I don't own anything involving Stargate: Atlantis. If I did, then I'd keep the show going for the SIX SEASONS WE WERE PROMISED!!! Anyway.

I'd like to thank Shorty McGee for the beta and idea.

Chapter 1: Storytelling

The debriefing went on longer then anyone thought a debriefing could go on for. Richard Woolsey thought the reports the six members of the expedition reported about the time they disappeared was a joke, and debriefed all of them.

The three military members, two scientists and medical doctor had a very hard and trying day back from their little 'exploration' to a another galaxy, and one much further away then they have ever went.

If it wasn't for Dr. Rodney McKay nosing around the data banks in Janus' secret lab then they wouldn't have been transported to another galaxy.

Woolsey still wished that McKay would stop nosing around, it caused too many problems.

Rodney, however, tried to put the blame on Daniel Jackson because he was the one that actually found the lab. Lt. Colonel John Sheppard just didn't agree that Daniel had anything to do with it.

Daniel wasn't the type to press a button just because it was there or just to see what it did.

It was well into the afternoon with the six were finally released from being debriefed. McKay was hungry, like usual, and was heading to the mess hall.

Sheppard had to admit that he was hungry as well and went with Rodney.

He planned to out eat Rodney, if it was possible.

Sheppard didn't think it was, but he planned on trying either way.

Truth be told, neither had anything decent to eat in nearly a day, so something in the mess hall would be much better then anything they had since they were transported to another galaxy.

Sheppard and McKay weren't the only ones with plans.

Major Evan Lorne went to his quarters to rest after the debriefing.

Dr. Radek Zelenka went back to the labs to conduct research on some technology they brought back with them.

Lieutenant Laura Cadman went to meet some friends to find out what happened since she was stranded in another galaxy.

And Dr. Carson Beckett had plans to leave Atlantis and return to helping the people throughout the galaxy, but due to Dr. Jennifer Keller taking some leave and visiting her family on Earth, Beckett went to the Infirmary to assist the medical staff until she returned.

They all agreed to meet in the mess hall later, and after they had the time to rest.

"I thought Woolsey was going to keep us in that room forever." Sheppard commented as he and Rodney entered the mess hall. Many people sat in various parts of the room, chatting amongst themselves. "The least he could have done was feed us."

"Yeah." Rodney agreed as they approached the counter, and looked at the food.

Some of the food was a little unappetizing.

Sheppard could have sworn that some of it was still alive.

Rodney was convinced that some of the food was staring right back at him.

After a moment, Rodney offer, "Maybe we should see if he will put a mini fridge in his office and the conference room."

"I don't think he would do it." Sheppard said.

Rodney thought about it for a moment and had to agree but he would never say it out loud.

"At least what we told him was enough."

"And remember, so long as no one else knows everything that happened to us." Sheppard said. "Who knows what would happen if they knew what we were keeping from them."

"You're telling me. I've been having nightmares on what would happen when we returned."

"Like Zelenka being promoted over you?" Sheppard said with a grin. "Colonel Carter coming back to take your place and you end up being her underling?"

"Ok, you know what? You can act all 'high and mighty' because you're more powerful then me," Rodney said with an irritated tone. "but could you cut back on the insults?"

"No, I'm good." Sheppard replied. "When you get better than me, I will stop."

By then, John and Rodney had already got their food and found a seat, away from everyone so as to keep people from eavesdropping on their conversion and hearing anything they didn't want anyone to hear.

Rodney proceeded to do something that Sheppard was still amazed for more then five years; eat more food then anyone in one setting. It seemed impossible for any one person but apparently Rodney found a way for it to be possible.

Rodney was shoveling the food in like it was going to disappear.

"How long would it take before someone notices something different about us?" Sheppard asked Rodney.

"Not long." Came a tough voice from behind.

John and Rodney turned around and saw the two other members of their team. Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagan. Ronon looked as if he was ready for a sparing match, dressed in his regular brown sleeveless shirt and brown pants, with brown boots and his gun at his side. Teyla was dressed in a grayish and red colored shirt and blue pants.

"I've sensed something, different, about you two. Ever since you returned." Teyla said as both Ronon approached and took a seat at the table.

"And it wasn't hard for me to notice anything different." Ronon added.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sheppard said, then took a bite out of an apple.

"What did you two do while you were gone?" Ronon asked, but his tone said that he wasn't asking nicely.

Sheppard and McKay glanced towards each other. From the look of things, it seemed like they were having a non-vocal conversation, which neither Teyla or Ronon knew what was being said.

Sheppard turned and said, "All we did was fight the enemy and help bring peace to the galaxy. That's all."

"No, there's something more that you didn't say to Mr. Woolsey. That I am sure of." Teyla responded, her eyes stare down the Colonel and Scientist with suspicion.

"You heard what went on it there." Sheppard said. "What more could we be hiding?"

"We're not asking you to tell everything." Teyla kindly said. "Just us."

John and Rodney glanced to each other again, and had their non-vocal conversation again. It didn't take a genius to know what they were thinking. They were thinking if telling them would be the best course of action. In the end, they relented.

"If we tell you two, then it doesn't go farther than you two." Sheppard warned.

"Which means that you can't tell anyone." Rodney added. "Who knows what they might do to us if they found out."

"Deal?" Sheppard asked.

"Sure." Ronon said.

"I promise." Teyla said with a slight smile.

Sheppard leaned back and looked around to make sure that no one was around. People were not paying attention to the group.

Sheppard leaned closer and waved them all in. They leaned in closer.

"Ok," said Sheppard, "Here is what happened."

As they talked, Ronon began to smile.

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