AN: So, this *could* be a stand-alone story, OR, it could be a continuation of my other story, "Work In Progress". Either way is fine. But, for those who did read WIP...remember that pesky headache John was experiencing? Well, it just may have been a symptom of something else. Just exactly what that is, you'll have to read and find out!

As always, reviews are MUCH appreciated! *Hugz!*

Chapter 1

John Sheppard sat at his favorite table in the mess hall, his hands wrapped around a coffee mug. He stared at the contents of the mug, a black pool that shivered at every slight movement, and it reminded him of the Stargate, only in negative. Though his team had all been cleared for active duty again, they were on stand-down for now, waiting for the next threat to arise.

He hated waiting. It made him feel useless and uneasy.

"May I join you?" He heard a familiar feminine voice say then, and he nodded without looking up. There was a quiet whisper of clothing, a whiff of perfume, and then Teyla's warm presence was directly across from him, instantly driving away his previous dark mood. A few seconds later, he couldn't even remember what he'd been thinking about in the first place. The possessiveness he'd recently been experiencing came back again, making him feel instantly guilty. Careful, John, he told himself; that's a dangerous road you're on there.

"Are you all right?" She asked, and for the first time, he looked up. His eyes met hers, and her gaze was so open, so honest, that he had to look away. He wasn't good with feelings – and she knew that – but here she was, asking him to open up. Sure, she'd only asked if he was "all right", but he could swear there was more to her question. There always was.

Heaving out a sigh, he intentionally pushed at his mug so the liquid inside would swirl around. "Yeah." At her lifted eyebrow, he asked, "Why?"

"You seem…distracted."

Intent on showing her just how un-distracted he was, he leaned back in his chair and loosely folded his arms, giving her his famous grin. "Nah. Just bored, I guess."

Her eyebrow lifted higher. "There are a few activities I could suggest for you." She purposely paused for a moment, causing a slight blush to rise into his cheeks. "Sparring, for example."

Both relieved and disappointed, Sheppard chuckled. "I've been beat up enough for a while. But, thanks for the offer."

Teyla grinned in reply. "Oh, I did not mean with me. I meant with Ronon."

Now, he laughed openly, and Teyla couldn't help but join in. It did her good to see him laugh after their recent ordeal. Things had looked so desperate then, and she had wondered if he would ever return to his former self. Yes, she said to herself, it seemed as if the real John Sheppard was here again.

"You better watch it," he said when he regained his composure. "I could always dump you back on M7G-229 at night, with only a little lap blanket and a cup of coffee." He leaned back in his chair and waited for her reaction. M7G was the planet they'd nearly frozen to death on while searching for the Vanir device, the one that had beamed up Rodney and Ronon and then burned itself out, almost trapping the men inside it. If it hadn't been for Major Lorne and his men, he and Teyla would be human Popsicles right now.

She laughed again. "I would like to see you try it."

"Teyla," he warned her, though there was a mischievous twinkle in his gaze. "I'm serious."

"Of course, John," she replied, putting emphasis on using his first name. "And I am also just as serious."

Sheppard seemed to think about something for a moment, then sighed. "Okay. Just remember, you asked for it."

Then, before she could even move, he jumped up from his chair and grabbed Teyla out of hers. Ignoring her high-pitched shriek of surprise, he hoisted her over his shoulder, his strong hands pinning her legs against his chest.

"John!" She shouted over her own laughter. "Put me down!"

"Nope," he replied calmly as he began to walk toward the doors. "I warned you, but you didn't listen."

Though she was almost completely sure he was joking, Teyla began to get just a bit nervous, and slapped him on the back, once. "Put me down right now!"

He was almost to the door when Rodney and Ronon walked in, their faces clearly startled at the scene before them.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Rodney sputtered, his eyes first on Sheppard, then on Teyla, who had to crane her head around Sheppard's elbow to look at him.

"We…um…" Sheppard began, glancing at Ronon for inspiration. He was no help, however, as a big grin was plastered across his tanned face. When Sheppard's gaze swung back to Rodney's disapproving glare, he felt as if he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and his cheeks burned with sudden guilt. Wordlessly, he allowed Teyla's legs to slide down his chest until her feet touched the floor, then released her from his grasp altogether. Her perfume had rubbed off on his clothes, and now it filled his head so that he could barely breathe.

When she was safely back on her feet, Teyla turned to face Rodney and explained, "We were merely…playing, Rodney. That is all."

"Playing, hm?" Rodney mimicked, and she nodded. "Yes, well, perhaps we could all remain professional around here for once? We are adults, after all."

"Of course," she replied, though she did not appreciate his condescending tone at all. "But every once in a while, it is natural for even adults to have a little fun."

"Don't know the meaning of the word," Rodney retorted. Teyla looked to Sheppard, expecting him to make a witty retort, but he only stood there, his hand absently rubbing the back of his neck. Next, she looked to Ronon, but even he remained silent. Why were they letting him act this way? Her anger growing, she leaned forward until her face was mere inches from Rodney's face.

"I am not surprised," she nearly growled at him. "Now, if you are finished berating us for trying to have some harmless fun, I believe I have things to do."

"Try not to throw yourself across anyone else on the way," he snapped, and this last comment caused Teyla's eyes to fill with hurt tears.

It also seemed to break Sheppard out of wherever his mind had been. His head jerked up to stare at Rodney, and he poked his finger into the scientist's chest. "Hey! Too far, McKay!"

Too upset to stand there any longer, Teyla swiftly brushed past the three men and left the mess hall. Sheppard watched her go, desperate to call her back, but no words would come. He rounded on Rodney, scowling darkly.

"What the hell is your problem, Rodney?" He asked.

"You may not realize this, Sheppard, but some of us around here actually work. And some of us are more than a little surprised to see a senior officer cavorting with a woman in the mess hall."

"Cavorting?" Ronon asked quietly. Sheppard took only a moment to eye him before returning his attention to Rodney. He didn't have time to explain that term to his friend right now.

"We were not 'cavorting'. It's like Teyla said. We were bored, so we started joking around. That's all."

Rodney made no reply, instead crossing his arms indignantly.

"And," Sheppard continued, "in case you forgot, you're not the only one who works around here, nor are you the only around here who gets put in danger on a semi-weekly basis. Even if you were, it still doesn't give you the right to talk to Teyla that way. Now, take your self-important ass down to wherever she ran off to, and apologize."

Rodney's gaze leveled with his, and his jaw clenched tightly. "No."

Sheppard blinked. "No?"

"No. You may be the military leader here, but I'm not military. I don't have to do everything you say."

"Rodney," Sheppard began, his voice low, almost feral.

"Look, maybe I was a little harsh, but even you have to admit that you both seemed less-than-professional, carrying on like that. You're just lucky it wasn't Colonel Carter that walked in here. She would've had a fit."

Swallowing the argument he knew Rodney was trying to bait him into, Sheppard shook his head and repeated, "Go apologize. Now."

"No."

Sheppard felt his blood boil, heard his pulse rushing in his ears. How dare he say those things to Teyla – one of the most trustworthy women they'd ever met – and then refuse to take them back? Was he crazy? Was he jealous? He was startled by that. Where was that coming from? Jealous of whom, and of what? Feeling his control slipping, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, he looked to Ronon for some way to calm down. Seeing that there was none – other than to walk away – John Sheppard did what he had been itching to do since Teyla left.

He punched Rodney McKay in the face.

Blood immediately poured from Rodney's nose, running through the fingers he had clasped over his face and spattering onto the tiled floor at their feet.

"Damn you, Sheppard!" Rodney screeched. "Broke my nose!"

"Maybe next time you'll think before you treat Teyla like that," Sheppard replied, his chest still heaving in anger. His limbs were beginning to feel shaky now that the rush of adrenaline was fading, and he noticed that some of Rodney's blood had somehow got onto his knuckles. When he looked up again, Ronon was staring at him with a mixture of surprise, confusion, and respect. Out of those three, it was the respect that made Sheppard feel the worst. He really hadn't meant to hit Rodney, but he'd been so angry…

Carter had seen the whole thing, having come in a few minutes before Rodney and Ronon had. Now, she stepped forward, a grim look on her face. "Gentlemen! Infirmary, then my office. Now!"

Sheppard let his eyes drift closed for a moment as he realized that he was probably in the most trouble he'd been in since being sent to Antarctica. Not only had he punched the man that he considered his best friend in two galaxies, but he'd done it in front of the Expedition leader. And the entire mess hall, to boot.

Uttering a quick, "Yes, ma'am," he ducked out of the room and stalked down to the infirmary.

"What on earth has gotten into you?"

Sheppard could only stare at the floor of Carter's office, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rodney standing beside him, his arms folded angrily over his chest. He'd stopped bleeding a while ago, but the bridge of his nose was red, and a little swollen. It made Sheppard feel worse than he did when it had been gushing blood.

Finally, the silence became too much for Sheppard to bear, and he replied, "Honestly, I don't know."

Carter gazed at him, confused. "You don't know?"

He shook his head. "I don't. I'm sorry."

"First," she said, "you throw Teyla over your shoulder and threaten her with 'dumping her on M7G…"

"In all fairness," Sheppard interrupted, "Teyla knew I was kidding. I would never do that to her. Or anyone, for that matter."

Rodney made a noise in his throat, but remained otherwise silent.

"Regardless, the threat – however real or imagined – was overheard by the crew in the mess hall," she replied. Then, she looked over at Rodney. "You then come in and act superior, making rude comments and refusing to apologize."

"I did not, and still do not, think their performance was becoming to members of this expedition," Rodney explained.

"Oh, please," Sheppard interjected. "You just don't like the idea of anyone having fun without you."

Rodney rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, but I don't find the idea of being thrown over your shoulders and carried off through the halls, fun."

"Thank God for that."

"Stop it!" Carter shouted at them, and John's gaze returned to the carpet beneath his feet. "The point is, Rodney's refusal to attempt to rectify the situation, caused you, Colonel Sheppard, to punch him in the face, nearly breaking his nose."

Sheppard nodded. "Yes. And for that, I am truly sorry."

Rodney made another noise, but Carter ignored him. Instead, she asked, "And you really think that was the best course of action? Either of you?"

"No, ma'am," Sheppard replied sheepishly.

"Of course not," Rodney said, at the same time.

Carter glanced at both men, then rubbed her hand over her face and sighed. "Do either of you even realize what a nightmare this is for me? I don't even know what to do with you right now, and if the IOA hears about this…"

"Look," Sheppard interjected then, and she gazed pointedly at him. "I know this is bad, but we can fix it. On our own."

"You can?"

"Yes, we can," Rodney piped up.

"Well, you'd better. My reports will be finished by eleven-hundred tonight. You have until then. If you can't reach a solution, then the SGC as well as the IOA will find out about today's little…" she searched her already-tired mind for the right word, "…adventure."

Both men stood there, growing ever more uncomfortable in front of her, and she finally added, "You're dismissed."

John was the first to leave, expertly turning on his heel and walking out of the office in one fluid motion. Before he turned the corner, however, he glanced back inside at Rodney, his eyes full of something Carter couldn't read. Rodney could, apparently, because he seemed to crumple inside himself. Then, he took a breath, and also left the office.

When they were both gone, Carter leaned heavily against her desk, forcing herself to relax before the stiffness in her shoulders locked up for good. Sometimes, she didn't feel like so much of an expedition leader as she did a Kindergarten teacher. Right now was one of those times.

She looked at the clock on her desk. Sixteen-hundred-thirty. Six and a half hours left. With a shake of her head, she hoped they would indeed resolve their issues on their own. She really didn't want to deal with the heat she'd get from the SGC, and she really, really didn't want to deal with the IOA.

Rodney stepped up to the gym doors, heaving in a calming breath. His palms felt slick with sweat, so he wiped them on his pants, and then wiped them again for good measure. For the tenth time in as many minutes, he considered walking back to his lab. Let the IOA find out, he dared himself. What's the worst that could happen? No, he argued back, he had to do this.

Before he could change his mind, he swiped his hand over the door controls, and they immediately parted to show Teyla inside, practicing her fighting moves alone. When she saw Rodney standing there, however, she suddenly stopped. Lowering her bantos staff, she gave him a curt nod and then simply waited there in the middle of the room.

"I…uh," he began, "I wanted to apologize."

She nodded again, but stayed silent. As imperceptive as he could sometimes be, even Rodney could see that she was still very upset. Taking a step further inside the gym, he continued, "I said things I shouldn't have, and I'm sorry."

After a long pause, Teyla moved across the gym and replaced the staff in its holder. Then, she stepped in front of him, her eyes searching for something.

"Are you sorry for what you said, or merely for how you said it?" She asked.

He frowned as he considered her question. "No. No, I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it at all. It's just…" Just what? He asked himself. Is there really any way to justify the way you acted? The things you said? Realizing that there wasn't, he sighed and dropped his gaze to the floor. "I'm just so sorry."

Though she wanted to make him suffer for treating her the way he had, she knew that he was feeling guilty enough as it was. Gently, she placed her hands on his arms and attempted a small smile.

"Rodney, I know that most times, your words and attitudes are overlooked because of your great intellect. But, you must understand that I value you as a close friend, and as such, your words hold great meaning to me. What you said hurt me very much. Colonel Sheppard and I meant nothing by our actions, though I admit that things did get out of hand."

He nodded vigorously. "I know that. And you should know that I…uh…I respect you as a woman, and as a good friend, too."

"Thank you."

"I feel terrible for acting like such an idiot."

She smiled at him again. "Everyone acts in a similar manner now and then. You are not the first, and will not be the last. Even so, you are forgiven."

He heaved out a relieved sigh. "Oh, good. That's…that's good. Thank you, Teyla."

"You are welcome. Now, I believe there is someone else you must apologize to."

Rodney gazed at her, puzzled. "There is?"

"Colonel Sheppard."

"But he hit me!" He cried. "Why should I apologize to him?"

Teyla shook her head, astounded that she had to explain this to him. "What you said hurt him as much as it did me. Perhaps more. That is why he hit you."

"But it had nothing to do with him."

"Are you sure of that?"

Rodney thought about it for a moment, but he still didn't see what she meant. When he shook his head, she said, "First, Colonel Sheppard is very protective of the women around him. If one of them is hurt or offended, he takes it personally. Also, he was directly involved in the incident, so it affected him even more."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he finally admitted. "I mean, I know how he is with the women here, but I never thought…" He rubbed at his thinning hair. "I should go and talk to him."

She patted his arm. "Go and fix things, and I will see you later."

"Okay. And thanks again."

Teyla nodded, and he left the gym feeling both better and worse at the same time.

TBC...