It had been a long day, but John was thoroughly enjoying himself. That was mostly due to him and Ronon having wiped the court with all the other doubles teams, except one. Teyla and Lorne stood on the other side of the net, both looking tired, and a little annoyed.

John took his place, his racket ready and he dropped the shuttlecock into the serve. It sailed over the high net in a slow arch, which Teyla easily returned from her side, and the shuttle crossed back towards John's side. Ronon snapped it back with a fast crack of his wrist and Lorne lunged to return but missed. The small audience that remained from the day's games applauded again. John smiled as Lorne picked himself up off the floor for the third time in the last half hour. John and Ronon made a killer team and both had gone into today's event determined to shatter all their competition.

The only problem had been teaching Ronon how to play the game. He had a tendency to destroy the shuttlecock with one hit, and he had repeatedly gone for shots under the net during practice. He wasn't so good at following the rules, or 'stupid restrictions' as he called them. But, today as expected the man was on top form. Well, when wasn't Ronon on top form?

The play began again and he and Ronon stepped around each other fast and quick to send rapid return shots at the most ridiculous angles over the net. Teyla was catching most of them, but her shorter legs and having to step around Lorne who wasn't as quick as her, was holding her back. And she did not look amused.

John leapt up and spiked the shuttle down at a steep angle just ahead of Teyla. She leapt forward, racket extended but she was an inch too shy to reach and the shuttle hit the floor. John stepped back to his place watching the angry expression on her face, and for a moment he thought he saw her mouth a swear word. Excellent. It was a rare day that Teyla was led to such a thing.

John high fived Ronon as he passed, both feeling victory very close. They only needed two more points and they would have enough of a lead to win. Victory was most defiantly in sight.

The next sets of hits were all high, the shuttle rising and falling slowly up almost reaching the ceiling. John struck a return towards Lorne's face. The man leapt back on instinct and wasn't able to get his racket up in time. Another point. John smiled through the net at the major who was now red in the face and panting. It had been a long day for them all and Lorne was most definitely feeling it.

He and Ronon only needed one more point. John hiked up his loose joggers and bent forward ready for the next play with anticipation. He took a moment to look across the court to where Teyla stood; she felt his attention and gave him a raised eyebrow. He returned with the cockiest look he could muster.

The shuttle was hit, sailing over the net to be returned, just skimming the net. John jumped and struck back towards Lorne again; the weak link. However, at the last moment the major ducked and Teyla swung out at the shuttle above him. The shuttle skirted the top of the net directly towards John's face. He lunged out of the way only just saving himself from a shuttlecock to the eye.

The audience laughed and clapped at the obviously emotionally charged play. John stood back up, his fingers automatically feeling around his right eye for any damage. Nothing, he had moved quickly enough. He looked through the netting to Teyla to see a smirk of a smile.

Ronon slapped him on the back, pulling him away from the net.

"You alright?" The big man asked.

"No harm." John muttered, testing around his eye one more time.

"They're getting desperate. We only need one more point." Ronon added the pleasure obvious in his tone.

"Let's do this then." John responded.

The next volley was fast and furious. Ronon and John danced around each other to catch each shot, moving with a grace born from regularly training with one another and protecting each others back over the years. Lorne and Teyla worked hard to keep up the same pace, but they lacked the fluidity that he and Ronon possessed. Lorne almost tripped over Teyla as she intercepted a low shot from John. She dropped to one knee and extended her racket out and just caught the shuttle before it touched the floor. The audience applauded loudly.

Her return was high and slow, giving Ronon plenty of time to get under it. He jumped up and snapped the shuttle back over the net at such a speed that John heard the shuttle break on the impact, but it still flew back over, and straight for Lorne's face again. The shuttle sped towards him in a blur and all he had time to do was drop to the floor with a yelp. Teyla had been too far away to rescue the shot and the shuttle touched down just inside the line. The audience gasped at the shot and then leapt to their feet clapping loudly.

It had happened so quickly that it took John a moment to realise they had won. He threw his arms up over his head. "Yes!" He shouted, and Ronon joined him. Teyla was helping Lorne to his feet and both looking very annoyed and not a little exhausted. They walked slowly to the net to shake hands with him and Ronon.

Ronon pumped Lorne's hand and slapped him on the shoulder. "No offence man."

"None taken." Lorne replied, reeling slightly from the friendly slap to his obviously aching shoulder. "Good game. Guess you guys had to win something eventually."

John shook his hand. "Start of a new trend, Major. Get used to the disappointment now; it'll save you some heartache later."

He turned to Teyla as she extended her hand to him, but she was rolling her eyes already at his smug smile. "Well tried, Teyla." He said. "Better luck next time maybe." She dropped his hand quickly, and turned from him her lips pursed.

John couldn't help but laugh. That was for the kick to the shins. He watched as she and Lorne walked back to the rest of their team, who greeted them with friendly pats on the shoulder and even a hug or two for Teyla. He was surprised to see that, as she wasn't really a hugging type he had thought. A strange feeling moved in his gut as he headed over to his own team with Ronon.

He looked back at her again to see her put her arm around Lorne's shoulders and they laughed together at something she said to him, then they both looked up towards John. He felt a start as the rest of Teyla's team all turned to look at him as well. All six pairs of eyes all smiled at him rather too sweetly. Uh oh.

TBC