It was Casey's birthday tomorrow and Brax hadn't got him anything. He had been saving up all his money to buy the perfect gift for his, turning, 2 year old brother. It was better now through from when Heath was little. When Heath was turning 2 Brax had still been at school in year 5. He didn't have a job either so he had to sneak money out of his parents money jar or he had to borrow it of his friend. He was only 10. His mum and dad both heavily drank and used to spend the left over money on gambling, cigarets and attempted to pay the rent to keep a roof over their heads. They didn't care much about their children. They were never there to care, and when they were they were either asleep or barely conscious. But now Brax was 18 and had a small job. He had just enough money to buy Casey the brown bear that he saw the other day when window shopping. Brax decided it was now or never, while his parents were out to go and get the brown bear that he would present to Casey in the morning. Brax had been planning to wake up Heath and they would both go into Casey's room together to watch him open his presents. But he couldn't have been much more wrong.

"Heath! I am going out. I expect you to take care of Casey and keep him and yourself away from dad when he comes home. We both know what he can be like when he is drunk." Brax called up the stairs.

"Do you have to go. He scares me when he gets like that." Heath pleaded as he hobbled down the stairs.

"I have to get Casey something for his birthday. Have you got you present ready."

"Yeah." Heath said excitedly. "I got him a brown bear from the toy store in town" That was that of Brax's list. "What are you going to get him?"

"I don't know yet but I won't be long. If dad comes back I want you and Casey to stay together in your room. Ok?"

"Ok" Heath replied reluctantly before pulling himself in toward Brax and hugging him. "I love you"

"I love you too. I promise I won't be long." Brax said making his way to the door. He turned around one last time and looked into his brothers eyes. "I promise." he reassured before closing the door. Heath was alone with Casey... but not for long.

Heath had just made it up stairs back to Casey's room when he heard the front door open. He grabbed Casey close. He had promised Brax he wouldn't let their father near him. Heath began to tremble when he heard his fathers thunderous foot steps coming up the stairs. The foot steps stopped right outside Casey's bedroom door. The door flung open to show Danny standing there, staring at the 2 boys.

"Were is Brax?" Danny asked in his drunken voice crouching down to Heath's level.

"Out" Heath replied .

"DO YOU THINK I AM STUPID OR SOMETHING!" Danny screamed before slapping Heath around the face. By thins point Casey had made his way over to were Heath was sitting and had climbed on his lap. Heath eyes were watering and his face was bright red. One small tear began to tumble down Heath's face before Casey wiped it away with his tiny fingers. Then he kissed his hand and gently placed it on his big brothers stinging cheek where Danny's hand mark had been left.

"Thank you" Heath whispered into Casey's ear

"Well anyway" Danny began "I am having a party and I expect the both of you to be silent or there will be trouble. Yes?"

Heath and Casey nodded. Danny left as the doorbell rang.

The party began and Casey was getting sleepy. Heath ventured down stair to receive Casey's milk bottle before sprinting up stairs. He scooped Casey up and put him in his bed. But tonight of all nights Casey didn't want his bottle. He throw it on the floor in a huff. Heath didn't know until the very last minute when Danny flung the door open and stormed over to the brothers.

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO BE QUITE!" Danny boomed. He wasn't happy. He wasn't going to let his sons disobey him. There would be trouble. He grabbed Casey by the neck of his PJ's and dragged him into his room. Heath franticly ran behind tried to help Casey out of Danny's grasp. Nothing was working. Danny was getting increasingly angry until he pushed Heath into the wall. Heath smacked his head and left a dent. Heath fell to the floor unconscious. Casey screamed. Danny opened the balcony door and through Casey out the door and locked him there. Danny walked away leaving Heath on the floor and a petrified Casey out in the cold.