I'm so sorry to anybody who is following this story. I know how frustrating it is when you have to wait so long for updates. A big thank you to all who have reviewed, your reviews were the motivation I needed to finish this chapter. I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter Fourteen: Last Chance

Brax sat in the stark office waiting room, alone with his thoughts. The shrill, angry voice of Jack's mum, Mrs Carey, buzzed in the background. He tried to concentrate on steadying his erratic breathing but it was proving very difficult to do given the pain in his chest. A solitary silver paperclip lay on the floor near his foot, so he picked it up and began to bend the soft metal into different shapes. It felt good to keep his hands busy but it was not enough to distract him from the crushing weight that he could feel baring down on him.

His worries flashed through his mind like a horror movie, but there was no off switch he could press to escape. Each image more disturbing than the one before. Worries of his pneumonia, which he had clearly exacerbated with the physical activity and fighting. The hospital, who were bound to readmit him as soon as they found out he had failed to follow their recovery orders. Mrs Carey, who was currently in the Principal's office baying for his blood. The principal herself, Mrs Silvia Sloan, who was more than likely about to call him into her office to expel him. The police, who would be looking for him over the trespassing and theft he had committed earlier this morning. Social services, who would be intervening when they were informed of his inevitable expulsion. Danny who would be livid that Brax had pulled him away from his escapades and for involving the authorities in their business. And finally Heath who he had abandoned when he needed him most! Brax dropped his head into his hands.

Brax sat up as he heard the door of the Principal's office fling open. "If you are not going to report this to the police, I will," Jack's mother yelled. "I will not let him get away with this Silvia!"

"I understand your position Mrs Carey, but the school will not be involving the police. We have our own school procedures to follow," Mrs Sloan calmly replied.

"Well those school procedures better involve expelling the boy, because I will not stand for my Jack going to school with that scum of the earth Darryl Braxton anymore!" Brax heard her storm out into the office foyer area. "Come on Jack, I'm taking you to the hospital."

When the Carey's had departed the school office, Mrs Sloan walked into the waiting room where Brax was sitting. She was a warm but stern lady who was in her mid 60's. "Darryl, please make your way to my office now," she coolly demanded. Brax stood and glumly followed her into her office. He sat across the desk from her and immediately started playing with his hands. He did not want to look at the disappointment on her face. "Mrs Anderson has filled me in on this morning's events, but I'm interested in hearing your version. Would you care to enlighten me as to what was going on in that head of yours?" Brax shook his head. "You will look at me when I'm speaking Darryl and you will answer when spoken to," Mrs Sloan stated, signaling her disapproval.

Brax looked up and hoarsely responded. "I don't know."

"Well you're going to have to do a lot better than that Darryl. I've had Jack up here in tears telling me that you have been bullying him for months, Mrs Anderson telling me how appalled she is at the violence you displayed and Jack's mother in here very distressed, telling me to phone the police. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"No," was all he could manage. She was unlikely to believe that Jack had provoked him and even if she did, it didn't excuse his actions, so what was the point?

"Right," Mrs Sloan sighed. She reached into her top drawer and pulled out a black folder. Brax had seen this folder many times. It was the place where Mrs Sloan kept her behavior records on certain students. She opened the folder up to Brax's file. She skimmed through the pages, reminding herself of his many misdemeanors. "This is yet another incident in a long line of trouble you have caused this year Darryl." Silvia Sloan placed the folder down in front of her and looked directly at Brax. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "This is the third time you have been sent to the office for fighting with Jack Carey, on top of a fight with Dylan Chambers and some of the Year 4 boys. Is that correct?"

"Yes. Dylan and those boys were picking on my brother," Brax mumbled.

"We've been over this before Darryl, that is no excuse to take matters into your own hands," Mrs Sloan sighed. She flipped the page of the folder and glanced down before looking back up at Brax. "You are constantly late to school and we never receive notes to explain why. There have also been two counts of severe disrespect shown towards members of my staff and you have directed foul language towards various students. You were caught stealing food from the school canteen and damaging school property with those smashed windows."

"That was an accident," Brax half-heartedly interjected.

"Accident or not, it still cost the school hundreds," she retorted. "I've given you warnings, I've given you detentions, I've suspended you and yet here we are AGAIN. You never seem to learn Darryl," Silva Sloan shook her head in exasperation. "I've defended you time and time again to my school executive team, when they were expressing their desire to have you expelled long ago. You promised me you were going to stay out of trouble. You have let me down Darryl," she softly finished expressing her disappointment and Brax felt awful. He wished she would yell and scream at him because that would be easier to take than the guilt he was currently feeling. Mrs Sloan was one of the few adults he knew that had ever given him the benefit of the doubt. He knew that if it was up to the deputy principal, Mrs Anderson, he would have been kicked out of the school long ago, but Mrs Sloan had always given him another chance. She understood that things weren't easy for him and she did what she could to help.

Mrs Sloan linked her hands together and placed them on the table. "Are you going to offer me any explanation as to what led you to break Jack Carey's nose this morning?"

Brax started wiping the table in front of him. "He was talking about my family."

"Is that a crime now?" she asked. Brax continued to wipe the table. "Look, I heard about your mother Darryl." Brax looked up confused. "Social services called the school to let us know what was going on," she responded. "I'm really sorry," she said gently. "I know it has been a tough few days for you, but I can't ignore this. You need to learn how to control your anger. You can't continue to lash out at people, even if they bait you." Brax nodded. "I'm sorry but you have left me with no other option other than to expel you this time Darryl. I can no longer put the safely of my staff and students in danger by allowing you to attend my school." Brax winced. It was not unexpected but it was still hard hearing the words. "You are to remain in the office until your dad comes to collect you. I'll send for one of your classmates to clear your locker and bring your bag and belongings up to the office," she exhaled. "I'm sorry my faith in you was misplaced. Now go back and sit in the waiting room. I don't want to see or hear from you until your father arrives." Mrs Sloan picked up a pen and started filling out the expulsion paperwork. Brax slowly got to his feet and made his way out of her office and back into the waiting room. He slumped onto the nearest chair. His head was spinning. He crossed his arms, resting them on the table in front of him, allowing his head to drop down and rest on top. He closed his eyes, knowing that his troubles were far from over.

-x-

The school bell sounded, signaling the lunchtime break. Brax had been waiting in the office for over four hours and there was still no sign of Danny. Mrs Sloan entered the room holding Brax's tattered school bag. "It's lunchtime so you should eat something." She went to unzip the bag but the zipper was broken, so she opened the large hole that ran along the seam of the bag and looked inside. "Where is your lunch box?" she questioned while still sifting through the contents of the bag.

"I don't know. I packed it this morning," Brax lied.

"Well it doesn't appear to be in here now." Mrs Sloan handed Brax the bag. "While you are looking for your lunch, do you know where we might be able to find your father? I have been trying to reach him all day. Has he got a new job that we are unaware of?"

Brax pretended to search for his non-existent lunch. "No."

"Manners please Darryl. Do you know where he is today?"

"No Mrs Sloan."

"I'm going to need to speak to him about your expulsion." Brax didn't respond and Mrs Sloan sighed. "Well did you find your lunch?"

"I must have forgotten it today Mrs Sloan."

She grabbed his bag. "I'll see if we have anything in the staff room for you."

As she was walking out the door, Brax had an idea and called out to her. "Mrs Sloan, can I go and speak to Heath? I might have put my lunch box in his bag by mistake." He was dying to check on his brother. Heath was anxious enough about coming to school before the fight, so Brax could only imagine how he was feeling now.

"Absolutely not! You are not stepping foot on that playground again, do you understand?" Mrs Sloan snapped.

Brax's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Yes Mrs Sloan." He was going to have to think of another plan.

-x-

Brax was slowly biting into the vegemite sandwich that Mrs Sloan had given him, when he heard a familiar voice in the office foyer. Brax stood up and peered out of the waiting room. A little blond girl stood in the office foyer, blood gushing from head. The cut looked painful, but she remained cool and calm. Nothing ever fazed Erica Sharpe. Erica, or Ricky as she preferred to be called, was one of Heath's best mates. She looked sweet as a button, with her pigtails and freckles, but she was not like the other little girls. She liked to play with the boys and Heath was one of her favourites. Brax couldn't believe his luck.

"What have you done to yourself Erica?" the school secretary, Mrs Cook asked the little girl.

"I ran into a tree and need a bandage," she calmly replied.

"OK, take a seat. I'll go and get the first aide bag and get you cleaned up." Mrs Cook disappeared into the office Sick Bay.

"Oi Ricky," Brax whispered to the girl.

A startled Ricky looked around and saw Brax poking his head out of the waiting room that was connected to the office foyer.

"You must be in big trouble after that fight this morning Brax? Everyone is saying that you broke Jack's nose," Ricky whispered back with a grin on her face.

"Enough of that, I need to know how Heath is? Is he OK?"

"I dunno,"

"Rick, this is important," Brax urged.

"He hasn't been playing with us today. I dunno what he's been doing Brax?" Ricky shrugged. The blood continued to drip from the wound on top of her eye.

Brax could see that Mrs Cook was making her way back from Sick Bay. "After you get fixed up, can you go and find him and look after him for me?" Brax pleaded. "He is not feeling well at the moment. Tell him, I'll be here when school is finished." Ricky didn't answer. "Rick?"

"Yes, OK Brax," she huffed before turning back around to face Mrs Cook as she returned with the bandage.

Brax quietly closed the waiting room door and slumped back down onto his seat. He finished the remainder of his sandwich and tried not to worry about the effect his expulsion was going to have on Heath.

-x-

The remainder of the afternoon passed slowly. Three o'clock rolled around and there was still no sign of Danny. Mrs Sloan entered the waiting room. "I've called for your brother to meet us up in the office. There is no point you hanging around here any longer, so you can take Heath home," she stated. "But I still need to see your father, so I will continue trying to reach him," she handed Brax his school bag. "I wish you all the best Darryl. Do me a favour and try to stay out of trouble."

Brax nodded. "Thank you Mrs Sloan."

Silvia Sloan gave a sad nod back. She hated having to give up on one of her students, but she was left with no other option on this occasion. She walked out of the room and prayed the boy would find a way to rise above his many setbacks.

Brax's bag was full of books and weighed a lot more than usual. He tried to sling it onto his back, but the pain in his ribs made it impossible. He dropped the bag and let out a low groan. He was sick of being restricted by this injury and constant pain. He picked up his bag, this time holding it by his side, and walked out into the office foyer. He did not have to wait long before Ricky bounced in, followed by a despondent Heath.

"I did what you said Brax. I looked out for Heath for you," Ricky brightly said.

"Thanks Rick," Brax smiled at the girl. "Do you want to walk home with us today?"

"Nah. Adam's picking me up," she responded. Brax had never spoken to Ricky's older brother Adam but he knew who he was. Everyone in Mangrove River knew Adam Sharpe.

"Ok. Thanks again Ricky," Brax said.

"Bye," Ricky called out as she skipped out the door.

Brax put his free arm around Heath's shoulder. "Let's go home ay?" Heath wanted to step away and show Brax that he was mad at him, but the contact was comforting so Heath remained by his brother's side as they started to walk.

"Why did you tell Ricky to follow me?" Heath grumbled, his eyes to the ground as he walked.

Brax dropped him arm. "I thought you might need a friend looking out for you, that's all."

"I don't," Heath replied adamantly.

"OK, my mistake," Brax answered. "But Ricky did say you weren't playing with them at lunchtime. What were you doing?"

"Nothing."

"Right." Brax stopped walking and dropped his bag. He needed to get his breath back before he continued. He grabbed his chest. Heath stopped and looked on concerned. Memories of the doctor's orders to Brax about his readmission to hospital if he didn't manage his phenomena flashed through Heath's mind.

"I can carry your bag Brax?" Heath asked.

"No," Brax yelled more loudly than he intended. "I'm fine. I just need to rest for a minute because my bag is heavy."

Heath looked down at Brax's overflowing bag. "Is it true what everyone is saying?" He couldn't put off finding out the truth any longer.

"What is everyone saying?" Brax slowly questioned.

"That you put Jack in hospital, his mum is reporting you to the cops and you are expelled from school."

Brax laughed. "Good news travels fast ay?"

"Is it true?"

Brax looked Heath in the eyes and slowly nodded his head."Yeah, it's true."

Heath paused for a minute before he replied. "Well he deserved it."

Brax let out a small laugh. "Yeah he did." He picked up his bag. "C'mon, let's keep going. I've rested long enough." Heath positioned himself very close to Brax as they walked, so their arms were just touching.

"Does this mean I don't have to go back to school now too?" Heath hopefully inquired. Before Brax was able to answer, a white Ute came speeding down the street towards them. The Ute came to a screeching halt right next to the Braxton boys. Danny Braxton wound down his window.

"Get in the car NOW!" he roared. Heath flinched and stepped behind Brax. Brax opened the door of the back seat and pulled Heath into the car behind him. "You've got some explainin' to do boy," Danny Braxton growled, his face red with anger.