"No, absolutely not! No way in hell!"

Clark had to stifle a grin at his father's outburst, and in front of the President of the United States no less. However, he quickly schooled his features into an emotionless mask and locked eyes with his father.

"Dad, this is what I want to do."

"Clark joining the CIA-"

"Is a lot less dangerous than most of the stuff I've dealt with in Smallville. Besides, it's not like I'll be on my own."

"Why would you say that Clark? You can more than handle yourself." The President said, and Clark laughed.

"That's true Mr. President, but the one thing I have no defense against is a pissed off Sarah Walker."

"Smart man." Sarah muttered, and Clark just smirked in response.

"Besides, it saves me having to see you partnered with a jackass like Larkin."

"Mr. Kent, I will have you know-"

"All due respect Director Graham, Kent's got a point. Larkin's a jackass, pure and simple. You know I heard that when I shot him the first time, half the CIA was throwing a party, and the other half was in tears from laughing so hard." Casey interjected, and everyone laughed while Graham just stood there looking outraged.

"Anyway, moving on." The President said, his expression turning serious as he looked at Clark.

"After everything that you have done for this country, I am prepared to grant your request. You'll have to go through the usual training of course, but something tells me that won't be too difficult for you. You've got one week to set your affairs back home in order and then you're to report to Omaha, Nebraska where you'll be taken to the Farm. Is that acceptable?"

"That's more than acceptable Mr. President, and thank you." He said, shaking the man's hand with a grin.

"Well, I believe that covers everything, so you and your team are dismissed."

With those words Clark, Lois, Chloe, Casey and Sarah walked out, leaving Jonathan, Martha, General Beckman, and Director Graham alone with the President. No sooner had the door closed behind them than Graham spoke.

"Mr. President I must protest this-"

"Langston, shut up. Clark Kent has served this country with honor and integrity, unlike your poster boy Larkin. He was the one responsible for stealing the Intersect in the first place, so don't go there. Oh and just so you know, you're not setting up his training. General Beckman will handle 'll have a schedule in your nightly memo, and it had best be followed. If I find out otherwise, you can kiss your job goodbye. Now get out of my sight." President Palmer finished.

"Yes Mr. President." Graham growled out before leaving the office.

"I'll go and take care of Mr. Kent's schedule immediately." Beckman said, and the President nodded his head in thanks as she walked out.

"Mr. President, I don't like the idea of my son being at risk-"

"I know Jonathan, but Clark's life will always have some element of risk. Besides, we all know that hell would freeze over before Clark Kent would abandon Sarah Walker." He said, and Jonathan nodded, obviously not happy about it, but knowing that the Commander-in-Chief was right. At least this way, he knew his son would be watched over by the CIA's best. What he didn't know was that the CIA's best was currently giving Clark a piece of her mind.

"Do you mind telling me what the hell that was about?" Sarah asked the minute they were alone, having decided to drive back to their hotel.

"I thought that was obvious. I'm joining the CIA. Besides, you didn't seem too annoyed when I pitched the idea a few minutes ago."

"That was because we were in the room with the President. I don't like this Clark."

"Then talk to me Sarah. What about this don't you like?"

"Oh gee let me think...everything! Do you have any idea how dangerous-"

"I think our last mission proved that I know how dangerous being an agent for the CIA can be Sarah."

"But Clark, you can't use your powers during training, not if you don't want people to find out your secret, and the things they put you through during this Clark..." She trailed off, not saying another word as she parked the car outside the hotel fighting the tears that were coming to her eyes.

"Sarah, sweetheart look at me." Clark said softly, and she did, tears still clear in her eyes.

"I know that it's not going to be easy. It's probably going to be the second hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but when it's all over we'll look back and laugh about this whole conversation."

"Just promise me that you're not joining the CIA for me? Because you know that I would still love you right, spy or no spy."

"I know, and I'm doing this in part for you, but it's for me too. All my life I've known that I was different, even by Smallville standards and I...I want to do something that matters Sarah, and I can't do that if I'm sitting on a farm waiting for my extremely sexy super spy girlfriend to come home from some knife fight in Jakarta or a cave in Afghanistan. I-"

Clark's words were cut off as Sarah kissed him, the young man letting out a moan as the kiss became heated, his tongue darting out to tangle with hers.

"So I guess I'm forgiven then?" He asked when they parted a few moments later.

"There's nothing to forgive. Now let's enjoy the time we have before you head out." She finished with a mischevious grin.

"What did you have in mind?" Clark asked, and Sarah just grinned before kissing him again.

"You know, the academy's going to suck." Clark said, and Sarah looked at him in question.

"I'm pretty sure there's a rule against sharing a bedroom with the CIA's best agent." He said, and she chuckled, but nodded nonetheless.

"Yeah, I'm afraid they frown on that sort of thing. However, you never know. I may just surprise you one day."

"Oh please do." He said before leaning his head down and kissing her again. Sarah moaned into the kiss, but broke it a few seconds later.

"Clark we need to talk about the academy."

"I thought we just did." He replied, but she shook her head.

"No I mean what they're going to expect from you."

"What do you mean? I thought the point was to get the badge."

"And normally you'd be right. However, they are going to want to see how far they can push you given what you've accomplished."

"You mean they know about-"

"No Clark, they don't know about your powers or the Intersect, but I guarantee you that by the time you get there every single person from instructor to recruit will have heard some story about what happened with Fulcrum; that means they'll either do more than usual or they're going to be jealous as hell."

"That mission is nothing to be jealous of, but I get what you mean. It's not ever day that you get to make love to Sarah Walker."

"Which brings me to the next part of the issue. They will know that I was with you, and they will naturally assume that we made love. So, I'm asking you to hold your temper. They're going to try to get under your skin, ask how I was in bed that sort of thing. I need you to ignore it."

"Okay I promise I will do my best to ignore it." He replied, neither of them mentioning what Sarah wasn't saying; people would make comments about how much they wanted to have sex with her and what they would do to her if they had the chance, and Clark would just have to take it. He clenched his fist unconsciously, but Sarah must have noticed because she placed her hand on his arm.

"Clark listen to me. No matter what these people say, you need to remember that they will only ever have words. You're the one that's going to be keeping me warm at night. Speaking of, I'm a little cold right now."

"Well we can't have that." Clark replied, rolling over so that he was on top of her.

"Are you sure about this Clark?"

"For the last time Sarah, I'm sure. Just promise me you'll be careful while I'm gone."

"I survived years before you came along, I think I'll survive a few months."

"Okay enough with the lady feelings you two. We've got to go Kent." Casey said, and Clark nodded before pulling Sarah in for a passionate kiss that left both of them breathless.

"I love you." He said as he walked away and she smiled.

"I love you too, and Clark...be sure to break some records for me."

"I won't just break some records Sarah. I'll break yours." He replied with a smirk before getting into the car with Casey.

"You do know Sarah made it through the farm in a year Kent. Top of her class in everything."

"I know Casey. I'm going to do better."

Casey looked at the determined expression on his friend's face and smiled. Most people would say Clark was nuts to think that he could break Sarah Walker's records, but Colonel John Casey wasn't most people. When Clark Kent said something was going to get done, it got done, and as they drove to the airport he knew one thing beyond the shadow of a doubt; those CIA brats wouldn't know what hit them.

"So you're Clark Kent."

Clark turned at the sound of the voice, seeing a young man about his age that stood about five foot ten with brown hair and brown eyes.

"I am. And you are?"

"Sarah Walker's new partner. But you can call me Tim, Tim Roberts." He didn't offer to shake Clark's hand, instead choosing to look at him as though he was something that he would wipe off his shoe. Clark had barely said four words to the other boy and he could already tell they weren't going to get along. The kid reminded him too much of Whitney. Clark wanted to retort, but he held his tongue remembering Sarah's words. He had to get through this to be an Agent, and he wasn't about to screw up his chances in the first ten minutes. Instead he just walked away, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Attention ladies and gentlemen."

The voice made all chatter among the fifty or so new recruits halt instantly as they looked to the balcony above them, where Director Langston Graham was standing.

"You are all here because you believe yourselves ready to join the CIA. I will tell you right now that you're not. In fact, by this time tomorrow half of you will be gone. You see, before your training can begin, you have to prove that you deserve to be here. In exactly two hours that test will begin. For those of you that survive, you will continue on to the first stage of your training. For those that fail, you will be sent home. However, there is a silver lining. For those of you that prove worthy of joining the best intelligence agency in the world, you will find yourselves one step closer to your prize."

Whispers broke out all over the hall as the Director said that, and Graham allowed them to continue for several moments before raising his hand for quiet. Instantly the chatter ceased and Clark almost rolled his eyes as he saw several of the potential trainees lean closer so they didn't miss what Graham had to say. Clark almost smiled as he thought of what Casey would say. They were a bunch of suck ups.

"Yes there is a prize. In addition to having the priviledge of joining the CIA, the top student of this class will be given the honor of being partners with the CIA's best Agent. Some of you have heard of her, some of you haven't, but if you haven't than I guarantee you will by tonight. Ladies and gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to introduce the CIA's best Agent, and my personal protege CIA Special Agent Sarah Walker."

Clark walked as Sarah walked out on stage, ignoring the gasps and occasional wolf whistles that reached his ears. Instead he looked at Graham, the Director locking eyes with him. He didn't say a word, but his eyes spoke volumes.

You think you can just take my best agent? You think you can just use your relationship with Palmer to get into my agency? Well think again.

Like Graham, Clark said nothing, but the Director could read the message in his eyes.

You have just crossed a line. I will be the best, and once I am you had best watch your back, because I promise you that there will be a reckoning for what you have done today.

Clark focused his attention back on Sarah who was just finishing up her speech.

"This is not a game people, and the sooner you realize that the better off you are. I am the best because I treated every day like it was my last, and that's exactly how you need to look at it. Every single day could be your last, so don't hesitate. Don't treat this lightly, and give a hundred and twenty percent in everything you do. The person that can do that will be the person that I take as my new partner. Now who's that going to be?"

"Clark Kent." He replied confidently, making Sarah smirk. Both of them knew that he was increasing the size of the already large target on his back, but at that moment neither cared. Graham had crossed a line when he offered her up like some sort of prize, and soon he was going to learn what that meant.

"You sound pretty confident for a rookie." She said and he smirked.

"Remind me, how long was your time on the Farm agent Walker?"

"A year. The fastest time on record."

"Correction, it used to be the fastest time on record. I'll be out of here in six months."

"Well if you do that Mr. Kent, then I'll buy you a drink."

"You should know by now Agent Walker that when I say I'm going to get something done, I get it done. I hope no one else is having any ideas of trying to beat me. If you do I've only got one thing to say. Bring it on."

With those words, the guantlet had been thrown down. Now the only thing that remained was to see who would pick it up, because there was no doubt in Clark's mind that someone would. However, there was one other thing of which he was even more certain. Hell would freeze over before Clark Kent allowed someone else to take his place at Sarah's side.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter! I was thinking about writing a sequel to The Price of Secrets Part 3, but then I realized I had barely mentioned Clark's training at the Farm so I decided to rectify that first! Please read and review and the next chapter will be up soon!