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Chapter Text

"You should come to my job. You'll get tons of stories for your thesis."

Rue could not have been more thankful for her friend Ryan Howard's suggestion. In the short time that she had been observing the staff dynamics at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, she'd witnessed about thirty instances of sexual harassment on the same day as an appropriate behavior seminar, innumerable offensive jokes and a ridiculous lack of actual work being accomplished. With all of these anecdotes added to her paper, there was no way her professors could deny her a Master's Degree in Sociology.

Every day, Rue looked forward to sitting on the little couch near the receptionist and witnessing what crazy antics would be carried out by eccentric Regional Manager Michael Scott and his silly sidekick Assistant to the Regional Manager Dwight Schrute. At first, it was just because she was gaining excellent insights for her thesis. But, as time went on, she grew to care for the people there. It was fun watching Ryan interact with his pretty, bubbly girlfriend, Kelly Kapoor. She liked watching saucy Meredith hook up with random men and uptight Angela judge every one of her coworkers.

However, her favorite part of her day at Dunder Mifflin was studying Jim Halpert. Jim was the office hottie. He was tall, well over six feet. He had pretty sandy brown hair in a Beatles style. His green eyes were kind and warm.

Of course, nothing would ever happen. Rue had no chance with Jim. It was so obvious that he was head over heels in love with the receptionist, Pam Beasley. They were inseparable, always giggling and flirting with each other. It was sort of cute, apart from the fact that she was engaged to her high school sweetheart.

The sociologist in Rue found Jim fascinating. Here was a gorgeous, funny, intelligent man who could have any woman he wanted. Yet he pined for the one that he could not have. And, despite the fact that his infatuation with her was obvious to everyone else on the planet, Pam seemed oblivious to it.

Somehow, Rue would find a way to incorporate this into her paper. After all, they weren't the only participants in covert office flirtation. Ryan and Kelly liked each other, as did Dwight and Angela, much as the latter tried to hide it. Michael seemed to be in some sort of a liaison with his corporate boss, Jan Levinson. All of these affairs affected the overall climate of the workplace, so there would certainly be a need to include them in the thesis.

If she did that, though, she would have to figure out a way to hide the jealousy she felt in her soul. Every man in the office liked Pam, and they made it well known. It drove Rue crazy. She couldn't understand it. Yes, Pam was pretty, but it wasn't like she was Marilyn Monroe or Angelina Jolie. Kelly and Angela were pretty as well. It didn't make sense why every single man in the office would be attracted to Pam.

As for Rue, she'd been told that she was beautiful, but it was not easy for her to believe. Her skin was olive colored, and her long brown-black curls bounced below her shoulders. Her eyes were the shape and color of almonds. Unlike the women in the office who dressed in formal business attire, Rue wore tight torn jeans and low cut sweaters and shirts to her observation sessions, like the teeny tiny Beatles tank top and extra skinny jeans she'd chosen for today.

Maybe she was pretty. But none of the men in the office seemed to notice Rue. Apart from her classmate, Ryan, they were all a lot older, and she wasn't interested in anyone other than Jim. But the lack of recognition struck a serious blow to her self-esteem.

On this particular day, it was nearing five o'clock. It was a Friday night, and Rue was looking forward to a long night of drinking piña coladas at Poor Richard's Bar. No thesis. No classes. No office. Just food, booze and fun awaited her in mere moments.

As she packed up her laptop and notebook, Rue noticed Jim flirting with Pam at the reception desk. Surprise, surprise. She couldn't help wishing that they would just hook up and get it over with. Based on the judgmental look in Angela's eyes, she was not the only one with that same thought.

Assistant to the Regional Manager Dwight bid Rue goodnight. She smiled and returned the sentiment. Rue rather liked Dwight. He was a hard worker and a little too concerned about the job. But he was silly and eccentric, and Rue enjoyed watching his antics. It bothered Rue when Jim and Pam played pranks on Dwight because he didn't mean to annoy them. He was just quirky.

A few moments after Dwight disappeared, Jim and Pam started giggling. Like school children engaging in mischief, they meandered over to Dwight's desk and began to tamper with his belongings. For a moment, Rue considered texting Dwight to give him a heads up, but she decided against it. She wouldn't be at Dunder Mifflin much longer. There was no need for her to make waves.

As she rose to her feet, Rue heard a loud thud, and Pam screeched, "JIM!!"

The other Dunder Mifflin employees gathered around Dwight's desk, where Jim lay on the floor, still as stone. All of the color had drained from his face. His skin was pasty and dry.

In an instant, Rue fell to her knees beside Jim. Using her hips and legs, she pushed the spectators back. Then, she pressed her ear to his chest and mouth. The crowd hushed as she listened for any signs of life. But she heard nothing, apart from the frantic voice of Kelly, who was on the phone with a 911 operator. She could feel no pulse or any air leaving his nose or mouth.

So, Rue placed her palms on Jim's sternum and pounded down with all of her might. She could hear the agonizing crack of his ribs as she pushed against him, and she focused on counting her repetitions to keep herself from being nauseated by the sound. Once she'd completed the repetitions, she pinched Jim's nostrils shut and breathed into his mouth. His chest swelled up, but he remained unresponsive.

All around her, the co workers begged for Jim to wake up. A distraught Pam clutched onto Phyllis, tears streaming from her eyes. Ryan watched with anxiousness as she worked on his friend.

As Rue started the next set of chest compressions, she prayed, "Our Father, who are in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, the kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the glory forever and ever. Amen."

At some point, the entire office had joined her in reciting the Lord's Prayer. Angela, the most devout member of the group, held one of her crucifixes over Jim and Rue. The asked God for strength as her arms grew tired and begged Him to revive Jim.

When she still felt no signs of life, Rue breathed into his mouth again. She felt herself losing hope, but she refused to stop trying. If she could just keep going, the paramedics just had to be on their way.

Rue slammed her hands into his chest again, over and over. With great relief she realized that God had answered her request for strength. Now, if only He would see fit to arouse Jim. But until then, Rue would not submit. Sirens wailed from outside the windows. She just had to keep at it until they could take over.

GASP! Jim sucked air in through his mouth, and his eyes blinked open. It was nothing short of a miracle. His coworkers shouted for joy. Pam jumped to hug him, but Rue shook her head, and Kevin held her back. Jim was not out of danger just yet.

Rue gently rolled Jim onto his side so that he was in the recovery position. Once he seemed stable, she allowed herself to breathe again. Thanks be to God. Jim was alive. God had done it. She'd done it.

A young African-American EMT with burgundy colored curls entered the office first, leading a gurney. Her partner, an older white man with salt and pepper hair, pushed the gurney from the other side. The office workers backed up towards the annex to give the EMTs the space they needed to maneuver their equipment.

The female EMT kneeled down beside her patient and said, "Jim? Jim, my name is Evelyn. I'm a paramedic. This is my partner Keith. We're here to help you, okay?"

"Can any of you tell us what happened? The woman who called 911 was unsure," Keith wondered.

All eyes fell to Pam. "Jim and I were playing a prank on Dwight, messing with his computer. Jim went to unplug it. I don't know. He got an electric shock or something. He just collapsed."

The EMTs shook their heads at her. So did the office workers. Oftentimes, people found their goofs on Dwight to be trivial and childish. Now that one of their jokes had almost cost Jim his life, they seemed vile and repulsive. The judgment falling in on Pam at the moment was palpable. Although Rue disliked their treatment of Dwight, she considered it unfair to blame Pam for this mishap. It wasn't as if she hurt Jim on purpose.

Together, the EMTs helped Jim up off of the ground. He rubbed his chest as they guided him onto the gurney. The EMTs asked if he felt pain, and he nodded that he did. Keith proceeded to buckle Jim onto the bed with several black seat belts while Evelyn listened to his heart.

Evelyn fished an oxygen tube out of her bag and secured it in Jim's nostrils. Still somewhat in a state of disbelief over all that had happened, Rue watched with elation as Jim's ragged breaths grew more stable. The EMTs tied a blood pressure cuff around his arm and checked his temperature and pulse.

Once they finished their initial assessment, Evelyn asked Jim, "Okay, we're going to take you to the hospital now. Do you want anyone to come with you?"

"I'll go!" Pam volunteered.

She reached to take Jim's hand, but he recoiled from her touch. Stung by the rejection, Pam stumbled back towards Phyllis. Nobody in the office could believe their eyes. Jim was so in love with Pam that he hated sitting six feet away from her at work. They couldn't fathom him not wanting her to accompany him to the emergency room.

Shakily, Jim raised a finger and pointed at Rue.

"You want her?" Evelyn inquired.

"She saved him," Angela announced, shooting darts at Pam with her eyes and further wounding the receptionist.

As best as he could, Jim extended his hand towards his heroine. Rue placed her tiny hand in Jim's and smiled in surprise and delight when he squeezed it with what little strength he could muster. The butterflies in her stomach danced, and her conscience nagged.

Now was not the time to be crushing. Jim didn't like her. He just appreciated her not allowing him to die. He was still Pam's. Jim did not like Rue. There was nothing more to say. Jim did not like Rue.

But Rue liked Jim.

The male EMT drew Rue out of her own thoughts. "What's your name, Sweetie?" He queried.

"Ruth Macleod," she answered.

"You've done an amazing thing, Ruth. May God bless you," Keith told her. Rue blushed. "Okay, we'd better get going."

Rue let go of Jim's hand, and his eyes widened in fright. "It's okay. She's coming with you. We just need to get you in the elevator, alright Honey?" Evelyn assured him.

Grabbing her and Jim's bags, Rue dashed to catch up to her companions. The elevator was a bit small, so Rue took the stairs down. It was better that way, anyhow. She needed to burn off some nervous energy.

Rue had just saved a man's life. Jim was alive because of Rue. Ruth Macleod mattered to the Halpert and Dunder Mifflin families.

When Rue reached the ambulance, the EMTs had already secured Jim into the vehicle. Keith helped Rue climb in beside him. She buckled herself into the companion seat as the EMTs slammed the back doors shut. Jim's face softened when he saw her, which made her feel great inside.

Due to her good fortune and blessings, Rue had never ridden in an ambulance before. Even though the circumstances sucked, it was quite an interesting experience. It was smooth, quiet and sterile, an actual hospital on wheels. She didn't like that the lack of windows made it impossible to know where they were. But she was so glad that Jim was getting the care he needed to recover from his ordeal.

Chapter Text

The ambulance stopped, and the back doors swung open, revealing the rear entrance to the hospital. The EMTs assisted Rue in stepping down from the vehicle, then proceeded to unlatch Jim. Rue felt so insignificant and out of place as she followed the paramedics into the facility. Part of her couldn't understand why Jim had asked her to come. She wasn't being the least bit helpful, as much as she longed to be of some use.

Keith and Evelyn brought Jim into a small room in the emergency department. Thick curtains covered up the wall of windows, adding a darkness and chill to the beige and pink colored room. A muted football game played on a flat screen TV mounted on the wall.

The EMTs slid Jim off of the gurney and into the hospital bed. Rue peeked into the closet and picked out a warm white blanket, which she draped over Jim. She wasn't sure if he should be covered, but it was freezing in the building. The air conditioning was blasting way too high, even for the summer. Rue also took a blanket and wrapped it around herself.

Then the paramedics said their goodbyes, leaving Jim and Rue alone for the very first time ever. It was terrifying. As much as Rue liked Jim, she had no clue what to say or how to behave. He'd never peeled himself away from Pam long enough to interact with Rue in a meaningful way.

Could he even speak? She imagined he could. But if so, why hadn't he said anything in all this time? Maybe it was because he was in pain? She didn't know, and it was so awkward.

Knock!! Knock!! Knock!!

Oh Thank God.

A male doctor entered the room. If Rue had not been sitting down in the guest chair, her knees would have buckled. The doctor was so handsome. His smile was mischievous and playful. His baby blue scrubs accentuated the milky color of his skin. His hair was jet black and somewhat scruffy, and his big blue eyes had a slight slant to them.

Then Rue noticed the wedding band on his ring finger. It was a most exquisite ring, with a lovely and intricate design carved into it. Her heart sank. It figured. He was too beautiful to be single.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Collins," he began. His voice was gentle and inviting. "What's going on with you today?"

In a frail, raspy voice, Jim responded, "I got an electric shock, and my heart stopped."

"Did someone perform CPR?" Dr. Collins asked.

"Rue did."

The doctor turned towards Rue. "How long was he unconscious for?"

"Maybe three or four minutes? I don't know. It felt like forever."
The doctor nodded. "Okay, let me take a listen."

Sitting on the bed next to Jim, the doctor pressed a stethoscope to his chest. Rue found herself inching closer to Jim as well. She closed her eyes and prayed that he had not damaged his heart.

Pulling the plugs out of his ears, Dr. Collins stated, "Your heart sounds good, but I'm ordering an EKG to be on the safe side. We're going to keep you overnight for observations. Once we get you settled in a room, we'll give you some IV fluids and a tetanus shot as well." Jim winced. "Take it easy. I hope you feel better."

With a wave and a smile, the doctor moved on to the next patient. Rue thanked God again for His benevolence. It seemed as though Jim would be fine. He just had to stay in the hospital out of an abundance of caution.

Still, he was stuck in the hospital overnight. That was no fun. She wanted to make it better for him in any way that she could.

"Do you want me to call anyone for you or get you anything?" Rue offered. Jim shook his head. "Are you sure?"

"Will you stay with me?" Jim requested.

"Are you sure you want me? Wouldn't you be more comfortable with someone from your family here?" Rue queried.

"I just want you," Jim told her.

Tears pooling in her almond eyes, Rue promised him, "Of course I'll stay with you." Jim beamed. "I'm just gonna step outside and call some people from the office. I'm sure they're all worried sick about you."

"Okay." Jim nodded.

Fishing her phone from her pocket, Rue walked into the hallway. Leaning against the wall, she flipped through her contacts. She scrolled down until she located Ryan Howard, then pressed send.

"Rue? What's going on? How's Jim?" Ryan asked.

"He's okay, but they're keeping him overnight for observation."

"That's good."

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure. What?"

"In my car I have an overnight bag packed. Can you get it and bring it to the hospital?" Rue requested. There was a weird silence. "I was planning on going out tonight and sleeping over at my cousin's house, but Jim asked me to stay the night here with him."

"Jim asked you to stay with him?" Ryan repeated in amazement.

"What?" A woman gasped in the background.

Ah, now his reaction made sense. Ryan was hanging out with Pam. Neither of them could believe that Jim had chosen Rue over Pam. Still. Still no one could fathom it.

Rue would have been more offended if she could understand it herself. But she couldn't. And, while she would fulfil the commitment she'd made to Jim, she still couldn't imagine what they would talk about for an entire day.

But Kelly's ramblings of disbelief distracted Rue from that particular train of thought. She felt for Ryan, as she could hear his girlfriend's squeaky voiced questions all blurring together. Kelly was a girlie-girl who loved gossip. She was going to have a field day with this scoop.

Tired of listening to the hens clucking about her personal business on the other end of the line, Rue asked, "Can you do that for me please?"

"Yeah. We're having dinner, and then we'll stop by," Ryan answered.

"Thank you!"

"See ya."

"Bye."

Rue hung up the phone. As she returned to Jim's room, she couldn't escape the feeling that she was drowning in some sort of pool she should not have been swimming in. It was hard to explain, apart from the over the top reactions her friends just had over her keeping Jim company. Or it was like that episode of Spongebob Squarepants where Patrick wants to eat Spongebob's donut but he can't enjoy it because he knows it's not his donut. {Screw you, Spongebob is life lol}

Was that what Rue was doing? Was she eating Pam's donut?

Maybe.

But in addition to the donut, Pam had a slice of rhubarb pie: her fiance Roy.

So why should Rue feel bad about munching on the donut when Pam already had pie?

Jim smiled when she returned to her seat beside him. His smile was sweet and shy. It made her feel so warm inside. All of her thoughts about donuts drifted to the back of her mind. She was helping out a friend. There wasn't a thing in the world wrong with that.

While she was gone, Jim had taken the TV off of mute. Rue turned her attention to the preseason football game. She sucked her teeth in frustration as her beloved Giants fumbled the ball on the Eagles ten yard line.

"You're a Giants fan?" Jim asked, surprised.

Rue nodded. "Yeah, I'm from New York."

"You are? What part?" Despite his frailty, Jim seemed excited.

"The Bronx," Rue told him.

"Wow! That's so cool! So how'd you end up in Scranton?"

"I moved out here for college."

"So I take it you're a Yankees fan?"

"What other team is there?" Rue laughed.

"The Phillies." Rue sniggered at his suggestion. "Okay, so you've got us in baseball, but we've got you in football."

Jim indicated the TV as the Eagles landed another first down. Rue had to concede his point. As much as she loved her Giants, they were a mess of a team. But she'd loved the G-Men for as long as she could remember, and she doubted that she would ever stop.

* "I'll give you that," she said.

A knock on the door, and in came a nurse pushing a rolling cart. She had long red hair tied into a messy pony tail and pointed cheekbones. She reminded Rue of her father's sister, her aunt Erin. The badge on her chest read Maureen MacLean, but she never went so far as to introduce herself. Judging by the bags under her eyes, it had been a long twelve hour shift. On the cart, Rue spotted a pair of hospital pajamas for Jim (and brown booties of course), as well as a kit for running an intravenous line.

The nurse handed Jim the pajamas, then slid a long curtain closed so that he could change in privacy. Since she wound up on Jim's side of the curtain, Rue excused herself. Seeing him naked would be stepping over some sort of line for sure. If she did that, she'd be certain she'd taken a chomp out of Pam's Krispy kreme.

A few minutes later, the nurse scrunched the curtain back up. Jim was back in bed, his work clothes in a neat pile on Rue's chair. He eyed the nurse nervously as she ripped the plastic off of the IV kit.

"Okay, Honey, which arm?" Nurse MacLean asked.

"Left," Jim squeaked.

It amazed Rue that such a large man could seem so small in that moment. But nobody liked IVs, nobody. Rue walked over to the right side of the room so that she would be out of the nurse's way. Sweat trickled down her back, despite the cold. It was silly, of course. It wasn't like it was going in her.

The nurse tied a tourniquet around Jim's arm. Jim's face paled. After all he'd been through that day, it was disconcerting. But the nurse didn't seem too worried about it. Then again, all of this was routine for the nurse. In all her years of practicing CPR, Jim was Rue's only patient.

As the nurse rubbed alcohol on his arm, Rue placed a hand on Jim's shoulder. She'd considered holding his hand, but it didn't seem appropriate. They were just barely friends, after all. But she was glad to be doing something for him. Jim glanced up at her with a quick, grateful smile, then closed his eyes. She could feel his heavy, unsteady breaths as he tried to stay calm.

Jim winced as the needle pierced his skin. His shoulder tensed in her grasp, and she gave it a reassuring squeeze. Rue tried to watch, but the blood bubbling around the wound churned her stomach. She was just as relieved as Jim when the nurse covered the cannula with a bandage and excused herself from the room, leaving them to watch their game in peace.

Chapter Text

As the game cut to commercial, an orderly came inside and announced that they were moving Jim to a room upstairs. Rue gathered their bags and followed the orderly. She stayed close by him in order to avoid getting herself lost in this labyrinth of a building. It seemed like they had to go in four complete circles just to find an elevator.

The orderly settled Jim into a pretty room on the eighth floor. The window overlooked a small outdoor picnic area, where staff and patients and family members relaxed beneath the shade of maple and oak leaves. This room was much larger than the one down in the ER. It even had a small pull out couch for Rue to sleep on and a full tub in the bathroom.

Once the orderly left, Jim set the TV back to the football game. To Rue's dismay, her Giants were not performing any better than they had been earlier in the quarter. It was not fun. At least the game was almost over and they'd be out of their misery soon enough.

Rue's stomach started to grow with hunger. It was past her supper time. The hospital would provide food for Jim, but Rue would have to buy something for herself.

"I'm hungry. I'm going to get some dinner from the cafeteria. Do you want anything?"

"A grape soda," Jim requested.

"Sure. I'll be right back."

Rue grabbed her purse and headed out to the hallway. There, she tried her best to recall where the elevator was. It was good fortune that she noticed signs indicating the stairs and elevators. She rode down to the first floor, then followed the confusing colors and arrows until she smelled food.

The cafeteria reminded her of the food court at the airport. It was divided into several sections serving different cuisines. Almost all healthy stuff, of course, but she could make do for just one night. There was a salad bar, a sandwich station, soups, a fresh fruit stand and a dairy and drink counter.

First, she grabbed Jim's grape soda, along with a cola for herself. Then, she headed over to the salad bar for some apple chicken pecan 🍎 🐔 salad goodness. Figuring that a long night awaited them, she also stocked up on candy bars, chips and fruit salad.

As she finished paying for her food, her phone pinged. It was a text from Ryan wondering what room they were in. She told him to meet her in the cafeteria and that she would take them up to see Jim.

Rue was happy when Ryan and Kelly came up to her, but her face puckered when she saw Pam. If Jim did not want her here, then why would she come? Why couldn't she just give him the space that he needed? Why couldn't she let Rue have this one night of being special? That was every day of Pam's life, for real for real.

Rue led them back through the confusing corridors and up in the elevator to the eighth floor. She knocked on the door before letting them into Jim's room. Jim feigned a smile at his friends, but he still seemed weak and tired. So was Rue. Even though she'd called Ryan, she hoped that they would not stay very long so that she could shower and sleep.

"Oh my God Jim!" Kelly exclaimed.

She threw her arms around him and rambled on and on and on about how worried they were about him. Ryan had to pull her off of him and remind her that he was still sick and needed to rest. Kelly nodded, but it was a challenge for her to contain her bubbly energy.

In contrast, Pam was more subdued. She reached for Jim's hand. He did not return her gesture and left his hands tucked under the covers instead. She looked to Ryan and Kelly for support, but they could offer none.

"How are you feeling?" Pam whispered.

"Fine," Jim answered.

"Jim, I'm so sorry. I didn't…" Pam stammered.

"...It's fine."

"Jim…"

"...It's fine, Pam. I don't want to talk about it," Jim interrupted.

"Okay," Pam conceded.

"If you guys don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep," Jim requested.

Shaken, Pam murmured, "Sure, yeah, of course."

"Thank you guys for coming. I'll see you all back in the office on Monday," Jim stated.

"Feel better Jim. Bye Rue," Ryan and Kelly called out.

As she walked past on her way out of the room, Pam stared at Rue with the worst look of betrayal that Rue had ever witnessed. Again, Spongebob is life, and it was just like when Gary chose to hang out with Patrick instead of Spongebob. Spongebob was devastated.

So, Rue had not only taken Pam's donut but her snail too?

In the end of that episode, it is revealed that Gary only wanted the cookie in Patrick's pocket. Gary returned to Spongebob in the end. Would the same be true for them? Would Jim tire of Rue and go right on back to Pam?

Once Rue went back to school and Pam stayed at Dunder Mifflin, yes, Jim would choose Pam all over again. But there was no need to force anything right now. Jim would forgive Pam, and Jim and Rue could remain distant friends.

If that was a fact, then why did Pam's expression hurt Rue so?

*Rue decided that she couldn't just take that lying down. There was too much New York City in her. She had to address the issue with Pam.

Telling Jim she would be right back, Rue took off after her co-workers. She raced through the labyrinthine hallways, avoiding doctors, patients and medical equipment. As she stopped short of smacking into a bursar, Rue wondered if all this was necessary. It was just a dirty look, after all.

Yeah. It was.

Rue caught up to them in the parking lot, just as they were piling into Ryan's car.

"Pam! Wait! I need to talk to you!" Rue called out.

Pam closed Ryan's door and approached her. "What is it, Rue?"

"That's it. What is your problem with me?" Rue demanded.

"I don't have a problem with you. I like you," Pam fibbed.

"You might be able to fool everyone else in the office with that sugary persona, but you know as well as I do that it's artificial sweetener," Rue asserted. Looking burned, Pam's face reddened. "Be real with me. Why do you look at me like I took your cookie?"

"That's all Jim is to you, isn't it? A cookie?" Pam responded.

"I knew it," Rue chortled.

"Knew what?"

"You're jealous that Jim asked me to stay with him and not you. Well, hot damn, I'm so sorry I saved your boyfriend's life. I'll never do it again," Rue yelled.

Pam said half-heartedly, "Jim's not my boyfriend."

"No, you're right. He's not. But you know he likes you, and you play with his heart until Roy comes up from the warehouse. You getting your jollies is all that matters. Hell, Jim wouldn't have gotten hurt if you two could quit pranking Dwight for five minutes."

"That's not true!"

But her face told the whole story. She knew it most certainly was. Rue just gave her an incredulous smirk.

"I'm not gonna apologize because Jim is tired of chasing a tease," Rue stated.

"If I'm a tease, you're a wannabe," Pam retorted.

"Excuse you?"

"Jim doesn't really like you. He never even knew you were there until you saved him. You want him, and you don't care that what he feels for you is gratitude, not love."

Pam was grinning now. Rue considered hitting her. It would have felt so good, her fist connecting with that big mouth of hers.

But Rue couldn't do it. Pam was not worth risking her degree. She sure as hell was not worth jail. This was a war of words and nothing more.

Rue shook her head and forced out a laugh. "You know what? You win. You're always going to win, because what Jim feels for you is real. But it's a hollow victory if you don't appreciate it, and you sure as hell don't. Me, I'm grateful I saved Jim, and I'm grateful he wants to hold my hand, even if it's just for tonight."

With that, Rue turned on her heel and left. It was good fortune that she made it back inside the building before the tears fell. She did not want to give Pam the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten under her skin, even a little bit.

Chapter Text

Jim's dinner had been served while Rue was in the cafeteria, but it was gluey, overcooked wheat pasta and he hadn't touched it. So Rue cleared a space on his tray for the snacks that she'd purchased. His face lit up with gratitude. Upon opening her salad container, she spooned some of it into the lid so that she could share with Jim.

If Jim noticed her splotchy pink face and glossy eyes, he did not acknowledge it. Rue was thankful. She was nowhere near ready to discuss her confrontation with his crush in the parking lot.

As the Eagles won the football game and the two friends finished their salad, a technician came into Jim's room, pushing a wheelchair. He announced that he was taking Jim for his EKG. It seemed odd to Rue for them to schedule the test for such a time of night. Still, it would be a relief when they got Jim's results back and they could provide the best possible treatment for him.

When the door shut behind Jim and the tech, Rue scooped up the bag Ryan had brought her and stepped into the bathroom. The hot water was miraculous against her icy cold skin. She wanted to stay in the shower forever. If she could, she would scrub away the memories of Jim's accident and Pam's jilted expressions. But no amount of soap could cleanse her of the nightmare they'd just been through.

Since she'd been planning to sleep over with family and friends, Rue was fortunate enough to have her own set of pajamas with her. It was just unfortunate that she'd packed for summer and not a freezing hospital. She changed into her Spongebob (what else) short-shorts and matching tank top. The yellow contrasted so well with her olive skin and dark hair and eyes. There was something about yellow that drew out her beauty in a way she could not articulate. She only wore it on special occasions because of how incredible it made her feel.

Rue finished in the bathroom and went about preparing for the night. She opened up the couch and covered it with sheets, blankets and pillows from the linen closet. She hooked her phone up to the charger and set it on the edge of her bed. Then she dimmed all but one light so that the room was not pitch black.

The door screeched ajar. The tech wheeled Jim inside, then helped him back into his bed. Rue stood up to greet him, and Jim's eyes sparkled. It was the yellow. Cheeks flushing pink, Rue covered Jim up with the blankets.

"Spongebob really suits you," Jim stated.

"Spongebob suits everyone," Rue responded. "Especially my kids."

Jim furrowed his brow. "I didn't know you had kids."

Rue giggled. "Oh, no, I mean my work kids. I'm a part time daycare teacher. I have a class of one year olds."

"Wow!! That's awesome!! They must really love you!!"

"Yeah, but not half as much as I love them. It's gonna hurt me like Hell when I graduate and get another job."

"If you like it, why don't you stick with it?"

Rue shook her head. "The pay sucks. I can't live on my own doing that job. Besides, it's time to pursue my passion."

"What's that?" Jim inquired.

"Criminal Justice and Corrections. I'm applying to work on a research project studying the social impacts of mass incarceration on the nation. Michael said he'd write me a recommendation letter."

"If you're interested in criminal justice, why are you observing Dunder Mifflin?" Jim queried.

"The professors tell you what you're going to write your thesis on. You don't get to pick. Don't get me wrong; I love Dunder Mifflin and I've made some really great friends. But if it was up to me, I would be observing in Coal Township."

Rue paused. She loved imagining fulfilling her future goals, but she felt uncomfortable talking about herself so much. "What about you? Was it your lifelong dream to be a salesman?"

"No, not a paper salesman anyway," Jim answered. "I've always wanted to run my own business."

"You will. I just know it," Rue affirmed. Jim beamed.

"When I do, I'll hire you to teach all my workers CPR," Jim said.

"It would be my pleasure."

"I never got to say thank you for saving my life," Jim whispered.

"You're welcome." Rue grinned.

"I'd like to do something for you."

"Oh, no, you don't have to do that."

"I insist. Let me take you out to dinner."

"Jim, I'm grateful, but you really don't have to. There was no way I was gonna let something happen to you if there was a way I could help."

"I know I don't have to, but I want to," Jim told her.

"Well, okay then, how about Sunday, if you feel well enough?" Rue suggested.

"It's a date," Jim declared. He glanced at his phone. The time read eleven twenty-two p.m. "If you don't mind, I'm ready for bed."

Rue nodded. "Goodnight Jim."

"Goodnight Rue."

Chapter Text

"Jim? Jim?"

The hot summer sun shone in Rue's face, burning her eyes as she blinked awake. She had not slept long enough at all. Passing the night on a hospital bar bed was not very conducive to golden slumbers either.

She looked over to Jim's bed, where a handsome doctor stood, reviewing some notes into a laptop. If possible, this doctor was even more beautiful than the one they'd met in the ER the previous night. His forest green eyes were like those of a newborn kitten. His lips were plump and tasty. His bowlegged stance reminded Rue of a cowboy in Tombstone. He could not have been more perfect...except of course if he was not wearing a wedding ring.

Speaking of which, this doctor's ring had the same intricate pattern as the one the doctor in the emergency room was wearing. Then it occurred to Rue. Oh. Oh my God that was just too cute for words!!

"Good morning, I'm Dr. Ackles. I'm a cardiologist. How are you feeling today, Jim?" The doctor asked as Jim began to come to.

"Fine," Jim cleared his throat.

"Excellent!! I've reviewed the results of your EKG," Dr. Ackles continued. "Everything looks normal. I recommend following up with your primary care physician, but I don't see any signs of damage to your heart."

"Thank God," Rue breathed.

"I'll start the papers for you to be discharged. Do you have any questions?"

"No, thank you," Jim answered.

"Alright, well, take care. It's been nice meeting you," Dr. Ackles said. With a wave and a knee weakening smile, the doctor left the room.

Rue stretched, then excused herself to use the bathroom. The doctor had given them such great news. Pretty soon, they could go home and relax for the remainder of the weekend. Jim could regain his strength and be back better than ever at work on Monday.

To warm up, Rue enjoyed a steamy shower. She didn't take too long so that there would still be hot water for Jim if he wanted to bathe as well. Then she changed into the spare clothes she'd packed, capri pants and an Eminem tank top.

Jim was picking at his breakfast when Rue emerged from the bathroom. It was heart healthy, bland oatmeal with wheat toast, grape jelly, fat free milk and a banana. Rue's stomach churned with hunger, but she decided to wait to eat. On her way home, she would find the nearest fast food joint and order the greasiest, fattest items on the menu… and a diet cola, of course

"Hey!" Jim greeted her. "I called my mom to come pick us up. She's on her way."

"That's good!"

"How was the shower?"

"It was nice. The hot water felt amazing!!"

"Awesome! I want to take one, too, as soon as they take this thing out." Jim frowned as he indicated his IV.

As if on cue, a nurse entered, wheeling a large rolling cart adorned with a laptop. The cart also contained a thick packet of papers, gauze, bandages, alcohol wipes and a syringe. Jim wore an uneasy smile as the nurse approached him. It was a mixed blessing. Just one more injection and then he could go home. But first he had to get through the final poke and prod. Oh, and who could forget the joy of having rubber tubes ripped out of his skin?

Jim reached out for Rue as the nurse grabbed a cotton swab. Rue held his hand in hers and rubbed it with her thumb. His grip on her tightened as the nurse pulled the IV out of his skin. It was not long before the nurse was putting pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. Rue gave him a reassuring smile as the nurse wrapped the puncture in gauze and medical tape.

"Okay, this might sting a little," the nurse warned him, rubbing alcohol on his arm.

Rue maintained Jim's nervous gaze in an attempt to show her support. She didn't watch the procedure, but she could tell when Jim was injected by the clamping pain in her hand. Jim groaned as the notorious soreness set in, but it was over in a few seconds.

"All done. Now I just need you to sign these discharge papers and you are good to go!" The nurse cheered.

"Gladly," Jim responded, scribbling James Halpert on about twenty different forms.

"Thank you so much!! Feel better Hunny!" The nurse exclaimed as she exited the room.

Jim excused himself from Rue to go take a shower. As he bathed, she packed up their belongings. Hoping that his mother would bring him clean clothes, she placed his dirty ones with hers in a plastic bag. She could wash them and return them to him on Monday at the office.

As Jim started to emerge from the shower, his mother walked into the room. The resemblance between Jim and Betsy Halpert was uncanny. Their warm eyes were identical, as well as their mischievous grins. The only major difference was in their height. Mama Bear was petite while Jim towered over everyone in the office.

"Hello Dear! You must be Pam! Oh Jim has told us so much about you! You're even prettier than I would have imagined!" Mrs. Halpert greeted, beaming.

Rue could feel her cheeks burning red with humiliation. She didn't know how Phyllis, Angela and Meredith could stand working in that office. No other woman seemed to matter besides Pam. Hell, Rue didn't even work there, and it aggravated her to no end. She wondered if there was a way of incorporating these emotions into her thesis without sounding petty and jealous.

Before Rue could respond, Jim stepped up and interjected, "Oh, no, Mom, this is my friend Ruth."

"Ruth?" Mrs. Halpert's eyes widened and glistened in amazement. She reached out and held Rue's hands. "Thank you for saving my son."

"How did you…" Jim queried.

"A very nice woman from your office called us and Larissa… I think her name was Phyllis. She told us that Ruth gave you CPR." JULY 3RD 2021

"I'm just glad I could help," Rue said.

Rue appreciated the gratitude Mrs. Halpert was showing her. She really did. But, somehow, after listening to her sing Pam's praises at the top of her lungs, the thank you seemed sort of...hollow.

Of course, Rue knew that she was being unfair to Mrs. Halpert. Jim had known Pam for years and Rue only a few weeks. The assumption that Mrs. Halpert had made was not a huge jump, in all actuality.

But Rue's mama had always warned her about what happened when you assumed.

Oscar had been kind enough to arrange to have a set of keys left by the cleaning crew so that they could retrieve their cars. Mrs. Halpert dropped Rue and Jim off at the office so that they could drive their cars home. They weren't thrilled with the prospect of Jim driving himself home after what he'd been through, but he was adamant that he felt well enough.

As Rue said her goodbyes, Mrs. Halpert insisted that Rue join their family for dinner as soon as possible. Rue accepted the invitation with a small smile, but she figured that her calendar would not have an open slot for a while. Being mistaken for Pam had hurt her pride. She was not ashamed to admit it, even if it was just to herself.

Chapter Text

Rue's mouth fell open as a valet opened her car door. When Jim had offered to buy her dinner as a thank you, she'd expected some salad and spaghetti at the local Italian eatery. She never would have fathomed that he would drive her two hours away, back to her native New York City.

And Rue never, ever would have even dreamed that in her lifetime she would be dining at Gordon Ramsay's Michelin Star restaurant.

Once, she had tried to book a table at London New York for her mother's birthday. They were both avid Hell's Kitchen fans, and it would have been a most wonderful treat to visit the eatery. She was most disheartened to learn that it would cost around fifty dollars a person. For a college student, that price tag was much too large.

Tears of joy and gratitude spilled out of Rue's big brown eyes as Jim escorted her into the establishment arm-in-arm. It was like a scene from one of those old black and white films Rue loved so much. They wore elegant attire. Jim was dashing in his black suit and tie; she'd only ever seen him in slacker corporate casual at the office, so this was a very nice change. Rue looked just like a guidette Princess Belle in her flowing yellow dress and her white high strapped high heeled shoes.

Rue could tell by the stares of strangers that she was breathtaking, but, inside, she felt so ugly. Much as she tried to push the thoughts out of her mind, she could not forget about her heated conversation with Pam in the hospital parking lot. She'd meant everything she'd said and would never take it back. But she regretted that it had even come to that.

Rue had never fought over a man before, and she didn't like having done it now. It was so stupid. All of it. Pam was engaged. Why did she care who Jim messed with, anyway?

And, despite stepping into one of her biggest dreams as if she were an actual Disney Princess, why did Rue feel so unworthy?

A handsome maitre'd in an expensive black suit and sunset orange tie held out a chair for Rue. She sat down at the table, absolutely mesmerized by the restaurant. It was so elegant and beautiful. There was fancy silverware on the table and cold water alongside expensive glasses of wine.

Pam could take her wannabe bullshit and go straight to Hell.

It was not often that a life long dream came true. Rue would be a fool to allow anyone to convince her that she was unworthy of this kindness. This was her one shot. She was not about to waste it. Not when this food smelled so delicious, not when Jim looked so happy: no, Pam's opinions meant nothing to Rue.

At least, she wanted them to be meaningless. She wanted to push them out of her mind. After all, she was just punishing herself. Pam wasn't the one missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.

Rue ordered spaghetti with lobster, lamb and strawberry shortcake. These three dishes had been on almost every season of Hell's Kitchen. She'd always sworn that, given the opportunity, she could not wait to try them. But, she hoped that she actually would get to eat them, unlike many of the diners on her favorite reality show.

When the waiter and maitre d left them to attend to their work, an awkward silence engulfed the table. Rue sipped on wine, hoping that liquid courage would help her come up with something to say. Jim was fidgeting with his napkin and chewing on bread, as he was the designated driver back to Pennsylvania.

A sickening pit dug into Rue's stomach. What had happened to them? They'd talked a lot at the hospital, despite her earlier reservations about their incompatibility. Now they were out of topics for conversation? It was so weird.

By the grace of God, their food came before the silence became too stiff. The lobster spaghetti was even more delicious than Rue could have even dreamed. She offered Jim a taste of her pasta, and she delighted in his scallops.

After their awkward and amazing meal, Jim and Rue got back into the car for the two hour ride back to Scranton. Rue couldn't help but conjure up the memory of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry goes on vacation with a girl he doesn't really like and it rains the whole time. In the show, Jerry has to plan topics of discussion. It would be the same for them two, except for the blessing that was the radio.

"Thank you for bringing me here," Rue whispered. "You made my dream come true."

"Thank you for saving me." Jim and Rue beamed. 😀 "The night's still young. What do you want to do?"

Rue answered, "I really miss Times Square."

"Times Square it is."

Jim managed to find a parking space near the Library, and they were able to walk the few blocks to Broadway and 42nd Street. The summer sun had at last descended below the horizon, and the Times Square marquee lights were beginning to dazzle tourists and locals alike. The air smelled of hot dogs and roasted nuts. Even though they'd just eaten, they found the aroma tantalizing.

Ever the big kid, Rue pulled Jim into the oversized toy store. Rue loved riding the game themed ferris wheel and was overjoyed when they were assigned to the Barbie seat. Bright pink swirled about as the ride whirled around and around. Shoppers snapped photos of them for their daughters. Jim was blushing almost the same shade as their car, but his smile suggested that he was enjoying himself.

Jim and Rue traipsed all around the neighborhood. They nibbled on samples of candy at Hershey's and hugged Yellow at the M&M store. They posed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse at the Disney shop, and Jim bought Rue an oversized Simba doll to hug and love. They bought ten for five dollar tee shirts at tourist traps for their friends back in Scranton.

Their adventure brought them to the steps leading up to the jumbotron. News network anchors stared down at them from the giant screen, their mouths moving and their voices muted. But Rue ignored them. This night was too magical to ruin by reading the headlines about bipartisan bullsh!t.

Jim cupped his hands around Rue's head and pulled her close. His long fingers gave gentle tugs on her curls as he leaned down towards her. The scent of his cologne tickled her nose. Combined with the excitement of the moment, it made her giggle.

And then, it all fell down.

The kiss held no magic in it whatsoever. Rue felt no butterflies in her stomach, no tingle below the waste. It reminded her of the obligatory kisses she was forced to exchange with distant relatives at family reunions. There was no chemistry between them at all.

When they parted, Rue could not fight the tears building up in her eyes. Jim reached for her again, but she backed away. He studied her with concern.

"Rue? What's wrong?" Jim asked.

"I'm a wannabe," Rue muttered, ashamed.

"What are you talking about?"

"The night you were in the hospital, Pam said I was a 'wannabe' and that you would never have even known I was alive if I hadn't saved you."

Jim gasped, "Pam said that?" Rue nodded. "Rue, it's not true."

"Yes it is," Rue insisted. "You don't love me. You love what I did. And you love Pam. But you blame her for what happened to you, and you are using me to get back at her for it, and for playing games with your heart."

Jim opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. They both knew that she was right. It could not be denied.

Sure, a part of Jim did love Rue. He'd have been gone without her. But it wasn't the kind of love that created marriages and families and white picket fences. Both of them deserved those things.

Rue had meant what she'd said to Pam in the hospital. She did feel lucky and blessed to be chosen to hold Jim's hand that night. But it wasn't fair to any of them to pretend that they could ever be any more than friends: if they were even that.

"Look, I've had a crush on Pam for years. That's not something you just get over in a day. But that doesn't mean I don't like you," Jim uttered at last.

Rue requested, "Look me in my eyes and tell me that if I had not saved your life, you would have still spoken to me and liked me for me."

Jim's falling gaze was like a spear to Rue's heart. Not even the Hoover Dam could have stopped the tears from falling. The realization and the shame overcame her.

Rue bolted off of the steps. "RUTH!" Jim bellowed as he tried to catch her.

But Rue knew the city like the back of her hand. She weaved in between tourists and locals and vendors and policemen with ease until she reached the 42nd Street subway station. Jim would never be able to find her there. Dozens of train lines ran in all different directions headed to all five boroughs.

It was not long before she could not hear her name hollered out any more. It was not long before she was a nameless New Yorker again. That suited her just fine. Nobody in the city would give a woman crying on the subway a second thought.

So she boarded the uptown 2 train and rode the two hours to her parents' apartment in painful peace.

Chapter Text

Several Months Later

"Rue?"

Rue's head twisted in the direction of the voice calling out her name. She hadn't expected to run into anyone. That was why she chose to do her grocery shopping at such a late hour. That, and the crazy shifts she worked at the prison. The research took up so much of her time, but she had never felt such fulfillment in all her life.

A familiar face from the past greeted her with a wave and a smile. Rue's knees buckled at the sight of Jim Halpert. They hadn't seen each other since that night in New York City. After their meaningless kiss, Rue had ditched Jim in favor of weeping on her mother's couch. She'd never returned to Dunder Mifflin. It would have been too awkward, seeing Jim and Pam again after what had happened.

Jim approached Rue, hand in hand with one of the most beautiful women Rue had ever seen. She was petite, about half Jim's size, with long silky straight brown hair and warm brown eyes. Her black and white suit made her look like a trendy modern business woman.

Rue was so grateful that the woman was there. After the way they'd parted ways back in New York, she couldn't imagine seeing Jim without a buffer. And it brought her immense joy that this woman was not Pam Beesley.

"Jim! It's so good to see you!" Rue said.

She hoped that her words didn't sound too forced. She was happy, but it was also very awkward. But when Jim pulled her into an embrace, her fears were assuaged. It appeared that he held no ill will towards her, so she had no reason to bear any resentment towards him.

"It's good to see you too!" Jim motioned towards the woman beside him. "Rue, this is my girlfriend, Karen. Karen, this is Ruth."

"This is Ruth?" Karen lit up. She took Rue's hand in hers. "It's so nice to meet you!"

"Thank you! It's nice to meet you too!"

"Everyone in the office still talks about how you saved Jim's life," Karen commented.

Rue could feel her cheeks flushing red. "It was nothing, really."

Karen shook her head. "No, it was something."

Like the Grinch, Rue's heart swelled up with thankfulness, love and pride. She was so happy that Jim had found this woman, Karen. She seemed to be a much better fit for him than Pam. Whereas Pam had seemed resentful of Rue for saving Jim, Karen was appreciative and unassuming.

Karen's cell phone rang, and she excused herself from the conversation. As she walked away, Rue could still feel the genuine gratitude and respect in her touch. If her research were not taking her out of the Scranton area, she would have loved to have developed a friendship with Karen.

"I'm so happy for you. Karen is amazing," Rue told Jim. And it was the complete and utter truth.

"Yeah, she really is," Jim whispered. He paused.
"Listen, Rue, about that night…" Rue shook her head. She didn't want to talk about it. It was done, and she had moved on. "I just...I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. You were right. I did want to thank you for saving me, but I was trying to get back at Pam, too."

"I know." The words came out a bit harsh. So she softened some. "It's okay, really. I had a great time, and I understand. But, promise me something?"

Jim asked, "What?"

"Please don't make the same mistake with Karen," Rue requested with sincerity.

Jim nodded his head. He pulled her in for a goodbye hug and reiterated how nice it had been to see her. Rue watched as he disappeared down the soda aisle. She was not sure what to make of his oath. The love Jim had for Pam seemed to be as unmovable and indestructible as a mountain. But Rue took comfort in the knowledge that, regardless of what anyone said, she was a damn good friend to Jim. Somehow, that meant more to her than saving him had