TRIGGER WARNING - MENTIONS OF DEPRESSION
Northern Districts Hospital
"So what do you reckon doc?" Kyle asks, fed up and ready to leave.
"Kyle." Brax shakes his head.
"It's a fair question. I just want to know what he thinks." Kyle says. "I think I'm fine and this was a waste of time. I just need…" He says, not sure what he needed.
"I wouldn't go as far as you being fine, Kyle." Nate says. "Brax did the right thing bringing you in to get professional help."
"Why?" Kyle asks, now wanting to know what his results were as he thought it would be a waste of time.
"After going through the results, and thinking over the answers you gave to the questions asked, we've come to the diagnosis of depression, and yours is not the mild kind. Some of your answers were concerning and you're leaning on the severe side of depression." Nate explains.
"So what happens next?" Brax asks.
"I'm going to put you on antidepressants, Kyle, you must take these everyday as prescribed. They do have some side effects for some people but it's extremely important to not stop taking them as these side effects will reduce after a couple weeks." Nate firmly says, needing this to be taken seriously. "You will also need to attend counselling sessions alongside the medication and I will be recommending you attend twice a week to start with. This can be increased or decreased depending on how you find the sessions and this will be discussed by your counsellor." He says.
"I don't want counselling." Kyle mutters, rubbing a hand on his face.
"If Nate says you need it, then it's happening." Brax says, knowing it was going to be hard for his brother to talk about everything that's caused him to feel so low.
"Why don't you attend the first few sessions and take it from there?" Nate suggests.
"Fine." Kyle sighs.
"When's the first session?" Brax asks.
"It's tomorrow morning at ten with Alex Warner." Nate replies.
"Great, he'll definitely be attending that." Brax says.
"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about today?" Nate asks Kyle, who shakes his head. "Okay. Your prescription will be ready for you to collect from the onsite pharmacy when you're ready. Take the first dose when you get home, then follow the packet, which is recommended to be morning and evening with a meal." He says.
"Thanks Nate." Brax smiles as Kyle stands up to head out. "We'll go and get it now, save some time coming back later."
"Fine." Kyle mutters as they walk down the corridor.
"I'm proud of you." Brax says, Kyle glancing over at him. "It took guts for you to open up to Nate like that, you did great."
"Thanks." Kyle lightly smiles. "I feel a bit better knowing it wasn't just me being stupid."
"You weren't being stupid either way. At least this way you can have a counsellor to help you as well. If you don't feel like opening up to us, you can open up to them. It's their job to help you and they'll probably be better at giving advice than me." Brax says.
"Maybe." Kyle smiles before thinking to himself. "Last night when you said you felt the same, did you get help like this?"
"Not exactly. I was too ignorant and turned to alcohol and violence. I don't want you doing the same as me, you need to get proper help." Brax says. "If I was different back then, then I might have gotten help. Still can't see myself talking to a counsellor though."
"So why do I have to if you wouldn't?" Kyle asks.
"Because I'm not giving you a choice." Brax smiles.
Braxton House
"You said four goals and I got the cash, you can't turn back on that!" Heath complains.
"No, I said more than four goals, then it goes to a tie breaker!" Tyler groans, having felt like he's repeated it a lot.
"How about we do a tie breaker?" Lucas suggests. "Whoever's team scores a goal next wins the money."
"That's a fair shout." Casey says.
"Fine, but I'm not splitting it with you." Heath says.
"We're on the same team!" Casey glares. "If we win, the money gets split between us. It's only fair!"
"I'll split it with you Luc, don't worry about that." Tyler says.
"Well now you're making me look like a bad brother." Heath shakes his head.
"We're on teams, that means you can't keep the money to yourself." Tyler says as Brax as Kyle walks through the door.
"Hey, where did you two get to?" Casey asks.
"Nowhere." Kyle quickly says.
"What's going on?" Brax asks, noticing the cash on the table.
"Heath and Tyler are betting on the footy." Lucas says. "If our team wins, we get the money. If their team wins, they have the money."
"And Cairns is obviously going to beat Sydney." Tyler says.
"You keep thinking that." Heath shakes his head, focusing back on the game. "Get ready to lose boys."
"We've got a very good chance of winning actually." Tyler says, also focusing back on the game.
"Are you joining us?" Casey glances at Brax as Kyle walks to his room.
"Uh…" Brax stops, noticing Kyle walk off. "Not today. You and Lucas are in charge if a fight breaks out."
"You can rely on us." Lucas smiles, giving Casey a high five.
"Oi, stick to your own team!" Heath lightly glares Lucas's way.
Braxton House - Kyle's Room
"Didn't want to hear them argue either?" Brax lightly jokes as he sits down next to Kyle.
"You know it's not my thing." Kyle says. "It's good to see them all getting along now."
"Do you think it would help if you had some time out from this place?" Brax asks, knowing he would need time to focus on himself, and he wouldn't be able to do that in a full house. "And I'm not kicking you out before you go thinking that, I just think some time away would do you some good."
"Where would I go?" Kyle asks.
"If it's what you want, I can sort something out." Brax says, remembering Tyler saying that the caravan park was still packed with travellers.
"I think just for a bit it might help." Kyle says. "But don't feel pressured into finding something, I know you've got a lot to do yourself now."
"The wedding isn't going to take up all my time. If you want to talk to me, you do. I don't think organising flower arrangements is my thing." Brax smirks.
"Ricky would go mad if that was left to you, same with the seating arrangement." Kyle smiles.
"I have been warned about that. I've still got to work out where the best place for mum would be." Brax says, knowing she'd complain whoever she was sat with.
"So she's even more mad about the triplet situation now she's had more time to think about it?"
"Probably. I've never known mum to not be mad about something. I think she was okay with the fact once she thought about it, it's not like she can change it." Brax says.
"What've you chosen for your honeymoon?"
"We haven't chosen one." Brax says.
"You're not going on a honeymoon?" Kyle frowns.
"We wouldn't be able to find cover for the restaurant for us to go on one." Brax shrugs. "We can have it one day."
"You know me and Lucas could happily cover the restaurant for a couple weeks so you can go. It's Ricky's dream to marry you, that would include the honeymoon even if she says different." Kyle says.
"Kyle, you don't need the stress of the restaurant right now. We wouldn't mind waiting."
"I'll be fine, I've got a few weeks before it happens. That's plenty of time for the meds to start working and for counselling sessions. I'll be fine, so add it to your list." Kyle says.
"Is this you not taking no for an answer?"
"Yes." Kyle nods. "I went to the hospital because it's what you said has to happen, so this is what I'm saying has to happen." He lightly smirks.
"Okay, I guess we can work something out." Brax says with a smile as Lucas comes to the door.
"Hi." He smiles. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Nope, come in." Kyle says.
"Why don't you two hang out for a while, I'll sort that thing out for you." Brax says to Kyle, who nods.
"As long as you tell Ricky about the honeymoon or I will." Kyle says.
"I don't like this bossy side you have." Brax shakes his head.
"Ricky said I get it from you, so blame yourself." Kyle smiles as Brax leaves them to it.
"Are you okay?" Lucas asks.
"I'm fine." Kyle nods.
"Do you want to come into Yabbie Creek with me? Our team won so me and Tyler split $50." He smiles.
"Is that mainly Heath's money?"
"His and Tyler's. They both put in $20 and me and Casey put in $5. He wasn't very happy but accepted that our team won. So dinner is technically on them, do you want to come? You don't have to." Lucas says.
"No, I'd like to." Kyle smiles, picking up his phone and wallet before leaving with his triplet.