The Pick-Up

He whirled around his apartment like a maniac, clothes and furniture twirling in his wake. What was I thinking? I told Karen yesterday that we didn't have a future in Scranton, giving her the impression that it (our relationship) was absolutely hunky dory. But it only took an old Office Olympics medal and word of encouragement from Pam to have me blowing off the interview and rushing back to Scranton… to her… Hell, I broke up with Karen over the phone… the phone!... on my way back! But what could I do?!? It's Pam!

He'd been in this state since Pam had said yes to his dinner invitation. He didn't know why he'd asked her for that night! He hadn't had anything ready… no reservation… no plans… no outfit… Nothing! He could only assume that he'd felt such a rush because he'd been afraid she might change her mind. They'd had too many road blocks already. He'd lucked out for his and Pam's favorite… Trax. It was the one they'd first had lunch in. And his relationship with Karen had really helped out in one specific area… his wardrobe had considerably improved.

He felt a lot of guilt about the Karen situation, really. He hadn't gone into the relationship truthfully. At least he hadn't picked another Pam look-alike like Katy. But he'd picked her because she'd been meant to be his Pam-shield. Not that she'd actually protected him from anything. Having the two women in the same town only highlighted how much he'd preferred Pam to Karen. But then he'd realized that Karen deserved more of a chance… and it still hadn't worked.

He'd still tried to deny his feelings. He had fun with Karen… He'd hardly looked at Pam since Roy had attacked him. It had just never crossed his mind that Pam had cancelled her wedding because of him. He'd assumed that Roy had put it off again. Sure it bothered him… Pam was his friend, after all… but he would have rather placed himself directly in the Call of Duty game dressed like a ballerina and equipped with a quiver of spaghetti than be the best friend comforter. But when she'd told him… When she'd stood right in front of him, looked him in the eye and told him point blank that he was the reason she'd broken up with Roy… Well, he'd been flabbergasted. What was he supposed to do with that information? What could he possibly do with it? And was she over him now and that's why she felt she could say it? Was she saying she missed him as her friend and only wanted him back as such? And Karen was being so much more attentive and understanding… Actually, it had been a little suffocating, but she hadn't reinstated the all night talks of months prior. He probably would have just continued on with his life if Pam hadn't put that thoughtful encouragement in his application material. It had reminded him of why he'd fallen for her in the first place.

Quickly, he pulled on a dark blue cashmere sweater and some khaki slacks. He slid on his shoes and looked in the mirror. He looked pretty good, but his hair was problematic. Karen had a point when she'd mentioned how scruffy he'd gotten, but there was a reason for that. He never had to actually spend time fixing his hair before. Now it was all about the hair dryer and the gel he used… which couldn't be too much because then his hair would be crusty… but not too little because then it would flop everywhere and he'd look ridiculous… which meant it took a lot longer to get ready. He couldn't wait for it to grow out.

A glance at the clock caused his heart to race. He needed to get rolling if he wanted to get there on time. Snagging his leather jacket, he jumped into his Saab and dashed off. Unlike Karen, Pam was all about timeliness. And the last thing he wanted was to be late for their first ever official date. He didn't even have to think to get to her apartment. He'd never been there before, but he'd Map Quested it when he'd gotten back to Scranton and had dreamed about knocking on her door so he'd run though the route two billion times in the last six months.

As he walked up to the door, his body was torn between running toward Pam, running from Pam, and trembling like a pre-pubescent idiot… which of course caused him to trip a bit. This is it… This is Pam, his mind played over and over again. He wasn't sure he was ready. This was worse than when she was engaged to be married… worse than when he bared his heart to her and she didn't immediately jump in his arms… worse than Michael's performances at the Dundees… But as he got closer to the door, his inner voice became less panicked and uncertain and more triumphant. Calm fell over him and he even managed a smile… his third for the afternoon. After all, his conversation with Karen hadn't left him much to smile about. He knocked.

He felt his smile grow wider as he heard her approach the door. Here we go! He almost gasped as the door opened and a vision of Pam unlike he'd ever seen registered with his brain. "Holy sh… You look great!" He blushed slightly. It was not an auspicious beginning if he was going to start swearing like a sailor.

A blush stained her pale… too pale… cheeks and she smiled. "Thanks! You're not so bad yourself!"

But her overt flirting and humor didn't distract him… too much. "Pam? You okay?" He wasn't prepared when she threw herself into his arms, squeezing tight. Something had happened… but at least she wasn't crying. But she'd seemed so happy when she'd left. What had happened in the intervening hours? "Pam… Talk to me…"

She looked up at him and unshed tears shone in her eyes. "I don't want to ruin our first date!" She smiled briefly but it didn't reach her eyes.

He ushered her into the apartment and sat her down on the couch. He held her hand and tried not to stare at his surroundings. He was desperate to see where she lived, but it was more important to comfort Pam if they were to have their date. "Pam?"

She looked at him seriously with those sad eyes of hers. "Karen called…" She looked away.

Shit! "I don't know what she said…" He could only imagine what she said. Did she try and submarine him? Was this over before it officially began?

She smiled softly and placed her hand on his knee. He stilled instantly. Suddenly, he couldn't breathe… couldn't think… The world had stopped and he was held in place by her gentle touch. Any anger and frustration he might have felt with Karen melted away. "It was fine, Jim. She was angry, but who wouldn't be? I wrecked your relationship."

The world rushed back in with a healthy dose of indignation. "You didn't wreck anything!"

"But if I hadn't opened my big mouth at the beach…"

Jim sighed. If she hadn't said anything, he might have blindly gone on with life… He knew his tendency to follow the path of least resistance. Maybe he might have even allowed her to manipulate him into marriage. And he'd liked Karen… but she was so high maintenance. How often had he given in just to get some rest?

As time passed, Pam's face had become more and more somber. She moved her hand and pulled away from him. "Did you just want to get out of the relationship and I was the handiest way?"

He could only gape at her for a moment. "No! Lord, no!" Her head snapped up with his outburst and the hidden hope inside made him want to weep. He held her hands gently. If he was ever going to be totally serious with her, he needed to at least do it now. "I've been dreaming about this forever… even when I was with Karen and Katy… It's always been about you. I've tried to shut you out, but it never works. My heart has always known what it wants… and it's always been you."

He gulped hard and watched her for any reaction. This was worse than Casino Night. He obviously hadn't been drinking. There was no escape route. If she turned him down now, he didn't know where he would run. "Well, that was really deep, Mr. Halpert. I don't have a response to that."

Perfect... as always... She always seemed to know just what to say... well, most of the time. "Well, Miss Beesly, this time I'm not demanding a response. After all, I already know you'd die without me…" He smirked. He'd always felt more comfortable with banter rather than any serious moments. It had been one of the reasons that his feelings hadn't come out right away.

She giggled lightly and made to move, but he wasn't ready for that yet. He tugged her back to the sofa. He would have loved her on his lap, but this was a new situation for them and now was too soon for those sorts of shenanigans. "Would you like something to drink?" She didn't make any move to get up again if he actually did want a drink, so he knew it was the small-talk portion of the evening.

"No thanks. We've gotta' be at the restaurant soon…"

"Holy crap! It's just… I can't believe… Are we really doing this? I mean…" She cuddled up to him and he choked back a contented sigh. "You know, I wouldn't mind just skipping dinner…" Her stomach growled loudly in protest and she blushed hotly.

And that's it for small-talk. Fantastic! Jim laughed and tugged her to her feet. This was why he'd loved this woman nearly from the moment he met her. "Come on, let's go. I wouldn't want that monster you call a stomach to eat you from the inside out…" Her answering smile was all he needed. Maybe there had been some ugliness in the beginning, but if they could always make the other smile, all would be well.