Dear everyone: I'm really sorry, I haven't updated for so long! I've been working on some other stories and I had schoolwork to handle, so I've been busy. Please forgive me? Anyway, I wasn't sure what to do with this story. I was really stuck on this chapter, but please let me know what you think. Again, sorry!

DISCLAIMER: Don't own The Office.

Pam lay on the grass, every part of her hurting. She let out shuddering sobs, shaking and trembling.

"Please, please, come home soon Jim." She muttered. Her head was exploding, she couldn't think straight. She let her eyes flutter shut and tried to breathe in and out. She listened for cars but all she heard was a TV blaring from the house next door, a neighbourhood cat prowling in the streets and somebody yelling at their children.

"Turn that music down, its enough to wake up the dead!" Her voice alone was enough to wake up the dead, Pam thought. She squinted her eyes shut harder, feeling a churning in her stomach. She suddenly felt very, very afraid of Roy. What if he came back? Using every ounce of strength she had, she struggled to her feet and stumbled inside. Once inside, she sat on the couch for a moment, until her head stopped spinning; then hurried to lock the doors, knowing Jim had a key. Speaking of which, where was he? Pam still felt scared. The house felt so big and so dark. She turned on every light and went upstairs. She didn't bother changing; she just tugged off her shoes with shaking hands and hid under the covers, trembling. She felt very old and very tired. The rain outside began to pour down harder, and suddenly the window lit up every now and again with bols of lightning.

"No, no, not tonight." Pam usually liked thunderstorms, they were movie nights, popcorn nights, they were cosy and dramatic but she was usually safe and protected in her house. But tonight, they made her head pound and her heart pound even harder. Finally, Pam couldn't take it anymore. Shivering, she grabbed the thick blanket and a fluffy pillow and hid under the bed, like she used to when she was younger in storms. Under the bed, in safety, she wrapped the blanket around her and rested her head on the pillow. She snaked one hand out and searched in the bottom drawer of the beside table for a torch. She propped it up and in the dim light, she finally fell asleep.

It must have been around 1 hour later when Pam woke up. She almost screamed, at seeing the sight of a dark figure, crouched by the bed.

"Jim!" Pam cried.

"Pam?" He was soaked to the skin, his hair dripping down his face, his white shirt now transparent. His concerned, warm brown eyes peeked under the bed and he laughed.

"What are you doing?"

"Jim." She said his name again, it sounded so warm and reassuring. She closed her eyes. She was safe.

"Yeah. I'm sorry I'm so late, there was a huge line at the store, and then a traffic jam and when I got home, the doors were locked and I didn't have my keys. I had to climb through a window...Pam?" He stopped, concerned. "Pam, what's wrong?" He asked, hearing her sobs. She couldn't help it, the tears came freely now, slipping down her cheeks. Jim stopped asking questions. He took off his shoes and slid under the bed next to Pam, folding his legs to fit.

"Are you…" he saw the fresh bruises in the glow of the torch. His face froze and he stared at Pam. The only sound was a clock ticking. After a moment, he simply wrapped his arms around her and let her cry into his shoulder. He was drenched and cold but Pam had never felt warmer.

They slept there for the night. Pam woke up 4 times and each time, Jim was awake, just staring into space. Neither of them said a word. The next morning, Jim went down the stairs to see Pam, sitting at the table, her back to him. She was wearing a silk blue bathrobe and her hair was wet, a comb beside her on the table. Jim walked over and picked it up without thinking. She didn't turn around and he began to comb her hair, as gently as he could, carefully running it through snags and small tangles. Her hair was straight when it was wet but it dried into perfect waves.

"You have to press charges." Jim said quietly when he'd finished, gently setting down the comb. Pam's voice was thin and quiet.

"I don't know. I don't want to make this messier then it already is."

"You said that last time, Pam. It got messier anyway. Much messier."

"I know."

"Please, Pam. I don't want him to hurt you again." He reached out one index finger, gently touching a bruise on her arm. Tears filled his eyes but he blinked them away and sat down.

"I don't want to press charges…but I don't want to see Roy…ever again…I don't want any of this."

"You could press charges for Assault and Battery. Roy couldn't hurt you then."

"He'd be so mad though! He'd come again, Jim, I know he would."

"He won't, Pam." Jim said it so softly and firmly. "I won't let him." He wrapped his arms around her and after a moment she hugged him back.

"I think…I think I'm going to press charges." Pam whispered. She wanted this to be over. She wanted Roy away from her. She wanted nothing to do with him ever again. Pam took a deep breath.

"Yes. I want to press charges. Now." She felt rather then heard, Jim breathe in sharply.

"Okay." He said slowly, sounding relieved. "Let's go to the police. I'll drive."

I know this was short, sorry, but I am going to update really soon, I promise! More chapters soon, please review and let me know what you think. Sorry for the wait, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading! xx