A/N: I'm really sorry that this took me sooo long, but work at my job and at the university has kept me quite busy. Life in general was kind of exhausting so I wasn't able to get my head free to write something.

Originally this and the next chapter were planned as one, but I thought it was better to split it up since it was too long and a break seemed logical. This one gives Radek and Elizabeth's perception while part II will be about John and Rodney's perspective. I hope the break is comprehensible and you like this part! Please tell me what you think!!!

Chapter 7 – Back in one – colored - piece. Part I

Atlantis, gate room, very early next morning

"Unscheduled Gate Activation!" For the second time within mere hours Radek Zelenka announced an unexpected incoming wormhole. But this time it didn't need a prophet to predict who would be coming through. Still sitting at the gate room's main console Radek had a fairly good idea of the cause for the gate to come to life. Coffee, I need coffee. Was Radek's initial reaction to the prospect of John and Rodney's return. He threw a glance in each and every of the five mugs that were spread around his workplace only to find each and every of them empty. If there ever was a doubt for me to be a geek, it should be wiped out in this very moment. No companion but cups with no contents. Sometimes the Czech really felt sorry for himself.

Ever since his superiors had disappeared through the event horizon Radek had been engaged in a dreadful battle against his consciousness. A losing battle, for that matter. Staying in the closest proximity of the gate and inhaling gallons of pure caffeine had been the only comfort the scientist had been able to think of regarding to the not so tiny twinge of guilt he was feeling for setting a trap for his friends. Despite the quite vivid memory of every single occasion Rodney had let him suffer Radek hadn't been able to just walk away. He needed to be there, just in the absolutely improbable case …

"And?" Hearing Elizabeth's voice Radek turned around to see the leader of Atlantis striding out of her office. After John and Rodney's departure she had left for her office and never been seen since. Reminiscing her doubtful comments and seeing her current tired, frowning expression Radek guessed that she was probably feeling not overall perfectly as well.

"Col. Sheppard's ID code." The Czech scientist answered, not being able to hide his tension entirely.

"Lower the shield." Standing next to Radek Elizabeth laid a consoling hand on his arm. "They'll be alright." Elizabeth was herself not so certain who she was reassuring. Three hours of losing in simple solitaire games were not coming from nowhere. Like before the gate had been activated for the first time this night she was torn between her emotions. Only this time Elizabeth's emotions were utterly different. From her right shoulder the leader of Atlantis heard a little white angel with blond braids nagging meanly about the guilt for willfully tricking two of her closest friends, among them a certain person she'd come to lov … ahh like so much. What will you do if something serious happens?! On her left shoulder though there was a little other something sitting – and smiling cockily with lips colored red like blood. Considering everything Radek had cursed around about that crazy planet the tiny red devil was cheering about her expectations of how the military commander and the chief scientist of the Atlantis expedition would look like after their "mission". Shut up you poor imitation of Mary Poppins! As if I couldn't smell your malicious pleasure over here! You know they deserve a little lesson as much as our Lizzie here deserves a little fun!

After what seemed like eternity of constant bickering both of Elizabeth's dressed up escorts made off with a "plop" when the gate's wormhole stabilized. Elizabeth hugged herself, waited and … nothing. More waiting. More nothing.

What the hell?! Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and looked around in search of an explanation, meaning she was looking for Radek. In the process of twisting her head she took note of people, an awful lot of people actually. Where did this crowd come from, all of a sudden? One moment there was barely anyone but Elizabeth and Radek and the next moment half of Atlantis was swarming around in the gate room? Elizabeth glanced at her watch to confirm her assumption that it was still that very early in the day that usually it would be not more than a skeleton crew to run the gate room. And as Elizabeth looked more intensely she realized it was only the normal few people that were actually working while the whole rest was doing nothing but … nothing. They were rummaging around and constantly throwing glances to the gate. If I didn't happen to be the leader of this city and therefore responsible for law and order I'd probably be impressed by the velocity news tend to spread around here. Three hours and the whole city knows that John and Rodney went on a mission alone. Elizabeth could almost imagine all of the suspicions, speculations and theories that were running up and down the rumor mill currently although the sun hadn't risen yet. Maybe there had been too less action lately …

Elizabeth was pulled out of her thoughts about the implications and meanings of the fact that a fair share of her bright staff was at any time of the day or night ready and unemployed enough to jump up as well as to pretend to be working, only for the pleasure of participation on the newest conjectures when the two figures everybody was evidently waiting for finally emerged.

None of the circulating hypotheses had prepared anyone for the way the two senior staff members looked.

And I could've sworn Radek has been exaggerating. The man honestly hadn't promised too much, Elizabeth unconsciously realized in the back of her mind as the major part of her brains was busy processing the unquestionably unconventional appearance of her 2IC and chief scientist, mostly of her 2IC, admittedly.

Somehow, and the former negotiator was decisively positive she didn't want to know how, both men had lost every single bit of clothing despite their pants, ripped and awfully short pants to be correct. Although Elizabeth couldn't exactly remember what they had been wearing before leaving, she was comparatively certain that jackets, shirts, boots and weapons had been involved. Presently, however, it was predominantly color that was involved. Sheppard's hair, from which Elizabeth had been convinced it could not surprise her any more, was covered in red and yellow with blue spots while McKay's hair was held rather conservative in black and grey tones. Some things they both had in common were their bare feet and the violet marks on their foreheads: a triangle crossed by a Y, whatever that was supposed to mean.

Eyes moving south to more intriguing areas Elizabeth saw three long lines in another shade of violet leading vertically from John's abdomen over his naked chest to his throat. Hardly above the waistband of John's pants were the three columns accompanied by an appalling lot of hand prints of almost every color. Someone must've been quite popular. Elizabeth guessed dryly, not really surprised. Not that she could blame any girl for the wish to touch him, especially when he was as … uncovered … as he was currently. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

If the variety of colors and symbols said anything about the popularity of the person who wore them, Rodney obviously hadn't made it king of the local prom. There was only on single, but intensely dark blue print of a palm on the middle of his chest. Or he was relatively quickly claimed in one by one woman … wait, this doesn't look like a female hand. The mark on the scientist's chest was too big to have been caused by a woman. Poor Rodney! Was the thought Elizabeth almost lost the control over the traits of her face with.

The sudden quiet but happy sound of Radek's voice beside her stopped Elizabeth from laughing out loud: "See, they're back in one – colored - piece. No permanent harm done."

John and Rodney for their part doubtless would've denied that there was no permanent damage done. Both felt thoroughly damaged.