**I wasn't just gonna leave you guys hanging like that! :P I'll post another update when I start posting Poisoned in a new thread! and in the mean time I might post some filler chapters on here. Just cute little moments in between lol! ANYWAYS... *
Jug leaned up trying to lift himself but winced in pain, falling back onto the floor and reaching up his good arm to clutch at his shoulder, pulling his hand back and grimacing when it was covered in blood. He lifted his neck up looking around his vision blurring before being able to focus as he watched Betty crawl to his side. She knelt down beside him pulling the upper half of his body on to her lap as he groaned in pain at the movement.
"Jug," Betty whimpered, tears streaming down her face, an open gash on her above her eyebrow was trickling blood down her cheek and her reach his hand up to touch it only getting more blood on her jaw. He dropped his hand weakly as the tips of her hair grazed it and his mind fogged up, the only sensation he could focus on was the dampness of her hair, he blinked his eyes noticing that the normal bright blonde was streaked with red.
"Is that mine or yours?" He choked out somehow sounding playful, his fingertips rolling over a piece of her hair. She let out a breathless laugh through her tears.
"Who cares," She shook her head, sniffling. Are you okay… What do I do?" She sputtered looking at him and then looking up around the bar.
"Mmm, I think so," He groaned trying to roll towards her. "But I gotta stop the bleeding," He frowned.
"Tell me what to do," She cried staring down at him with wide eyes full of fear and determination.
"Can you lift up my shoulder…" He gritted out and she obeyed gently pulling him up slightly and holding him against her "Check for an exit."
"Castle is gone Juggie, the front door and the back door are clear," She nodded her head, her tears seeming to be slowing down.
"No, on my back… an exit wound from the bullet," He explained chuckling at her innocence, the vibration of the noise shooting pain through him and making him cough as he ground his teeth together, scowling.
"Oh," She whispered pulling his shirt slightly back. "No… There isn't anything," She whimpered helplessly.
"Fuck," He groaned just as Sweet Pea showed up standing over Betty, before crouching down next to her.
"Hey boss, you doing alright?" He asked resting his arms on his knees.
"I don't know, I've been better…" Jughead snapped, throwing his head back the pain growing to an odd pulse, but at least the burning was dying down. "...also been worse," He coughed.
"Seems like the message was sent, they cleared out. We are getting your mom on the phone," Sweet Pea explained looking to Betty "I gotta get his shirt off, can I…" Betty nodded frantically, scooting out of the way scrambling to Jughead's other side and grabbing his hand. He squeezed hers reassuringly, and tilted his head to look at her and also get out of the way as Sweet Pea pulled a knife from his pocket and sliced into the collar of Jughead's shirt, before grabbing both ends and tearing the fabric. Jug kept his eyes trained on Betty as she went pale looking at his now exposed wound, her body starting to shake.
"I'm fine Bett's," He tried to calm her down, rubbing his thumb on her hand.
"Toni! I need vodka," Sweet Pea Yelled over his shoulder. The girl got there incredibly fast handing him a bottle and a rag from the bar. Sweet Pea grabbed it looking to Jughead apologetically "I'm gonna pretend I won't enjoy this," He quipped, trying to smile.
"Wait," Jughead stopped him, releasing Betty's hand and reaching up to grab the bottle, lifting his head and tipping it to his mouth chugging as much as he could handle. "Okay…" He nodded handing it back to his second. Without warning Sweet Pea tipped the bottle over his wound.
"Fuck!" he cried out, slamming his fist onto the ground, "Jesus fucking christ," He groaned but the pain started to fade and he felt Betty grab his hand again. He swallowed hard as Sweet Pea pressed the towel to him, holding it tightly and making him hiss out a breath.
"Hey, Gladys isn't answering," Fangs ran to their side his voice full of worry.
"Of course she isn't," Jug growled rolling his eyes.
"I have pliers behind the bar," Toni said softly, Jughead tilted his head back glaring at her and she just shrugged.
"Are they needle nose?" Sweet Pea asked not looking back to Jughead so he couldn't even glare at him, but Toni nodded. "Sorry Boss, we are out of options," Sweet Pea finally looked back to him empathetically.
"Fuck it, Just do it," Jughead growled, as Toni ran behind the bar, coming back to them quickly.
"Do what? Jug… What are they doing?" Betty asked frantically pulling herself to her knees and looking down at him.
"We have to get the bullet out," Sweet Pea explained carefully, taking the pliers from Toni.
"No!" Betty cried "We should take him to a hospital," She tried and they all gave her a look making her cower slightly.
"Baby we can't," Jughead tried gently "It's okay…" He whispered lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it. He watched Sweet Pea out of the corner of his eye pour move vodka over the tool, and get into a better position. Betty gently held his face with her other hand her gaze full of concern as she searched his eyes.
"We will just patch him up enough to get him to the trailer, and Gladys will help," Fangs tried to explain to Betty, as Sweet Pea went in with pliers. Jug let out a guttural wail, his fist squeezing tightly around Betty's hand. His eyes fluttered closed as he took in short jagged breaths.
"It's in one piece Jug," Sweet Pea tried to sound encouraging as he dug the tool further in, Jughead yelled again cursing and he pulled his eyes open.
"You were right..." He looked a Betty speaking through his breaths, her face had gone sheet white like she might pass out, "...No more parties." He lifted his lips into a weak smirk just as Sweet Pea pulled harder and his eyes fluttered closed again, this time not opening back up.
To be continued...