AN: Okay another chapter of their Queensland adventure in which not a lot really happens apart from fun stuff... so enjoy the fluff and keep reviewing.
Chapter 10
"You know Booth I'm starting to think that equality is just a myth" Brennan stated as she explored Movie World the next day with her partner at her side. Booth cocked his head waiting for her to continue as they passed the Scooby Coaster "Look around us, every single one of these themed rides as you keep calling them is focussed on men, specifically male superheroes. There's Batman, and Superman but what about Wonder Woman?" Brennan asked, causing Booth to laugh.
"Ah, you're just upset that we can't ride Wonder Woman" Booth deduced leading his partner towards the shopping area.
"I am not" she protested.
"It's okay Bones, I understand you feel a connection to Wonder Woman"
"You know how I feel about psychology" she reminded.
"Look Bones, a Harry Potter shop" Booth said changing the subject "Parker loves those books" he exclaimed already heading towards the scarlet shop front.
"Harry Potter?" Brennan questioned eyeing the shop cautiously.
"Yes, it's a book series about a boy who's a wizard. Very clever, and very popular" Booth summarised pushing the door open. He didn't even bother to comment on the fact that his partner had never heard of Harry Potter, it didn't even surprise him anymore when she didn't understand his pop culture references. Instead Booth led his partner through the store picking up various pieces of merchandise while he explained the basic premise of the series to her.
"Wow, this is nice" Brennan admitted, picking up a set of jewellery which proclaimed that it was the Luna Lovegood set, whoever that was; while Booth examined t-shirts on the opposite side of the shop, holding one up to show her that read 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good', that sounded about right Brennan thought.
She continued around the shop eventually coming across a full box set of the seven books and picking it up decided to buy it, she had to know what Booth was talking about. Especially as while he was explaining Harry Potter he had told her that she was a lot like a character in it called Hermione and suddenly, inexplicably she wanted to know what he meant.
When the two partners finally left the shop they were severely laden down with merchandise, and Booth who was carrying to majority of it was glad that all they were doing before they left Movie World was more shopping. For in addition to the full set of books Brennan had also bought an authentic time turner necklace and the Luna Lovegood jewellery along with a toy Hermione on Booth's urging. He too had bought quite a lot though most of it was for Parker including a backpack with the Hogwarts crest, a t-shirt for both him and his son and Gryffindor quidditch robes, plus a game called Levitating Challenge.
"Damn Bones" Booth commented as they headed towards the Willy Wonka Chocolate Shop, which Booth insisted they couldn't miss "You couldn't have bought the books when we got home, they're heavy" he complained.
"I told you I'd carry them. Besides since you won't let me drive I thought I'd need something to read." She reasoned smugly, implying that it was in fact his doing.
The Wonka shop was indeed quite spectacular and this time Booth was surprised when his partner admitted that she'd never seen Willy Wonka either. Even so both of them left the store with a range of both lollies and chocolate, and Booth also bought both the original movie and the remake, reasoning that he had intended to buy them for Parker at any rate, so what if he and his partner watched them before he gave them to the child.
When they entered the Daily Planet shop Brennan was finally faced with something she recognised, though with one look Booth began to hope that she wouldn't bring up their earlier conversation about male domination. Instead he distracted her by heading straight for a section to the side of the store that seemed to be devoted entirely to Wonder Woman.
"Booth, look it's Wonder Woman" she told him pointing excitedly reminding him of a child rather than a grown woman and also confirming his theory that she felt a connection to the female superhero. Booth left her examining the merchandise in search of gifts for their friends and although he came up empty handed Brennan left the shop with a t-shirt that proclaimed 'Being smart is wonderful' accompanied by an image of Wonder Woman along with a Wonder Woman key chain and plastic figurine.
BB-BB-BB-BB-BB
"So Bones, ready to get back into that bikini and get soaked?" Booth asked as they made the short drive to Wet'N'Wild Water World that afternoon.
"Sure, what is this Wet'N'Wild place anyway?" she asked.
"It's just like the other parks only all the rides are water based" Booth attempted to explain, she'd find out soon anyway.
"So basically it's a whole bunch of water slides?" she asked.
"Yeah" Booth agreed happily.
When the pair were both changed into the swim suits and lathered from head to foot in sun screen they locked up everything but the sunscreen, hats and waterproof camera and headed for the slides.
"You know Booth, the female body is smaller than the male body on average which means that I'm going to beat you every time" Brennan told him as they headed towards a huge eight lane slide that would allow Brennan to test her theory.
"I don't think so Bones" Booth protested.
"Are you willing to make a little wager then?" She asked as they began their ascent to the top of the slide.
"Sure, anything you like Bones"
"Okay Booth, how about this; the person with the smallest score at the end of the day has to pitch the tent when we go camping and cook, alone." She stipulated.
"You've got a deal" Booth agreed, thinking he'd lost worst bets before.
"Oh, and no cheating" she added reaching out her hand to seal the deal as they joined the end of the short waiting line "If you cheat the other person gets a point" they shook hands and agreed, that would be the deal.
"You're going down Bones" he told her as they took up a blue mat each and went to stand side by side at the top of the slide. They pushed downward at the same moment barrelling head first towards the water, Brennan hitting the surface barely a split second before her partner.
Brennan climbed out of the water a broad smile already on her face and headed towards the next slide, something called the Twister, because that was what it did. As she was thrown down the tube she couldn't help but brace her hands against the side of the plastic slowing her path considerably until she emerged landing straight on top of Booth who had already emerged from his tube. She wanted to argue that her tube must have been longer but instead admitted defeat willing leaving them tied as they headed towards the Giant Wave Pool Brennan snapping photos as they went until Booth snatched the camera from her and snapped one of her instead before sliding an arm around her wet shoulder and capturing both of them looking like drowned rats.
Eventually they continued on to the Mach 5, the contest temporarily on hold while they travelled down the two hundred metres of twisted plastic in an inflatable three person tube, Brennan was at the front held snugly in place by Booth legs on either side of her hips while another guy sat behind him. Then the competition continued when they returned to the top of the slide and took the centre slides down to the water Brennan once again sliding into the water a few moments before her partner.
When they continued on to the Black Hole where they slid down a pitch black tube together on top of another inflatable tube, Brennan was hyper aware of Booth's warm legs around her especially in contrast to the freezing water around her feet. When they emerged from the darkness into the still bright sunlight Brenan swam easily to the side of the pool dragging their tube with her.
"What about that one Booth?" She said pointing to a orange and blue checked funnel, Booth gulped but Brennan didn't notice merely headed towards the ride without checking to see that he was following.
As they were nearing the front of the line one of the attendants called out for a couple to join the couple who were currently climbing into a tube. Booth looked on hopefully waiting for someone in front of them to volunteer but then he heard his partner's voice volunteering them and he took another huge gulp, it looked like he was actually going to have to go through with it. The couple already sitting in the tube were young, probably no more than twenty and Brennan gladly joined them while her partner hung back a little.
"C'mon Booth" Brennan gestured for him to join them in the tube.
The couple that occupied the tube with them grinned "Your husband's a bit scared?"
"He's not my –" Brennan began to protest but was interrupted by her partner climbing into the tube.
"Don't tell people lies, Honey" He chastised as he sat down "I swear she's ashamed of me sometimes" he added turning to the other couple as they were plunged once again towards the water.
"Why did you do that?" Brennan hissed when they were out of earshot from the couple.
"Payback" he replied simply as they headed towards Kamikaze which according to the visitor's booklet was one of the most extreme rides in the park. Booth decided that was probably true when he was instructed to sit town on the reclining tube his legs resting on top of his partner's effectively trapping them against the plastic while they sat facing each other their hands gripping the handles tightly, their only protection from falling out of the tube while they slid up and down at a seventy degree angle. Brennan was grinning when they climbed off the tube while Booth was grimacing and insisted that they take on something a little calmer.
"That calm enough for you?" She asked jokingly pointing to a sign that proclaimed a movie would be screening in the wave pool in just under fifteen minutes.
"Why not, I guess everything's going to start shutting down anyway, a movie might be nice" Booth agreed, surprised that his partner had suggested it. The pair clambered back into the wave pool snagging a tube to share and deciding that It really was the best way to watch a movie. The final tally of their competition standing at Brennan: 2, Booth: 1; Booth would be pitching the tent alone when they went camping, not that he really minded, he wouldn't be sleeping alone.