"Hey, how was the nap?"
Ian nodded a greeting to River, who had come up behind him as he and the others were walking up towards the cabin. They were going a little early – the bell hadn't sounded – but they were walking with Shawn, who was slowed because of his crutches.
"It was all right."
"River taught me how to swim!" Sammy told Ian, excitedly.
"Good."
It wasn't as enthusiastic a response as the little boy might have hoped for, but it was far more than most people would have received from Ian. Sam smiled, hugging Sammy from behind as they started up the hill behind the main building.
"Good for you, Sammy."
"He's a natural," River said, tousling the boy's hair.
Sammy beamed.
"We watched Doctor Fraiser fall off her horse," Wilson said, unwilling to be outdone by Sammy's swimming.
River looked at Sam.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"She's not hurt, though."
"She cussed, though," Chad told them. "She called her horse a –"
"We don't need to repeat what she said," Sam said, interrupting. Between Ian and Fraiser, the boys were learning all sorts of new phrases, weren't they?
Ian smiled.
"You guys heading for the cabin?" River asked.
"We're keeping Shawn company," Sam confirmed. She, of course, was going to find Jack and Jake and spend a little alone time with them before dinner, but walking with the boys was nice. Sam enjoyed the company of youngsters – and Jake was going to be one eventually, so she didn't want to get out of practice.
"When's dinner?" Sammy asked. "I'm starving."
"Swimming will do that," River told him. He looked over at Ian. "When's dinner?"
"When the bell rings."
"When it rings the second time," Wilson corrected. "The first time means we have to get cleaned up and ready for dinner."
Before Ian could comment on the correction – and Sam was certain he was considering a comment of some sort – they saw Gary and a few of his staff walking by them on their way up the hill from the main building. Not such an odd thing, really, except for the fact that they were all carrying large boxes. Refrigerator boxes, Ian saw.
"What are those for?" Chad asked, watching them.
"No clue," River answered. "Probably for whatever activity we're doing after dinner."
"We're packaging you guys up and sending you to Siberia," Ian told them.
"Where's that?"
"Nuh uh!" Sammy said at the same time, grinning. He was young, but he wasn't that gullible!
"Why don't you go ask him?" Sam suggested.
The boys all hesitated for maybe a half a second before they decided that that was a fine idea and they all ran off up the hill after Gary and the staff. As the adults watched, there was a conversation they couldn't hear, and a lot of pleading – which only made Gary grin and shake his head. Then the boys turned and came running back.
"He says it's a secret," Chad said.
"He said it was a surprise," Wilson corrected.
"No, he didn't."
"Yes, he did."
"No-"
"It's a surprise," Sammy said to Sam, ending the argument before it began – although he was just interested in knowing something that they didn't. "We'll find out after dinner, he said."
"Sounds like it might be fun," Sam said, not at all concerned about being forced to wait to find out.
"It sucks," Chad complained.
River reached out and grabbed the boy around his waist, pulling him close and tickling him.
"None of that attitude, mister," the Californian said, cheerfully, as Chad giggled. "We can-"
"Hey!"
They looked up and saw Jack was sitting on the porch of the nurse's cabin, holding Jake in one arm and a bottle with his other hand. Obviously they were in the middle of a late lunch or an early dinner.
Scooping Chad up and hanging him over his shoulder, River joined the others as they walked up to the porch.
"Hey, Jack," Wilson said, cheerfully, clomping up the steps and coming over to crouch down beside Jaffer, who was sprawled beside Jack's chair.
"What are you guys up to?" Jack asked as Sam came over, leaned down and kissed him lightly.
The boys all groaned, disgusted, at the display of affection, and Sam grinned, reaching down and catching hold of Sammy, pulling him close and making kissing noises. Predictably, the boy wriggled against her grip, giggling but acting like he was desperate to get away. Even Ian had to smile when she finally released Sammy, and the boy made a show of wiping his face.
"Girl cooties!" Wilson crowed.
Sam laughed, and made a grab for the other boy, but Wilson was too quick for her, twisting out of the way and hiding behind Ian.
Sam rushed him anyways, and Ian moved to the side, clearing the way for her.
"They're coming for you," Sam told him, her eyes filled with mischief, and Wilson screeched, running again to hide behind River this time.
"I'm not going to save you," River said, setting Chad down before he dropped him accidentally. "I happen to like girl cooties."
"Among other parts of them," Shawn murmured to Ian, who was standing beside him. Ian snorted in amusement and watched as Sam chased the boys around the cabin a few minutes, proving that she was more than capable of keeping up with a few little boys. She kept up with Jack and Jaffer, after all. What were six-year-olds compared to that?
Before any of them were worn out, the warning bell rang, telling them that it was time for them to start thinking about getting ready for dinner.
"Come on, guys," River said, reaching out and snagging Sammy as the little boy ran past. "I'm hungry!"
"Me, too!" Wilson agreed, grinning at Sam, who smiled back.
"Me, three!" Chad said.
"Me, f-"
"We get it," Ian said, interrupting. "Come on. You guys need to get changed."
He, of course, hadn't done anything harder than soaking up sun, so he was fine as he was. But he knew the boys would need a little supervision in order to get them to not throw all their shit all over the cabin when they changed. He wasn't stupid, after all, and he was learning.
"I'll meet you guys in the cafeteria," Jack told them. He wasn't ready to leave Sam and Jake just yet.