Title: Capture the Flag

Author: Angel Leviathan

Spoilers: Anything, everything. All of Season 2 so far.

Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis, characters, concept, etc, aren’t mine.

-

He had brought the ‘weapons’ back with him from Earth, declaring, and thinking, that they would be an easier way to train both military and civilian personnel without wasting ammo. Of course, even with this intended purpose, it didn’t mean that he wasn’t going to have some fun with them first. Hours spent stalking the corridors of Atlantis, laughter echoing back at him, the occasional shocked yelp and thud of somebody hitting the floor, usually laughing on the way down, or cursing, depending on how seriously they were taking the ‘exercise’. Ford would’ve loved it. John suspected he would have had to peel him off the ceiling, could just see him getting so hyped up and enthused about the game, but then, he sadly supposed, he was so high on Wraith enzyme at the moment, wherever he was, that they would have to peel him off the ceiling anyway.

It had started as an ‘innocent’ game of capture the flag, but had escalated into all out war. With paintguns and a seemingly unlimited supply of paintballs. He knew he shouldn’t have invested in so many. Well, he hadn’t exactly invested. The USAF had invested and he used the excuse of training to get as much out of them as possible. Being a new Lieutenant Colonel and official military commander and all.

He’d never thought Elizabeth Weir would turn into such a domineering figure, given a paintgun. She was having the time of her life, threatening and taunting him. Oh, she kept a neutral expression for the duration, but he could see it in her eyes. Laughing her ass off at him.

And it so happened that she was pacing round him in circles, with clearly the upper hand.

It didn’t help that his hands were bound behind him and he was kneeling on the floor.

He so shouldn’t have hid the flag.

Bad idea.

But so very, very fun. And sneaky. Definitely sneaky. She hadn’t seen that one coming.

The teams were pretty much even, he leading one, she the other, and he had had the bad grace to complain loudly when he ended up with McKay on his side. Though the scientist spent too much time running and not enough firing and was caught out rather early on. He did take out both his pursuers as they shot him though, which John supposed he should praise him for later.

But anyway. The matter at hand. Elizabeth still pacing round him, and Teyla lurking in the background like some evil lieutenant from a melodramatic movie.

"Where’d you put it, Colonel?"

John smirked, "There are a number of answers to that. Most of them not suitable for children."

Elizabeth halted, aiming directly for him, "I could just shoot you and catch you out now and that’d be that."

"Ah, but then you’d never know where the flag is. Considering ‘out’ team members aren’t allowed to reveal relevant information and all," he gazed longingly at his paintgun, set down on the floor only a tantalising metre from him.

"You know moving your team’s flag is against the rules," she reminded him.

"I’m pretty sure attacking and binding the opposing team’s captain is against the rules too," he smiled sweetly up at her.

She exhaled slowly, frustrated, "Where is it, John?" she demanded.

He shrugged, as well as a bound person could shrug, "Could be in the ocean for all I know."

"It is not in the ocean," Teyla glanced momentarily over at him, before returning her attention to the door she was guarding.

"And how do you know?"

"Destruction of your own flag would lose you the game."

John nodded a vague acceptance of this, "How do you know my team hasn’t captured your flag yet? You could be torturing an innocent man. A winning innocent man."

"Oh, you’re not innocent…" she knelt down in front of him, beside his lost paintgun, "Alright, Colonel. We’ll find that flag without your help."

"Do tell me how it turns out."

"Maybe I will…" a slow, devious, smile spread across Elizabeth’s face. She leant closer to him, attempting not to grin when he mimicked her. She ran a finger slowly across his jaw line, thinking she was going to die of suppressed laughter just from the stunned look on his face, "I’ve got you just where I want you…" she said softly. Just as he leant closer again, she stood up and walked away, headed for the door, "Let’s go," she nodded to Teyla, taking point.

Just about to follow her, Teyla whipped her head round a second too late, yet in time to see the red splotch of paint on her jacket, John grinning triumphantly across the room at her, paintgun back in his hands and bonds snapped.

"Doctor Weir!" she cried out, as he fired several shots through the door.

Elizabeth turned her head just in time to see a paintball fly past her, dangerously close to her shoulder. She halted for a moment, looking back at Teyla, "I’m sorry."

"Go!"

And she ran, laughing, knowing John Sheppard was right behind her.

-

It was very late into the evening before the game was over, and very early in the morning that found recent enemies surprisingly close.

He’d moved the flag from the east pier to the shooting range, thinking it was a position that could be more easily defended. In retaliation, she’d hid her team’s flag completely, having it passed from person to person.

In the end, it didn’t really matter, considering they caught each other out at the same instant, in a barrage of red and blue paint. She’d crept deeper into the city, into a darkened room that was initially powerless and dormant until a person with the Ancient gene entered. And she’d known he’d follow her and be lit up brilliantly as a target as soon as he stepped into the room. She hadn’t bargained on him knowing this too, that he’d known she wouldn’t take cover, expecting to hit him instantly. So the lights activated and the paint flew. Leaving their teams to continue to battle it out with them. Until they were required to sign a mock treaty to prevent the war continuing for several days.

Elizabeth stared at the ceiling, frowning, "I’m sure you’re not supposed to end up in bed with the leader of the enemy," she glanced across at him, unable to hide a smile.

John grinned, "We have got to get you a new rule book."

-

Fin