The Awakening of Love Ch. 15

"You couldn't have prevented this," he told his friend. One of the FBI agents walked over to the table and turned to Jake.

"Do you have any idea who would want to harm your wife?" he asked.

Jake nodded. "Before Serenity, our oldest was born, Ashira was raped back in Chigago by a man named Joe Johnson. After we moved out here, he followed us to San Diego and when she was around five, maybe six months pregnant, he kidnapped her and held her for nearly two months," Jake answered, his hands clenching into tight fists.

Melinda reached out and touched Jake's hand. "What?" he growled. Melinda nodded towards the door. Jake turned around and managed to surpress his groan; Mark was the last person he wanted to see right now. "This is what, twice in three years?" Mark asked dryly.

Jake swung around and pushed Mark into the counter behind him. "Fuck you!" Jake growled. Mark grinned.

"You're making my case easier," Mark told Jake. Jake sighed and released Mark as Serenity walked into the room.

"Daddy?" she asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Jake knelt down in front of Serenity and gave her a gentle hug.

"You're supposed to be sleeping," Jake said with a small smile. Serenity looked around the room. "Want mommy," Serenity murmured. Jake sighed. "So do I," he muttered.

"Mommy isn't here right now Ser," Melinda said, crouching down next to her friend and niece. "C'mon kiddo, let's go back to your room and I'll read you a story," she added, reaching for the little girl's hand.

Serenity took it and allowed Melinda to lead her from the room. "Damn, she's getting big," Mark commented. Jake laughed and grinned, unable to deny it.

"She'll be four next month," Jake reminded Mark. Mark nodded. Mark sighed. "Damn, where does time go?" Mark wanted to know. Jake shrugged; he could feel the curious stares of the FBI agents. Mark shook his head knowing that Jake was torturing himself, angry that he hadn't been able to prevent it.

"I was dating Ashira when she was raped by that bastard, and we broke up soon after," Mark told the agent before he could ask. Jake raised his head to look at Mark. Mark shook his head and sighed. "Okay, we didn't break up, I left her, happy?" Mark asked Jake.

Jake nodded his head, but gave Mark a look that told him just how much Jake hated this. "Was she pregnant before the rape or after?" the agent asked, taking notes in his notebook. Mark looked at Jake and they both tried to mentally calculate the timing. "She found out after the rape," Jake answered while Mark was calculating. "I see, and when had the two of you last been together?" the agent asked Mark.

Mark growled. "It's in the original report, read it," he snapped. The agent ignored Mark's outburst. "And the child's father is whom?" she asked.

Jake smiled slightly. "Legally, I am. Biologically, Mark is," Jake answered. "I made a mistake, I was really young and stupid," Mark spouted. "I want her Jake, she's mine, you have to give her to me," Mark told Jake.

Jake suppressed the urge to smash his fists into Mark's face. "You signed away your parental rights. You told Shira that you weren't ready to have a baby. You promised to give money, but never have, save for birthday presents," Jake argued, his voice low but the anger very obvious. Mark balled his hand into a fist and slammed it on the table.

"She is my daughter Jake Barnes, and I want her back," Mark said, not bothering to hide the anger. Jake took a step towards Mark.

"I will say this once, and only once," Jake said. "Serenity is MY daughter!" The agent stepped between Mark and Jake.

"This is beside the point gentlemen, we have a missing person to find," she reminded them. Jake took a step back and his anger at Mark rushed out of his body as Melinda walked back into the room. "I need air," Jake muttered, fumbling with the handle on the back door before managing to open it and stepped outside.