Thank you so much for your kind words - they really mean a lot especially after making you wait so long.

I'm hoping that this will be the last chapter as I'm going to struggle if it's not. Will just have to see how it goes.

I am not medically trained so if anything doesn't sound right, then it's probably not!

Chapter 4

A few hours later, Casey was settled in a room, propped up on pillows with the oxygen mask still over his face, fast asleep. His head scan had come back clear, much to the relief of the older Braxtons. The doctor had explained that there would probably be a residual cough that Casey would have to contend with, but he didn't think that there was any major damage to his lungs so he expected the cough to disappear after a few months.

Heath and Brax were sat on either side of the bed just watching their youngest sleep.

Heath suddenly started smiling, "What's up with you?" Brax enquired.

Heath shook his head, "Nothing - I'm just looking at the two of us, sat here like some weeping widows or something - he'll probably freak out if he wakes up and sees us sat here - hand holding..."

Brax couldn't hold back his own smile, "Yeah ... but I'm not leaving..."

"Me neither," Heath agreed, his eyes tracking back to his brother on the bed.

A short while later, Brax found himself dozing slightly in his chair. Heath had fallen asleep about a half hour before, his head laid on Casey's bed. As Brax's head dropped to his chest for the third time in the last few minutes, he became aware of movement to his left. His eyes opened sharply to see Casey squirming in his sleep. His head was moving from side to side, groaning Brax jumped up and quickly moved to his brother's side. He put, what he hoped was a calming hand on the younger man's shoulder.

He got the shock of his life when Casey's eyes flew open. He began to thrash about then doubled over as a coughing fit overtook him. He frantically grabbed at the oxygen mask, trying to pull it off in his panic. Heath had woken up and both of the older Braxton's had their hands on his shoulders, trying to calm him down.

"Casey...Casey...look at me!" Brax demanded, trying to get the younger boys attention.

"Casey... Case..." Brax took hold of the oxygen mask out of Casey's trembling grasp.

"Hey, golden boy, " Heath joined in, hoping that the use of the nickname may get through to him. Surprisingly, it seemed to do the trick - Casey started to relax a little. He locked eyes with Heath, who although found that extremely uncomfortable, never broke eye contact, "It's me Casey - you're ok - you're in the hospital...Brax is here," Heath nodded over to where the older brother was holding the mask. Casey wearily turned his head to the other side. His face relaxed even more at the sight of his oldest brother, until he saw the mask, "Why?"

"You were in a fire Case. You breathed in a lot of smoke - this is to help you breathe - you were very lucky," Brax finished over the lump that had formed in his throat.

Casey's gaze dropped to the bed as if he was trying to concentrate on remembering. Then his gaze snapped up to his brother, "Where's dad? Is he here? He was there..." he drifted off as another coughing fit set in. Brax gently replaced the mask over his face. Casey tried to fight it at first, but after some gentle words of encouragement from his brothers, he quietened down and slowly drifted back off to sleep.

Brax found himself arranging some of the pillows around Casey as he slept with Heaths gaze never leaving the younger boy, "Phew, that was a bit full on," Heath commented, "Not really how I'd expected him to wake up."

As Brax finished his administrations, he found himself lightly stroking his little brothers head, soaking in the fact that Casey was still with them.

"You can let go you know, he's not going anywhere," Heath told him.

Brax let go, embarrassed by showing, what he thought to be any sort of weakness. Heath immediately felt bad, "I'm sorry Brax, I didn't mean to make you feel awkward," Heath apologised.

"Nah, its ok - just don't blab to anyone," Brax smiled. Heath bowed his head to hide his own smile.

Brax's features suddenly clouded over, "What do you think he meant by dad was there?"

Heath shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps dad tried to help him?"

"So why did he leave him? I've got a bad feeling about this..."

The rest of the night was uneventful. Casey slept soundly allowing his two brothers a few hours rest.

The following morning, Brax and Heath were sat outside the hospital eating breakfast and enjoying the early morning warmth. As Brax took another gulp of his coffee, he glanced at his watch, "We should be getting back in," he suggested.

"Five more minutes," Heath requested, as he took another bite of his sandwich.

Ten minutes later they had both had their fill and had thrown their rubbish in the bin. As they walked down the hospital corridor, they chatted about what they were going to do with the house before Casey got home. Suddenly they heard a shout, "Get away from me!" It was coming from Casey's room. They quickened their pace and skidded to a halt in the doorway. The first thing that Brax registered was the look of sheer panic on Casey's face. He then noticed another person in the room, a person who was holding Casey's oxygen mask, "Dad, what are you doing here?" He heard Heath break the uncomfortable silence.

Brax then became aware that the other person in the room was his father, "I've come to see my son - thanks for letting me know, by the way..." he growled

"Put the mask down," Brax demanded. Danny looked at the mask, then at Casey and placed it on the bed. Casey immediately grabbed it and took long deep breaths, "Now leave."

"I've got a right to see how my son is doing," Danny countered.

"I don't want you here," Casey gasped, glancing at Brax for support. Brax walked round the bed placing a hand on his arm.

"I see your big brother has got to you," Danny sneered as he looked at Brax.

Casey removed the mask, "This has got nothing to do with Brax. But its got everything to do with you..."

Brax and Heath looked at each other in confusion, as Danny's eyes narrowed, "You know how I'm doing - or at least you should do...you were there! I remember turning round when I heard a noise and coming face to face with you before you hit me...then...I saw you running away from the house after the fire started...you...you tried to kill me!"

Casey was shouting by the end of his monologue.

Danny took a couple of steps back as he took in the looks of murderous rage that were starting to show on his son's faces, "I don't know what..."

He didn't get chance to finish what he was saying because Brax had all but vaulted over the bed in his haste to get to his father. Before Danny had time to think, Brax had him pinned against the wall, "How could you? How could you hurt your own son?"

"He was trying to do the dirty on me...he needed to be taught a lesson..."Danny gasped as he felt his throat being squeezed even more.

"Brax!Stop!" Heath shouted as he tried to drag his brother away from his father. Brax fought with all his might to get himself out of Heaths grasp, "He tried to kill him!" He yelled as he turned on Heath, "He tried to kill our kid brother - to teach him a lesson..."

Heath held on a little tighter, "I know Brax, I heard, but so did someone else..." he trailed as he showed Brax that two hospital security officers had run to the door when they heard the commotion and so had heard everything that had been said.

As they took charge of Danny, he turned round to face Casey again, "See you soon Casey..." was all he said as he was taken away.

Once he had gone, Heath relaxed his hold on Brax, who patted him on the shoulder in appreciation for what he had done. A small whimper broke into their thoughts. They turned to see Casey slumped back on his pillows, desperately trying to drag some air into his lungs, trying to relax his breathing. Both men rushed to the bedside. Brax picked up the mask and placed it on Casey's face, holding it there until the younger man could hold it himself.

"Brax I'm scared, he's going to come after me," Casey gasped as he was still trying to calm down.

"We won't let anything happen to you Casey, trust us!" Heath reassured him, looking to Brax for confirmation.

Brax still had a thunderous expression on his face, "Dad's dead for this!" he exclaimed.

That's all folks. Hope it didn't suck to much - I'm sure you will let me know - but please be gentle with your criticism.

Thank you for reading and reviewing again - until next time...