A/N: hey:)! Thanks so much everyone for reviewing! It was lovely to read them all and I'm glad you like the idea of the story! I wasn't too sure if you guys would like it! So here's another installment for you all and continue to post your ideas or PM me :) xoxo
Two years later and a couple of months...
Brax was twelve years old now and was in his final year of primary school, although some days he wasn't there because he had to stay home and look after his now two year old brother, who was growing up too fast for Brax's liking. He loved spending time with Casey, even if it meant taking time off school. His father and mother didn't care when the school would call them to find out where Brax was, they didn't really care about any of their sons at all. Heath was now seven and was in his second year at school, Heath wasn't catching onto school either and started to begin throwing a tantrum nearly every morning that he didn't want to go to school...
Heath stomped out of the shower, after Brax demanded that he had one before school. He pulled the chair roughly from under the table, it falling loudly to the ground, Brax glanced over annoyed before he heard his fathers bedroom door unlock and he knew that this wasn't going to be pretty.
"Heath, come 'ere" Brax ordered, hearing his father grumbling down the hallway, Heath went to go to pull the chair up but Danny turned around the corner, laying his eyes on the young boy.
"Heath!" He shouted out, storming over to Heath who was now in fear of what his father was going to do, Brax swiftly moved to the kitchen table.
"Dad, leave him. His just a bit angry, his sorry to have woken you" He said trying to calm his father down. Danny shook his head and slapped Heath across the face viciously, causing the young boy to fall to the ground.
"Don't be so loud, don't wake up your parents!" He shouted in Heaths face before retrieving back to his room and slamming the door shut, Brax ran his hand over his face and heard Casey begin to cry. Brax grabbed Heath and ushered him into Casey's room.
"Case mate, it's okay. Don't cry" Brax said softly before walking over to where Heath was starring down at the floor. The older brother crouched down and gently lifted up Heaths head, trying to see the bruise.
"You okay?" Brax asked worriedly, trying to settle a tired Casey at the same time. Heath just nodded and looked up at his brother with glassy eyes.
"Oh Heath" Brax said worriedly before pulling him into a hug. Heath and Brax let go when Casey was squirming around, trying to not get crushed
"We almost crushed you little man!" Brax chuckled, lightly tickling Casey which sent him into a soft giggle. Heath rolled his eyes, still jealous of how much attention Casey was getting.
"Come on Heath, we've got to go to school today and Case you have to go to play group" Brax explained, standing up and placing Casey to his hip. He rummaged through Casey's clothes, trying to find him something clean to wear. Brax settled on something he found on the floor, it hadn't been washed and was worn a few days ago, he sighed and changed Casey, "That'll do" He mumbled before taking Casey out to the lounge room and placing him down beside Heath on the couch.
He made them both breakfast, cereal and toast to get them going. "Here boys, eat up"
Brax had gotten into a habit of waking up at five every morning, having to make himself lunch and finish off his homework from the previous night if he hadn't already. Half the time Casey was up early as well and Brax used to teach him all sorts of things, making his speech more improved. Heath on the other hand still wasn't happy about Casey, the young boy didn't understand why he didn't love his little brother like he loved his big brother.
"Heath grab your bag, Case's to please, It's at the door" Brax said pointing over to the door where two small bags lie. Heath nodded and walked over to where the bags where, swinging his on his shoulder. Brax walked by grabbing his bag of the table and picking Casey up on the way out.
"We've got to drop Case at play group then will catch the bus to school, alright Heath?" Brax asked, the younger brother just nodded and walked beside his big brother.
"How's your cheek?" Brax asked, glancing down at his little brother. Heath shrugged and touched it lightly, thinking over things in his mind
"It's alright" Heath said quietly. Casey squirmed in Brax's arms, trying to wiggle himself out.
"What's up Casey?" Brax wondered, stopping to quickly place him on the ground and grabbing his hand to walk with him.
"Me walk with Heath, hold his hand?" Casey asked, Brax nodded and Casey reached to grab Heaths hand, the older brother didn't even want to acknowledge it and ignored him, but Casey was determined to reach up to grab Heaths hand that was crossed with his other across his chest. Brax glanced over, wondering what was getting Case in such an angered state
"Heath, he wants to walk with you and hold your hand. Just let him yeah?"
"Fine, whatever" Heath grumbled, grabbing onto his baby brothers hand and walking alongside him. Casey smiled and watched his big brother as they walked the short distance to the playgroup...
Throughout the day at school Brax wondered how on earth he was going to buy Casey a present for his third birthday that was almost a month away, he hardly had any money, he didn't know what to do. It was his birthday in a few days but Brax didn't want anything, he'd prefer that whatever money, little money, his parents were spending that he'd want it to go to Casey. Birthdays were more important at that age and even if Brax was turning into the teenage years, he'd still rather it go to Case.
It was around seven thirty in the night, Brax had put Casey to bed and Heath was busy watching a movie, he walked into his parents room, seeing both of them sitting on the bed, already looking half intoxicated. "Mum...Dad?" Brax questioned wearily, Cheryl looked up and plastered a smile on her face, the young boy wasn't sure whether it was from the amount of alcohol she'd had or whether she was just happy..
"What son?"
"Um...it's Casey's birthday soon and I know we don't have a lot of money, but I'd prefer that you pull money together and don't worry about getting me a present. Just get Case one, his young. He won't understand if he doesn't get one" Brax replied, somewhat worried that his father was going to rage out and slap sense into his son because he had a heart and he cared about his family.
"If that's what you want Brax, then yeah. But don't go complaining when you don't get anything. Plus you can buy his present, you seem to know him better than us" Cheryl said digging into her purse and pulling out a few notes before handing them to Brax.
"Daryl go get your father and mother another beer" Danny ordered, Brax barely nodded and walked out to the kitchen, grabbing the beers out before walking back to his parents room and handing them over.
Brax's birthday came around fast, he didn't even want anyone to make a fuss about it, he actually hoped that no one remembered. Any other twelve year old wanted a party to celebrate his turning into a thirteen year old, they'd want a massive present followed by lots of little ones.
Heath quietly walked into his little brothers room, he pulled down the railings and pulled the happy kid out. "We have to be quiet, we can't wake Brax, okay?" Heath explained, the two year old nodded and walked behind Heath who was carrying a small bag of school made gifts.
He slowly opened Brax's door, "Go get him!" Heath whispered to Casey before plonking him on Brax's bed and letting the toddler bounce happily on Brax's bed.
"Birthday Brax, Birthday!" Casey said giggling, jumping up and down on his big brothers body, trying to wake him up.
The older brother grinned sleepily, spending the day with his little brothers would probably be the best birthday present ever. "Hiya Case". He glanced up and saw Heath there, smiling lightly, holding up a yellow bag.
"Happy Birthday"
Brax smiled and patted the spot beside him, wanting Heath to come and sit beside him, he hugged him lightly. "Thanks mate"
"I make you present, open, open!" Casey encouraged, grinning as Brax opened up Casey's home made photo frame out of paddle pop sticks...
Even if Brax's day was filled with spending the day at the beach with his brothers, his mates and only a few presents, he felt as though it was the world. All that Brax had to worry about now was what to get his little brother and he was pretty sure he had the perfect three year old present, well at least it would be for Casey. The young boy had been constantly talking about getting Lego and playing with it at play group just wasn't enough and he defenetly needed it at home too. Brax questioned why his blocks at home weren't as good as Lego and that started Casey of on another note...
"Heath, please just watch Casey for a couple of hours. I need to go and get his present. I don't have any other time to do it, it's his birthday tomorrow and the shops are open late tonight, come on Heath please?" Brax begged, Heath sighed and nodded, glancing over at his brother who was playing on the floor of his room.
"Just stay in here, lock the door and don't let anyone in, unless I come back and say its me. Okay? Dads having a party and the police are probably going to come. Just don't go out, I'll bring some drinks and food in before I go, okay?" Brax questioned
Heath just nodded again and went and took a seat on his bed, Brax quickly left and returned quickly with some snacks, "Alright, see you soon. Casey, be good and listen to Heath, bye"
Heath walked around his room, annoyed he had to baby sit his two year old. Casey was happily playing with some blocks that Brax had pre put in there, but for Case nothing compared to his favorite toy car that Brax had brought him a little while ago. The older brother demanded that Casey just be happy with his blocks and that he could play with his car for as long as he wanted to after Brax got home, but unfortunately that wasn't right for Casey and Heath had to take him to his room to get his toy, not knowing exactly what car it was. Who would have thought it would end up with such hurtful endings...
"Dad, don't hit him. His only a baby" Heath begged, seeing his father drunk at five in the afternoon, pinning his youngest son against Heaths bed.
"Would you rather I show you a decent flogging then, I thought I told you that you don't interrupt grown ups" Danny said, edging his way over to Heath.
"Brax will be angry at you Dad!" Chase said, Heath had to stop from laughing at his two year old brothers comment. Their father deffinetly didn't see the funny side, he swiftly moved back to where the two year old was now cowering in the corner, balling his eyes out.
"You should keep your mouth shut Casey and stop your winging, don't be such a little baby!" Danny said before slapping the two year old across the face, causing Casey to scream out and cry even more. Danny walked out of the room before stopping beside Heath.
"Keep your mouth shut Heath" He whispered harshly, Heath just nodded and waited for his father to slam the door shut before going to check on his little brother. Heath walked swiftly over to where is baby brother was shaking in the corner of his bed.
"Casey, hey. It's okay, please don't cry. Brax will be back soon" Heath pleaded as he gently sat with his little brother, rubbing his back calmly.
When Brax got home he didn't realize how out of control a party could get, there was well over fifty guys and girls just in the front yard, staggering around. The music was so loud Brax could hear it from a block away, he pushed past the guests and Didn't hang around too long when people stopped him to tell him how much he'd grown up. He moved through to his room and quickly put Casey's present into his cupboard.
Brax moved back down to where his little brothers were, hoping that in the short period time he was gone everything was fine. He slowly pushed through and it was then he could hear the hurt cries of Casey fill the room, he could see the soon to be three year old bundled up in Heaths arms.
"Oh, god. What happened?" Brax asked, he walked quickly over to where his two younger brothers were, Casey's arms stretched out to his big brother, desperately asking to be embraced by him.
Brax looked at a distraught Casey and took a seat beside Heath on the bed, still holding tightly to the shaking baby, Brax glanced at Heath. "What happened?"
"Casey left his favorite toy in his room, so I took him out to get it. I turned my back for once second and he was gone. He'd gone out to see what all the fuss was out in the lounge room, next second I hear the smashing of glass bottles and Case had knocked off a lot of alcohol. I quickly got Casey and Dad got mad. He came in looking for Casey, then hit him"
Brax shook his head, "Oh Case" He said hugging him tightly, not wanting to ever let his baby brother out of his sight again...