Disclaimers: I own no part of the Stargate world, I make no money from this endeavour.

Note – I borrowed the idea for the second part of this chapter from a Cupid episode, here however Joe Flanigan would be on the other side of the argument. If you haven't seen the short lived series Cupid, take a look, especially the JF episodes.

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

John struck out at Johnson's head, who managed to block the hit, but not John's second hidden strike aimed at his torso. Lt. Johnson grunted as the stick made contact and staggered away from John. John apologised half-heartedly. He was used to training with Teyla, who blocked almost all his strikes and he wasn't used to pulling his hits. Fortunately for Johnson John had not been hitting with even half his strength. John stepped back to retrieve his water and give Johnson a breather.

As he sipped from his water flask he took in the room around him. Teyla had been approached by so many of the military staff for training that she had set up a large group class. The old gym was obviously too small, so she had asked Doctor Weir if she could use one of the massive hallways as a training space. John had to admit the room made a good gym. There were about ten pairs sparring in the room and there was still plenty of space for the new weight machines and one area of the floor covered with crash mats for hand to hand training. He liked this new gym, but he preferred the smaller more intimate space of the smaller gym. Maybe it was because he first learnt there with Teyla or that in that space they were able to spar more one on one.

With so many new students she did not have as much time to individually spar and consequently they had not met up for several weeks. And in truth they had sparred less since the whole turning into a bug episode. He told himself that they sparred less because they were too busy, that they both had busy timetables. But, deep down he thought it was more likely due to either her not wanting to be in that kind of situation again with him. Or, only slightly more depressing was that she might be spending her time with someone else.

Doctor Mark Martin had arrived several weeks ago and had struck up a strong friendship with Teyla. John had seen no signs yet that they were anything more than friends, but the Doctor was often away on the main land or visiting off world and John did not enjoy watching the handsome talented doctor flirt with Teyla. So, he went along with the 'sorry I haven't had time to spar' illusion. He still spent as much of his off hours with her, and the rest of his friends here, but. Sparring together was something he had always looked forward to. Not only for the chance to hone his skills, but as something he shared with her. He missed that. So, in order to keep up his skills he went along to her large classes, even though he was the most advanced student there. He found he spent most of his time helping to instruct the newbies, and very little time sparring with her. As now she was showing the new routine once again to one pair.

He watched her as she went through the steps he had learnt over a year ago. She wore one of her more attractive outfits today, but he was glad to see one of the more covering tops. she was an attractive woman and he heard the men admiring her quite often. He wondered if she was aware of this and had chosen the outfit for this class for that reason. Or perhaps she is in a relationship and he asked her to cover up, he thought suddenly. It was a stupid thought, not only would Teyla never bow to such male orders, but that he should be thinking like this.

She turned from her sparring as if feeling his eyes upon her and she smiled across the room to him. He smiled in return, feeling his heart rate jump. God, he was just like a school kid, getting all hot and bothered by any beautiful woman who innocently smiles at him.

The door to the gym opened and Teyla's attention moved from John, to the new person entering the room. John watched the soft smile spread over her face as Mark Martin entered and at the same time a deep hollow feeling spread through him. He watched as Mark waved to Teyla and took a seat at the edge of the gym. He placed a bag down at his feet and began to unpack a towel, t-shirt and two Athosian staves. John hoped he was going to join in the class, but feared he was waiting till the class finished. Were he and Teyla sparring together? John decided he needed to find out. Perhaps it was time to start up his sparring with Teyla on a regular basis again. Johnson politely coughed, bringing his attention away from the new Doctor. Picking up his staves he returned to beating up Johnson.

Ten minutes later Teyla called an end to the class. As most of the students wearily set about packing up their gear, John headed towards Teyla. They had had barely any contact this lesson and he, as usual, had been late for the class. She wiped a towel over her face, down her neck and briefly over her exposed chest. The action almost threw him off as he approached. She noticed him and turned to him with her usual smile.

"John. I am sorry I did not have time to train with you tonight." She offered.

"That's okay. You have enough to do looking after the newbies." She smiled at his term. He felt Mark approaching behind him, and saw Teyla's attention shift to over his shoulder. "But, I was hoping we could arrange some time to spar one on one again." He asked, trying to keep her attention.

Her eyes shifted back to his and she nodded. "Yes. It has been too long. I will expect you have been practicing" She teased him.

"Of course I have," he said rather unconvincingly, "but there is only so much I can do with the newbies."

Mark stepped up beside John and the moment of connection with Teyla was lost.

"Colonel. I wasn't aware you trained with Teyla?" Mark asked.

Turning his attention to the handsome new Doctor John gave him a friendly smile. "Oh, we've been training together for the past two years."

"I guess so. You seemed top of the class tonight." The compliment annoyed John for some reason.

"Thank you, but I am far from it. Teyla kicks my butt every time." He shared a smile with Teyla.

"Nonsense. Your skills have improved considerably." She offered.

John looked down at the staves in Mark's hand. "You here to do some training of your own?"

Mark smiled, "Yes, Teyla and I are going to exchange some fighting techniques." John gave him a questioning look. "I've learnt a few martial arts over the years. When you get stuck in some of the places I have over the years, it's good to know how to defend yourself."

John had heard enough of his stories. Several times John had come across him in the rec room or the mess hall surrounding by adoring fans listening to his tales of adventure.

"Really. I would be interesting in learning some of those techniques myself." John asked his eyes locked with the Doctors. Tension crackled between them.

"I would be happy to show you. We should spar sometime." The doctor's statement held the promise of a good fight. John heard the hidden challenge.

"Sounds great." He replied with an extra large smug smile.

Teyla stepped forward into their field of view and her hand fell on Mark's bare forearm. "Mark, why don't you go and warm up and I'll be with you in a moment." Mark pulled his eyes from his starring match with John to nod to Teyla.

"Colonel." He said as he left, his tone excessively polite.

"Doctor." John responded with only a small amount of sarcasm in his tone.

John watched the doctor as he headed off to a corner of the gym and began come warm up stretches. John turned back to Teyla to find her glaring at him.

"What?" He asked, surprised to see her looking so grumpy with him. What had he done to deserve that?

She frowned at him. "I do not believe it would be a good idea for you to spar with Doctor Martin."

Somewhere deep down his male pride began to stir. "Why, think he's gonna kick my ass too?"

"Yes." She said simply. The pride and ego both took the hit and he gave her a lopsided smirk. "I will see you at tomorrows meeting. We will discuss when is the best time to train then." Her words dismissed him though she smiled politely at him. What had he done that deserved such treatment? She turned and headed over to where Mark was finishing up his warm up.

John headed over to his things and crammed them into his bag. At the door he turned back to see them talking, he watched Mark's flirty smile, the way he reached over and touched Teyla's arm. The anger rose within him. He recognised the man's look and his intention. But, Teyla wasn't just any woman. She was special. She was honourable, strong and intelligent. She wasn't a normal woman and John knew without doubt that Mark was not right for her. He wanted to win her, to own her because she was beautiful. He didn't appreciate her for anything else.

They began to spar and John turned without watching. He didn't want to see how they fought. As he strode down the hallway he told himself it wasn't his place. As he wanted Mark to respect her, so should he. She could handle herself and John had to trust in that.

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

One of the worse parts of moving up the chain of command was the paperwork. It was boring and dull to write your own, and even less to read through all the other reports. Not that John didn't find it rewarding, it was just that his life was busy enough without having to go through a large stack of paperwork. Tired and still slightly grumpy from last nights sparring class, he had moved to the Mess hall. So, here he sat paperwork spread over the table and a large pot of coffee beside him. He was scribbling some notes down from one report when a shadow slid over the paper. He lifted his eyes up from his scribbles to find Doctor Martin standing by his table.

"Colonel. May I sit for a moment?" The man asked in a polite serious tone. John sensed the 'we need to talk' vibe. For a moment he considered saying no, but his natural politeness kicked in and he waved at the seat opposite him. The doctor sat and John moved a few files out of the way. John noted that despite being in the Mess hall, the doctor held no food or drink. This did not bode well.

"How may I help you, Doctor?" He asked.

The doctor settled himself on the chair and placed his interlocked hands on the table. "You don't like me very much, do you."

It was a statement rather than a question. John had to admire the guy's bluntness and he decided to be as blunt in return. "I don't know you at tall, Doctor."

"And I suspect you are not looking to get to know me either."

John wanted to sit back from the man, but that felt too much like retreating. Instead he copied the body language and interlocked his hands, though still holding his pen. The symbolism of having a pseudo weapon in his hand was not lost on him.

"Look, Doctor Martin. I don't know you and I don't need to. All I have to worry about with you is keeping you safe and every other member of this expedition. That is all I care about here."

The man studied him with his bright blue eyes and then sat back. "But that's not strictly true is it."

John frowned, "Excuse me?"

"You seem interested in with whom I spend my time."

John knew where this was going, but he wasn't going to tell the guy know that. "What do you mean?" He asked innocently.

The doctor smiled at the rouse. "Let's stop beating around the bush, huh? You don't like me spending time with Teyla."

"I'm not Teyla's keeper." John stated, though realised that perhaps he was still trying to be.

"No, you're not. You're supposed to be her friend." John ignored the possible undertone to that statement.

"Why does it matter to you, Doctor, what I think of you?" John leaned further forward over the table. He wondered if he intimated the man at tall.

"It doesn't, but it does to Teyla. I don't think she wants to see us fighting."

"When were we fighting?" John asked, knowing he was baiting him.

The doctor finally leaned forward again, right into John's space. "Look, let's get it all out on the table, okay? You don't like me and to be honest, I don't much like you either. You're arrogant and come off as a jealous bastard."

Anger flared to life in John and he clenched his jaw tight to stop himself from saying what he really wanted to to the guy. So, he focused on the main word in that sentence. "Jealous?" He demanded.

The doctor smiled smugly and sat back, which only added to John's desire to hit the guy. "Let's face it; I'm taking your place."

Confusion mixed with anger. "Excuse me?" He demanded.

"As I understand it, you and Teyla were sparring together for the past two years. Bet you liked being the only one she trained with. Just you and her in that little room. Her wearing her lovely outfits." John's fist clenched around the pen her held as he worked to hold his temper. The Doctor kept talking though, baiting him in turn. "You've been introducing her to Earth culture. Football and Ferris Wheels…"

John leaned forward menacingly at the guy, all thought fled his mind but hitting this guy. How dare he? "You know nothing about my relationship with Teyla, and what we've been through together." He managed to say through clenched teeth.

"I would never assume to understand all that. What I do assume to know, is that you don't like some other guy coming in and taking your place."

John slammed the pen down on the table, and at the edge of his field of view he saw several people look round. He kept his voice low, but full of menace. "What I don't like about you spending time with Teyla, is that you are only interested in one thing. You parade around here, followed by adoring puppy dog eyes, and you love it. I bet you collect women, like you do journals articles." The doctor's eyes grew angry in return and John felt pleasure at hitting the right spot. "Teyla is not like other women, she is not another scratch for you to itch, or another notch on your bedpost."

"You're right, you do know nothing about me and I am insulted by what you say." His tone was that of a Victorian noble man whose honour had been questioned.

John laughed at him, "What are you going to challenge me?"

"You want to play it like this, then fine. Let's play the masculine stereotypes. Let's see how good you are with those Athosian fighting sticks."

"Sorry, I'm already sparring with Teyla at 3 o'clock." John replied.

"Fine, 2 o'clock in the old gym." The doctor spat out as he left the table.

"See you there!" John shouted at his retreating back. He became aware of several people watching him, so he set about packing up all his paperwork.

What was wrong with him? He was behaving foolishly. Teyla would have his hide if she heard about this. But, he couldn't forget the teasing words and the smug look on the guy's face. How many times had his hot blood gotten him into trouble over the years? He thought he was getting past all that, but here he was again getting into more trouble. He had a bad feeling about this.

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

TBC