Clark and Ziva walked into Leon's office a week after Lex escaped with Clark feeling more furious than he had in months; they were still no closer to finding out who had helped Lex escape and Clark couldn't stand the thought of Lex out there doing who knows what. He had barely stopped except to sleep and that was only so Ziva would sleep. He didn't need sleep but even though her Mossad training allowed her to go without sleep longer than most people she was still human and his wife refused to sleep while he was chasing down leads and so Clark slept; even though he wanted Lex captured he knew his wife was more important.
"Director?" Clark asked tersely wanting Leon to get to the point so he could get back to finding Lex.
"I've got an assignment for you."
"All due respect Director, I can't take on an assignment while Lex is still out there."
"I don't recall giving you an option."
"Leon do you know what Lex is capable of because I do know firsthand and I will not allow that bastard to roam free so he can threaten my family, not to mention the threat from Darksied."
"I understand Clark trust me, but you've been working yourself ragged, we all have and you seem to forget there's more than one way to skin a cat."
"What are you getting at Leon?"
"We've been tracking an arms dealer named La Gran Oui or the Frog for months and we need to get someone close to him. His daughter's involved in the business as well and we need someone to go undercover as an interested buyer who'll gain the daughter's trust and then hopefully meet her father so we can nail him. We were originally going to use DiNozzo but considering he turned into a traitor I need you to do it since McGee doesn't have any practice being undercover and I want this to stay strictly in-house."
"What does this have to do with Lex and why would you use me? I have no experience being undercover either."
At this statement Ziva and Leon both started laughing and Ziva nearly had tears in her eyes by the time she was able to speak.
"Clark you spent fifteen years pretending to be a normal farmboy from Kansas; I think you have more than enough experience." She finished giving him a quick kiss before they turned back to the now smiling Director.
"Ziva's right and as for what Lex has to do with this, we think the Frog may be supplying Lex with weapons and other resources but we can't prove it since he's hidden his tracks so well. Now here's the part you won't like." Leon told them.
"Clark, you have to pretend to fall in love with the daughter."
"HELL NO! I'm not going to cheat on my wife!" He yelled, eyes beginning to burn and only Ziva's hand on his arm prevented him from attacking the NCIS director.
"If there was another choice I wouldn't be asking. However I do have a compromise."
Clark waited arms folded across his chest.
"If you're going to be an arms dealer, you're going to need a bodyguard." Vance said, indicating Ziva.
Clark opened his mouth to protest but before he uttered so much as a syllable he found himself flat on his back with Ziva's gun pressed into the side of his head.
"You are dead." Ziva said simply before helping Clark to his feet.
"What does that prove? We all know I can't be hurt."
"Appearances Kent. No arms buyer in their right mind wouldn't have a bodyguard and as Ziva just showed us she's more than capable."
"That's not the point!"
"Just drop it Clark. We are doing this together and that is final." Ziva said in a tone that allowed no room for argument.
Clark wanted to protest but he just nodded his dislike of their plan clear on his face.
"You'll meet the daughter Jeanne tomorrow. I suggest you spend some time getting acquainted with her file." Vance said, passing them a file.
Clark took the file before he turned back to Leon, glaring as he did so.
"Listen carefully to me Leon. If I think any harm is going to come to Ziva this operation is over and as soon as this is done I'm hunting Lex until that bastard is either in jail or in the ground. Do we understand each other?" Clark asked the threat behind his words obvious.
"Perfectly." The Director replied and Clark and Ziva walked out of his office.
"Gibbs I'll be back in a few." Clark called to his boss who just nodded in response. Clark walked out the door, Ziva following close behind and as soon as the door shut behind them they were soaring through the air with Ziva's arms wrapped around his neck. They landed outside of the Talon and Ziva smiled as they walked inside the newly rebuilt coffee shop which was empty save for Martha Kent who was working behind the counter.
"Hi Clark, Hi Ziva." She said hugging them both before they sat down. She brought them back coffee and walked upstairs sensing that the two wanted to be alone.
"Are you ok with this?" Clark asked a few minutes later.
"I am fine Clark."
"Don't lie to me Zi."
"What do you want me to say Clark? That I am happy that Leon gave you this assignment? I am angry because I am going to be unable to do anything while you pretend to love some other woman."
"Zi just tell me and I'll make Leon find someone else. I want to find Lex but nothing is more important to me than you."
"I know Clark and I wish there was another way but this is the best chance we have to find Lex. I will be fine as long as I know you are mine."
Clark leaned across the table and kissed his wife his lips only leaving hers when she needed air to breath.
"I will always be yours. Yours and yours alone."
"If that bitch tries to sleep with you she will die… painfully." Ziva said as they walked towards the warehouse where they were supposed to meet Jeanne. Clark wore a black suit with a red tie and he had a gun strapped to his hip while Ziva was wearing a black tank top and combat boots with a gun at her side and several knives on her person. In Clark's opinion she had never looked more beautiful.
"Mr. Jones glad you could make it." A woman said as she walked out of the shadows with four men behind her, all obviously carrying guns. She was average height with jet black hair and green eyes; Clark supposed she was pretty but she had nothing on Ziva.
"Please call me Charles." He replied giving her a smile.
"I'm Jeanne. My father said you were looking to do some business?"
"Indeed although I expected to do business with the Frog himself."
"If one wishes to do business with my father one must first do business with me… although in this case I'm not opposed to mixing business with pleasure." She said with a wink. Clark fought the urge to roll his eyes and instead just grinned and nodded.
"Is the girl your bitch?" One of Jeanne's guards asked and faster than the eye could follow he found a knife in his chest while the other three found bullets in their knees and shoulders.
"No she's my bodyguard." Clark replied to the deceased man.
"Impressive." Jeanne told him nodding at Ziva.
"So should we discuss business?"
"Of course Charles. Perhaps over dinner?"
Clark smiled and nodded but inwardly he groaned; this was going to be a really long assignment.