The Institute ~Completed~

Chapter Eighteen: Nightmares.

Heads Up: This chapter will have a really sad tragedy in it. :( I'm so sorry for those who like Johnny and Cotton.

Jessica woke up screaming. Her face was covered in sweat and tears. She looked a mess to both Jake and Cotton. "Jesy? You okay?" Jake asks wearily. Jessica just looks at him. Her Hazel green eyes were so red and puffy, it made Jake want to cry. "Nightmares." Were the only word that came out of her mouth. It sent Jake into shock and Cotton into panic mode. "Um are you two okay?" Jessica asks noticing Jake and Cotton were a stiff as a tree. Jake shots a sad glance at Cotton. Cotton didn't even look his direction. "Yeah we're fine." Jake coughs. Jake was getting a cold. He already had a runny nose and puffy eyes. Jake doesn't have the strongest immune system so he was most likely to get sick often. "You're getting sick Jake." Jessica hands him a tissue. He wipes away the mucus from his nose.

(Ew but aye this works.)

"I know. I hate this." Jake coughs again. Cotton comes up to Jake. "Don't we all! But guess what?" Cotton wraps her arms around Jake's neck. "What princess?" Jake asks. "You have me and mum to take care of you!" Cotton kisses his cheek. Jessica smiles. It's been three weeks since they came back to Jake and everything was going well despite Jake's oncoming sickness. "And for that I'm grateful." Jake playfully slams Cotton in between Jessica and him. ''Hey!!" She whines. Jake just laughs. Cotton surely pouts and Jessica places a kiss on Cotton's cheek which made Cotton conveniently smile. "What was your nightmare about Jes?" Asks Jake. Jessica lays on Cotton's small heaving chest. ''Him." The fact Jessica gave one worded answers made Jake mad. Jake looks away. Cotton sits up. "Who wants breakfast? Let's just talk about the nightmare later." She suggests warmly. "Yeah let's just talk about it later." Jake picks up Cotton. Jessica follows behind.

"We ain't wasting no time, repairing this family. I don't care what we gotta do. But I don't want us to go back to the way things were." Jake says as he pulls a chair out for Jessica and sits down with Cotton on his lap. Jessica nods to him and Cotton. Cotton puts her elbows on the edge of the dinning room table. "Despite me being sick I wanna spend time with my girls." Jake says brushing back Cotton's loose strand off hair. ''Lucky for me and Cotton we can't get sick." Jessica smiles. "Exactly." Jake laughs.

"Hmm so what else do we need to discuss?" Asks Cotton curiously. "Um Jes, I don't want to sound like a complete ass but have you gotten bigger?" Jake had been dying to ask that question since he saw her on Christmas. Cotton eyes bout popped out of her head. Jessica just looks shameful. "I gained a few extra pounds since you've been gone." She answers quietly. Jake looks at Cotton and then back at Jessica again. He scans Cotton. "And she did to. I suppose?" Asks Jake. Cotton straight up hit him. "Didn't Anabelle tell you not to mention my weight? And if she did, you would know not to talk about it in front of me." Cotton snaps. Jessica stiffles a laugh. "Oh sorry Cotton." Jake looks down. "But yes we both did get bigger. I guess you could say Johnny fattened us up." Giggles Cotton.

Why the fuck is she sound fond of Johnny! Jake thought in his head. "He's not bad cook." Jessica cooes. Jake sneezes causing Cotton to jump. "Sorry." Jake apologizes. "It's okay. But today I think you should just stay home and rest." Jessica says. Jake's eyes widened. "I don't mean to whine but why???" Cotton giggles at the tone in his voice. He gives her a glare and she just looks down. "Because you need to Jake. You're not going anywhere sick like you are!" Snaps Jessica. Jake looked upset that he couldn't go with his girls over to Jessicas' parents house. Mostly, cause he wanted to speak to Johnny who kept coming over everyday. Whenever he's around, Cotton leaves Jake for Johnny. But Jake can't blame Cotton. After all, Jake did almost kill her. She just needed to spend some time with him alone. So he can show he's not the guy she thinks he is. Cause in a reality Jake isn't anywhere like that angry guy. Jake needs Cotton's trust back. He had to gain it back. ''Cotton cam I ask you something?" Jake looks directly at Cotton who was climbing the counter to get something on the top shelf of the cupboard. She looks back. A little to fast for Jake's liking. Her knees caved in and she fell and Jake caught her. Almost giving Jessica a heart attack. Once Cotton's breath came back, she hugs him. "Thank you!" Her breath sent chills down his back. "I didn't want to lose you! What are you doing climbing up there?" Jake asks. Cotton points at a black box. "I need that! Johnny must have put it up there when I asked him to bring it in here so the dogs wouldn't get it." Cotton quickly says.