Whoa.  What a fantastic and intense alternate take on that whole interaction.  The second tense really worked well here, too.  This sentence was simply a perfect encapsulation of the entire thing:  It's like high school, the way you're here with someone you like but not with the someone you want.

Author's Response:

Thank you.  I had it all written in first person but it sounded too much like something I'd heard before.  As soon as I switched tenses it all came together (or so I hoped).

I think that sentiment really sums up Jim and Karen's relationship.     It's not about Karen being less than Pam - or Jim being not enough for Karen.   I think - even without Pam in the picture - they would not have made it - because there was simply something missing there.  jmho of course - but that's the way I see it.

So glad you liked it.   The next story I'm working on has a different ending...since Jim and Karen weren't together during The Convention.  

I can't promise smut - but I can promise a tidier ending. :)

This really did turn out perfectly.  I love how much shorter it is!  (Hee!)

I've been looking forward to reading all the comments to see how many people guessed the subject of the phone call!

Oof.  This one is really packed with punches, isn't it?  I loved the interaction of the guys at the game and especially the brothers.  It felt very warm and familial and true.  The reminiscences did a great job of not only illustrating Jim's state of mind then but also in showing how easily he could have said something then instead of waiting until Casino Night.

Author's Response:

I aim for the punches, angst whore that I am.  :o) So glad the dynamic with Jim's brothers seemed natural, as it was one of the things I was really worried about.  And this whole story came out of the desire to explore what could've happened if Jim had spoken up earlier -- because like you said, he so easily could have done it on the Booze Cruise. 

Thanks for your review!

Your poor husband - that's quite a tale!

This chapter was excellent.  I really like the mixture of emotions that Pam was feeling.  It can be overwhelming being the new person coming into a group that tightly knit and then to be the only girl in a group of guys adds another layer.  You wove that into the regular JAM confusion so nicely.

Wow.  This was incredibly intense.  Poor Jim.  He's really strung out.  I like that Pam's fully aware of what's happening though, even despite remaining unwilling/incapable of doing anything about it.

Author's Response:

I know -- I tend to really drag poor Jim through it all when I write him, and I have no idea why.  :o)  (Well, I have some idea why -- JK just does angst so well....)  I'm so glad you're still enjoying this!

Thanks for reviewing!

I like the notion that Roy's own shortcomings are a large part of Jim's continued adoration of and devotion to Pam.  I don't know that I've ever seen it written down quite so plainly and yet it makes complete sense.  That Jim views that as his "innocence"...ouch.

Love this:  the chances of salvaging anything of their friendship are flickering on the edge of oblivion.

I honestly didn't notice any shift in tone at all.  Things had already gotten to a much quieter, though slightly less *desperate* place the last chapter and this felt like a perfect continuation of that.  I really liked the exhausted and defeated feeling to their interactions.  Everyone can tell they really are about to embark on something new.  Well, not Roy.  HA!

Author's Response:

Really?  I can't tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtful feedback on that, because -- as I keep saying -- I was seriously worried that the shift would be too abrupt.  Glad as well that the exhausted-ness came through, because I felt like the only way for Pam to have finally been that honest with Jim would be if she were simply too exhausted to do otherwise, you know? 

And yeah, poor Roy.  Hee.  :o)

Thanks for reviewing!

Oh my gods Michael is the greatest!!!  That was a fantastic route to take with this chapter.  I mean, I was already in stitches just *thinking* about Pam telling him she called off the wedding.  But that last breakroom scene?  Genius.  I so wish we could have gotten to see that one on the show.  Wow.

Author's Response:

First: How awesome are you for reviewing all those chapters?  You made my day.  :o)  Yes, I really regret that we never got to see the immediate aftermath of Casino Night; there's just so much that the writers left uncovered (totally the wrong word, but it's late and I'm sleepy, lol).  Glad you enjoyed the scene, in any case; I was ready to lighten it up a bit, and Michael's always a safe bet for that sort of thing.  :o)

Thanks for reviewing!

Wow.  I'm just stunned by how utterly seamlessly you fit the events together with the jinx game and everything.  Was that your plan all along?  Brilliant.  How amazing.

Author's Response: Thank you so much!  No, it actually wasn't my plan at all; the idea just came to me and I went with it.  As I mentioned in the other response, a few other episodes will be loosely included before this is all over.  So glad you're enjoying it!

Awww, that was so sweet and funny.  I mean, you don't expect so much humor in the middle of smut and it was just perfectly silly!  I also loved the confused mess of emotions and how desperately unable Pam was to even begin to express them.

Author's Response:

Thanks so much!  I know it's a big debate in the fandom (what a dumb word, BTW) re: how fast Jim & Pam would go.  While I don't agree with the depictions of Pam as near virginal (though I'm probably guilty of that in some of my way older stuff), I also don't think she'd be willing to just jump in with both feet.  I think she'd WANT to, definitely, but I think she'd at least put up some attempt at taking things slowly.  That said, I think her efforts would fail miserably, because...well, c'mon: it's Jim, you know?  :o)

Thanks, BTW, for always taking the time to review each chapter as you catch up -- such a really considerate thing to do! 

Aww.  That was actually really sweet and not dirty at all.  Which is odd considering the rather vivid nature of the happenings!

Author's Response:

I'm glad you found it sweet!  As I said in a previous review: there's a fine line between sexy and skeevy, and I can never discern exactly where it is when I'm in the midst of writing.  :o)

Thanks so much for reviewing!

I love how neatly the events of Casino Night overlaid the events as presented in this universe.  I could see the shadow of things as they were and yet it wasn't haunting the things as they are.  Not sure how to explain it.  Wonderful though.

Author's Response:

I'm glad you enjoyed that; it was one of the things I'd planned from the very beginning.  And lord, your review was worded so beautifully -- "shadow of things as they were and yet it wasn't haunting the things as they are."  Gorgeous.  :o)

Thanks for reviewing!