AN: This is set during Every End is a Beginning, during the 'episode' 2.09, Scrubs. It won't make much sense if you haven't read it.
MACGYVER'S RESIDENCE
LA
'Being in prison was terrible…' Riley, voice quiet and a bit hesitant, glanced over at the older woman sitting on the deck beside her. Patricia was sipping Gatorade, which Dr Farnham had told her and Jack to drink plenty of while they recovered from their bout of leptospirosis. '…but holidays like Christmas were just that little bit worse.' Riley gave a half-shrug, her voice growing a little sadder, a little quieter. 'And Christmas was never a big deal for me and my mom.' She gestured to the grill area, where Bozer was loudly singing Christmas carols, very out of tune, while he tended to the pastrami, and then to inside, which, like the deck, had been decorated extravagantly. Jack was dancing along to the carols as he headed towards the bathroom, while Mac was vacuuming frantically. Then, Riley looked down at the decking. 'I…I can't imagine how terrible it would be if you went from this kind of Christmas to that kind of Christmas…' After a moment, she looked up, turning to Patricia, and her voice was very soft when she spoke. 'I'm glad you didn't have to go through that.'
Patricia gave a sad little smile, staring at Riley for a moment, something deeply grateful and deeply affectionate in her eyes.
She reached out, a little hesitantly, and squeezed Riley's shoulder gently.
'I'm very, very grateful.'
She didn't specify what for.
Riley got the sense that it was meant both ways.
(She was right.)
AN: *sniffles* We could have had this. It could have been like this. *sniffles again*
Tomorrow's ficlet: Christmas is a time for family. A time for your loved ones.