Restored Together

24

They may have been mid-argument but Jackson rushed Kristina to the hospital as she felt a cramp in her stomach. Once they arrived, he helped escort her to the ER. The doctors began helping her as he paced in the waiting room.

"Jackson," he heard a couple voices from the elevator call out.

"Molly, Alexis." He greeted them as they approached him with worried looks.

"How is she? What's going?" Kristina's mother asked.

"She felt a sudden pain in her side so I rushed her here. She's with the doctors now." Jackson told them nervously.

A few moments later, the doctor appeared in the waiting room. "Kristina's okay." The doctor told her family.

"And the baby?" Jackson inquired with a look of worry.

"The baby is also okay. Kristina was just experiencing some cramps and discomfort. It may have felt worse than it actually was due to any anxiety or stress." The doctor informed them causing them to release a sigh of relief. "You guys are welcome to see her. I'd advice one or two at time to avoid overwhelming her."

"Why don't you two go first. I can wait." Jackson insisted.

Alexis and Molly nodded before going to check on Kristina. "Krissy," Molly uttered as she sat down next to her sister.

"I'm okay. Just some cramping that felt tremendous." Kristina told them.

"Jackson brought you here?" Alexis asked her, wondering what they were doing together.

"Yeah." Kristina nodded as she thought back to the moment she felt her cramps. "Is he still here?"

"Yes. Do you want to see him?" Alexis asked.

"No! Not at all." Kristina shook her head. "We were arguing when this happened."

"Is he causing you added stress?" Alexis asked, crossing her arms defensively.

"I just don't want to see him right now." Kristina responded.

Jackson stood in the waiting area, pondering on his previous interaction with Kristina. It did not go how he wanted and he couldn't help but think he contributed to Kristina being here. "Jackson," he heard a familiar voice approach. "Is everything okay?"

"Elizabeth. Hi." Jackson greeted her with a nervous smile. "I'm okay but I got in a argument with my pregnant ex-girlfriend and now she's in the hospital. The doctor says she fine but I haven't seen her yet."

"Kristina's pregnant?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah, looks like I'll be a soon-to-be dad who has no idea what he's doing but somehow keeps doing everything wrong." Jackson rambled as he continued to pace.

"Jackson, hey," Elizabeth stopped him, "take a deep breathe." She instructed him as she guided him to breathe.

"Thank you." Jackson told her as he felt a little more calm and collected.

"It sounds like your situation is complicated but a congratulations is still in order. You're going to be a father, Jackson!" Elizabeth cheered as she gave him a hug.

Kristina walked to the nurses station with her sister and mother by her side, catching a glimpse of Jackson and Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned and saw the station unattended, she went over to help. "I need to sign my discharge papers." Kristina stated and Elizabeth handed her the papers. "If you want my advice, I'd stay clear of him." Kristina added with a snark as she signed her signature before meeting Elizabeth's gaze. She wasn't sure the extent of their relationship but they appeared to at least be friends.

"Kristina." Jackson approached her.

"Jackson, please, I don't want to talk to you right now." She told him exhausted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't intend for this to happen." He tried to apologize.

"She said she didn't want to speak to you." Alexis spoke sternly as she began escorting her daughter to the elevator.

Jackson stood there as he watched them walk away. As much as he wanted to continue pleading and apologizing, he resisted knowing it would only cause more harm.

-

Jackson stopped at the Floating Rib on the way home. Craving a drink after the day he just had. He sat down at the bar, staring at his glass after each sip, his thoughts waving away from his current state of mind. When he finished his forth drink, he rubbed hand over his face exhausted.

"You look like hell." He heard a familiar female's voice approach him.

"Thanks." Jackson replied as he looked up to find his sister in front of him. "Oh, hey, Sasha." He slurred.

"You're totally drunk." Sasha shook her head.

"Pregnant, actually." He corrected her, "Well, obviously I'm not pregnant. But Kristina is. And I impregnated her." Jackson told her as he began sipping on a new drink.

"What?" Sasha asked in disbelief. She couldn't believe her brother got someone pregnant. Well, she's actually surprised it didn't happen sooner.

"Yeah." Jackson nodded, "Kristina's pregnant. And I have no idea what I'm doing. I mean, things would be great if we were together- but she wants nothing to do with me because I screwed that up like I've screwed everything else in my life."

"I know where you can start fixing it." Sasha told him as she took his drink from him, sliding it out of the way. "This isn't going to help you show Kristina you're willing to change. That you're going to be a good father. What if she came here and saw you sulking your guilt in alcohol?" Sasha questioned her brother, knowing he hasn't thought about the repercussions that could come from this.

"I love her." Jackson stated, not realizing he had never said that out loud before, "I love her and I wish I hadn't been so stupid." He told his sister as he shook his head, reaching for the drink she took.

"Let's go." She told him as she grabbed his arm. He quickly threw down money for his drink before being dragged out the bar.

"Hey!" He whined.

"I'm taking you home." His sister told him as she unlocked her car door, directing him inside.

When they arrived at his apartment, Sasha went into the kitchen. She got him a glass of water as he slumped down on the couch. She joined next to him, making him scoot to give her room. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Jackson asked her, wondering why his sister suddenly had a soft spot.

"I don't know." Sasha told him honestly. "I'm just trying to think about what mom would want. Would she really want us to be at odds years after not seeing each other?" She asked her brother, meeting his gaze.

"What if my kid turns out to be like me?" Jackson asked suddenly, as negative thoughts ran through his head.

"Then you're the perfect guy to raise them." Sasha told him, "You'd know what to look for."