Word count: 3281

A/N: Wow, it's been more than a month since the last part was released and this one is more on the short side. Dog Days final part coming soon :)

Y/N's point of view

Y/N wakes up in fright, heart pounding off her chest, barely breathing. The loud noises that interrupted her slumber are coming from downstairs. She gets up as quickly and silently as possible and grabs the baseball bat her uncle gave her when she turned 14, which has been neglected to the corner of the room ever since. Gathering all her courage, the girl walks down the stairs slowly, avoiding the creaking steps she learned to skip when sneaking out at night, hoping it's not Jason's killer, for a 16-year-old with a bat she doesn't even know how to use won't stand a chance against someone with a gun that has already killed a teenager.

At the bottom of the stairs someone is coming up with boxes covering their face. She gets scared and swings, missing whoever is there by a hair. "Wow. Sweetie, it's me." Her father's familiar voice calms her. He drops his box at the step and takes the baseball bat from her as she still looks distressed. It takes her a few seconds to process she's safe, but as soon as she does, her arms are around her father. "No love for moma?" Y/N sees her mother, of whom she's the spitting image, standing by the open front door. She runs down to hug the woman just as tight as she did her dad. "You guys didn't tell me you were coming.", she says, happy to see them instead of a killer. "We wanted to surprise you." "That you sure did." They all laugh, as that wasn't exactly the welcome they were expecting. "Do you need help unpacking?" Y/N notices the mess everywhere. "No, you go get ready for school. We'll deal with all this", her mother instructs, pointing at everything around the living-room with a 'why did we brought so much stuff' look.

Y/N gets back to her room without any guilt for not helping them. She's used to them coming back home with extra luggage. The girl did try to help once, but they just ended up making a bigger mess. It's a lot earlier than she planned on waking up, so she takes that time to finish her articles for the Blue and Gold. Time flies by and she only notices when her belly roars in hunger. The girl quickly changes out of her pijamas into high waisted jeans and a loose tank top. Reaching the kitchen, she finds suitcases and boxes full of stuff they brought from the trip piled everywhere, making it impossible to eat, let alone cook there. "I'm going to Pop's for breakfast.", she shouts grabbing a jacket from the coat hanger. "Wait! We didn't even have time to catch up." Her mom comes out from behind a pile of boxes. "We'll do that at dinner, when I come back to this house the way it was before you arrived, young lady.", Y/N says playfully. "Oh. Bring your boyfriend for dinner.", Y/F/N requests. "He's not my boyfriend." She blushes. "Of course not, you just spend a lot of time with him, talking about him, thinking about him…", Y/M/N teases. "Ok, I got it. See ya later." Y/N blows them a kiss and heads out.

The girl is glad to be reminded of Jughead. She texts him on her way to the diner.

You - Wanna have breakfast at Pop's? My treat.

Jughead - Would love to, but I'm heading to Betty's for breakfast. I'm gonna distract her mom while she tries to find out where Polly was taken to.

Y/N doesn't reply, perplexed to why she wasn't included in their plan. She's not mad at Jug, but rather disappointed in Betty. After the memorial, she was sure they were on the same page. Clearly not. Nonetheless, she's not gonna let that stop her from getting the best milkshakes in town before class.

Jughead's point of view

The chair in the Blue and Gold office is way more comfortable than his mattress on the floor. Nevertheless, whenever Jughead tries to sleep there, he ends up staying up late, writing. Tonight is one of those nights. Without any major development on the Jason Blossom case, the novelist doesn't really have much to add to the story but editing is just as important. Jug can't move past the paragraph about the first time he met Y/N by the edge of Sweet Water River just after the body was removed. It's the way she's written in, skeptical and cold, that got him stuck, realizing he doesn't relate to that at all. Even so, at the same time, it's how he felt back then. Since he promised she'd be the first to read his finished work, the writer can't imagine letting her read those as his first words about her.

After much editing, he's finally happy with the end result of Y/N's introduction to the story. The clock on his screen shows it just turned 6 am. He could try and get some sleep, but the boy remembers the long overdue paper he has to deliver and not a single sentence written yet. School work isn't really his forte. Forty-five minutes go by and Jug's staring at his laptop screen, motionless, not even all the cold coffee left in his thermos flask would be enough to keep him awake, so he decides to take a power nap before leaving for Betty's. Jughead just slouches back on the chair and crosses his feet over the table. Leaving the office would mean 15 minutes wasted wondering the school halls till his 'room' and he can't afford to lose a single one. He's woken up by a text from Y/N, inviting him to eat at Pop's, rather than his alarm clock.

Of course he would 100 times prefer to have breakfast with Y/N at the
Chock'lit Shoppe than with Betty and her mom, but the fate of their investigation could rest with whatever information they can get out of Polly, and for that they need to know where she is. That's something they can only get from Alice and everything is set for today. Jughead just hopes the Y/H/C girl understands that. He can't help thinking if she had texted a little earlier he would most definitely have had two breakfasts.

A couple of waffles in, some OJ and both silent and vocal insults from Alice, Betty gives him the sign to get her mom out of the room, which is as easy as asking for the bathroom. When he returns, the blonde is already waiting for him by the front door with an accomplished look. Jughead thanks Alice for the 'hospitality' before they leave hurriedly. He can't wait to share this with Y/N.

Y/N's point of view

Y/N uses her free period to drop her finished articles at the Blue and Gold not expecting to run into Betty and Jughead in there. "It's a Home for troubled disenfranchised teens will learn such virtues as discipline and respect, enjoying lives of quiet reflection and servitude.", Jug quotes. "Poor Polly.", Bets says. "So you found out?", Y/N asks, reveling her presence in the room. She can see the blonde dig her nails in her palms and go from a hateful to calm face within seconds. "Y/N/N! So glad you could join us. Juggie was very helpful in us finding out where Polly is.", Betty says on fake-nice tone, stroking Jug's arm, making him cringe and Y/N's face grow red. "Where is that?", the Y/H/C girl inquires, trying to not sound weird out by the whole ordeal. "The Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Sounds creepy, I know.", the raven-haired boy replies. "When are we going?", Y/N asks enthusiastically, as this would be their first group operation. "I think it's best if just me and Juggie go. Too many people can call attention.", the vixen replies coarsely. "I disagree." Jughead stands up and walks away from Betty. "The more the merrier. If things go south we can create a diversion, plus Y/N can drive us there." There's no valid argument Betty could use to explain why she doesn't want Y/N with them. The Y/E/C eyes meet Jug's blueish ones in gratitude for standing up for her.

The bell for lunch rings and they leave the office to the courtyard. They find the table where Archie is sitting next to Valerie, with a melancholic expression. Betty walks a little faster than them and sits in the corner of the bench, forcing Jug to sit in the middle and Y/N next to him in the other corner. "I think we should do it after school.", Bets suggests, probably because she knows Y/N has an extra class today. "Sure, that works for me.", the Y/H/C girl agrees and takes a sip from her soda. Playing Betty's game isn't really something she wants to do, but she's not just about to leave Jug alone with her again. "What are you guys talking about? Anything I can help with?", Archie inquiries, begging to be a part of it, same way Y/N has to fight for her spot in. "What we're attempting is a stealth operation, Archie. If we go in there with the entire Scooby Gang, forget it, we're compromised.", Jug explains, eating the last of his tortilla chips. The ginger boy looks even more miserable at that, but at soon as Veronica arrives, his gloominess changes, since she offers to play with him at the Variety Show. Y/N understands Jughead's gestures of asking for her bag of potato chips and gives it to him with a smile, only to watch Betty making fists with her hands once again.

Now that her parents are home, Y/N can't just skip class so she heads into her classroom acting sick. Lucky for her she's very convincing and the teacher let's her out without any problems. She meets Jug and Betty by the front gate so they can walk together to her house where she'll get her mom's car to drive them to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy building. The girl asks them to wait on the corner while she gets the car. Y/N's not in the mood to explain to her parents what they are doing. Not too long goes by and they hear the loud roar of the Impala. "I call shotgun." Jughead says opening the door so that Betty can seat in the back.

Jughead's point of view

They arrive at the reception. The place looks more like a prison than a home. Betty hands the nun her ID and she's allowed in, but Jughead and Y/N have to stay back. "What do you think she's gonna find?", the girl asks as they sit on a bench in the lobby. "The truth. Whatever that is.", he answers. Soon after, they are asked to wait in a room. The doctor insists on them moving, not taking into consideration their attempts to prove they're fine where they are. "Are we being committed now?" Y/N tries to open the window, to no success. "No. But that may have been a better outcome." Jug makes her turn around to see Alice Cooper by the door with a furious look.

They are being escorted out by doctors. Before they reach the door, Polly comes out from a corner. She loses control and start screaming at her mom for not telling her what happened to Jason. Y/N tries to block one of the doctors from holding Betty, so the blonde can hug her sister. "Don't touch her." Jughead throws himself in front of the Y/H/C girl as the doctor was just about to pin her on the wall. They all watch as the pregnant mourning girl is dragged out. Jug is met with a different, darker view of what he thought was a perfect family.

At the parking lot, Alice instructs Betty to wait in the car and she walks away with both a grateful and apologetic look. Thanks to them, she got to see her sister, although because of that her mother is just about to lecture them. "I didn't expect this of you, Y/N." The girl can't meet Mrs. Cooper's eyes. "She was doing…", the boy starts. "Jug…" She nods her head from side to side interrupting him. "That's right, Jughead. Y/N doesn't need you to defend her. She knows she's wrong.", Alice spits with her eyes still watery. "No. Betty has a right to know what's going on with her sister. And THIS… exiling your own daughter because she's pregnant. I didn't expect THAT from you." Y/N opens the car door and gets in without looking back at Alice. Jughead follows her actions and they drive away.

"Where should I drop you off?", she asks. Jughead is silent for a while, figuring out the best way out of this. "How about we just go to Pop's?", he suggests, defensively. "Sure. After this, all I need is a double chocolate shake with waffles." Y/N changes their route to the Chock'lit Shoppe. "Waffles? For dinner?" The raven-haired boy laughs. "Don't judge me, Mr. Coffee-before-bed-ops-I-have-insomnia.", the girl teases and they both laugh. Y/N keeping her eyes off the road a little longer than she should've. Juggie is sure he caught her glimpsing at his lips but this isn't the right time for it so he just focuses on their order. He's temped on the waffles as well, but the usual burger wins every time.

Of course he stole a few bites from Y/N's delicious sweet treat, making the girl fake-mad and him fake-innocent. However, a sweet grin vanishes from his face as fast as it appeared since she offered to drive him home once again. "I think I'm just gonna stay here, enjoy the free coffee refills and write a bit." Jug hates not being able to tell her why he's not going home. Luckily she doesn't look suspicious to his reasons for staying. "How about tomorrow we have actual food for dinner? My place?", Y/N asks confidently. "Sounds good." The boy loves Pop's, but the thought of real food makes his stomach fluster. The girl slides off the booth and walks out of the diner, leaving Jug wishing there was a white chocolate and ginger milkshake so he could still smell her.

Y/N's point of view

Light tapping on Y/N's bedroom window startles her. "Jug?" She surprises herself as this is the second time she calls him by his nickname. The boy is on a ladder the girl wasn't even aware they owned. "Hey there, Juliet.", he proclaims, getting in. "You do know we have a front door?", Y/N asks rhetorically. "There was an unfamiliar car in your driveway.", he states, looking around the posters on her walls and some of the books on her shelves before turning to face her. "So you decided to climb up?" She waves her hands in confusion. "Could've been the killer. I may as well have saved your life." Her heart beats faster as he walks closer and closer. "Also…" Jughead breaths in, his eyes switching from her lips to her Y/E/C orbs. He guides his hands to each side of her cheeks. Without hesitation Jug leans in, meeting their lips in a sweet, passionate kiss. Y/N is dazed by his actions and takes a few seconds to kiss back. But their moment is interrupted by her father knocking on the door. "Dinner is almost ready. When is your friend coming?", he shouts through the hallway. "Soon.", Y/N replies with a wide smile, looking up at that amazing boy in front of her, who just gave this fortunate overjoyed pleased teen her first kiss.

They walk down the stairs to the kitchen. "Where did Jughead come from?", her mother asks, suspiciously. "You know Nightcrawler, right? Ta-da!", Y/N points at the boy, implying he teleported. "Are you hiding a tail under that flannel?", her father jokes. "No, I've got my holographic clock on." Jughead shows his wrist, with a bracelet rather a clock, but the reference to X-Men: Evolution still stands. Y/N's sporting an amazed look at his knowledge on the series. "Ok, Kurt. you can sit here." Y/F/N point at the seat next to his daughters usual place and winks at the girl. Laughter and conversation fill the room. Y/M/N shares stories about their travel, Y/F/N talks about some of his less bloody cases, and Jughead gives them movies suggestions. Y/N is loving every second of it. However, as soon as they finish the main course, Jug's phone buzzes. He shows Y/N the text.

Betty: Meet me at route 40 by the Maple Syrup sign.

Both teens look at each other, knowing they have to go, because it could be about the case they are desperate to solve. "Mom, we're gonna skip desert, we have to go meet some friends.", Y/N tells them, seeing the disappointed look in Jug's face. "That's ok, honey. Call us if you're gonna be later than really late.", her mother says. "Thank you for dinner Mr. and Mrs. Y/L/N. It was delicious.", Jughead says. "Oh, please. Calls us Y/M/N and Y/F/N and you're very welcome.", her father replies, taking out their plates.

Y/N parks the Impala when she spots Betty by the roadside under the pouring rain. She doesn't look happy, and not about being soaking wet, but at the sight of an accompanied Jughead. "How…" The blonde doesn't even have time to finish when Jug cuts her off. "I was having dinner at Y/N's when I got your text. It, seemed odd you didn't send her one.", he speaks firmly, making sure this doesn't go any further. "So, why are we here?", Y/N asks, looking around. "Polly told me about a getaway car Jason had ready for them. I wonder if it's still here.", Betty says, handing each a flashlight and directing them towards the sign. Even with the little visibility they have it's not hard to find the vehicle, covered with tarpaulin and leafs as it has been there for a while now.

They remove the protective layers and open the trunk, revealing suitcases and Jason's varsity jacket. "What are those?", Betty asks, pointing at something in plastic wrap. "Drugs…" Jughead picks one up. "JUG!", Y/N shouts, making him drop the evidence. "Fingerprints…", she explains, rubbing everything they touched with the sleeve of her sweater. "This is all evidence, we need to talk to Sheriff Keller and get Polly.", the blonde girl states. "This whole car is a crime scene." Jughead takes a few pictures with his phone before they leave to warn the Sheriff about it.

Sadly, by the time Sheriff Keller arrives at the site, the car is in flames, and Polly isn't at The Sisters of Quiet Mercy anymore.