Chapter Three: Special Delivery.

Jim arrived first at work the next morning. He was more nervous than he had ever remembered being in his entire life. He hadn't slept at all the previous night, wondering anxiously if the phone would ring. He had so many fears and doubts running through his mind.

I'm here too early, he thought. It would be forever until Pam arrived. His knee kept banging compulsively underneath the desk. He kept telling himself to calm down. The whole office would know something's wrong if he couldn't calm himself down and act reasonably normal.

Normal. He was a million miles from normal this morning.

The usual suspects filed into the office, surprised to find Jim already at his desk. One by one, person after person shuffled past Jim: first Angela, then Stanley, Phyllis, Toby. Still no Pam. Kevin, Creed, Oscar, Ryan, Toby. Still no Pam. Oh God, then Michael.

Jim was ready to jump up and run out to his car when he heard the office door open and Pam finally walk to her usual place behind the reception desk. There was immediate relief followed again by concern as Pam just gave a cursory glance over to Jim and just sat down and immediately went to work on her computer.

Jim exercised considerable strength in not running over to her immediately. Luckily for him, Pam did not intend to keep him suffering for long. His computer sounded a ping, letting him know he had an e-mail message waiting for him. It was from Pam.

Hey, it's over. I told him last night. P.

How did it go? Are you alright? J.

I don't want to get into it right now. It wasn't pretty, but what else would you expect? P.

I'm really sorry. It must have been Hell on you. Why didn't call me last night? J.

I was too upset. I just grabbed an overnight bag full of stuff and went over to my friend Emily's place to stay for the night. She'll let me stay with her until I get a place of my own. P.

When can we talk? J. P.S. You look beautiful.

Jim could see the slight smile on Pam's face as she read his last message. Of course, the smile disappeared just as Michael came out of his office to call a staff meeting. There was a barely audible moan from the entire staff.

Everyone converged on the conference room. Jim and Pam were careful not to sit next to each other.

"OK," Michael began, "corporate has asked me to address some changes in the health care plan." Now the collective groan was entirely audible.

"Come on, Michael, if our benefits get cut any further, we're going to be doing surgery on ourselves," Stanley said angrily to a chorus of agreement from the rest of the staff."

"Alright, alright, now. Hey, there are some small, tiny cuts really. You probably won't even notice they're missing. But hey, I've got some good news for everybody."

No one appeared excited.

"Corporate is extending a new health benefit to every worker," Michael says as he pulls out an apple from a paper bag. "Everyone will getting one of these every day." Michael laughs heartily. "Get it? An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Only Dwight laughs.

Michael returns to explaining the actual benefit cuts and there is a general darkening of the mood of the office. When he's done, Michael asks if anyone has any questions. Pam timidly raises her hand.

"Yes, our little Pam has a question."

"Actually, I have an announcement to make. This is really difficult to say and I hope everyone will respect the distance I need for the next few weeks, but," she hesitates. "But, Roy and I broke up last night and we're calling off the wedding."

The office reacts with an awkward hush and not a few curious glances in Jim's direction. Michael makes a not-so-discrete thumbs up motion to Jim, causing Jim to shake his head sternly toward Michael, as if to say, "no, not now, you idiot."

After that astonishing development, everyone returns to his or her desks. Michael calls Pam into his office. She looks horrified and Jim looks equally horrified on her behalf.

As soon as she closes Michael's door behind her, Pam immediately motions toward him and stay quiet, "Michael, I meant it when I said I need space. The last thing I need or want is to discuss any of this with you."

Michael seems disappointed, but goes on, "Oh, yeah, of course. Not to beat a dead horse here, but, since you're not getting married, you won't be needing that week off for your honeymoon after all. Which works out great. That way, you and Jim won't be out the same week."

Pam shifts nervously, "Actually, Michael, I'm going to be pretty depressed that week, with not getting married and all, and I really could use a chance to get away."

"Well, Pam, it would really mean a lot to me if you'd help me out here." Michael tries to make what he thinks are puppy dog eyes toward Pam, not realizing that instead of pity that they just icked Pam out.

Pam wasted no time in answering him. "Um, no. Just, no."


Pam had good reason to reject Michael's request.

After traffic started moving again, Pam and Jim were in a kind of disbelieving daze. They periodically looked at each other and blushed and even intermittently giggled like teenagers. Before long, they were in Manhattan, heading toward the headquarters of Dunder-Mifflin.

On the elevator ride up to the corporate offices, Jim suddenly turns to Pam and says, "I can't go to Australia now and leave you here that week."

"Don't be ridiculous. You've already bought the ticket. You're going. I expect lots and lots of souvenirs, though."

"Um, I've just been assuming this, maybe, but you're going to leave Roy, right?" Jim asks this with some trepidation, realizing that Pam isn't exactly the most strong-willed person, especially when hurting someone is involved and that she may indeed attempt to wipe the day's events away and return to her old life.

Pam suddenly looks like she's about to cry. The elevator doors then open and they both step out.

"Pam?" Jim grows more concerned with her silence.

"I know I have to, it's just that . . . we've been together so long. I've never even dated anyone else. I've never kissed anyone else. I've never sl . . . " she stops herself, coloring.

"If you don't love him Pam, you won't be doing him any favors by staying with him."

"I do love him."

Jim recoils at this.

Pam continues. "I mean, you can't be with someone this long and not love them. And I do love Roy. I just don't . . . I just don't feel . . . it's just not that kind of love, anymore."

Jim relaxes at bit. "So, you're going to leave him, right?"

Pam deflects the question by looking at her watch. "Jim, it's 11:55. We have to get this form to HR."

"No."

"What?"

"No, not unless you promise to go with me."

Pam smiles and laughs, "Oh, come on, Jim."

"I'm serious. I'll only take the form to HR if you promise me that we'll find the first travel agency around here and get you a seat on my flight."

"You're insane."

"You already have the week off. Why not?"

"Come on, Jim, you're running out of time. Why are you being like this?"

"Because I don't trust you." At this, Pam seems stunned.

"Excuse me?"

"Because I don't trust you to leave Roy otherwise. You hate conflict and you can't stand hurting anyone. If I buy this ticket, you have to come. Or else I'll be out $2800 for two tickets. If you don't come with me, I just feel like you'll never leave him."

With less than a minute to spare, Pam handed the vacation request to the HR receptionist. Jim asked to see their phone book. When the receptionist handed it to him, he immediately searched for the heading that read "Travel Agencies."