Despite the fact that he really was having a good time, Ian was glad when the lifeguards finally blew their whistles and told the Camel Fighters that it was time to get out of the water and head up to their cabins to get changed and ready for lunch. He was a little tired, for one thing, but even more, he was hungry as hell. Hungry enough that glancing over at Jaffer he noticed just how muscular the lab's legs were and wondering if dog was all that bad. A billion Asians ate them, after all – how bad could it be?

Pretty bad, probably. Besides, he liked Jaffer. He'd eat Sammy before he ate that big black lab. And Sammy was pretty scrawny.

Speaking of Sammy, River brought the boy out of the water and swung him down to the ground with an exaggerated motion. Being perched on the Californian as he'd been, Sammy hadn't taken too many dunkings in the water – although the first time it had happened he'd panicked until River had scooped him up by the vest he was wearing, assuring him silently that if he went into the water they weren't going to let him stay in long.

"You okay?" Ian asked the boy, walking over to help River get him out of the life vest.

Sammy nodded, his face lit up with a smile that made Ian smile, too. Dumb kid.

"That was fun!"

"We're glad you decided to play with us," River said, pulling the vest off and tossing it to Ian. "Make yourself useful, Brooks."

Ian bit back the automatic curse, and scratched his forehead – with one finger extended – instead. River grinned.

"Hey, guys," Jack said, coming up and joining them with the rest of the boys. He looked down at Sammy. "How was it?"

"Great!"

"Good." There was no hiding that Jack was proud of the boy for rising above his fears to play with the rest of them. "Let's go get changed."

The boys all yelled their agreement, and took off up the hill, water flying from their soaked clothes and hair, and Sammy right in the middle of them, feeling more a part of the group now than ever before. River and Jack followed, leaving Ian to take care of the life vest, and to gather up all the forgotten shoes, sandals and towels the kids had left. Not that he minded, since he needed to grab his own clothes, anyways.

He tossed the life vest into the ski boat, and then walked over to the dock, joining Sam and Janet, and interrupting their conversation.

"It's not such a big deal, Janet," Sam was saying.

"I'll have to replace the cast, Sam, or it'll rot right off."

"So don't put it back on."

Janet snorted.

"And how do we explain to everyone that it healed practically overnight?"

"Put a brace on it," Ian suggested. "It's not like it's broken or anything."

Janet scowled at the New Yorker, but she was still in a good mood from the water fight – it'd been a lot more fun than she'd expected, and not something she'd ever have thought of doing without being forced – so the scowl lacked the seriousness that normally would be present.

"It's not that simple, Ian."

"It's not like Shawn's ankle, Doctor Fraiser. Just tell anyone who asks that you want to get it x-rayed again or something and you don't want to put it in a new cast until you do."

He leaned over and picked up his shirt – which had dried nicely in the sun – and pulled it on.

"That's a good idea, Janet," Sam said. "And then I won't have to worry about dropping Jake."

Outnumbered – at least for the moment – Janet shrugged.

"I suppose that would work. I'll wrap it up and make it look like it's being supported more than it actually is, so you'll have some use of it."

"Good."

Fraiser looked at Ian, switching from one patient to the other apparently.

"You look a little worn out."

He scowled at the change of subject – even though he felt worn out.

"I'm fine."

Sam smiled, amused, but Janet wasn't willing to be brushed off quite so easily.

"Make sure you eat a hearty lunch."

His scowl deepened. How did she know he was hungry, for Christ's sake? Were all doctors like that? Or just her? Of course, she was also more than capable of nagging the shit out of him and he knew it, so he simply nodded. There wasn't any reason to argue with her over something he planned on doing anyways, after all.

"I will."

"Good."

Without warning, Janet's hand shot out and hit Ian right in the middle of his chest, palm flat. Surprised – even for someone who had Jaffa trained reflexes – Ian was overbalanced immediately, and fell backwards off the dock and back into the water, soaking his freshly dried shirt once more. He came up sputtering, having tried to swallow half the lake while he was going in, and Janet looked down at him with smug amusement.

Sam giggled, looking down too as he swam back over to the dock. Janet's hand shot out again, and with a surprised yelp, Sam found herself in the water next to Ian.

"Hey!"

Fraiser gave them both an innocent look that would have made Jack proud, and turned to walk down the dock.

"I'll see you two at lunch."

Ian looked over at Sam, who was now holding on to the edge of the dock beside him, pushing her wet hair out of her eyes.

"She's gotta pay for that."

Sam nodded, smiling.

"Oh, yeah. Big time."

Jaffer came over to the edge of the dock and looked down at them, his brown eyes cheerful as he watched them. Ian reached up and grabbed the lab's muzzle, always willing to tease him when the opportunity came up.

"Why didn't you push her in, you punk?"

The big lab growled cheerfully, pulling his head back and baring his formidable teeth at Ian in a gesture that looked far more threatening than it actually was – and Ian knew it.

"Punk."

Sam grinned, and hauled herself out of the water.

"Come on, Ian," she said, reaching for one of the towels left on the dock since hers was already wet. "You can walk me to my cabin."

He nodded, and pulled himself up onto the dock as well.

"My pleasure."

Maybe he'd even take a minute to see Jake – not that he wanted to cuddle the baby, or anything.