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Oh, and it's intentional that a certain person in this chapter sounds a lot like Gibbs (NCIS). I couldn't resist. :-) I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

He'd dressed with extra care this morning and deep down he knew he did it because he wanted to impress her and knock her off her feet. Mark threw the tie over his neck and started to tie it quickly, adjusting the knot before he shrugged on the jacket and took a last look into the mirror. He was wearing his best black suit which had cost him a fortune with a crisp white shirt and a black tie and his mouth twitched up in a lopsided grin. Yeah, he was definitely ready to meet her again.

"Let's have some fun." Mark said aloud and walked into his living room, grabbing his gun and badge before he left his apartment to drive to the Navy Yard to meet with his boss and Andrew Monroe, the boss of the NCIS Agent who'd pressed her gun into his ribs before he got the upper hand and pressed her against the wall instead.

Smiling smugly, he remembered exactly how her body had felt against his and he wouldn't say no to repeating the scene from yesterday preferable with no clothes on the next time she drew her gun on him. The kiss had been definitely promising and he wouldn't mind to explore this territory further. Knowing her name wasn't nearly enough, he wanted to get to know her body too.

~M&L~

Lexie stepped out of the elevator, carrying their usual coffee choices in one hand and walked towards her desk, hoping that her partner Scott just wasn't in the mood to tease her. But of course she had no such luck. The moment she sat down he jumped out of his chair, strolling towards her with a big grin on his face.

"I've heard you'd had an interesting client yesterday."

"Just shut it, Scott."

"Carter told me, you were plastered against the wall by him when they entered the room. Did he feel you up?"

Lexie blushed slightly as he remembered how his lean form had pressed into her body as he'd pinned her against the wall, asking her sharply what the hell an NCIS Agent was doing meddling in his case. She had already opened her mouth to hiss back that he had been the one who had no business in endangering their case but then her back-up had stormed in and in the whirlwind of activity over the next minutes she hadn't been able to talk to him again. He'd rushed out of the door after he'd shown the other agents his FBI badge, grunting something about his boss before he'd disappeared around the corner. The red color in her cheeks deepened further as she remembered his lips on hers and even though the kiss hadn't lasted for long it had definitely been a great kiss but hell would rather freeze over before she would tell Scott about it.

When their boss rounded the corner Lexie muttered under her breath so that only Scott could hear it. "Saved by the boss."

Scott swirled around and Monroe rushed by him, barking. "Burns, you are through the list yet?"

"Not quite, boss."

"Well, then what are you doing at Grey's desk?"

"Nothing, boss. Going right back to it now."

Scott snatched his cup of coffee out of the tray and returned to his desk. Slumping into his chair, he pressed a key and stared at the phone list on his screen which was still insanely long. With a sigh he shoved the telephone receiver between his shoulder and chin and started to type the first number.

Monroe grabbed his cup and walked over to his own desk and Lexie waited until he sat down before she asked. "So did you talk to Shaw?"

"What do you think I was doing all morning?" Monroe grunted.

Lexie took a look at her watch to check the time. It was a few minutes after seven and she had no idea when Monroe had started his day since seven o'clock was for him the middle of the morning.

"So what's the deal? Why is the FBI involved?" Lexie asked more eagerly than she had intended.

"You have to wait a few minutes, Grey. They should be here any second."

"They?" Lexie asked surprised but when she heard the bing of the elevator in her back she turned around with a bad feeling, staring over the bullpen to the elevator door, her body stiffened as no other than Mark Sloan stepped out of it, followed by his boss Grant Shaw.

Of course he looked breathtakingly handsome in full FBI attire and even though she had known that she should expect him to look incredible in a suit she still wasn't prepared for it. She hardly managed to keep her hands on the keyboard, the urge to check her hair and tug at her shirt was almost unbearable. She looked as if she'd just come back from a crime scene. But after all she was a field agent. He looked as if he wouldn't get anywhere near a crime scene because his suit might get dirty.

Dark shades were dangling from his fingers and Lexie couldn't help saying. "Do I need to put on my sun glasses? Because it looks like you are flashing a red light any second, erasing our memory."

"A movie reference. I'm impressed, Grey." Mark replied, leaning nonchalantly against her desk. "But I have to disappoint you, I'm not a Man in Black."

"Grant." Monroe nodded sharply.

"Andrew." Shaw replied sternly.

Any outsider who didn't know them would think that they were almost complete stranger but in fact there were actually friends which didn't mean that they didn't have a fight over jurisdiction every time they worked on the same case. But in the end they both wanted the same. Justice. Since the moment they'd realized they weren't that different their fights had become more like a game. Considering this case they didn't even have to fight. They needed the best agents for the operation and they happened to be from the FBI and the NCIS.

Mark leaned against her desk while his boss talked silently to Monroe. He looked at her intently, wondering if she would break eye contact but he saw the stubborn glint in her eyes and knew she wouldn't back down any time soon, so he grabbed her coffee cup and took a big gulp, scrunching his face at the taste. "Uggh, just for the next time. I'll take a Grande Cappuccino with two extra shots. But this will do for now."

If looks could kill he would drop dead right where he stood and satisfied with her reaction he shot her a lopsided smirk. He definitely enjoyed teasing her. It brought a flush to her face and a fire in her eyes he loved to see.

Lexie was fuming inside, her legs quivered as she suppressed the urge to jump up and slap the grin of his face. He was one arrogant and cocky bastard. But she knew it was exactly what he would wanted. So she gritted her teeth and stayed silent, assuming that no reaction was better than shouting at him in the middle of the bullpen in front of his and her boss. Definitely the smarter choice.

Scott observed from his desk, surprised that Sloan was able to rile Lexie up so easily. Normally she had no problem to banter with men. She was a natural, had always a witty remark on her lips. But she didn't give the FBI Agent any retort and Scott could see how the muscle in her jaw clenched, a telltale sign for her being extremely pissed.

With new interest he looked back at Sloan, studying his face. Scott had quite a talent in reading facial expressions, most of the time they told him more than the person said with words, a fact that a lot of suspects had found out while he interrogated them.

Sloan was definitely interested in Lexie. In a very personal way. Scott could see the glint in his eyes and decided that he definitely had to have a talk with Sloan. Just to set him straight on a few things. Only so that he knew that if he messed with Lexie he had to deal with him. She was his partner and he had her back. Always.

Scott stood up and walked over to him, stretching out his hand. "Special Agent Scott Burns."

"Special Agent Mark Sloan." Mark replied, squeezing Scott's hand as hard as he was squeezing his.

"Would you rein your agent in, Andrew." Grant said exasperatedly as he turned around and saw Burns shooting daggers at Sloan though he had no idea how Sloan had been able to irritate the other man in such a short time.

"I don't see a reason to rein him in." Monroe replied calmly, folding his arms over his chest. He had seen Sloan checking out Lexie and he wouldn't scold Burns for standing up for his partner. But he could feel the tension zipping back and forth between the FBI Agent and Lexie. He just hoped it wasn't sexual tension. They both needed to be sharp and not distracted for the operation and for a split second he contemplated if it wouldn't be better to send two other agents on the undercover operation as he saw Sloan returning his gaze to Lexie the moment Burns let go of his hand.

"We have an assignment for you." Shaw said, taking the decision out of his hand.

"Yes, Sir." Mark turned around to his boss.

"For both of you."

Lexie looked up surprised, shooting a questioning look to Monroe but he only nipped at his coffee, deciding to let Shaw do the talking though Lexie would bite his head off no matter who was telling her about the assignment.

"Andrew and I agree that you are the best for the job."

"What job?" Lexie asked, standing up so that she stood directly beside Mark, feeling more comfortably when he wasn't towering over her.

"We need you to go undercover."

"What about the case?" Mark asked, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"It's about the case." Monroe interjected before he returned to sipping his coffee, needing to take in as much caffeine as possible before he had to talk with Lexie.

"We didn't know until yesterday that Sutter was also a suspect in one of your murder investigations." Shaw explained. "We are trying to pin him for over a year now. We are suspecting him of human trafficking, drug dealing, arms dealing, … you name it, Sutter probably has his fingers in it somehow. But we can't get a hold of him. He doesn't give us one reason to even bring him in for questioning. He always only sends some small fishes who don't know a damn thing. So we need to switch tactics." He paused briefly locking eyes with his agent before he continued. "You are going to be a newly married couple ..."

"Married to her?" Mark interrupted him, not able to hide his surprise.

"Married to him?" Lexie said simultaneously, a flash of horror crossing her face before she was able to hide it behind her professionalism. She had had harder assignments than playing Mark's wife she reminded herself. Like getting tortured in Sudan when a mission had gone bad. Thinking about it a shudder went through her body and she had to force herself to concentrate on Shaw's words.

"We need to get near him. You're going to move in a few houses down from his. He has a wife, so hopefully Agent Grey will be able to get close to her at least."

"What if he already has seen me as a hooker?" Lexie asked.

"We thought of that. Mark fell head over heels in love with you, married you in Vegas and got you off the streets. So keep the hooker part to yourself at first but make it ominous when you are talking about how you two met."

"I have some problems with the head over heels part." Mark said slowly and a smile almost escaped Lexie as he looked at the disgusted expression on his face. At least the announcement of his boss had erased the cocky grin.

"What's the problem, Sloan? Not good enough of an actor?" Lexie teased. "It definitely is going to take all my acting skills to pull it off to be in love with you."

"Oh, I can act. You will be surprised, Grey." Mark conquered, crossing his arms in front of him, staring at her defiantly.

"Enough." Monroe said, breaking their staring contest. He waited until both turned their heads to him before he continued. "We are still working on your cover stories. You'll get them as soon as they are finished." Turning back to Shaw, he extended his hand and shook his. "Always a pleasure, Shaw. Now take your agent and leave my bullpen."

"The pleasure is all mine, Andrew." Shaw replied and walked towards the elevator, Mark following him silently. But when they waited for the elevator Mark's gaze returned to her and Lexie knew that it would cost her immensely to act as his loving wife on the outside while trying not to let herself get attracted to him for real. It was definitely going to be hard work and she was not looking forward to it.

~M&L~

"Monroe told me I would probably find you here."

Lexie took in a deep breath before she turned around and pulled the ear-protection and the safety glasses off and looked him square in the eyes. Yes, she escaped down here to shoot a few rounds, enjoying the somehow morbid pleasure of imaging him as the target. What really surprised her because he was normally not a very hotblooded person but this Special Agent of the FBI was getting more and more on her nerves.

"I prefer to have my shooting practice in private and peace. So what do you want?"

Mark held up a folder and walked towards her. "Our cover stories. I thought we should go over them together. You know, get our stories straight."

"Can it wait until tomorrow?" Lexie asked, clinging desperately to the last strings of her self control. "I'm kind of busy here."

"Yeah, sure."

Before she could put the ear-protection and safety glasses back on, Mark stepped even closer, lowering his face until he was only mere inches away from hers, his mouth twitching as he said slowly. "What about a little shooting match?"

"Why not?" Lexie shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Ten rounds, the higher score wins. We are gonna take turns."

"Okay."

"Protective gear is over there." Lexie pointed to the other end of the room and Mark went over there to get it.

Putting it on, he stepped beside Lexie, his arm brushing hers on purpose but she didn't give him the pleasure to jump away. Not that he had really expected her to. She was an NCIS Agent after all. There was no place for being jumpy in their jobs.

"You first." He said quietly.

"No, you first."

Mark deliberately shot only a five and two six with his first three rounds, suppressing the smile when he saw her victorious grin as she shot two eight and a seven. Time to pull out the big guns, Mark thought, as he shot each of his remaining seven rounds square into the tenth ring,

"I think I have the higher score." Mark said smugly, pulling off the protective gear, shooting her a cocky grin. "Maybe you should practice more. I need a good shot as a partner."

"We are not partners, Sloan." Lexie gritted out through clenched teeth, angry about losing against him.

"I still need someone who doesn't shoot me in the leg accidentally when the chips are down." Mark told her before he turned around and walked towards the exit.

"I'm an excellent shot." Lexie shouted after him, now fuming with hardly suppressed rage. "I want a revenge match. Sloan, come back here!"

Mark only waved his hand in good-bye as he walked through the door, throwing a last verbal punch over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, wife."