Betty was just starting to wake when her phone began to ring with Archie's ringtone. Recalling their romantic New Year's Eve celebration, she thought maybe he was calling to see if she'd join him and his father for their ritual first breakfast of the year at Pop's.
"Hey, Arch, good morning."
"Betty," Archie's voice broke on the last syllable of her name.
"Arch, what's the matter?" Betty sat up in bed, "Are you okay?"
"It's m-my dad," he got out.
"What happened? Were you in an accident?"
"He was shot," Archie managed to get out between sobs.
"Oh my god, Arch, where are you?" Betty immediately hopped out of bed and began dressing as quickly as possible.
"At the hospital," Archie choked out, "He's lost a lot of blood, Betts. I don't think he's going to make it."
"I'm on my way," Betty assured him, "I will be there as soon as I can. It will be okay."
"Hurry," Archie said.
Betty hung up and finished dressing.
On her way out the door, she bumped into her father.
"What's your hurry, Betty?" Hal was nearly knocked off his feet.
"Archie called. His dad was shot. I need to get to the hospital. He said things didn't look good," Betty called over her shoulder before rushing across the yard to get Jughead out of bed and get Archie a change of clothes.
Instead of knocking on the front door, she went to the back, knowing that it would be unlocked. It always was. She slipped inside and ran upstairs.
"Jug," Betty barged into his room, "Jug, wake up."
"What's wrong?" Jughead shot up like he'd been burned.
"Fred's been shot. Get dressed. We need to get to the hospital," Betty called as she rushed into Archie's room to stuff a change of clothes into a duffle.
When she was done, Jughead was standing in the doorway, waiting for her, "Ready?"
"Yeah," Betty nodded, "You should call your dad."
"I'll call him from the hospital," Jughead responded as they took off.
Betty was racing at top speed and Jughead was struggling to keep up, huffing and puffing the entire way.
Once they'd reached the front doors of the hospital, Jughead caught his breath enough to comment, "When did you become a track star? Damn."
"Morning runs to school with Arch," Betty replied as they rushed into the waiting room where Archie was pacing. He was covered in his father's blood. When he spotted Betty, he rushed to hug her.
Jughead joined the hug and held onto his friends tightly.
"What happened?" Betty whispered.
"We were eating breakfast. Dad was on his way to the bathroom when the doorbell jingled. I looked up just in time to see a guy dressed in black with a black hood covering his face draw a gun. I ran for my father just as the shot rang out," Archie cried as he told them the story. "Everything after is a blur."
"God, Arch," Betty breathed.
"I got him here as fast as I could," Archie said, "I didn't want to wait for an ambulance."
Betty nodded in understanding and then saw Veronica approaching, "V?"
"Mom went to Pop's for her shift and there was police tape everywhere. Pop told her what happened. She'll be here soon," Veronica stated, "How is Fred?"
"No clue," Archie ran his hand through his hair as he resumed pacing, "They haven't told me anything since we got here."
Betty looked around her. For New Year's Day, it was a bit quiet. She'd expected a few drunks who'd done themselves damage the night before to be hanging around.
Kevin came in, his face white as a ghost. "Dad told me what happened. How's Fred?"
"We don't know anything yet," Betty replied as she looked at Archie still covered in blood. "Hey, Arch, I brought you some clothes. Let me see if I can get the nurses to let you use the staff showers to clean up."
"That's a good idea," Jughead agreed when it looked like Archie was going to say no, "Betts, get a plastic bag for the clothes he's got on. Kev's dad will probably want them."
"Right," Betty nodded as she went to the desk and spoke to a nurse. After explaining things, she was given a few plastic bags for Archie's bloody clothes and directions to the staff showers.
Archie looked ready to protest as Betty took his hand and led him towards the staff locker room. "If they come with news, Jug knows to come get us."
Archie reluctantly nodded as he followed her.
"I'll wait out here," Betty said.
"You can come-"
"I don't think the first time I see you fully naked should be in a hospital shower," Betty told him, "Go. I'll be here if you need me."
"He has to be okay, Betty," Archie started to break down.
"He's the toughest man in Riverdale," Betty put her hands on his chest, "He's going to fight with everything he has to. He loves you more than anything. He's going to fight his way back to you."
"Thank you for being here," he said.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Betty promised.
Archie disappeared into the locker room to shower.
Betty tapped her foot anxiously for a few moments then called Cheryl to give her a head's up.
"Do you know what time I went to sleep last night?" Cheryl greeted her.
"I'm sorry, Cheryl, but I'm at the hospital. Archie's dad got shot having breakfast at Pop's," Betty explained. "We're still waiting to see if he pulls through."
"Wait, what?" Cheryl was suddenly wide awake, "What do you mean Archie's dad was shot at Pop's?"
"Yeah, I know," Betty looked around to make sure she was alone, "You're not gonna be able to get inside to look at anything for a while, but I wanted to give you a head's up."
"I'll head to the cave to see if I can find anything on the security cameras," Cheryl replied, "This should not happen on our watch."
"Agreed," Betty said, "I'm at the hospital with Arch."
"Stay there," Cheryl said, "He'll need you. I'll call if I get anything."
"Thanks, Cheryl," Betty replied, "I'll let you know when we have any updates."
"Betty?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay? I know Mr. Andrews means a lot to you, too."
"I don't know yet," Betty admitted.
"Got it," Cheryl said, "I'll call you."
"Bye," Betty disconnected and leaned back against the wall.
It took Archie longer than Betty expected, but he eventually emerged with a bag stuffed with blood-soaked clothes.
"No news?" Archie frowned.
"Nothing yet," Betty took his hand and guided him back to the waiting area.
"Thanks for thinking about clothes," he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to his side.
"I was more concerned about you getting out of the bloody clothes," Betty said, "Jug's the one who thought of the fact that they'd be evidence."
"He has that mind," Archie nodded, "And it looks like he might be right. Hi, Mr. Keller."
"Hey, Archie," he looked more than a little relieved to see the bloody clothes in the bag. "I'll take those off your hands. The doc just came out and gave us an update. Fred's stable for the moment but still critical."
Archie breathed a sigh of relief and sagged against Betty a little.
Tom looked at Betty and then back at Archie, "Archie, I need to ask you some questions."
Betty took the hint, "I'm gonna go find Jug, V, and Kev. We'll bring back some food. Then, I'll stay with you while you call your mom."
"Thanks," Archie took a moment to give her a kiss, "I couldn't get through this without you."
"I won't be far," she assured him, "Call my cell if there's any news."
While Tom and Archie sat down, Betty headed down the hall towards the cafeteria. She spotted her friends in the corner and sat down next to Kevin, "Hey."
"Hey," Kevin replied, "Did Dad find you?"
"Yeah, he's asking Archie some questions. I promised to get him some food."
"Then we better not make a liar out of you," Kevin stated, "Cafeteria food isn't the best, but it's better than sawdust."
"Jug seems to like it," Veronica observed.
"Jug will eat anything as long as it's not moving," Betty told her before sighing heavily, "Let's go see what we can find."
"How are you doing, Spaghetti?" Kevin wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked.
"I had such a nice night with Archie," Betty smiled, "This morning when he called, I thought it was to ask me to join him and his dad. When he said his dad had been shot, Kev, my world just tilted."
"Yeah, it hit us all hard," Kevin agreed, "Fred has always been Superman to us."
"Tell me about it," Betty fought against tears, "Tell me something about your night. Make me laugh because I don't want to cry right now."
"Not sure you want the deets of how I spent the evening," Kevin wagged his brow suggestively.
"Who?" Betty gasped.
"Just a guy I met," Kevin said vaguely.
"No, not fair. You have to tell me."
"Says who?"
"There are rules," Betty said.
"He's not out," Kevin replied.
"Oh God, not again," Betty shook her head, "You tried to date the closet guy before freshman year, remember? It ended badly. Jug and I had to peel you off the floor of the Wyrm because somehow you managed to get served. Then we had to hide you in his trailer until you sobered up and got over your hangover."
"This time it's different," Kevin insisted.
"I hope you're right," Betty replied, picking out some food for Archie and paying for it before the four of them went back to the waiting room. Tom and Archie were still sitting in the corner but weren't talking, so Betty cautiously approached.
"Safe?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah, Mr. Keller just didn't want to leave me alone," Archie accepted the container of food, "Thanks for staying."
"If you think of anything else, you know how to reach me," Tom replied, "I've got to get back to the station, but I'll keep you informed of what we learn as we investigate."
"Thanks," Archie forked in a bite of food. It didn't taste like anything, but it was something to do.
"And Archie? Call your mom," Tom said, "It'll be better if it's you."
"Yeah, I will after I eat," Archie ate about as slow as he ever had.
"Dad, I'll be here for a while," Kevin said.
Tom nodded, "Call me if you go anywhere else, okay?"
Kevin bobbed his head as his father left the hospital.
Betty waited patiently as Archie ate, but when he set the half empty container aside, Betty handed him her phone, "You can't put it off."
Jughead snatched up the container and polished off Archie's food as Archie stepped into a private area to dial his mother.
Betty watched him for a moment before she got up and took his hand, stretching their arms out so he could have privacy but still know she was there.
It was a few tense moments of discussion before Archie hung up. "She said she's going to get the first flight she can."
Meanwhile FP had walked in and found his son. He put his hand on his shoulder, "Hey."
"Hey, Dad," Jughead choked down the rest of his food.
"Any news?" FP asked.
"He's stable. That's about it," Jughead replied.
"Hey, Red," FP approached Archie and patted his shoulder, "Your old man is the toughest I know. He's going to pull through this with flying colors."
"I hope you're right, Mr. Jones," Archie bobbed his head, "Thanks for coming."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," FP nodded before looking at Betty, "I called Mike. He sends his love."
"Thanks," Betty bobbed her head.
"Have you told Alice and Hal?" FP asked.
"I garbled something to Dad on my way out the door. I have no idea if he told Mom," Betty shook her head, "Your ear's to the ground with stuff like this. Do you know anything?"
"Nothing, which is bad. It wasn't any of my guys. I guarantee that," FP assured her, "Ghoulies seem pretty concerned that they're taking the blame for this."
"So you think it's one of them?" Betty concluded.
"That's the thing," FP shrugged, "I don't think it was them either. It seems like something different."
"Speaking of the Ghoulies, did I hear Kevin right when he told me that one of them might be on the hook for mugging Veronica?"
"Yeah, that gets hung on the Ghoulies, but they're low level thugs. They usually don't go for cold-blooded murder. They've got to be provoked," FP stated, "Freddie's not the kind of guy to provoke anybody."
"Except maybe you," Betty responded dryly.
"Only when I need it," FP chuckled.
"We've got company," Jughead said suddenly.
Betty and Archie turned around and FP looked to the entrance where it seemed half of Riverdale was trying to get into the room. Reggie led the pack of Bulldogs while some of the Serpents entered, fronted by Sweet Pea.
"What's this all about?" Betty halted everyone from coming in, "Riverdale doesn't need a turf war rumble right now."
"We're here for Mr. Andrews, Betty," Reggie assured her, "No wars today."
"Sweet Pea?"
"Mr. Andrews and Archie are good people," Sweet Pea said, "That's why we're here."
"We don't know anything yet," Betty told them, "Any of you mess with Archie, I'm going to lay you flat right now."
"Yeah, right, Cooper," Reggie rolled his eyes.
"How's your nose these days, Reg?"
Moose laughed as he and Midge passed by.
"Lucky shot," Reggie insisted.
"Uh-huh," Betty smirked as she headed back to Archie.
"This waiting is driving me crazy," Archie resumed his pacing.
"I'm sure they'll let you see him soon, Arch," Betty said.
Cheryl entered the hospital looking white as a ghost.
"What's wrong?" Betty approached.
"The teacher that got arrested. She made bail," Cheryl explained.
"Okay," Betty looked at her in confusion.
"She's dead," Cheryl replied, "It just came over the wires."
"Oh my God," Betty breathed, "How?"
"Her throat was slit with her bow," Cheryl motioned before looking around, "How is he?"
"Stable but critical," Betty nodded, "I'm surprised you're here."
"Mr. Andrews was always nice to me no matter how much of a brat I was."
"Yeah, he's the nicest guy in the world," Betty agreed as she lowered her voice. "Did you find anything?"
"Just a video of a guy dressed all in black entering the diner," Cheryl replied, "That's it so far."
"Great," Betty shook her head and spotted a doctor walking towards them, "Arch."
"How is he?" Archie pounced on the doctor.
"He's lost a lot of blood," the doctor told him, "We've been able to transfuse most of it. He's in stable but critical condition. If he doesn't have any setbacks, I do expect him to recover."
"Can I see him?" Archie asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes, but not for very long. We want him to rest."
Archie looked to Betty for a split second.
"Tell him that he's got a town full of people pulling for him," Betty gave his hand a squeeze.
"Yeah," Archie nodded before he followed the doctor down the hall.
"When we find out who did this, I'm stringing him up….by his eyelids," Betty said quietly.
"Ew," Cheryl said before the two joined their groups.