AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thank you to all those: who reviewed the last chapter and are reading and hope you continue to enjoy my stories this new year. This is a bit of a short chapter and hope it doesn't disappoint.

Chapter 10

It took Brax another twenty minutes to calm himself down enough after Heath's turn at seeing Casey, before he could face his youngest brother.

Ricky followed Brax into the room as the two were met with Casey sitting upwards with his arm in a sling to support his broken wrist and a small bandage around his head.

"How are you feeling?" Ricky asked softly, and gave Casey a smile.

Casey nodded his head, but could not take his eyes off his big brother who had yet to say anything.

Having known Brax as well as he did, Casey knew that Brax remaining silent was never a good thing: it usually gave a sure indicator the oldest Braxton was not happy.

Ricky glanced towards Brax, almost as if she was urging him to talk.

Brax finally let out a heavy sigh and approached Casey's bed.

"What the hell were you thinking; did I not tell you to not get involved with these thugs?!" Brax shouted.

Casey stared in shock, while Ricky gave her partner a frown.

"I'd love for you to repeat it for me!" Brax yelled.

"I know Brax, but I just saw them at the beach and I got mad..." Casey tried to explain, but Brax was quick to cut him off.

"No Casey, I told you not to get involved and that was not up for you to decide. It's just not good enough mate; they could have killed you!" Brax lectured.

"These are some tough prison thugs, not just some blokes on the street. How can I worry about protecting Kyle, if I have to worry about you not keeping out of things?!" Brax ranted.

"Brax maybe this isn't the time?" Ricky questioned, in an attempt to calm her partner.

Brax glanced at Ricky then looked at his brother, who wore a look of remorse and pity on his face, as he furrowed his brow and softened his lips.

"I'm sorry Brax," Casey whispered his apology, while the water that had since welled in his eyes, hovered ready to slip.

Brax shook his head in frustration and in typical Braxton style used his frustration as a means to convey his worry and with a hard glare at Casey, snapped: "You shouldn't have been so stupid, Casey!"

"Brax!" Ricky called.

Casey stared down miserably and despite being an adult now still hated when Brax would yell at him; stemming from the times when Brax would tell him off when he was younger.

Brax had turned away, still shaking his head, as Ricky made her way towards him and rested her hand on his back.

"Don't do this now," she whispered softly.

Brax sighed and turned back to Casey who was staring at his sheets in silence.

Brax felt his immediate regret over his words and stormed out of the room.

Ricky gave Casey a sympathetic smile and followed Brax out.

"What was all that about Brax? Don't you think you were way too harsh?" Ricky questioned.

Brax let out another heavy sigh.

"I know. I shouldn't have said that, but he's my little brother Rick, and I'm afraid to lose him too if he gets caught up in the thugs that are after Kyle. I don't want either of my brother's hurt," Brax confessed; always finding it easier to confide in Ricky than show his feelings towards his brothers.

Ricky held Brax in a hug, but it was shot lived when Brax's alarm buzzed on his phone.

"It's time I go and pick Kyle and Phoebe up from the restaurant," Brax said; totally brushing off the awkwardness that had just happened with his brother and his temper.

"Just tell Casey I'm sorry," Brax requested.

"You can tell him yourself when you talk to him, after you get back," Ricky replied; standing her stubborn ground.

Brax gave a brief nod then made his way out to the car-park to make his way to Angelo's.

Phoebe was shooing out the last of the customers with a cheerful wave and smile; brushing off the drama that was unfolding at the hospital from Brax's call earlier as she got ready to assist Kyle with the closing of Angelo's.

Kyle watched his girlfriend and smiled at her optimism, as he cleaned the last of the dirty glasses from the bar.

Phoebe skipped back to the bar and rested her hand on Kyle's shoulder.

"Brax should be here soon right?"

"Yeah; could you lock up the front door while I take the rubbish out the back?" Kyle asked.

"Brax said that we have to protect yourselves more now and who knows if this place is being watched," Kyle commented.

Phoebe grabbed the keys from under the bar and pranced back towards the door.

Kyle tied up the big black garbage bag and made his way out the back to the main skip outside.

Kyle glanced around him for danger or sounds but heard nothing.

After putting the rubbish in the bin and slamming the lid, as Kyle was making his way back inside he was grabbed from behind by some strong arms, which anchored his arms tight behind his back.

Kyle attempted to struggle but Gunno was quick on the mark and landed a forceful punch to Kyle's abdomen, but it did not stop there: Gunno landed punch after belting punch to Kyle's kidneys; using Kyle as if he was a punching bag.

Kyle gasped in pain as the two criminals whaled on him.

"You know we went after that brother of yours today," Dave spat in Kyle's ear.

Kyle tried to kick his legs out to get free.

"Warned him if he said a word about us, and this goes for you too Kyle Braxton," Dave snickered, "We'd kill ya."

Gunno stopped punching Kyle and Kyle was able to gasp of a breath of air, even though his abdomen was aching fiercely.

Dave kept his hold on Kyle's arms; pulling the shoulder joints hard, in that Kyle could feel the tightening ache.

They were interrupted when the back door opened and Phoebe stopped to call out to Kyle who had not returned back into Angelo's and loomed a curiosity in the young woman.

"Kyle?"

Kyle let out a groan as Dave and Gunno glanced up at the back door.

Dave harshly released Kyle and Kyle instantly made a grab for his abdomen as Dave and Gunno ran off.

"Kyle; you okay out there?" Phoebe called again.

Knowing his younger brother was in hospital, Kyle didn't want to make a fuss as yet over a few hard punches; it wasn't like they broke any ribs. He was a Braxton after all and he could handle a few bruises.

"Yeah Pheebs, I'm coming!" Kyle called out and made his way back inside, remaining as stoic as he could.

"What took so long?" Phoebe asked as she hugged Kyle tight.

Kyle grimaced in pain but held a brave face as he returned the hug.

"I was just glancing around to see if Brax was coming yet," Kyle lied.

"Well why you were out Brax did call your mobile and said he would be here in ten minutes," Phoebe explained.

Kyle nodded and walked further into Angelo's with his girlfriend.

Back at the hospital, Phoebe and Kyle had their turn visiting Casey.

"Case, you shouldn't have started anything with them," Kyle spoke.

"I know and I already heard it all from Brax, so please Kyle, I don't need it from you too," Casey replied.

"So what kind of injury are you left with?" Phoebe asked.

"Doctor says I have a broken wrist and the hit on the head was from hitting one of the gym equipments," Casey explained.

Kyle grimaced and rubbed his abdomen that sent a twinge coursing through his system.

"Are you alright?" Casey asked his brother, alerting Phoebe who glanced in Kyle's direction.

"Yeah, it must just be something I ate today," Kyle lied.

Phoebe leaned up and kissed Kyle on the cheek.

"Hey: recovering person in a bed here," Casey joked.

Kyle smirked at Casey's remark.

"We should probably go home anyway. See you later Case," Kyle fare-welled.

Phoebe couldn't help but notice Kyle's slightly withdrawn demeanor as he shuffled out of the hospital room.

"Are you two heading home now?" Ricky asked.

"Yeah," Kyle answered.

"I'll drive you both," Brax suggested.

"No we can all catch a taxi," Ricky piped up; giving Brax a look telling him that he had to talk to Casey anyway.

"Alright I'll see you all at home," Brax said and made his way back into Casey's room, as Ricky, Phoebe, and Kyle left the hospital.

"Hey," Casey whispered upon seeing his brother.

"Hi," Brax greeted, sitting beside the bed.

After a brief moment of silence, Casey spoke up.

"Brax, I'm sorry about going after those guys. You were right: it was a stupid thing to do," Casey mumbled.

Brax twisted his mouth and gently shook his head. "No Casey; I shouldn't have said those things to you the way I did; though I'm not disagreeing that it was indeed a stupid thing," Brax apologised.

Casey smiled weakly at his brother.

"Are you hanging around for awhile?"

"Yeah suppose so; besides Ricky left with Kyle and Phoebe and kind of gave me that stubborn look to tell me I had to sort things over with you," Brax admitted as he relaxed back in the chair with a stretch.

Casey chuckled.

"Alright, don't go on about it," Brax snickered.

Casey shifted in his bed.

"Say did you see anything different about Kyle?" Casey asked.

"No: why?" Brax said in wonder.

"It's just that I thought he looked like he was in discomfort. I mean I could be wrong as my head was pounding; well still is, and he said he'd just eaten something bad," Casey explained.

Brax shook his head.

"Said nothing to me but thanks for letting me know. How about I let you have some rest and I'll be back in the morning," Brax suggested, giving Casey a smile as he stood up.

"Thanks," Casey replied.

Brax gently rubbed his hand over Casey's neck and walked out of the room.

By the time Brax had gotten home, Ricky was sitting by herself on the couch, quietly watching some television while sipping a cup of tea.

"Where's Phoebe and Kyle?" Brax asked.

"Kyle wanted to get to bed early and Phoebe just followed on," Ricky replied.

"Kyle didn't say anything to you or appear different in anyway?" Brax enquired.

"No, nothing," Ricky replied.

Brax sighed and sat beside Ricky on the couch.

"It's just that Casey had this weird thought that something was up with Kyle," Brax explained.

Ricky shook her head.

"Oh well, guess I might have an early night too; got to pop in and see Case before my shift in the morning," Brax said.

"I'll hang out here for a bit," Ricky replied.

"And you know I'm popping over to see Bianca in the morning so I might not see you before work," Ricky added.

"That's fine," Brax answered and kissed Ricky before heading to his bedroom; concluding that he would have to talk to Kyle tomorrow to find out if something was bothering him, or whether Casey had just let his concussion symptoms get the better of him.