Chapter One

Two weeks had passed since the first and last time he had walked through these door, yet here he was again....the place of his most humiliating moment. Looking to left, towards the far wall, he saw the stool where he sat drinking, waiting, attempting to fulfill the excersize Madeline had set up for him. That stool was now occupied, so he walked to the farthest end of the bar and took a seat on another. From this point, he would be able to see the entire room, the front door included.

His intention? He was not entirely sure himself, he just knew that he had to do something, talk to Sharry, get revenge, something. The initial anger had worn off, now it was just a burning coal in his gut which gave him an upset stomach, even when he ate his favorite Oreos....the "double-stuff" ones with the extra icing in the middle.

"What'll it be?"

Birkoff looked up to see the pleasant face of the bartender, the same one from that night. 'Great,' he thought to himself. "Give me a Coke with just a spash of bourbon." he answered without blinking.

"What? You don't want....?"

"No, I have graduatied!" His tone was dead, toneless, emotionless.

"Sure, bud. No problem." The bartender took the hint and didn't push it.

Birkoff looked down at his watch. It was only 5:00. For the next twenty minutes the roads would probably be almost uncontroably packed with all those people getting off work and dreaming of their plans for the weekend.

The bartender returned with Birkoff's drink and smiled. "Are you okay?'

"Yeah, sure. Why??"

"I just want to make sure we don't have any problems tonight?" the barteners said with a nod of his head. "Look, this isn't a singles bar, per se. We try to keep this the type of place where people can come, relax, be themselves, have a nice conversation, or just meet a new friend. It is not a "meat market," and anytime we notice that someone here is bothering someone else, or hitting on them in an annoying fashion, the annoyance is thrown out on his or her ear."

"That's fine with me. I don't plan on bothering anyone else." Birkoff sighed and looked around the room again. "I....well....I just wanted to find the 'lady' I was speaking to the last time I was here. I just wanted to find out...well, I just wanted to speak to her. Have you seen her?"

The bartender looked Birkoff up and down. Decideing that he meant what he said, he leaned over the bar and said, "Yeah, she comes in, I'd say, on a semi-regular basis. There are times when she comes in every Friday nite, other times she will skip a week or two. She didn't come in last week, but the week before, she was in here two nights in a row. The night you met her, and the following night. I saw her at one of the table having a heavy duty conversation with older lady, auburn hair, who was REALLY hot."

"Oh?!" For some reason this caught Birkoff's attention.

"Yeah, one of those types we hardly ever see in here. You know the type, well being new you might not, but she was what I would call 'Upper Crust.'

"Very proper, very prim, wearing a beautiful dress which she made look like a business suit?"

"Now that you, mention it, yes!" the bartender answered, surprise in his eyes. "You know her?"

"No, not really, but I do know women like her." Burkoff replied. 'Madeline, had to be!!' he thought to himself. 'But I have to know for sure and only Sharry can tell me.' He sat there seething, 'If Madeline had anything to do with that night I am goinging to....

Chapter 2

He sat there trying to keep himself calm. It wouldn't do to get so hot he scares off Sharry before he even gets the chance to talk to her. Rememembering that night vividly, he had to admit Sharry was nice, it was too bad she turned out to be a he.

As people came and went, he noticed it was getting darker out. Checking his watch, he found it to be nearly 7:30. As he looked up is saw her walk in the door. She was dressed to the teeth, not fancy, just hot. 'All things concidered,' he thought, 'HE did make a nice looking woman.' He knew that he would never understand why some people chose to cross-dress, thought he knew of some missions where one of the operatives had had to go in drag. IF he thought of her in this way, he believed he would not have too much trouble dealing with her.

"Sharry," he called without shouting. He didn't need to shout, both the music and the conversations were still just background noise. It would be sometime yet before both reached the fevered pitch he remembered.

She saw him, shyly smiled and reluctantly walked over to him. He pulled out the stool beside him and pleasantly wave his invitation for Sharry to join him.

"I am so sorry..." Sharry started to say.

Burkoff politly cut her off with a wave, "Just tell me you were put up to it. Tell me WHO put you up to it."

Sharry sat there looking at him, not sure she believed her ears. "You mean you aren't mad at me.?"

Just then the bartender interupted them by setting a drink down in front of Sharry. "Your usual I believe?" He said with a grin. Looking them both up and down, his expression changed to one slightly more serious, "I won't seen any problems here will I?"

Birkoff smiled back at him. "No, everything is fine, and I don't see anything changing that."

Seeing Birkoff smile, Sharry visiblely relaxed. "Mad or not, you are taking this well." she said as she took a sip of her drink. "I guess I don't have to worry about being beaten up."

"Beaten up?" Birkoff wasn't sure he believed he ears.

"Yeah, sometime happens, but...." She waved him off the subject. "You said you wanted to know who had put me up to the other night....! I don't want to hurt your feeling or shock you, but it was your mother."

"My MOTHER? MADELINE?"

"Yes. She said her name was Madeline. She is your mother, isn't she??" Sharry was beginning to be conserned about what she had gotten herself into here.

"Yes, I guess she could be considered my mother." he said, a sick sort of smirk on his face. "She's a mother figure to several people....and it could honestly be said that she has a really sick sense of humor."

"So this was some sort of joke? She lead me to believe you might be 'interested' in me personally." A sad look crossed her face. "She seemed so concerned."

"Concerned? Yes, in her own way, she is concerned. But you were used," he knew this to be true when he said it, "but she wants to be sure that her 'children' can handle themselves in any given situation, even if she has to humiliate them."

"I never knew anyone like her before, someone cold enough to do that to her own 'children.'" Sharry was beginning not to like Madeline at all.

'Madeline!' He all but shouted in his thoughts. Looking Sharry in the eyes, Birkoff says, "There are time when I would really love to be able to teach that woman a lesson. Maybe scare her into thinking about what she does to people before she actually does them."

Chapter 3

They sat there talking about what was done done to the both of them, trying to figure out what they could do. Birkoff had the added burden of knowing he could be canceled if anything backfired. It was a good thing he had spoken to Michael before he had gone in for his debreifing with Madeline. He knew that Michael had mentioned nothing about Sharry being male or Birkoff's knowledge of this. So in the debriefing, he had not mentioned it either. If they played it right, this could work to their advantage.

After several hours, the plan was set and would go into effect the following week. Leaving the bar, he felt good about all they had accomplished. If things turned out as intended, he was going to enjoy the results their scheming would create .

***

Moday morning Birkoff was sitting at his terminal double checking info which had come the day before. He had taken yesterday off, something he almost never did, knowing Madeline would notice. During that time away from section, he prepared for the rest of the gag. There were quite a few thing he had to do just to get things started. He had had so many things to do and places to go. Now all the preparations were done and he had finished checking his crews work, it was just a mater of waiting for Madeline to show up.

Looking in the monitor showing the one of the entrances, Birkoff grinned. He wouldn't have as long to wait as he originally thought, Madeline had just walked throught the door. This was going to be good.

Looking down, he schooled his features back into that "innocent destracted" look he used most of the time. It was going to be all he could do to keep a straight face. He could almost feel her entering the room...walking down the aisle...passing withing three feet of his station. Looking up as she passed he said, in his brightest voice, " 'morning, Madeline. Isn't it a beautiful day?"

"Good morning," Madeline replied looking over at Birkoff. Then taking a second look, got the strangest look on her face. It was only there for a moment, but Berkoff saw it.

As she turned and walked a way, a small smirk invaded Birkoffs face. Reaching up with his left hand he gently rubbed his earlobe gently. It had got the responce he had hoped for. It was worth the little bit of pain and soreness, and he had chosen the right Piercer...a simple, sterling silver safety-pin.

***

"Birkoff, Operations wants you to double check the upgrades on the computer before you end your sift today," Michael said has he passed by. Madeline had just picked up a pile of briefs on Section Candidates, but was still within earshot.

"Damn," Birkoff said, "that is going to take another hour. I am going to have to call Sh...." He stopped there, knowing Madeline was listening. "Sure, I'll get on it right away."

Out of the corner of his eye, Birkoff could see the glimmer of puzzlement in Madeline's eyes. Then the total deadpan expression reasserted itself on her face and she walked away.

Chapter 4

Birkoff had already transfered control over to an assitant and was shutting down his station when Madeline walked by. Ceasing his humming, which was just low enough for Madeline to hear, he said, "Goodnight everyone." Then, as though he had just seen her, he said in a pleasant voice, "Oh! Goodnight, Madeline. Have a nice evening."

Madeline stopped in her tracks. "Goodnight." She replied in an equally pleasant voice.

Then she started to turn and leave but hear Simon, who was just leaving also, "Want to go get something to eat?"

Keeping Madeline within sight without seeming so, Birkoff called back, "Sorry not tonight, I have a da.....to meet a friend for drinks." He glimpsed curiosity and concern showing for just a spit second in Madeline. "Maybe some other time."

"Alright. Goodnight." Simon then left, not noticing Madeline at all..

Birkoffs heart skipped a beat. 'Yes,' he thought. 'This may work better then I thought. BUT, I had better not push too hard or too fast.' He looked down at his watch. He still had 30 minutes before he was to meet Sharry at the bar and bring her up to speed on what had happened with the first two phases of the plan. Her active participation in the plan would not take place until later, but he felt he owned it to her to keep her informed. Today's happening should give her a nice little chuckle. He was also supposed to pick up the new shirt and sweater she was supposed to have for him.

***

When he got to the bar, Sharry was already there and was twitching with anticipation to hear what had happened. He spent about 30 minutes filling her in on the subtle looks and body language he had seen in Madeline all day.

Sharry thought all of it was a 'hoot' and laughingly dreamed of how foolish Madeline was going to feel when the "hammer dropped." Part of her was wishing she could have seen Madelines face when she had seen the safety-pin sticking out of Birkoff's earlobe.

"Oh, by-the-way, I got the sweater. It was not exactly what we had discussed, but I got one as close as possible, the "adjusted" it." She pulled out a white sweather out of the bag at her feet. "The Angora in the sleeves was just a little toooo fuzzy for what we had in mind, so I trimmed it back. I think it has just bearly enough softness to catch the eye, but not enough to legitimate femininity to cause questions."

Birkoff unfolded the sweater and laughs. "This will be perfect. I can almost see Madeline' face when she sees it. I think I'll spring it on her tomorrow." Then he laughs again.

"I also picked up the shell-colored shirt, but I had another idea." Sharry said with a wicked smile on her face.

"Oh?" Birkoff was curious.

"I was passing by the Designer Spectical and saw this," Sharry pulled a plastic box from her purse and set it in front of Birkoff, "and wondered what Madeline would think if you wore this to work."

When he opened the box and pulled out the contents, he laught so hard his eyes started to tear. It took him forever to get himself back under control. "This is great, Sharry, I think I like your style. But, if I go with this, you may have to take the shirt back."

"That is what I thought, also. So I checked on the return policies at both the stores, so that is not a problem." Sharry sat there laughing with Birkoff.

"You know," Birkoff laughed, "I can hardly wait for tomorrow."

Chapter 5

Birkoff walked over to his station only to find Nikita seated in his chair, waiting for him. He was wearing his new sweater and, he thought with and smile, the new gold Spex Chain for his glasses. Under one arm, he carried a BIG economy pack of "Double-Stuff Oreos" and box wrapped in red ribbon with a big red bow.

Reaching his desk, he sat then down next to Nikita's arm. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Madeline haunting the area, waiting, watching, listening. 'Good,' he thought, 'if this it timed out just right...'

'morning Birkoff." Nikita said with a yawn. Suddenly her eyes came fully alert when she looked up at him. "Birkoff, is that a new sweater."

"Why yes," he said, taking off his glasses and letting them hang by their chain while he slid the ribbon of his package. "You like."

"Definitely a different style for you." She said. Then she eyed the contents of the box which had been tied to the Oreos. "Oh, how pretty! I never saw a long-stem chocolate rose before. That red foil it is wrapped in makes it soooo pretty. Who's it for?"

"No one. It's mine. The sweater, chain and rose are all gifts from this gir...." He turn and pretended to see Madeline watching and listening for the first time. Raising the back of his hand to hide his mouth, he started whispering the rest of the conversation to Nikita.

Nikita's eye grew big as Birkoff spilled the entire story into her ear about Sharry, what she was, what Madeline's part in it was, and his and Sharry's plans for revenge.

"OMIGAWD!!" Nikita responds aloud, giggling. Then whispers bad, "You want some help?"

"Sure, but I will have re-arrange the plan a little to fit you in. We'll have to be very careful so we don't get canceled."

The continue to whisper together, giggling like teenagers every so often. Madeline seeing as much as she can take, stomps one foot , turns and walks into her office. Going over to her desk she thumbs the button on her comm-panel for surveillance.

"Surveillance, here."

"This is Madeline. Place a low level report team using one of the new material to follow Birkoff for the next 24 hour. Have them send report only to me at the end."

Knowing Birkoff, and seeing as Madeline specified 'new material', Surveillance thought nothing of the request.

Chapter 6

Birkoff was getting out of his car in front of the restaurant where Sharry was to meet him. Glancing in the rear view mirror, he saw the new material from surveillance several cars back in one of the black Section vehicles. He grinned. It was so simple to anticipate the moves of Section when you are in a place of directing them....

As he walked through the doors of the restaurant, he was assailed by the smells of garlic, basil, tyme and violin music. He had always loved Italian food, something no one back a section knew. He was met by the Maitre d' and led to his table where Sharry sat waiting. He leaned over as it to give her a kiss and whispered to her that he thought Madeline might have followed him (a little white lie so as to not give away the Section Connection), and if she was, this would make her squirm.

***

In her office earlier than usual, Madeline purused the report from surveillance. Her coffee, long forgotten and cold, setting on her desk with a coaster under it. There wasn't a sound in the room except for an occasional rustle of a page being turned.

It was pretty much a 'basic' report with little embellishments. It listed where Birkoff went, when he arrived, who he met there and how long he stayed. To most people it would have said little, but to Madeline, in full contemplation mode with her thumb under her chin and finger curled in front of her lips, it spoke volumes.

Laying down the report when she read "Photos Enclosed." She spread out the stack of photos. In the first one, Birkoff was waking into a restaurant. Then she reach the second photo, she literally bit her finger and muttered, "Shit, Sharry!" In the picture, Birkoff had bent over to give Sharry a kiss. She quickly thumbed through the photos till she found a clear picture of Sharry's face.

Reaching over to the control panel, she tapped the button for Michael's office. "Michael, could you come to my office please?.....Now."

Chapter 7

Michael walked into Madeline's office, suspicious. He had no idea why he had been called in, especially in the tone which she had used. It was not as if there had been any missions which had gone wrong awry, Nikita hadn't screwed up recently either...

"Would she be the person Birkoff met in the bar?" Madeline's tapped her bandaged finger on a stack of photos on the corner of her desk which Michael picks up.

Michael thumbed through the photos. "I couldn't tell you."

"Didn't you see her that night?" Madeline said, exasperated.

"No." Michael stated, emotionlessly.

"Why not."

"There were no visuals." Michael looked her directly in the eye.

Madeline felt like slapping Michael, yet showed nothing but calm. "Then what where you laughing about when you returned."

"Well, I found it totally amusing. The way the two of them carried on like, it was as if they were teenagers....and the lines he was using. He definitely needs to work on his pick-up lines....!" Michael looked down at the pictures in his hands again, "Well, maybe he doesn't." A slight smirk raised just the corners. "Will that be all?" He laid the photos back on the desk.

"Yes." Madeline watched him as he left the room, closing the door behind him. 'That was no help what-so-ever,' she thought wildly. How was she going to get straighten out this mess? She had never had one of her plans go so out-of-control before. She had to do something before things got even worse.

Just then, her intercom buzzed at her. "Yes?"

"Madeline!" It was Operations voice, and he didn't sound happy. "What is going on with Birkoff??"

"What do you mean?" she made herself sound as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"He seems to be bouncing all over the place lately," slight concern showing through his anger. "At this moment, he's at his station...damn...he's juggling Oreos."

"I have no idea. His performance rating hasn't lowered or it would have been brought to may attention." She checked her reports. "In fact, if it is possible, it seems to have increased another five percent."

"I don't care if his performance rating has increased five percent." Operations continued to storm, "I want it to stop and I want you to do something about it."

With s click, the intercom went dead. Madeline sat there, astounded, in the quiet of her office. Things had just gotten worse.....

Chapter 8

Birkoff sat at his station as Michael walked up to him. "What is going on?"

"What do you mean?" Birkoff said catching all the Oreos and looking up at Michael.

"I just left Madeline's office." Michael stood there looking at Birkoff over the top of his computer. "She had photos of you having dinner with someone and wanted to know if the woman in them was the same woman you met at the bar." Birkoff's face split with one of the biggest grins Michael had ever see on the boys face before.

"Are you sure you want to know, Nikita found it hilarious..." Birkoff giggled.

"No. Just be carefull. If this backfires, everyone involved could get...." He didn't feel he had to finish the sentence. "Just be careful."

"I will be," Birkoff's attitude sobered quickly.

***

After work that night, Madeline followed Birkoff's car through the rainy streets to the Greek restaurant on the other side of town. Pacing him so that he, supposedly, would not see her, she entered moments after him. Slipping the Maitre d' a fifty, she get an inconspicuous seat where she can watch Birkoff. Her heart flys up into her throat when she sees Sharry at the table with him.

All through the meal, the two of them sit talking, giggling and eating. At the end of the meal, they are served a dessert which they share.

***

"Madeline is following me tonight. I think that to night will be the grand finale." Birkoff said grinning at Sharry.

"You think she will loose it?" Sharry replied with a giggle.

"No in public," giggling like a fool, or a teen. "More than likely, she will wait till she can get me alone."

***

The next morning, when Birkoff logged on to the system, he found an electronic message for him. "Come to my office as soon as you come in. Madeline."

When Madeline heard the door open, she looked up. "Birkoff, come in and shut the door. Have a seat." She finished up the page she was working on, not show how she was dreading the coming conversation.

"You have been seeing someone." She stated point blank. She had in the past used this bluntness in the past with much success.

"So?" Birkoff replies lookinging mostly at the desktop instead of her. He's body language that of someone who had been called to the Principles Office.

"How strong are your feelings for this person." Madeline asked with no hint of an actuall question in her voice.

"I care a lot for her. I care enough that I bought her these." He reluctantly, almost bashfully, pulled out a small felt box. Madeline, seeing it, nearly jumped up from her chair to grab it from him. Birkoff opened it and showed her a pair of the deepest green emerald She almost visibly relaxed when she saw the box didn't contain a ring.

"You will have to end it." Madeline stated without emotion. "Your relationship with her is unacceptable. Section is the only acceptable relationship allowed."

"We are just friends," Birkoff blurted out, "I see no reason why I should give up my relationship with Sharry."

"This not a request. Your relationship with....Sharry, is her name....is over." She stated as cold as ice. "You will end it or it will have to be ended for you."

"Nothing will happen to Sharry....or," Birkoff stood up and looked down at Madeline who was still sat coolly, "Operation will be informed that it was YOU who originally set me up with my first DATE with HIM!!"

He grinned at Madeline. She sat there sputtering, unable, at first to think of anything to say, then unable to say the few things she thought.

"GOT ' CHA!" Birkoff almost fell on the floor laughing as understanding erupted on Madeline's face. She had been set up. It had all been a scam with her as the dupe and there was nothing she could do about it without exposing herself as the one who had started it all.

end.

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