CHAPTER 3 – The Road Less Travelled

(After breakfast at the inn's tiny restaurant was over):

Pam and Michael sat across the table from one another, he was nursing a coffee and she her orange juice. There was only an elderly couple and a middle-aged man reading a paper nearby.

"Michael, I think we should share in the driving – why don't you let me drive for awhile?" Pam asked, looking desperate to get back on track.

"No, it's OK, you've been driving since Scranton. You need a break," Michael excused, playing with his spoon. He glanced over at the elderly couple and grinned. "I want to be like that at 60 – smiling, sharing breakfast…"

"Well, at least we can get a map before heading out," Pam commented, talking more to herself than Michael right now.

"No can do!" Someone's voice interrupted them.

They looked up to see a scruffy looking bus boy clearing the tables, he had been eavesdropping on the conversation they were having.

"We don't have any maps here."

Pam looked at him in disbelief. It was like the Twilight Zone!

"Is there a place in town that has them?"

"Sure, Sandy's – convenience store before you get on the I-81, but her's are pretty out of date. Some are still marked as 1975."

Michael started to laugh. "Wow – Hicksville!"

Pam just gave him a dirty look. "How do you get to the highway."

"I never take it, but I think it's on the edge of town," the young teen answered.

Then, he continued on with his work.

She felt like crawling under the table.

"There must be someone in this town who knows where the hell we are!" Pam snorted, contemptuously.

"Yeah, me – trust me, Pam – we're on the right route. We'll hop in the car and get on the highway and be in Pittsburgh by tomorrow morning."

The confidence in his handsome, glib face did relieve her fears, at least momentarily. But, she half wondered if it was a bluff.

"You're right, Michael – thank you."

"Right! OK – do you have a credit card on you – I left mine my luggage in the car," Michael replied, and stood up to leave without waiting for her answer.

(Later on that day, at around noon):

Pam had to admit, sometimes Michael Scott surprised her. True to his word, he found the I-81 and they were well on the way again.

But, it was only a pretty illusion – as soon signs seemed to be foreign to them along the highway.

She was convinced they needed to turn off at the next exit to pick up Highway 80, but he was sure it was still at least an hour away.

As the rush of cars passed and the traffic thinned out – Michael abruptly took the off ramp to Coal Street in Shenandoah.

"Where are you going, this isn't the way Michael!" Pam panicked as she watched the highway disappearing behind them.

"Pam, have some faith -"

"No! No more having faith in you. If you had gotten that map in Scranton and let me drive, we would have been half way to Pittsburgh right now!"

"We don't need a map, OK! I know where I'm going!" Michael argued, glaring hard out the windshield.

"Alright!" Pam snarled, crossing her arms defiantly in front of her. "Where are we then?!"

Without warning, Michael suddenly turned the wheel and roared nearly full speed towards the soft shoulder of the road.

Pam screamed in terror as he slammed on the brakes of the PT Cruiser.

"Fine! Fine! You win OK! I'm done!" Michael roared, in anger he flung open the door to the driver's side and walked around the car to open Pam's.

"You drive!"

He threw his keys into her lap. But, she just sat there, staring stoically ahead with her arms still crossed.

This only caused Michael to become more angry.

"What do you want – huh?! OK! I'm an idiot! I'm an idiot – for bringing you!!"

Now she glared up at him, her face was burning red.

"Me?! Oh ho ho – don't you put this on me!! You begged me to come! 'Oh Pam, please – I can't do this without you'!"

"I never said that!"

"Oh yes, you did! Making me feel all sorry for you. Well, that's it – I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Good!"

"Good!" She shouted back, defiantly.

Running down the little embankment into the brush and wooded are not far from the road, Michael ignored the fact that his nice Italian shoes were getting mucked up with mud. He flipped open his cell phone.

"I'm going to call Greyhound to come pick me up! Just me, Pam – you're on your own! You seem so certain of where you're going!! You don't need me!"

She still didn't look at him as she sat high above him now, her door open, but shivering slightly from the chill of the woods.

As Michael tried valiantly to get a signal on his phone, he realized they were out of the calling area. It was pointless.

"Damnit!" He cursed and pocketed the phone again.

They were really running out of options.

Struggling back up the hill, he came up to Pam's door and leaned inside.

"Pam, let's go to Shenandoah – call Dunder Mifflin and see if we can get Dwight on the horn. That guy can track a twig in a tornado – he'll get us some directions."

Still, she didn't answer.

Michael just groaned in frustration. Going back to the driver's side, he spied the keys still sitting in Pam's lap.

Without hesitation, he reached between her legs to retrieve them.

Like a shot, Pam grabbed a hold of his wrist.

"Pam – I wasn't going to…" he complained, not in the mood anymore. "I'm sorry about everything, OK? Yeah, I screwed up – just let me fix this."

She sat quietly for a moment, and then took his hand in hers. Forcing his hand to be palm up, she placed the keys inside. She closed his fingers around them. For a moment, she held his hands between hers.

Neither of them moved as they both sat there in peace, just watching their fingers wrapped around each others.

Finally, he spoke.

"Your hands are so tiny," he whispered.

She glanced up at him and a blush came to her cheeks.

"Yours are warm," she replied. "Let's go."

He grinned at her and nodded as he put his hands on the wheel. "Thank you, Pam."

(Shenandoah, Pennsylvania – just off I-81. Little did they know they were actually doubling back at this point):

The small town turned out to be very much like Scranton, Pam felt a little homesick as she took in the place as they approached. Homes dotted the landscape, and lovely little local churches. Another small town and no doubt another challenge to get a compass reading of where they needed to go.

As soon as they spotted a Denny's – they knew they had once again found modern civilization.

"I'm going to use the phone, why don't you go order something for lunch and I'll join you in a little bit?" Michael explained as they walked through the front doors.

"Actually, I'd like to see what Dwight has to say. I'll come with you," Pam insisted. She wasn't about to let Michael mess up this opportunity.

"Alright, fair enough – ah there's a phone over there!"

They walked over to a pay phone near the washrooms. Pam stood quietly at his side as Michael used his calling card to dial up the main office. He'd remembered leaving Kelly in charge of reception.

"Hello, Dunder Mifflin, how may I direct your call?" Came Kelly Kapoor's pleasant voice.

Michael covered the receiver with his hand and whispered to Pam at his side. "Hey, she's better than you!"

Pam made a face and leaned in closer to Michael's side as someone walked past her to use the washroom.

"Hey, Kelly. It's Michael – yeah, how's it going? Really? When did Ryan do th – yeah – OK – I – huh? Lemme – I – ah – Kelly, I – huh? Let me just – what – Kelly – mm hmm – Angelina Jolie? Yeah?"

Michael seemed to be doing his best to dodge Kelly's non-stop chatter.

"As, her where Dwight is!" Pam persisted.

"I'm trying to!" Michael whispered. "Kelly! Is Dwight there? Thanks!"

After a few moments, Pam could hear Dwight's no-nonsense voice over the phone.

"Hey, Dwight! Whazzupppp!" Michael sang in an exaggerated voice before Pam hit his arm. "Yeah, hey buddy we need your help – yeah…"

Suddenly, someone banged into Pam rather rudely as they once more headed into the men's room.

Michael lifted his arm and put it around Pam's shoulders to draw her up against him. Pam clung to his overcoat for safety.

"What's your problem, pal!! Can't you see she's a lady?! No, not you Dwight!"

Pam peered up at him in surprise, he was being so protective of her and for once she was glad he was here.

As the conversation between Michael and Dwight droned on, Pam found she wasn't listening anymore as he still was nestling her up against him, his coat encircling her shoulders almost. He felt very solid, warm and she had to admit – he was in good shape of late as her fingers started to roam over his waist to his back. He smelled faintly of expensive cologne. She smiled, no matter what – Michael was always immaculate and well put together.

Something fascinated her, as she stood there in his embrace, he began to slowly stroke her back and shoulders in a comforting gesture. But, she could sense it was instinctual rather than on purpose as his attentions were still on the phone.

Finally, Michael hung up with Dwight.

"OK, Pam – he sounded like if we head west towards the sunset – no, just kidding. You were right, we should have made the turn you suggested."

He glanced down at Pam, she had her eyes closed and was resting her head against his shoulder. Again. She seemed to like that spot!

"Earth to Pam!" He whispered.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. He reached out to lightly touch her cheek.

"Were you asleep?" He asked.

She was quiet for a moment, not making any efforts to move from his embrace as she looked up at him.

She played lightly with the lapel of his coat, her fingers reaching under to stroke his chest hidden by his shirt. He grew a little more bold himself as he openly ran the back of his fingers over her smooth cheek. She could nearly feel his breath on her face.

She didn't draw away as he lowered his face nearly to hers, she unbiddingly began to close her eyes as she lifted her chin.

'Oh my God! Oh my God! What am I doing?!' Her mind demanded to know, but she didn't stop.

Why did he have to stand so close? Why did he have to say the right thing at the right moment? Why did he have to smell so good?

"Excuse me, but I need to use the phone!" A man's voice suddenly interrupted their moment.

They jumped apart so abruptly it looked as if someone had sent an electrical charge through them.

Michael looked wide-eyed as Pam tried to catch her breath. She seemed uncomfortable and embarrassed.

"Woah! Well, I don't know about you – but I'm about ready for a Philly Melt!" Michael replied, the rosy color to his cheeks gave away his mood – yet, he acted like it didn't happen.

Without a word, Pam turned on her heel and ran out the front door of the rest area mall.

"Pam?! Pam!" Michael cried, but she was long gone. "Shit!"

Michael raced out into the parking lot to go after her.

He watched her climb back into the car and then hold her head in her hands.

Michael summoned up his own courage and approached the car. Quietly, he climbed into the driver's side next to her.

She averted her eyes and stared out her side window instead.

"I know, eh?" He blurted out, trying to make light of a difficult situation – only he had now brought it into the car. "I always thought one day our sexual chemistry would explode, but…"

He could see his humor was not softening the blow. She was bunching up her blouse into a fist.

"We can just go back to Scranton, if you want – we'll blow off corporate. They have enough money for their bonuses anyhow."

Pam glanced over at him, her eyes almost teary – it broke his heart.

"No, it's OK…" she whispered.

"Are you sorry it happened?" He asked her, nervous for the response.

Pam knew the question wasn't about the trip any longer.

"No – " she said, hesitantly. "Are you?"

"No," he replied and smiled warmly at her.

As if thinking that was his green light, he tried to lean forward to kiss her – but Pam drew away.

"Michael!" She warned.

"Sorry, I just thought – I know, it was just a one time thing."

She smiled at him at his words, then moving across the seat kissed his cheek.

"Maybe…" she whispered.

He wanted to kiss her again, but she stopped him with a hand firmly on his chest.

"OK," he said, gently and started the car.