AN: Set pre-canon and canon-compliant with Season 1 and Season 2 (so far). No need to have read Every End is a Beginning.

DXS HEADQUARTERS

SOMEWHERE IN LA

'Jack.'

In the locker room, where he was picking up the weekend bag he'd had stashed in his locker, ready to head straight to the airport to fly to Dallas to spend Christmas with his sister and her family, Jack looked up as his boss, who was standing in the doorway with her hands behind her back, addressed him.

'Hey, Patty.' Jack glanced at her hands, which were doubtlessly clasped around a file behind her back. 'Don't tell me you've got a last-minute assignment for me…'

He'd already had to miss last Christmas with his sister due to a mission. He'd spent it alone in a diner eating steak and eggs and fries that he couldn't even taste, then getting really, really drunk on his best liquor while watching Die Hard.

(The hangover had not been worth it.)

Thornton gave a little smile, a little wry and also (Jack swore he was not imagining this) a little apologetic, a little sorry.

'No. I have an update, that's all.' The smile disappeared completely, replaced with her usual, slightly-concerned, business-like expression. 'That latest intel you got us suggests The Scion isn't a domestic organization; they're a sleeper cell linked to a major terrorist organization with two key branches in Iraq and Afghanistan.' Something very wry flickered across her face. 'In hindsight, we should have known that from the name.'

Jack couldn't help but give a little smile.

His all-business, cool-headed and cool-hearted (but not completely cold-hearted, Jack swore, even if he knew most disagreed with him) boss had just made a joke.

It was a Christmas miracle.

Then, Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair.

This mission, his main, long-term assignment, was getting bigger and bigger and worse and worse.

'Am I heading back to the Sandbox, then, Patty?'

She gave a slight half-shrug.

'It's likely, Jack.'

He sighed again.

'Well, that's something to worry 'bout when I get back.'

She nodded, and finally pulled her hands out from behind her back. To his surprise, she held out a small, tastefully-wrapped box, with a Martha-Stewart-worthy bow on it.

'Merry Christmas, Jack.'

He reached out and took it, a very touched smile appearing on his face that grew into a grin.

'Patty...you shouldn't have.' He really had not expected her to buy him a Christmas present. They were friends, or, at least, as close friends as a lifelong spy could be with a guy who'd worked highly-classified ops for well over fifteen years when said spy was also said guy's boss, but she was Patty. Gift exchanges didn't really seem her style. Still, Jack carefully put her present into his bag, then pulled out another more messily-wrapped gift, the box a little bigger than the one she'd given him. He held it out to her with one of those oddly-heartfelt, slightly-crazy Jack Dalton grins. 'Merry Christmas, Patty.'

(His boss had a soft spot for soft-centred dark Belgian chocolates.)

(Don't ask how he knew that.)

(It was actually classified.)

She smiled back at him, a small smile, but one that seemed very genuine, almost warm, nonetheless, shaking her head a little in a way that Jack was pretty sure was affectionate.

'Thanks, Jack.'

Jack turned to grab a couple more things from his locker.

'See you after Christmas, Patty.'

She just gave a little nod in acknowledgement and left the locker room.

Jack gathered his things and shoved them in his bag, the tastefully-wrapped Christmas gift catching his eye.

He took it out, held it in his hands for a moment.

Eh, he could open one present early…

Jack started undoing the ribbon.

AN: What did Patty buy Jack for Christmas? We'll never know…

And yes, this is very sad in hindsight, knowing what's going to happen in the future…

Tomorrow's ficlet: 'I…I can't imagine how terrible it would be if you went from this kind of Christmas to that kind of Christmas…'