A/N: The wondrously talented fyd818 decided that this summer, a bunch of different authors shall band together in the face of canonical opposition (all of you Ronon/Keller 'shippers, I am looking straight at you) and take turns writing ONE STORY EVERY WEEK of the Ronon/Teyla persuasion. This is my first contribution to Spanky A Week Summer (SAWS), and if you would like to join in on the fun or see the other 'fics there is a link to the forum in fyd818's profile.

Disclaimer: I don't own "Stargate: Atlantis." I love to write, and that is my only reason for posting this story. Well . . . that and the absolutely insane amounts of money I make off of it . . . yeah . . . right.

Major un-spoilers: Ignore all of the new episodes except for "Midway", just because I miss Teal'c kicking butt. Therefore, Teyla's not pregnant, and you should not expect Keller to make any appearance in this 'fic AT ALL, but Weir might . . . and Kavanagh could show up . . . yeah . . . basically ignore all of this season except for Teal'c's sparring session with Ronon. So. ONWARD!

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The silence of the onlookers was broken only by the rhythmic thwacking of the rods, the heavy but controlled breathing of the two opponents, and the thumping of their feet on the mats as they danced around each other in perfect harmony.

Major Lorne shook his head admiringly. The pair had been going at it for two and a half hours, and showed no signs of getting tired or stopping. This was not like the battle of the previous week, where Ronon and their visitor Teal'c had each been violently trying to overpower the other, this was a ballet, a dance so perfect it could not have been choreographed or rehearsed.

He could tell that the two opponents were both making it a little easy for each other, but since this level of skill would still have been enough to completely incapacitate any four of his Marines at once, Lorne didn't feel like he was cheated of a good show.

Still shaking his head slightly, he turned and quietly left the room, raising his eyebrows at Colonel Sheppard, who was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. Sheppard nodded and turned to follow the Major. Once they were around the corner and heading for the mess hall, Sheppard sighed and ran a hand through his perpetual bed-head.

"I've been trying to figure out how to get them to stop," he admitted ruefully. "But they're having so much fun, and everyone's watching them . . ."

Lorne made a noise of agreement.

"Have you gotten in on the betting pools?" he asked. Sheppard shook his head.

"Oddly enough, there haven't been many going around today," he said. "I think people feel like they're already doing it for our benefit, so we should just sit back and enjoy it."

"I'm all for enjoying it, but won't they hurt themselves?" Lorne agreed, stepping out of the way of a scientist carrying a stack of papers larger than he was.

Sheppard shrugged. "I figure Teyla's smart enough to know when she needs to stop, and although Ronon might not want to back down, she'll be able to see if he needs to and she'll do it for him."

Lorne nodded as they walked through the mess hall's entrance. "So I guess we just wait, then?"

Sheppard glanced back the way they came, a small smile gracing his features.

"Yeah, I guess we just wait."

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A/N: Well, it's short, but there will be more in a little while, I promise! This story will take four major parts (all of them unfortunately short, but that's just how the virtual cookies crumble, so deal with it): Ronon's POV (part 1), Teyla's POV (part 1), Ronon's POV (part 2), and Teyla's POV (part 2). There may or may not be an epilogue. Not sure yet. Thanks yet again to the wonderful fyd818 and everyone who has written a 'fic for SAWS so far!