Summary: “Healthy ecosystems all have a natural balance. If you take something important out of the ecosystem, that balance falls apart, and the consequences for its inhabitants can be disastrous.”
Jim’s on a sales call. Pam’s taking a sick day. Karen’s getting a taste of life in the Scranton branch ecosystem with them gone. A cold open set mid-Season 3. #5 in the Rejected Cold Openings series.
Rated: K
Categories: Jim and Pam, Other, Past Characters: Dwight, Ensemble, Jim/Karen, Jim/Pam, Karen, Kelly, Michael, Oscar, Phyllis, Ryan, Stanley
Genres: Humor, Oneshot, Workdays
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Series: Rejected Cold Opens
Chapters: 1 Completed: Yes
Word count: 1612 Read: 1003 ePub Downloads: 2
Published: October 25, 2020 Updated: October 25, 2020
Story Notes:
This cold open is dedicated to Sam, because I am 100% sure this would never have come to me without her writing Karen discovering the importance of Pam’s place in the office in “In Sickness and In Health.” Which if you haven’t read you should click out of this and go read, because frankly it’s more worth your time than this. (And purely by coincidence, a member of the genus panthera plays a prominent role in both fics.)
DISCAIMER:
DWIGHT:
Rule 17b: don't turn your back on bears; men you have wronged; the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise whose publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. you have used without adding a disclaimer or clarifying that no copyright infringement is intended; or the dominant turkey during mating season. There are forty rules all Schrute boys must learn before the age of five. [sings] Learn your rules. You better learn your rules. If you don't, you'll be eaten in your sleep. [chomping sound]
DISCAIMER:
DWIGHT:
Rule 17b: don't turn your back on bears; men you have wronged; the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise whose publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. you have used without adding a disclaimer or clarifying that no copyright infringement is intended; or the dominant turkey during mating season. There are forty rules all Schrute boys must learn before the age of five. [sings] Learn your rules. You better learn your rules. If you don't, you'll be eaten in your sleep. [chomping sound]
1. Lions and Leopards and Baboons, Oh My by darjeelingandcoke [Reviews - 9] 
14 (1612 words)