A/N: This 'first' is Mac's POV of part of another story of mine called Jack's Collection. I don't think it's necessary to read it in order to understand this chapter.

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Chapter Three: Jack

The first Christmas with Jack was his last one in the Army. They'd had a rocky – to say the least – beginning to their friendship, but over the months they'd known each other, Mac couldn't help but develop a fondness for the older man.

When Jack had signed on for another tour instead of going home to Texas, Mac knew he'd never be able to properly thank his Overwatch, now friend, for such a sacrifice, or repay the debt he felt he owed. He'd tried though in big ways – making sure he didn't get them both killed – and in little ways like letting Jack have more insight into his personal life.

From the first time he'd spotted Dalton with one of his paperclip shapes – a replica of the man's sniper rifle – he knew he had to give the man a chance despite the misunderstanding they'd had when they first met only days prior. He hadn't meant to leave it in the mess hall, but had forgotten it when he'd finished his meal, not wanting to bend it when he'd sat down to eat. When he saw Dalton pocket the paperclip rifle, expression indicating he thought it was cool, Mac decided to give the man a break. Even if they couldn't be friends, then at least they would be good brothers-in-arms for the remainder of Dalton's hitch.

Back in Mission City, so few people ever thought his paperclip creations were anything but dumb or a waste of time and materials, that he'd long ago hid the fact he still made them. He couldn't help himself. Years ago he'd realized manipulating paperclips into various shapes helped to center him and calm his thoughts. While focusing on making a new shape, his mind relaxed and he was able to figure builds out or solve other problems. His grandfather and Bozer were pretty much the only people who seemed to like them, so they knew he still made them, but no one else did. Or hadn't – until Dalton found the one he'd accidentally left behind.

After that, Mac had purposely began leaving his little sculptures in places Dalton might come across them just to see if the older man really liked them or if he just liked the fact that the first one he'd seen had been a rifle. Other soldiers also ended up finding the creations he'd started leaving behind; the majority had discarded or destroyed them, but Jack seemed to get a kick out of them and even pocketed a couple more.

MacGyver hadn't known Dalton was actively trying to figure out who the sculptor was until he'd accidentally given the game away with his need for a paperclip to disarm an IED. Given the way the older soldier had asked about disarming bombs with paperclips during their ride back to base, Mac knew Dalton was fairly certain he was the paperclip sculptor.

Even after he realizes Dalton pretty much knows it's him who is making the shapes, Mac still makes them. He also continues to leave them in his Overwatch's path, often using them to express things to the older man he can't always get the words out to say. The day after his Overwatch saved him by killing four enemy combatants with two bullets, Mac created a trophy-shaped sculpture as a thank you, leaving it next to the man's left boot. He couldn't help but wonder if Dalton knew that he knew the man thought he was the one who made paperclip shapes. He quietly chuckled when he considered how confusing the whole 'I know that he knows that I know…' bit was going to get if he ever had to try to continue that train of thought in the future.

And then Jack stayed. The man who never shut up about Texas and what he was going to do when he got home, decided to re-up – stayed – because of him. He didn't deserve such consideration, but felt blessed to have it – and to have a friend like Jack.

That day, the day Jack stayed, Mac decided to stop completely hiding his paperclip-shaping habit around his friend.

They never do discuss his penchant for reshaping paperclips into other things, even when he does it right in front of Jack. His friend seems to get what the paperclip shaping does for him, that each one is a thought brought to life via a tiny piece of metal or a way to deal with his job. Jack even learns to read the language of his creations, knowing when he's out of sorts in some way or another enough that they need to talk it through. It's been a long time since someone had understood him this well; in the back of his mind, he starts to depend on the older man's care and concern even knowing it will end when his hitch is up.

As time passes, Mac notices Jack's collection of his paperclip creations slowly grows, as does their friendship.

His first Christmas with Jack is low-key. The good news was that their unit wasn't on duty; the bad news was that the mess was serving Christmas dinner, which was probably going to be just as bad as last year's offering.

Jack got a couple of care packages as Christmas drew ever nearer, and his friend shared the baked goodies with him. While he appreciated and enjoyed what Jack shared of his family's gifts, Mac felt bad he could not reciprocate in any way unless Bozer happened to send him something. Jack appeared happy to share, and didn't seem to expect anything in return, but Mac wanted to let his friend know he was grateful for the taste of home – even if it wasn't his home.

As he shaped a paperclip into a Christmas tree, Mac let his mind wander in an attempt to figure out what he could give Jack in return for the goodies. And then it hit him.

He groaned at his stupidity. The answer had been in his hands the entire time. Mac raided his stash and got to work.

It took a few tries, but eventually he got it just right; he left the gift on Jack's pillow when the older man left for the mess hall.

Mac lagged behind a little at dinner, eating slowly so Jack would leave first, giving his friend time to find what he'd made for him.

When he finally gets up the courage to return to barracks and go inside, he sees Jack smiling, admiring the Christmas ornament he'd been given – a miniature version of the outline of the great state of Texas with a lone star suspended roughly in the middle.

Jack's smile gets even wider when he sees Mac enter their barracks, and they bump fists when he gets closer, saying "Merry Christmas." It could be said that Jack was acknowledging the fact that he knew who had created the paperclip ornament in his friend's hands, but Mac chose to think otherwise in order to keep up the charade about who knew what about his paperclip habit.

As they walk to the tent that's supposed to be showing a Christmas movie, Mac considers how lucky he is to be able to spend the holiday with a friend, even if their time as partners starts to grow ever shorter.

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Next time: Chapter Four: Bozer

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A/N: Many thanks to Celticgal1041 for proofing! Any remaining mistakes are my fault! ;o)

Thanks for reading!