Sorry for the delay, hope you still are enjoying it and thank you so much for your reviews, they really mean a lot! Just writing up the next chapter now so shouldn't be too long until that also it up!
Cheryl didn't stay at the hospital for long, however, she did promise she would try to sort some money out and said she'd be in touch. Brax was relieved she had left, she had just made the atmosphere horribly awkward.
Heath sighed with relief once she had left, "That was just painful" he muttered. Brax nodded in agreement, pacing slightly before sitting down in one of the chairs. Casey was lying down on his side his knees tucked up to his chest, "You okay mate?" Brax asked pushing some of his thinning hair back which was stuck to his forehead with sweat. Casey nodded closing his eyes.
Casey had a week break from chemotherapy now which meant that the brothers would get to have some time together and begin to sort the finances and logistics out. When they returned home Casey had gone up to bed for a nap as he wasn't feeling very well.
Later on that evening the three of them were watching television together. Casey, however, wasn't really concentrating, he was really worried and scared about his hair, he played with it, a tight feeling in his chest when clumps began to fall out. The other boys didn't notice at first to engrossed in the television, it was only when Brax finished his beer and was going to get another one. "Oh Case" he sighed before moving to the end of the sofa Casey was sitting on, he gently took hold of his younger brothers hands stopping him from pulling anymore clumps out and upsetting himself more. Heath also went over to the sofa his two brothers were sitting on and perched on the arm. "You know what I think we should do?" Heath said smiling down at Casey, "I think its time we just shave it all off" he stated bluntly. Both Casey and Brax's eyes widened in shock. "Yeah its super cool Case, like Kelly Slater the surfer, he shaves his head, you'd be just like him" Heath explained trying to sound excited to encourage Casey. Brax smiled at Heath proudly "I think Heaths right mate, and it may help keep you cooler and bring down your temperature?" Brax added. Casey sighed, not convinced, "You think?" he mumbled. The two older boys nodded.
Next thing the three of them knew was that they were in the bathroom, Casey sitting on a chair ready for his haircut. "Right so how do we do this? Do we use shaving gel?" Heath asked with a chuckle, both him and Brax were trying to keep the atmosphere light to help Casey but they were both dreading this, it was just another step of this nightmare which would make it all seem to real. "I guess so?" Brax said grabbing his shaving gel and squirting some on Casey's head causing even Casey to laugh.
Ten minutes later they were done. The two older boys stood back admiring their handy work. Both of them felt awkward about the situation, he just looked even more sick. However, they both knew they had to do it sooner or later. Casey stood up looking at the mirror, "I think I'm gunna need a hat" he mumbled. Brax nodded, "If thats what you want its done." He said giving Casey's shoulders a squeeze. "Right I'm starving" Heath stated trying to change the topic. Brax nodded, "me too, I'll go fix something up, you boys clean up in here?"
Downstairs Brax put both hands on the kitchen counter with a sigh, today had been exhausting.
Whilst the two older boys finished off dinner on the sofas, Casey again had missed dinner, his appetite still non existent Brax had an idea. "We need a day at the beach, the three of us." He stated, "Probably in a couple of days as Case your wont be up for it because of the chemo today, hay you may not even be up for it then but its just an idea?" He suggested. Heath looked up "That would be awesome" He said with his mouth fall, Brax rolled his eyes. "Me too," Casey said quietly snuggling into Brax's side.
Brax was right, there was no way they could have left the house the next couple of days, Casey was not in a good way. On the third day though he was a bit better and although Brax knew he wouldn't be able to cope with a whole day at the beach he decided a few hours wouldn't hurt. Ricky was also coming along so Brax could have some time having a surf and not leave Casey alone.
Ricky arrived at the boys house excited for the day ahead. "G'day" She grinned standing in the door way. Casey was sitting on the sofa waiting as patiently as he could, he was very excited, Heath was still getting ready and Brax was running around like a mad man packing anything and everything he could possibly need. "Hi Ric" He mumbled. Ricky sat down next to Casey "Sweet new hair cut Case" She smiled giving him a squeeze on the shoulder. "Thanks Brax did it for me" He told her. A little while later they were all piled into Brax's ute along with surfboards, food and enough first aid and medical supplied to kit out an ambulance.
When they arrived at the beach Brax set up a tent shelter thing to protect Casey from the sun. Heath grabbed his surf board, "Ya coming Brax?" He asked. Brax looked at his baby brother, not wanting to leave him. "You go, I'll stay here with Case" Ricky said pushing Brax to his feet. "Cheers Ric your the best" He smiled picking up his surfboard and chasing after Heath. Ricky and Casey sat making sandcastles for a while. "Ricky?" Casey said sitting up from where he was working on a sandcastle "Can we go in the sea? Just for a little while…" He asked. Ricky frowned slightly, she knew he had to be extra careful in the sun with his chemotherapy and she didn't feel she had the authority to make that decision especially with Brax being so over protective of him. "Lets just wait for Brax to get back" She said with a small smile.
When Brax got back he agreed to let Casey come in the sea for a bit. "Come here then let me suncream you" Brax said to Casey, Ricky had gone down to surf with Heath so it was just the two of them. "Brax, please may I keep my top on to go in the sea today?" Casey asked, "I dont want the others to see this," he explained pointing at the cannula which had been fitted a couple of weeks ago to make administrating the drugs easier. "Course mate, probably for the best anyway with the sun being so strong today and you will be less likely to catch the wires whilst your playing" He smiled. Once Casey was all sorted to go in the sea he smiled up cheekily to Brax "The last on in the water is a rotten egg" He giggled running off, he was very wobbly on his feet and he felt exhausted but he was still so happy, it was the best day ever in ages. Brax shook his head chasing after Casey and when he caught up with him he lifted him up causing him to scream.
The four of them played in the sea splashing and having races. "Brax can you teach me how to surf now?" Casey asked hopefully. Brax frowned and shook his head "Nah mate your too young and not well enough" Casey looked down disappointed. "What happens if I never get to?" He asked quietly. Brax rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before having an idea. "Heath get other here with your bored please!" Heath did as he was told paddling over to his brothers in the shallow area. Brax picked up Casey and put him on the bored in front of Heath, "Right, hold on tight" He told them, waiting for Heath to delicately put his arms around Casey to keep him steady. Brax then pushed the board and swam along side it until he could only just stand. He smiled at how excited his baby brother was "This is amazing" casey said breathless with excitement as he looked out to the ocean. Once they came back to the shore Brax decided it was time for Casey to get out of the sun as he was getting tired. "That was the best thing ever Brax" he said as Brax carried him back up to their towels and tent, he rested his head on his older brothers shoulder, "This has been the best day ever" he smiled.