//

Ricky helped carry in a bleeding Fangs with Jughead and FP through Riverdale General.

"Help! We need help!" Ricky called out loudly as the hospital was more crowded by the minute.

Jughead moved over to the counter. "Ma'am."

"Wait your turn, please," the nurse told him without looking up.

"He was shot!"

"I need you to step back-"

Jughead slammed his hand on the counter, getting her attention. "He's dying!"

"Hey, what's going on here?" Dr. Masters said walking over.

Ricky turned to him, still holding up Fangs with FP. "My friend was shot right in the stomach. He's bleeding a lot."

"Hey, get me a gurney," he called to some nurses.

Ricky shifted Fangs onto the gurney who groaned in pain but still clung to the Andrews boy.

Ricky tensed for a moment, getting a moment of Deja vu...

With the nurse's help, Archie placed Ricky on the gurney, having him lie back. A nurse shines a light in Ricky's left eye. "Sir, can you hear me?" Then, his other eye. "Can you tell me your name?"

Ricky only glanced back at Archie, reaching a bloodied hand out for him, wanting comfort from his brother. "Arch..."

Archie grasped Ricky's hand. "His name's Ricky Andrews," Archie whimpered, trying not to break down and cry at the sight of Ricky in pain.

Ricky snapped out of it and squeezed his hand for a moment. "You're gonna be okay, hang in there," he told his friend who let go of him to get rolled into surgery.

Jughead looked at him for a moment before moving to walk out, FP following to stop him.

Ricky looked at his bloodied hands and then the Jones men, wiping his hands on a nurse's uniform nearby before walking past him which FP noticed.

"The hell you going, boy?" he called out.

"To find my brother, I'm no good just waiting here," Ricky replied, walking out, texting Kevin hoping he'd know where Archie was.

***

Ricky pulled up in a car, next to Kevin and Moose, quickly getting out.

"Ricky, what the hell happened at the station? Whose car is that?" Kevin asked, rushing out each question.

"You're a Serpent now?" Moose asked, looking a bit betrayed.

"Don't you think we've got bigger shit to worry about now?" Ricky snapped at Moose. "Fangs got shot and I stole that car."

"You stole a car?" Kevin asked.

"It was that or run which I wasn't doing," Ricky answered. "Have you guys heard anything from Archie or Reggie?"

Just then, Archie ran over to the group. "Where the hell is Reggie?"

"I thought he was with you," Kevin answered.

"We got separated when the fight broke out. Guys, Reggie had a gun. He didn't shoot Fangs, though. I tackled him before he could."

"Why would Reggie have a gun?"

"Who else would give him a gun?" Ricky replied.

"Right," Archie agreed, knowing who he was talking about. "But right now, we just gotta find him. Some of the Serpents saw Reggie with the gun. They're gonna go after him. Kev, Moose, we'll head to Reggie's house. Everyone else, fan out, call if you find him."

"I have a car, let's go," Ricky told Archie who nodded and didn't care to question where he got it from at the moment.

***

After stopping by Reggie's home, they left going to Riverdale High instead.

Ricky glanced at Archie. "Call Jug, put him on speaker."

Archie did so, Jughead answering after a moment.

"Archie, what the hell is going on?" Jughead spoke.

"The Serpents are going nuts."

"Yeah. Reggie shot Fangs!"

"No, dude, I was with Reggie when it happened, it wasn't him," Archie immediately defended.

"That gunshot rang further out, the gun was down in Reggie's hands," Ricky added.

Archie nodded. "So you need to call off your crew. We're just leaving Reggie's house now."

"Did they find him?"

"No, he wasn't home. We're headed to the high school now. That's where Mrs. Mantle said they were going."

"Okay, I'm on my way."

"Hurry, Jug, we know how hotheaded Pea was," Ricky said as Archie hung up.

"Can you talk them down?" Archie asked his brother.

"Maybe," Ricky answered softly. "I just got into Pea's good graces, hopefully he'll listen to me if not you."

He sighed. "If it comes down to a fight-"

"I'm not choosing sides," Ricky told him. "And there isn't gonna be a fight."

***

Kevin, Moose, and the Andrews boys climbed through a classroom window, immediately hearing yelling and stuff breaking in the distance.

"That's gotta be the Southsiders," Kevin said.

"Serpent scum!" Moose remarked.

"Enough, Moose. That's not helping," Ricky told him.

Archie looked at him. "We're outmanned and unarmed."

"I'm not just gonna hide here while they trash our school!" Moose replied.

"I'm with Moose," Kevin agreed.

Archie sighed. "All right. But it's us four against who knows how many. So if we're gonna do this, we gotta gear up."

Ricky sighed. "Guys locker room is the closest, they have shit in the closet that could help, we gotta hurry," he told them.

They rushed out going in the locker room to the back closet in the office area, Archie breaking off the lock so Moose and Kevin could grab something as Ricky's phone rang.

Ricky answered, "Ronnie? What's wrong?"

"Was just in the middle of the riot," Veronica answered.

"Jesus. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Not only did I brave the streets, I delivered Fangs's shooter, Mrs. Klump, to the authorities."

His face dropped. "Mrs. Klump shot Fangs?" He spoke, earning Archie's attention.

"Can you blame her?"

He sighed. "I guess not."

"I just thought I should tell you before anyone else."

"I appreciate that." He glanced at his waiting friends. "I gotta go, Ronnie, I gotta tell the Serpents, but thank you. And stay safe."

"You too, Ricky."

He hung up, turning to the group of three. "Hopefully, this news will settle them down."

They walked out of the locker room, approaching the rowdy Serpents. "Serpents, stop!" Archie called out.

Sweet Pea looked at them. "Well, Fellas, looks like we found some bulldogs to put down."

"Pea, just listen," Ricky said. "I swear, Reggie didn't shoot Fangs. It was Mrs. Klump."

"Bull, traitor. I saw Mantle with the gun!"

"I'm a tr-" he cut himself off to calm himself. "Look, I was next to you. We both saw Archie tackle Reggie before he got a shot off."

"It was Midge's mom," Archie added. "She's down at the station."

"Yeah, and Fangs is still clinging to life," Sweet Pea spoke. "And whether it was Reggie or Mrs. Klump who pulled the trigger, a Northsider put him there. You took our friend, our land...And you'll take everything if we give you the chance." He picked up a metal trash can. "So now you get to watch as we burn your school to the ground."

He threw it at the trophy case, glass shattering everywhere.

"Enough!" Ricky yelled. "Pea, you're only making things worse than they already are! If anyone else saw this, you'd only be proving Northsiders right about what they think of the Serpents. I get you're pissed and so am I but this won't help."

"No, but it'll make me feel better," Sweet Pea said grabbing a baseball bat.

"Pea, if you don't control yourself, when this is all over, Northside is gonna trash you guys way worse than they already are-"

The school doors opened, revealing Mr. Weatherbee along with other adults. "What the hell do you boys think you're doing to my school?"

Ricky looked at Sweet Pea. "Go. Don't make this worse."

***

After telling Jughead where the Serpents ran off, Ricky, Kevin, Moose, and Archie went to Pop's where Pop Tate said Reggie was.

They all sat in a booth with Reggie who explained everything, "I didn't know where else to go. Mr. Lodge left me hanging."

"Wait, Reggie, I know he paid you to trash the Whyte Wyrm," Archie said as Ricky heard cars outside. "But did he put you up to this?"

"Guys? Outside," Ricky called seeing multiple cars pull up to the diner.

"Serpents! They're coming for me," Reggie said, panicked.

"No, I know the cars Serpents ride in, that's not them," Ricky replied as Archie called Jughead.

"...Well, if the Serpents are with you, then who the hell is out here at Pop's?" Archie spoke, earning Ricky's attention.

Ricky got up, getting a better view as people got out of the cars. "Oh, shit..." he looked at Archie. "Ghoulies are back in town." He quickly climbed out of the booth. "Pop! I need your keys!" The man quickly tossed Ricky the keys who quickly locked the diner doors. "Kev, Moose, help me barricade the door!"

They moved the jukebox in front of the door as Archie tried to call the Sheriff's Station. "Damm it! Nobody's answering at the Sheriff's station."

"Looks like we're on our own," Ricky said, backing away from the door.

"Okay, we should be fine as long as everybody..." There was loud banging against the windows making everyone duck down. "Everybody, get away from the windows!"

Ricky pulled Archie down as the window near them got shattered.

Archie pulled Ricky around the counter where Pop Tate was. "Do you have a gun in here, Pop?"

"No," the man answered. "Had my fill of gunfire back in the war. But I learned a trick in the riots of '79. I have Mr. Lodge's leftover liquor from that poker night. And you get to the roof through the crawlspace..."

Archie nodded. "I like how you're thinking, Pop."

Ricky looked at him. "I'm going with you."

"No, you need to keep everyone safe down here-" Archie started to tell him.

"Save the protective big brother crap. I'm going with you," Ricky replied, moving to grab the liquor.

Archie sighed, knowing he couldn't talk his stubborn little brother down but moved to help grab the liquor.

A few minutes later, they were both on the rooftop, Archie yelling out to them before throwing down a liquor bottle with the top on fire, making them all back away but they didn't leave.

"Get the hell off our turf, Malachai!" Ricky yelled out, holding his own bottle.

"Come on! Hit me!" Malachai called out to him,

Ricky glanced at Archie before raising the bottle, not having time to throw it when a Sheriff's car pulled up.

Mr. Keller got out, pumping a rifle gun and shooting it up in the air, staring down the Ghoulies who moved to leave as Fred got out of the car.

FP also pulled up on his motorcycle, shooing off the Ghoulies before the three dads headed inside where their children and many others were applauding them.

Fred hugged both of his sons as Reggie looked at Kevin's dad. "Mr. Keller, I thought you resigned."

"Turned in my badge, but not the cruiser yet," Mr. Keller replied.

"And this is why I like you better than Minetta," Ricky said with a grin.

"How did you guys know we were here?" Archie asked.

"Well, Jug called, said you were in trouble so I called your dad...right when Kevin called," FP answered.

"We're not letting this town go down without a fight," Fred added.

"Hot Riverdale Dads to the Rescue," Kevin said, snapping a photo of the three, making Ricky chuckle.

***

Ricky went home with his dad and Archie, he told FP he wanted an update on Fangs but for now, Fred wanted his sons home.

As they entered the house, Fred asked, "How's Veronica and Betty dealing with all this?"

"Oh, Ronnie's in lock-down at the Pembrooke," Archie answered.

"And Betty's at the Register with her mom," Ricky added.

"For all of Mr. Lodge's talk about law and order, he was nowhere to be seen tonight," Archie spoke.

"Well, I just went out there to try to find you boys," Fred said, hanging up his jacket and going upstairs. "I'm gonna take a shower."

"I'll lock up, I'm hungry anyway," Ricky said, walking to the kitchen backdoor when he noticed it was slightly open.

Confused and a bit nervous, he looked around but locked the door. "Archie?" he called out.

When he got no response, he assumed he went upstairs to which Ricky sighed and looked for a snack.

He quickly stood up when he the sudden sound of grunts and stuff breaking in the next room, running towards the noise.

There the Black Hood had Archie pinned on the floor

A slight panic feeling set in for Ricky...but he forced it down, running forward and tackling the man off of his brother, shoving him to the side before punching him repeatedly.

Before he could get a third punch in, the man kicked Ricky off of him, the boy falling into Archie who both quickly stood up as did the Black Hood, this time with a gun.

Archie stood in front of Ricky protectively, both boys frozen.

Ricky was the first to move, remembering the message at the play. 'All those who escaped me before will die'. "Asshole! It's me you want! You got me! Kill me!" he yelled, moving in front of Archie. He was willing to die even if it meant keeping his family safe.

"Ricky, no!"

Just then, Fred hit the Black Hood over the head with a baseball bat, knocking him down.

Ricky let out a sigh of relief, seeing his dad who asked, "You okay?" He approached them, thinking the Black Hood was unconscious. "Thought about going pro after high school."

The Black Hood stood up, raising his gun.

"Dad!" Both boys yelled.

"No!" Fred yelled, protectively blocking both of his sons.

Just like last time, two shots were fired...

The Black Hood ran off as the boys tried to aid their father who was shot in the stomach.

Fred raised up his sweater, showing the bullet had hit the bulletproof vest he was wearing.  "I'm good. Tom Keller, he just put these on before we went to the diner. I'm good."

With nothing but adrenaline and rage coursing through him, Ricky made a dumb move only Archie would've done.

He grabbed the baseball bat off the floor, taking off out of the house after the Black Hood. He made it to the middle of the street but the man was nowhere to be seen.

Ricky let out an angry yell, throwing down the bat. "You come back here! I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna fucking kill you!"

Archie ran over to him. "Ricky, come on, we need to get you to the hospital."

"Why?"

Archie's gaze moved down, and Ricky's did as well.

Ricky was shot again but this time it was in his shoulder.

"It's a graze, I'm fine," Ricky tried to tell him.

Archie just pulled him to the house.

***

It wasn't until the Andrews heard sirens across the street at the Cooper home that they left to see what the commotion was.

Alice and Betty were standing on the porch as Tom Keller walked a cuffed Hal Cooper to the police cruiser.

The Andrews approached the Cooper home, looking at Hal who just stared back at them. 

Ricky couldn't believe it. He's known Hal Cooper since he was young and Hal used to be so kind to him, even gave him tips on fixing up cars...now here he was. The man who tried to murder him and his dad.

Ricky only walked over to Betty, pulling her in a hug. "Are you okay?"

"It was him," she mumbled against his shoulder, pulling away to look at him. "My dad was the Black Hood."

"How did you...Did you see him leave my house? He tried to shoot my dad and brother again," Archie spoke.

"When?"

"An hour ago."

"No, no, no. That's impossible, he was here with us..."

"So...there might be two Black Hoods then..." Ricky trailed off, looking down at his phone was now ringing. "I'm sorry, give me a second," he said softly before answering, "Jug?"

"Ricky...I'm happy to hear your voice."

Ricky sighed. "Me, too, Jug. You have no idea."

"I just want to let you know that I love you," Jughead said, making Ricky tense. "And I'll never stop loving you."

"W-What are you saying, Jug? Where are you?"

"Where is he?" Archie asked him.

"I'll see you soon," was all Jughead said before hanging up.

Ricky looked down at his phone confused before back at the other two.

"What's going on?" Betty asked.

"I-I got a bad feeling," Ricky answered before calling FP who answered.

"Richie, are you and your dad okay?" FP asked.

"FP, is Jughead with you?" Ricky asked.

"No, he's at the trailer. Why?"

- I'm just really worried, I have a bad feeling. He called to say how much he..." he trailed off, glancing at Betty. "He called and it almost sounded like he was saying goodbye for good. If you find him, update me please."

***

After twenty minutes, Cheryl called him to come meet up for Jughead.

He got out of the car, meeting up with Sweet Pea, Cheryl, Toni, and McKenzie. "What happened? Where's Jug?" he asked them.

"Guys..." Archie trailed off, looking ahead.

FP emerged out of the dark woods carrying a lifeless body in his arms.

Ricky's throat closed up, realizing who it was. "Oh, my God..."

It was Jughead, lifeless, dirtied up, and bloodied, his Serpent tattoo gone from his arm.

***