Jim sees a therapist. Starts in the midst of season two. 
9 I was infuriated when he thought the therapist wrote "infatuation". Does that mean I'm into JAM too deep?! I love this story for its darkness. Devastating and beautiful.
10 Is it bad that I find depressed Jim really fucking sexy? Enough of my weirdness. I love this story! You do such a great job of conveying the stifling atmosphere of a therapist's office. And I really like what he reveals to the doctor juxtaposed with what he doesn't. Couldn't wait to read this chapter :)
10 Great, as always. I love the desolate feel of your story
"...my car’s doing this thing where it backs itself into other parked cars."
Intriguing.
That was actually taken from my own personal life. Only it wasn't so much my car backing itself into other cars as it was my brother backing my car into other cars.
Thanks for reading. :)
10 Some optimism, some possibility creeping in here, from the flower scent, to Jim's acknowledgement (“Because that’s what we do. We don’t talk about things. We just pretend they don’t happen until it feels like they really never did happen.”) to his conviction that he can get by without medication.
One of the most heartbreaking things about this fic is how lonely Jim is, when almost everyone around him really likes him. The one person he'd normally talk to can't know.
Yet.
Thanks so much for updating - if I hadn't been sitting down already, I'd've tripped clicking on the link :)
9 Surprised I didn't see this here before LiveJournal - I love the simple style you've used. Just enough information. :)
8 "...as though there's an invisible elastic band connecting them. It's been pulled taut with wanting and waiting and time, and now it's recoiling..." Great image. I love that there's no dialogue. Nice job!
Author's Response: Thanks! I love that image.
It's the hottest June on record and desperate times call for desperate measures.
I don't know exactly where to place this story. It's June - but Pam definitely isn't married and Jim hasn't said anything. So maybe June of Season 1? Just work w/me people. :)
9 Awesome beginning - I'm looking forward to much splashing - some WetJim - ShirtlessJim, even - so, you know, if you could work those in...I think Pam nees to see that, too ;)
Author's Response:
Hmmm. ShirtlessWetJim? I'll see what I can do.
9 ...he wheels the grill to it's hiding spot in the corner. It could come in handy later this summer.
Sequel!!! And where is Pam's skirt? Hmmm, I wonder ;)
Loads of fun :)
HA! I actually had a whole other section - with the two of them going back up to the roof - but I decided that it was too much.
So. We shall see...
PS - Pam's skirt is around. She was just too tipsy to really look for it. That or she had an unending desire for Jim to give her the shirt off his back.
Either or. ;)
8 LOVE THE BEAVER BURGERS. Fun to say, and icky too! Fact: WetJim rules.
Author's Response: HA! Me too! There might be more wet jim in the next chapter....just saying. LOL!
Jim and Pam get stuck and get busy.10 "Holy hotness, Batman! It's the return of Truth or Dare! Squeeeeeeee!" I think Robin's tights just caught fire. Glad you're back :)
Five different stories about the sign on Jim's desk.8 Oooh. I'm goo after that last one. Hells yeah to throat kisses.
10 "...she was startled at the sudden clarity of what she felt for him: She was in love with him, absolutely."
Yes. This is a beautiful scene.
8 Nice alternate ending to Valentine's Day! Love this line:
She watches the shadows grow along the wall, breathing in his scent.
They say there are 5 stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. You'll see Pam go through them - with some future fluff every other chapter to keep you from pulling your hair out. There will be 10 chapters in all. :)
9 First of all, have I been in a cave? No. I have no excuse for not having read + reviewed this. Bad, bad shan.
Terrific idea, great first chapter. The last two lines in particular are perfect.
9 For some reason...Jim putting his watch on?
Incredibly fucking hot!!!
Great goodbye conversation - very true to life :)
I think it's all about the image of his wrists..and hands...and fingers......
Damn. Once again - I'm going to need a moment. :)
9 "But here's the thing."
So Jim. Great voices here.
9 NotPuttingUpWithItAnyMoreJim is awesome. Good for him. Again, great voices here - you capture them well!
Author's Response: Isn't he cool??? Love him!
8 Nice - I dig helpful Jan :)
Author's Response: Me too! :)
Great inner monologue for Pam - I kept thinking, Why doesn't she just write it down?! But then there wouldn't be many more lovely chapters to come, right?
Author's Response: HA! She's a little sick. Finding a pen and paper might be too much to ask. Plus I liked that it was sort of jinx-y even though not nearly as playful. :)
That's such a tough episode b/c he hasn't seen her in a week, and then doesn't see her for most of that day, either. Your idea that it's like he isn't getting enough oxygen is perfect.
Love that she never looks at him, then has to sense him in other ways.
Lovely final line.
Cotton, not aluminum. Like he’s speaking under bed sheets, his hand pulling them up over their heads, making their own fortress. The sunlight seeps through the thin layer of fabric and everything glows. It makes it easy to forget all the things that are broken now, all the things they haven’t talked about.
All the things hovering outside the sheet. Brilliant image right there.
What they fill in for Jim to say versus what he says (Kelly? ouch, and so realistic) - fantastic.
So glad you updated!
He closes his eyes, falls asleep, and doesn’t dream of her.
A small triumph, eh?
Fantastic, as usual. Couldn't wait to click on this one!
10 Had to mop myself up off the floor after Jim (finally!) took his fingers off her dress. Jeez. And then you gut-punched with that last paragraph.
Bravo ;)
10 "She watches his fingers slide from them gently and then they’re gone and she looks up and he isn’t there anymore."
Oof. Also love the image of her fingernails tapping the bear's plastic eyes. Glad she gives him one anyway.