Jim had gotten more upset than she realized and for a minute she wondered why. He just shrugged and gave one of his smiles.

"The only way I'd leave Scranton Beesly, is if my runway model career takes off and I'm needed immediately in Paris."

Pam didn't agree, she didn't understand why Jim didn't want more when it was obvious he was so obviously capable of it.  Oh look...pot meet kettle! Have we met before?! Sure she could say the same thing about herself, but her circumstances were different. Jim didn't have an impending marriage, he had nothing holding him back from his full potential. Whoa! Holding me back? Is that what I think, Roy is holding me back? She just wanted him to know she believed he was wasting so many of his wonderful talents in this place, he had so much to offer someone, job related of course.

But she didn't push it further, instead she apologized, hoping to salvage a friendship that meant so much to her.

She was happy to walk into work to an over-anxious Jim. Maybe because it was Friday.

"Want to help me?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Depends, is it dangerous?"

"Beesly, I'm insulted. Of course it is." He said in mock disappointment. She smiled and followed him into the break room as he un-hatched his devious plan.

"You thought of that this morning? How long have you been awake?" she responded.

Jim shook his head. "Um...since 4 am. Had a lot on my mind. Anyway, ready for some heavy lifting?"

Around 7:30 she settled down at her desk and checked messages. Jim was involved in a round of Solitaire and she took that moment to look at him fully. His eyes were squinted at the screen, from prolonged exposure probably, and his hair was extra tussled this morning. His tie was already loosened, and his sleeves rolled up on his long arms. She wondered if he worked out. What? PAM?!

He did look a bit tired, and she couldn't help but wonder what kept him up so late? Did he lay awake sometimes and stare at the ceiling, willing it to come crashing down like she did most nights? Jim in bed...boxers or briefs? MY GOD PAM!

She couldn't finish chastising herself for having such thoughts as Dwight strolled in and stopped abruptly by her desk. His eyes were wide and he gritted his teeth.

"Where is my desk?"

Jim looked up and over at the empty space that once was Dwight's area, "That is weird."

Dwight turned red, and Pam stifled her giggle fit wondering if he would turn purple soon. "This is not funny, this is totally unprofessional."

"Okay, well, you're the one who lost the desk." Jim shrugged.

"I didn't lose my desk!"

"Okay, calm down. Where was the last place you saw it?" Jim replied, leaning forward. He was the master.

"Okay, who moved my desk?" Dwight yelped.

"I think you should retrace your steps."

Dwight frowned at Jim and stomped towards Michael's office. "Okay, I am going to tell Michael, and this entire office will be punished."

Without even flinching, Jim coolly looked down at his paperwork. "Colder."

She watched in amazement as Dwight paused and gave Jim a look. Then he stepped backwards. "Warmer."

Everyone in the office stopped to watch. Pam didn't know how much longer she could hold out.

Jim jotted something on his paper work. "Little warmer."

They watched Dwight go into the kitchen and Jim gave her a bright smile before saying, "There you go, ooh, warmer."

He watched as Dwight walked near the men's bathroom then past it. "Warmer, cold, cold! Cold! Back up!"

He grabbed the phone and winked at her, pressing a speed dial button and sitting back lazily in his chair. Pam snorted and he turned to her, not even focusing on Dwight going into the bathroom.

Clearing his throat, he cradled the phone between his chin and his shoulder. "Hi Dwight. Um, what sort of discounts are we giving on the 20 pound white bond?.... I know...Okay thank you, I got to get back to work."

Jim hung up the phone, and Pam couldn't help but stare at him for all his brilliance. Some might consider him cruel, but Pam just thought Jim had so much humor, he need a release. Dwight provided that.  Why not take it out on the one person who hates laughter?

She shifted in her seat and watched Stanley approach her holding a folder. He sat them on her desk and stared down at her.

"I don't want to stay until 7:00 again this year." Stanley's voice was full of annoyance.

"I don't really have any control over that, Stanley." She frowned as she took them. Today Michael had to sign the expense reports. Well actually last week but today was the deadline. She had tried for a few weeks to get him to sign it, but Michael found other ways to distract her.

She gave a talking head shortly after moving Dwight's desk.

"Michael tends to procrastinate a bit...whenever he has to do work. Um, time cards..." She held up the color appropriate folders. "He has to sign these every Friday. Purchase orders have to be approved at the end of every month. And expense reports. All he has to do is initial these, at the end of every quarter. But once a year, it all falls on the same Friday. And that's today. I call it the perfect storm."

She gathered her folders, said a hail Mary even though she wasn't Catholic and went to annoy Michael. Ryan sat there looking terrified as usual and Pam just knocked to get Michael's attention.

"Hello. Oh, God." He grumbled and made a cross sign with his index fingers. "Busy work. Ah, get away, get away. Cretin."

Pam ignored him and told him the folders were organized and had signature tabs. She knew Michael would be difficult, it's like trying to feed a baby spinach. "Well, the last pickup for overnight deliveries is at 7:00, so you need to have them signed by then. Or much earlier."

"Shalax, Pam. Stop Pam-MSing." Michael replied, looking from the camera to Ryan for approval. He didn't get any. "That's pretty good. Um, actually, I'm sending Ryan on a top secret mission. Tell her what it is."

Ryan looked confused. "Updating emergency contacts?"

She sighed heavily. "Well, is that really a priority?"

She really didn't want Michael to start, she just wanted him to sign the damned expense reports. "Is it a priority? Oh, I don't know. Um, what if there's a tornado, Pam? People's legs are crushed under rubble. Please, would you be so kind as to call my wife? No, I can't...because we don't have any emergency contact information. Because Pam said it wasn't a priority..."

Pam walked out abruptly in the middle of his tirade returning to her desk. She didn't get paid enough for this. She clicked her mouse and wondered aimlessly around the internet. Interesting, palm reading. She read a bit, intrigued a little. Finally she decided it was a good distraction.

She heard the soft ding across the room and Jim looked at his screen.

Want me to tell you your fortune?

Her own computer dinged.

I already know I'm supposed to marry Eva Longaria and have 3 kids and find the cure for dandruff. But sure, I'll play.

Jim stood up and walked over, leaning on the counter. "Going all gypsy on me now Beesly?"

She smiled. "Just shut up and give me your hand."

He extended his hand out to her palm up and she marveled at their size. As she grabbed hold of it, it amazed her they were kind of soft, not callused and rough like Roy's. His fingers were long, and actually well kept. Well she could tell he bit on his thumb a bit, but she knew that was a habit he did just when he was in deep concentration. She followed the lines on his palm. "Your major and minor lines cross at a ridge. That sucks."

Looking up at him, she saw him smile. "You're making this up as you go along, aren't you?"

"I am just following the web site." She wondered if he could see her blushing as she gripped his hand.

"Well...at least I don't have cavities."

Her eyes stayed on his palm. "Yes, you have very nice teeth."

She could feel him beaming at her.

Later she made her way to Michael's window. He was doodling, my god. She knocked on it. "Could you practice on the forms?"

She hated to be a nag, but he was acting like it was such a big deal. JUST DO IT MICHAEL! He had time to sit out at Jim's desk and discuss Westside Story he had time to sign the damn reports. She stomped into the office and grabbed the folders, placing them on his desk. She wish she could force him to sign, maybe hold him at gunpoint. Nooooo...that would make it difficult to keep her job after that. She needed the money.

Meanwhile Michael was outside attacking Dwight and bothering Jim.

"Just hit me. You'll see." He goaded Jim.

Jim just shook his head. "I can't, 'cause I just got a manicure. So..."

"Oh, queer! Eye, Queer Eye." Michael looked at the camera nervously. "That's a good show. Important show. Go ahead, do it."

Jim was enjoying himself. "Just have Dwight punch you."

"Oh, yeah, well, that would be kind of worthless because I know a ton of 14-year-old girls who could kick his ass."

"You know a ton of 14-year-old girls?" Jim smirked at the camera.

The conversation got weird after that. Dwight cried during Armageddon and the Dwight hit Michael. Pam just wanted to die laughing.

Jim approached her in the break room as Pam made her tea. "Did Dwight make Michael his bitch?"

"I think so." Pam snorted.

"I need to see a rematch. They should fight at Dwight's dojo."

"Oh yeah, and at the end, Michael should go all Karate Kid on Dwight."

Jim smiled. "I like the way you think Beesly."

She went back to her desk and finished a game of FreeCell. Jim leaned across her counter as he did. He glanced over at Dwight trying to fight Kevin while wearing his purple belt. "Okay, he has to be stopped. Please, please, please, please, just ask Michael."

"I don't know." Pam replied. Michael needed to sign those expense reports. A fight would only be a distraction.

"Okay, I'll buy you a bag of chips." Jim smiled.

She was way too easy. "French onion?"

She agreed but just because she didn't want to be a spoil sport. The expense reports were more important. She tentatively knocked on Michael's door. He looked like a wounded bird. "Go away."

"I just have a quick question."

"I haven't signed them, okay?" Michael looked annoyed.

She looked at Jim who urged her on. "No, it's not that. Um, I was just wondering, since I'm probably going to have to stay late, could you ask Dwight to stay late too, so he can walk me to my car?"

Michael face crumbled. "Come in."

Jim looked impressed and Pam entered Michael's office. "Uh, Pam, I hate to break this to you, but Dwight can't stop you from being mugged. He's just not tough enough."

"He's a purple belt. That's really high." This was so pathetic.

"Oh, I could beat up Dwight. That's ridiculous. I can murder him."

"It's just that out there, you..." Pam trailed off, trying hard not to point and laugh in his face.

Michael went off and jumped up looking for Dwight. Pam walked out towards Jim who was snapping his fingers like the Westside story. Loser. They stood and watched the horror unfold.

Michael and Dwight bickered like girls as Pam resisted the thought of moving closer to Jim. He smelled nice, like fabric softener.

"Ooh, what about, ah, Dwight's dojo?" Jim suggested.

Toby walked by and looked at Michael being a buffoon. "Uh, any word on those-?"

"Hey, you know what? I have an idea, why don't you just leave right now? Why don't you walk away from the room, okay? Fine." Michael spat out. Pam shot Michael a look. He was nasty to Toby for no reason.

Toby walked away and Michael looked at Pam. "We'll go at lunch. Pam, make an announcement. Figure out carpools."

She couldn't help wanting to smack Jim for being so happy. Well not smack him really, she would never hurt Jim. But Michael now had the perfect excuse not to sign those reports. They all grabbed their coats, kind of excited by the extra hour they had for lunch. On the way to the dojo, Pam found herself staring over and looking at Jim's jaw line. He had a nice jaw line. Roy used to have a chiseled jaw line, but years of beer guzzling and donut eating made him grow a slightly extra chin. Finally they were at the dojo and Jim stood with Pam as Dwight and Michael warmed up.

She grabbed a punching pad and slipped it on her hand.

"Cool oven mitt." Jim replied.

"Read my fortune." She suggested.

"Through the oven mitt?"

She smiled and bounced on the balls of her feet. "Yep. Come on, I did you."

"That's what she said." Pam snorted and Jim looked down at the mitt. His face fell. "Wow, that is really interesting."

"What?"

"Your love line- I'm just kidding, I can't see anything."

Pam smiled. "Look closer."

As Jim leaned forward she tapped his chin with the bad. He looked really surprised. "One point for me."

Jim face lit up with s bit of shock and he tapped her on the head. "Tied up."

"Oh, you're dead."

"What?" he held up his two fists and chuckled. "What are you going to do? Bring it Beesly. Bring it."

Pam body checked him and jumped around. She felt like a kid. She felt free and playful. "Ooh, yeah. Good move."

Before she knew it, Jim was behind her, and he picked her up, wrapping his arms around her waist. She felt her shirt go up slightly and her skin make contact with his. It felt like fire. "Ooh, not such an ultimate fighter now, huh?"

"Oh, hey, put me down. Put me down!" She couldn't help but giggle.

But she heard the zoom of the camera and then Meredith had turned to look at them and she panicked. This wasn't good. An engaged woman should not be doing this. Bad Pam! "Oh my god. Hey, put me down."

Jim dropped her and she frantically pulled at her blouse and stomped away. What was she doing? A minute of playing and next thing she knew she was crossing a line. Lately being around Jim made her confused and sometimes she would forget there was a Roy. Or at least she would want to forget.

She sat as far away as possible, flustered and confused as they watched Dwight and Michael fight like two ridiculously pitiful creatures. Michael eventually cheated and kicked Dwight's ass. As they filed back into the office, Pam sat down at her computer still embarrassed. She rode back with Angela, not Jim. Kelly and Ryan rode with Jim. She didn't know why she was doing this, thinking those thoughts. She ran a hand over her face and avoided looking at Jim as much as possible. She could tell he was looking at her, trying to catch her eye. She grabbed a magazine to distract herself.

As everyone was leaving, Pam kept her eyes down on the drawing she was doing. Jim was gathering his things and she wanted to apologize for her reaction but how can you explain to a friend who knows your engaged, I freaked out because you touched me and I liked it and I'm engaged but I wish I wasn't. That's something a hussy would do.

He walked solemnly by reception and she fought to block out his glance. "Have a good weekend."

"Yeah, you too." She didn't dare look at him. She heard something crinkle and looked up at the counter to see a bag of chips. French onion. A smile pulled at her lips as she reached for the bag. She had just opened a big can of crap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...And so Mark is like pushing the mattress up and gets wedged between the wall, and I'm like dude, jump out the window..." Jim continued his story. She loved Jim and Mark stories. How those two could cohabitate without killing each other was amusing to her. Jim would come in and tell her how Mark stumbled in drunk on night and baked cookies because his girlfriend who just dumped him loved cookies. This week it was a mattress adventure and Pam already had tears in her eyes.

Ryan walked in carrying dry cleaning bags. "Hey. Any luck with that big meeting yet? I've got Michael's lucky tie."

Jim shook his head. "No, they're in the conference room."

"Okay."

Pam perked up, eyeing the bags. "Wait, are those Michael's Levis?"

Ryan sighed. "Yeah, who dry-cleans jeans?"

Pam looked over at Jim and snorted. She took the jeans from Ryan and balled them up and tossed them under the desk to Jim's amusement.

"Cold Beesly."

The AD then asked her to do a talking head and Pam just groaned in frustration.

"Michael and his jeans. He gets in them and...I'm not exactly sure what happens. But I can tell you, he loves the way he looks in those jeans. I know that's why he started casual Fridays."

She sighed and clicked the winning move on her FreeCell game before going to the kitchen and fixing tea. Everyone sat around, chuckling as Oscar told a story. She stood beside Jim her glanced at her and grinned.

"She had done a background check on me. She had it printed out-" Oscar stated, causing everyone to burst with laughter.

"No." Jim gasped.

"Yeah. And she was asking me about stuff line by line while we were having dinner."

"That is unbelievable." Ryan replied.

Pam turned to Jim. "What's going on?"

"We are doing worst first dates." Jim stated.

Pam squeaked. "Oh my god. I win. Okay, it was a minor league hockey game. He brought his brother. And when I went to the bathroom, the game ended, and they forgot about me."

Everyone was quiet for a minute, gawking at her. "Okay, that's a joke."

Pam shook her head. "No, they had to come back for me."

She felt Jim staring at her. "Wait, when was this?"

She regretted even saying anything. Embarrassment showed on her face. "Um...it was...not that long ago."

Kelly laughed. "Wait, not Roy. Say it's not your fiancé."

Pam tried to smile but wanted to smack herself for even saying anything. It was the single most embarrassing moment of her life, and to this day, Roy still found it funny. Hell he even repeated it at parties. Pam shrugged her shoulders, and left with her tea.

She huffed down at her desk and frowned. Why didn't she mention the first time she met Roy instead? That was more lighter and funnier than him leaving her at a crowded stadium confused and scared. Wait, meeting Roy wasn't all that great either. She had tripped on her shoe lace and fell flat on her butt in front of the whole football team. Roy didn't laugh as much as the other, but he looked like he wanted to.

Michael left the office with Jan shortly after and Pam immersed herself in a tantalizing game of MineSweep. Jim glanced over a few times at her but she pretended not to notice. And when he wasn't looking, she was glancing at him too.

"Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam."

Michael wanted her to go in his office and look up one of his joke books. She trudged in there and went through the desk and read him a few. After he was happy, she hung up the phone and went to replace the books. She shuffled papers around that he had obviously shoved in the drawer unorganized and something caught her eye.

"Ha..." she silently laughs to herself. She grabbed the papers and looked at the camera, wagging her eye brows. She bounced over to Jim's desk and plopped the paper down in front of him, sighing heavily.

"Wha-Is this real?" he asked, reading them over.

"It is a screenplay...starring himself." She stated slowly.

Jim's face lit up. "Agent Michael Scarn."

"Of the F.B.I."

"How long is this? Oh, Pam, good work. Oh, wait, stop. Drawings." He pulls out three amateur drawing. Michael drew cartoons, how sweet.

Jim was having way too much fun with that. And Pam had to admit she was too. She was happy he wasn't pushing her away after the dojo. She was happy he hadn't stopped talking to her after she suggested he leave Scranton. She really would blow her head off if he left. Jim had gathered everyone into the conference room and Pam had made copies of script. She passed them around the table and settled next to Jim.

He cleared his throat. "Alright, let's get this started. I'm gonna be reading the action descriptions. And Phyllis, I would like you to play Catherine Zeta-Jones."

Phyllis chuckled. "That's the character's name?"

"Oh yeah." Jim snickered.

Dwight came in being the downer he was. He lingered by the door. "You guys should not be doing this."

"Why not Dwight? This is a movie. I mean this is for all of America to enjoy."

"You took something that doesn't belong to you."

Jim sighed. "Dwight."

Jim coaxed Dwight into playing Agent Michael Scarn and it was hilarious. Phyllis played Catherine Zeta-Jones, Oscar was Golden Face and Ryan was Samuel L. Chang, Michael Scarn's stupid assistant. Roy came by, ready to head home, but Pam didn't want to go yet. They were having so much fun. She excused herself from the table and approached Roy.

He looked perplexed that she wasn't coming home with him, but then just handed her the keys to the truck and went to get a ride with Darryl. Pam wondered if her refusal to go home would prompt him to go out and drink with Darryl until early morning, but she didn't care. It felt good not to jump just because Roy wanted her to.

Dwight found out Samuel L. Chang was loosely based off of him. He refused to finish playing along and Jim agreed everyone should take a break. It was getting late after all and most people would be heading out by now.

"Hey, are you hungry?" Jim asked as they all stood and walked out the conference room.

"Yeah." Pam nodded her head. "Do you have plans tonight?"

"Well...I was going to see if Ka-" Jim stopped and shook his head. "No I don't."

Jim suggested they go eat on the roof because Dwight had said he was going to set off some fireworks and Jim wanted to see if he would botch that up. It wasn't too cold out and Pam grabbed her jacket from her desk after shutting down the phone. She looked at the candle by her computer.  One day while stockpiling candles for the bathroom (people always demanded them whenever Kevin went in there), she had accidentally purchased a cintronella candle.  She just kept it at her desk.  Well now was a good time to use it. She grabbed it and the candle lighter in her drawer, figuring it would be a nice touch to keep the bugs away.

Jim went in the break room and made sandwiches. She got two sodas and smiled at the camera and then went to climb the ladder to the roof to wait for Jim.

They both sat in the lounge chairs on the roof and Pam lit the candle.

"Wow." Jim replied.

"For the bugs." Pam said smiling. She watched the flames bounce around in the reflection from his eyes.

" Nice. That's excellent because bugs love...my famous grilled cheese sandwich." He uncovered a plate and handed it to her.

She smiled and took a big bite. "Yes! Nice. I can't remember the last time someone made me dinner."

She didn't look to see Jim smiling slightly. He pointed off into the distance at Dwight and Kevin jumping over a small pathetic looking firework fountain. She felt nice, better than she had in a long time. Which was odd because nothing in particular happened today. She bit her sandwich again and relished in the calm that took her over. Jim was happy and again he had proved to her he could make her day a bit better.

They cleaned up and walked out the building together. "So, I guess I'll see you in10 hours."

Pam snickered. "What are you going to do with your time off?"

Jim smiled shyly. "Travel."

"Yeah." She gave a giggle. He could always make her laugh.

"I've been looking forward to it." He replied, absentmindedly placing one of his IPod earplugs in on ear. "It's gonna be...really nice. I'm gonna find myself."

"You have new music?"

He nodded as Pam stuck out her palm to use the other plug. "Yeah. Definitely."

They stood there for a minute and listened to the music, Pam lightly swaying and Jim bobbing his head. It was nice. No, it was perfect.