Title: Until Now

By: IllStandByYou87

Notes: This is my first Office fic. Please review, and constructive criticism is always welcome but please don't be rude about it. Very AU. Pam went through with her wedding to Roy, Jim went to Stamford, the branches got merged, and he came back with Karen. Jim and Pam don't talk much, other than small talk. Karen and Pam get along well, but they aren't close. Remember, Pam doesn't gain any self confidence, she's still 2nd season Pam.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Office. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Prologue

Pam Beesly Anderson opened her eyes. After turning to look at the clock she groaned. I get up way too early for a job that pays way too little. She sat up in bed and swung her legs over the side. She stood and as she placed her bare feet on the floor she winced in pain. Was that my back or my leg? she wondered. She had so many bruises on her that it didn't really matter anymore. She decided to sit back down on the bed before she felt anymore of the bruises. Pam glanced quickly over to the other side of the bed and to her relief didn't see her husband.

After a few more minutes of sitting and examining her bruises she felt brave enough to stand. Come on Pam, one foot in front of the other. The faster you go, the faster you get to work and can escape this nightmare. Who would have thought that one day Pam Beesly would think of work as her safe place?

This was December 2006. She and Roy had been married for six months. Six long months. She had wanted to break the engagement off but something Roy did stopped her. So they walked down the isle, all happy go lucky in an illusion that pleased their families and friends. They went on a short honeymoon and before they knew it they were back. The honeymoon was very nice, until Pam confessed something to him. She told him that she and Jim kissed on Casino Night. He stared at her and then hit her so hard she almost passed out. Fearful of what he might do next, she ran. Of course he caught up with her eventually. He was very calm and spoke evenly. He asked her to tell him about it and she did, on the drive home so he couldn't hit her again, at least at the moment. Roy didn't know that Jim had transferred to Stamford so after he told her to quit her job, she told him. He seemed pleased about that.

When they came home, Roy's drinking got a lot worse and he started using a punching bag to vent his frustrations out on. Then he broke that one so instead of getting a new one, he started hitting Pam. For the first few months, Pam believed she deserved it. After all, she had kissed another man. Then she started to get angry. However, when she started screaming at him, he just hit her harder. Back in November she started to just not care. Her life consisted of getting up, showering, going to work, making small talk with her co workers, including Jim, going home, making dinner, getting in a fight and usually getting hit and going to bed. Sometimes they didn't have to get into a fight. He would just walk over with a belt in hand and tell her to take off her shirt.

She snapped out of her brain and stood. She had to get into the shower so she could put on her anti-bacterial cream or she'd get an infection. Lately he'd taken to burning her on her back and legs, along with the assorted belt and sometimes a kick to the ribs was thrown in for good measure. She emotionally disconnected from whatever he was doing. She didn't cry, or scream. She barely flinched anymore. She winced when she was by herself. She allowed herself to feel pain when she was alone, she even allowed herself to cry occasionally. She walked into the bathroom slowly, dreading what she was about to see. After she turned the water on she stepped out of her clothes. Doing like she always does, she surveyed her body in the full length mirror, starting with her calves. Roy was always careful; he never touched me anywhere visible. "Until now," she said to herself, slowly raising her head up to see the black eye on a woman she no longer recognized.