Pairing: Sparky, with mentions of Teyla/Ronon

Spoilers: This takes place in season 3 after 'McKay and Mrs. Miller' so spoilers up to that point.

Disclaimer: I don't own them, if I did things would be going much differently this season

Summary: Elizabeth discovers just how creative betting is in Atlantis, which leads to some surprising results.

Author's note: All right, I was only going to post one chapter a day from here on out, but here is a second one for today. This chapter has the other half of my idea for the story (the gambling ring being the first part). Imagine my surprise when it took 5 chapters to get to it. Anyway, I'm interested to see what you guys think!

Chapter 6- The Plan

John determinedly walked to Elizabeth's office, trying to figure out the best way to convince her of his idea. True to her word, Elizabeth had joined him and Rodney at lunch yesterday. In fact, she was handling the news of their invented relationship, marriage, and kids by the Atlantis expedition rather well. They hadn't spent any time alone together since their talk on the balcnoy, but the fact that things didn't seem to be too awkward was a step in the right direction. He had decided to give her some space by purposely not joining her on their balcony this morning to exchange news of the day. It was their usual routine when he was in Atlantis for any significant amount of time, but he valued his friendship with her too much to push things. Although that was what he was heading to her office to do right now.

John stopped and leaned against Elizabeth's office door, watching as she steadily typed on her laptop. She was oblivious to his presence, so he had an opportunity to scare the crap out of her.

"Did you want to talk to me about something Colonel? Or are you going to hover there all day?" Elizabeth asked him without so much as looking up from her work.

Okay, so she is not as unaware of me as I thought. John didn't say anything as he crossed the distance from the doorway to her desk and proceeded to sit on the corner of it. It wasn't until Elizabeth finally stopped typing and looked up at him expectantly that he replied with his most charming smile, "Why, yes Doctor. I actually have a proposition for you."

"Really, and what would that be?" She questioned, settling back in her chair.

"Well, I think you should take the afternoon off and come to the mainland with me." He replied.

"John, I don't think-"

"And don't say that you don't have time because we both know that the reports for the SGC were sent to Daedalus just this morning."

"Yes, but-"

"And there isn't much going on in the city right now, so no one should need you for the next couple hours."

"While that might-"

"And you should have taken an afternoon off a couple of days ago, but you didn't, so really this break is overdue."

"Are going to let me talk? I was just going to ask why you were going to the mainland." Elizabeth said in a slightly exasperated voice.

"Okay, but after I answered that question, you were going to use all of those excuses."

"Maybe" Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him.

John gave her a look that clearly said he didn't believe her.

"Okay, I probably would have." She admitted.

"Teyla radioed this morning and put in an order for some medical supplies and a few other things. I thought I'd fly them over myself and visit the Athosians. You could use a break, so you're coming with me." He replied.

"John, while you have given me many reasons for going. I'm not sure I really can. I do have a lot of work to catch up on." Elizabeth said in a patient tone.

John however was not above a bit of treachery. Instead of continuing to argue, he merely touched his headset and said, "Sheppard to Beckett." He then threw a challenging look at Elizabeth who sat there with her mouth slightly open as if surprised by this turn of events.

"Okay, you've made your point. I'll go with you."

"Hey Carson, can you have those medical supplies brought to the jumper bay? I plan to leave in a half hour." John responded to Beckett over the radio.

"And I will see you in the jumper bay in half hour too." He said to Elizabeth, jumping off the corner of her desk and leaving before she could get a word in edgewise. He was quite satisfied with himself. Part one of the plan had gone well.

----------------------------------------------

"Ready?" John asked Elizabeth as she walked into the jumper bay, noticing that she had changed into more comfortable clothes and tennis shoes.

"Sure, let's go."

Once they were in the air Elizabeth turned to him and asked, "What is with you today?"

"Huh?" He responded, throwing a confused look at her.

"Did you get into Rodney's stash of espresso or something? You seem unusually enthusiastic and...hyper."

"I will have you know that I'm not any different today than any other day. But I did have a great idea."

"Okay" Elizabeth replied with a cautious tone.

"Actually, it was really your idea, I just modified it." John glanced over at Elizabeth and noticed a wary look in her eyes.

"Why am I suddenly worried?"

"That hurts, Elizabeth. If you're going to be that way, I won't tell you my idea."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Fine. What is your idea?"

John smirked, "How would you like to mess with the Atlantis gambling ring, and maybe get rid of all the bets on you and I?"

"And how would you suggest we accomplish this." Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at him.

"The bet-ees become the bet-tors. We fix a bet!"

"How…" He seemed to have shocked Elizabeth into speechlessness.

"We do things to push the stakes up on one of the bets on us. We bet on us. Pretend to fulfill the bet. And take the winnings. The shock of it all might be enough to discourage any future betting on either one of us." He explained.

There was a moment of silence and then, "Wow….Are you deranged?! Even if we could place a bet, to push up the stakes we would have to have a visible relationship. We could both get fired! ….And how was this my idea?"

"You made the comment about not drinking wine just to see what people would do, which got me thinking. And, there has to be enough harmless stuff that we can do to lead people to certain conclusions without actual evidence of anything to get us in trouble." He answered with a shrug.

Elizabeth seemed to consider this. "I'm not sure. It seems a little over the top."

"Come on. We'll stop feeling powerless about the whole situation. It will teach them all a lesson. And most importantly it will be fun." John proceeded to give Elizabeth his best puppy dog eyes. "Please."

"It would serve them right." She admitted with a small smile.

"That's the spirit. And we should have enough time in the next couple weeks to make significant progress, what with almost no gate travel and Rodney's team reconfiguring things." John grinned gleefully.

"Let me think about it for a while, okay"

"All right, we're here anyway," John agreed as he started to land the jumper. He hadn't missed the look of interest that had crossed Elizabeth's face. Part two of the plan seemed to be going well.