John Sheppard snuck down the halls of Atlantis using all his skills as a covert ops soldier. He peeked into the gym cautiously. No one was inside. Smiling in relief, the man walked in and deposited his bag and jacket in the corner. Sheppard liked using the gym for this, but disliked having people around to watch and point and stare. He didn't think anyone really thought what he did was weird, but being alone made him feel better.
He walked to a mat in the center of the floor and stood on it for just a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, he bent over backward until his hands met the mat, leaving his body in one sinuous arch. He let out his breath slowly and brought first one leg, then the other over his head until he was balanced on his hands. John pushed with all his strength and vaulted back onto his feet. It wasn't the wisest way to begin, but it was a start.
John Sheppard had been a dancer since he was six. Grace and coordination had always been his gifts. His father had thought it wrong for a man to dance, but his mother encouraged her son to do what he pleased. And he did. Now, dressed only in loose white trousers, Sheppard stretched his long legs and arms in preparation for a dance. It had been far too long; he was stiff and out of practice. There had been one crisis after another this week and he'd barely had time to eat, much less take time for the exercise-cum-recreation that he loved so well.
Limbered up and ready to roll, John walked over and tugged an iPod dock out of his bag. He flipped to his dance playlist and selected a song. At once music flowed through the speakers. Sheppard smiled even as he returned to the mat and waited for his cue to begin. The song was a Celtic tune by a group that Nancy had introduced him to. The second he'd heard Nil Se'n La he'd known he had to dance it. Now he did, feet flying and body twisting in time to the drums.
**
Rodney McKay ran down to the gym. Not that he wanted to go and sweat himself to death, but he knew he had to keep up with his exercise. And if he hurried, he could get in a quick workout and still have time to shower and get dressed for his date tonight. Arms flailing to catch himself as he skidded to a stop outside the gym, he swiped at the door controls to open them. What he saw inside stunned him and stopped him in his tracks.
John Sheppard twirled and leaped in the center of the room in time to a wild music McKay'd never heard before. Rodney's jaw dropped and he was frozen to the spot for long seconds, watching in awe. In all his time with Sheppard, he had never guessed that the man had talent like this.
Finally he sensed that the music was drawing to a close and beat a hasty retreat. No need to let John know what he had seen. He'd probably die of embarrassment, McKay reasoned as he headed back to prepare for his date. But he couldn't help smiling at what excellent blackmail material the knowledge might make.
**
Breathing hard with exhilaration, John spun to a halt as the song ended. He grinned fiercely and shook his sweat-dampened bangs out of his eyes. Caught up as he'd been in his dance, Rodney's brief intrusion hadn't even registered on his brain and he continued without knowledge of being seen.
He selected another song from his trusty list and leaped into an old routine that he had choreographed long ago, to a song his brother had given him. Firestorm began above him and Sheppard's rational mind, his stress, and everything else fell away as he danced and danced into the night.