The Very First Possibly Annual Sitcomathon

Our Lives Together

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 05:47:50 GMT

So I know it's my birthday now but I decided spread my joy to those of you who like my writing and decided to post on of my fics for my table. I think this was the longest one because it spanned almost ten pages. Anyways, enough with the rambling, hope you enjoy it.

Title: Our Lives Together
Pairing: John Dorian/Perry Cox
Prompt: 037: Life
Word Count: ~750
Rating: PG
Spoilers: none but some characters may be alittle OCC
Warnings: slash
Authors Notes: They save that your life never truly begins to you meet the person you want to spend eternity with

Beginnings

J.D was sitting the lounge of the hospital, talking to his newest crush on one of nursed named Amanda Phillips. While they were talking, Dr. Cox seemed to come out of nowhere and grabbed J.D by the ear, pulling him to the nearest empty room and locking the door behind them.

“Dr. Cox, what the hell-”

“Shut and listen Samantha. Now I know that you are trying to find that special boy that will take away your virginity after he falls in love with you but you cannot just try to sleep with every piece of ass out there that you see. Don’t you know what kind of diseases are out there Charlotte.”

“Very funny Dr. Cox. Of course I know what kind of diseases are out there because I happen to be a doctor” J.D laughed as he walked towards the door. “And I have you know that I always practice safe sex.”

“Newbie don’t you walk out of that door.”

“Are you aware that I have the nurse right where I want her? I could be taking her out tonight and do you know what that means.

“You’ll be in bed by ten o’clock tonight.”

“If we go to an early dinner yes, but that’s not what I meant by that. What I meant is that she could be the one”

“I don’t think you should go out with her,” Dr. Cox whispered softly as he advanced his way to J.D.

“Dr. Cox why are you always trying to stop me from going on dates. It’s like you want me for yourself and if I didn‘t know any better-.” J.D laughed again but stopped when Perry grabbed him by the arm and pulled him close to him. He could feel the older man’s breath tickle his ear as he spoke again.

“So what if I do?”

“Excuse me”

“I said What. If. I. do?”

Fights

J.D didn’t have time to answer before Perry pressed his lips against his. All other thoughts flew out of the window and he was quickly wrapped into the kiss. Throwing one hand into the older doctor’s hair, he tightly grasped the sandy blonde curls pulling him as close as he could possible get. He didn’t know why, but he found himself easily accepting of the kiss and drove his tongue further into Perry’s mouth. One thought that remained clear in his mind though, he was glad that Perry locked the door.

“I can’t believe that you did that.” J.D screamed at Perry, pulling away from him. His eyes were puffy from crying, face red from anger and tears steady dropping from his eyes. “I can’t believe that you slept with Jordan.

“I said I was sorry, I didn’t mean for it to happen.” Perry tried to reason with him but J.D didn’t seem to care.

“So are you telling me that you tripped and fell inside of her, over and over again? I don’t think so Perry.”

“I was upset; I thought that we were over-.”

“It was a stupid fight Perry, couples fight and you couldn’t handle that for a couple of hours; for six freaking hours.”

“I was drunk, angry and stupid and she was there. We just have this history and-.”

“Well since you two have history together then maybe you should be with her, I’m sure you want to”

“I don’t want Jordan, I want you. How many times can I say is that I’m sorry?” pulling J.D back into his arms, holding him close. He knew that he had done something wrong but he would fight to keep J.D in his life. “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s not enough and no matter how many times you say it or what you say, it will never be enough.” J.D hissed, pulling away again. He couldn’t believe that someone that he loved would do that to him. After everything they had went through to be together and to have this happen; it was too much for him to handle.

“J.D please.” Perry whispered walking over to J.D. “Are you saying that we can’t see past this? Do you want me to leave?” He waited for J.D to respond but instead all he got was silence. Taking that as a sign, he turned to walk towards the door when J.D finally spoke again.

“You hurt me.”

“I know.”

“You hurt me more than anyone has ever hurt me. I didn’t even think that you could but you did.” turning around to face Perry again. Perry could see the pain that was in his eyes, tears clouding his vision. Seeing J.D like that made him want to cry also.

“I know and it’s killing me to see you like this.” Perry whispered as he walked over to J.D pulling him into a hug. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for hurting you.”

At first J.D was resistant but he eventually let Perry hold him. They both fell to the floor and Perry just held J.D as he continued to cry. He knew that in his heart he would never do anything to put him in this state again.

Moving In

“Perry, let go. I have to get ready for work” J.D whined as he tried to move out of Perry’s arm but Perry just held him closer.

“You don’t have to be in for another hour, what’s the rush.”

“The rush is I live all the way across town and I have to go home to get ready for work. We all can’t live ten minutes away from the hospital like you.” J.D replied rolling over to face Perry. “Plus Kelso will start riding me hard if I’m late again.”

“You better be kidding Marsha,” Perry growled, moving J.D as close as he could possibly get; which wasn‘t much closer but he didn‘t seem to notice much less notice.

“Please, that is just too gross to think about” J.D smirked as he kissed Perry on the lips. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I need to leave so I can go get ready for work.”

“It would be easier if you just- I don’t know, moved in with me”

“Are you serious?” J.D asked shocked. True, most of the time, he stayed at Perry’s but he didn’t feel like he was ready to move in with somebody. He had never lived with someone he was in a relationship with and he didn’t want to move to fast.

“Well yeah, I‘ve been thinking about it for a while now. I mean you’re over all the time anyways and this way you won’t be late to work every morning.” Perry smiled as he kissed J.D’s forehead. “Look I’m not saying that you have to move in now, I just wanted to let you know that you can whenever you want.”

“I don’t know what to say-.”

“Say you’ll think about it.”

J.D was still in shock as he sat up when Perry moved his arm and reached over in his dresser for something to pull out. Perry grabbed his hand and placed something silver inside his hand. J.D opened his hand and realized that it was a key to Perry’s apartment.

“For when you do decide to move in”

J.D wrapped the key in his hand and smiled. He looked at Perry and lay back down in the bed beside him. Perry looked over him in confusion when he saw J.D pull the sheets back over his body.

“What are you doing? I thought you had to get ready for work.”

“I do” J.D laughed. “But I think that I could spend a few more minutes in our apartment in our bed with you.”

“So you’re moving in?”

“Yeah. I guess I am.”

Questions

“Guys I told you last year that I didn’t want anything for my birthday, just a nice birthday dinner with my friends.”

“We know Bambi, but cards aren’t really gifts. You and Turk exchange cards every month”

“That’s different. You know every 14^th is friendship day.” J.D replied.

“Yeah Carla, and you know that’s a very special occasion. It’s the date that we met”

“I find it a shame that you can remember you and J.D’s anniversary but not ours.”

“Baby, now is not the time to be jealous; we are here to celebrate J.D’s birthday. Now read my card, it‘s so awesome.” he replied, handing J.D a bag with Smurfs all over it.

“You’re the best ever and our friendship’s tight. I hope your birthday is dynamite,” J.D read aloud as he pulled something out of the bag. “Oh my God, Gilmore Girls box set seasons one through six, Turk how awesome. You know how much I love Lorelei and Rory banter; they‘re so clever.”

“Yeah I was hoping that we could watch that the next time that we hang out.”

“Of course, you know it playa”

“Oh God” Carla said rolling her eyes. “Here’s my card J.D, hope you like it.”

“There’s no one quite like you and I wouldn’t change that for anything. That’s beautiful, me gusto”

“Have you been reading my Spanish dictionary again?”

“Si”

“Alright there sorority sisters break it up” Perry huffed as he made his way over to J.D and threw a card down in front of him. It was a regular looking card inside a regular white envelope but he knew that J.D would think it was perfect. “Here’s my card Cecilia.”

“You didn’t have to get me-”

“Just read the damn card.”

“Okay grumpy much.” J.D smirked. “Fine it says that these past two years have been absolutely wonderful and I am so glad that I have someone in my life like you. I couldn’t imagine my life without you and I want to know will you marry me.”

Carla and Turk looked at each in shock while J.D just folded the card up and looked back at Perry.

“That was beautiful, thank you.” he smiled and then turned his attention back towards Carla and Turk, still not getting what was on the card. “So where should we go for dinner tonight? I was thinking something very fancy but-”

“Bambi…don’t you have something to say to Perry?” a stun Carla stuttered to a nonchalant J.D.

“What, I did say thank you right.”

“No, to the question that he asked you…in the card.” Turk replied slowly, hoping J.D would catch on to what he was saying.

“What question Turk; I mean the only question that he asked me was will I marry him.” J.D laughed. Suddenly J.D stopped laughing and turned his attention back to Perry who had a serious smile on his face. “You asked me to marry you.”

“That I did Sally.”

“You really want to marry me?”

“That’s what I asked didn’t I”

“I mean-why do you want to marry me?”

“Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you”

“Really.”

J.D didn’t respond but instead pulled Perry into a hug and kissed him passionately on the lips, both obliviously from the claps and awes in the background. Perry didn’t have to ask him again because he already knew the answer to it.

Declarations

“Perry you may say what you have written.”

“If you ask anyone I’m not the easiest person to get along with” Perry started to say causing everyone to in the room to laugh. “I come off as a complete jackass and nobody really likes me. Nobody but you. You saw that I had a good inside, even if I didn’t like to show it. You gave me a reason to want to be a better person and I’m happy to be committing to you today because I don’t want to ever commit to someone else.”

“That is so beautiful” Elliot sniffed and replied loudly causing everyone in the room to look at her, telling her to be quiet. “Sorry-it just-continue.”

“J.D, you may say what you have written”

“If someone would have told me four years ago that I would fall in love and marry my boss, I would have been a little skeptical. If someone had told me that I would fall in love and marry you, I would have told him or her that they were crazy but here we are, standing in front of all our friends declaring that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together. And a part of me is scared of what the future holds but I know that as long as I have you, I have nothing to be afraid of.”

Perry and J.D looked into each other’s eyes and just stared as the man in front of them told them to seal their union with a kiss. J.D smirked as he grabbed Perry by the waist and pulled him into a tight hug, kissing him passionately on the lips. Both men could agree that this was the happiest day of their lives.

Family

“Newbie what are you looking at?” Perry asked J.D walking up to him, wrapping on arm around his waist.

“Um nothing” J.D stuttered as he used his free hand to cover up the papers he was looking at.

“Come on Martha, you can tell me.”

“We’ve been married for two years now and you’re still calling me girl’s names. Will it ever end?”

“What do you think Moesha?”

“I think no and today must be M day” J. D smiled as he moved his hand to show Perry what he was looking at.

“Adoption pamphlets. This is what has been occupying all your time with lately.”

“Yeah” J.D sighed. “I didn’t tell you because I know that you were call me a bigger girl but every since I was kid I knew that I wanted children.”

“And because you married me, that dream can’t come true”

“Don’t think for a second that I regret being with you because I don’t” turning around so that he was facing Perry. “I just wish that we had someone to share our love with, a child who needs as much love as we are willing to give.”

“You should have come to me about it,” Perry whispered as J.D placed one arm around his neck.

“I know, don’t think that I didn’t want too but I know that you hate kids.”

“I don’t hate kids” Perry smirked pulling J.D closer. “I just have a strong dislike for them, but I wouldn’t hate them so much if they belonged to us.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that if you want to adopt a child then I’m with you every step of the way.”

“Really.”

“Yeah why not, I mean you would make the perfect mother” he tried to say but J.D had already broken away from the hug and grabbed his pamphlets. “Where are you going?”

“I have adoption agencies to call. I’m getting a kid,” he screamed as he ran down the hallway. Perry just shook his head and walked back down to check on the patient. He didn’t know what the hell that he gotten himself into but it was worth it made J.D happy.

Letting Go
“I don’t want him to go.”
Perry sighed and went over to J.D, pulling him into a hug. He had been hearing this all morning and he wanted him to sit down and calm his nerves.
“J.D, it’s his time.”
“Perry” hissing as he jerked away from the older man. “He still needs us.”
“Newbie its kindergarten, he‘ll be back at two-thirty and Izzy will be there with him.”
“Who cares about Izzy, we’re talking about Sammy here. It’s full day kindergarten, don’t pretend that it’s the same day as half day kindergarten because it‘s not.”
“He’s five; it’s time for him to start school.”
“Maybe we can home school him, that way he doesn’t have to leave home” J.D replied hopefully, only to be pulled back to reality by Perry again.
“And when will we have time to school him Darla. Did you forget that we are both doctors?”
“We can always hire a tutor”
“Newbie”
“Alright, alright” J.D sighed giving up and grabbing the backpack from the table. Seconds later a boy came running downstairs, his blonde hair blowing in the wind. He walked over to J.D and grabbed his backpack from his hand.
“I’m ready, I’m ready. I’m ready-”
“Someone has been watching too much Spongebob.” Perry laughed ruffling his son’s hair while looking at J.D.
“It’s not my fault” J.D scowled as he grabbed his coat. “And besides, it’s educational TV.”
“To idiots yeah” Perry said as he grabbed his jacket to and grabbed the little boys to walk out of the door. “Come on Sammy, time for school.”
“You’re going too”
“Well I figured that your mom will be an emotional wreck so somebody has to make sure that she doesn’t make a complete fool out of herself dropping you off in front of your friends.”
“You’re funny daddy,” Sammy laughed as he ran out of the door.
“I know son, I know”
“You’re not that funny,” J.D growled walking out behind Sam. He rolled his eyes as he walked out the door that only earned him a slap on the ass from Perry. He couldn’t help but smile and turned to kiss Perry on the lips before running after their son.
“Yes Newbie, yes I am”

Scares
“Perry would you stop pacing, everything is going to be fine”
“No it’s not,” Perry, growled sitting back down beside J.D who was lying in a hospital bed; attached to a variety of machines. “You’ve been sick for the past couple of weeks and today you pass out.”
“I’m going to be fine, I told you that.”
“Well I don’t believe you.”
“As doctors we have to see the bright side of things.”
“And as doctors we also know that we can’t eliminate all the possibilities” sighing as he looked over at J.D and placed a kiss on his forehead. “I’m just scared okay”
“And you think that I’m happy that I’m lying in a hospital bed instead of going to my son’s baseball game.”
“He’s thirteen, I’m sure Sammy won’t mind.”
“I know but I can’t help it. I’ve always been there to watch him play and I don’t want that to stop now.”
“And you won’t have too”
Perry and J.D look up to see the doctor standing at the door smiling at them.
“So what’s wrong with me doc, am I going to be alright?”
“You’re going to be just fine as long as you stop eating so much sugar and take insulin shots every day.”
“You mean to tell me that after two weeks of being sick and passing out, all I have Diabetes.”
“Yes, I’m sorry to tell you that you do but it isn’t life threatening if you follow all the guidelines like eating right and exercising more.”
“But I’m a doctor how come I didn’t figure it out.”
“Well because as doctors we always seem to make something as small as a cough into something big like Cancer. You were probably so worried that it could have been something big that you forgot to think about the small stuff.”
“Thank you Dr. Edwards.” J.D smiled.
“You’re welcome Dr. Dorian, Dr. Cox” Dr. Edwards smiled back. “Just make sure you follow the plan and take your insulin shots like you’re supposed to.”
“Don’t worry Dr. Edwards, he will” Perry answered for J.D and smiled as the doctor left out of the room.
“Thanks for answering for me”
“Newbie”
“I told you that everything will be okay”
“You’re now a diabetic, I don’t think that counts as okay.”
“I’m not dying am I? Just thank you’re lucky stars for that.”
“I am, don’t worry I am” Perry smiled as he kissed J.D again. He smiled when J.D patted the side of his bed, inviting Perry to sit in the bed beside him. He positioned his body so that J.D could lay his head on his chest, while he stroked his hair. They both fell silent as they listened to the heart monitor’s beeping.
“Don’t scare me like that again,” Perry whispered.
“Don’t worry, I won’t” J.D replied.

Family Time
“Perry just pull over and ask for directions,” an annoyed J.D hissed at his partner who just seemed to ignore him, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I don’t need to ask for directions, I know where I’m going”
“Oh really” J.D smirked as he Perry looked at him, “Then why have we passed this same sign three times already.
“Busted dad.” A sixteen-year Samuel mocked in the backseat causing his girlfriend to laugh along with him.
“Yeah Uncle Perry, you are so busted.”
“See, even the children agree with me so please pull over and ask for directions.
“Fine” Perry sighed as he turned their car into the nearest gas station. He pulled up to a pump and signaled for the guy standing next to another pump to come over.
“Can I help you?” the man smiled as he made his way over.

“Yes, can you help us?” J.D smiled, speaking before Perry could; knowing that he was already upset and asking a stranger for directions would make him even more upset. “We’re lost and we’re looking for Bradley street.”

“Bradley street” the man laughed. “You looking for Bradley street, why that’s right up the road but instead of making a right, you make a left.”
“A left."
“Isn’t that where Uncle J.D said to turn about twenty minutes ago?” Izzy snickered as she put her hand over her mouth to hide her laugh.
“Can it you two or you’ll walking the rest of the way home.”
“Anyways, thanks for your help” J.D smiled as the man went back to his car and Perry drove them out of the parking lot. He looked over at Perry and kissed him softly on the cheek and grabbed his hand; resting his head on his shoulder. “So…did he say turn left?”
“Shut up” Perry sneered as he turned a left and right in front of him was the street they had spent twenty minutes trying to find.

“I love you too.” was all J.D said as they pulled to the house, Perry smiling the entire time as they entered inside ready to start their fmily vacation.

“I can’t believe that our son graduated from college today.” J.D cried. “It just seemed like yesterday he was asking me to cut his sandwich into triangles”
“That was yesterday Jessica”
“Well I didn’t want him to choke on it”
“He’s twenty-one; I think he knows how to chew.” Perry laughed as he sipped on his drink. He looked around the room and saw his 6’0 foot son standing next to an average height brown skin woman with curly black hair. The pair walked over to Perry and J.D, the woman kissing Perry on the cheek.
“Hey Dads” Sam smiled giving J.D a hug and Perry a handshake.
“Hey son”
“Hey Uncle Perry, uncle J.D”
“Hey Isabella” Perry smiled. “Are you keeping my son in check?”
“Yes I am, in fact-” she smiled as she pulled out her hand to show off a small diamond ring on her ring finger. “He asked me to marry him,” she screamed.
“Oh my God” J.D screamed as he pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tight. “I can’t believe after almost 10 years of being together, he finally popped the question. You know what this means right”
“That you finally have the daughter you always wanted”
“No silly, once Sam and Isabella have a kid me and Turk will really be related.”
“Why do I even bother?” Perry sighed as he sipped his drink again. He looked up and noticed that J.D had already gone to find Turk and tell him the good news. He could here both of the screaming and jumping up and down as Carla just rolled her eyes and walked away from the two of them.

Ends
“I can’t believe that it’s ending like this” J.D replied, tears in his eyes as he leaned over the bed and looked at Perry. Perry just smiled in return and slowly shook his head.
“Don’t say things like that, you’re going make me throw up with all this sweetness?”
“Stop trying to be funny, I’m serious”
“J.D, I am being serious too. It’s just my time to go”
“But I don’t want you to go”
“It’s not up to you Felicia” Perry replied softly as he lifted his hand to grab his lover’s hand. He could see the sadness in his eyes and wished that he could do something to take it away but he knew he couldn’t. His time was up on this earth, he just wish J.D would see that.
“I can’t live my life without you” J.D whispered as he sat on the bed. He couldn’t believe that all that he worked for in his life was ending like this. The person that he loved for half his life was saying his final goodbyes. The tears fell down his face as he buried it into Perry’s chest. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“And you won’t be alone.” Perry replied stroking J.D’s hair. “You still have Carla Gandhi, Barbie and their children. Moreover, you can’t forget about Samuel and Isabella, and our wonderful grandkids Katherine and Joshua. They love their grandpa J.D”
“And they love their grandpa Perry but they won’t get to see you anymore and neither will I”
“I’ll never be far from you. I’ll be with you always in spirit”
“What if that’s not enough?”
“It will be”
“Will it hurt?”
“What?”
“When you die, will it hurt?”

“Yeah it will for a while” Perry sighed. “But you will slowly move on from it and it will get better.”
“You promise.”
“Yeah I do.
J.D got up and ran his hand across Perry’s cheek. He could feel the wetness on Perry’s cheek and could tell that he had been crying along with him. He knew that the days that they had left was few in numbers but he was going to appreciate every one of them.

Moving On
J.D smiled as he straightened a picture that was hanging on the wall. It was a picture of everyone that he loved at a family event that was hosted at the hospital. It had been almost three years since Perry left the earth but he missed every day.
At first, he thought that he would never move on from the pain but over time, he did. His friends and family helped him realize that Perry wouldn’t want him to be like that. He would want him to move on from his life and make it better. He knew that everyone was right and slowly began to transition himself back into society.
Now he was able to smile at the sight of Perry’s picture and remember all the good times that they had together. He knew that Perry was up there watching him, making sure that he was alright. He also knew that one day they would see each other again and that is what kept him going on the days that he felt like he couldn’t

“One day” J.D smiled as he got into bed and turned off the light. “One day.”

Hope I didn't make anyone sad by killing Perry off but at least I let him live a long time before I wacked him off. Like I said hoped you liked it and if you didn't, don't really care. ~_~

~Ricka~

Growing up

unfilled requests!

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 09:21:09 GMT

First, I want to thank and congratulate everyone who got a story in for this 'thon. You are some brilliant, funny people, you are, and this haul is seriously sweet. Pimp the [masterlist] to everyone you know, so we can maximize the glory! And please note, several new stories have been added, so if you were a recipient who didn't get a story, check and see...there could be something new for you!

But folks, please remember to leave a comment on the story that was written for you -- the one assured result of a ficathon, at least according to common curtesy, is that the writer who went to the trouble of filling someone's request gets assured at least one piece of feedback, from their recipient, for whom they've worked so hard. And lemme tell ya what else -- leaving feedback for strangers is also a friendly thing to do! Meet new people who write great sitcom fic!

Then, shortly kyrafic will be launching the spin-off to this sitcomathon by putting up the list of unfilled requests, to reopen to anyone who wants to claim a prompt and write that story.

Before that, we will be putting up a list of all the requests belonging to the requestees who didn't get a fic out of this first volley.

So, we'll be back after these messages.

The Office/Arrested Development, "Mututal Admiration Society"

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:09:06 GMT

Fandom: The Office w/ a bit of Arrested Development
Title: Mutual Admiration Society
Author: smartlikejustin
Rating: PG
Pairing: Michael, GOB
Written for: likethesun2
Summary: it was always so hard to find people who were able to adequately execute his vision

Michael leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He momentarily imagined himself giving a business seminar one day. Dwight would introduce him, of course, something too long, but heart-felt and Michael would cough gently from the wings to let Dwight know that he was going long. Michael would enter as Dwight said, "my mentor, President and CEO of Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company." Cue thunderous applause.

Michael blinked back to reality and stood up, joining the clapping. He kept clapping as he stepped into the aisle and looked over his shoulder as he found the perfect balance of appreciative and casual for his expression. He walked towards the backstage entrance-- really the door to the boys' locker room since there was no actual stage in the Scranton High School gymnasium. They'd done a nice job covering it with white paper and the Bluth corporate logo. Michael wondered what underling had made the decision to print it in black and white and also hopelessly off-center. Pam had done the same thing with Michael's anti-sexual harrassment posters in the kitchen. He sighed heavily-- it was always so hard to find people who were able to adequately execute his vision.

Michael leaned-- casual, cool, in no way suspicious-- against the door. The seminar attendees were starting to make their way towards the tables in the back. Some of the high school students were using the opportunity to run a bake sale. Michael noticed a stack of chocolate-covered pretzels, but he didn't have time for food now. He waited until he was sure everyone had fallen for his nothing-to-see-here attitude, pulled open the locker room door, and slipped inside.

There was a Segway propped against one row of lockers and Michael paused to admire it. He had almost bought one once, but no matter how cool it looked, it wasn't worth the concussion that resulted from using it on stairs when the elevator was out of order. And that one time he was bored after lunch on a Thursday.

"Hey, you!" someone shouted behind him and Michael turned quickly.

"No, it's okay-- I'm supposed to be here," he said to the blonde. "I have an appointment with Mr. Bluth."

She looked him up and down and said, "You're here to help him?"

Michael grinned. "Absolutely." He wasn't surprised that Bluth already knew of Michael's ideas.

"I was expecting someone--" the girl shook her head. "Shorter." Michael stood up straight. "Alright, fine-- follow me."

They walked to the back of the locker room to the showers. One of the curtains was pulled and the girl knocked on it.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Bluth, he's here."

Michael hadn't realized Bluth would be expecting him, but then, someone with such resources and talent would certainly scout the important seminar attendees. This was the exact reason Michael was always encouraging Dwight to improve his intelligence-gathering skills.

The curtain pushed back with a flourish and the President of the Bluth Company stepped out, flowing silk sleeve brushing out in front of him. "Hello!" he said, the sound echoing against the tile of locker room.

"Hi, Mr. Bluth." Michael took Bluth's hand and shook it. "I am a huge fan. When my receptionist gave me the flyer advertising this business seminar, I signed up right away and--" Michael paused, dropping his hand to his side. "But then, I'm sure you know all that. You seem to know all about me."

Bluth frowned. "I do?" He shook his head. "I mean, yes, yes, of course I do." He turned to the blonde. "Who exactly is here?"

She glared and turned sharply, walking away and muttering something about "not worth the extra credit."

Bluth shrugged and turned back. "Well then, yes, I was expecting you. But I have a magic show to put on in just a few minutes so perhaps--"

Michael nodded, "Oh, yes, here's everything." He handed over the folder and hoped Pam had printed everything as requested. "Mr. Bluth, what I--"

"Call me GOB," he said flipping quickly through the paper samples and charts. "This is fascinating."

Michael was impressed at how Bluth--GOB seemed to be able to pick up so much information just by glancing at each page. Perhaps he would take a speed-reading class. "I think our companies could have a great future together. Your foward-thinking, our high-quality product--" Michael trailed off as he watched GOB make a paper flower out of one of the samples.

GOB nodded and made the paper flower disappear. Michael thought he could see the corner of it poking out of GOB's sleeve, but he pointedly looked away. GOB shook his arm a few times and then smiled widely at Michael. "You look like a--" GOB frowned, then the smile returned. "--great guy. And the kid who was supposed to help out with the magic, um, part of the seminar doesn't seem to be around. Would you--"

"Absolutely." Michael followed GOB towards the locker room door. "I can tell a few jokes if you want."

"Sure, sure." GOB opened the door and Michael heard the applause. He followed GOB onto the stage, to begin what was sure to be the next stage in his career.

Sitcomathon fic - My Morning After (JD/Cox)

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:33:52 GMT

Written (and late) for the sitcomathon challenge.

Fandom: Scrubs (with very minor Friends x-over)
Title: My Morning After
Author: lakester
Rating: PG
Pairing: JD/Cox
Written for: scruby
Summary: JD wants to remember last night, but it's hard to keep secrets in Sacred Heart.

My Morning After

"The Old Switcheroo," Sports Night, by allthingsholy

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:11:34 GMT

Title: The Old Switcheroo
Author: allthingsholy
Written for: zauberer_sirin
Request: "Sports Night," Dana/Sam Donovan
Rating: PG
Summary: "You think he's not paying attention, but he really is. That's how he gets you--the old switcheroo." -- Dana, "Sweet Smell of Air"
Notes: Just a few ~~hours~~ days late. I'm a lazy ass, and then LJ was down, and....That's how it goes sometimes. Apologies.

----

"It's just the way it is. I don't stick around places. You wouldn't know it to look at me, but I get attached." -- Sam Donovan, "The Crowd Goes Wild"

--

Calvin comes into Dana's office on a Tuesday afternoon, tells her their ratings are good, yes, but he bought the network expecting better and he's not settling for less.

"I'm bringing in a ratings consultant," he says, hands in his pockets and face as humorlessly content as always. "And since I like to go with guys who've proved their worth, I thought I'd bring in Sam Donovan. I heard he worked here before and did a good job, and Isaac trusts him, so he'll be here by the end of the week."

Dana swallows hard, sits up a bit straighter. "Okay." She nods, twice, and clenches a fist. "Where's he coming in from this time?"

"Montreal, I think," Calvin says as he walks out the door. Dana keeps her spine straight as her nails dig into her palm. She isn't prepared for this.

--

Dana tells the staff that Sam's coming back at the ten o'clock rundown, slips in the news he's returning with an order to rearrange the thirties and see film from Seattle.

"Sam's coming back?" Casey's grin spreads seamlessly, and Dana wonders for a moment if she's gone about this all wrong.

Dan's less thrilled, his shoulder's slightly hunched and the lines of his face suddenly deeper. "Are we in trouble, Dana?"

She takes a deep breath, fingers the pages of script in front of her, and sees Natalie's concerned face out of the corner of her eye. "No, Dan, we're not. But Calvin's not completely satisfied with our ratings, so--"

"We're averaging two share points higher than when J.J. and his posse were--"

"I know, Dan, and I'm telling you that everything is fine." She holds his gaze a long moment, until Dan frowns slightly and looks away. There are parts of him that have changed over time, that have lined his smiles and dimmed his eyes. Sometimes she misses the old Dan--usually, she appreciates the new.

"Okay," Dana starts, polished and back to business, "so Bobbie's in Cleveland with--"

Casey interrupts with the enthusiasm he usually reserves for his son and thin blondes. "See, what I like about Sam is his go-get-'em attitude. You wouldn't know it to look at him, but he's optimistic most of the time, and I like that about him. Also, his facial hair."

Natalie stifles a laugh and looks down at her notes.

"You like his facial hair?" Dan asks.

Casey raises his hands defensively, leans back in his chair. "I can appreciate the aesthetic value of a well-groomed moustache, Daniel. It takes patience and perseverance to grow a moustache like that." Casey pauses, lowers his hands. "I could grow a moustache like that."

"Please don't," Dana says, smile wide and face pained.

Casey frowns, his shoulders sagging. "You don't think I'd look good with a moustache like Sam's?"

"No," Kim and Natalie say at the same time, and Dana tries to steer the meeting back to the show over Dan's laughter. She's only moderately successful.

--

By Thursday's show, Sam still hasn't shown up, and Dana's back is tense from being on edge for 36 hours. She sits on her couch, knees folded up under her, shoes half-under her desk. She closes her eyes and breathes out deep and tries not to think about men with strong hands and sad eyes.

It's quiet times like this--after the show, when she hasn't been on a date in weeks, when her bed seems larger and larger every night--that she wonders about Sam, about his childhood, his adolescence, the things in his life that make him move so fast, move on so slowly. She wonders when he took his first drink, when he took his last. She wonders why he left without saying goodbye, why, out of all the words he's said to her, as harsh or as true or as necessary as they were, he couldn't at least say one more. She wonders where he is and what he's doing and what he's going to say to her when she sees him again. It's never the same thing, when she imagines it, which she doesn't let herself do too often; he smiles out a "hi," or he throws a "hello" to the room, or her shakes her hand a second too long. Sometimes, when she imagines it, he doesn't say anything at all.

She's so deep in her own mind that she misses Natalie's knock on her door, starts to find Natalie's hand on her shoulder.

"Dana?" Natalie's voice is strained, full of worry and respect. "Are you okay?" Her mouth is pinched, her face thin.

Dana stand, walks toward Natalie, puts a gentle hand on her arm. "Natalie, everything is fine," Dana says, voice low and eyes sincere.

Natalie swallows hard, sucks in a breath. "Sam's not coming." Dana stands still for a long second, tightens her grip on Natalie's arm for just a moment before she turns and walks back behind her desk. "I ran into Calvin in the elevator and he told me to tell you. Sam called back and turned down the offer." Natalie pauses, looks away. "He told Calvin he didn't want to come back."

Dana grips the back of her chair, forces a smile onto her face. "Okay then." Her words are clipped, her voice tight. She sits down, shuffles the papers on her desk, feels his hands on her back, his breath on her cheek.

"Dana, I--"

"I'm fine, Natalie, thank you. You can go." She knows if she looks up, Natalie's eyes will be sympathetic and her face will be sad, and Dana doesn't want to feel sad, doesn't feel she has the right to feel sad over this thing that never really happened. She hears Natalie leave the room, hears the click of the door as it's pulled shut. Her hands still and her shoulders drop.

Dana takes a slow, deep breath and then grabs the remote, flips around until she finds highlight from the Packer's game. She watches a few good sacks and a missed field goal, and wonders what the weather's like in Cambodia.

FIC: The One with The "British" Doctor (House/Friends x-over)

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 12:42:37 GMT

So I wrote this story in a flash of weirdness, and then I discovered this community and hey, suddenly I wasn't the only one insane enough to write sitcom fic! Even though I didn't participate in the ficathon, the mod told me I could post this here - so allow me to dedicate it to everyone in this community crazy enough to be reading and writing these stories...

Title: TOW The "British" Doctor
Fandoms: House MD/Friends crossover
Rating: PG
Summary: It's... I mean... do you really need a summary? Wilson POV.
A/N: The story was 100% inspired by Hugh Laurie's guest appearance on Friends, the clip of which you can (and should!) watch right here. In case you don't watch it, I'm attaching the transcript of those two scenes for your enjoyment... and I do hope you enjoy :-) Much, much thanks to theninth for the beta and the title, which I find particularly brilliant. Thank you!

Transcript:
[Rachel's on her way to London to tell Ross she loves him before he marries Emily. She's sitting next to our dashing Gentleman On The Plane]

(Rachel's tapping her fingers annoyingly on the seat.)

GOTP: "Er, er… excuse me."

Rachel: "Yeah?"

GOTP: "If you're planning on doing that throughout the entire flight, please tell me now. So that I can take a sedative." (Mutters) "Or perhaps slip you one."

Rachel: "I'm sorry, I'm , uhm, very sorry. Sorry." (Sigh.) "It's just I'm, uh… I'm kind of excited. I'm, um, I'm going to London to, uh, to tell this guy that I love him."

(GOTP makes bored face and puts on earmuffs.)

*

Rachel's explaining the situation with Ross to another passenger...)

Rachel: "And I realized all this stuff I'd been doing, proposing to Joshua, lying to Ross about why I couldn't come to the wedding, was all just a way of—"

GOTP: "Whoa, oh, oh, oh! I'm sorry, can I interrupt? You know, I just want to say that you are a horrible, horrible person."

Rachel: "P-pardon me?"

GOTP: "You say you love this man, and yet you're about to ruin the happiest day of his life! I'm afraid I have to agree with your friend Pheebs. This is a, this is a terrible, terrible plan."

Rachel: "But he has to know how I feel."

GOTP: "But why? He loves this Emily person. No good can come of this."

Rachel: "Uh. Well I think you're wrong."

GOTP: (with mock-distressed face) "Oh, no!"

Rachel: "W-h- he doesn't really love her, it's just a rebound thing from me! You'll see."

GOTP: "Fortunately, I won't. And by the way, it seems to be perfectly clear that you were on a break."

(and a fake-cut to the actual fic)

Friendship: Score and Statistics (Sports Night)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:48:42 GMT

title: Friendship: Score and Statistics
author: zauberer_sirin
fandom: Sports Night
written for: voleuse as part of the sitcomathon
request: Dan & Natalie, laying down the rules
summary: Casey is gone, Dana is everybody´s boss, Natalie is Dan´s boss and that leaves them both in a grey, uncharted area of friendship.
rating: pg
notes: so okay, it´s just too hard, writing a fic for someone whose stories one admires so much. The bright side is I got to watch and re-watch SN a lot, remembering the wonder Dan Rydell is. And yes, I might have slipped a bit of Dan/Casey subtext there. My fault.

friendship: score and statistics

Not in Love With the Modern World (The Office US, Jim/Ryan)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:43:02 GMT

Not in Love With the Modern World

Author: Sophia Jirafe/sophia_helix
Recipient: atlases
Fandom: The Office (US)
Pairing: Jim/Ryan
Rating: PG
Spoilers: For "Email Surveillance"

Prompt: Jim wants to know about Michael's man-crush on Ryan

The door closes behind Stanley and Oscar, and then all Jim can hear is the karaoke machine, playing softly in the living room

Something (Futurama Fry/Leela)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 07:54:29 GMT

title: Something
author: Forgottenpolish
fandom: Futurama
things: Fry/Leela
written for: Ignazwisdom

Sometimes Fry thought that love was only for fools like him. That is was really just there to make him long for something that he could never have. It seemed like so many things were somethings that he could never have. Leela was the ultimate something he could never have, at least that is what he always thought, but now with her here lying in his arms, maybe he had a prayer.
Things had been slowly changing the last few months; her smile was softer to him. She seemed to have more patience. She actually accepted to have dinner with him once, only as friends, and only if it was take-out eaten in front of the TV with the others. Of course these slight changes had made him only more nervous, had made him want to try harder. The harder he tried though, the worse his failures, but the bigger her smile.
He did not understand the change, but then who was he to question it. He was finally gaining ground, on his way to getting the something thing he had always wanted. Then it had happened, he had almost lost her. Those bees, he was going to have quite the hatred of bees for a very long time. After that incident, she changed the most. There were glances, quick turnings of that head away when he caught her eye. He knew that she had had bad dreams while in the comma, but she had not spoken to anyone what they were, and it had seemed that she was more then ok.
But, about a month later was the firs time she showed up at his door, pillow in hand, eye swollen, asking for some company. He had smiled, lead her in tried to get her to talk, fought over who would take the bed, and then slept on the floor. Though she had never told him what was wrong, he knew it had been the dreams. He could tell by how tired she had looked the last few days and the worried mumbles that came from her sleep that night.
Fry thought it would be a one time thing but a few nights later she appeared at his door again. They went through the same routine a four more times, but on the fifth night she asked him to hold her. He thought he was the one who was dreaming, that it could not possibly be real. He tried to stay awake the whole night, trying to capture the perfect moment, but he feel asleep and she was gone in the morning. He knew for sure that was the last time, as she avoided him all the next day. But that night as he got ready for bed she showed up again, earlier this time sans pillow and a swollen red eye.
Every night since then she stayed with him. He left his door unlocked, waiting for her. Every night he held her, knowing that it was enough to have her like this. He did not needs words of from her nor any promises. She came to him when she was vulnerable, that was proof enough for him. He had his something. And he it did not matter what happened the next day as long as he could hold her at night.

Through the Glass (Kitchen Confidential/Sports Night; Jack Bourdain/Dan Rydell)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 07:49:02 GMT

Title: Through the Glass
Author: likethesun2
Recipient: secrethappiness
Fandom: Kitchen Confidential/Sports Night
Genre: Slash, Jack Bourdain/Dan Rydell
Rating and Warnings: PG. No real spoilers for either show.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: "Life’s just easier through the glass.”

"Through the Glass"

Shut up, I am dreaming of places where lovers have wings [The Office (US)/Sports Night]

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 06:18:49 GMT

title: Shut up, I am dreaming of places where lovers have wings
author: mazily
fandom: the office (us)/sports night (post-quo vadimus in a vague sort of future officeverse)
things: jim/pam, jim/dan. keith olbermann is my hero, brian geary wrote the headers & tagline for mcsweeney's, the title's cribbed from sunset rubdown, everything i know i learned from the internets, PG-13ish. seven interconnected vignettes, 3074 words, we're following the leader, the leader, the leader. i own nothing; i was only showing harry my grindylow.
written for: smartlikejustin in sitcomathon, in response to 2 great prompts that taste great together.
tagline: song ideas for my next album

Shut up, I am dreaming of places where lovers have wings

Misguidance [NewsRadio]

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 05:53:22 GMT

Title: Misguidance
Author: autumn_grunge (aka orangesparks)
Recipient: very_improbable for the sitcomathon
Fandom: NewsRadio
Prompt: Bill and Matthew. "When news breaks, we fix it."
Summary: Matthew Brock's terrible, horrible, no good, very first day.

Misguidance.

Downhill From Denmark (Sports Night)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 05:22:08 GMT

TITLE: Downhill From Denmark
AUTHOR: liz_chan
RATING: PG
FANDOM: Sports Night
CHARACTERS: Casey/Dana . . . sort of
A/N: Written for sportsnightnut. Thanks to my beta dogwoodblossom . Prompt was: "Autumn this year is gonna break my heart//leaves start fallin' and the feeling starts."

“‘Tonight on Sports Night we’ll be covering the world championship of Dramatic Skiing,’ what the hell is this Dana?” Casey threw script on the table and ran his hands through his hair. Dana sighed and peered at him over her glasses.

“Dramatic Skiing is a new craze that’s sweeping . . .”

“The frozen North where people can’t go see a play? Not only are they doing a play on skis, they’re doing Hamlet! Shakespeare is rolling over in his grave right now and instead of commenting on the injustice of it, we’re covering it!” Casey slumped in his chair and threw his feet up on the table, narrowly missing knocking his lunch to the ground. Dan poked his head into their office.

“I heard something about the fine sport of Dramatic Skiing. Right up there with soccer I say. All the perks of watching a work of art combined with all the perks of standing outside in the freezing cold watching people perform stunts that could get them killed. A grand marriage,” Dan said. Casey snarled at him who then ducked out of the room.

“Look,” Dana said, “it’s a sports story. We cover sports stories. It’s our job. And you will be covering Dramatic Skiing, even if it does cause Shakespeare to roll in his grave. Thousands of people watch the championship and we need to cover it. If Dan can cover soccer, you can cover this. And try not to be overly negative about it, we’re still getting grief over the Jerry Falwell stuff.” With that Dana left the office, Casey staring after her.

“So I was thinking that we should watch the footage together a few times just so we can truly understand the sport of Dramatic Skiing,” Dan said as he came back in the office. “I mean, I’d never heard of it until Dana came along half an hour ago so I’m having a hard time visualizing the sport. I mean, do they perform the whole play in one go? How do they deal with scene changes and people coming in and out of scenes? There’s really no off-stage on a hill.” Casey turned his stare to Dan. “What? I’m interested in all sports this wide world has to offer,” Dan said as he turned to leave the office. “I heard that the footage is in room three. We need to hurry if we want good seats.” Casey was left in the empty office, staring at no one.

“Doesn’t anyone care that this is a travesty!” he yelled. “Shakespeare is meant to be enjoyed in a warm theater with comfy seats and actors with British accents, not on a snow covered hill with actors who are really skiers!”

“Actually, Shakespeare was originally put on in a theater with no roof so it was rather cold in the winter and many of the people had to stand in the pit, so the comfy seats are out,” Dana said from outside the office. She stuck her head in and continued, “Just come and watch it with us. It’ll be funny and Kim made popcorn.” Casey looked up at Dana and sighed.

“Is it the cheesy popcorn?” he asked as he rose and joined Dana at the door.

----

The Sports Night team sat in silence, which was rather unusual for them, all eyes fixed on the small T.V. in room three. The lights were out and the snowy hill on the screen was a blinding white. Kim had indeed made popcorn, and it was the cheesy kind, but it lay forgotten in the bowl. The announcer of the championship was the only sound in the room.

“And now is the time you have all been waiting for, the master’s final. For those of you just joining us, we’ve finished first round which was the beginners with their lovely presentations of monologues and soliloquies. The winning performance was Claudius’s monologue in Act 3. The creativity that the Norwegians put into their performance was magnificent, as were the jumps preformed by Claudius. Also notable was the imaginative idea of having another member of the team skiing along side Claudius, acting the part of Hamlet spying.

“We’re also done with the intermediate round, first place there being the Swiss for their superb idea of combining a soliloquy and dialogue with their performance of the “To Be or Not to Be” scene and the proceeding dialogue between Hamlet and Ophelia. Their Ophelia also picked up points for her beautiful Telemark landing. Good job Switzerland.

“And with those behind us we now come to the cumulating point of the competition, the battle scene. This year we chose to finish our championship with the ending scene of Hamlet, picked for its difficulty in regards to both acting and skiing. Past year’s endings have included Titus Andronicus and the memorable performance of Waiting for Godot. The actors must show their emotions while hurtling down the hill, dodging other skiers who are trying to kill them and complete their jumps. The ending has Hamlet finally making it to the bottom of the hill only to collapse in a pool of blood, gasping out his final lines. In past years, the audience has been brought to tears. Can this year’s competitors follow in kind? Find out after this break.” The announcer went silent as the theme music picked up. Then all the noise was gone as Jeremy hit the pause button.

“Well, that was certainly interesting. You know I would love to stay and find out if this years ending will move me, but I’m afraid I have to go and . . . do something else. It’s terribly important. I think I need to go and feed starving children in Africa.” Jeremy made it out of the room unscathed, Natalie fast on his heels. Other members of the crew began to file out of the room as well, leaving only Dana, Casey and Dan in the room.

“I can’t believe you want me to cover this,” Casey said. “This is not sports, this is not art, this is something that I cannot even describe.”

“I think it’s pretty funny,” Dan interjected. He got glared at by both Dana and Casey and he started sidling his way towards the door. “I think I’ll leave you two in here to discuss it since you seem to have . . . um . . . lot’s to talk about.” Dan sprinted for the outside. Dana and Casey glared at each other.

“Why do you have such a problem with this anyways?” Dana asked, grabbing some of the forgotten popcorn.

“Because it’s mocking fine art, it’s degrading some of the best work ever written in the English language. Kids who watch this are going to grow up thinking that Shakespeare is about ski jumps and scores, not nuanced language and deep emotions.”

“I think you were exposed to too much theater as a child,” Dana said. “It’s for fun Casey. Sports are fun, sometimes we forget that around here. Let it go. Make Dan report it and you can make faces at camera two and then move on.” She stood up and moved behind Casey’s seat. “Move on,” she repeated softly. Casey turned around in his seat and caught her hand.

“It’s hard to move on when you finally figured out what you want and then realize that you can’t have it,” he replied. They both eyed Dana’s ring that was dull in the soft light of the room. Casey sighed. “I’ll get Dan to cover the story.” He let go of Dana’s hand and sunk down in the chair. Dana ran her fingers through her hair and walked to the doorway.

“Why are the Dramatic Skiing championships held during the fall?” she asked. “Seems that it’s just a set up for failure.”

Casey shrugged. “Maybe they just hope for a miracle. Sometimes they happen.” Dana nodded even though Casey couldn’t see her.

“Sometimes hope is enough to get you through a championship,” she said.

The Secret of Management [Arrested Development/Newsradio]

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 05:13:16 GMT

title: The Secret of Management
author: Sabine
category: Arrested Development/Newsradio, Michael/Lisa, GOB/Beth
rating: F for Friendly
size: 3281 words
notes: For autumn_grunge, as part of sitcomathon 2006. These were two separate requests that decided to be in the same story. Prompt: Aztec Tomb.
disclaimer: Not mine, no money changes hands, see how the hand never leaves the wrist!
summary: Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, got most of it back via questionable means, and were advised to liquidate as quickly as possible.
acknowledgements: Big giant ups to all the sitcomathon participants, and kyrafic the sublime.

The Secret of Management

My Gay Jungle Fever (Scrubs)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:35:58 GMT

TITLE: My Gay Jungle Fever
AUTHOR: winter baby
RATING: PG-13
FANDOM: Scrubs
CHARACTERS: JD/Turk
A/N: Written for kat_lair.

SUMMARY: Elliot cocks her head. "No, that's why you want him to be your mentor. You want him to like you because you're a man-child who's spent his entire adult life with Turk, but now that he's found Carla, you're looking to Dr. Cox to fill that void in your life by making him your new best-friend-slash-possible-homosexual-life-partner." Damn, JD thinks, she's right.

Around Here No More [The Office, Jim/Pam]

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:19:08 GMT

Title: Around Here No More
Fandom: The Office
Pairing: Jim/Pam
Prompt: none
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Written for winter_baby at the sitcomathon.

around here no more

"Hey, uh - can I talk to you about something?"

"About when you wanna give me more of your money?"

"No -"

"Did you wanna do that now? We can go inside. I'm feelin' kinda good tonight."

"I was just, um." And Jim realizes, looking at her, that he could do it right now. Everyone is indoors and Roy is driving off now down the road, and it's dark and he can even see a few stars, and he could do it. He could.

He doesn't, though.

"I was talking to Jan, and - you know how last week I said I was in the city for a doctor's appointment?"

Pam nods and a little sag of concern settles into her face. "I meant to ask you about that -"

"Yeah, no, that's okay. 'Cause I wasn't really at the doctor, I was meeting with Jan."

Now she just looks confused. "Okay?"

"There's this opening in the Stamford branch for sales manager or something." He pauses, knowing he should go on, but he wants her to figure it out herself. He wants her to figure something out by herself, for once.

Pam's stopped playfully rocking back and forth on her heels. She's frowning. For a split second he hates himself - but then he remembers, this is my life. "So...what, you're going to Stamford?"

Jim nods, stares at her. She's the first to break eye contact.

"Oh." Pam looks over to her left, to the building, and he follows her gaze but there's nothing there. It's hard to see in the dark but he's almost positive there's something trembling in her face - her lip, her chin.

"I just thought you should know," he says lamely, looking at the ground.

Pam swallows and a little noise escapes her throat, so soft he can barely hear it. "I, yeah. Thanks for telling me," she says.

Jim's not sure what he expected. Not tears, not a declaration of love - but not nothing, either. "So, um -"

"I'm getting cold," she interrupts loudly. Then she wraps her arms around her middle, like she's clutching a phantom cardigan, and walks back towards the warehouse.

-----

Jim goes back indoors and sits at the bar. He sees Pam hovering around the craps table, probably pretending to have an interest in Dwight's dice-rolling abilities. He forces his eyes away from her and onto his hands, folded on the counter. There's a papercut on his right index finger and he doesn't know where it came from, but he does sell paper, so, yeah.

"Hey Jim."

Jim glances briefly to his right. "Hey Kev, how's it going."

Kevin grumbles a little, and Jim almost smiles despite himself. "Oh, but something awesome. Roy said Scrantonicity could play at him and Pam's wedding." Kevin nods slowly. "It's gonna rock. You should be there."

"Wow." Wow. Jim wonders what Pam will have to say about that. "That's...great. Sorry I can't make it." In a way he kind of is; it would be interesting to see Pam's face when her wedding song turns out to be "Roxanne."

"Yeah." Kevin turns around for a second, then settles back and smiles at him. "Pam's looking pretty hot tonight."

Jim looks up at the ceiling. "Um, yeah. Listen, I think I'm gonna head out, so have a good night, okay?" He claps Kevin on the back and heads for the exit, and he can't resist glancing at Pam one more time. She's watching him. Jim ducks his head and pushes open the exit.

-----

He makes it to his car, but once he's there he stops. If Jim goes home, he feels, it will all be final. This night feels open somehow - not hopeful, just open - and he doesn't want to shut any doors before he absolutely has to. So he walks slowly around the building, once, twice, three times, four times. On his fifth lap he sees a light flicker on in the office upstairs.

Taking the elevator from the empty lobby up to the empty hallway is unsettling in a way, but he sees a little bit of yellow light spilling out through the doorway and he walks in. Pam's sitting at his desk. He's being very quiet but she must hear his footsteps because she freezes and jerks her head towards him, eyes wide, like she's been caught in the middle of a criminal act. He stops, hands in pockets.

Finally Jim raises an eyebrow. "Cleaning out my desk already? I thought I'd have a few weeks before the vultures came out."

Pam closes the top drawer slowly. "That's not funny," she says softly, not meeting his eyes.

Jim shrugs, and pushes some folders aside to clear a space for himself. He settles onto the desk. His knee almost touches her elbow.

"I don't want you to go." She says this in a little voice, and Jim thinks he can just barely smell some alcohol on her, but her eyes are clear and he also smells cherries, so his best guess is that she's been sipping on Shirley Temples with Kelly.

He tries to smile at her, but he imagines it's more of a grimace. "Thanks."

"I mean it. I don't -" she stops; her voice is still high-pitched, and he knows it's because she's trying not to cry. He sort of wants her to cry - he's never seen her do that before, and after tonight he figures he won't have many chances.

"Well, I am. So." Almost immediately he regrets his tone - it's dismissive, it's a this conversation is over tone. He links his hands together, rubbing one thumb over the other, and stares hard at an imaginary spot on his pants.

"Why?"

"I don't know. It's a promotion. I don't have a house here. I don't have a girlfriend."

She doesn't answer and suddenly he just wants to keep talking; maybe some of his words will stick to her, draw her into him.

"There's nothing in Scranton that I couldn't have in Stamford."

"I'm not in Stamford."

He loves her. He loves her more than she knows, and if she gave the word he could stay. But sometimes being with Pam is the worst feeling in the world. "I don't have you, Pam."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Jim shrugs, feeling slightly nauseated. They're coming close to something here, almost as close as he came out in the parking lot, but he's not going to press it. He's just...not.

"I don't get you," she says. And something in him snaps.

A paperclip jabs into his thigh when he slides off the desk but he hardly notices. "Yeah well, I don't get you sometimes." Jim strides to the door but stops at the corner and looks back at her. "Y'know, Roy told Kevin tonight that his band could play at the wedding. I'm pretty sure you weren't in on that decision, but apparently it's going to rock." He raises an eyebrow for emphasis, feels a split-second of panic knowing that he's probably just fucked over any minute chance that he's ever had with Pam, and leaves.

-----

The door is officially closed, Jim thinks, but he doesn't think he's quite ready to drive home yet.

A Tom Petty mix that his brother made him last fall is playing, he's got his eyes closed and the seat back and damn. Life sucks. And maybe it'll get better in Stamford, but maybe it'll get worse, or be the same, and now he doesn't want to think about it anyway. He remembers the music video for this song that he saw on VH1 back when it still played music videos and tries to think about Tom Petty in Wonderland instead.

Then someone knocks on the window. He rolls it down. It's dark, but he can see that it's Pam.

She presses her lips together and breathes in through her nose, hard. "I'm still deciding on some things." Her mouth twitches like she wants to say more, but nothing comes.

He can't speak. He watches her walk away for the second time that night, fading into the dark.

-----

Jim goes to bed with his windows open that night, and hopes.

Pierce Our Skins (MAS*H, for angryhaiku)

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 03:26:45 GMT

Title: Pierce Our Skins
Author: annakovsky
Fandom: M*A*S*H
Pairing: Hawkeye/Peg
Rating: PG
Notes: For angryhaiku in the sitcomathon.

( *** )