Title: What are the odds?

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: I had this idea a while ago and it just wouldn't get out of my head, so I wrote it down. And it's my New Year's resolution to actually post this somewhere, so here it is. This is the first piece of fiction I have written in a long time, so any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!

Chapter 1 (The well kept secret)

"So I guess Lorne's team is okay then." John Sheppard said, moving to lean against the rail overlooking the gateroom. Major Lorne's team had been 4 hours overdue from their trip to Fanolos to bring the people there medical supplies. Although a team being late was not out of the ordinary, and they had been trading with the Fanolans for a while now, Elizabeth had talked to him about organizing a search team only ten minutes ago.

"Major Lorne, we'll debrief in a half an hour." Elizabeth called down and received a nod in response. She turned at the sound of John's voice and tossed a small smile in his direction. "Yeah, no need to worry. They were late due to weather. Apparently, the stairs up to the gate get rather slippery when it rains, so they had to wait out the worst of the storm."

"Yes, well we wouldn't want anyone else to fall. It might get them suspended from gate travel for three weeks." John commented somewhat bitterly. He had fallen on a mission two days ago and broken his collar bone. Needless to say, Beckett had banned him from missions.

"John, you know that Carson is only looking out for you and your team. It's not his fault that you usually get into trouble off-world which would likely result in much further injury to your arm. Besides, I'm letting you explore the city, provided that you behave yourself." During this little speech John had followed Elizabeth back to her office and now flopped down into one of the chairs near her desk.

"I don't even get a cast, just this sling, so it looks like I haven't really been injured." He continued to complain.

"I don't think the absence of a cast is going to make people doubt that you were really injured. I mean, they do know you." Elizabeth said, failing to hide a smile.

"Now that is just mean. I never pegged you for someone who picked on the wounded, Elizabeth. Besides, chicks dig a cast."

"Oh, they do, do they?" Elizabeth grinned back at him.

"Oh yes." John smirked.

"Well, I guess…"

Their conversation was cut off by a scream in the gateroom, causing both to run to the balcony. John instinctively held out his uninjured arm to prevent Elizabeth from getting in front of him as they reached the railing. However, when they looked down, the proposed danger was actually quite humorous. Ronon was carrying Teyla, fireman-style, through the gateroom while she was kicking and yelling at him. John heard Elizabeth let out a small giggle.

"See, now this is how bets get started." John muttered to himself. "You know being stuck on Atlantis might be more interesting than I originally thought."

"Maybe we should intervene" offered Elizabeth, watching Ronon and Teyla exit the gateroom in much same manner they had entered.

"Nah, I think stopping Ronon would involve me further 'injuring my arm.' And it's not like Teyla can't kick his ass if she needs to. I'll go talk to them to see what brought on this little display later, and remind them that the gateroom is not for play." He added the last part with a mock serious face.

Now that the commotion had died down, they moved back into the office, Elizabeth to wait for Lorne and John because he had nothing better to do at the moment. Elizabeth sat down behind her desk and started working. John resumed his chair and began playing a game, a cross between chess and checkers that Elizabeth had received from one of their allies. Enjoying the comfortable sounds of Elizabeth's typing, he set out for the battle of Team John versus Team Sheppard.

"John, what did you mean about bets?" Elizabeth broke the silence a few minutes later, looking up from her laptop.

John resisted the urge to look at her and more slowly moved the tiles. "I said rumors. You know how rumors can run wild around here."

"No, I distinctly remember that you said bets."

"Well, maybe I meant rumors."

"Really"

"Umm…," John glanced up and got caught in Elizabeth's curious gaze. He sighed and tried to think of the best way to put things. "Well, it seems that occasionally…"

"Are you ready for the briefing Dr. Weir?" Major Lorne entered the office and looked up from a handful of papers, oblivious to the discussion he had interrupted. "I can come back later if you and Colonel Sheppard are in the middle of something."

"Nope, that's not necessary Major, I was just thinking that McKay had wanted me to look at some ancient technology this afternoon anyway." John jumped up out of his chair, nodded at Lorne and Elizabeth, and made his way to Rodney's lab. That was close, maybe Elizabeth will just drop it.

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

Elizabeth closed her laptop and stretched, grimacing slightly when she felt her back pop. It had been a long afternoon, well, actually evening as she noted that the clock read past eight. It by far wasn't the latest she had ever worked, but after the nanite incident, she tried to take better care of herself, otherwise John and Carson would start to harass her about her health. It also seemed that in recent weeks things had calmed down a little, giving her a bit more time to relax, which in itself was kind of worrisome.

As she was tidying up her desk, Elizabeth noticed John's unfinished game of stricle on the side table. Remembering their conversation, she had to wonder what John was going to say before Lorne interrupted. The look on his face indicated that he was wary of her response or in the least didn't really want to tell her what he had been about to reveal. That and the fact that he had left the room to voluntarily be Rodney's guinea pig suggested that the news, whatever it was, wasn't going to be good.

Elizabeth left her office and smiled at Chuck, the gate tech. "Has Colonel Sheppard been by recently?"

"No, Dr. Weir. I haven't seen him since earlier this afternoon."

"Alright, have a good night then." She would definitely be tracking John down after dinner to finish their talk.

While eating, she reflected on the events of the afternoon and John's comments. The only conclusion she could come up with was that there were bets being placed in Atlantis…about Ronon and Teyla…and perhaps other people. While that was a little unusual, it seemed like a natural progression from the rumors that sometimes circulated Atlantis. Its like the dark side, she thought while finishing her jello, events lead to rumors, rumors lead to bets, and bets lead to….she really would have to talk to John about forgoing the last two weeks of Star Wars movie night.

After dinner, Elizabeth spent the better part of a half hour looking before she found John. She had checked their balcony, his quarters, Rodney's lab, the infirmary, and was on her way to the gym when she noticed a shadowy figure out on a balcony in the western part of the city. John turned toward her as she opened the door.

"Hey"

"Hey. Have you been running?" She asked, taking in his damp T-shirt and running pants.

"Yeah, Beckett said it wouldn't stress the break. And since I can't carry a P-90, I figure I should get better at running away. Just in case danger presents itself while I'm exploring the city," he quickly added with his best innocent face.

"Riiiight. So about what we were talking about earlier." Elizabeth crossed the balcony so she was standing in front of John and caught his eyes. "You said bet."

"Yes"

"And you meant bet?"

"Yes," John sighed.

She had maintained eye contact with John this entire time and noticed that there were increasing traces of wariness in his hazel eyes with each question. "So, it seems that occasionally…what John?"