Disclaimer: This story is written for entertainment purposes only; no copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I'm glad you liked it. Hopefully the squirrel phobia won't be permanent. And here it is, the last chapter. Served up with what's left of Rodney's dignity…

PASSO DOBLE CHAPTER FIVE

Atlantis

"Well say something!" Rodney was looking at his hands, his fingernails, anywhere but at his colleagues. They were sitting, open-mouthed. If this hadn't been so emotionally scarring he might have thought it was funny.

"Yes, well, I think that covers everything," Elizabeth began, making a rather unnecessary show of shuffling her papers. "Thank you for your candour in this matter Doctor McKay; I'm sure we can all put this behind us now. And I'm sure we all have others things to do." Taking the hint, John and Carson stood up and began to wander out. Before they did, she distinctly heard John mutter that he wouldn't have seduced Lemmy, though whether this was said for her benefit or Carson's, she couldn't be certain. As soon as they were out of earshot though, she put a hand on Rodney's arm.

"I'm sorry about that Rodney: I didn't realise how hard it had been for you: when Teyla came and debriefed me she said that you'd acquitted yourself excellently, so I didn't think that it could've been that bad for you…"

His head snapped up. "You talked to Teyla?"

"Yes, of course. She debriefed me when she got out of the Infirmary."

"Oh, so… Oh well, then you're happy enough with the- What did she say?"

Elizabeth couldn't help the small smile which tugged at her lips. "She said she was very impressed. How was it she put it? "It is more impressive when someone who is not a warrior tries anyway, then when a great warrior succeeds.""

Rodney looked thunderstruck, which made the urge to laugh worse. "Huh," was all he could manage.

"She did suggest, however, that you take some kind of self-defence training. Which, considering that you work with John Shepherd, might not be a bad idea. I think it's a case of better safe than sorry."

"I'm already sorry," he zinged back, but his mind was clearly distracted. "She really said that? Teyla really said that?"

This time the smile became an outright grin. "Yes Rodney, she really said that. Perhaps you should go and ask her, since you seem so unsure of it."

Again, "Huh."

"That's an order, go talk to her Rodney." She watched with great amusement as her chief science officer shuffled out, looking distinctly like he'd been struck by lightning.

Elizabeth would bet her entire Ladies' Poker Night winnings that the Atlantis rumour mill was about to get another fixture.

After all, someone had to give her and John a run for their money…

Passo doble:(n) Literally "double step," a dance or sequence of movements designed for two partners

Tap, tap, BANG! A sharp downward stroke, an attempt to use his weight against him. He nearly falls over but manages to right himself and push back, not through anything resembling skill, he tells himself, but through luck. He talks to her while he does this, not trying to distract her, but trying to communicate in the only way he knows how. "How the hell did you manage to do that?"

"How in the Ancients' name do you walk upright when your balance is so terrible?"

"My balance works just fine, I just don't normally have to try holding up nine stone of Athosian womanhood!"

"Then you should not let me pin you!"

"I don't let you do anything!"

"Which is exactly my point!"

People laughed, made jokes, when it first started. Ronon got a sharp cuff around the ear for saying something embarrassing about it in the canteen which caused McKay to blush and snap. But Teyla honestly couldn't care. He tried to apologise about what happened with the Firinne; she pointed out that were John Shepherd required to apologise every time he put her in danger then they would never be out of earshot of one another. He asked her to teach him, in itself tremendously difficult for him to do. And she had no regrets about agreeing to it. He was no natural fighter with weapons, (though he knew how to use words in that way, and in that way alone), but he was a fighter in the way she was. He never gave up when he put his mind to it.

Whack! He lands on his back, winded; looks up at her for a moment, as if hurt but then rights himself and shakes the stress out of his shoulders. "I'll be black and blue tomorrow," he mutters, but resumes his stance. The sticks fly, backwards and forwards, like the words.

This he can do.

This she can teach him.

The steps of this dance were designed for two.

Squirrels notwithstanding.

So, did you enjoy? You know you want to tell me that you did…