Disclaimer: I don't own the Office. I do however own the clothes on my back, I think.

A/N: Okay, I'm trying to whip these out as fast as I can. Thanks for the lovely reviews so far. You guys are so awesome. Okay, back to your regularlyscheduled program.

7:47 pm

Michael was standing against the railing of the bridge. He had been sobbing for what felt like hours. He cried for his lost dreams. He cried for his time wasted. He cried for Jan. He cried for his pathetic little life. He cried in realization that maybe things would be better if he was never born. Maybe the world would be a better place. With his final thought gradually floated out to the atmosphere, he threw his leg of the railing.

As he prepared to do the same with his other leg, he was interrupted by a crack, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Michael yelped looking around, "Who said that? Who's there?"

The voice came closer, "Can't you see me? I'm right here."

Michael still couldn't see where the voice was coming from, "Where are you? I can't see you." He franticly twisted his head around, searching for the source of the omniscient voice.

The voice grew even louder, "I'm right here!" The figure appeared right behind Michael.

As Michael tried to turn around, he threw his leg over the railing, back on solid ground. He turned around and saw the figure, but couldn't see his features. "I see you, but who are you?"

The voice sounded annoyed, "Can't you see anything, dummy?" The voice started to laugh, mocking Michael.

Michael grew angry, "Hey, you're the one bothering me. Now show yourself."

The voice laughed again, "Fine. You're no fun. But I have to warn ya, you're not gonna like who you see."

Michael chuckled for the first time in what felt like days, "Really? And why do you suppose I won't like –

At that moment, the figure stepped into a nearby streetlight, revealing himself. But it was none other than Toby Flenderson. "Hello, Michael."

Michael stood dumbfounded. He barely spoke, "Is this God mocking me? Am I being smited or something?"

Toby came closer, "I told you so. I knew you wouldn't like what you saw. But I'm not who I appear to be."

Michael scoffed, "So, your not a snot-nosed, scivvy little perve that irritates the be-jesus out of me?"

Toby shook his head, "No Michael. I might resemble the snot-nosed freak you're talking about, but I'm certainly not him."

Michael folded his arms, "So who are you?"

Toby scratched his chin, "Well… for right now, you can call me Paul."

Michael looked quizzically, "Why Paul?"

Paul shrugged, "I don't know. I just always liked that name. It's biblical and strong, like the good Lord.

Michael scoffed, "Yeah, good Lord. He's super."

Paul nodded, "Yes he is. And don't you forget that. Now Michael –

Michael looked confused, "Why are you here? How did you find me? How did you –?"

Paul put his hands up, "I was just getting to that. Now Michael, I need to ask you something."

Michael folded his arms again, "What?"

Paul nodded, "Why were you at this bridge tonight and not with your lovely girlfriend, Jan?"

Michael looked upset, "How do you know –

Paul stopped him, "Answer the question."

Michael turned around, looking at the water again, "I don't know." He shrugged, "I don't know… I just feel so tired all the time. I feel so… so …"

Paul suggested, "Trapped?"

Michael turned around frantically, "Yes, exactly!"

Paul spat back, "That's bull."

Michael was taken aback, "How do you know –

Paul shrugged, "I know everything about you Michael. I know how you hurt yourself that one time in the third grade when you stubbed your toe trying reach the last cookie, when you told everyone at school it was a possum that attacked you. Or that one time in junior high when you got beat up by your buddy's younger sister. Or when you were nineteen and you got really drunk and did an one-eared elephant at that local bar and got arrested for indecent exposure. Or that one time…"

Michael stopped him, "But how do you know…"

Paul chuckled, "Isn't it obvious? I'm your guardian angel." He extended his hand, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Michael stepped back, "My… guardian angel… like in 'Cinderella'?"

Paul shook his head, "No Michael, she had a fairy Godmother. Now, if you want one –

Michael got excited, "I have a fairy Godmother?"

Paul started laughing, "No. Haha, man. You guys fall for that every time." He laughed some more, "No, Michael. There's no such thing as fairy Godmothers."

Michael looked skeptical, "That's what they say about guardian angels."

Paul folded him arms, "And what do you believe?"

Michael his head, "I think I fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a tree or something." He looked around, "Maybe this is a dream."

Paul came up behind him and pinched Michael in the arm hard. Michael jumped, "Ow! What was that for?"

Paul shrugged, "Just letting you know this isn't a dream." He folded his arms and watched Michael slowly realize the matter at hand. "So… don't you wanna know why I'm here?"

Michael nodded, rubbing his aching arm, "Yeah, that would be nice."

Paul beckoned Michael to take a seat on Michael's trunk, "Come on." Michael took a seat. Paul put his arm around Michael's back, "You see, Michael. You were trying to hurt yourself back there, and as your guardian angel, I couldn't let that happen."

Michael began to protest, but Paul put his hand up to stop him, "You see, you questioned your existence numerous times this evening, so… I'm here tonight to show you a world where you don't exist."

Michael looked confused, "What are you talking about? Of course I exist."

Paul shook his head, "No you don't. Not anymore."

Michael jumped off his trunk, "I do exist. I didn't jump! I didn't… kill myself."

Paul shook his head, "You didn't have to." He jumped off the trunk and walked up to him, "Michael, you have been given a gift. Probably the biggest and most powerful gift in the world."

Michael scoffed, "Trust me, you haven't seen my living room. I'm sure Jan bought enough presents for me for a lifetime."

Paul chuckled, "No, this is bigger than mere gifts in wrapping paper. Way bigger. You have been given the gift to see the world as it could have been if you never existed."

Michael looked skeptical again, "I'm not sure if this –

Paul approached him, "You want me to pinch you again?" He positioned his fingers for pinching.

Michael tensed up, "NO! Okay…okay… I get it. I'm dead."

Paul shook his head, "Wrong again, Michael Scott. You have to live to die. You never lived remember? Or at least that's what you've been saying. So, now it's official. You never lived, hence, you don't exist."

Michael looked down, "So… what do I do now?"

Paul grabbed Michael by the arms, "That's the beauty of it. You can do whatever you want. See whatever you want. You have no consequences, no punishment, and no judgment. You are a non-being. You're life or non-life if you will is your own. You are the master of your kingdom, your universe, of your own domain."

Michael looked intrigued, "Okay… so I can do whatever I want?"

Paul shrugged, "Sure."

Michael smirked, "So I can run through the streets naked if I wanted?"

Paul looked uneasy, "Well… it's kinda cold outside, but if that's what you wish to do, by all means, be obliged."

Michael started to giggle as he stripped off his jacket. Paul stopped him in mid-undressing, "Um… just one thing."

Michael looked up, "What?"

Paul shrugged, "No one can see you. You have no past. No present. No future. You never existed. You understand that if you go home, that's not your home anymore. Your job at Dunder Mifflin is someone else's. Jan belongs to someone else. You… -

Michael looked frightened again, "What do you mean Jan belongs to someone else? What do you mean I'm not regional manager –?"

Paul patted Michael on the shoulder, "I told you, you don't exist. No one knows you. Not your mother, Jan, or your employees at Dunder Mifflin."

Michael looked up at Paul and swallowed hard, "No one knows me… at all."

Paul shook his head, "Nope."

Michael looked at the lake again, "So… what do I do?"

Paul shrugged, "Like I said, whatever you want."

Michael thought for a moment, "I…um… I want to see my mother."

Paul nodded, "Okay, let's see Mom." He beckoned Michael to follow. "C'mon, we can take my bike."

Michael followed Paul to his motorcycle which had a buggy attached to it. Paul handed Michael a helmet, "Here, put it on."

Michael scoffed, "I can't die, I don't exist. I don't some lame-o helmet. Helmets are for chumps."

Paul nodded, "True, but you do feel pain. Wanna see?" He positioned his fingers in the pinching formation again.

Michael snatched the helmet, "Alright, alright, you made your point." He stuffed his legs in the buggy, "I feel like a chick in this thing."

Paul budded to the back of the seat, "Wanna hold on to my waist?"

Michael shuddered and sat back down in the buggy, "I'll stay here, thanks."

Paul shrugged, "Suit yourself." He put his helmet on firmly and started up the gas. "To Mom's?"

Michael nodded, "To Mom's."

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More to come. In the next chapter, Michael discovers his mother's life without him in it. I hope this satisfied your expectations. Thanks again for your lovely reviews. Look for an update soon.

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