Hi guys, just another quick thanks for all the reviews I've been getting on this story. Also, this chapter takes place between the two scenes in the previous chapter, so between Heath and Bianca being at home to them arriving at the hospital. Hope that's not too confusing which it shouldn't be :)
Cheryl's House - Day 9 Continued
"I know Brax is here." Ricky says as Cheryl opens the door. "I want to see him and I'm not leaving until I do. I am his wife now, so you don't get to tell me what I can and can't do when it comes to my husband, now let me see him." She firmly says.
"Fine, come on in." Cheryl scowls, moving out of the way. "He's down the hall on the left." She says, Ricky walking straight down there, knocking on the door before walking in.
"Brax." Ricky sighs, having expected the worst, she just wasn't expecting to see him looking extremely withdrawn in the bed. "I wish you spoke to me." She says, lying on the bed next to him.
"Sorry. Failed you as well as Kyle." Brax mutters.
"You haven't failed me, I was just worried out of my mind when you weren't answering my calls. And what makes you think you've failed Kyle?" Ricky asks.
"He's dead because of me."
"He's not dead." Ricky shakes her head.
"He will be in a few days if the doctors have anything to do with it."
"You can't blame yourself, you didn't know this was going to happen." Ricky says, not knowing what to do to help him.
"I didn't make sure Lucas and Tyler's mum had left. If I did, she wouldn't have run Kyle over, he'd still be here." Brax says. "I know the doctors are going to say there's nothing else they can do, they said the exact same about Charlie. We were told her life support was going to be turned off, it didn't matter how long I tried to put it off, it still happened in the end. There's more of us now, maybe we can get longer, but how much longer to put the inevitable off?"
"Nate won't make you turn life support off, he'll give you all the information needed so you can all come to a decision. Kyle doesn't have a voice, so you need to be his voice. What would he want?" Ricky says.
"He'd want to be alive, to be with his girlfriend, planning his and his triplets birthday. I can't be the one to sign his life away like he doesn't have everything to live for." Brax says. "He's just a kid, he can't die this young when we haven't known him long enough. He's got too much to lose, we all have."
"I know it's the hardest thing you'll ever have to go through, but you can't deny turning his life support off when it comes to it. Do you really want him living through a machine for the rest of your life rather than putting him to rest?" Ricky says, knowing this would be a conversation for after the next review on Kyle's condition, even though they all knew it wouldn't be good news.
"No, but he's still got a heartbeat as long as that machine is turned on. He's still breathing, even if it's not his own breath. The second the machine is turned off, that's gone."
"I know you don't want to lose Kyle, none of us do. But you have good memories, and you have Tyler and Lucas. I know it will be so hard having them around with them being identical to Kyle, but we all know Lucas is like Kyle in other ways-"
"That's why I can't have them around. They can go back to Cairns or wherever they choose, they just can't be here."
"Why not?" Ricky asks.
"It would be too hard seeing them knowing I won't see Kyle again. If he doesn't wake up, it will be like I've replaced him with them and I can't do it." Brax says, failing to fight back tears. "The only way I'll be able to live with myself is if they're out of sight."
"They're still your brothers and they need you just as much as Kyle does. You're all they've got now, and I know you don't turn your back on family."
"They don't need me, they need the feeling of a family around. What sort of family is this going to turn into with one us dead?"
"I think it will make you all even stronger because you've still got each other. We don't even know what's going to happen yet, we just need to wait and see what's said in the next review. There might be a miracle and we'll be told Kyle might have a chance at surviving." Ricky says. "There is still time, we can't go straight to the bad stuff just yet."
"I know." Brax faintly nods. "It's just really hard trying to stay positive when the doctors are just waiting for the day to tell us the machine needs to be turned off."
"Do you think you should speak to someone about this?" Ricky asks.
"No, I just need some time."
"Why didn't you come to me about this? You needed to be honest with me instead of getting your mum to lie to me about where you were." Ricky says.
"I never asked her to lie for me. She thinks I'm just using this as an excuse to get away from the boys but that's not true. I was going to leave, I just didn't know where else to go and I didn't have the energy to get up."
"Can she still not understand how much they mean to you, especially Kyle?"
"Nope. She's still mad that Kyle's a triplet, even though she made out like she was okay with it." Brax says. "If you want to get to the hospital or somewhere else, I'd be okay if you were to go. You don't need this."
"I'm your wife, you don't get to push me away. I'm sure Heath will be okay with manning stuff until you're ready to face things again. Just don't rush this, if you don't want to go anywhere, then you don't have to." Ricky says, pulling out her phone to quickly text Heath.
"I can't keep putting things off. I've been meaning to go to the hospital every day, I just can't."
"Kyle would understand. It's a tough situation and no one is expecting you to be okay. You've had to stay strong and put your feelings aside to help the boys, but now it's time you put yourself first for once." Ricky says. "If you won't see someone about how you're feeling, then I guess I'll have to live with that, but you talk to me so I can help you."
"Yeah." Brax sighs, grabbing his phone from the side to turn it on. "Could you do one thing for me?"
"Sure, what is it?" Ricky asks as he stares at his screen.
"Could you go to the hospital to see how Kyle's doing?" Brax asks. "I know there won't be any change, I just need to know. I've also had a lot of missed calls from Casey and a few from Lucas. I need to know what they were about."
"I don't want to leave you like this." Ricky sighs.
"Please. I can't go back there yet and it might be something important."
"Okay, I'll go. But you need to do something for me." Ricky says.
"What?" Brax asks.
"You need a change of scenery and some self care. Go have a shower, something to eat and maybe even some fresh air. You'll feel much better once you do." Ricky says.
"Nah, I'm fine here."
"Brax, you need to look after yourself or you'll be no help if something does happen to Kyle." Ricky firmly says. "What if he was to miraculously wake up today and you turn up at the hospital looking like this?"
"I wouldn't have to worry about this because that's not going to happen, is it?"
"Brax…" Ricky sighs. "You just need to start looking after yourself whether Kyle wakes up or not. You've got more brothers that need you to be there for them."
"What am I meant to do for them? I couldn't help Kyle, now he's lying in a coma. I'm not being the reason another one of my brother's ends up in hospital." Brax says, Ricky realising she wasn't going to get anywhere.
"When do you want to go to the hospital next?" She asks.
"I don't know. I just need some time."
"Okay, that's fine. If you want to be alone next time you go, I can let the other's know to give you some time."
"That would be great." Brax mutters, not being able to face any of his brother's yet.
"Do you want me to get you something to eat on my way back?" Ricky asks.
"Nah, I'm not hungry. You don't need to come back here, there's better places you could be."
"There's no place I'd rather be." Ricky says. "Well I mean with you, I don't think Chezza likes me anymore."
"Ignore her, I have been." Brax lightly smiles. "I'm glad you came here, it's been nice having you here."
"You won't ever get rid of me." Ricky smiles, nestling into his side for some comfort before she leaves.