DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters. it all belong to Riverdale

This chapter includes descriptions of self harm

Sometimes the wrong side of the tracks can be the right one

We all have our demons

She didn't know where she was. She was disorientated. Betty felt the panic rose in her chest, but she was too weak to scream or to move. The sapphire blue eyes which were looking at her, seemed calm and emphatic. Was this raven haired stranger, who held her in a soft embrace a villain or her savior? Her thoughts rushed through her brain.

Jughead sensed her discomfort and whispered soothingly: " Hey… you're safe here, don't be afraid…" He didn't move, because he didn't want to scare her further.

"Who…" Her throat was sore.

Jughead interrupted her. "Shh don't speak. You need to rest. I am Jughead and you're in my room in my bar. I found you outside in front of it… you laid unconscious near the entrance… I brought you upstairs and took care of your wounds. He explained calmly.

Suddenly her eyes widened as she remembered what happened since it all went black. She tried to get up.

"Hey hey easy lass. safe save here…okay. Nothing's gonna happen to you." He assured her.

Her eyes got watery and she began to quiver, Jughead's heart broke at the sight of her.

He saw the painful reflection of utter despair in her eyes. She seemed lost and her eyes wore a blank expression. "Hey…" He pulled her closer and caressed her hair "Look at me." He asked softly. As her she met his gaze, He said: "Nothing is gonna happen to you! I don't know what happened to you or what kind of dirty swine did this to you, but I promise you're safe here. I promise you that by the honor of my Irish Soul. You have to believe me!" He waited for a response.

She looked into his eyes to only see honesty. She might have never seen such beautiful eyes. Blue and calm like the deep ocean on a sunny summer day. After a moment she nodded.

"Good girl." He smiled at her. "Well, how about you tell me your Name Goldilocks." He suggested and smirked lightly.

"Elizabeth… Betty." She answered and cracked a smile back.

"Nice to meet you Betty."

She simpered.

Something about him seemed trustworthy. She thought, he saved her so he had to be a honorable man though, right?

Now, more aware of her surroundings she realized that she was only dressed in her underwear. He must have undressed her. "Oh…" She blushed and stiffened a bit in his arms. "You took my dress off." She stated.

"I had to. Otherwise you would be frozen dead now. Sorry Betts." She only nodded and smiled a little because of the nickname. She liked it.

"How are feeling?" He asked then.

She sighed. "I don't know! I am alive I guess... and I am confused and a little thirsty." She answered weakly.

"I'm going to get you a glass of water." He said and quickly got out of the bed.

When he left the room, she sat up on the bed and took a closer look to her environment. She speculated that she was in the Southside. But to be honest… she didn't remember anything. What would she do now? She couldn't go back to Archie… in fact, she didn't even know if he was still alive... What if she killed him? Oh bloody hell, in what kind of mess she'd gotten herself into... She might be a murderer...

She felt herself spiraling as the panic started to consume her again. She felt a sharp pain, as her nails dug into the soft flesh of her palms, but she couldn't stop. What would she do... she couldn't take Jughead's hospitality for granted. She couldn't let him carry such a heavy burden. A sob escaped her lungs.

"Betty!" Jughead gasped in shock, put the glass of water on the nightstand, rushed to her and sat next to her on the edge of the bed.

"What's wrong Betts?" He asked concerned.

Now she started sobbing bitterly. Small hick ups escaped her, as she desperately tried to breathe. "I can't... She sobbed and grasped for air.

"Try to breathe Betts... Try to breathe..." He demanded firmly. He took her face between his palms and said "Calm down... please... breathe!" He tried to stay calm. He never saw a panic attack and he was terrified, but he tried to hide it. "Jug I can't..." She spiraled even more.

"You can Betts! You can! You're going to look at me and breath with me now." He held her face in a firm grip and took deep, rhythmic in- and exhales. "Breathe..." He repeated like a mantra over and over again "Breathe with me... in and out…Yeah… just like this… " Jughead smiled in relief and stroked her cheeks. Her breathing became regular again and the tears stopped falling.

"Thank you." She whispered.

His eyes locked with hers, filled with concern, silently pleading for answers. "Are you alright?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I don't know where to stay! I can't go back there, I can't. He'd kill me." She whispered frantically.

"Who did this to you Betty, who hurt you?" He tried to suppress his boiling rage which seethed on the surface.

She shook her head.

"Please... you can tell me Betty...You can trust me." He pleaded softly.

Suddenly she hissed in pain as the numbness washed away and got replaced by a stinging pain from her palms.

She looked down and Jughead followed her gaze instinctively.

He gasped when he recognized the tiny droplets of blood on the floor. He searched for the injury and then he saw her hands. He shot her a look of empathy and he saw the scared expression on her face. He slowly grabbed them and gently tried to open them.

"Please." She begged and tried to get her hands out of his grip.

"Don't... it's okay." He said softly.

A new wave of hot tears of embarrassment came up. She didn't want him to see it... She

didn't want to unfold herself in front of him. He was so kind and generous. She felt a connection to him and hadn't realized it until now. Since the moment she opened her eyes it felt like she was embraced with an invisible safety net. It was ridiculous, pathetic... She knew it... but she didn't want to lose this feeling.

Jughead looked at her. He had the sudden urge to protect her from her haunting inner demons, he knew all too well. He had them too and fought a never ending battle against them every day. He knew how exhausting and hurtful it could be. He knew exactly how it felt when the darkness consumed you. He just wanted to ease her pain. He NEEDED to ease her pain... to put this beautiful smile on her face again... He never felt such an urge before... on one hand it was confusing, but on the other hand, nothing, he'd ever experienced in his miserable life, felt so right.

"Please, Betty... Let me. His voice filled with emotions.

"I am not crazy Jughead, please don't think I'm crazy..."

He denied instantly. "God no... for God's sake! I would never think that… please trust me... let me open your hands."

She searched for any signs of pity or dishonesty, but all she saw was pure kindness and sincerity.

Jughead felt her hands relax in his grip and began carefully and full of reverence to unwind her curled fingers. His heart ached by the sight of the crescent shaped scars he revealed. What happened to her...that she felt the need to hurt herself ?

"We all have our demons whom we fight with. I have them, too. He revealed. "Will you let me take care of these wounds?" He asked with a raspy voice.

She knew he meant the bleeding wounds on her palms but she also silently hoped that he might meant her invisible wounds as well.

After she gave him her silent permission, he grabbed a clean towels, put some booze on it and began as delicately as he could to clean up her wounds. When the strong booze collided with her open wounds, she hissed in pain. "I'm sorry..." He whispers apologetically. As he was done, he gently pulled her palms towards his lips and kissed them feathery.

Betty barely felt the touch, but the gesture represented such an intimacy and care, that it brought tears in her eyes.

"Please never be afraid of me or ashamed in front of me! Can you promise me that? He asked tenderly.

She nodded.

He closed his eyes for a moment. "I need you to say it Betts. I need to hear it." he asked urgently.

"I promise... " she whispered quietly, but loud enough that he heard it. He offered her a warm smile in response.

She looked tired and exhausted. He still had so many questions and needed so many answers, but this could and had to wait until the next morning. Now she needed sleep... they both needed sleep. "Let's get some sleep angel... we can talk tomorrow."

She climbed back under the covers and saw Jughead placing another blanket on the floor.

"Jug... you don't have to sleep on the floor..." She said.

" I am gonna behave like a gentleman and sleep on the floor." He replied and winked at her. "Now close your pretty eyes and get some sleep sweet princess." Jughead said and made himself comfortable on the floor.

"Good night Juggie." Betty simply said.

"Sweet dreams Betts." Jughead responded.

Betty smiled. Since a long time in her life, she felt safe. She immediately drifted into a long needed sleep. Same as Jughead.

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