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Oof. So glad it ends happily for them. Beautiful.

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So I know this is labeled as a one-shot, but seriously, this feels like the set-up for a really good story. Why is Jim so despondent he's willing to get a few sheets to the wind before heading out to the bar? Why would he be friends with Alan? Why is Pam so upbeat and carefree? (That one's not a complaint mind you) Feels like there could be a lot more to explore is all.

Regardless of all that, the fact that it's Pam who basically flips the switch for Jim is just so adorable. How he's entranced by her from the start and then when they lock eyes for the first time. Just beautiful. Also, that he noted he won the race to get her a beer. I also loved how he came up to her like that. It didn't seem pushy yet at the same time, clearly he's interested in her. And they then just lose themselves in talking to each other for the rest of the night. Yeah, if they have that effect on each other, it's a good sign for things to come. Also love that he's not thinking of doing the whole, "I need to wait three days to call her," thing. No he's going to call her first thing in the morning. Bravo Jim! I don't think you'll need any more liquid courage to help sort things out. Nice job.

Author's Response: I've been convinced to write more with this. There's a lot more that needs to be said especially about Jim's state. What that is, I'm unsure of at the moment haha, but we'll figure it out! I appreciate the awesome review as always!

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Great story! Love the drunk Jim.

Author's Response: My favorite Jim, if I'm honest!

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Hey, Hi, Welcome back! Please continue to write all the country music-related, bar-frequenting, angsty-Jim fic you can because I love them all. And I'm not even a country music fan. You just always pick good songs. And plots.

Tequila was for college Jim. Well, I don't hate that.

He didn't care about being her first. He just wanted to be her last. Oh it's fine. I'm fine. We're all fine over here.

I hope their breakfast tomorrow lasts until dinner. And then even longer.

Author's Response: I absolutely will. I love writing about country music and drunk Jam. When I wrote the line about her being his last I was like, "wow, that's good." haha. I'm glad other people enjoyed it!

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Ok so the whole time reading this I wanted to throw up, not only because of the desperate pain he must of been feeling to take off like he did and and for all the actions he took on his journey but because of all the drinking and the churning I felt in my stomach thinking how is he even standing after all that.

And it was all a crazy dream - what a good twist and so glad for it.

The whole thing was so powerful, the pain and the imagery. I loved the the song too, adding it to my Jam playlist now.

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I loved this! I thought you did a great job of getting in Jim's head on his failed emotional rehab odyssey. I can see this version of Jim with his attempted recovery being thwarted by his inability to stop self-sabotaging it because he can't - doesn't really want to - let go. And I love a happy ending! Thanks!

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Beth! Wow! Okay so that was a ride. Tortured Jim was just so raw through everything. Forgetting time, distance, himself. The only thing he could remember was her. Sadly it seemed the one thing he wanted to let go since it was killing him so much. Often the strongest prisons are the ones we create for our own minds. I saw this in spades with Jim's flight here. No matter how far he ran, he can never run far enough. Then she shows up. She's been hurting too, but she has the strength to fight for what really matters.

And then it's a dream, but a dream with a twist. That bit there about how this world's Casino Night went down and how they found each other. The "it was only a dream" trope can sometimes feel like a cop out, but here it worked.

Well done.

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Beth this was so good!! I loved it so much. You could feel Jim's pain. How much he loved her and how much he hated that she couldn't be hers. It broke my heart that all he wanted to do was get away but everywhere he went, she was there too. and then to have her show up just for him? My heartttttt, Beth. AND THEN THE ENDING. How it was all just a nightmare? She actually broke it off with Roy and went with Jim on Casino Night? Amazing. 5 gold jellybeans.

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This was amazinggggggg. I felt so bad for Jim, I'm positive this is exactly how he felt that night. And then Pam showing up to save him before he moved or anything? Loved it. "I can." My heart soars with the eagle's nest.

Author's Response: Haha I love that last quote. Thank you so much for reading!

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A lovely spinoff that leaves soany questions! What took Pam from "I can't" to "I can," did she drive home to tie up loose ends with Roy or something? We don't have to know but those are the kinds of things that hooke onto a story, too bad it's a oneshot!

Author's Response: I'm so sorry it's only a one shot, DG. Maybe one day I'll extend it ha.

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Aww...poor Jim. And yay...lucky Jim! This is very nice. Thanks.

Author's Response: Quite a roller coaster of emotions for him! Thanks for reading!

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Lovely story! I feel sorry for Jim, his sufferings were too real and the way he dealt with them... yep, that was too.
But I'm happy how things ended up, so thank you for a great fix-it!
I should listen to this song as well, the lyrics are good.

Author's Response: I hope you had the chance to listen to the song! I think it's a permanent favorite of mine now! Thanks for reading!

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I loved this, and you nailed everything, from the setting imagery to Jim’s thought and emotions. This feels like it could have been a legitimate alternate ending. I’m sure this is on film somewhere, lol. Very well done.

Author's Response: Oh, I absolutely WISH this was on film somewhere. I would love that! Thanks for reading!