ENJOY! XOXO

Early the next day Brax and Heath made their way up to Danny's van. "Let me do the talking" Brax mumbled knocking on the door of the van. Danny opened it, he was wearing a vest which most likely used to be black but was now a faded grey colour. "My boys" he slurred slightly, ushering them into the caravan. "Dad" Brax nodded curtly. Both boys followed him in, standing awkwardly in the small van. "Thought you'd bring my youngest with you too, It is him we are getting this money for anyway" he said with a smirk. Brax felt himself getting angry, noticing this Heath replied not wanting Brax to do something he would regret, "He's in the hospital, not doing good" Heath shrugged looking down at the floor unable to look his dad in the eye. "Weak!" Danny said with a harsh laugh. Brax physically had to bite his lip to stop himself from losing it. "Enough" he mumbled, "just tell us what you want us to do".

Danny nodded sitting on the small bench in the corner. "Right, as I said I have a few jobs here and there which you boys could help with, especially because I need to keep a low profile" he told them with a chuckle. Brax nodded as he listened to his 'dad'. When Danny stopped talking and it was obvious nor Brax or Danny were going to say anything Heath spoke up, "What kind of jobs"? Brax cringed slightly forgetting that Heath had never yet had the misfortune of getting involved in Danny's dodgy doings. Danny grinned, "Just a few bits and pieces. Got some gear that needs selling, got some deals lined up… and a couple of other stuff too" Danny said standing up to pull out a box from under the bench. Both brothers looked at him curiously. "So boys, today's just a trial see what ya made of" Danny said handing the box to Brax. Brax took it cautiously staring at his 'dad'. "Here's a couple of addresses, all ya need to do is drop whats needed at these locations to the blokes who's names are on this list". Brax looked down the list, they were all pretty spread out locations, six locations. "Righto" Brax said scratching the back of his neck, "Only thing is we've got to be back Case has an operation today and I need to be there for him".

"You want my help or not" Danny growled and went to take the box off of Brax.

"We dont want it… we need it" Brax said fiercely taking a step forward. Heath cleared his throat.

"We better get a move on Brax," Heath mumbled trying to get his older brother out of the situation, "Otherwise we will neve get back for Case". At the mention of Casey Brax sighed and turned around and out of the van. Danny laughed loudly, "See you boys later!" he called after them.

…

Back at the hospital Casey was watching the clock wondering where his brothers were. He couldn't really tell the time, he really was behind in his education for various reasons as well as because he struggled with school, but he knew the procedure must be getting closer as he had heard the nurses talking about it the last time they make to check his vitals. Casey tucked his knees up to his chin, starting to feel slightly sick with nerves.

After a while of clock watching Casey was broken out of his trance by Dr. Walker. Casey looked up, "Is Brax here?" Casey asked hopefully.

"Not yet I'm afraid mate," Sid said giving the young boys shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We are going to get you ready for surgery soon though so I am just here to check a couple of things." he explained as he began to check Casey's blood pressure. "Do you think we could wait for Brax?" Casey asked feeling slightly ashamed of himself for being so needy and afraid. Sid sighed feeling genuinely sorry for the young boy. "We can wait five minutes longer or so but we only have the operating room for a short time slot for this procedure," he explained softly. Casey nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He was really nervous now. "I will be back shortly with the anaesthesiologist and team" Dr. Walker told him as he jotted a few figures down. Casey's eyes widened, "the what!" he explained a little more loudly then he had intended. Dr. Walker put his chart down, feeling a slight twinge of guilt for not explaining himself properly, Casey was putting on such a brave front he couldn't help forget this was his first proper operation. "That's just what us doctors call another special doctor who is in charge of giving you this special medicine which will put you to sleep while we put the special tube on for you" Casey didn't look to sure, "You will simply fall asleep Casey and then you will wake up and before you know it it will all be over".

Casey bit his lip, "How do you know I will really actually fall asleep?" he asked.

"Because we have highly trained individuals to make sure you will. I can almost guarantee you will be okay Casey" Dr. Walker said with a small smile.

Casey looked down, "You don't know that!" Casey exclaimed shocking Sid slightly, "A while ago I was meant to be asleep but I didn't want to… I wanted to hang out with Brax and Heath so I hid around the corner and watched this film with them… but not really with them as they did not know I was there… but it was about a man who was having an operation but he was still awake and they were trying to kill him!" He explained getting slightly hysterical.

"Calm down Casey" Sid said firmly trying to get Casey's attention, "That was just a film, it wont happen" Casey still didn't look convinced, "I promise and I bet as soon as you wake up Brax will be here to see you" He said squeezing his shoulder. Casey gave a small nod. Next thing he knew he was being taken into surgery.

…..

Brax and Heath were on the way to their last deal of the day. "Crap!" Brax cursed hitting the steering wheel. Heath looked up, "What?" he asked.

"Casey will be going into his surgery now and we are stuck out here!" He said hitting the wheel again frustrated. "At this rate we wont even be back for when the kid wakes up!" he said hitting the wheel yet again.

Heath rolled his eyes, "Look we are here for him! This is all for him. What more can we bloody do!" Heath said also getting frustrated but for slightly different reasons. It had been a tough day.

"Yeah, I know" Brax said his voice softening slightly, "Sorry mate, you know I'm really proud of ya for stepping up for our little brother" He said, Heath shrugged. They drove for a bit longer until getting to another run down shack type house. "Alright, I'll do this one on my own, wont be long… I know the guy, it wont take long," Brax said getting out the car. Heath nodded, relieved, it was pretty intense dealing with the people they were dealing with. Like Brax said he was quick, climbing into the car he passed over the wad of money to Heath who put it with the rest of their stash. "Done" Brax sighed reversing the car out of the dusty dirt track. Heath began to count the money they had made, he let out a long whistle. "$5000" he exclaimed, "Well on our way to paying these bills, hay at this rate we may have some left over to get a bed for you!" he chuckled getting over excited.

Brax smiled at his brother, "as great as that would be we have to remember Dad will be taking a cut no doubt and the medical bills are far more then that" he said with a small smile.

"Way to be a downer" Heath muttered looking out the window.

Half an hour later the two brother arrived back at the caravan park, "Right, lets drop this stuff off, take our cut and get down to the hospital," Brax said climbing out of the car. Heath followed behind, looking around, feeling slightly on edge at carrying all that money. Danny answered the door before they had even knocked, "done?" He muttered ushering them in. "Yeah" Heath grunted handing Danny the money. "Ta" Danny said pocketing it with a smirk. Heath stared at him in shock, Brax shook his head, knowing where this was lead, "Wheres our cut?" Heath blurted out causing Danny to laugh harshly. "Your cut! Ha! You were always stupid, this was a test… Didn't think Id pay ya for one job, you have to earn it". Heath stormed out slamming the door, he couldn't believe it, after all of his and Brax's hard work! "Nice," Brax grunted following his younger brother.

"I'll give ya a message in a couple of days about some more jobs." Danny called after him.

The two brother sat in silence as they began to drive to the hospital, "He's a dog, why hell are we even doing this?" Heath asked, he knew what the answer was and he knew they had no other choice but he was at that moment in time angry and hurt by his dads words. "Casey needs it, we all do". Heath sighed, "I know" he mumbled. "And hay, if we don't get a cut next time or he speaks to you like that again I will personally see to him" Brax said with a smile causing Heath to chuckle slightly.

…..

Casey's procedure had lasted under an hour with no complications so far. After a short while the nurses began to start bring him back around and within half an hour he groggily opened his eyes, "Brax" He croaked seeing the outline of someone with his hazed over eyes, "Brax!" he said again slightly louder as he began to panic. He tried to sit up screaming out in pain slightly, "Brax!" he called again crying softly now. He felt hands keeping him still on the bed, it was one of the nurses. Dr. Walker came in within a matter of seconds after the nurse had paged him. "Where's Brax?" Casey asked seeing a familiar face.

"He's not here yet I'm afraid," He said softly checking Casey's vitals. Casey simply nodded, not being able to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach. Casey suddenly sat up, screaming in the process because of the pain from the G-tube, he was sick three times before leaning back down, squirming slightly in pain. "Thats just the anaesthesia wearing off," Sid explained, "Sometimes it makes people a bit poorly" He said as the nurses cleaned the small boy up. However, the sick feeling was still there, Casey knew it wasn't just the anaesthesia, it was because he was worried and disappointed about Brax not being there. Once Casey had settled the nurses and doctors left him.

Casey tried to force himself to stop crying, it was pointless, he knew Brax had to work today and that was his fault because of how expensive this all was so he should be grateful. Once he managed to stop he struggled to get himself comfortable and shut his eyes telling himself that when he woke up again his brothers would surely be back.

An hour after Casey's surgery the older two Braxtons rushed through the hospital doors. They walked straight up to Sid, "How is he?" Brax asked running a hand over his face.

"He's doing okay, resting," Sid told the two boys, "He was asking after you when he woke. But you should be proud, he's been extremely brave".

Heath grinned, "Course he has, hes a Braxton"!

Brax smiled, "Yeah, something like that. Can we see him?" He asked.

"Sure, he may still be asleep though."

Brax and Heath walked into Casey's room quietly, Heath sat on the chair near the window whilst Brax sat on the chair next to Casey's bed. He softly pulled his brothers hospital gown up to the the tube which was meant to feed, water and give him medicine. Brax couldn't help but grimace slightly, it looked sore. "Doesn't look pretty?" Heath smirked at Brax's grimace, "Man up you knuckle head least its not on your body" he chuckled trying to lighten the mood. Brax rolled his eyes, pulling Casey's gown down softly. This movement caused Casey to stir. "Brax?" he croaked trying to sit up but stopping as soon as Brax's heavy hand prevented him. "Yeah mate, I'm here now" he said softly, "Sorry I wasn't here for ya" he said feeling guilty again. Casey shrugged, "Its okay".

"Heard you were pretty friggin brave though" Heath said standing up and walking over to Casey with a grin. Casey looked at his other brother another smile spreading across his face, "Heath" he croaked. "Yep, we're both here squirt". Casey closed his eyes listening to the small talk his brother made with him, he occasionally answered softly. The nurses came in soon after to give Casey more pain medicine. Brax and Heath then took it in turns to read bits out of the old surfing magazines to Casey. At this point the medication had started to kick in and made him really sleepy, he kept stifling yawns and forcing his eyes open. "Am I boring ya mate?" Heath smirked as he saw Casey let out another yawn. Casey grinned shaking his head, too tired to speak. Brax chuckled, sorting Casey's pillows and blankets out, "Hay, Case I think you should get some sleep" He suggested. Casey's eyes shot open, worrying that they would leave him again. "I'm staying here though, so dont worry" Brax reassured him. Casey looked down at the blanket, "I'm not" he said stubbornly. Brax and Heath secretly rolled there else's smiling at each other at how determined Casey was to not show any signs of weakness like they both did. "Right," said Brax, "Now sleep" he said firmly. Casey gave him a small smile before falling asleep soon after.