He wasn't sure if he had ever moved so quickly in his life.

"Jesus, Betty!" He snapped, catching hold of her left wrist in a bruising grip as he pried her fingers from the barrel. "Shit! What the fuck are you trying to do, huh?"

She winced at his cussing, but he was too on edge to care. He threw the chamber open, happy to find it empty. Not trusting the golden haired girl currently sitting beside him, he quickly tucked the gun into the back of his jeans before he dared to cast another glance in her direction.

Betty had gone pale, like she had the first time he'd taken her to see a scary movie at the Drive In when they were twelve, her hands shaking, held upward, like she was still cradling the gun in her palm.

"Betty." Jughead muttered, careful not to startle her further. "Betty, hey. It's okay, Betts, you're safe."

She didn't even blink.

"Betty." He repeated, a little more sternly this time. "Shit, Cooper, everything's okay now, snap out of it, tell me what you're thinking."

He wished he could read her mind.

"Betty." He was getting annoyed, not that he meant to. She wasn't a stubborn Serpent who had yet to learn their place, but his childhood best friend, the girl he was still protecting even when they lived in completely different worlds. "Come on. Come back to me."

She finally let out a shaky breath, her arms falling to her side, tears filling her eyes.

The sight nearly killed him.

He wanted nothing more than to pick her up and carry her away, away from her controlling mother, away from the friends who dictated her every move, away from Riverdale even, where all her problems seemed to be.

"Betts." Jughead mumbled, catching hold of her trembling hands. He was glad Toni wasn't there to see his actions, she never would have let him live it down. "What is it? Talk to me."

"I..." She shook her head, her pony tail bouncing. "Jason."

"Jason?" He echoed. "What about Jason, Betts? Come on, you need to snap out of it. Keep talking to me."

"Jason..." Betty said again. "Jason was shot."

"Okay..." Jughead grew out, his grip tightening. She had lost him completely. "What does that have to do with-"

She let out a startled grasp, wrenching herself away from his grasp.

"Betty!" He growled. "Please, tell me what you're thinking."

"Jason." She restated.

"What about Jason?"

"He..." Betty blinked, but her tears refused to fall. "He was taking lessons from Ms. Grundy... Piano lessons. He started playing last year."

Jughead caught hold of her hands for a second time, her palms clammy against his own. He knew exactly where she was going, but he couldn't let her jump to that conclusion. Not until they had more proof.

"Betts."

She refused to meet his gaze.

"Look at me, Nancy Drew." He ordered. Their eyes connected a moment later. "You can't go there, Betts."

"But Juggie-"

"You can't." He told her, carefully emphasizing the word. "Not yet."

"But Ms. Grundy-"

"Right now, the only thing Grundy is guilty of is seducing a minor." Jughead hissed. The thought of the music teacher preying on Archie angered him more than it probably should have. "Murder is a big jump, Betts."

She winced at the word murder.

Great job, genius. He scolded himself. Jason was her friend.

His thumb made comforting circles across her knuckles.

"Juggie-"

Headlights flashing across the dashboard suddenly had him pushing hard on her shoulders, attempting to hide her from view. Her spine knocked against the steering wheel, and she whimpered. As a car door open and slammed shut again, Jughead nearly dove on top of her, his hand smacking over her glossy pink lips.

After a few moments, he sat up, glancing around the quiet streets. When he didn't see anyone, he pulled Betty up too, his hand falling away.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Betty didn't answer, her eyes glued to something over his shoulder.

"Betts?" Jughead raised an eye brow. "What's wrong?"

She raised a trembling hand to point.

"That's Chuck's car." She whispered.

His expression hardened, and the only thing he could do was pray that the golden haired girl had never been a passenger in the beat up old Honda, at least not by herself.

Betty threw the box back onto the floor, Jughead following her lead, tossing the ID, and the gun, in before slamming the lid shut, the click signaling that it had locked again.

And then, she was throwing the door open, starting towards the house.

"Betty!" He was still cautious enough to keep his voice low. "Shit, Betty, get back here!"

He shot out after her, fingers locking around her wrist in a vice grip, spinning her back around. She started to speak, but he pulled her close, his palm pressing over her mouth to keep her from uttering a word.

Half carrying, half dragging her, he yanked her back to the sidewalk, using Grundy's car as a shield as he forced her to her knees, her head resting against the rusted metal.

It was only when she stopped struggling did he allow his hand to fall away.

"Jug-Mmmph!"

He silenced her again.

"Keep your fucking voice down." Jughead hissed. "Damn it, Betty, are you trying to get Toni in trouble? She's still in the backyard."

The last thing he wanted was for her to think that he was trying protect Toni. He was, in a way, he guessed, he didn't want her to be compromised, especially when she was only there as a favor to him in the first place, but the only person who really, truly needed protection at that moment was Elizabeth Cooper, for Chuck Clayton, god how Jughead despised that name, was only feet away, and he would be damned if he'd let the prick get anywhere near her.

Something flashed in her eyes, and he knew she understood. Releasing her completely, he glanced around, trying to decide what to do.

"Wait here." He ordered.

Betty caught the sleeve of his Serpent's jacket. "Juggie..."

Jughead caught her eye.

"Be careful." Betty muttered. It was almost a plea.

He smirked in response, slowly reaching out to push a few strands of loose hair behind her ear.

He was always careful.

"I'll be right back." Jughead promised, heading in the direction Toni had gone.

It didn't take long to find her, her camera raised as she took photographs of something only she could see.

"Toni."

"Jug?" She asked, a little too loudly.

"What the hell was that?" He heard a familiar voice demand.

Without a second thought, he gripped the lapels of her own leather jacket, pulling her along behind him, escaping across the street just as the window facing the backyard flew open.

Jughead let her go as he neared the car, expecting to find Betty still crouched down on the other side, but the sidewalk was deserted.

"Fucking hell, Cooper." He yanked his beanie off, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"What?" A voice questioned from behind him.

He had never been so relieved and so angry at the same time.

Clasping her by the arms in a bruising grip, he took a moment to examine her, just to prove to himself that no one else had laid a hand on her.

"Juggie..." Betty began, but he shook his head.

"Jug." Toni echoed. "Come on."

"Who's out there?" Chuck yelled.

Betty instantly froze at the sound of his voice.

"Come on, Betts." Jughead urged, interlacing their fingers. "We have to go."

And then, they were running, Jughead dragging her along behind him, not once slowing his pace. When she stumbled, his arm locked around her waist to support her.

They didn't stop until they were almost to Pop's. In the dim light, Jughead spared the girl next door a second glance, taking in her shallow breathing, and her pink cheeks.

He was too afraid to release his hold on her.

"What did you get?" He demanded.

A smug smile spread across her face.

"I don't think we'll have a problem getting rid of Ms. Cougar."