"Where are we going?" Jennifer asked.
"Therapy." John replied leading her through the corridors of the city.
"You're not really selling this." Jennifer said.
"I don't mean the traditional shrink kind. This will be fun. Trust me."
"What will be fun?" Jennifer pressed, trying to ignore the stares being directed at her.
"You'll find out." John said. "But don't worry, it's tried and trusted. Admittedly it is not quite how it should be, I am short of ground staff, but it is a good substitute for the real thing."
"Ground staff? Real thing? You know you are not making sense?" Jennifer asked.
"Sure I am. It will all become clear." Sheppard said walking into a transporter. When Jennifer was along side him he hit the console and grinned. "Nearly there."
"Where exactly are we?" Jennifer asked as the doors opened, revealing a dimly lit corridor.
"A quiet part of the city. There will be no interruptions. Ok, just through there."
"Onto the balcony?"
"Yep."
"Ok." Jennifer said walking out. "You are making a small balcony garden?" Jennifer asked, seeing some artificial turf on the ground.
"Funny. It's a practice mat."
"Practice for what?" Jennifer asked.
"Golf." John said smiling, pulling a club out of the bag in the corner.
"I don't play golf."
"Now you do."
"I've never played golf."
"I'm going to teach you. It's therapeutic."
"Is that why the marine count goes up in the infirmary in the hours following Ronon having a therapeutic golf session?"
"Funny." Sheppard said. "Ronon just hasn't learned how to appreciate the skill involved."
"There's skill? That's me out." Jennifer said retreating from the balcony.
"Oh no you don't." John said. "Just give it a try."
"I don't even know how to hold the thing."
"The thing?" Sheppard winced. "The thing is a club. I think in your case we'll start with a nine iron. Just come and stand here." He instructed pointing the green mat on the floor. Reluctantly Jennifer approached him and he handed her the club.
"Isn't there meant to be a ball?" Jennifer asked.
"I think a couple of practice swings would be good start for you." Sheppard explained. "So stand with your feet shoulder's width apart, with a slight bend in your knees. Look down at the mat and then swing with the club, nice and gently." He instructed. As Jennifer swung Sheppard reiterated, "gently." Once Jennifer had swung a couple of times John nodded.
"Okay, now I'm going to put the ball down. Just do what you just did." Sheppard said placing the ball. As he backed away Jennifer looked at the ball before taking a swing. This time, with the psychological barrier of the ball before her, Jennifer forgot everything John had taught her and wildly swung at the ball, missing it completely.
"Easy there doc." John said, trying to surprise a grin. "Don't try to kill it. Remember nice and gentle."
Mumbling something incoherent Jennifer reset herself and tried again. This time she made contact with the ball, but bad contact. The ball went almost vertically upwards crashing into the ceiling before bouncing back. John immediately lunged forward and wrapped his arms round Jennifer to protect her from the ricocheting ball. When the ball had finally come to rest John backed away slightly.
"I told you this was a bad idea." Jennifer said looking embarrassed.
"I never realised you were stubborn enough to injure yourself to prove a point."
"Funny. So can I go now. I don't think Mr Woolsey would be too impressed if I took out the military leader of Atlantis. And after thumper I don't think your reputation could take it."
"You're not going anywhere." John said. "Let's try a different approach." He added placing the ball back on the mat, but away from the tee. He then moved behind Jennifer and stood up against her, placing his hands over hers on the golf club. "First step, you need to loosen up." He then moved the club and Jennifer's arms through the air in a small arc. "See no effort, just swing. You let the club do the work." John said. Jennifer remained silent trying to focus on anything and everything that was not the body pressed against her back. "Ready to try with a ball?" He asked, moving the club to scoop a ball towards the tee.
"No." Jennifer said, trying to stop her voice trembling.
"Relax. I'm here to stop you taking out the city." John said, beginning to find it hard to concentrate on the golf rather than Jennifer. "Ok, so um I need you to stay relaxed and you need to move your hands down the shaft a bit. You're tensing up a bit, remember stay loose and just swing freely." He instructed as he kept a firm hold of the club and Jennifer's hands. Moving his arms he led Jennifer through a swing, which resulted in the ball flying off the mat in a smooth arc and down into water below.
"See not so hard." John said, his arms still wrapped round Jennifer and his chest pressed against her back.
"Good teacher." Jennifer said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Ready for another go?" John asked as he moved his and Jennifer's arms and the club to move another ball into position.
"Ok." Jennifer said, trying to focus on the golf ball.
"Like before keep loose." John instructed before deciding he had nothing to loose and as he moved their arms back to the top of the swing he asked. "So are you dating anyone?" The shock of hearing the question caused Jennifer to forget all about the swing and attempt to turn round to face Sheppard, who was busy completing the shot. The two competing movements causing them both to loose their balance.
Sheppard, with help from the golf club was the first to recover, but he ended up more entangled with Jennifer than before. With her now facing him, leaning against him for support, he found their legs were entwined whilst his arms were wrapped round her back.
"Why?" Jennifer asked, desperately trying to focus on the question rather han their positioning.
"Well if you were, this might be a bit awkward." John said, his proximity to Jennifer allowing him to feel that her heart was beating as hard and fast as his own.
"No." Jennifer said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. The denial was the only invitation that John needed. Lowering his head he gently and cautiously kissed her, nervously waiting her response. When Jennifer returned the kiss John dropped the club, that he was still holding and placed his hands on Jennifer's back, deepening the kiss. But after a moment he worried he was taking advantage of her and pulled away.
"You ok with this?" John asked. Jennifer's response was to capture John's mouth with her own, freeing her arms and wrapping them round John, resulting in both of them becoming oblivious to anything other than each other.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up tomorrow.
