AUTHORS NOTE:

Kyle starts to make a regular appearance in the coming chapters, which leads to a twist surrounding him and his unknown brothers and Danny's violent turn finally comes out and affects one of his boys. ;)

This is another sweet chapter surrounding how Brax and Heath react when Casey puts his life in danger.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 36: Casey learns

Heath sat at the back of his class and doodled on a piece of paper when there was a knock on the classroom door. The teacher opened the door to the messenger and took the note.

"Heath Braxton you're wanted in the main office." Heath rolled his eyes at his friends.

"What'd ya do Heath?" Heath shrugged and walked out of the classroom towards the office.

When Heath saw Brax waiting for him at the office he became concerned. "What are you doing here?"

"I need you to pick up Casey from school today. I've been asked to work and I won't be able to get him. I've already signed you out to leave at 2:30pm."

"Brax I'm meant to be meeting with my friends at the arcade this afternoon."

"I know mate. I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't necessary."

Heath grunted. Here it is again Casey's needs come first. I never get to hang out with my friends. Heath thought.

"What time will you finish?"

"I should be home just after 3:30. I can't have Casey waiting at the school until then he's too young to be by himself. Heath just do it please."

"Yeah alright."

"I'll see you after work. Thanks mate."

"Yep." Heath replied shortly and turned to go back to class. One good thing Heath thought, was that he was glad to be getting out of his Geography class last period which he hated, he often wondered what was the point in learning about all these places, it wasn't like he would be going anywhere.

Casey ran out of the school grounds and stopped when he saw Heath. "Where Brax?"

"Well I'm glad to see you too Case." Heath replied in a sarcastic tone.

"Brax had to work so he told me to come and pick you up." Casey slumped.

He loved it when Brax picked him up from school because Brax gave him piggy backs and took him to get an ice cream. Heath grabbed Casey's hand.

"Come on squirt, let's go home."

"Heaf cans we get an ice cweam please? Brax always buys me one after scwhools."

Heath groaned he just wanted to get home and sulk in his room after not being allowed to go out because of this.

"Heaf please!" Casey tugged his hand.

"Arg alright Casey."

Heath pulled Casey along the streets towards town when he heard his name being called.

"Hey! Heath man." It was one of his friends from school. "Where were you last period?"

"Brax signed me out to leave so I could pick up my little brother." Heath had turned to his friend and let go of Casey's hand.

"Sucks hey? Not that you missed much in geo. It was so boring I thought I was gonna fall asleep." Heath laughed.

"Hey you still comin' to the arcade later though right?" Heath shook his head.

"Can't. Not with him." Heath pointed to Casey who had now walked over to a grassed area nearby and was running around.

"Heaf can wes go now?" Casey whined. Heath rolled his eyes.

"Fun 'ey?"

"Yeah tell me about it. You're lucky you don't have an annoying little brother to pester you all the time." Heath's friend smiled.

"Heaf! I wants my ice cweam! Come on." Casey whined, clearly becoming bored of Heath talking to his friend.

Casey pouted and couldn't wait for his brother anymore and so ran off to cross the road to the ice cream store.

"Hey where's your brother gone?"

"Huh?" Heath turned to look around but could not see Casey anywhere. "Crap! Look I gotta go."

"Yeah see ya at school."

Heath ran off darting his eyes around for any sight of his brother. "Arg! Brax is gonna kill me. Casey! Casey!"

Heath's heart skipped a beat when he heard a shout from in front of him and saw his brother waving at him from the middle of the road. "Casey get here now!"

"Heaf I goes get ice cweam!"

"Casey get off the road right now!" Heath shouted and ran towards the road and panicked as he saw cars heading fast straight for his brother, even if he could run at super speed he would not get to his brother in time.

Heath cringed as several cars from different directions slammed on their brakes. The screeching tyres sent shivers down his spine. Heath looked up to see his brother standing a few feet away from the cars slightly shocked.

"Nuisance kid!" Someone yelled. "Casey!" Heath shouted.

"Will someone get this kid off the road I got places to go?" One driver yelled annoyed.

Heath raced into the road. "Hey kid, learn to keep an eye on the little one, he could have gotten killed." Another yelled.

Heath turned red with embarrassment and grabbed his brother and dragged him onto the foot path. Heath was too angry, embarrassed, and startled by the whole situation he didn't have time to think before he dug his fingers into Casey's upper right arm and punched him hard in his left arm.

"OW!" Casey cried out. Heath released him and Casey grabbed his sore arm and immediately started to cry.

"What were you thinking? Are you stupid?" Heath yelled. Casey sobbed.

"I wanteds to get ice cweam and waiting for you was boring."

"That doesn't mean you go running off! Come on we're going home!" Heath grabbed Casey's left arm and shoved him.

"What about my ice cweam?" Casey whined. "No way are you getting one now!" Heath told him and he continued to drag his brother towards home.

"I tells Brax you hit me!" Casey pouted. Heath gripped Casey's arm tighter. "I don't care!" He grumbled.

"He'll yells at you. You not allowed to hit me." Casey whined.

Heath stopped and jerked Casey's arm. "You know what Case, tell all you want because I bet when I tell Brax what you done, he'll be so mad you're gonna be in really big trouble." Heath warned. Casey silenced at that, he hated it when Brax was mad at him.

When they arrived home Casey was still sobbing and Heath pushed him through the door.

"Quit ya whining Casey!"

"Stop shoving! You're mean!" Casey shouted.

Brax had just returned home himself and heard the commotion coming from the front and emerged to see Heath with an angry look and Casey crying. He looked to them concerned. "What's going on?"

Upon seeing his big brother Casey sobbed harder and ran into Brax's arms. "Case what's wrong?"

"Heaf hit me like Daddy and bes mean." Brax glared at Heath. "What?"

"An' he wouldn't buys me an ice cweam like you always do." Casey sobbed and rested his head on Brax's chest, while Heath huffed and rolled his eyes.

Brax gave Heath another unimpressed look. "Care to explain yourself?"

Heath huffed again. He couldn't believe Brax was immediately taking Casey's side. "Yeah. I punched Casey in the arm then I dragged him home, end of story!"

"Heath I gave you one thing to do and you manage to stuff it up!" Brax stood up to yell at his brother.

Heath shook his head in disgust. "Hey don't you do that!" Brax scolded.

"What do you expect me to do then? You've already heard his stupid side to the story, what difference does it make telling mine?" Heath snapped as he frowned at his older brother.

Brax leaned down to comfort his younger brother again and noticed Casey pull away slightly and glance up at Heath.

Brax sighed. "Alright, tell me your side of the story and explain to me what in the world would make you have a reason to hit Casey like you did?"

Casey stared up at his brothers. "Heaf don't tells please." Casey sobbed.

Brax turned to Casey and became suspicious that something else had happened that his brothers weren't telling him. Heath watched his younger brother for a moment and considered not telling what had happened, but he knew Brax would not want this kind of secret kept from him when it involved his brother's life.

"Heath I'm waiting for your answer. Did something else happen?"

Heath stood glaring at his brothers and by now Brax was really starting to get frustrated.

"Heath I can go on believing Casey's story and have a damn good go at you for what you did or you can tell me what happened!" Brax yelled.

Heath huffed. "I stopped for ten minutes to talk to my friend from school and Casey decided to run off into the middle of the road. He was almost hit by a car so I punched him for being stupid! So I guess I over-reacted and stuffed up."

Heath shoved Brax's expression back in his face, leaving him shocked. Heath turned to walk out of the room. "Heath stop. I'm not finished with you." Brax raised his eyebrows at him. Heath rolled his eyes and leaned against the hallway wall.

Brax leaned back down to Casey and enclosed his arms around his body. "I sorry." Casey mumbled and stared at the floor.

"Well I'm glad you're sorry, but that doesn't change the fact that what you did was very dangerous and I am not at all happy about it." Brax told him firmly.

"Buts Heaf was taking so longs."

"Casey I don't care how long it would have taken Heath to talk to his friend, you know you're not to run off like that! What is the one thing I've told you about roads?" Brax spoke firmly.

Casey glanced up at his brother as more tears fell from his eyes. "That I hafta hold yours or Heafs hand."

"Right and when I'm not there who are you to listen too?" Casey sniffed, "Heaf."

"And you did neither of those did you?" Casey shook his head. Brax pulled Casey's chin up to look at him and gently wiped some of his tears away, but Casey continued to cry.

"Come on Case. Settle down ay? The main thing is, is that you're safe." Casey only shook his head and continued.

"Case what's wrong? Tell me." Brax encouraged in a softer tone.

"Heaf saids that when you foun out I'd be in rweally big trwouble. I don't wants to be in trwoubles with you." Casey looked down at the carpet. Brax sighed.

"Well Heath was right but I wouldn't say you are in really big trouble but you definitely are in some trouble." Brax told his brother. Casey wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"Come here." Brax pulled Casey into a hug and comforted him. "Hey it's okay now, no more crying yeah?"

Once Casey settled Brax pulled him away from him. "Okay?" Casey nodded.

"Good. Now I want you to go to your room and stay there until I tell you to come out."

"Buts I always watch cartoons on tv." Casey whispered.

"Not this time buddy. Bedroom."

Casey looked at his brother who gave him a reassuring smile and a gentle push on his back. Casey turned to walk towards his room. "Good boy." Brax gently rubbed Casey's back as he left and stood up.

When Casey had gotten to his room, Brax turned to Heath. "Before you start I know I shouldn't have punched Casey. I'm sorry, but I didn't know what to do I really thought the cars were gonna hit him and there was nothing I could do. It scared me."

Brax shook his head. "Nah mate, I'm not gonna lecture you. You did what you thought was right at the time and that was a pretty tough situation you were faced with. It shouldn't have happened."

"So you're not mad at me?"

"I'll be honest with you Heath, I'm not impressed at how rough you were with Casey but I'm not gonna have a go at you. I'm glad you acted as quick as you did and got him away from danger."

"Thanks Brax." Brax nodded.

"Just next time not so rough with him eh, by the sounds of it you really hit him hard. He's only a little kid and there's enough of that from Mum and Dad, he doesn't need anymore."

"I'll apologize to him." "Leave it for now, at least until I let him out of his room." Heath nodded.

Heath went and sat on the couch and plugged in the video game console. "Have you no homework today Heath?"

"Believe it or not the teachers didn't give out any." Heath smirked. Brax scoffed.

"Right. Don't try to fool me again. Make sure you get it done." Brax smiled.

"I will, just let me play a few games first." Brax shook his head. "You can play until dinner."

Heath smirked at his brother. "You know what Brax? You really should become a teacher."

Brax raised his eyebrow. "Yeah why?"

"Because you're pretty good at lecturing and telling Case and me what to do." Heath laughed and ducked as he saw Brax glare at him and run at him, tackling him on the couch.

"That so huh?"

"Yeah it is. At least this way I wouldn't have to go to school, cause I'd have you." Heath laughed as he struggled in his brothers tackling grip.

Brax smiled and shook his head, getting up off the couch. "Get on with ya." Brax laughed and playfully punched his brothers arm.

Heath sat up laughing and went back to setting up the video game console.

After about one hour had passed Brax walked down to Casey's room and opened the door. Casey looked up from quietly playing with his cars on his bed and ran to his big brother and grabbed him.

"Brax I'm rweally, rweally sorry." Brax smiled and picked up his brother and sat on his bed with Casey on his lap.

"It's alright Case, but you owe Heath an apology for what happened, not me." Casey nodded.

"Heaf hurt me." "I know mate, but you really worried him."

Casey turned his eyes down. "Am I still in trwoubles?"

"Nah mate, we're good, as long as you understand that you're not to do that again."

Casey nodded and looked up at his brother. "I missed my cartoons." "I know you did bud, but you understand you had to be punished for what you did."

Casey cast his eyes down and fiddled with the edge of Brax's shirt. "I don't like it when you gets mad at me and I gets in trwoubles."

Brax smiled and ruffled Casey's hair. "I don't like to get mad at you Case."

"Brax?" "Yeah Case?"

"Cans I please go the bathroom now?"

"Casey you don't have to ask me if you can use the bathroom." Brax joked and lifted him off his lap.

"I really neededs to go, buts I didn't wanna go cause I didn't wants to make you mad."

"Casey I wouldn't have been mad if you went to the bathroom."

"But you said I hadta stay in my room till you said."

"Casey I didn't mean..."

Brax saw Casey holding his hands down at his legs and realized he really had to go.

"Never mind. Just go." Casey raced off to the bathroom and Brax stood up and left Casey's room and headed into the kitchen.

Casey appeared behind Brax in the kitchen, trying to look over the counter.

"Whatcha doing?" He asked. "I'm fixing dinner." Brax replied.

"Can I help?" "Sure just don't go touching everything, it might be hot."

Casey nodded and reached for anything on the counter he could help with, instead he grabbed a sharp knife Brax had left on the counter to cut the vegetables.

"Whats can I do?" Casey asked innocently as he held the knife. Brax turned to see his brother with the knife and quickly pulled it from his hand.

"You don't touch sharp objects. You know that Casey."

"You said I could help." Casey replied sadly.

"Not with that you're not." Casey stared at his brother with glassy eyes. Brax sighed and knelt down to Casey's level.

"Look that was my fault. I shouldn't have left the knife where you could reach it."

"Bad Brax?" Casey asked.

Brax smiled, "Yeah mate, I was bad." Casey giggled.

"Look I'll put the pot down on the table and once I've cut the vegetables you can put them in, yeah?" Casey nodded.

Brax handed the food to Casey to put in the pot but Casey often missed and dropped some on the floor, giggling as he picked them up to put in the pot. Brax turned to see his brother laughing.

"What's so funny?" Casey just continued to giggle and Brax handed him some more vegetables to put in which he dropped, causing a fit of laugher.

Brax raised his eyebrows at him. "Oh you think that's funny do you? All my hard chopping work and you just toss it on the floor."

Brax put down his utensils and approached Casey who couldn't stop giggling. Casey ran around the table with Brax chasing after him.

"I'll get you." Brax laughed. Casey was laughing too much that he stopped, allowing Brax to grab hold of him and spin him around in a hug. Heath heard the laugher from outside the kitchen and got up to investigate.

"What's going on in here?" Brax and Casey stopped laughing and Brax put Casey back down on the floor.

"We're just mucking around mate." Brax replied.

Casey approached his brother, "Heaf? I'm sorry for being bad today and scarwing you."

Heath scoffed. "You told him that." Brax shrugged.

"It's alright Case and I'm sorry I hit you so hard."

"You're forgifen." Casey smiled at Heath. "You wanna help Brax and me makes dinner?" Casey asked.

"Seems to me you both are already having a good enough time without me."

"Nah mate, the more the merrier. Besides it'll get you away from playing games on the idiot box." "I resent that." Heath replied.

"Heaf guess what?" Casey whispered. "What?"

"Brax is bad, he left a sharp objeck on the counter." Brax rolled his eyes.

"Really and here I was thinking Brax never done anything bad. Tut, tut." Heath smirked.

"Yeah alright, enough you two we want dinner sometime tonight don't we?" Heath and Casey laughed and went back to helping Brax.