A/N: Okay, here's chapter two, since I've received so many reviews asking me to continue. It's actually got more Sheyla now than just a hint!

Elizabeth glanced back at the man following her, and couldn't keep the tiny smile from creeping back on to her face. She doubted he'd appreciate her amusement, but it was just too funny. Actually, she hadn't realized Rodney had been chosen for the ritual until Halling had approached her in the crowd and asked her to speak, even though she had been the one to suggest the collars.

That particular idea had come in a moment of childishness after trying to come up with a good way to embarrass Major Sheppard after a prank he and Lieutenant Ford had pulled on her. Good thing she was almost positive McKay had been involved as well, or she might be feeling a little guilty at the moment. And it had nothing to do with the fact that the physicist looked really good in black leather, although that was something of a plus.

'Nothing wrong with looking,' she told herself. It was what Simon had told her when he'd been ogling the 'legs-with-a-brain' diplomat from Sweden.

"Can I speak, oh Mistress, or am I supposed to stay silent and follow your every whim with no complaint?"

Rodney's voice drove thoughts of Simon from her mind and she glanced back at him again. He had a petulant expression on his face, and his arms were crossed. All in all, he looked like a sulky child.

Elizabeth's smile turned into a full-fledged grin as she answered, "Can I even hope to keep you quiet for even a minute?"

A similar grin appeared on the man's face, though it quickly disappeared. Obviously, he was still upset about it and wasn't going to forgive her anytime soon. Well, too bad for him. If he wanted to act that way and make things more difficult on himself, then who was she to say he shouldn't.

Giving the leash a little tug—she found she rather enjoyed doing that—she led her 'slave' into the room that had been designated her office.

"Do you really have to do that?" Rodney whined, "You could cause permanent damage you know, I'm kind of sensitive in that area."

His words caused highly inappropriate thoughts to filter through Elizabeth's mind, and she pushed them aside with some difficulty. Okay, the black leather was affecting her more than she realized. Perhaps it was time to end this...but no. She had promised the Athosians that she'd participate fully in their ritual, and she didn't want to go back on her word. Not when they had finally rebuilt a fragile bond of trust. It was the least she could do. Besides, she was an adult, not some horny teenager.

"I didn't pull that hard," she told him, "so quit whining." It came out a little more snappish than she intended and she winced.

"I'm sorry if I totally fail to see the significance of continuing this farce," Rodney bit back heatedly, "I mean, it's not like the Athosians are going to know...what?" He had broken off and was giving her that hurt/annoyed look.

She hadn't realized she was glaring at him, and carefully schooled her features. "That's just it, Rodney," she said, "Whether or not they know or whether you understand what it means to them, we've given our word."

"And we can't go back on it," he sneered mockingly.

"No."

"No," Rodney repeated with a sigh, giving in, "Fine, I'll go along with this if you'll get rid of the leash—or at least stop tugging on it. I already know it was your idea."

"All right," Elizabeth agreed, relieved he had capitulated.

"So, what am I supposed to do, exactly?" Rodney asked, sitting down on the corner of her desk, "Halling said something about giving our services for the day, but I doubt it means exactly what it sounds like...are you okay?"

Elizabeth had started choking when she realized what he was saying, but she got control of herself fairly quickly and took a deep breath before answering, "I'm fine. And no, I don't think it means...that. I think you're just supposed to perform little odd jobs, perhaps a serenade or two."

She had been joking on the last part, but Rodney's face had gone pale and he began stuttering, "I...can't...I mean, you can't want me to...but I...no...I just...singing's really not my forte."

Placing a hand on his shoulder—which was bare due to the fact that his 'shirt' was merely a vest—she said, "I was only joking Rodney. I won't ask you to sing," she trailed off and wondered what sort of traumatic experience had caused the man to react in this manner, but didn't ask. If he wanted to tell her, he would.

The relief on his face was swift and he gave her a smile that he usually only reserved for the technology he discovered and worked with. She was flattered, in a way.

"Oh, well, in that case, what do you want me to do first, your reports? I doubt you want me seeing those, at least some of them. What else do you do around here?" He stood up and began roaming around her office.

"Actually," she said with a grin—he was really going to hate this—"I was thinking more of you going and getting coffee or food when I needed it. And you can keep me company while I finish the reports up."

Sure enough, the petulant expression returned to Rodney's face. "You mean I'm being relegated to nothing more than a secretary wearing black leather?"

"Oh no," Elizabeth assured him, almost laughing at the hopeful look on his face, "You're being relegated to nothing more than a 'Go-for', which is not quite secretary yet." She ignored the black leather comment, as it was highly distracting.

"Oh yes, very amusing," Rodney bit out acridly, "for you."

"That's right," she agreed, "So, my first order of the day is...go get me some fresh coffee." She held up her mug, dangling it in his face a little.

Rodney grumbled, but he snatched the mug and stalked out of the office, mumbling something about his time being valuable and why it was being wasted on something so trivial was beyond him.

Elizabeth couldn't stop herself from calling out after him, "Remember, Rodney, service with a smile!"

The astrophysicist turned his head, gave her a dirty look and continued on his way.

Elizabeth laughed. This wasn't such a bad plan, after all. She'd have to remember to thank Halling for including them in the ritual.

---

Teyla smiled brightly at John as he walked beside her, the leash forgotten. The man from Earth was so intriguing. He had a direct way about him that she found appealing and the fact that he was very handsome didn't hurt either.

"This is Liz's way of getting me and Ford back for the little 'incident' isn't it?" John asked, humor coloring his tone as he indicated the leash and collar.

"I believe so," Teyla answered. She loved it when his eyes sparkled like that.

"Yeah well...it backfired."

"It did?"

John grinned rakishly and waggled his eyebrows before answering. "Oh yeah. I happen to like black leather..."

"Leather?" Sometimes Earth terms confused her, and she always tried to clarify them as soon as she could.

"It's what we call this," he waved his hands across the ceremonial costume, "material on earth. And as I was saying, I happen to like wearing it. All the bad boys do."

"And are you bad, Major?" she knew he didn't mean bad in the sense that the word was normally used, but couldn't help asking anyway. She loved hearing his voice; it was both warm and rough, even when he was upset or angry.

John waggled his eyebrows again and said, "Oh yeah. The worst. So," he clapped his hands together, "What 'services' am I suppose to give you?"

Teyla raised an eyebrow, but resisted the urge to tell him exactly which of his services she'd like. "I'd like for you to tell me more of Earth, perhaps some legends you have there."

"Oh, that I can do. We've got lots of legends. My favorite was always Hercules..."

As John's voice trailed off, Teyla turned to see what had captured his attention, slightly annoyed. This Hercules sounded intriguing. Then, her eyes widened and she had to keep herself from laughing.

Dr. McKay was struggling with a large pot of what the Earth people called 'coffee' while attempting to keep from tripping on the leash that dangled down to his feet.

"Shit!" John said, "Teyla, go get some cold water. Now."

Teyla ran to the kitchens and filled one of the pots that was used to make stew with water and then more slowly carried it out to where she had last seen John and McKay. The reason for the water became apparent as steam rose from the two men who had had the hot coffee spilled all over them.

John had taken off his shirt and was attempting to pull McKay's off as well.

"Come on McKay! Most of the coffee is on here, you need to get it off."

"Most of the coffee is on me!" McKay yelled back, "And it's already too late, I'm probably already horribly scarred."

John gave a sharp tug, and the supple leather vest ripped. Teyla swiftly poured the water over the two men.

"Ah! That's cold!" McKay shouted, glaring up at her, "Do you have any idea what hypothermia is?"

"Shut it, McKay," John said tiredly, "and look. No horrible scarring. Do you really want to go to the infirmary and explain how this happened?"

McKay instantly subsided, though he still looked petulant.

Teyla hardly noticed though, as she had suddenly become fascinated with the major. Water beaded on his bare chest, clinging to the hair there. She felt her cheeks go red, but she couldn't look away.

"What is going on here?"

Teyla tore her gaze from the intriguingly bare-chested major and looked up to see Dr. Weir standing with her arms crossed, her expression torn between amusement and anger.

"Oh, McKay here just had a little accident with the coffee," John said, "We were just cleaning up is all."

"Yes, and it's your fault, Elizabeth," McKay said, "If you hadn't made me...okay so it was entirely my fault," he continued at Dr. Weir's raised eyebrow, "I should have tied the leash up somehow, or just taken it off. But that's not the point. The point is that...are you even listening to me?"

Teyla noted with some amusement that Dr. Weir was staring at McKay as she had been staring at John earlier. It was good to know that the leader of the Earth people was just as human as the Athosian leader.

"Teyla?" Dr. Weir asked, sounding strangled, "do they have to wear the costume for the entire day?"

"No," Teyla answered.

"Okay, go get some dry clothes on then, both of you."

McKay instantly turned towards his quarters, but John stayed a moment, grinning at Dr. Weir. Ah, so he had noticed too, had he?

"I'm guessing 'wet McKay' is harder to deal with than 'black-leather' McKay, right Dr. Weir?"

The doctor just raised an eyebrow and turned her back on the two of them, but not before they saw her cheeks turn red.

After she was gone, John turned to Teyla, "Well, I'm going to get changed. I'll meet you at your quarters, okay?"

Teyla nodded and smiled as she watched him walk away. This was turning out to be a wonderful day.