Restored Together

10

Jackson started the day off searching for a new job. Since everything was out in the open now, he took this chance to find something new. He walked into Volonino's Gym, seeing a 'Help Wanted' sign on the outside. He wasn't sure who to talk to since no one was at the front desk.

"Can I help you?" He heard a familiar voice ask from behind.

"I saw the help wanted sign you have outside and—" Jackson started as he turned to greet the person. He stopped speaking at the sight of Sonny Corinthos, his now ex-girlfriend's father.

"Hold on." Sonny spoke. "You're really here looking for a job?" He asked with a curious look.

"Do you own the place?" Jackson asked him curious to know, figuring that's why he was at the gym in his suit.

"I do." Sonny nodded. "I can offer you the job." He added nonchalantly before eyeing him down with a smirk.

"And why would you do that?" Jackson questioned him.

"I assume you need a job, right?" Sonny asked in a sarcastic tone. "That security job not working out for you?"

"I just mean I don't want any conflict of interest since Kristina broke up with me." Jackson clarified, seeing the shock on the man's face. He assumed her father had already been filled in.

"Well, that's news to me." Sonny told the man, eyeing him down even harder. "What did you do?"

"I worked with Ava." Jackson told him boldly, standing up to the man. "I realized it was a mistake when it was too late. I'm going to try to do what I can to make this right."

"What better way than to work for me? You prove yourself to me, you prove it to her." Sonny propositioned, he really just wanted to keep an eye on the guy. Especially now that he wasn't with his daughter. Plus, he wouldn't mind making the guy do unnecessary work just for his amusement. "I need someone to open up and close. Every weekday. Make sure the gym is clean, equipment is taken care of. What do you say?"

"Deal." Jackson spoke, shaking the man's hand.

"If..." Sonny added with a grin, "You can be beat my friend Tony in a boxing match. The job is yours." Sonny told the man, knowing Tony was one of the best athletes in his gym.

Jackson eyed the older man, before speaking, "You pick em." He told him confidently.

"Tony here," Sonny said referring to his friend beside him with a light heavyweight build. "Can spar you."

"I might be a little rusty." Jackson told him with a smug grin, not backing down from the challenge.

"That's okay, Tony will take it easy on you." Sonny replies with a laugh patting his friend on the back.

"No promises." Tony uttered shaking his head.

Jackson and Tony got their hands wrapped, gloves on and mouth guard in. "No headgear." Jackson spoke sure of himself.

They were ready to go. Both stood at each corner before moving to the center. The bell rang and Jackson didn't wait to move forward and throw the first punch. His glove connected with the side of his opponents face, winding him a little. Jackson could see in Tony's eyes that he didn't expect him to hit so hard. He capitalized on that by moving forward and throwing a couple combos that sent Tony to floor. Jackson stood back at his corner staring down his now ex-girlfriend's father. "Who's next?! You pick em! You pick who's next!" He yelled with his hands up, showing he's up for any fight.

"I am." A voice called out. Sonny smirked when he saw who it was. Johnny Sims, the man has a growing record of 12-0-0, all wins by knockout.

"You need a warm up?" Sonny asked the boxer before he could get in the ring.

"I don't need a warm up. Get my stuff." Johnny spoke self-assured before stepping in the ring.

They were squared up in their corners, both determined to knock the other one out. As the bell rang, Jackson made a mistake that would cost him. He glanced at the crowd, finding Sonny now accompanied by not only Kristina but Sam as well. Suddenly his focus was skewed and he was dodging hits left and right. Jackson was able to land a solid combo before being countered. Johnny landed a right hook that winded Jackson, he could hear the ringing in his ears from the impact. He continued to push through. After another hook landed to his face, Jackson's eye was cut open. The blood fell from his face as he clenched his opponent trying to buy some time to breathe. Johnny pushed him back into the corner, landing body shot after body shot. For a second, Jackson was able to throw a jab only for Johnny to counter his movement. His right hook sent Jackson straight to floor. Jackson spit his mouth guard out insinuating he was done.

After his brutal humbling, Jackson took a seat on the bench and was getting checked out by the trainers. Sam approached him with Kristina not far behind.

"You always did have a big ego." Sam shook her head with her arms crossed. "I guess you never changed after all." She told him, obviously referring to his breakup with her sister.

"Well, I guess I got what I deserve then, right?" Jackson looked up at them, now revealing his bruised face.

"I'd say so." Sam agreed with a nod as they got a good look at the busted cut above his eye.

"Why are you working here?" Kristina then asked him. "My father is your boss and will not make your life easy here."

"Where else am I supposed to go?" He asked them. "Besides I really like this place. It's nice. I just wish thing were a good fit before..." he trailed off glancing at Kristina with a look of a guilt.

"You broke my heart and lied to me?" Kristina clarified what he was getting at. "You did this to yourself, Jackson."

"I want to fix this, Kristina." He tried to plead with her.

"You can't fix a plate that's been broken into a million pieces." She shot back before walking away, not letting her emotions get the best of her.

"Sam." Jackson stopped his friend before she followed her sister out the door, "What do I do? How do I make things right?" He asked her, desperately wanting someone to tell him what to do.

"Be the guy you were with her. The guy that she sees you as- that you want her to see you as. Be that guy because right now she can't find him." Sam responded before going to make sure her sister was okay. Those words began to resonate with Jackson for the rest of the night. She was right. That guy was here and now he wasn't.