Disclaimer: 1) not mine and, aside from the serotonin I got from imagining the scene, I do not profit anything from this. 2) Characters may be a little Out of Character here

Set in mid to late season 9.

"Open the box"

"What?"

"The box, open it"

"..you look too giddy, I don't trust it"

"Just open it, abbie"

The ADA opened it anyway. She lifted the lid up just as a clown puppet popped up comically.

"HOLY SHIT OF ALL MOTHERFUCKERS WHAT IN THE FUCKING SAM HILL IS THAT" Abbie exclaimed loudly, Jack was certain it could be heard down in Adam's office.

Upon seeing his second chair's face, Jack lost all of his self control and burst out laughing. He dropped to Abbie's couch clutching his stomach from laughing so hard. Poor Abbie's mouth was still hung, hands frozen in place.

Abbie slowly came back to herself a few moments later. She read the banner in the offending clown's hands out loud, " 'Happy Birthday, Abbie' " the Texan turned to look at the eada half accusingly, half touched. The end of her lips turned up into a smile— not the usual snarky smile, a genuine one.

"That really wasn't the reaction I was expecting" Jack wheezed, catching his breath. "Happy birthday, Abbie"

Abbie stared at him, unsure of what to say. She shook her head, amusement still clear in her eyes, and walked over from behind her desk to the chair. "Stand up, old man"

Jack complied eagerly. Abbie hugged him, mumbling a "Thank you" before breaking away. She appreciated the gift, if not a bit terrified. "Do I want to know where you get this thing"

"There's a kid's store I saw on my way home. I got it customized, the salesman thought it was for a granddaughter. I figured this would make a better gift box" He started to cackle. "Pull the clown out"

Abbie raised her eyebrow. "If there's another jumpscare under Quentin, I'm stepping on your balls"

"Quentin?"

"What? He needs a name"

"After an old boyfriend, Quentin?" Jack asked incredulously.

"No, my ex's name is Yasmine. Quentin's after my first goose— or rather gosling. I don't think naming him 'Jack' would be appropriate" Abbie countered.

"You had a goose?" Jack's eyes almost popped out of its sockets. The 'Yasmine' part was lost on Jack, which Abbie was very much grateful for. She wasn't sure she was ready for that conversation yet.

"Yeah. A gaggle actually. Is this thing bomb hazard safe?" Abbie turned her attention back to the box.

Jack decided that was the most he could get out of her personal life in a day. "Did you hear a ticking noise?"

Abbie rolled her eyes in her usual Carmichael way and carefully pulled the clown out. It revealed an oversized cream ceramic mug with two horizontal stripes on it colored gray and light orange.

"Wow"

"…Do you like it?" He almost sounded nervous.

"Yes. Jack, thank you" She said sincerely. Abbie picked it up and carefully examined it. "This thing is huge"

"From what I see, you're a caffeine addict. This way you won't have to make new cups every hour" Jack jibed lightheartedly.

"I'm not that bad!" Abbie frowned. Then, followed by a confused "Am I?"

Jack raised his eyebrows again "Do you want the real answer or the sugarcoated version"

"Well, thank you, anyways," Abbie smiled at him and set the mug down on the table. She sunk back down in her chair and started cleaning up the confetti all over her desk. Then, she looked up with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "By the way, When's your birthday"

"I'm not telling you until you promise me not to give me weird surprises" The older man narrowed his eyes.

"Fine. I'll look up your files then" Abbie emphasized sarcastically. Jack could hear the gears working inside of her brain on how to get back at him.

Jack grinned and raised his hand in a "You've got me" motion as he left Abbie's office. He would be looking after his shoulder on every birthday but, it was definitely worth building a potential frienship.