The hut had a large crack between two wooden planks and bright sunlight was streaming through and shining in Daniel's eyes. He lay on the dingy cot with his arm flung over his face and his leg elevated slightly on some tattered blankets. Jack could still smell the sweet stench of overripe fruit that hung in the humid air and Daniel had streaks on his grimy chin where the juice had run.

Daniel stirred and licked his sticky lips. "They here yet?" he asked without moving his arm.

"Not yet. Soon." Jack kicked at a rock.

Daniel lowered his arm and blinked at Jack as his eyes adjusted to the light again. He rubbed them as he struggled to sit up and Jack pulled his hand away from his eyes and gently but firmly pushed him back down. "Don't do that," he grumbled. Rubbing them wouldn't help him see any better without his glasses, it just aggravated his allergies.

"I have a headache," Daniel replied tersely. "Eyestrain, dehydration," he waved his arm down at his leg, "getting shot will do that to a person."

Jack's irritation peaked. "Really? I’ll have to remember that." He knelt and shoved the blankets under Daniel’s leg again.

Daniel winced and grabbed for Jack's hand. "Stop it.”

Jack ignored him as he checked the bandage around Daniel's thigh.

“Jesus, Jack.” Daniel writhed and swatted at the other man’s hands. “Jack!”

“It still hurts?”

“Yes!” Daniel hissed through clenched teeth.

“Good,” Jack replied. “That’s good.” He patted Daniel’s leg, his hand sliding higher and rubbing Daniel's inner thigh for a moment.

Jack started to pull his hand back, but Daniel grabbed his wrist to keep it there. “Good?”

“You’re leg isn’t healing from the Telchek device so it's off then, right?" Jack reasoned, angling his body so their hands were blocked from anyone else walking into the hut.

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "I said it was off. It's not glowing anymore."

"A Goa’uld's eyes don't always glow, but there's still a snake in his head."

"Technically, the snake is--"

"Shut up, Daniel.” Jack’s hand wiggled further between Daniel’s legs, just resting there. He could feel the taut muscles and wanted Daniel to squeeze tighter and fall open for him at the same time.

Instead Daniel closed his eyes and bit his lip, his fingers stroking Jack’s wrist.

Jack’s fingers twitched to imitate them. He shook his head. “Daniel.”

“I know.” Daniel let go, but instead turned onto his side, his dirty fingers sliding inside Jack’s vest. He flattened his palm against Jack’s chest and it moved up to his shoulder, squeezing hard and wringing the tension out.

Jack’s head rolled to the side and his jaw clenched. He looked like he was just stretching his neck, not fighting the urge to touch and stroke and squeeze back. He groaned low in his chest and frowned.

Daniel’s cheeks puffed a little as he stifled a frustrated huff. His hand fell away and he lay back down.

Jack shifted around and sat on the ground, leaning against the cot so he could see anyone approaching. Daniel’s arm nudged his back and rested there, just touching. “What do you say we go to the cabin next time we get a few days downtime?” Jack suggested.

Daniel snorted. “Fishing? Haven’t I been tortured enough?”

Yes. Jack had seen the battery and--

Jack kept his face impassive. “Hiking. Swimming. Grilling. Sunbathing. Stargazing…Reading. What the hell else do you want?” He glanced over his shoulder. “What do you need?”

Daniel shook his head. “Jack, I don’t--” his head cocked to the side. “Listen. Is that--”

Jack heard it too. “Yeah, that’s our ride.” He stood and took Daniel’s arm. “Come on.”

Daniel leaned on Jack and grabbed the branch they’d fashioned into a crutch to support the other side. They hobbled to the door to watch the rescue chopper set down in the clearing and then backed away again to keep from getting hit with the blowing dirt and debris.

“So, Thor wasn’t in the neighborhood?” Daniel asked. He grimaced as he rubbed his eyes again.

Jack cocked an eyebrow. “The accommodations not to your liking, Dr. Jackson?”

Daniel shrugged, unremorseful. “I want air conditioning, Jack. Clean sheets.”

“The Asgard have sheets?”