Title: His Smile
Author: Lisa M
Pairing: Jim/Karen; Jim/Pam - sort of
Prompt: #85 She (LJ varietypack100)
Rating: Everyone
Word Count: 430
Disclaimer: Nope … still don't own anything.

Summary: Is Jim finally over Pam and ready to move forward with Karen?

Notes: Okay … let me preface this fic by saying that I am 100 a Jammer. I am not a fan of the Jim/Karen relationship, but since they are together, I figured I'd use that to my advantage. This is my first attempt at an Office fic … please be kind.

Karen watched him as he slept; her eyes tracing over the flat plane of his nude chest - pausing to memorize each hair, each freckle, before moving lower down his torso. She stopped at a point just above his hips - the place where the blanket hid everything below its edge. She was tempted to pull the maroon flannel away from him - to bring his body fully into her line of sight, but she didn't. Instead, she slid her gaze back up to his peaceful face and laid her hand gently against his skin. His ribcage rose and fell beneath her palm as he breathed in the slow rhythm of sleep.

She placed her cheek on his shoulder, snuggling closer, and smiled as her eyes slipped shut.

'This is it,' she thought happily. 'We've finally made it. Finally gotten past … her.'

Jim mumbled in his sleep and shifted slightly. His arm slid around her and he pulled her against his side. Drowsiness tugged at her and she felt herself slipping deeper and deeper into slumber's comfortable embrace. Before she allowed herself to be taken, she brushed a soft kiss over his throat.

"Jim?" she whispered.

"Mmmmmm?"

"I love you."

"Mmmmm," he slurred in his sleep, his arms tightening around her. "I love you too, Pam."

Karen's eyes popped open. She didn't yell, or scream, or even cry, but gently untangled herself from his embrace and sat. Her eyes settled on his face once again. He was still asleep, yet, his expression was one that she'd seen a hundred times since moving to Scranton. And if she was going to be completely honest with herself, probably more often than that. His lips were curled up at the corners in a smile that, when he was awake, lit up his entire face.

It was the smile that he saved for her. For Pam. A smile that Karen had been silently praying to see, just once, when he looked at her. Now, here in this moment, she knew that she'd never see it. That Jim would never smile at her the way he smiled at Pam Beesley.

Karen stood and gathered up her clothing. As she dressed, she tried to think of something - anything - that she could say to him. To explain to him why she had left. But, as much as she wanted to deny it, Karen knew he would know the reason. She grasped her jacket and glanced back at him one final time.

"Goodbye Jim."

And with a long, deep sigh, Karen turned silently and left.

The End