AUTHORS NOTE:
The next few chapters centers on the brother's relationships and how Heath deals with having a younger brother.
Hope you guys enjoy this stuff. Thanks for taking the time to continue reading my story. :)
This is a super long chapter.
Chapter 21: Sicker than you think
(Heath 9, Casey 2, Brax 14)
Brax groaned as his alarm clock went off at 6:30 in the morning, he had been up again last night trying to get Casey to sleep and having his parents out in the lounge room with their drunken friends did not help.
Brax pressed the snooze button and fell back to sleep. When he woke Brax glanced at the clock, which now read 7:45, they were going to be late for school. Brax jumped out of bed and quickly got himself dressed and washed up before he ran into Heath's bedroom and banged on the door.
"Heath! Heath! Get up! We're gonna be late for school!"
Brax heard Heath groan from inside his room. Brax ran into the kitchen to start on breakfast. When Heath was nowhere in sight by quarter past eight, Brax grumbled he did not have time for this. Racing back down towards Heath's room he banged on the door,
"Heath get up now!"
Hearing Heath groan again, Brax knew he was still in bed. Brax opened the door and grumbled at seeing Heath still under the covers. Brax stormed over to his brother's bed and ripped off the covers.
"Heath get up now. I'm serious! We're gonna be late." Heath groaned again and turned away.
"Heath if you are not out of this bed and getting yourself ready in 2 minutes I swear….!"
"Brax I don't feel well." Heath moaned.
"Heath if this is one of your ingenious plans to get out of school you are in serious trouble." Brax warned.
"No…My tummy hurts." Heath moaned and held onto his stomach.
Forgetting about the time, Brax approached his brother.
"What's wrong?" "My tummy really hurts in the middle."
Brax looked at his brother and realized he was telling the truth he really didn't look well. Brax sighed, "Alright, you can stay home in bed today, I'll tell Mum and Dad to keep an eye on you okay?" Heath nodded.
Brax really wanted to stay home too and care for his brother but he couldn't risk getting more behind in his work.
"Do you feel like having anything for breakfast?" Brax asked. Heath shook his head.
"Alright. You take it easy okay and I'll see you after school." "Okay Brax."
Brax raced back out and finished getting himself organized for school. Cheryl and Danny walked out of the bedroom and watched their son rushing around.
"Geez Darryl, do ya have to be so noisy?" Cheryl groaned.
"Mum, Dad, Heath's staying home today, he's not feeling well. Can you please keep an eye on him?" They grunted. "Fine."
Brax shook his head and ran out the door, it was now 8:45am, and he would never get to school on time now.
Brax ran into the gate of the school and into the office. "Can I get a late slip to class please?" He gasped, out of breath from running.
"Late again Darryl? You've been warned about this before Mr Braxton." The vice principle spoke, as she walked out of the office.
"I know. I'm sorry. It's just that my little brother was sick this morning…"
"It's always some excuse Darryl. If you can't get yourself organized enough for school maybe a week's worth of lunch time detention will get you sorted?" Brax sighed.
"Yes miss. It won't happen again."
"It had better not, or you will find yourself in detention Mr Braxton and I will be notifying your parents." The secretary handed Brax the note.
"Get to class Mr Braxton." The vice principle ordered.
Back at home, Heath was feeling no better all day, he just wanted to rest and make the pain go away, but the more restless he became in his bed the more it hurt. Of course it didn't help that Casey was driving him mad screaming and throwing his toys in the living room. Heath got up and walked into the living room towards his baby brother, who was now smashing his wooden blocks together.
"Will you be quiet, I'm sick!" Heath yelled at Casey, then walked back to his room and got back into bed.
Before long Casey had crawled down to Heath's room with his blocks and was smashing them on the floor in Heath's room.
"Go away brat!" Casey giggled and continued to make noise with his blocks.
"I said go away!" Heath yelled before moaning in pain.
Heath finally got sick of Casey being in his room he got up and kicked Casey's blocks across the floor and picked his brother up roughly and placed him outside his bedroom door and slammed the door shut. Casey started to scream and cry loudly, alerting Cheryl and Danny. Danny stormed up to Casey.
"What are ya whinging about now?" Casey pointed to his blocks and the mess all over the floor.
"What's all this?" Casey pointed to Heath's room and screamed. Danny burst open Heath's door. "Did you mess up all the kid's blocks?"
"He was in my room and wouldn't leave me alone." Heath pleaded. "Get your backside out of that bed and clean up this mess, so your damn brother will shut up!"
Heath looked at his father, he couldn't be serious? He was meant to be resting.
"But Dad my stomach hurts." "Now!" Danny ordered and stormed out of the room.
Heath pulled himself out of the bed and packed up Casey's blocks. Heath yelped in pain as he grabbed his stomach, the pain was intensifying, he laid back down on his bed and curled up, fighting the urge to cry.
Brax rushed home after school and went straight into Heath's room. Brax saw Heath turned away and curled up.
"Hey mate. How are you feeling?" Heath ignored Brax, so Brax walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Heath?" Brax gently rubbed his brother's arm. "Heath talk to me." Brax encouraged.
Heath turned and sat up looking at his brother, Brax could see he looked worse than he did that morning.
"How you feeling?" "Not good." Heath whispered out in a tragic tone as a few tears welled in his eyes.
"Ah mate." Brax put his arm around his brother but pulled back when he felt Heath heave and move to vomit over his bed, with some vomit spitting out onto Brax's clothes. Heath wiped his mouth and looked to his brother with sad eyes.
"Brax I'm sorry." "Don't worry about it mate."
Brax moved off the bed and assessed the mess. After Brax cleaned Heath's bed he went to take a shower before returning back to Heath's room.
"I'm sorry about before." "Heath I told you not to worry. Are you feeling nauseous anymore?" Heath shook his head. "My tummy still hurts, but not as bad."
"That's great, maybe it will be better tomorrow ay?" Brax smiled. Heath gave a weak smile and laid back down on the bed.
It had just reached 10 o'clock at night and everyone had gone to sleep. Heath woke with a start and grabbed his abdomen in pain.
"Ahh…Oww…" He whined.
The pain made him immediately start to cry, he needed help. Heath carefully climbed out of his bed, almost collapsing and stumbled to Brax's room. As soon as Heath opened the door he called out.
"Brax! Brax!"
Brax woke upon hearing his name and turned on his light. He jumped out of his bed upon seeing Heath standing in his room, doubled over holding his abdomen and crying.
"Heath, what's wrong?" "My tummy…." Heath burst into tears.
"Hey it's okay." Brax comforted as he wrapped his arm around his brother, supporting him.
"Is it hurting you?" Heath nodded. "It really hurts."
Brax was really worried now, something was not right. Supporting Heath, the boys walked to their parent's bedroom and Brax opened the door.
"Mum, Dad wake up, something's wrong with Heath!" Cheryl and Danny groaned.
"What are you mumbling about Darryl?"
"Heath's stomach is really sore and he feels really hot. I think he needs to go to the hospital."
Glancing at their sons, Cheryl and Danny gauge Heath's pained appearance.
"Alright. 'urry up and lets go." Danny got out of bed and took his eldest sons to the car.
Danny approached the front desk to the hospital. "Hey, me sons having a lot of pain in his abdomen, we need to see someone."
"Come right this way. Just pop your son onto the bed and the doctor will be in shortly."
Danny picked up Heath and sat him on the bed. "Oww…oww…it hurts." Heath whined, holding his stomach.
Brax gently held his brother's hand. It wasn't long before the doctor came into the room.
"Hi I'm Doctor Frank. What seems to be the problem?"
"He's been complaining of stomach pains."
"How long has he had these pains?" "Since this morning."
"Alright, let's have a look shall we. Son, can you lift your shirt up for me? I just want to have a feel of your abdomen."
Heath pulled up his shirt, the doctor gave a look of concern when he noticed a faded bruise on Heath's side.
"What happened here son?" Heath glanced at his father and quickly replied.
"I had a fall." "Hmmm."
The doctor proceeded to palpate Heath's abdomen. Heath let out a loud yelp when the doctor pressed on his lower abdomen.
"Son, can you tell me where you first had these pains?"
Heath pointed to his middle and then to his side.
"Okay thank you. You can pop your shirt back down."
The doctor turned to Danny. "I believe your son has what is known as Appendicitis. Your son will require immediate surgery to have it removed before it ruptures in his abdomen. I will go and get the forms for you to sign so we can proceed."
Brax looked up at his father. "Dad? What's appendicitis?" "It's where some appendix organ in the body gets inflamed."
"What does that mean?" "It means ya brother has to go into surgery to have it removed."
Heath stared at his brother and father. "I don't want to go into surgery Dad."
"You don't have a choice Heath. If this thing doesn't get taken out…Well there won't be much more left of ya." Heath looked terrified.
The doctor returned and pulled Danny out of the room to sign the papers and discuss the procedure. Brax held Heath's hand.
"Brax…I don't want to go for surgery…. I'm really scared."
"I know mate, but you'll be okay. You're a tough Braxton remember."
The doctor came back into the room. "Okay Heath, we are going to take you into theatre now. Your family can come back tomorrow to visit."
"Good luck Heath. Remember what I said." Brax spoke as he watched his brother get wheeled away.
"Come on Darryl. Let's get home."
Driving home Brax couldn't stop thinking about Heath.
"Dad?"
"What Darryl?" "Is Heath really gonna be okay?" "The doctors do this sort of thing all the time. Your brother will be fine."
Cheryl was waiting on the couch for them to get back. "What happened? Where's Heath?" "Kid had to stay in hospital for emergency surgery. Appendicitis. The doc said we can go back to visit tomorrow."
Heath was sitting up in the hospital bed waiting for his family to visit. Cheryl and Brax were the first two to walk into the room.
"How's me boy?" "I'm fine Mum."
Brax ran up to his brother. "How was it?" Heath smiled.
"Look Brax. I got a scar."
Heath lifted up his gown and showed Brax his surgery scar.
"Wow that's great, but you better not show it around."
"Why not?" "Cause everyone will want one." Brax laughed.
Brax stayed talking with Heath while Cheryl went out to find Danny. Danny finally entered the room.
"Hey boy. The doc said you can come home in a few more days." Heath smiled, but his smiled faded when he saw his mother return, holding Casey in her arms. Why did that brat always have to come into his life, he was finally getting the attention from his family again.
When Heath finally got home, he was under strict bed rest for five days until he was fully recovered, but that meant his family waited on him hand and foot.
Heath rang his bell and called out, "Brax! Can I have some ice-cream?" Brax ran passed his brother's room. "Sure thing mate."
Brax had been run off his feet looking after Heath's demands as well as Casey's. Brax ran passed Casey. Casey held out his arms and squealed for Brax to pick him up. "Sorry Case, just a minute. Coming Heath." Brax raced back to Heath's room.
"Is there anything else you need?" Heath thought, he knew whatever time he was taking from Brax, the less time Casey had for all the attention.
"Yeah, can you please get me some magazines? You know the ones. I think there in the lounge room."
"You think?" "Yeah I don't know, but Brax I really want them now."
"Alright." Brax ran into the lounge, frantically searching for the magazines, Casey was now crying out for Brax.
"Pway! Pway!" He screamed. "I'm sorry Case, I can't right now." Brax patted Casey's head and ran back to Heath.
Heath smiled upon hearing Casey's cries for attention. Casey sat outside Heath's room quietly playing.
"Sucked in squirt. It's my turn for all the attention now." Heath laughed. "Dad!"
Danny stood outside his son's room. "Dad, Casey keeps pestering me and I want to rest."
Danny groaned and picked up Casey and carried him back out into the living room, causing Casey to cry out. "Stop ya cryin' and stay away from ya brother's room" Danny warned despite Casey not being able to understand.
Heath's glory of attention didn't last long though, as soon as he was recovered and better it was all back to normal again, Brax spent more time with Casey again and less time fussing over him and Cheryl and Danny went back to treating him like nothing. Heath began to really resent his baby brother. A few weeks after Heath's surgery, Heath sat on the living room floor playing video games.
"Brax? Come and play Combat Colby with me." It was Heath's favorite duel fighting game and he and Brax could always play for hours.
"Yeah sure Heath, I just need to do some things first though." "Okay." Heath replied.
After a few hours Brax still hadn't come to play with him and he was getting bored. When Brax finally walked back into the room from wherever he got to, Heath asked again.
"Brax, when are you coming to play video games with me?"
"Ah Heath I forgot. Look I have to get some stuff organized for Casey, so it's gonna have to be a miss playing with you today. I'm sorry mate." Heath frowned, it's always Casey this and Casey that, what made him so special? Brax came out with Casey and sat him down next to Heath.
"You play next to your big brother now okay?" Brax smiled at Casey and he giggled. Heath rolled his eyes and pulled a face at Casey when he looked at him. Casey crawled over to Heath and giggled.
"What do you want?" Heath grunted, trying to play his game. Casey started to pull at the video game wires.
"Stop it you little brat." Casey continued. Heath put down the control pad and grabbed his brother. "I said stop it!" He scolded, through gritted teeth.
Heath ignored Casey for a while and tried to focus on his game. He was knocked out of thought when he felt a sharp hit to the side of his head. "Oww!"
Casey giggled again after he had hit Heath with the spare video controller. Tears welled up in Heath's eyes, it had really hurt. Heath slammed down his control and glared at his baby brother with anger before giving him a light slap to his arm.
"That hurt brat!" Casey stopped his giggling and started to cry.
"Urg! All you do is whinge. I didn't even hit you that hard. It wasn't as hard as you hit me anyway." Brax came running into the room.
"Heath what happened? Why is Casey crying?" Heath shrugged.
"Heath you must know something?" Casey pointed to Heath. "Hur." Brax glared at Heath.
"Heath did you hurt Casey?" Heath hung his shoulders. "Heath?"
"I might have given him a little tap." Heath saw Brax's disapproved look and defended.
"He hit me first with the game controller!" Brax frowned at Heath.
"Heath that is no excuse. You do no hit Casey, he's a baby. Understand?" Brax said sternly. Heath wanted to cry, it wasn't fair. Casey hurt him first. "Sorry." Heath whispered.
Heath watched Brax comfort Casey before turning to play his game again. When Brax left, Heath turned and pulled a face at Casey again. It was a while later when Heath learnt to ignore Casey in the room and got right into his game. He was on one of the highest levels he had ever been, then blip the screen blacked out. Heath stared at the screen.
"No!" He shouted and stood up off the floor, it had taken most of the afternoon to get as far as he did. Heath's anger heightened when he saw Casey holding the power cable and giggling, he had pulled it out and disconnected Heath's game. Heath wanted nothing but to throttle his baby brother, instead he thought it was his turn to complain.
"Mum! Dad!" Cheryl and Danny walked out of the kitchen. "Casey just ruined my game I was playing. I was on one of the highest levels and he just pulled the plug out!"
"Is that all?" Cheryl asked. "I spent all afternoon on that!" Heath shouted.
"Get over it boy, stop whining over something that doesn't mean nothin'"
Cheryl and Danny turned to walk away when Heath threw down the game controller, causing it to bounce hard on the ground.
"No! It's not fair! I get in trouble when I 'upset' him!" Heath went to storm off, but was stopped.
"Oi, get back 'ere." Heath turned to glare at his father.
"You don't go acting like some little baby, throwing a tantrum, just cause you lost some stupid game. You get and clean that mess up before I give you something to whine about and don't you ever go throwing things around like that in this house." Danny warned.
After Heath quickly packed up the video game, he ran down towards his room, passing Brax, who had come into the room after hearing Danny yell.
"Heath?" Brax called. Heath ignored Brax and ran into his room and slammed the door. Heath flopped down on his bed and winced in pain as he knocked his tender abdomen and he still fought the urge to cry, he was too angry at his baby brother to cry.
Later that afternoon after Casey had been put down for a nap Brax walked up to Heath's room and gently knocked on the door.
"Heath?" Hearing no response, Brax opened the door and saw his brother lying on his bed facing the window. Brax sat on Heath's bed.
"Hey mate, you okay?" "I'm fine." Heath replied shortly.
"You wanna talk?" "No."
"Look Heath, I know you're mad at me for not playing video games with you today after I said I would."
"Doesn't matter."
"It obviously does otherwise you wouldn't have reacted like you did."
Heath sat up and looked at Brax. "Unless something else is bothering you?" "No." Heath whispered.
"Come on Heath. You can talk to me."
"It's just that you got angry with me after Casey was the one that hit me first"
"Heath, I told you that…"
"It really hurt when he hit me, but no one wants to listen about that."
"Darryl will you go and deal with Casey!" Cheryl yelled.
Brax could hear Casey crying after waking up from his nap. Brax had missed what Heath had said because of the yelling and Casey's screaming. He turned to Heath.
"Look mate. I have to go and check on Casey. We can finish our talk later."
Brax stood up and was about to leave. "Didn't you hear what I just said?" Heath was desperate to make his brother feel like he was more important. Brax turned back.
"Ah yeah something about me being angry when you hit Casey. Look Heath, Casey's just a small baby and you being bigger than him could have hurt him." Heath frowned.
"We'll talk later okay." Brax raised his eyebrows and left the room. "Sure we will." Heath mumbled sarcastically and furrowed his brow angrily. "That's not even what I said." Heath sulked.
"Heath get out here now and help organize for dinner will ya! Stop sulking in ya room!" Danny yelled. Heath climbed off his bed and walked into the kitchen and set the table, keeping quiet for the rest of the night.