Disclaimer: I don't own The Office….
AN: Words cannot express how sorry I am for making you guys wait so long. I had some major writers block – I can't tell you how many times I opened a Word document and stared at a blank page. I'm not extremely happy with this chapter, but let me know how it turns out. I just felt like something was missing...but I figured yall had waited long enough. And thanks so much for all the encouraging reviews! They were so wonderful and helped me get motivated!! And now, without further ado...
Ch. 4
Jim glanced over at the receptionist desk for the third time in 15 minutes and frowned.
Days really sucked when Pam was gone.
Leaning back in his chair, he thought about how Pam seemed to take quite a few sick days, especially recently. She seemed perfectly fine yesterday.
A wry grin slowly crept onto his face when he realized she probably took them to keep her sanity. This place took a lot out of a person. One couldn't only handle so much. And Michael had been especially needy these last few weeks….
Jim sat up quickly and jumped back into his work. If he could finish this sales report before lunch, he'd be able to take a longer lunch and have time to drop by Pam's house during his break to "check on her," a.k.a. catch her playing hooky.
Plus his days just weren't the same without seeing Pam's smiling face at least once.
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Pam frowned at her reflection, then winced at the movement.
Although the blood was washed away in the shower, her face still did not look too pretty.
She had put on a turtleneck sweater to help hide the bruises on her neck, but there was little she could do for her face.
She reached up and traced the gash on her forehead, cringing with pain. The cut was much deeper than she'd realized earlier.
Sighing, she pulled out her medicine kit from the cabinet and got to work cleaning and doctoring the cut, then placed a large Band-Aid over it.
Putting the kit away, she slowly walked to the living room, wincing at every step as her body ached and protested the movements.
She let out a groan when she saw the room. She had been too occupied getting the crap beat out of her last night to consider the damage done to the room.
Shards of glass from two different vases littered the floor from when Roy had thrown them against walls in his anger. The two bottom shelves in the bookcase had fallen when he'd shoved her against it, books and other miscellaneous items scattered on the surrounding carpet. The coffee table was even turned on its side.
Pam pulled the vacuum cleaner from the closet and got to work. After the glass was finally cleaned up, she carefully kneeled by the bookcase, trying to reduce the pain any movement caused. She had just righted the shelves and had begun collecting the books when she heard it.
Someone was knocking on the front door.
Pam froze.
She didn't know what to do.
Please let the curtains be closed.
Chancing a quick glance to her left, she was horrified to see them wide open.
The front door opened up to the living room. Whoever it was had to have seen her through the front windows, or could easily spot her if they just stepped a few feet to the left.
She judged the space between where she was and the kitchen. She was just preparing herself to make a dash for it, and suffer through any pain it caused, when the person knocked again.
"Pam? Pam, it's me. Open up."
Oh my god, it's Jim. He can't see me like this! I have to hide!
Scrambling to her feet, and wincing at the sudden pain it caused, she was only able to take two steps toward the kitchen when she saw him at the window.
He'd cupped his face against the glass to see inside against the sun's glare.
"Pam, I can see you. Let me in. I promise I won't tell Michael you're playing hooky," he said, laughing. He obviously wasn't able to make out her appearance too well.
She was trapped. It didn't look like there was going to be any way out of this one.
Pam straightened up, them slowly moved toward the door, leaning against it for strength.
"Jim?" She called through it.
"Hey Pam," she heard, realizing he had moved to the other side of the door. "Can you at least open the door? I feel pretty silly talking through it."
"Um, I don't think so Jim," Pam said, ready to try one last desperate attempt to make him leave. "I think I have a viral infection. It could be really contagious." She added a cough to make it sound more believable.
"Well let me make you some soup or something. Trust me, I don't mind. Hey, if catching a disease will get me out of a few days at the office, bring it on."
Pam cursed softly. Trust Jim to make a disease a positive thing.
"No, I really don't think you want to come in here. It's a mess, and I really don't feel like seeing anyone right now."
"But Pam, it's just me," Jim said softly. "At least open the door, please? I'm worried about you."
Pam couldn't help but smile at that. "Sorry Jim, but thanks for coming to check on me. That was really sweet. I'll see you in a few days or something, when I'm better, okay?"
She heard Jim sigh through the door. "Alright Pam. But now I'm really worried. I just wanted to make sure my favorite girl's taken care of."
"Thanks Jim. See you later."
He didn't respond, so Pam assumed he was heading to his car. She leaned against the door, waiting to hear his car door slam before emerging from her hiding place.
But instead of a car door, she heard a key being inserted in the lock.
She quickly jumped a few feet back, gaping in horror as the key turned in the lock and the door slowly opened.
"Leave it to you to keep your key under the mat," Jim said as he shut the door behind him. "I swear, that's not a safe –"
Jim froze once he finally got a good look at the brunette staring at him in shock.
The key slipped from his fingers to the floor.
"Pam??" He whispered her name in a horrified tone.
They both stood there staring at each other, neither one moving the slightest bit.
Jim's eyes slid from the Band-Aid on her forehead, to her bruised cheek, to her busted lip, and then even lower, noticing the trace of bruising on her neck visible above her sweater, vaguely wondering how much of her beautiful skin was marred. Anger began to build within him as he thought about the person who had dared to lay a hand on her.
Pam couldn't believe that Jim was standing before her and there was nothing she could do – her secret was out. There was no going back. But a faint voice in the back of her mind told her that this is what she had wanted. This is what she had asked for. Help.
Jim snapped out of his trance first, and took a hesitant step forward.
"Pam?" He questioned softly, trying to keep his voice steady. She was looking at him like a frightened deer – one wrong move and she would bolt.
"Pam, who did this to you?" He wasn't able to keep his anger out of his tone. He clenched his fist, fighting for control. He needed to stay calm for her.
Pam's mouth gaped open then shut. She looked so lost, like she didn't know what to do or say.
"I…I…I fell." The automatic response fell from her lips before she could even think straight.
"Bullshit."
Pam flinched at that one word. The fury behind those two syllables was unmistakable. Pam had never heard a hint of anger in Jim's tone before. It didn't fit him.
Pam watched closely as Jim shut his eyes, clenching his fists at his side, inhaling deeply. She swore she even saw a shudder pass through him. She felt stupid just standing there, watching him. But no words could be said. Her mind was a blank. She simply waited for Jim to regain control.
Taking deep breaths, Jim eventually pushed his anger aside and opened his eyes to see Pam standing before him, watching him. His anger resurfaced momentarily when he saw her bruised face again, but he managed to shove it aside enough to ignore it for now. He would release his anger later, when Pam wouldn't be there to witness it.
Jim closed the distance between them, then raised his hand to gently cup her cheek. She flinched slightly at the movement, then met his tender gaze, her eyes full of trust.
"Roy did this, didn't he?" He asked quietly.
Pam's gaze fell to the ground, giving him her answer.
Jim pushed away the flare of anger, and folded her gently in his arms. She let out a small gasp of pain when his hand touched her back, and Jim scowled, realizing her visible injuries weren't the only ones.
Jim was going to make her show him all of them, and treat them properly, but first things first.
"Pam, go pack up some things."
"What….why?" She looked up at him, startled.
"You're going to come stay with me."
Her eyes widened. She was panicking. "Jim, you don't know what you're doing. I can't. I have to stay here. If I'm not here when he gets back, it'll be bad for everyone. I can't ask you to do that for me."
"You're not staying here any longer. Not while he's here. He's not going to hurt you again. Ever."
Pam's eyes filled with tears. "He's going to come after me. He thinks I belong to him. He won't leave me alone."
Jim reached out to lovingly stroke her hair. "Pam, he will never touch you again. I will protect you."
They gazed at each other for a moment, before Pam gave a slight nod, then left the room to grab a few things.
Once Pam was safely out of the room, Jim suddenly spun to face the wall, slamming his fist against it.
Jim leaned his forehead against the wall, fighting for control. His anger at the thought that someone had hurt his Pam was consuming him. He remained like that until he heard her soft footfalls in the hallway, then managed to replace his fury with a calm façade.
Ten minutes later and they were in Jim's car, heading to his apartment.
A million questions were flying through Jim's head. How long had this been going on? Did anyone else know? Why the hell was that bastard not in jail?
All he knew was that the girl he loved needed him. And he was going to protect her with his life.
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I know Jim was a bit outta character, but we've never really seen him angry before so any fury he shows is not like him. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with this chapter...let me know what yall think! And I will try my best to never make yall wait that long for a chapter again! Have a wonderful day!
Until next time,
Western
