Disclaimer: "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. I retain rights to the plot, but not the characters. This story is meant for enjoyment purposes only. No infringement is intended.

AN: This is the next in the "Date" series to explore the budding relationship between Francine and Beaman. What happens when they have to go back to work on Monday morning.

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Francine walked into the office on Monday morning with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was elated that she and Beaman had had such a great weekend, on the other, she was a bit saddened that it was already Monday and time to get back to work. She also was overcome with a feeling of dread at what Roxanne might say to people. She knew after their confrontation with Patterson over the weekend, he was sure not to say anything, but the buxom blonde was another story. She hurried off to the accounting office to find her before she could start running her mouth about what she'd seen. When she arrived, she heard Amanda's voice through the open door of Roxanne's office. In a sweet tone she was asking the voluptuous vixen if she'd had a nice weekend.

"Um...s-s-sure," Roxanne stammered, knowing she'd been seen. "You know, it's...uh...nice to get out of town for a weekend."

Just as Francine reached the open doorway, she saw Roxanne seeming to have gained her bearings shooting Amanda a knowing grin. "You?

Amanda with her voice dripping with innuendo replied, "Amazing!" She paused, gave Francine an 'I got this" look and then turned her attention back to Roxanne. "You know, I just thought I would check on you because when Lee and I ran into you, you had that nasty bruise on your wrist. I'm a mother, you know, and I...well, I just can't help worrying about people." She reached for the accountant's wrist. "This one. Still healing, I see. You know, you really should tell Patterson in Payroll to take a little more care."

Roxanne turned crimson. "I-I-I don't know what you're talking about. I have carpal tunnel." She wrenched her wrist from Amanda's grasp and rubbed the purplish area. "That's from the brace that I have to wear. From all the typing that I do," she added bitterly.

Amanda let out a dramatic sigh. "Gee, that's too bad."

"Is it terribly painful?" Francine chimed in as she gave her a murderous look.

"Uh..." Roxanne hedged.

Francine cast a conspiratorial glance at Amanda. "'Because you know, we ALL know what Patterson's tastes are like and I seem to recall seeing him there this weekend too."

When there was no reply from Roxanne, Amanda jumped in again. "You know, it would be a shame if someone thought the two of you were together this weekend seeing as how you're trying to work your way up around here."

Roxanne narrowed her eyes at Amanda. "Well, not all of us are screwing Scarecrow." She paused dramatically and then added with a withering gaze, "Just most. You may know Patterson's reputation, but everyone knows Stetson's."

Amanda unfazed by Roxanne's comments, nodded in acknowledgement. "Hard to keep secrets around an intelligence agency. Too many people good at figuring things out...but since you saw us this weekend, you should have figured out that he was with me...ALL weekend. And you'll notice that the ladies in Steno haven't had any stories to tell about him in quite a long time. Can you say the same about Patterson?"

Roxanne snorted. "And you're supposed to be this wholesome PTA mom. I knew that had to be a lie. No one's that good."

"PTA mom, yes, wholesome? Hmm..." She paused with a pensive look for a moment before adding, "Well, let's just say that our PTA is more like Harper Valley than Sweet Valley."

Roxanne folded her arms across her chest. "What do you want?"

"Want? Me? Nothing?" She paused. "And I DO mean nothing. No talk of anything that you saw this weekend."

"Other than the ceiling of your hotel room," Francine chimed in with a malicious grin. "Of course, even then, I wouldn't advertise who you were with. Amanda makes a good point. If you want to move up around here, the last thing you want is to be associated with a perv like Patterson."

"And what were YOU doing this weekend with Beaman?" Roxanne spat caustically at Francine. "Since I know Beaman, I bet you spent some time staring at the ceiling too."

Francine shook her head. "Oh, no, I don't stare at the ceiling. Haven't you learned by now that I like to be the one in control? Besides, if you really know Beaman, you should know that he's not the type to...kiss and tell."

Amanda smiled at Francine and then nodded to Roxanne. "So, it's best all around if no one talks about anything they saw this weekend. I mean, if you want to be a good agent someday, you have to learn how to keep secrets, Roxanne. Right, Francine?"

"Right, especially when one of the people who knows your dirty little secret reports directly to Billy."

"Well, and I work with the top agent in field section who also happens to be good friends with Billy." She and Francine exchanged looks again before she turned to Roxanne once more. "Are we clear?"

Roxanne swallowed hard and nodded.

"Good," Francine replied as she and Amanda walked away together.

"Amanda, you know, I-" She stopped cold. What the hell could she say to Amanda now that she knew that she was married to Lee?

They paused at the elevator. Amanda pushed the call button and then turned to the blonde. "Francine, you don't have to say anything. I'll make you a deal. You agree to keep things to yourself, so will I."

Francine smiled knowingly. "About what?" She couldn't help wondering though if Amanda would be this agreeable if she knew that she, Francine, knew her secret too.

Amanda smiled back. "Good."

"Where are you headed now?" Francine asked as the elevator doors opened.

"Covert Ops Class," Amanda answered as they stepped into the elevator together. "Beaman's got me doing a lot of class work right now since I still haven't been cleared for full-time field work by Dr. Kelford."

"Hmmm...funny. I seem to recall when we ran into Lee this weekend, he told us rather gloatingly that you'd been cleared to resume all your normal activities."

"By my own doctor," Amanda explained. "But the Agency's standards are a bit more rigorous. I have to be cleared by the doctors here too and go through a round with Dr Pain."

Francine cringed. "Ouch."

"Yeah, but it'll be worth it if I can get back to normal."

"I thought that was what you were doing this weekend," Francine teased with a wicked grin. "How'd that negligee work out for you?"

Amanda smiled and fired back, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours. How was your date with Beaman?"

"What date?" she questioned obtusely. "Who said we were dating?"

Amanda chuckled and shook her head as the elevator opened and she headed toward her class, but found herself surprised to see Francine tagging along. "Are you coming with me? Surely, you don't need Covert Ops class," she jested. "I mean, aren't you the one who's always telling everyone how highly trained you are?"

"Oh, well, I just need to talk to Beaman for a second...you know...because Billy needs an update on the status of the trainees...how they're doing in class and all." While she thought she had a good reason to give Amanda for wanting to visit Beaman, she couldn't help the slight flush that crept into her cheeks as she reflected on the weekend they'd spent together.

"Ah," Amanda replied, but couldn't help smirking at the obviousness of Francine's cover story. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you do need a refresher in Covert Ops," she added as she entered the classroom.

"Crap," Francine grumbled. She'd blown it and she knew it, so might as well bite the bullet. She gestured through the open door of the classroom at Beaman.

A wide grin crossed his face when he saw her and he approached the doorway. In a forced whisper, he asked, "You haven't changed your mind about tonight, have you?"

"No, not at all. Still looking forward to our night...in," she flashed him a seductive smirk. "Just wanted to let you know that everything's taken care of with Roxanne. She won't be running her mouth anytime soon, not if she knows what's good for her."

He nodded. "Good. We'd hate to have it all over the office and be the butt of everyone's jokes. Better to keep it just between us for now."

"Well, Lee and Amanda know too," she reminded him with a gesture to Amanda in the classroom, "But I know she won't say anything."

"And I've got my trump card if Stetson starts giving us a hard time," he pointed out.

"True."

"So, you wanna' tell me what happened with Roxanne?"

Their conversation was interrupted by a pair of trainees pushing past them into the classroom. "Uh..." She let out a sigh of disappointment.

"Yeah." He glanced at the slowly filling room in consternation. "I should go."

"I'll tell you tonight. My place. I'll order the pizza. Just don't forget to bring that video."