Again, a bit of a filler chapter, but I hope that you'll find it enjoyable! Thanks for the reviews, they really make my day :)
Oh, and if you live in L.A., I mean no offence! I know nothing about L.A. but what I've seen on TV, but I mean the passing comment only facetiously.
Chapter 4: The Hotel in the Room
Booth really, really liked Sydney. So far he'd just seen it from the back seat of Al's car, but that was enough for him to tell that it was a beautiful city. It reminded him a bit of L.A., but the sun seemed brighter, the water sparkled like diamonds, and the people seemed...
Less plastic.
The car ride from Sydney airport too Al's home was apparently a short one, though there was a fair amount of traffic.
'Bloody Christmas rush,' Sarah grumbled, reaching out to put her hand on Al's knee.
'Be calm, dear. No swearing in front of the kids.' He said, mock sternly, though he couldn't hide his smile. The children were in the back with Brennan and Booth, talking quietly amongst themselves. They hadn't noticed their mother swearing, or, seemingly, the tension between their two co-passengers.
Bones and Booth were sandwiched together, sitting at such a close proximity that if Booth did anything but look out the window he felt himself, too his own embarrassment, feeling a little hot under the collar. He noticed that Brennan seemed indifferent, smiling benignly in between her sporadic conversations with Al and Sarah.
Unbeknownst to him, she herself was feeling a little out of sorts, wishing that maybe one of the children had been placed between them, in order to give her racing heart a rest. She felt so idiotic – she felt that her own body was being irrational. She almost laughed at the thought. But she couldn't shake off her racing heart or the electric tingles she felt from where their skin met.
Grow up!
All of a sudden she leaned over him to look out the window, pointing at the Sydney Opera House. 'I heard the most beautiful symphony there, when I was last visiting. I'll have to take you, Booth.'
Though operas or... symphony's weren't really his thing, he wasn't about to say no. Plus, his mind felt a little addled from the sensation of where her hand had just been positioned as she had leaned over him.
God, Seeley. Get a grip.
She leaned back, grinning at him. 'So, what is your first impression of Sydney, Booth?'
He looked outside for a moment, taking in the view of the expansive city.
'It's great, Bones. Though, I'm finding it hard to believe its Christmastime, with all this sun.'
He heard Al laugh in the front seat. 'It does take a bit of getting used to, Seeley. But Australian Christmas's certainly have their charms.'
'Do you guys still eat turkey and ham and everything else?' Booth asked, curious.
Bones spoke up. 'Booth is a Christmas tragic.'
Al smiled. 'As am I! And most Australians. It's the best time of the year... family, friends, and of course, all the traditional food. I must say though, it tastes rather different when it's forty degrees outside.'
Booth looked momentarily confused, looking at Brennan inquisitively.
'Forty degrees Celsius, Booth.' She whispered quietly.
Why can't everyone just speak American?
Al looked at them in the rear-view mirror. 'So, you fine people are not staying for Christmas, am I right?'
'That is correct,' Brennan said, shifting in her seat. 'Booth has to be home in time for Christmas, to spend with his son.'
Al nodded, turning his eyes back to the road. He had just turned into a driveway, and now, before they approached a large double story house.
It was an older house surrounded by mostly modern looking homes. The garden was beautiful, filled with an array of plants of which many Booth had never seen. The house was decorated with strings of Christmas lights, and Booth imagined that it would look absolutely beautiful at night.
The car pulled into the garage, and they emptied out. Standing outside the house, Al opened his arms wide. 'Welcome to our home!' He gestured to a door to his right, next to the garage. 'This is where you will both be staying, we've set the guest room up nice and hotel like.' He winked. 'The girls had a ball setting it up,' he said, smiling at each of his children.
Al walked forward, opening the door. Booth and Brennan both followed him, stepping into the room underneath the house. It was quite spacious, and had indeed been set up like a hotel room. There was a mini-fridge and a small portable television, and towels had been set out with mini chocolates on them.
To Booth's relief, there were two beds. One a fold out double bed, another a small single bed wedged up against a wall. As much as it was his fantasy to share a bed with Brennan, he doubted he'd get all that much sleep if she was right there next to him. It has been hard enough thinking straight in the car – he hated to think what would happen if he had been forced to sleep with her.
Well, that just sounded wrong.
Brennan too, was relieved that she wouldn't have to share a bed with Booth. She wondered which bed she should take – the double fold out would probably be bad for his back, but perhaps he prefers to spread out at night? She smiled at the thought of Booth spread eagled on a bed, snoring. It seemed like it would be how he would sleep.
Booth interrupted her thoughts.
'Thank you for the lovely room, girls,' Booth said, smiling down at them. They smiled tentatively back. 'And you too, Al. It's great of you to have us.'
'Certainly no greater than you coming down here to help us out!' Al said, smiling. Booth looked at him closely, and noticed that his smile was certainly not as carefree as he tried to make it appear. He was really starting to get curious about the relationship between Al and his dead students.
But instead of probing, he decided to ask a lighter question.
'So, who's sleeping where?'
Brennan looked at Booth, a calculating look in her eyes. 'Well, I think you should sleep on the single bed – it would be more supportive for your back, and you know how you need that.'
Booth considered the bed. It was tiny.
'You're just saying that 'cos you want the nice big double bed, don't you, Bones?' He said mischievously. He didn't mind sleeping on the tiny bed – he'd have slept on the floor so that Bones could be more comfortable, if it would have been necessary.
'If you'd prefer the double bed I'd be happy to take the single, Booth.' She said, looking at him with her hands on his hips.
Al was looking between them with a slightly amused look on his face.
'How about you two kids work out the sleeping arrangements later? You guys must be starving – I can't imaging aeroplane food is ever good, even if it's first class.'
Booth had liked the food.
'That would be great, Al, it's almost time for dinner anyway, right?' Brennan asked, pulling her hair out of its ponytail and shaking it loose.
For some reason, the sight of her doing that made Booth's heart stop, momentarily.
Al laughed gently. 'Nope, lunchtime, Tempe.'
She laughed, too. 'So maybe I'm a little more jetlagged than I let on.'
Sarah entered the room, having just brought in both their suitcases. Booth ran over too her, feeling guilty for not helping.
'It's okay, Seeley,' she said, grinning at him. 'You're the guest, remember?'
'Still, I should have brought them in.' He said, taking them from her hands. She looked to Brennan, and they shared a look.
'Isn't it funny how they never run to help you wash the dishes, Temperance?' Sarah asked, rolling her eyes.
'I have noticed that. Though, Booth has grudgingly helped me on a handful of occasions.'
Now it was Al and Booth's turn to share looks.
'Well, Seeley, we're going to be giving the ladies a rest from cooking tonight, maybe that will placate them. Temperance told me you were brilliant at barbequing?'
'I suppose you could say that,' Booth said, trying to sound modest.
Brennan walked over and took the bag from his hand, before taking it over to the double bed.
Looks like the sleeping arrangements have been decided, then.
Booth smiled at her, not minding a bit.
'Well, we'll leave you kids to freshen up,' Al said, shepherding his children to the stairs at the far end of the room. 'We'll have some lunch once you're ready.'
The family disappeared up the stairs, and Brennan and Booth were left alone.
Next chapter will hopefully satiate desires for a bit of Booth/Brennan goodness :)