3 Training Sessions
For a day off he noticed he was working pretty dam hard. He had run until his knees couldn't take anymore at 5AM surrounded by people listening to Christmas songs. It had made him run further and harder than usual, relishing the pain until it felt like his knees were about to give way. The wonderfully hot shower afterwards had relieved most of the pain but when he went to the gym first thing to attempt to teach Parrish more defence moves he had felt the tightenings flair up. It was almost painful but he worked through it finding the feeling easier to deal with as he demonstrated more and more moves.
Everything he had worked on for Parrish had been blocking simple moves but today he was pushing the boat a little, trying to rock the boat of comfort the man had seemed to put himself in. Confident that the man would panic and then take it in his stride he eased him in, swinging his fist this way and that trying to gain a contact. He was happy with the way he reacted although sometimes he really did stand there eyes twitching from one hand to the next, looking for the next move to block. Every now and then he threw in a kick trying not to smirk as the man would fly back out of the way his hands up guarded, the occasional tremble showing the adrenalin beginning to surge through his body.
By the time he headed for the training knife seeing more of the whites of the man's eyes than he thought possible his body was loose and limber, crying out for action of some kind. Running through a thousand different moves he settled on a simple routine having already decided to keep it as simple as possible. He was proud of the progress he had made but he was still skittish and nervous at the best of times. Unless you stuck a plant infront of him. The thought of attacking him with a flower made him chuckle earning him a bizarre look from the botanist. Turning the 'blade' he made a swing slowly demonstrating how he would move and then pulling Parrish's hands up to block it slowly making it faster and faster before putting a twist on it coming at a different direction.
It took him a long time to get used to the move and he was very slowly getting used to the idea of a weapon coming at him. Giving him a few more tries he watched him battling the fight or flight response, the distance between them clearly showing he was losing. Calling a close to it they gathered their things heading quickly noted how easily the man slumped over from the exertion.
By lunch time it had started to catch up on him, stretching and stretching some more he tried to loosen up the muscles. Twice he had almost reached for his muscle relaxant but he had two more training sessions today. He knew he would need it after the next one but he wasn't keen on using it if he could help it.
When he returned to the gym after lunch with Parrish he had happily let Stackhouse and Michaels do the majority of the sparring only edging in every now and then. It kept him loose and kept his mind focussed. First defence, then attack, then an all out sparring match that left them all panting and sore. It was only when he and Stackhouse had teamed up against Michaels that he had started to feel it again. He knew what his sister would say and at times he would hear her laughter at the back of his head and her voice telling him he was getting too old to play these games. He knew when he crawled into bed that he would feel old and creaky but it was worth it. Every second of this life out here was worth it. Not that he was admitting to being old.
Coming up against Michaels again he shared a look with Stackhouse one born out of many missions and way too much down time together. As Stackhouse lifted up his leg swinging at Michaels' head he held back waiting for the man to duck back before dropping down knocking his knees out. Stackhouse was on him in a shot his forearm pushed against Michaels' throat. Lifting up slowly he felt the creak in his knees, more than a little aware of the days activities catching up with him. Seeing Michaels yield they all sloped over for water chuckling at the easy defeats they all seemed to hand eachother today.
Half listening to the banter he checked his watch aware he had one more training session today before he could give in to his body's call. There was only an hour left so there was no point in leaving to go anywhere. As the other two sauntered off with a short wave he jigged around the room trying to keep his mind focussed stretching out his arms before rolling his shoulders. He could feel the tightening down his back returning and it made him wince as he moved the muscles each one protesting. Knowing he still had plenty of time he eased himself back down flopping hs head into his hands.
He was tired and a little hungry. His mind ached from the last few days. Whenever Sheppard got himself into some kind of trouble he had taken over stepped up to the plate and taken on the extra work, barely even changing his pace but this time it was different. Maybe it was because he needed a break not having had more than the occasional day off in so long, maybe it was the time of year and missing his family that made it more of a struggle. But part of him contemplated maybe it was the fact he was alone, again. Whether he had the time off or not he was still in the city on his own when everyone around him had someone. The only totally single person he knew of right now was Sheppard and thanks to his little Ancient incident had got himself some female companionship both physically and mentally. Or maybe emotionally since it was an empathic trip.
Either the door was silent as it opened and closed or he really was out of it. His skin jumped when he felt hands on his shoulders slowly kneading the muscles. It was only when the soft scent of vanilla hit his nose that he relaxed, letting her nimble fingers ease the tension and pain. Some part of his brain tickled free of the sensation making his hands reach up to stop hers. When he felt her body flush against the back of him, her hot breath at his ear he could barely resist the shudder that ran through him. Actually listening to her he released her hands loving the feel of them as they worked down his back and then up again. He tried to focus on his breathing, tried to resist his body's reactions to her hands running over him.
When she reached his neck making gentle circles with her thumbs along his spine up into his hair he had to get her to stop. The feeling was too much, hot poker spikes running around his body reawakening him. Slipping his hands over hers he slipped them away, the tickle of her fingers on his sensitive skin sending tingles down his spine. He knew how they looked, her body wrapped around his as they both sat eyes half lidded in a public place but he was too spaced to care. Unable to think why he was here with her for a moment, he had to sit perfectly still fighting through the warm haze that wrapped around his mind.
Not letting go of her hands he stood, tugging her up off the bench backing up until they were on the mat. He knew from experience there was nothing wrong with her attacks. Several lieutenants openly avoided her when they held group training for the civilians in the city, some of them having been on the receiving end of her right hook. He had accidentally felt it himself through the pads when they had trained before and at that point she had been in a good mood not hyped up and angry.
Swing block, swing swing block miss. Over and over she missed the move. Had she been in a true fight he knew she would have easily cracked a couple of ribs if not worse. She seemed to know it too beating herself up about it. He had her step up feigning that same move only to grab her arm and twist it behind her. Knowing she would strike out he reached around tickling her sides. Feeling her legs crumble under her as she gave in to laughter trying her hardest to get away from him he went with her keeping up the new assault. Twisting and pulling she tried to break free but he held on dancing his fingers over the bare skin of her waist as her rumpled shirt revealed more and more.
He loved the sounds she made. It was light and true and as far away from just what they were doing as it could get. It wasn't until he felt her breath on his face that he spotted how much their positions had changed. She was now pinned beneath him one arm held above her head as his hand rested on the bare skin of her waist. There was practically no space between them. It would take nothing to move just that little bit. But he pushed up yanking her up off the floor. Steadying themselves they seperated collecting their things before silently walking out the room in opposite directions.
His mind was a jumble, his heart racing and he wanted to turn around but he carried on focussing on the twinging muscles instead.