Chapter 11

Thanks again for your lovely reviews really appreciate it and love reading them, thanks also to those who are following my story. This is my next chapter, hope you enjoy it …..SandyJ

Brax drove at a very slow pace through the streets of the city, everywhere looked isolated as the dense fog thickened over the city making it colder. Brax stopped the car, "This is pointless driving around I have no idea where Casey could have gone, I don't even know if he was still in contact with his mates, if he could be staying with one of them".

"Natalie was right not having me involved before now" Brax stated as he banged hard on the steering wheel, "the kid is only in my life a few days and I have already lost him".

"Maybe I should ask the girl over there outside that fast food joint" Kyle suggested, she may have seen him earlier, maybe he was in there having something to eat.

Brax sighed heavily, "Whatever you think mate"

Kyle got out of the car and ran across the street.

"Excuse me, Sorry" exclaimed Kyle as he approached the lady who was taking in the sign from outside before closing up.

"I am looking for my nephew" replied Kyle, he is about this height, he would probably have a back pack.

Belle looked at Kyle and said "This is the city" we have people come in here and go all day, I couldn't even tell you who was in here half an hour ago, "Sorry" as she turned and walked towards the door carrying the sign.

"It was worth a shot, thanks anyway" Kyle said before he began to turn and head back to the car.

"Wait, what was his name" questioned Bell, the kid's name I mean?

"Casey" replied Kyle as he turned to look at Belle, why do you ask?

"There was a kid here a few hours ago" replied Belle, he was being hassled by a group of thugs, he looked so scared and so lost. So, I offered him chips and it was then he told me his name was Casey. He did say he was heading to his mum's so I presume that's where you will find him.

"Thanks" replied Kyle, I really appreciate it before he headed back to the car.

"Well any luck" asked Brax when Kyle sat into the car.

"She said he was here a good few hours back, he was hassled by a group of people.

"Great that's all he needed, but where the hell is he now" shouted Brax

"She did mention when she got talking to him that he was heading to his mum's" exclaimed Kyle, surly he couldn't be in the graveyard, could he?

"Damn! why didn't I think of that before now" replied Brax as he pushed hard on the accelerator heading in the direction of the grave yard.

"Surely, Heath must have a flash light in here somewhere" Brax questioned, who was also getting very agitated, as he routed around inside in the jeep.

"This is dark and creepy" replied Kyle, its doubtful he would be in here all by himself.

"Lets go" replied Brax as he shone the flash light, it's worth a try. Kyle opened the big silver gates and they walked along the little pathway. When they arrived near Natalie's grave which was in near a corner, Brax shone the light over towards it.

"No, No Casey" shouted Brax as he ran towards the grave. He picked up his son in his arms, I got you mate, I got you" replied Brax as he walked quickly towards the jeep, Casey's body was cold and he was shivering. Kyle grabbed Casey's backpack and ran off in front of Brax to turn on the ignition in the jeep and heat it up.

Brax sat into the back seat of the jeep and held Casey tightly in his arms.

"He is probably suffering from Hypothermia" replied Kyle as he grabbed a picnic blanket that was left in the front seat and wrapped it around Casey's body.

"Stay with me Case, stay with me" cried Brax as he pulled Casey in tighter to give him as much body heat as he could.

"We need to get him to a hospital" exclaimed Kyle, looking very worried.

"No, no hospital" replied Brax, If social services gets involved again, I may loose him, "I can't loose him Kyle" he cried out.

"Fine" replied Kyle, but we need to get him in somewhere warm, I will try that motel we passed on the way in here. Once they booked into the motel, Brax carried a shivering Casey into the room. Most of the clothing in Casey's back pack were damp, so Kyle put a t-shirt and track bottoms on the radiator to warm them up.

Kyle helped Brax remove the wet clothing from Casey and replaced them with the two items of clothing from the radiator including a hooded top belonging to Kyle and placed him into the bed wrapping him in a blanket protecting his head and torso. Brax lay on the bed next to him, keeping his arms wrapped around him, while Casey continued to shiver.

Casey's Illusion

I stood there looking at that beautiful green field, full of big daises, there were so many of them. There she was my mum at the other end of the field, smiling, her hair blowing in the breeze. She had on that beautiful flowing dress I loved. I couldn't stop smiling, I hadn't done it in months. I ran through the field of daises my mum came from the other side her two arms held out.

Finally, I could feel her arm's wrap around my body, I felt safe again. We sat down on the green grass, the blue sky above us.

"I have missed you so much mum, everything has gone so wrong for me" exclaimed Casey.

"I have missed you also babe" replied Natalie as she kissed Casey's head.

"I know now why you didn't get my dad involved" said Casey, he doesn't care, he would have let us down just like he has done to me now. Tears fell from Casey's eyes again, "I really thought he loved me Mum, he said he would be there for me. But then he got her to do his dirty work, he couldn't even do it himself.

"I don't ever have to see him again now that I have found you" replied Casey as he smiled up at his mum.

"I have missed you so much Case" replied Natalie but you haven't finished your life on earth yet, you have so much to live for "Case, it was my fault for not involving your dad in your life before now, I can see now how much he loves you and I know he will do everything right by you in life.

You need to go back Casey, open your eyes and I promise you that your dad will be right by your side.

"I don't want to leave you mum, I don't care about him, I can't trust him, please you and I can stay here in this field with these beautiful daises we can be happy again.

Natalie turned Casey's head towards her and looked directly at him, "When it is time for you to be here, I promise you I will be waiting" but my beautiful little boy, I need you to do this one last thing for me, please give your dad a chance, live your life because you have only one shot at it. And when you feel sad or lonely, talk to me I will be listening as she kissed Casey on his head again and pulled him in for another hug!

End of illusion

"Casey, Casey mate" replied Brax as Casey opened his eyes, the shivering had stopped but his body still felt cold, everything is going to be all right.

"My mum was right" thought Casey to himself, my dad was here but I couldn't see my mum anymore, the green field, the big daises were all gone.

"Try some of this warm drink" exclaimed Kyle as he approached the bed. Casey took a sip, but was very tired so just fell back to sleep.

Brax took a deep breath as he stood up from the bed and pulled the blankets up over Casey to make sure he kept warm.

Kyle was tired so decided to get some sleep on the single bed in the room but before he did he handed Brax an album he found in Casey's back pack..

Brax made himself a cuppa and sat down on the chair, he opened up the album, there were pictures of Casey from birth, a photo of him with his first tooth, his first school photo where he had a big grin on his face, a photo of every birthday, a photo of Casey holding a soccer ball and a trophy,.

Tear's escaped from Brax's eyes, looking at the pictures was like looking at a complete stranger, he didn't know the kid in the photo's. It broke his heart that he had lost out on so much of Casey's life.

Casey's P.O.V

I woke up as the day light shone thought the window, I saw my dad fast asleep in the bed beside me and Kyle asleep on the single bed. I felt so numb inside, I couldn't be here, I couldn't be part of their lives, she made that quite clear to me.

I got out of the bed quietly and pulled on my trainers, I shoved my album into my bag and what ever clothes were hanging on the radiator. I moved closer to the door and looked back towards the beds, a tear escaped my eye, I had to walk away from this life with my dad and his family, I couldn't be part of it anymore.

I put my hand on the door to open it but it was locked, I couldn't see a key to get out, I started to panic pulling at the door. Before, I knew it Kyle was holding onto me trying to calm me down, but I retaliated against him as I knew I needed to get out. I could hear him shouting at my dad to wake up.

End of P.O.V

"Casey, calm down" replied Brax in a very soft tone, we can sort everything out.

Casey stopped trying to pull away from Kyle and turned towards Brax.

"I have to go" cried Casey, I can't be part of your family anymore, please let me go.

"You are going now where mate" exclaimed Brax, you got it all wrong Case.

"No I didn't" cried Casey, she told me I couldn't be part of your family and you had agreed to this.

"You didn't care about me, you knew I had no where to go" shouted Casey, "I hate you", I want to go back to foster care, I wish I never wrote that stupid letter, my mum was right not having you involved in our lives because you would just have let us down over and over again, you don't care.

"I want you to ring Ms. Fletcher and get her to pick me up" shouted out a frustrated Casey, I don't want you in my life anymore.

Brax just shook his head, he pulled the key out of his pocket, unlocked the door and went out leaving Casey and Kyle in the room together.

Brax's P.O.V

I went outside the motel to breath in some fresh air, it was still quite chilly. I felt sick at what Casey had said to me, but he was right, I had let him down so badly.

He really did hate me and I wouldn't blame him. I took him from foster care and promised him a loving home, but I let him down like I let down Ricky.

When Heath told me over the phone last night that Ricky was in hospital and was suffering from "Postal Natal Depression"I couldn't believe it, why wasn't I more observant where she was concerned.

I have disappointed the three most important people in my life, Ricky now ending up in hospital, Matthew, no mum or dad around to care for him and Casey, he is in so much pain, anger eating up inside him, I have let them all down.

I scrolled through the contact list on my phone until I came to Ms. Fletcher s number, I knew I had to make amends and my first priority now was to do right by Casey.

End of P.O.V

Casey sat on the bed with his leg crossed, Kyle sat on the end of the bed.

"You got it all wrong mate" exclaimed Kyle, your dad never told Ricky to send you packing.

Casey looked towards Kyle, "Its all my fault, I shouldn't have wrote that stupid letter" exclaimed Casey, that woman was right, I came between them as a family, I should have listened when that woman said "Brax and Ricky were very happy and to leave the past in the past".

"Wait, wait a second Case" said Kyle, who was the woman that said that and when?

"I don't know, I cant remember her name I had it written down on paper but I threw it away" exclaimed Casey

"Can you remember when this was" questioned Kyle

"It was soon after my mum died" explained Casey, my Nana and granddad brought me to her house in Mangrove River.

Kyle looked at Casey and asked "By any chance was her name Cheryl Braxton" quizzed Kyle.

"That's it Cheryl Braxton" said Casey, why do you ask?.

"No reason" replied Kyle, but maybe your dad doesn't need to know about this at the moment, not right now anyway.

"What you have to understand Casey" exclaimed Kyle, is your dad loves you so much, he drove like a mad man to the city yesterday evening when he discovered what Ricky had done. He didn't even care if we went off the road with the dense fog, he was out to find you no matter what it took.

"I know he is going to ring Ms. Fletcher as he doesn't want to hurt you anymore" and if that is what is going to make you happy again he will do it without any hesitation.

"I don't want to go back into foster care" explained Casey, tears falling again from his eyes, I just want a place to call home, I want so much to be with my dad but it is not going to work.

Kyle moved closer to Casey and pulled him in for a hug, "If you want to come home with us to Summer Bay" exclaimed Kyle, just let your dad know, we will all be there for you I promise.

"Anyway, I have yet to meet someone who can beat me in Fifa" said Kyle with a smile, and a little bird said you might be my guy.

Just then Brax opened in the door and saw Casey and Kyle sitting on the bed, Kyle's arm wrapped around him, he was glad Kyle was there for Casey.

"Could you give us a minute mate" asked Brax as he looked towards Kyle.

"Sure, no problem" replied Kyle as he stood up, I might pop down and get us some breakfast any requests as he looked at Casey and then Brax both shook their heads.

Casey remained on the bed with his legs crossed and stared down at the blanket.

"I don't know how many more times I can say sorry Case, but I am" exclaimed Brax as he went over and sat on the bed next to Casey.

"You were right to be angry with me" said Brax, but I never told Ricky to tell you to leave, I would never have wanted you to go.

Casey looked up at Brax, tears still escaping from his eyes, "I don't hate you, I don't even know you" replied Casey, but I am so scared it makes me feel sick all the time.

Brax put his arm around Casey and pulled him in tight for a hug.

"I know you wanted to go back to foster care" exclaimed Brax, I even went as far as retrieving Ms Fletcher's number from the contact list, but that is not what I want Case, I need you in my life as much as you need me.

"Casey I am not going to give up on you now" said Brax, I am your dad and you are my son. I know we won't always see eye to eye, and you definitely won't be happy with the decisions I make on your behalf at times. You probably don't even like the decision I am making now by not ringing Ms. Fletcher, but I don't care because I am a parent now and have to be responsible where you and Matthew are concerned.

Casey wiped away the tears from his eyes with his sleeve and looked up at Brax, "She said I was in the way, I am scared to go back there, she looked so mad at me as if she hated me. "Maybe, I could stay with Kyle or Heath and I could see you everyday, she might not be mad then?"

"I know this is hard on you Case" exclaimed Brax, but I only want what is best for you and right now that is being with your family, we are going to work this out, I promise you. Casey gave a bleak smile and cuddled in closer to his dad.

Casey's P.O.V

I dreaded going back there, back to Summer Bay. I felt really safe sitting here with my dad and his arms wrapped around me, I just wished it was him and me. My stomach feels sick again I want to vomit, I can still picture her face when she told me I had to go. Why couldn't it have been me, my mum and my dad, at least just for a little while. I don't know if I will be ever able to trust her or even be in the same room as her, this is all wrong!