I don't own Scrubs, nor any of the characters, and I sure don't mean to infringe on any copyright!
A/N: This started out as a oneshot, then morphed into a Five Things, then something else, maybe... The point is, I'm not sure exactly where it's going or how long it's going to be, but I wanted to get this first part out there anyway. Can't wait to hear what y'all think!
1. You Take What You Can Get
JD was a precocious child. Blisteringly intelligent, he often left his parents at a loss for words, blinking at him in frustration and confusion. Unfortunately, his incredible smarts and active imagination did not translate into a set of social skills. He got beaten up a lot - he was scrawny and bookish and clumsy and just didn't get on well with other kids. Besides, he could never keep his mouth shut. "I love you Johnny," his mom would say, dabbing iodine onto a fresh cut, "and god knows you're the smartest and most wonderful boy in the world." JD would grin at the praise, bouncing up and down in his seat. "But honestly kid, you've got brains where you sit."
His father, when he was around, was far more blunt. "Jesus Christ in a jumpsuit, Johnny! What, do you have shit for brains?" This was always accompanied by a whack on the head. "How someone as smart as you can be such a complete dumbass, I'll never understand." But after a while, the criticism stung less, and JD convinced himself that was how his parents showed affection. And he would take what he could get - being insulted was better than being ignored.
But your family is your family, and it wasn't until he discovered Nick at Nite that he'd thought they were anything but normal. Watching the Brady kids act out, be punished fairly, and then forgiven; seeing the Cleavers glow with pride at Wally and Beaver's accomplishments, JD realized what he was missing. Years and years of straight A's were ignored, while comments at parent-teacher conferences about his tendency to wander and his inability to play well with others earned him lectures, spankings, or worst of all, contemptuous silence.
When JD's father left, his mother drew a bath and sat down in it heavily with a bottle of Kahlua. Through the door, JD heard her crying like she would never stop. When she didn't come out after three days, JD knew it was because of him - it was all his fault. He should have known something was wrong - should have seen it coming. His expectations, his yearning for a hug from his father, had caused this. A weight settled in his chest as he realized that it was his responsibility, and though he'd failed at being a son to his father, he would not fail his mother. He would fix this, heal her, make it right. And if he ever saw his father again (which, at seven, he was sure he would not), JD knew he would cherish every moment, every insult, every misguided attempt at showing love. Yes, he would make it right, and if he tried hard enough and never gave up, maybe his parents would love him one day, and show it.