Chapter 1
The week was slow; Booth hadn't caught any new cases and he spent most of the time in his office tossing a baseball while staring at the papers on his desk. Brennan was the same, for the most part. She had intended on working on cases from Limbo but was shooed away by Zach who had been systematically doing everything. She ended up holing herself up in her office to start research for her next book for whenever she got around to writing again. Not that she was complaining though; her feet really enjoyed the break.
It was early Friday, a beautiful warm and sunny June day when he strode into the Jeffersonian with his son in tow. Brennan was in her office, head resting back on the chair concentrating on getting some ideas, when she felt little arms wrapped around her legs. She opened her eyes to find Parker standing there.
"Well Parker, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Daddy says that we and the squints are going to da beach," he replied with a big grin that would certainly rival his father's. Booth entered the office wearing a suit, with a tie hanging loosely around his neck.
"Really, because I thought that I had to work today," she replied with a smile.
"No you aren't Brennan," said Angela. She and Hodgins now stood in the doorway looking in. "Today we are all going to play hooky and drive up to Jack's beach house in Jersey. You are not going to resist or complain. You are going to have fun, get a tan, and live a little." Booth smiled when Angela looked over at him.
"Yeah Tempe. Daddy says we are going on an adventure!" He quickly jumped into her lap. "Please please please come!" Brennan looked up at everyone. She had no choice. They went for a low blow to by bringing in a child. She sighed before turning off the computer.
"Fine I'll go, but how do we leave without Cam…you know, getting on our chests." Angela and Hodgins started laughing and Booth covered his eyes.
"First off, Zach is working on that now. Second, you keep someone off your back." He placed his arm around her waist, a gesture that she noticed but let slip. Zach was scribbling something on a piece of paper and then gave Angela thumbs up.
"Come on. Let's get outta here!"
They reached the parking lot without being noticed. Brennan turned to Booth. "If we are going to the beach, why is everyone dressed for work?"
"Well Bones, we certainly couldn't walk in wearing bathing suits and such." He pulled the tie completely away from his neck and loosened the top buttons. "We are such great actors if I may say so."
"Yeah Bren. We're going to Booth's place where we have everything waiting," replied Angela. "We'll leave our cars there and only take Booth's since he can fit everyone."
"I call grenade!" shouted Brennan quickly and with a proud smile.
"Oh come on Bones. It's shotgun. Everyone knows to call shotgun!"
"Well sorry. We let's hit the asphalt." She started laughing. "It was a joke, you know directed at me. I know its pavement." Everyone wore dull expressions, not laughing at her joke. With a defeated tone," Let's hit the road."
It took a half hour for everyone to change and load up the car. Angela had picked out a hot new bikini for Brennan, something to surprise a certain FBI agent when the time came. The car was loaded with the cooler, towels, umbrellas; heck enough things to live on a beach for a week. Parker, in his booster seat, sat next to Angela, and behind them were Zach and Hodgins. Brennan was given front seat; Booth preferred her to the other squints, though Parker seemed to have fun with Angela too.
"Ladies and gentleman this is Special Agent Seeley Booth speaking. Today we are going to drive up to the Great State of New Jersey. The ride may be long and boring, but if you complain, it will be long and boring as you walk to your destination. My co-pilot Dr. Temperance Brennan will be running the music selections from my iPod and she will be taking requests. So sit back, keep your mouth shut, and enjoy the ride.
Back at the Jeffersonian, Cam was just emerging from her office to ask Angela about something when she found an empty work area. In fact, it was devoid of her best team. Even the seeming work-a-holic Brennan was missing. She stood on the platform, hands on hips, wondering where everyone had gone. Surely they were working; it's what they do every day. Suddenly a bright colored paper caught her attention. She immediately noticed the untidy scrawl of Zach on the paper. "Dr. Saroyan, We are all home sick with Salmonella infections and will return in a few days. We are sorry for the inconvenience." She sighed and ripped the letter up.
"If they think that they can get away that easily, they got another thing coming," she said to herself.