Disclaimer: I don't own the Office or any of its charaters.

AN: Ok, so here's the next chapter - sorry it took me so long to get it done. I had a surprisingly hard time writing it because I wanted it to live up to yalls expectations, and I just couldn't seem to get it right. I'm still not completely happy with how it turned out (darn the perfectionist in me), but let me know what yall think of it. It's extra long, just for you guys! And thanks so so so much to everyone who reviewed - your comments helped keep me inspired! And now, without further ado, on to.....

Ch. 10

Pam stumbled backwards, never taking her eyes off of Roy. Her legs hit the back of the couch and she collapsed onto it, sinking into its deep cushions. She couldn't believe this was happening. That he had found her.

Cindy quickly snapped out of her shock and dove toward the side table where the phone sat. But she wasn't fast enough.

Even in his inebriated state, Roy's reflexes were still on target. He snatched Cindy's arm and jerked her sideways before she could reach the phone. She hit the wall with her shoulder and was knocked in a heap on the floor.

Roy ignored her, his sight still set on his prey. He took a step toward Pam's trembling form on the couch. Her gaze was fixed on a spot on the carpet. She didn't even look up when his daunting figure loomed directly over her. This irritated him.

Roy grabbed her chin and forced her face to look up at him, applying pressure to her jaw when she didn't immediately respond. Pam slowly raised her eyes until they met his. He liked what he saw there. Fear. Panic. Despair. It was perfect.

"Paaaaam. Did you really think you could escape me? That I would let you go?" He released her chin and threaded his fingers through her hair gently, before grasping the strands in his fist and pulling down painfully, causing her chin to jerk up in reaction. Tears sprung to Pam's eyes at the instant pain and she raised her chin even more, trying to alleviate the sting.

Roy stroked her cheek, admiring the faint traces of his previous handiwork. Sadly, more would have to replace the fading bruises—Pam needed to be taught many lessons.

"Leave her the hell alone!" Cindy jumped up, grabbed a lamp off a nearby table, and rushed Roy, swinging it down to crash against his back.

She caught him off guard—he'd forgotten she was even in the room. Standing up straight, he ignored the throbbing pain to deal with her friend.

Cindy had jumped back out of reach once she'd hit Roy, and was frantically searching for another weapon. She had just spotted a fire poker and was running toward it when she heard a sound that made her blood run cold.

The cocking of a gun.

The room was still.

Cindy froze in place before she slowly turned around. And was staring at a gun aimed directly at her chest.

Roy smirked. He'd been holding out on the gun card and was glad he did. The look of shock and terror on the blonde's face was well worth it.

Pam jumped up at the sight of her friend being held at gunpoint. She was not going to let anything happen to Cindy.

"Leave her alone!" Pam was surprised at the strength in her voice.

Roy chanced a glance at Pam. Her eyes were blazing. He smirked.

"There's some of that old fire Pam. Didn't know you had any left in ya. Thought I'd knocked it outta ya."

"She's not involved in this so please let her go. This is between you and me. No one else needs to be part of it Roy."

"See, now that's where you're wrong Pammy. You've gotten lots of people involved. Her," he said, signaling toward Cindy with the gun. "Her husband. Jim," he spat out the last name with a sneer. "So really, this is your own fault. You did this. If you had just stayed put, none of this would be happening. And now your friends will have to suffer."

Tears built up in Pam's eyes again. She swallowed audibly. He was right. This was all her fault. If she had just kept her problems to herself, Cindy and Pete would be safe and happy. Jim would be safe and happy. But she just sucked them all into her crappy world, and this is the thanks they get.

"Pam, Pam don't listen to him. This isn't your fault. It's his. All of it. If he—"

"Shut up!" Roy roared, cutting Cindy off.

Shaking, Pam sank back down into the couch. It was pointless. He had a gun. There was nothing she could do without jeopardizing her friend's life. She looked at Cindy with pleading eyes, begging her to forgive her.

"Sit down," Roy said curtly, motioning with the gun for Cindy to sit on the couch as well.

Cindy slowly moved to sit next to Pam, then clasped Pam's hand within her own. Neither one took their eyes off of Roy and his gun.

Roy grabbed the phone from the table beside the couch and pulled the chord from the wall, disconnecting it. He threw it across the room before turning to face both women.

"It wasn't supposed to go this far Pam," he all but shouted, waving his gun in her direction, the rage burning in his eyes. "You were supposed to be the obedient little girlfriend and we'd be happy. You were never supposed to leave. And then I had to come track you down again. Well I hope you've enjoyed your little escapade Pammy, because when we get home you'll be lucky to see the blue sky ever again!"

Cindy squeezed her hand in reassurance, and it was all the help Pam needed. She could do this.

"Don't you get it Roy? It's over! The police are looking for you. There's nowhere for you to go that they won't find you. Just give up before you get in any deeper." Pam stood up in fury. "And we are definitely over. You're a monster and I refuse to have anything to do with you anymore! I hope you rot in prison. It's the least you de—"

Roy was sick of her tirade and just wanted her to shut up. He swung his gun out and caught Pam across her right cheek, sending her flying toward the floor.

Pam was dazed from the pain. It had happened so fast that she never had the opportunity to duck out of the guns path.

She laid sprawled on her side, her cheek exploding in pain. She could feel a thick, warm liquid rolling down her face and drip into the carpet. She reached up to gently touched the injury with her fingertips and realized her cheek had split open from the gun. Pulling her hand away, her eyes widened in shock at the amount of blood on her hands.

Roy was only fazed for a moment by what he had down. Cindy's gasp from behind him brought him back to the present. He stared at Pam, lying on the ground with blood pouring out of her cheek, and his eyes softened momentarily. He was flooded with remorse. But the moment didn't last long, as it was pushed aside by his consuming rage. He remembered that she deserved it.

Cindy fought the urge to run to Pam's side and took advantage of Roy's distraction to dash to the kitchen phone to call for help. If she didn't call the police, no one would be coming to help them. She cursed herself for making Jim such a long to do list. She shakily pulled the handset off the wall and put it to her ear, thanking God when she heard the blessed dial tone. She dialed 911 and glanced back through the doorway in time to see Roy's back stalking toward Pam.

Roy tucked the gun in the back of his pants, anger flooding through him. Taking advantage of Pam's prone form, he strode toward her.

Pam managed to push herself into a sort of sitting position, but wasn't fast enough to evade Roy's grubby hands in time. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he shoved her roughly against the nearest wall.

Pam instinctively kicked out her legs, but Roy pressed his body against hers tightly, limiting her movements.

Holding her to the wall with his body, he grabbed both of her wrists in one hand and shoved them above her head, his other hand sliding around her slender neck to keep her still.

He grinned.

Pam watched as the expression in his eyes changed. The anger slowly melted away into something else—lust.

Pam's erratic breathing made her breasts heave against his chest. It had been so long since he'd been this close to her. He could feel his pants tighten in reaction.

Pam's eyes widened in horror as she felt his excited member prod into her lower stomach.

The hand on her neck slowly slithered away to thread itself in her hair. Roy used it to jerk her head to one side, leaving her neck exposed to him.

Roy leaned into her, flicking his tongue across the side of her neck.

"I'd forgotten how…delicious you taste Pam," he breathed into her ear.

Pam shuddered in horror.

Roy interpreted it as pleasure.

"I've missed you, baby," he whispered, before he dove into her neck again, sucking and kissing it this time.

Pam was glad Cindy was in the kitchen for this. She only hoped she'd stay there. Glancing down Roy's back while he was ravaging her neck, she spotted the butt of the gun she had seen him tuck into his waistband. If only she could get to it….

"Baby, I've missed you too," Pam said softly, hoping to sound seductive.

Roy froze his ministrations, pulling his head back to look at her expression.

Pam hid her disgust, smoothly placing a tender expression on her features.

"What?" Roy uttered in complete disbelief.

"I said that I missed you too," Pam repeated, lowering her head a bit to gaze up at him from beneath her lashes.

Roy was stunned to say the least. He couldn't even form words for several moments, before a wide grin spread across his face. Maybe this'll go easier than I thought.

Pam was relieved by the change of pace. A few words instantly transformed him from mean and aggressive to putty in her hands. She gently tugged her wrists from his grip while he was still bewildered and draped them over his shoulders, linking them behind his neck. Roy's hands instinctively dropped to her waist, holding her slender form between his hands.

Pam mentally prepared herself to continue her charade.

"I know it sounds crazy," she began, twisting the curls behind his neck with her fingers to further distract him, "but being away from you just showed me how much I missed you."

Now that the anger had all but left him, the combination of the alcohol in his system and having Pam back left Roy smiling like a fool.

"Me too baby, me too," Roy said, kissing her soundly on the mouth. He slid his tongue along the seam of her lips, silently begging for entrance. Pam hesitated for a moment, before parting her lips to let his tongue duel with hers. It took all of her strength to return a kiss from this monster.

But this gave her the perfect opportunity.

Pam slid her arms from Roy's neck to embrace him around the waist, acting as if she was only pulling him closer to her. Smoothing her hands down the back of his shirt, she grew closer to her goal every second.

But that was where she made her mistake.

Pam opened her eyes to look over his shoulder to see where the gun was so she would be able to grab it in one movement. She stopped responding to the kiss for a second, but that hesitation was enough to snap Roy's eyes open as well.

He quickly caught her gaze. The anger flooded back, coursing through his body once again. He jerked away from her mouth and reached behind his back to snatch her wrist away from its objective.

But he was half a second too slow.

This time the sound of a gun cocking froze him in place.

The metal of the barrel was shoved against his side. Glancing back at Pam, he was stunned by the pure hatred radiating from her eyes.

"Release me," she hissed out.

Roy instantly let her go, taking a step back to give her room. His eyes never left hers.

Pam was grateful to not be touching him anymore. She kept the gun trained steadily on the place where his heart—if he even had one—would be.

"Do you know the hell you have put me through? How much pain and sorrow you've made me feel. All for your own amusement. You're a sick bastard who shouldn't be allowed to remain in this world. I should do society a favor." Pam was surprised at the sound of her own voice. The months of anger that had built up inside was now having a chance to be released.

Roy put his hands up in defense, a startled look still gracing his features. This was certainly not the Pam he knew. He wisely remained silent while his brain worked overtime, trying to find a way out of his current predicament.

"You tried to crush me. I was slowly becoming a shell. You tried to control me, control my life! Do you know what that's like?" She laughed almost hysterically. "Of course not, because you are always the one who's in control. But no more. Never again. And Jim," her voice softened simply at the thought of him. "Jim's the one who pulled me back from the edge you forced me on. He's everything to me. And you are nothing. There is almost nothing I'd like more than to kill you, right here, right now, as payback. So you can't hurt anyone else the same way you hurt me." She paused, catching her breath. "But I won't." She almost laughed at the relief that flooded Roy's eyes. "Because that would make me just like you. And I refuse to be that person. No, it will be enough to know that you are rotting in a cell somewhere, getting what you deserve."

Knowing she didn't want to kill him changed the odds. And he had the perfect opportunity to turn the tables.

Cindy chose that moment to reenter the living room, while still on the phone with the police. Standing in the doorway, she was stunned to find Pam with the gun in her possession. Pam saw her standing in the doorway over Roy's shoulder and glanced over to share a quick, encouraging smile.

Roy took the offered moment to lunge toward Pam while her attention was drawn.

But Pam's finger was quicker on the trigger.

Bang.

A loud crack sounded in the small room. Roy was flung backward from the close impact.

Cindy dropped the phone and ran to Pam, carefully avoiding the body on the floor.

Pam didn't move an inch, reeling from what she had just done.

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Jim pulled into the driveway, pretty pleased with himself. He had done everything on Cindy's list and gotten all of her groceries in record time. He opened his trunk and cradled two paper bags in each arm, strolling up the sideway to the front door.

Bang.

Jim froze.

What the hell?

The sounded registered in his mind.

A gunshot.

Dropping the bags, he dashed to the front door, twisting the knob, willing it to open.

Locked.

Through the fogged glass panels beside the front door he could make out a figure standing over another with a gun.

Pam! Cindy!

Running to the front window, he picked up Cindy's lawn gnome from beside the bushes and hurled it at the glass. The window shattered on impact.

Jim sprinted toward the opening, hurtling himself through the gap, not even paying attention to the bits of broken glass still sticking from the frame that snagged his clothes.

Planting both feet on the carpet, he whirled toward the bodies.

And couldn't believe his eyes.

Roy laid sprawled on the floor, blood spurting from his shoulder.

Pam and Cindy hugging each other, tears rolling down both of their cheeks.

But what Jim couldn't tear his eyes away from was the gun Pam held, hanging limply at her side.

Both girls finally noticed Jim. They apparently hadn't even noticed the loud crash of the window breaking.

"Ji—Jim," Pam got out between sobs. Cindy gently pried the gun from her fingers, before Pam launched herself into his arms.

Jim clutched her tightly to him. He had no idea what the hell had happened, but he was beginning to realize how close he had gotten to losing Pam.

He pulled her back to arms length, and was about to ask her what took place when he saw the dried blood crusted on her right cheek.

His eyes hardened at the injury, knowing the bastard on the floor was the cause of it. But his touch was gentle as he tilted her cheek toward him, probing the area with his fingers. A long cut was streaked across her face. It had thankfully stopped bleeding, but would probably need stitches.

Hugging Pam to his side, he motioned for Cindy to come over and hugged her with his other arm.

They all turned to look at the still figure laid across the carpet.

"I wish he was alive so I could kill him again," Jim all but growled out as his hold on both women tightened.

Pam pulled away, her eyes wide. "Oh, oh Jim, I didn't kill him! I mean, yes, I did shoot him, but that was only because he was coming at me, so it was in self-defense, but he's not dead. I mean, I wish he was, but I couldn't do that—I'm not a murdered. I can't just—"

"It seems she's caught my habit of rambling," Cindy said with a small smile. "He hit his head on the table on the way down. That's why he's unconscious. Don't worry, I checked that he's still breathing. The cops should be here soon."

The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance.

"See," Cindy said, grinning. "I'm going to go call Pete. He's going to be pissed if he hears about this from anyone but me." Cindy disappeared into the kitchen, but first handed the gun to Jim to hold.

Jim stared down at the metal object in his hand. It would be so easy to end it. For Pam. Just call it self-defense.

A small hand covered the one holding the gun.

Looking up, he met Pam's tender gaze.

"It's over Jim. It's okay. We're safe now. We don't need that anymore."

Jim walked away to set the gun on a table across the room. He returned to Pam's side and swept her into his arms for a fierce kiss. He pulled back, cupping her uninjured cheek in his hand.

"Yes, that nightmare's over. It's time for a new beginning."

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So....thoughts on the chapter? I know many of yall were probably wishing Jim would sweep in for the rescue (including me!) but I wanted Pam to be able to handle Roy on her own - girl power and all that jazz, lol. I wanted to portray that she was still terrified of him, but that she found the strength to overcome her fears and face him on her own. Hope I accomplished that somewhat....And as much as I wanted to see Roy drop dead, I couldn't make Pam or Jim killers! Anyways, thanks for reading. Hope it somewhat lived up to any ideas you had about how the scene would go. Have a great day!

Until next time,

Western