AN Thanks to my beta June odyssey and to everybody else who encouraged me with their rewies :-))

I hope you'll have as much fun reading this chapter as I had writing it. Enjoy.

Evan's POV

Evan didn't have a restful sleep. He tossed and turned the whole night and wasn't at all ready to get up when the alarm went off. What was he to do? He dressed himself without paying attention. 'You're sure you got that one right?' Evan's considerations were interrupted by his inner accurate military sense. Just as he was about to come up with some sort of plan, which of course immediately slipped back deep into subconsciousness. 'So what?' Evan told himself, bugged out. 'It isn't as if you could mismatch your socks or the color of your shirt wouldn't fit with your fatigues.' Still a bit on edge with himself and deep in his thoughts the Major was finally strolling down the corridor on his way to the mess hall when he run into Private Miller.

"Major." The Private saluted.

"Private."

Just then Miller's brows furrowed and he looked at him oddly but quickly tried to cover it. Evan didn't know what to make out of it so he shrugged it off. Right now he had other things to worry about than the odd behavior of a Private. Not much longer and he would have reached the mess hall. So he had to come up withsome kind of plan how to approach John – quickly. Evan was again buried in his head when he was startled by a, "Good morning, Major!" from Teyla.

"Oh. Uh, good morning, Teyla!" Evan greeted her back when sure enough Teyla's usually friendly look morphed into the same odd expression as the Private's. What's all this about? Evan wondered. Surely nobody could know anything about his new-found brother?!

"Hum, Major?" Teyla began with a small smile on her face. "I wonder if there is again some tradition from earth I don't know about?"

"What?" Evan asked dumbfounded.

"Well, I just wanted to know. There seems so much tradition on earth I yet have to learn about."

Evan didn't have a clue what she was talking about. And there were still these twitches around the corner of her mouth.

"I just think it's strange that you, as an officer, don't uphold the dress-code since you're wearing your shirt inside out!"

Oh for …! Sh..! Evan was barely able to utter some kind of thanks to Teyla before he turned sharp and hurried back to his quarters. 'Well I ask whether you are sure…' Evan wondered briefly if you could really be spiteful with yourself.

Behind him he could hear Teyla's good-humored snigger.

Great! Just great!

He had nearly reached his quarters when he ran into McKay of all people.

"Major! Do you know where to find the Colonel? See, those devices we started to check out yesterday…"

Suddenly McKay's gaze seemed to transfix itself to Evan's shirt.

"You're wearing your shirt inside out, Major!" he blurted out mercilessly.

"Well thanks McKay, but I already knew that." Evan answered evenly.

"You knew it? Then why haven't you changed it?" McKay wondered. "Never mind." McKay snipped his fingers. "You know what? I think I will most likely find the Colonel in the mess hall." Much to Evan's relief McKay continued his way down the corridor without questioning him any further.

Quickly Evan entered his quarters and let out a sigh. If things were going to continue like this all day… He then turned his shirt 'outside-in' and left his quarters determined not to let this get to him.

When he actually reached the mess hall this time McKay had found John and was happily chattering. Teyla and Ronon were also sitting with them. Evan got himself some coffee and Cereals and strolled over. He had decided to join them. Clearly he had to get to know his brother. Up until now John and him hadn't even been friends, though they got along quite well. Evan had no clue how to approach things but he knew he wanted to get to know John for real. Just take the first step he told himself, trying to calm his nerves.

"Morning Colonel, Ronon." He greeted and nodded also to McKay and Teyla. "May I join you?"

"Morning Major. Sure, grab a seat." John answered while Ronon just nodded.

"Ah, there you are again Lorne," McKay said, than taking a closer look at his shirt he continued "Now you changed? Why not before?"

"Rodney!" Teyla tried to stop him, knowing where he was heading.

"What?" McKay asked "It happened to me lot while I was working on my first doctorate. My mind was just focused on things of greater importance I used to wear my shirt inside-out nearly all the time."

Sheppard and Ronon had stopped eating, John's eyebrows meeting up with his hairline. His mouth agape he stared at McKay and then glanced to Evan who knew he'd be fully flushed. Trust McKay to bring it up. And trust McKay to find this natural. Now Evan, allhe wanted was find himself a nice hiding place. He gulped.

Teyla glared at McKay and tried to ease the awkwardness.

"So Major Lorne. I hope your days haven't been too stressful with Colonel Sheppard being at the sick bay."

Evan looked at her gratefully. But he was also crestfallen. If he approached more private things like family now it would just look strange. So this opportunity was ruined.

Ronon and John started chewing again.

SGASGASGA

Evan had to go on a mission later that day, a routine check-up on some of their alleys. His team, Sgt. Stackhouse and Private Cain, was already waiting for him at the locker room.

"So Major," Sgt. Stackhouse said. "You think things will be fine? I do hope so."

"You remember this awesome meal we got last time. Man, they sure know how to cook." He remembered both and Cain nodded in agreement when Sheppard and Ronon strolled by.

"Sir! Ronon."

"Guys." Ronon said.

"Well, enjoy your meal." Sheppard said instead of a greeting.

"Thank you sir, we surely will." Evan replied. "So, some last instructions?"

"No Major, I just wanted to make sure everything's in order."

Evan looked at him oddly, because it wasn't like John to check on him and so he wondered was this was about. He was still looking at John while he grabbed for his tac vest. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw something white sticking on the front of it and turned to look at it.

Of course! He should have known John would pull a prank. His vest was labeled "outside" on the outside and … he turned it… "inside" on the inside.

John and Ronon snickered while Stackhouse and Cain looked at each other confused.

"One thing's for sure. If you're ever wearing your shirt inside-out, be sure you don't run into McKay to spill it out." Evan commented dryly and then had to laugh at himself finally with everyone joining him. Maybe this was becoming a good day after all.

He few minutes later he walked through the gate with his team, much more lighthearted than in the early morning. Little did he know what this day yet to bring.