Chapter 17

Ricky walked around the Bay until she managed to spot Phoebe sitting on the sand, watching the waves flow in and out.

Ricky approached the young women and called out to her when she was in near distance.

"Phoebe!"

Phoebe turned around to take sight of Ricky but quickly turned back to the waves.

Ricky took a seat next to Phoebe on the sand, observing how the young women sat with her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees; almost as if she was trying to protect herself.

"I heard about the break up with Kyle," Ricky stated softly, "Are you okay?"

"Not really, but why is it so hard for everyone to understand?" Phoebe answered.

"It's not Pheebs. What you went through was a tough, traumatic experience, no-one expects anything of you," Ricky explained.

"Well Kyle just seems to want to move on, but I just can't. I was so scared. Not only when I was held kidnapped and touched by those criminals, but when I thought Kyle had been shot," Phoebe explained, "I know this kind of trouble was part of Kyle, but I'm scared to be reminded of what happened and if I stay with him, how do I know something won't happen again?"

"Phoebe, no-one could have predicted anything like this would have happened and even you said yourself when I tried to blame Kyle, that none of this is his fault. Kyle loves you a lot Pheebs and he would do anything for you."

"I get that, but I'm just not sure I can handle it anymore, Ricky. Yeah I still love Kyle, but I need to get my head around all this," Phoebe explained.

Ricky nodded, "Well if you're sure; you do what you need to. Where are you going to stay?" Ricky asked.

"I thought about hiring out a caravan," Phoebe replied.

"Do you think that's such a good idea to be alone? After something like this you need to be around friends and I'm not saying stay at the house, but maybe stay with Bianca and Heath at Irene's?"

Phoebe nodded, "Yeah I guess."

"Hey, I better go, but remember Pheebs: I'm always here if you want to talk, and on that, maybe you should talk to Nate about how you're feeling?" Ricky encouraged, as she stood up from the sand.

"Yeah, thanks Ricky; I'll keep that in mind," Phoebe replied.

"Oh, how's Brax?" Phoebe called, as Ricky started walking away.

"He's fine; say he can come home in a few days."

Phoebe smiled at Ricky then went back to watching the soothing waves, while Ricky left to go back to the hospital.

Kyle sat on the couch strumming softly on his guitar, drawing in the loneliness of the house. He stopped momentarily when he heard a knock at the door.

Placing his guitar beside him he went to open the door.

Kyle was taken by surprise when he saw Phoebe standing on the step.

"Can I come in?" she asked softly.

Kyle moved out of the way not saying a word.

"You know this is your house too; you didn't have to knock," Kyle commented as Phoebe walked further into the house.

"I know...I just came by to grab some of my things," Phoebe said sadly.

"Phoebe, please can we talk?" Kyle asked.

"Kyle, I need time to think," Phoebe answered and made her way down to the bedroom.

"Where are you going to go?" Kyle asked; standing in the doorway to the room.

"I'm going to stay with Bianca and Heath for a while at Irene's," Phoebe replied.

Kyle stepped back and watched his ex-girlfriend pack up her belongings. He wanted to fight and beg her to stay more but he came to realise his brother was right: it was ultimately Phoebe's decision; whether he liked it or not.

Phoebe smiled briefly as she passed by Kyle, heading towards the door.

"Keep safe; I love you," Kyle called out as Phoebe left.

Phoebe smiled again and walked away in silence.

Kyle flopped back down on the couch and grabbed his guitar, beginning to hum a sad love tune that reminded him of his times with Phoebe.

Phoebe tuned up at Irene's with her bag.

"Come in darl," Irene greeted.

Phoebe entered the cozy designed house.

"Are you sure this is okay; I'm not intruding?" Phoebe asked.

"Course not darl, the more the merrier," Irene replied with a beaming smile as she rested her hand on Phoebe's shoulder.

Bianca stepped down from the upstairs rooms and noticed Phoebe in the main room.

"Hi Pheebs, come and place your bags down in the upstairs room, I just finished fixing it up for you," Bianca said.

"Thanks," Phoebe whispered and followed Bianca back up the stairs.

"So how are things?" Bianca asked, as Phoebe placed her belongings on the nicely made up bed.

"It's all so complicated Bee," Phoebe confessed.

Bianca rubbed her hand on Phoebe's back.

"I wish I could tell you it gets easy, but with the amount of times I've been with Heath and some of the stunts he's been involved in...My point being: it comes with the package of knowing a Braxton and even though I certainly don't like the chances of losing Heath, in my heart I love him, and have to have faith that nothing bad will happen," Bianca explained.

"Thanks Bee. I think I just want to be alone right now," Phoebe responded.

"Okay, well we're all downstairs if you need anything," Bianca comforted.

Bianca made her way back down to the kitchen area where she was met by Heath.

"Phoebe's arrived I take it?" he asked.

"Yeah: got her settled in the room next to Olivia's."

"How does she seem?"

"Yeah pretty upset," Bianca replied.

"Heard from Case that Kyle sounded pretty cut up about it too," Heath said.

"We just have to trust they'll work it out," Bianca whispered and hugged her husband.

Olivia pranced in through the door cheerfully.

"How was school today?" Irene asked.

"The best Reenie," Olivia answered.

"Why: they teaching sex Ed?" Heath teased.

"Heath!" Bianca scolded.

"No. Hunter made the biggest fool of Chelsea in the halls today when she passed comment about my self-harm and tried to get Hunter to kiss her in order to hurt me, but he just pushed her away and told her he'd rather spend his time with me, scars and all than with a withered up bitch like her," Olivia explained with a beaming smile.

"Are you alright love?" Irene asked concerned, referring to the comments that had been passed about her.

"Course," Olivia replied.

"Wow what teenagers do this day and age," Heath commented.

"Well all I can say is it's better than you using your fists for everything when you were their age, Heath," Bianca stated.

"I'm gonna go get started on my homework," Olivia announced and raced up towards the bedroom.

"Just be mindful of Phoebe in the next room to yours!" Irene called.

"Sure!" Olivia answered back and continued racing up the stairs.

By the time dinner time had arrived, Irene placed the food on the table and called her extended house-hold company to dinner.

Bianca and Heath were already in the kitchen, having been helping here and there with the preparations, but Olivia was still up in her room working on her homework and Phoebe was also still upstairs.

"Coming!" Olivia called out and shut her exercise book she was working on for science.

Olivia's yell woke Phoebe up in the next room. She had been drifting in and out of sleep since the late afternoon, but the difficulty in switching her mind off from the haunting visions of the kidnap was reigning almost impossible.

Phoebe pulled her tired self up from the bed and shook herself awake; giving her hair a quick brush before heading down stairs.

Everyone was already seated at the table when Phoebe arrived.

"Settling in okay darl?" Irene asked.

"Yeah, thanks," Phoebe replied, still somewhat in a daze.

She took a seat at the table and as everyone dished out their portion of lasagna, she looked at the food not feeling particularly hungry, but not wanting to be rude after all the hospitality she had been given, Phoebe dished herself out a small portion.

That night, again Phoebe struggled to sleep; unable to stop the visions clouding her head, but instead of making a big deal out of nothing she took each day as it had come: getting up the next morning and having an early shower to fight off her sleep.

By the fourth night, the nightmare visions reached a high and prevented Phoebe from even shutting her eyes for a minute second.

Feeling as though forcing sleep was a pointless exercise, Phoebe got up from her bed and made her way down to the kitchen.

Hearing a scuffle in the kitchen, Bianca stirred and glanced over the other side of the bed to see that Heath had not moved a muscle, but remained snoring with his heavy chest rising and falling.

Flicking on her bedside light and slipping on her silk dressing gown over her night dress, Bianca went out to investigate.

Adjusting her eyes to the light shining in the kitchen she stepped in and saw Phoebe leaning up against the sink, in her pajama shorts and a loose tee shirt.

"Phoebe, what are you doing up?" Bianca whispered.

Phoebe jumped with a start and turned around to see Bianca.

The older women could tell by the wet rims around Phoebe's eyes that Phoebe had been crying.

"Phoebe, what's wrong?" Bianca whispered, and walked further into the kitchen beside her friend.

"I can't sleep. I haven't been able to properly sleep since the incident. I just can't seem to get the visions of what happened out of my head," Phoebe explained sadly.

Bianca rubbed her hand over Phoebe's shoulder blades.

"How about I make us a tea and we can sit down and talk?" Bianca suggested.

Phoebe blinked back the excess water droplets on her eyelashes.

"I can't let you stay up for me; you need rest with the baby and all," Phoebe responded.

Bianca smiled and flicked on the kettle.

"It'll be my pleasure; besides this one keeps me up sometimes with the moving around anyway, it would be nice to sit up and talk to someone."

Phoebe smiled and stood beside Bianca as she made two honey and chamomile teas.

Bianca handed Phoebe her tea and the two sat down on the couch next to each other.

"So have you been unable to sleep properly since it all happened?" Bianca asked.

"Yeah pretty much," Phoebe mumbled.

"Have you told anyone about it?"

Phoebe shook her head, "I wouldn't know where to start and what if I'm just thought of as being silly?" Phoebe queried.

"Of course you wouldn't. No-one would think that of you Pheebs, we all know it was a tough situation you were placed in," Bianca spoke with assurance.

"I just feel so confused and anxious like it's going to happen again," Phoebe confessed.

"Honey, it won't. Heath said the guys got locked away by the police. Besides you have too many people around you that care about you to let it happen again," Bianca assured with a smile and nudged her friend.

"Ricky suggested I should talk to Nate," Phoebe added.

"Well do you think it would help you? Talking about how you feel is always a good start," Bianca replied.

Their moment was interrupted by a voice calling from midway down the stairs.

"Is everything alright down here darls; what's going on?" Irene asked.

"Everything's fine Irene, we're sorry if we woke you," Bianca answered.

"Heavens no, darl; I just woke up to take a trip to the bathroom and saw the light on," Irene clarified and walked the rest of the way down the stairs.

"I couldn't sleep and Bianca woke up too; we are just talking," Phoebe explained.

"Well alright loves, don't let me keep you, but don't stay up too late; either of you," Irene advised and ducked into the bathroom opposite Heath and Bianca's room.

"Irene's right; you should probably head back to bed," Phoebe said.

"I don't need to yet if you still want to talk. I want to make sure you are alright," Bianca stated.

"Yeah, you've done enough for me tonight," Phoebe replied with a smile.

Irene headed on her way past the two women again, calling out a soft goodnight before heading back upstairs.

"Well if you're sure," Bianca urged.

Phoebe smiled at her friend in response.

Bianca then stood up and took her cup to the sink.

"I'll see you in the morning; try and get some rest," Bianca whispered and gently touched Phoebe on the shoulder.

"Thanks," Phoebe replied.

Bianca made her way back into the bed, after having been awake with Phoebe for just over an hour.

Heath shifted in the bed and groaned.

"Where'd you go? What's happening?" he mumbled, still feigned by sleep.

"I was talking with Phoebe; she's been having trouble sleeping," Bianca explained.

Heath groaned, "I can understand; I'm having a bit of that."

"This is serious and not my place to talk about it now, so go back to sleep."

Bianca shuffled under the cover and kissed Heath.

"Don't have to tell me twice," he grumbled and before Bianca turned to switch off the light, Heath had gone back to sleep again, like nothing had happened.

Phoebe pulled her legs up on the couch, tucking them under in a cross-leg position, as she held her cup of tea in her hands. Maybe I should go see Nate? Phoebe wondered. What's the worst that could happen? At least I might be able to get something to sleep.

Phoebe took a sip of her now cold tea and remained sitting on the couch for another twenty minutes in thought, until she felt the tiredness kicking in and made her way into the kitchen to dispose of her cup in the sink; tipping out what was left of her tea and heading back upstairs to bed.

Kyle and Casey helped Brax inside the house; each having one arm firmly wrapped around Brax's back and their older brother's arms rested over their shoulders.

"Stop pulling Kyle!" Casey snapped; feeling like he was losing his grip on his brother.

"I'm not pulling Casey; why don't you hurry up?" Kyle retorted.

Each brother had their reasons for their hostility: Casey wanting to be protective over Brax, yet struggled with his still one good working arm and Kyle was still feeling the crushing effects of the break-up.

"Fellas! If I could walk in on my own I would, now can we do this without arguing?!" Brax stated sternly.

Both brothers sighed and helped Brax to sit on the couch.

"Sorry Brax," Casey was quick to say once Brax had been seated.

"Yeah, sorry; can I get you anything?" Kyle mumbled; trying to make amends.

Brax rubbed his forehead.

"No it's fine; I think Ricky's got everything covered."

Like on cue, Ricky made her way out from the kitchen and kissed her partner, while maintaining a happy smile.

"I've made some food for you to have in a little while, all full of super foods that will help with your healing," Ricky said.

"See what I mean?" Brax commented.

Casey and Kyle couldn't help but chuckle, leaving Ricky confused.

"It wouldn't hurt for you all to have some more of these super foods."

"I'd be happy with just a juicy steak and veggies," Brax stated.

Phoebe made her way into the hospital in order to find Nate; having decided she should take the risk in talking to him about her struggles, however as Phoebe perused the hospital corridor making her way towards the reception area her stomach done flip-flops; leaving her with doubts about her decision.

Before Phoebe could second guess any further she was greeted by the young British doctor.

"Phoebe, what brings you here; is everything alright at home: no other injuries from those Braxtons?" Nate said with a smile.

Phoebe shook her head.

"I came to see if I could talk to you," she said softly.

Nate could sense by the young women's voice that she was troubled by something.

"Ah, sure; just let me put these files through the system and we can head into a consult room if you like?"

Phoebe smiled in response and waited for Nate to return.

Nate guided Phoebe into a consult room and gestured for her to take a seat.

"What's on your mind?"

"I'm struggling since I was kidnapped..."

"When did this happen?" Nate interrupted; feeling a sense of concern for the young women.

"It was when Brax was first in hospital, the guys that were after the family kidnapped me and..." Phoebe stopped, hating to be reliving the memories out aloud.

"We're these guys caught by the police?"

"Yeah."

"And did any of them do anything to you. I mean do I need to run some tests?" Nate asked.

Phoebe shook her head, "No, they threatened to, but nothing happened. It's just...I can't sleep and I can't stop thinking over and over about it all," Phoebe explained.

"Well, I can get you something for the sleep issue, but I would recommend we schedule a few sessions to talk about these post traumatic feelings, because if left untreated they will manifest and will only get worse," Nate explained, "Would you be up for that?"

Phoebe nodded in agreement.

"What does Kyle have to think about all this?"

Phoebe stared down shamefully.

"Kyle and I are taking a break."

Before Nate could question how and why it happened, Phoebe continued.

"I thought I needed the space because I couldn't cope with it all," she admitted, "but everyone seems to think I made the wrong choice and sometimes I'm not even convinced."

"Sometimes the body can react irrationally during stressful situations and what you would have gone through is very stressful so in order to cope, you made a rash decision based on what reminded you of the problem. During the sessions we can work on techniques to help you and from there you can decide whether you feel it right to move on from your relationship," Nate explained.

Nate's pager went off in his pocket alerting him to an incoming emergency.

"I'm sorry Phoebe, but I have to prepare for an emergency, but I will make up some sleeping tablets for you, which I want you to take one a night for the next week and in the meantime we can schedule a session, say, next Tuesday at eleven?"

"Sure, thanks Nate."

Kyle shuffled around the house, moping.

Brax still resting remained on the couch as Ricky handed him some breakfast.

"Thanks. I don't think I've ever seen him being this much of a sad-sack. At this rate he'll never cheer up," Brax commented.

"It's hard for him Brax," Ricky replied and sat beside her partner on the couch.

"Oi, Kyle! I hope you don't mope around like that at my restaurant; scare away my customers!" Brax yelled out.

"Sorry, I just can't stop thinking about her; it's been almost a week."

"I get that mate, but try and move on a bit, hey?"

Casey joined the three in the living room, with a cheerful grin on his face.

"Why you so happy?" Brax grumbled.

"Because, I can finally get this cast off and get back into work; not let Heath run my half of the gym down to the ground with his rules," Casey announced.

Brax raised his eyebrow and gave a sigh.

"On one hand we got one who's moping around enough to suck the life out of anyone and then there's him, cheering for his life," Brax mumbled, gesturing towards Casey.

"Don't worry, you'll be back on your feet soon enough to be the same," Ricky replied.

A knock on the door drew everyone to attention.

"Well open the door Case," Brax ordered.

Casey wandered over to the front door and opened it; revealing a less than bubbly Phoebe.

"Hi Phoebe, what brings you here?" Casey called out in a half yell; knowing all too well his brother was in the kitchen.

Kyle peeked his face out from around the wall of the kitchen and laid eyes on Phoebe; his heart instantly hurting at the sight.

"I came to talk to Kyle," Phoebe whispered.

Phoebe glanced over at Kyle.

"Kyle, can we talk?" she asked him directly.

Casey moved out of the way as Kyle slowly made his way towards the door, with everyone watching closely at the rocky couple.

"We can go for a walk if you like?" Kyle suggested and stepped out of the house.

Phoebe moved backwards to allow Kyle to advance further outside, before the two strolled away from the house.

"I'll head off now too; see you both later," Casey fare-welled.

Brax waved goodbye to his brother, while Ricky called out a friendly 'bye'.

"How have you been?" Kyle asked; somewhat hesitant on what to say, as the couple walked along the beach front.

"It's been tough," Phoebe replied.

"Is everything okay over at Heath and Bianca's?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah it's been great there; it was just the right space I needed," Phoebe responded.

"Well I'm happy that it worked for you," Kyle said sadly.

"Kyle, I know I made some rash decisions, but I never stopped loving you; you have to believe that," Phoebe spoke honestly.

Kyle shrugged, "You don't have to justify anything."

"But I do Kyle. Being away from you only made me miss you more and though I'm still scared that something like this could happen again, I would like for us to give it another go," Phoebe explained.

Kyle's face beamed, "I would love for us to be back together, but I don't want you to feel forced either; I want you to be happy."

Phoebe stood in front of Kyle and held his hands.

"I will be happy if I'm back with you. I was confused when I broke it off, but now after talking with Nate and signing up for some counseling sessions, I can see a little clearer now."

"Why did you need to talk to Nate?" Kyle questioned with concern.

"I was having these visions and bad dreams of the incident playing over and over in my mind," Phoebe explained.

"Pheebs, I'm so sorry, it never should have happened."

"It wasn't your fault Kyle and there was nothing that could have been done, I know that."

Kyle wrapped Phoebe in a hug and the two held each other momentarily before breaking apart.

"I love you so much Phoebe, and I'm glad you've given us another chance," Kyle admitted.

Phoebe smiled, "I think it still best that I stay at Irene's for a little while longer though; just until I get settled."

Kyle nodded, "I can wait."

The two strolled along the beach before going their separate ways: Kyle back home and Phoebe back to Irene's.

Kyle walked through the door and was greeted with the looks of his brother and partner.

"So how'd it go?" Brax asked.

Kyle smiled an awkward goofy smile.

"Phoebe is giving us a second chance," he announced.

"That's great Kyle, I'm really happy for you," Ricky praised.

"Yeah good on ya, mate," Brax cheered.

"I said things always work out in the end," Brax said proudly.

"Yeah, yeah you did," Kyle mumbled and began walking towards the bedroom.

"At least you can stop moping around here now!" Brax called out.

Kyle smiled to himself as he sat down on his bed and glanced at an old photo of him and Phoebe. Nothing was going to break this second chance with the one he loved; nothing.