You can tell Archie and V that they can come over. But I need you to do something for me."

Jughead nodded. "Call Mr. Andrews over." Jughead nodded. Fred Andrews walked to the dining room of the Cooper house. He sat down across from Betty. "What can I do for you Betty?" he asked. She looked at him.

"I wanted to apologize for what my father did to you." Fred shook his head.

"You have nothing to apologize for Betty. You didn't do anything wrong." She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I am supposed to be this great detective but I couldn't figure this out. And it was right in front of me. And I did this with that stupid speech." Fred shook his head. "You didn't do this."

"You made a speech yes," Betty looked up. "But your father took your speech that was full of truth and hope and he twisted it to justify the evil that he did. But please Betty, don't blame yourself for that he has done."

"You are a victim of this as well. You almost died too because he's nuts. So please, stop blaming yourself for what happened to me and your classmates."

Betty nodded. "Thank you." Fred nodded. He got up and he hugged her. Finally just a little of the guilt that she felt went away. After Fred left Jughead had carried Betty to the living room. Betty has told the deputy and the Serpents that Archie and Veronica were on their way. They arrived.

"B, how are you feeling?" Asked Veronica. "I am doing better Veronica, thank you." She nodded. "Betty I wanted to apologize," said Archie. Betty looked at him in confusion. "For what?" she asked.

"For not being there when you needed me." Betty shook her head. "Archie, you were in the coffin. That's not your fault. You couldn't have known that he was going to shoot me."

Archie nodded. "But I am so sorry for what happened." Betty nodded. "It's okay Arch. I am just glad that we're both alive." Archie nodded. "I wonder if anyone has heard from Hal," said Veronica.

Fear coursed through Betty. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to tell her friends. But she also feared they would be in more danger if she did.

"Betty? Are you okay? You're very pale." said Veronica. Betty looked at her friends. "Yeah, I'm fine. I am just having bad anxiety lately." Veronica nodded. "Sorry, shouldn't talk about him." Betty shook her head.

"I will be okay." They all nodded. Betty looked at her best friends and boyfriend. She wanted nothing more than to protect them from the evil that was her father. The text message going through her head. No, she wasn't going to fail to protect those she loved. Even if it killed her she was going to protect her family. No matter the cost.

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