16 [Reviews - 42] Printer ePub eBook
Summary: ABANDONED, WILL EVENTUALLY REPOST UNDER NEW NAME
Jim picks up the phone and dials the number, but as all his mistakes flash before his eyes, he realizes that he can't hurt her again.  Athlead is forever out of his reach.
A Season 9 reimagining
Rated: T
Categories: Jim and Pam, Other, Alternate Universe Characters: Ensemble, Jim/Pam
Genres: Drama, Humor, Hurt/Comfort, Kids/Family, Romance, Status: Abandoned, Workdays
Warnings: Adult language, Other Adult Theme, Possible Triggers
Series: None
Chapters: 21 Completed: No
Word count: 85715 Read: 89566 ePub Downloads: 7
Published: August 20, 2020 Updated: March 26, 2021
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Story Notes:

DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners.  The original characters and plot are the property of the author.  The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.  No copyright infringement is intended.

WARNING: Contains coarse language and depictions of mental-health issues. 

This story is, really, a practice in self-indulgence.  I love the show, but most of Season 9 left a bad taste in my mouth.  I wanted to provide a "how else it could have happened", given the limitations NBC had.  While several pivotal plot points will still occur, others will completely alter, and one what-if scenario will reshape the entire events of the story.

UPDATE 26 MAR. 2021: ABANDONED, WILL EVENTUALLY REPOST UNDER NEW NAME

1. Miami by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 3] 4 (2644 words)

Unfortunately, given how busy I am with work and school, don't expect regular updates. I will get this story done, but I rather it not be rushed.

This is the only original chapter, which gives a more satisfying conclusion to Kelly and Ryan's story and expands on everyone else's summer vacation.

2. New Guys by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (2805 words)

Basically, my plan is to watch the episode first, then pen each chapter around it.  It's not the most efficient way to write this story, but it'll be fun to see where the canon ends and the AU begins in real time.  This will probably end up being my least favorite chapter, since it's all plot summary, but I wanted to characterize Pete and Clark a lot more, as well as try to humanize Andy a bit more.  He's always been vindictive, but not heartless, and I really wanted to capture the Andy from S4-S8.

3. Roy's Wedding by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 1] 1 (2238 words)

I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out.

I actually have some parts already written like "Andy's Ancestry", "Work Bus" and even bits of "Junior Salesman" just to make sure I know where the heck this is going. 

4. Andy's Ancestry by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (2702 words)

Gonna go ahead and post this. I'm most of the way through "The Boat", probably won't post again until "Dwight Christmas" is complete, which won't be for a bit.

Turns out I'm posting these more regularly than I thought I would. 

5. Work Bus by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (3344 words)

So at this point I'm done with "The Target", meaning "Dwight's Christmas" is next, and I cannot WAIT to write the legendary Belsnickel.  I'm really anxious to post these up, mostly because I want to get more feedback; I've said that prose is not my best medium of writing, so I want to go back in and tighten things up, both writing and plot wise.

In any case, enjoy! 

6. Here Comes Treble by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (3715 words)

Got "Dwight Christmas" done already, an absolute joy to write.  I've started "Lice", but I'm probably getting writer's burnout, unfortunately.  After focusing on other interests, I can come back at this with a clear head.  Mostly because I'm finding it more difficult to really capture these character's personalities and translate them into my own writing.  Maybe will post chapters in the meantime.

I desperately want to get to "Customer Loyalty" and the infamous argument, because that is where everything will change.  I've actually prepared the chapter that immediately follows it, a subsequent one like "Miami"; those will be posted at the same time.

For most episodes, I'm having the events take place during the day they aired, so all of this happens on October 25, 2012.

Enjoy this while I'm taking a short break.

7. The Boat by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 1] 1 (2787 words)
Got "Lice" done.  I think that's how I'm gonna do this from now on: be three to four chapters ahead and when I'm done with my current chapter, I post the earlier one.  

8. The Whale by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 0] (3516 words)

Absolutely no progress.  Between school and work, there won't be something done until like the weekend probably.  I wanted to post this one in honor of Earth, Wind and Fire Day (points to those who know what that means); could be posted the day after but I tried.

I wanted to post it because it gets the main conflict rolling and because it has one of my favorite lines I've written.  Enjoy! 

9. The Target by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (3056 words)

Finished most of "Suit Warehouse".  Again, having a hard time blending in the AU with canon, but I think I pulled it off pretty well in "Lice", which won't be posted for a while.  Right now, I have work and assignments as priority so I'll be focusing on those.

Enjoy! 

10. Dwight Christmas by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 2 (3515 words)

So, I'm finally finished with "Customer Survey" and the subsequent chapter... which isn't "Junior Salesman".  Adding another subsequent chapter like "Miami", which I'll post at the same time as "Customer Survey" since they should be read together; combining it into one chapter would prove too long, so I split it in half.  I'm really wanting to post "Customer Survey" because I'm honestly sort of proud of it, and that is when the AU portion of this really takes shape.

For now, though, enjoy this German Holiday treat.

EDIT 1 DEC. 2020: Replaced 'Scranton' with 'Stamford'.  Don't know how the hell I missed that.

11. Lice by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (4796 words)
To be honest, I'm surprised I got "Junior Salesman" done as quickly as I did.  My assumption is that I'm getting the hang of trying to adapt these episodes, but there's not a whole lot I changed in that entry.  I added a bunch of deleted scenes stuff, which I do in various episodes when it positively influences the plot, but yeah.  I didn't change much because it's Dwight-centered.  And it's an unwritten rule of mine to leave those plots alone because they're too good.

12. Suit Warehouse by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (3868 words)

I'm part of the way through "Vandalism" and a combination of priorities and writers block is preventing me from moving forward.  I'm considering posting "Customer Loyalty" and Chapter 14 after this one within the next day or two, so if there are two more chapters out of the blue that's why.

Enjoy! 

13. Customer Loyalty by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (5562 words)
No progress on "Vandalism".  I'm gonna go ahead and post these two chapters so I can focus on my break and see what you guys think of them.  Enjoy!

14. Medical Leave by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] 1 (3203 words)

15. Junior Salesman by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (4988 words)

Squeezed in some time to finish "Vandalism".  And, naturally, came up with another JAM related AU fic because I have a million ideas and a single braincell.  And it's a "Casino Night" continuation, because isn't that always the way when it comes to this site?

So I'm once chapter ahead and, while I would rather be 2-3 chapters ahead, I really like sharing this and seeing what others think.  With that said, enjoy!

16. Vandalism by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (4869 words)

Finished "Couple's Discount", which was a lot of fun to write and what ends up shaping the events of the AU.  "Moving On" is going to be a challenge, since very few moments from the canon episode will take place.  (It's probably my least favorite, only worth it for Bob Odenkirk's Mark Franks.)

Enjoy! 

17. Couples Discount by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (4806 words)

Finally got "Moving On" done, probably the biggest challenge for this story yet.  I'm proud of some aspects of it, but I always have this habit of thinking my writing won't mesh with the show's canon all that well and leaves a lot to be desired.  Nevertheless, I'm seeing this story through so I hope the readership of this site enjoys this concoction that I've created.

Also, some canon tidbits: Despite this being the Valentine's Day episode (February 14, 2013), it was aired alongside "Vandalism" on February 7.  So I was like forget that, this takes place on February 14, and "Moving On" takes place on February 21.

Enjoy! 

18. Moving On by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 3] 1 (7867 words)

Got done with "The Farm"!  It's pretty accurate to the real thing, with a huge divergence with the cupcake plotline; this chapter will pave the way for that divergence, as well as the rest of the JAM plot.

Enjoy! 

19. The Farm by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (4026 words)

Not done with "Promos" yet, but I wanted to go ahead and post this because I know I'll have time to finish it (My school decided to have its fall break during the US elections).  "Promos" has been very fun thus far and I love experimenting with the promos themselves.  It'll also be a prominent chapter for Brent...

Also, for those of you who read soon after this was originally posted, I rewrote it slightly to get rid of instances of the word "qu*er", a homophobic slur that Todd often calls others.  While the use of that word is in-character for probably one of the most infuriating characters on planet Earth, the last thing I want to do is make the readership uncomfortable with the usage of the word.  My sincerest apologies.

Enjoy!

20. Promos by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (6429 words)

Not finished with "Stairmageddon" yet.  I've finished 3/4 of it though.  Nothing more to report.

Enjoy!

21. Stairmageddon by 3vasectomies [Reviews - 2] (4979 words)

Haven't even started "Paper Airplane".  It's another one like "Moving On" where it's essentially the equivalent of a "collage-jigsaw", having to find a bunch of scenes from previous episodes and making it all fit.  And with deadlines and Thanksgiving around the corner, it'll get done, I just don't know when.  The idea is to get this done around mid December 2020 but I'm certainly not holding myself to that.  I'll use some of my free time here and there.  Essentially, updates are gonna be sporadic with no timeframe.  "Paper Airplane" could be tomorrow, even, but I'm not making any promises.  I'm sticking with this, though, the rest of the plot is all but written after "Paper Airplane" and I know exactly where to go with those final chapters.

Enjoy this for the time being!