the women rushes to the register just as betty gasps in pain. jughead kneels down so that she is seated on his thigh and he can properly wrap his arms around her. "contr—ahhhhh" she groans "shh.. shh i know" he murmurs rubbing her back "breathe through it, betts, you're doing so good" he doesn't know what else to tell her. "mmm... ugh... ahhh..." she pants and fresh tears start streaming down her face. "let it out, let it out" her husband encourages her, but she still refuses to scream. once she relaxes, he gently helps her stand up and leads her to the back of the woman's car just as the stranger returns. "the hospital is twenty minutes away from here" she says climbing into the front seat "how close is she?" "i—i—i don't know" jughead admits. betty doesn't say a word; she has her eyes shut and is panting while leaning into jughead's side. "i think her water broke about forty-five minutes ago; we have been walking for almost a mile." the woman nods "i am jan by the way; i'll go as fast as i can" she says as the car lurches forward onto a main road. no sooner than the car pulls out betty let's out her first scream. "ahhhh!" "betts!" jughead exclaims reaching over to grab both of her arms, unsure of what else to do. "betty?" he asks searching her face. she tucks her chin down into her chest and grabs her stomach "mmmm... ahhh.... nnggghh" she pants out "jug—jug help" she begs. "she is close" jan warms looking up in her rear view mirror at the couple in her backseat. "mmmmm...." betty groans "jug..." she takes a deep breath "juggie..." "what is it?" he now has one hand on her face and one hand on her stomach. "jug, he can't wait that long" her fear filled eyes open to meet his "betty—" he starts "no, jug, he isn't going to wait that lo—ahhhhhh" she leans forward and groans again. "honey, can you make five minutes?" jan calls back "my house is closer, and i know it isn't a hospital, but it is better than the backseat of a car." jughead shook his head in disbelief, and betty nodded "yeah..." she breathing heavily "yeah i think so...ohhhhhh—" "betty" jughead exclaimed pulling her as tightly to his own body as possible. "i—mmmmm— i can make it, jug; ow, ow, ahh... i can make it" her hand found his and squeezed it tightly.
