Restored Together

23

It had been about a week since Kristina told Jackson she's pregnant. After talking with Sam, he definitely felt encouraged to shift his perspective. As much as he wanted to focus on his relationship with Kristina, he now realized preparing to become a father was more important. His priority now was getting his business right with Sonny and Ava. He didn't know how exactly to go about it but he knew he didn't want anything to do with either one of them.

Jackson made his way to Sonny's office to speak with him about Kristina's pregnancy and what this means for the rest of his employment with Sonny's work. When he got to the office, he was escorted in by one of the guards.

"Jackson, I figured I'd be seeing you soon." Sonny greeted, giving his guard a nod dismissing him.

"We need to talk." Jackson stated, "Now that Kristina's pregnant, this changes things."

"Indeed it does." Sonny nodded.

"I want out. I can't continue to work for you and try to take out Ava. If this means that you let me go from the gym as well, then so be it." Jackson told him sternly.

"You really think it's going to be that easy?" Sonny questioned him with a slight smile. "Have you already gone to Ava and stopped working for her?" He asked and Jackson shook his head. "What makes you think Ava's going to care? You think she's just going to take it easy on you because you're having a baby? That's just going to give her more leverage and we can't have that."

"Sonny, I told your daughter I would make things right. That I would do right by her and this baby." Jackson tried to explain.

"Pulling out now will make things worse for everyone!" Sonny snapped. "It could put Kristina in danger more than it would put you!" Sonny took a deep breathe before continuing, "the way you get out of this is by getting me some solid evidence to hold against Ava. I'll take care of the rest."

"Kristina doesn't even know I'm working for you and she sure as hell doesn't know I'm working for Ava." Jackson told him.

"Then it sounds like you better get this evidence sooner rather than later." Sonny responded.

After Jackson's confrontation with Sonny, he made his way to Ava's gallery. Conveniently, Ava texted him to head over.

"About time you got here." Ava scoffed as she saw Jackson enter the gallery.

"Didn't realize I was late?" Jackson questioned glancing at his watch.

"Where's the pep in your step these days?" Ava asked him rolling her eyes. "I have a job for you. There's a shipment that needs be picked up tonight. Here's the address. This one needs to be monitored closely." She instructed as she gave him a piece of paper. Just then, they were interrupted.

"Detective Spencer, what can I do for you?" Ava asked as the cop walked into the gallery. Jackson turned on his heel to leave, making eye contact with Valerie as he passed her but not saying a word.

"What business did he have doing here?" The detective asked inquisitively.

"Doesn't matter." Ava stated as she eyed down the detective. "The real question is what business do you have being here?" She asked again defensively.

"I actually made a purchase from you. Despite my distaste for you, the artwork you display is gorgeous. Just wanted to follow up on when it would be arriving." Valerie explained.

"I see..." Ava nodded as she walked over to the computer and looked up the order status. "Looks like it's arriving today and will be available for pickup tomorrow."

Later that night, Jackson picked up the shipment and safely delivered it back to the gallery. As he unloaded the paintings containing illegal substances. He checked the order number that Sonny had given him and made sure to leave a package of the illegal substances. He unloaded all the others and continued about the job as usual. Little did he know, he mistakenly left it in the wrong painting.

The next day, Kristina and Valerie got breakfast at Kelly's diner. "What's on your mind?" Kristina asked her girlfriend as she sipped her orange juice.

"It's probably nothing. I don't want to assume the worst." Valerie told her, shaking her head.

"Val." Kristina tilted her head and nudged her leg gently against hers under the table. "What is it?"

"As I stopped in at Ava's gallery yesterday, Jackson was there. He was leaving as I got there but I have a feeling he was not there buying a painting." Valerie explained.

"Did he say anything to you?" Kristina questioned.

"No. We looked at each other but he walked right by me without saying a word." Valerie told her. "You said he's trying to change and make things right so I don't want to assume the worst."

"I swear if he is involved with Ava again..." Kristina shook her head and placed a hand on her stomach. Just then she received a text on her phone. "Speaking of," Kristina spoke as she read his text, "He's asking if we can talk later."

"Are you going to ask him about it?" Valerie asked her girlfriend.

"I don't see why not." Kristina replied, wondering what business he had with Ava.

"I have to get going." Valerie announced. "Let me know how it goes and if I need to kick his ass." She told her girlfriend as she got up and gave her a kiss before leaving.

Kristina stayed put as she replied to Jackson and told him to meet her at Kelly's. About ten minutes later, he showed up and joined her at the table.

"Why don't we take a walk? I'm feeling quite full from breakfast and could walk it off." Kristina told him as she stood and gathered her things.

"Yeah, of course." Jackson stood. They walked until they reached the docks by the water.

"How're you doing? Feeling okay?" Jackson asked her.

"Yeah, I'm good. Feeling healthy. I've got a good support system." Kristina answered, referring to her family and her girlfriend.

"Good." Jackson nodded as their walk came to a halt. "Kristina, there's something I need to tell you." He stated taking a deep breathe. "I've been working for your father to help him try to take down Ava. While also working for Ava again."

"What?" Kristina questioned him in disbelief.

"A couple weeks ago, he offered me to help him." Jackson told her.

"And you just agreed to it? What's the difference of working for his business and working for Ava? But now both?" Kristina asked him, now furious that he was doing this again.

"He didn't just offer, Kristina- he told me. What was I supposed to do? Say no? Things don't end well when people tell your father no." Jackson explained, trying to get her to see his perspective.

"He shouldn't have done that." Kristina nodded, shaking her head.

"You had just broke up with me. I would have told you sooner if we were together but you've made it clear that you're moving on." Jackson explained as he could feel her frustration rising. "But now, you're pregnant and this changes things..."

"Yeah- it does." Kristina agreed, shaking her head.

"I just feel like I'm stuck in this war between Sonny and Ava." Jackson admitted, "I'm trying to be done with the both of them as soon as I can be so I can focus on being there for you and the baby."

"I don't know if that's what I want, Jackson." Kristina responded, meeting his eye. "You keep making decisions like this and it could put me and this baby in danger. How am I supposed to trust you with our baby once I give birth?" She questioned him as she felt a sense of protectiveness come over her.

"Kristina..." Jackson stated as his heart sank, realizing what she was getting at.

"I don't trust you and you keep giving me reasons not to!" She snapped, "I don't want you anywhere near- Ow!" Kristina continued to yell before wincing as she felt a pain in her stomach out of nowhere.