Chapter 19: Casey's arrival takes its toll
When Casey was born Heath didn't know what to think of the baby, he had never experienced anything like this before. As soon as Cheryl had the chance she handed Casey over to Brax, ordering him to take care of all of Casey's needs, if it wasn't for Brax, Casey would not have had any love and interaction from his early days as Cheryl and Danny barely cared for him, at one stage even considering putting him up for adoption.
Looking after baby Casey took a lot out of twelve year old Brax, with trying to get Heath off to school also. Brax barely had the chance to go to school, unless the school phoned up complaining that he needed to attend otherwise social services would intervene, in which case Danny and Cheryl took turns of keeping an eye on Casey, but doing the very bare minimum and as soon as Brax would arrive home, it was back to him doing everything.
Brax was always tired, but he had to stay strong for his brothers, he loved them and they both needed him. After weeks of doing this Brax started to feel exhausted and run down. One day while he was at school in a physical education class, playing sports which he enjoyed, Brax collapsed. Brax was taken to hospital and Danny and Cheryl called. Once Cheryl and Danny arrived at the hospital, the doctor escorted them into the room where Brax was, neither had an impressed look on their face.
"What have you done to yourself this time Darryl?" Danny asked.
Brax looked at his parents, this really wasn't necessary, he was fine, and he just needed rest.
"It seems your son Darryl had collapsed due to suffering from a very high fever and a weak immune system, leading to a secondary bacterial infection in his chest. Has Darryl been over doing sports or not getting enough sleep lately?"
"He seems to be helping a lot with the new baby around the house. We just can't get him to stop. We've tried ordering him to go to bed on time and told him the baby is not his responsibility but he just won't listen. We have to resort to punishing him, just so he can be looked after too." Cheryl spoke, while Brax thought how it was all lies.
"Hmm. I see, well this definitely has to stop. Darryl needs to rest for 7 days, so no school, and no helping, otherwise his condition will deteriorate, and he will end up in hospital."
"You listening to this boy?" Danny asked, receiving a quiet nod from Brax.
"I will give you some antibiotics to take home to give him for the next two weeks then I want to recheck him to see how he is going." "Thanks doctor."
The doctor turned to Brax. "You listen to your parents okay, they're here to look out for you, we can't have you getting sick like this again, can we?"
Brax shook his head. He knew this was all lies and when he got home, everything would be back to normal, and he may even be in trouble for making his parents waste their time at the hospital.
When they got in the car, they had barely driven out of the car park when Cheryl spoke. "Nice one Darryl, now look what mess you've made. You can't even look after yourself. Now not only do we have to look after Casey and Heath, we have to look after you too."
"I didn't cause this to happen." Brax said quietly.
Danny turned, "Don't answer you mother back. When we get home, you're gonna do what that doctor said, so you can get back to being able to take responsibility in the house and next time you're gonna be more careful and not let a thing like this happen, understand."
"Sorry." Brax quietly replied, looking out the window of the car. A cry is heard from Casey who was in his baby carrier next to Brax, "You bloody stop ya crying!" Danny shouted at Casey before turning back.
Brax looked to Casey sadly and reached his hand out to hold onto Casey, ceasing his crying. How was he going to get through the next few weeks with Cheryl and Danny looking after his brothers? He had to get better for them.