Thank you very much to those who took the time to review, it is much appreciated! :) In answer to EmilyKylieParker's question about Tegan, I do hope to include some of the prominent Mangrove River families that we know the Braxton boys associated with when they were growing up, including the Callahan's and the Sharpe's. This will start to happen when Brax is back in action and we see more of the boys in their Mangrove River environment. Hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

Chapter Eight: Left

Lila walked into Darryl Braxton's hospital room. She looked on as his face went from eager excitement to bitter disappointment in the space of a couple of seconds. It was very quick but she did not miss the shift, nor had she for the past week. Today was particularly bad and she could see that he had almost stopped trying to hide the distress he was feeling, that it was his nurse entering the room and not his family. "Good morning Darryl!" she chirped trying to sound cheery in an attempt to lift the somber mood.

"Hi," Brax mumbled.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Lila asked as she walked around and checked his charts.

"OK."

"Good to hear! You're doing really well. I'll go and grab you your breakfast shall I?"

"I'm not really hungry." Brax replied quietly.

Lila sat down on the chair next to Brax's bed. From her brief dealings with Danny and Cheryl Braxton, she knew that Brax's home life was far from ideal, but even still, she was surprised that they had not come and visited their eldest son once in the entire week he had been in hospital. "Is everything OK Darryl?" Lila softly inquired. When the boy didn't answer she continued. "Are you missing your family?" Brax didn't answer as he looked down and started playing with a loose thread in the bed sheet. "They have probably been really busy with the new baby. I'm sure they would have come to visit if they could. Anyway, I'm certain that they will come for a visit today and you are strong enough to have your first hold of your new little brother now. That is something to look forward to!" Lila tried to sound convincing, despite having no conviction that her comments were true.

"Yeah it is." Brax responded. He knew what she was trying to do and he was grateful. Her comments had only added to his worry though, by reminding him that it was not only Heath he should be looking out for now. He was not stupid enough to think that Danny would be happy that there was now another mouth to feed or that Cheryl would be happily attending to a crying baby at all hours of the day and night. His only hope was that Heath was lying low and that the baby was a calm child. A knot formed in his stomach just thinking about his brothers and what he could be returning home to.

Dr Sidney Jones entered the room. "Morning!" he stated as he walked over to Brax. He lifted his shirt and observed his chest area. "The bruising is starting to fade. How does this feel?" Dr Jones asked as he gently pressed his fingers into the area around Brax's rib cage.

Brax winced. "Better," he replied.

"There will be a lot of pain and tenderness in this area for a few more weeks yet, but I think that you are ready to go home."

"Really?" Brax asked excitedly.

"Yes really! As long as you promise me that you will rest and take your pain medication everyday."

Brax smiled, "Yes, yes I promise!" Lila smiled seeing the excitement on his face. It was the first time she had seen him smile in days.

"There you go, I told you that you would be seeing them today," Lila declared as she patted Brax on the arm. She turned to Dr Jones, "I'll go and give the Braxton's a call now shall I?" she asked.

"Yes, that would be good thanks Lila. Make sure you tell them that I need to speak to them before they take Darryl." Dr Jones stated and strolled back out the door.

"OK, you can start packing up and getting ready while I go and ring your parents. Then I'll come and wait with you, they shouldn't be too long." Lila instructed Brax.

"Can I wait out in the waiting area?" he asked.

"Yes, if you'd prefer," Lila laughed as she went to phone the Braxton's.

-x-

Lila stood at the reception area and looked sadly over at Brax slumped despondently on a hospital waiting room chair. She stood there with the phone to her ear, listening to the now familiar engaged signal after yet another phone call to the Braxton household. She had unsuccessfully been trying to get through for hours and it was now nearing the end of her shift. "Did they answer?" Brax asked even though he already knew the answer.

"No, it's still engaged. Is there someone else I could call? A grand parent or a neighbour or someone?"

"No! Can't I just get my own way home? I'm not a little kid." Brax pleaded.

"No Darryl, we've spoken about this. You're still not well and we need to speak with an adult about your recovery," said Lila. She knew that Darryl was probably used to getting himself around but they could not allow that to happen on this occasion. And despite what he said, he was still a kid, just one who had been forced to grow up long before his years.

Brax could not do this anymore. He knew that the hospital would never be able to get in touch with his parents and even if they did, there was no guarantee that someone would be sober enough to actually come and get him. He stood up and started walking down the corridor. "Darryl, where are you going?" Lila called out.

"Bathroom," he called back as he headed towards the exit.

As the fresh air hit his skin, Brax let out a sigh of relief. He hated being cooped up inside and it felt good to be free. Brax looked around trying to get his bearings. He did not know Reefton Lakes all that well because his parents has never bothered to take him anywhere, but he had a fair idea of the general direction he needed to head. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and started the very long walk back to Mangrove River.

Lila caught sight of the doctor and signaled him over. "Sidney, I still can't get through to Darryl's parents. What should we do?"

"I would suggest keeping him here overnight until we get hold of them, but I don't think I could handle those sad eyes if I even suggested it." Dr Jones replied.

"I know what you mean!" she said.

"Is there anyone else we can call for him?"

"He says not."

"Where is he now?" Dr Jones inquired.

"He has just gone to the bathroom. Listen, I hate to do this but I really have to finish my shift on time today, because I have plans. Can I leave this with you to sort out?"

"Yes, yes of course. Go out and have fun. You have been going above and beyond looking after this boy lately. I'll make sure he is looked after." Dr Jones kindly replied.

"Thanks Sidney, tell him that I will be back tomorrow morning and I'll make sure that we get him home." Lila stated before grabbing her handbag and heading for the exit.

-x-

Only ten minutes into the journey and Brax was already struggling more than he anticipated. His lungs were still recovering from the puncture and the increased airflow that walking caused, as opposed to lying down, was proving difficult to manage. He would have to go much slower than he had hoped in order to last the walk. It was not ideal, but even at this slow pace, he was still closer to getting home than he would have been if he had remained at the hospital.

Brax turned around as he heard a car horn blaring. A little red car pulled up behind him and a familiar figure hopped out and slammed her car door. "What do you think you are doing Darryl?" Lila yelled.

"I told you I could get my own way home ay!" Brax gruffly replied as he turned around and kept walking.

"Just stop will you?" Lila shouted. "I know you are upset, but this is not the right way to go about it!"

Brax stopped and turned to face her. "I just need to go home!" Brax shouted back. His voice cracked slightly and Lila could hear the desperation. She walked over to him and placed both of her hands on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry Darryl, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I know that you hated being in hospital and away from your brothers but you're not well enough to walk all the way home. Not to mention that everyone at the hospital will be so worried when they discover you are missing."

"I'm sorry," Brax softly replied. Lila grabbed his hand and led him to the passenger side of her car.

"Sit down in my car while I call the hospital and see if I can sort this out."

"Please don't take me back there. Please!" Brax pleaded. "I need to go home. Please! I've been gone too long already." Lila knew that if she called the hospital they would instruct her to bring him back, to follow correct protocol. She was torn! She looked at the misery on his face and her heart melted.

"OK! OK! I'll take you home myself, but on one condition….. You call the hospital as soon as we arrive at your house, " said Lila, wondering if she was going to live to regret this decision.

"Deal!" Brax smiled. He was going home!