(Untitled)

[pambeesley]

She'd had the ring hidden in their room for almost a week now. She had no idea what had possessed her when she asked Jon for her engagement ring back, but last weekend, when she ran into him, she'd asked for it. Of course he'd given it back without question, but she couldn't help wondering just what the hell she was going to do with it now

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[jim_halpert]

It had been a long time since Jim had seen Pam in the water, especially because it was the ocean, not the waterfall. He padded barefoot towards her, the sand warm under his feet and his hands in his pockets.

"Hey, Pam, taking a swim?" he called out once he had gotten to where the water reached his ankles. He didn't suspect anything was wrong until she actually turned around and he saw her face. His eyebrow knitting in worry, and he started heading toward her.

[pambeesley]

Pam swallowed when she looked up at him, closing her fingers around the ring again as she turned to him. She glanced down at herself, then looked back up at him.

"I don't think I'm really dressed for swimming," she replied flatly.

[jim_halpert]

Jim looked her over slowly, his hand gently resting on her arm, his grip firm enough to keep her steady. The waves weren't particularly strong, but he still didn't want her to fall.

"No, you're not," he agreed, softly. "What are you doing out here?"

[pambeesley]

She shrugged and snuck her hand into her pocket, dropping the ring into it then pulling her hand out again.

"I was just um.. Thinking."

[jim_halpert]

"You were thinking," he repeated, now really looking confused. "This is a strange place to be thinking."

He knew she was hiding something from him, but he had no idea what. It was one of the few times he couldn't read her face at all. He eventually gently nudged her until she was facing him, then caught her gaze.

"Hey, Pam. What's wrong? Talk to me."

[pambeesley]

She shook her head a little, then looked down, chewing on her lip.

"Nothing. I'm just.." She sighed softly, finally looking up at him.

"I'm trying to get rid of something."

[jim_halpert]

"In the ocean?" he asked, looking confused. He hesitated, then added, jokingly, "Did you wack someone without telling me? I told you, you want to get rid of a murder weapon, you bury it in the jungle."

He just sort of wanted to make her smile, even though he had a feeling the attempt would be in vain.

[pambeesley]

"No, um." She huffed a soft laugh that didn't last very long. She offered him a nervous smile, then reached into her pocket again.

When she pulled her hand back out, her fingers were closed in a fist again. She held her fist out towards him, then turned it palm up and opened it.

[jim_halpert]

And then Jim really didn't want to laugh himself. He had almost forgot the damn ring was still on the island, and it brought back a surprising amount of bad memories that he quickly suppressed.

"Your old engagement ring," he said, quietly. "You're tossing it?"

[pambeesley]

She looked up at him, brow knit in confusion. Was he really asking her? What else was she supposed to do with it? Keep it?

"What- yeah."

[jim_halpert]

"I can um...leave, if you want to be alone," he offered, scratching the back of his neck. It felt like a personal event, and maybe she wanted to do it by herself. "I'd understand."

[pambeesley]

She pulled her hand back, closing her fist around the ring again.

"Wait for me?" She nodded towards the sand where she'd dropped her shoes and purse.

She wanted to do this by herself, but, at the same time, didn't want to send him away.

[jim_halpert]

"Okay. I'll be there when you're ready," he said, leaning over to press a kiss against her forehead. After taking her free hand and squeezing it, he slowly made his way to the shore, eventually getting there and sitting next to her stuff. He was soaked and he didn't care; he sat himself next to her things and watched.

[pambeesley]

She offered him a small smile, grateful that he seemed to understand, then watched him walk away. With a sigh, she turned around, completely aware of his eyes on her back - and a little unnerved - but still didn't want him to leave.

She waded back out to where she'd been before he'd shown up and uncurled her fist again, holding her hand close to her chest.

[jim_halpert]

He said nothing as he watched. In a way, what she was doing made him love her a little more - if that was even possible. He had remembered the day she found that ring; the fight that came out of it. He had almost lost her because of it, because of him, and now, seeing what she was about to do...

Well, only an idiot wouldn't realize what a big step it was.

[pambeesley]

She hesitated for a moment, suddenly thinking that surely there was someone on the island she could take this to - give it to them to take apart and melt down for someone else - but as soon as the thought crossed her mind, her hand was in a fist again and up over her shoulder.

A second later, she tossed it - hard - and, even though the waves were loud in her ears, she could still here the soft plop of the ring hitting the surface.