A/N: So, here comes the tag-teaming, as requested. ) It's a really nice idea, by the way.

xxxxx

Teyla had just picked up Major Sheppard at his quarters for another round of stick fight training. Now they both stood by the gym doors watching an absolutely funny scene:

Dana, Dr Beckett's little friend, was throwing baskets with Sergeant Bates. And that only a day after he had survived a pudding attack from the little one.

But now the two of them were there getting along very harmoniously as if nothing had happened.

Well, at least they did until Dana spotted Sheppard who was leaning against the wall. She came hopping over to him the ball clutched tightly against her chest, uttering a merry squeak.

"John!" she jumped up and down in front of him.

The major grinned at her, "Yeah, that's me. Maybe you'd like to give the ball back to Bates? I'd say he's a little on the dry without it."

But Dana kept on looking at him with her big, blue eyes. "Well, okay", John gave it another try, "what if Teyla and me would join your little game", he looked over to the security chief, "That okay with you, Sergeant?"

Bates smiled wryly, "Why not, sir? Unless Dana continues to hog the ball like this..."

Sheppard got to his knees to be eye to eye with the girl, "You've heard him, kiddo. So why don't you give me the ball, just for a second?" he reached out his hands for it.

"Aye, aye", Dana shook her blonde curls in a nod and let go of the big ball.

"Thanks", now the major winked at Teyla, "So, what about a nice round of girls versus boys street ball?"

She nodded, amused by his playful manner, "But only if we get the ball first."

"Okay, okay", John threw it over to her taking up position by the basket next to Sergeant Bates.

Smirking Teyla gave the ball to Dana with an encouraging tap on the shoulder. And from one moment to another the child was running for the basket at lightning speed past the two boys who only realized that she had gone past them once the ball had fallen through the net and hit the floor.

Her quick attack made John scowl at his teammate, "Have you been teaching her secret techniques?"

Bates, a bit bewildered himself, shook his head, "Err, no, sir."

Quickly Sheppard picked the ball from the floor and dribbled over to the makeshift line while Teyla and Dana took their first turn defending the basket.

"Okay, Bates, it's your turn", the major passed the ball to his teammate made a rush forward at once, passing the ball back at half distance, as Teyla got into his way. John tried his best to circle Dana smoothly. But the child used her strongest weapon on him... A second later Teyla had scored another two points for the girls' team.

"Major, what was that supposed to be?" Bates groaned at Sheppard who had dropped the ball just like that.

"Well, uh, little D here distracted me with her cute blue eyes and then I just..." he stammered.

The sergeant rolled his eyes, "Great, really great..."

"Hey, don't say you can do it any better..."

"Major, Sergeant", Teyla intervened into their bickering quickly, "Could we just continue our game or do you need a time-out?"

John blinked for a second then said, "Nah, we're good", he threw his other team member a quick glare before they took up defensive positions again.

"Fine", Teyla dribbled for the basket, simply squeezing through the two guys. But instead of throwing the ball right away she waited for Dana to come from the other side. As the kid had arrived she gave the ball to her, lifting her up so that she could dunk the ball. Once the ball was through the ring Dana gave her team mate a kiss on the cheek exclaiming, "Tha e éibhinn!"

Bates picked up the ball while Major Sheppard let out a snort, "Say what, a dunk..."

"Well, that's six-nil for us, gentlemen", Teyla grinned at both of them.

"Nothing we can't still turn around", the sergeant stated, starting another counter attack. Meanwhile Teyla set Dana back down on the floor, whispering, "Go, tackle him." The little one nodded and jumped into the middle of his path, trying to snatch the ball. One moment she hopped into the air, the next moment she was lying on the floor. Sniffling and with tears in her eyes she curled herself up, seemingly in pain. Quickly John and the two others gathered around her. "Oh, honey, what did ya do?" The major dropped down beside her and sat her up against his side, "Looks like you have a bloody knee", carefully he extended his finger for it, but Dana slapped it away, "Okay, then not. What do you guys say?" he turned to Teyla and Bates, "Looks like a case for Carson."

They nodded in agreement then John took the girl into his arms and the three of them started a little procession to the infirmary, hoping that the Scot wouldn't get too cross with them.

Sighing Carson looked at the still sniffling Dana sitting on the exam table in front of him, "How did that happen?" he questioned into the round of Sheppard, Teyla and Bates who were all giving him sheepish looks.

"Looks like we've all been a little wild there", John finally replied while the other two pulled sort of guilty faces. But honestly, Carson didn't blame any of them. He had actually waited for something like that to happen once he was absent, "So, let's have a look at that", gently he ran his gloved finger across the slightly bleeding wound, "nothing bad, really." He dabbed some iodine tincture on it. Though he was very careful with it, the bit was enough to make his little darling cry again.

"Och, lassie", he caressed Dana's curly hair while she closed her arms around his neck, weeping on his lab coat. Gingerly he wiped her knee dry with a piece of gauze, putting a plaster on it, "It's fine."

But somehow it wasn't fine for the little lass at all, she just continued sobbing without a break.

"Wait a second. I think I've got something for you." Quickly Carson removed his gloves and rushed into his office to fetch the top-secret tin of shortbread he had smuggled in all the way from Earth. Back outside he offered it to the little one who seemed to be absolutely taken with the gesture. Happily she grabbed two biscuits at once, munching away on the with great pleasure while her three playmates were left out in the cold.

Meanwhile Carson let the tin vanish into a new hiding place where it would be safe from greedy Rodneys and other potential threats. Returning to Dana and the three others he finally asked, "Now, who won that wee ball game of yours?"

"Teyla ‛s mi", his little lass stated joyfully.

"Oh, really?" Carson felt a slight surge of pride as she told him that. It grew even stronger as Teyla confirmed her report with a nod and Sergeant Bates growled something that sounded like 'Six-nil'.

It looked pretty much as if Dana had the airs of a future basketball champion about herself. He grinned at the girl, "Good job, sweetie."

"Aye", she consented stifling a yawn. This was reason for Carson to check his watch, realizing that it was about bed time for wee girls.

"Looks like it's time for bed", he stated into the round, "Any volunteers for a good-night story?"

On hearing the word 'story' Sheppard pricked up his ears, "I'd like to, though I speak no Gaelic whatsoever."

Teyla and Bates exchanged a telling glance, but said nothing. Of course the major would volunteer when it came to story-telling. And they couldn't help but wonder whether he would pick one of the usual spine-tinglers he kept on telling to the Athosian kids.

Hoping for the best they bade Dana, Carson and the major goodnight while the latter was already getting comfortable beside the little one who was looking up at him with expectant, almost cup-sized blue eyes.