"What's goin' on Doc?" Brax asks, concerned.

"It's her blood pressure" Sid explains as he examines Charlie.

"What about it? ...Is it bad?" he questions.

"No ...it's good." Sid answers, surprised. "Her heart rate has risen, that's what set the machine off ... and her vital signs have slightly improved." He says, comparing Charlie's chart to the current readings on the machines.

"Oh Thank God!" Ruby breathes out, relieved.

"We'll have to monitor her closely" Sid says "...I've never seen anything like this. Someone in her condition to suddenly start responding so quickly"

"I told ya she would" Brax says, overcome with happiness.

"Mr Braxton" Watson said, walking in to the room "can I have a word?..."

"No." Ruby interrupts her. "He was right."

She wasn't about to let Brax get in trouble for trying to save the woman he loves, trying to save her Mother ...he refused to give up when she was about to. She'll never forget it.

Watson looks over at Sid who nods, silently agreeing not to take the matter further.

A few hours later, Ruby and Brax were sat by Charlie's bedside.

"I'm sorry." Ruby says quietly.

"I know." Brax answers.

"I can't believe how close I came to..."

"...You thought you were doing the right thing." Brax interrupts.

"I still shouldn't have given up. You didn't." she says sadly.

He stays silent.

"God, I'm so sorry." Ruby sobs, speaking to both Brax and her Mother"

"Hey, Hey, shhhh" Brax says, wrapping his arms around her. "It's ok. It worked out alright. We just gotta stay strong for ya Mum now"

Ruby nods, wiping her tears away.

"She's lucky you know. Lucky love her so much ...You saved her"

He gives a half smile as he looks back at Charlie.

"She saved me"

That evening, Sid walks in to check on Charlie.

"You both should go home and get some rest"

"No way. I'm not leaving her" Brax says, still looking at Charlie.

"Brax, I understand your concern but you haven't been home in days and you've barely slept." Sid says, gently.

"...Or eaten" Ruby adds.

"While Charlie's condition has improved, it could still be a while before we get any more improvements, if any."

Brax's head shot up at the last part of his sentence.

"I promise to call you the second anything changes" Sid says. "Please, take Ruby home and both of you get some much needed rest."

Brax looks over at Ruby; he can see she's exhausted.

"Fine" he concedes. "I'll be back first thing baby" He says, kissing Charlie's forehead.

Ruby falls asleep during the car ride home and Brax carries her inside, weaving through all the packing boxes that had not been taken yet, to the bed in Casey's room. He watches her for a moment before closing the door, smiling at how alike she is to her mother.

He showers and heads to the fridge to make something to eat before bed. Inside he finds a bowl of pasta with his name on it in Heath's handwriting, his way of apologizing for being such a dick about Charlie and the move, Brax assumes. He chuckles to himself at the thought of Heath feeling guilty and actually going to the effort of cooking. Maybe there was hope for him yet.

He sleeps for 12 hours straight, the last few days finally taking their toll on his body. His mind and body completely exhausted, yet he still manages to dream about her.

The next few days pass slowly; time seems to drag on as he waits.

Sid manages to convince him to go back to work. He has his daily routine down pat. He visits her first thing in the morning then leaves to open the restaurant, once the lunch rush is over he heads back to the hospital until visiting hours are over, then he heads back to work to do the till and close the restaurant.

It's a pretty full on day, but he's happy to have the distraction outside of visiting hours.

It's the fourth day since she had improved. He's waiting there for the second it hit's 8am and visiting hours start.

"Morning babe" he says as he kisses her forehead.

"I brought you your favourite flowers" he says holding up a beautiful bouquet of Lily's, before he starts putting them in a vase, continuing to talk to her as normal.

"...John and Gina stopped by last night, so did Alf, Roo and Marilyn. Case called and he and Rubes are comin' in later, so are Leah and Colleen."

He looks at her as he sits down.

"I'm really getting sick of hearing myself talk, babe." he jokes "So you need to wake up and tell me to shut the hell up!"

"...Fat lot of good that'll do!" a familiar voice says from the door. "I've been tryin' that since we were kids."

Brax turns around to see Heath standing by the door, a small bunch of roses in hand.

"What are you doin' here?" Brax looks at him blankly.

"Just came to see if she's ok" He replies "...and give her these" he says, holding up the flowers.

"What are you doin' here, Heath?" Brax repeats "and don't pretend that you give a shit about Charlie" He says angrily.

"I just wanted to apologize" Heath says seriously.

"Why?"

"I never should have said the things I said, I was just pissed."

"It was my choice to move, not hers" Brax responds coldly.

"I Know"

"And it was your choice to start dealing again!"

"...I know! I'm sorry. And I know she's in here because of me. If I hadn't taken Jake's pills none of this would have happened" Heath says, regret evident in his voice.

Brax can see Heath is being genuine and sighs.

"Yeah, Heath. That was one of the stupidest things you've ever done. But, if you're gonna play that game, the same can be said for Tegan or Hammer ...or me." He says sadly "We all played a part in this."

"But..."

"...The only one to truly blame in this, is Jake. And I promise you, I will get him for what he's done" Brax's voice icy cold with hatred.

"I got your back" Heath tells him "...You might have left the boys, but your still my brother. I got your back, whatever you decide to do."

Brax nods.

"Anyway, I should go. I got Darcy today." Heath says "I really hope she gets better soon" nodding towards Charlie.

"Yeah, me too" Brax agrees, turning back to look at Charlie.

That night as Brax was closing up Angelo's, his phone rang. It was Ruby.

"Brax you've got to get to the hospital now. It's Charlie."

He doesn't wait to hear the rest of that sentence, he just sprints to his car.

"Ruby!" he calls out, running down the hospital corridor.

Ruby was hugging Casey, tears in her eyes.

"What's going on?" he demands, panicked.

"It happened about 20 minutes ago" Casey starts to explain.

Brax rushes into the room and his heart just about stops at the sight.

"Hi Handsome." Charlie says weakly, sitting up against the pillows on the bed.

"Holy Shit!" Brax whispers as he rushes over to her, hugging her tightly.

"Ow, careful." she winces in pain.

"Fuck, Sorry. Oh My God, you're actually here." he says, shocked, his hands cupping her beautiful face.

"Of course I am, where else am I going to go?" She smiles at him.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again." He breathes out, leaving kisses on the top of her head as he hugs her again.

"I'm sorry" she whispers.

"Don't be! Baby, don't you dare be sorry." He says as his hand cup her face "I'm just so happy you came back to me."

"Always" she smiles warmly at him. Holding the side of his face with her hand, stroking his cheek with her thumb.

"I love you, so much" he whispers, tears in his eyes.

"I love you too"

Brax kisses her lips gently and holds her tightly in his arms, unable to believe that his angel is ok.

Read & Review! and feel free to let me know what you would like to see happen in this story :)

~CB

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