AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thank you everyone who is reading and those who are reviewing. The feedback is highly appreciated :)

To reviewer Lily: Thank you so much for the lovely compliments on my writing. As for recommending Braxton fanfics still in progress, there are far too many good ones to name so maybe check out my profile favourites and see what fancies? I've got a lot of really good Braxton fics on there that still get updated. Some of the completed ones are really good too. :)

Yay Casey is back!

Chapter 21 - Awake

CASEY'S POV

Everything was still hazy around me. I heard faint voices travelling in waves. I heard someone telling me memories of my past and others telling me to get better. Better from what? Where was I? I couldn't open my eyes and saw nothing but a bright light in front of me. In fact I had no energy to move at all. Was I dead, or was I dreaming?

I felt a tight sensation in my left hand. I wanted to look and see what it was from but I couldn't move. I twitched my hand and felt what seemed to be a strong hand wrapped around mine. I smelt a familiar smell, like a mixture of sweat and deodorant, the same smell I was use to at home, but that couldn't be true, why would Heath, Brax, and Kyle be here?

"Casey! Casey, can you hear me?"

I heard a shout as the pressure on my left hand squeezed tighter. I recognized that voice, it was definitely Brax. I felt someone else start to squeeze my other hand and shine a light in my eyes.

"Casey if you can hear me squeeze my hand." The British voice said.

I don't know why I did it but I managed to squeeze the hand. I heard cheers all around me. What was going on? I wanted to gag with this thick tube down my throat, but that didn't last long when I felt it being removed from my mouth and a mask placed over my nose.

"I knew I felt him squeeze my hand while I was talking to him." I heard Brax beam.

"Well the good news is, is that Casey's reflexes are almost back to normal. We still have to wait for him to fully wake up to test the effects of the coma, but for now it's looking good." The British voice replied.

I felt someone stand over me and grab both my arms and I felt a small jolt of pain, then I remembered. My arms, they were covered in cuts. They could not find out about what I had been doing. I tried to pull away but this time it wasn't because I had no energy to move I was being held down.

"Casey mate wake up! Wake up!" I heard Brax yell and felt my arms being jerked.

Why was he doing this? Wake up from what?

"Brax please, Casey must wake up properly on his own time. If you rush them, someone who has been in a coma, their body cannot recover effectively and can lead to more damage." The British voice spoke.

Damage, what damage? I tried to wreck my brain back to what happened but I got nothing. Everything started to faze black and I could no longer sense what was around me.

When I started to feel again, I opened my eyes to the darkness of a small room. I realized where I was. I was in hospital. I shifted my head around as best I could and saw Heath and Kyle asleep on some chairs on one side of the room. I looked down towards my left side, and saw Brax sitting on a chair near my bed with his head resting down over my arm, asleep.

Why were they all here sleeping when they have their own lives? I couldn't understand it. Surely I wouldn't matter to them. I was a stranger to them and they were strangers to me.

My eyes adjusted further and I glanced down and noticed my arms were completely exposed, old and fresh cuts in plain sight for the world to see. Glancing again at the three people in my room I knew they had found out about my secret. No one could find out about what I did, no-one.

I pulled my arms away with all the strength that I had. I managed to hide my right arm under my blanket but my left was anchored down by Brax. My tugging caused him to shift and I gave a brief look in his eye as I saw him raise his head and look at me with a shocked smile on his face.

Part of me still wanted to believe he cared about me and that I was still his brother but the other part of me that fought was the reality.

NORMAL POV

Seeing Casey's eye open Brax quickly stood up, staring at his baby brother. Upon moving Casey quickly darted his arm under the blanket, covering up his marked body.

"Casey." Brax said with relief and rested his hand on Casey's head.

Heath and Kyle startled awake and rushed over, also staring at their brother.

"Hey mate. Glad to have you back." Kyle smiled at Casey and raced out the door to find Nate.

Nate returned and took note of Casey's vitals.

"How are you feeling Casey?" Nate asked.

"I don't remember anything. Why am I here?" Casey whispered.

"You had a serious accident and have been in a coma for almost a week. Can you tell me how may fingers I'm holding up?" Nate asked, holding up three fingers.

Casey blinked. "Um...Uh...Three." Casey groaned.

"Right."

"What does that mean? The kid can still count?" Heath asked agitated.

"It means so far Casey is showing no signs of brain damage and with his speech and muscle movement that indicated his body has a high chance of making a full recovery. Casey may be one of those miracle cases." Nate nodded.

"You serious mate?" Brax asked.

"Yeah. We will still be keeping a close eye on him for a few more days to make sure the complications do not occur post waking up, but it's looking up."

Kyle smiled at Casey. "That's great news." He beamed.

"Well I'll leave you boys to it. Just make sure you keep it quiet as Casey is still recovering."

Heath and Kyle gave a nod while Brax raised his eyebrow. Nate rubbed Casey's shoulder.

"Glad to see you coming through this Casey. I'll be back to check on you later."

Nate walked towards the door and Brax pushed the chair back he had been sitting on and followed Nate.

Brax tapped Nate's arm. "Nate."

Nate turned to look back at Brax. "Look thanks mate, for looking after Casey. It means a lot. I owe you one." Nate gave a nod.

"Thanks, but I was just doing my job."

Nate then left the room and Brax walked back to Casey's bedside where Heath and Kyle were talking to him gently. Casey however laid in the bed in shock as the three people around him rambled to him. He couldn't decipher whether he was taking in what was going on around him or he was more afraid of his self harm secret being exposed.

Heath and Brax were being hot headed with each other over Casey's recovery when Kyle interrupted.

"Guys, guys!" Kyle said firmly, trying to get their attention.

"What?" Heath snapped.

"Look." Kyle whispered.

Brax and Heath stared down at their baby brother who had fallen asleep.

"He looks so innocent and makes you wish this wasn't happening doesn't it?" Heath said.

"Yeah he does. He's been through so much." Brax ran his hand over Casey's hair and noticed he had covered himself up completely.

Kyle sat back down. "Are you both staying here again tonight?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah." Brax replied.

"I might go back home for a bit and fill Bianca in on what's going on. You okay with that big fella?" Heath asked and received an approved wave from his brother.

"How about you? You staying?" Brax asked Kyle.

"Yeah. I have a shift in the morning but I'll stay for awhile."

Heath raised his eyebrows and tapped Kyle on the shoulder. "I'll see you fellas tomorrow."

"Yeah see ya." Kyle replied.

"It's great news about Case isn't it?" Kyle said after Heath had left.

"Yeah." Brax replied solemnly.

"I thought you would be happy Case is gonna be okay?" Kyle questioned.

"I am, more than ever but now it's back to the realisation as to what got him here in the first place. I mean when he comes to terms with everything again what's stopping him from doing it again and next time not making it."

Kyle stood up and rested a hand on Brax's shoulder.

"That won't happen because you, Heath, or I won't let that happen." Kyle assured.

"I hope so. Thanks mate." Brax replied.