Chapter 6

Brax rushed through the hospital doors and joined Casey in the waiting area.

"Mate: what the hell?" Brax demanded.

Casey looked washed out and stressed.

"Brax, the doctor is still in with Kyle now. They took him straight into surgery..."

"Surgery; why how bad is it?" Brax panicked and raced towards the reception desk.

"Brax wait, that's no use. They said they'd let us know when they've heard," Casey pleaded, trying to calm his worried brother.

Brax glared at Casey.

"Well that's bloody good isn't it?!" Brax ranted and pushed his hands through his hair.

"Casey, how could you let Kyle be alone to be attacked?" Brax accused.

Casey shrugged.

"Brax, I'm sorry. All I knew was he was about to call you to tell you he knew who was after him, after we had a rock thrown through the window and the next thing he was gone," Casey explained.

Brax's eyes widened.

"He knows who is behind all these threats? Did he tell you anything?!" Brax demanded.

"No, he wanted to get to you first," Casey explained.

"Argh; Casey he must have said something; anything!" Brax yelled; his face close to his brother's.

"Brax he didn't; I swear! If I knew anything I would have told you! I didn't even get a good glimpse of who they were!" Casey answered back, now having raised his voice to match his brother's tone.

Brax huffed and briefly turned before glaring back at Casey.

"You tell me everything you saw. What did they look like; tell me!" Brax bellowed.

He gripped Casey by his shirt and glared hard into his eyes.

Before any more tension occurred between the brothers, the doctor made his way into the waiting area.

"Family of Kyle Braxton?"

Brax released Casey and briskly approached the doctor.

"How is he; how is Kyle?" Brax asked frantically.

"Who are you?" the doctor asked.

"I'm Kyle's oldest brother; now are you going to tell me how he is or do I have to burst in there and find out myself?!" Brax snapped.

"Brax," Casey whispered.

"What Casey?" Brax snapped.

The doctor sighed.

"I won't sugar coat it; Kyle is in bad condition. We ran some tests and done some x-rays, as well as performed a head CT scan. It appeared that during the attack, Kyle had sustained: two broken ribs, a mildly fractured eye socket, multiple gashes to his body, and extensive abdominal bruising," the doctor explained.

Brax stared in shock as his stomach dropped inside him.

"So what now; you telling me he's gonna die or something?!" Brax demanded.

"We took Kyle into surgery to stitch up the deep gash on his head, along with the other open wounds on his body, and to operate on his eye; where we stitched a small pin into the bone to assist with healing. We now have Kyle on intravenous fluids to sustain his mineral levels that were lost during the attack and have him closely monitored with strong pain relief. He isn't clear through the woods as yet, but his prognosis seems positive."

"When can we see him?" Casey whispered from behind Brax.

"Well he's still sleeping and recovering from his surgery, but you can see him and sit in with him," the doctor explained and led Brax and Casey into Kyle's hospital room.

Brax stared down at his motionless brother; with nothing but faint breaths coming from his mouth that was firmly covered with the Oxygen mask.

Brax could see the bandaging covering Kyle's head and eye, and the firmly pressed bandage over his abdomen, setting his injured ribs.

To Brax, Kyle almost looked unrecognisable, but inside that bruised up, beaten up body, did lay his younger brother: someone he was meant to protect.

Casey briefly looked at Kyle hooked up to machines and fluid lines, feeling the guilt pan over him again.

"Brax, you were right: I should have been there with him and stopped this happening," Casey whispered.

Brax snapped from his thoughts and turned towards Casey.

"No mate. I shouldn't have gone off at you before; I was just...I was worried about Kyle," Brax hesitantly explained.

"I guess I'm lucky you were there to help him at all," Brax stated.

Casey nodded gently.

"I didn't get a good look at the guys, but one was short with what looked like brownish hair, while the other was quite muscular and he had a black hat on but it looked like he may not have had any hair," Casey explained.

Brax gave a weak smile, "Thanks mate; any little bit helps, but until Kyle wakes up, and tells us who they are we're still in the deep end."

"Did you want me to contact Heath?" Casey offered, watching Brax sit beside Kyle's bed.

"Yeah, that would be great. I have to text Ricky too," Brax mumbled.

"I can do that too," Casey offered.

"Sure mate."

Casey walked out of the room and got his phone out.

Heath and Bianca were out enjoying a leisurely walk on the beach when Heath's phone rang.

"It's Case. Hey Case, need me to cover ya shift while you laze around," Heath joked.

"Shut up Heath; this is serious. Brax and I are in the hospital: I found Kyle attacked."

"What: you serious bro?"

"Heath what is it?" Bianca whispered.

"Yeah alright; I'll be right there," Heath replied and hung up.

Bianca rubbed her hand on Heath's chest.

"What was that all about?" Heath didn't want Bianca involved in all this mess so attempted to avoid the question.

"Don't worry about it babe," Heath said, while pecking Bianca on the cheek.

"Heath I know that look, now don't lie to me; what's going on?" Bianca demanded.

Heath sighed, "Kyle's in hospital: he's been attacked."

"Oh my, gosh; who would do such a thing? You have to go," Bianca exclaimed.

"Heath is there something else you're not telling me?" Bianca questioned, upon seeing Heath's expression to her statement of who would attack Kyle.

"Someone's been having it in for Kyle the last week and we didn't want to worry anyone so kept it between us brothers and Ricky."

"Oh so Ricky knows about this, but you can't tell your wife?!" Bianca demanded.

"I was thinking about you and the baby," Heath defended.

"That's the thing Heath: you know how long it's taken for us to fall pregnant, we can't be caught up in any bad Braxton business," Bianca said.

Heath pulled Bianca close.

"I know; that's why I don't want to involve you in any way. Now I have to go see Kyle in hospital, so I'll see you later at home. I love you," Heath said and kissed Bianca.

"Fine; I love you too, and Heath please be careful; I'm not happy about this."

Heath left and made his way towards the hospital.

Back at the restaurant, Phoebe was cheerfully manning the tables while Ricky remained behind the bar, clearly distracted; awaiting any news from Brax.

Ricky's phone beeped and she read the text from Casey:

Brax told me to send this to you. Kyle is still in recovery and suffered some broken bones. Brax is with him now. I've just notified Heath, but Brax said Phoebe is there with you?

Ricky glanced over at Phoebe and typed her message back.

I'll tell Phoebe about Kyle.

Casey made his way back into the intensive care room.

"Heath said he's coming and Ricky is going to tell Phoebe," Casey said.

Brax nodded and remained staring at Kyle.

"Do you really think you'll be able to find the thugs that did this to Kyle?" Casey asked.

"I know I will," Brax flat out replied.

Phoebe raced back up to the bar.

"Another satisfied customer," she cheered.

"Ricky, you look as though you've seen a ghost," Phoebe laughed.

"Pheebs, you better come into the back room for a minute," Ricky initiated.

"Sure Ricky; did I do something wrong?"

"No, you're working fine. I have something I need to tell you: Kyle is in hospital, Phoebe; he's been attacked."

Phoebe's face dropped and tears instantly welled in her eyes.

"What; how?" Phoebe stuttered.

"We don't know who was behind it, but Brax is still trying to find out," Ricky explained.

Phoebe processed the news then gave Ricky a queried look.

"You said still trying? How long has something like this been going on?" Phoebe questioned.

"Kyle didn't want to tell you and Brax thought it was best as well."

"What are you saying?!" Phoebe demanded.

"Someone has been after Kyle and we're not sure who."

"I can't believe this was kept from me!" Phoebe yelled, "I have to get out of here!"

Phoebe hastily tore off her apron and raced out of the back room.

"Phoebe, wait! At least let me drive you," Ricky suggested; running after the distraught woman.

Phoebe was out of Ricky's view by the time Ricky made it out of the restaurant; her only hope that walking in the fresh air would do Phoebe some good.

Ricky returned back to the restaurant and texted Brax, letting him know that Phoebe was on her way over and was in a distressed state so to be prepared.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Heath had finally made his way there and had been escorted towards Kyle's room.

"Hey, what's going on?" Heath asked, as he rushed into Kyle's room.

"Hey; the doctor said he just needs to be monitored for now," Casey replied.

"How'd it happen?" Heath asked.

Casey turned away shamefully, alerting Brax's attention.

"Kyle was taken from the backyard," Brax explained.

Heath glanced at both his brothers.

"It wasn't anyone's fault but those thugs," Brax assured; hoping that his words would mean something to Casey, after he had let his fiery Braxton temper loose earlier.

Heath stepped closer towards Kyle's bed.

"He looks pretty messed up," Heath commented.

Brax's phone beeped and he pulled it out to check.

"Is that Ricky?" Casey asked when Brax read the text message.

"Yeah, she said Phoebe's coming and she's pretty upset," Brax replied.

"Well can you blame her?" Heath questioned, "After all wasn't it you who didn't want her involved?"

Brax glared at Heath, not in the mood for remarks.

"It was Kyle that wanted that too," Brax snapped.

Heath shrugged, "Had to tell Bianca too, after Case called me. She wasn't happy at first either."

The brothers heard loud running outside Kyle's room and a female yelling.

"Miss please calm down," one of the reception nurses requested.

"No! I want to see my boyfriend Kyle; where is he?!" Phoebe shouted.

The three brothers glanced at each other before Casey took the step and opened the door of Kyle's room to greet Phoebe.

As soon as Phoebe laid eyes on Casey she rushed forward.

"Casey; how is Kyle?" Phoebe asked quickly; pushing past the youngest Braxton to barge into the room.

Phoebe fell into shock when she saw Kyle in the bed. It was a sight she was not expecting. Ricky had said he was bad but she didn't think this bad. Her hurt over the situation only fueled her anger towards Brax for not being told earlier about Kyle being in danger.

Phoebe glared at Brax, "How could you not tell me that someone was after Kyle?!"

Brax blankly looked at Phoebe.

"You always keep your secret Braxton business to yourselves and this time it could have killed Kyle!" Phoebe ranted; her eyes blazing with anger.

Brax again remained silent, only taking it all in his stride.

Phoebe now had tears coursing down her face as she pushed her way towards Kyle's bedside. Casey and Heath moved back towards the wall to allow room for Phoebe.

Phoebe and Brax sat opposite each other staring.

"How could you be so selfish?" Phoebe spat.

Brax swallowed hard at Phoebe's remark, now taking a battering to his pride and Heath and Casey could see that too; making glances towards their oldest brother.

"We were trying to protect you, even Kyle," Heath defended, in a low whisper.

Phoebe spun around to glare at Heath.

"That was not anyone's place to do that; not even Kyle's! I can look after myself!" Phoebe yelled and rested her head gently back down against Kyle's arm.

Brax pushed back his chair and stood up, giving his brothers a head nod to follow him out of the room; allowing Phoebe some alone time with Kyle.

"Are you okay?" Casey asked Brax; who shook his head and sighed heavily.

"Nup, she's right: it was selfish, but what else was I supposed to do? I don't always have all the answers and I don't always make the right decisions!" Brax shouted.

"She's upset mate," Heath comforted.

Brax huffed and slumped down into one of the waiting room chairs.

"I just want to know who's behind this. We could have lost Kyle this time and I don't want to take a second chance of that happening for real."

Heath sat down beside Brax and rested his hand on his shoulder.

"We won't lose Kyle; not while the three of us are still unharmed and alive."