If you read yesterday's story, this one is same day, different angle.

For once, knowing that Amanda had taken the day off to do something or other to do with boys or schools or her mother or, well, who knows what – something housewifey, just for once Francine had felt like it was safe to walk into the Q Bureau without knocking, realizing as she did that Lee was on the phone, back to the door, spinning a small jewelry box in his hand.

"It's perfect, I'm sure she'll love it. Yep, diamonds and sapphires in the shape of her initial – it's almost as beautiful as she is."

She'd given a small smile and didn't say a word at first, certain she'd hear something she could use to tease him with later. It wasn't eavesdropping per se, after all – he was in a shared office, and he hadn't locked the door… and a spy as experienced as Scarecrow deserved to get snuck up on occasionally. She recognized the box design – it was from Montreux Jewelers right here in Georgetown – subtle, unique and very very pricey.

"Yes, I think it's safe to say it's more than your usual gift from Santa. It's the best kind of present – the kind that makes her happy and then she makes you happy," Lee laughed. "Roaring fire, nice glass of wine, jewelry… it's the timeless combination."

Just at that moment, Lee had spun slowly back around, almost jumping out of his skin when he'd seen her in the doorway. "I gotta go. Someone just walked in. So dinner Tuesday? Yeah, looking forward to it, see you then. Bye." He hung up quickly and blew out a huffy breath. "It's not nice to sneak up on people, Francine."

"I was hardly sneaking, Stetson – you're just losing your touch, Old Man." She walked further into the room, stopping in front of his desk. "What you got there, Lee?" she pretended to have just noticed the box in his hand. "Something for me? You really shouldn't have."

"No, no," he answered, looking far more ruffled than he should have at being caught. "Just a little something for someone… that you don't know." He had stood up and was moving to tuck it away in his jacket pocket.

"Well, that sounds positively intriguing – let me see." She'd reached over to pluck it out of his hand, surprised when he tried to snatch it back.

"Lee Stetson, you know perfectly well that I know you bought this for Amanda and you also know I'm not one to spoil surprises," she said, holding it away out of his reach. "I just want a sneak peek is all."

"No! It's not-!"

He paused as she flipped open the box and looked at the contents, an initial brooch made of diamonds, then back up at him with flinty eyes.

"Not what you think," he finished feebly.

"Not what I think? What I think is that 'Amanda' doesn't start with the letter C!" she hissed.

"Francine, you can't seriously believe…"

I thought you'd changed!" She looked down at the box, snapped it shut and then tossed it back at him. "Let me guess – that new recruit, Carol? The redhead who started here a few months ago?"

"Close," he said, glaring back at her. "But no."

"Close? You're incorrigible, you know that?" She didn't move, just stood tapping her foot. "So who is it then?"

"Why is that any of your business?"

"It may not be – but I can make it my business," she growled. "Does your little 'See you next Tuesday' know you're practically a married man?"

"Practically?" Lee seemed to have suddenly become very amused and she didn't like it.

"Don't even start! You've been positively domesticated since Amanda's accident, falling all over yourself to take care of her, helping with her kids…" His amusement visibly faded at the reminder and with it, her anger turned into disappointment – she'd really thought that maybe Lee could change… "Whatever – it's your life, I guess."

"That's right, it is. But why are you so interested anyway?" he asked, sensing the change in her mood.

"Because that-" she pointed at the box "Just confirms everything I thought about men!"

She turned to leave, before he called her back, voice more gentle now. "Francine, it's not what you think – honestly."

""Yeah, sure," she replied, not slowing down.

"Francine." More forceful now so that she had to stop and look back.

"I picked this up for Joe as a favor – for his wife? Carrie? He knew Montreux carried these but it's hard for him to get down here so he called and asked if Amanda or I could pick it up for him."

"Oh." Francine flushed, feeling stupid. "Oh God, I'm sorry… I thought…"

Lee tilted his head and looked at her with a hurt expression. "Do you really think that little of me? I thought we were better friends than that."

"No," she admitted. "But I had a call from Jonathan earlier... and I thought I'd vented enough on the gun range, but apparently not." She gave a little shrug of apology. "And somehow it made it worse when someone I thought wasn't like that turned out to be. I overreacted - I'm sorry."

"Jonathan called?" Now it was Lee's turn to get angry. "What did that idiot want?"

"Doesn't matter," she waved it off. "I told him where to go and I doubt he'll be bothering me again."

"I can make certain of that," growled Lee.

"Aw, look who's the big protective Poppa Bear after all," she teased him lightly. "As if you think I can't look after myself."

"I think you can," he conceded. "I just don't think you should always have to."

"Oh. Well, thank you I guess. And who knows? Maybe Santa will bring me someone from the nice list."

Lee's face lit up with laughter. "Well, if you want some advice – start by hanging out with normal people. It's amazing how they get under your skin. They're nice to you, and the next thing you know, you start being nice to people too and then suddenly the phonies like Stone start looking like pale imitations of what you really want."

"Well, you'd know better than most," she laughed back at him. "Maybe that can be my New Year's resolution, right?"

"Right," he agreed. "Tell you what, let me take you to Ned's later and buy you a drink to toast to that."

"Thanks, but not today," she smiled at him. "I'm, um, actually on my way to meet someone else there already and I don't want to look like the girl who does nothing but hang out at the bar."

"Oh really?" Lee's interest was piqued. "You're taking dates to Ned's now? That seems risky."

"Not a date, no. Just someone… normal," was as much as she'd admit to. "Never too early to start on those resolutions, right?"

"Right. Well, have a good time." He waited until she'd passed through the doorway before calling out, "Oh, and Francine? Don't do anything I used to do."

And just like that, she knew she'd been forgiven.