Sorry for such a big delay between chapters! I've been away on a big US holiday and haven't had time to do any writing. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Thank you again for the kind reviews.

Chapter Ten: Brothers

"Braxxxx I can't sleep. It's too noisy!" Heath whined. Brax looked at his clock. He could just make out the time through his blurred vision. 4am. It was the third time he had been up throughout the night trying to calm the crying baby. The fifth time in total because Heath had woken him twice needing to throw up.

"I know Heath, but just try for me OK? Close your eyes," Brax begged. He knew the baby wanted feeding but he could not go out to the kitchen at the moment. Cheryl Braxton had just arrived home and when both her and Danny had been drinking, fireworks ensued. Their yelling was interrupted by a large crash. Brax heard glass shattering and Cheryl screaming. His father must have thrown a bottle at the wall.

"Brax," Heath sobbed.

"Don't worry Heath, you're safe in here with me. We just need to stay quiet," Brax instructed while rubbing his brother's arm. Easier said than done with a hungry, irritated baby to look after Brax thought.

The yelling gradually subsided. Danny and Cheryl had seemingly run out of steam and had retreated to sleep off their poison of choice. Heath had also drifted back to sleep, so it was just his aggravated baby brother that Brax had to contend with. "C'mon champ, let's sort this out ay," Brax lulled as he picked up his brother. "Shhhh, I know what it's like! Let's get you fed hey," Brax continued to try to calm the little baby as he walked into the kitchen and made him a bottle.

Brax settled into the couch as he held his little brother and gave him his bottle. Brax smiled as the crying finally ceased and was replaced with a guzzling noise as his brother devoured the milk. "Ahhh, now you're happy ay," Brax chuckled. "You have an appetite just like your big brother Heath." As Brax looked down at his little brother, he was filled with warmth. When he had first found out that Cheryl was pregnant he could not help but feel apprehensive. He knew that she would not handle the demands of a newborn baby. She had barely coped in her younger, more sober days, but now that her demons had overtaken her, she had nothing left to give a baby. And the little maternal instinct that she did possess was already stretched to its limit dealing with Brax and Heath. Brax was both confused and angry that she had decided to bring a third child into the world. The Braxton house was no place for a baby. It was hard enough for him to watch Heath struggle without the added burden of another sibling to look after. But none of that seemed to matter now. Sitting there at that moment, with the baby happily resting on his lap, all those feelings disappeared. He knew that his life had just gotten a whole lot harder and more complicated but he already could not imagine life without this little bundle.

"Braxxx!" Heath calling his name and wandering into the living area pulled Brax from his thoughts.

"Hey mate, how are you feeling?" Brax inquired.

"My head hurts," Heath groaned.

"I'll bet it does!" Brax sadly responded. "Come and lay down over here with us." Heath stumbled over to the couch and hopped up next to his big brother. He laid himself down on the couch, resting his head on Brax's free leg.

"Are you fixed now Brax? I don't want you to go back to the hospital," Heath muttered sleepily as he snuggled further into Brax's lap. Brax put down the baby's bottle and grabbed the blanket that was lying on the floor and gently pulled it over Heath.

"Yeah I'm fixed and I'm not going back to that place, don't worry about that!" Brax firmly stated. In reality, Brax felt a long way from well but he could deal with the pain until his ribs did finally heal. He lifted the baby off his lap and began to gently pat him on the back to burp him, just as Lila had shown him. "What happened while I was away Heath?"

"Nothing," Heath murmured.

"Did you go to school?" Brax asked.

"No."

Brax sighed. He expected that this would be Heath's answer. "Why not? I thought I told you school is important?"

"I hate school Brax and you didn't have to go," said Heath indignantly.

"I couldn't go!" Brax replied in frustration.

"Well, Mum and Dad said I could stay home," Heath counteracted.

"I'll bet they did!" said Brax gruffly. He was annoyed but not surprised. His parents viewed education as futile and pointless and he knew for a fact that Danny could not wait until the boys were out of school and earning their keep. Brax realised that it would take a miracle to get himself or either of his brothers through school, but he knew he had to try. "Well I'm home now, so you'll be going back to school."

"Today?" Heath sat up and looked up at his big brother with a look of alarm on his face.

"Nah, not today. I know you are not feeling well," Brax reassured. He knew how badly alcohol could knock an adult around, he had seen Danny and Cheryl nurse many a hangover, so he could only imagine the effects it had on a child. "You can help me look after the baby today."

"OK," Heath mumbled as he lay his head back down on Brax's lap. Brax lowered the baby back down onto his free leg and cradled him as he fell asleep. He looked down as both of his brothers slept peacefully on his lap. Grateful for even the smallest break, he closed his eyes.

-x-

Brax was woken from his light doze by yelling coming from his parent's bedroom. Heath also began to stir as Danny's booming voice drifted down the hallway. Danny and Cheryl had clearly not slept off their anger. Brax suspected that the addition of a crying baby to the house was pushing both of them to their limits. "Why do they always fight Brax?" Heath murmured as he slowly sat up.

"I don't know mate," Brax sadly replied. A loud bang came from the room and all three boys flinched. It was not unusual for his parents to throw objects at each other when things got heated. Brax would usually run to the assistance of his mother but he had the baby to think of now and he did not want him to be anywhere Danny when he emerged from the bedroom. "Heath, quick go and get dressed we are going to the beach."

-x-

"Stop there Heath," Brax puffed. Heath threw his towel down and flopped onto the sand. "Can you hold the baby for me for a minute?" Brax handed the baby to Heath and sat down clutching his ribs. In his rush to leave the house and get his brothers ready, Brax had forgotten to take his painkillers.

"Are you OK Brax?" Heath asked concerned.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. You were just walking too fast for me, that's all. I couldn't keep up ay." Brax panted.

"I could probably beat you in a running race now." Heath crowed.

"Yeah, probably." Brax closed his eyes and tried to focus on getting air into his lungs. He cursed his current weakness! He was no good to anyone like this. The only thing he could do to speed up his recovery was to rest and that was not an option for him. He sighed in frustration.

"Brax, he's crying, what do I do?" Brax opened his eyes and saw an awkward Heath panicking with the crying baby.

"Here give him back to me. He's probably hungry again."

"Again?" Heath replied, the exasperation clear in his voice as he handed the baby back to Brax.

Brax laughed, "Yeah again! Babies need to keep drinking their milk so that they grow up to be big and strong."

"What about us? We haven't had any breakfast yet?"

"I know mate," Brax replied sorrowfully. The cupboards at their house were again looking pretty bare. All that Brax could find left over from Danny's backyard BBQ was the remnants of a loaf of bread and a couple of crackers. "I grabbed us some bread but that has to last us for lunch as well. Why don't you go and have a swim and then you can have a piece when you're finished?"

"Alright!" Heath sighed. "But aren't you coming for a swim too?"

"Nah mate, I have to look after the baby," Brax explained.

"Fine," Heath huffed as he ran off down to the water. He was excited at first about having a new little brother but now that he was starting to realise how much of Brax's time this baby was already taking up, he wasn't so sure. He was used to having Brax all to himself and he didn't like that he now had to share him.

"Don't go out too far Heath," Brax yelled. Heath was feeling angry, so he didn't turn around and acknowledge Brax's request.

Brax's attention was split between watching Heath out in the water and feeding his baby brother, so he didn't notice the policeman as he approached him on the sand. "Darryl Braxton," a familiar voice boomed and Brax turned around.

"Constable Cooper," Brax politely responded as he stood up to face the officer. Brax was well acquainted with all the members of the Mangrove River Police Station thanks to his parents frequently finding themselves on the wrong side of the law.

"Is there a reason why you boys are at the beach and not at school?" the officer sternly questioned.

"I have to have the week off because I just got out of hospital and Heath was feeling sick today so I thought he should stay home with me."

"Sick with what? He looks fine from where I'm standing?" Ashton Cooper scoffed.

"Stomach bug," Brax retorted.

"Right. What happened to you?" the officer inquired.

"Hurt my ribs."

"Ran into a door again did you?"

"Something like that," Brax mumbled.

"Actually, now that I think about it, I do remember the Reefton Lakes Station calling us about your dad last week. Anything I can help you with?"

"No."

"And who is this little fella? Your mum finally had the baby I see."

"Yeah."

"Does he have a name?" the officer asked as he pulled faces at the baby.

"No," Brax replied.

"Well tell your mother to get onto that." Ashton Cooper answered. "Oh and Darryl, Heath better be at school tomorrow or you'll have me to answer to. And don't think I won't be checking out your hospital story as well, so you better hope you haven't been lying to me."

"Yes constable."

"Good day Darryl." Constable Ashton Cooper turned and made his way back off the sand. Brax made a face as the copper turned his back. He couldn't do anything in this town without being questioned thanks to his surname. He would forever be labeled and he sometimes wondered if it was even worth bothering trying to change his fortune. He flopped back onto the sand trying to ignore the ever growing throbbing in his chest.

Heath emerged from the water not long after and joined his brothers back on the sand. "What did the police want Brax?"

"Nothing for you to worry about mate." Brax reassured. "He just wanted to know why you weren't at school but I told him you were sick and that you would be back tomorrow."

"Do I have to Brax?"

"Yes!" Brax snapped. "Now do you want your lunch?"

"Yes," Heath replied in a sulky tone.

Brax grabbed the near finished loaf from his bag. There were just three slices left. He handed Heath a piece of stale bread and took another for himself. Both boys sat there in silence as they tried to make their slice of bread last as long as possible, knowing that it was probably the only food they would get that day.

Sensing his brother's sullen mood, Brax thought of something that could raise both of their spirits. "Hey Heath, did mum or dad give the baby a name while I was in hospital?"

"No. Dad just kept screaming at mum to shut the baby up," said Heath.

"I thought so," Brax replied. "Ok, well how about you give him a name now? It's only fair since I got to name you."

"Me?" Heath said, suddenly perking up.

"Yes you!" Brax smiled. "You're a big brother now. Being a big brother is big job! You have to look out for him. Teach him the way."

"Like you?"

"Yeah like me. But I need your help this time. So what do you say, are you with me?"

"Yeah…..I think so," Heath responded with hesitation. He had never thought of himself as a big brother before. That had always been Brax's job. But having someone to boss around might be nice for a change.

"Great." Brax grinned. "So, do you have a name that you think we should call him?"

"Luke Skywalker?"

"I know you love Star Wars but do you really think that's the best option?"

"Anakin?"

Brax laughed, "Heath, no Star Wars names OK? Any other ideas?"

"Ummmmm" Heath pondered. "Casey in my class said that his mum told him his name means brave."

"Casey?" Brax questioned.

"Yeah Casey. You're the bravest person I know, so you can teach him how to be brave right?"

Brax smiled, "No, we can teach him. Casey Braxton, the brave one. It's perfect"

Heath beamed with pride. "When he is older can we tell him that I chose his name?"

"Of course we will!" Brax assured. "Now I think it's time we headed home. Casey needs his bed."

"Will mum and dad still be angry when we go home Brax?" Heath innocently inquired.

"Nah, I'm sure everything has calmed down by now mate," Brax replied more confidently than he felt. Cheryl and Danny had always had a volatile relationship but Brax could not shake the feeling that the heat between them had felt more intense than ever this morning. But Brax badly needed his painkillers and they could not keep a baby on beach all day, so regardless of what they would be walking into, Brax led them home.