=== 

"Roy," Jim said. He felt the heavy lump start to build up in his throat as Roy's knuckles cracked. There was no way in hell this was going to end well.

"Halpert, I will give you thirty seconds to explain why the fuck you were kissing my fiancée less than a month before we were supposed to be married."

"Um," Jim sputtered. What the hell was he supposed to say? The truth was ... going to put him in the hospital, most likely, and who knew what Pam really told him? If he lied, Roy would probably know. Jim blew out a breath through his mouth. "I ... don't know what to tell you, Roy. I mean, I'm sure Pam explained it, and, I --"

"Wrong answer, asshole," Roy said. Roy's fist was flying towards Jim's face before he could even react.

He felt his nostrils, lips stinging as his head snapped back. A second later, Jim tasted something metallic -- blood? He groaned loudly, reaching up at his face to wipe his lip. Unfortunately, Roy had picked him up by the collar at that point and had him suspended in mid-air.

"C'mon, fucker. Say something. Say anything. I know you had the hots for Pam all along. You were trying to get into her pants from day one, and then you go and fucking kiss her and, goddamn it -- she called off our wedding because of your sorry ass..." Roy had Jim's collar pulled tight, and Jim swore that he was choking. He could barely speak.

"Roy..."

"I just can't fucking believe it. Ten years. We were together for over ten years, and here, all this time, I was thinking it was me and that stupid stripper at the bachelor party, but no --"

Jim didn't think it was possible, but Roy jerked Jim's collar even tighter, causing him to gag. "Ahh..." he breathed.

"You are fucking dead, you know that?" he asked, pulling Jim up into the air with both arms.

Jim dizzily watched the ground below him starting to spin.

"Roy!" a voice called out. Jim heard a loud commotion behind him. Apparently, someone upstairs must have seen what was going on, and a small crowd had now gathered. Jim was still suspended in the air.

"Pam -- so glad you could come out here so you can see me giving your little boyfriend what he deserves."

"Roy, you probably -- I don't think you should be throwing employees around, I mean..." Michael, Jim thought. Great.

"Michael, stay out of this -- this is between Halpert and me."

Jim felt his body starting to come down, then a weightless sensation as he flew through the air for a split second. He heard the gut wrenching crack and a moment of searing pain before he passed out.

"Roy! What the hell are you doing? Oh my God, Jim!"

"Pam," Roy said, grabbing her arm as she went towards Jim, who lay on the ground in a heap, passed out. "Why the fuck--?"

"What is wrong with you?" she shouted, shaking her arm away. "Did you somehow think that this would make things better? Beating Jim up?" She looked up at Dwight, who was standing next to Roy, poised in a karate stance. "Dwight, go into the office and call the cops."

"What? What the fuck, Pam?" Roy spat out.

At this point, several of the warehouse guys had wandered out front, including Darryl, Lonny and Lester.

"Roy, what the hell, man?" Darryl asked as he walked up to where everyone was gathered. Roy was slowly backing away.

"Dude, fucking Halpert. I mean..." Roy trailed off.

"Man, I told you not to mess around with this business. This kinda stuff only gets you in trouble."

"Case in point," Dwight said as he reached the circle of Dunder-Mifflin employees again. "The cops will be here shortly to take statements, and Cliff said that I could use his handcuffs to restrain Roy until --" He started forward towards Roy, but Roy growled at him, causing Dwight to step back. "Or, I'll just give these to Darryl, since Darryl is technically his supervisor." Dwight sheepishly handed the metal handcuffs over to Roy.

"Man," Darryl said, looking at Roy. "This ain't good."

They all looked over at Jim, who was still lying on the ground, but appeared to be coming to. Pam was kneeling next to him, her arm under his neck. Jim reached up to his face, feeling his tender, swollen lip, then his head. He groaned lightly.

"Fuck Halpert, fuck all of you," Roy said, turning on his heel and heading towards his truck. "I fucking quit." He ripped off his shirt and tossed it on the ground behind him as he headed towards his truck.

"But -- the cops -- Darryl," Dwight said, looking at Darryl and Lonny for support. "You guys are uh -- big, go after him."

"Man," Darryl said again. Darryl looked down at Jim. "Do you want us to go after him?" he asked Jim, who was blinking rapidly and trying to sit up. Jim groaned loudly.

"Uh... no," Jim finally mumbled, his head falling back against Pam's hand. "Ugh." His hand came back up to his forehead.

"But -- the cops," Dwight said again. The wheels on Roy's truck squealed loudly as he peeled out of the parking lot and down the street.

"Man, just -- whatever. He made a mistake," Darryl said. "I told him not to start up this shit." Darryl looked at Lonny. "You know?"

"I know," Lonny said, nodding. Lonny and Darryl glanced down at Jim again.

Darryl nodded at Lonny and Lester. "Let's get back to work."

===

The cops arrived about ten minutes later. At that point, Jim was able to stand up and they led him back into the office to get cleaned up and put an ice pack on his head. The police insisted on getting statements from everyone, even though Jim persisted that he didn't want to press charges. They took Jim's first so he could rest. Jim sat back in the break room, holding the ice pack in one hand and a bottle of orange juice in another.

Jim sat alone, staring at the row of vending machines in front of him. He didn't know where Pam or Michael or anyone was. Maybe they didn't want to talk to him. Maybe they realized what an asshole he really was. Truthfully, he'd deserved it all, which was why he hadn't wanted to press charges. He was lucky Roy hadn't hurt him more. Maybe the fact that Pam (and the rest of the office) had come outside was really a blessing in disguise.

He felt embarrassed and angry and sad. What an idiot he was. What had he been thinking, telling Pam he was in love with her when she was engaged? Nothing good had come of it. In fact, everything in his life had gone to hell ever since he'd said those three cursed words to her...

Jim and Pam stopped being friends. Jim transferred to Stamford. Jim started dating Karen, which was fine until she had quit and broken up with him an hour earlier. The entire office had just watched Roy throw him across the parking lot, and now everyone probably thought he was an even bigger loser than before, and...

Fuck. He groaned lightly, adjusting the ice pack on his head. God, his head was throbbing. He wondered if there was any aspirin.

"Hey," a soft voice punctured the quiet of the break room.

Jim looked up, surprised to see Dwight standing in front of him. Dwight held out a folded-up foil blanket in one hand and a pair of small, white pills in the other.

"Here," he said, "take these. You'll want the blanket to keep yourself from going into shock, and I'm sure you need something to alleviate the pain right now."

"I do, actually," Jim said, relieved. He took the pills and swallowed them, then wrapped the thin blanket around his shoulders. Jim looked up at Dwight. "I hope those weren't Tylenol, by the way."

"Why?" Dwight asked.

"Because I'm allergic to acetaminophen."

"Oh my God," Dwight said, getting up. "I think they were..."

He started to dash out the door, but Jim stopped him. "Dwight!"

"Jim, there's no time, we might have to--"

"Dwight, I was joking. I'm not allergic."

"Damn it, Jim," Dwight said, stomping his foot.

Jim half-smiled. "I'm sorry, Dwight. I ... I really do appreciate you helping me out."

Dwight sat back down again in front of him. "Well, it's my public duty as a Lackawanna County Sheriff's Deputy, to help any and all citizens in need." Dwight recited this as if he were reading it from a written statement.

"Volunteer deputy," Jim said.

"Whatever, Jim."

They sat in companionable silence for a moment, then Jim said: "You know, I really could have used your purple-belt skills out there--"

"Jim..." Dwight said, looking at him sternly. His expression softened when he noticed that Jim was serious. Dwight nodded. "I'm actually a brown belt now. I moved up over the summer."

Jim nodded. "That's ... great, Dwight. You should bring your belt in sometime. We could play with it."

"It's not a toy, Jim."

"Right," Jim said. "So I'm guessing that tug-of-war would be out?"

Dwight shook his head. "All right. I have work to do." He stood up, but paused for a moment, studying Jim. "Are you sure you're okay? Are you feeling dizzy? Are you seeing any floating spots? Do you feel nauseous?"

Jim couldn't help but smile. "No, I just ... have a slight headache. It's -- I'll be okay. Thanks, Dwight."

"You're just lucky your injuries weren't more severe. Your smaller body mass leaves you more vulnerable in a situation like this, and I doubt you have the bone density that I do. The Schrute family..."

"Okay, Dwight," Jim said, holding his hand up. "I appreciate your concern, but I think I could use some peace and quiet now."

"Ten-four," Dwight said, giving him a salute. "I will keep the break room free of nosy coworkers and rabble-rousers." As he turned to leave, the door opened. Jim looked up to see who was there, but Dwight's body blocked the doorway. "You're going to have to stay out," Dwight said. "Jim needs peace and quiet and time to recover..."

"Dwight, I need to see him."

Pam? "Dwight!" Jim called out. Dwight turned around quickly, as Pam tried to squeeze past him. Dwight's arm immediately shot out, stopping her.

"Jim, you said you didn't want to be disturbed."

Jim rolled his eyes. "Let her in, please. But ... keep other people away." He coughed. "Like Michael."

Dwight nodded dutifully, letting Pam through, and headed back out towards the main office.

===

"I'm sorry I didn't come in here earlier," Pam said. "I had to give my statement, and then Michael made me sit with him while he gave his statement, so I could take notes, or something, and I told him that I didn't need to do that, but ..." Pam sighed, moving to sit down next to Jim. She put her hand on his face. Her palm was surprisingly cool against his skin. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Jim nodded slowly. He didn't want her to move her hand. Jim swallowed hard. "I'm sorry ... about everything," he said. "I didn't -- I never should have done that -- what I did on Casino Night."

Pam pulled her hand back, weaving her fingers together. She tilted her head at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, nothing good really came of it, Pam. You broke up with Roy, we stopped talking, I got my ass kicked ... deservedly so," Jim added sheepishly.

"That's not true," Pam said. "First of all, if you hadn't said that, I never would have known how you really felt."

"What's the point if it's only going to break --" Jim started, but Pam stopped him, reaching over to put her hand over his.

"I'm not finished," she said.

Jim looked up at her, surprised, but shut his mouth.

"Second of all, I never would have broken up with Roy in the first place, and I probably would have married him, been stuck in a miserable marriage, and would never really have understood why you transferred to Stamford." Jim looked over at her, his mouth twisting up. Pam continued. "Roy and I broke up on Friday, after I told him. And ... I mean, I should be perfectly honest with you, because, well, I told Roy I wanted to be honest and I haven't been for a long time. Honesty and courage are apparently not my strong suits," Pam said, frowning slightly.

"Okay..." Jim said. He searched her face, trying to figure out where she was going with this.

"When you left for Stamford -- I was really sad for a really long time. I honestly was planning on going through with marrying Roy, you know, but as a couple weeks went by, and I'd come into work every day, and you weren't there, and there was no one there to joke with -- even though I tried joking with Michael sometimes, but then he thought maybe I was coming onto him, which was just ... well ..." Pam made a face. Jim chuckled lightly. "Anyway, I guess the combination of losing my best friend and then Roy, just being -- well, Roy -- it just kept building up and building up.

"Then, a few days before the wedding, Roy comes home from his bachelor party. The bachelor party he'd been planning for weeks instead of helping me with the rest of the wedding. He comes home, and there's bright-red lipstick. On his collar, on his neck -- he was completely drunk, and I don't know, I just ... lost it. I guess it was the straw that broke the camel's back." Pam nodded, looking down at her hands, which were folded again. "I left him that night. I left him, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

"My mom came out the next day and helped me call everyone to let them know the wedding was cancelled, and God -- it was, just awful, I think I only called about ten people, I couldn't handle it, and then my mom and aunt called everyone else, and Roy's parents were so mad, and just..." Pam sniffed, her breath coming out ragged.

Jim reached out his hand, putting it on her back, which made her sigh loudly. She swallowed.

"And then -- then, you know, trying to deal with all of that and having no one to talk to -- most of my friends are Roy's friends as well, and no one wanted to talk to me, no one really knew why I had called off the wedding and Roy told everyone that it was just wedding jitters and we'd be back together in a week or two, but I didn't go back to him, I really didn't." She swallowed again, sniffing louder. "And then Roy started drinking more, and he'd call me at 3 am, begging me to come back, and it was so hard ... I just ... in a way, I wanted to just give in, but I knew it wasn't a good idea, you know?"

"Yeah," Jim said softly.

"So, he just -- well, I don't know if you heard, but he got a DUI this summer, and had to go AA for a while. And Michael -- he was actually pretty nice, but everyone else just made these little comments, and I felt so bad. We had all this wedding food left over, and every day, Roy would bring up a plate of food, so for eight weeks, it was 'Chicken or fish?' and I swear, I didn't eat either for months after that was through." She smiled up at Jim, who smiled back at her.

"I can imagine," he said.

"Anyway," Pam sighed, rubbing her eyes several times. "God," she said through her hands. "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to tell you all this."

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear about it," Jim said quietly.

"I really did miss you, Jim," Pam said, holding out her hand. He took it, wrapping his long fingers around hers.

"I missed you, too, Pam."

They sat like that for a long moment, staring into each other's eyes. Pam almost wondered if he would lean forward ... she felt her chest starting to tighten up, and swallowed. Her breathing became shallow. She felt her heart pounding through her chest, in her throat. She heard her breath coming out though her mouth.

"Jim..." she said.

"Yes?" he asked. His voice was soft. She noticed his chest moving up and down as he breathed. He swallowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

Pam closed her eyes, and then opened them again. Just ... say it. Tell the truth. What do you have to lose anymore? "I... I'm in love with you."

"What?" Jim asked. He blinked several times, tightening his grip on her hand.

Pam started grinning, half-laughing, half-crying. "I'm in love with you. I... think I probably have been for a long time, but I didn't realize it until you said it that night, and I just... I was so afraid, so afraid of everything, and I mean, I know you probably don't feel the same way anymore, but I just --"

"Oh ... Pam." Jim stood up immediately, pulling her towards him into an embrace. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, feeling her head rest against his chest as he did so. "My feelings for you have never changed," he murmured into her hair. It was so soft... so soft ...

His hand reached up to touch it, and he stroked her head lightly as he held her.

"God," he said. "I tried so hard... I tried to move on, Pam, but I couldn't, I mean, just seeing you again made it all come back."

"I thought –" Pam started to cry. "I mean, I figured, you know, you were with Karen, and ..."

"Karen could never be you, Pam. She's just ..." Jim sighed. "She knew. She knew I still had feelings for you."

"How?" Pam asked, pulling back to look up at him. Her face shone with tears.

Jim smiled sheepishly. "Remember that party we had for Oscar? When Andy went nuts and punched the wall?"

"Yeah," Pam said, smiling back. She sniffed. "I was so happy you asked me to play that joke on Andy. Even though I heard you ask Ryan before you asked me."

Jim chuckled. "I couldn't ... I was trying not to encourage my feelings, I mean -- I was sure you weren't interested, you know, in that way, and I guess, you know -- I was still hurt, but he was just driving me nuts and you were just -- so great there --"

Pam grinned. "I still can't believe he punched the wall."

"I know!" Jim said. "Anyway, later that day, I was sitting in the conference room, and I was just sitting there, thinking about things, thinking about everything that happened, and Karen just asked me."

"Asked you what?" Pam made a face. "She asked you if you still had feelings for me?"

"Yes," Jim said.

"What'd you tell her?"

"Yes."

"But ... you guys were still dating up till today, I mean..."

Jim rolled his eyes. "I know. We talked about our relationship, and my feelings, for five nights straight after that. Remember when you asked me in the break room that one day, and I told you how we'd been up talking -- and you made some joke about REM cycles?"

"Oh my God," Pam said, rolling her eyes. Her arms were still around Jim's waist, but she leaned back, embarrassed. "That was ... so dumb."

"It was cute," Jim said.

"Yeah, right. I ... didn't know what I was doing at that point. I just ... such a dork," she mumbled.

"You're a cute dork," Jim said, pulling her into a hug again. "Anyway," he continued, looking down at her, "I guess my heart was never really in it with Karen. I mean, even at the cocktail party last week, all I could think about was how different you and Karen were and how we totally could have spent the night making fun of Michael and Jan --"

Pam smiled, tilting her head to the side. "Despite some of the, um, problems we've had, I guess I'd have to say this honesty thing is working out pretty well."

"I would have to agree." Jim leaned his head down, touching his forehead to hers. "I'm so glad that you ... share my feelings for you."

"Yes, I feel very good about myself, thank you," Pam smirked.

"You know what I mean," Jim said.

"Of course I do," Pam whispered. She started to tilt her head up to kiss him, but he stopped her. Pam felt the blood starting to rush to her cheeks. Had she misinterpreted something? What was wrong? Why didn't he...

"I busted my lip, Pam," he said softly. "I don't think you want to kiss me right now."

"Oh," Pam said. Her cheeks still felt warm, but she smiled, despite herself. "Well, I'll just do this for now." She leaned to the side and gave him a tender kiss on either cheek. When she leaned back, she noticed his cheeks had turned slightly pink as well. She beamed at him. "I love you," she said softly.

"I love you, too, Pam," he said, hugging her again. He wanted to hold her for a really, really long time.

The office, unfortunately, was not conducive to wishes like that.

"Pam! Jim! Wow -- what's going on in here?" Michael burst through the door, Dwight in tow.

"Michael, I told you not to --" Dwight stopped short as Jim and Pam broke apart. "What's going on here?" He looked at Jim suspiciously. "Aren't you dating Karen?" he asked.

"She broke up with him," Pam said.

"Long story," Jim added.

Dwight looked dumbfounded. "But -- you two --"

"Well," Michael interrupted. "It's about time, I must say. I mean, jeez, with Jim transferring because of you, and Roy beating Jim up, this is just -- you know, like a soap opera. It's like -- As Dunder-Mifflin Turns ... or, All My Employees." Michael snickered at his own joke.

"Um, okay," Jim said.

Pam looked over at Jim, then at Michael. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to bring Jim to the doctor to make sure he's okay, and then, you know, he really needs to get some rest."

Michael's face lit up into a grin. "'Rest,'" he said. "Right."

"Really, Michael," Pam said, frowning at him. "God," she muttered under her breath. They were never going to hear the end of this.

"No, no, that's fine," Michael said. "Let me just ... well, you go. I'll let everyone know you two will be ... incommunicado for the rest of the day. Mm?"

Pam shook her head and Jim rolled his eyes as they headed out of the break room.

===

"Pam and Jim got together, hmmm?" Creed winked at the camera, then thought for a moment. "Wait -- who's Pam and Jim?"