Heres the next chapter, as usual let me know what you think etc. Another update coming tomorrow :)
Casey's treatment was scheduled to start in a weeks time, in the mean time he had to continue with the antibiotics and had been instructed to rest as much as possible. However, he had been allowed to return to school three half days a week. This made things easier for Brax with work and Ricky had been a huge help for the boys.
It was Casey's first day back at school, and although it was just for half a day and all the teachers and school nurses had been briefed Brax was still stressing. Therefore Heath had headed off early to walk with some friends. "Are you sure you're up for this Case?" Brax asked, as Casey put on his school shoes, "I understand if you feel to ill, or scared-" Casey laughed shaking his head, "I'm fine Brax, lets go!"
Casey was so glad to be out of bed and out of his house. He had been a bit late to class as the head wanted to have a chat with him and Brax about their situation and how as a school was the best way for them to deal with this. Therefore, he hadn't had time to catch up with his friends. When break came by he couldn't wait to see them and play, although he had pain in his stomach and was exhausted. Despite this he ran outside with his friends, laughing. "How are you? You're so lucky you got to miss so much school!" Sasha asked. Before Casey had time to answer Dex cut in, "Don't say that Sasha!" He glared, "He's dying…" he slowly trailed off, looking at the ground, realising he had put his foot in it. The rest of the group looked at him, confused, "How do you know that?" Ruby asked, frowning. Casey frowned also, "Yeah, how do you know that?" Casey echoed. When Dex didn't answer Casey stepped forward, getting angry now, "How do you know that? Its not true, Im just sick. I will be okay!" Dex began trying to back away, before sighing defeated. "Fine, I know because my dad said you were very ill, and you would be for a long time. And then I asked would I catch it and he said no. And then I asked was it like when I had that tummy bug and he said no and then…" Ruby sighed, "Stop rambling and just tell us why he's… dying," She whispered the last bit. Dex rolled his eyes and continued, "I know he is because I over heard my dad say Casey has cancer and because my dads a doctor I know thats very serious," Dex finished looking sympathetically at Casey. Sasha and Ruby gasped, "oh my gosh, my granny had cancer and she died!" Ruby exclaimed. Casey began feeling very sick and dazed, he wasn't going to die was he? He began to wish he hadn't come in to school, he felt more scared then ever.
Before lunch Ricky picked Casey up, Brax was working a lunch shift so Ricky had offered to pick Casey up and look after him until Heath and Brax were back. "You alright Case? How was school?" Ricky smiled, giving Casey a hug. "Fine and good," Casey mumbled, still concerned with what Dex had said, he didn't know what to do. He thought only old people died. What had he done to deserve this? Ricky noticed Casey was unusually quiet but after asking him for the third time if he was okay she decided that he was probably just exhausted from all the excitement of going back to school. This was confirmed, for her anyway, when Casey fell straight to sleep when they got back and didn't wake up until his other brothers were home.
After dinner that night the brothers decided to watch a film, Casey was still being unusually quiet but Brax just assumed he wasn't feeling well due to his temperature being slightly high. Brax was sorting the TV while the other two waited on the couch when Casey finally asked what had been playing on his mind. "Brax, am I going to die?" he asked quietly, Heath smiled sadly at his baby brother waiting to see how Brax would handle the situation. Brax had instantly stopped what he was doing he could not believe what Casey had asked, he had never properly thought about the very real outcome of Casey dying. He felt a lump in his throat, he couldn't handle an 8 year old asking him that, what was he meant to say? "Brax?" Casey said quietly, a shake in his voice. At this Brax stood up and walked out of the room before he fully lost his composure, mumbling a 'sorry'. The younger two brothers sat there in an awkward silence. Casey, bought his knees up to his chest, "I am going to die? Aren't I" He asked, turning towards Heath. A few seconds passed, Heath had no idea. He turned to Casey, seeing the upset in his eyes, he couldn't bare to hurt him anymore, "Nah course not, you're a Braxton Case, hard as nails. You'll be fine," He said, wrapping his arm around Casey.
At 8pm Casey could hardly keep his eyes open so took himself up to bed, Heath was completely focused on the video game he had started playing. Casey timidly opened the door to his and Brax's room, afraid of seeing Brax again after he had upset him. Hearing Casey come in, Brax sat up and watched his youngest brother get ready and in to bed. Brax sighed and ran a hand along his face before walking over to where Casey was lying. He sat down heavily on the edge of the bed and put an arm around Casey, bringing him into his body. "Case, why did you ask me that question earlier?" Brax asked, leaning his head back and resting in on the head bored of the bed.
"Dex said he heard his dad talking and he's a doctor and apparently cancer is really really serious and Ruby said her gran died from it, so I was just wandering If I would…" he explained. "I wont will I Brax? I don't want to, I'm scared and it wont be fair as you never taught me how to surf and I haven't even been to the city…." Brax sighed and pulled Casey closer to him.
"Sorry about before Casey, I was just surprised by your question and it was too difficult for me to answer so like a coward I walked out, which I shouldn't have," Brax explained.
"So am I" Casey asked again looking up at his big brother.
"Truth is Case, I dont know. There is a chance you may, but then there is a very good chance you may not. But the medicine and treatments the doctors are going to give you will hopefully make you feel and get better. We just have to stick together and hope for the best," Brax said squeezing Casey's arm reassuringly. "But why me? I didn't do anything really bad, did I?" Casey asked, Brax couldn't help but smile at how cute Casey could be. "No, of course not Casey, its nothing you or any one else did, its just unlucky hay?" He explained. "And you know what ever happens you have your brothers and you will fight this the best you can, cause you're a Braxton Case, hard as nails" Brax smiled confused as Casey giggled slightly, "Thats exactly what Heath said".