"Charlie?" Ruby calls, spotting her mother on the floor, her shirt covered in blood across her torso.
"CHARLIE! …CHARLIE!" Brax shouts, dropping the box he was carrying and pushing passed Ruby. Rushing to Charlie's side to feel her pulse.
"Mum? …OH MY GOD!" Ruby bursts in to tears, hysterical.
"SHE ISN'T BREATHING! CASE, CALL AN AMBULANCE!" Brax demands, lifting Charlie's shirt to check the wounds. "She's been shot, at least twice."
"Yeah, we need an ambulance, NOW" Casey frantically speaks in to the phone, giving all the details.
"COME ON BABY …COME ON" Brax says, desperately trying to perform CPR on her.
Ruby just stares, still in shock.
It's all a blur for Ruby, she vaguely remembers Brax pushing her in to the ambulance with her Mum before running to his ute with Casey, to follow them. 6 people clad in surgical attire come racing at them to take the stretcher Charlie is on ,from the ambo's.
"We just found her on the lounge room floor" she hears Brax's voice behind her. "Please Doc, you gotta save her" He begs.
"Right she's going into theatre, right now" Sid announces as the other doctors and nurses attend to Charlie, attaching all the necessary monitors and a changing breathing apparatuses.
"Is she gonna die?" are the only words Ruby manages to get out.
"Ruby, your Mums in a bad way, but we're doing everything we can, you have my word" Sid replies, helping wheel the stretcher towards the theatre.
Sitting in the waiting area while she is in surgery is the longest few hours of their lives. Waiting to hear something, anything.
"She's gonna be alright" Casey says soothingly, rubbing Ruby's back.
She says nothing.
Brax's mind filled with memories of the night before.
*FLASHBACK*
"…and then you and I are gonna be free" Charlie says "I'm counting down the hours ay" he says, smiling as he kisses her. "I love you. You know that?" Charlie says, looking in his eyes "Yeah …I know." he replies, beaming with happiness before kissing her again.
*END FLASHBACK*
Memories of the night before; the best night of his life, fill his mind before he shakes his head, snapping out of it.
"I told her to not to go to work today" Brax says, his head in his hands. "I should have made her listen to me …she would have been with us."
"Don't Brax, don't do this to yourself" Casey insists.
Leah comes rushing in.
"Ruby?" Ruby stands up, walking over to her.
"Oh my God, I came as soon as I heard" Leah says, hugging Ruby tightly.
"She's really hurt. Who would do this to her?" Ruby sobs.
"I just spoke to the police, they think it's Jake Pirovic that did this to her" Leah answers.
Hearing Jake's name Brax jumps to his feet, heading for his car.
Casey jumps up, trying to stop him. Knowing his brothers temper and what he would do.
"Don't do this Brax, let the police handle it" he says, trying to push his brother backwards.
Brax is too strong and full of rage, Casey knows he doesn't stand a chance of stopping him but continues trying.
"Look, if you go out there, Jake will be waiting for you."
"Yeah, I'm counting on it Casey" Brax says, through gritted teeth. Set on revenge against Jake, as he pushes his brother against the wall and rushes to his car.
Casey runs to the police officers who had just witnessed the altercation.
"Please, you've got to stop my brother, he's gone after the guy who did this." Casey begs them frantically.
"We'll send an officer out, son" The senior policeman replies.
"NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Casey shouts, frustrated. "One cop won't do anything, Jake has just shot the only woman he has ever loved, if Brax gets to him first, he'll kill him!"
He knows exactly where to find him and spots him on the beach as he pulls up.
Running down to where he is, Jake's back to him as he faces the water.
"JAKE!" Brax shouts angrily.
An evil smile, spreads across his face when he hears the eldest Braxton brother calling his name. He turns, slowly to face Brax.
"Darrryyyylll" he says menacingly before chuckling to himself "what took you so long? …we have unfinished business"
"THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER!" Brax shouts, grabbing Jake by the collar.
"SHE KILLED MY BROTHER! AND SHE PUT ME AWAY!" Jake shouts back "YOUR LUCKY SHOOTING HER IS ALL I FUCKING DID!"
The loud sound of Brax's fist connecting with Jake's face pierced the air as he tackles him to the ground. Jake manages to roll on top of Brax and delivers a punch to his nose, blood pouring out immediately. It doesn't take much for Brax to overpower him as he kneels on Jake's chest, delivering blow after blow to his head.
It takes 5 male police officers to attempt to hold Brax back. They lift him up as he pulls Jake with him, still clinging on to the collar of his shirt as Jake grabs his.
"I'm gonna kill you" Brax keeps repeating, so very full of rage.
"Come on, Brax. STOP" one of the cops shout as they struggle to separate the two men.
one holding Jake back, four holding Brax.
Sitting at the police station, Brax's looks down at his knuckles. They are covered in blood, he's unsure if it's his or Jake's, nor does he care.
"You're free to go" Watson says, walking over to him.
"What?" Brax asks, confused.
"You. Can. Leave" she says slowly.
"Is that some kind of joke?" Brax spat out, unamused.
"No." she replies, straight faced. "We have more then one officer willing to vouch for you, that it was self defense."
Brax looks up at one of the officers who had tried to break up him and Jake. The officer nods at him.
Brax laughs.
"It wasn't self defense. He won't be so lucky next time I see him" Brax says seriously, his tone ice cold.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." Watson tells him.
"Why?" Brax looks at her, confused.
"You're not the only one Charlie is important to" she gives him a half smile. "You should get back to the hospital" she says, walking back behind the counter.
"Ruby!" Brax calls out as he walks back in to the waiting area.
"Oh Thank God!" Casey says, putting his head back, relieved his brother is ok.
"Any news?" Brax asks with a concerned look on his face.
"No. Nothing yet" Ruby says sadly. He hugs her.
Sid walks in to the room, still in his scrubs from surgery.
"How is she?" Ruby asks, letting go of Brax.
"I'm afraid it's not good news, Ruby" Sid says seriously.
"Your Mum has lost a lot of blood and her injuries are quite extensive" he begins.
"But she's gonna be ok, right?" she asks, interrupting.
"She's in a critical condition. If and when she wakes up it's up to her"
"If?" Brax repeats.
"I'm sorry. At this point she only has about a 20% chance of surviving."
Ruby brings her hands to her mouth, gasping at Sid's horrible news, as Brax looks down shaking his head, feeling completely numb.
Hope you've enjoyed chapter one! Chapter two will be up later tonight. xo
