Jack tossed his soggy socks into the laundry bag and stood up to unfasten his drenched jacket. "Carter's bringing Teal'c, you can ride with me and Hammond will meet us there."

Daniel nodded as he tugged and pulled the wet t-shirt from his body. "I've got some things to finish up before I head out. I'll meet you up top in half an hour?"

Jack grunted in assent as he wrestled with the rest of his soaking clothing. "Carter insists on going off world without a current weather report again, I'll shoot her myself," he grumbled as he finally headed off toward the hot shower he'd been dreaming about for the last six hours.

He heard Daniel snicker and then the wet squelch of more sodden clothing hitting the floor. He ducked under the showerhead and let the hot water cascade over him. He took his time, scrubbing the mud and grit from his body thoroughly before shutting off the tap and grabbing his towel. He glanced over and saw that Daniel was in the middle of a shampooing frenzy and he couldn't help but chuckle. The oversized snail/slug that had dropped onto Daniel's head had left behind a thick layer of slime that had plastered the younger man's hair down, despite the torrential downpour they were forced to walk through.

Jack toweled himself dry quickly then pulled on his blessedly dry clothes, feeling his body relax as he dressed and prepared to leave the mountain. As he tied his hiking boots snugly, his mind began to drift aimlessly, touching on the events of the day, things that needed to be done at home, the dinner they were all planning to partake in soon - nothing specific. He was anxious for the three days off he was facing and wanted to get it started. He threw his towel in with the rest of his laundry, cinched up the bag and dropped it into the waiting bin. His uniform would be returned to him clean and pressed - ready for another sojourn off world.

Jack ambled his way to his office, checking the last few memos that had come through and putting them in the basket for filing. He grabbed two of his CDs that he'd brought from home to listen to in the truck, briefly checked his e-mail, then left, locking the door behind him. He headed up toward the surface in the elevator, glancing at his watch as he went. Daniel still had a few minutes yet before he was to catch up with him.

As Jack passed through the checkpoints and finally emerged into the tunnel leading to the parking facility, he felt his mind beginning to wander toward dangerous territory yet again. The warm night air didn't help - summer time always gave his libido a boost and knowing he'd be spending a good majority of his downtime with Daniel over the weekend merely added fuel to the fire.

Jack leaned his back against the metal retaining wall to wait for Daniel. The air smelled of rain and an approaching storm, the wind through the tunnel tugging at the light yellow cotton shirt he wore. Jack shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, crossed his ankles and let his imagination run.

Closing his eyes, he could picture Daniel clearly, blue eyes and open expression, willing him to understand the import of what it was he was saying. Jack wondered what all that passion, all that conviction would be like if it were focused on him in another way - an intimate way. A kiss, an embrace - what would it feel like? Would Daniel be gentle - or would he be rough? Would his skin feel as soft as it looked, or would it have the coarseness of masculine flesh? What would those full lips taste like? Jack's mind swirled in a slow stream of erotic contemplations, pulling him into a place where thought and sense merged into a deep, yearning ache . . .

Daniel's voice jerked Jack from his reverie. He looked up, showing nothing but a calm exterior. Daniel stood before him, dressed in an oversized white shirt and a pair of snug tan slacks.