Title: The National Parks Buff
Author: Willow
Summary:
Jed decides that a little team building is in order and that camping is the best way to achieve it.
Spoilers: Anything up to season 3
Characters: Ensemble
Rating: G
Disclaimer: They all belong to Aaron Sorkin, NBC, John Wells and many others who aren't me.


Part II

"There's no TV," Toby said as he surveyed the cabin that he, Josh, Charlie and Sam were going to be sharing.

"Of course there are no TVs, we're camping," Sam told him.

"Yes, but this is the 21st century and they have electricity. They do have electricity?" Toby asked.

"Yes," Sam laughed.

"Hang on," Josh said. "There's no phone and our cells have been confiscated."

"We're camping," Toby replied sarcastically.

"What if there's an emergency?" Josh asked.

"I think the Secret Service will have phones," Sam pointed out.

"Hey, there's an outdoor cooking area," Donna told them, as her, CJ and Margaret walk into the cabin.

"Oh joy," Toby muttered.

"Yeah I know," Sam smiled excitedly. "And it's got a fire pit."

"What's a fire pit?" Josh asked.

"It's where we throw people who complain constantly," CJ smiled. "Come on, it's time for dinner."


An hour later they were all sat eating barbeque and drinking beer. "What've you done to your arm?" Leo asked Josh.

Josh looked at the three red scratches on his left forearm and grinned. "Chloe attacked me."

"You scared her," Donna told him.

"You asked me to pick her up, I did and she assaulted me."

"Who the hell's Chloe?" Leo asked.

"Donna's roommate's cat," Josh replied. "It attacked me. Again."

"And she's called Chloe?" Leo asked.

"What's wrong with that?" Donna replied, reaching for another chicken leg.

Josh grinned. "Leo doesn't like human names for animals."

"Why?" CJ asked.

"Because they're not human," Leo replied.

"So you prefer Fido for a dog instead of Sam," CJ grinned.

"Actually so do I," Sam joined in.

"I tell you one thing," Jed said, "you should never let kids name animals."

Leo looked at Josh and laughed.

"Hey!" Josh protested. "I was five and he was orange." He saw seven querying expressions and grinned. "We had a cat named Marmalade."

"I bet your mom loved standing on the back porch calling him in at night," Jed laughed. "And I though we had problems with Socks and Stripey."


"It's very quiet."

"Well it was," Charlie muttered.

"I'm just saying," Josh continued, "that I don't think I've been anywhere where it's so quiet and dark at night."

"Scared?" Sam asked from the bunk below.

"I'm not six years old," Josh replied. "Not that I was scared of the dark then either," he quickly amended. "I'm just saying....."

"It's dark and quiet?" Toby finished.

"Yeah," Josh agreed.

Sam laughed, "Donna wasn't kidding was she? You really aren't a fan of the great outdoors."

"I do prefer the city, it's true."

Toby stared up at the ceiling, not that he could see the ceiling in the darkness. "It is actually easier to sleep when you can hear cars and people and sirens, you know the sounds of other people's lives," he said.

"You know how dumb that sounds, right?" Sam asked.

"Nah, I agree with Toby, which obviously doesn't happen often," Josh grinned. "It's comforting to hear the city all around."

"Why don't we go and see what the girls are doing?" Sam asked.

"'Cos we're not kids at summer camp," Toby replied.

"I use to love summer camp. Didn't you?" Sam asked.

"Never went," Charlie told him

"Me either," Toby added.

"You don't know what you missed," Sam sighed.

"Was it similar to this?" Josh asked him.

"Yeah, only with more organized activities."

"Well I think we can imagine what we missed. And I don't know about Toby and Charlie, but I thank my parents for never sending me."

Part 3.....