AN: Hey fellow Bones fans, this is the first chapter in a story that will be quite long. It's another one that explores Sweets meddling qualities and is set in my country just for the fun of it. It's the first multi-chapter fic i've posted in a while so hopefully i manage to get to the end without losing steam... anyway read on.
Chapter 1
Temperance Brennan groaned inwardly as she flipped through the pages of Psychology Today, wondering just where these people got the idea that by watching a bunch of people interact you could predict what other people would do in a similar situation. The doctor wasn't sure whether it was the most enjoyable part of her week or the part she dreaded the most. She did however know that she did not look forward to spending an hour with Lance Sweets while he made her do all kinds of embarrassing things and talk about her feelings, no matter how much she enjoyed watching her partner do the same.
"So Bones, what crazy thing do you think Sweets will have us doing today? Some role play perhaps, trust activities maybe" Brennan was about to open her mouth to tell Booth that they would probably just be talking when the door to Sweets office opened and the two partners were invited inside.
When the two partners were seated next to each other on Sweet's couch the psychiatrist sat jovially in his own seat opposite and Brennan fought the urge to strangle the smile right off of his face. Instead she folded her hands into her lap and waited for him to reveal what degrading practice they would be involved in for the next hour.
"Doctor Brennan, Special Agent Booth" Sweets greeted "Is there anything the two of you would like to discuss before we get started today?" As always the pair looked to one another before shaking their heads, they did not need therapy to work through their problems, they were adults.
"Right, well in that case I have a surprise for you today" Booth groaned out loud at Sweets words, and although Brennan laughed at her partner's reaction she knew nothing good could come when Sweets was so obviously happy.
"C'mon Sweets. Out with it" Booth demanded a moment later.
"Wow, Agent Booth, that hostility is not necessary, though I think it does indicate that this is coming at just the right time."
"Sweets" Booth warned again.
"Right, of course. It has come to my attention that both yourself and Doctor Brennan have difficulty unwinding from work" Brennan opened her mouth to protest but was silenced when Sweets continued talking. "Neither of you have taken a sufficient vacation for a very long time as I see it. You Agent Booth have accumulated almost twelve weeks of vacation time" Brennan turned to her partner looking pleased that he was the one under attack "And Doctor Brennan, you have not accumulated any vacation time but I am aware that when on vacation you usually spend your time consulting on other cases, you even spent a recent vacation in New Orleans identifying victims of Hurricane Katrina as I understand it." Booth grinned at his partner feeling like he was in the principal's office in high school only problem was that the principal looked more like a student than he did.
When neither of the partner's responded to Sweets he continued talking "The FBI has decided that you must use some of your vacation time Agent Booth and I have spoken to your boss Doctor Brennan and we have decided that the two of you will take a three week vacation together in which you are not allowed to work. In fact we are going to send you out of the country to ensure this."
Booth groaned again "You don't think that's a little extreme?" he asked.
"No. You have both shown an incredible stubbornness where your work is concerned, clearly we can't take your work away from you so we're taking you away from your work"
"Oh great, you're sending me away with her because she's a workaholic?" Booth summated sarcastically.
"At least I take time off" Brennan retorted.
"Excuse me" Sweets waved returning their attention to him.
"Sorry Doctor" Brennan apologised "So where are we going?" she asked suddenly a little excited about the idea of travelling even with Booth.
"Australia" Sweets told them smugly.
"The land of kangaroos and bikinis?" Booth asked grinning.
"You know Booth, Australia has a rich cultural history. The Aboriginal people who have lived there for thousands of years have a very unique culture of their own and during the nineteenth century Australia was an English convict settlement and the Aboriginals were marginalised by the English who thought they were barbaric, they suffered horribly. Much like the Native Americans actually." Temperance Brennan had never been to Australia, but that didn't mean she hadn't studied it's rich history.
"Right, well; you two are both going to get a chance to explore all aspects of the Australian culture while you are there" Sweets explained steering the conversation back to the subject at hand before an argument ensued between the partners.
Sweets pulled two copies of a list from his desk handing one to each of the partners "You two are going to plan your itinerary for the three week trip jointly making sure to include everything on that list in some way along with activities that each of you enjoy. The dates of the trip are listed on the page also and I will be sending you each a list of things you need to take on the trip, including these journals" The doctor presented them with two journals one bright pink and the other blue and watched amused as Brennan handed the pink one to a disgusted Booth.
"I think the pink one was meant for you" He explained handing it back to her before she promptly dropped it into her bag by two fingers grimacing.
"You will each be keeping a journal of your activities and any problems that may arise, you will also keep a photo diary so that I can ensure you have completed each activity on your itinerary. We will talk more about this next week, I would like one of you to fax the completed itinerary to me before then so that I can finalise the arrangements." Brennan and Booth stared at each other for a minute after the psychiatrist dismissed wondering exactly what had just happened.
What else does Sweets have in store for our favourites partners? Well leave a review and read on to find out.