--
John and Rodney ran into the corridor. Radek was hanging from the ceiling, a rope around his ankle.
"He looks a little upset." John stepped into the mess hall with the words, "Don't move!" A spew of Czech words followed him. He stepped out of the mess hall with a knife. He walked up to the still sputtering Czech and cut him down.
"Thank you!" Radek walked off still spewing words in Czech.
John shrugged. "Your welcome!" he called after the sputtering Czech. He looked at Rodney. "I don't think he liked that very much."
"I don't either." Rodney took a few steps. "Hey wait, he said he would help me with my project." He hurried down the hall after the angry scientist. "Hey, wait for me!"
John grinned and headed back into the mess hall.
Teyla and Ronon came in. Teyla took the seat across from Sheppard, and Ronon slumped into another chair.
"Hey," Ronon said. "I heard about Zelekna. He going to be all right?"
"Yeah, but he will be upset about it for a while." In an effort to change the subject, he asked. "Found anyone yet?"
Teyla scowled. "Not yet, but I hope to soon."
"Well, we have a saying that revenge is a dish best served cold."
Teyla threw John a cold look. "What do you mean by that?"
John sat back. "What I mean, is that if you wait a little, the person relaxes and you can catch them easier."
Teyla looked away and seemed to consider his words. After a few minutes, she looked back at him. "You have a point. I will, as you say, ease up." She stood and swept out of the room.
Ronon looked at Sheppard from under raised brows. "I think she might have tried to kill for for suggesting that she slow down."
"That thought was in my mind." John stood and clapped Ronon on the shoulder. "See you later buddy."
"Later."
John walked out of the mess hall and headed towards the command tower. As he walked, he was approached by Major Lorne. Major Lorne was grinning ear to ear. "Sir." Lorne said before he fell along side his commanding officer.
"Major, what can I do for you? Good news?"
Lorne grinned. "Yes, sir. Very good news. We caught someone. He was setting up a trap."
Sheppard stopped and looked carefully at his second in command. "Do you mean you caught the prankster?"
Lorne scratched his ear. "I don't think that he worked alone. Too many pranks for it to be one person."
"True. Has he said anything?"
"No sir. And we haven't caught anyone else either. At least not yet."
"I will want to interrogate him. Is he still conscious?"
"Yes sir, and with who it is, I'm surprised."
"Well, who was it?"
"What until you see."
Sheppard raised his eyebrows and walked into the room. Kavanaugh sat in a chair. His hair was down and one of the men was using the elastic that Kavanaugh had been using to hold his hair up, and was flicking it at him. Sheppard was annoyed. He held his hand out, and the soldier put the elastic in his hand and left the room. Sheppard walked up to Kavanaugh and handed him the elastic. Kavanaugh took it and put it in a pocket. Sheppard stood in front of him and stared at him.
"Who else is involved?"
"Lots of people. Why?"
"How many people are helping?"
"More than you know about." Kavanaugh smirked.
John grimaced. "Well, we got you and we will get the rest."
"You got me because it was part of the bargain. You were meant to catch me. You military types couldn't catch a cold." He looked at Lorne. "By the way, I did set up the prank in the jumper."
Sheppard could see Lorne's jaw working. He took a step closer to Kavanaugh and leaned over him, resting his hands on the back of the chair. "You never know what we might do to you."
Kavanaugh grinned, eyes twinkling. "You won't do anything, or let anyone. Against the rules and all."
Sheppard stood. "Major, let me know if you get anything. I have more important things to do."
"Yes sir."
Kavanaugh's grin grew. "You won't catch the rest. We are too good." He leaned back, put his hands behind his head and began to whistle.
Sheppard jumped at Kavanaugh, but the tall scientist laughed. Sheppard walked out without another word. -
John went looking for Rodney. He was angry. The more he thought, the angrier he got. Just as he thought he was about to hit someone, he heard his name called.
"John. Any news for me?"
Sheppard looked up at the voice. Elizabeth was standing there, smiling.
"Found anyone?"
John looked at her. "Yes, matter of fact we did get someone." He felt annoyed.
Elizabeth smiled. "Who was it?
John smiled back. "It was Kavanaugh."
Elizabeth checked her watch. "Right on time. "Did Kavanaugh say anything?"
"No, but he will."
Elizabeth's grin resembled that of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. She started to walk away. "Let me know," she called over her shoulder, "if you catch anyone else." She turned a corner and was gone.
Sheppard gritted his teeth and headed towards Rodney's lab.
The lab was empty. Sheppard was frustrated. He tapped his ear piece. "Sheppard to McKay."
Nothing. "Rodney, respond."
After a moment, McKay came on. "What do you want? I am busy."
John sighed. "We need to talk. Where are you?"
"Fine, I am in the jumper bay. You need to make it quick, I have important things to do." The line closed. John sighed and started walking.
As Sheppard approached the jumper bay, he could hear Rodney berating one of his staff. He walked quietly, Rodney's back was to him. As he got closer, all the people looking away from him. John knew they would get it in the end, but they must have thought it worth it. He reached for Rodney's shoulder, but before he could touch it, Rodney turned around and screamed.
Why did Rodney scream? Did he see something, or was it John? Wait and find out.