I just need to know if it's really him.

Natalia Penn: Don't jump!

She waited for a reply. Each second felt like a minute. She glugged some wine and instantly regretted it as she coughed and spluttered.

Philly Jim: I need help.

Natalia Penn: What can I do?

It's like we're partners-in-crime again. If it's really him. It's got to be him.

Philly Jim: I need you to get this guy out of his apartment so I can get down. Can I actually kill myself in this game?

Natalia Penn: No idea, this is my first time. What's the guy's name?

Philly Jim: Dwight Shrute

It's got to be him but I need more information.

Natalia Penn: Am I aiding and abetting something?

Philly Jim: Only the forces of good. I wasn't stealing anything, I was giving him something.

Natalia Penn: Is it a bomb?

Philly Jim: That would have been awesome but no, I gave him a trophy.

Oh god, it's a Dundie. It has to be a Dundie.

Natalia Penn: Will you tell me what's going on if I do this? Sounds interesting and I have an evening to kill.

Philly Jim: Sure, I've got no life of which to speak of.

Natalia Penn: Ok, hold tight, keep yourself amused with your guitar unless that's only there for the chicks ;)

Oh god, I winked at him. And he has no idea it's me. Though technically I still don't 100% know it is him. God, of course it's him, who else would stalk Dwight and put a trophy in his cyber apartment? Well, apart from me.

Philly Jim: Totally there for the chicks ;-)

She laughed. She could hear his voice in his words. She'd never missed him more and here he was talking to her like they're friends again.

She set to work. She walked Natalia upstairs while formulating a plan that would perfectly suit a Lackawanna volunteer sheriff's deputy. It had to be an urgent crisis. Dwight came to the door. It was the first time she'd seen him close up, his likeness was spot-on.

Natalia Penn: I need your help!

Dwight Schrute: I am trained in the martial arts and am a master marksman.

God, that's so Dwight.

Natalia Penn: I'm forming a search party. We've been infiltrated! The only way to stop THEM taking over is to hunt them down.

Dwight Schrute: Who are THEY?

Uhhh...

Natalia Penn: Cyber thieves!

Pam couldn't stop giggling, Jim would love this. Dwight ran past her and down the stairs. She waited by the door and soon Philly Jim appeared.

Philly Jim: Thanks, I owe you one.

I'm pretty sure I owe you Jim.

Natalia Penn: Shall we go somewhere and chat?

Philly Jim: Follow me, there's a lake just up the road with some benches.

They walked together and Pam weighed up whether she should let on who she is. First she wanted 100% proof. It felt too wonderful just to have him again, fresh and uncomplicated. Their characters sat.

I wish I made my character look more like me. It would be fitting to see us sat next to each other talking.

Natalia Penn: So what did you put in his apartment?

Philly Jim: Well technically it's called a Dundie.

Ok.

It is him.

Oh god, do I tell him? What if he hates me? What if he just logs off and says nothing? What if he tells me I've ruined his life? ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod. Ok, keep cool, calm down, see how this goes. You're Natalia, not Pam right now.

Natalia Penn: What's a Dundie?

A lie. Maybe a lie wasn't the best way out of that but it's all I have left of Jim.

Philly Jim: Something my old boss used to do, he'd give really weird awards like 'Don't Go In There' for one guy who made the bathroom *ahem* uninhabitable for a while or for wearing the Whitest Sneakers.

My award.

Natalia Penn: So what was Dwight's award for?

Sexiest beet farmer? Brownest nose? Most dead creatures placed on receptionist's desk? Funniest concussion?

Philly Jim: Ok, this isn't a reflection on where I work but it was Most Unlikely Guy to Buy a Hooker.

Hooker! But Angela and Dwight... oh my god, what did he see?

Natalia Penn: That guy! How do you know?

Philly Jim: I was at a conference and I got into his room and there was a naked woman on his bed. It had to be a hooker.

Natalia Penn: Maybe he has a girlfriend.

Philly Jim: He'd brag if he had a girlfriend. It was a hooker, I'm sure of it.

Wishful thinking Jim. You saw Angela naked.

Natalia Penn: So what kind of conference was this?

Philly Jim: Paper. A whole conference dedicated to paper and office supplies. I know, adrenaline filled stuff.

Natalia Penn: I guess writing is more your thing?

Philly Jim: More of a fantasy thing. How about you? Are you a real life artist or aspiring assistant to the regional manager?

She laughed, it was like old times, before one conversation and one kiss changed her life.

I miss him. I should tell him before this goes too far. Maybe I could give him enough to work it out then I won't actually have to type it.

Natalia Penn: I'm a receptionist.

There was a long pause before a reply. Pam felt sick.

Philly Jim: A receptionist and wannabe artist? Wow, I've had terrible luck with that.

Oh god.

Natalia Penn: Maybe your luck is due for a change?

Philly Jim: It would be nice. Been a rough few months.

Me too. I'm so sorry Jim.

Natalia Penn: Must be going around. Is that why you're here?

Philly Jim: Yeah. I used to work with Dwight, I found out he was on Second Life from a casual mention in an email and here I am. I think it's been a bit of an escape. I moved a couple of months ago and I haven't really settled. Why are you here?

Natalia Penn: I'm lonely in the evenings. I just got out of a long term relationship.

Please work it out Jim. Don't make me say it. Or type it. Artist, Receptionist, Relationship, Pennsylvania, Dwight.

Philly Jim: I'm sorry to hear that. I guess we both need a second life right now.

Damnit Jim.

Natalia Penn: I'm working on the real one. I'm taking some art classes.

Philly Jim: Nice.

Natalia Penn: Have you thought about taking writing classes? You might meet some people.

Just not a girl, don't meet a girl. No, what the hell am I doing? Wishing you to be lonely? I wish I knew how you felt about me now. Once I did and it was too much. I just needed time to work it out. You wanted to change everything.

Philly Jim: Yeah, maybe. I don't know, I'm horrendously anti-social.

Natalia Penn: You're talking to me.

Philly Jim: You did help me off a ledge. What did you tell Dwight to get him out so fast?

Natalia Penn: That a search party was being formed to find a mysterious group of cyber thieves.

Philly Jim: You have no idea how perfect that story is, just absolutely perfect.

Come on Pam. Stop the game. You've played too many with him before now.

Natalia Penn: I have a good idea.

Philly Jim: How so?

Prepare yourself girl. You can do this. God, I can't do it.

Natalia Penn: He reminded me of someone I know.

Damnit, you suck Pam, you suck.

Philly Jim: There's more than one Dwight in the world? Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?

He's so damn funny, I haven't laughed like this in so long. Since he left.

Natalia Penn: That and me actually having something to do on a Friday night.

Philly Jim: Well I'll probably be here but if I arrange to meet you I'll be hastening the end of the world... tough choice.

Natalia Penn: Maybe you're worth risking the world for?

Oh god, did I just send that. He's going to think I'm crazy. Oh god, he's not replying. No, no, no.

Natalia Penn: Sorry, I just reread that, little intense, sorry.

Be casual Pam. Casual.

Philly Jim: That's ok.

Ok, time to try and tell him again.

Natalia Penn: I'm kinda missing someone at the moment, someone I wish I'd risked the world for.

Philly Jim: Your ex?

Natalia Penn: Nope. There were a lot of reasons to end that. I miss someone else. It took me a while to see what he did and now he's gone.

Long wait again. Is he thinking it through, putting the pieces together?

Philly Jim: Is it too late?

Natalia Penn: I think so, I don't know.

Philly Jim: If you aren't sure why not try? It didn't work out well for me but I'm glad I know, I'll never wonder what would have happened if I hadn't told her.

Natalia Penn: She was stupid for turning you down.

I can't believe I'm crying. It's been three whole days without crying about something. God, I just can see his face, wounded.

Philly Jim: I like to think so. She left the guy she was with at the time too. Turns out she didn't want either of us.

I just needed to work things out, I'm not a big step person, I'm a baby step person. Is there still hope? Ask him. He still doesn't know it's you. Ask him.

Natalia Penn: If she turned up on your doorstep saying she wanted to be with you, would you go for it?

Please answer yes. Please. I'll leave right now. I've only had one glass, I'll drive right now.

Philly Jim: I don't want to think about that, it'll never happen.

Is that a yes? I think it's a yes. He doesn't want to think about it because he would, he just thinks there's no hope. There's hope.

Natalia Penn: I think I'll take your advice. I'll tell him how I feel.

Philly Jim: I hope it works out for you and that he's worth it.

Natalia Penn: He's worth it.

Philly Jim: Good luck, let me know how it goes. I could do with a happy ending.

You're going to get one.

Natalia Penn: I'm going to see him now.

Philly Jim: Seriously? Well go get him!

Natalia Penn: He lives a couple of states away but I just really need to see him, I hope he doesn't go to bed too early.

Philly Jim: Quit talking to me and go! I hope you don't need this second life after tonight. Keep up with the art too.

He's hurting so much yet he's being so sweet to me. Maybe he knows and isn't letting on?

Natalia Penn: Look up those classes, it's the baby steps that got me through.

Philly Jim: I will. See you Nat.

Natalia Penn: See you Jim.

See you soon.

Yes, I moved the hooker moment up but I wanted to include it in the story so... I did! Oh, and if anyone is wondering how Jim can be that oblivious I've written this conversation from his POV but I'm not sure which chapter it'll be yet.

Be vigilant, cyber thieves are everywhere!

Thanks to my reviewer Kimsibobs. Hope you enjoyed this.