The Institute ~Completed~

Chapter fourteen: I need you

Jake sat in the living room of Cotton's flat. He was staring at his cell phone. A picture of Cotton and Jessica were his wallpaper. He took it the day, Joshua gave Cotton Key. His eyes were filling with tears. He didn't know why he did what he did. He needs to get his anger under control or they'll never come back to him. He gets up. Looks in the mirror and ruffs his hair up. He walks out of the flat and gets in his car. He drives to Jessica's parents house.

He gets out and knocks on the door. Surprisingly, Jessica opens the door. "Hello?" She was looking elsewhere when she opened the door. "Hi." Jake says. Jessica's head snaps back at him. "Jake, what are you doing here?" She sounds really hoarse. The bruise on Jessica's face glimmered in the moonlight. It had been two days since Jake saw Jessica. "I need to talk to you and Cotton." Jake presses. Jessica glares. "I don't trust you. Nor do I want you around my little girl." Jessica wasn't having it. She hasn't forgiven him, not one bit. "Please! I need you. I need her! I need both of you." Jake pleads. Johnny, who walks up behind Jake speaks. "You shouldn't be here. My dad will murder you." Jake jumps not knowing Johnny was there was frightening. "I just want to talk." Jake snaps at Johnny. Johnny didn't like that and got in Jake's face. "Do you want to keep your face?" Jake nods. "Then I suggest you don't snap at me." Johnny says through gritted teeth. Jake steps back. "Sorry." He mumbles. Jessica giggles. "Jake we can talk but only if Johnny is around. I don't want you lashing out on me." Jake agrees and Johnny smiles. He was super protective of his sister and his niece.

Cotton was sitting on the couch with Key in her lap when Johnny and Jessica walk in with Jake. "What is he doing here?" Cotton says with a cautious look on her face. "Babe he just wants to talk. Don't worry me and your mum will be here if he tries anything." Johnny sits next to Cotton. Jessica sits next her to. "Okay talk." Jessica says. Jake looks at Cotton who was snuggling up to Johnny. He was a bit jealous of her fondness of him. "I didn't mean to hurt either one of you. I'm going to get help. I don't want you to get hurt again." Jake says with a smile. Jessica looks at Cotton. ''I don't believe you." Cotton says. "I don't trust you." Jessica adds in her own input. "Cotton, I know you probably hate me for what I did to you but I will do everything in my power to get you back. You to Jessica! You're my life. I'll earn your trust back. I promise I will." Jake speaks. Cotton snaps her fingers, making Key jump off her lap so she could get up. "I'm scared to death of you! I can't even explain it. What makes you think I'm going to trust you? After what you did! You almost killed me! I have bruises around my neck to prove it!" She half yells. Key stood in front of her protectively. Key was a loyal pup. Not to mention his pitbull ancestry made him fearful to everyone.

Cotton had tears coming down her cheeks when she finished what she said. Johnny rubs circles into her back. "See even my Key doesn't trust you!" She says. Her fists were balling up in anger. "Cotton calm down. You have every right to be angry at me but I'll make it up to you." Jake says standing up which makes everyone in the room a bit fearful. ''Just please come here. I'll prove it to you.'' Jake holds out his hands. Cotton shook her head. "No!" Jake sadly hung his head. He knew he couldn't force the child to him. "Cotton please." Jake pleads. Cotton looks at Jessica.''It's alright baby. Me and Johnny are here, he won't hurt you." Jessica says kindly. Cotton gulps and takes his hand. Not sure of what was going to happen next. Cotton was still cautious of Jake. He moves Cotton's curls away from her neck, revealing huge bruises that wrapped around it. She couldn't look Jake straight in the eye. Jake touches the bruises rubbing lightly against em. Cotton winces at first but she found herself liking the gentle strokes. She fell completely underneath his grip. "W-What are you doing?" She stutters, slightly moaning. Jake picks Cotton up and sits down. "Just a technique my mother taught me when I was a boy. It soothes the pain in bruises." Jake smiles at her. She loved it, he could tell considering the slight moan. It still kept her on edge but she was allowing him back.

"I love it." Cotton says snuggling in his chest. "Jes? Look at her, She's taking me back." Jake smiles mischievously at Jessica. Jessica sent him a death glare. "Do you honestly believe that she trusts you? She may give you another chance but as far as she's concerned, she'll never trust you." Jessica had every right to say what she did. Jake looks at Cotton. Cotton was staring at him. She looked adorable. A cute smile was on her pale face and her eyes shone love towards him again. "I-I trust you! But don't ever do that again." Cotton says, while touching his cheek. "Oh baby I won't. I'm not losing you again." Jake smiles at her. He almost wants to cry but can't. Cotton hugs him. Her warmth was like a blanket being around him. He quite enjoyed it. "Cotton how could you?" Jessica says pulling her away from Jake. "I-I trust him. I honestly do!" Cotton says not daring to make eye contact with her mother. "How?" Jessica says crossing her arms. "His touch." Cotton says. Jessica eyes widened. "Jake! You never use that on anyone but me? Why her?" She basically yells. "Because she needed to feel it. Besides, I felt I should have done it along time ago." Jake says pulling Cotton back to him. "She's only nine!" Jessica snaps. "So?" Jake shrugs. "She shouldn't even come in contact with that." Jessica says.

Cotton snaps her fingers and Key comes running to her. "Mum, he didn't like touch me in that type of way. He just soothed my pain." She tells Jessica. Jessica was infuriated again. "Does it matter! Cotton! You shouldn't be exposed to that." Jake pulls Cotton close to him. "I just soothed her pain. Calm down Jessica." Cotton was getting frustrated with this conversation. "You may not trust him! But I do!" Cotton snaps. Johnny instantly shot up. "Whoa is that necessary Cotton?" Cotton looks down. She felt ashamed. "I didn't mean to." Cotton says pleadingly. "Go upstairs now! Cotton!" Jessica orders. Cotton got out of Jake's lap and looks back at Jake. "Don't let her take you away from me." Cotton mouthed. Jake nods. "I won't." Cotton ran upstairs, followed by Key.

"How dare you? What are you trying to do? Turn her against me?" Jessica yells at Jake. Jake stands up. "No! I love you both! I need you both! I'm not going to let one bad fight break us apart." Jake says as calmly as he could. "Well guess what! It did!" Jessica yells. Her frustration was getting in the way. "Jesy don't say that! Please!" Jake tries to take her hand but she quickly moves away. "It's too late Jake. I can't, I just think it's best if we took a break." Jessica says looking down at her fumbling fingers. "No!!! What?! But we have a daughter? You can't do this Jesy." Jake instantly says. "I think I can decide what's best for my daughter." Jessica says.

She walks away but Jake grabs her back. "She's not just yours. She's mine too!" Jake calmly says. "She is now." Jessica pushes him back. "No! Jesy she picked both of us, not just you. And I'll be damned if you take her away from me." Jake yells. ''Oh sure like she wanted your abusive ass as her father." Jessica snaps. Jessica's words stung Jake in the heart like a bee sting. Jake just couldn't take it anymore. He grabs his coat and walks out. Cotton overhead every word they said. Tears came down her cheeks. Jake had a point. She did pick both of them. And now Jake's done fighting. He promised her, Jessica wouldn't take him away from her. But he just did. He let Jessica win by walking out. Cotton ran down stairs and opens the door. "Dad no! Please!" She runs out after him. She catches him in time. "Cotton I gotta go." Jake says while kneeling down to her height. Jessica walks out with Johnny closely behind. "But you promised!" Cotton cries into his chest. "Baby I know I did. But this is what's best for you until I get better." Jake kisses her cheek. "No! Please! You can't do this to me!" She cries holding onto his shirt. "I have to! I'll be back for you. I promise." He kisses her once more and gets in the car. Cotton stood there in disbelief. He drives off and Jessica picks Cotton up. "Shh!! Cotton it's okay."

(Aww poor Cotton.)

"Why did you have to do that! Why!" Cotton cries into Jessica's chest. "I'm just trying to help you. I gotta do what's best for you. You and I both." Jessica kisses her cheek. Cotton cries for about an hour into Jessica's chest."Johnny do you think I did the right thing?" Asks Jessica. Her brother looks up from his phone and at her. "Well Cotton's a mess but she'll be fine. Jake will be too, once he gets better and Jesy, you did what most woman wouldn't do with any man. You stood up to him. And for that I'm proud of you little sis." Johnny smiles. Jessica looks down at Cotton who slept on her lap. "Thanks brother. Well I'm going to take Cotton up to bed, I'll see you in the morning." She picks up Cotton and walks up stairs.

I'm so sorry Jake. Jessica thought as she looked at Cotton.