AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Many thanks to those reading and reviewing; I very much appreciate your support. Enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 13

Dave and Gunno took a whiff of their drugs, while waiting inside their car that was positioned outside the Braxton house yet again.

A week and a half had passed since they had done their brutal attack on Kyle and the criminals had steered clear of the family, giving themselves a chance to think up their next big plan.

The two could see movement inside the house and taking a look through binoculars they saw the image of Kyle standing next to Phoebe.

"He's got that girl with him again; when are we going after her?" Gunno questioned.

"All in given time," Dave replied and took the binoculars from Gunno to grab a look himself.

"Hey, who's that bloke?" Dave questioned and shoved the binoculars back at Gunno.

"Dunno, I think he's been at that restaurant before. He's got a mark on his abdomen too. You don't think he's the reason behind Kyle recovering from that beating last week do ya? I mean I banged him up pretty good in his kidneys; he couldn't have recovered so soon."

"Could be another brother maybe? Who knows how many he has," Dave commented.

"Either way, this family seems too tight. We've already went after that other brother of his. I say we target this new bloke and get him out of the picture then plan our attack on that girl of his, then make our final attack."

Gunno put down the binoculars and nodded.

"I'm ready for this as much as you are."

The mobile phone left in the console of the criminal's car buzzed.

"It's Mick from the underground bosses," Dave said.

"What's he want?" Gunno barked.

"Said that someone's been asking around about us, and if we have a plan to do it soon, before word leaks out."

"What are we waiting for?" Gunno snickered.

Brax was back at work a few days later and closing up Angelo's, he placed the keys in his back pocket and made his way over to his car in the parking lot.

The Saturday night run had finished and it had just reached after nine o'clock.

"Right there he is; you got the merchandise?" Dave questioned Gunno.

"Yep, right here," Gunno flashed a large knife under his shirt.

Gunno raced out of his car and with Brax's back turned, Gunno saw ample opportunity, however Brax sensed someone behind him and turned.

Gunno was too quick for Brax's reactions and stabbed the eldest Braxton hard in the chest; running off quickly back to the car, where Dave sped off.

The criminals could see in their rear-view mirror the eldest Braxton grab his chest and collapse to the ground.

Blood pooled around Brax's body as he gasped for breath.

Letting his instincts take over, Brax pushed hard on his chest to stop the blood as much as possible, but the lack of Oxygen he was getting to his lungs with his hitched breaths made it too difficult, and soon Brax fell flat on the ground, with only faint struggled breaths leaving his body.

Nate was taking a jog along the beach, trying to clear his mind from the temperaments of his wife, Sophie, when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

"Hello?"

"Nate, please come back home; we can talk this through," the straggled cries of his wife were heard on the end of the line.

Nate sighed, "Sophie, I said I wasn't going to discuss this anymore with you. My decision is final about the divorce, now I want to finish up my run," Nate answered sharply.

"But Nate, you know I need you. I can't live without you," Sophie pleaded.

Nate moved down to a slow walk.

"That's what I was saying Sophie: you need to get some professional help, this attachment issue you have with me isn't healthy," Nate explained.

"You don't get it, I worry that you don't have time for me. I don't mean to start any arguments."

"Sophie, that's what you have always said, even when we were living in Brisbane."

"This is different. I love you Nate."

Nate neared Angelo's restaurant and his mind focused on a man lying on the ground more than what his wife was babbling about.

"Did you hear me Nate? I said I loved you and need you."

"Not now Sophie!" Nate snapped and hastily cut off his conversation to rush over to the man in need; only concluding the familiarity of the man as he neared.

"Brax, Brax can you hear me? What happened?" Nate asked, kneeling beside Brax and assessing his wounds.

Nate wasted no time in calling for an ambulance, explaining that Brax was in serious condition and needed assistance as soon as possible, because with his medical expertise, Nate was certain Brax was suffering from Pneumothorax, along with severe blood loss and without medical aid; the eldest Braxton would die.

Once the ambulance arrived, Nate was able to help attend to Brax in the best possible way; dressing his stab wound and inserting a catheter and tap to aid with the young man's breathing difficulty.

"Brax can you hear me? It's Doctor Nate Cooper. You are on the way to the hospital now; you've been attacked," Nate explained, as Brax let out a gasping groan and flicked his eyes rapidly.

The Oxygen mask covering Brax's face quickly fogged up with the steam from Brax's gasping breaths.

Brax let out an incoherent mumble.

"Brax, just relax for me. I will let your brother's know what has happened when we get you to hospital."

Casey and Kyle were in the Braxton house, unable to wait for Brax to return with some late dinner. Phoebe was also there but had been prioritising her next lesson plan for her music class.

Casey and Kyle sat next to each other on the couch with a meat sandwich each to tie them over until Brax came baring dinner. They were preoccupied with laughing and chatting away.

"You two Braxton's having fun?" Phoebe asked, entering the room from digging out some old music sheets from the bedroom.

"Yeah; you should join us," Kyle said with a smile; glancing behind him at his bubbly girlfriend.

Phoebe leaned over and kissed Kyle on the lips upside down.

"You know I can't; not yet anyway. I got to finish this lesson plan by tomorrow."

Just as Phoebe moved away from the couch, the phone rang.

"Do you boys want me to get that?" Phoebe called, gesturing with her fingers.

Casey shrugged with his mouth full of food, while Kyle gave a loving smile.

"Hello, Braxton residence," Phoebe greeted cheerfully.

"Phoebe, is that you?"

"Yes who is this?" Phoebe queried.

"It's Nate. I'm at the hospital where Brax has been taken in, in critical condition. He has been stabbed. Are his brothers there?"

Phoebe stood with her mouth agape.

"Oh, my gosh! Yeah they're here; I'll tell them," she said softly; alerting both brothers to turn in her direction.

"Okay bye," she finished and hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Kyle asked.

Phoebe stared blankly at the brothers for a brief moment.

"That was Nate. He said Brax is in hospital in critical condition from a stab wound," she explained.

Casey's face paled as white as a ghost and Kyle blinked furiously in shock; jumping up to rush to his girlfriend.

"Did he say anymore: on how it happened?" Kyle exclaimed.

Casey had since turned his shocked gaze back to the carpet in front of him. This was Brax they were talking about; he couldn't be seriously hurt: he was the walls of the family and someone he'd relied on all his life.

While Kyle was still questioning Phoebe for information, Casey finally snapped out of his thoughts and jumped up from the couch.

"We have to go to the hospital Kyle!" Casey exclaimed frantically.

Kyle stared at Casey's panicked look and realised how hard this was on his younger brother.

"Yeah; I'll drive," Kyle suggested, "Phoebe you coming?"

Phoebe shook her head.

"I really have to finish this lesson plan, but I might pop round later; send Brax my wishes," Phoebe answered.

Kyle nodded and kissed his girlfriend; slapping Casey comfortingly on the shoulder and grabbed his car keys to leave.

On the way to the hospital Casey called Heath.

Heath was quietly resting at home with Bianca when his mobile rang.

"This had better be good bro; Bianca and I were enjoying some alone time," Heath spat out.

"Brax has been stabbed Heath! Kyle and I are on the way to the hospital now!" Casey again spat out his exclamation.

"Casey calm down, I can't hear you; what's been stabbed?" Heath affirmed.

"Brax; Brax has. He's in hospital," Casey gasped.

"He what; alright I'll meet you both there!" Heath yelled; hastily hanging up his phone and sitting up with a start.

"What's going on?" Bianca asked.

"Brax has been stabbed and is in hospital," Heath explained.

"Wait Heath; I'll come with you," Bianca assured; following Heath quickly out the door to Heath's Ute.

Casey made one last call and this was to Ricky who had taken up a photography job in the city that day and would be on her way back home.

"This is Ricky. Please leave a message after the tone and I'll call you back when I can; bye."

Casey heard only Ricky's bubbly message on the mobile and had no choice but to leave a message.

"Ricky; it's Casey. You need to meet us down at the hospital quick; Brax has been hurt really badly and they're not sure how serious he is."

Casey's panicked voice was sent through to Ricky's voicemail and so Casey hung up and mournfully sighed.

Kyle looked to the side of him at his younger brother.

"You okay?" he asked.

Casey shrugged and stared down.

"Just worried about Brax; do you think he's going to be okay Kyle?" Casey asked in a low mumble, trying to gain reassurance from his older brother.

"I'm sure he'll be okay Case. We'll be at the hospital soon and then we'll find out," Kyle replied, remaining strong; after-all that's what Brax would do for him.

Kyle pulled up at the hospital and Casey didn't take a moment's hesitation to rush out of the car and in through the hospital doors.

Kyle followed behind as quickly as he could keep up.

"Which room is Brax in?!" Casey demanded.

"Who is that?" the receptionist asked.

Casey huffed, allowing his distress to take hold.

"Brax is our brother and he was brought in from a stab wound attack," Kyle explained.

The receptionist checked the computer.

"I'm sorry but I can't find details on your brother on our system; that means he could be in emergency surgery."

"Can't you tell us anymore?" Casey snapped, "Can't you even tell us if he's gonna make it; or if he's alive?!" Casey ranted.

"Casey, take it easy," Kyle whispered; not fully sure how to handle the distressed young man.

"How can you tell me that?" Casey gasped and shifted around feeling stressed.

"Look, please calm down. I assure you someone will be out to speak with you about your brother's condition as soon as he is in recovery," the receptionist spoke.

"Thanks. Casey, come on; let's take a seat," Kyle encouraged.

Casey paced back and forth, while Kyle stood by and watched anxiously.

Heath and Bianca soon came running into the halls.

"What's the news?" Heath asked Kyle.

"We don't know how bad it is yet. No-one will let us see him," Kyle answered.

Bianca looked sympathetically over at Casey.

"Is Casey alright?" Kyle shook his head.

"He's really taking it hard and I think he's really worried Brax isn't going to make it," Kyle explained.

Heath sighed and made his way over towards his younger brother.

"Casey; Case," Heath called; reaching his hand out to touch Casey's shoulder and snap the youngest Braxton out of his emotional turmoil.

"Why won't they tell us anything? Maybe it's because he's not going to make it?" Casey pleaded.

Heath clapped his hand on Casey's shoulder.

"Don't let that thought cross your mind; this is big fella we're talking about here Case: he ain't gonna let this push him down," Heath assured.

Ricky came rushing through the doors of the hospital.

"Where is Brax; where is he?" she said in panic.

Her face had paled when she had heard the message Casey had left on her phone.

Bianca walked over to console Ricky, but the fiery blonde was far too worked up. Ricky glared in Kyle's direction.

"This has everything to do with those prison guys; doesn't it?!" Ricky yelled.

"Ricky don't do this; you're just upset," Bianca soothed.

"No. No I'm more than upset!" Ricky shouted and stormed towards Kyle.

"This is because of you Kyle; you and your past!" Ricky accused, leaving Kyle shocked.

Ricky had instantly regretted the words as soon as they had come from her mouth, but could not find it inside herself enough to compose an apology.

"This isn't Kyle's fault," Casey reasoned in defense.

"Casey, just leave it," Kyle whispered.

Bianca led Ricky away to calm down after her outburst, while the rest of the family continued to wait anxiously for news on the head Braxton.

After ten minutes more had passed, Nate made his way into the waiting room halls; alerting all five people.

"How is he?" Ricky questioned; rushing up to Nate as soon as he had come in sight.

The family gathered around as Nate began his explanation.

"Brax is stable and his emergency surgery went well. He had a slight nick to his lung tissue and because of the penetrating chest wound, did suffer a Pneumothorax, which is where air becomes circulatory within the chest cavity, making breathing difficult for a person," Nate explained.

"What happens now doc? Is he going to recover?" Heath asked.

At Heath's words, Casey took a step back and felt a pain in his chest; Brax had to be alright.

"Yes, he should be, but we are monitoring him very closely. We have got him on some strong antibiotics and pain relief and have given him a small blood transfusion to build up his red blood cells that were lost during the heavy bleed," Nate continued.

"When can we see him?" Ricky asked.

"He's still very heavily sedated from his surgery, but you can see him briefly for now, and maybe it is best in only small groups," Nate suggested and gestured towards Brax's recovery room.

Heath, Kyle, Casey, and Ricky followed Nate into Brax's room, while Bianca waited outside.

Kyle stood at the end of Brax's bed, looking down at his older brother and thinking over the words that Ricky had said.

Casey went beside Brax's bed, with tears welling in his eyes at the sight of his invincible big brother lying with tubes all over his body, while Ricky went to the other side of Brax and leaned over his body, while holding his hand.

Heath remained behind Casey, with a comforting hand on the youngest back.

"You alright Case?" Heath whispered as he saw Casey wipe his eyes.

"Yeah," Casey mumbled.

Kyle sighed and turned away from the bedside.

"You alright too mate?" Heath asked; stepping into the big brother role.

Kyle just nodded his head without an answer.

Ricky gazed up at Kyle and her instant guilt had now come through again.

Stepping away from Brax's side, Ricky approached Kyle.

"This isn't your fault you know because of your past. I shouldn't have said that and being angry and upset isn't an excuse," Ricky apologised.

"You don't have to explain or apologise; I get it," Kyle mumbled.

"No Kyle, you didn't deserve to heed my frustrations. I know this affects you too."

Kyle and Ricky shared a comforting brief hug before Nate quietly entered the room again.

"I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you all to leave now and let Brax get some proper rest. You can come by again in the morning, but for now he is too fragile to have visitors for the night," Nate explained.

Ricky and Kyle slowly made their way out of the hospital room, but Casey stayed beside Brax's bed.

"Come on Case; the doc says we have to leave. Let's leave the big fella alone," Heath comforted.

"I want to stay with him; I don't care what it takes," Casey said determinedly.

Heath rubbed Casey's shoulder and gave his younger brother a slight push away from the bed.

"We can come back in the morning," Heath assured.

Heath finally got Casey out of the room and Nate shut the door behind them.

"Brax will be well looked after by our nursing staff," Nate assured.

"See, nothing to worry about and if I know Brax, he'll probably be sitting up in that bed tomorrow, barking at the doctors and nurses to let him out," Heath joked to try and lighten the mood.

Bianca approached Heath, Kyle, and Casey.

"Why don't you all come over to Irene's for a meal," Bianca suggested.

"I'm not really hungry," Casey mumbled.

Heath slapped Casey on the back for encouragement and support.

"Well just let me know. I'm gonna take Ricky back to Irene's with me; are you boys right to get home together?" Bianca asked.

Heath nodded, "Yeah, I'll drive them both back home."

The four remaining walked outside and Bianca took off towards Ricky, encouraging her towards Ricky's car, which she offered to drive for the upset woman.

Before the three brothers had left the outside grounds of the hospital to head towards Heath's car, Kyle's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to reveal an unknown number.

Unsuspecting a thing, Kyle answered to hear hard breathing on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"