Dinner was noisy. Incredibly so. The kids were all trying to tell each other what they'd done that day – as if they weren't all in the same cabin doing it with them – and trying to be heard over everyone else who were all doing the same thing. Ian's head, which had been pounding when he'd come to the dining room was throbbing now and he picked at his dinner, taking solace in the fact that River didn't look much better than he felt.

"Are you guys all right?" Shawn asked, noticing that neither of his roommates was eating much. Unusual for both of them, since they were normally enthusiastic eaters.

"Just a headache," River said, giving the boys a reassuring grin. "I'll take something for it when dinner's over."

"At least you didn't break your arm," Danin said from the table beside theirs, proving she'd been listening in. At least at that moment.

"What do you mean?" River asked her, curiously.

"Daniel Jackson's first ride here at camp resulted in him breaking his arm, as I recall…"

Shawn shook his head.

"It was his wrist."

"And that was just the beginning…" Danin said, smiling at the looks River and Ian were giving her. "He and Jack – and even Murray – were pretty beat up that week…"

"Why didn't we hear about that?" Ian asked Shawn.

Adams shrugged.

"I didn't think it was something you'd want to know…"

Luckily for Shawn, the conversation was interrupted by Gary's arrival at the front of the room. By now the kids had figured out that when the Camp Director came to the front of the room he was going to tell them what was going to happen next, and the room quieted down without Hines even raising his hand.

"Did you all have a good day?"

There were shouts of glee as each kid tried to be louder than the one beside him or her and the room reverberated with happy cheers. Ian and River both winced, but no one even noticed.

Gary smiled at the enthusiasm, and held his hand up to stop the yelling.

"Good! Now, when dinner's done, we're going to go to the ball field. Stop at the cabins long enough to get a jacket or a sweatshirt, but that'll all you'll need. Okay?"

There were shouts of agreement and assent and Gary gestured for them to finish their meals. Then he walked over to Australia's table, giving Ian and River both a quick glance as he moved up to them.

"Can I have a word, gentlemen?"

He moved slightly away form the table, standing near one of the doors that led outside, and watched as River and Ian got up and walked over to him. Both of them were moving slowly and River was practically hobbling. Which had been one of the reasons that Gary had moved, so he could see them walking and gauge how they were feeling.

"A bit sore?" he asked once they had joined him.

Both of them nodded, River looking chagrined.

"A little."

"Mandy said you might be," Gary told them. "Which is why I wanted to talk to you. Tonight's activity is specifically designed to wear the kids out so they sleep tonight. Which means we're going to run them like crazy. Something I doubt you'll be able to do…"

"Not a chance," River admitted.

Ian simply nodded his agreement.

"I was thinking that you two could be the referees for the games. That way you can still be involved, but not have to run around with them – which will give you a chance to get over your aches a little more."

"Good plan," Ian said, speaking for the first time.

Gary smiled.

"There are two step ladders on either side of the ball field. You'll be on them so you're a little above the games that are being played. When a kid is out, you simply blow your whistle and tell them they're tagged, or it, or whatever the case may be."

"Sounds easy enough," River said. Except for the whole climbing on a ladder part. He'd do that, though, if it kept him from having to run with the energetic kids.

"Go ahead and head up to the ball field as soon as you're done eating," Gary told them. "That way you can be in position before the kids get there."

"I'm done," Ian said.

"Me, too," River agreed.

Gary smiled.

"We'll see you up there."

OOOOOOOO

Being a referee wasn't so bad. The games were all running games like Gary had told them; the kids were separated into two large teams and spent most of the evening running as they tried to escape from the people who were 'it'. When one was tagged – either with a hand, or hit with a playground ball, depending on the game – he and River simply had to call the kid out, or 'it'.

River blew his whistle to get the attention of the kids he wanted to point out or it, but Ian actually called the kids – and not only the kids from Australia – by their names when he called them out, making most of the counselors how in the world he'd managed to learn the names of the kids when they could swear he'd never even talked to most of them.

It made things go even smoother, since there was no looking around to see who was being pointed at.

The rest of the counselors were running with their kids, laughing and enjoying themselves, even though none of them was anywhere near as energetic as their charges. Shawn, of course, had plenty of experience with running, so he was able to keep up as well as anyone. Better than some. Ann finally came to a halt, leaning against Ian's ladder trying to catch her breath.

"I should have volunteered to be a referee," she said, smiling to tell him she was only teasing.

Ian glanced down at her, and then back to the game, watching as Shawn ran away from several of the other counselors, and kids, all determined to tag him so he would be part of their group of 'its'.

"I think you have to fall off a horse, first."

She laughed, but before she could reply Shawn came tearing past, most of the camp hot on his heels. She dodged to the side to avoid them; crashing into Ian's ladder and sending him tumbling from his already unsteady perch.

Luckily it wasn't that much of a drop, and Ian managed to find something soft to land on.

Ann.

"Oof."

It was a breathless sort of yelp, and Ian rolled off her immediately, wincing as her knee gouged into his side when he did.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded, even as several kids and a couple of counselors came rushing over to check on them, having witnessed the accident.

"I'm fine. You?"

"No worse than I was before."

Yeah, it was sarcastic, but it was actually tame for Ian. Although Ann didn't know that.

"I'm sorry."

He sighed, and reached down and pulled her to her feet.

"I guess we're even, now."

It took her a minute to realize what he'd meant, and then remembered that he'd run her over that morning while they were jogging. She smiled, which was meant to reassure those kids who were gathered around them as much as anything.

"Fair enough."

"Okay campers!" Gary's voice broke through the chattering kids, and everyone turned to look at him. He was standing on River's ladder, the Californian now standing on the ground looking Ian's direction as if to make sure he was okay. "Bed time! Get to your cabins and get ready for bed! Lights out in twenty minutes!"

There were assorted groans and grumbling, but no rebellion, and the campers started heading for their cabins. Ian was more than ready to call it a day, despite the fact that the kids weren't. Hopefully, they were sufficiently worn out to actually sleep. He knew he was.