"Jim?"

Jim looked up at the familiar voice, removing his face from its cradle in his hands. Pam was running toward him, her brown eyes wide. Immediately she threw her arms around him. "I'm so glad you're okay." she whispered tremulously.

"Thanks." Jim breathed.

She pulled back, and sat down next to him. "How's Dwight?" she asked anxiously.

"I don't know yet." Jim stared down into his lap, where his hands lay curled like a dormant animal. "I've been sitting out here for, like, twenty minutes. For all I know he could be dead, Pam. Dead."

"Oh, Jim." Pam frowned, her dark eyes misty. "I'm sure he's fine. Remember who we're talking about."

"I suppose you're right." Jim gave a half-hearted, nervous laugh. "He's survived bear attacks and stuff."

"Hey, that's right." She smiled, soothingly rubbing his forearm. "Don't worry, Jim."

"He just looked so… so pale." Jim gulped, trying to force the image of his coworker's ashen face out of his mind. "And all the blood, Pam. I mean… it was… it was everywhere."

Pam nodded, shutting her eyes tightly. "I know. I know."

Just then, a nurse walked out into the waiting room. "Mr Halpert?" she called, looking around.

Jim stood up quickly. "That's me. How's Dwight?"

The nurse smiled kindly at him, obviously seeing the distress on his face. "You can see him now."

Jim turned back to Pam. "Are you coming?" he asked.

"Of course." She reached out and took his hand. "I'm right with you, Jim."
They followed the nurse down the hallway. She opened one of the doors to let them in. "I'll be out here if you need me." she told them.

"Thank you." said Jim. He held the door for Pam, and then went in himself. His heart was pounding in his ears, and part of him didn't want to see what was inside…

"Dwight." Pam's voice.

"Pam?" Dwight's voice.

Dwight.

Jim looked in. There, sitting up in the bed, was Dwight. He was squinting at her- his glasses were off. Pam picked them up off of the bedside table and brought them over to him. She hugged him. "Jim told me what happened. I'm so glad you're alright."

"Don't worry about me." Dwight reassured her loftily, as he put on his glasses. "I'm a Schrute, after all. I've survived much worse."

"Oh, I don't doubt it." Pam laughed softly. "And… thank you for shielding Jim. We're forever in your debt, Dwight." She leaned over and planted a quick kiss on his forehead.

Dwight smiled as Pam stepped back. Then, he glanced over- and his eyes locked onto Jim. "Jim." he said.

"Dwight." Jim breathed. He moved quickly toward his coworker and wrapped his arms tightly around him.

"Careful." Pam warned him, but Jim didn't move. Dwight was here, he was real, material, alive.

"Get off me, Jim." hissed the salesman. "I'm fine."

Now that was the Dwight that Jim knew and loved… to hate. "You looked awful before." he admitted. "I thought you died."

"Fact: I will never die." Dwight said. "I-"

But Jim wasn't finished yet. "You're amazing, Dwight. Amazing. I don't know anyone else who would sacrifice themselves for me… for my family. If you hadn't… and I'd died… my family would be a wreck. Pam wouldn't be able to take care of Cece and Philip all by herself, not if she was struggling with depression after I died. You're a life-saver- literally. And I know that someday, you'll have a family, too, because you're amazing."

Dwight just stared at him, blue eyes wide. "You think so?" he asked finally.

Jim nodded. "Yeah, I do. I know so."

A smile broke out on Dwight's face. "Thank you." he said gratefully. It was uncharacteristic for Dwight to show any kindness toward Jim- let alone gratitude- so his words put a smile on Jim's face.

"No." He shook his head, beaming. "Thank you."

end