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An interesting progression! Love that Isabel considered locking them in the supply closet in McDonalds... and that those 2 got their opportunity as well. Glad Jim and Pam have managed to straighten things out - might be a bit of a messy aftermath for Jim & Karen but YAY for Jim and Pam! I like that it wasn't a whole big argument just a simple 'this is what I need from you' from Jim, think it highlighted that it was the main thing causing all this tension between them.

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Yay you’re back!
Mark and Isabel were right to lock JAM up to
finally talk because communication was never JAM’s strong suit. 🤦r05;a92;a039;
I’m curious to see what happens with JAM when they get back to work and what will happen with Karen.
I guess that I’m in the minority but I never thought she was that attractive. I always found her to be rather bland looking. Please update soon! 🙏

Love that they were both brought to the same McDonald's - nothing that a cheeky Macca's can't fix (including hopefully this relationship??) - look forward to the intervention!

Author's Response: Sorry for the delay in responding to this, absolutely, some glorious Isabel and Mark scheming is here!

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I love a fic that gets Mark and Isabel together, so I’m hoping they get their own happy ending here too!
The idea of Pam dancing around with a happy meal toy cracked me up 🤣
Looking forward to Jim and Pam banging it out at Macy D’s…

Author's Response: Madam, please see the pre-chapter notes for chapter 5 regarding your last sentence.

I’m liking the potential of Isabel and Mark,
and how they think alike when it comes to their friendships. I agree that what JAM really needs is
a meeting of the minds to clear the air between them and to be upfront about what they are truly thinking,
and how to move forward because right now they are
stuck in place like they were in canon. So they are making themselves miserable.

Author's Response: I think we need a bit of angsty JAM to move things along, oh and it will move things along... ;)

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This is the most DELICIOUS piece of candy to read! So enjoyable!! Love the play between Iz and Pam and absolutely adorable to have flirty banter with Mark!

Author's Response: Thank you so much, I am so glad you are enjoying it!  A new chapter is finally up!

Can't wait for more!

Author's Response: Thanks so much, it’s on its way!

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So the first part, Jim wanting to run. Yeah, that tracks. When he gets scared he runs. At this point in his life Jim is rarely the kind of guy to stand his ground. He has his moments, like Casino Night, but when things don't pan out he runs and then lets life steamroll over him. This feels similar, but at the same time not quite the same. In large part due to what Pam says right there as he's leaving.

HUGE props to her for being so honest and trying to break through the metric butt ton of ice that is still between them. I mean a lot of it's already smashed and melting, but there's still a significant amount in the way that needs blasting away for sure.

Then it's time for Jim to get some much needed perspective. Really like the conversation he has with Mark. A no-nonsense buddy who blows right past all the bullshit because he really does care. And also probably is sick of all of Jim's sob stories. Feels like the continued kick in the ass Jim needs. But where are we off to now? Can't wait to find out.

Author's Response: I am so delighted with the response to “my” Mark - I thought from the little we saw of him at the BBQ that he could be a bit of this sort of character, they’d been friends since college and sharing a place after all. I absolutely agree that he has heard enough of Jim mooning after Pam for so long that he sees an opportunity to change it. And he may have some help…

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Ohhhh I like this!!! So sorry this is only my first review!! It’s so good! I love that Jam’s sexual frustration has built up to this! And thank you Pam for being honest this time!!! I’m hoping that once Jim changes his boxers and finishes his talk with Mark he realizes that he needs to try this thing with Pam… “when we actually have sex, not if”.. and you’re thinking about her when you’re with Karen? Come on Jim! I love your Mark… I wish he was a character in canon we saw more frequently. Can’t wait to read more— interested to see what you do with the “logistics” of Karen, which is always so cringe. Yes, I do feel bad for her— but she has to be a casualty of Jam. Great work!!

Author's Response: Please, no need to apologise, I really appreciate the review and your comments!  You are absolutely right about Karen and the minefield of writing the consequences of Jim’s realisation. I am giving it a lot of thought as to how I approach it. The “easy” option would be to have her cheat on him (and I’ve seen that done very well in other fics) but I don’t think she would, she’s pretty keen. I think someone is going to get hurt and there is no way around it…

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Nothing like a heated session of angry truths to be engage all the pent up desire these two have for each other. Getting shades of Fleetwood Mac and Daisy Jones as Jim accuses her of a Karaoke attack. And her line "I was doing Karaoke..." - loved that.

You did well at having them get to much of what they hadn't been able to say before... the lines about giving her no time to process and the waiting in particular. Now it is odd to hear Jim curse (but only because its a non-no on network so not used to it) but it seems like a natural response when trying not to act on what eventually happens anyway.

A terrible mess indeed but one we are all waiting for.

Author's Response: Awww Max, you know I absolutely LOVED Daisy Jones and The Six, and I'm a FM fan as well (lucky enough to see the full original line up at the O2 in London in 2014, before people were sacked or died.)

I don't think this is anything not seen in fics before but this feels like an appropriate fix to right a writers' wrong I always felt was done at Phyllis's wedding and beyond.

Another great chapter! Jim will have more to think about later then hot, clothed, wall sex (HCWS). Hopefully he remembers all that was said and not just HCWS. When the chapter ended where it did I was as frustrated as Dwight with a stapler stuck in jello. More please.

Author's Response: Thank you!  Oh, Jim's thinking very hard (TWSS) about the HCWS. And an old friend is going to help him... (no, not like that; talk therapy!)

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Kinda figured that they'd have a big moment like this. The kind of excited, buzzed, argument that ends up in them aggressively making out like that. Hey rom-com tropes exist for a reason after all.

Though now that the dam has broken, there's no going back from it. Even more than back on Casino Night, the cards are out on the table, and they can only play the hand. What happens later when the booze wears off and the reality of their situation hits will prove just as dramatic, I think. For now, though they seem to just want to simply live in the moment.

Author's Response: Thanks Warrior!  And you are absolutely right, no going back, although they may need to both go on a little detour before the happy ending.