Three Weeks

12

"The stitches will come out in about a week. This will heal up just fine, Mrs. Cooper."

She cringed upon hearing the use of her married name. She didn't want to be associated with that bastard any longer.

"Thank you," Alice says curtly, as the doctor bandages her arm. 

Fred was waiting for her in the lobby and he smiles upon seeing her come around the corner. "Got all fixed up?"

She nods, "Yeah, I had to get stitches for the elbow, but other than that everything is just bruising. They said I'm lucky I didn't break my arm during that fall."

He can see the pain in her eyes as she recalls the events of that night and it makes him sick to his stomach. What would have happened if he and Mary wouldn't have been home?

After going down to the station to answer Keller's questions, the two friends made their way back to the Andrews' residence. Fred notices Alice's fixed stare on the red door and he knows she doesn't want to go inside. He didn't want her to go in there and see all the blood splatter in the hallway anyways. 

"I can get some of your things--or Mary can," he says quickly, and Alice offers him a thankful smile as if he read her mind. 

"Thanks--I don't...I can't go in there right now," she says tearfully. 

He helps Alice out of the car and they enter the house to find Mary sitting on the couch reading a book while Polly snoozed beside her. 

"She didn't give you too much trouble, did she?" 

Mary shakes her head, "Not at all. She was a little angel--makes me want to start having babies," the red head smiles and pauses, finally getting to see Alice's bruises in the light, "Are you okay?" she asks genuinely.

Alice nods, "I'll be okay...I guess, I'm just shell-shocked right now. I don't really know what to say," the blonde admits.

"It's okay--you don't have to," Mary says reassuringly. "I can help you, if you need someone to represent you. I'm assuming, well, it's over?"

She walks to the couch, picking up Polly and snuggling her daughter into her chest, "It's been over for a long time, if I'm being honest. I will. Thanks, Mary--Fred," she stops, fighting the lump in her throat, "You two saved my life..."

The couple share a sympathetic glance, and Mary reaches out to place her hand on Alice's leg, "What happened to you tonight should never happen to anyone," she meets the blonde's blue eyes, "Know that it was not your fault. I've seen it over and over again--the victim always thinks they could have done something differently to stop it, to prevent it, but you can't. You didn't do anything wrong, Alice."

A stream of tears rolled down her cheeks and Alice wipes them away with the back of her hand, "I know, I know--I just, I feel like I should have seen the warning signs. I swear, he just snapped--it was like he turned into a completely different person."

Fred hands her a glass of water, "Psychopaths are good at pretending they aren't psychopaths."

Mary shoots him a look, and Fred sighs, "Uh, sorry--I shouldn't have said that..."

Alice shrugs, "It's the truth. That's clearly what he is."

The Andrews' go next door and collect a few things for her, both of them cringing seeing the state of the upstairs hall. 

"I clean it tomorrow, if Tom clears it," Mary says before flipping the light switch. 

Alice sleeps in the guest bedroom, with Polly next to her in the portable crib. She tries to collect herself enough to actually fall asleep but she's scared to close her eyes. Every time she does, she only sees Hal's demoniac eyes hovering above her while she struggled on the stairs. Her exhaustion finally overtakes her, lulling her into a sleepy state, hoping that what happened was just a terrible nightmare.

//

News had spread rapidly around Riverdale about the arrest of Hal Cooper.

FP heard the news when he was at Pop's that very next morning, getting breakfast for himself and Gladys.

"Pop--what the hell are you talking about?" FP demands, setting down the to-go bag. 

Pop sighs, shaking his head, "It's terrible, isn't it? Alice was fighting for her life, I guess. I heard from George Klump that if Fred hadn't burst into the house when he did, Alice might've--," he pauses, looking down at the counter, "had a very different outcome..."

FP feels his whole body go numb. He couldn't believe he was hearing this correctly. Alice--his Alice was almost murdered in her own home last night? An immense amount of rage takes over him. He wanted to go slaughter the bastard himself. 

"He's in the clink though, right?" FP questions desperately, wanting some kind of justice. 

Pop nods, "Tom Keller took him there last night. But, I'm sure the Cooper's will pull some kind of strings, if you know what I mean," Pop says in disgust. 

FP nods, running his hand through his hair, "Goddammit," he mutters, taking the bag off the counter and thanking Pop before going out to his motorcycle. 

He sits on the bike, staring into space, as his food grew colder. He didn't care though. He was in complete and total shock. Alice must've been so terrified. FP didn't even want to think about what condition she was currently in. He did want to see her though. He had to go see her.

//

Alice comes down the stairs with Polly in her arms, the smell of bacon and eggs wafting through her nose. Fred was standing in the kitchen, mounding bacon on a plate when she entered. 

"Hey! You're up. I hope your hungry--I uh, I went a little overboard," he admits with a chuckle.

Alice smiles, "Fred, you didn't have to do this. I don't expect you guys to cook for me," she states adamantly.

He scoffs, "Listen, I know you make a mean breakfast and all--but, if you're staying at Hotel Andrews, you are going to get a fabulous continental breakfast. Muffin?" he holds up a basket of blueberry muffins and Alice laughs for the first time in what seems like weeks. 

"I guess one muffin won't hurt..." she smiles taking a bite. "So good, Fred--where'd you learn to cook like this?"

He grins, dishing her up some eggs, "My mom. I helped out a lot after my dad passed away, and I picked up a few tricks here and there."

The doorbell rings and Fred raises a brow, wiping his hands on a dish towel before going to the door.

FP stands on the other side, hands shoved anxiously into his pockets, "Fred! Fred--is she here? Where is she?"

"Hold on--jeez, FP, I don't think this is a good idea," Fred says, preventing him from bulling his way into the house.

FP stares at him angrily, "What do you mean, it's not a good idea?! I want to see her Fred--"

"She's been through a lot and I doubt she wants you here right now," Fred says bluntly. 

Alice comes up behind Fred, Polly securely in her arms, "What do you want?"

FP sees her bruised face and neck and his stomach flips. He couldn't believe she was that beat up. "Al..." he practically whispers.

"What? Why are you here, Forsythe?" she says cooly. 

FP swallows before opening his mouth, "I just, I wanted to see you--I heard about what happened from Pop Tate this morning..."

Alice runs her hand gently over Polly's back, "Alright you saw me, now get the hell out. Go back to your knocked up bartender."

Fred watches her turn and walk away, and he faces FP, "Come on, man--you gotta leave her alone. You made your choice."

FP feels the sting of his words, "I didn't make the goddamn choice! I didn't ask to knock up Gladys, alright?!"

"FP, just leave. She's been through enough already, she doesn't need you to make things worse," Fred says, slowly shutting the door. 

He stands behind the Andrews' door, his heart feeling immensely shattered. What he wanted to do was go inside and hold Alice in his arms and tell her he'd make everything better. He wanted to be with Alice. He wanted to tell her how much he still loved her. 

But, he already blew his chance, yet again.