Chapter 8

"I never thought I would be looking forward to a mission as much as I do right now." Clark said as he finished putting on his suit for the British Defense Minister's party that evening.

"I know what you mean. If I have to see one more person leering at me I think I'm going to shoot something."

"Well, I'm probably biased, but you were the most beautiful woman on that stage." Clark said, and she laughed as she came up behind him, turning him around and kissing him before straightening his tie.

"You're right you are biased. But it's sweet."

"And you are definitely going to be the envy of every woman at that party tonight." He replied, looking at the black dress that hugged her curves. Natasha felt her face grow warm under his gaze and she knew she was blushing. It wasn't that she hadn't heard comments like that before because she had, more times than she could or cared to remember. However, something was different about when Clark said it. Maybe because with him it wasn't just a come on so that he could get her into bed. No, Clark genuinely believed what he was saying, and what's more he would still think that regardless of what she was wearing. All he wanted was to be with her, and to someone who had spent her entire life being valued for her body or her skill set that meant more than Natasha could ever properly express. So she just smiled, and kissed him softly on the lips. A moment later the two parted, and Clark offered Natasha his arm which she promptly took and the two exited the hotel room; it was time to go have a chat with a traitor.

"Mr. Stewart, pleasure to finally meet you in person sir. And this must be Natalia." He said, shaking hands with Clark and bringing Natasha's hand to his lips to kiss it. Natasha smiled, but it was hard not to roll her eyes. Hughes was so obvious a child could have figured out what he wanted.

"Please call me Jim."

"Then you simply must call me Frank. Now tell me Jim, how did you manage to get hold of such a lovely woman?" He asked, and Clark chuckled, although all he really wanted to do was hit the man. British Defense Minister or not the man was staring at Natasha like she was a piece of meat, and he wasn't even subtle about it.

"Honestly, I think she got hold of me. I had my back against a wall and she helped me get out of it so to speak. Natalia is as ruthless as she is beautiful, and I'm just lucky it was my business associates that felt her wrath as opposed to me." He said, sharing a grin with Natasha. If Hughes actually knew the real context behind what Clark was saying he wouldn't be smiling. He would be running as far away from the woman he was currently ogling as he could get. As it was he wouldn't be smiling for much longer.

"I have no doubt that there is more to you than meets the eye my dear. Perhaps I could steal you for a dance later and we can discuss your talents in more detail."

"I would like that. Right now however, I think you promised me a dance?" She asked, turning to Clark.

"I believe I did. If you'll excuse me a moment Frank?"

"Of course. I'm sure we will have ample time to discuss business this evening."

"I look forward to it." Clark replied. And he was. He was looking forward to every second of 'discussions' with the Rising Tide member. However, that could wait. Right now he had the most beautiful woman in the party in his arms, and he fully intended to enjoy himself.

"I swear that slime is so obvious a child could tell what he wanted." Natasha muttered as they moved around the dance floor, keeping her voice low just in case.

"Oh believe me I know. It took everything I had not to say screw the mission and drag him off for interrogation right there." Clark replied, and she smiled.

"Well I for one am glad you didn't. I would hate to have to explain to Fury why we caused an international incident."

"Oh great RAO, I can practically see all the paperwork that we'd be filling out. Not to mention that Fury would give us hell for the why."

"You're right." She replied quietly, making Clark look into her eyes, concern spreading across his features.

"Tasha, are you sure that this is what you want?" He asked softly, and she raised an eyebrow for a moment, her gaze hardening as she realized what he was asking. Did he still not get it, did he still not understand how she felt about him? Did he think that she let everyone see her the way he had seen her?

"Don't you ever think about asking me that ever again. Do you understand me?" She asked softly, her tone more serious than he had ever heard.

"Yes. I just want you to be happy Tasha."

"I know, but I thought I already made it clear. I've never been happier than I am with you." She said with a grin which he returned before leaning down and kissing her.

"Promise me we won't have to have this discussion again."

"I promise, and I'm sorry. That was unnecessary and unprofessional."

"You're right...But I think I can let you slide this once."

"That's a relief. I never want to find myself on your bad side." He said, and she chuckled.

"I think you could handle it." She said playfully, and he smirked.

"All the same, I think I'll pass. Now unless I'm very much mistaken our host is coming over here to steal you away from me so like the man said...it's showtime." He said, and she grinned.

"Excuse me, may I cut in?" Hughes asked, and Clark nodded, walking over to the bar and signaling the bartender for a drink.

"Great party isn't it?

"Well well, I was wondering who it was that got out. I would say it's good to see you again Desiree, but I'd be lying." He said as he looked into the eyes of Desiree Atkins.

"Now, now whatever happened to Miss Atkins?"

"She got locked up in prison. Now just in case you're wondering what you're feeling pressing against your back, it's the silencer on my Glock 18. Cry for help, alert anyone in anyway, or in short do anything other than exactly what I tell you, and I will pull the trigger. Say yes if you understand."

"Yes." She whispered; looking into his eyes, she saw that he was serious, and she knew that if she tried anything now he would kill her. She decided to just bide her time. After all, she had waited this long for revenge, she could wait a little longer. She didn't realize just how long she would be waiting.

"Stand up, and walk beside me. Remember one wrong move-"

"And you kill me, I get it. What assurances do I have that you won't kill me anyway?"

"You don't. You're just going to have to trust me."

"It's not like I have any choice."

"Oh you have a choice. It's just between certain death and the possibility to live and see tomorrow." He replied as the two walked across the room and out a side door.

"What now?" She asked, and Clark smirked.

"Now we go for a ride." He said, slamming the gun into the back of the woman's skull and knocking her unconscious. He picked her up and sped away, no one being the wiser.

"So I see you got yours." He said twenty minutes later as Natasha got out of a car, Franklin Hughes slumped over in the passenger side.

"It was easier than you would think. I flirted a little, and he was more than willing to let me drive. He was so focused on my chest all I had to do was hit him with one of the sleep darts. But what do you mean I got mine?"

"Oh, I found out who escaped from Belle Reve. It was Desiree Atkins."

"The one who married Lex and tried to seduce you?" Natasha asked softly. Clark had spent a few hours of their flight telling her of his various adventures, so she knew almost as much about the resident meteor freaks of Smallville as the one responsible for putting them in jail in the first place. Needless to say, Desiree Atkins was one that she held a particular animosity toward.

"One and the same."

"You take Hughes, Atkins is mine."

"I was hoping you would say that." Clark said with a cold smile. Natasha smiled and kissed him before walking into the house where an unconscious Desiree Atkins waited. Meanwhile Clark walked over to the car, threw Hughes over his shoulder and marched into the house, heading for the room opposite Natasha. Once inside he shut the door and all but threw Hughes into the chair.

"Who? Jim, where are we? What's going on?"

"Where you are dosen't matter. All that does matter is what I need to know."

"Look we can talk business later-"

"Oh I'm afraid you misunderstand me. I'm not interested in your defense contracts. What I am interested in is your connection to the Rising Tide."

"This is ridiculous! I'm going to-" Hughes burst out as he tried to stand.

"You're going to sit your ass down and tell me what I want to know. You see, I know more ways to cause pain than you can possibly imagine, and you made the mistake of trying to get lucky with my girlfriend. That makes me want to hurt you based on sheer principal, so I suggest you tell me what I want to know before I give into that impulse."

"Do what you will. It won't matter."

"Oh really.?"

"I am the British Minister of Defense! If people haven't noticed me missing by now they soon will, and then there will be no place for you or your girl to hide."

"Who says we need to hide? You see, you cleverly told your people that you would be busy tonight, so they won't bother you unless the country is under attack. So I have the entire night to get the answers I need? The only question is how long are you going to lie because that will determine how much pain you go through."

"Lie? What do you mean lie? I told you, I have no connection to the Rising Tide."

Clark just sighed before breaking two of the man's fingers, placing his hand over his mouth as he screamed.

"We caught the leader of your Rising Tide cell and we broke him. We know that he gets his information from you. Now you have eight more fingers for me to break, so I would suggest you start talking."

"Go to-"

"Now it's five. Do you want to go for three?"

Hughes shook his head, seeing the darkness in the young man's eyes.

"Good. You talk, and I don't hurt you anymore. If you don't...well I don't really need to say what will happen if you don't. Now, why would you betray your country. Why would you sell secrets to the Rising Tide?"
"I was defending my country from freaks and monsters that could potentially harm her."

"Bull. You're a traitor, plain and simple. Now, what do you know about the Clairvoyant?"

"Ah you're SHIELD aren't you?"

"Who I am dosen't matter. Who is the Clairvoyant?"

"I don't know."

"Then let's start with what you do know. Who is the spy you have within SHIELD?"

"Oh we have many. I could not begin to tell you them all. However, if you give me your word as an agent not to kill me then I will tell you the name of the one I do know."

"You have my word as an Agent of SHIELD that I will not kill you."

"Grant Ward. He is the one you want."

"Thank you." Clark said before shooting him in the stomach.

"You said-"

"I gave you my word as Agent Kent, not as Natasha Romanoff's boyfriend. May God have mercy on your soul." He said before shooting him in the head. He opened the door just in time to hear a gunshot, and met Natasha as she walked out of the room a moment later.

"Did she give you anything?" He asked, but she shook her head.

"Her only contact was with Hughes. She was supposed to kill you, but that's all she knew. Did he tell you anything?"

"He didn't know who the Clairvoyant was, but he did know of a mole within SHIELD. It's Ward. But he's just one of many, according to Hughes."

"And he didn't know who the others were?" She asked, and Clark shook his head.

"We need to let Fury know about this."

"Not just yet Tasha. I want to talk to Ward first. I think there's a weakness we may be able to exploit."

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