Chapter 5

The moment they exited the car, Natasha walked over to where Colson and the rest of the team were standing, and promptly punched Ward in the face.

"What the-"

"I warned you not to call the Black Widow eye candy Ward." Clark said as the man stood up, rubbing the bruise that was now forming on his jaw.

"Consider yourself lucky...the last person who called me eye candy ended up dead."

"How did he die?" Fitz asked in a nervous voice.

"Not well." She replied simply, before turning towards Colson.

"How sure are we that Alexander Pierce is our dead man?"

"There's no doubt about it. DNA testing and dental records are both a perfect match."

"How did he die?"

"The testing pointed toward a cyanide capsule..." Simmons answered, making Natasha raise her eyebrow.

"You don't think so?"

"No I agree with the findings, it's just some others have...doubts shall we say." She said, looking pointidly towards May and Ward, both of whom returned her glare.

"You two believe something else caused Pierce's death?" Natasha asked.

"Agent Kent was interrogating Alexander Pierce and was present when he died. However, he refused to explain why he was questioning Pierce, despite his break of protocol. As we are all aware, rookies don't usually question suspects." May said, making Natasha almost roll her eyes at the other woman's words.

"I've already been informed as to Clark's reasons. Pierce 's death was a suicide, not a murder."

"Or perhaps you just don't want to admit that the great Black Widow made a mistake by training a traitor." May shot back, making Natasha pull her gun, pointing it at May's head.

"Natasha, she's not worth it. Let it go. We've got bigger things to worry about." Clark told her calmly.

"Call him a traitor again, and I'll blow your head off." She told the other agent sternly before placing her gun back in it's holster.

"That's enough people. Now Dr. Fitz, Dr. Simmons, I want that body off the BUS along with any research you have and delivered to our people. Then you are to forget the name Alexander Pierce. The same goes for the rest of you." Director Fury said, looking pointedly at Skye.

"Colson, Romanoff there's a briefing in five. This is officialy a level eight situation."

"Understood." Colson said, and Fury turned to leave when he was stopped by Natasha.

"Director, a word?" She asked, and he looked at her with his one good eye before nodding and walking out of earshot of the others, sans Clark who was smart enough to not listen in.

"This really isn't the-"

"The bastard's know."

"What?"

"Whoever is behind this, they know who Clark is. Whether or not they know about his gifts or his heritage is undetermined, but Pierce knew his name."

"Are you telling me we have a leak Agent Romanoff?"

"I'm telling you that I don't know. But yes, that's a possibility."

"What do you suggest?"

"What I suggest is that we bring him into the loop."

"Kent's a rookie."

"If there is a leak he is one of the few that we can trust not to be dirty."

"And if there is a leak, he could flush them out."

"We are not going to dangle him like bait. Besides, his talents are wasted on Colson's team."

"So what do you want from me?"

"I talked to him, and Clark agreed that if he-"

"Wait he agreed? Forgive me Agent Romanoff, but I was unaware that we were a democracy." Fury cut across, but Natasha kept going undettered by the Director's frustration.

"He agreed that if he hasn't made significant progress on whether or not the mole came from Colson's team in the next month he would take a transfer."

"Transfer to what?"

"My partner."

"You must be joking."

"Do I ever joke?"

"Okay, say for a second I agree to this, which I won't...why?"

"Because I have never had anyone I can trust as much as I trust him. Now what I am asking is that we give him the clearance now so that he has all the resources he needs."

"Plus it saves you the trouble of getting them covertly." Fury surmised, making Natasha frown.

"Are you questioning my loyalty?"

"Of course not. However, I need you to tell me now...can you make the hard call if it comes down to it? If he ever went rogue, if he was ever a risk to humanity could you put him down?"

"I can do what's required of me. But understand something...if anything happens to him and I have even the slightest suspicion that someone within SHIELD is responsible I will remind you just why they call me the Black Widow."

"I would expect nothing less."

For a moment the two just stared at each other, and then they walked back to where Colson's team was waiting, just as Fitz and Simmons were taking the body of Alexander Pierce off the BUS.

"Kent, congragulations. Welcome to level eight." Fury said, and Clark just nodded. May and Ward looked furious but held their tongues while Skye, Fitz and Simmons were wearing almost identical expressions of shock.

"C'mon we've got a briefing to get to." Colson said and the three SHIELD agents followed the Director down the hall and into a conference room.

"Agent Kent, this is Agent Sitwell, Agent Hand and Deputy Director Hill."

"Agents, m'am." Clark said by way of greeting.

"Manners, that is a change...just what have you been teaching him Romanoff?" Sitwell asked in a rather condescending tone.

"Fifteen ways to kill you in the next five seconds." Clark replied calmly, making Sitwell's smirk fall off his face.

"Anyway moving on...I'll cut to the chase people. Alexander Pierce is dead."

"One of the members of the World Security Council, the SHIELD oversight committee." Natasha said just loud enough for Clark to hear.

"Do we have any leads?" Hill asked, and Fury looked towards Clark, gesturing for him to speak.

"The only information we have at present is that Alexander Pierce was working for someone known only as the Clairvoyant. The identity of said person is unknown."

"Well then what do we know?" Agent Hand asked.

"We have strong evidence linking the Clairvoyant to the Rising Tide, but no clear idea what the end game is."

"If you had to guess?" Natasha asked, making Clark's frown deepen.

"If I had to guess, I'd say they want to build up an army. Otherwise why bother to go after Jonas Green?"

"A distraction to throw us off their real game?" Colson offered.

"At this point anything is possible. For now, we continue on as normal, and I don't need to tell anyone that this is to stay under wraps. Contact me at once if you find anything." Fury said, and the others just walked out, aknoweleging the Director's dismissal.

"Director, if I may make a suggestion?" Clark asked once the others had all left the room.

"Go ahead."

"The meteor freaks locked up in Belle Reve should be moved somewhere more secure."

"Colson told me what you did for Green, why can't you do the same for them?"

"John Green was a man who destroyed a wall. The meteor freaks in Belle Reve are murderers. Besides, none of them would take my help considering I put them in prison."

"Would they work with SHIELD?"

"Only until they saw a better opportunity come along. Their only loyalty is to themselves. Trust me, the second they see a chance at freedom without having to follow SHIELD protocol they would stab you in the back and I don't mean figuratively. Just something to think about."

With those words the Last Son of Krypton walked out of the room, praying to RAO that Fury wouldn't be so stupid as to ignore his warning. The Director had no idea what those kids were capable of, and if he was stupid enough as to let them out they could wipe out SHIELD if they were so inclined. In his mind's eye he saw each and every meteor freak he had ever put away, and he resolved to compile dossier's on all of them. Oh he was sure that SHIELD already had files, but there was something to be said for knowing your enemy. Now all he had to worry about was the enemy he didn't know. He walked back to his car, surprised to find Natasha leaning against the hood.

"If you were anyone else..." He muttered and she chuckled.

"But I'm not anyone else."

"No you are definitely one of a kind." He replied with a grin.

"Now, I believe I promised you dinner. Unless you've got to run off on assignment." He said, but she shook her head.

"No, I've got to be in London on Friday, but nothing until then. So where to?" She asked as she got in the driver's seat, laughing when she saw him scowl.

"There's a little place in Metropolis, about thirty minutes from here. I swear they make the best Italian I've ever had."

"Mario's it is then." She said, and Clark just looked at her.

"Just how long were you following me?"

"A couple months, give or take." She replied, and he just laughed as they took to the air.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot." He said and she smirked, her left hand going towards her gun, the redhead placing it back on the table just before she reached her weapon.

"What made you run off to Metropolis in the first place?"

Clark hesitated, unsure of whether he wanted to answer. Part of him didn't want to say anything, but the other part, the stronger part knew that he could trust Natasha with anything. After a minute he spoke.

"My biological father wanted me to become the 'perfect son' and I refused. I took some of the meteor rock and got rid of him. There was an explosion and my mom...she lost her baby. It was my fault, so I put on the ring and left as quick as I could. You know everything else." He finished, surprised when she took his hand.

"You couldn't have known what would happen. Don't blame yourself for things that you can't control. If you do, it will tear away at your soul. Promise me you won't blame yourself anymore. Please."

"I promise." He replied, and she smiled before leaning over and kissing him.

"Come with me." She said suddenly.

"Excuse me?" He replied, not sure what she was getting at. They had been driving in a comfortable silence, listening to a jazz station Natasha liked when she spoke her words catching Clark completely off guard.

"Come with me to London. I could use an extra pair of hands."

"I doubt you need the help, but it so happens that Colson's given the team the next week off provided nothing comes up."

"So is that a yes?"

"Yes, I'll go to London with you Tasha." He told her and she smiled as they came up to the Kent farm.

"I'll see you on Friday?" She asked, and he shook his head.

"I wasn't planning on waiting that long to see you. How about we grab coffee in the morning?"

"Sounds good. I'll pick you up at eight?"

"It's a date, and Natasha...not a scratch."

"Yes dear." She replied dryly, making him laugh before he kissed her, watching her drive off until she was out of sight.

Belle Reve Penitentary

The man walked down the hallway until he reached his destination. With a wave of his hand the door opened, making the prisoner look up.

"Who are you?"

"Who I am dosen't matter. All you need to know is that I represent the Clairvoyant, and we have an offer for you. Freedom from this prison."

"What's the catch?"

"The catch is that you kill Clark Kent."

"I accept."

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! The next one will be up soon!