A/N: here's the next chapter!! I actually had a lot of it written already, but at the last minute I decided to add the last part, and now I love it even more!! (Squee!) Go read, review, and enjoy!

My iPod just died. Great. Still three hours to go too, and the movie they're showing is Wimbledon. I'm sure I would be able to find it entertaining in another time and place, but right now I am too uncomfortable and anxious to concentrate on it.

I reek to high heaven.

I'm familiar with the stench. It's what Ghana smells like, and after being there a while, you can't smell it anymore. But as soon as you get back on a plane and you're in a pressurized cabin, you begin to realize you smell like a combination of food in the market, dirt, and sweat.

I don't want to have to be in close proximity with Pam after this. She's nice and probably won't say anything, but I know for a fact that she and I always made fun of Michael's coffee breath. She would definitely notice the stink of freshly-caught fish and peppers baking in the equatorial sun.

What the hell am I going to say to her? Right now it's almost impossible to even picture her face; I'm exhausted from this flight and my stomach is still a little sensitive from the food poisoning and my head is spinning from leaving so fast. It barely seems real that I'll be seeing her so soon, and that she actually wants to see me.

I stretch out my legs as much as possible, trying not to get them in the way of the aisle, and close my eyes. I need to just stop thinking. When I see her, I'm sure I'll just find the right words.

……………………………………….

I let out a huge yawn as I wait in the US customs line. It's about 6:45 in the morning, and I didn't get anything amounting to decent sleep on the plane. The two thoughts bouncing back and forth in my brain are if Pam is here and how good it is to be home. Maybe it's just the strict customs line, but there's an air of formality that I never felt in Ghana. I loved how friendly everyone was there, but sometimes I just wanted to be left alone, and talk to people only when I need to. That's how things have been operating since we touched down, and it feels great.

I love America.

The officer waves me forward and asks me if I brought home any living organisms or illegal substances. I wipe my face in an attempt to wake myself up, and then I tell him no and give him a lazy smile. He's tired too, luckily, and so he gives me the OK and doesn't bother me with a random bag check.

I push my way through the doors and suddenly I feel much more awake. I glance all around for her, and then glance back again. No Pam. I should've known better. Why would she waste her time coming to pick me up? All the way in New York, no less—

"Jim!"

That's my name.

I glance in the direction I hear the shouts coming from, and there she is, walking briskly down the long corridor. I don't think I've ever been happier to see another person in my entire life. She waves at me, a huge smile across her face, and without even needing to think, my feet are taking me to her.

We reach each other and without a word, we embrace. It's a friendly hug, but I can feel both of us are hesitant to let go. Eventually we do, and as I look down at her, I make no attempt to wipe the grin from my face.

"It's so good to see you," she says finally, after what feels like ages of the two of us standing in the corridor, staring at each other, with travelers passing by and looking at us like we're from another planet.

"You too," I respond softly as I watch her chew on her bottom lip. It's a nervous habit of hers, and I have missed it so much in the month or so I haven't seen her. I'm content to just stare at her for ages, but then I realize I probably need to initiate a conversation. I need to say something. Anything, really, as long as they're words. I of course, decide to tease her, "So wait, when exactly did you have to get up to drive all the way down here?"

She shakes her head at me, trying and failing to conceal a smile, and she finally answers, "Um… three…"

"AM?"

"Yeah…"

I hold my hand up for a high five and she slaps it with her own. I comment to her, "That is dedication, Beesly," and she laughs at my lame joke. We make our way to her car, and I can feel the bit of tension that hangs in the air as we put on our "just friends" faces and act cordial. I know we have a lot to talk about, but right now is just not the time

"So where do you wanna go?" she asks as I put my bag in the trunk of her car. We exchange a smile, and it's almost as if she knows the answer to her own question. I'm going wherever she's going. But instead I decide to humor her and think of the place I'd like most to go next.

"McDonald's."

"Seriously? Fast food? It's 7AM."

I give her a look as if to say, shame on you, and she laughs as we buckle our seatbelts, "That means we are just in time for a delicious breakfast of hotcakes and egg McMuffins. Trust me, this is quality dining compared to some of the stuff I saw over there."

Her eyes light up as she remembers why she was picking me up from the airport in the first place, "Oh yeah! Tell me all about your trip!" She pulls onto the road, and I start the story of my journey from the beginning.

……………………………………….

"Hi Josh," I knock on my boss' door and he waves me in.

"Hey Jim, welcome back. How was your trip?"

I sit down and feign a smile, "It was great… Uh, but, I had a lot of time to think, and… I've decided to quit and move back to Scranton."

"Oh." Josh looks a little shocked and disappointed, but he takes my two-week notice with stoicism. "Any particular reason?"

I stammer for a moment and think about all the reasons I'm leaving. Pam, of course, is that the forefront of my motivations, but it's so much more than that. I'm slowly but surely approaching thirty, and in a job I don't really care for, to put it nicely. I know I could be successful here, but I will kick myself if I reach the top of the corporate ladder and realize I hate what I'm doing.

"Just—personal issues," I manage to come up with as an excuse, and Josh nods his head in understanding.

He leans in, "Andy?"

"No, no," I chuckle and Josh gives me a small smirk. "I just don't know if paper is really my calling."

"Well that's fair," he nods and extends his hand. "I'll let Jan know, and Sue in HR will take care of the necessary paperwork for you."

"Thanks." We shake hands and I leave his office. Andy and Karen are looking at me incredulously as I sit down at my desk; they were obviously eavesdropping.

"You're really out of here, Tuna?" Andy furrows his eyebrows at me.

I nod, "Yep. Going back to Scranton."

"We'll miss you," Karen offers with a small smile and then looks back behind me. I turn to see what she's glaring at and see Andy barely keeping composure.

He sucks in a breath and wags his finger, "I'm gonna miss you man… I wanna keep in touch."

"Okay."

"I knew you shouldn't have gone on this trip. You had all kinds of revelations" he emphasizes in a condescending tone, "and stuff, and now you're leaving—" He takes a Kleenex and blows his nose loudly, and Karen and I exchange a judgmental glance.

"Yeah… You're right I guess. I did figure a lot of stuff out while I was over there… But you're welcome to visit Scranton—"

Andy scoffs at me, disgusted with the idea, and turns back around. Not really wanting to push the issue, I shrug my shoulders and get back to my paperwork. Then I hear the ding of my computer that tells me I have a new email. I look up and click on the message:

From: Pam Beesly

Subject: no subject

Date: June 19, 2006, 8:56 am

To: Jim Halpert

Already found some want ads in this morning's newspaper that I think you should interview for! There's one that especially looks good; it's in an advertising agency. Don't tell me you're not creative enough to work there either! Who thinks to put a coworker's stuff in jello just to annoy them?? Seriously.

Everyone loves the brass figurine you gave me! It's sitting right next to my jellybean jar, and I already got so many compliments on it. Michael is a little sad you didn't get him anything, but he'll get over it. And Dwight actually knew what it was! He says it's a tribal symbol of the power of love, which makes me wonder if you knew that when you gave it to me… hmm… ;)

Counting the hours until you're back here,

Pam

I realize I can't wipe the stupid smirk from my face, as much as I may try. That's when I decide: now that I have her, I am not ever letting her go.

On my lunch break I resolve to go buy her an engagement ring.

Ta-freakin-da! The next chapter is going to be a little epilogue, and will be Jam-packed! What did you all think of this chapter?? I'm excited to hear what you all thought about the resolution. Write me a review please!!