Disclaimer: At this point, if you haven't figured it out, you may want to seek counsel.
A/N: This is really it, people. I am out of carrots. I am out of sticks. This is the end, my friends. It has been an interesting little trip. Thanks for sticking around for the end. I hope you like this. Sorry about the long wait. Two words: AMERICAN IDOL! Guilty as charged. LOL. I had fun writing this chapter, and I had a blast writing this entire story. At the end, I'll give you a small synopsis of my next fic, which should be out tomorrow. Again, thanks for the reviews and the amazing encouragement. You guys rock! Now the conclusion…
December 20, 20074:14 pm
Michael was sitting in his office, reflecting on the day that was slowly coming to an end. He was staring out of the window, looking down at the parking lot of Dunder Mifflinscoping out the railroad tracks, glancing at the busy street below. He chuckled to himself, trying to figure out what made him want to give all this up, why would he want to leave all this behind. Scranton, Pennsylvania. His home. As he glimpsed at Stanley's car, he laughed to himself about their conversation that morning.
As Michael pulled into the parking lot, he made sure there was no one crossing the path, just in case. He pulled into his usual spot and noticed his sassy Black comrade. He parked his car and ran over to him, "Stanley the Manley, how's it hanging?" He did a little dance, "To the left, to the right."
Stanley rolled his eyes, "Hello, Michael." He started to walk faster to the building.
Michael caught up with him, "So Stan, how's the fam? You know… um… Teri and Melissa and Audrey…how are they?"
Stanley nodded, "They're fine." He stopped short in his tracks, "Why? You didn't do anything to them, did you? Michael… I swear to God…"
Michael chuckled shaking his head, "No, just wonderin'. Anyway, just glad to see ya, buddy." He patted Stanley on the back and pointed to his coffee flask, "And…um…don't drink any red wine in the flask." He laughed as he walked up the building.
Stanley looked down at his flask, "Maybe I need to."
Michael chuckled as he turned to look at the office at large. He looked at Pam who was sending out some faxes and remembering their conversation earlier that day.
As Michael was coming in after Stanley, he noticed Jim and Pam talking at reception. Michael chuckled to himself, seeing the couple that wouldn't be of it wasn't for him. "Hey you two."
Pam smiled, "Hey Michael."
Jim smiled as well, "Hey man, how ya doing?" He patted Michael on the back.
Michael chuckled, "I'm good. I'm actually really great."
Pam nodded, "That's great, Michael. I was saying to Jim –
Michael interrupted, "Yeah, me and Jan had sex for like four hours. It was so awesome."
Jim and Pam looked completely grossed out. Jim turned towards his desk, "I think my phone is ringing."
Pam picked up the phone, "Yeah, I'll transfer you."
Michael shrugged and started walking to his office when Andy came up after overhearing his conversation, "Nice about you and Jan, my man."
Michael looked at Andy and knew that his life seemed bleak without Dunder Mifflin. He chuckled and decided it wouldn't hurt to humor him. "I know, right?" He gave Andy a high five and went into his office.
Michael took a sip from his coffee mug as he saw Meredith passing his window. He shook his head as he recollected on his conversation with his tipsy coworker.
Michael had made his way into the kitchen around break time getting a bottle of water when he saw Meredith making herself a 'drink'. He shook his head, knowing that she still had her demons, but was hoping that maybe some things changed from his vision.
"Hey, Mer. How's it going?" He opened up the fridge and grabbed the bottle of water.
Meredith nodded, "I'm alright. You?" She was adding some lime to her drink.
"I'm okay. Good to see ya doing okay." He grabbed a napkin from the cabinet near Meredith. When she wasn't stirring her drink, Michael took the chance to give her a little test. With a little gusto, he bumped Meredith in her hip.
"Ow! That's my pelvis. It's still healing!" She rubbed it and walked out of the kitchen in a hurry.
Michael chuckled and took a sip of his water, "Just checking." As he was making his way to the break room, he noticed Oscar and Creed conversing at the table in the kitchen. "Hey fellas. What's the haps?"
Oscar nodded, "I'm alright, Michael. Glad to hear about the sale. Great job."
Michael nodded, "Thanks. So…um how's Gil?"
Oscar looked taken aback, "Um… he's fine. Thanks for asking."
Creed looked confused, "Who's Gil? Is that that kid with the beard, or he that fat guy who hangs out with blonde?"
Both Michael and Oscar looked at Creed in complete confusion. Michael shook his head and tried to subject, "So Creed, how's the band?"
Creed looked confused, "What band?"
Michael chuckled, "You know, your band, 'The Grass Roots'. How are they?"
Creed nodded in realization, "Oh yeah, well… last thing I heard, the lead guitarist had a stroke and the drummer got shot in the foot."
Michael looked worried, "Dear God… how the hell did he get shot in the foot?"
Creed shrugged, "Oh, something like that, there's no way of knowing. But he was like our third drummer. They say that that position is cursed, but that's what they said about my job here."
Oscar looked confused, "Who said that?"
Creed looked confused, "Said what?"
Michael and Oscar both stared at Creed as he looked blankly at them both and continued to eat his cereal. Michael shook his head and walked back to the break room.
Michael shook his head, laughing at the interesting characters that worked for him. In their own way, they were like his own flock and he was their shepherd, guiding them into the light. He saw Kelly walking up to reception and remembered his conversation with Ryan earlier that afternoon.
Michael was looking up vacation prices on when his phone rang. "Michael, Ryan is on line one."
Michael nodded, "Put him through." As Ryan got on the line, Michael spoke up first, "What's up, Ry?"
Ryan cleared his throat, "Hey Michael. Just called to congratulate you on the sale. Very good work, Michael. We're all very glad here at Corporate. Just wanted to let you know that we like your work and to keep it up. I'm also glad that a talk motivated you to do better. Again, great job."
Michael was pleasantly surprised at Ryan's chipper manner and decided to take advantage, "Thanks, my man. Means a lot." He scratched the back of his neck, "So Ry, could I ask you something?"
Ryan sighed into the phone, "What is it, Michael?"
Michael giggled a little bit, "Are you seeing anybody? Because –
Ryan interrupted, "Michael, we are not going to talk about my private –
"She still misses you, Ryan." Michael didn't stutter.
There was silence on the other end for a few moments until Ryan cleared his throat, "I'll see you next week." With that, the line went dead.
Michael nodded, "Let the truth be told."
Michael shook his head as he remembered his conversation with Dwight shortly after his talk with Ryan.
"Hey Michael, you wanted to see me?" Dwight stood next to Michael near the window as Michael was looking outside.
Michael nodded, "How's everything with… you know… the ladies?"
Dwight looked confused, "What do you mean" He started to perspire, " Have you heard anything? I swear…I did nothing." His voice became shaky, " You can't prove anything!"
Michael swerved in his chair, "What the hell are you talking about?"
Dwight wiped his brow, adjusting his tie, "Oh…um… nothing. Disregard the previous statement." He shifted his eyes a bit, trying to play it cool, but failing miserably.
Michael looked up at his faithful lackey, "Dwight… um… I just want you to know that work isn't everything." He sighed, "I love being the big boss, but at the end of the day, all I want to do is be with my Jan. Can you understand that?"
Dwight looked out of Michael's office window and looked at Angela who was making copies. She felt his eyes and turned toward him, smiling. Dwight smirked back, "Oh yeah. I understand completely."
As that memory floated out of his mind, he came across another memory of a conversation he had with Kevin in the break room.
Michael walked from the kitchen to the break room getting a protein bar when he saw Kevin talking to Phyllis. "Hey buddy, what's up?"
Kevin smiled, "Hey Michael. Nothing much. Just telling Phyllis about Scrantonicity II's performance this Saturday. Bob Vance loves the Police so I figured he's like to know." He walked over to Michael and handed him a plugger, "Hey, maybe you and Jan can come. It's free if you bring that with you."
Michael nodded, "Nice, man. Maybe I will." He took the plugger and put in his back pocket. As Kevin headed out, Michael went to a vending machine. He looked over at Phyllis, "Hey Phyll…um… I'm glad everything is going good with Bob Vance. I don't think I ever thanked you for being a part of the wedding. I had a really great time."
Phyllis blushed, "Oh Michael, you're welcome. I was glad to have you part of the wedding. If you weren't there, we wouldn't have found my Uncle." She giggled and walked out the door.
Michael nodded, "Yeah, I was needed."
As he was reminiscing on the day that had past, there was a knocking on his door. Pam poked her head in, "Michael, there's a package that just came in for you." She came in and put the square package on his desk. "It doesn't have a return address or anything." She shrugged, "Weird. Anyway, you anything else?"
Michael shook his head, looking at the package, "No, I'm fine. Thanks." He continued to examine the package and the handwriting on the front.
Pam nodded and headed back to her desk, looking over at Jim, who was just as curious about the package as she was. They both stared at Michael's office, trying to get a glimpse of the packages contents.
Michael was just as curious to find out who sent him anything, but importantly, what that something was. He took out a letter opener and slit the top of the box. He nervously opened up the flaps of the box and removed the bubble wrap and small peanuts. When there was nothing left to remove but a black box, he lifted it into the air. He removed the second box and lifted the top, revealing a book.
Jim and Pam both were watching the spectacle as closely and as discreetly as possible without being noticed by anyone else, particularly Dwight. They both looked at each other as they saw Michael lift the book and examine it by turning it in his hands. Jim came up to reception and took his usual jellybean, "A book? Who in the world would send him a book?"
Pam shrugged, "I don't know. But if it's a practical joke…"
They both nodded, saying simultaneously, "Genius."
As Jim and Pam were looking from afar, Michael was examining his book; oblivious of the attention it was receiving. He couldn't figure out who would send him such a thing. He pondered what the gesture meant when he realized what it was. It wasn't a book at all. It was a journal. Being fully confident of that fact, Michael opened up the cover, revealing a message. As he read it, a smile grew on his face.
Michael –
I wanted to tell you that I am so proud of you.
I can say with full confidence that I have
Never been more proud of anyone more.
Always remember, it is not what you accomplish,
It is who is there when you do.
Your friend and guardian,
Paul
P.S. I know I wouldn't let you ride my bike,
But perhaps this will suffice. Turn the page.
As Michael wiped his eye from emotion, he turned that page, revealing an envelope. Michael ripped it open as if he were opening a present on Christmas Day. When he pulled out his contents he screamed.
Jim and Pam watched Michael do his 'happy dance' in his office, both dying to know what had caused a reaction like this. Without further wonder, Michael burst out of his office, singing a familiar tune.
"I've got two tickets to paradise! I'm gonna pack my bags, I'm leaving!" He ran up to Jim and Pam and yelled; "I've got two tickets to Sandals, Jamaica, suckas!" He did another jubilant happy dance and ran back into his office, when he ran into someone familiar.
Without thinking, he hugged Toby, "Thank you, Paul. You are the best angel ever, man!"
Toby, who was caught off guard, patted Michael on the his back, "Um… okay. Who's Paul?"
Michael let go of Toby and looked into his eyes. He sniffed Toby, who didn't smell like Paul at all. With that, he pushed Toby back, who fell into Creed, who fell into Dwight, and ran back into his office to call Jan.
Jim and Pam looked at Michael dancing in his office. Shaking his head, Jim dug in his pocket and brought his wallet, handing Pam a ten-dollar bill. "I can't believe it only took twelve hours, I thought at least a day or two."
Pam shrugged, "That's why you lost the bet, sucka."
THE END.
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Okay, that's it folks. I hope you liked it and lived up to all your expectations. Now, a short synopsis of my next fic: 'The Gift'. Michael has another injury, but this time, it causes him to have visions of the future that effect his coworkers. And his premonitions start to come. Meanwhile, Darryl has to buy the perfect gift for Kelly's birthday, and gets a little help from Ryan. If you love Dwangela and Relly fics, this is the fic for you. And as always, there will be some JAM. Coming soon… TWSS.
