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Chapter Four
A sleeping Heath rested his head on Casey's forearm. Casey was breathing easier and his chest was rising and falling faster than the setting sun. It was night time now. The bathroom had been cleaned around a stoic Brax and Casey had been accommodated to with blankets. The house was quite. But it didn't feel like home.
"Heath." A quiet voice. Heath started, thinking Casey had woken. The thin young man was still pale and sleeping. But, Brax stood in the hallway. Heath ran his hand over his face, wiping away the sleep.
"Heath, how...how's Casey?"
Heat said nothing. He rose to standing, eyes daggers. His lips curled and veins twitched in his forehead.
"He promised me." Brax spoke quiet, his eyes flickering from Heath to the couch to Casey.
"Why would he do that?" Brax was the child now. He stood there, 3 feet in front of Brax, eyes cast downwards. He said nothing about the bathroom, nothing about how he clocked out. He abandoned Casey.
Heath couldn't stop himself. He couldn't contain his rage.
"You never cared did you?" Heath's voice was nothing but a raspy whisper. Tears brimmed his eyes again but his pride denied the release in front of Brax.
"You never fucking cared!" Heath roared, lashing out at Brax. Heath's fist connected with Brax's jaw and before he knew it, Brax was on the ground. But Heath didn't care. He shrieked at the figure on the ground and the figure on the couch. Both his brothers. Both broken.
"He needed you Brax! I needed you." His voice cracked.
"Heath, I-"
"No, Brax! I don't wanna hear it! You always get on me back about being their big brother, but when the time comes you do nothing!"
"Heath!" Brax raised his hands in defense.
"I've been the big brother! I fixed him. Casey almost died! And you. Weren't. Here!" Heath pointed his finger at Brax with each word. Tears were streaking down both the grown men's faces. Pride was gone. Heath's chest heaved and Brax shook with remorse for his brother. Feeling as if the world was settling on his shoulders, Heath sunk to the floor. Just how he had in the bathroom next to Casey's lifeless body.
"I'm sorry." Brax sat parallel to Heath on the floor.
"I'm sorry, Heath. I never meant for this to happen."
Heath didn't answer. His watery eyes were fixed on Casey. He sniffed. He would be strong! He would not break down! Not again!
You could say Heath felt lonely. Betrayed. Maybe a little guilty. Sad. Angry. Scared. Scared. Scared. He gulped against the rising lump in his throat. He kept his eyes focused on Casey, holding his breath against the rising sob.
"Heath?" Brax crawled over and placed a hand on Heath's shoulder. Heath shook his head. Violently he nodded no, blinking away the ever growing tears. His throat ached. His head ached. His heart ached. Visions of a lifeless Casey flashed in his mind. It was too loud. It was shrieking in his brain. The good die young. The good die young. Casey dies young. Brax patted Heath's back again.
"Where were you?" Heath croaked out. He was tired. So tired. A sob tore its way up his lungs and out of his mouth. His head fell into Brax's chest and his tears soaked Brax's blue shirt almost instantly. Snot clogged his nose and tears blinded his eyes. He felt weak. But he'd rather feel weak in his brother's arms than deal with this alone.
"It's okay. It's okay." Brax muttered over and over, kissing Heath's messy hair. No one knew if Brax was talking to Heath or Casey or himself. But either way he was talking love. Someone groaned.
"What are you ladies crying about?" Casey was awake.
You guys asked for longer chapters. How did I do?