A/N: You know, I've wanted to be a writer since I was twelve, but ever since then I just couldn't figure out exactly what type of stories I wanted to write. I've always felt I had a bit of trouble with those sappy romantic plot-lines, and I ruled out the mystery and drama genres years ago. But I actually had a lot of fun with this particular fic. Perhaps not the horror and suspense, but I really did enjoy writing the action and adventure-y parts of this story...

Anyway, here's the final chapter of The Most Precious Thing You Have.

Disclaimer: For the last time until I have to say it again, I do not own the Office

"BP is one hundred forty over ninety, oh-two stats at ninety-five..."

"...And his heart rate's at sixty-four. Damn, all his vitals are normal. Why is he still unconscious?"

"He bumped his head pretty hard. He's looking at a minor concussion, at the very least."

"Any other injuries?"

"No, none that I can see. He's extremely lucky. Only he and those other two with him didn't get that weird infection going around inside."

"Yeah, what is that exactly?"

"No clue. But it seems to scare the living shit out of those CDC morons. Did you see Bartowski back there after Patterson forced those office workers to stay in the building at gunpoint? He was ready to blow a gasket, he was so pissed..."

"Bartowski got angry? No way – you'd have an easier time getting Gandhi to beat up his kids."

"I know, it was ridiculous..."

Jim could hear voices talking nearby, but they made no sense whatsoever. His eyes were closed, and he was dimly aware that he was on something very soft. He wanted to stay here forever, lying on this extremely comfortable surface. He felt himself shift ever so slightly, hoping to fall back asleep again...

"Hold on, Ray. I think he's waking up."

Through Jim's closed lids, he could see something extremely bright, like someone had switched on a light. Jim frowned.

"Hello? Hello, sir? Do you know where you are? What's your name?"

Jim groaned, his eyes fluttering open, while fighting the light that was shining so brightly. He registered dimly that maybe the loud voice was talking to him.

"Jim... Halpert..." Jim slurred, blinking slowly.

"Mr. Halpert, my name is Kurt Anderson. You've been through a terrible ordeal tonight. Please just lie back, my partner and I are going to check that you don't have any internal injuries."

Jim saw through his half-closed eyes that the man named Kurt was shining a flashlight directly into his retinas. The light seemed to burn more than what it should have, and Jim quickly shut his eyes again, turning away.

"Increased light sensitivity." Kurt stated matter-of-factly, and the light suddenly disappeared. "And his pupils aren't dilating. It's definitely a concussion, Ray."

"That's great Kurt, but please don't ever refer to me as your partner again." The man named Ray seemed to be scowling. "It's just not cute anymore..."

"Ah, fuck off."

Jim thought it was safe to open his eyes once again, so he slowly and heavily lifted his lids, just enough so he could take in his surroundings.

All he could see was silver. Silver and medical instruments. For one wild moment, Jim thought he had been sent to heaven's hospital. But then the rational part of his brain kicked in, and he suddenly realized that he was lying on a gurney and what he was seeing was the inside of an ambulance. Jim looked down and noticed he was still wearing his clothes, which were still covered in dirt, blood, and dried sweat. There was a large rip in his sweater near the shoulder, and something small and plastic was clamped on his index finger. Two EMTs, which Jim now knew were the two men named Ray and Kurt, were bustling around him, checking his pulse, inserting Iv's, and checking the bandages on the back of his head. Jim was suddenly aware of how much that particular spot throbbed.

"Slow down, man." Ray the EMT smiled as Jim tried to lift his head. He was wearing a blue Emergency Medical Transport uniform, and his messy black hair and olive skin contrasted easily with the bright, silver interior of the ambulance. He quickly moved forward so as to support Jim's neck as Jim pulled himself slowly into a sitting position. "Easy now..."

"Are we... on our way to the hospital?" Jim asked blearily when he finally managed to sit up. He placed a tentative hand on the tender spot on the back of his head and winced.

"The hospital?" Kurt chuckled. He was wearing a blue uniform like Ray was, although his skin was fairer and his hair blonde, though equally as messy. "Dude, when those CDC jerks say 'quarantine', they mean quarantine..."

Jim gave him a confused look, and the other man chuckled. He moved aside, so Jim could get a look for himself.

The large ambulance doors were thrown wide open, and a second later Jim realized that they hadn't even moved from the parking lot. They were completely stationary, while people in many variations of uniforms bustled across his line of vision. Police cars, gurneys, and even a fire engine or two were nearby, parked haphazardly across several spaces. In the background was the sprawling, gray-bricked building that was the Local Scranton Business Park, looking innocent against the black, star-strewn sky.

"Those jackass police officers have been arresting anyone who steps even a foot off the property – we haven't been able to move for hours. It totally sucks."

"Yeah, and it sucks for you guys," Kurt added, nodding toward Jim. "You should be in a hospital right now. We don't have the proper equipment to treat patients."

"Not that we could anyway..."

"True."

Jim was hardly listening. His eyes were roaming across the chaotic scene around him. Doctors and police officers and SWAT team members dashed from one point to another, barking orders and replies. To his right, he could see the exit leading out of the parking lot sealed off by a large, wire gate, where news reporters and cameramen on the other side were trying desperately to get in, to get a first-hand look at all the insanity.

Jim looked away. Turning to the two men beside him, he asked, "So what happened exactly?"

"Well, you were unconscious when they found you on the roof," Kurt said, while Ray nodded. "It was crazy: they had to lower you to the ground on some contraption suspended from a helicopter. That part took probably about half an hour, but you didn't wake up once. When they finally got you down, you were brought to us straight away."

"You were lying there for probably about five minutes before you came to." Ray finished.

"What about Dwight?"

"Dwight?" Kurt asked, smiling slightly to himself. "That weird guy with the huge forehead? He's right over there..." he turned and pointed outside toward the building. Jim looked around, and noticed Dwight standing among a mass of doctors tending to his minor injuries while police officers pressed him for information. Jim watched as Angela, petite, yet fiercely determined, push her way through the small crowd and suddenly stop in front of Dwight. The two stared at each other a moment before Angela ran forward and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him all over his face.

"Ugh..." Ray turned away, making a face.

"Talk about PDA." Kurt smirked.

Jim couldn't help but let a smile bloom on his face as he watched Angela and Dwight. Ray looked at him incredulously.

"You're actually enjoying watching that?"

Jim shrugged, looking over at the man. "Ah, let him celebrate. He saved my life – I think he deserves a moment with his girlfriend, don't you?"

Ray suddenly raised his eyebrows. "Saved your life?"

"Yeah, I mean... I was knocked unconscious while I was still inside the building. I can only assume Dwight was the one who came back for me and pulled me out, or else I'd be dead, right?"

Kurt, however, shook his head. "No. He was already halfway down the ladder to the ground when they found you."

Jim stared at him, then frowned slightly. "So, what... your people found me inside or something?"

"Nah, they found you on the roof with some girl." Kurt squinted, trying to think. "She had brown hair... sort of thin... wore a teal dress... overall, she was pretty hot." he summed up.

"Only if she wasn't wearing sneakers with a dress." Ray snorted.

Jim was barely listening. His heart had suddenly started thumping loudly in his ears, causing him to go temporarily deaf. He was confused – they had just described Pam. But that was impossible, Pam was gone...

"Dude, are you all right?" Ray asked from far away. Jim realized he must have had the look of shock show on his face.

"Where is she?" He demanded croakily, staring up the two EMTs.

"Who?" Kurt asked questioningly "Wait, wha- -?"

For Jim had suddenly started ripping out his Iv's and unclamping the heart monitor from his finger. He suddenly scrambled out of the ambulance, jumping down to the pavement below.

"Dude, you can't just do that – you need treatment!" Kurt stared incredulously at Jim.

"Where is she?" Jim repeated, ignoring his protests.

"Where's who?"

"Pam! The girl who saved me! In the teal dress – where is she? Is she here?"

The two men looked taken aback by his urgency, but all the same, Ray looked over toward the other end of the parking lot, and pointed.

Jim spun to look in that direction, and froze.

There she was, about thirty yards away. She was sitting on a gurney as well, but was outdoors. Doctors were surrounding her, although she appeared unhurt, for she was sitting upright with her knees drawn to her chest. As the doctors eventually bustled out of the way, Jim got a clear view of her. Her eyes were blank and staring at the sky in thought, looking at nothing in particular. Then Jim noticed (with a sudden surge of anger) Roy standing off to the side of her bed, talking to her.

Jim couldn't hear what he was saying, but didn't care. All he wanted to do at the moment was run up to Roy and punch him in the face, making him feel just an ounce of the pain he himself had to endure the whole time they had been cooped up inside of that building. And Roy even had the audacity to go up to Pam and talk to her! Jim seethed, although he didn't move. He merely clenched his fists as he watched Roy talking, gesturing erratically in the air, obviously begging for forgiveness. Pam seemed to hardly realize he was even there as she stared blankly into space, twisting the engagement ring idly on her finger...

Suddenly, Pam turned her head slightly, and caught Jim's eye.

It's her, Jim thought suddenly, It really is her. He could hardly believe his eyes – he was utterly convinced that his brain was playing tricks...

Pam smiled at him.

Jim couldn't move – he was frozen in place, savoring the wonderful miracle that appeared before his very eyes. He watched as Pam brought her knees down, silently sliding off the gurney, her eyes still focused on Jim. Tearing her gaze away, she finally turned and focused her attention on her fiancé, who was struck dumb by her sudden movements. Jim watched as her fumbling fingers slid her ring off and press it into his palm, saying something Jim couldn't hear. But whatever she said caused Roy to gape, open-mouthed, at her, his shock rendering him completely immobile.

Pam patted his hand, a sad smile twisting on her face, before she quickly turned back around and started walking swiftly toward Jim.

Jim felt his legs move beneath him, unaware of what exactly he was doing or what Ray and Kurt were shouting at him. He was walking toward Pam, as quickly as he dared – one part of him still believing this to be a cruel joke his mind was playing on him, but another, more hopeful, part was absolutely convinced that what he was seeing was true.

An eternity seemed to pass as they made their way toward each other, dodging through the crowd of people, gurneys, and federal vehicles. But, finally, it seemed, Jim stopped in his tracks at a small clearing. Pam stopped as well, with about five feet between them, staring at Jim through wide, unreadable eyes.

Jim stared into her face, voicing the question that was on his mind: "I'm dead, aren't I?"

Pam made a small noise, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. She looked at him for a moment before answering. "You're not."

Jim didn't need much more persuasion.

In a matter of seconds he had closed the distance between them, scooping Pam up in his arms and pressing his lips to hers. Pam immediately smiled against him, wrapping her arms securely around his neck. He was kissing her like he had never kissed anyone before in his life – for immense shock and relief intermingled with his love for her. Jim paid no attention to his surroundings; to the whoops and catcalls coming from Ray and Kurt in the distance, or the furious curse words Roy was yelling at the top of his voice as he stormed away from the pair, demanding police officials to let him out. Jim merely kissed the woman he loved with all he had, knowing they could spend every second of their life like this and it still wouldn't be enough.

Jim continued to kiss her until his lungs were aching and his sore head was throbbing due to lack of oxygen. He finally let her go, though slowly, and somewhat reluctantly. He breathed out a sigh, moving until their noses were a mere inch apart. He smiled.

"God, I hope you're right." he whispered, closing his eyes and leaning forward, brushing his lips against hers, light as a feather. Pam smiled, her eyes closed as well.

Grinning from ear to ear, Jim surfaced once again, staring down at Pam, his eyes skating across her face, as if he he couldn't get enough of her. Pam giggled.

"How – How is this possible?" Jim asked hoarsely, his eyes still darting from one facial feature to the next.

Pam gave him an amused look before glancing at her surroundings. Jim looked too, and noticed most people giving Jim and Pam furtive, yet interested looks out of the corners of their eyes as they moved. Others merely stopped in their tracks to look at the couple, their faces showing surprise mixed with slight disgust. Jim even noticed some women in the background making cooing sounds, their eyes dreamy and vapid as they stared eagerly at the two.

"Maybe we should go somewhere with a little more privacy..." Pam suggested, smiling awkwardly up at Jim.

He smiled fully back, loving the fact that he had his shy and modest Pam Beesly back. "Sure."

But before Jim could suggest a place where they could talk, there was a sudden cry of "Jim Halpert!".

Jim turned to look for the source of the noise, afraid it was Roy back for revenge, but noticed Ray the EMT bustling up toward the pair, a falsely annoyed look on his face. He stopped in front of Jim.

"You shouldn't have left the ambulance." he said peevishly, though his eyes twinkled. "Kurt and I need to treat that concussion, as well as any other injuries we may have missed."

"Sure thing." Jim said, grinning. He looked down at Pam and took her hand before looking up at Ray again. "I believe you've met Pam?"

"Not directly." Ray's supposed anger quickly vanished from his features as he smiled excitedly, sticking out his hand eagerly for Pam to shake. "I'm Ray Volakis – my colleague and I are treating your boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you." Pam looked amused again as she shook his hand. She looked up at Jim, who gave her a small shrug and smile.

"C'mon, then – back to the ambulance." Ray let go of her hand and turned around, leading the way back to the vehicle. Pam and Jim followed, with Pam recounting to Jim what she had done to save herself from the infection. Jim was astounded, listening intently to her story, shocked and proud of how she handled it.

"So that's all it took to get rid of the infection? Some disinfectant and gauze?" Jim asked when she had finished. Both were clambering into the back of the ambulance after Ray, sitting down on either side of the gurney, on the benches attached to the sides of the truck. Jim was looking at her curiously, and Pam sighed, looking down.

"You know... I'm starting to wonder if I was even bitten in the first place."

Kurt and Ray, who were busying themselves with preparing the medical equipment for Jim, froze upon hearing this, listening intently. Jim gaped at her.

"But – but what about...?" Jim stuttered, gesturing toward her arm that was bandaged with the gauze. Pam understood, however.

"I don't even remember him biting me. All I remember is him slamming into me and then both of us falling onto that bureau." Pam explained. "This arm could have just have just as easily been punctured by large splinters from the broken wood. Not to mention- -" Pam actually pointed to her injured arm, "- -I never actually got any of the symptoms. Remember those weird black scabs Kelly got on her bite? Those never even appeared on my skin."

Jim still didn't look convinced.

"And you know..." Pam added thoughtfully, "... I'm starting to think that Ryan wasn't even planning on biting me in the first place."

Her statement was met with dead silence. Ray and Kurt glanced sideways at each other, both clearly confused as to why these people were referring to their friend Ryan like he was some deranged dog. Jim looked at Pam incredulously, suppressing a snort.

"Look, Pam – I heard that little speech you gave him before he attacked you, and it was touching, really. But how can you possibly still believe that he had some good left inside of him? After he brutally attacked us on more than one occasion? Trust me, that infection isn't going to let up."

"Don't be so sure about that," Pam shrugged. "Remember when he showed up right after we had left the stairwell? Do you remember that he could have easily bitten you or Dwight, but didn't?"

Jim still looked incredulous before he suddenly remembered – Ryan had been charging at them, and Jim tried to attack, but... Ryan grabbed his arm. Right then, Jim realized with a jolt, Ryan could have very easily infected him. But he didn't – he merely threw Jim aside and turned over to Dwight. With another small pang of surprise, Jim realized that Dwight could have easily gotten bitten as well...

"I'm right, aren't I?" Pam smirked at Jim's expression of dawning comprehension. Jim blinked and turned back to look at her. Slowly, he began to smile.

~/~

As Ray and Kurt began testing Jim's blood and changing his bandages, Jim and Pam fell silent, lost int their own thoughts. Eventually, Kurt moved over to Pam, saying he needed to check if she was hurt at all, and she didn't object. She silently watched Jim's face as Kurt bustled around her, checking her vitals, for his expression had faded suddenly into a thoughtful frown.

"Are you okay?" Pam asked Jim quietly after another minute of silence. He looked back up at her, his brow still furrowed slightly.

"We didn't even have to say goodbye." Jim finally met Pam's eye. His expression looked sad and lost, obviously thinking about that torturous half hour he had to endure inside, thinking that Pam was gone forever.

Pam smiled sympathetically. "Jim, we didn't have a choice. Even if we did consider the fact that I wasn't really bitten, there would still be the chance that I was bitten, and either way, I still couldn't stay."

Jim still looked slightly dejected, and Pam added. "...And I still came back, didn't I?"

Jim smiled in spite of himself. "Yeah. You did."

Pam beamed back at him as Jim met her eyes once again. He was staring at her with that look filled with love and tenderness she had seen on him only a few minutes ago.

"You saved my life." Jim's lips curled once again into a smile, this one of gratitude, and Pam blushed, looking shyly down at her lap.

"You saved mine." Pam mumbled, glancing up into his eyes again. Jim's happy expression turned to one of slight confusion, but Pam didn't elaborate, shrugging slightly. Now wasn't the time to explain that he was the one that motivated her in the first place to even pick up that bottle of iodine; that it was his love that motivated her to save both their lives. There would be time to talk later, she thought.

While they were waiting for the quarantine to be lifted, Jim and Pam hung out in the ambulance with Kurt and Ray, talking and chatting happily. Jim and Pam couldn't help but keep glancing at each other, beaming and smiling for no apparent reason. At around five-thirty, the gates to the Business Park finally opened, pouring in about a hundred or so news reporters and cameramen, clambering to interview the survivors. About two dozen people fought their way over to Jim and Pam's ambulance, all carrying either microphones or notepads, screaming questions at them. Ray quickly walked up to the ambulance's large double doors and pulled them shut in their faces, saying idly that it was getting a bit chilly outside.

Kurt moved up to the drivers seat of the ambulance and started the engine. Vehicles all around them were slowly and gradually making their way out of the parking lot, seeing as the quarantine was finally lifted. It took about twenty minutes for Kurt to maneuver the large truck around the remaining people and police equipment and out of the parking lot entirely.

"Jim."

Jim looked around, and noticed that Pam had stood up and was looking out of the small rear window. Jim walked up to her side and glanced at what she was looking at.

Their business park was growing smaller and smaller as they drove away from it.

Jim looked down at Pam, who was staring at the large, gray building with tears in her eyes. Jim knew that she was wondering if their friends were going to be okay.

He turned to look out of the window again, taking Pam's hand lightly in his. He felt her squeeze his fingers gently.

They watched as their paper company got smaller as they drove farther and farther away. Finally, the ambulance turned a corner, and it was gone.

The End

So that's the end! Did you like? Did you not? Let me know! :)

I just want to say that Kurt and Ray were probably the funnest characters ever to write. I hope you loved them as much as I do!

Also, in this chapter, I gave two small shoutouts to my other two favorite shows on earth: Chuck and House M.D. Can you spot them? If you can, I'll subscribe you to my Author Alert!

Thank you for all the lovely support:) You guys are seriously amazing.

So, until next time,

StrawPohj