This story will be posted in four parts. As always constructive criticism is welcomed. A big thanks to my Beta for taking the time out of her busy schedule to look over my story. Unfortunately I don't own these characters; Hart Hanson receives all that credit.

The Secret with Santa

Part I

As soon as Sweets saw Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan outside his office door he quickly surmised, from his patients body language, neither one of them were very happy. He chuckled to himself as he watched the partners struggle to enter his office. They were both trying to enter at the same time resulting in them simultaneously hitting their shoulders together and against the doorframe, abruptly stopping their forward momentum. After repeating this same motion three times in quick succession, Brennan finally relented letting Booth enter before her.

Booth, with his hands firmly tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, headed directly to his chair sitting down without so much as a glance or acknowledgement of Sweets. The only acknowledgement Sweets received from Brennan was a roll of her eyes clearly meant for Booth, before heading to her seat as well.

Sweets, hoping to dissipate the tension in the air, allowed a few moments of silence before beginning, "So, what seems to be the prob…"

Before Sweets could finish his question Booth was on his feet, arms flailing about for dramatic effect, "Will you please tell my partner to stop trying to ruin Christmas for my son!"

Not to be out done Brennan stood up as well. "Booth, I did not try to ruin Christmas for your son," Brennan defended. "I just have a hard time lying to children."

"Guys," Sweets tried to interject.

Booth, just inches from Brennan's face, continued his tirade, "I would really appreciate, no actually I insist that you don't… ever… talk about the Santa myth," he emphasized the word myth with quotation mark gestures, "around my son!"

Sweets held up both of his hands trying to get his patients attention and gain some semblance of control. "Guys, hello, someone else in the room here."

Two furious sets of eyes turned toward him.

"Whoa, I am sensing some real hostility in this room right now."

The two sets of irritated eyes rolled in unison as both Booth and Brennan angrily plopped back down into their respective chairs. Brennan intertwined her arms across her chest, while Booth was not letting up on the death grip he had on the arms of the chair.

"Okay, I think what would really help the situation right now is if everyone would just take a deep breath in," Sweets closed his eyes inhaling, "then exhale slowly," he exhaled, "Just feel the tension flow out."

When he opened his eyes he saw two "are you kidding me expressions" directed his way.

"What are we in yoga?" Booth sarcastically poised the question. He looked toward Brennan with a smirk on his face.

Brennan, amused by his comment, smirked back.

Letting some of his frustration show Sweets asked, "Just work with me here, okay? Just try it, what have you got to lose?"

"My self respect," Booth stated as he shifted in his seat straightening his tie.

"I'll do it," Brennan announced.

Sweets, a bit shocked, nodded in Brennan's direction, "Thank you, I appreciate your cooperation Dr. Brennan."

"On one condition," she added.

Of course there was going to be a condition, Sweets thought to himself, "And what condition would that be, Dr. Brennan?"

"I'll only participate if Booth does as well." She challenged Booth with a glare, "Booth?"

Booth, never one to back down from a challenge, reluctantly answered, "Fine. If it means we can move on with the session and get out of here, whatever. But I'm not closing my eyes."

"Okay, great, lets all try it again. On three; one… two… three…" Sweets closed his eyes again, "Deep breath in, now… let it out slowly." What he heard from the opposite side of the room were two quick breaths in and two equally quick breaths out.

Sweets grinned inwardly to himself. He was amazed at times how similarly stubborn these two people sitting in front of him were. He opened his eyes, "Ah, I think those would be classified more as very large sighs."

"That's as good as it gets Sweets. Deal with it."

It was Sweets turn to sigh now. "Okay, if everyone can just remain calm, let's discuss what happened to cause all of this conflict. What brought you to the subject of Christmas, the last time I checked my calendar it was still August," he asked insidiously.

"Oh, your calendar is correct. It is still August," Brennan confirmed.

A frustrated Booth turned to Brennan, "Of course he know its August, he was being facetious, Bones. Geesh." Booth then turned back to Sweets and began explaining the situation, "It all started when we took Parker shopping to pick out a gift for Rebecca's birthday."